BISHLOV: WB sucks. This chapter sucks. I suck! But you don't. You guys are the greatest. Thanks for being so cool and patient. Huggles!
WARNING: Lethal mushiness up ahead. Get your barf bag ready.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own FoR. This plot is a product of my imagination. Any similarities to other fan fictions are unintentional.
BABY YOU'RE MINE
By bishounen lovah
Chapter 15
"Come on, baby. You're tired. Let's rest for a while," Kaoru tried to persuade the exhausted Ganko (for the umpteenth time) and miserably failed (for the umpteenth time).
"Just a few blocks more," she panted.
"But that's what you said the last time," he complained as he reached out to steady her yet again. Ganko had been like this ever since she woke up and gained some energy to demand what she wanted. And what she wanted was to get her strength and mobility back.
Every afternoon, after his class, Kaoru would help with her outdoor exercises to stretch the muscles that were left unused during her 'comatose' state. They would walk around the town, gradually increasing their pace and distance.
Ganko was impatient with her slow recovery and often pushed herself too hard. Just like now. She stumbled again and this time he did not release his hold on her waist. He half-carried her to the nearest bench facing the almost-vacant playground. Once seated, his arm went from around her waist to her shoulder. She wordlessly rested her head on his chest, indicating how tired she was.
They sat there in silence and watched young parents collect their reluctant children. Beyond the park was a fiery, red ball sinking to the ground, giving forth to the moon. Occasionally, Kaoru rubbed the muscles on Ganko's nape and played with the blond locks of her hair.
Soon, the light of the sun waned only to be replaced by an artificial one emitted by the surrounding lamp posts. Few people walked past them—families walking home, students arguing about their projects and the latest rumors, couples going out on dates. Still they sat there in a comfortable hush, relishing each other's company and the feeling of momentary peace in the air.
"Are you okay now, Ganko?" Kaoru softly asked after a while.
"Uh-huh," she murmured back.
"You got to take it easy. Too much, too soon is not good for you."
"You don't understand," she sighed as she pushed away from him. She angled her body to face him. "When I was inside the madougu, there were other people…other souls. If you could have only seen them, it's so heartbreaking. All of those people lost their will to live. I promised myself that when I get out I will live for them."
This was the first time Ganko talked about what happened to her inside the Spirit Ball ever since she got out three weeks ago. None of the Hokage wanted to press her for information though they were dying out of curiosity. They decided that the blond girl would talk once she was good and ready and Kaoru guessed that this was the time.
She described that other world as she saw it—quiet, peaceful and utterly depressing. Kaoru was glad that Ganko had been able to escape for he didn't want to imagine her like one of those lost souls…like the way she was before—existing but with no will at all. Seeing her like that was more than enough for this lifetime and he couldn't bear to witness it again.
Then she got to the part about the red-haired boy.
"What boy?!!" he yelled.
"Mou…you weren't listening well. Pay attention, Kaoru." She sighed in exasperation. "I met Kondo there; only, he didn't look like Kondo at all. He was in his original form—a boy."
It was pretty hard to digest. Of all the things Ganko told him, this won the prize. Who would have thought that Kondo was really not a product of the Kata Kugutsu but a wandering soul? It made sense. No wonder Reiran was never as lively as him.
Ganko went on with her story. She didn't leave anything behind—not even her hallucination of him. But Kaoru was not convinced that it was just an illusion. Some of the reality must have entered the madougu. His desperation must have reached her.
"So you see why I have to get well soon? I want to help find a way to open the madougu. I owe Kondo my freedom and, in return, I have to free him."
"But, baby, you don't have to worry about that. Kagerou-sama and the others can handle that—are handling that. All you have to focus on is to get well completely and safely. Kondo wouldn't like it at all if you endanger your health."
Ganko looked like she was about to argue with him but decided not to waste her breath. She knew that look in his eyes. It was a determined glint that said he was right and it would do her no good to contradict him. Besides, what he said made some sense. It wouldn't help Kondo one bit if she died out of exhaustion.
She leaned back on the bench again and Kaoru automatically pulled her in his arms. The stars had been out for quite some time now and they stared at the jeweled sky, lost as they were in their own thoughts. Ganko tried to recall what had happened after she stepped into that dimensional rip inside the madougu. She didn't remember much. Almost everything was a blur. But there was something that was so vivid as she approached the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel:
Kaoru's voice…
"I never told you this, Ganko…Didn't really want to until you're really here but I guess I can't keep it to myself any longer…I love you, Ganko."
