25: Kiss and Forgiveness

I know... I am deeply sorry and the title of this chap sucks! I can't think of something better so yeah but... I hope this will at least made you happy, for Natsume fans out there. So! Peace and don't hate me for taking this long, promise I will never going to leave this story! That I assure you.

Ichino remained quiet the whole ride, I was not disturbed, actually I found the quietness so calming and nice. The flowers in my hand are still fresh and beautiful, he didn't bother questioning me why I bought these flowers instead of buying them in one of the flower shops here in Shinjuku.

That flower shop was so old and special, because the grandmother who was selling the flowers knew my mom back then when she was still in high school. She said that I looked a lot like her because she always saw my mom passed by in this shop just to look for the red tulips that being displayed outside the store. I was so thrilled to know about this information. She told me also that my mom has a strong personality, her tomboyish attitude caught the said old woman's attention. Kind and gentle behind it because she always like my mom especially her smiles.

I can tell... She has a huge heart, as I can see in you young one. You both resemble each other so much.

"We're almost there."

Ichino jerked my thoughts and looked at him.

"...hm."

I gazed outside, the familiar street made my heart beat a little fast because it's been months since my last visit here.

"Are you okay?"

His query, I remained my stare outside and sealed my mouth again for a brief second.

"I'm not sure." I muttered, "I've been avoiding visiting them since I moved."

He didn't comment. I can feel his penetrating gazed on the back of my head. After few minutes the taxi stopped and I finally looked at my companion. He bobbed his head and went out first, he waited as I suddenly felt anxious. I gulped and followed him out the taxi. I was in dazed, even forgetting that I have to pay the taxi driver but I heard the car's engine slowly fading away, that means Ichino paid for us. I kept in my mind that I'll pay him later. I don't know how long I remain rooted on my spot but I was glad that Ichino was so patient, he never uttered a word. Until I decided that it's time to see them. I started walking slowly as I heard the silent footsteps of my companion behind my form. I stopped and then my mind became blank, my heart beating so fast this time and my mouth went dry drastically.

When was the last time I felt this kind of feeling?

"Rin..."

The warm hand softly resting on my shoulder snapped my reverie and I blinked my eyes before giving Ichino a side glance. His concerned stares made me think of something.

"How did you know about them?"

He scratched the back of his head. "... I did some research... Sorry I didn't mean to intrude but...after you disappear, I can't stop myself. I wanted to know more about you, I wanted to know the girl I've hurt so much but after some revelation it seemed that I... I..." His fine features turned solemn. "I was such a total jerk... I didn't... I'm sorry for the pain I've cause."

"It's fine. What's done is done."

I muttered and started walking again. I stopped in front of two familiar stones with their names written on it. I gently placed the bouquets of red tulips for each of it and a tight line emerged on my lips.

"Hi mom...hi Jiro." My soft voice heard after a minute of silence. My hands softly touched the stones and suddenly a very familiar emotion crashed in my heart again. I was glad Ichino was right behind my form because I never noticed that my eyes were flowing already. The familiar pain emerged like a thunder, the sobbed I tried to hide was blown immediately. "...I'm sorry." I choked out not even cared if Ichino found the scene pitying.

"Are we there yet?"

Yusuke asked.

Again.

Natsume sighed. "No."

A silence emitted them again. After five minutes

"Are we there yet?"

"That is the tenth time you asked the same question Yusuke." Hikaru said. His lips tugging lightly.

"Yeah and it's getting in my nerves so stop asking!"

Tsubaki huffed annoyingly. Yusuke grumbled but didn't say a word.

"Are you sure we are on the right direction Hika-nii?" Azusa asked this time, his eyes roaming outside and noticed that they have passed this street awhile ago.

"..don't worry, we're on the right track."

"We've been hearing the same answer Hikaru. Perhaps it's time that we go home."

Kaname said calmly. His neutral demeanor made his brothers to look at one another. They actually got his hidden message. This is too far for stalking. And as much as they hate to admit this they really went too far this time.

"Are you sure you want to go home now... I mean we're already here, it's too late to turn back don't you think?"

Futo suddenly stated, his arms crossing and giving his brothers a look.

"..Futo was right, we're already here and it's a choice we made." Natsume agreed.

