Author's Note: I love Kei...he's arrogant and has a rich kid entitlement attitude with everyone except with Hikari...she's got him wrapped around her little finger...if only she'd realize it. It all culminates here…lots of emotion…enjoy!
Sunset Confessions
About a half hour later a brand new Lotus Evora rumbled up the narrow street…Carbon Gray with a white leather interior and as the motor cut the driver's side opened and Kei climbed out. Wearing aviator style sunglasses, he gazed up into the amber late afternoon sky at the eave of the Hanazono residence and saw again the empty space where the sign reading HANAZONO CUSTOM CONTRACTING once occupied, bringing a somewhat discomforted feeling to him. It was a constant reminder whenever he went there that Hikari's days in Tokyo and subsequently with him may be numbered…and that brought an ache to his heart…
Damn, it just looks so strange…I've been coming here since I was six and to not see that sign hanging up there seems so weird and makes me feel lonely…I keep expecting Jiro-san to come barreling out to try a new wrestling hold on me or Masako-san to invite me to stay for dinner. I miss them and I know Hikari does too but I'm so glad she's decided to stay. Hell, I can't stand of even the thought of having to let her go, she's so precious to me. Even if she had gone I would've followed after her…just like she followed me to London twice, I'll follow her to the depths of Hell if I have to. But she's still here…and I'm going to make sure I keep her here…by my side. He glanced at his newest possession, gleaming in the late afternoon sun and mused even though I never wanted anything thanks to my family's name and money I have every material thing I could ever want. But the one thing I really want…is Hikari…
With that thought Kei reached his hand into the pocket of his jeans jacket and fingered the velvet jewel box that held his grandmother's ring then strode with purpose to the front door. He rang the bell and waited for Hikari to answer…
Inside Hikari had heard the purr of a high performance engine and peeked through the glass panel that flanked the door as Kei exited his car and stood staring at the house. So she did what she was doing more and more of and just stared at him. His tousled wheat colored blond hair was turned to copper in the late afternoon light, tumbling over his eyes which were covered by the sunglasses he was wearing …those amazing golden brown eyes that could turn nearly black when he was furious and then to the color of honey when he gazed at her with love, the lashes long and burnished. She marveled at how a man could be so beautiful and she also took in his tall, lean muscled frame, broad shoulders, and narrow hips as he stood there appearing in the careless elegance of the privileged, even dressed casually in jeans. Her heart pounded as she watched him approach the door and jumped when the bell rang. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and greeted him…
"Hey."
Kei grinned as he returned the greeting. "Hey you too…that was pretty quick. Were you waiting by the door for me?"
Hikari felt her cheeks get warm at his jibe and averting his gaze she retorted, "As if…you did tell me you would come in an hour. I just heard a car approach and when I peeked out I saw it was you."
He nodded, "Astute as always…that's my Hikari." He reached for her hand and asked, "Want to see it?"
His hand was warm and firm…as always, like him assured and confident. "S-sure…and I'm not your possession."
"You're my girl," he pointed out amicably.
"Yeah but that doesn't mean you own me," she said peevishly.
"Okay, my bad…c'mon." Kei guided Hikari down to the street where the car was parked and then asked boyishly, "So what do you think?"
Hikari's eyes became saucers as she saw the low and sleek lines of the British two-seater, shining in the golden sunlight. She got closer and peeked inside at the close but roomy interior. Since childhood she was used to the fleet of luxury cars that Takishima chauffeurs drove shuttling Kei anywhere he wanted to go and usually her too as he would often come to get her for group outings with the rest of their Special A friends but this was different…this time it would be just the two of them…
Startling her, Kei leaned over and murmured in her ear. "You'll get a closer look once you get in."
He opened the door and Hikari slid into the seat of the sports car where she was engulfed by the buttery soft oyster white leather seats that had her in a partially reclined position. Kei closed the door then went over to the driver's side and climbed in behind the wheel, his broad shoulder almost flush against hers…
He took off his sunglasses and turned to her, his grin unchanged. "How do you like it?"
