Sealed With a Kiss - Chapter 4
Yay, finally, Ferio! ^__^ There's more fluff in this chapter. Enjoy... Heh heh. ^_~
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Umi and Hikaru were talking and laughing as they walked back up to the apartment, coming home from a day of classes. Umi unlocked the door and tossed her books on the kitchen table. "Shh!" she shushed Hikaru, hearing crying.
Umi walked quickly to Fuu's room, only to find her face-down on her bed, crying into her pillow. Umi was startled and walked slowly over to Fuu, Hikaru just entering the room. Umi knelt next to Fuu and placed her hand on her back. "Fuu?"
Fuu's head snapped up, startled. "Umi-san!" She hastily wiped at her tear-stained face. "I-i didn't hear you come in..." Her eyes flittered to Hikaru.
"Fuu-chan... What's wrong?" Hikaru asked, kneeling beside Umi. "You can talk to us about it."
"I would rather not," Fuu whispered, sitting up and turning her head.
Umi frowned. "Fuu, if something's bothering you--"
"I *said* I'm fine!" Fuu repeated, louder than she had intended.
Umi blinked. She had never heard Fuu yell at anyone before. "I..."
Fuu's cheeks flushed and she got off her bed, walking past her friends to the mirror, where she tried to straighten her hair. She was angry with herself. Angry with herself for liking Geo. Angry with herself for slapping him. For walking out on him. For letting her friends see her crying and for yelling at them.
"Fuu..." Umi was cut short by a knock at the door.
Fuu swore under her breath. She was pretty sure who was at the door. "I'll get it," she said, hurrying to the door.
Hikaru and Umi exchanged a confused look. Fuu was acting a little hostile, very uncharacteristic of herself. "Do you think Fuu-chan's okay?" Hikaru said softly. All Umi could do was shrug.
Fuu opened the door and was greeted by a pair of deep mahogony eyes. 'Just as I thought,' she said to herself. Then, out loud, she said, "Yes, Geo-san?"
"Can I come in? We need to talk."
"I will come out," she said, stepping into the hall. Her roommates didn't need to know about her problem. Fuu took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger. "Geo-san, I'm so sorry. I never should have struck you. It was uncalled for and--"
She stopped as Geo put a hand on her shoulder. "Fuu, I'll try as hard as I can to fall out of love with you, but in the meantime, could *you* forgive *me?*"
Fuu blinked. "Forgive you? For what? *I* am the one that hit you."
Geo lowered his eyes. "But I hurt you," he said quietly. "You love someone else, right?"
Fuu was silent a moment, then nodded. "Yes, the only man I ever have loved."
"Would you... apologize to him for me?"
"Huh?"
"Fuu," Geo mumbled her name, and she winced at how he said it. "Not only did I fall in love with the woman he loves, I took a kiss that I never should have taken. I stole it from him. Just... Do me those two things. Forgive me and apologize to him."
Fuu's eyes softened as he turned and walked away. She considered calling after him, but she didn't know what to say. She blinked back tears. She had hurt one of her dear friends. How was she supposed to forgive herself for that?
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"Fuu-chan? What are you doing?" Hikaru popped her head into Fuu's bedroom.
"Packing," Fuu answered, not looking up from folding her clothes.
Now Hikaru brouhgt her whole self into the room, her hand trailing on the doorframe. "Where are you going?"
"I need to talk to Ferio about something," Fuu said, finally looking up at Hikaru. "I'll be gone a week or so. Could you please telephone my boss and tell him I'll be gone?"
Hikaru nodded. "Should I tell Umi-chan where you went when she gets home?"
Fuu nodded, shutting her suitcase. She hugged Hikaru and walked out the door. "I'm sorry, I know this is sudden, but I need to see him. Good bye," she said before shutting the door.
She looked at the envelope of Ferio's last letter. He never had called, but she understood that he had better things to do... She stared at the return address, longing to hold him and forget about what had happened with Geo...
