Author's Note: Just a thought...but I wrote the first part of this chapter (everything but the epilogue) while listening to the piano rendition of Sadame...If you want to set the mood as you read this part (up until the epilogue) then DEFINATLEY listen to this song as you read! Enjoy!!!
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Chapter 12
Sunlight softly filtered into the tiny hospital room where Sorata sat quietly by Arashi's bedside. His eyes rested wearily on her unmoving form beneath the infirmary bed sheets, never leaving her for a second.
It had been three days since their confrontation with Seishirou in the lonely abandoned graveyard outside the city. Yet the events of the past week still plagued Sorata's every thought…
…..When the paramedics arrived on scene to take Arashi to the hospital, Sorata had snapped back into consciousness the moment they loaded her on a stretcher and had taken her away from him. The Seals had tried to calm him, but after all he and Arashi had been through, Sorata had insisted that he ride with Arashi to the hospital. He had fumed that he hadn't left her, nor given up on her and that he wasn't about to be parted from her now. So they allowed him to go with her.
As they stabilized her in the ambulance enroute to the hospital, they tried to check Sorata over for injuries but he refused to let them lay a finger on him, insisting that he was fine and that he wouldn't be looked at until he knew Arashi would be ok. Upon their arrival to the Tokyo hospital, Sorata and the rest of the seals were forced to wait as Arashi was rushed from the emergency room up to the operating rooms where she underwent six long hours of surgery. Six…LONG…hours of surgery. Sorata shook his head as he remembered waiting in that wretched waiting room.
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(Flashback)
To their credit, the other five seals waited with him those long six hours as the minutes seemed to stretch on forever. Each second was pure torture for Sorata as he paced the room like a caged animal. His friends watched him worriedly; they had never seen Sorata in such a state of distress. He had continued his refusal of allowing any physician to look at him until he had news of Arashi, even pushing one doctor away in anger who tried to ignore his request.
After the first hour of waiting, Kamui finally got up out of his seat and grabbed Sorata gently by the arm. Sorata jerked in surprise and stopped his pacing as he turned to look at Kamui.
"Sorata…You need to rest. You've been through a lot, and I think you'd feel better if you at least changed clothes and cleaned up a bit."
Sorata stared at Kamui, as though not quite understanding what the young boy was asking him to do. He was too caught up in his own thoughts and emotions to really care about anything else. So, with nothing to say to Kamui's interruption, Sorata simply shook his head.
Aoki then got out of his seat and put a gentle fatherly hand on Sorata's shoulder, supporting Kamui's advice. "He's right Sorata-kun, you'll be of no use to Arashi-san if you worry yourself sick. Come with me and I'll help you get cleaned up….for Arashi's sake." Aoki gently urged.
At the use of Arashi's name, Sorata finally understood what they were asking him to do. Slowly, numbly, Sorata finally nodded and reluctantly followed Aoki towards the hospital locker rooms were they found him a fresh pair of scrubs to put on after he had cleaned up.
Aoki kindly offered Sorata help if he needed it, worried that he may pass out again and harm himself, but Sorata told him weakly that he would be fine and to bring him news of Arashi if they heard anything. Aoki nodded and left Sorata in the locker room alone where he lethargically removed what was left of his clothes; at some point forgetting that had been completely shirtless most of the night and walked into the showers.
He allowed the warm water to wash over him, feeling his sore and tired muscles finally start to relax, as all threats of danger were finally gone. Yet, despite the safety and security he now sensed around him, the indescribable horror of Arashi's near death and the knowledge that her current condition was all his fault, caused all of the emotions he'd been holding back to keep a clear head during the battle came rushing at him from all sides. Too weak to fight anymore, he was unable to deny the tears that now fell in torrents down his cheeks, mixing with the warm water cascading over him.
His body became wracked with sobs as he wept for Arashi and what she had been forced to endure….all because of him. He watched in revulsion as the water that ran down his hands dripped to the floor of the shower stained pink from the dried blood on his hands….blood that belonged to her. The sight caused his stomach to churn and he doubled over as dry heaves assaulted him. The thought of her blood on his hands, both figuratively and literally was just too much for him to handle. His hands shook violently as he remembered how close he'd come to losing her forever.
