Title: "Tenderness"
Author: Trinity-chan
Fandom: GouGou Sentai Boukenger
Pairing: Eiji Takaoka & Sakura Nishihori
Rating: PG
Summary: Sakura tends to Eiji's wounds and they begin their relationship.
Spoilers: Task 31
Author's Notes: Takes place after the end of "One Moment"
Eiji winced as he lay back in his hospital bed and plopped his head against the pillow. "Thank you, Sakura." He murmured as Sakura pulled the covers over his wounded body.
She gave him a rare smile. "You're welcome." He had to strain to hear her. She ran her hand over his forehead, brushing his hair out of his eyes. Her touch was gentle and soft and to Eiji, she smelled like the flower that shared her name and with just a hint of roses.
"So…" he began, remembering the scene from earlier in which they'd confessed their feelings to each other and kissed.
It might as well have happened right then and there, it was so clear in his mind. He remembered her supporting him with her weight. Their eyes had met and then she was leaning in and pressing her lips against his. It had been absolutely perfect. He could smell her floral scent and feel the softness of her lips while he'd ran his hand through the black silk of her hair. In those few heartbeats in which their lips touched, the whole world vanished and the only things that he was aware of was the sound of his wildly beating heart, the smell, the feel and the very reality of Sakura being there with him and her petal soft lips. It was better than his wildest fantasies.
Sakura nodded, touching her lips, remembering that it was Eiji against her, their lips locked in a soft kiss. He'd smelled of nature, something woodsy and heady and it made her head spin. To her, their kiss was the fulfilling of her most wonderful romantic fantasies. It was like a dream come true.
"What next?" She asked.
Eiji looked at her. "I don't know." He admitted. "I've never been with a woman before."
Sakura wasn't really surprised. Eiji had spent his life wandering the islands in search of Ashu. Such a life doesn't prepare one for living among people, especially people of the opposite sex. He probably had no idea of how to court a woman. But, that was okay. She had no idea how to court a man. So, their relationship, whatever came of it, would be a learning experience they would both share together.
The Dazzling Adventurer looked thoughtful for a moment. "I feel I should know. I mean, I never thought about it before, but I don't want the Takaoka line to end with me. That means I'll need a wife…and an heir." He quickly looked at Sakura.
The Deep Adventurer seemed to understand. The day's events had forced Eiji to think about things that he hadn't thought about before and judging by his comment, she guessed that he'd begun to think about his future.
"And you've never thought about children before?" She asked.
"Never thought I would ever get the chance to think about children or wives," Eiji confessed, sounding unsure of himself. "It's not like it's something I've always thought about. I figured that I would destroy the Ashu and THEN, I would think about my future and then…I met you."
"And I suppose we sort of threw a monkey wrench into your plans." Sakura supplied, a tiny smile on her face.
Eiji raised his eyebrow. "Serves all of you right for not listening to me when I said not to mess around with the Mirror of Ashu. Don't ever think that I don't know what I'm talking about when I talk about Ashu."
Sakura was a little embarrassed at the memory. "Well, you did show up out of nowhere and tell us that we'd die if we messed with the mirror…and now that I think about it, you were right."
Now if Eiji had been back to his borderline arrogant self, he would have smirked. But he was lost in thought, wondering about what life would have been like had the Boukengers not forced themselves into his life. "I wouldn't have met Sakura, that's for sure." He murmured to himself.
He was yanked out of his thoughts by the feeling of Sakura placing her hand on his arm. It was a subtle touch, but her skin was soft and warm and the warmth seemed to spread throughout Eiji's body and it made his heartbeat race. "I'm actually glad we didn't listen." Sakura said. "You are a valuable asset to our team."
Eiji looked down at Sakura's hand and then back at her. Her eyes were kind and warm and he was filled with an urge to kiss her again.
Sakura let her hand stay where it was as she continued to speak. She decided to turn this conversation back to where it had originally begun. "Well, then I suppose our relationship will be a learning experience, since neither of us know what we're doing."
"Aren't there books on the subject?" Eiji asked. "I mean, I'm not big on reading, but I suppose that it wouldn't hurt to read up on how to date a woman." He paused. "Did that make any sense to you?"
Sakura nodded. "I don't want it to be a secret, though."
"Why?" Eiji asked. "I would think that the Deep Adventurer wouldn't want anyone to know that she's carrying on with a fellow Boukenger."
"Well, I don't want to keep it a secret, because that means lying to our friends and I'm not a liar." She stroked his face gently. "But, I do have an idea as to where we can go for a first date."
"Where?" Eiji asked.
Sakura smiled. "Tell me something, Eiji…have you ever had a parfait?"