Note: Some of the events portrayed may have happened in the series, but I don't know. If it didn't, please don't criticize me, or anything. And thank you kaimu for clearing me up in the whole 'aniki' thing.


Realization

Tohma flipped through the papers on his desk. He had flipped through them three times already, but it kept his mind off the question he'd been asking himself for the past two days: what kind of love did he feel for Mika?
There was no denying the fact that he loved her. But he himself wasn't so sure what kind of love it was. Mika definitely loved him in any sense of love. But...he wasn't so sure of his feelings. It was a big confusing jumble.
Tohma leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He'd known Mika for a long time. She hadn't always been a determined, mature woman. Hell, she had been Nittle Grasper's first fan girl. And she had gotten several people from around town to go see Nittle Grasper in their first concert.

::flashback::

"Can I have an autograph?" asked Mika, holding out a white poster board and black marker.
"Mika-san, we aren't famous yet," said Noriko.
"I know that! But you will be famous!! And I want your first autograph!"
Ryuuichi wore his usual dumb grin. "I'll sign it!!" He took the black marker and scribbled in big letters on the poster board. "YAY!!! My first autograph!!!"
Noriko sighed and signed the poster board. "Okay, here. This'll be worth lots of money someday."
"I know," said Mika. "But I won't sell it."
Tohma was next. He signed the poster board, wearing a small smile. "Thank you for your support, Mika-san."
Noriko checked her watch. "Ooh, ten minutes! This is our first live show! I'm so nervous!"
"How many people did you talk to, Mika-san?" asked Tohma.
"I told about thirteen people, and they said they'd tell all their friends," said Mika.
Ryuuichi went to see the crowd of people. He came back, looking excited and genki. "Wow!!!! There's sooooo many people here!!!"
"We should get up there," said Noriko.
"Good luck, guys!" said Mika.

::end flashback::

Of course, the live show at Ruido was a huge success. It launched their careers.
Tohma opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Mika had lent them a lot of support. She contributed greatly to their success. And she had stayed a loyal friend to all of them. Then she asked Tohma out.

::flashback::

"Oh c'mon, Tohma," said Mika. "It isn't like we're kids. All I want is a simple outing."
"We should bring Noriko-san and Ryuuichi-san, as well," said Tohma.
Mika narrowed her eyes at him. "Hmm...why act so uptight? A simple outing isn't bad. Unless..." She looked him over. "Do you like me?"
Tohma turned dark red. "M-Mika-sa-"
"Ooh, you do!!! You like me, you like me!!!"
"Mika-san!!!"

"Tohma, don't be so uptight," said Mika. "This isn't what I call a fancy restaurant."
Tohma kept his sunglasses on and cautiously sipped his drink. "Mika-san, you know I can very easily be spotted in a Zenny's."
"So? Loosen up. No one will know who you are."
Tohma looked around, completely worried. Several people were looking at them and whispering.
"Mika-san, maybe we should go somewhere else. We-"
"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!" someone screamed. "THAT'S SEGUCHI TOHMA!!!!!!!!!"
"Oh no," muttered Tohma.
"We're in a fix," said Mika. "You know what that means?"
"What?"
"RUN!!!!!!!!!" she grabbed his wrist and ran out of Zenny's as fast as she could. Tohma was aware of flashbulbs as they ran, but he didn't care. Mika was weaving through the crowd like a knife through butter.

"Man, that was fun!!!" laughed Mika.
Tohma was still heaving and gasping for air.
Mika held onto her smile and decided to walk alongside Tohma. "Aren't you happy, Tohma?"
"H-Happy?"
"Yes. Nittle Grasper is famous. Screaming fans chased us. Well, they were after YOU, but..."
Tohma straightened and stared at her. "Yeah...I guess it's a good feeling."
"I've always believed in you guys. Ryuuichi, Noriko, and you possess a strong talent. It's great that everyone can see it."
When they reached Mika's house, Tohma wasn't sure if he should kiss her or not. But Mika quickly remedied that.
Mika roughly grabbed Tohma's collar with her fist and pulled her forward. She smacked a huge kiss onto his lips. When she was done, Tohma was a little dazed.
"See you tomorrow," she said softly. Then she skipped into her house.
Tohma was still slightly dazed from her kiss. So dazed, he tripped over a trashcan.

