A Valentine's Rose

by Sarahbeth Lazic - Author

Rojuro had found love - he had found his flower. He adored Komai with all his heart, but he was keeping secrets from her. She did not know that he was a Visored. She was unaware of his real life. Can he risk exposing his secret to her, to keep her love? This day was Valentine's Day, and she was back in his arms. He had to make a choice... (warning: gentle lemons.)

A Valentine's Rose A Bleach Fanfiction S. Lazic

A Valentine's Rose

(A Rojuro Otoribashi / OC DBleach Romance)

Rojuro Otoribashi groaned as the first rays of the warm winter sun trickled through a narrow separation in one of the bedroom's three sets of window curtains. Why - oh why - did the sun have to wake him up so early, and who left that crack in the fabric? It was Sunday morning, after all. Today was a day of rest, wasn't it? And Rose needed his rest. After three weeks of not seeing Komai, his girlfriend, as she had been on tour throughout Japan, her return last night ended with an incredible, romantic, sexual, and intense night of pleasure and reconnection. Though they had only been together for seven months now, the fact that he slipped so close to depression without her for those three weeks was not only a surprise to him, but a surprise to those who knew him.

He had fallen in love with the mortal woman before he realized what had happened…

Rojuro was a passionate man – a man who embraced his emotions, and his romantic emotions manifested in his relationship. After all, he was blessed to being involved with a beautiful and talented woman, and he had been ever since the two had shared their first kiss in the same Botanical Gardens and in the same bamboo forest where they had first met in.

Months later, they were joined at the soul.

Komai had become his everything. She was his muse, his inspiration, his drive, and his passions.

Most importantly, she had become his source of life in a short amount of time, and that simply truth frightened the Visored to his core. Not that the idea scared him as a living man, but, as a spiritual being, the fact that the closer they grew as lovers, the closer she became to the inevitable truth of not only who he was, but what he was and who he had once been constantly road upon his shoulders. With each kiss, with each touch, and with each moment of pure, unadulterated pleasure, Komai stepped closer to the truth in his façade.

Rose loved Komai, the beautiful woman with the voice of an angel, and loved everything about her - her psyche, her warm, and her mortal essence.

Smiling to himself, Rose closed his eyes and allow the warmth of the birthing sun to settle across him while he listened to Komai's gentle breathing as she slept coiled at his side. In the quietude of their bedroom, he thought back on the day of her return.

Yesterday, Rose spent the entire day pacing back and forth within the underground sparing arena of the Visored's warehouse facility. While Kazumi and Hiyori went two-on-two against Shinji and Kensei, Rose was driving himself into a panic. Every hour, on the hour, he counted down to the very hour Ko's train from Tokyo would be pulling into the station. Love had been close to knocking his old friend unconscious just so that the rest of Visoreds would not be distracted from a day of training, especially after Mashiro nearly tripped, face first, into the deep track of dirt Rose had walked into the ground.

When his turn came to spar with Hachi, Rose was so distracted that Shinji stepped in and slugged the love-struck Visored square in the jaw. Shinji could get so irritated when training was interrupted by something silly as the idea of love. That was until his Kazumi stalked directly up to him, reminded him of how he was distracted from training with Ichigo after reconnecting with her, kissed him soundly then shoved Sakanade at him, proclaiming for him to put his power where his mouth was. Rose could not focus, so he had bid his friends farewell and strolled from the training ground.

Later that day, Rose waited impatiently at the train depot for Komai's train to arrive amid the flashing lights of the paparazzi, who had been on her heels ever since she was nominated for a music award all the way in England. Being the polite gentleman whom he was, he stayed back to give her and her bodyguards enough room to maneuver through the crowd of gathered fans and paparazzi until one love-struck fan broke free from the side lines, attempt to reach her. The moment the young man made a grab for her coat, Rose's tall, slender, and yet deceptively strong body appeared out of nowhere. He snatched the man's wrist in a deadly grip, twisting until something popped. The protective move sent the man to his knees in a cry of pain.

At first, the manic fan threatened Rose while cursing as he held his injured hand, but the moment he looked up to see Rose glaring down at him, he paled and cowered. Rose was not really a threat when looked upon, normally, but there could be a darkness within his eyes, a deadly expression shadowing his typical relaxed expression, whenever Komai was in danger.

