AN: Yes, again, parts of this will be old, parts of this new. But, while I really liked how choppy it was while I was writing it, and as I posted it, I realized how under developed it was, so I decided to flesh it out for all of you who felt cheated. ^_^
ENJOY!
One Million Miles Away: A Story by infinite nemo
Chapter Two: Set in Motion
Kaoru stepped over to the side and breathed in deeply, glad to be away from the heat and sweat of the writhing bodies. She had spent most of the night dancing and was exhausted. 'I really should have kept the glass from my last drink and eaten the ice…'
"I'm too old to be doing this." She snickered. "But," she added more thoughtfully to the wall, "I will be sore tomorrow. Trust Sano to drag us out to a typically college activity…"
She stretched, and then froze as a hand went around her waist and a man pulled her against him drunkenly.
"Hey baby, wanna dance?"
She made a face in disgust as his rancid breath fanned over her.
"No thank you- I'm taking a breather right now." She tried to push away from him.
"How about a drink then?"
"No- thank you." She said firmly, still trying to get away from his unwelcome attentions.
"Aw come on then- let's dance." He began to grind his hips against hers. With a burst of energy that came with a surge of adrenaline, Kaoru fought against him, but couldn't free herself. "Feisty." He hissed, and began pawing at her chest. She struggled against him and opened her mouth to scream as he raised his hand to strike her. "What- Hiruma Gohei not good enough for you, you little slut?"
Kaoru didn't know what ensued, but his hit went off, striking her in the neck instead and there had been a whir of motion. The next thing she saw was Hiruma falling to the ground and a tall man with the most gorgeous turquoise eyes looking at her, concern etched unto his face. She opened her mouth to say something- she didn't even know quite what herself, but then she swayed and her last thought was. 'Ouch- hitting this nasty floor's gonna suck.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hi, I came to see Miss Kamiya?"
The middle aged nurse smiled at Enishi charitably. "Room 333, dear, down that way towards the elevators."
"Thank you." Enishi walked nervously down the corridor of the hospital, feeling like a little boy. The girl he had rescued last night had been quickly surrounded by his friends. He felt completely out of place, and a little annoyed that none of them had been around while she was being attacked, but before they all rushed to the hospital, another petite dark haired woman remembered to thank him hurriedly. She said her name was Misao, and had scribbled down some information on a piece of paper, and after quickly informing him which hospital they were going to take the girl to, had sprinted after the rest of her friends. After thinking about the previous night almost constantly throughout the day, Enishi had decided to visit on his way home from work. However, once he got to the hospital, he began to feel a little foolish. Only the strange desire to see the blue-eyed woman again and making sure she was ok kept him from turning on his heel and leaving. He arrived and knocked on the door, which swung open quickly, and a short attractive woman he vaguely recognized from the club last night greeted him sincerely.
"Thank you so much for protecting Kaoru for us." She said, squeezing his hand warmly. Her wedding band bit into his hand but he said nothing, giving her a sincere smile. He made his way to the bed and cast a troubled look at all the IV's by the wall.
"It looks like a lot, but it's not too bad, really." Misao said quietly, standing next to him. "She's been sleeping a while so I don't know how eventful your visit will be- I think they gave her some sedatives…Oh- I'm Misao, by the way. I introduced myself last night, but as everything was rather hectic, I don't expect you to remember…"
There was another awkward pause.
'This is stupid.' Enishi thought abruptly. "Is there anywhere I can put these?" He asked suddenly, thrusting a beautiful bouquet of flowers at Misao brusquely.
"Sure, how about…" Misao began guiding him to the door.
"Thanks."
The soft voice made them both pause and turn around. Misao looked quickly from Kaoru to Enishi and said with a somewhat frightening smile,
"I'll go take care of these flowers- aren't they pretty Kaoru? Your knight in shining armor brought them. You two play nice!" And with that she was gone.
Kaoru rolled her eyes then looked at Enishi. "Just ignore Misao." She advised, before quickly saying, "I'm truly grateful for what you did. Most guys wouldn't have cared…" She tried to explain, but didn't really know how without bringing in her history, or confessing to a stranger that… she still hadn't gotten over her high school sweetheart, and the hurt he had caused her. Especially with all the media that had recently been tied to his name. "I really wasn't myself."
