The Affair II: The Pavilion

Gloomy shadows met me as I slowly made my way to our rendesvous point. I was nervous, taking my time, knowing that he won't be there even if I was. He was always later than me. Always. Makes me wonder why it seems that I'm the one who's chasing him when he's always one step behind.

Reaching the pavilion, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Cool air entered my stuffed lungs as I exhaled my frustrations away.

This was the reason why I had to come.

To feel that I wasn't alone, to feel that the world was at my feet, to feel...

Strong, supply arms found their way round me as I was pushed into a hard, streamlined body. Warm breaths found their way to my ear as he hugged me tightly, whispering my name over and over again like a mantra he never wants to forget. I leaned back, wanting to crush myself into him. To lose my flesh, my blood, my bones and to meld into him... to become one forever.

Breathing in his scent, I released the breaths of exhaustion from my weary limbs. He was all the strength I needed.

"'Nishi," I whispered, "You're here." All the while smiling to myself at that revelation.

He was here for me now. I didn't need forever, forever doesn't exist. But now, now can last forever, if I just close my eyes and believe, and make it so. Now is forever in my reach.

"I told you I'd be, didn't I?" His voice, gruff with emotions unexplained and undecipherable, simply flowed through me as he clutched onto me tighter than before, if it was even possible. "You know I'd never say a word I don't mean."

Grinning, I held onto his hands as I spun out of his embrace to face him, our hands still linking us, like two dancers waiting in position for the music to start.

"Oh really?" He arched an elegant eyebrow at my teasing words. Smirking slightly, he took a step towards me as though daring me to take a step backwards. But I was no fool. Who would step away from someone like him? Who could?

"Are you calling me a liar, ma'am?" His voice dropped to a merely whisper as his eyes spoke volumes of the thoughts that were running through his mind. Thoughts that only I had the code to break. This young boy did not realise the extent to which I knew him and he belonged to me. But that did not matter. Now was all that did.

"Would I dare?" Standing my ground, the sardonic grin on my face only widened at his stance. This was a challenge I was willing to see to the end.

"So do you believe what I said?" He cocked his head to the side, sizing me up, looking for weaknesses in my defence, a game we started playing since this affair began.

Attack.

"That would depend on what you're saying."

Hold your defense.

"What if I said..."

Keep your enemy guessing to the last minute.

"... that I..."

Never let your defense or attack have the possibility of being counter-attacked.

"... love you?"

Somehow, the music has started playing, but the dance was long forgotten.

*Tsuzuku*

A/N: A little note to all the reviewers, please leave your email address behind if you've not signed on with ff.net so I can send you replies for your reviews as I do NOT like to leave my replies on each chapter. I feel that it's too impersonal ne? So next time you review, please don't forget to leave behind your address!

Alright, about this chapter, not much to say really, although this is already the second chapter, it's only in the next chapter that the true 'action' begins (and it gets lenghtier) so please endure. Have fun! and don't forget to review. ^_^

~Haruko