One Last Goodbye

With the night festivities ended and the Conference adjourned, Zero headed back to the mansion before most of the others had left. Upon entering the main atrium, he glanced around to see if there were any others astir. Hearing no one, he leapt up the staircase, three steps at a time and upon reaching the top he walked purposefully down the hall till he came to Taka's room. The door was closed and there was no light shining through the bottom crack. Perhaps she was already asleep…but that didn't deter Zero from what he'd already purposed in his mind. Raising his hand, he rapped on the door three times. Waited…then rapped again three more times. Waited; still nothing. He was about to dispense with decorum and walk in when the door flew open and Taka stood before him clad in a loosely fitting black dress shirt that hung carelessly from her shoulders all the way down to just above her knees. Zero was taken aback for an instant. He surveyed her again; Her hair was still pinned up in hair combs but a few strands were already beginning to dislodge as they fell in wisps across her forehead. Her hands were hidden as the sleeves of the shirt were nearly the length of his own arm. Suddenly it dawned on him; Taka was wearing his very own black dress shirt! The same one that Yuuki had given him for his 16th birthday nearly two years ago. He'd misplaced it over a year ago and at length, given up hope at ever finding it. His mind drifted back to the day before classes began. Taka had done some laundry for him that day and it was exactly around that time he calculated that his shirt had gone missing. It never once occurred to him that Taka could have taken it by mistake…or on purpose as it was obviously clear. He gazed into her eyes, then they drifted down to her bare legs and tiny feet. He'd never before noticed how petite and delicate she was; her hands of course he'd noticed…but he'd never before seen her bare legs or her feet…her legs were slender and shapely and her feet were small and delicate. Something inside him awakened at the sight of her womanly form and without a word, he took an abrupt step towards her.

"Zero? What…what are you doing here…?"

"Is that my old black shirt you're wearing…?"

Taka blushed, looking down. "Well…y…yes it is actually." she smoothed her hand over the fine polyester fabric, keeping her eyes averted from Zero. What was he doing here, she wondered; had he come to finish the conversation that had taken place in the arbor?

"Taka I…I wanted to ask you something…"

Taka stepped aside, allowing Zero full passage into her room. Closing the door quietly behind him, she turned to face him and leaning her back against the door, she awaited his question.

"What has happened to us?"

She was silent for a long moment; she watched his face…the lines and expressions told of a deep-seated confusion and slight anguish. "Zero-Senpai I never wanted to or meant to hurt you…"

"That's exactly what I mean; yes, just there…you address me so formally and avert your eyes…you never used to treat me with such cool distance."

"Perhaps…" she began slowly. "Perhaps I realized…that I've taken too much of a liberty with you, Zero. You and I…we've always been…close but I've put myself even…nearer to your side than perhaps I should have…and I…"

In a moment, Zero was in front of her, holding her by the shoulders. "Taka…what are you saying? This doesn't sound like you at all…"

She turned trembling eyes to Zero; the tears threatened to spill over. "Zero has been…so kind to me; he's done so much for me than I could ever think or dream of ever being able to repay. I can't ignore that even now you do much more for me than you should…and it is probably my own fault…Zero I depend on you so much! And I never thought of it before until just recently and I…"

Zero grabbed her up in his arms and held her close.

Taka gasped; taken aback by Zero's sudden embrace, her arms hung stiffly at her sides.

"Oh Taka…Taka you constantly take far too much upon yourself…"

"Z..ero?"

"Please stop taking responsibility for everything…this isn't your burden."

"But Zero….I take far too much of your time away…you need more time to focus on…the things that you need to do…" she pushed back enough to look up at him; her small hands rested against his chest. "You must focus all of your time on the important task at hand; assisting Akatsuki with whatever needs to be done…and not worrying about such a little frightened creature like me…" Her eyes were shining with tears now and one slipped from beneath her long lashes, tracing a wet trail down her cheek.

