CHAPTER 13.5

It was time to leave the Inn. The last few days were spent and although everyone wanted to stay, there was work to be done. For two people however, they felt that this trip was worth it.

As soon as Houki and Raiden got on board the bus and sat in their seats together, the former had kept a big smile of comfort. She was still reflecting on that first kiss that night, along with sleeping with Raiden afterwards. At least, no one knew they were sleeping together and that they didn't…make love during that night. It was probably a wise move anyway. But at this point, Raiden was hers…for the time being.

Some of the girls had taken notice of the two together and gossiped amongst themselves whether they were together or not. Even Ichika and the other girls were surprised of this.

Wanting answers, they decided to speak to the two.

"Psst. Raiden." whispered Rin from behind his seat.

Once Raiden heard the voice, Houki immediately shot up and tried to keep a composure. Unfortunately, she couldn't hide her blush that was across her face.

"We don't mean to be rude. But umm…" Charlotte all but hesitated. She couldn't exactly find the right words.

"Are you two together?" asked Ichika loudly, prompting the boy to get pommeled by Cecilia and Rin.

"Ichika! You shouldn't ask that question casually!" said Cecilia.

Ichika was a little frightened yet kept a sheepish smile. Raiden was not even surprised.

"Y-You…" The group turned over to see Houki with a face of pure embarrassment as it looked like she was ready to just burst out. What it would be exactly, no one knows for sure.

Luckily for her, Raiden answered the question and said,

"No. Not yet. But we are very close. Right?"

"Oh…Uh, yeah. We're just very close. That's all." Houki gave an embarrassing laugh. She knew in her heart, as did Raiden, that their bond was very strong but the flowers of love have yet to bloom.

"Hay, who's that!" yelled Honne Nohotoke, still in her fox cosplay. Has she not taken that thing off yet?

The woman appeared to be an American blonde with steely silver eyes in her mid-twenties. She seemed to be looking at the crowd in the bus before she spotted the two boys.

"Excuse me, is Orimura Ichika-san here? Along with Hataru Raiden-sama?"

"Ah, yes, that's us."

It just so happened that Ichika and Raiden were sitting at the front-most seat, and Ichika immediately responded once their names got called.

"Let me guess. Natasha Fairs of the Silver Gospel?" asked Raiden.

"That's me." The blonde American walked towards them with a smile and said "I just wanted to give my gratitude to the two men who saved my life. And this…"

Natasha leaned in and tried to give a kiss to Raiden but the blind boy was smart and grabbed Ichika and held him up for a shield.

ICHIKA BARRIER!

Ichika immediately got stunned and confused once Natasha gave the kiss. After she let go, Raiden let go and Ichika sat back on his seat with a red face and stunned expression. Natasha took her seat behind Chifuyu and Yamada-sensei, giving a wink to the two boys. Did she even know she gave a kiss to Ichika and not to Raiden?

"Ichika." Three voices growled from behind Ichika as he turned to see Rin, Cecilia, and Laura with scowls on their faces.

Charlotte could only sigh and looked to Raiden, who gave a sigh of relief, knowing that he didn't get kissed by an American.

Well…I feel bad for Ichika but he's got his own problem. As for me…

Charlotte looked to see Houki and Raiden together. While a part of her was jealous for the fact that Raiden belonged to Houki for the time being, she reminded herself that Houki went through all the trouble of her personal IS just to help the blind boy. So, with compassion and acceptance, she happily allowed them to be. But now Houki is one step ahead of her, which means she has got to plan to catch up somehow.

While Ichika was being poorly pommeled by the girls and Charlotte content to watch and not get involved, Raiden merely looked out the window while he had his music in his ears and Houki was starting to fall asleep. It was then that her head leaned over to the left and landed on Raiden's shoulder. Once Raiden looked over, he could only smile and let his head gently rest on hers as the both of them fell asleep.

Once the bus had returned to the Academy, Raiden was still fast asleep, as was Houki. They both had an earplug in one of their ears. It turns out Houki caught onto Raiden listening to his music and quietly took one of them and instilled it into her ear.

"Houki. Raiden." Ichika woke the two up, albeit with groggy eyes. After a stretch of their arms, Houki asked,

"Morning already?"

"We just got back. Come on. Everyone's almost out of the bus."

Houki left first before Raiden got out. While Ichika went on, the two went on and took their time.

