Chapter 28

I don't remember walking into the mayor's house, having dinner or even lying down in bed, pulling the covers over me, and falling asleep. I do remember, however, the door to my room opening in the middle of the night, jolting me awake. Wes paused in the doorway, blinking in surprise.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you like that." Oh thank Arceus, it was just him. My body was programed to always be on alert at the lab that I hadn't gotten used to the idea of being safe again. Everything was ok now. There was no need to be like that anymore. "You wouldn't let Fateen look at you. Are you in pain?"

Actually, the cuts and bruises from the fight with Lugia were beginning to hurt. It would've been a good idea to take a shower and wash them out so they didn't sting so bad, or better, so I didn't smell. I rubbed my face with my hands, breathing deeply. My heart was still racing from him opening the door. Or maybe it was just him being in the same room as me after everything that went on back at the lab.

"Can I come in?" How long had I kept him waiting there? Long enough for him to ask.

"Yeah, if you want." He paused, as if he was waiting for me to change my mind, then continued in. I had been so jolted by his presence that I was awake now. My heart started beating when he sat on my bed and leaned against the headboard rather than just sitting on the edge. I was able to lean back as well, accidentally bumping against his shoulder. There was a moment I thought about pulling away but Wes took ahold of my hand and squeezed it, a signal to relax.

"Don't do that again." He paused, waiting for an answer.

"Do what?"

"Give yourself up so easily." He nearly interrupted me. "I saw how close Ein was to getting to you back there. I don't know what he would've done if I wasn't there. So next time, we find a way out together." It had gotten to him, then. Giving myself up to them had been a desperate decision I should've considered before making it. It wouldn't have been such a bad idea if Venus hadn't tried to blow them up. I studied his hands, avoiding his gaze. He was only wearing a tank and basketball shorts so it was easy to see that the fire had done damage, especially on his sides. Wait, did it go all the way to his back?

"Did you get burnt on your back, too?" I asked.

"We're not talking about that. We're talking about making rash decisions."

"Can you show me your back?" He narrowed his eyes at me. "If we're talking about rash decisions, than you should have no problem showing me that you didn't try to fight the flames to get me when they took me, right?"

"Rui, just promise me-" I raised his hand and pulled him forward so I could get a better look at it. He tried to pull his hand away but I kept my grip on it. Now that I was nearly in his lap, he started tugging for his hand back. For a moment, he considered leaving his current concern alone. Then, "Promise me you won't do that again."

"Promise me you won't make rash decisions either then." He opened his mouth in preparation to agree, but he stopped. Yep, he just realized he couldn't make that promise either. "Show me your back."

"Not until you promise." He tried pulling away again, tugging me further into his lap.

"I can't promise it until you do."

"I can't do that."

"Then I can't either." He glared at me.

"You're more important in this mission than I am. You have to swear you won't do that again for the sake of Bonding Shadows." He tried twisting his hand free but my grip was firm. "Rui, let go."

"I'm not any more important than you are," I protested.

"Rui." He was beginning to get angry.

"Why would you think I should get away free when you can go around hurting yourself?" He opened his mouth. "Why do you have to be in pain while I always have the right to be safe?"

"Because you mean everything to me!" He grabbed my wrists with both his hands and pulled me close to my face. His eyes were wild with anger. "Look at me! Ein was a minute away from you today! If I hadn't been there, you would've been hurt, tortured, or killed! Do you think I could ever live with myself if you died and I had just let it happen? Do you think I would ever forgive myself?!" He was serious. He would've lost it if I had died.

"You mean just as much to me," I protested softly. "You think if you had died trying to go after me, that I had given myself up for nothing?" His anger melted faster than an ice cube in magma. Now his eyes were looking into mine with such longing it made my heart race.

"I kissed you back then because I thought it was the only way to keep you from being mad at me," he whispered. He squeezed my hand in his. The gold in his eyes shimmered. "Am I wrong for wanting more?"

"No," I said quickly. I put my hands on his chest. "I want more-" He leaned forward quickly and took me into his grasp, where he started kissing me. His warm lips worked at mine slowly at first, growing with intensity with every movement. I did the same to him, cupping his cheeks to draw him closer. I could feel them heating quickly. I wanted to open my eyes and see what he looked like this close up, to see if he was staring at me with his passionate golden eyes. Instead I found myself engrossed just in his lips and the way he delicately moved them over mine. He was so delicate. Too delicate. It was driving me insane. The spark in my chest wasn't phased by it; it only increased my want for him, my burning desire to pull him closer. Not long after that I was grabbed onto him, balled his shirt in my fists and brought him so close to me that I could barely breathe without inhaling his intoxicating scent.

We were making out. Actually making out. After all this time I had been convinced he had died we were finally back together. And it wasn't anything like before. It was better. So, so much better. I guess the next couple hours we spent making out and hugging each other made us a real couple. Because when the early morning rolled around and the both of us grew tired, we retired under the covers and into each other's arms. Wes was already nodding off, golden eyes distant.

"I'm not leaving you," he whispered softly. His hand moved from my cheek down the side of my neck. "From now on, you're not leaving my sight." I gently cupped one hand over his and the other over his cheek.

"Don't do anything rash like that again. I know those scars are from the explosion." His gaze softened.

"I won't if you do the same."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Then we started kissing again. It wasn't as hot this time because we had been at it for hours. When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Wes lying right in front of me with a goofy sleep grin on his face. We were a couple now. It wasn't what I wanted from the beginning.

But it was more than anything else I wanted now.

Wes And Rui Are In Love!

Wes And Rui Used Sweet Kiss!

Double K.O.!

Saving Game…

Game Saved!