Love 14: Sunsets and Doubts

"Ayumi-chan…"

That was the single word said, the single name spoken between two individuals. A beautiful sunset backed them and shadowed the man's face, bewildering to Ayumi- yet it strangely satisfied her thirst for mystery. Who was this strange man- no, boy, a boy about her age- speaking to her? How did he know her name?

And why, why, WHY in the world did she have a longing to hear her name fall off of his lips again?

She stepped closer, nothing said, still. The wind blew her peach yellow sundress out to the side, directed towards the sweet sunset that watched over them. Not contented with just the dress, it dragged the garments that clung to her head away, the circular object flying.

She could see the light color under the sun…it looked so soft.

When it reached out and pulled her in, it felt so soft.

Then a new softness, a process of comfort, introduced itself. The pink gentleness that touched her lips locked her in Pandora's box.

Oh, how she realized how deeply she fell in love with the box's touch. It wrapped her in warmth, oh how it felt so warm…

The box seemed to love her touch, too. As she fell deeper into it, it fell deeper into her. It loved her; oh it wanted her closer, it wanted more. The slippery substance in her mouth proved as much. She felt a surge of adrenaline run through her bloodstream as it felt her; almost as through it was making sure she was there.

Pulling it closer, she assured it she would never leave.

This boy, she loved him, she concluded.

The warmth didn't leave, but it separated from her warmth at last, hot breath leaving water vapor on her neck. She wished for that hot vapor to be pressed closer to her once more- but knew it was time to pull back.

Finally stepping out into the light, the box…the boy…was revealed as none other than Conan Edogawa.

"Conan…"

She called his name once during the sunset, and she lost count of how many times she whispered it in his ear as he whispered her name in her's throughout the night.

"O-Ow…" Opening her eyes just the tiniest bit, Ayumi allowed the sunlight in to her pupils.

It reached out just as the boy did and pulled her into a box, but this was a different box. It was a very diverse thing, and that was what made her sigh.

The happiness she felt in Pandora's Box was no longer there, it instead was clouded with the depression of realization that the warmth she had felt was but a mere dream.

Not to quote anybody or anything, but it was cold. It was oh, so, very cold.

The fiery pit in her stomach she felt as he brushed up against her was no longer there, and it was a terrible feeling.

"It was only a dream then…" She spoke, the words settling in. Why, foolish girl! She thought. Why wouldn't it have been? Conan would never EVER lay a hand on YOU! The mere voice in her head made her feel sick, and the cold got even worse.

Or- was she really, honest, truly to gosh… cold?

She thought about it and- why, she was!

But WHY was she cold?

Pulling the covers up, the usually common color of bare skin stared back at her, showing things she'd seen mature over her entire life, this worried her.

Why in the WORLD was she like this? She NEVER slept like this! What if somebody were to break in? There's no TELLING what mental, physical, psychological, and social stress she'd have to endure!

Then she felt herself fall into Pandora's Box again, the feeling she had in the delusion came to her heart once more, and she listened to its call to turn around. The graceful sleep of a beautiful bird entangled itself around her, and it forced her to sing like it was in her nature instead of it's! What was this? It was the love she felt for the blue eyes that now stared up at her, awakening from slumber.

Its peaceful smile mollified her as it kissed her bare shoulder, smooth hands causing her to shiver.

He confirmed it was a dream, but it was a dream that merely exaggerated the truth.

He had grabbed her and kissed her.

He had started doing things.

He brought her home.

Now that she looked around, this wasn't her room, was it?

He whispered her name in her ear once more, and the two decided to stay there for just a little longer as the sun beat down on them.