…Part 21: Suna Akimoto…
I lowered the silky golden strand of hair I'd pulled from his scalp toward the shimmering artwork, watching as his widened eyes reflected the smoldering patterns of light. Reluctantly tearing my eyes away from his, I focused back on my experiment.
Krad gripped my hand tightly in his, watching intently with me.
The hair touched The Heart, and the end split in two. I lowered it farther, and it continued to separate. "Krad," I muttered. "You're going to break my hand." I laughed inwardly as he gave into the habit of biting his lower lip guiltily, loosening the death-grip he had on my hand. Letting go of the golden strand between my thumb and index finger, we watched as it fell into The Heart and the other half of the hair that had split fell away from it.
I picked it up and by closer examination we discovered that, miraculously, it was a different color.
Blue – blue!
"We did it! Krad, we figured it out! I'm sure it will work!" I exclaimed excitedly, throwing my arms around him in celebration.
Krad wasn't so enthused.
"What's wrong? – We figured out how it works." I held up Satoshi's hair for him to look at again. "See? It accepted your DNA, and rejected Hiwatari's… You're going to have your own body, Krad!" I searched his eyes for the answer he wasn't giving me.
"I don't trust it," he finally said, avoiding my eyes.
What?
"It seems… too easy," he explained.
"You've been waiting over four-hundred years for this chance," I pointed out. My voice was soft with disbelief. "Do you plan on waiting another millennium or two in order to find a different option?"
He couldn't seriously be considering… This was what he wanted most… wasn't it?
"Try your hair," he told me.
"Why?"
"I want to see how it reacts to you." I winced as he pulled one of my hairs and handed it to me.
"Okay…" I dropped it on the artwork doubtfully. It hovered above The Heart for a while – as straight as uncooked spaghetti – before falling away from it in much the same way that Hiwatari's had. "It's like it was made for you… how can you reject that?"
"But it wasn't made for me," he protested.
I shrugged. "Maybe it just likes you, then – but whatever the case, it will work," I insisted.
"Well, I'm not about to try anything today," Krad decided, giving in a little.
I squeezed his hand. "That's alright – I have to get to work soon, anyway. We're low on staff this week."
I took a few steps toward the door and heard a couple thuds from the hall, followed by running footsteps. Huh – some peoples' kids. Really; they ought to keep track of them better.
"Suna – wait…" Krad turned me around by my shoulder mid-stride and kissed me – yes; again. I smiled into it for a moment, then pushed him away.
"Well, you're a bit smitten today, aren't you?" I laughed. "Seriously – I have to get back to Chiisai, now – Krad stop it already!" He was acting like… like a puppy – he couldn't stop kissing my face. It was hilarious!
A deep growl of almost-laughter vibrated in his throat – like a purr on steroids. "I need to get as many in as I can while Satoshi's sleeping," he justified himself.
I was laughing so hard tears started welling up at the corners of my eyes. "He won't be sleeping much longer if you keep that up!" I squeaked. I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed that hard. "If you can't stay away from me, you might as well come to work with me," I suggested. "Learn to be a waiter or something while you're there."
"Fine," he complied, nuzzling his nose in the bend of my neck.
"Just try not to embarrass me, okay?"
"Got it." He straightened up again, shoving his hands in his pockets.
I shook my head at him and opened the door. Then a thought struck me. "Hey Krad…? Can we fly there?"