I do not own anything related to "Arrietty" or "The Borrowers" nor do I make any sort of profit from them. If I did...well, I wouldn't be sitting here writing this fanfiction. I'd be selling it for money and it would be legitimate fiction. :P

Forever

Chapter 3

It was quiet on the trip back to the road. Sho didn't speak much, probably letting me be alone with my thoughts. I wanted to speak, to not think, but the quiet was too thick to break. So I was left with my thoughts. My mind raced in circles, trying to figure out how to look at the day's events. On the one hand, the only thing I had really wished for over the last eight years had finally come true. Sho was alive and well and back in my life. On the other hand, I had just lost my entire family and my home. My heart was heavy in my chest and, yet, seemed to soar with new wings thanks to Sho. I was very confused.

I sighed and tried to find a more comfortable position. The pocket was just wide enough that if I sat down fully on the bottom, I could stretch my knees out just a little. Right now, that was what I wanted most. My knee was cramping and I could feel the tension from the swelling. I shifted again and had to bite back a yelp when my knee was forced to bend farther.

Sho glanced down at me, a frown pulling at his mouth. "Arrietty? Are you alright?"

I sighed again as I tried to turn onto my side and get into a comfortable position.

"Yes," I lied, "I'm just trying to find a more comfortable position."

He stopped completely and reached a couple fingers down into his pocket. "Here, I'll carry you in my hand for the rest of the way. Your knee is probably bothering you, isn't it?"

"No," I lied again. "It's doing a lot better now. I just can't fully sit down in your pocket is all." The truth came out, though, when he lifted me out. My face contorted in pain as my tender-to-the-touch knee brushed against the button. A hiss escaped from between my teeth when he set me down in his hand. It was very slow and gentle, but any movement of my knee at all had me cringing in pain. I felt my stomach churn, threatening to empty its contents as the pain made itself freshly aware in my mind.

I gave a tight, shameless grin when he scowled. "Okay, it hurts."

Sho sighed and shook his head, shifting slightly and digging in his jacket pocket. He pulled out his cell phone and held down a single button.

"Arrietty, I can't drive home with you. I drive a sport motorcycle to work. I have to lean low over it. You would have to ride in my shirt pocket on the way back." I opened my mouth to protest when he cut me off. "I trust my sister. She'll come pick us up."

I blanched, scared that he was calling another bean. Had I misjudged him after all? He was keen on keeping me hidden when Haru had come to scare off the crow, but now he was actually calling someone else to drive him home. I started to shiver in his hand and he brought me close to his broad chest, mistaking my fear for being cold. He held me close, his fingers curled up as a barrier against the night, as he talked on the phone with someone.

It took him a couple rounds to make the person on the other end of the phone that, yes, he did need them right now. And that, no, he wasn't on the dirt road after Chokeberry Lane; it was the dirt road three turns before. Finally, he said goodbye and hung up.

I couldn't hold my tongue.

"Sho! Why did you call someone else?" I couldn't believe he had just done that. I was in shock. "I would have been fine in your pocket!"

The young man that literally held my life in his hand squatted down, holding me level with his face. A little smile tilted up the corners of his mouth as he spoke. It wasn't a mocking, sardonic or "I'm-in-control-of-you" smile. It was just a small smile to try and ease my fear as he tried to reassure my trust.

"Arrietty, you would not have been comfortable at all in my pocket. Maybe if you hadn't hurt your knee you would have been fine. But since you can hardly bend it, I don't think it's best to try and make you ride in a cramped position for more than twenty minutes." His fingers came up to brush against my side. I had a feeling if I was his size, he would have hugged me close. As it was, I still felt utterly secure in his hand.

"My sister is my dad's oldest child. He had an affair before I was born and she was born from it." His eyes seemed to glaze over in the dim moonlight as he spoke. Something about his voice kept me quiet as he revealed a personal part of his family to me. "When my mom found out, she divorced him. That happened right before I met you. As odd as it may sound, if it had not been for her, I wouldn't have met you. I would have stayed at home with my dad the week before the surgery."

I nodded and leaned into the hand that was still resting against me. If Sho trusted her, I guess that would be enough. He kept me hidden from Haru and from his aunt. He saved my mother and saved me—twice. The least I could do was trust his opinion on his sister.

Sho stood straight and brought me back close to his chest. I leaned back against him as he walked, watching the night continue around us. I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, he was gently calling for me to wake up. Around the curve of the road, a pair of bright headlights shone. A large truck rumbled up the dirt road, slowing to a stop when Sho was illuminated.