Hikari gazed at the smoothly curved dashboard, the control panel, console, and steering wheel that had the look of a race car and was quite impressed this is really something…but as wealthy as his family is what else would Takishima be driving? She fingered the leather seat. "It's really fancy. You just got it today?"
"Yeah…it was waiting for me when I came back from Beijing. My father told me before I left that it would be here." Kei reached to take her hand. "But the car wasn't the reason that I wanted to get back quickly…you are. I missed you, Hikari."
Not wasting any time he leaned over and began planting soft kisses along her neck, to her earlobe gently nuzzling her. Letting go of her hand he then reached over to cup her cheek to turn her head so her lips could meet his, sending thrills to her stomach…until she spotted her elderly neighbor in her yard, glancing over. Suddenly self-conscious Hikari pushed Kei away just as he was about to make contact…
Perplexed he asked, "What's wrong?"
Completely flustered Hikari replied, "I thought we were going for a ride."
"We are…but can't I kiss you?" Kei's eyes were molten pools of honey as he again captured her cheek and murmured, "Let me have just a little kiss…please?"
Under his spell Hikari felt her resolve slipping then saw the old woman's apparent frown of disapproval so she laid her hands on Kei's shoulders and leaned in to give him a chaste peck on the cheek. "There." She then turned to face forward. "Can we go now?"
A bit put off Kei opened his mouth to speak then sighed and shrugged his shoulders in resignation. He put his sunglasses back on and turned to face forward, reaching to turn the key, starting the car with a roar. He then shifted gears and tore away.
Damn…now I made him mad Sensing his discontent and feeling the need to make it up to him Hikari reached to lay her left hand on his right one, which was gripping the wheel. He turned to glance at her shook his head, took hold of her hand, and brought it to his lips for a kiss. He continued to hold on to her hand as he drove…
They headed southwest out of town and while Kei made his way through Shibuya and down towards Machida and Sagamihara his mind was whirling with various plans and scenarios revolving around Hikari's tentative and much hoped for answer. Since the night of the festival fireworks when Kei had made his intentions public, his family was ready to welcome her in with open arms. His father was beside himself with joy thinking that his dreams of having a built in wrestling partner and a daughter were coming true. Both of Satoru's sons had stopped sparring with him for a while now and he missed the competition. And according to his father Midori could not stop talking about how she wanted to go shopping with Hikari to help pick out not only her wedding gown but her entire honeymoon trousseau...wanting to whisk her off to Sydney for a "girls only" shopping spree, both of them essentially jumping the gun and assuming that she would eventually accept. Even his kid brother Sui, who had been resentful of Hikari from the time he met her had a change of heart and had actually begun referring to her as "Hika-nee-chan" instead of "stupid woman."
And now with ojii-sama giving me oba-san's ring to give her the only thing left before Hikari's permanently mine is for her to answer "yes". Then I'll have everything I'll ever want… Kei mused as he snuck a glance at her while she watched the scenery pass by the window as they drove. Since she had reached her hand over to take his to make amends for not allowing him to kiss her Hikari had been reserved and quiet as he continued to hold her hand. From his peripheral vision he saw her periodically glancing at him so when he saw her eyes dart over again he turned his head and smiled at her…
"Yes?"
She bit her lip and stammered, "W-what?"
"You looked like you wanted to say something to me…so tell me, what is it?"
"Uhhh," Hikari began then said, "You know you can let go of my hand if you need to."
Kei chuckled and responded, "I'm doing fine driving with my left hand…I'm ambidextrous you know."
"I know," she affirmed as she gazed at him from lowered lashes. "I just thought you might want me to let you have your right one back if you needed it."
She must be kidding…I don't want to let go of her hand…or her…ever "If I need it, koibito…I'll ask for it." Kei lifted her hand and kissed it again.
