Author's note: This is my first fan fic story, so if it sucks or if it's inaccurate I apologize. Please enjoy, and please write a review.

Rei took a deep drag on his cigarette and shut his eyes, seeking relaxation after his long day of work and riding. Tetsuya sat beside him, watching his friend's stress leak out with the smoke that billowed from his mouth.

"I thought you gave that up months ago," Tetsuya said quietly.

"Yeah, well I've been needing it lately," Rei replied as he brushed his free hand through his long blonde hair.

"Why?" Tetsuya asked carefully. Rei sighed. Where to begin?

"My lap time has been steadily decreasing and my boss keeps yelling at me 'cause he doesn't think I'm working hard enough even though I devote twelve freaking hours of my day to the job. And…" Rei's voice trailed off.

"What?" Tetsuya encouraged.

"The most I get to see of Kira is right before I go to sleep. I'm too exhausted and stressed to give her any of my time. And I know she's stressed as well. I've seen it. But…I don't know. She doesn't tell me these things." Rei blew out a large cloud of cigarette smoke. "But to be fair, I don't tell her anything that's going on with me either."

Tetsuya sighed and hung his head. He knew what to say, but he didn't want Rei to blow up at him. Tetsuya took a deep breath and lifted his head.

"Well…" he began carefully, "lack of communication is usually the first sign of…well…disruption in a relationship."

Rei stood angrily. "What are you? The freaking marriage guru? God!" Rei turned away and lifted his cigarette to his lips. It paused at his lips and in his anger and frustration, Rei threw it down the stone path that ran through the park.

"You might want to pick that up," Tetsuya said, his voice very quiet now. "You know, fire safety and all that crap."

Rei didn't respond. He wasn't even mad at Tetsuya. He was mad at the fact that Tetsuya was right. He loved Kira. But so much was going on. The things he was doing to support their young marriage was tearing it down, and that's what tore at Rei. But somehow he couldn't bring himself to tell that to Tetsuya, his pride didn't allow him to accept the fact that he was failing.

"I'm going home," Rei said and walked slowly down the stone path, leaving Tetsuya behind at the bench, worrying for his friend.

Kira sighed as she and Harumi walked slowly down the street after spending half of the Sunday roaming through shops. Harumi had noticed all day that something was troubling Kira by the way Kira acted. She hardly talked, was constantly staring off into her own world and seemed slightly disconnected with the world around her. Yes, her friend was quiet and slightly shy, but never like this.

"That was real heavy sigh, my friend," Harumi said.

Kira didn't reply. A lot had been on her mind that day, and it was almost too much to handle.

"Well…" Kira's voice trailed off.

"What?" Harumi asked.

"It's just…Rei and I…"

"Have you and Rei had any fights lately?" Harumi's face suddenly grew dark. "He's not cheating on you, is he? Cause if he is—"

Kira cut her off with a waved of her delicate hand.

"No, no it's nothing like that," she replied quietly. "It's just…we seem to be living in two different worlds, I guess. He's wrapped up in his job and motorcycles and I'm busy with my new job and my painting, and…we haven't really spent time together lately."

"Don't you sleep in the same bed?" Harumi asked with a playful smile. Kira wanted to grin at Harumi's intended meaning, but found she couldn't.

"Yes, but we're so exhausted, we don't really spend time together. Real time."

Harumi frowned slightly.

"Then why are you hanging out with me on a free day?" she demanded.

"Well," Kira replied, slightly nervous, "you said you wanted a day for just the girls, so…"

"Yes, but I didn't know that you and Rei don't spend time together!" Harumi protested. Kira only shrugged and cast her gaze downward. Harumi grabbed Kira's hand.

"Come on," she said as she led Kira down the street much faster than the pace they were previously going. "There's still some time left in the day and I am bringing you home to spend it with Rei."

Rei slowly opened the door to his and Kira's apartment and gazed around. The place needed some touch-ups, but Rei didn't care. He slowly walked over to the small bed the two shared and collapsed on it, feeling both physical and mental exhaustion. Just as he was shutting his eyes to rest, he heard the door open. In the doorway, small and almost fragile looking, stood his young wife of seventeen.

"Come here," he said quietly and spread his arms. Kira rushed in and lay beside him on the bed, her head resting on his chest. He slowly stoked her hair as she lay quietly. God, she's beautiful, he thought. In more ways than one. How do I deserve her? He kissed her forehead lightly. Kira took a deep breath and looked up into Rei's eyes.

"Rei?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm worried."

Rei sighed and looked away.

"Yeah," he admitted. "Me too."

"I want to spend time with you, but we're so busy supporting ourselves that our relationship is—"

Rei placed his index finger on her small, delicate lips.

"Don't say it. It's not true." He took a deep sigh before continuing. "We've been married six months now. Remember those people who doubted our marriage? Who thought we were too young? I don't want to prove them right, Kira." His kissed her forehead again. "I really don't."

"Do you love me Rei?"

Rei looked stunned and pulled his head back.

"What?"

"Do you love me?"

Rei smiled and stroked her hair once more.

"I will always love you, Kira. No matter what I do or don't say to you, no matter what I do or don't do, I will always love you. And I promise that that will never change. Ever."

He brought his supple lips down to meet hers, and in that kiss Kira felt a warmth flood through her body, and she knew that he was speaking the truth from the bottom of his heart. She looked up at him and felt a love for Rei that could never be suppressed.

"I love you too, Rei." She kissed him again. She could feel the fear rise in her once more.

"But what about our jobs, Rei? What about our responsibilities? Will we be able to spend time together?"

Rei just smiled.

"If we don't, I'll make time, no matter what." He grinned mischievously.

"And," he said with a grin. "We do have all night."

Kira pushed against him playfully and grinned.

"Rei!"

Rei laughed and drew Kira back into his arms.

"What about kids?" he asked.

Kira didn't respond immediately.

"What do you think?"

"Well," Rei said, considering, "I do want kids eventually, not now." Rei rolled over until he was on top of Kira. "For now we can just have fun."

Kira laughed.

"You're evil!" she said playfully. He grinned devilishly.

"I know."