It was soft, smooth, and warm. It felt good, and it tasted good. What was it? What was this that was touching my lips?
I lifted my eyelids open, and to my surprise, I came face to face with Botan's pretty face, her lips on mine.
What the heck…?
Her eyes were closed, and she wasn't moving, despite the fact that I was already awake. Was she…was she sleeping?
I gazed at her features, enjoying the very moment, because I knew, that if she awoke, everything would slip away.
Finally, her eyes slowly opened, and upon realizing that I was awake, she leaped miles away from me, her whole face burning.
"Oh…uh…um…K-Kurama-san…you're…you're awake! I was just…um…I was…uh…" she stammered.
I just smiled at her, because by the look on her face I knew that she had been watching me since I fell unconscious. "There's nothing to worry about, Botan," I assured her. "Arigato."
She blushed even more and touched her lips.
I looked down at my wounds. They still hurt a bit, but they weren't as bad as before. She had used her chi to heal some of my wounds…
I looked back at her. "So, was kissing part of the medication?"
"Uh…um…I can explain the last part…" her face burned.
I smiled at her and leaned closer. "There's no need for explanations, Botan-chan."
She looked at me, her eyes sparkling.
I smiled. Her smile, her eyes, her face…there was no hesitating now.
Finally…
I bent down and brushed her lips against mine, continuing what she had started.
TokiyaI slowly opened my eyes, looking around. It was dark, and only the moonlight coming from the window was giving the room some shine. I didn't know where I was, and my body was still sore.
Was I still alive? Was that possible?
My questions were answered when something warm and moist dropped down my hand. I glanced at it, and saw that someone was sitting on the chair beside the bed I was lying on, her head crouched on the cushion beside me, asleep. It was Fuuko, and she had my hand to her cheek, clutching it like she'd never let go. But what was that thing that dropped down?
I looked closer. It was a tear. A tear fell down my hand. She had been crying. Crying in her sleep. I couldn't believe it.
My hand trembling, I slowly withdrew my hand from her cheek. At this, her eyes flew open, still watery, and she looked at me. Her eyes softened, and her smile widened.
"Mi-chan…" she whispered, her eyes releasing tears again. "Mi-chan, you're…" she smiled and leaped towards me, wrapping my waist in a hug. "You're finally awake!" she cried.
I managed to sit up, frowning down at her. Just because of the fact that she'd hugged me once during the Uroubatousatsoujin, doesn't mean she could go hugging me any time she wanted now. I knew I certainly didn't want that. "Fuuko--"
"I've been waiting for so long…I thought you'd never wake up! You got me so worried…" she said, her words muffled. I was taken aback by her concern and I cocked my eyebrow. Why was she so anxious all of a sudden? It wasn't like I had become her best friend overnight.
"You were watching me… all the time I was asleep?" I asked almost inaudibly, my voice betraying me.
She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. I couldn't help but feel guilty. No matter how annoying she sometimes could be, I still never wanted to see her cry. Especially for me.
I sighed and tried to wipe her tears away.
"Please don't cry, Fuuko…I'm alright now…" If she'd been kind to me, then the least I could do was try to be polite.
She smiled again, trying to cease her tears from rolling down. She tightened her hold on me, and all I could do was not to resist, willing to assure her that I was okay.
So that she'd actually consider letting me go. I mean, was it a death grip or what?
"You've been sleeping for so many hours now! I thought your eyes were never going to open anymore…never going to look at me…" she went on.
"S-sonna…" I managed to speak. I had been asleep for hours?
"How did you know…about what happened to me?" I asked her.
"Well," she sniffed and managed to stop sobbing at least. "It was when I was on my way to see you, and all I saw was your body lying almost…lifeless on the ground…I mean, I got scared, you know? I tried to wake you up but, it didn't work, your eyes were kept shut, and for a moment I thought you were…" she paused.
I tilted my brow, motioning for her to go on.
"So I called for Domon and the others, and they took you here…Yanagi tried to heal you but…you still weren't budging…she only managed to lessen your wounds…" She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to help you out…I was really regretting that I didn't have any healing abilities like Yanagi did…"
I blinked, stunned. "…"
"They were watching you here with me for hours, but then it started to get late, and they decided to go home…I stayed watch, though, until this time…because I didn't want to accept the fact that you might not wake up anymore…" Her lips were quivering again, but she shook her head and swallowed. She was having a pretty hard time trying to stop crying, that much was obvious. But I could see her point. I mean, if she burst out bawling, it'd ruin the tough-girl image she'd been trying to show everyone. Not like there was anyone else in the room, but I knew she wouldn't trust me to keep quiet about it. I could spill. If I felt like it, that is.
She beamed up at me and tried to keep cheerful. "But you did, and it paid to stay with you through the night."
If she had really wanted to make me feel better, the least she could do was let me go. Didn't she notice that my stomach was being squished? She didn't actually have the gentlest touch in the world.
But of course, I couldn't say that. I could never say that. It was probably because I got carried away by her sudden concern, or maybe it was just that I was still a little drowsy. But these words came tumbling out of my mouth, "…I appreciate the effort, Fuuko…I actually feel much better just knowing that you were beside me all the—"
Her eyes widened.
I winced upon realizing what I had said.
Ugh, damn it…
I pushed her gently away from me and looked out the window. "I'm alright now…thanks for watching over me." I said simply, trying to sound cold and a little considerate at the same time.
She didn't respond. She didn't even budge. I cast a sideways glance at her, and saw that she was looking at me in a weird way. She'd never given me that look before…crap, what was she up to?