"Hey…" said Houki.

"Hmm?" Raiden turns his head over to the samurai girl.

"I…I had a fun time at the Inn."

"As did I. It wouldn't be fun if one was there without the other."

Houki could only agree with a blush.

"Do you have plans for summer?" asked the girl.

"Hmm…Not that I know of." answered Raiden. "But I'll think of something. I just need to clear a few things first."

"Few things?" asked Houki.

Raiden immediately thought of Tatenashi. How was he going to explain of his close bond to Houki now?

"It's personal." said Raiden, making Houki understand. The two made their way back to Raiden's dorm room. Raiden then turned to Houki and merely gave a smile.

"I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay."

Raiden entered his dorm room and closed the door. Still a little bit tired, Raiden decided to take his clothes off and have a cold shower. They say that cold showers can help you fall asleep better if given the right temperature.

Right after his shower, Raiden put on a tank-top along with some briefs and tucked himself to bed. A lion has got to have his sleep anyway.

A couple hours were all that was needed. As soon as Raiden woke however, he felt something soft on his chest. He looked to see his tank-top was rolled up that exposed his chest. There was something underneath the blanket and Raiden looked under it to see a familiar blunette roommate of his.

Tatenashi was fast asleep, wearing only her bra and her thong. When did she even get in here? At any rate, it didn't matter. Raiden kissed the girl's head who awoke a little later.

"Hey…" said Raiden. "Sleep well?"

Tatenashi rubbed her eyes and gave a smile and said "Much. Especially with you."

She began to snake one of her legs around Raiden's as the boy gently stroked her back before coming to the edge of her rear.

But then Tatenashi had a serious face. A face rarely seen among this sneaky blunnette cat. Raiden saw this yet and waited with ears open to hear what Tatenashi had to say. It became clear to him of one thing.

Tatenashi was a little angry.

"I read the report of the Silver Gospel." said Tatenashi.

Raiden asked "How much?"

"Everything, including your solo fight."

Raiden could only remain expressionless when he heard of this until he gave a faint sigh through his nostrils.

"Why?" asked the girl, prompting Raiden to look up. "Why must you always be like this? Going off on your own and getting yourself killed in the process? Don't you have any idea how much you made me worried when you were in a coma last time?"

"Tatenashi…"

The blunette girl continued. "It was my job to aid you. To protect you. To help you recover from your depression. But now…" Tears began to form as the girl was now at a last of words. She lowered her head and refused to look at Raiden anymore as her tears slowly drizzled down her face, a few landing on Raiden's chest.

For the first time, Raiden saw Tatenashi with a very sad look.

This prompted the blind boy to sit up a little with the blunnette girl. Tatenashi gave a confused look yet still lowered her head in shame. Raiden however, cupped her chin with his right hand, and gave a kiss of comfort and love that shocked her a little.

"Don't. Don't say that you failed. You did what you could to the best of your talents and I am so grateful for that. It was through you that I could change."

"But…But I-" She was cut off again as the blind boy kissed her once more in comfort, which she was shocked once again before she kissed back. Her arms slowly wrapped around Raiden's neck as the two briefly deepened their kiss.

"Hey, you gave me a chance. A reason to have hope to continue living. Having you with me has made me happy, something I haven't felt for eight years. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be where I am now."

Raiden began to nuzzle Tatenashi to which she nuzzled back and gave a moan. She then smiled and said in a whisper,

"Thank you."

The two could only cuddle on the bed as Raiden stared at the ceiling while Tatenashi just laid there on Raiden's chest, her head on his heartbeat while her fingers traced the many scars that the blind boy had. It was then that the two made a kiss that sealed their feelings for each other.

"Tatenashi…I love you." said Raiden. "I always have and I always will." His voice then became scented with a bit of fear. "But you are not the only one I love."

Tatenashi could merely smile and say "It's alright."

"Huh?"

"I am not one for sharing but in this case, I'll make an exception. For now, though…" Her voice went back to her usual attitude of sneaky, sly, and seductive. "I get to keep you by myself, to make up for the time you were on that trip."

Raiden could only smirk back and say, "Well then…I'm home."

Tatenashi chuckled and replied, "Welcome back."

The two of them then gave a deep kiss before Raiden's tank-top was taken off. It was then that the lion flipped the kitten over as the two gave a deep kiss before an intimate night ensued.