AN: 2/2016 Revised Chapter
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The Welcome Beach and Grill Party was underway by the time Leon and Sora came.
Ken and a couple of the guys were getting the food grilled before the sun set, another group was in the water, others playing frisbee, and the rest lounged around talking. A long table carried all of the pot luck items. Several people were helping themselves to some dip and chips. Idly, Ken watched Sora jog up to the pot luck table, putting down a good sized square container. She looked one with the beach in a pair of swim shorts and a breezy blue top. He could see the peeking of a bright orange halter tie around her neck from presumably her bikini underneath. She was talking with Leon about something; he didn't know what.
He did see her suddenly stretch up to kiss Leon.
He turned his head, lightly blushing. He found that she was even more affectionate in public with the Frenchman, sneaking extra glances at him and smiling, getting in another peck when she already kissed him or just touching him on the shoulder and arm during teaching. Ken used to come in to help, but now that Leon was in the practice room, he did not feel comfortable in there. Only if Sora requested it did he come and even that was not often at all.
He undid the cooler lid with the meats.
He knew that they were together. He had accepted the fact that she did not see him in that light. But a part of him still wondered from time to time: was her behavior towards him solely because he had never told her how he felt? If she knew about his feelings and for how long he's had them, would she see him differently? His eyes darted back to the couple, seeing Sora squeeze Leon's hand; then, he watched incredulously as the stoic male lightly squeezed back. Her smile curved even more.
Would it have been him instead of Leon, partaking in her smiles and kisses if only he told her...?
Ken felt eyes on him. He snapped out of his thoughts, suddenly finding himself staring at Leon. He swallowed a little and then cracked a smile. Sora followed Leon's gaze and then lifted a hand to merrily wave at him. He waved back half heartedly and then turned back to the grill.
"Dude, is this enough lighter fluid?"
"Heck yeah man. This sucker needs to heat up! Hey Ken, you got the matches?"
"Ah yeah, right here." Ken struck a match and then dropped it into the grill. The grill roared with flames far taller than any of them. "Gah!" He quickly threw some sand into the grill and then the flames settled back down.
"Duuuude! We could have roasted!"
"We could have died!" Ken half yelled. "You put too much lighter fluid!"
"Hey man, I tried asking you but you were so out of it."
Ken had the decency to blush. "W-Well, ask louder next time."
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A couple of their students approached them, giving a quick hello.
Sora smiled as Leon inclined his head. He only helped with the intermediate class, but she appreciated the fact that he came. The latest student left and she stepped up to him to rest her hand against his arm.
"Thanks for making lemon tarts with me."
He glanced down at her and then back up at the volleyball net he was putting up. "Considering you almost forgot the sugar, it was a good thing I did."
"Mou," she pouted, "I would have tried it first and then remade it!"
A grin appeared on his face, but she could not see it. "Tomorrow is your last day."
The bet had only been for a month. And within that month she felt that they grew closer in a way that their previous dates didn't allow them to. In the comfort of her dorm and his apartment, they shared many things - mostly her, but he added in a thing or two here and there - from childhood stories to hidden fears, to tales of Kaleido Stage and funny things he encountered throughout his travels. She couldn't see him sharing all of this when they were out in a restaurant. She tilted her head a little. When I first came over to wash his car, he had been open to sharing in his apartment. And lately, he was getting comfortable enough in her dorm to talk about himself. Those walls were becoming a safe haven for him and she couldn't be happier.
"Leon?"
He turned his head a little to indicate that he was listening.
"Could we continue? We can alternate between your place and mine, cook together," she felt her face heat up a little, "learn more about each other..."
He tied off the last of the netting and then faced her. "I had planned to."
She smiled widely. "Good." She put her arms around his neck. "Because I have yet to see any baby pictures."
"That is the sole reason why you would want to continue?"
"You know it's not the main reason."
Leon leaned his forehead against hers, a tiny smile making its way on his face. Yes, he did know. After all, he wanted to create something new and unique with her. The sharing of personal lives was a very vital part of that. But he had not expected this feeling of unburdening, nor was he aware just how gnawing a loneliness still existed inside of him before they started sharing so much. She leaned up to kiss him, a special extra glimmer in her eyes that made him wonder. We have shared stories before.
