Hello everyone! Thanks for the reviews, I loved reading them, as usual. I did get a review asking if the songs mentioned throughout this story are written by me, and I would like to answer that with one plain, simple word; no. Unfortunately I'm not creative enough to write songs that actually sound good, so I use real songs! Hope that cleared up an confusion there. Now, enjoy and review!
Leonardo Pov
I burst through the front door, my fingers laced with Karai's delicately, our puppy following her through the door. My brothers and parents trail behind us, but my mind seems to forget about them, only thinking about Karai.
My thump up the stairs rather loudly, but I don't care. I run to my bedroom, where I throw my bag against the wall and collapse down onto my memory foam mattress. Seconds later, Karai's Joy-filled figure is laying beside me, grinning wildly. "We're home," her hushed voice whispers delicately.
She lays on my right arm, my hand rubbing her back lightly in a soothing gesture. My opposite my rests carefully on my lover's curvy hip.
Karai's fingers comb through my jet black hair seductively, the gleam in her Amber eyes making my heart melt into a puddle.
"I know. We can finally be alone now," I murmur softly before leaning closer and pressing my lips to her forehead.
When I drift back, Karai's eyes are closed, her red lips pursed together, making her look troubled. Confused, I raise an eyebrow.
My hand lifts away from her hip, and instead to her cheek. "What's up?" I ask in concern.
Beautiful eyes fluttering open like the wings of a bird, Karai looks directly at me, locking my gaze in a long, cold stare. Her eyes seemed to have lost their light, now glazed over in a look of . . . worthlessness. Protectively, my fingers brush her face carefully, smoothing her black and blonde hair in a way of comfort.
"What I told you," Karai winces her gaze shifts away from me, over towards the doorway. Her eyes stay there for a while, before meeting me once more as she finishes her question, "Are you sure that you still love me? Even if . . . it was all fake at the beginning?"
I frown, a glare settling upon on my face. If I weren't as placid as I am, I might've slapped her, or at least deeply considered it.
In a scolding manner, I say, rather harshly, "Karai, quit it. I love you, no matter what. Now stop doubting this. Please."
My fiancé's posture seems to slump, and I can see her eyes welling with wet, glistening tears. "No, don't do this," I whisper exhaustedly.
"What do you want me to do, Leo?" That's when the tears fall, raining down like bombs on a lost-cause of a town. "I'm not good enough, I won't ever be good enough for you."
Shaking my head, I pull away and sit up, rubbing my long fingers through my messy hair. A wave of tiredness washes over me, leaving me with the wanting of sleep. Just a few more hours of wake and I'll be snuggled up to Karai beneath our warm comforter, our puppy laying at our feet. But until I can hold Karai securely in my arms I have to work things out with her.
Ever since Karai told me about how at the start of our relationship she was nothing but a pawn in her father's game, she's been doubting our relationship. She seems to have it in her mind that I hate her now and that I'm going to look at her differently than before.
No matter how many times I try to tell her that that's not the case, she doesn't believe me. It kills me inside to know that she questions my feelings towards her.
"Karai, don't say that. That's complete bullshit," my tone is rough and jagged at the edges, targeting the ends of my words like the cobalt blue mask I'd worn for a decade straight.
From behind me, I hear Karai shift, her feet thumping up atop the bed. She sniffles almost silently, giving me the thought that tears are already rolling down her face like a river through the rocky valleys of a mountain. "I'm sorry, Leo. I just- I don't see how a guy like you could ever love a girl like me."
I squeeze my eyelids together, completely blocking out everything from my sight. I can't do this, I can't live with myself when she's constantly inquiring me. What part of the words "I love you" does she not understand?
"Look, babe, I'm gonna tell you something, but you better listen the hell up because I'm not saying it twice," I pause for a second, giving Karai enough time to focus on me. "I love you. No matter what you say, no matter what you do. I wouldn't care if you tried to kill me; my heart would still be burning passionately for you. I need you in my life. I don't know how and I don't know why and I'm not sure how I feel about this, but nonetheless, I've become reliant upon you. I can't go forward without you by my side."
Silence meets my words, stirring around the room like a virus.
"But, why?" Karai's shallow words walk among the quiet like a fawn in the fields, slipping silently through the tall grasses as the sun seeps above the horizon.
