Shin leaned against the railing of the balcony to relax his still-jangly nerves. He didn't really want to know what was going on with those two, right now. He didn't know Tomoya well enough to guess what the Lawyer would do, in this situation.
So he walked away, and looked for a place he could calm himself down.
He could still hear the music faintly from up here, but thankfully, this place was empty of people. To begin with, his real self wasn't people-friendly. He was the sort who preferred to be left alone.
He slowly released the breath he didn't realize he was holding and sat in one of the cushioned chairs.
"So. How'd it go?" A deep, masculine voice asked.
"I thought you were watching." He replied dryly. Nothing really surprised him about the Young Chief, anymore. "Why aren't you?"
No. He really did NOT want to know what might probably still be going on down there. And he wasn't about to show the older man just how agitated he really felt by asking about it.
"Didn't have to. Show ended a few minutes after you left." Ooshima Kyoutarou answered, eyeing him slyly. He wondered if the younger man would understand what it meant.
Whether he understood or not, he looked relieved, though.
"Heh. Jus' glad I don't have to kill you. Pretty close, though. You were really pushing it."
Shin nodded wordlessly. He had to admit, he expected that of the Young Chief, but it was just too embarrasing, anyway. Really. Did no one understand the concept of privacy?
"We're still on tomorrow, right?" The Young Chief asked, as he turned around to leave.
"Ou." He confirmed. Man. He probably had to leave, as well. Sparring with the older man was always...a real workout. Definitely not for the weak. He needed to rest.
Yeah, right. Like he'd be able to sleep, after all that. Ugh. It'd probably just drive him crazy.
He heard the Young Chief walk a few steps, then stop.
"Hey, Shin."
He looked at the older man, wondering at this sudden, serious tone, and the fact that he wasn't referred to as the Young Master Red Lion, or anything foolish.
"Just keep your cool like you always do. That's why I like you. It'll be alright."
Then, the older man left.
It felt oddly comforting to know that someone understood. That someone was concerned about how he was holding up. As much as he didn't like to admit it, the Young Chief felt more like an older brother than his own had been, because while they always got along alright, Akira was too occupied with conforming to their father's ideal to really get to know him.
Up to now, he never knew how or where his brother even got the courage to leave.
Kumiko watched him from the shadows in the room the balcony extended from. She had come across the Young Chief, and was pointed to this direction, when she had asked him if he had seen Shin.
She watched him, as he stood there, looking out at nothing in particular, thinking deeply.
She didn't know what to say.
Was this even the right thing to do?
What should she do?
Well. She had to do something. And watching him like a silly, heartsick girl wasn't going to fix things.
So she stepped out and walked towards him.
She slipped her hands into his, wordlessly.
She felt him squeeze it lightly, acknowledging her presence.
"So. What's up?" He asked. "Shouldn't you be somewhere else?" He asked in a level tone.
Knowing how he felt about her, now, she knew he must be choking on those words, though the voice was normal
"Funny. That's what the lawyer said, when he was looking at me, earlier." She answered, uneasily, since she had brought up Tomoya. But there was a point to this. Probably.
"Is this the place you should be at, then?" He asked, again, a little unsure, this time...not knowing what reply awaited him. She felt his grip on her hand tighten a little, as if reassuring himself that she was there. That this was real.
But why was she here? Had she already decided? Was she here to accept him, or turn him down? That, more than anything was the cause of Shin's discomfort...and for once, they were both aware of it.
"It's...the place I want to be...I think." She replied. "No. This is where I want to be...now."
This seemed to comfort him a little, but then this outcome was not the problem.
"So...the problem is whether or not you should be here, right?"
He looked at her, a serious expression on his face, as he said those words, and for kami only knew how many times, she wondered idly if Shin could read minds, since he knew her so well. Too well, sometimes.
He wasn't asking her if she should be out here on the balcony, but rather, if she should choose him...for real.
"Yes."
"You're not waiting for me to offer a suggestion, are you?" He looked at her suspiciously.
Shin was met by a silent reply, as she looked at him with a goofy smile.
Dammit. This was not the time to joke around, and she was trying to act cute.
It was having the opposite effect on him.
"This is a serious issue between us. Please don't tell me you're expecting an unbiased opinion out of me." He muttered, as he tried to hold on to his temper. The goofy smile wavered a little, then returned. "You must be joking."
He let go of her hand, and started to leave, when she turned, and put her arms around him.
He stopped.
Maybe because this was the first time this had ever happened.
That she was holding onto him, not the other way around.
That she was the one who wanted to find a way to make this work (even if it meant asking him), and not just be conveniently oblivious to his feelings for her.
That she was asking him to decide for her, instead of him, always trying to find a way to get closer.
That it was her hand, outstretched and waiting, for something she wanted.
"You know what choice I want you to make. But I want you to make that choice with your own will." He said, softly. "I chose you. Everyone knows-yes, even Fujiyama-sensei, and the guys. They all know that I chose you. I don't care what other people think, or how it'll affect me or my family. I just want to make you happy. But I don't want to force you to accept me, just to make things easier for me, because it'll be harder for you. There will be people who will criticize you for being with me."
He turned around, this time, and looked at her upturned face.
"I can't calculate exactly what you'll lose, if you do, and I don't want you to get hurt because of it...because of me. All I want is for you to be happy. But only you should know for sure if what we could have is worth what you might lose, by choosing me...so I can't make that choice."
