Chapter 14

They watched from below as the hatch of the 01 began to open. Saki Rukino stumbled out shakily. It was not she their eyes were entirely transfixed on though. It was her left hand and the masculine right hand that grasped it tight. They could detect the slight bit of nervousness on her face as she leaned in slightly helping him to his feet. His eyes still closed not yet adjusting to the security lights that tripped on at the power shutdown.

It was him. "Haruto is alive" they all thought; but they also shared another darker thought. "Is he whole?"

"Do you know who I am?" Saki asked of the man holding her hand.

Tears rolled from his closed eyes and hers as he spoke.

"You're Saki Rukino" he said as he opened his tearful eyes "and you love me" he whispered.

Saki threw her arms around him crying. To those below they couldn't tell if it was good news or bad news from the distance they stood.

Saki began to get nervous. "Was he speaking through his mind or mine" she wondered. She had to know. "And do you know who you are?" she asked hoping he got the answer right.

"I'm Haruto Tokishima" he smiled "and I love you Miss Saki Rukino with all my heart and soul". Haruto snatched Saki into his arms and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.

It should have been enough but she had to know why. "Haruto, why do you love me".

He smiled and began to answer. "When I was cursed you protected me. When I was falling apart you gave me strength. When I was alone you took that feeling away. When I was dying you never left my side. When you realized you could die you were willing to give your life so that we could be together" she stopped him with a huge kiss more to show her love than to shut him up". As the kiss broke he smiled "there's more you know". Saki looked into his eyes wondering exactly what "more" could be.

"I love you because given the chance to have your own happiness in the end you worried about mine". Saki blushed a bit as Haruto kissed her cheek. "I love you because you love me". He gave her a slight peck on the lips. "I love you mostly because you're Miss Saki Rukino; because I love you and I never want to let you go" Haruto took Saki into his arms, kissing her desperately. "I won't ever leave you alone again".

"You remember the promise?" Saki teared up.

"I'll never forget" Haruto whispered. "and I'll keep my promise until the very end of time".

"I'll hold you to that my sweet boy" Saki whispered. "Until the very end of time".