Crouching down on the tiled floor of the shower, Sorata rested his head on his knees and allowed himself to break down while the water washed the blood, sweat and tears away. He stayed that way for some time until his desire to hear news of Arashi forced him to his knees and then to his feet as he got dressed in the scrubs provided him and joined his friends once more…….
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(end of flashback)
…Sorata looked from Arashi over to the quietly beeping machines that were hooked up to her delicate body. After six hours of waiting, the chief surgeon had finally emerged from the OR to explain that while Arashi was in stable condition, that the extent of her injuries were most grievous and that it would take time for them to heal. He explained that she had several broken ribs, one of which had indeed punctured a lung which had made breathing for her, not only excruciatingly painful, but nearly impossible. They had worked to repair the internal damage that was done and were sure that, with care, those wounds would mend. What DID have them worried though was the blow she had taken to her head.
The gash on her head was, in fact, a fracture that she had sustained to her skull. It had caused swelling in the brain and until it went down and Arashi regained consciousness, the doctors had no way of knowing if she would be her normal self….IF she regained consciousness…..
And so he had simply sat there…for three days….waiting for Arashi to wake up. So far, all of her vital signs were normal and she looked better now than she had all that last week. There was a healthy color to her cheeks were she had once been so very pale. Her hands were now warm, when they had once been cold. And though she still had dark circles under her eyes from being drained of all her strength, she finally looked at peace as she slept.
Sorata's gaze once again returned to the face of his beautiful priestess. He would leave her side just to change clothes and clean up each day, only to return to her side the moment he finished. In the last three days he had refused to eat, drink or sleep until she woke up. He swore to keep a constant vigil over her, and during that time all he did was sit there and pray. He prayed with unwearyingness to every single Buddha of the shingon order he knew that she would be made whole….but she still would not wake.
A sound at the door caused Sorata to look up and was surprised to see Karen standing somewhat uncertainly in the doorway.
"Karen-san..." Sorata uttered, unsure of what more to say as she slowly walked into the room. She gave him a tender smile that didn't quite reach her eyes and then cast a glance at Arashi.
"I just spoke to her doctor. He said that she's getting stronger and that her wounds are healing nicely."
Sorata, looking down at the linoleum floor, nodding without a word.
Karen's smile faltered as she watched the young monk hang his head, showing no sign of the brash and enthusiastic boy she had come to know and care for. Instead all she saw was an empty shell of a young man who had lost all hope and now knew only despair. Pulling up a chair to sit across from him next to Arashi's bed, Karen silently watched him.
He continued to hang his head and he seemed to be staring at something he held in his hands. Upon closer inspection, she saw white beads threaded between his fingers. Pearls? She wondered curiously. She watched as he delicately turned each bead with his strong and slender fingers. Instantly her mind thought of her rosary…but why would a young monk have a rosary?
Realizing that she was staring, she turned to look around the room. Nothing had really changed. The room was like any other hospital room, cold and sterile. On the table in the far corner sat a tray of untouched hospital food and an untouched plate of cookies Yuzuriha had made. Karen shook her head silently. Sorata hadn't eaten anything since their incident in the cemetery. It had been three days and it had her AND the others more than a little worried. Sorata usually ate more than all of them combined! When he didn't eat, it was OBVIOUS that something was wrong.
Karen's thoughts were interrupted as a nurse came in to check Arashi's vitals. Sorata watched the woman like a hawk as she checked the unconscious girl over. Writing her observations on Arashi's chart the nurse then turned to leave.
"Could you please bring her a warm blanket?" Sorata called after her, causing both she and Karen to jump in surprise. Realizing he had startled them, he softened his voice. "I'm sorry, but her hands are cold again and…Nee-chan hates to be cold." He murmured almost to himself.
The nurse nodded softly and left quietly. Karen turned back to Sorata. "Arashi-san is very lucky to have you looking after her." She said with a sad smile.