And though he wasn't the sort to say a lot, the truth was...he was tired. Tired of always keeping everything in. it's been a long two years, and this was it.
He just wanted to tell her how he really felt.
"Shin...I..."
He put a finger on her lips to keep her from talking, and pressed his own, lightly against them, taking his finger off at the last minute.
"Tell me, when you've decided." He said, pulling back. "We've got one more week, before I graduate and move to Tokyo to prepare for college. Hell, you've got as long as you like."
"What if it takes years? What if I never make a choice?" She asked, hesitantly.
"Baka." He said. "Just because I'm waiting for an answer, doesn't mean it'll change things."
He put her haind against his chest.
"That's where you are. That will never change. I don't want anyone else." He answered.
"Besides...where have I always been?"
Right there, beside her. Always.
"Shin." She whispered in surprise, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Yes. I know how disgustingly sappy that sounds." He drawled, rolling his eyes. "But it's true."
He looked at her, and saw that goofy face that she usually had on, when she felt emotionally moved...like she was about to cry. Snot was beginning to peek from under a nostril, and she was sniffing suspiciously.
It was ruining the effect of what she was wearing, and he couldn't help but feel amused.
Then again, this messed-up side of her was one of the things that he found endearing about her.
She looked stupid, sure, but each emotion on that silly face was real, sincere and true.
Undignified. Certainly not cute, but...well, okay. It was cute in its own funny, twisted sort of way. A way that probably wouldn't suit anyone but her.
"So." He asked, putting an arm over her shoulder, as she abused the handkerchief he handed her. "What would you like to do? I'm sparring with Kyou-san tomorrow. You want to stay, or do we take you home?"
"I really wanted to dance with you." She mentioned, thoughtfully.
"Your nose is dripping." He pointed out smugly. She stepped on his foot.
He refused to dignify it with a sign of pain, or amusement. It hurt, though. He sure as hell wasn't picking shoes out this kind of footwear for her again.
She sniffed once, and wiped her nose with the hanky, and handed it back to him.
"Here." She said, gruffly, holding it out to him.
He eyed it warily. "What's that for?"
"It's yours." She sniffed. "Don'cha want it back?"
"Not now. No." He answered. She wondered if he'd say more, but apparently, Shin was done talking...much. And things were back to normal.
A playful gleam flashed in her eyes, as she gave him an impish grin.
"Aw...c'mon. You know you want to. You love me. You probably have a mini-shrine in my name, glorifying my WIT, GRACE, and BEAUTY, OHOHOHOHO!!!!"
Thankfully, there was still some distance between them and the general populace, and this display went pretty much unnoticed, though Shin wanted to smack his head against a wall, half-annoyed, half amused at this remark.
"Right. Sure I do." He said, humoring her, as she glared at him, recognizing his comment for what it was, as he took the hanky from her, and stuffed it into his pocket.
And if it was true (whatever she shrine she claimed he had-and he wasn't admitting there was one!) he made no effort to deny it, though his tone suggested there wasn't but one never really knew with Shin.
Well...okay. It was about as impossible as it was for pigs to fly, yeah, but the whole world could've thought the same concerning the probability of Sawada Shin falling in love with Yamaguchi Kumiko...and vice versa. But he did. And so did she. And as Tomoya and the Young Chief looked at the 'almost-couple,' each from their own respective vantage point, they knew they made the right choice.
Tomoya noticed that this time, the sparkle in her eyes were sincere. The Young Chief smiled at the soft expression in her student's eyes, where previously there was only strong determination, and maybe, just a little lack of faith in how things worked out.
They were dancing, and everyone had stopped to look at the two, obviously happy people who seemed oblivious to everyone else, but each other.
One of the older businessmen they had met, earlier, tapped Shinohara Tomoya on the shoulder.
"Don't be jealous, young man. Sawada will bring her back."
Tomoya put on his diplomatic smile, and it didn't really mater if anyone understood the reply.
"He already has."
Review Replies!!!
AuburnAutumn: Yeah! if you guys have the time to review, I'm going to have time to reply, to show my appreciateion. Fair, don't you think?
I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Thanks for the support!
kamirenchu: I guess I'm a bit late, i'm sorry, but I hope you enjoy this chapter. The epilogue will be in a few more days, so please stay tuned, and thanks for the feedback!
to Tsunami: Awww...that's really sweet, and it makes me feel all warm and happy and appreciated! Thanks for the support!
to Crazy-Fairy: Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint! thanks for the review!
to Nimeway: Ah, the path to true love, sometimes hurts. but i'm the author, mwehehehe, and it'll always be shinkumi in my world!!! OHOHOHOHO!!!!your input is, as always, appreciated!
to BlackJack7: i know you've said it a lot, but i like hearing from you, because i'm a fan of the way you write. that new story you wrote was also damn good!!! hope you enjoy this installment, as well, and thanks for the review!
to LadySafire: sorry for the long wait, and thanks for the sentiment. i'm glad you like the story and how it's turning out. the last chapter will be up soon, and i hope you stay on until then!
to blueprincess16: yeah. i know what you mean. and if you noticed, it's actually an unconcious reference to sleeping prince handsome. hehehe. thanks for the review! Please stay tuned, till the end! and don't sweat the typo. we're all like that, sometimes !
to WindyLea: It's not the end yet! This chapter isn't the end, either. There's an epilogue, due in a few days. I look forward to your thoughts, and thanks for reading!!!
