Walking together in the cool of dusk, the two found that normal feelings of anxiety, overattentiveness, and nervousness which they had recently come to associate with the other's company were thickly overlain with a layer of peace. Breathing; just breathing the cool, crisp air of the starry fall evening sent an essence of purity and clarity into the body and mind. Infused with feelings of well-being and an appreciation for life's commonplace functions, Ryu and his somewhat jittery companion contemplated the night.

On a night like this, Ryu was overwhelmed with unconditional love for the girl beside him. With a sad sort of certainty, he did not allow himself to believe that she could also love him as he loved her. After all, he knew the scope of his love. It was a lot to ask.

So, he was surprised when it was her shoulder that pressed up against his. He glanced at her, questioningly. Head down, she had sidled up to him and gingerly took hold of the cuff of his sleeve. Bemused, he grinned.

he startled her by completing the motion; enveloping her small hand in his large one and lacing their fingers together like such contact was something he initiated frequently. In actuality, it could not be further from the truth, however he wanted to show Chizuru that he had confidence in his affection, no, his love for her person. He wanted her to see that he believed in their compatibility; that it was natural to hold Chizuru's hand. Because then, if she ever came close to feeling the same way about him, it would be easy for her to have confidence, too. The man must lead, after all.

Their proximity was daunting, but he was pleased to feel Chizuru's hand returning the pressure with which he held hers; albeit tentatively. She slowed and then paused in her stride. Her head snapped upward.

"Ryu."

"Hn."

"I think...I think Ryu...I think I'm confused."

Never one for words, he looked at her inquisitively, prompting her to continue with his eyes. He gently directed the hair away from her eyes, to better read her expression. Chizu appeared as though she wished to continue, but no words escaped her lips.

"I love you, Chizuru."

"Just stop it! That's why I'm confused!" Her explosiveness didn't faze him.

"Ryu keeps sending me all these confusing emotions, and I don't know how to feel about them, and everything's getting so mixed up in my head that I can't even tell what are my feelings and what are Ryu's anymore. I just...I wish that you never made me think about such weird things!"

She ripped her hand away from his and struck out, her violent streak glaring viciously through the fabric of her normally morality-tinted person. He caught her strike with precision and ease before it met its mark, his lithe muscles enjoying the feel of her strength in opposition to his own. Chizu struggled bitterly, but inevitably broke down.

"I...I don't know what to do anymore." Her figure trembled, drained of energy. She slumped forward into his arms; onto his chest.

"I think I'm in love with Ryu," she squeaked, her voice breaking into strained sobs. She pounded his chest pathetically with one fist. Pensieve, he considered her.

She made an incoherent sound to which he didn't know how to reply. Exasperated, she snatched his arms and wrapped them around her. Ryu readily complied. They stood like that for a while.

"Chizuru...If you love me, I'm glad. But even if you decide you don't, I love you. Not because of the way you look, or appear to others, but because you are Chizuru."

She pressed herself closer to him. Her sobs had quieted.

"Thank you," she whispered.