At her words, Sorata's eyes suddenly brimmed with tears and he immediately looked back down at the floor, shaking his head as he let out a shuddering breath. "No she's not." he uttered.
Karen was about to say something when the nurse walked back in with the warm blanket that had been requested. They watched without a sound as she spread it carefully over the sleeping girl. Sorata gave the woman a look of gratitude as she offered him a smile and left once more.
Switching tactics, Karen tried a different approach. "You haven't eaten your lunch yet Sorata and its nearly four o'clock. How about we eat some of Yuzuriha's cookies." She suggested hopefully.
Sorata shook his head. "I'm not hungry." He replied hollowly.
"You haven't eaten in over three days Sorata-kun. Don't tell me you aren't hungry." She pressed, hoping he'd listen.
"I'm fasting." He said quietly.
"You're starving yourself." She answered back a little forcefully.
"You aren't starving yourself if you fast with a purpose." Sorata spoke reverently.
Karen had no reply for that. He really is a monk… She thought with admiration. Still, she worried for him. What if Arashi never did wake up? What then? Would Sorata simply starve to death? There was something deeply troubling him…but she wasn't sure what, and he hadn't spoken more than two words to any of them once they'd been found. Finally deciding that Sorata NEEDED someone to talk to, she had taken it upon herself to find a way to help her friend.
"Sorata…..what's troubling you?" she asked softly, hoping to coax an answer out of him.
Sorata swallowed hard and refused to look up. He continued to unconsciously twist the lustrous beads in his hands, his thoughts constantly revolving around how on earth he had screwed up so royally.
Reaching out to him, Karen placed a warm hand on top of his, hoping to still his working fingers. At her touch he jumped in surprise and instinctively pulled away. Karen also jerked away in surprise.
"I'm sorry Sorata-san. I just…thought you would like someone to talk to…You've always been the one to comfort and cheer us up when things go wrong. I just wanted to return the favor, but I can see that maybe you'd rather be alone. I'll go now…." She apologized as she got up and walked towards the door.
"It's all my fault Karen-san." Sorata choked out painfully just as she placed her hand on the door.
"Wh…what did you say?" Karen uttered in shock as she turned to face him again.
"It's all my fault that Arashi got hurt!" He whimpered in grief as he brought one of his hands up to cover his face.
Karen quickly knelt down before him so she could see him face to face. Pulling his hand away, she was overcome with sympathy for his tormented soul as she looked into his glistening russet eyes.
"What do you mean that it's all your fault?" She asked hesitantly.
Sorata then began to explain how both he and Arashi had been used by Yuto and Seishirou from the beginning. How Arashi came to possess the cursed shikigami and how she had used her weapon to save him at the expense of her own life as she was brutally wounded and nearly died…all because of him.
"So you see Karen-san? I've brought nothing but pain and suffering to the one person who I love most in all the world. I….I almost killed her…all because I love her." He moaned in agony, his tears finally coursing down his cheeks.
Karen's own eyes brimmed with tears as Sorata could no longer speak, his voice breaking with pent up guilt and heartache. Of all the people in the world to suffer such emotional torment, this young boy before her deserved it least of all. He had a beautiful soul and a heart capable of a love that knew no bounds. Now that love had been viciously used against him and it was breaking his spirit to pieces.
Wiping the tears from his eyes, Karen pulled Sorata into a hug, holding him tightly. Sorata returned her embrace as he wept uncontrollably into her shoulder. Karen closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for her friend as she tenderly stroked his back, comforting him the way a mother might comfort a child.
After a few moments, Sorata pulled away and looked at Karen, his eyes desperately looking for answers he didn't have. Karen returned his gaze and put a tender hand on his cheek.
"You're wrong Sorata-kun. Arashi IS lucky to have you and let me tell you why..." Sorata could only stare at her as she continued. "If it hadn't been for you, Arashi wouldn't be here period. How did you know that returning Arashi's sword to her body would bring her back?"
Sorata glanced back over to Arashi. "I heard her chanting some type of a Shinto spell and then there was a light. When the light was gone, the life from Arashi's body was gone as well." He shuddered as he remembered watching her lifeless body fall to the ground.