"The sooner I leave, the sooner I'll see him," she told herself, heading for the car garage.
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Ferio stretched his arms over his head, snuggling into the hammock, sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees and warming his face. He finally got a couple hours to just chill. He sighed, closing his eyes, ready to drift into a peaceful doze when he heard his aunt yelling something.
'Damn, just when I thought I was gonna get some time to relax,' he thought. He opened his eyes, only to meet two familiar pools of emerald-green. He sat up fast, almost falling out of the hammock. "Fuu!"
She smiled at him. "Good afternoon." Ferio laughed, pulling her into the hammock with him. Fuu blushed and laughed as well. "Ferio, we'll break the hammock," she giggled.
"Oh, well," Ferio said. "I'm so happy to see you..." He took her chin in his hand, kissing her soft lips. Fuu slipped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. Ferio was a little surprised but he kissed her back with a warmth they had never had together before. He let his lips drift from hers, kissing her forehead. "I've missed you so much, Fuu-chan."
Fuu snuggled up to him, nuzzling her face in his chest, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his waist. "I've missed you, too, Ferio... There's so much I have to tell you..."
"Later," he whispered, putting an arm around her shoulders like a pillow and drawing her closer yet. He heard her sigh contentedly and he rested his hand on her side, then slid it to her stomach. Fuu felt herself blush but she didn't want him to remove his hand. She felt like her body had been crafted to fit into his arms, she felt so perfect in his embrace. Geo was the last thing on her mind right now.
The couple dozed off after a few minutes, a flood of happiness and intimacy washing over them in the warm spring breeze.
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"Oh, Ferio, you were right," Fuu murmured. "This sunset *is* gorgeous."
"Not as gorgeous as my Fuu-chan," Ferio replied as he kissed her jaw repeatedly.
Fuu blushed at the classic line, even though Ferio meant it with all his being, and at his lips playing on her jaw. "Ferio..." she said, flustered from the intimate gesture. She took his face in her hands, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs and gazed into his loving, golden eyes, those eyes that she had missed so terribly. "Ferio, I need to tell you something."
"Oh, Fuu, do we have to talk now?" he pleaded, brushing away her hair that had been blown into her face by the breeze. "I just want to hold you right now."
Fuu turned her eyes away, remembering Geo's words...
"Not only did I fall in love with the woman he loves, I took a kiss that I never should have taken. I stole it from him. Just... apologize to him."
Ferio's voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Fuu-chan?..."
"Oh, Ferio," she whispered, trying to hold back tears. "When you call me that, when you hold me, I... I feel like everything I know has come crashing down and that all I have left is you." She stifled a sob.
"Fuu, sweetie, why're there tears in your eyes?" Ferio asked, concerned. "You know I hate to see you cry."
Fuu closed her eyes softly, touching her forehead to his. She was afraid to tell him that someone else was in love with her. She didn't know if he would be angry, hurt, what... And what if they let this come between them? That world that Ferio had taken the place of... She would have nothing, then, if he left her. "Ferio..." she whispered, eyes still closed.
"Fuu...
"You love me, right?"
Ferio was shocked by her question. Did she doubt that he loved her? "Fuu, of course I love you," he said gently. "I love you more than *anything.* Why would you have to ask that?"
She didn't answer his question, just asked, "Will you ever leave me?"
He leaned his forehead off hers as she opened her soft, green eyes. The way she was looking at him was killing him, tearing his heart into a million pieces and putting them in her pocket. He found himself stroking her cheek with all the gentleness in him and his lips whispering, "I'll never, ever leave you, Fuu. I'm going to be yours until the day I die. Only yours. And there is *nothing* that you can do to make me stop loving you. What I feel for you is unconditional love, exactly how you are."
Fuu's tears were falling freely, silently now. "Even if there was someone else?" she managed to whisper. The look in Ferio's eyes nearly killed her. No, made her want to kill herself. She had never seen such hurt in anyone's eyes before, not even Geo's.
