Shortly after they had arrived back, Saeko and Rei changed into the fresh clothes Shizuka had brought them. Saeko knew that Rei needed to tell Takashi what happened, and followed Shizuka back to the bedding isle to join the rest of the group.
"We left Saeko's house, but when we got to the park, the whole precinct was dead where they lay," Rei explained with a nasal voice, fighting her tears with every breath she took. "I started checking the bodies to see if I recognized anybody, or to see if he was already gone, that's when They started coming from every direction." She smiled slightly as she looked to Takashi, "Saeko truly is amazing. Her father is here…"
"What?" Takashi asked in surprise.
"…he left her a sword at their house." She looked away again as she spoke, "What she did with those two blades, it was almost beautiful to watch." Takashi felt a glimmer of pride at Saeko's ability, and Rei continued, "She eliminated all of them, except for one."
Instantly, it became clear to Takashi what had happened, though he let Rei finish, "I couldn't believe it when I saw his face, Takashi. She had just put her swords away and he came out of nowhere."
"What happened?" Takashi asked.
"She put one of her swords to his neck, in its case to keep him off of her, but she couldn't pull it out without him getting to her." Tears slid down Rei's cheeks, "I couldn't even move I was so afraid. I knew Saeko couldn't hold him much longer, so…I said goodbye, and-"
Takashi interrupted her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her body tight to his. Immediately she began to cry hysterically, screaming through her tears, "Why did this have to happen? Why did my dad have to die, Takashi?"
Though they were far from the others, everyone heard her words clear as day, and they all bowed their heads in respect.
Takashi pushed her away slightly and wiped her tears from her eyes as he spoke, "You set him free, Rei; always remember that. You saved your father's life."
Though her tears still ran down her cheeks, she struggled to accept his comforting words. She knew he was right, and while it was hollow comfort, it was something. She then remembered her conversation with Saeko just a few hours earlier. How she told her that happiness wasn't something easily found in this world. Now more than ever she new her friend's words to be true, and wearing the purest smile she had in days, Rei quietly asked, "Where is nurse Marikawa?"
A smiling Takashi followed Rei through to the bedding isle where everyone was quietly waiting to offer Rei their condolences. As Rei walked towards them, she lined up nurse Marikawa in her sights. Her smile grew wider and Shizuka couldn't help but notice Rei's unflinching gaze as she approached. The buxom blonde's bombshell body tensed in anticipation of one of Rei's typically rough gropes, and she closed her eyes. However, instead of grabbing at her ample features, Rei wrapped her arms behind Markiawa's neck and just as Shizuka felt Rei's arms around her, she opened her eyes to find Rei's lips joined with hers.
Everyone was stunned to silence, their jaws agape. Hirano couldn't help but salivate slightly, quickly bringing Saya to snap out of it. She smacked him in the back of the head and scolded, "Put your tongue back in your mouth! I'm sitting right here!"
He turned to her wearing an embarrassed smile and replied, "Gomen nasai, Saya-sama."
"Oh shut up," She shouted before taking his mind and vision from Rei and Shizuka's kiss, by indulging in their own.
Alice chuckled as she watched the two separate displays of affection, and turned to Takashi and Saeko. Immediately they felt like it was there turn and Saeko asked with a warm smile, "Komuro-kun?"
He returned the grin and replied, "As you wish."
As Takashi leaned to give Saeko a kiss, Rei was just pulling away from Shizuka. It had taken a lot of courage to do what she had, and now that it was done, she needed to know how Marikawa felt, "Say something." Shizuka remained silent and in a daze as to what had just happened.
Rei could think of only one thing to snap her out of it; she smiled and pinched Shizuka's nipples through her shirt. Immediately the nurse was conscious and let out a scream laced in both pleasure and pain. Her hands quickly tended to her breasts once again and she asked, "Why are you always so rough with-"
Rei pressed her lips to Shizuka's once again, silencing her question. While she wasn't quite sure how or why, Shizuka loved the feeling of Rei's lips and body pressed to hers. She hadn't ever given much thought to taking a woman as her partner, but this warmth that filled her was something she could very well get used to. Rei pulled away from her and as she was about to ask again, a tender smile appeared on Shizuka's lips as she spoke, "That was nice, Miyamoto-chan."