I don't know how to answer this question and honestly I don't want to. How do you explain your love towards someone? Who should one explain their feelings? If you have reasons to love someone then you don't really love them. Because love doesn't come from the gestures they show towards you or the kisses they shower you with. Love is just . . . love. Plain and simple.
"I love you. Not because you make me happy, not because you make me feel special, not because you're the sweetest person ever . . . but because I just love you. And I don't need any reasons for that."
I sit up taller as Karai gets up and crawls towards me, embracing be from behind. Her arms curl around my waist, holding me tightly. I grip her hands firmly, my thumb massaging her palm gently.
"I'm not gonna lie Karai, I felt heartbroken when you first told me that it was all a lie in the beginning. But, then I realized that . . . it doesn't change a thing between us. You love me now and I love you, it's no longer a lie," as my words flow out of my mouth, strung together with elegancy, Karai buries her face in the back of my neck. Her long exhales warm my chilled skin, leaving me with that sensational feeling of safety. "I don't ever wanna loose you."
"Mmmm, I know you don't, baby. And I don't wanna loose you either." Karai's soft-as-silk voice coos at me as lace like as a ribbon tied to a little girls dress.
Unraveling my fiancé's arms from my middle, I move her so she's sitting beside me, and when she is, I lift her up and set her on my lap.
Facing me, her legs wrap around my torso and her arms drape around my neck. I cup her face in my hands, staring deeply into her golden eyes that shine as brightly as the sun. God, I can't get enough of her.
Closing my eyes, I lean forward, daring to break the distance that so willingly stands between us.
Not anymore, will it.
My mouth meets Karai's softly, and four our lips move together as swiftly and smoothly as the first sparrow at the crack of dawn.
She inches closer to me, her body pressing up against mine. She surrounds my every thought, no matter where I am she's always the beginning of my day and the end of my night. She's my all, my everything. Without her I'm just, well, Leonardo DaVinci Hamato.
I'm that boring, fifteen year old boy who wouldn't know how to disobey an order if the instruction manual hit him in the face.
I'm the leader who would rather spend his free time training and coming up with overly-strategic plans than having movie nights with my little brothers.
I'm the boy who hates breaking rules and would die before even considering my enemies daughter as a lover.
But ever since Karai, I'm not that boy.
She's molded me into something completely different than what I was before, shaping me into a new person.
Some might say I'm more vulnerable now, spilling my feelings out on the table like a deck of gambling chips. But I disagree. Upon starting my relationship with Karai, I didn't know what it was like to love. I thought that it was hugging your father before falling asleep for the night, or allowing your baby brother to snuggle up close to you after he wakes from a nightmare. I didn't understand that love wasn't that, but instead holding a most beautiful girl in your arms as she drifts into a peaceful slumber. Or pressing a kiss to the crown of your fiancé's head when she can't seem to stop the tears from streaming. Or better yet, when she whispers in your ear about the child you've impregnated her with.
That's what love is.
And because I met Karai, I know that.
So ya, she changed me.
So ya, were stupid, immature teenagers who don't know what the hell their doing.
So ya, were engaged at the ages of 17 and 18.
But that's okay. Because we need each other, we are reliant on each other. Nothing will ever change that, ever.
Against her fine lips, I murmur, almost incomprehensibly, "Tell me it's okay. Tell me I'll be alright."
Unhesitatingly, Karai jerks back, her eyes wide in surprise. Her fingers drift over my lips, feeling the rough edges and dryness of them. "Wha-?"
"Tell me," my voice comes out strong and forceful, completely abandoning its former state, "that everything is going to be okay."
"But, Leo, I don't know if everything will be good." My lips lift at the tips, in a small, heart flattering smile.
She doesn't wanna lie to me . . .
"No, but that's ok! I don't care if you know or not, I just, I need to hear you tell me that everything will be alright," biting my upper lip, eyes just barely open, I look to Karai in a sense of hope. Help, my stars calls out, I need you.
Nodding, Karai smiles back at me in the most saddest of ways. "Everything is gonna be okay, we're alright, Leonardo." Heaving a long, relieving sigh, I rest my forehead on hers and finally allow myself to relax. My eyes close as I stroke her baby soft skinned cheeks, inhaling her natural scent with such relief that I may as well be high on it.
She's said it, I'm going to be okay. We're going to be okay. Everything's gonna be alright.
That's all I needed to love forward.
"Thank you," I whisper. "Thank you."