Once the incident was settled and the obsessed fan was taken away by security, Komai smiled brightly and, right in front of the photographers and her fans, threw her arms around her lover's shoulders, buried her hands into his thick, wavy blonde locks before arching to him so that she could kiss him soundly. And kiss him she did with all her pent-up passion and loneliness! Rojuro wrapped her in his arms and, literally, pulled her from her feet as he kissed her with the same passion and loneliness that Komai felt. No doubt, when the newspapers hit the following morning, the Sunday papers would share their passion. Rose did not mind. Let the rest of the world know of their shared love and their passionate souls!

With their reunion reinstated by a passionate kiss, the two returned to her apartment where Rose ordered take-out for their supper while Komai took a hot, needful shower. By the time the food arrived, she had stepped out of the bathroom, freshly showered and in her fluffy white bathrobe. With her hair still damp, Rose smirked as he prepared their dinner, meaning - he opened the cartons.

"So,' Ko asked him in her sweet and devious tone of voice as she sidled her way up to him, her arms slipping about his trim waist, 'did you miss me while I was away?"

Rojuro chuckled, acting as if he really had not heard her. "Possibly."

"Possibly?" Komai's lips tucked down in a pout as she set her chin to his arm.

When he tipped his head to look to her, she giggled. He was just teasing her, for there was no hiding the subtle but handsome grin upon his lips. With a groan, she swatted his shoulder then stepped away to retrieve the bottle of wine they had purchased on the way to her home.

She told him playfully, "You're such a flirt."

"With good cause," Rojuro replied with a smile as he watched her from over his shoulder.

Again, she giggled while taking the wine and two accompanying wineglasses to their usual romantic dinner spot - the couch.

Over fried noodles, Komai told Rojuro of all the exciting events that happened on her short trip to France for a few concerts. She told him how Omakai went ballistic when a few of the sound equipment bags got lost on the tarmac of the Charles de Gaulle airport. Her overly dramatic manager nearly had a heart attack, but to her and a few of the crew, his reaction was a point of amusement. She told Rose of her magnificent room, a suit at one of the most expensive hotels in Paris, and how the room looked out toward the Eiffel Tower, had a whirlpool tub, a mini fridge full of French wine and liquor and tasty nibbles, and came with a complimentary fruit and cheese plate with French wine, cheeses, breads, and chocolates. She also told him of the very large and very lonely bed that shared with an adorable stowaway that she found in her luggage - small, good luck teddy from the most wonderful man in the world.

After sharing the bottle of wine, and as she sighed in delight after a wonderful meal, Komai curled to Rose's side, embraced by his warm and protective arms. There was no need to speak much after dinner, for a comfortable silence developed between the two. All their feelings, their words, and their expressions were told to the other through delicate touches, little kisses, and, occasionally, a tender squeeze.

She quietly inquired - "What did you do for the three weeks I was gone?"

"I spent my time, you know,' he shrugged with a playful grin slithering across his handsome face, 'pining and sulking."

"The usual, then?" teased Komai, glancing slyly up to him.

"Am I that predictable?" Rose asked.

His eyes blinked as his lover reached up to tuck back a lock of his long blonde hair that tumbled in waves against his straight, angular face.

"Not exactly," she whispered softly while touching fingers to his outer cheek to turn his features to her. She leaned close so that her lips brushed his cheek. "I just know you too well."

Chuckling, he kissed her softly, gently, longingly. "I've missed you," he whispered against her lips.

Komai shivered from his softly heated words of love. Drawing back, with her fingers stroking along his sharp jaw, she smiled to him. "I missed you too, Rose," she purred only to have her passionate declaration interrupted by a tight-lipped yawn.

Rojuro smiled tenderly. "It's getting late…"

"I guess so." Muttering, she moved away from him. "I'll clear the table," she declared sleepily.

The moment she picked up an empty food carton, Rose reached out to stop her.

"I will clean up tomorrow," he softly instructed her.

His statement rewarded him with a curious look from her ginger-colored eyes.

Flashing her a grin, he told her - "I don't think I can wait another minute to have you in my arms again."