'Someone else...' Her words echoed in his mind over and over, louder each time. He felt dead. Fuu was in love with someone else? Someone *else?!* He saw her open her mouth to speak but he heard his aunt's undefyable voice call them in. "We'll talk about this later," he managed to say, standing.
Fuu grabbed his forearm. "No, we'll talk about it *now*, Ferio."
He took her hand, pulling her along. "Later," he said, and the tone of his voice told Fuu not to say another word.
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'Someone else.'
Fuu's tearful whisper still rang through his tortured heart. He stared at the dark ceiling, gripping his sheets. 'How the *hell* could she love someone else?!' he thought, feeling on the verge of tears. 'I never should have left. Or maybe...' He felt his heart lurch. 'Maybe we weren't meant to be, after all.'
He reached into the nightstand drawer and felt around until he found it. He pulled it out, fingering the small golden band. Just the right size to fit on her left finger. 'Damn shouldn't've wasted my money on this.'
Ferio mentally slapped himself. "Ferio, what the hell's wrong with you?" he said to himself softly. "You know she's the one *made* for you! You probably took it the wrong way, or maybe she was being hypothetical..." He looked at the ring again, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand and putting it back in the drawer. He just laid there for a while, totally unable to sleep.
"Ferio?..." a voice whispered.
Ferio sat up quickly. Fuu was standing in his doorway, her arms hugged to herself. She was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, like him, and had a sorrowful look in her eyes.
"Fuu..."
"I... I couldn't sleep... Could I..." Ferio could practically hear her blushing as she tried to find the right words. "I know this will sound provocative, but could I stay with you for a while?"
He nodded. "Please."
She walked over, sitting on the edge of his bed, silent. Ferio hesitated, then pulled her down next to him. He heard her gasp in surprise, but she relaxed quickly.
"*This'll* sound even more provocative," Ferio said. "But aren't you chilly? The..." Now he felt himself blush. "The blankets are already warm from my... my body heat..."
"I'd better not," she whispered, afraid of the temptation.
Ferio slipped himself out from under the covers. "Well, I need to feel you against me, so neither will I."
Fuu blushed as he pulled her close. "Ferio... We need to talk."
He let her go as they both rolled onto their backs next to each other. They stared at the ceiling for a while, then Ferio said, "So you're in love with someone else?"
Fuu half sat up quickly, propping herself up with her elbow. "No."
Ferio did the same, looking at her curiously. "But you said..."
"I said that there was another man in my life, not that I loved him," she corrected. She took a breath. "His name is Geo. He's become a good friend of mine and..." She turned her head away. "He's fallen in love with me, and he says that he's sorry." She looked back at him as she heard him chuckle. "Why are you laughing?"
Ferio sighed, smiling, pulling her back down next to him and snuggling his face into her chest. "F-f... Ferio!..."
"Fuu," she heard him say. "It's not your fault -- or his -- that you're so easy to love." Fuu blushed. "It has to be a sin to be so loveable," he added, bringing his face up to hers, his nose brushing her upper lip. "I want to meet this Geo dude and talk to him. Don't worry, I won't hit him or anything," he added with a smile when he saw worry behind her eyes. He put his hand on her cheek.
"Ferio..." she said gently. "You're so amazing. I feel so terrible for--"
His thumb traveled from her cheek to her lips, shushing her. "Sh, it's all right, Fuu," he assured her. "Don't feel bad about anything."
She reached up, pulling his hand away gently. "What if he kissed me?" she said a little hotly.
Ferio hesitated. He hadn't expected that. This guy's lips had touched Fuu's? He tried his hardest to hold down the fiery anger that that thought brought to his mind. "Even if he kissed you," he said honestly, with some difficulty, however.
