Rikku: Konnichi wa minna! (Hello everyone!) I'm glad you liked the chapter, and as promised, here's the next one! Believe me, this story isn't ending yet. I think I'll round it up to around 25-30 chapters, maybe less or maybe even more. And then when that's done, I'll have a sequel ready for you within weeks and the first chapter up of my newest fic, Disasters and Desires. And with school going on, it'll be nearly impossible to write all the chapters at a normal pace, so for both stories, I might update only every two weeks- so please don't flame me for taking too long! I'll be writing two fics people, two fics- and with school going on at the same time! So I think it'll be fair if, after I finish the sequel to Winter of Love and my other fic Disasters and Desires, I take the longest break from ! But don't worry- I'll be back!
Phew! You're probably sick of my ramblings, ne?
Thanks:
Sentra
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Winter of Love
Chapter 19: Where Home Really is
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I felt a hand gently shake my shoulders and I slowly roused from my sleep, opening my eyes at an even slower pace. I had fallen asleep with my head leaning against Horo's chest and one of his arms wrapped around my back. The other held me around the front, resting across my stomach. I blinked hard and lifted my head to acknowledge the scenery. We were still in the limo, but looking out the window, I could see a familiar place.
"Horo..." I mumbled, sleepily. "is that the shrine?"
He nodded and smiled. "Un, (yeah, okay, yes) we're home."
I smiled as well, pulling my head off Horo. "How long was I asleep?"
"A few hours..." he looked out the window and I followed his gaze to see Anna and Yoh coming out of their own limo. "But I didn't want to wake you up... you look so cute when you sleep."
I blushed and looked back into his eyes, which had been already set on me. "Are we going to keep gawking at the window or are we gonna get out?"
Horo smirked before opening the car door, taking my hand in his and pulling me carefully out of the limo. My knees nearly gave away since I was still a little bit sleepy so I leant on Horo for support. I watched as the chaffeur moved to the trunk of the car, probably unloading the luggages and averted my gaze back at Horo. He was eyeing the limo as it sped away after the chaffeur return to his driver's spot, with a slight frown on his face. "Mou... (jeez) I really wish we could have kept one of those..."
"Who would drive it?" I asked, chuckling. "Need I remind you that we haven't got our licenses yet."
"Well, we could have hired someone," he shrugged. "I mean with all that money you have..."
"All the money my father has, you mean." I corrected him.
Horo groaned. "Right... I forgot."
"Oi... (hey) we're gonna have to go in, right?"
"Yeah... Pirika's probably waiting..."
A frown slowly appeared on my face and my eyes fell upon the ground, watching my shoe as I kicked against the concrete ground. "Oh..."
I felt Horo's arm tense and looked up to see him frowning. "Do shimashita ka? (what's the matter?)"
I quickly shrugged it off. "It's nothing..."
"Miho..." I watched the shaman as he left my side to stand in front of me and hold my shoulders with his hands. "I can tell when there's something wrong..."
I tried to avoid his stare by lowering my gaze back to the ground. "...Pirika's still mad at me, isn't she?"
I heard Horo sigh and felt his warm hands leave my shoulders. "It doesn't matter what she has to say," Horo said confirmingly. "If you were able to give Kamui a second chance... I'm sure she'll be able to forgive you."
I looked up at him and noticed his reassuring smile... it made me want to believe him. "If you're sure..."
"Sure I'm sure, now lets go in!" he exclaimed, wrapping his hand around my wrist and tugging it gently.
I sighed and gave into his request, nodding slowly. "Whatever you say..." I replied, trying to crack a smile. Horo then pulled his hand off my wrist to hold my hand instead as we walked toward the doors. The doors that lead to the main grounds and to yet another set of doors. I stopped walking when we reached them, holding Horo back as well. I stared at the wooden doors for a moment before turning my gaze to Horo. "You know, this is where it all started."
"What do you mean?" he raised a brow, glancing at the wood barriers and back at me.
"It's kind of stupid... but I remember hesitating before I stepped past these doors into your lives, months ago. It was Winter and you were shoveling with Yoh..." I took in a deep breath. "I was scared- I mean, I was going to return to the world of spirits and I wasn't sure Anna and Yoh would have wanted me back in their lives... I stood here- like I am right now- wanting to enter the shrine, wanting to be somewhere where I belonged. And now, I'm back in front of these doors... wanting to return to the only place I had ever belonged in- and I'm scared again..."