Taking her other hand, Rojuro guided her to stand with him. He touched her face, taking a minute to remind himself of the texture of her skin. Three weeks could do a lot of damage to a love-struck man like him. When her eyes closed to the caress of his fingertips along her temples, Rojuro tipped up her chin then inclined his head before taking her lips in a soul quivering kiss.

Though Rojuro proudly claimed that he had control of his desires and passions with Komai, he had to admit that her absence from his life for three weeks had pushed his control to the limits. In the next instant, he swept her up into his arms and was taking her to the bedroom they often shared without even breaking the kiss.

That night, he made love to her - slowly, delicately, and passionately - until she moaned and quivered beneath him. He built their desires gradually, starting first with untying the belt from her robe then parting the fabric with a brush of his rough fingers without ending their passionately shared kiss. Her hands were upon him, cupping his face while threading her fingers into his hair. Slanting her lips to his, she nipped at him, catching his lower lip within her teeth and nibbling until Rose groaned deeply.

The moment her fluffy robe parted, exposing her freshly washed, naked, and scented skin of waterlily, Komai's kiss deepened. She turned needy, whimpering to her lover for more of his skillful touches. Feeling him caress her from the bare curves of her slender hips, along her slender stomach then along her plump breasts nearly had her crying out in joyful pleasure! She moaned hotly and desperately as their kisses broke thus allowing his skilled mouth to take the time needed to kiss every inch of her throat.

By the heavens, Rose felt elated to have her back within his arms where she belonged and where they both wanted her to be. All Rojuro could think about was how incredibly warm her flesh felt and how supple and firm she felt against him. Three weeks, and he nearly forgot how the scent of waterlily danced across her skin and how her skin felt beneath his lips and fingertips. The more whimpers and sweet little noises he heard tumble from her lips, the harder it was for him to keep his control and needs in check.

When he cupped one of her firm, youthful breasts within his hand to caress and mold, Komai's body bowed off the bed and her head leaned back. Her swollen lips parted, quivering as a high-pitched moan trickled past.

Drawing in a tight breath, Rose nuzzled her cheek, brushed his lips to the shell of her ear before he whispered softly to her - "I could never forget how adorable you sound when you moan and make those cute little squeaks."

Komai trailed her hands up his clothed arms and shoulders, pouting when she felt the fabric of his shirt beneath her touch. How unfair was it that she was nearly nude, and he was still clothed? It was not fair at all and twisted a sense of desperation that had been simmering unknown within the pit of her belly for the last three weeks. How many nights had she laid awake, cuddling with her teddy bear, only to remember her lover's naked body? The dreams she had while away from him had tormented her soul!

When he bit her ear, taking her away from her thoughts, Komai gasped sharply then took a hold of his shirt to give a few quick yanks. While teasing him with her naked hips, arching up to press against him, she growled playfully - "Get naked blondie, or do I have to get rough?"

Rose's chuckle was deep as it vibrated through his body. Feeling the tug upon his shirt and hearing those insignificant threatening words, which really held as much threat as a kitten's hiss, he arched away from her to move to his knees.

"And here I thought you were a polite, young woman," he said in play as his fingers freed each button of his designer shirt.

Komai scoffed. "I am polite."

When his shirt parted, offering his taut chest to her wicked intentions, she placed her palms against the corded muscles that lined his chest, stomach, and sides. Rose moved to loom over her with his hands pushed to the bed at her shoulders thus allowing her to slide her palms over his chest, up along his shoulders, and then down his arms to push away the dark blue material of his expensive shirt. One arm moved then the other before Rose's upper body was beautifully nude. Arching, she pressed her lips to his right shoulder then to his neck where she nipped playfully across to his jugular.

She murmured against his flesh - "Just not when I have demands for you…"

Threading a hand into her hair, Rose pulled her head back until their eyes locked. She was incredibly sexy in the way she was innocent, the way her lips parted, the way her naked breasts quivered with each deep breath, and by the way her magnificent eyes held such a look of heated desire. He inclined his head to claim her mouth with a thrust of his tongue past her lips until he was drinking in her moans. His slim, yet tight, body came down over her hovering till their skin ghosted against the other in subtle movements. Skimming over his muscles, trailing along his skin, Rose felt her fingers glide from his back to his sides until her hands were sneaking between their bodies to find the buckle of his belt then the zipper and the buttons of his slacks.

