Chapter 20- Loose Ends
"Rose, is it true that you have to go back to America?" Kurama asked, grasping her shoulders.
Rose slowly nodded, avoiding Kurama's gaze. "It's true. I'm sorry."
"Why are you saying sorry? It's not your fault!" Riku offered. "Anyway, let's get you out of the rain."
Riku walked over to Rose and offered her his umbrella. Rose took it, with a small "Thank you." The three of them then left the park and headed for Kurama's house.
-
The rest of Kurama's family was out for the day, so when they reached the house, Kurama quickly unlocked the door. He ushered Rose and Riku inside, and locked the door behind them. He turned to Riku, and asked, "Could you take Rose up to my room? I'll be up in a couple minutes with some towels."
Riku nodded and started slowly up the stairs, his arm around Rose's shoulders. Kurama noticed this, but decided to let it slide. But only just this once. He walked through his kitchen to a linen closet next to the stairs to the basement. He pulled out a couple fluffy white towels, and walked back into the kitchen to make some coffee.
-
Up in Kurama's room, Rose and Riku were sitting on the edge of his bed, and Rose was shivering. Riku said, "Rose, you're shivering. How long were you out in the rain?"
"I… I d-don't k-know." Rose's teeth chattered.
Riku reached out and pulled Rose into his arms. Since he had been running, Riku wasn't nearly as cold, so he thought he could keep her warm. Rose tried to resist, but Riku stopped her. "Don't. Just let me keep you warm for awhile."
Rose slowly nodded and closed her eyes. "He's so warm… Riku's so kind, and he cares for me so much. I wonder why I didn't fall in love with him?"
Riku placed his hand on Rose's cheek, and lifted up her face to look into his eyes. He leaned forward, and Rose's heart started beating fast. "Why… Why am I getting nervous? Why am I not pulling away? I think… I want Riku to kiss me. Maybe… I do love him?"
Riku's lips gently brushed Rose's, but then he pulled away. Rose sat on the bed, flustered and confused. "Riku…? What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry… But I can't. Kurama's my friend, and you're his girlfriend. I can't kiss you, even though I really want to." Riku slid away from Rose a few inches, sadness reflected in his eyes.
"Riku…"
"Thank you." Rose simply said.
Riku looked shocked. "What?! Why are you thanking me?"
"Because…" Rose took a deep breath. "I think… That I might love you, too, but only a little bit. I came very close to betraying Kurama, and if you hadn't stopped me, I probably would've regretted it. Thank you."
Riku smiled weakly. "No problem."
Just then, Kurama walked through the door, towels in one hand and a tray with mugs of coffee in the other.
"Oh, Kurama," Rose jumped up. "let me help you." She carefully took the tray holding the mugs of coffee from his hands and carried it over to the bed.
"Thanks." Kurama handed Rose and Riku each a towel. Riku decided to not use the towel just yet, and shook his head like a sheepdog towards Kurama and Rose, splattering them with drops of water. Rose screamed, and Kurama started laughing.
"Riku, you can borrow some of my clothes, since you're soaked. Rose you can too, but… They'll probably be way too big." Kurama said.
"No problem." Rose replied.
Kurama got up, and walked towards his dresser. He pulled out a white button-down shirt and jeans for himself, a blue t-shirt and black shorts for Riku, and an old, over-sized t-shirt for Rose.
-
After they were changed, they sat back down on Kurama's bed. Rose sat in between Kurama and Riku. She was leaning on Kurama's shoulder. Riku took out the letter Rose's mother sent, and read it out loud.
Dear Rose,
I'm sorry to say this, but you have to come home as soon as possible. The company your father got his new job at just collapsed and we'll sink into debt if we have to continue supporting your Japanese school career. There will be no discussion. Within the next week, we will be sending you an airplane ticket that will take you back home. Tie up all the loose ends at your school, say goodbye to your friends, and we'll pick you up at the airport around 7:00 pm on December 1st. I'm sorry. Please forgive us.
Love,
Mom
"So I guess there's no way around it. You have to go home." Kurama mumbled sadly.
Rose snuggled up closer to him. "Believe me, I don't want to go. Sure, it'll be nice to see my parents and April. But I want to stay here with you guys. It's not fair!"
"Is there any way you can make a living here? Maybe then you can stay." Riku said.
"I can make enough money at the café I work at right now. But, my mom always means what she says. There's going to be no discussion. I can beg and plead all I want, but I'll still be going home." Rose adjusted her head on Kurama's shoulder.
The three of them sat on the bed in silence for a few minutes. Finally Riku stood up and shouted, "Argh! I can't take it anymore! If Rose isn't going to be here much longer, we should do something besides sitting around sulking."
Kurama nodded. "We should probably call everyone else and tell them the news. Maybe we can have a party for Rose, or something."
"Good idea. Why don't you take Rose home? I'll call everyone. That okay, Kurama?" Riku asked.
"Yes. Thanks, Riku." Kurama stood up and helped Rose off the bed. The three of them slowly walked down the stairs, and took turns changing back into their clothes.
Finally, when they walked outside, Kurama and Rose started towards Rose's apartment, and Riku started for his house.
Luckily the rain had stopped, and the sun was shining brightly, the opposite of the three's mood.
-
When Kurama and Rose got to her apartment, they sat down on the old beat up couch. Rose leaned on Kurama's shoulder, and took his hand. Kurama kissed her on the top of her head and started stroking her hair gently.
"Kurama, I'm going to miss you so much." Rose whispered. She squeezed his hand gently, to help prevent her tears from flowing.
"Rose…" Kurama mumbled. Tears started escaping his eyes as well. "I never told you, but that time at the hospital," Rose looked up at Kurama, and he continued, "when I was crying in my sleep, it was because I had a nightmare. A nightmare of you leaving me. And now, it's coming true!"
Rose memory flickered back to the moment Kurama was talking about.
-
The next morning, Rose woke up and looked at the clock. It read 6:30 am. She looked over at Kurama, and he had fallen asleep in his chair. Strands of his crimson hair had fallen in his face, over his eyes. Rose reached up and gently brushed the hair away. She placed her hand on his cheek, and it was wet.
"Tears…?"
Kurama stirred, and Rose quickly drew her hand away. He blinked a few times, and turned his head to look at her.
"Morning… Rose."
Rose smiled. "Good morning, Kurama."
Kurama placed his hand on his cheek, and felt his tears. He blushed, and frantically began wiping them away. Rose gently took his hand, and lowered it to his lap. She then wiped the remainder of his tears away.
"S-sorry…" he mumbled in embarrassment.
Rose took his hand again, and held it in hers. She gazed into his large emerald eyes, and he looked back into her larger pale sapphire ones. Kurama's face became even more flushed.
"Kurama… Are you alright?" Rose placed her hand back on his cheek, and stroked it.
"Don't worry, it's nothing. Just a bad dream." He took her hand and smiled, as best as he could.
Rose dropped the subject. She figured he would tell her the details when he wanted to.
-
"I… I see. I'm sorry… That your nightmare has to come true." Rose closed her eyes.
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Blah… I know, I kinda cut it off at a weird place, but I ran out of ideas! I need a fresh start with a new chapter. Until next chappie! Review! Please! Some of my reviewers cough ShadowWolf315 and NealansGirl cough have become lazy. Press the pretty purple button NOW!