Had she imagined it just as she imagined Kaoru inside the Spirit Ball?
There was actually just one way to find out if he really said those words and that was to ask him point-blank. After all, had she not promised to live her life to the fullest? So why not start now and get it over with? To hell with risks and hurts! At least it would prove how alive she really was.
She was not like the Ganko before. All that happened to her made her realize the important things in life—and the important people. She could wait for him to say the 'L' word again but for someone who had several near-death experiences, the word 'wait' could leave an unappealing taste in the mouth. She knew what she wanted and the only logical step was to get it.
Gathering up all of her courage, she moved away from Kaoru's embrace and tried to read his face. She already suspected that he loved her but she needed to hear the actual words face to face.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" he asked when he noticed her unwavering stare.
"No. There's just something I want to ask," she paused as she tried to find the right words. Funny how despite her determination she could still feel a trickle of timidity. "That night—the night I came back…everything was so fuzzy. All I could remember was being so tired. I almost did not make it out but something pushed me to go on."
Ganko lifted her eyes to lock with his. "It was you. I heard you and I knew I had to try harder not for me or for Kondo but for you. And now I wonder...did I really hear you? Did you really tell me that…that you…"
"That I loved you? Yeah, I did say that."
There it was—the truth—hanging in the very air between them. Kaoru did not look like his cheeky self. Instead he was seriously looking back at her, trying to gauge her reaction.
She smiled. A slow gentle tug at the corners of her mouth. The edge of her blue eyes crinkled in delight and moisture fell along the creases. "I'm so glad," she whispered before she threw her arms around him.
"I love you, Ganko. It's hard being in love with you but I wouldn't have it any other way," he murmured against her silky hair.
"Hard?" Ganko pushed away from him again and gave him an incredulous glare. "Hard! Let me tell you what's hard! Hard is getting harassed by your adoring fans day in and out. Hard is tolerating your bossiness and cheeky grins. Just being with you is downright difficult!"
"But you love me all the same," Kaoru gently said.
She knew it was more of a question than a statement. It squeezed her heart how he was still so unsure of her feelings for him. The idiot just couldn't see what was right in front of him.
"Yeah, I do. You've been so good to me and I kept on wondering how you could love me when I've been nothing but a nuisance to you."
"Kami knows I've wondered about it many times too but always came to same conclusion…I love you because I simply do."
They stared at each other for a long time and allowed everything sink in. The entire scenario was perfect—bright moon, starry sky, love words...All that was needed was a magical kiss.
But Kaoru was still thinking about something else. Despite the assurance of Ganko's love, he was still plagued by the guilt of not protecting her better. "There's something else, baby. It's been bothering me for quite some time. I've let you down more times than I could count and I…I wanted to say I don't deserve you because I couldn't protect you but I can't, you know. I can't let you go. I want you too much."
"Forget it, love," she placed a finger on his lips to silence him. "I realize now that we can't live in the past. There's no point in bringing up all the hurts and anger and regrets. I know it's clichéd but what's important is now and tomorrow."
"Yeah," he sighed then grinned after a while. "And the day after that…and the day after that…and the—" He gathered Ganko back in his arms and held her chin in place as he slowly lowered his lips to hers.
Two pairs of eyelids fluttered close as the couple savored their first kiss after such a long, long time. Their lips softly brushed against each other and a breathless second later they broke apart.
"I love you," she whispered just before he kissed her more firmly.
Ganko was not aware of anything else except Kaoru's seeking lips and her heavily beating heart. The warmth of his kisses spread throughout her body but most of her blood were concentrated in her face.
He kissed her nose then her blushing cheeks. He went back to her lips then brushed his lips across her eyelids. She opened her eyes and it gave him great satisfaction to see that she was having a difficult time focusing.
"Come on, baby, let's get you home." He jumped up and held a hand out to her. He kept their hands linked as they walked away, looking very much like lovers going out for a romantic stroll. Their subsequent conversation was light and teasing despite the previous love confessions and sweet cuddling.
"Kondo, eh? So what does the kitsune's human form look like?"
"Oh, you know…red hair, green eyes, dimpled smile…definitely bishounen material."
"Really?" Kaoru's eyebrow arched. "Who do you say is better looking? Me or him?"
Ganko pretended to ponder deeply and after a minute Kaoru whined, "Ganko!"
She decided she baited him long enough and laughed at his pouty scowl. "You will always be my one and only bishounen," she declared then tugged on his hand to give him a reassuring kiss on the cheek.
To be concluded…