Not once did their kiss break, not even as Komai thrust down his pants. Her hands gripped his taut, thin buttocks, curling against the firm flesh as she arched her hips and pulled him down flush to her. With her legs parted, her toes skimmed along his long legs while her fingers skipped down his thin sides to hook within the band of his boxers that she easily pushed down his legs until he was as naked as she was. When their bare bodies touched for the first time in three weeks, they groaned and moaned with pleasure.

Rojuro moved gracefully and powerfully, taking her with him as he rolled to his back with his lover posed above him. This way he could see more of her - from her tight legs parted about his hips, to the smooth, naked flesh of her sex cradling his equally naked and throbbing flesh, and to her plush, proud breasts. He touched her, trailing his palms along her body until he cupped her breasts, taking her stiffening nipples between his fingers to slowly pull and twist. Komai closed her eyes and moaned as she leaned her head back, and he felt her body shudder with pleasure.

This time, it was his turn to guide the remnants of her clothing away from her luscious body until the robe graced down her slender arms to catch upon her bent elbows. With her hands pressed flat to his hard chest, there was nowhere for the bathrobe to go but to puddle about her hips. As he continued to caress her breasts, Komai's body began to move - rocking slowly back and forth upon his hips until she moved in a beautiful and perfectly sensual rhythm.

Rose was amazed that he could feel so much pleasure without being embedded within her body. The way her soft - hot - slick folds caressed his throbbing, aching shaft was almost enough to send him right over the edge. He had gone through sex withdrawal during her departure, so much so that a couple of nights he had resorted to a sensual illusion of her and self-pleasure.

Now that he had her naked once again, trembling and moaning, he was unable to control himself any further! His hands took her hips, lifting her, then with one swift - hard and deep motion - thrust himself up into her as he brought her down atop him. He was so deep and so fast that both released a tormented cry.

Komai's manicured nails curled painfully into her lover's chest the instant he buried himself into her body causing Rose to snarl in appreciation to the passionate discomfort. Her quivering muscles tightened, and her thighs clamped about him as her body shook from curling toes to fluttering eyes. She threw her head back sending wave after wave of her shoulder length marbled-brown about her shoulders, and she moaned a long and low moan as her lover's deadly, strong hands began to guide her against him.

He moved her slowly at first, rocking her hips back and forth atop him. Her thighs felt wonderful clamped against his flanks, and the way her muscles tightened then softened drove lust right to Rose's soul. The overwhelming intensity of her snug-fitting channel flooded Rojuro with erotic desire that left him clenching his jaws!

So enchanted with her was Rose that he could not take his eyes off her beautiful face that shifted with her pleasure. Rose skimmed a hand along her flexing abdomen before his fingers caressed upward and between the valley of her swaying breasts before he took her chin within his deadly grip, forcing her attention to him. When her ginger, lust covered eyes open - clouded with desire - and met his gaze, Rose brought her down to him and kissed her softly - hungrily

He murmured against her mouth, "You are so beautiful." He groaned upon feeling her hot walls tighten about him causing a wave of pleasure to race along his spine. His voice tightened, "And you feel so good."

Such sweet words dripping with sexual heat from her lover's handsome mouth snapped Komai's remaining control. Her hips began to sway with growing fervor from side to side while circling against Rose's hard body beneath her. When he thrust up, driving his long shaft inside of her pulsating channel, she drove down then rocked forward. The harder she rode him the higher her pleasures, and soon she had her body tossed back, leaning and propped atop his slender hips. As their passions climbed so did her movements.

Rose gripped her naked, slick hips to move her until she was bouncing atop him. Their sensual moans increased, and whimpers fell as he felt her succulent body spasm about him. Her hot walls convulsed as he watched her jerk and quiver atop him. The liquid fire that spread about his embedded shaft came the moment her orgasm took her. The tightness - the heat - and her convulsing channel were too much for him. With his own deep groan of pleasure, his release tore through him, spilling into her awaiting womb.

There was nothing more rewarding for Rojuro than basking in the aftermath of sexual pleasure. Bliss is what Komai called it. Heaven was Rose's term for it. There they lay upon her bed in a happy and content pile of naked and sweaty flesh. She trembled atop him, completely spent, with his weakening flesh still embedded within her quaking body. After a few quiet minutes spent enwrapped within each other's embrace, the two slowly came down from their sexual high.