Fuu saw the anger in his eyes. He couldn't hide his emotions from her, she saw them all when she looked into his amber-colored eyes. "Ferio... He said he's sorry for stealing that kiss from you, that it was rightfully yours," she whimpered. "Ferio, Geo-san feels so terrible..."
"I want it back."
"Huh?"
"I want that kiss back," he repeated, pushing gently on the back of her neck so her lips pressed against his. He began to kiss her softly, and Fuu melted right into the kiss, slipping her arms around his middle and wrapping her stockinged foot around his ankle as he pulled her closer, both of them longing for intimacy.
Despite all that Fuu had just told him, all Ferio could focus on was her silky lips moving against his, their warm bodies pressed together. He forced himself to promise himself that this was as far as they'd go... for tonight. He was going to marry her someday and prove to her on their wedding night just how much he would always love her.
Fuu broke the kiss, pulling away slightly and lying once more on her back. Ferio nuzzled his head onto her shoulder, sighing. "Tomorrow we'll go home," he whispered, taking her hand in his and entwining their fingers. "My aunt has some people hired anyways. They can come a couple days early..."
His voice trailed off and Fuu heard his soft, rhythmic breathing as he fell asleep. "Ferio, you're so good to me..." she said, barely in a whisper. She leaned her chin on the top of his head, breathing in deeply. Yes, there was that earthy, familiar smell that was his and his alone...
Fuu sighed to herself happily. She was now confident that everything would work out between her and Geo. Hers and Ferio's love could make anything work. She closed her eyes, drifting off into a peaceful sleep as well.
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"I can carry my own suitcase, Ferio," Fuu insisted as they got off the bus.
"But I want to carry it."
Fuu snorted and picked up her luggage. "Come on, I'm sure that Umi-san would like to see you again."
Ferio sighed, defeated, as he follwed Fuu to the elevator. They set down their suitcases on the elevator floor and Ferio stood behind Fuu, his hands playing on her slender hips, as she pushed the button for their floor.
"Ferio, please remove your hands," Fuu said, not turning around.
He blinked. "What?"
Fuu sighed and turned around, pecking him on the lips. "Not now, all right?"
Ferio grinned impishly, his golden eyes dancing with playfulness. "Later?" he said hopefully.
She ran her fingers through his hair before pulling away. "If you're good."
"Ah."
About then, they reached their floor and Freio grabbed both suitcases before Fuu could protest. She just followed him, pouting and saying, "I'm a big girl, Ferio. I can carry my things."
She blinked in surprise as he turned around and gave her a quick kiss. "I told you, I *want* to," was all he said before realizing that he couldn't open the door with his hands full.
Fuu sighed, shaking her head, and opened the door. "Hikaru-san! Umi-san!"
Umi came bounding into the entranceway, much like a dog after his master has returned home. "Fuu!... FERIO!" she shouted, throwing herself into her friend's arms. "Ferio! You came back early!"
Ferio toppled over from the weight of the young woman jumping on him and he fell to the floor on top of his suitcase. "Ow!"
Umi laughed, straddling his waist and ruffling his hair. "It's so great to see ya!"
Fuu felt a little pang of jealousy at the postition Umi was in over Ferio, even though she knew that the two were just friends. She blushed, realizing herself and her thoughts. "Umi-san, would you please remove yourself from my boyfriend?" she said, smiling.
"Oh, oops." Umi stood, offering her hand to Ferio.
He took it as she pulled him up. "Umi..." he groaned, rubbing his back. "You knocked me right onto my suitcase." He winced.
Fuu slipped her arms around his waist from behind, locking her arms across his belly, and whispered in his ear so that Umi couldn't hear, "Maybe I'll give you a massage later."
Umi didn't hear what Fuu had whispered to Ferio, but it must have been *something* good because he blushed a little and a wide grin formed on his lips.