… "When Arashi is wounded, her sword disappears and becomes a part of her body once more. But, there in the cemetery, after her spell…the sword was still there. When I touched it, I could FEEL her essence. It was then that I realized what she had done..." he said as a ghost of a smile played across his lips. Not only is she the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, but she's also incredibly clever.
"…Her….Her body was dying, so she used a powerful Shinto spell to transfer the remainder of her soul into the sacred sword which acted as an extension of her body. When her soul merged with the blade and became separate from her body, it allowed the curse to consume any life that was left in her body…but not the life and soul that she transferred to her sword. So once the curse was lifted, it only made sense that returning her soul to her body…would bring her back…." He finished with a whisper.
"You see Sorata? Without your quick thinking and your determination to save her…she wouldn't be here now." Karen smiled.
"Perhaps…" Sorata mused, "But that still doesn't change the fact that those BASTARDS USED ME!!! USED my love for Arashi to HURT her…so they could TEST ME!!!!" He spat through clenched teeth. The hatred and fury he felt became so intense that his hands automatically generated angry sparks of electricity; the beads slipping from his fingers to swing delicately around his right wrist.
"Sorata STOP! There's pure oxygen in this room! Do you wish to kill us all!?" Karen yelped in surprise.
Instantly Sorata clenched his fists and extinguished the electrical sparks, shooting a worried glimpse over at Arashi.
"I'm sorry…" He whispered in shock.
Karen shook her head. "No apology is needed, I understand that you're angry. You have every right to be. But they were wrong…YOU Sorata-san proved them WRONG! They were going to use your love to kill BOTH of you… and the fact that you are both ALIVE, means that THEY are the ones who have failed!"
It was then that Karen saw a flicker of something in his eyes that her young friend most desperately needed…hope.
"You are BOTH alive, all because of your love Sorata-san. You didn't give up on her and very soon now she will wake up. I'm sure of it! And when she does Sorata-kun, she will NEED your love, your smile, your humor, and your strength; not your fear, anger or doubts. Do you understand?" Karen asked
Don't give up on me…Sorataaa… Even now,Arashi's voice still resonated deep within his very soul as he thought back on what he knew he had heard that awful night. Her soul had reached out to his and without fail he had heard her, and had refused to give up on her. She's right. Sorata realized. Together… Arashi and I won the battle. And WHEN she wakes, I'll still be here…to help her finish the fight.
Karen's hopes soared when, for the first time in three whole days, Sorata gave a very faint but genuine smile.
"I understand Karen-san. Don't worry, both you and Arashi can count on me." He promised softly as he nodded his head.
Smiling, Karen stood and bowed to Arashi as she gripped the delicate cross around her neck, uttering a quick prayer for her wounded comrade and then walked to the door.
"Karen-san!?" Sorata called just as she was about to leave.
Karen turned back around in surprise, a questioning look on her face.
"…Thank you…" he expressed, his voice full of infinite gratitude.
Smiling, Karen nodded and left, leaving the room silent once more. The only noise to comfort Sorata was the beeping of Arashi's machines.
Turning his attention back to his beautiful sword maiden, he took her fragile hand in his. "Don't worry Nee-chan. I wont give up on you..and..when you're ready…I'll be here." He vowed passionately as he kissed it softly and laid it back down on the bed.
Reaching down to his wrist, he pulled the delicate strand of beads back into his hands and continued his prayers in her behalf…
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*Beep*…*Beep*….*Beep* …. Was the first thing she heard as she ever so slowly started to open her eyes, turning her head to the sound of the noise. The movement, no matter how slight caused her head to ache, but she had to know where she was. The images she took in were blurry at first…but gradually things started to take shape. A monitor of some sort with many wires protruding from it greeted her.
I..I must be in a hospital. She thought weakly as she stared at the monitor for a while. But…how did I get here? How am I still alive?! Then in a flash, memories of what had happened assailed her and she winced at what she last remembered…SORATA!
