Title: Life After

Author: Weaver of Words

Rating: PG-13

Number of Words: 766

"This" Denotes speech while

"This" Denotes thought

"Mizuho Kazami, you will be stripped of your surveyor status, and you will return to your home planet immediately. All life forms that associated with you at Delta-D-E-S-8-2-2-8 will have their memories sealed away…"

"He didn't remember me after all…"

"Are you here to observe us again?"

"Ma'am… I can see you again, finally…"

"I'm ready to embrace you here, in the real world"

"I love you."

"Kei, wake up."

Kei immediately opened his eyes as he heard the sweet voice of his "wife" and teacher calling to him. He looked up to see Mizuho still in her nightgown. Kei blushed. Mizuho looked at him curiously then smiled teasingly.

"What's wrong Kei? Are you ill?"

"N-no." kei was really fun to tease.

"Just kidding, silly. Sleep well?

He didn't answer. Instead, he placed his arms around her waist and gave her a sweet kiss. Mizuho blushed a deep red when they parted. She still wasn't used to Kei being openly affectionate to her, even in private.

"I hope that answers your question." Kei grinned. Mizuho just smiled.

"Well, you better hurry up. We're going to be late."

It has already been a week since they had been reunited with each other. They had begun catching up with each other's lives a day after their reunion. Both lamented the fact that they had lost been parted for a year, but were happy that things turned out the way they did.

"Hey Kei, you seem pretty happy today! What's up?" Hyosuke asked Kei with a conspiratorial grin. They were eating at the cafeteria with Ichigo, Koishi, Matagu and Kaede.

"Oh, nothing really, just felt like it." Kei grinned.

"I bet you got laid." Kei blew out the food he was eating.

"Wh-what! Who gave you that idea?" Kei sputtered. The others, who were originally not interested in the subject of the twosome's discussion, now listened on with rapt interest.

"You look like he cat that swallowed the canary. So who's the lucky girl?"

Kei just smacked himself in the head. It was going to be a long day.

"Mr. Kusanagi, are you listening?"

Kei was shaken out of his daze when Mizuho called out to him. Apparently, she had asked a question about the modern Japanese culture which Kei failed to hear. He was busy daydreaming about a certain red-haired and purple-eyed woman.

"What is it, Mizu -, I mean, Miss Kazami?"

Mizuho blinked at that, before realizing what Kei had almost done. She glared at him subtly before repeating her question. Kei cringed, before answering her question.

This was going to be a long day, indeed.

"You almost exposed our secret back there!" Mizuho shouted at him while she was standing on the veranda. Kei took the rebuke and meekly lowered his head.

"I'm sorry. But if you didn't want that to happen, you shouldn't have called me!"

"But I can't ignore the fact that you weren't listening!" Her eyes narrowed into thin slits.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Umm…" Kei couldn't admit that he was thinking about the young Kazami.

"I see… you must have been thinking about Miss Herikawa…"

"How can you say that? You know the only one I think about is you!" Mizuho blushed slightly, but it went completely unnoticed by Kei.

"Hmph!"

Mizuho turned her back to him, not showing any effort to hide her annoyance at her significant other. It was obvious that she was still irritated at what had transpired earlier during class.

The young Kusanagi was very much aware that Mizuho was annoyed when he almost spilled the beans. He was also painfully aware of the consequences if his relationship with his teacher was ever found out.

She was still very much annoyed when she felt arms encircle her waist. She stiffened, before relaxing in his embrace.

"How does he always manage to diffuse me whenever I'm angry?"

They stayed like that for a few moments, before they disengaged from each other. She turned around to face him.

"Just be more careful next time, alright?" Kei just nodded. He didn't want to experience her wrath ever again.

Author's note: This is an experimental fic, as it is the first time I'm writing a piece that incorporates a romantic theme. I don't have a specific plot yet, but this will focus on Kei and Mizuho's life after episode 12… Comments, creative criticism and suggestions would be most welcome!

-Weaver of Words