Hikari's cheeks tinted at both the gesture and the endearment. "D-don't call me that."
"Why not? We're in love, aren't we?" Kei's eyes were twinkling at her; visible even behind the shaded lenses. "And I want to show it in every way."
"But it's embarrassing."
"Why? What's embarrassing about it? I'm the man that loves you...besides there's nobody here but us." Kei turned from the main route they had been traveling and onto an inclining mountain road.
"I know, but-," Hikari was being insistent and he cut her off.
"But nothing…just relax and enjoy the ride, Hikari…and I do need my hand now to downshift as we climb the mountain so you can let go but if you want you can put yours right here."
He took her hand, laid it on his upper thigh, in an area very close to his groin and gave it a squeeze before he let go but with a squeal of protest she hastily snatched it back.
"Don't be stupid…hentai!" she hissed while Kei threw his head back and laughed as they headed up the mountain…
Hikari felt her face tingle and a sweet ache in her stomach as she held her hands as far away from Kei as she could in the close quarters of the sports car. Her hand still burned at the intimate touch of his warm thigh even for the half-second it was there and her heart was pounding like a trip hammer…
I-I can't believe he did that…put my hand on him THERE of all places…then laughing like a hyena…that lecher... idiot Takishima! He loves to make fun of me, that bastard…
Hikari snuck a glance at Kei and surreptitiously watched as he expertly maneuvered the car up the steep and twisting road, the earlier amusement gone from his face as he frowned in concentration. But she sensed more behind his emotions; urgency coupled with a feeling of fear…unheard of for Kei Takishima, who had a well-earned reputation of having no fear of anything. However, Hikari knew what was on his mind because she knew him…and it was on her mind as well…
Trying to change her train of thought she gazed out the window and was amazed and dismayed by the rugged terrain and sharp curves. She pondered about what Kei had told her about the racing or "drifting" that was done on these roads and came to the conclusion that to drive these roads at any speed let alone a high one was a practice in attempted suicide. She was thinking this as Kei made a particularly tight turn that appeared as if the car was about to fly off the edge and her stomach dropped as she hung on…
Sheer terror making her grip the edge of her seat Hikari groused, "Geez Takishima, are you trying to kill us?"
Kei, busy keeping the high performance vehicle under control grunted, "No."
"Then why the hell are we going way up this mountain on these dangerous roads?"
"Because…," he replied while rounding the final deadly curve. "As I told you before there's something I want to show you."
"All the way up here?" Hikari asked.
"Yeah."
They pulled into a clearing near a ledge that looked over the northeast toward the Tokyo skyline...silhouetted against the late afternoon sky with random lights like pin points, creating quite a picturesque scene. Kei parked the Evora shifting into neutral and setting the brake; then shutting off the engine. He turned to Hikari and grinned.
"Quite something, huh?" He gestured to the view through the windshield.
Hikari gazed out at the city lights and nodded. "Uh-huh." She stared out at the scene almost transfixed until Kei gently nudged her.
"Want to go outside and really see it?"
He smiled at her and she felt her heart pound even harder as she nodded and opened the door to exit the vehicle. Once outside she went to stand in front of the car and saw the beauty of the city in the advancing twilight with the backdrop of majestic Fujiyama veiled in the distance; all swathed in the golden sunset hues. As she marveled at the spectacle her mind wandered to the thoughts of her eventual move to Kyushu…
It's so beautiful up here…I'm glad Takishima brought me because I don't think there's anything like this around Kyushu…and if I defeat him by refusing to marry him I'll never see this…or him…
Thinking this Hikari shivered. For although the day had been hot earlier the end of day along with a cool mountain breeze combined with her dark thoughts causing a chill like November that skittered through her. She hugged herself for warmth as she brooded until she felt something drape gently over her shoulders…his denim jacket. Gazing up in somewhat of a daze she saw Kei leaning down to address her, his concern evident beneath his soft smile as he looped his arm about her…
"You seemed cold so I wrapped my jacket around you…is that better?" He had removed his sunglasses before he exited the car and his eyes were glowing like amber as they pinned her.