Next morning...

"Ooh, lover boy!!!" squealed Noriko when Tohma arrived.
"Huh?" asked Tohma.
"Haven't you seen the morning paper?" Noriko took it out and handed it to him. Tohma's eyes bulged out.
On the front page was a huge photo of Mika rushing out of Zenny's, while gripping a startled Tohma's wrist. The huge headline is what startled him:

Seguchi Tohma has found love!!!

And the picture's caption startled him even more:

Nittle Grasper's Seguchi Tohma while leaving Zenny's with a mysterious woman. Eyewitnesses said they were on a date.

"It was an outing!!" wailed Tohma.
Ryuuichi held up Kumagoro, wearing his usual genki smile. "Tohma! You're on the front page!!!"

::end flashback::

Tohma couldn't help but smile at the memory. His heart was beating at an odd pace. It was at the same pace as it was after Mika slapped a kiss for the first time on him.
My stomach feels fluttery, he thought. I can't describe it, but...have I found the answer?

::flashback:: (there are a lot of these, huh?)

Tohma couldn't help but fidget. It was time. Mika would be arriving soon...
He couldn't help but feel nervous. It had taken him a long time to think this through, and he prayed that it would work out.
He clasped the velvet box tightly in his fist. The moments ticked by like hours. When he heard her footsteps approaching, he knew he couldn't back off.
"Sorry I'm late, Tohma," said Mika.
"It's alright," said Tohma.
"So...why did you call me here?"
Tohma tried to find the right words. He found himself looking at the moon. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"What? Oh, you mean the moon. Yes, the full moon does look beautiful."
"Do you remember? When we first went out, a full moon was in the sky. And when you told me your feelings."
"Oh yeah. I remember."
"Mika-san...those memories we've had...I treasure them with all my heart."
"Tohma..."
He finally turned to face her. She looked a bit worried.
"Mika-san, you've always stuck by me. You've always lent me your support. All those times...good moments and bad...you've been there for me." He took her hand and raised it to his face. He pressed her palm to his cheek, and he closed his eyes. He could feel the tears welling up. "I love you. More than anything, I love you. Please believe me when I say that."
"I believe you, Tohma. I love you, too."
Tohma lowered her hand, so it lay in his. He fumbled with the box with his other hand, and produced the ring. Mika's eyes widened when she saw it.
"I love you, Mika-san. And because of that, I want to spend the rest of my life by your side. Will you marry me?"
Tears spilled from Mika's eyes. She jumped into his arms, screaming out her answer.
"Yes!!!! Yesyesyesyesyesyes!!!!!!!"
"Thank you!!! Whoa, calm down!!! Let me put the ring on your finger!!!"

::end flashback::

Tohma opened his eyes. Tears spilled down his cheeks, and he didn't bother to wipe them away. His heart swelled, and his mind was clear. He had found his answer.
He loved her. He REALLY loved her. With all his heart.
She HAS always been there for me!! He thought. And I love her!!! More than Eiri-san!!! More than anything!!!
He jumped out of his seat and wiped away his tears. He found his answer. And now he was gonna go get her.
Tohma cheerfully skipped down the halls, humming a Nittle Grasper song. He got weird looks from everyone, but he didn't care. He loved his wife!!!!!
He rode the elevator down and when he got out, he was greeted by Sakano.
"Konbanwa, Sakano-san!!!!" he greeted cheerfully.
"Un, konbanwa," said Sakano.
Tohma grinned at him, then skipped out of the building. Next stop was Kyoto, where Mika was waiting for him.
Oops, it's been close to three days, he thought. Damn. I hope she isn't too angry with me. Well, only one way to find out...


YAY!!! Another chapter done!!! The reviews are sooooo nice!!! I hope everyone liked reading this and please remember: the flashbacks aren't legit, so please don't get confused. And if things didn't actually happen that way in the past, well...oh well!!! Please look forward to the next chapter!!! ^_^