Had Misao been there, she would immediately have known that Kaoru had indeed seen the newspaper article, about the late Himura Tomoe. Enishi, however, was completely oblivious to the workings of Kaoru's mind, and felt only surprise at how candid Kaoru was, and angry that someone of his gender had acting so repulsively.
"I'm no better than any other guy." He said shortly, looking at the vivid bruises on her pace skin angrily.
"I don't think that's true." She said softly. Kaoru patted the side of her bed invitingly. "You make me feel even shorter standing up all the way over there. I won't bite, I promise." She said with a wink then looked down at her arm. "I really couldn't do much of anything if I wanted."
He complied, torn between what he felt like doing and actually doing it. When he sat, she extended her hand with a wry grin on her face. "Hi- I'm Kamiya Kaoru, maiden in distress extraordinaire- pleased to make your acquaintance."
He looked at her hand. "Yukishiro Enishi." After an awkward pause, he took her hand and shook it. She then folded her hands together and he found himself glancing quickly at her left hand for a ring that wasn't there. 'Get a grip on yourself here- you don't know the first thing about this girl...' A small part of his mind whispered, but he quickly brushed the thought away as she smiled at him. 'Let's just take things slowly and see where things go with her…' Enishi for all he looked a playboy was somewhat of a stranger to the fairer sex, and he generally formed no lasting attachments with them, which annoyed his few close friends to no end. They felt he should have been married by now, and had ruined his chances purposefully a countless number of times.
"…anyway, thanks for the flowers." Kaoru said softly yet cheerfully. He jumped when she touched his arm. "Are you ok?" She as gently.
He smiled dryly at her. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"
She made a face. "I'm fine, really. It's just that I'm under my friend Megumi's care. She's just very concerned about people- her patients especially… and she's very protective of me." Kaoru stuck out her tongue. "All my friends are too over protective of me."
"You deserve to be protected." 'Now how did those words spill out of my mouth?' He didn't even know he'd been thinking them until he had said them.
Kaoru looked down quickly and blushed, but was saved from saying anything in reply as Misao walked back into the room carrying a vase holding the flowers Enishi had brought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Aren't you glad I made you go out that night?" Misao asked gleefully as she comfortably waddled about Kaoru's room.
Kaoru made a face at Misao. "That was almost a year ago!"
"Aren't you though?" Misao prodded.
"Right- I definitely enjoyed getting beat up and hospitalized more than anything in my life, Misao. I really owe you one." Kaoru said scathingly.
Misao kept smiling, unperturbed. "You know I wouldn't say that night was a good thing if something really terrible had happened, and besides. You put a sex offender in jail and you met Enishi." She gestured dramatically, putting one hand to her heart. "Wasn't it so perfect that your boyfriend turned out to be a lawyer and put the creep in jail?! You two are so perfect for each other. I want to be matron of honor so you had better get married quickly, you know. I can only hope you don't make your kids read Black's Law Dictionary for fun…"
Kaoru stared at her friend in disbelief. "Just because you're happily married doesn't mean its right for everyone, Misao. Besides, you have no idea what's going to happen. Enishi probably never will propose and has nothing of the sort in mind. I mean, he hardly acts like my boyfriend… he talks to you and gives you more presents than he does me!"
"They're in thanks for meeting you dear," Misao said blithely, "and he does act like a boyfriend."
It had taken a long time, but Kaoru had finally been coaxed into a relationship with the urgings of many of her friend's and Enishi's quiet persistence. Both sets of their friends had eagerly forwarded the attachment.
Kaoru snorted in response.
"So you wouldn't mind if he kissed me like he kisses you?" Misao asked saucily.
"Misao!" Kaoru blushed bright red, first in embarrassment then in annoyance, "How would you know how we kiss? Argh you little sneak…"
"Now now, no hurting the woman carrying your little niece or nephew…" Misao sighed, easing herself into a chair next to Kaoru.
"I hope your kid is a brat." Kaoru muttered.
"Then we'll just get auntie to baby-sit more." Misao said sweetly.