Rei wore her happiness on her face, and just like that, the six of them had found their partners. Ayane walked around the corner of the isle to find the three couples all in the midst of embrace. The sight of Rei and Shizuka in each other's arms was a bit jarring, but after looking to little Alice in the center of the isle, the child brought her finger to her lips. Ayane smiled and silently headed back to the office that had become her room.
An hour later, Shizuka and Rei prepared dinner side-by-side, while Kota and Saya played with Alice. Ayane caught a whiff of the food and came over to Rei and Shizuka who had brought over another grill to cook multiple things at once, "What are we having tonight?"
"Kobe marinated in soy sauce…" Shizuka began.
"…with wasabi potatoes," Rei finished for her partner. It was so simple a thing for them to finish each other's sentence, though it still brought them to grin at one another.
"To be young and in love," Ayane thought. She looked around briefly noticing Saeko and Takashi were nowhere to be found and asked, "Where are Takashi and Saeko?"
On the roof, Saeko stood with her back to Komuro. His arms gently wrapped her firm abdomen, holding her close to him as they looked out over the moonlit parking lot. He placed a kiss at the top of her neck instantly bringing butterflies to fly about in her stomach. She smiled and turned her face to him, allowing him a brief taste of her lips. She turned back to the parking lot and Takashi commented, "Do you think you're dad will show up tonight?"
"It's hard to say," Saeko replied. "I'd like to think he'd seek shelter for the night, and in doing so, would look for a familiar place, such as our home. As long as that's where he went than he should-"
"Saeko!" Takashi interrupted, and pointed towards the parking lot.
Saeko's eyes widened as she observed a man, dressed similar to Saya's father approaching. She leaned onto the edge of the roof and cupped her hands around her mouth as she shouted, "Papa?"
"Saeko!" The man replied.
Takashi and Saeko made their way back to the loading dock and stepped outside to greet Saeko's father. As Kage Busujima rounded the corner, Takashi swallowed a lump in his throat. It had dawned on him in an instant that he was going to need this man's permission to be with his daughter. Watching as he took step after confident step, Takashi was more terrified than he'd been since They had first appeared. Saeko's father was every bit as intimidating as Saya's father, only this man taught Souichiro Takagi.
As he approached them, both Saeko and Takashi offered him a bow. While he seemed to disapprove of Takashi almost immediately, he turned to his daughter's bowing form and smiled. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, bringing Saeko to straighten herself out. She looked to him with a warm smile and as he looked her over, he saw the swords at her side and spoke, his voice deep and coarse, "Souichiro gave you the Murata sword?"
Saeko looked to the long-blade at his side and asked, "Is Hanzo-san's steel as sharp as you remember?"
Kage gave his daughter a smile and spoke, "I'm glad you're safe, Saeko."
"I had a good teacher," she replied.
He returned the gesture, turned to Komuro and asked, "And who is this young man?"
Takashi straightened himself out, only to once again offer a bow, his nervousness now evident in his voice, "Komuro Takashi, Busujima-sensei."
Kage grinned at the respect Takashi offered him and spoke, "You've been taking care of my daughter I take it?"
Takashi smiled, "To the best of my abilities, sir."
Briefly glancing at his daughter, Kage could see her feelings for Takashi as clear as day.
Turning to her father, Saeko saw the blood on his clothes and commented, "There are plenty of clean clothes inside. You can get washed up and changed if you like, but…"
He could see their was something on his daughter's mind and asked, "What is it?"
"One of our friends lost her father just a few hours ago. I'm grateful to have you here, but…"
Kage smiled at the size of his daughter's heart, "I won't cause a scene."
"Arrigato, papa."
Takashi offered to allow them through the door first, and promptly locked up behind them. Having taken notice of Saeko and Takashi running through the isles, at hearing a set of footsteps approaching, Saya came around the isle and asked, "What's going on?"
Saeko and Kage appeared a few seconds later, and Saeko quietly explained, "This is my father."
"Hello," Kage quietly replied to the sea of astounded faces.
Rei looked on them with glass coated eyes. A part of her knew that Saeko's father would appear sooner or later, and just as she felt she might burst into tears, she felt a hand atop hers. She turned to find Shizuka smiling as she held her hand, and just like that, she was calm once again. While it was something new for the both of them, having each other brought the both of them comfort. She offered her partner a smile and turned back to Saeko, "Ohayou, Busujima-sensei."
