Persisting
Kimiko felt detached from the world around her. Her surroundings were suddenly muffled to the point she feared she had lost her hearing but not even that got any reaction from her. She simply sat on the couch between Raimundo and Jack and stared blankly at the T.V. screen. The news report ended a while ago and the sky has already darkened. The room was thrown in blackness with only the television casting light on the couch and its three occupants.
Kimiko didn't care one bit what was on. She kept replaying again and again what she has heard the reporter say about the break in. She was a criminal, plain and simple. But the truth was far from that. And despite all that she cared most about was what her friends and her father would say about this.
Her papa, thankfully, was away in Europe and most likely wouldn't return for another month. Yet she still felt ashamed of herself if such facts would reach his ears. How would he take it? Would he come back? Would he be angry with her? Disappointed? Maybe even reject her for becoming what she swore to fight against; tell her she has failed…?
She shoved the question to the back of her mind before she could break out in tears. She already felt the stings in the corners of her eyes and hastily wiped them away before anyone noticed.
Keiko, her best friend, probably would support her but even if that was true she would still have her doubts. Until Kimiko could personally explain the situation her childhood friend would keep her position on the other side of the field and hope for the best.
Besides Keiko, who she had known since kindergarten, Clay and Omi were her most loyal friends. Clay, the huge teddy bear of their group, would never abandon his friends without a solid reason to while Omi would go to the end of the world for his precious ones. Hearing the news, Kimiko knew they would be torn; torn between trusting her and doing their jobs.
In the end she couldn't blame them. This was treason, only not for the reason they all thought.
The T.V. was turned off plunging the entire room into darkness. Kimiko vaguely noticed, too lost in her own mind, but when she felt a velvety material on her she looked up squinting her eyes to see in the dark.
"I thought a blanket would do you good for the night." She heard Raimundo whisper to her. "It tends to get cold around here."
She accepted the cover and wrapped it around her shoulders. She nodded thankfully at him, not trusting her voice and she saw him smile despite the almost nonexistent light. He walked away back in the bedroom after the deed was done.
"Goodnight!" He called before closing the door.
"Goodnight." Kimiko sighed. She curled up on the couch enveloped in the smooth, warm fabric and closed her eyes wishing for a dreamless sleep.
-.-
It has officially been a week since that fateful first meeting. The morning was the usual warm, sunny day of summer yet it didn't do any good in cheering up a certain ex-officer. If not Kimiko felt worse. The cold tranquility from the other night passed with the slumber and once she woke up she couldn't find the power to sit up. Instead, she lay on the sofa wrapped in her fluffy blanket and refused anything that Jack would offer her.
It was childish, yes, but what would anyone else do when their life crumbled and they fell in the pit of disappointment and shame? She wanted to cry so much, but something prevented her from doing it. She wanted to break down, rush back home and tell them everything, gain their respect and warmth back because she needed it…she needed them!
She closed her eyes, snuggling in the comfort the cover provided. It was cozy and secure but it lacked an essential element that she couldn't, for the life of it, place her finger on. She heard Jack's footsteps retreat back in the kitchen and the sound of a plate being put on the table. He muttered something that she was supposed to hear although she was sure the red head knew she wouldn't bother to listen.
A door shutting made her sigh. She stuffed her head in the pillow trying unsuccessfully to hide from whatever being was out to get her and pulled the duvet up to her nose. She breathed in, tasting the smell of her covers and curled into a ball. She was depressed and she felt the need to fill her sadness with something sweet.
Maybe Raimundo would remember to bring chocolate or something when he returned from Tokyo. He had the morning shift at the gym and would be back around noon. It was close to twelve if Jack leaving something for her on the table was any clue but she wanted him to come back faster. She wanted to talk to somebody and she didn't take the Goth boy as a very sociable person; or one that understood emotions very well for that matter.
She settled for waiting. She wasn't hungry so the dish remained forgotten in the kitchen.
When the door opened she was dozing off. She heard muffled steps walking around and cracked her eyes opened to see the blurry outline of a person. She managed to prop herself on her elbows and rub her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Hey, sleeping beauty! Did I wake you up?" Kimiko blushed slightly but managed to mask it with a blurring mock glare. She looked around to see Raimundo walking towards her and she struggled to free some space for him to sit.