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Yeah, you knew it was gonna get mushy sooner or later. It has to if suzanami's writing it, ne? ... Okay, in next chapter: Ferio vs Geo! ::plays dramatic music::
Yay, finally, Ferio! ^__^ There's more fluff in this chapter. Enjoy... Heh heh. ^_~
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Umi and Hikaru were talking and laughing as they walked back up to the apartment, coming home from a day of classes. Umi unlocked the door and tossed her books on the kitchen table. "Shh!" she shushed Hikaru, hearing crying.
Umi walked quickly to Fuu's room, only to find her face-down on her bed, crying into her pillow. Umi was startled and walked slowly over to Fuu, Hikaru just entering the room. Umi knelt next to Fuu and placed her hand on her back. "Fuu?"
Fuu's head snapped up, startled. "Umi-san!" She hastily wiped at her tear-stained face. "I-i didn't hear you come in..." Her eyes flittered to Hikaru.
"Fuu-chan... What's wrong?" Hikaru asked, kneeling beside Umi. "You can talk to us about it."
"I would rather not," Fuu whispered, sitting up and turning her head.
Umi frowned. "Fuu, if something's bothering you--"
"I *said* I'm fine!" Fuu repeated, louder than she had intended.
Umi blinked. She had never heard Fuu yell at anyone before. "I..."
Fuu's cheeks flushed and she got off her bed, walking past her friends to the mirror, where she tried to straighten her hair. She was angry with herself. Angry with herself for liking Geo. Angry with herself for slapping him. For walking out on him. For letting her friends see her crying and for yelling at them.
"Fuu..." Umi was cut short by a knock at the door.
Fuu swore under her breath. She was pretty sure who was at the door. "I'll get it," she said, hurrying to the door.
Hikaru and Umi exchanged a confused look. Fuu was acting a little hostile, very uncharacteristic of herself. "Do you think Fuu-chan's okay?" Hikaru said softly. All Umi could do was shrug.
Fuu opened the door and was greeted by a pair of deep mahogony eyes. 'Just as I thought,' she said to herself. Then, out loud, she said, "Yes, Geo-san?"
"Can I come in? We need to talk."
"I will come out," she said, stepping into the hall. Her roommates didn't need to know about her problem. Fuu took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger. "Geo-san, I'm so sorry. I never should have struck you. It was uncalled for and--"
She stopped as Geo put a hand on her shoulder. "Fuu, I'll try as hard as I can to fall out of love with you, but in the meantime, could *you* forgive *me?*"
Fuu blinked. "Forgive you? For what? *I* am the one that hit you."
Geo lowered his eyes. "But I hurt you," he said quietly. "You love someone else, right?"
Fuu was silent a moment, then nodded. "Yes, the only man I ever have loved."
"Would you... apologize to him for me?"
"Huh?"
"Fuu," Geo mumbled her name, and she winced at how he said it. "Not only did I fall in love with the woman he loves, I took a kiss that I never should have taken. I stole it from him. Just... Do me those two things. Forgive me and apologize to him."
Fuu's eyes softened as he turned and walked away. She considered calling after him, but she didn't know what to say. She blinked back tears. She had hurt one of her dear friends. How was she supposed to forgive herself for that?
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"Fuu-chan? What are you doing?" Hikaru popped her head into Fuu's bedroom.
"Packing," Fuu answered, not looking up from folding her clothes.
Now Hikaru brouhgt her whole self into the room, her hand trailing on the doorframe. "Where are you going?"
"I need to talk to Ferio about something," Fuu said, finally looking up at Hikaru. "I'll be gone a week or so. Could you please telephone my boss and tell him I'll be gone?"
Hikaru nodded. "Should I tell Umi-chan where you went when she gets home?"
Fuu nodded, shutting her suitcase. She hugged Hikaru and walked out the door. "I'm sorry, I know this is sudden, but I need to see him. Good bye," she said before shutting the door.
She looked at the envelope of Ferio's last letter. He never had called, but she understood that he had better things to do... She stared at the return address, longing to hold him and forget about what had happened with Geo...
