Words: 451
Characters: Hatori, Kana
Time: Pre-manga
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Tayaka Natsuki owns everything.
"Hatori, it's so beautiful!" Kana trailed her fingers in the water, small ripples sending the fall-colored leaves on the surface floating away. He smiled.
"I always come here in autumn. I'm glad you enjoy it like I do."
She turned back to him, her smile making his heart swell. "I love it, Hatori. All of it."
He paused, and reached out his hand to hold her face. "Even... even me?"
Hatori wasn t sure how she would react, but he had to ask. His heart was beating wildly for some reason. Kana only tilted her head into his hand, her smile growing softer.
"Hatori, what a stupid question."
Hatori's heart suddenly stopped out of shock. Out of all the things he had half-expected her to say, that had not been on the list. "Does that mean...?"
"Shh..." She reached up a small hand and pulled his fingers away from her face. On her knees, she leaned forward, her other hand finding his on the ground. "It doesn't matter. It's just a word. What matters is how we spend the time we have together. We can never tell how long that will be, so every moment is precious." Her eyes were passionate, and Hatori found he couldn't look away.
"Don't say things like that, Kana," Hatori said quietly, finally able to speak. "I want us to be forever."
Kana patted his hand. "Me too," she almost whispered. "Me too." Then she rolled off her knees, sitting on the leaf-strewn ground beside him. She let her head rest against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Hatori bent his head to press his lips against hers for a moment, and then he closed his eyes as well and let his head rest on top of hers. They listened to their breathing for a long minute, content to be together.
At first, only one came. Kana pointed to it excitedly, and Hatori half-smiled. Soon, they were surrounded by a swirling dance of iridescent dragonflies.
"Hatori!" Kana whispered, as if afraid to scare them away. "Hatori, look at them all! Aren't they beautiful?"
He looked at her. "They are pale next to you."
"Nonsense," Kana said briskly, a blush spreading across her cheeks. She leaned back against him, and didn't say anything more. She simply watched the dragonflies in amazement. Hatori was not looking at the miracle before him - or at least, not the dragonflies. He was staring lovingly at his own little miracle, the woman who loved him. He was sure of it. She wouldn't say it, but Hatori knew in the way she wanted to spend every second with him.
And he knew he would spend every second with her.
Forever, he thought.
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