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Chapter 36: Masked Lover

Misaki dove out of the way and rolled across the cobblestone road. The barrels crashed onto the ground and rolled in all sorts of directions.

People were running and trying to stop them while others fled the scene. Someone stepped on Misaki's hand. Misaki stumbled to get up. She sure didn't want to get trampled.

"Are you alright?!" several people asked, helping Misaki up.

Misaki nodded. Where did Usui go? The sea of faces swallowed him.

A man came and apologized to everyone. The cord holding them together snapped. He offered everyone half priced drinks and many people rushed into his shop.

She reassured the people next to her that she was fine and then ran off. She just saw Usui in the crowds. Misaki's head whipped back and forth and she scanned all the colorful faces.

Misaki gasped as someone stepped on her skirt and sent her sprawling. Misaki fell on the ground and slammed her fist into the dust. She felt so angry. Every time she'd get so close and Usui would slip by right through her fingertips. What did she do to deserve this treatment?!

A hand stretched out to her. Misaki looked up, angry tears stung her eyes. A man wearing a blue mask kneeled beside her. Blonde hair poked out through the sides of the mask. He was tall and muscular.

Misaki froze. They stood in the middle of the street looking at each other. Misaki almost forgot that she was lying in the dirt for a moment.

Misaki gingerly placed her hand in his. Her other hand slipped the mask off her face.

Usui slowly took his off too, revealing his face. His eyes were full of uncertainty. His face looked thinner but he was still the same man Misaki had fallen in love with. Misaki clapped a hand over her mouth as tears dripped down her cheeks.

It was really him. Usui Takumi wasn't dead. He was beside her in flesh and blood.

"Misaki..." Usui whispered. He pulled Misaki into his arms. "Misaki Misaki..." he kept saying.

Misaki threw her arms around him and hugged him back tightly. Her hand touched his hair. This wasn't a dream. Misaki could feel his warmth and hear his pounding heart beat.

They kneeled there in the middle of the street rocking back and forth. Misaki buried her face in his shirt and sobbed. Usui rubbed her back and smoothed out her hair.

Misaki felt like she had reached her breaking point. Her chest heaved in sobs. It was though Misaki had been holding up the world on her shoulders and could only now put it down. Relief tasted like heaven.

"Are you okay...?" Usui asked, holding her out and looking her over.

Misaki shook her head, wiping her eyes. "You idiot!" she exclaimed. "How could I be okay?! I thought you were dead!" Misaki screamed. "Do you know why I've been through these past months?! I hate you! I hate you!" she said, hitting him with her fists.

Usui winced. His face flickered with pain.

Misaki placed her hands on his chest. "You're still injured..." she whispered.

"Just some minor things," Usui said.

"Why didn't you let Helga heal you completely?!" Misaki said, angrily. "For me you should have taken care of yourself. You can't take even take care of yourself without me-"

"You're right," Usui said. "I need you. I depend on you..."

Misaki wiped her eyes again.

"How about a proper greeting?" Usui asked.

"What-"

Usui captured her mouth with his. Misaki felt the fire of the kiss. She placed her hands on either side of his face and crushed herself against him.

This was probably very inappropriate behavior in public but Misaki didn't care. She couldn't think about anything besides Usui. Their breaths mingled and Usui kissed away the tears on her face.

"Where have you been this whole time?" Misaki asked, breathless.

"You met Helga?"

Misaki nodded. "I was literally turning the entire island over trying to find you," Misaki whispered. "Finally, you've come home to me."

Usui caressed her face. "Did you light the lanterns for me?" he asked.

Misaki smiled and nodded. "You saw them?" she asked.

"I followed the path you made," Usui said, gently. "Thanks for guiding my way. I truly was lost..."

"I knew you'd come back," Misaki said.

Usui kept an arm wrapped around Misaki as they left the busy streets.

"Where have you been staying?" Misaki asked.

"A small cabin by an inn," Usui said. "I work for a room and two meals a day."

They slowly walked up to the little hut. Usui pushed open the door and showed Misaki inside.

The room was lit with candles and the fire place. There was a small cot, basin in the corner and a rickety desk.

"You look beautiful," Usui said. "You looked like a goddess walking down the street."

Misaki blushed. "I don't feel beautiful," she admitted.