Hikari continued to look up into the liquid orbs and was suddenly filled with an overwhelming feeling of sadness…and guilt which made her turn away from his scrutiny. "Yes…thank you."
"Hikari, are you okay?" Kei asked anxiously. "Hikari?"
Lost in her thoughts she paid no mind Kyushu's so far…and it's not Tokyo. My family's there but Hakunsekan isn't there…my precious friends from Special A aren't there…Yahiro and Sakura aren't there…and HE isn't…
"Hikari? Hikari!" Kei's voice made its way through the fog and he took hold of her chin to turn her to face him. "What's wrong? Why won't you look at me?" He would not be denied and added, "I know you have something to say so talk to me."
With no other choice left her Hikari gazed up and sighed as she admitted, "My father's been writing to me quite a bit."
His expression became circumspect. "I see."
Another chilly gust of mountain wind caused Hikari to shiver again so she slipped her arms in the sleeves of his jacket, the larger size engulfing her, making her appear waifish; small and lost. Her head cast down she continued, "The latest letter came today."
"So how is Jiro-san?" Kei asked, dreading what was coming. "Is business going well?"
"More or less." She sighed again and said, "He said that he just got contracted for two more extended projects which means the move to Kyushu may be permanent." She disentangled herself from his arm much to his chagrin and strolled to the rocky edge of the ledge as she continued, "But he keeps telling me how much he misses me and can't wait until I defeat you and join the family again."
Leaning on the hood of his car with his hands jammed in his pockets and his head lowered dejectedly Kei scuffed the ground with his toe as he stated, "You miss Jiro-san don't you?"
Hikari nodded. "Nii-chan and okaa-san too…but…" She came back over to stand right in front of him and finished, "you know that otou-san and I have a special bond."
Kei looked up and nodded. "I know…you're precious to him….and I know that especially because-," he reached one hand to cup her cheek and said with infinite tenderness, "You're precious to me, too."
His eyes gazed at her… ardent pools that reflected all of his feelings in the gold of the setting sun…yet at the same time held an underlying ache that she knew he was fighting to keep hidden…a torture that he was stoically bearing. Knowing she was the cause and feeling even guiltier Hikari turned her head and stuffed her hands in Kei's jacket pockets…and was surprised to find a velvet box. She pulled it out and met him with inquiring eyes…
"Open it," he urged softly, his eyes glowing.
Her eyes still locked on his Hikari opened the box then took a deep intake of breath, her eyes widened and mouth formed in an O as she saw the heirloom diamond winking in rainbows at her from its satin bed. She was struck silent as Kei leaned in close.
"It was my grandmother's ring," he explained. "Ojii-sama gave it to me today and told me to tell you that if you accepted my proposal and this ring it would greatly honor him."
"Honor him?" Hikari echoed as she stared at the contents of the box, her hands cradling it. "He really said that?" Tears began welling up but she fiercely blinked them back.
"Uh-huh." Kei wrapped his own hands around hers and gazing deep into her eyes he pled his cause, "And as much as it would honor him it would make everything in my life complete. I want nothing more in this world then to have you by my side always…to love you, protect you and cherish you…to take care of you. With me you'll never want for anything since after graduation ojii-sama is retiring and I'll be the official president and Chairman of the Takishima Group. My future's assured except for one thing…that you marry me."
Hikari felt his love flow over her in a tender torrent and her heart hammered inside her chest as her own love for him was flooding her as well. However, her promise to her father rang in her ears like a death knell, the distress rendering her speechless save one word whispering, "Kei."
He smiled at her use of his given name. "Yes?"
She bit her lip and said tremulously, "I-I love you…with all my heart. You know that…right?"
Kei's smile wavered slightly and he nodded. "Just like I love you." He reached his hand to her cheek and asked, "What are you trying to tell me, Hikari?"
