N's POV
Touko is back. Touko's finally back after all these months. I thought that I was the happiest I could ever be when Touko came back home, but I was wrong. Touko proved me wrong whenever she kissed me today. I was happier than I have ever been in my life when she kissed me. I still can't believe it. Touko, the girl I love, kissed me. It may not have been out of love but it was still a kiss from Touko. The moment her lips touched mine, I fell in love with her even more if possible. My life is just so great right now. This is the perfect time to ask her how she feels about age differences again. Maybe, she'll be okay with them. If so, then I can confess my love. If not, then I'll just have to keep my love to myself and just protect her. "I hope she loves me back" I sighed out.
"Hey N, who are you talking to?" I looked up to see Cheren standing in my doorway. Man, I really should start locking the door. Anybody could come in here, even my…no I can't think like that.
"No one" I said.
"Are you okay? You look happy but not happy at the same time" Cheren said. I sighed.
"Do you remember what you told me four years ago?" I asked the raven haired boy.
"Not at this moment" Cheren said.
"You told me to ask Touko her opinion on how she feels about age differences, but you also said to wait a few years before asking her" I reminded him.
"Oh yeah. Wait, why are you bringing this up now? You're not gonna….no" Cheren declared sternly. He balled up his fists.
"I am. It might not be today, but it will be today or tomorrow. You can't stop me, Cheren. You said to wait a few years, and four years have passed by. I'm not getting any younger. I just can't hide my feelings anymore. It gets harder and harder each day. I don't care if Touko hates me or not afterwards. She needs to know the truth" I announced loudly.
"Are you sure this is the right time? Are you prepared for what she says?"
"Yes. Her being gone for months on end then coming back is the perfect time to tell her. I just hope that once I tell her, we can still be friends no matter what happens."
"If you're sure. I'll support you all the way, just don't hurt her or I won't hesitate to come after you."
"I wouldn't want anything else. Besides, I think that I have Mrs. White's support too. Knowing that I have you two on my side, there's no way I'll chicken out."
"Good luck. I'm rooting for you."
"Thanks."
"I have to go train. See you later."
"Bye" I called out to the retreating figure. I ran a hand through my thick locks of hair. "What have I gotten myself into?" I fell back against my couch. My head hit the hard top of the back of the couch. I winced but the pain was bearable. It actually felt nice. My thoughts grew clouded, and it allowed me to stop and think for a moment. I was able to relax, no stress or worries. My eyelids started to grow heavy. I let them drift shut before falling into a deep sleep.
Later that day…
I awoke with a start. There was a loud knocking at my door. I sat up and groaned. Pain shot through the back of my head. I let of cry of pain before bringing my hands to feel the sore spot. My fingers parted my hair and searched my scalp for anything out of the ordinary. I felt a bump. I lightly added pressure. More pain shot through my head. I started to circle the bump with my fingertips to see how large it was. My pointer finger was met with a hard sticky substance. I quickly drew my hand away from my head and examined my fingers. Crimson blood coated a finger or two. It was cold and beginning to turn crusty. The wound was old. The memory of hitting my head came back to me. More knocking came from the door but grew louder as each second passed. "Coming" I yelled. I ran into the kitchen and grabbed a paper towel. I dabbed the head wound as I ran to the door. I tossed the blood covered towel into a nearby trashbin. I yanked the door open to reveal my visitor.
"Sheesh N. I've been knocking on your door for half an hour. I was starting to get worried. Why did you lock the door? You could have been on the floor dying, and I wouldn't have been able to get to you. What were you doing? I almost went to go get Professor Juniper to knock down the door" Touko said angrily but concerned. Her hands were on her hips, and she was impatiently tapping her foot.
"I was sleeping. And I don't remember locking the door?" I defended.
"Maybe, there's someone in your house. They might have come in and locked the door behind them. I have a pretty good idea who it might be" she growled. She stormed past me and started searching every room of the house.
"What are you doing? Nobody is in my—" I started to protest. Touko cut me off by putting a finger to my lips.
"Do you hear that?" she whispered. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my surrounding sounds. Everything was dead silent to me.
"I don't hear anything."
"But I do. Your hearing must be going bad."
"My hearing is perfectly fine" I growled.
"Whatever. Just follow me" Touko commanded. She started to tip-toe up the stairs. I followed close behind. We stopped at the top of the steps. I heard a shower running with someone whistling a tune. "No one's in your house, huh? I didn't know that you got a girlfriend" Touko joked, but she sounded a little sad too.