Komai sighed beneath the soothing caress of her lover's strong hands that moved up and down her back, over her shoulders then into her hair. She felt him kiss her crown of marbled-brown locks before his arms tightened about her. After a moment, she looked up to him with her chin coming to set atop his chest.

"I didn't think I would miss you as much as I did, Rose,' she said softly as she lifted a hand to cup his face, stroking her fingers along his strong features, 'but I did. Every night I slept with the bear you stuck in my suitcase I wished it was you. In the morning, I woke up thinking you would be there in bed with me, but all I found were hotel pillows."

Chuckling, Rojuro moved her until he had her held right to him with her features tucked against his shoulder. "I understand, Komai. I missed you a great deal. Shinji was ready to sedate me just so all my friends would not hear me moaning day after day."

Komai smirked. "Did you stay here to watch the place?"

"Of course. You asked me to," he answered her with a tender smile. "Besides, being surrounded by your things, like this bed and your pillows, appeased my loneliness."

"What does that say about us, Rose?" she asked, shifting until she leaned over him, looking down into his tender eyes.

He smiled, took her hand from his cheek, and brought her knuckles to his lips. "I'm not sure what it means, my flower. Perhaps that question is best left unanswered. Why dwell on something that feels so right only to not trust what it is we are feeling?"

"You feel it too, then?" she asked as the concern began to drift away from her ginger-colored eyes.

"I feel in my heart that I love you, Komai,' Rojuro said in a soft but deep whisper, 'and I know I don't like to be without you for too long; otherwise, I start to feel incomplete and anxious. For me, those two feelings are unnatural. I've always prided myself on being able to keep a level head when needed, as was commanded of me, but, with you, all the teachings that were pounded into my head throughout my life have gone right out the window."

Komai smiled then set her cheek to his shoulder where her nose brushed against his neck and a few strewn locks of his blonde hair. Her eyes, however, watched their linked hands caress together before he set them to his bare chest. After a moment, Komai licked her lips.

She inquired softly and curiously, "What if I'm ready to take our relationship to the next level, Rose?"

Glancing down, Rojuro shifted his shoulders so he could see her features better. "What do you mean?"

She reached out to gently caressing the dip in his stomach. She fell silent as her mind pondered on how to answer his question without sounding foolish.

"Ko?"

"I've been thinking these past three weeks that, with my schedule with my tours and with all my practices, concerts, and recordings, we don't get to see a lot of each other, not as much as I would like to see of you." She released a deep breath. "I thought long and hard about where I want our relationship to go, and I came to realize that I want our relationship to go to the next level."

Rose narrowed his eyes as he slid his hands behind his head. "The next level?"

Komai nodded. "I want you to move in with me, Rose."

Did he just hear her correctly?

Smiling softly, he moved to his elbows before reaching a hand out to tip her chin up to him. When their eyes met, he tipped his head and inquired - "You want us to live together?"

She nodded.

"Where?"

"Here."

"Here?"

She nodded.

Arching up even more, Rose came before her.

"If you did,' she continued to speak, 'we could see more of each other. You could help me more with my music and my recordings, which we have discussed. I enjoy it when you accompany my music with your guitar, when we work together on lyrics, when we cook together, or when we sit out on the balcony to watch the stars at night."

"Would you be comfortable with that arrangement, Ko?" he asked, tipping his head as he watched her reactions flitter across her young, beautiful face. "Moving in together is not always the best choice to advance a relationship."

"I understand there may be some difficulties, especially in adjusting to being so close to each other a lot more, but, in the end, I think we could make it work." She sighed, shrugged her shoulders, and went on to say - "I'm willing to give it a try and allow us a chance. We already spend what little time we have together here, so why not make it to where, at least when we're apart, we know that each night we will return to each other?"

She smiled and leaned to run her fingers through his hair. "When I'm gone, and when you can't come with me, I will know that when I return home, you will be here. What do you think?"

Rose fell silent.

If he did accept her proposal, then sooner she would find out just who he is and what he once was. There would be no stopping the truth to his life or his identity.

Offering her a tender smile, he leaned to kiss her lips ever so softly. "Before I agree to your proposal,' he said while taking a moment for that statement to filter in through her, 'there is something I need to discuss with you, Komai, that is very important."

