Disclaimer: You know. Not mine, never were, never will be.

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Chapter seventeen: The depths of the heart.

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009 heaved a sigh; the marine breeze moved his chestnut hair, bringing the aroma of salt to his nose. He inhaled deeply, trying to remove some of the heaviness he felt in his heart.

He had been for at least one hour standing at the cliff, and during that time a hundred of rushed different ideas had invaded his numbed mind and stayed there, revolving around his head and sinking him in a deeper bewilderment.

He was so confused. 003 was avoiding him and he couldn't place his finger on the real reason.

That morning, they had managed to get in the house without problems, and 004 kept his promise; not a word came out of his mouth but only small knowing smiles every time he placed his eyes on either of them. It was a bothersome, however it was a fair price for his silence. At least he didn't ask for 009 to do his laundry as well.

But 003 was avoiding him.

He didn't feel so different. Back at the orphanage some of his friends came back bragging about their first experience, telling how it had made them real men. 009 didn't think sex had made him a man. What made someone a man were values, respect for life and the courage to make the right decisions. He often tried to accomplish those points, but it was hard, and in that moment he felt more like a boy; afraid and insecure.

Well… He did feel different after all, like if there was now something lost forever, but also he felt warmer, whole in a strange way he couldn't describe, and closer, so much closer to her, and far at the same time.

Why was 003 avoiding him?

Had he done something wrong? Did he say something he shouldn't have? Or maybe he didn't do or say something he was supposed to. How did she feel? Did she feel like he did? The experience must be different for women, he supposed. Maybe she was mad at him because there was pain involved for her. Or what if she regretted it? What if she realized he was not the right person after all? And now she wished it never happened?

All these suppositions were driving him nuts! He couldn't stand it any longer! Joe decided to end this situation and turning around, he headed to the house and straight to 003's room with a clenched jaw and two sweaty, restless hands.

Since when had those damned stairs become so large? Also, he didn't remember 003's room being so far away, but before he even realized it, he found himself in front of the closed door.

Joe Shimamura was able to shatter steel as if it was mere paper, but some how, that wooden door seemed an imposing, undefeatable barrier.

He breathed slowly and after straightening his shoulders, he knocked. A melancholic music was coming from the room. Joe recognized it clearly.

009 waited, his head lowered, his foot tapping anxiously, his hands behind his back.

The door finally moved and 003 appeared behind it, the soft piano notes from the music filled the hallway.

"Hi," he said, looking up. He hadn't been sure if she was going to open the door, but he was really thankful she did.

"Hi," she answered. 009 thought he saw her emeralds sparkle at his sight, but she diverted her eyes almost immediately.

"May I come in?" he requested as he tilted his head slightly to one side.

"Sure." She stepped aside and he entered her room. 003 went to her CD player in order to stop the music but 009 spoke.

"You don't have to turn it off. I'm glad you liked the CD I lend to you."

"Uhm… Yeah, I… I was going to return it to you."

"Nah, is alright, you can keep it."

"Thanks."

A silence fell between them after the polite words. 003 sat on the bed and after some hesitation, 009 sat next to her, their eyes fixed on the floor.

"You regret it, don't you?" he asked at last.

003 kept quiet for a second, and then answered in a quiet but steady voice. "No."

"Then why have you been avoiding me?"

"I... I don't know," 003 bit her lips and 009 shook his head.

"I think you do."

They raised their eyes and looked at each other.

"I..."

003 stood up and walked to the window. The shadows of the afternoon were getting larger now as the sun painted everything in golden tones. The track stopped, leaving them in complete stillness, and after some seconds, Ayumi Hamasaki resumed her singing in that sad, melodic soft voice of hers.

"Where do we go from here now, Joe?" she broke the silence.

009 blinked a couple of times at the question. What did she mean exactly?

"Uhm... go? I don't understand." He would have scratched his head, but at the moment, he really didn't feel like recreating cartoon clichés.

003 turned to him, her arms protectively over her chest.

"Do you love me?" Her saddened eyes pierced him, and for a moment he found himself unable to produce a single word. What was this all about?

"Of course I do! I already told you. I've told you many times," he finally stated.

"I know, but what is next."

009 felt very dumbfounded. Why was she acting that way?

003 turned to the window again and spoke, her voice void of emotions. "Words and sex don't make a relationship."

009 stood up at this and walked behind her, placing a hand over her shoulders. "No! Of course not! I'd never think that. Francoise, why are you saying this to me? What's wrong?"

003 turned to him again and let herself rest on his chest. He embraced her.

"I am sorry Joe, I'm overreacting. It's just that I don't know what to expect now."

"It's alright koishii, we are together, and I love you. I'd never let anything happen to you."

"I know. I love you too, forgive me for being so silly…"

"You're not silly."

They smiled at each other; their eyes softened, relief showing in their faces. 009 put his hand behind her nape and drew her closer to him.

Their lips touched, he caressed her cheeks tenderly and she placed her arms over his shoulder. 009 slid his hands down her torso and rested them on her hips.

"I've missed you," he interrupted his kiss, fixing his eyes on her with heavy eyelids.

