~Her Existence~

Chapter 7

"It still puzzles me why the heck it took me a long time to figure that out. But now that I have, I regretted the things I have done. So I'm sorry." he said earnestly.

Nagi could feel her heart hammering through her chest, or is it just her ears? She couldn't say, she couldn't believe he's here! In her bedroom nonetheless, in the middle of the night, just to see her and clear things up. Knowing him and his ego, she understood how hard this must be for him. Hao Asakura just doesn't do these kind of stuff, nothing close to stooping low such as apologizing or doing someone a favor. She knew that. She had known this guy for quite some time now, she had grown to like him and his roguish charm, got use to him and all of his teasing, she even enjoys the fact that he likes it when she gets teased. Hao had become a major part on her daily routine. And when they didn't speak for a week, she realized how hard it is when you have someone you talk to every day and then suddenly, he goes away. The feeling of loss was the too much to bear, and for while there it was the only thing she could comprehend. She realized his importance. And she was praying that somehow he would realize her importance too.

And apparently, he did.

Not only did he took full responsibility for his actions but he also told her how he feels. And the weird thing is. . . . he looked happy when he admitted it to her. It was like he'd just solve a long, great mystery. He came to her and that's what made her happy the most, because in that instant. . she knew she meant something to him.

"You mean more to me than you think." Hao whispered to her, as if he read her mind. Which he did. Nagi didn't speak, she walked towards him until he was inches away and caress his cheek.

"Thank you, for coming." She said in a soft tone. Hao's lips curved up into one of her favorite smiles, then he turned both of their bodies towards the window so he could see her under the moonlight.

"You're not angry anymore?" He asked sounding hopeful. Nagi was staring at him, almost in a dreamy state. He placed his hand over hers and caressed it as it was still on his cheek.

"I should be." She murmured with a slight smile. She missed all the teasing and she wants, actually demands it at the moment.

"But you're not." He persuaded, still with that coy smile.

"But I should be." She pushed biting back a grin. Hao's eyebrow arched at her statement.

"Why?" She turned to look out the window, the forest was pitch black, the sky was a dark shade of violet and blue. The only light radiating was from the moon.

"What took you so long? It's weird not having you around." She mumbled in complaint. "I didn't like it." She finished. She felt him move closer, her heart beating faster and beat louder in her ears where she felt his lips was.

"Ah. So you are telling me you missed me?" He teased as he watched her turn pinkish.

"No." She announced stubbornly and gave him a glare. It didn't work she still looked adorable. Hao was enjoying the fact that she's acting stubborn again. She screamed in her mind Yes but then said No. How funny. "I'm telling you, you could have apologized sooner." She stated. " I already forgave you that night, I knew that you weren't yourself that afternoon and everyone gets an off day. I was just waiting for you to say you're sorry." She stared at him awaiting his reaction

"So in simple words. . . . you missed me?" He said in a husky voice and smoldering eyes. Nagi rolled her eyes and muttered something in the lines of incorrigible rouge. Hao grabbed her hand and brought her palm on his lips. She watch him kissed her hand while gazing at her.

"How about this . . ." He started kissing her fingers. ". . It's already past one in the morning. . " Another kiss on her wrist. ". . . all the hours before the sun comes up, I'm yours." He finished. Nagi's eyes narrowed at that last statement.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you get to have me tonight until the sun rises. You have five more hours, what do you wanna do?" She couldn't miss the smirk he gave her as he said that last one. He slowly pulled her towards him, his hand placed perfectly on the curve of her waist. He waited for an answer, smiling all the while.

"I. . . . want to go . . to the lake." She mumbled.

Hao took one good look at her before nodding in compliance and scooped her in his arms. Nagi didn't have a time to protest when he bent his knees on the window sill and jumped. And before she knew it, they were already on the ground and Hao was walking towards the forest.

The lake was still and silent, the moonlight bouncing on the water making it look gray against the dark shadows of the trees and the sky being a shade lighter than it. Nagi took careful steps, making sure there are no slant rocks or anything pointy on the ground she was walking on. Hao offered to carry her all the way to their usual sitting place but Nagi refused to look so delicate. Hao said she can have her way until the sun rises, so he obliged.

"So this means, I can say what I want to you, ask what I want from you or tell you to do anything?" Nagi clarified as they stroll on the shore line of the lake, Hao gliding beside her carefully watching her steps.

"Anything you want." He smiled.

"Until the sun rises?" She made sure.

"I'm all yours." He concluded. She liked this idea of his. Now she can ask him anything and he will tell her the answer, something that he would never do before. She beamed at him and there's that look again. It's like he's lost in her eyes.

"Okay, firstly I want to ask you some things." She started. He nodded and stared at the open space. "Why are you alone?" She silently asked.