Horo was watching me intensely, he blushed, then looked toward the doors again. "I remember that day as the day I first met you... I didn't know you were going to be the love of my life... I just saw a lonely girl walk in- and the first thing I thought was, 'Sugoi... (wow) she's hot!'... You see, at first glance, I never thought I'd get a girl like you- I never knew I would have fallen in love with you... but that day marks as history."
I blushed a new shade of red and laid my hand on the center of the doors- where a gap stood to seperate them. I sighed again and pushed them lightly- they opened slowly, leaving me to stand there and re-live the scene that was before me that day in Winter. I felt Horo release my hand as he walked ahead of me, stopping at the main doors. (Rikku: O.o So many doors...)
He looked back at me and gestured for me to come over. I took a few steps hesitantly before picking up the pace and continuing over without a second thought until I reached Horo's side again. "Ready?" he asked, careful not to push too hard on the matter.
"Demo... (but)"
"Don't worry about it, I'll stand by your side."
Truth be told, I really wasn't ready... Horo's words comforted me, but I was still scared. "Watashi... (I...)-"
"C'mon!" Horo urged, grabbing my wrist once again and kicking the doors open.
I gaped- typical, and just like the Horo I knew. 'What an entrance...'
The scene before us was the last I'd expected. No angry faces, no ribbons and banners saying, "Welcome home!" or anticipating people ready to jump me... just the same scene as always...
People laying around, watching TV, eating, and just kicking back- without a care in the world.
...And that's how I liked it.
"Guys, guess who's back!" Horo called loudly to everyone in general. I smiled as heads began to turn. This was the point when they were going to bombard me...
3...
2...
1...
"MIHO-CHAN!!!!"
I watched as Manta, Ryou and Tamao ran over excitedly. Manta was jumping up and down with a wide grin, Ryou was smiling and Tamao was sniffing with tears. "Tadaima... (I'm back...)" I whispered weakly.
"Okaeri nasai! (Welcome home!)" Manta greeted.
I bent over to hug him. "Feels good to be back." I said, straightening up.
"Kuso, (shit) you made us wait too long!" Ryou joked, pulling me into a tight hug.
Once I was released, I turned to the only person that had remained silenced. "Anata... (you...)" Tamao suddenly began, only to cut herself off by embracing me as well. I felt the younger girl weep on my shoulder and chuckled.
"Gomen nasai (I'm sorry)..." a single tear rolled down my cheek. "I'm so sorry guys..."
Tamao released me when another familiar face walked into the room. Pirika was only a few steps away when she gasped in shock, breaking into a run over to us and catching Horo's by his ear. "Baka! (Idiot!) I told you not to go!"
"Pi...ri...ka!" Horo cried through pain.
I frowned, realising how hard this was going to be. "Pirika, don't take it out on him! I'm the one you're mad at!"
"That's true." Pirika stated, eyeing me as she released Horo so abruptly, he fell to the floor. "Glad you're back, hope your trip was safe, missed you lots, blah blah blah... I'm leaving now."
I watched her with a raised brow as she turned around to leave. Manta and Ryou had their jaws dropped and Tamao was speechless. "Um,-"
"Pirika!" Horo quickly brought himself to his feet, rubbing his bruised ear. "Shimatta, (damn it) why do you have to be so hard?!"
"She lied to you, Horo!" Pirika snapped. "How can you still trust her?"
My eyes widened in shock at her words. "I never lied to him, Pirika, I-"
"Iie (no), but you got Ren to lie to me, didn't you!?" she thundered. (Rikku: Whoa... cat fight!)
"What the fuck does that have to do with anything!?" Horo shouted, clenching his hands into fists.
"It has to do with everything!" Pirika protested. "She stole him from me!"
"Why would I do that in the first place!?" I retorted. "It's not like I'm after him!"
"Wow..." Everyone turned to the owner of the calm voice that had interjected itself into our argument. It was Yoh and he had been sitting in front of the TV. (Rikku: Yeah, lol, already!) He chuckled when he noticed our gazes. "No go on. Sorry to interrupt..."
"Arg, I've had enough!" I groaned, cupping a hand on my forehead as I pushed my way over to the kitchen. I hopped onto the counter without glancing around to see who else was in the kitchen. That was why I nearly jumped as I heard a voice from my right:
"I heard all that."
"Kuso, you scared me!" I yelled franctically, clenching my shirt. I lowered my other hand from my head and frowned at the boy. "Ren..."
"She seems a bit angry." he said, stating the obvious as he sat calmly in his seat by the dining table. He shrugged. "She hasn't been any easier on me, you know."
