AN: Sorry guys for my absence. I'm on holiday so I was kinda taking some time off. Thanks for the overwhelming response and positive feedback. I'm so jazzed about it. This is probably the second/third from last chapter as I am about to wrap up this beautiful story. This chapter is kinda short because something big happens in it so I wanted to give it its own space to really come out. Enjoy!
"Mmmm Rai, it's still dark and I'm still sleepy" Mika groaned when Raizo gently shook her just before sunrise.
"Mika I want us to see the sun rise down the beach" Raizo said in a low tone.
"How about the sunset, I'm sleepy Rai?" she complained
"Normal couple, remember?" he smirked. Mika pouted then she stretched and slipped out of bed to change.
"Come on, let's go" Mika said after several attempts to brush her tousled hair.
She was enjoying their stay together here, without anyone to disturb them or anything to worry about. It was the best feeling she had ever had in a long time. And she could tell he was happy too, and he was trying; just like her, to relax. She could still see his wariness of their surroundings or of people around him. She knew it was going to take a long time for him to really begin to understand that not everyone meant harm or had an ulterior motive all the time. Being always alert was an inborn instinct with him, he would never totally shake it off, but Mika was okay with that part too, because she knew her warrior would always be there to protect her.
They walked down the steep, ancient stone pavements holding hands. Mika stole a glance at him; he looked very thoughtful yet being aware of her at the same time. The cool morning breeze blew past them in the half empty street as many people were still sleeping. Only those who owned markets were up and about already doing business. Mika felt an inexplicable connection to the place, it felt a lot like home, it bought so many childhood memories she was so happy to have. Raizo must have somehow understood that, and it was a wonderful thing he wanted to be part of her world, part of her history. He was a person with little history; his life was mostly spent with Ozunu, being sharpened into a killing machine. Now, he was rewriting his history, with her by his side. If it was up to her she wanted to rewrite as much as possible into his life.
When they approached the beach as the first rays began to break though the endless coastal skyline. It looked like the sun was rising out of the sea, it was an ethereal sight. Mika closed her eyes and breathed in the salty sea air. Raizo wrapped his arms around her from behind; she smiled and cozily leaned into him.
For a while neither of them said anything as they watched the sun begin to make its presence felt. A new day had come, a new day bought with it the chance to start over, to get back on the road to your personal journey and it renewed hope for all the things that waited in the future.
"It's….beautiful" Raizo said as if struggling to find the right word to describe the sight. He had never appreciated the beauty of nature before; he had never taken the time to admire it. He had gone through life without stopping to look at the simple things it had to offer. It was the simple things in life that made it all worthwhile in the end. No matter what changed in life, simple things would always be constant, like the rising of the sun, its setting, the stars, the moon and just breathing. While all these seemed uneventful at any time of the day when you were busy rushing through life, in the end they counted.
"I know babe" Mika turned her head and kissed his jaw.
"Mika, I know I haven't lived much of a life and maybe sometimes being with me is not going to be what you expected…."
"Sssh, Raizo, I'm not setting any expectations on you, that's not what love is all about" Mika murmured watching a gull fly over the relentless waters.
"I want to be the best for you" Raizo replied resting his chin on her head.
"Feeling a little sentimental this morning are we?" Mika raised an eyebrow. It was a bit unlike Raizo to really go full fledged with his emotions. She knew how he felt about her and they discussed their feelings for each other a lot. It was usually Mika who encouraged him to be open about his feeling, she was the one who usually led the way but now he was the one coming out in the open.
"I've never done this, I had to ask Ryan…and he was very ….helpful" he had a self conscious tone now.
"What did you and you partner in demolition Ryan discuss about me this time again?" Mika untangled herself from his hold and turned to face him. If she wasn't mistaken he seemed to be blushing or embarrassed about something.
"You're not going to laugh at me Mika are you" he said in exasperated tone.
"About what?" Mika had a small frown.
Raizo put his hand in his pocket took out a small, circular velvet lined case. Mika swallowed and felt her heart stop for a long moment. Raizo cautiously opened the small case and in it was ring. Mika gasped and looked up at him.
"I want you to be my wife Mika, I want us to be together as long as we live" Raizo said with a little embarrassment and out the gleaming platinum band, graced by a sparkling blue stone. He looked at Mika, whose cheeks were now wet from the tears that flowed from her eyes.
"Y—yes Rai, I'm want that too, yes!" she said half choking and half on the verge of just breaking into a scream of triumph. She outstretched her left hand for him and he slipped the ring on her finger. Mika studied it in awe, hardly able to believe it, and everything that had just happened.
"It's so beautiful Rai, oh my God" she gasped again.
"I—just thought it suited you" he smiled at her, his own eyes shining with triumph, like a man who had just won a hard fought battle.
"Rai, it's a blue diamond!" she exclaimed incredulously but happy at the same time. He just shrugged then he wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her. They took a long moment before breaking apart, sealing their newfound next step in their relationship. Mika had never seen Raizo as the type to buy a ring and propose, she had been ready for whatever way he wanted to be with her. She wanted to be with him and that was enough but this step he had taken was so brave of him and in her eyes it was a milestone.
In a flash Raizo had scooped her up in his arms and he rushed into the welcoming waves of the sea. He threw her into the water despite her protesting screams.
"Raizo, my clothes!"She exclaimed after breaking out on the surface spitting water.
He was laughing at her, it was such a harmonious sound and it was the best sound she had ever heard. He somehow looked childlike with an impish grin on his face. She jumped on him and dragged him down with her. Daylight had broken now as the two love birds pretended to wrestle in the water. She knew that she was match no for Raizo but he was letting her win anyway. They shared another long kiss amidst the giggles and finally trudged up back to their villa holding hands.
AN: without being too spoilery, but I think most of you have by now guessed what's next for Mika and Raizo. I would be happy to hear your contribution on who you think should design Mika's wedding gown. I'm looking forward to your responses