No longer able to hold back the tears Hikari threw herself on him, burying her face in his chest sobbing and he crushed his arms around her, his hand cradling her head against his broad shoulder.
"Hikari?"
"I'm being torn apart!" she cried as Kei caressed her rhythmically.
"How, koibito?" Pulling back he cupped her face and beseeched, "Please talk to me."
She sniffled and began, "When my father left and moved to Kyushu with the rest of my family, he let me stay on one condition…I couldn't leave until I defeated you. Then you asked me to marry you the night of the festival and I told you that if I didn't accept yet it wasn't your victory."
Kei sighed as he affirmed, "I remember."
Still holding the jewel box Hikari continued, "I then felt that if I could just hold off giving you an answer…until graduation when I thought otou-san's job would be complete and he and the rest of my family would be returning to Tokyo. Then accepting your proposal and surrendering to you wouldn't cause me to lose my family. But now that he told me that they might be staying in Kyushu so if I agree to marry you I won't see them at all." She lowered her head and added, "All this time you've been patient and kind, waiting for my answer and now you not only give me your grandmother's ring but tell me ojii-san's accepting of me as your bride…both things that bring me great joy, however accepting them means I have to leave my family and not see them. But if I refuse to marry you it'll break my heart."
Kei's voice, full of emotion murmured, "It'll break mine, too." He placed his hands on her shoulders and asked, "Do you really think that if you agree to be my bride your father would refuse to let you join him?"
Hikari insisted, "It would be another time you've defeated me…and he said I can't go there until I've defeated you." She hung her head and the mountain breeze blew her long raven tresses about, veiling her face as she stood before him and unable to stand by as she suffered he again took her in his arms…
As he offered comfort from his side Kei stood there digesting all that Hikari had said his mind spinning at the vast level of her inability to grasp the truth of his love for her and what was the real meaning of marriage…and how under it all she just could not seem to get past their longstanding rivalry. For someone as academically gifted as she was, always coming in second with grades that could get her entrance into any top university if she so desired, she was amazingly obtuse in this particular case. Kei suspected that Jiro-san was fully aware of the fact that he and Hikari had been almost inseparable since the day they had met and based on that he doubted that the man would issue such a hard condition to burden the daughter he doted upon. Frustrated, he wanted to literally shake her to wake her up to that reality before her. But she looked so forlorn, so miserable at the thought of choosing between him and her family that all he could do was take her in his arms and hold her to his heart as he desperately sought a solution to both ease her soul and keep his hopes alive. For a suspended time they remained locked in their own thoughts and each other's arms, silently entwined until like a bolt from the blue a brilliant stroke hit him…an idea that arose from a memory of something that she had adhered to the day he took her to the amusement park. He remembered that she had told him about it and the sheer absurdity of her conclusion was such that he instantly forgot about it, discarding it like rubbish. But now the concept came back to him and he saw it as the ideal solution to salvage his dream.
Pulling back he took hold of her chin to raise her head to face him and addressed her, "Hikari, answer me this…is it true that from what you once heard and told me the first one to fall in love in a relationship…is the loser?"
She took a sharp breath, bit her lip, and nodded.
Kei continued, "And you haven't accepted my marriage proposal because that would mean accepting means I've won…again…right?"
"Uh-huh."
"So that also means…according to your viewpoint…that having lost to me again you won't be able to join your family."
Hikari gazed up at him with glistening eyes that tore at his heart. "That's what otou-san said before they all left."
Kei reached his thumb to tenderly brush away a tear that strayed from her eye. "You miss them a lot…don't you, koibito?"
She just nodded words at a loss as she fought the sobs that created the lump in her throat.
He smiled a sad smile. "Well I guess then it can't be helped. Did you bring your cell phone?"
Bemused Hikari shook her head. "N-no."