"The sooner I leave, the sooner I'll see him," she told herself, heading for the car garage.
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Ferio stretched his arms over his head, snuggling into the hammock, sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees and warming his face. He finally got a couple hours to just chill. He sighed, closing his eyes, ready to drift into a peaceful doze when he heard his aunt yelling something.
'Damn, just when I thought I was gonna get some time to relax,' he thought. He opened his eyes, only to meet two familiar pools of emerald-green. He sat up fast, almost falling out of the hammock. "Fuu!"
She smiled at him. "Good afternoon." Ferio laughed, pulling her into the hammock with him. Fuu blushed and laughed as well. "Ferio, we'll break the hammock," she giggled.
"Oh, well," Ferio said. "I'm so happy to see you..." He took her chin in his hand, kissing her soft lips. Fuu slipped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. Ferio was a little surprised but he kissed her back with a warmth they had never had together before. He let his lips drift from hers, kissing her forehead. "I've missed you so much, Fuu-chan."
Fuu snuggled up to him, nuzzling her face in his chest, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his waist. "I've missed you, too, Ferio... There's so much I have to tell you..."
"Later," he whispered, putting an arm around her shoulders like a pillow and drawing her closer yet. He heard her sigh contentedly and he rested his hand on her side, then slid it to her stomach. Fuu felt herself blush but she didn't want him to remove his hand. She felt like her body had been crafted to fit into his arms, she felt so perfect in his embrace. Geo was the last thing on her mind right now.
The couple dozed off after a few minutes, a flood of happiness and intimacy washing over them in the warm spring breeze.
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"Oh, Ferio, you were right," Fuu murmured. "This sunset *is* gorgeous."
"Not as gorgeous as my Fuu-chan," Ferio replied as he kissed her jaw repeatedly.
Fuu blushed at the classic line, even though Ferio meant it with all his being, and at his lips playing on her jaw. "Ferio..." she said, flustered from the intimate gesture. She took his face in her hands, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs and gazed into his loving, golden eyes, those eyes that she had missed so terribly. "Ferio, I need to tell you something."
"Oh, Fuu, do we have to talk now?" he pleaded, brushing away her hair that had been blown into her face by the breeze. "I just want to hold you right now."
Fuu turned her eyes away, remembering Geo's words...
"Not only did I fall in love with the woman he loves, I took a kiss that I never should have taken. I stole it from him. Just... apologize to him."
Ferio's voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Fuu-chan?..."
"Oh, Ferio," she whispered, trying to hold back tears. "When you call me that, when you hold me, I... I feel like everything I know has come crashing down and that all I have left is you." She stifled a sob.
"Fuu, sweetie, why're there tears in your eyes?" Ferio asked, concerned. "You know I hate to see you cry."
Fuu closed her eyes softly, touching her forehead to his. She was afraid to tell him that someone else was in love with her. She didn't know if he would be angry, hurt, what... And what if they let this come between them? That world that Ferio had taken the place of... She would have nothing, then, if he left her. "Ferio..." she whispered, eyes still closed.
"Fuu...
"You love me, right?"
Ferio was shocked by her question. Did she doubt that he loved her? "Fuu, of course I love you," he said gently. "I love you more than *anything.* Why would you have to ask that?"
She didn't answer his question, just asked, "Will you ever leave me?"
He leaned his forehead off hers as she opened her soft, green eyes. The way she was looking at him was killing him, tearing his heart into a million pieces and putting them in her pocket. He found himself stroking her cheek with all the gentleness in him and his lips whispering, "I'll never, ever leave you, Fuu. I'm going to be yours until the day I die. Only yours. And there is *nothing* that you can do to make me stop loving you. What I feel for you is unconditional love, exactly how you are."
Fuu's tears were falling freely, silently now. "Even if there was someone else?" she managed to whisper. The look in Ferio's eyes nearly killed her. No, made her want to kill herself. She had never seen such hurt in anyone's eyes before, not even Geo's.