"Oh, I'm so sure." I mumbled sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at the faint sound of the continued quarrel between Horo and Pirika. "Why is it that I appeal as such a skank to her- I have eyes for only one... and that's Horo. " I noticed Ren's head hang slightly lower. "um, no offense..."
"None taken." he suddenly spoke up, lifting his head and grabbing one of a dozen cans of soda placed on the table. He silently opened it. "How was Osaka?"
I stared at him for a moment. Ren was a hard one to figure out... "Ii desu ne (All right)." I replied simply, averting my gaze. "I met a lot of interesting people."
"How was Kamui?" Ren asked.
"Ah, Kamui..." I smiled, getting lost in thought. "How to explain Kamui? He was the dreamy type- the kind girls drool over..."
Ren coughed and I noticed his can hand been wedged tightly in his hand, judging by the condition he left it in. "Ahem... g-go on."
I raised a brow and smirked in amusement. "Anyway, Kamui seemed the big-headed type... you know, the kind that are so full of it, that brag every few seconds... kinda like you."
Ren coughed again as he glared darkly. "Miho..."
"Right, right..." I took note the warning in his tone. "I'll get to the point... to pin it down to just a simple statement... I guess you can say Kamui was an okay guy, once he realizes he can't reign over everyone, just 'cause he's famous, rich and 'charming'."
"So did he reject the offer of marriage? You know, since it was arranged?"
"Well... actually, that's where things get complicated." I sighed. "You see, during my stay... Kamui fell in love with me..."
I felt myself blush and Ren looked away, clearing his throat before speaking again. "Ah, another victim of the Miho Charm..."
"Oh, yameru. (stop)" I rolled my eyes again. "Now you're really making me believe what Pirika said..."
"Iie (no)..." Ren whispered softly as a reply.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to decipher his expression. "Where are you getting at...?"
"You're not a skank or anything anyone will accuse you of being for that matter." he sighed, taking a sip from his drink before lifting his head so that he faced the ceiling. "You're just a girl... that has likeable qualities- that's all..."
If thinking about Kamui's confession made me blush, it was nothing compared to how embarrassed Ren had me there. "You're not serious..."
"Shiri-masen (I don't know)." he said nonchalantly, shrugging it off in mere seconds. "Anywho, enough with my ramblings... I assume that was the last you're going to see of Kamui?"
"Actually, no." I groaned, feeling the blush leave my face. "He's vowed to visit me here... and 'course I'm the klutz that welcomed him."
"Haha... klutz..." Ren chuckled at the thought. "I agree."
"Heh," a smile returned to my face as I hopped off the counter, approaching the doorway leading in and out of the kitchen, stopping mid-way. "Um... thanks... a lot. For listening to me. I'll admit to you I was afraid of returning here- I thought I was going to be unwelcomed...and unfortunately, I sorta am. But thanks for comforting me."
Ren blushed, nodding slowly. "No prob... just, stop feeling so low, kay?"
My jaw dropped slightly. "Wow, I never thought I'd see the soft side of the almighty Ren... ever..."
The shaman opened his mouth to respond, but was soon interjected by the loud groan of Horo as he, himself, walked in. "Chikuso, (damnit) some people are so difficult."
"Sumimasen (Forgive me) Horo," I frowned as he stopped walking, haulting by my side. "You wouldn't have been arguing with your sister if it weren't for me..."
Horo looked down at me and smiled. "Nah... Pirika just gets mad every now and then, she'll feel better tomorrow."
"I should leave." Ren said hastily, grabbing his can of soda and turning.
"Did I interrupt anything...?" Horo inquired suspiciously.
Ren slowly turned back around to face Horo. "What, you don't trust me?"
"Not always." Horo shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Whatever you two are getting at, I don't wanna hear it." I complained, picking up a bottle of water and leaving the kitchen without a backward glance.
"Mattae yo! (Wait for me!)" I stopped in my tracks as Horo ran over to my side. "Where ya heading?"
I glanced at Horo for a mere second before continuing my walk. I twisted the cap of the bottle off and took a long drink of the water, watching, from the corner of my eye, as Horo returned, walking along my side. "My bedroom."
"Oh..." Horo smirked, averting his gaze to the floor as we continued walking. A perverted tone rang through his voice. "Nice..."
"And no, I don't plan on welcoming you in." I concluded. On regular days, I would have loved spending as much time as possible with Horo, but after the trip, I was dead tired. I reached a hand out for my door and pulled it open. "Ja ne. (See ya)"
"Itai... (ouch)" Horo's smirk grew wider. He watched me step in and just when I was sliding the door close after me, he stuck his foot in the way, stopping me from completely shutting him out. "Onegai? (please)"
I glanced at his black Air Forces and up to his face. Eagerness was written all over it. I sighed in defeat, scoffing silently as I slid the door back open and stepped back to allow him room to get in. "You really know how to get your way, don't you?"