Takumi tilted her chin up. "You've gotten a lot thinner," he observed.

"Can't sleep at night. Can't swallow food during the daytime," Misaki sighed. "I feel changed."

"You'll always be the same Misaki in my heart," Usui promised.

Misaki took his hand. "But I'm not anymore..." she said. Tears threatened to start again. "I feel so tired, so lost."

Usui pressed her hand to his lips. "You're not lost anymore," he told her. "I realize the hurt you've been through. There's a wound right here," Usui said, placing his hand on her chest. "A wound that won't easily heal..."

"But it hurts so much, Takumi," Misaki said in a quiet voice. "Its killing me…"

"Don't worry," Usui said. "I'll spend the rest of my life mending this hole. I'm going to nurse your heart back to life. I'm going to use the rest of my life to love you."

Misaki wrapped her arms around his neck. "I never knew this until it was too late...but I love you."

Usui shook his head. "It's not too late anymore," he told her. "I still have a breath left so I'll continue loving you too."

Misaki pressed her lips to his. Tears of joy spilled onto her cheeks again. Usui traced his tongue in her bottom lip and Misaki's lips parted. Usui deepened the kiss.

Misaki pressed her hand against his hard stomach. Heat radiated through his shirt. Misaki traced the contours of his abs underneath his shirt. Usui broke the kiss momentarily to pull the shirt over his head and toss it somewhere.

Misaki's hands ran along his arms as Usui untied the sash around her waist and let it fall to the floor. Misaki's hands were tangled in his soft hair. She released him just long enough so he could pull of her shirt. Misaki wrapped an arm around his neck and they tumbled onto the soft cot.

"Misaki, say my name..." Usui murmured, kissing her neck.

"Takumi..." Misaki gasped out. "Takumi...Takumi..." she kept saying.

Takumi pushed her onto her back. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked in a low voice.

Misaki bit her lower lip and nodded.

"I need to hear you say it," Usui said.

Misaki blushed. "I want to be with you," she said.

"There's no turning back," Usui warned. "You only have your first time once."

Misaki nodded. "I want it to be with you..." she said in a shy voice. "I want you to be my first."

More clothes were discarded into the wooden floor.

Skin against skin, heat against heat...

"Wait!" Misaki said, looking away and breaking the kiss.

"Did you change your mind?" Usui asked.

Misaki shook her head. "It's just that..."

"Are you scared?" Usui asked. He gently tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'll stop as soon as you ask me to."

"Only a little scared," Misaki admitted. "But that's not what I was going to say..."

Misaki blushed harder.

"What's wrong?" Usui asked.

"Do you have... protection?" Misaki asked.

She couldn't risk getting pregnant. Misaki didn't want her perfect night with Usui to become the biggest regret.

Usui paused. "I do, actually..." he said, rolling off her and digging through a drawer. "It came with my survival pack that I bought," he said, smirking. He ripped the little package open with his teeth.

"You don't need that to survive..." Misaki muttered.

Usui smiled. "All I know is that I need you to survive..."

Misaki smiled as closed her eyes as Usui kissed her again.

Tomorrow had new worries but today there was none. There were no more tears of sorrow or anger. By the warm glow of the fire, there was only love.

The small cot was really cramped. Misaki was practically lying on top of Usui. Misaki felt like she hadn't slept so well in years despite sleeping on an old cot in a little hut.

Misaki's fingers trailed along the scar on Usui's arm. His hand reached out and grabbed her's.

"Sleep well?" he asked in a low voice.

"Better than I've had in a long time," Misaki admitted.

Usui turned her around. Misaki blushed and avoided his eyes. Usui's thumb traced under her eyes.

"You haven't been taking care of yourself either," he said. "You're a lot lighter than I remembered."

Misaki pressed her cheek into his palm. "I've changed," she stated. "But last night I think I found a piece of me again."

Usui smiled. "I'll help you find all the pieces," he said. "Like I said a long time ago, I want to stay by Misaki's side and walk with her. I haven't done a very good job at it but I will do better."

Usui touched a thin scar on Misaki's shoulder. Misaki blushed and placed her hand over it.

"Don't look," she said. "They're ugly."

Usui shook his head. "We don't have to hide from each other anymore."

He took Misaki's hand and placed it on his own scar. "I'll show you my scars if you show me yours."