Zero caught the glistening droplet with his thumb and brushed it away; he hated seeing her cry; it pained him more than anything. He cupped her cheek in his hand…looking in her eyes.

Taka's cheeks flushed as Zero's eyes held hers in their inescapable spell. He's so…beautiful. No matter how hard I try, how resolved I become…I can't refuse this man…he's cast his spell over me and it's…unbreakable…how can I leave him…though I must?

Zero leaned down close to her face…his hair brushing against her forehead.

Taka caught the scent of his hair and skin…her eyes closed as her breath hastened in deep catching breaths.

Zero's hand caressed her cheek as his forehead brushed against hers. Catching the sweet scent of Twilight wood in her hair, he inhaled deeply as his other hand came up, cupping her other cheek. Holding her face tenderly, he kissed her forehead.

"Zero…please…"

"I can't….Taka…Darling please…" Pressing his lips more fervently to her forehead.

Despite her efforts, her last shred of resolve dissolved at Zero's entreaty; despite what she knew she must do…this last night; she could not bear to turn him away. If for nothing else, she longed to spend one last night in his arms. She pressed her forehead to his lips then…and lifting trembling lips to his…she timidly kissed him as tears spilled forth from her eyes.

Zero's lips devoured hers eagerly as his arms enveloped her tightly. He lifted her off the floor and held her suspended as he relished her kiss.

Taka's feet left the floor and suddenly she felt her world drift away; everything else disappeared…though she well knew it would all soon vanish…all that remained now was Zero; his arms, his eyes, his passionate owning kiss. It was then she knew that even if she was to be torn away from him forever, the memory of him she would carry within her heart…he would be with her for always and eternity.

Zero's heart beat fearfully in his chest. Something inside him was tearing apart; as if some kind of hidden realization that Taka was slowly… but surely disappearing; slipping away from him…a choking fear gripped him and suddenly a sob choked from his lips.

"Zero….?" Taka whispered alarmingly.

"Taka…please don't….Taka!"

Taka pressed her lips to his reassuringly. Though her heart was breaking-for she knew that when the morning light came, she must leave Zero…and be parted from him forever-her greatest desire was for this night…to keep him safe and warm…to hold him and protect him from as much of this pain…if only to keep it at bay for a little while longer…

"Zero…" She whispered his name close to his ear.

Zero's tears quieted but he still held her tightly.

"Zero…Darling Zero…" Taka crooned to him softly. Then taking his hand she looked deeply into his eyes.

"Taka…what has become of me…my heart….is open and bleeding…"

"No, no Dearest…"

"Yes…for you possess it…just as you….possess me…" His lips once again seeking hers, overtook them passionately and unrestrained. Then taking her up in his arms, he carried her to the bed and gently laid her down.

"Zero I must tell you…"

"What….what is it, Dear One..?"

Taka's small voice bubbled with soft laughter. "Now I can't very well tell you anything with you….Oh!…"

Taka gasped as Zero's hand slipped under her thigh… slowly creeping its way upwards. For a moment, her face reddened in embarrassment. But as she caught Zero's possessive but gentle gaze, her body relaxed and she only watched his eyes as she felt his hand moving continuously upwards ….slowly and ever so softly his fingers traced the curves of her backside; then inching there way further over until they nestled just between her legs, his hand grasped her thigh as he leaned in close until his eyes were inches from hers. "You're….trembling…Taka."

Taka shook her head, resisting the urge of her eyes to roll back as she felt Zero's hand slide ever more snuggly beneath her thigh.

"Tell me…what is that look of your eyes trying to tell me…..hm?"

Taka's breath came in a dragging gasp. "If…if I told you they were begging you to stop….would you believe me?"

He laughed softly, his eyes danced. "Not for a second…never!" Then his lips sought hers more fervently than before.

Taka tried lying still…but his touch overwhelmed her and her arms flung fiercely around him as he pulled her in closer. "Please…whatever you do…"

Zero pulled away to look at her.

"Don't…don't stop…"