Ah, the 15th chapter mark! It feels good, oooh yeah XD. As I said before, this is a purely LxR chapter, and nothing else.
I made this chapter because I thought I was giving Serene and Lina way more screen time than these two, and it wasn't really fair. Yeah, I know, Ein and Fia are receiving even less screen time, but… we'll see how it goes. Enjoy!
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"How're you feeling?"
Ledah's soft voice drifted into Rose's ears. She opened an eye halfway and saw it was nearly pitch-black. "Kind of cold," she whispered back.
"Oh really?" Ledah slid an arm around Rose's waist, making her nearly yelp in surprise. "I think it's warm enough."
"That's 'cause you're sleeping between me and the couch's backrest," Rose replied slyly.
"Yeah? I guess I owe you a favor then." Ledah pulled his wings from behind him and wrapped them around Rose. "Feel better?"
"Leave some space to breathe… Other than that, awesome."
Rose lay facing outwards in Ledah's embrace. She slowly relaxed, and set her head on his chest. Ledah kept both arms around her waist protectively, as if he were carrying her by her waist. He slowly reached down and kissed her on the neck, and felt her tremble slightly.
"How is it you're so good at this?" Rose asked under her breath. "Have you had some previous experience?"
"I read, you know." Ledah pulled away slowly and ran his hand along Rose's short hair.
"I didn't know you read about this stuff." Rose turned in Ledah's embrace, and set her head on his chest. "I mean, I know you read my works, but they weren't really this intimate…"
"Yeah, I read a lot of things you don't know about." Ledah took to toying with Rose's cat ears.
"I guess so," Rose whispered. "I love you, and yet I… I need to learn more about you…"
Ledah chuckled, startling Rose, who wasn't quite used to it yet. "Don't worry, you know a lot already."
"I guess you're right, but I want to know more…" Rose looked off toward the window. Tonight wasn't as clear as last night, and there weren't as many stars visible. The moon peeked out of the clouds, shining a weak light across the land.
"Are you still worried about Ein and Fia?" Ledah asked gently. He ran a hand down her hair.
"Yeah, I am," Rose admitted, turning back to him. "I can't shake the feeling that it's my fault…"
"Hey, it's not your fault." Ledah pulled her closer in his embrace. "I'm sure it's not your fault, so don't dwell on it…"
"I-I knew you'd say that." Rose closed her eyes and relaxed. "But I still feel responsible, somehow…"
"And I'm telling you that you aren't responsible," Ledah replied. "Just let go of it, at least for now…"
A tear ran down Rose's cheek. "Yeah…"
In the darkness, Ledah quietly pulled off his shirt. "It's a bit warm…"
"Hey, it's not fair that you get the backrest," Rose teased. "Well, it's warmer with your wings around like that, at least."
"This way might make it warmer for you," Ledah whispered. "Might help if you did the same."
"Huh? What did you do?" Rose asked.
"Oh, yeah, you can't see," Ledah murmured. "I just took off my shirt."
"Huh? What?" She ran a hand down his chest. "I never imagined you'd be so thin, being so strong."
"So you like the macho type guys?" Ledah teased. "Big muscles and all?"
"Ack! No, I didn't say that…" Rose slowly pulled off her shirt. "I like the smart, thin guys."
Rose lay in Ledah's arms quietly. A few moments passed in silence before she reached up and kissed him, passionately, on the mouth. Ledah responded almost naturally. Her heart began to beat faster, her breathing sped up, and she felt much warmer. Ledah experienced a similar sensation.
"You do, huh?" Ledah asked, breaking the kiss gently. "You seem to be saying that just at this moment…"
"No, I mean it." Rose curled up a little. "I don't really have a kind of guy that I go for, but more like just one person…"
"Gee, I wonder what you're talking about." Ledah ruffled up Rose's hair, feigning ignorance.
"I guess I didn't make much sense…"
"It's okay. It doesn't really matter." Ledah pressed his hand into her bare back, and pressed his lips against hers again.
Rose closed her eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled upwards ever so slightly. Yeah…
After a couple moments, Ledah broke the kiss again. "What would you do… if I left?"
"Huh? Why would you even leave in the first place?"
"Um, it was a stupid question. Forget it…" Ledah leaned in again, but Rose pushed him back.
"You're not planning to leave, are you?" Rose asked, worry obvious in her voice.
"No, of course not." Ledah gently pushed at her arms, and she relaxed. "Didn't I promise before? I'll never leave you. I'll always be here for you."
"So why did you ask?" Rose put her arms back down. "You got me by surprise there."
"I just wanted to know what the answer was," Ledah answered. "If one day I should die or something, what would you do?"
"Oh, so it's something like that." Rose thought for a moment, causing a short silence. "I'd cry… I'd want you to come back to me… Could I live without you?"
"You were ever since we were separated at Heaven's Gate at the beginning of the journey a couple years ago…"
Rose cringed, but Ledah couldn't see. "I know, but do you have any idea how lonely I was?" She put a hand on Ledah's chest and rested her head on it. "Don't leave me ever again, okay? I don't think I can take it if you did…"
"You're telling me to escape death, you know?" Ledah teased. "I'll do my best, but I can make no guarantees."
"Yeah. Knowing that, I can forgive you if you died, but if you tried to die, I can never."
"Uh-huh. Don't you worry, I'm not the suicidal type." Ledah planted another kiss on her mouth. I'll never leave, even if I die… until you leave with me…
They stayed with their lips together for a couple moments before Rose gently broke the kiss. "Aren't you tired?" she asked. "It is a bit late…"
"Don't you worry about me," Ledah answered. "I'm fine."
"If you… say so…" Rose whispered for one last time before drifting off to sleep in Ledah's arms, a smile on her face.
For a few minutes, Ledah kept Rose in his embrace quietly in the darkness, awake. He felt her light breath on his chest, and her back moved up and down slightly. Helpless when asleep… he thought. She must look so cute right now… it's too bad I can't see in this darkness…
"I promise again, Rose," he declared softly. "I'll never leave your side. I'll be with you, always and forever." He kissed her on the forehead one more time before he himself drifted off to sleep.
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A/N: Aww, ain't that cute! I only wish I had Rose's face in my face collection so I could know exactly how she looks like… Thanks the Lacrima Castle dot net, though, I have a nice shot of her in a picture from the CG collection. In case you're wondering, yes, I do have the bathing scenes too XD
On the next chapter of The White Wings…
Chapter 16: Misunderstanding – Fia Seeks Advice? (Release on August 31, 2006)
After eating breakfast and chatting with Coco, Ein takes a walk and talks to Reiche for a bit. Afterward, he finds his way to a certain house, and finds Fia talking to the couple inside…