"I'm telling Aoshi you want Enishi to kiss you." Kaoru grumbled before succumbing to laughter. After a few minutes, when her laughter had subsided, she covered her friends hand with her own. "Really Misao- thank you. Truly. So much."
Misao lifted their joined hands to her lips and kissed her sister-in-law's hand. "I know dear, I know."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru finally stopped twirling her fork around in her hand and set it down. 'Where on Earth is our waiter?' She thought, picking up her drink and taking a sip just to take anything. 'Maybe the champagne will calm my nerves…' She took another sip. 'I hope.' Kaoru then placed the glass back on the table so as not to snap the delicate stem in between her fingers. Unable to ignore the piecing gaze coming from the man sitting across from her, she asked scathingly,
"Really, Enishi- please tell me- is there something on my face? Lipstick on my teeth?"
He smiled and drank some of his water calmly, taking the time to set the cup down before responding calmly,
"No, Kaoru, you look absolutely perfect. Lovely."
The waiter came bearing plates of their food, and Kaoru silently thanked Heaven, glad to have the distraction of food, since Enishi obviously was not very inclined towards conversation that night.
Halfway through uncomfortably picking at her lobster, Kaoru was completely fed up. Frustrated, she exclaimed,
"Yukishiro Enishi, I wish you would stop staring at me! It is incredibly uncomfortable, especially since you refuse to help me move this evening towards any remote form of social normalcy, and I can't stand it anymore. I'd like you to take me home. Now."
Suprisingly, Enishi didn't look upset or anything, rather, he seemed to be smiling as he summoned the waiter over to bring the check.
As soon as they had paid, Enishi had solicitously pulled Kaoru's chair out for her, helped her out of her seat, and upon reaching the cloak room, helped her on with her coat. He was all attention, opening her car door for her, yet saying nothing. Kaoru was thrown into a state of confusion. 'He's acting so strangely… so cold, and distant… is… is he… going to break up with me?'
Enishi went around the car then got in, and as he started the car, he looked at Kaoru and smiled.
'Was it just me, or did that smile seem a bit sad?' Kaoru thought to herself. Her thoughts continued in the same trend before she closed the door on them. 'Stop it, you're just thinking too much and running away with your thoughts again.'
However, as the uncomfortable silence dragged on, Kaoru became more and more agitated. They had been in the car for over twenty minutes, and in her distress she didn't even notice the direction the car was going in. Convinced that her original thought wasn't paranoia, and that things were truly over, Kaoru felt herself begin to crumble, tears welling up in her eyes. However, she refused to let them fall. 'I will not cry. No matter what, I will never cry over a man again. Especially not for them treating me badly.'
Nevertheless, when Enishi stopped the car and Kaoru saw that they were parked at a deserted and unknown place, a single tear trickled down her cheek. Enishi didn't notice, caught up in his thoughts.
'I hope she likes this…' He paused. 'And I hope she isn't too mad at me for acting so strangely earlier. I wish Kaoru wasn't so hard to surprise…'
Eagerly, he turned towards his girlfriend. "Kaoru?"
Slowly, she faced him. 'At least he's saying it to my face…' Hoping her voice was steady, she spoke. "Yes?"
"Do you know where we are?"
"No."
Frowning slightly, unable to see her tears in the dark, Enishi couldn't understand why Kaoru was being so difficult. "Look around- you know this place."
"I- I really don't, Enishi." Kaoru said softly. 'Stop it- just tell me. Let me know it's over.'
"Kaoru, you're not trying!"
"Just tell me!" She snapped at him, the last word garbled by a sob.
Enishi blinked. "Kaoru?" Tentatively he touched her face. "Kaoru?!" He asked, concerned, feeling tears. "Kaoru, what's wrong?"
"What are you doing to me?" She cried brokenly. "Just tell me." 'Just tell me so I can get over you too, and move on.'
"Kaoru," Enishi said softly, cradling her face gently, "this is where we first met."
Kaoru blinked in surprise, the flow of her tears stemming. 'Well that was unexpected…' She breathed in shakily, then asked, "What are you talking about? No it isn't. We met at that club."
Enishi smiled triumphantly. "Yes, it is. See? It's Sunrise Park. Your company had a picnic here, and I had been hired for a case. We were introduced. I didn't remember at first, but after we began dating, I was so certain you were familiar, and after thinking about it for a while, I realized that I had indeed met you before the club incident."
