Holding Hands for Balance

She had to be careful at age 7. Keeping her balance as she walked along the curb of the sidewalk was hard. She stumbled and tripped many times.

"Don't worry, I'm right here Eiji-chan."

But he was always there next to her, holding her hand. He wouldn't let her fall into the empty streets, or take a wrong step onto the grey sidewalks as she so stubbornly refused to leave the curb.

"I know Shuichiro-kun."

At age 10, she was more daring. She walked along the tops of brick walls and old metal containers. She was fearless, arms stretched out to the sides as her every step was steady and confident.

"Eiji, be careful!"

But he was still there next to her, holding her hand as he walked on the ground next to her, giving her that sense of comfort and reassurance.

"No worries, I know you're next to me!"

A beauty with fiery hair and a burning spirit at age 18, Eiji Kikumaru was a natural gymnast, somersaulting and cartwheeling at nearly every chance she got, even able to walk along to tops of chain link fences. You would almost never see her simply walking. Except when she was with her best friend.

"Eiji-chan, slow down, just enjoy the scenery!"

"Hai, hai Shuichiro-kun."

And they were still holding hands, keeping each other anchored to reality and the ground. Sometimes they'd switch places, and that was the most entertaining to watch.

"No, you've got to hold out your arms like this Shuichiro-kun!"

"Don't let go of my hand Eiji-chan!"

"Scared you'll fall?"

"No, scared you'll be taken away from me."

21 years of life having been lived and Eiji still loved testing her sense of balance. She wasn't always rushing around now though. She took her time and walked with an air of happiness around her, her right hand placed behind her back as her left hand with the shining ring held onto her lover's. She would talk to her partner in quiet tones, not daring to walk faster, else he might let go to catch up with her.

"Shuichiro-kun, please don't let go of my hand."

But he never did let go of her hand, he never did leave her side, he never did stop loving her.

"I'll always be next to you Eiji-chan, holding your hand."

Well, he did have to leave her side for a while.

It was when she was walking down the aisle, and he was too starstruck that he could only watch in mute shock.

"Shuichiro-kun, stop staring and say 'I do' already!"

"H-Hai Eiji-chan! I do."

"Good, now kiss me."

At the mature age of 22, Eiji was anything but. She still laughed loudly at inappropriate jokes, and pouted like a child when she didn't get what she wanted. Her habit of walking along the edge was still intact, though for the sake of her husband, a bit more suppressed.

"Eiji, be careful and come back onto the sidewalk! Get off that fence!"

Yet Oishi never did let go of her hand.

"It's fine Shuichiro!"

"You are 7 months pregnant, get down here right now!"

"You are such a worrywart Shuichiro."

"Please Eiji-chan?"

And back on the ground, Eiji leaned into her lover's hug. With gentle hands, Shuichiro rubbed the expanding baby bump as the unborn child with his and Eiji's blood mixed connected them even more than just holding hands.

But Eiji still walked along the curb.

And Shuichiro still held her hand.

"Shuichiro?"

"Hai Eiji?"

"Will you buy me some ice-cream?"

"As long as you don't get sick."

"I love you Shuichiro!"

"I love you too Eiji."

Because for them, holding hands helped kept them balanced.

Yay, I think I did an alright job on this one. Review please?