Horo shrugged again, walking in and taking a seat on my futon that had, surprisingly, never left the room. "I guess."
I finally slid the door shut, turning around to lean on it before slumping to the floor. "I really missed this place..." I studied the room- it hadn't changed at all, except for the fact that it was slightly cleaner. "Funny thing is, I feel a lot more comfortable here than in that room in my father's mansion..."
Horo shook his head. "Anata no baka (You're an idiot)..." he glanced around the room as well, probably taking mind the empitness. "I'd love to have spent at least one night in a mansion... you're lucky you were there for a month."
"Iie (no)... that mansion was anything but pleasant... especially with my father's employees roaming around." I got up from my spot on the floor and walked over to the futon, taking a seat beside Horo. "And I was lonely there."
"Aww... isn't that tragic?" Horo mocked cocking his head to the side so that it rested upon mine. "Little Miho was lonely..."
I pouted. "You were too... unless you forgot, Romeo."
Horo didn't answer. For what seemed like hours, we just sat there, Horo's head against mine, staring into the oblivion. But what we weren't aware of, was the fact that only five or six minutes had passed. "Horo..." I frowned. "How did it go with Pirika?"
"She's a bit angry... she didn't think I should have gone after you..." Horo stated. "But deep inside she just wants me to be happy, so I'm sure she'll get over our fight by tomorrow."
"Demo (but)... she'll still be angry at me, right?"
"Well... she's willing to apologize... but that's as far as she'll go, gomen (sorry)."
"That's alright... thanks for trying." I tried to crack a smile as I lifted my head, startling Horo since his head had been placed firmly on mine. "But Horo... you really should stop fighting so much with Pirika, you don't know what she might eventually do... quit while you're ahead."
"I know..." Horo began, a tone of doubt slightly noticeable. "But we just don't get along... it's simple. It's the same in every brother, sister situation."
I repeated what Horo had said once more in my mind. "Still... you're lucky you have someone to call 'oneechan' (sister)... I grew up alone, without a brother or sister to help me out in the toughest of situations- and I had desperately needed someone to console in when my mother died... but I had no one. Horo, I'm just warning you- before you lose something and end up dreading it for years to come..." I paused for a respond from the shaman but he stayed silent. "After all... I care about your relationship with your sister as much as I care about ours... family first, ne?"
"Family first." Horo echoed as a sign of agreement. He smiled gently down at me, serenading me with an unusual yet warm feeling. I watched as he took in a deep breath and released it in a long sigh. "Somehow, your advice and lectures always work..."
I chuckled, and effortlessly pulled myself off the futon. "I have to unpack... where did the chauffeur leave my things?"
Horo thought for a moment before speaking up. "I think he brought them to the doorstep when we were talking... watashi (I)- "
A small gasp escaped my mouth, interjecting Horo. "You mean, all my stuff is outside!?"
The boy gaped a moment, before getting up as well, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Relax, will ya? I'll come with you and help bring your stuff in... that is, if it's still there."
I scowled reproachfully. "Is that supposed to help?"
"C'mon!"
Horo and I rushed outside, speeding past the other confused tenants without a word. I sighed in relief when Horo and I reached the small pile of bags by the front doors and wrapped my hands on the handles. "Let me get that." Horo insisted.
"Iie (no), I got it."
"No, you don't. It's too heavy for you." Horo continued, hastily grabbing two of my bags, leaving me with only one.
I couldn't help but smile at his generousity. What a gentleman... "Doumo (Thanks)..."
When we returned to my room, Horo and I dropped the bags in one of the corners. The shaman went off to sit back on the futon, mumbling something about 'girls and clothes' and I stayed by the luggages, checking if I had everything with me. I eventually reached the last pocket there was to check, and when I pulled out the contents, I noticed something unfamiliar. I slowly grabbed the little card, and flipped it over, revealing a very familiar scene.
I couldn't believe how I managed to forget this... it was the picture Yoh had given me before I left. It showed Horo and I embracing one another in the shrine's kitchen. I sat on the floor by the bags, completely silenced as I trained my eyes on the small picture. And to think... during my stay in Osaka... I had one small reminder that I'm certain would have lifted my hopes up an inch bit higher, that managed to slip my mind.
"Miho, nan dai? (what's up?)"
Horo's voice immediately woke me from the state the picture had put me in. I slowly turned my head, smiling at him with a numb feeling sprawling through my system. "Horo... what would you do if I had a present for you?"