Her features fell, falling into an instant reflection of panic. "Oh? Is it…bad?"

Chuckling, he kissed her again. "Not too bad. Believe me though when I say that telling you what I need to will save us a lot of heartache later."

Komai winced. "You're not seeing somebody else, are you? I mean, I know I've been gone a lot lately but…"

Hearing the panic in her voice, Rose wrapped his arms about her to drew her down to him as he lay back to the bed. "Don't be such a silly goose," he said softly, combing a set of fingers through her hair as he kissed her brow. "You are my flower. You are my everything, my dear Komai. No other petal on any other flower would ever gain my eyes. I would lay down my life to protect you and do all in my power to keep you safe."

His impassioned proclamation brought tears to Komai's eyes. "I can never explain how much I love you, Rojuro, neither in song nor in word. I only know that deep inside I ache to be with you as often as possible."

Feeling his heat skip a few beats, Rose caressed a palm slowly along her shoulders where fingers brushed the back of her neck. "How about we sleep on it tonight? Tomorrow, we'll talk more on it.

Her lips twisted with the thought. "I guess tomorrow would be a fitting day to discuss our developing relationship."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Tomorrow is Valentine's Day."

Rose smirked. "So, it is."

"What will we do to celebrate?"

"We'll do something," he told her in a whisper. "I promise."

Komai yawned then closed her eyes as she nestled herself as close as she could to her lover's warm and naked body. "Will you be here when I wake up?"

He smiled then closed his eyes while allowing himself to slip into the same sleep that was taking her. "My flower, I will always be here when you wake."

"What do you mean you haven't gotten Komai anything for Valentine's Day?" Kazumi howled from across the rugged training ground. "She came home yesterday. You should have gotten her something a month ago!"

Shinji groaned as he rolled his eyes. "Geez, woman! Give us men a break. We have more…"

She turned a snarl and a glare to him.

Shinji gulped. "Uh, we have less important things to do than think about romantic holidays. We men can only think of a few things at a time before our brains automatically start dumping stuff."

Hiyori snorted as she raised her Zanpakutou toward Shinji. "Bull-shit! You men can't even think past a simple hello!" She playfully jabbed her sword toward Kensei, whom she was currently sparing with. "You guys just can't keep your priorities straight. I bet Kensei here's even got Renie-pooh a gift!"

Kensei rolled his eyes before he snapped back at the short, irritating, and abusive ex-Lieutenant - "Yeah, I have her something. Jealous?"

"Shut it, dick-head!" she screeched.

Rose sighed while shaking his head before he stepped casually to Kazumi. "I do have something planned for her. However, I need to speak to you privately Kazumi."

"Of course." She smiled and motioned him off to the side of the sparing arena and away from the chaos.

"Is everything alright?" Kazumi asked once she and Rose were far enough away from Shinji's prying ears.

"Yeah…"

Kazumi's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure? Komai was gone for a while. Has something happened?"

Rose replied and with a soft smile to the name of his lover.
"Our reunion was wonderful. However, last night she mentioned that she had come to the realization that she wants to take our relationship to the next level. I didn't know what to say, so we agreed to take up the discussion today."

"Do you mind me asking what her thought was?"

"She wants us to move in together."

"Oh, I see…"

He looked to Kazumi. "The idea is tempting, but if I agree to move in with her, our relationship will be affected greatly. I'm not sure how to proceed."

Kazumi's honey-colored eyes softened, and she reached out to touch his arm. She asked cautiously, "Are you still worried about her finding out the truth to your identity?"

"Yes,' he said with a nod, 'so I need your advice."

Kazumi smiled and touched a hand to his arm. "Of course."

Rojuro took a deep breath only to have his attention snapped to the side when he saw, from the corner of his eyes, Shinji watching them. Sighing, Rojuro looked back to Kazumi.

"I won't tell him. I swear."

Rose told Kazumi everything that had been spoken between him and Komai. When he was finished, he released a heavy – deep breath. "Well, what do you think?" he inquired.

Kazumi took a slow and steady breath. "I can see why you are a little unnerved, Rose. There is a lot involved in your life as a Visored, as an ex-Captain of the Soul Society. Being involved with a mortal woman is not easy, especially when secrets are being kept."

"If it were you…?"