Without another word, Saeko led her father through to another office off of the sales floor where he could change. As Takashi joined the group, Saya spoke, "Komuro-kun-"
"I know, Saya-sama," Takashi replied. Another adult, especially one as strong as Saeko's father appeared to be stood to upset the balance of their group. While he would offer Kage the respect he deserved, it was Takashi who swore to protect his friends. Somehow though, he knew it wouldn't be easy.
In the other office, Kage finished tying a new pair of shoes and asked, "So that boy…"
"Komuro?" Saeko answered.
He looked up to his daughter and asked, "Do you love him?"
It wasn't common for Saeko to feel fear, but at her father's quick deduction, she flinched, "Why do you ask?"
"You're older than him, aren't you?" Kage asked, his disapproval evident in his tone.
"Yes, but-"
"You're above him, Saeko," Kage interrupted. "You're older and more capable than he is. He should be answering to you, yet they all answer to him, don't they?"
Saeko kept her tone as calm as she could, "Takashi has done everything he could to protect us all, papa. Bringing us here, was-"
"I won't have my daughter taking orders from a man who isn't fit to die by her sword!" Kage denounced.
Takashi stood just a few feet away from the office, though everyone heard the words he shouted, "This must be how Saeko felt."
Again Saeko came to Takashi's defense, "You don't know him, papa!" At hearing her defend him, Takashi smiled just slightly, "He's done everything he can to keep us safe, to keep me safe! He's-"
The slap rang out as clear as day, and immediately Takashi's eyes widened in anger. He rounded the corner and looked into the office to find Saeko's hand on her cheek. He locked eyes with Kage, and while the man before him was intimidating on a whole new level, the sight of Saeko holding her face buried his fear.
"Get out," Takashi quietly spoke.
"What?" Kage arrogantly asked.
"Your daughter went out of her way to find you, to make sure you knew she was safe, even though you weren't in Japan when They appeared." Kage looked away slightly and Takashi screamed, "Look at her!" Kage's eyes turned to Saeko's cowering form and Takashi continued, "This is how you thank her?"
"You have no place-"
"No I don't," Takashi interrupted in agreement. "But I've gotten us this far, and I haven't lost anyone." As Takashi's eyes glanced to Saeko, he felt something in him change. His heart broke seeing her in pain, and without missing a beat, he continued, "I love your daughter more than anything or anyone in this world." Saeko looked to Komuro wearing a look of pure serenity and he continued, "I could only be so lucky to have the chance to give my life for her."
Around the corner from the office, Ayane smiled slightly at hearing Takashi's admission about Saeko. A few seconds later, she appeared in the doorway behind Takashi, just at the moment Saeko looked to her. Takashi turned to his mother and quickly back to Saeko. He placed an arm around her, and without a second look for her father, Takashi walked the woman he loved from the room, leaving Kage and Ayane alone. While Kage's arrogance in the moment was unending, the look on Ayane's face chilled him to the core.
"My son is a good man, Busujima-san. He might not be as old, or as capable as your daughter, but he's in love with her."
He struggled to be as strong as he felt he needed to be and spoke, "Love doesn't mean-"
"It means everything," Ayane interrupted. The calm in her tone seemed to break down the wall that surrounded Kage, "A girl in their group recently found happiness with another woman among them." Kage's eyes narrowed as he looked to her, "She said that Saeko told her, happiness isn't something that is easily found in this world. If two people can find happiness in each other in a world like this, who are we to get in their way?"
Kage bowed his head, instantly knowing just how right she was, "This has been hard for all of us."
Ayane smiled, "I know. But these kids; we're in their world. They survived for days without our help. We are a part of their group, and we should consider ourselves lucky for it."
"You're the boys mother?"
"That's right," Ayane replied as she turned to head to the door.
"If he's half as wise as you, it's no wonder they chose him to lead."
"Arrigato, Busujima-san," Ayane replied in the doorway. Before leaving him, she turned back once more, "If you'd like to join us, dinner is almost ready."
Komuro walked Saeko up to the roof. She was silent the entire walk up, and when they got there, neither said a word as Takashi's hands gently turned her face in the moonlight. Her cheek was faintly red where her father struck her, and as any loving boyfriend would, he placed a kiss on her cheek. She smiled slightly as her eyes met his and she finally spoke, "Did you mean what you said, Komuro-kun?"
He offered her a warm smile and gently pressed his lips to hers. She reached her hands to his face, holding him to her as he kissed her, and finally he pulled away, "I've meant it for days, I just wasn't ready, Saeko-chan. But seeing you like that, feeling so much pain for what he did to you, it just came out. I'm sorry I couldn't have said it sooner, or at a better time."
