Chapter Twenty-One: Aftermath

Kyoko found herself curled up on Ren Tsuruga's couch with his arms wrapped tightly around her as a storm raged outside. She watched the jagged strikes as they flickered across the sky and shifted in closer. Ren tugged the blanket tighter around them and she felt herself melt into him against every instinct inside of her. "What did you mean you'd kill Ren Tsuruga?" Kyoko finally asked after struggling for the past hour since the police released them from the station to put the question into words.

"If I can't protect you as Tsuruga Ren then I will protect you as Hizuri Kuon," he stated softly, his arms tightening a fraction around her.

"I can't steal away Tsuruga Ren!" Kyoko exclaimed and pulled to her knees and turned around to look at him.

Her hand rested on his chest and she could feel his heart pounding under her palm as she earnestly met his eyes. His hand came to rest on hers and he watched her with warm green eyes. "Then they better not take Kyoko away from me," he rumbled.

He leaned up and caught her lips with his in a long, warm kiss that had Kyoko's face turning bright red and her scrambling back a few feet to regard him across the couch cushions. "Tsuruga-san! We can't, I…we…"

"Ren Tsuruga is not here tonight Kyoko," he said. "I'm Kuon."

Kyoko found herself trapped under Kuon's regard and he leaned forward to catch her arm and give a gentle tug that brought her sprawling across his larger body. "We won't do anything more," Kuon stated softly, "but you must forgive a fairy prince for his reactions when his princess was almost taken away from him. Just for tonight. I'm still cold."

Kyoko's breath caught at his declaration and she took a deep, trembling breath. "Just for tonight," she agreed her body slowly relaxing against his.

Kuon's large hand came up to cup the back of Kyoko's head and he leaned in pressing a soft kiss against her forehead. "I love you."

Kyoko's eyes drifted close at his declaration.

She wasn't ready to return the words, but some day…

Kuon's hand smoothed down her spine lingering between her shoulder blades for a long moment and he smiled tenderly.

Let me be there to see how far you can fly, Kyoko.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Honestly, I was going to end it here, but I decided since you all were so kind and waited for so long, I'd add in one last bit after this.

Thank you again for your patience with me and thank you for reading!