Ignoring the throbbing in her head she turned her attention to the other side of her bed, praying that he was alright. To her surprise, she saw exactly who she was praying for sitting hunched over uncomfortably in a small hospital chair next to her bed. His head was down, so she was unable to see his face but in her heart she knew it was him.
Fear and pain filled her soul and made it difficult to breath as she remembered just how close she had come to dying, thinking that she would cause him such terrible heartache. Then the awful panic she felt that he would probably die defending her whether she died or not became too much for her to bear and abruptly the need to touch him and be sure he was really there overcame her again.
It shocked her to realize just how very weak she was when it felt nearly impossible to even lift her hand from the bed. But her desperate need to connect with him gave her the strength she needed and ever so slowly she reached out and ran her hand through his dark tousled hair.
Sorata immediately jerked in surprise at her touch, his head whipping up from where it had hung down in silent prayer for her health and strength.
"ARASHI!?!" he gasped in absolute astonishment.
"Sorataa…" she whispered weakly as she took in his handsome features. She frowned somewhat as she saw dark circles under his eyes, and tiny worry lines around his eyes and across his brow. He looked as though he hadn't slept in weeks and his shoulders and torso seemed a bit leaner to her than she remembered.
His name on her lips brought him out of his shocked stupor and he instantly reached out to take her good hand in both of his, bringing it up to his chest just over his heart and pressing it there as a grin spread over his face that went from ear to ear. SHE'S AWAKE! SHE'S AWAKE!!! His heart hammered in his chest with wild delight.
"Are you alright Arashi!?! Do you hurt anywhere!? Do you need anything!?! Please tell me you're ok!!!" he begged as he scanned her face for answers.
As she tried to reply she cringed when she took a deep breath to speak.
"ARASHI!?" Sorata exclaimed in distress.
"Hurts…" she whimpered softly as her other hand, attached to the IV and heart monitor, came up to feel her chest.
"It'll be OK!!!" Sorata immediately promised before swiftly placing her other hand gently on the bed and racing out into the hall to find a doctor or a nurse who could help.
Not moments later Sorata came back with Arashi's doctor in tow who quickly went to work examining her injuries and double checking her dressings. Sorata waited as patiently as he could out in the hallway hoping to offer her some privacy and a chance to retain some dignity as he knew this whole mess would be difficult for her.
Soon the doctor came back out, a smile on his face as he informed Sorata that he had given Arashi some medication for the pain, and that she was going to be just fine. Before he knew what was happening, the doctor gasped in surprise as Sorata embraced the man in a grateful hug. Chuckling slightly, he patted the young man on the back and told him that Arashi had been asking for him. With a look of gratitude and a quick thank you, Sorata reentered the small hospital room.
Arashi watched him quickly return to her side and she couldn't help the tiny smile that graced her lips at the sight of him. His own smile broadened as he took in her ethereal beauty.
"Do you feel better now Nee-chan?" he asked hopefully as he once again enveloped her small hand in his.
"Yes…" She whispered wearily "but now everything is starting to go fuzzy and…I'm just so tired."
Sorata smiled softly as he watched her eyelids start to droop, a sign that the medication was starting to take effect.
"Don't worry Nee-chan everything will be alright now." He promised as he gave her hand a tender squeeze.
Arashi shook her head weakly, trying to fight off the effects of the drugs pumping through her system.
"Sorata? Are you alright?" she practically sighed as she searched his captivating eyes for the truth.
Taken back by the unexpected question, his smile faltered for a moment. His eyes returned her searching gaze and he became lost in their lavender depths. Arashi's heart began to flutter as Sorata started to slowly lean in towards her. The intoxicating smell of him, alive and strong, compelled her to lean towards him as well, though her heart was now racing.
Both of them ignored the wildly beeping heart monitor as they were slowly drawn together, the need and desire to connect completely overpowering. Sorata's mouth drew closer and Arashi's lips parted in uncertain anticipation when her breath suddenly hitched painfully.
Sorata stopped at the sound and realized the effects of what he was doing to her. Pulling back slightly he brought a hand up to the back of her head, his fingers slipping gently through her silken strands of hair, and instead, pulled her carefully towards him. She exhaled heavily as his warm lips made contact with her skin as he placed the tenderest of kisses upon her forehead.