I lifted my hands to shield my face from the bright light, ever thankful when my human chose to shield my eyes instead of his own. He began walking again, passing the bike that was propped up and opening up the door to the immense vehicle.

"Mari, I really appreciate it." His voice rumbled around me, vibrating the chest at my back.

"Yeah, well, you had better be willing and ready to explain why you dragged me out here at almost ten at night." She cracked a large, gaping yawn and I blinked. It was that late? Normally, I was in bed, fast asleep by now. "Especially when I'm not feeling so good." Snapping green eyes sent a rather nasty glare towards my protector. I felt guilty for pitting him against his sister like this.

"We are," Sho replied in an even tone. I could have sworn he was smiling, too.

"'We'?" Mari parroted. "If you had me come pick you up because you had a late-night hook up and need a ride because that bike is only built for one I am going to leave your sorry—"

"Mari," Sho cut in, definitely smiling now. "That's not quite why I wanted you to pick me up." The hand shielding me lifted away, exposing me to the driver of the truck. I smiled and waved a little bit when she just stared, mouth agape.

"What in the world?"

I struggled to my feet and gave a little bow. "I'm Arrietty. I'm sorry to trouble you but I do appreciate you coming to pick us up."

Mari just nodded dumbly, mouth still looking like a gaping fish. "N-no p-problem…Sho?" she asked, her eyes never leaving me. "Why is there a little person standing in your hand?"

I had to smile. At least she wasn't taking pictures, calling other people or freaking out.

Sho laughed outright at Mari's expression. "Mari, Arrietty is a borrower. Do you remember when Aunt Sadako would always tell grandpa's stories about little people? And the doll house in the old cottage?"

"Vaguely," she hedged, still watching me. I sat back down, resting against Sho once more.

"It was her family. Well, her ancestors anyway. Not her specifically." Sho explained, continuing on with the story of how we met and why I'm with him now. When he finished telling about the destruction of my family and our home, Mari's eyes turned watery and soft.

"That is so brave of you! To keep on living after all that. Bless your heart. It's not a problem at all to come pick you up." Mari practically oozed compassion now. Not the arrogant compassion that was so evident when Sho was younger, just a genuine compassion for someone who had lost it all.

"'Bless your heart?'" I repeated. If anyone's heart needed "blessing" it would be Sho's.

Sho laughed again. "You'll have to excuse Mari. Her mother is from another country. They have different euphemisms when it comes to expressing sympathy. That's one of them. She doesn't literally mean to bless someone's heart."

"Oh." That was all I could say. This woman was very different indeed. His hand lowered me to the seat as Mari finally took her eyes off me and stepped out of the truck.

"I'll be right back, Arrietty. I need to load my motorcycle into the bed of the truck." He smiled as he closed the door. I wished I was able to see over the seats and watch him, or even be his height and help him. But, I was what I was. There was no changing that.

I started as the truck lurched forward just a bit, once more wishing I could know more than what I heard. I heard the thud of what I supposed were the tires of the bike running against the cab wall. I heard the grinding of metal on metal, of fabric stretching and the slam of what could only be the tailgate. Laughter echoed around the constant ding of the truck. The door opened and Sho reappeared.

"Come with me, Arrietty. I'm not going to sit up front. It's too dangerous for you." His hand settled palm-up beside me. I was confused but slid into his hand all the same. My legs dangled between his thumb and hand. My arms wrapped around his thumb, holding myself upright by leaning against it. I was tired. Even with the nap earlier, I was still exhausted. I rested my head on the top of this thumb and let my eyes close as he lifted me out of the truck. We were only outside long enough for him to shut the front door and open the back. He climbed in carefully and stretched out across the backseat.

He opened his jacket and settled me on his chest, right above his heart.

I blushed and rested against him. The leather of his jacket settled over me, warming me up further. I sighed and relaxed, stretching my knee to the most comfortable position. I looked up through the neck of the jacket, smiling when I saw Sho with his head tilted up at an obviously uncomfortable position just to make sure that I was comfortable.

I relaxed, lulled by his steady breathing and the comforting beat of his heart. He was so strong, so warm, so protective. I slipped into the realm of sleep before I realized what was going on. I vaguely heard a feminine voice question and Sho's deep reply which slightly rumbled my perch. I didn't mind, though, I was too far gone.