Descending down a short set of stairs in tandem, the couple's eyes both rose towards the ornate wooden architecture of the Yanabayashi shrine, tucked amongst trees and greenery under the darkness of night.
Here and back again so soon...
Slowing his pace and letting Ruka step ahead, she turned slightly, but continued towing Okabe along by his hand towards the front steps of the shrine.
Here to say closing thoughts and wishes... And complete my objective. Though to be so curt would be a disgrace. I'll let her be in control of how this ends.
Slowing to a halt near one of the statues, she then turned around, facing him and taking hold of both hands with an expected blush.
"Okabe."
"Ruka."
"I'm... Almost without words. Today was so wonderful, and I... Don't know where to begin about it."
"I told you, the entirety of today was set aside for you and I."
"Yes it was. We narrowly avoided Organization agents after lunch and went to two of my favorite places. It was an adventure... And it was perfect."
Beaming with a smile, Okabe nodded.
"It was an adventure to remember... And I assure you we'll have more in the future, grasshopper."
"I hope so. I had so much fun in the arcade and just being by your side, holding your hand. It was so easy to talk about anything."
"As it should be, between boyfriend and girlfriend."
Her mouth opened from his statement.
"Of course. Even if it was just for today... Being with you was a dream come true. Everything around us would just fade away when you'd look at me. And that moment in the park... Oh Okabe, you have no idea how incredible that was."
Cheeks warming from her gushing of recent memories, he sighed.
"I do know. That was the first time I've kissed anybody." I think.
Eyes widening in surprise, a breath of excitement left her lungs.
"I... But, surely you don't mean that..."
He simply nodded.
"You're my first kiss." Romantically, anyway. There.
Gripping his hands tighter, she looked away, a giddy smile of surprise spreading across her face.
I'm his first kiss, and he was mine. I never thought this would happen. Especially with all the other girls he is around...
Peeking back at him through her hair, a tingle of excitement rushed through her skin.
Wow. I can't believe it.
Remaining still, the low hum of crickets and two beating hearts, kept the following moment from being silent.
"You don't know how much it means to me... That you did this."
"It was only fair. For what you're giving up, for Mayuri."
Both of their hearts grew heavy from the inevitability.
"Okabe..."
Watching as Ruka's eyes sank, he exhaled sadly as her mirth and happiness slowly vanished.
"Will Mayuri... Will she really be saved if... I give up being a girl?"
"We'll be a step closer. I assure you."
"I hope so. As much as I wish I could stay the way I am... And be able to show my feelings for you... I can't be like this, knowing Mayuri is what we lose instead."
Her downcast face contorted with heartache, and Okabe's throat tightened, pained by the loss visible in Ruka's expression.
"Here... I know you need it. To save her."
Digging through her handbag, she retrieved a folded slip of paper, and her arm rose, delicately setting it in his palm.
Instead of drawing away, her fingers curled around his hand, trembling.
Looking upward at him, she breathed shakily, waiting as he stared down towards the note inside their grasp.
His vision then rose to her face, and he produced a heavy-hearted nod.
"Thank you, Ruka. Your bravery will never be forgotten. Not by me."
Watching as her eyes closed, tears beaded down along her cheeks, but before she could bring her hands to her face, his index finger, and then his thumb, wiped the trails away in tandem.
Hand slipping out of his grasp, her forearms slowly settled around his sides, and her head hung low, trying valiantly to keep from weeping.
"Okabe." She whispered, voice cracking.
Steeling himself, he touched her face, thumb drifting down to her chin.
"I want to remember. I want to remember everything about today."
"I know you do. I wish you could remember. But once we undo the D-mail, only I will remember the events of the other world lines."
She breathed with trepidation.
"Will you remember... When we kissed?"
His mouth opened, heart beating from the moment they shared.
"I don't think I could forget."
A sharp sob left her lungs, and her fingers gripped the back of his suit coat as she pressed her forehead against his collarbone.
"I love you."
His chest tightened from her breathless whisper, only surprised by her courage to say so.
"I know."
Arms tucking around her backside, she let him pull her close, tucking gently into an embrace.
Chin resting upon her hair, just beside her pin, his eyes closed as her arms squeezed him tight.
Take as long as you need, grasshopper.
Her head turned to the side, and her face gently nuzzled against him, dampening his shirt from her cheeks, emotion-laden breath issuing back and forth from her lungs.
After an unknown passing of time, her head lifted from under his chin, and she looked up at him, her expression showing a hint of resolve.
"I should let you go on your way... Its probably getting late."
Heart sighing as she delicately released herself from his hold, a smile lifted his features.
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
Rubbing her eyes with her hand, she looked at him with slight confusion.
"...The password?" He offered.
Blinking, her eyes squinted in an attempt at recall.
"Yes, uh, El, Psy... Kongroo."
Nodding proudly from her breathy response, he brushed a tuft of hair aside from her forehead.
"Perfect."
Smiling weakly, her hands came together, suspended in front of the buttons of her light blue dress.
"Okabe."
Answering simply with a rise of his chin, she continued.
"Save Mayuri. Do whatever it takes."
"I will. For us."
Her head turned, and tears pooled and streamed from her eyes.
"For us." She echoed, exhaling as his hand set upon her shoulder, and then slipped away.
Turning around towards the shrine, two sets of footsteps began, but as soon as she stepped up into the shadow of the shrine's roof, Ruka turned, watching Okabe ascend up the distant stairs, hands in his pockets.
With a pause, and a turn of his head, she matched his small wave, quietly sobbing as her hand rested upon the wooden railing, gripping it firmly.
I love you, Okabe.
Remember that. For me.
Walking along a sidewalk, somewhere between the Yanabayashi shrine behind, and his chaotic apartment ahead, Okabe's hands stayed in the pockets of his coat, his mind replaying the last several hours in vivid detail.
What an emotional whirlwind. The science of romancing is not my forte, but from what I could glean from the day's procession, I think it fared well. Especially in consideration of how it all went the first time.
Oh well. Can't learn without making mistakes first. I used what I learned and added a bit extra to be sure. Successfully leaped back, and took Ruka Urushibara on the best date she could have imagined, in exchange for the pager number to help save Mayuri's life.
...And to turn Ruka back into a boy, and negate everything she wishes for.
Sigh.
Mission accomplished. I suppose.
Passing under the glow of individual streetlights, he listened to his ongoing footsteps in thought.
Even with reversing her D-mail, I know she still will feel the same about me. Even as a boy. She... He, just won't admit it. But I'll know. And I'll remember, regardless of world lines.
A light laugh of irony left Okabe's lungs.
I already established it earlier. Ruka Urushibara is in love with me, as a universal constant. Every instance of time I've leaped to, she, or he, still harbors the same feelings.
So how do I feel about that?
A smile arose as he looked up into the night sky.
After today, quite content, actually.
