Chapter XIX: The First Kiss ;D
Dawn broke in Japan, night fell in Europe, and obviously, there were no good news for the day. The ones that had been in the tragic battle in Tokyo were forced to call the ones that didn't know and tell them, on the phone, by mail, or even personally.
That was Ishizaki's case, who had decided to go with Misaki to his rehab, since he didn't have soccer training that day, but had the surprise of his life when she saw that the one opening the apartment's door was… Jinko.
-Jinko-san…
-Hi, Ishizaki-san. You came to talk with Misaki-san?
-Eh, yes… I… What are you doing here so early?
-Early?
-Yes… Aren't you supposed to be in your office…?
-Ah, hi, Ishizaki-kun –Taro interrupted. –There's no training today?
-No… Misaki-kun, what happened? You look terrible.
Taro's eyes were still puffy, let alone Jinko's.
-it's a long and sad story. C'mon in, Ishizaki-kun.
-Yes… And besides, there something you have to explain to me.
-What?
-Why is Jinko-san so early in your house?
-Easy: She didn't come here early. She stayed here last night.
What in heck could've passed by Ishizaki's mind? Nothing good, probably Oo
-What do you mean with 'she stayed here last night?'
-Before you think something wrong, let me tell you I slept on the futon –said Jinko, her arms crossed over her chest. –What happened last night and why I stayed here last night have a connection with each other.
-I'll hear you.
-Don't you mean I'll listen to you, Ishizaki-san?
-I'm a complete sucker for music; that's why I said what I said.
That made Taro smile, but Jinko didn't get the joke. In the next moment, they began to talk about what had happened in Tokyo the past night, omitting some details. When Misaki and Jinko finished explaining Rairyuu's death, Ryou was about to let a tear fall from his eyes, but he resisted it.
-… and after that, we came back here, but it was too late for the doctor to go back to her house –said Taro.
-And why didn't you think of taking a taxi?
-Didn't have any money –said Jinko. –I walked all the way from Vitalis, and that's quite near from here.
-Ah, OK… In addition, Misaki-kun, it seems our old team's once again in the National Soccer Tournament.
-How come?
-Nankatsu's representing our city again, captained by none other than our little buddy Kagei Kai.
-Congrats for Kai-kun –said Taro, smiling half-heartedly.
-You're talking about the Kage no Tsukai? –asked Jinko, confused.
-Right-o.
-I see. Well, I have to admit I don't know much about soccer. I was never the sporty type at school.
-Indeed; since you were a… -Ishizaki began to say, but something made his fall. It seemed that Taro had sent an energy wave to make him shut up.
-A what?
-No, forget it… –said Misaki, somewhat nervous nnU
-Back to where we were, have you told the others? I mean Tsubasa-kun and the others.
-Kojiro must've told Tsubasa, Sanae, Genzo and Tooru, and we'll call Shinobu and Kai later.
-And what do you think will happen in Tokyo?
-Rairyuu died and his body turned into energy. Now he and Hyuga-san are one, so I guess someone will report his disappearance. But since they won't ever find his body, they'll declare him disappeared and probably dead. I guess his parents will be very sad.
-Jinko-san… Have you realized what you said? –said Ryou.
-What?
-You called Ikazuchi by his first name again.
The young doctor blushed furiously out of sheer embarrassment.
-Well, this isn't the moment to talk that. Are we going to the rehab, Jinko-san? –asked Misaki, taking his crutches and his keys.
-Ah, sure…
-I'm going with you –said Ishizaki, following them. –I said I'll be in the rehab with you.
-Thanks, Ishizaki-kun.
The truth was that Ishizaki had just learned to drive and had bought a used car. That was why he had decided to help his buddy. Once they went out of the building, Misaki and Jinko saw Ryou's car and were quite surprised.
-You like my old wheelie? It's no Mercedes-Benz, but at least it does its job well: Going from point A to point B.
-It's great that you have a car. But, can you drive?
-That doubt hurt me, dude –said Ryou, showing them his driver's license. –I had to make the exam a lot of times, but man, it was worth it. After all, driving is now a necessity and not a luxury.
-Congratulations.
And so Ishizaki, Misaki and Imawano went to the hospital in Ryou's 'old wheelie'. Taro's rehab began when they got there, and to be honest, he was improving every day.
Meanwhile, Kai was in school, fixing up the classroom. Komichi would arrive a while later, so he didn't feel worried.
Or at least pretended not to look so.
He had had a terrible forewarning the last night. After Wataru's death, he had had many premonitions, but none of them were like the last one. He hoped it was wrong.
