"What does iiemean?" he asked.
"It means no. And I've never been kissed before!" she said, cheeks flamed. Suddenly they stop walking and as a matter of fact the Nostrad mansion is near. Kurapika's face inched closer to her.
"Do you want me to show you?" he asked in a low and huskier voice. Neon's cheeks were still red and her heart was beating fast.
"I-I-"Neon stammered. Suddenly their beautiful scene was cut when Elaiza interrupted them.
"What are you two doing?" the two look at her.
"Um..." Neon started.
"Uh there was a dirt on her cheek so I wiped it off", Kurapika immediately answered. As his thumb wiped her cheek. She blushed on what he did.
"Oh...well come on in and we'll prepare the food", Elaiza said.
"Hai Elaiza!" Neon answered. "It's a good thing she didn't suspect anything", Neon dryly thought and head for the house. "What was he thinking anyway?
--
They we're eating dinner quietly until Kurapika stood up. "You're done eating Kurapika-sama?" Elaiza asked.
"Hai", he answered in Japanese. "I have to go and buy something. I may be home late", Kurapika said, and strode off.
"Hai Kurapika-sama", Elaiza bowed at him politely. Neon was also finished eating.
"You know what? He was supposed to kiss me a while ago", Neon began, as she collect the dishes. Elaiza helped er.
"Honto ni?" Elaiza said, shocked, while helping her master.
"Hai. He asked me if I have been kissed and I said no. He wants to demonstrate it but thank Kami-sama you came!" Neon exclaimed.
"He may like you Neon-sama", Elaiza said. That made Neon paused and looked at her servant disbelievingly/
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Neon blurted out. "No! Not a guy like him!" she added as she went to the kitchen as Elaiza followed her. "What is love anyway? And how will you know if you fall in love?" Neon asked curiously. It's time for her to know what love is. Even though she's already twenty years old, she never experienced love the way young couple do.
"Well", Elaiza began. "Love is something...precious. I can't explain. A feeling that is so priceless. And when you know if you fall in love when...you only think and care for that person. And when he's standing or sitting right next to you, you're cheeks turned red and you're heart is beating fast", Elaiza explained.
"That's it?" Neon asked. Elaiza gave a slight laugh.
"No my dear. It may sound mushy on what I said a while ago but you'll understand love when you feel it. And oh I nearly forgot-love is not perfect you'll also get hurt...sometimes", Elaiza replied.
"But I don't want to go in that road", Neon said, washing the dishes. She doesn't know what to do if her heart gets broken.
"Everybody goes to that road my lady", Elaiza replied. Neon just sighed and wished that someday the man she loves won't break her heart into a million of pieces.
--
Neon couldn't sleep not late at night. She couldn't sleep on what Elaiza said about love. Love like this, love like that. They had a small pond and a big rock near it. She took off her slippers and dipped her feet into the cool water. "But I don't want to go to that road. That road that I would be hurt. I don't want to go there", Neon muttered softly to herself. Then suddenly another two pair of feet joined her in. When she looks at the person's face she saw Kurapika. "Kurapika?" Neon said, shocked.
"Konbanwa", Kurapika greeted, with a smile which made Neon blushed.
"How did you know that word?" she asked.
"The shopkeeper told me", Kurapika replied. "The water's pretty cool and clean", he added.
"Yeah", she replied. "Why am I blushing? Why? Don't blush Neon for Pete's sake!" she told herself.
"You're blushing...why is that?" he asked.
"Um...nothing really!" she replied.
"So...do you want to continue my demonstration when we we're disturbed?" he asked. She blushed. He loved seeing her like this. To be teased. She was fragile he knew.
"Do whatever you want!" she gritted, angrily.
"Fine then!" Kurapika replied. He cupped her chin using his thumb, she closed her eyes. Thinking all of this is a STUPID dream and this IS NOT HAPPENING!
"But it is", Neon thought. 'It's happening NOW!' Kurapika kiss her softly at first then beginning to draw himself to it.
"I have to leave it like this", Kurapika thought. "I just want her to feel it!" he moved away. "So now you feel how is it liked to be kissed", he said after catching each other's breath.
"H-Hai", Neon answered, almost her voice is croaked. "T-to tell y-you the truth you're my f-first kiss", she added.
"I'm glad", he replied with that SMILE again. Her cheeks were still red. Then suddenly Neon remembered.
"I-I remembered that I have to read your future", Neon began. Kurapika looked at her, tilting his head.
"You want to read my future right now?" she nodded on what he said. She'll do anything to push that memory away when he kissed her. "Okay". She took his hand and closed her eyes, reading the future of him. She opened her eyes and frowned. "What did you see?"
"There's something wrong with your company. You'll be leaving soon", Neon replied. She looked away and doesn't know why but she doesn't know want him to leave.
"Are you okay?" Kurapika asked as he cupped her chin. "Neon looked at me". Her eyes met his. She doesn't understand at all! She doesn't understand why the thought of him leaving has a big effect on her. But she just buried her face in his chest and said nothing. Sighing, he smooth her hair.
--
"Baka Neon! You let a stranger kiss you!" Neon said talking to herself while fixing the futon. "But...I like the kiss though it was something", she added. She shook her head. "I wonder if strangers sometimes fall in love?" she proceeded to the kitchen to eat.