Saeko smiled slightly, "It was a good time, Komuro-kun."
Takashi returned the smile and anxiously spoke, "Close your eyes, Saeko chan."
"Why?"
"Trust me," Takashi assured her. She smiled and shut her eyes as he took her hands into his. He walked her across the rooftop to a section between several of the large mechanical fixtures and finally came to a halt, "Open your eyes, Saeko-chan."
Her eyes cracked open, slowly at first, than all at once, revealing Komuro's surprise; a bed, with a complete set of linen on the roof top. "I thought you might like to fall asleep looking at the stars."
She turned to him wearing a wide smile and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, "I love it, Komuro-kun."
Takashi peered into her big blue eyes, their longing for one another written on both of their faces. Neither Komuro, nor Saeko was sure how the other felt, but in this moment, they both wanted nothing more than to take comfort in one another. "Takashi?" Saeko asked, the subtle tones in her voice bringing Komuro to place his lips atop hers once again. He slowly and carefully leaned forward, bringing her to first sit, than lay back onto the mattress Takashi had set up.
Takashi lay above and beside her, their lips still intertwined. Komuro brought his right hand to slowly traverse her toned torso, once again finding her left breast over her tank top. A muffled sigh of pleasure emanated through their locked lips, and now it was Saeko's turn. Her left hand found him, instantly bringing a glimmer of excitement over him. His handiwork grew more intense as did hers, and finally he slipped his hand beneath her shirt. She threw her head back in ecstasy as he gently massaged her, and occasionally offered a thrilling pinch or twist.
Her face tilted forward slightly, her eyes meeting him as she asked, "Make love to me, Komuro-kun?"
Takashi offered no response save for a kiss. He pulled away from her, positioning himself between her legs. Admiring the curves of her body from this angle, he struggled to keep himself from rushing this. He softly ran his hands up her legs, bringing her to coo lightly in excitement as his hands slipped beneath her skirt. He took hold of her panties, slipping them down her thighs, then her calves, and finally dropping them on the bed beside them. He leaned over her, once again placing his lips to hers as his fingers found their way into her.
What started as a muffled, pleasure laced sigh, had quickly become a muffled cry of ecstasy. He hit all the right spots, bringing her to throw her head back and cry out, "Komuro-kun!"
He smiled at what he had done to her and she reached her hands up, pulling his face down to hers. Her hands traversed his body, unbuckling his pants and slipping them down. He pulled away from her and took his hand back to remove his pants. His pants and undergarments on the bed as well, he again leaned over her and pressed his lips to hers. She could feel him between her legs and again broke her lips free, "Don't make me wait, Komuro-kun; please…"
She reached her hands down, guiding him towards her, and with great delicacy, he slowly made his way into her. She again threw her head back, and while there was a way to go, Komuro took his time. Using one hand to hold himself up, he flipped her tank top up, revealing her supple and ample assets to him. He took her left breast into his right hand once more, and quietly spoke over her cries, "Your body is beautiful, Saeko."
He placed his lips atop her other breast, and simultaneously penetrated her further. Her body was overflowing with pleasure and she cried out, "Komuro-kun!"
He pushed himself up and lowered his face to hers, finally giving her what she desired, entering her completely all at once. She cried out for a moment, and finally gained her composure. She looked into Komuro's eyes and smiled at the stillness of their union. "Are you ready, Saeko-chan?"
She nodded, and immediately Takashi took a slow cadence within her. With each of his movements, she found her mind overwhelmed with excitement. He occasionally took hold of her slender, curvaceous figure, and with each touch of his fingers, her cries grew more intense. Finally, she could stand no more. She wrapped her legs around him and cried out, "More…faster…"
As was asked of him, he sped up his rhythm, instantly bringing the pitch and volume of her cries to become both higher and louder. Her body tightened around him, bringing the end of his rope closer and closer, "Saeko-chan!"
"It's…alright, Komuro-kun," Saeko reassured between her gasps for air.
With those few words, Takashi released his anxiety of this infernal world, and his love for the woman beneath him into her. They dripped with a cold sweat in the night air, remaining as one while they caught their breath. They stared into one another's eyes, and as Komuro lowered his lips to hers, she could hardly control her trembling body to lift her head from the bed. After sharing the taste of one another, Takashi pulled away from her and quietly spoke, "I love you, Saeko."
"I love you, Takashi."