Although the sad fact was that this feeling, the death of the other Black Archangels, didn't fail, although he didn't know it.
He kept on cleaning desks, trying to keep his mind completely blank. The other student in charge of the classroom cleaning tried to talk with the soccer player, but didn't receive any answer. A while later, Komichi arrived, noticing her friend's silence.
-Kai-kun, what's wrong with you? You're too quiet.
-Ah, hi, Komichi-chan.
-What's wrong with you? –asked the girl once again.
-No, it's nothing important… Just forget it.
But Komichi was no fool.
-First it figures you know the owner of the city's favorite disco and now you're too quiet. You're being quite fishy, Kai.
-Don't be curious, Komichi.
With that, the Messenger of the Shadows made his friend stop trying to know what was bothering him. Although she knew about Kai's premonitions, he didn't want his friend to know more than what she could.
Later, they were in the Chemistry labs, working. As usual, Kai and Komichi worked together, since the girl was the best student in Chemistry class. However, if Kai was naturally quiet, this time, it was out of control. But there was something too; there was something that wasn't normal in the young Kage no Tsukai.
He didn't frown that much ever since she met him for the very first time. From the moment she met Kai, he had been a quiet but kind boy, always helping, always defending the ones smaller and weaker than him. He rarely was depressed or too serious…
Up until two or three months ago, when his hunches were back.
-…pass me the beaker –Komichi heard Kai say from far away.
-Huh? What?
-I said that please pass me the beaker, since it's ready. Komichi-chan, try to focus.
-Ah, sorry, Kai.
-Hey, you're not that careless. What are you thinking about?
-I… Nothing. I'm not thinking about anything in particular.
-I'll pretend I believe you.
But the truth was that Kai had read Komichi's mind and knew that she was confused by his attitude.
Meanwhile, Ishizaki observed his friend's rehabilitation while he stood in a corner. Jinko helped Misaki, who was sweating because of the exertion he was passing thru.
-Come on, Misaki-san… Just a bit more –said Jinko, while Taro bravely resisted the pain in his leg.
-I'm on it… -and once the exercise was over, he fell to the floor, tapped out. –Can we take a rest, for God's sakes?
-I guess… However, you've resisted more than the usual, Misaki-san. Your recovery is matchless.
-What do you mean with that, Jinko-san? –asked Ishizaki, curious.
-It means that Misaki will be able to do what he loves the most in less time that what we expected. He'll be able to play soccer in no time
Misaki's face lit with his typical smile.
-That means I'll have to look for a team then.
-Didn't you want to enter the Jubilo Iwata?
-Wasn't it too crammed up with players?
-You wouldn't lose anything trying. Besides, I've heard rumors… They're not 100 true, but at least it's something.
-Rumors about what?
-That one of the older players is about to retire.
-That could be the chance Misaki-kun's waiting –said Jinko.
-Yes, that was what I was thinking –said Ryou, but got the hurries when he checked the time. –Oh, man, I gotta go; I promised Yukari I'd pick her up in college and today she only has classes in the morning.
-Well, see you later, then –said Misaki, while he stood up.
-Take care.
Ryou left, leaving the doctor and her patient alone.
-What a filthy mind your buddy there has.
-Why do you say that?
-When I opened the door this morning, he looked at me in a way… What an idiot.
-Heh, I guess Ishizaki was somewhat confused. After all, I live alone, and there isn't many people that understand that you can be kind to anyone without necessarily being more than just a friend.
-Ah…
-By the way, you did realize you called Ikazuchi-san by his name, didn't you?
-In fact, I didn't… I think it happens when I last expect it, Misaki-san.
-Well, I guess it's just a slip of the tongue.
-You never get tired of being so kind?
-To be honest… No. Why?
-You always have a kind word for everyone and everything. You always see the sunshiny side of things, and you always endure everything with a smile on your face.
-And, is it a sin to be like that?
Jinko didn't know what to say.
-Well, I guess it's not –said Taro more to himself, although he couldn't help looking at Jinko carefully. Although she was dead serious, almost an Ice Queen, and had very low self-esteem, she was actually very attractive, and dedicated to her job.
But over all, she was a woman whose fragile feelings had been broken once and again in her past.
-Hey, stop that; stop looking at me –said Jinko, uneasy.
-Ah, sorry. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable.
But Jinko didn't feel ill at ease because Misaki was looking at her, but because of how mature, kind and comprehensive he was.
He scared her.
-Shall we continue? –asked Taro, scaring Jinko back to reality. But he fell to the floor because of the energy wave, as he had stood up after taking a rest.
-Misaki-san! I… I'm so sorry.