"I don't. I had no idea someone was here" I said truthfully. Touko is the one and only girl for me.
"Then I have a pretty good idea who it is. Stay here and be quiet." I nodded my head. Touko pressed her back to the wall and started to inch towards the closed bathroom door. She grabbed the handle and slowly turned it. What is she doing?! "Boo!" Touko shouted, swinging the bathroom door open and jumping into the room. I heard a scream emit from the room. Touko's laughter echoed throughout the house. What was going on in there? I can't see a thing. I heard the water being turned off. Touko walked back into the hallway. She had her arms wrapped around her stomach as she laughed her head off. Her laughter was music to my ears. A shaking Bianca followed behind her.
"Bianca? What are you doing in my house?" I questioned the frightened girl.
"Ummm…it's a funny story. I was doing research with Professor Juniper you see? I accidently tripped and broke something in the lab, and she got really mad. She slowly started to step towards me. She said that she would make me pay. I got scared and ran out of the building. She was hot on my trail, but I lost her and came to your house. I saw you sleeping on the couch and didn't want to disturb you. I locked the door and ran up to the bathroom to hide. I turned on the water to make it seem like I was someone taking a shower, so no one would come in. Touko came in, however, and scared the living daylights out of me" Bianca explained quickly. By the time she was finished with her long winded explanation, she was panting for oxygen.
"How did you know it was Bianca? What if was actually some stranger taking a shower in my bathroom?" I asked Touko.
"Well for one thing, I would recognize Bianca's whistling anywhere. Another thing is that, on my way here, I ran into Professor Juniper. She said that she was hunting, I mean looking for, Bianca and asked if I saw her. I told her no. She told me the only places left to look were at my house and here. I told her that I was already heading here, so I'd look" Touko said. That made sense. "I found you now" Touko said evilly. She grabbed Bianca by the arms and towed her down the stairs. "I'll be back after I deliver Professor Juniper this present." With that, Touko took away a fighting Bianca and left. I was very confused. I sat on the couch and waited for Touko's return. Now is as good as time as any to tell her my feelings. I heard a scream come from outside as I waited. It was probably Bianca. I heard my doorknob click as it turned. Touko came back into the house, brushing her hands together.
"That takes care of that" Touko stated happily.
"So what did you need?" I asked the brunette.
"Huh? I didn't need anything."
"Then why did you come here?"
"How rude? I came here to see you. Is that so bad?" Touko pouted, pretending to be hurt by my words.
"I'm sorry. Come here" I said, patting the spot next to me on the couch. She walked over and sat next to me. "How about we play the question game?"
"Okay" she said. "Me first. While I was away, did you go on any dates?"
"Nope. Okay, did you go on any dates while you were out travelling?"
"One. It was with this really awesome guy. I don't remember his name, but we went to the Nimbasa City Amusement Park. It was fun and all, but he turned out to be a real weirdo. Did you travel anywhere when I was gone, maybe to a nearby town at least?"
"No. I decided that if I went somewhere, then I would want to go with you" I said sheepishly. Now to be serious. "Do you think age differences are a big deal?"
"N, we talked about this. I thought you were finally done asking that question."
"Just answer it" I pleaded, grabbing her small hands. I rubbed the back of her hands with my thumbs. "I want your honest opinion." Touko sighed.
"Fine. I don't think age differences are that bad. They might be if it is dealing with health or something along the lines, but if it has something to do with love or happiness, I think that's all that matters. People should just follow their heart. Why do you care so much anyway?" Touko asked. She asked the one question I didn't want her to ask. Why did she always ask that?
"Because…because…I-I…want…to be with you" I confessed. My voice wavered from nervousness. "I want to be with you" I said more clearly and confidently. "I love you, and I don't want our age to get in the way. I just want to be with you. I've loved you for eight years. I know I shouldn't have loved an eight year old, but I did." Touko had a blank expression on her face. She slowly removed her hands from mine and folded them in her lap. I started to sweat. Oh no, I ruined our friendship. I should have kept quiet. Idiot! "Please, don't let this ruin our friendship. If you don't feel the same way or want to be with me, that's fine. Just forget about what I said. Let's pretend it never happened."
"N?" Touko said distantly. I looked at her. Her face showed no emotion. She just stared straight ahead.