Kei reached in his jeans and pulled out his to hand to her. "Here…call Jiro-san and tell him you'll be there tomorrow afternoon…I'll take you home now and help you pack then pick you up in the morning to take you out there in our helicopter. Then you can write a letter of withdrawal for Karino-sama at Hakunsekan and have her arrange to have your transcripts sent to the high school of your choice in plenty of time for the fall semester."
Now completely confused Hikari asked, "What are you saying, Takishima? I can't go…I haven't refused your proposal so I haven't defeated you." She was still clutching the velvet box that held the heirloom diamond.
Kei's smile widened as he replied, "You're wrong, Hikari. You have defeated me…and I've never been able to recover since then." He put the phone back and then cupped his hands around her cheeks.
"What? When?"
He leaned in close; centimeters from her face. "That day ten years ago when after you beat me you fell on your face before me and begged me to be your rival…even though you won you saw that I let you win. You did what nobody else could or would…and challenged me as you told me to keep challenging you; to never hold back and I was stunned…you were mesmerizing, the most amazing girl I ever knew. It was at that moment when I fell in love with you that I was completely defeated."
Hikari's eyes were wide, incredulous as Kei's mouth moved to hover just above hers. "So based on the theory that says the first one to fall in love loses I lost to you back then…fair and square and more irrevocably with each year passing."
His lips just about on hers she whispered, "Y-you're saying that all this time, even before you told me that night on Sakura's island…you've been in love…with me? And that means you've lost?"
"Uh-hmmm." He closed the remaining hair's width distance between them.
Kei then claimed what he had been denied before…Hikari's lips with the softest of kisses; searing and achingly tender. He nibbled her mouth open to receive him as he suckled and drew in her sweetness…his tongue finally tasting what he had yearned for as he sat in the stuffy conference room in Beijing fantasizing about her the past four days. Still holding her cheek his other arm reached around her waist and held her fast against him while he lost all awareness except for her as he felt her melt and respond to his kiss. She moaned softly as she reached her arms around him, lost in his embrace. Almost simultaneously the sky caught fire behind them; ignited in red and gold, the sun sinking toward the horizon and as if their mutual passion had been a tinderbox the flame of the beautiful sunset engulfed them. However the kiss continued until the spectacle faded to a faint red glow and the evening shadows had deepened with the rising moon and sprinkling of stars in place was when they finally drew apart…
"Now," Kei said, his arms still locked around her. "You see that I stand totally defeated before you. You've met Jiro-san's condition and are free to go to Kyushu anytime if you want to. So Hikari…what do you want to do?"
At his statement and question Hikari looked up at him and murmured without hesitation, "I don't want to go to Kyushu…I-I want to stay here in Tokyo." She continued in the same manner, "I want to surpass you and be Number One…I want to finish and graduate…I want to have fun with everybody in SA…and most of all, Takishima…I want to stay by your side."
Her statement was a confession that caused Kei's mouth to curve upward that's all I needed to hear…and everything I'll ever want. He saw that she still held the jewel box with his grandmother's ring so his hands encircled hers as they opened the box and removed the ring. "Then all you need to do is accept this…" He took her left hand, slipped the ring on and finished, "And say 'yes'."
Hikari stared at the diamond sparkling as if it had its own light…like one of the stars twinkling up in the sky fell and landed on her finger. She raised her eyes to meet his and said with uncharacteristic shyness, "So you really loved me all this time…and because of that I defeated you…really?"
Still holding her hand Kei nodded, "Yeah."
"And accepting your ring and proposal won't mean that I've lost?"
Still smiling Kei said, "How can it when that will mean you've captured me until 'death do us part'?" At her perplexed expression he raised her hand with the ring, kissed it and added, "It just solidifies your victory over me."
Hikari gazed up at him, with one niggling doubt remaining. "And my family?"
Kei replied, "When we marry as my family becomes yours, your family becomes mine. And since that's the case as I will be the chairman of the Takishima Group, now headquartered here in Tokyo, I'll see to it Jiro-san will have more than enough work through our construction holdings right here. And I'll provide a house for them in a very exclusive neighborhood, not far from where we'll live. So don't worry, koibito…you'll see them as much as you want."