-Don't worry, Jinko-san. It's been a time ever since I fell because of an energy wave.
-You don't say… -and the young lady rushed to help her patient stand up. However, her heart began to beat wildly; it was the second time it happened.
Was she falling in love with the Archangel of Water?
And Taro… Had he fallen head over heels for the Archangel of Darkness? 'Cause though he looked as serene as always, his heart was beating very fast.
And when he at last was able to stand up… They were very near, too near, and it wasn't that they were swept away by the moment; the moment swept them away without them being able to stop what happened in the following moment.
-I… I'm sorry, Jinko… I didn't really want to do it… -said Taro after that kiss. (Author's note: Right now I'm thinking: What the heck did I WRITE!)
-Me neither, but… To be honest, I couldn't stand it anymore, Misaki-san. My heart felt it was about to explode every time you came near to me…
-How? Why?
-I don't know! I mean… I didn't know why, Misaki-kun.
-Well, I guess we're two people that don't know what happened… Jinko. However, I'll never forget this moment. It'd be impossible for me.
-What moment do you mean?
-I don't need to tell you, right?
-Oh, that.
-What happened, Jinko-san?
-It's just that… I remembered something I want to forget in this instant, but I can't.
-What is it? Can you tell me?
-I guess I can, but don't think anything bad about me.
-I've never been able to think wrong of anyone.
-When I was fourteen, I got a rush on someone unreachable, although he never knew it for obvious reasons. He was in another school, and was very popular with the girls, so I knew I didn't have the slightest chance. But I, being what I was, and what I now am, did something very risky, only to see him. I used to go into his room thru the window as an owl, and I stayed there for a while, looking at him…
-So it was you.
-What?
-So you were the Black Archangel that observed Tsubasa-kun at night.
-How do you know?
-It's a long story –and Taro told it to her. -…however, we never knew it was you.
-Well… I hope you don't think anything bad about me because of that.
-How could I? That only proves you're someone with a heart of gold. Even when you were one of our sworn enemies, you had a million chances of killing Tsubasa and you didn't.
-I didn't really want to do it, and I already told you why.
-And Tsubasa-kun knows it?
-No.
-I get it. You don't have to tell him if you don't want to; in fact, it's fun to think it's a mystery. And what did you think when you remembered that?
-That I had a crush on the Kami no Tsukai for a time and now I…
-And now you…
Jinko took a deep breath. She thought she wasn't able of admitting how tawdry she had become.
-And now I was swept away by the moment, without really wanting to, with his very best friend.
Misaki burst into friendly, hearty laughter when he heard that. Jinko looked at him, confused.
-It's funny to think that, you know? However, I can tell you something; although I guess you already know.
-What?
-As you know, Tsubasa had room in his heart for only two things: Soccer and Sanae.
-Uh-huh.
-Although he's not the only one. I was witness to a similar story.
-What?
-Remember Wataru? –said Taro, pointing to himself.
-Duh, doubt hurts.
-Well, I lived in Paris in that time, and a friend of mine, Azumi, got a crush on him. It was love at first sight, and Wataru passed thru the same. They fell in love one day before the Final Battle, and yet, he broke up with Azumi after we returned to Paris.
-I heard something about it.
-And well, they were still friends until Wataru's death, although the truth is that they still liked each other, and a lot.
-Well, Wataru was quite handsome in spite of his handicap. And I guess Azumi is a pretty woman. So… do you like her? –Jinko looked at another side, feeling miserable.
-No; she's one of my best friends. In fact, I like another woman, beautiful in her own way, and completely dedicated to her job, but was misunderstood in her past and was humiliated all the time when she was merely a child.
Jinko couldn't believe it. Misaki was describing her.
-You're telling me that…?
-What do you think I'm telling you? –Taro asked, with his typical smile made of caramel, sunshine and anything nice you can think of.
-You… You like me?
-More than that.
The young woman's heart beat wildly right on the spot… And fell right in Misaki's arms, who held her closely in his arms, and luckily didn't lose his balance.
-Out of all this, I have to admit something: I've never been able to say something like this. I've always been very shy.
-What? I could've sworn that you…
-No; it's my first time. I had never been really interested in a woman, although I couldn't help but try to protect my friend Azumi. But this is different.
-Why?
-Because this time, I'm not protecting one of my friends. I'm protecting the woman I fell in love with.
They stayed like that for a while … And apart from smiling once again, Imawano Jinko, the Archangel of Darkness, whispered the name of the man who held her in his arms for the very first time.
-If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up, Taro.
-It's not a dream, Jinko-chan. It's not.
(Author's note: This chapter was too sloppy xP)