Alright, a second chapter in the same day! (i have 20 of them so far, just only 7 posted). I'm sorry about the romance thing moving so fast so much...when i first started to write this i had an outer influence thatjust wanted all of my characters (for all of my stories) to just have romance. Of course, there is also that i have a bit of an anime crush onYomiko >. . Read and review please

Chapter 7: Denial with a Reason

Her body felt so perfect in my arms, so warm, so pleasant. I admit right now that I had never been so close to a woman, where I could hold her willingly and nothing bad would come of it. It was so wonderful to be this close to her, though I was uncertain if she felt the same way I did. More than likely she was just relieved that I was all right, but I didn't care. I drew her closer to me, feeling the fabric of her business vest, and the soft breasts that lay beneath it, push against my bare chest. I kissed her on the cheek and then I simply held her, for a long time I clung to her as if this were the last embrace I would ever get from her, but she didn't seem to mind, she was happy. I felt something wet on my shoulder, her tears.

"What's wrong Yomiko?" I asked as I pulled her in front of me, her face directly before mine. She stared down momentarily and then looked into my eyes, her beautiful blue gems seeming to be more perfect now then ever before. I smiled and then without her permission I kissed her, feeling the intoxicating press of her lips against my own. Again I admit that I have never kissed a woman, it was perfect. Pulling away I saw that she was blushing.

She shook her head and rested it on my shoulder. "Tetsu…I'm so glad…I didn't think that you were ever….that you weren't-"

I ran my finger through her hair and placed my hand atop her head. "It's all right Yomiko. I'm here now, aren't I?" I kissed her head, "Its all right now." I felt her grow heavy against me. She must have been worn out from watching over me. I laid back and watched her sleep in my arms. "Yomiko…"

As she slept in my arms I realized that I had full control of all of my limbs, meaning I couldn't have been in a coma for too long. My legs were fully functional and of coarse my arms were, and I knew I could sit and turn my head; I was fine. I took another sniff of her soft black hair and kissed her cheek. I felt her begin to rouse, and eventually she looked up at me, her glasses still glued to her face. She smiled and then sat up.

Sitting up and by her side I asked, "So how long have I been out?"

"13 days…I was really scared. I thought that you weren't ever going to wake up," she said. Immediately I wrapped my arm around her, but this time she seemed reluctant. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I was afraid what her response would be. I pulled my arm off of her and placed both of my hands in my laps.

Turning to her I asked, "So what's happened since I've been out? Have you been attacked?"

"Once…by two people."

Shocked I asked, "What happened?"

"I was outside of the hospital, going to go get something to eat, when two twin women attacked me. They both had the same weapon, two small blades that curved, and shurikins all over their bodies, kinda like what Eico had. Well, they both came at me, but I easily trapped them in paper bindings, and then took away all of their blades so they couldn't kill themselves. I put them in paper cages too.

"I know it sounds easy, but it wasn't anything like the guy you fought. That guy was really strong and I would have had a hard time with him." She turned to me, "But that's about it. I'm glad you're up and all right now. We can leave here now and find a place where the 'blade tribe' cant find us."

"Yeah," I replied, sad that I couldn't protect her when she needed it, but glad she was all right. "Well, let me fold some clothes on and then we'll get out of here."

"You know," she said, "I don't need your protection as much as you think I do."

I was stunned, though I knew it was true. "I know, but I want to protect you, its not that I feel that I have to."

"Still…" she said, looking down, "I don't want to see you hurt like this again, you understand Tetsu?"

I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her brow, "Don't worry Yomiko, I'll try not to. Next time you and I will both fight. Together." I drew her closer to me, but she seemed to shrink away by this. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry Tetsu," she said as she took my arms off of her and stood up. "But…I cant. Its just…I…" she ran out.

What is happening? I thought that we were…but that's foolish of me, to assume. I stood up and looked around for some paper. I saw a small stack of periodicals and took a few sheets of newspaper. Using a familiar technique I folded my usual outfit, and walked out the door.

I walked through the corridors of the hospital, asking various people if they had seen Yomiko (or in other words, a well endowed women with long black hair and a white coat that wears glasses) and each of them pointing me in various directions. Eventually, I found her on a balcony of the fourth floor, staring over the edge.

I walked out and stepped next to her and looked to her. She was crying, though she tried to conceal. She muttered some name and then turned to me, "I'm sorry Tetsu…"

I tried as best as I could to look as if it wasn't a big deal, but I know I had a sad face. "Yomiko…"

For a long time we simply stood there, staring at each other, the busy streets of Tokyo roaring below. Finally, she began to talk.

Sorrowfully she said, "its just that…there was somebody very close to me that died…right in front of me. I lo…he was special to me. I don't…and if you died…I would…" The tears filled her eyes and mumbled her speech.

"So your afraid that if you and I were…that I might die and…you'd have to go through the pain?" I asked. Unable to speak through her tears she shook her head. "But I've been through worse than this!" I said, pulling up my shirt. I pointed at a large circular scar located in the middle of my torso, "You see this? I was impaled by a spear, and I survived. I've been cut and torn and battered and beaten, and I've survived all of it. I've survived a falling building!

"I was careless in that last fight, I underestimated him. These tribe people are very skilled, but they can't kill me. If Eico was there master than the rest should be nothing. You don't have to worry about me dying, because having something worth living for is-" I stopped. Was she really worth living for? I thought on it…yes, she was worth living for.

"Yomiko…I really care about you. You mean a lot to me…" she turned to me, surprised. "Yomiko…"

"Tetsu…we hardly know each other…"

"I know, but its true. I care a lot about you," I said, forcing her into my arms. "I will protect you…I want to protect you." I kissed her forehead and looked into her eyes. She was crying, her blue eyes shaking. She drew in close and rested her head on my shoulder. I didn't want to let her go, I never wanted to let her go.

I sniffed her hair and looked down to the streets. There was a throwing knife in the railing of the balcony, the word 'cataclysmic' inscribed in it in Japanese writing.