003 saw the intensity in his stare and smiled in anticipation. "Yeah… Me too."

They kissed again, allowing their tongues to travel freely across their mouths, tasting, biting, chewing and sucking, barely allowing themselves a few seconds to regain some air and start their duel again. 009 then broke the kiss and lowered his mouth to her jaw line and lowered his wet lips to her neck, 003 tilted her head to give him better access as her left hand began playing with his unruly hair, urging his head closer and lower. She had already managed to pull his shirt out of his pants and her right hand was now stroking his back, slowly, making him shiver at the electric contact.

009 pulled her closer to him, letting her know just how much he wanted her, and then reached to the front of her blouse, his fingers struggling against the buttons of her blouse.

003 spoke between gasps. "I-- I'm so glad."

"About what," he said, between kisses, his breath felt hot against the sensible skin of her now half exposed breasts.

"About you being ready for a commitment."

Talk about cold showers.

"A what?" 009 stopped his actions and looked at her, his eyes wide. In the other hand, hers were narrowed.

"I see. That's what I thought," she said in a cold voice.

Then, without warning, she pushed him away from her with all her strength, causing him to fall backwards on the bed and from there, roll over right onto the floor, head first.

" Wha--? Oww!"

When 009 raised his head from the ground, all he could see was the retreating form of 003 as she stormed out of the room.

"Francoise! Wait!" He stood up, heading to the door, but it was too late. She was gone. Something told him it was not a wise decision to go after her right now.

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009 entered the living room which was empty except for 004, who was surfing the channels with a dull expression over his features. He turned his attention to the boy.

"Greetings 009."

"Uhm, hi. Where is everyone?"

"I don't know, out somewhere. If I were you I'd seize the opportunity. You both won't have to go and transgress in our poor Dolphin again, I promise not to go upstairs."

He laughed at his own words, but he could not get a response out of 009, not even a frown. The young cyborg just stared at some blank space.

"Something wrong 009?"

"Eh... no." 009 turned and was about to leave, but then he thought it over and went to sit next to 004 on the couch.

"004, can I have a word with you?"

"Alright, so soon and you are in a fight already?"

"Sort of... but I am expecting you could tell me what it was about, after all you were married. You must know women."

004 was about to answer a 'no one does', but that'd be a lie. He had known his Hilda like no one else in the world.

"Agreed. Tell me what happened."

009 then explained everything... Well... Not everything, just the necessary things. 004 nodded as 009 told the story, evaluating the situation, his hand over his mouth, several 'uhms' and 'ahas' leaving his lips.

"... And then she left, not saying another world, I don't know where she is now."

004 pondered for some moments, and then lowered his hand to his calf, which was resting crossed over his leg.

"She might be helping Chang at his restaurant I guess, but I advise you not to go after her right now, first you must understand what she is trying to tell you."

"You do?"

"Of course." 004 smirked, as if he were the keeper of all the wisdom of life.

"Tell me then."

"Come on 009, think hard. What is the magic word here?"

009 thought for a second... love? Nooo, too easy. Sex was not the problem after all. Didn't she say something about...? Bells rang in his head.

"Commitment."

"Bingo! That's it. She needs to know that you are ready for a serious relationship."

009's face went pale, his eyes were more open than ever.

"S-she said something about marriage... but I thought she was kidding!"

Albert chuckled, his shoulders shaking with each laughter. "Don't worry, she probably was, but how did you react to that?"

"I freaked out a little, I guess." The Japanese youth brushed his unruly hair with his hand.

009 felt the ideas sink at last. He really had been thinking about their relationship in a constant present tense, but the future hadn't really crossed his mind. Obviously it was not so for 003.

His realization must have been written all over his face, because 004 chuckled again.

"See? It doesn't mean she wants to marry you right away, it's just that she needs reassurance. We have such a volatile life. What do you want?"

What did he want?

004 continued, "Do you really feel committed to her?"

009 thought for a second, then answered with surety, "Of course."

"Then make her know it."

009 nodded resolute, but then a funny frown crossed his features.

"Wait… That's all about this? Why didn't she just tell me at once?"

004 grinned at the inexperience of his teammate. "Don't expect that. Not now, not ever, but it's worth it. Little misunderstandings like this are nothing compared to the rewards a strong love can give you 009. Don't let it slip between your fingers."

004's eyes got lost somewhere in space and time. 009 supposed he was remembering his past life with his wife. Maybe he'd want to talk about it, but he better decided to leave him alone.

"Well, thanks a lot. Really. I'd better go now."

"Yeah, no problem."

009 left the room, but he looked behind his shoulders before; 004's attention was focused on the television again, but he now held a melancholic smile over his face.

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Next chapter: The conclusion

I don't know if you've listened to Hayumi Hamasaki, but believe me, she is great! I recommend you to listen "Wishing" (which was the song 003 was hearing), "Evolution", "A song is born" and "No more words" (that's Inuyasha's movie theme) but all her songs are beautiful.

GA2: Muchas gracias! Thanks a lot! Domo arigato! Merci beaucoup! Grazie! Tlazocamati! (That's Nahuatl).