Horo raised a brow in confusion. "What kind of present?"
I stood up slowly, with the picture still in my hands and turned around, walking over to Horo at a slow pace. "It was a gift to me, in particular, and I can't just give it away so we'll have to share it." I took a seat next to him on the futon and leant my head against his forearm again, timidly passing the photo over into Horo's hands. I watched his eyes land on the picture, and stay on it for a minute of two. "Kono (this)... this is the picture Yoh took."
I nodded. "He gave it to me before I left."
"I like it." Horo stated, finally averting his gaze off the picture. His warm eyes landed on me. "I feel kind of stupid saying this... but it sorta reminds me of some kind of symbol... you know, of our relationship."
I chuckled lightly, blushing a deep red. "Funny... I feel the same way." Horo looked back to the picture, as I snaked my arms around the lower part of his arm, in which I still had my head firmly placed on.
"I've never felt this comfortable with a girl before."
I looked up at Horo, both my brows furrowed in wonder. "What, there were other girls?"
"Well..." Horo took his eyes off the picture and stroked his chin in thought. "Kyonen (last year)..."
I felt myself tense up. I had no idea why I was feeling that way though... of course Horo had other girls before me, I mean, he is a good-looking guy... Still... to me, it would have felt more special if I was his first girlfriend... since he was my first. "Horo?"
"Nah, I'm just kidding ya!" Horo suddenly exclaimed, shaking with laughter. I felt my cheeks grow uncontrolably hot- you see, being teased by your boyfriend isn't always great, it's actually quite embarrassing.
"You can stop laughing now..." I said dully.
"It's just... anata (you)... should... have seen... your face!" Horo continued, choking on his own laughter.
I glared. "Like you wouldn't have reacted in the same way if I told you I had ex's."
Horo immediately stopped laughing. This time he was the one to tense up. "Well... um... it's not like I'm s-surprised... I mean... I would have expected... y-you to have dated before, right?" he stammered. I noticed a hopeful glint in Horo's eyes. Oh sweet revenge...
"Ah, don't worry..." I smirked, reassuring the boy and also deciding not to play around too much. "You're my first as well."
"Oh... heh heh, well that's a relief."
...Silence...
"So... I'm a virgin, how 'bout you?"
"Horo!"
"Gomen (sorry)!"
I sighed. Horo's question had startled me and my head had snapped away from his shoulder in the shock. I slowly relaxed back on him... my mind deciding for itself to just tell him. "Un (yeah)..." I began, unaware of what I was saying. "Of course I'm a virgin, I told you I was always single before I met you!"
"Hai, hai, of course."
I chuckled, glad I could share personal things like that with him... "But..." Horo suddenly dazed off, still hanging onto his sentence. "It'll only be a matter of time before that changes-"
"DAIFUKU! (Sweet cake)"
Ryou's yell had interrupted the conversation.
I narrowed my eyes, realising what Horo was going to say before shrugging it off. I sighed again. "C'mon... they're going to usher us out if we don't go now."
Horo nodded. "Don't worry about what I was going to say, by the way... only when you're ready."
I blushed when I thought it over. Ready, huh? "Not right now Horo." I smiled, watching as he got up.
"If you really wanna know..." Horo turned to me, offering his hand. "I'm not ready either."
My smile grew wider and I gladly took Horo's hand. He helped pull me up to my feet and together we walked toward the kitchen, noticing the fact that everyone was hunched around the table for dessert was being served. I took a seat on one of the chairs around the table and Horo took the one next to me. Anna smiled when our eyes locked but turned away to hand a piece of the dessert over to Yoh. I glanced around to see everyone with warm smiles... and I couldn't help but feel so relieved.
Now that I was back home.
"Miho-chan?"
I turned to the source of the voice, and to my surprise, it was Pirika. She was holding out a plate with the tasty pastry and a smile danced upon her lips. "Daifuku?" she asked, offering the plate to me.
I smiled back and turned to Horo. He was grinning from ear to ear and winked at me when I caught his eye. I guess he was right about the whole situation... I turned back to Pirika and nodded. "Thanks a lot... tomodachi (friend)."
Rikku: I'm glad I finally got the chance to finish this. But it's not ending here, don't worry. There's still many events to come and, like stated before, this fic will go on for maybe over 25 chapters.
So thanks for reading everyone... and please review!
Funny... I feel so warm and fuzzy inside at the moment... must be the fluff. Heh heh...
Dewa Mata! (Btw, school started for me- NOOOO!!!!)
x-Rikku-x