Wiping her tears away, Kaoru managed a watery smile. "You're kidding."
"I'm not." He grinned boyishly. "I remember thinking you were cute." He said, tweaking her nose.
Kaoru sniffed. "Now you're lying."
"I am not!"
She laughed shakily, her voice still unsteady from her tears, immediately reminding Enishi of how unexpected and unprecedented he felt her tears were.
"Kaoru, darling, why were you crying?"
"It's nothing." She said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
"No it's not. It must have been something important- you hardly ever cry."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, Enishi peering earnestly into Kaoru's eyes in the dimness.
"Kaoru?" He finally prompted again.
"Promise you won't be mad?" She asked softly.
"Of course, sweetheart."
"I… I thought you were going to break up with me."
Enishi blinked in shock, and consciously kept his body still. 'She what?'
"Love, why would you ever think a thing like that?"
"You- you were acting so strangely the whole night- and the past few days too. So distant… so cold… just like… just like…" She stopped and breathed in deeply. "Just like h-"
"Sh." Enishi said, swiftly gathering her into his arms. "Sh—stop. I'm nothing like him. Leaving you would be like leaving myself. You complete me, Kamiya Kaoru."
And there they stayed, holding each other hours into the night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I just have a feeling that this will be the night." Misao said happily. "So you absolutely have to wear the new blue dress. It makes you look absolutely stunning."
"Misao…"
"I'm serious." Misao joked. "If I weren't a married woman…"
"Oh Mi-sao! Please do not finish that sentence!"
"So you'll wear the dress?" The woman asked in a completely changed manner, holding out a hanger.
Kaoru took it then collapsed on her bed. "You all hate me." She whimpered pathetically.
"Oh hush." Misao said, patting her head in a motherly fashion. "Hurry up- Megumi's going to come over for dinner, and she'll want to see how you look too. Anyway, Enishi will be here soon."
"What are all of you planning?" Kaoru had sat up, and was now looking at her friend suspiciously. "Misao?" Kaoru's voice had taken on that tone that said she would tolerate nothing but the truth.
"Nothing."
"Sister-in-law, dear, don't lie." The youngest Kamiya said in a sing-song voice, her eyes showing steel.
Misao sat down next to Kaoru and looked her friend in the eye. "Honestly? Nothing. I don't know anything, Aoshi doesn't know anything- nobody knows anything but Enishi. And you're the only person who was the right to ask him about anything. And we respect that."
Kaoru sighed imperceptibly. She didn't know how she felt about Misao's response, but at least was comforted by the knowledge that her family was not spying on her boyfriend, and they did not actually know more than she did about her relationship. If spies could be trusted…
She got up to change, and helped Misao up gently. "You know, you're huge for a woman who hasn't been pregnant all that long."
"I know." She said proudly. "Takes talent, doesn't it?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, hurry up so Meg can do your makeup."
Kaoru glared at her friend and all her doubts and suspicions came rushing back. "If you lied-" She began threatening.
"I don't know anything." Misao said calmly. "I just have a feeling about this. And anyway, we both know you want to look nice for Enishi."
"Out!" Kaoru ordered, exasperated. 'Misao will never grow up. She and Aoshi are complete opposites and completely incompatible… yet I can see why they love each other so much.' She sighed a little wistfully, refused to allow herself to make her own dreams, and began dressing with more than usual care- though she wouldn't have admitted that to anyone else for the world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She stared into his brilliant eyes, love, passion, and no slight amount of nervousness radiating from them, and she was once again struck by the sheer gorgeousness of the man kneeling before her. Her mind was a jumble, and she opened her mouth to stall. Irrationally, she thought that the wet sand would ruin his expensive designer suit.
"Yes."
"Oh thank God." He breathed, and suddenly his mouth was on hers, warm and drugging, and she let herself and her doubts be swept away with his touch and the pounding surf.
Meanwhile… from the shadows by the large rocks down the beach, a man watched the intimately embracing couple, his hands fisted at his sides, his long red hair whipping around his face. He stood, staring at them for a few more minutes, then turned on his heel and walked back to his car, driving away rapidly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Himura Kenshin?" Asked Aoshi quietly, looking up from the guest list in surprise.