Hikari lowered her head and gazed again at the heirloom ring now on her finger and said quietly, "So you want my answer, huh?"
"If you're ready to give it to me."
Kei's eyes were wide; expectant and glimmering in the moonlight…the same beautiful eyes of the man who had protected and cared for her no matter what. Yet also within them was a little boy who had been born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, who had every thing anyone could ever want…but the one thing he really wanted. And it all hinged on her one word as his heart pounded with anticipation and hope…
Please, please Kami-sama…he uttered a prayer silently as he waited…
Hikari bit her lip as she stared at the diamond, afraid to look at Kei as she tried to calm her throbbing heart; both elated and terrified at the same time. All her fears and insecurities that had served as a boundary since the night of the festival fireworks were crumbling as she saw that he had left no stone unturned, clearing all paths. And then she looked up at Takishima leaning on his imported sports car and saw him for what he was to the outside world…handsome, rich, powerful, gifted…a man who was every girl's dream…
However, she also saw a boy. The boy that came to her house one day and had beaten her so easily that she never got over it; who was so talented that he succeeded at everything, the corporate crowned prince to a worldwide conglomerate. Back then he appeared arrogant and looked down on her, which whetted her desire to defeat him even more. However, as she drew closer to him and they became best friends she saw that he was also a boy whose mother was absent because she had worked the family business abroad and only came home at Christmas while he was growing up, who had servants preparing his meals and taking care of him …not because they wanted to but because it was their job to do so. And she remembered the time he had a fever and how she had seen just how lonely his life was without somebody who cared to take care of him. She then determined to do just that and had, after a disastrous attempt at making rice porridge nursed him back to health by just staying by his side. And then she recalled how he had asked her once as the prize for beating her in a match to make him a boxed lunch; a bento that turned out to be (after a day's worth of failed efforts) two badly made rice balls which he ate and relished as if they were the finest gourmet fare. In both cases she did things for him to take care of him and it gave her happiness to do so. It then came to her that she wanted to always be by his side, taking care of him…
It's what I want…to take care of Takishima, fix him delicious food, welcome him home when he goes away on business trips when it dawned on her…
Those are the things that a wife does…and I want to do those things for him so why am I hesitating? She took a deep breath and began, "Taki-uh…Kei…since the night of the festival you've been so patient with me…thank you."
He smiled affectionately, "It's nothing."
She disagreed, "No, it's been wonderful…with my family's move and through everything you've always been there for me, making sure I'm alright. And you've done so much to make sure we stay together, even moving the main office of your family's business here to Tokyo from London so we can stay together…showing me constantly how much you love me…"
"Because I do," he whispered. "More than anything."
Hikari nodded, "I know…but I'm a gorilla girl…hardly a woman like my mother always said." She turned from him and went on, "I'm a terrible cook, short-tempered, headstrong…and I don't know if I can make any kind of wife…"
Dismayed Kei protested, "Hikari you're not-," but she turned and laid a finger across his lips.
"Let me finish," she bade. "As I said, I don't know if I can make any kind of wife but if you want to take a chance on me, I want to try. So if you do want to take that chance my answer is…yes. I'll marry you."
At those words Kei's fine features registered emotions that changed like quicksilver…from amazement to relief as he collapsed on the ground, sitting with his back against the fender of the Evora, his head in his hands. He murmured almost disbelievingly, "You'll marry me."
"Yes." Worried Hikari rushed to him and knelt before him. "Takishima? Are you alright?"
Saying nothing at first Kei just nodded then raised his head to face her with eyes bright. In a voice filled with emotion he rasped, "I-I'm so happy…that I could die from it." He then grabbed her and pulled her into his arms on his lap, hugging her so tight it made her breathless, his eyes closed in ecstasy. Holding her with everything in him he said…
"I'm now a man who has EVERYTHING."
END
