Journey toward Love

Chapter 4

For the last couple days I've been staying at Satoshi's house, fearing that any minute Yusuke would appear and rape me again…or worse… Satoshi and his sister have treated me like family ever since I came, but the girls are treating me like a mother and Satoshi as a father. It's kinda cute, but am I fit to play the 'motherly' role?

"Kyoko! Can we go to the park today? Please!" …I can't resist those innocent eyes…I looked at Satoshi as if asking him to allow them to go out to the park.

"…sounds like fun. Let's pack a lunch and head out to the park in an hour." He really cares for them…

At the park, Satoshi and I laid out a blanket and sit on it watching the girls play as we talked about our childhood.

"Hey, Kyoko. Remember the day those guys were bullying Kaname and we went to beat the crap out of them?"

"Yeah, they ran to their moms crying and we got yelled at by your mom." We laughed and continued to remember 'the good days of our childhood'.

"…I wish we could go back to those times…when we would play and have fun together." I sulked at the thought of how much we changed.

"We can still hang out like before…but that's only if you want to…" I looked up at the sky as I lay down on the checkered blanket. I thought about the time Satoshi and I dated and blushed a little at the thought of our first kiss at Sakura high on his first day here.

"…I'd like that…let's be friends like we were before." I wanted to go out with him again, but…I don't think I'm ready to date someone like Satoshi yet.

"…you think we'll be able to date like before?" I shot my head up in shock and blushed a little. Can he read my mind? He looked back at me with a serious face. I knew he still liked me! But I was too shy and nervous to say anything, so I rolled over onto my side and waited for a short while until I had a final decision.

"…I think we could…sometime…" I rolled back over to look at Satoshi, but as I rolled over I noticed he was gone. I sat up and saw him walk up to the swing set where Rika and Su were and watched him push them on the swings. I couldn't help but smile at him being a loving older brother.

Later that day as we walked back to Satoshi's house I saw a familiar face that frightened me. It was Yusuke Arakawa. I froze, in fear of seeing him again. Satoshi saw me shaking and saw Yusuke's horrible face. I begged Satoshi not to do anything and we continued back to the house.

"Why didn't you let me do something to him! He raped you and he killed your mother! Why are you trying to protect him!"

"I'm not trying to protect him! I'm trying to protect you! I already lost one person I love; I don't want to lose another!" we both paused and turned red at the same time. I quickly tried to think of an excuse but I was too flustered to think of anything.

"I-I didn't mean it like that. I meant I love you like a…a friend!" it was the best I could come up with… we both sat down on the couch and remained silent for a few more minutes. I grew tired of the silence and the lying. I turned to Satoshi and turned his head to face me and kissed him. I wanted to let him know I still loved him, that I still cared for him. I released him from my grip and pulled away from the kiss. Still in shock, Satoshi looked at me confused.

"K-Kyoko…?" I had nothing more to say. I just simply smiled and he already understood.

"…I've loved you ever since we were kids, Satoshi. You're the only guy I've ever loved…" Satoshi remained with his 'what the fuck!' face on and looked at me 'til he finally smiled.

"Same here…I've loved you ever since we were kids, since the first time I saw you." We sat next to each other and never said a word.