She closed her eyes feeling a tear slide slowly down her cheek as her body became filled with a warmth that she had never felt before. The overwhelming feeling of safety, security and love she felt was nearly too much to take in. She leaned into him as he ended the kiss after a long moment and then rested his forehead gently against her own.
"You're alive and you're going to be alright…and as long as you're ok, that means I will be too." He whispered to her sweetly as he felt her starting to lean heavily into him.
"So…tired…" she whispered back as she fought a losing battle with her meds.
"Then sleep Nee-chan." He whispered huskily as he pulled back and helped her to lie back against the pillows.
"Stay?..." she asked weakly as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
"I'll never leave you." he promised as he placed a comforting hand over her forehead, smiling warmly at her as she finally closed her eyes and slipped into a fitful slumber.
Gripping the precious beads in his palms once more, Sorata offered up a prayer of endless gratitude for the safe return of his beloved priestess. Once said, Sorata's gaze shot over to the plate of food sitting on the table in the far corner and… for the first time in over three days…he felt like eating….
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Epilogue
The days went by painfully slow for Arashi Kishuu as she struggled to keep her sanity working to regain her strength and fought to control her temper as Sorata became the biggest mother hen the world had ever known.
A day didn't go by when he wasn't constantly asking her if she felt alright or if she needed anything or wondering what could he do for her. One day in particular after being unable to walk down the hall of the hospital without panting in both incredible pain and complete exhaustion, she had yelled angrily at Sorata as he graciously carried her the rest of the way back to her room. She fumed about how she hated being unable to take a single breath without hurting and how she'd almost rather not breathe at all!
Sorata remained positive and supportive throughout it all and when Arashi had woken from her nap later that same day she was greeted by the sweetest aroma of the richest cherry blossoms she had ever smelled and found her room covered in several vases of the delicately blooming sakura branches. She breathed the scent in deeply despite the pain. Finding Sorata ever present near her bedside he had told her, "I thought that if you had something pleasant to smell it would help you want to breathe." And from that day forward, he replaced the flowers everyday with fresh ones, insisting that she deserved the best despite her arguments that he needn't change them EVERY day.
Regardless of how much she loathed the extra attention, Arashi was greatly touched by Sorata's unconditional love and support as she slowly but surely regained her strength. The other dragons of heaven were also very encouraging as many of them came to visit her and encourage her in getting well soon and coming back "home". Yet, Sorata was the one who refused to go back to the mansion without her and stayed there at the hospital with her, the nurses offering him a small cot to sleep on in the far corner of Arashi's room. And though she made it QUITE clear to everyone INCLUDING…no…ESPECIALLY Sorata that she didn't need a babysitter, she was secretly grateful that he stayed, as bad dreams would wake her from time to time…his presence was a constant reassurance to her that they were both ok.
After a full week of being in the hospital, her doctor finally gave her the ok to leave. Sorata had whooped and hollered in excitement for her, like a little kid about to enter a giant toy store, and she couldn't help but laugh when he picked her up and swung her around happily as they both let the good news sink in.
Sorata couldn't recall a time when he'd felt happier as he heard Arashi laugh. It had to have been the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. And though it didn't last long, he reveled in the sound of it and would keep that sound in his heart for as long as he lived….
…He sat fidgeting in a chair by the far table as he watched Arashi pack her things, his packing privileges being revoked when he had failed to actually "fold" her clothes, and just stuffed them in her bags…
Finally packed, Arashi was horrified when she discovered that she HAD to leave the hospital in a wheelchair despite the fact that she could easily walk on her own two feet. "Damn those hospital policies!" Sorata had jokingly fumed for her sake as he merrily wheeled Arashi to the elevators and then to the exit when, for the first time in over a week, Arashi got to go outside.
Telling her that Aoki wouldn't be there to pick them up for a few minutes, Sorata suggested that they go enjoy the gardens behind the hospital while they wait. Getting the feeling that something was up, Arashi cautiously agreed and followed the enthusiastic monk to the back of the hospital grounds. She was surprised by how vast the garden was and took great pleasure in smelling the beautiful blossoms of all the different varieties of flowers that grew there.