The brunette shook his head and lifted a bag for her. "Here! I…bought you some clothes." He said awkwardly scratching the back of his head with a hand. "You can't wear those clothes all the time. They already need to be washed."
His flustered face made the woman raise her lips slightly. "Thank you."
She accepted the bag from him and took a look at the clothing. They weren't bad, very simple and not colored much, but not bad. What she was curious about was how he knew the sizes; when she was about to ask about that she caught him smirking in the corner of her eye. She turned a full glare at him. He simply shrugged and walked away.
Calming her blood thirsty instinct she scoffed and marched to the bathroom. As she closed the door she rolled her eyes at the masked laughter, 'Pervert!'
The bathroom wasn't big like hers, it was medium in size with a classic sink and toilet and a bathtub that covered the wall opposite to the door. She placed the clothes on a shelf near the sink and started to undress – only after making sure the door was locked.
She took a few minutes to look at herself in the mirror and had to grimace at the dark bags under her eyes. She was tired and looked awful and she didn't deny it, but she simply couldn't bring herself to take care of her being anymore.
She stepped in the tub deciding on a quick, refreshing shower. She shuddered as the cold water hit her skin first but melted under the hot stream the next second. Glancing swiftly through the gels, creams and shower soaps on the ledge she pondered using them but then shrugged and grabbed one with olive and aloe vera. The smell relaxed her body as the water rained down on her washing away any signs of exhaustion.
Stepping out of the tub she smiled feeling as if she has been reborn. Quickly drying her body with a towel she looked through the bag again searching for an outfit. She was truly surprised and outraged when she noticed at the bottom of the bag another one filled with underwear…also her size.
'Oh! He's so gonna pay for this!'
After once again having to restrain her killing intents, Kimiko dressed putting on a short sleeved, peach colored, 'v' neck shirt that hugged her body quite nicely and a pair of black skinny pants a bit too long for her. She fixed the problem by rolling up the bottoms before pulling on some white socks. Taking one last look in the mirror she deemed herself as looking acceptable and walked out.
She found the brunet lounging on the couch, the pillow and blanket gathered on a chair beside the T.V. Kimiko cleared her throat catching his attention and she straightened her back as his gaze moved on her, travelling from her feet to her face.
"Well, don't you look good!" He smiled innocently with a tad bit of amusement lingering underneath.
The woman glared instead. "Don't you look at me like that!" She snapped. "How could you invade my privacy?"
"Would you have preferred to walk around without any panties?" She blushed furiously causing his smile to widen in a grin. "Sit down and get something to eat, girl. Jack told me you didn't want any breakfast or lunch."
Thankful for the change she sat down beside him and poked at the plate of food on the little table. "It's not gonna bite." He chastised.
She rolled her eyes but didn't move to eat. "I'm not really hungry."
He was silent for a few seconds before a sigh escaped his lips. "Still depressed I see."
"I feel horrible."
"Eating will help."
"Eating will make me puke."
"You don't know."
"I do know."
"Then what do you want?"
"Chocolate."
"Only if you eat."
"No!"
"How old are you again?"
"I feel so horrible."
Raimundo sighed again. Turning off the T.V. he focused on Kimiko. She was eyeing the meal as if it was the most repulsive thing she had ever seen. Maybe she really was sick. The brunette stood up and took the woman's hand pulling her on her feet as well. At her confused glance he smiled.
"Let's go for a walk."
Sneaking through the village wasn't hard. Most people ignored them or just saluted them politely. Kimiko was baffled by the discovery of the inhabitants' indifference and marked it as another oddity she wanted Rai to explain. They went to the edge of the forest again and sat down under a tree.
"Why were the villagers…?"
"They know about Phantom."
She gapped. "What? But why?"
Rai chuckled and brushed off her worries. "They know who we are and what we are doing so they have nothing to be concerned about; they find it quite funny too. And besides, the village is small and we know everybody. On top of that most of the people here are old. The kids are coming around for a few days if not at all. We don't really have to worry about them."