"Perhaps you are right about that but it's never too late to turn back, don't you think also?"

A silence emitted them. Until a sound of beep snapped their heads toward its direction.

"...the heck, Hika-nii is that a.."

"Holy sh-"

"No cursing Tsubaki."

"But Wataru-chan is sleeping!"

"He's still can hear you in his dream."

The banter of the two stopped when the beep sound got louder.

"What the! We thought you are using the gps from her phone, why are you using a tracking device?!"

"I was not using a tracking device... Sort of."

He muttered, inwardly smiling. Yusuke suspiciously looked at him.

"Then what do you call about this thing?"

"A friend of mine gave this as a gift, he said it was a simple remote finding device. It will give you access to any subject not unless you put a chip or you knew the phone number of that person. It was quite helpful if you ask me."

"Definitely a tracking device." Azusa scowled.

"We should go home."

Louis muttered and earning a look from his brothers since he's been quiet the whole ride. He was looking outside while gently stroking his youngest brother's hair that was sound asleep on his lap.

Hikaru's countenance turned serious and stared at his tab.

"Well... this time I will agree to Louis."

Louis stared at him for a brief moment and then looked outside again.

"What is wrong with you people? We've gone this far and then you just wanted to back out?"

Futo snapped. Hikaru gave him a serious stare but didn't answer his younger brother.

A gentle hand resting on Futo's shoulder jerked the idol Asahina and stared at his blond brother. "We are intruding... So we should respect her privacy."

Futo clicked his tongue, gripping his arm tightly, he grunt in annoyance and ignore his brothers.

A loud sigh heard from Tsubaki and rested his head on Azusa's shoulder. "Fine... What can we do? We just wasted our time for nothing..." He grumbled.

"Tsubaki..." Azusa warned but gently.

"Natsume let's go home."

Natsume didn't waver for a couple of seconds before a quiet sound escaping his lips. "...okay."

The ride back home was awfully silent this time.

"Why did you plan to bring me here instead of having a date?"

"Ahh well..." His gentle expression stared at her for a moment before he passed by her and stood in front of the two graves. Rina got confused but she remained silent, waiting, Ichino sometimes was unpredictable. His back facing her so she can't tell what he was planning. Suddenly, he bend his body until he slouched down to the ground.

"I'm sorry for hurting Rina."

The said girl was so shocked at his words and action.

"I know my apology isn't enough but... I wanted you to know that she made my life complete. She brought out the worst and made me see the best out of me... I can't bring everything back. All I want is for her to be happy, nothing more... I just want to see her smile again... Her smile...is the most beautiful thing I've ever see."

Rina stood there, closing her eyes finally as the breeze softly hit their warm bodies. Surprisingly she wasn't flusttered, she was...calm and found the statement so cheesy but, since he was sincere she can really say it was the most touching words she heard from someone.

She can imagine her mother and brother smiling so widely, like they are teasing her but they are absolutely agreeing. They both touch her hands and her mother whispers something, her younger brother nods his head while wearing his adorable tooty grin.

She really missed them so much.

"...they forgive you."

She muttered, opening her eyes again and looked up to the sky.

Not far away from them a black limousine was parked. A man in the middle of forties stand outside the car, his observant eyes never left the two figures who was still standing in front of the graves. The man, though placid was so relieved to see her well. His thoughts interrupted by sound of the window car's sill lowering. There inside seating comfortably was a man in late forties, his blue-violet eyes were watching so closely.

"Her friend's name is Kagami Ichino. That young man went to your home just to ask about her well being, it seems that they got into a misunderstanding that time. But from the looks of it they patched some things up."

"I see..."

"Are you not...?"

"Not now." His firm answer.

"You never saw her once since she moved in."

The beautiful man remained quiet and ignore his assistant. His eyes still watching the two figures especially Rina.

"Soon."

His assistant smile a little. "I will hold on to that Mr. Kim."

She reached her apartment later that night, but thankfully Ichino insisted on driving her home because she was kind of scared riding a bus at this hour. She unlocked her apartment's door but she didn't manage to open the lights when her door buzzed suddenly, surprising her. She leaned closer to the door.

