Their eyes met when Taka lifted herself over the edge of the roof.
"Move over," she said then crawled up to flop down next to him, her back pressed to his side.
"Skipping class?" he asked noting her Chikori Middle uniform and briefly wondered how she hadn't been caught in the halls.
Taka shrugged. "Some things are more important at the moment." They fell silent then, each enjoying the warmth of the sun and of the other. Hibari's hand strayed to her head, his fingers threading through her hair. She didn't move closer as she usually did but she didn't push him away either. His mouth opened and his resolve wavered. Irritated with himself, his hands tensed and Taka pulled away. His eyes followed her when she sat up, her back to him.
"Kyoya," her voice cracked and she took a deep breath, her spine straightening. "You've been so preoccupied lately and it makes me worry," she took another breath, holding it for a moment. "You shouldn't keep splitting your life between this thing of Sawada's and Namimori."and me hung in the air between them.
"Making me choose?" Hibari asked harshly, suddenly angry at her.
Taka shook her head, still not looking at him. "No. I'm not making you do anything. Not that I ever could," he heard the sad smile in her voice before she fell silent. He could see that she was struggling with her next words when she turned just a little, the side of her face visible. Moving slowly, he sat up then knelt next to her. She smiled sadly, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Don't," he demanded and she laughed as the tears flowed over to run down her cheeks.
"You know I never listen to you." Hibari looked at her grimly before reaching out to pull her face to his chest. Her tears soaked through the thin material of his shirt and his skin to burn into his heart like acid. "I love you," Taka sucked in some air and shuddered in his hold. His hand slid from her head to her hand, his fingers wrapping with hers. "But I can't forget the most important thing I've learned from you and that's that being free is everything." Emotions flashed through him like lightning: fear, anger, shock, and relief.
Taka pulled away from him to look up into his pale face. "I figured it out," she said softly, "and I'm alright that you couldn't bring yourself to...to end it." She looked down. "I guess, in your own way, that's how you tell me you care."
Hibari rose, his fingers still twined with Taka's. The sun glinted off the tears rolling down her cheeks when she lifted her face. Very slowly, he leaned down to place the gentlest kiss he'd ever given her on her lips. "I love you," Hibari whispered hearing all the sadness and relief packed into those words. Her fingers tightened on his when he straightened until finally, Taka closed her eyes and let him go.
Heli: Random Fact Ten: I envy Largo's ability to write everyday. If I could do that, all my Fan Fiction and novel ideas would already be done by now. Instead, I'm the Queen of Procrastination.