'Someone else...' Her words echoed in his mind over and over, louder each time. He felt dead. Fuu was in love with someone else? Someone *else?!* He saw her open her mouth to speak but he heard his aunt's undefyable voice call them in. "We'll talk about this later," he managed to say, standing.
Fuu grabbed his forearm. "No, we'll talk about it *now*, Ferio."
He took her hand, pulling her along. "Later," he said, and the tone of his voice told Fuu not to say another word.
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'Someone else.'
Fuu's tearful whisper still rang through his tortured heart. He stared at the dark ceiling, gripping his sheets. 'How the *hell* could she love someone else?!' he thought, feeling on the verge of tears. 'I never should have left. Or maybe...' He felt his heart lurch. 'Maybe we weren't meant to be, after all.'
He reached into the nightstand drawer and felt around until he found it. He pulled it out, fingering the small golden band. Just the right size to fit on her left finger. 'Damn shouldn't've wasted my money on this.'
Ferio mentally slapped himself. "Ferio, what the hell's wrong with you?" he said to himself softly. "You know she's the one *made* for you! You probably took it the wrong way, or maybe she was being hypothetical..." He looked at the ring again, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand and putting it back in the drawer. He just laid there for a while, totally unable to sleep.
"Ferio?..." a voice whispered.
Ferio sat up quickly. Fuu was standing in his doorway, her arms hugged to herself. She was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, like him, and had a sorrowful look in her eyes.
"Fuu..."
"I... I couldn't sleep... Could I..." Ferio could practically hear her blushing as she tried to find the right words. "I know this will sound provocative, but could I stay with you for a while?"
He nodded. "Please."
She walked over, sitting on the edge of his bed, silent. Ferio hesitated, then pulled her down next to him. He heard her gasp in surprise, but she relaxed quickly.
"*This'll* sound even more provocative," Ferio said. "But aren't you chilly? The..." Now he felt himself blush. "The blankets are already warm from my... my body heat..."
"I'd better not," she whispered, afraid of the temptation.
Ferio slipped himself out from under the covers. "Well, I need to feel you against me, so neither will I."
Fuu blushed as he pulled her close. "Ferio... We need to talk."
He let her go as they both rolled onto their backs next to each other. They stared at the ceiling for a while, then Ferio said, "So you're in love with someone else?"
Fuu half sat up quickly, propping herself up with her elbow. "No."
Ferio did the same, looking at her curiously. "But you said..."
"I said that there was another man in my life, not that I loved him," she corrected. She took a breath. "His name is Geo. He's become a good friend of mine and..." She turned her head away. "He's fallen in love with me, and he says that he's sorry." She looked back at him as she heard him chuckle. "Why are you laughing?"
Ferio sighed, smiling, pulling her back down next to him and snuggling his face into her chest. "F-f... Ferio!..."
"Fuu," she heard him say. "It's not your fault -- or his -- that you're so easy to love." Fuu blushed. "It has to be a sin to be so loveable," he added, bringing his face up to hers, his nose brushing her upper lip. "I want to meet this Geo dude and talk to him. Don't worry, I won't hit him or anything," he added with a smile when he saw worry behind her eyes. He put his hand on her cheek.
"Ferio..." she said gently. "You're so amazing. I feel so terrible for--"
His thumb traveled from her cheek to her lips, shushing her. "Sh, it's all right, Fuu," he assured her. "Don't feel bad about anything."
She reached up, pulling his hand away gently. "What if he kissed me?" she said a little hotly.
Ferio hesitated. He hadn't expected that. This guy's lips had touched Fuu's? He tried his hardest to hold down the fiery anger that that thought brought to his mind. "Even if he kissed you," he said honestly, with some difficulty, however.