"If it were me,' said Kazumi in thought, 'I would have a lot on my mind as well."

"What did Shinji go through when he was pondering how to expose you to the secrets of his life?"

"Things between Shinji and me were a bit different than your predicament, Rose. I'm sure Shinji had reservations when we started to connect, but when he realized that I was the reincarnation of the person whom I ended up being still alive, there was no reason to hide his life because I knew everything already."

"But Rose,' she continued to say when she saw trepidation shine in his eyes, 'you know Komai better than I do, so you should know whether you can trust her and, if you do, then you to plan the best way to tell her. You must think that if you did move in with her, would there really be a need for you to tell her that you are a Visored? Would you really need to tell her that you're over three -hundred years old, that the body she sees and touches every day and night is a created body made by a man named Kisuke? Or, could you move in with her, let things move from there, and see what happens? Does she really need to know?"

Rose sighed softly.

"You are a wonderful and loving man, Rose' Kazumi continued to say tenderly, 'so I am sure that you will do what you feel in your heart to be right. You have an amazing ability to read people and situations, so you will know when the time is right to confide in her, and you will do so with compassion for her."

"But, Kazumi, I don't even possess a human body…" he muttered, touching a hand to his chest."

"Right now, yes, but these Gigais were designed to turn a Soul Reaper into a human over time, as long as the Soul Reaper doesn't just pop in and out of it constantly. Kisuke has said that some point in time our spiritual bodies will be gone if we don't leave the Gigai on a regular basis. Eventually, you will become a human and then you will be mortal."

"For you perhaps, but for me and the other Visoreds, our Hollowfication may change that time frame. We might not even become human. Kisuke has never indicated how long it will take for us to become human." He sighed heavily. "I think Komai is smart enough to realize after forty years I'm not much older than I am now."

Kazumi pursed her lips. "Good point. You could always make the choice to not leave your Gigai and allow yourself to eventually become human."

"But then I would have to make the choice between fighting besides my friends against a war that can end up destroying Komai and all others in Karakura Town or walking away from my duty as a Visored."

Kazumi looked across the training ground to catch Shinji's gaze. She offered a smile to him then looked back to Rose. "Do you trust Komai?"

Rose nodded. "Of course, I do."

"Do you love her?"

"With all my heart."

"Then you will know what to do. Don't second guess yourself, Rose."

Rose offered a polite nod to her and a soft smile. "Thanks, Kazumi. I really appreciate your input."

Kazumi smiled warmly to him. "Any time. Now, do go and get her something nice for Valentine's Day. You're cutting it close."

"I will."

Feeling his soul lightened, Rose departed the training ground.

When Komai returned from a shopping errand, she found the lights to the apartment completely turned off. How odd, considering that she and Rose had met heading down the stairs. He was returning from visiting his friends as she headed to the store. They spoke for a short moment. He kissed his cheek and said that she would be back shortly. Upon entering the apartment, she found the space seemingly vacant.

"Rose?" she called as she set the bags of groceries to the kitchen counter. She then walked through the large apartment. "Are you here?"

Something unexpected drew her eyes down to the floor as she came to the living-room. There, sprinkled across the floor leading into the living-room, were beautiful yellow and white rose petals. Her softly painted lips formed a tender smile as she bent down and scooped up a handful of the two-toned rose petals.

"I know you're here," she said with a sensual mew.

The living-room was vacant save for the romantic and warm glow of lit candles that were sporadically placed around the room , so she went to look into the other rooms. Upon entering the bedroom, Komai was met by the delicate caress of candlelight. She expected to see Rose, considering the trail of rose petals ended at the foot of her canopy bed, but he was not there. Stepping forward, she looked about then went to reach for the light switch. That's when a hand came out of the darkness from around her shoulders to cover her hand. She gasped, spun about, and found herself locked within her lover's powerful embrace.

Before she could open her mouth to question him, Rojuro claimed her lips in a heated embrace. His impassioned kiss took her breath away. When the kiss turned soft, Rojuro drew his lips from hers. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw him gazing to her with an expression of internal pride.

"Hello to you too," she murmured. "What's with all the petals and candles?"

He whispered in return, "It's Valentine's Day. Remember?"

"So, it is. Thank you for the petals," she purred, slipping her arms about his thin frame.