"I'm not alone, I'm with you." He simply said. They both liked the sound of that but Nagi isn't going to be swayed that easily.

"I meant, why are you alone when you come and see me?" She pushed. "Don't you have friends?" Hao stared at the lake, brooding it over.

"I have comrades, not friends. They trust me and they are loyal to me but it's a relationship built on power and strength, not love. That way it's easier to end the ties when needed." He spoke in a monotone voice. He looked at her then, curious for her reaction. Nagi just noded, absorbing it all in. Hao was not sure if she's ready to know about this things about him, but he promised that he was hers for tonight so whatever she asks, he'll give her.

"And as for my other question?" Hao chuckled at her being persistent.

"I come to you alone because I didn't want to share you." He honestly told her, a smile playing on his lips. "I wanted your company and I like the idea that I had you all for myself, so I come alone." He shrugged. "What do you think of that?" he smiled darkly.

"You . . didn't want to . . .share?" She repeated. Hao laughed.

"Yeah, something like that. I'm a bit possessive you see." A lot possessive, if she only knew how obsessed he was with her, she'd probably kick her again then run. He leaned against the weird looking tree, their usual sitting place. Nagi liked it that he loves spending time with her, though she didn't know what to say on the I don't want to share you part. "Well go on." He gestured towards her.

"Your family?" She wasn't sure if he's willing to share information about this, even if he said he will. She has a feeling it's a delicate subject.

"Yes?" He nodded, seeming to be very cheerful, yet Nagi remains hesitant.

"Did you leave them?"

"Uhh.. I guess I did. Both my parents including my brother." He said without showing any emotions.

"Why?"

"I have a different goal in life that I want to accomplish. They didn't understand it and so they hated it. I left and now I fend for myself." Hao watched as her eyes looked furrowed with worry and sadness. She's worried about him, and that counted. "But you shouldn't fret, I'm doing pretty good." He smiled at her, that didn't eased her worries though.

"Does that make you sad?" she asked.

"Perhaps." He said while eyeing her carefully. "What do you think?"

"I think it does." She told him the truth. His stare suddenly turned sensual.

"Will you comfort me then?" He said in a husky voice making her blush. A gush of wind came and out of nowhere, Nagi was suddenly aware that she was outside wearing nothing but this thin white chemise, also its straps are tied in a ribbon that can be easily undone. And as she thought about it, Hao's eyes moved from her face to her shoulder as if she said her thoughts out loud. Her pulse started to quicken again.

"Don't do that." She warned, blushing. "You're distracting me."

"Whatever you say." He says, eyes still on her shoulder before looking up with a smile.

She continued with her questions and Hao answer them, careful not to scare her. But some of her questions are so spot on that it was hard to stir clear from the truth. He just simply had to tell her. And she took it all in without reacting badly. There were times when she would look at him in an admiring way and he would say flirtatious words towards her. She would always blush and glare at him for making her blush, then she would ask another question to change the topic.

He liked how Nagi looked under the moonlight wearing that night clothes of hers. He offered his poncho to her when he noticed her shiver but she refused. In her head, she's hesitant to come close to him because she may ask him to do something she would not like to do. . . yet. Hao could not believe that Nagi wanted him as much as he wanted her. He ached for her touch as well, but for now he's under her command. He won't do anything she wouldn't like. and so he behaved himself, no matter how hard it is.

"How did you jumped from my second floor window with me on your arms yet landing safely on the ground?" Hao just stared at her, he didn't know how to explain that one.

"Ooh, that's a hard one. " The sky was almost light gray, the lake starting to regain its color. The two of them sat facing each other, Hao's poncho covering Nagi's legs leaving Hao shirtless for the moment. It took him a lot of persuading for her to allow him to cover her legs. It was almost dawn and the fog was chilly, he didn't want her to get sick or anything. But the girl refused to cover up her shoulders, she said if he's facing the cold, so will she. "I guess I'm just trained to do that stuff." He tried to say.

"What are you then?" She finally asked. The one question he's been waiting for and was dreading to hear. "C'mon, I can take it. I knew from the beginning that you're not an ordinary guy." She smiled as she persuade him. She felt that this question bothered him the most. "So what is it? Are you a son of a mafia guy or something?" She joked, to ease the tension.

"Are you sure you want to know?" He challenged. She nodded. "I wonder what you'll think of me after I tell you." He mused.

"Don't worry I'll still like you, even if you're a swindler" She giggled. Hao gave her a dark look that tensed the moment and make her worried a bit.

"I'm not Human." He said flatly. Nagi felt numb all over. That's wasn't a good answer, in fact that was a scary answer, she couldn't speak. "Remember the time I asked you if you could see spirits?" He said while standing up. Oh God, don't tell me you're a ghost. Nagi watch him walked towards the lake, away from her.