"Yes?" I squeaked. Touko's head started to rotate back towards me. She lifted her gaze up and looked me dead in the eye. The next thing I knew, she pounced on me. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and her arms wrapped around my neck as I fell backwards onto the couch. She lay on top of me. She nuzzled her face in the crook of my neck.
"I love you too" she squealed. I smiled in relief and hugged her. Touko pulled away from me and stared into my eyes and soul. I placed one hand on her lower back and the other behind her head. I lifted my head upwards and pulled her into a kiss. She was surprised but relaxed into it. I sat back up and held her tight. Our lips molded together as we turned our kiss into a make-out session. Years of bundled up love and need poured out of me. I never wanted this moment to end. Touko's hands started to tangle in my hair as she tried to pull me closer and deepen the kiss. Her fingers pressed against my bump. My face scrunched up in pain and discomfort, but Touko didn't seem to notice as we continued to kiss. Her hands moved up to the top of my head more. One hand covered my bump and added too much pressure for my liking as Touko continued to try to pull me close. I let out a hiss of pain and ended our kissing. I brought a hand up to feel the back of my head.
"N? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" Touko asked worriedly. I looked up at her and gave her a weak smile.
"I'm fine. You didn't do anything wrong" I reassured her. I moved my hand a little and let out another hiss of pain as I bumped the goose egg.
"What's wrong?"
"I just bumped my head earlier. I'll be fine. It's just a little sore still." I removed my hand from my head and started to move it towards Touko's face to cup her cheek. I was still drunk on love and wanted more. Halfway there, Touko caught my wrist in her hand. She flipped my hand over to inspect it. Blood was smeared in different places. Touko gasped. She grabbed the sides of my face and jerked my head forward and down. She parted my hair and inspected the area I hit.
"Go take a shower" Touko demanded, climbing off me.
"Why?" I whined.
"Your hair is matted with blood and that gash needs cleaned or it will get infected."
"Is it that bad?"
"No, there is no need to go to a hospital. You just need a shower and some ice. I'm sure the bleeding with stop soon."
"Wanna come with?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively as I stood up.
"No" Touko said bluntly.
"I was just kidding, and I really did miss you" I said seriously. Touko smiled sweetly at me. She stood on her tippy toes and leaned up. I leaned down to meet her. She gave me a small peck on the cheek then lips.
"I know. I'm so glad I came back today" she cooed. "Now go get a shower, or I'll tell my mom that you asked me to join you." I panicked and bolted up the stairs. I quickly got undressed and hopped under the running water. I washed my hair and got out. I walked into the bedroom and put on a pair of navy blue sweatpants and a white t-shirt. It was getting late anyway, so I would be going to bed soon. After I eat of course. I walked downstairs. Touko was cooking some chicken. I snuck up behind her and covered her eyes with my hands.
"Guess who?" I asked.
"Natural" she guessed.
"Yes. You're just too good at this game."
"I know and dinner's ready by the way. Let's eat." We both sat down and ate. I couldn't keep my eyes off of Touko. She was mine and only mine now. Touko let out a yawn. Her head kept drooping as she ate.
"You should head home and go to sleep."
"No" she mumbled drowsily. "I wanna stay here tonight, with you." Her head almost hit the table. She was in a half sleep state, no scratch that, over half.
"Okay, but you have to sleep in the guest room" I reminded her.
"No" she mumbled again. She stood up from her chair and walked towards me. She pulled out my chair a little and plopped down on my lap. She gave me a sloppy kiss. I gently shoved her away.
"Yes" I said sternly.
"But I want to be with my boyfriend" Touko said like a groggy child. I couldn't help but grin at the word 'boyfriend.'
"What if your mom finds out?"
"She won't." I sighed. I was too tired to argue right now. I picked Touko up bridal style and carried her to my bedroom. I laid her down on the bed. I took of her hat, vest, and boots. Her hands gripped the sheets tightly, and she took in a deep breath. "They smell like you." I chuckled and stared at my girlfriend. Touko's body heaved with one last deep breath before her breathing evened out. I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. I covered her with the blankets and crawled in beside her on the other side. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close.
"Goodnight, my love" I whispered in her ear before letting myself be engulfed in darkness.
A/N: I just noticed that I have a lot of Cheren and N bonding moments. Weird. Anyhow, review or comment.