"Mm…" Kaoru said in a neutral tone. "I guess he's acquainted to Enishi or they're distant family or something. I doubt he can make it," she said carelessly. "God knows where he is." But her eyes were suspiciously bright.
Aoshi walked over to his younger sister and held her. She clutched him desperately at first then let go and went back to sedately planning her swiftly approaching wedding. Her brother sighed then glanced at his wife who looked troubled. He shook his head at her once, eyes meaningfully boring into hers. She nodded in return. There was no way he'd ruin his sister's happiness by telling her that Himura was in town- and apparently asking about her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Another." Kenshin slammed the shot glass unto the bar.
"I think you've had enough there, son." The old bartender said kindly but firmly.
"I know my limits." Kenshin growled.
"Is your limit death from alcohol poisoning?"
Kenshin met the man's eye challengingly, and then finally dropped his gaze. "It might be better if I died. I've ruined everything that's ever been important to me."
The old man pulled up a barstool across from Kenshin. He had closed the modest establishment nearly an hour ago, but had not had the heart to turn away the red-haired man in such a state or cold manner. He sat down across from the rather inebriated man in the now abandoned story.
"I've heard many things like that said in my life time. You don't seem like such a bad sort. Name's Okina- now what's your story?"
"Kenshin."
The bartender- Okina- poured them both drinks, and then settled down to listen. Hours later, he sat back and whistled.
"Whoo. So let me get this straight. Back in the day, you like this girl, and lucky you, she likes you back. You date her for… forever- story book couple, even though it's a long distance relationship. Eventually, you get bored; meet a new girl, who happens to be on the rocks with her boyfriend. The two of you get friendly and then some, so you dump girl from home while new girl formally breaks it off with her guy. You and 'new girl' get married, but a few years down, wifey decides she made the wrong choice, so you plural file for a divorce. Meanwhile, her former boyfriend comes back into the picture and she runs out on you with him while you're trying to get the divorce finalized. She takes your car, and they get into an accident, may they rest in peace. You're understandably upset but to throw in some more fun, you've never forgotten girl from home- you make some inquiries, and find out that she pined for you- for years after you broke it off with her. You rush back home, follow her around a while, trying to figure out how to make things right. She gets attacked, you go to help her but someone else gets there first… that someone else being your late wife's brother… your brother-in-law, who incidentally happens to hate you, they date… and now you're invited to the wedding?!"
"Correct."
"Is this girl worth the mess?"
Kenshin pulled a worn photograph out of his wallet and reluctantly handed it over to the old man he had just spilled his guts to.
"Pretty girl." The old man leered.
"Goddess." He said simply. "But her personality puts her looks to shame."
The old man whistled in what, Kenshin didn't know. He was too dejected.
"And I fucked things up and lost her forever."
Okina regarded him quietly. "Seems to me this girl really cared something for you- holding off on relationships for years at the prime of her life, and it seems you've got an attachment to her as well. If I were you… I'd try something…anything, if only to make sure I don't regret it for the rest of my life.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru froze, and Enishi immediately felt the change come over his fiancée.
"Kaoru?" He asked softly. "What's wrong?"
"What is he doing here?" She asked softly, her voice surprisingly steady.
Enishi looked in the direction his wife-to-be was looking at, and his mouth tightened in displeasure. However, all he said was,
"No matter what happened, he still was family at one time. I couldn't not invite him to the rehearsal dinner."
Kaoru looked at the man standing beside her, his eyes clear and sincere, and pressing a kiss to his cheek, she whispered,
"I understand."
~*~
Kenshin grit his teeth. 'I have no idea what I'm doing here.' He smiled pleasantly yet blankly at the woman talking to him, not hearing a single word coming out of her mouth. Luckily, she wasn't very interested in holding a conversation, just finding someone to listen to her. He surreptitiously cast another glance at the happy couple. 'She looks amazing…' He thought, and was surprised to hear the lady next to him agree, saying warmly,
"Yes, she does, doesn't she? I always thought she was a pretty girl, but now she's stunning." The woman winked. "Love does that to you, you know." She said conspiratorially.
