"KYUZO! I know you can hear me," Kirara called out to the deep night sky, where the stars were glistening with the glow of candle flames and the moon shone bright. "come out…please…" she whimpered, almost as if begging.
He emerged from the shadows, blood red eyes glowing like a cat's. He set his eyes on her, then averted it to the twinkling stars.
"don't," he told her, as she reached for his arm. Before he could accomplish anything, she held his hands, firmly and tightly. Someone once said to me 'women need to express themselves more often'
"ever since you saved me," she began "from those…things, Kyuzo, I started to admire you. For your strength, courage and…" tears were now streaming down her eyes, but she continued anyway, "Then when I heard that you died, I thought…I heard my heart shatter, but Kanbei-sama gave me a ray of hope. He said you'd be waiting for him at the village, and I sort of believed that you'd come, and now. I didn't wait for nothing" Her grasp on his hands tightened as she rest her head against his chest.
Red orbs locked into hazel ones, within his eyes, a mix of sympathy, confusion and shock. "Admiration isn't love," he stated and turned away. "Besides, you and Kanbei…" Before he could continue, she cut him off. "THAT'S WHAT I REALIZED, DON'T YOU SEE? I ADMIRE KANBEI. I LOVE YOU!"
With that, she embraced him. He tensed and she thought she would reject her. Instead, he held her tightly in his arms, assuring her with a sense of security no one else could have. Tracing her shoulder with his fingers, he lifted her chin and lips emerged in an enthralling, deep and passionate kiss. They stood there for some time, enjoying the peace and quiet and the intimacy between their contact.
"…I," she broke the silence," Kyuzo…"
"yes?"
"When you killed Hyogo, you said you wanted to…live. What did that mean?" Kirara questioned.
"Samurais fight and live, to protect. I live to protect…you"
"Is that true?"
He nodded.
"Thank you."
Once again, they sank into the depths of a sweet kiss and he did not end it till he left her breathless, panting for air. "You take my breath away," Kirara grinned, as she playfully poked him in his chest.
"Naturally," he smirked.
And there they sat, under a great tree, admiring the sparkling velvet sky.