True Love's Beginning
I awoke on the twelfth day of the Dark Tournament in my little hotel room on the fourth floor. A beautiful morning... such a pity it bean with screams and cheers echoing in my open window from the nearby arena. The screams ruined the beauty of still being alive, so I got up and slammed shut the window. I pitied the man I'd heard but, soon enough, my focus switched to another subject. One I heard from the hall…
"Good morrow to ye, Urameshi," I heard Jin's voice in the hallway. "May I have a word with ye?"
"Yeah, sure… I guess…" Yusuke replied. "What about?"
"That lass traveling with ye and yer gang."
"Keiko?" Urameshi asked.
"No, no. The other lass," Jin told him.
"Botan?"
"No, the brown-haired lass that isn't Keiko!"
"Shizuru!?"
"NO!"
"Oh, you must mean Alicia!"
"Yes! That's the lass I mean!" Jin exclaimed. Then his voice went quiet, so I had to inch toward the door to hear him. "Is she seeing anyone?"
"Alicia!? You must be joking! The last guy to ask her out was found barely breathing in a gutter!" Yusuke laughed.
"I see," Jin said softly. "So she's a rough one to win over, she is?"
"Why do you wanna know?" he asked.
"I… I think I ha' a bit o' a crush on 'er, Urameshi," Jin whispered.
"Oh God, Jin! You've gone of the deep end!" Urameshi burst out in hysterics.
"I'm serious Urameshi! I think I--!"
"Good morning, Jin, Yusuke. What's up?" I opened the door.
"Oh hey Alicia," Yusuke said. "Oh look at the time! I've gotta go! But Jin has somethin to say to ya! Bye!"
"Jin, would you like to step inside?" I asked, pushing open the door further.
"Yeah sure. That'd be great Alicia," Jin stepped inside nervously.
"You want something to drink? I've got drinks in the fridge. Cola, ginger ale, root beer, juice…," I leaned over and opened the mini refrigerator.
"Nothing for me thanks."
"Here, if you don't want it now, take it with you," I handed him a ginger ale. "You seem awfully uptight, Jin. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, o' course," Jin said.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, Jin," I stepped closer to him and he took a step back. "I heard everything; there's no reason for you to be nervous."
"Ye heard? E'erything?" Jin blinked.
"Yes, Jin, I heard," I replied. "I heard you say you love me. Is that true?"
"I ain't had too many a experience with love. I'm not quite sure," he answered. "If I did, what would ye say?"
"Jin?"
"Hm?"
I stepped closer to Jin and placed my lips to his briefly, "Now, how does that make you feel?"
"Nervous… but happy," Jin said. His breaths were deep. He was practically hyperventilating.
"Jin… calm down. It was just a kiss, a tiny peck on the lips. I know they say love takes your breath away but a single kiss shouldn't make you hyperventilate," I laughed.
"I's just a bit nervous, that's all. I was jus' caught off-guard."
"By what?" I blinked.
"I wasn't expectin ye to kiss me. To be honest, I 's half-expectin ye to throw me out th' window," Jin chuckled nervously.
"Now you know what to expect, right?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"Good, then you know what's coming next I hope," I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and kissed him again, this time for what felt like an eternity.
"Where the hell'd that come from?" Jin asked, nearly-hyperventilating again when I stopped kissing him.
"I figured," I brought him closer by tightening my grip on his shoulders, "you knew what to expect; that you knew I'd kiss you again."
"Le' me give it a try this time," Jin smiled and, with confidence that appeared from nowhere, swept me off my feet, into his arms, and kissed me.
"God is he amazing," I thought to myself as he kissed me.
"Sorry," he said breaking the kiss. "I jus' made meself look like a jerk di'n't I?"
"No, of course not. As a matter of fact," I smiled, "how would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"
"Alright, Alicia," Jin grinned, "I'll see you tonight. God be with ye."
"Jin, catch up with this century- it's been shortened to goodbye," I laughed.
"Okay, then. Goodbye," Jin opened the door.
"Goodbye, Jin-kun," I smiled, as he left.
Screams could be heard through the window again, but I was off in my own little world… deaf to the horror occurring in the arena half a mile away. All I could hear was Jin's voice, all I could see was Jin's smiling face, all I could feel was my arms tossed around his shoulders and my lips pressed to his, and all I could taste was the distinct flavor of his lips. I was oblivious to anything and everything else….