He kissed back softly. Even kissing felt different.
"Hey lovebirds!" May stood to the side with the volleyball in hand, "I'd like to play a few rounds before dawn!"
Sora pulled away with a light blush. "Sorry," she murmured to him, then turned to May. "You could have been politer! Your parents would be horrified by your rudeness!"
"Like you actually know them," came May's flat response.
"...No, I don't. But still!"
Rosetta came over with Anna. "Are we starting now?"
"Yeah." May grinned. "We had to wait for the smooching court to turn into a volleyball court."
"May!"
"I know dimwit. Come on."
As a couple more people came over to play, Sora pulled her blue shirt off, not realizing the short show she had given Leon. His eyes roamed her tanned skin, the gentle curves of her chest and the pleasing width of her hips.
"Do you mind holding onto my shirt?"
He slowly blinked out of his daze and then silently took her shirt. She smiled and ran off to team up with Rosetta's side. He looked down at her shirt, still feeling the warmth of her body in the material. He fisted the shirt. Were things so different because they actually voiced out being in love? He watched the game with half a mind.
"Out!" Sora grinned.
May bared her teeth. "You are so blind that was in!"
"Oh get real," Rosetta spoke out, "that was like a foot out!"
He crossed his arms. "More like a fourth of a foot out."
Sora gleefully turned back to May. "See? Even the ref agrees!"
"I want a second opinion!"
"Leon was the third opinion!"
"Fine you sissies! I'll give you a handicap!"
"Handicap?" Rosetta frowned as she got closer to the net, "We don't need no stinking handicap!"
"Rosetta?" Sora blinked at the usually calm girl.
Anna laughed. "Seems like May's finally rubbing off on her!"
May crossed her arms. "About fricking time. We don't need anymore wusses."
"May!"
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The sun was down now and the bonfire keeping people warm.
With the fire and the soothing guitars playing around, Sora was feeling so relaxed. Her eyes drooped a little and she couldn't withhold her yawn.
"We can lay back."
She sleepily blinked up at Leon. They were sitting on the same beach blanket, their disposable plates and cups in a pile next to them. Lay on the blanket together? Her cheeks flushed a little. It seemed kind of questionable. She yawned again, her head leaning against his shoulder. But it's not like we're on a bed. They were outside and they clearly weren't doing any funny business. She felt herself falling backwards, but in a controlled manner. Leon's arm was around her shoulders as he tilted them back, having taken her second yawn as an affirmative.
They lay on the blanket. He felt quite comfortable with her by his side. She put her arm across him, giving him a teddy bear squeeze. It's kind of like embracing, but laying down. She could deal with that.
"Did you know," she half yawned before continuing, "that there are organisms in the ocean that glow under the moon?"
"What kind of organisms?"
She half shrugged. "Super tiny ones, I guess."
"What phase of the moon?"
"Leon, you know I don't remember."
He grinned down at her. He couldn't help teasing her. "That is fascinating."
"Mm." She nuzzled his shoulder. "Why are you so warm?"
"Because I am alive."
She softly giggled. "That's good to know." Her fingers curled around some of his hair. "I like that you're warm."
"...It is strange."
His personality would be described as frigid, ice, glacier, - anything that was the complete opposite of warmth. Yet his body was warm. It was almost unnatural for him to be so. He watched as her lids gave up fighting and closed completely. She was warmth inside and out. He softly sighed, bringing her closer to his side.
Voicing out that they were in love made all the difference.
It was an acknowledgement of how much they meant to each other, how deep inside she was and he in her. I...want more. He needed more, truth to be told. However, unlike his other relations in the past, it was not a physical want - though he knew he did desire her. He felt like he was awakened to a whole other world of feeling when they were together. It was new to him and he knew he craved it. He stared at the stars, letting her fill his thoughts. It was strange for him to feel like this.
But completely welcomed.
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AN: Leon's getting the lovey feels! XD