Title: "So Close"
Author: Trinity
Fandom: Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger
Pairing: Ran/Retsu
Rating: G
Summary: She's so close….
There was a sigh as the kiss slowly broke, Retsu easing his grip on Ran, yet not really letting her go. He wanted to hold her closer to him again, but he knew they had to breathe.
"Retsu…" She murmured, softly, her eyes shy. Her lips still tingled from the warm kiss, and she felt warm, relaxed. She bit her lip and then rested her head against his shoulder, before finishing her sentence.
"Ran…" he whispered, holding her as close to him as he could. His fingers gently ran along the black ponytail, down the small of her back, and he closed his own eyes. She felt warm, soft… but he could also almost feel the strength she had within her Honest Heart. It had been that strength, that heart, that quiet beauty that had allured the Jaguar-ken to the lovely Cheetah-ken when Sha-Fu first introduced them.
But, she had seemed so far from him, so out of his reach… at least at first.
Slowly, as time went on, they began to open up to each other more and more, and they became closer and closer. For Retsu, it had not been enough. He wanted them to be even closer.
And at last, his dream to have Ran as his own had seemed to come true. An impromptu rain shower while they were out getting some ramen and taking a little break had caused them to run for cover. Once they had gotten out of the rain, Retsu had taken a moment to brush some of Ran's wet bangs out of her eyes and then, slowly, they'd leaned in for a kiss.
It was gentle, almost shy and Retsu had been hesitant. He'd been dreaming of this moment, but he had no technique for it. But once Ran pressed into his body, pulling him closer, causing him to forget the world, he'd abandoned the idea.
And now, they were relaxed in one another's arms, recovering from the aftermath of the kiss.
"No technique, Retsu?" Ran teased, looking up at him and brushing some of his hair out of his eyes. "I thought a kiss from you would be like a Geki Waza."
"If Bat Li taught me anything… it's that sometimes, no technique is needed and that it's best to abandon the technique."
"Then, Retsu let me teach you something else…" Ran stood on her toes and whispered into his ear. "Sometimes… it's best to listen to your heart."
Retsu chuckled and pulled her close for another kiss, a perfect mix of technique and heart. She was closer now… they were closer than ever.
Just how he liked it.