29: A Small Revelation

The waves. The water rushing up to the beach in a noisy spray, then dying back down.

It was all she could hear of the world around her, possibly because they were very loud in contrast to the quiet beach they were on. But also because she had tuned her hearing out. Her vision was fixed on the silver-haired man in front of her. Her best friend

And in her head, all she could hear was the words he had just uttered to her. She was trying to make sense of them. Why would he say this to her? This wasn't how things were. They were just friends. Close friends, nothing more.

"So…. You love me?" She asked.

He looked extremely uncomfortable, as if he had committed some crime. She'd seen that look before, when he had upset her by accident.

"Yes… yes I do." His words were shaky, he was trying to sound confident. But he was obviously nervous.

Everything was going topsy-turvy. Haru Glory, the bravest person she had ever met, who had rushed head along into deadly battles.. was now acting like a nervous kid, and confessing his love to her… what the hell was going on?

She knew Haru liked her. He cared for her. He looked after her. But now he loved her…

That.. that was too much.

"How.. how long has this been…"

"Ever since we beat Doryu."

She mentally gasped. Doryu had been defeated months ago. And all this time, he had harboured some secret crush on her?

"I.. I don't understand. All this time… you loved me?"

"Yeah…" He looked to the crashing ocean. "Damn… I've gone and upset you again."

"I'm not.. I'm just confused. You're the one who seems upset."

He looked at her again, his eyes anguished. "Because… I wanted this to be a happy moment. I dunno… I thought you would be glad to hear it, but obviously, you're not."

"Well… give me some credit Haru. I'm utterly shocked here. How would you feel if I just said I love you?"

"I think I would be the happiest man alive." A small smile appeared.

She was astonished now. This was no hoax. This was something far deeper. "Do I really mean that much to you?"

"Yes, you do." He took a step towards her. "You're the reason I keep fighting."

Now she was getting worried. "It's just me. I'm not that important."

"You are to me." His voice was stronger, much like it was when he was determined to do something no matter what. "Whenever I'm in trouble, or in battle, I think of you, and that keeps me going. I keep looking back at all our time together.. and whenever I try to think of a day without you there.. I can't. I can't imagine life without you.."

"Haru… you're scaring me."

He blinked. "Wha.. I.. I didn't mean.."

"You.. you sound so dependant on me. As if I affect everything you do. What.. what if I were gone tomorrow?"

"I… I don't know."

"Exactly! I… I don't want you to fall apart because of me!" She turned away from him. "If.. if I were to hurt you, I couldn't stand it."

"You could never hurt me." He sounded so calm, so sure.

"I think I could."

"I'm more worried I'll hurt you. That's why I've never said anything until now."

She looked at him again "Hurt me? Haru, you've been nothing but kind to me ever since we met. If you wanted to hurt me, you would have to try very hard."

He sighed. "I've dragged you into this whole mess with Rave, haven't I? It's thanks to me Lucia is trying to kill you."

"Haru, no!" She stepped up to him, so they were only inches apart, and stared him in the eye. "I joined you because I wanted to help you. Because I wanted to be with you. Anything that happens to me just happens. I don't want you to blame yourself for my troubles. It's my fault I can't stand being without you."

He blinked. "What?"

She gasped. What had she just said? She's just admitted she didn't want to be without him. She hadn't intended to!

There was silence between them, the crash of the waves seemingly louder. She now wished a small tsunami would show up to wash her away and get her out of here, away from this awkward situation. Why had she said something so embarrassing?

Because it was true.

It was becoming clearer now. The things he spoke off, his wanting to be with her, his devotion for her… she'd always felt it too. It had grown steadily within her, from the day they had met. He was the one person who had always been there, the one solid thing in her so-called life without her past.

But he had just been a friend, a protector. She was just a girl who could help him save the world. As far as she was concerned, that was as far as it would go.

But now… he had broken all the rules, all her expectations. He actually wanted her.

"Elie.." His voice had a slight timbre of fear in it. "If you say no, I understand.. but I need to know… what do you feel for me?"

She looked at him, taking everything from his tall form to his blue eyes. She recalled all the time they had spent, all the fun, dramatic, and sometimes just plain weird moments they had shared. His promise that he would stay by her, always.

She tried to imagine a day without him. And couldn't.

Practically running to him, she grasped him in a hug. Her tears spilled onto his shoulder, as his arms wrapped around her.

She didn't need to say anything. Her action had spelt it out for him.

They stood intertwined, relief and happiness overwhelming them.

"I.. I never thought…" She managed to speak.

"Me neither.."

She pulled back slightly to look at him. "So… what now?"

It was a valid question. They were in love, but what to do now? Life couldn't exactly go on as normal."

"Gee…" He rubbed his head. "Guess I never really thought about what would happen after this… I just wasn't expecting…"

"You could kiss me." She smiled. In all the excitement… she'd forgotten all about that. "I really want you to be my first kiss."

"What about Lucia?"

"Huh.. to tell you the truth… he was lousy, and therefore doesn't count."

He smiled. "I'd better make this good then.."

He leaned in to capture her lips. And for a few moments, she thought she was floating on air. It seemed like the best dream imaginable.

But when she opened her eyes, he was still there.

"You know… Julia told me there's a nice restaurant farther along the beach." He spoke.

"So?" She was hungry, but right now food was the least of her concerns.

"Well, I really should take you out for dinner. It's the proper thing to do."

"Ooh… A first date?"

"Yeah." He smiled and held her hand. "Come on, it's a bit of a walk."

"That's fine…" They walked forward, her body pressed to his side. "We have a lot to catch up on."

And so they headed up the sand, the waves still crashing with a mighty sound.

And whenever she heard them again, they reminded her that she was always loved. Always.