"Ohayou gozaimasu Neon", Kurapika greeted.
"Ohayou gozaimasu Kurapika and Elaiza!" Neon greeted back.
"Ohayou gozaimasu Neon-sama!" Elaiza said with a respective bow.
"Neon, I was wondering if you'll go horseback riding with me today?" Kurapika asked as they were eating. Neon looked at him and smiled.
"No problem", Neon replied as she resumed eating. It was difficult looking into his eyes and remembering the kiss they've shared last night.
--
Kurapika was preparing the horse and Elaiza came. "You really like her don't you Kurapika-sama?" Elaiza asked.
"No Elaiza. I've loved her. It was love at first sight when I saw her", Kurapika answered. "She was beautiful and kind in my eyes", he added.
"I see", was all Elaiza could say. "She's here", Elaiza said seeing her young master running towards them.
"I'm here! Come on let's go!" Neon said. Kurapika guided her up as she was trying to get on the horse. The he sat on the horse behind her.
"We'll be home late Elaiza!" Kurapika said, ready to go.
"Hai Kurapika-sama", Elaiza remarked.
"Sayonara Elaiza!" said Neon happily.
"Sayonara Neon-sama. Have a good time!"
--
Kurapika was the one controlling the horse. They went around the city. Giving warm smiles to people. "Is there any romantic place here?" he asked.
"Romantic?" Neon asked. "Near the bridge. Under the shade of the tree. I always find that place romantic", Neon answered.
"Near the river? Then let's go!" he said, as the horse went a little bit faster.
--
"We're here", Kurapika went down first and tie the horse rope to the tree. Then he escorted Neon as she went down. "T-Thanks", Neon said, cheeks flushed as their faces were close.
"You're welcome", Kurapika answered. Both sat down at the soft grass.
"All that riding and eating makes me feel tired!" Neon said lying down at the grass.
"Me too", Kurapika agreed as he lies down. "Neon, tell me about yourself. I wan to know you...more", Kurapika said, looking at the sky.
"Well...my father is a businessman and he always travel. We don't spend a time each other though but I love him. I know he gave me everything I need but his love was priceless. It's kinda lonely sometimes when I'm the only one at the house. But I admit since you came I wasn't lonely anymore", Neon said looking at him with a smile. " Now it's your turn to tell me all about yourself", she added.
"Well", Kurapika stated. "I have a company who my dad in trusted it to me. After that I changed. I became a busy person", he explained. "But ever since I met you, things changed for me", Kurapika added with a smile. Neon just looked at him, dumbfounded as the cherry blossoms fell upon them.
"That makes two of us", she added with a slight laugh. Kurapika thought that he couldn't be much happier if it weren't for her.
--
They have arrived at home when Elaiza went to Kurapika. "Kurapika-sama a letter arrived for you when you left", Elaiza began while giving the letter.
"Domo arigatou Elaiza", Kurapika said as he opened the letter. But he was shocked on what was written. "I-It can't be?"
"Doushite? What's wrong Kurapika?" Neon asked. Kurapika looked at him, his expression couldn't be defined.
"I need to go back to London as soon as impossible. Something went wrong with our company", he curtly explained. Neon couldn't believe that her prediction came out early. She didn't expect this.
"W-When will you return?" Kurapika looked away from her, couldn't really looked into her eyes.
"As soon as I received this letter".
--
They were having dinner that night but it was like a silent dinner. Neither Neon nor Kurapika wanted to speak. "Someday, I'll come back here. Is that okay if I'll come back here?" Kurapika began. That was their first conversation after how many minutes. Neon looked at him but he wasn't looking at her.
"Sure. You're always welcome here", Neon replied, trying her best to smile. Her only weapon in times of sadness. But right now Kurapika couldn't even see right through.
"Domo arigatou…Neon". And that broke her heart even more.
--
Neon couldn't sleep that night. She couldn't imagine a life without Kurapika. She had never known someone like him. And her fragile heart had fallen in love with the Kurapika already. Because she couldn't sleep, she stood up from her futon and decided she'll go to his room.
Kurapika couldn't even sleep. He couldn't even tell her he loves her. It was best if he wouldn't tell her. Because if he do, he'll never have the courage to leave for London. His shoji door opened and he saw Neon as she went in. "N-Neon?" she went to him and sat down beside him. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to tell you…kimi wo aishite'ru", Neon replied. He gave a wry smile.
"Neon, you know I don't understand all Japanese words-"but she hushed him using his finger. His gaze softened. "Neon…"
"It doesn't matter. I want you to know I was so happy to meet someone like you", she added.
"Me too", he said and kissed her passionately. And when he did she couldn't help but cry. "Will you sleep with me tonight? To spend the last night with me, I mean", he added as he wiped her tears.
"Hai", she replied as they lied down on the futon together. "Kimi wo aishite'ru Kurapika".
"Your not really going to tell me what it means?" he teased but she shook her head.
"You'll know someday". He nodded as he pulled her closer.
"We'll see each other someday". She just buried her face to his chest and cried harder and he was trying his best to soothe her.
To be continued…