"I'll try..." Misaki said. Usui wasn't just talking about the physical ones but also the emotional ones. Those scars she had never shown anyone.

"You're so cute when you make that face," Usui said.

Misaki blushed. "What face?"

"This one," Usui said, smiling. "When you take off that hard mask."

Misaki laughed. "We found each other when we both took off our masks," she said.

"You're right," Usui said. He cleared his throat. "During my fear simulation, I was stuck behind a glass wall," he told Misaki. "You and everyone else called for me to come but I couldn't. I was held back. You came and told me to stop building this wall that separated me... I asked how I could I get out and you told me to instead let you in... I have always been afraid to let someone into my heart but not anymore. My barriers might always be up," Usui said, squeezing her hand. "But I want to let you in."

Misaki wiped her eyes on the blanket. "You were in my simulation too," Misaki said. "My dad and you were both there with a zip line. I had to get across this canyon but I didn't know who to pick. I chose my dad but he let me go halfway there and I fell."

Misaki tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I didn't trust you back then but now I know better. You'd never let me fall."

Usui pressed his lips on Misaki's forehead. "I wouldn't allow you to let go even if you had wanted to," Usui reminded her.

"What was that knot you tied?" Misaki asked.

"Secret," Usui teased. "It's a rare chance that I know something you don't."

"I thought we were suppose to bare our souls to each other," Misaki teased back.

"Hmm..." Usui said. "Kiss me and I might tell you," he said.

Misaki elbowed him. "Stop it..." she muttered.

Misaki leaned over and picked up her clothes from the ground.

"Don't look..." she said.

"Why?"

"Because it's indecent!"

"I'll show you indecent..." Usui said.

Misaki laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up. He practically turned her upside down.

"Put me down!" Misaki exclaimed. "Usui, put me down!"

Usui laughed and set her back down on her feet.

"You hungry?" Usui asked. "There's a shop near here."

"Alright," Misaki said, tying the sash around her. "You would have a brush by any chance right?" she asked, sitting down at the desk with a rusty mirror.

"No, sorry," Usui said, buckling his pants.

Misaki combed through her hair with her fingers and braided it.

"Here," Usui said, handing her something in a handkerchief.

Misaki raised an eyebrow and unwrapped it. She smiled when she saw the wooden pin with complex carvings.

"Did you make this?" she asked.

Usui nodded. He took it from Misaki and slid it into her hair. "I didn't know if I was ever going to see you again," he admitted.

Misaki smiled. "You didn't actually think I would leave you here, right?" she asked.

Usui sighed and took her hand. "The IA deemed me dead didn't they?" he asked.

Misaki nodded.

"They fulfilled my last request?"

Misaki sighed. "I can't believe you left everything to me," she said. "And made the IA let me choose my country."

Usui's brow furrowed. "If you did get to choose, why did you choose Guise?"

Misaki frowned. "Where else would I choose?"

Usui let out a breath and pressed Misaki's hand to his cheek. "You were suppose to choose a big city," he told her. "You were suppose to advance your career."

"I couldn't leave you though," Misaki said. "Let's talk about something else," she said. "This is bringing back bad memories."

Usui squeezed her hand. "So breakfast?" he asked.

Misaki nodded. Usui packed up his little bag of belongings and told the innkeeper he was leaving. The inn keeper seemed sad seeing Usui leave.

"So how many native girls did you steal the hearts of?" Misaki teased.

Usui snorted. "You forgot that I spent most of my time with a sassy old lady."

"Oh my gosh..." Misaki said, laughing. "Helga is such a character."

Usui laughed with her. "She doesn't honey coat anything. She tells it as it is."

"Do you know who she reminded me of?" Misaki asked.

"A Grace Marshall girl?"

"Yes!" Misaki said. "She's so intelligent too," she added. "I had modern technology to recover but she healed you with some plants she grew in her house. It's so amazing."

"Mhm..." Usui said.

"What?" Misaki asked.

"Nothing,"

"Tell me!"

Usui smirked and turned to face Misaki. "In comparison to you," he said. "Nothings amazing..."

Misaki blushed. "You don't know what you're talking about..." she muttered.

They has breakfast at a little shop. Misaki felt famished. Usui had to remind her constantly to slow down so she wouldn't choke to death.