I turned to look at her. "You better go home and get some sleep, too. Domon would get really worried if you started getting eye bags."
No reaction.
"You might not get to use your Fuujin in full extent if you get too tired."
Still no reaction.
I sighed impatiently. "Look, Fuuko, I—"
I stopped. Her hand had brushed against my cheek.
Nani? My eyes widened, taken aback by her response.
"Fuuko…I told you, I'm fine now," I said, in my effort to make her withdraw her hand, stressing the word fine and silently telling her to just leave me alone.
But she didn't. She kept it there, and she was looking at me like she was debating on something she wanted to say. "…Tokiya…I…" She trailed off and looked away. "I…"
"…" My eyes softened at the slightly different tone of her voice, and my skin tingled all of a sudden, as if just realizing that her hand was on my cheek. I was too confused to even think about the reason why she decided to call me by my real name for once. All I could think of was how warm her hand felt…damn, what was happening to me?
She gave me that uncertain look again, and she slowly leaned closer. It was then that I understood why I wasn't being myself every time she was near. It was her eyes; her eyes that brought out the reflection of her peaceful soul, toying with mine, as if wanting to release it from inside. She had been longing to see right through me, to see the real me. Behind the cold Mikagami Tokiya. That was why she wanted me to tell her how I felt. What I was hiding. Who I really was. But why did she want to go through all the trouble just to see that?
She was too close…my stomach was churning, and I was finding it hard to look her in the eye. The tension was too much. The thought that the gap between us was too small sent shivers through my skin.
I have never been this close to her before…funny…it feels…kind of…I almost whacked myself in the head. Even my mind was playing tricks with me.
I took her hand and put it down. "Fuuko, what are you---"
I was silenced by the caress of her lips on mine. I was pushed against the wall. Her eyes were shut close, but heck was mine wide open. What the heck did she think she was doing?!? Couldn't she get the picture???
I couldn't breathe. The air had suddenly become too thick. And just the main fact that a girl like Fuuko, one of my old teammates and my friend, was…well…darn word… kissing me, left me too captivated to move.
I began to feel a little lightheaded, and my once still heartbeat started picking up speed. My mind was spinning. I could feel myself getting hot.
Damn this woman…
Damn her…
There was no telling when she'd stop, but I had to make sure she did. It didn't seem right to push her away. Who knew why? I certainly didn't. Then I remembered that girls hated guys who were too forward.
So I responded. And to my surprise, she didn't move away. And to my greater surprise, I didn't either. Kissing her just felt right. So right…
I closed my eyes and unknowingly pulled her closer. She didn't seem to react negatively, so I deepened the kiss. And she deepened hers.
The silence stretched on. It was almost deafening. I put my hands on her hips and she put her arms around my neck.
Silence.
It was only broken by the groan of pleasure that escaped from her lips.
And passing a few more minutes, it ended soon enough. We pulled away. She looked back at me, stunned. My own voice had betrayed me, too.
And unexpectedly, instead of thinking, "what have I done", or "keep out of Domon's way", I thought, "man, she sure can kiss well". Because, heck, I liked it. I loved every second of it. And damn it, I did not have a single clue why.
At last, I found my voice. "Fuuko, sumimasen, I didn't mean---"
She placed her finger over my lips, telling me to stop. "I… like you a lot, Tokiya. I always have. A lot of people don't see me as the kind of girl who would ever fall for anyone…and believe me, I thought that's how I am, too, but then…it's you…" she locked her gaze on mine, though difficult it may be for her. "I never did get around to telling you all of this. I thought that if I did you wouldn't speak to me like you'd used to or something, because…I never thought you'd feel the same way I feel about you," she said softly.
"You've always been different from Hanabishi and the others. They were really outgoing and wild. You were always too quiet, too distant, and I have to admit that at first I didn't think I'd be able to get along well with you. At least that's what everyone thought. But the more we went on with our matches, the more I felt attached to you, and…when I discovered the other side of your personality…the sweet and sensible side…I knew…you weren't whom everyone thought you were. You're not just some silent loner who never wants to socialize with other people. You're not like that at all. There's a reason behind your sadness, and I understood that. I understood that once you get past the cold outer personality, there's something different inside. You're a wonderful person, Tokiya. You're always concerned about your friends although you might not show it. Another guy is behind all your loneliness. There's someone behind your frown, behind your wistful eyes, your sharp words…You have a good heart. You might not show it, but I know you do. That's what I like about you so much…" she whispered.
I was wordless once more at the revelation. I had revealed much, too, myself. Just by responding to that kiss. It was probably why she was straight enough to tell me. But…did I like her, too? More than just being a friend?
She looked away, her face burning, and began to straighten up. "G-gomen ne, Mi-chan...you should just get some rest. Sorry for involving you in this," she started to hop out of the bed, her voice quivering in embarrassment.
"Fuuko, m-matte," I grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back. She stared back at me, puzzled.
I have to know. I have to make sure. Just one more…time…
I pulled her close and gave her another kiss, this time, passionately, drowning at the unspeakable contentment the very moment was granting me. I could feel her lips curve into a satisfied smile, as she wrapped her arms around my neck and let me kiss her.
I had never expected to find such happiness in someone I once knew as just a friend. As a comrade, as someone fighting by my side with just the same goal and path that life offered us. As just an ordinary schoolmate in the university we both shared.
But now, she was nothing near an ordinary girl. Nothing at all.
She was Fuuko, a wind goddess that had taken everything I had, my heart and even my own soul, away.
She was more than a friend. Much, much more than just a friend.
I finally knew that.
All in just a kiss.