Chuckling, Rojuro cupped his lover's face so that his thumbs could trail along her cheeks. "I have more for you than just petals, my flower."

"Oh?" She set her chin to his chest and fluttered her ginger-colored eyes to him. "What do you have for me?"

"An answer."

Komai blinked her eyes, tipped her head then smirked in understanding. "To my question from last night?"

Rose nodded.

"What is it?" she asked as a swirl of excitement coiled within her belly.

"Do you remember a few months back you mentioned wanting to find a vacation house in the mountains?"

Komai nodded.

"Let's do it." Rose said softly, leaning his forehead against hers, "Let's go find ourselves a place far away from the city, the crowds, and the flashing lights of your fans and the media where we can create our own music, our own songs, and our own passions without disruption, without the stress of this area, and the demands of our lives."

Komai's heart melted. "Does this mean you're ready to take the next step in our relationship?"

Rose, with his own eyes closing, sighed softly - "Yes."

"What about your friends?"

Rojuro chuckle, tipping her head back until their lips touched in a subtle soft kiss. "My friends will respect whatever decisions I make, and I don't need their permission for anything I do in my life. Besides, this can be our getaway home, a place unknown to anybody. This way, you and I can be completely alone when we need to focus on us. We won't be too far away, so we can easily move between locations."

Suddenly, she squealed in excitement and threw her arms about his neck. She hugged him tightly, so tightly that Rose slipped his arms about her curved hips while lifting her easily up and off the floor. Komai kissed his face till he was chuckling and taking her to the bed they shared. There, he laid her down and came to hover over her.

"I take it, you like the idea?" he asked with a sly grin.

Komai laughed brightly. "Of course, I do!"

"Then, how about tomorrow we take a couple of the mountain villages to see which area we like the most? We can then contact some realtors to investigate properties that will suit our needs."

"I'll call Omakai and tell him I'm clearing my schedule for the week," Komai stated with a nod of her head. Gazing into his soft eyes, Komai cupped his face in her hands, brushing her fingers along his sharp cheekbones. "We can spend the week taking our time looking into places and investigating areas - just you and me, alone and far away from the world. It'll be a little Valentine's Day holiday."

Rose leaned to kiss her sweetly and softly, murmuring against her lips - "What more could I ask for as?"

Komai mewed softly as her arms came to slip about his shoulders, her fingers delving into his thick locks of luscious hair. "I love you, Rojuro."

He drew his lips from hers, pressed a kiss to her cheek, and then her temples. He whispered softly to her just as delicately, "And I you, my Flower."

That night, they made passionate and gentle love.

Their bare flesh moved within the candlelit room with rose petals spread upon the bed. They moved in sensual synchronization, building their passion and desire. One moved atop the other, thrusting deep or sweeping forward until the other took control. Harder and harder - faster and faster they move until their echoes of pleasure danced the room. Komai trembled beneath him, scratch at his bucking body as she thrust herself against him until her orgasmic release tore through her with such overwhelming power that she locked her shaking, sweaty limbs about Rose's equally damp and quivering body. Not long after her hot release caressed his aching flesh, he emptied himself into her as a cry of her name fluttered past his lip.

Sometime during the night, Rojuro woke as his mind directed his thoughts to the gift that he had for her. As she slept coiled against his side, he had the perfect chance to sneak Komai's Valentine's gift about her while she slept. He did not have to move her too much, just shift away from her to the edge of the bed so that he was able to dig a hand into a pocket of his slacks that lay crumpled upon the floor. He drew forth a small box of pink velvet then took from it a pewter linked chain of feminine design. What made the necklace beautiful was that every other link was an amethyst stone, unpolished and in its natural state. Each one was hand carved into tiny rose to which the pewter links were attached.

As delicately as he could, he brushed aside a lock of her hair so that he could slip the necklace about her neck and latch it.

Komai murmured slightly then tucked herself into his arms.

Beautiful - she was absolutely beautiful.

Rose shifted back to the bed, embracing her and touching a kiss to her naked shoulder. He whispered to her slumbering soul that he loved her then buried his features into her soft hair. She mumbled something then fell still.

Tomorrow morning, she would wake from her slumber to discover her gift, then they would head off into an unknown adventure to start yet another chapter in their budding life.

18