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2

SOLUTIONS

She opened the door "Yoshimori…"

Yoshimori was lying on the bed, he had his eyes closed but he was shaking. Tokine was sure that he was having a bad dream. She moved closer.

Then suddenly Yoshimori cried out "Tokine…"

Tokine rushed to his side. "Tokine, no…" he shouted.

"Yoshimori…Yoshimori…" tears began filling in her eyes. She couldn't see. "I am here Yoshimori…"

Yoshimori calmed down as he opened his eyes. "Tokine?" he asked sheepishly.

"Are you all right, Yoshimori?" asked Tokine.

"No…no Tokine, don't cry…I ...i am all right….Tokine" he stammered as he saw tears flowing down her cheeks. She felt guilty at herself for not coming to see him earlier. She felt angry at herself for not caring for him.

"Are you alright?" she asked him. "What did you see?"

Yoshimori rubbed his own eyes. Unknowingly, tears had formed there too.

"Well…It's nothing…" he said and hoped that Tokine wouldn't find out that he was lying.

He couldn't possibly think of telling Tokine what he had seen.

There was a giant ayakashi…waiting for Tokine to get close enough. It tried to kill her. Yoshimori tried his level best to reach her. But how long he ran, he never reached near her. She seemed, faraway. Too far, beyond his reach. And to see her stand there helplessly in front of that demon while it destroyed her weak kekkai…

Yoshimori had to blink. This was something unbelievable. Tokine might laugh at him or even tease him. But to him it was far worse. To think of it was even difficult. He couldn't find the courage to tell her…especially when he had 100 % chance of getting laughed at.

"I know when you're lying to me, Yoshimori…"

"Um…it's that, please take care Tokine…the ayakashis are so powerful…and…" Yoshimori lingered.

"What!? You're asking me to take care when you are the one who is need of rest and care?" Tokine raised her voice but abruptly lowered it. She knew she had been hard on him. She knew that she was too harsh. And when Yoshimori looked at her with all the concern in his eyes, she felt herself burn under his gaze. She felt guilty again.

'Why do I keep doing this?' she asked herself. All the time she wanted to talk something important to him, her instincts take action and she completely ends up yelling at him.

"I am sorry…" she said.

"huh?"

"I am so sorry yoshi…"

"Tokine?" his voice was filled with concern and care. Tokine noticed it too. And when she contemplated everything that happened a day ago, she knew that she was in the wrong.

'If you do this again, and disappear someday, I, I…' she remembered her words again.

And that made her realize that a part of her always wanted to realize something. Who was he to her?

"sorry for yelling at you…"

"no. I am the one to say sorry…" Yoshimori whispered.

"what did you see?" she asked him.

"please don't laugh at me…Tokine…"

Tokine gave him an assuring look. "I won't. Trust me."

"you were far from me…too faraway…beyond my reach. I tried hard to reach you but I couldn't. I had to watch a big ayakashi hurting you hard and …and…". His eyes became clouded as realization dawned upon him.

"I'll never let you get hurt…Tokine…I promise you."

Tokine did not speak. Even Yoshimori was surprised that she did not laugh at him saying it was a stupid dream.

He did not realize that Tokine was too deep in thought. Drops of tears making way through her cheeks, she hugged Yoshimori.

She did not know what to say or how to say. But she knew that no one cared for her the way Yoshimori did. He was the one who knew her too well. About her likes, dislikes, strength and everything. He was her…she didn't know whom. But she knew that her life would be impossible without him. And that he would be there whenever she needed him.

When she realized what she was doing, Tokine felt embarrassed. Her cheeks turned a shade of red and she quickly let go of him. Hiding her face in the curtain of her hair, she said as she moved the cake to him.

" I made this for you Yoshimori…I hope you like it!" and then she saw his red cheeks.

She knew that he too was surprised at her sudden action. She did not utter a word but ran out of the room saying "get well soon Yoshi…!"

What will Yoshimori think now? Wait for the next chapter…