Sorata was content to simply watch Arashi enjoy herself as she explored the lovely garden. The exquisite beauty of the sight of her, smiling softly in the sunshine as she tenderly smelled each plant was enough to take his breath away.
Arashi turned to him in surprise when she felt him take her hand in his and pull her in the direction of a stunning gazebo not far from them, telling her that he wanted to give her something there. Now completely suspicious she started to refuse, but stopped when she saw the look on his face. It was a look that begged her compliance and finally she nodded and followed him to the elegant gazebo.
Sitting down together, Arashi watched with tentative curiosity as Sorata reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out something he held carefully in his closed fist.
"I've been thinking about it a lot lately Nee-chan and I…I would be so honored if you would accept this as a gift from me to you." he said quietly as he extended his fist towards her, his other hand taking one of hers and bringing it under his extended one and placing its contents in her palm.
Looking down, Arashi's breath caught in her throat as she held Buddhist prayer beads in her palm. It was made of the most stunning and beautiful of pearls that she had ever seen, each one more lustrous than the next, each of them radiating the sunlight that reflected off of them. It was obvious that they had been well taken care of and used often as the luster spoke volumes that they had been worn close to the warmth of a beating heart.
"Your juzu?..Sorata I can't take these. You need them." She uttered in shock as she extended her hand to give them back, unable to take her eyes off of them.
"Please keep them for me Arashi..." He asked beseechingly, making it a point to use her true name. "I want you to have them."
"Why?" she murmured softly as she looked up at him questioningly.
"Because several days ago you accepted a gift from a secret admirer that you thought was from me, but wasn't. After a lot of thought, I wanted to give you something that's precious to me because…you are precious to me. And I want you to know that should you ever receive another gift from a secret admirer, it won't be from me because… my admiration for you is no secret." He said softly yet fervently as he placed his hand on top of hers and enclosed her fingers gently around the gleaming beads.
Arashi was at a loss for words as she pulled her hand back and carefully examined the luminous pearls.
"They're beautiful.." she whispered under her breath.
"Here, allow me…" he offered as he carefully took them from her hands and smoothly brought the beads over her head and placed them deftly around her neck.
Arashi touched the beads tenderly, unable to stop looking at them. Never in her life had she owned something so fine or so valuable.
Pure joy filled his heart as he watched Arashi admire his gift. "Ya know… when the shingon monks first brought me to Koya, and I met the old stargazer for the first time, he gave me that juzu as a gift and I've worn them ever since."
He smiled fondly as he reminisced on days long past. "Its actually very appropriate that they now belong to you Nee-chan. You see, ever since gramps told me about my destiny and about you, not a day went by when I wasn't praying for you. Praying for your safety, for your happiness and praying…that I'd recognize you when we'd finally meet." He finished with a smile in her direction.
Arashi looked away and blushed deeply. What can I say to that?! She wondered frantically. How on earth can a "thank you" ever be enough for someone who has prayed for you for most of their life!?
Twisting a bead anxiously, Arashi did something then that was completely out of character for her. Before she really had time to think it through, she leaned towards him and before he realized what she was doing, Arashi placed a warm and affectionate kiss on his cheek.
Sorata gasped in surprise at the shock that went through his body at her touch. Just as quickly as it had happened, it was over and Arashi pulled away and immediately started walking out of the garden. Sorata sat there in a daze, unable to move or speak. He brought a hand up to touch the spot where he could still feel the warmth of her lips.
"Wow Nee-chan!" he whispered to himself. "If I get a kiss for every gift I give you, then I DEFINITELY think we should exchange gifts more often!" And with that thought voiced, Sorata swiftly ran after her…….
The End….
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A HUGE THANKS goes out to everyone who has taken the time to read my first fanfic! I Truly hope you enjoyed it! I'd also like to thank those AMAZING people who took the time to support me with reviews! (Soryu and Rei-chan YOU ROCK!) Thank you all once again! -Miko