"I asked you that because I can see spirits." He stated. She didn't like this feeling. "You said at the time you can't see them naturally." He turned to give her a dark look over his shoulder, then he sneered. "Well, can you see them now?"

Nagi froze in place as she stared at the gigantic red giant standing before her. It was a. . . what is it? It's not an animal of some sort, it's not a robot either. It's big, red and hot. Very hot. Then it came to her, the huge giant was made of. . . flames. She looked at the towering creature from its feet to its head, it must have been 20 feet high.

"Hao" she mouthed while staring at the huge creature. Hao stood between the two. He eyed Nagi's reaction carefully. This moment will decide what it will be for them. He had to make sure she understands this.

"This is the spirit of fire. He is my spirit." He said out loud. "I can see and control him or any other spirit I want because I'm a Shaman." Hao raised his hands and Nagi stared wide-eye at the fire in his palm. He played with the flames, eyes never leaving her face. "I possess powers that surpassed the human realm. This is what I am Nagi." He told her stiffly as he saw fear in her eyes. Fear of what? He pleaded. He had to know.

"What are you thinking?" he asked coldly. In her mind there was nothing coherent to read. She hasn't said one word, the silence and suspense was killing him. Nagi slowly took control of herself when she saw him grew more impatient by the minute.

"I think. . " She started to say, Hao stopped breathing. "It's all too much." She said in a low voice. Anger flash in Hao's eyes, seeing it as a rejection. He wasn't aware that some of his hair are rising, this only happens when he's dangerously mad during a fight. But the emotions stirring inside him are making him agitated and thus the hair. And the big question in his head was what will I do if she runs away from me?

Nagi, seeing his pained expression, took slow steps towards him. She stopped in front of him, staring at his face, he was staring back. His eyes dark with want and hunger, like a predator gazing at his prey. There was apart of her, a wild instinct that screams that he was dangerous. That she should be afraid at the way he was staring at her.

It was a small part.

Nagi stood on her toes and reached for him. Hao blinked when Nagi snaked her arms around his neck in a soft embrace, her chin resting on his shoulder. He could feel the anger blowing away as the fire in his eyes dimmed. His hair slowly fell back on its place and his hands were cool again.

"But I can handle it." She whispered to him. She knew she could handle it, for both their sake, she would be strong.

"Hmph… You're playing with me aren't you?" He said in a rough tone but placed his arms around her body nonetheless. He breathed her scent and tasted it. This human girl in his arms mattered to him so much that for a moment there, he was planning to take her even if she decides to run from him. But she didn't run, she stayed. She's here, in his arms and somehow that calmed the monster in him.

Don't be angry. Don't be sad. He heard her think in a soothing manner as she rubbed his back in a circular motion.

"You're not scared." He said with his eyes closed.

"Of you getting angry? Yes. Of you being a Shaman? No." She said happily before letting go of him. She stood before him and gave him a smile. Hao stared at her as if he's seeing the sun for the first time. He noticed that the ribbon on her left shoulder fell loose. He then brushed her skin with his fingers as he took hold of the straps.

"You only have about three minutes left." He said while tying her ribbon. The sun was rising and he would have to take her home now. "If you want anymore request, better say it now."

"Kiss me." She said softly.

Hao stared at Nagi. She had that sultry look in her eyes, and she was looking at him. She wanted him, and he wanted her. And now she asked him to kiss her. So much for restraining himself, it was killing him anyway. He made no hesitations, he grabbed the back of her neck and crush his lips on hers.

Nagi didn't think twice saying those two words, when Hao tied her chemise straps and felt his skin touching hers, it was extraordinary. Without a second thought, she blurted out Kiss me, and he did. He was not gentle, she could feel the longing and how much he had waited for this. What's surprising though is that she wasn't gentle too, surprisingly, she was wanting this for quite some time now. His touch, his lips and the taste. . . .

Their lips moved together with grace and passion. Hao had his hand on her lower back and the other on her neck so she can fully receive every stroke, every movement of his lips. Nagi clutch a handful of his hair as she received and gave back. With a gentle tug on her lips Hao ended the kiss to let her breathe, their eyes met and Nagi could she that the hunger was back. She giggled.

"You taste good weird one." He commented with a coy smile as he touched his forehead on hers.

"So do you." She laughed when Hao scooped her up again in his arms and started walking back towards where they came from. Nagi placed her arms around his neck and looked over his shoulder to the Spirit of fire.

"Bye." She whispered, with that, the spirit slowly disappeared into mist as they both entered the forest.

I really need you're reaction on this one. Negative or positive it doesn't matter because it'll both help me.

thank you for . . . you know, reading.

kate =]

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