Fuu saw the anger in his eyes. He couldn't hide his emotions from her, she saw them all when she looked into his amber-colored eyes. "Ferio... He said he's sorry for stealing that kiss from you, that it was rightfully yours," she whimpered. "Ferio, Geo-san feels so terrible..."
"I want it back."
"Huh?"
"I want that kiss back," he repeated, pushing gently on the back of her neck so her lips pressed against his. He began to kiss her softly, and Fuu melted right into the kiss, slipping her arms around his middle and wrapping her stockinged foot around his ankle as he pulled her closer, both of them longing for intimacy.
Despite all that Fuu had just told him, all Ferio could focus on was her silky lips moving against his, their warm bodies pressed together. He forced himself to promise himself that this was as far as they'd go... for tonight. He was going to marry her someday and prove to her on their wedding night just how much he would always love her.
Fuu broke the kiss, pulling away slightly and lying once more on her back. Ferio nuzzled his head onto her shoulder, sighing. "Tomorrow we'll go home," he whispered, taking her hand in his and entwining their fingers. "My aunt has some people hired anyways. They can come a couple days early..."
His voice trailed off and Fuu heard his soft, rhythmic breathing as he fell asleep. "Ferio, you're so good to me..." she said, barely in a whisper. She leaned her chin on the top of his head, breathing in deeply. Yes, there was that earthy, familiar smell that was his and his alone...
Fuu sighed to herself happily. She was now confident that everything would work out between her and Geo. Hers and Ferio's love could make anything work. She closed her eyes, drifting off into a peaceful sleep as well.
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"I can carry my own suitcase, Ferio," Fuu insisted as they got off the bus.
"But I want to carry it."
Fuu snorted and picked up her luggage. "Come on, I'm sure that Umi-san would like to see you again."
Ferio sighed, defeated, as he follwed Fuu to the elevator. They set down their suitcases on the elevator floor and Ferio stood behind Fuu, his hands playing on her slender hips, as she pushed the button for their floor.
"Ferio, please remove your hands," Fuu said, not turning around.
He blinked. "What?"
Fuu sighed and turned around, pecking him on the lips. "Not now, all right?"
Ferio grinned impishly, his golden eyes dancing with playfulness. "Later?" he said hopefully.
She ran her fingers through his hair before pulling away. "If you're good."
"Ah."
About then, they reached their floor and Freio grabbed both suitcases before Fuu could protest. She just followed him, pouting and saying, "I'm a big girl, Ferio. I can carry my things."
She blinked in surprise as he turned around and gave her a quick kiss. "I told you, I *want* to," was all he said before realizing that he couldn't open the door with his hands full.
Fuu sighed, shaking her head, and opened the door. "Hikaru-san! Umi-san!"
Umi came bounding into the entranceway, much like a dog after his master has returned home. "Fuu!... FERIO!" she shouted, throwing herself into her friend's arms. "Ferio! You came back early!"
Ferio toppled over from the weight of the young woman jumping on him and he fell to the floor on top of his suitcase. "Ow!"
Umi laughed, straddling his waist and ruffling his hair. "It's so great to see ya!"
Fuu felt a little pang of jealousy at the postition Umi was in over Ferio, even though she knew that the two were just friends. She blushed, realizing herself and her thoughts. "Umi-san, would you please remove yourself from my boyfriend?" she said, smiling.
"Oh, oops." Umi stood, offering her hand to Ferio.
He took it as she pulled him up. "Umi..." he groaned, rubbing his back. "You knocked me right onto my suitcase." He winced.
Fuu slipped her arms around his waist from behind, locking her arms across his belly, and whispered in his ear so that Umi couldn't hear, "Maybe I'll give you a massage later."
Umi didn't hear what Fuu had whispered to Ferio, but it must have been *something* good because he blushed a little and a wide grin formed on his lips.
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Yeah, you knew it was gonna get mushy sooner or later. It has to if suzanami's writing it, ne? ... Okay, in next chapter: Ferio vs Geo! ::plays dramatic music::