Chapter 9 - Almost Like Paradise

"So...Amiboshi...get laid yet?" Tasuki casually asked the younger blonde haired boy. Amiboshi nearly choked on the glass of soda he was drinking.
"What??" he exclaimed. He turned to look at Tasuki with a shocked expression on his face. Tasuki snickered.
"I'm joking."
Amiboshi blushed.
"So..what are you up to today? I decided to take Hikaru out to lunch."
"Actually....Kirei and I are going out today, too. We have everything planned."
Tasuki raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Like what?"
Amiboshi thought for a moment. "Shopping for her, beach for both of us, a concert for me, and dinner for both of us again."
"Sounds like you two got everythin' planned out."
"I guess so..."
"So what are you intending to wear? Always gotta look good for your girl ya know. That's why I'm wearin' this again. Hikaru practically fainted last time I wore this."
"The outfit Ki-chan picked for you?"
"Yep."
"Tasuki!!!" Hikaru yelled from up the stairs. The two men looked up.
"What is it woman?" Tasuki shouted back.
"Why the hell are you wearing that again?? Change into something else!! I am not going out with a guy who looks like he can't afford clothes!!"
Tasuki looked at Amiboshi and shrugged. "Like I said...you gotta look good for your girl." and with that he went upstairs to change.
Amiboshi looked down at his baggy baby blue pants and tight white shirt. "This isn't that bad either..."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Yume!! What'll I wear????" Kirei whined. Yume sighed.
"Where are you going?" she said ever so patiently.
"Broad Ave., beach, Carnegie Hall, and....and...a restaurant."
"Then I think you should wear something comfortable."
"But I want to look nice for Kou-chan!!!" Kirei whined. Yume sighed and looked through Kirei's closet again.
"Where this then!" Yume said and handed her something. Kirei's eyes lightened up.
"PERFECT!"
"Hey...Kirei?"
"Huh?"
"This note I found was in your closet."
"Huh??"
Kirei took the note that Yume held out to her. "For Kirei...." she read aloud and then opened it. This was what she read:

Fire Enchantress:

We have the Suzaku Shinzaho, you need to gain your power.
We advise you give up.
Surrender or die.
Continue and the ones who are closest to you shall pay.

Kirei read the note over and over. No...not now, she decided. She would deal with it later.
"What does it say?" Yume asked. Kirei glanced at her friend nervously.
"Nothing...just an old note." she said hastily and shoved the note into the pockets of her pants.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Kou-chan...I'm ready.." Kirei flushed. Amiboshi looked up and caught his breath. To him, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Thanks to Yume, she wore a casual light pink dress, mid-thigh and a matching cardigan, and equipped with low comfy slippers. She pulled her hair back into a high ponytail, making one loop.
Amiboshi blushed when he realized he was gawking. "You look great." he complimented. Kirei smiled.
"So do you." she said, "but this would make you look better." She plopped a baby blue cap on his head. He simply shook his head and picked up the bags with Kirei to go put out in the car.
"Whoops...Almost forgot my fake driver's liscense.." Kirei reminded herself as she picked up the photo card and headed out with Amiboshi.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

First stop was Palisades Park on Broad Avenue. Kirei was set on going to Rodeo Plaza to take a Star Image picture. After a long time fussing over her hair, then fussing over his hair, then fussing over how to pose, the picture was finally taken. They each got twelve copies. Amiboshi kept admiring the picture during the whole car ride.
"You came out really nice in it." Amiboshi told Kirei.
"Nah...it's just the way the people there take the picture." she commented.
"I'll make sure to keep this forever." he promised.
"Not like you have a choice." she replied back dryly.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Ah, yes! The beach!" Kirei said happily, allowing the sun to stream onto her face. "We'd better get into our swimsuits."
Amiboshi looked at her slightly puzzled. "Swimsuit?"
Kirei blinked. "Umm...remember those special boxers I told you to put on?"
"Uh huh."
"Those."
"Oh..."
"So just....take off you shirt and pants while I go put on my suit."
"R-right.."
Kirei then ran off to the women's bathroom while Amiboshi looked for a place to set up their towels. He looked around, feeling nervous every time a girl dressed in a bikini passed by. 'Women are actually allowed to dress like this in this world??' he thought to himself puzzled, and set down the towels in a fairly open space. Seeing what Kirei meant, he removed his shirt and pants.
"Kou-chan!" Kirei came running up. "Did you find us a spot?"
"Yeah..right here!"
She put down the bag holding her clothes and set to find the sunblock. Amiboshi looked at her a little puzzled again.
"Ki-chan...You're wearing a shirt.."
"I'm wearing my swimsuit underneath it."
"Oh.."
"Here we are!" she said triumphantly as she brought out the sunblock.
"What is that?"
"Stuff so we don't get burned by the sun. Here, I'll put some on you." she offered. He sat on the towel while Kirei squeezed the cool lotion onto her hands and started rubbing it down Amiboshi's back. When she was done she put some on herself. She finally took of her shirt, revealing a simple red one piece bathing suit.
"Put some on my back?" she asked, turning her back to him.
"Okay." he agreed and took the lotion and rubbed some on her back. When they were all set, they both headed for the water.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Afterwards, they went to the concert. Amiboshi slightly dressed up in a loose white poplin and dress khaki pants. Kirei did the same wearing black slacks and a blouse. Amiboshi thoroughly enjoyed himself in the classic music of Beethoven and Mozart. Kirei found herself relaxing for the first time in weeks. The couple held hands throughout the whole concert.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"I'm wiped." Kirei stated and flopped down on her bed. Amiboshi nodded sleepily in agreement. They had eaten a big dinner and made it back home. They had trotted up the stairs and to Kirei's room, where Amiboshi had lit the fireplace. She changed into her soft flannel pajamas behind the screen in her room while he put on some sweats he used as pajamas. Then the two of them snuggled together in front of the fire with a warm quilt wrapped around them securely.
Kirei stared at the glowing embers of fire and sighed. Amiboshi looked at her concerned.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently. She snuggled closer against his chest.
"I wish things could always be like this." she said softly. He kissed the top of her head.
"Don't worry...I'll make sure we'll always be together." he promised. Kirei looked at him, her eyes not believing.
"What if that's a promise you can't keep?"
"I don't care!" he said fiercely, his arms wrapping around her tightly. "I don't ever want to lose you!"
"I don't want to lose you either..."
Amiboshi looked down at Kirei and saw a tear slide down her smooth cheek. He brushed it away gently. "Don't lose your faith Ki-chan. Nothing will ever happen to us...and that's a promise." he said, bringing her lips to his. When they parted, they stared at each other for a moment.
"I love you." Kirei whispered.
"I love you, too." he whispered back. And they fell asleep in an embrace in front of the warm open fire.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Kirei stirred a bit. She was so warm...and felt so safe. She opened her eyes and saw that the fire was out but she was still in Amiboshi's arms. Carefully she extracted herself from his grasp. She picked up the pair of jeans, which secreted her note. She pulled it out of the pocket and read it over. 'So...they got my Shinzaho....I'll just have to go get it...' Kirei looked back at Amiboshi who was sleeping peacefully. 'But I have to keep the others out of this fight...'
Kirei grabbed a few things and threw them into a bag. She got dressed quickly and started the fire again. She was on her way out of her room but stopped and looked back. 'Kou-chan...' He looked like a little boy sleeping so peacefully. She remembered his words from last night.
"Nothing will ever happen to us...and that's a promise." he had said.
She gave him one last kiss on the cheek and left. 'Sorry Kou-chan...you guys...but it's got to be this way...I'll come back after I've got the Shinzaho...Promise.'