"Yes, I have heard that." Kenshin said stiffly. "If you'll please excuse me." He said, walking off quickly. 'I can't stand this. This is pure torture.'
~*~
Ultimately unable to stay away any longer, Kenshin approached the couple.
The men greeted each other civilly, but coldly. Kenshin turned to Kaoru, but froze as he saw her beautiful sapphire eyes on him. 'I… I can't do this.' He thought desperately. "I wish you everything that will make you happy, Kaoru. I-" he suddenly turned and hurried out.
"Ken-Mr. H-" Kaoru started to say, moving towards the quickly retreating figure, but Enishi stopped her nearly effortlessly by lightly tightening the hand around her upper arm.
She turned back to Enishi in confusion, and looked up into his eyes, bewildered.
His eyes met hers directly. "I love you." He said simply. Holding her with both hands, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
~*~*~
Kenshin leaned against his car, chest heaving. He thought he could handle it, but evidently he couldn't. Seeing Kaoru even standing by Enishi had made his blood boil. He ached to be the one standing next to her, to have the right to love her, to so carelessly yet boldly rest his hand around her perfect shoulder and absentmindedly caress her satin skin.
He could not, would not wish her happiness in her impending marriage. Every fibre of his being cried out against the union of the two.
'I should have been the one standing next to her, about to claim her in a day. I should be. Kenshin, why are you such a screw up?' He berated himself, beating his head against the car door.
He hoped he hadn't caused a scene at the dinner, bolting from the room. 'All I can do is cause her pain.' He tilted his head up and let the rain soak him even further. Upon leaving Kaoru, he had ran outside, mindless of his coat, the rain and his expensive clothing. Bent only on getting away, he had snatched the keys from the valet as soon as the teen had retrieved them and sprinted towards his vehicle.
Somehow, much later, Kenshin found himself at his house. As he collapsed into his bead, his last thought was,
"I can't do this. This can't happen."
AN: I don't like this chapter. I feel it's missing something. Perhaps I will edit it again, but I really wanted it posted. Life is insane. I have become a total insomniac, but I will not go into my personal life here.
[I don't think Kaoru is really one to run away from her problems but… well, I like her like this in this particular story. Fancy that it's my own… ^_~]
Thank you to Vesca^4, Joey8, Kirbypuff, Neamh^2, Jason M. Lee^2, Gypsy-chan, supernaturalove^2, genocide ex-sync*in^2, nobody, Jin, penggu2000^3, tanuki chan^2, Swtrkgurlz^2, merryday, AniPrinzess^2, Evy, blue jeans, Lolly^2, Shiomei, Aino Saori, Demeter Goddess of Protection, tenshineko, marstanuki^2, relena55, EK, violettegal345. aki6^2, i v o r y . w i n g s, t. anjel, anh, babygurl, Brownilocs, Midori Natari Himura, Shizuka, jasperita, Red Ninja, Istoria, geno, Hi-C, , Polka dot, cherrymecha, monkey_see_monkey_do, l3al3yanime, tin-chan, animegurlie45, Ame Kurayami, Tears of Amethyst, PEACH ^_^, amanda, CharlieTheOtakuNymph^2, Nicky9, CurlsofSerenity, Clemen, anime11368, tanukichan, CathyAngel, Setine, O. Juice, Carter Tachikawa, Jen, EnjeruJoshin, Mikq, and Sabrina-star for reviewing.
Love to Daja2, Vesca, hinami-1412, Fall Rate, Tan Kimiko, Joey8, Midori Natari Himura, Istoria, Battousai angel1, Gypsy-chan, Spellcastre, ewunia, Rishtalak, Neamh, Jason M. Lee, Kykigirl, FyBanditGrl, SailorKagome, DarkLark00, l3al3yanime, Deseray, Azura Dea, Lilfrozenfire, Kitty127, Babo, Eviljinxypoo, Kikirio-dono, Tears of Amethyst, Mitchy, Aryanne, mango mui mui, Conscience Fairy, Moonseeker, iminyourmind, cleoclaudia, Rekka's Angel, Kithkin, whisper*2*imaginary, Nicky9, Tsuki no hikari4, TheEtherway, LifeSavers, and fireflies for putting me on their "favorite authors" list.
Be nice.