"Who is it?" She asked, when she didn't get a reply her eyes turned slit. "I said, who is it?" her tone was calm but obviously warning the person behind her door.

"..."

A light thud, rustle and a snore after.

Her eyes blinked. Did she just heard a snore?

She carefully opens her door, taking a look, her blue-violet eyes widens when she saw a familiar orange blob leaning on her door and... is he sleeping?

"Natsu...me-san?"

The orange haired Asahina was snoring soundlessly. She softly opened her door, carefully holding his form since if she opens abruptly Natsume will hit the floor hard.

"Natsume-san... Natsume-san!"

She shook his shoulder but he just muttered something incoherent and his head landing on her shoulder, surprising again the navy haired girl at the closeness. Her face flushed for a moment when she looked and noticed his perfect jawline.

She always liked a guy with a nice jawline.

Her inner thoughts suddenly stopped when she smelt something unpleasant.

Is he drunk?

She sighed in irritation. Why would he come in her apartment at this hour and even drunk!

"Natsume! Wake up!" She tried again and this time even forgetting to use honorific. His long eyelashes fluttered but didn't open it. Rina sighed in defeat and just tried her best to drag him inside. When she managed to lay him down on the couch she massaged her sore shoulder and took her phone out.

"...maybe I should call Ema."

Hoping she was still awake.

"C'mon Ema-chi pick up the phone..."

She muttered. She dialled her friend's number again but ceased when she caught the opened eyes of Natsume, his face was flushed and looking at her weirdly.

"Natsume-san! Thank goodness you're awake." She said. Then her brows furrowed in annoyance. "Why the heck did you come here drank! What if something happened to you?! Or you got fall at the staircase you baka." She took a deep breathe and calm herself. "Why are you here anyway?"

Her annoyed eyes turned gentle. Natsume only looked at her for a moment and slowly extend his hand. "...jealous"

Eh?

What is he talking about?

Her confused mind abruptly stopped when she felt his warm hand and then...tugging her form closely, almost hitting his face but thankfully she used her other hand to avoid the impact. She was sitting on the floor now since Natsume placed her hand on his chest.

"What the...that was dangerous Natsume!"

She said, glaring at him.

"..then I will like to experience such danger just to feel your warmth."

Her face turned red. "Damn, I never thought you become so corny when you get drunk. I'll get you some water to snap you."

His grip on her tightened but gentle as always. "...stay" he was still giving her that weird longing look.

"I-I should call Ema or perhaps Hikaru-san to get you."

"No."

His face turned serious and then sighed and covered his eyes by his other hand. "Just stay..." she felt funny at his light feather touched on her hand.

"..uhm perhaps I should call Ichino to drive you home he wasn't that far yet from here, I could ask his help."

She jerked when his grip tightened again and stared at her. His lips thinning. "..don't mention him"

Her eyelashes fluttered in confusion. Suddenly Natsume closed his eyes but still holding her hand. "Natsume?...are you sleeping already?"

He didn't respond. She tried to loosen his hold but he held her firmly. "Natsume...would you mind letting me go?"

The orange hair Asahina didn't waver. She sighed in irritation and pulled her hand harder this time. But to no avail she can't, so she finally decided to pull really harder but she was stopped by a gentle touch on her cheek. His eyes opening again and looked at her tenderly.

"Natsume-san?"

"..it's a mystery. How did you become so important to me."

He lifted his upper body, never letting her hand go and carefully sat on the couch still facing her. "I can't remember how or when but... The moment I kissed you I...knew it was you."

"What? Kiss? I don't remember anything about kissing Natsume-san. C'mon you're drunk I think you need some hot coffee." She was nervous, this kind of scenario was very familiar. Perhaps she has been reading too much romantic fictions and shojou mangas.

He was silent. His piercing gaze was making her uncomfortable. "Coffee it is then."

She tried to stand hoping he would let her go but to her surprise she was pulled back but this time with a warm embrace. "This is not funny anymore Natsume!"

She jerked feeling his breathe on her neck and then "I love you..." he said and leaned his face suddenly, his chapped lips touching her soft one.

Cliffhanger?

Ohohoho... I was planning to write Hikaru but well..my crazy little mind didn't like it so I chose Natsume instead. As usual...

R & R

No flames. Mwah!