It was though Misaki was tasting the authentic food for the first time. The spices and flavorings filled her mouth.

"I have to introduce you to someone," Misaki said, after they were finished.

Usui raised an eyebrow. "Who?" he asked, curious.

"A really great friend of mine," Misaki told him. "Without him, I might have never found you."

"Interesting..." Usui said. "Guess I better go thank him then."

Misaki nodded and interlaced her fingers with his. "He's been so good to me," Misaki told him. "Dragon is like the dad I never had."

"What does he do?" Usui asked, looking around the rather shady community.

Misaki gave a sheepish smile. "He's a gang leader," she admitted.

Usui fought a smile. "As expected of you," he said. "Leave it to you to befriend the most dangerous man on the island."

Misaki froze. If Dragon has really been the most dangerous man on the island...

"What's wrong?" Usui asked, sensing the change in mood.

Misaki shivered. She slowly reached into her pocket and pulled out the photo of their graduation day, the one Will Cruise had given her.

Usui took it from her and his eyes widened. "Where did you get this?" he asked. "I carried this around with me and then I lost it recently."

Misaki swallowed. "Will Cruise gave it to me..." she whispered.

Usui dropped the photo. "Who...?" he asked.

"Will Cruise..."

Usui grabbed Misaki. "When?!" he breathed. "What happened?!"

Misaki sighed. "The IA has him now," she reassured him.

Usui felt sick to the stomach. "Did he do anything to you?" he asked.

Misaki looked up at the sky for a moment. "He blew up the stone bridge," she said through her teeth. "I almost killed him..."

"Oh..." Usui said.

They had stopped walking.

"What happened?" he finally asked.

"We were part of his little game," Misaki said. "His entertainment almost cost you your life. I completely lost control. I almost strangled him to death. It took all the willpower I had to let go of his pitiful neck."

Usui hugged Misaki. "It's alright," he said. "It's all over now," he promised.

"He tried to trade for his freedom," Misaki continued. "He gave me this photo and said he knew where you were. He offered to trade your location for his freedom."

Usui swore. "I want to kill him," he said, icily.

"I refused him..." Misaki whispered.

"It was the right thing to do," Usui said, cupping her face in his hands. "I don't blame you-"

"No!" Misaki said. "I didn't give up on you. I told him I'd find you myself. I didn't need help from a snake like him!"

Usui smiled. "That's my girl," he said.

Misaki blushed. "No ones your girl..." she muttered walking on.

Usui chuckled and trailed behind her. They approached Dragon's house and Misaki just let herself in. She took Usui's hand and pulled him upstairs.

"Dragon?" she called, knocking on his door.

Papers shuffled and Dragon opened the door.

"Misaki!" he exclaimed. His eyes immediately went to Usui. "This must be the famous, Usui Takumi..." he said studying him.

"Yes," Usui said, shaking his hand.

"The name's Dragon," Dragon said. "Come in and sit down."

Misaki and Usui sat down.

"I told you, you'd find him," Dragon said, a twinkle in his eye.

Misaki nodded. "I really owe it to you," she said. "Thank you so much."

"It's my pleasure," Dragon said. "Nothing makes me happier than seeing you two together. You've changed Misaki."

Misaki blushed. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

Dragon laughed a deep throaty laugh. "When I first met you, you were so burdened. The fire in you was being smoldered but now...I see that fire blazing in you."

Misaki sighed. "You're being dramatic," she said.

Dragon poured them tea. "Takumi is a lucky man," he stated.

"I am," Usui agreed.

"You love Misaki?"

"More than my own life,"

"You've proved that," Dragon said nodding. "Misaki is one of the most amazing women I've met. You better be good to her."

"Dragon," Misaki complained.

Usui smiled and squeezed her hand. "I will..."

"Really now?" a voice asked.

Misaki and Usui turned.

"Tora..." Misaki said, feeling a bit awkward.

Tora and Usui looked each other over.

"So this is the star crossed lover," Tora said, crossing his arms.

"This is Takumi," Misaki introduced. "Takumi, this is Tora."

The tension in the air was pretty bad...

"Did you need something?" Dragon asked.

"Nope," Tora said. "I came to see who my competitor would be."

Usui stood up. His arms were crossed too and his eyes locked with his.

"Ferei tin..." Usui said in a low voice. Bring it on...