"But how can you be so sure they won't rat you out?"
Rai paused, a flicker of sadness and remorse gathering behind his green pools before vanishing. "They won't." He said and she had the feeling that that was the end of the conversation.
"So why are we here?" She asked shifting uneasily as memories of the last time there flashed in her mind.
Raimundo grinned doing a complete change of attitude that almost made Kimiko's head spun. "I don't know. I'm waiting for you to start bawling or something."
She blinked again. "Huh?"
"Weren't you feeling horrible a minute ago?"
And then she remembered the earlier scene. Sapphire eyes locked on the ground watching her fingers caress the grass. She was reminded of the loneliness and desperation that was on the verge of swallowing her whole in the morning and how Raimundo's presence brought a distraction to her troubled mind. He was a most needed support that managed to bring forth the small details of life and made her forget about her problems if only for a little while, the warm ray of hope that she hung on to and waited to come.
She wasn't stunned to figure out the brunette could cheer her up with only his being next to her. She felt wonderful and happy around him, so at ease that she could mistake him for Keiko. She wanted to pour all her sorrow in his arms, to feel him holding her close, protecting her. But she wasn't sure it would end up with both of them at the same finish line.
She shook her head tuning out his caring words, holding her eyes closed and her hand retreating back in her lap. A soft touch prickled the skin of her chin and her face was lifted. She didn't want to open her eyes and look in those amazing forest green orbs. She knew her resolve would crack with him looking at her all concerned and pleading. She prayed not to tell her to open them either.
Nothing happened though. Only his breath gliding down her face affecting the flow of her blood, raising her flush to new shades. She wondered what he was doing when all of a sudden every sense left her being.
Soft, sweet skin hesitantly met her lips and the sensation coursing through her body made her go stiff. Her mind shut down until only instinct remained and it told her to respond. She obeyed leaving the pleasure to take over. Her frozen lips parted granting him access. She moaned as they deepened the kiss ignoring the lack of oxygen until he forcefully pushed her away.
Her eyes snapped opened and she gasped drawing in as much air as possible. She felt her face glow. Her throat was dry and nothing crossed her mind as she gazed in his eyes.
"Kimiko…" He whispered slowly. But his voice was lost in the storm swirling in her head. "You don't have to be strong." He continued stroking her cheek. "I know you're hurt but I want to help you with everything I can. So please, please, let it out. Don't hold everything in, Kimiko!"
The woman was too shocked to respond. Her mind was petrified and she barely processed his words.
"Kimiko?"
Her eyes blurred. Hot wet trickles of salty water rolled down her cheeks and she lowered her head. She realized why her tears couldn't flow when she had wanted. She finally figured out what she had been missing.
"Kimi?"
A sob shook her body. Strong arms wrapped around her trembling form and she melted in giving in to the desire of breaking down under all that stress and grief.
The warmth of a comforting presence was everything she needed.
Rai held her to his chest, slowly rubbing her back as she pulled her soul out in front of him. He was a bit miserable for kissing her to get over her walls but he had to remind himself it was better for her to let her emotions out. He sighed and tightened his grip as her crying grew louder. He was going to wait, no matter how much time she needed.
-.-
By the time they returned, the sky was already black and the alleys cold and empty. Kimiko was walking beside the brunette, glazed eyes fixed on the ground and she felt numb all over. Rai twisted the doorknob and entered the dimly lit house.
Jack was sitting at the table in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee. He looked up when he heard them coming in, a vacant expression settling on his face. He was confused seeing the raven haired woman so down but had to mark it off as one of Raimundo's numerous wins. Whatever they did, and he wasn't going to pry – not yet anyway –, could only mean that they were ready to finally talk the whole mess down and maybe find a solution.
"Guys!" He began. Raimundo and Kimiko glanced at him. "Grab some coffee. It'll be a long night!"
Well, there it is...a sweet RaiKim moment along with some banter that we all love...The action will kick off in the next chapter which will hopefully be up later this week, until then... thanks to everyone who favorited or follows or reviewed the story so far. I greatly appreciate your support!
See you next time!