Chapter 6: Catching Your Fall

I felt a weight drop into my stomach as Taiga said this. Someone had taken out all of her savings? A million emotions sprang into me, fear, curiosity, anger… but I tried my best to cover those emotions, it wouldn't do Taiga any good to see me that way when she was already upset. Instead, I wrapped my arms around her and held her close to me. I felt her tighten her grip on my shirt as I did, and with a free hand, I gently stroked her hair. Yasuko looked as if she wanted to comfort Taiga as well, but decided for now, she needed me first.

"Hey" I said, "it's gonna be ok. I am right here, we are going to fix this. Everything is going t-"

"How?!" snapped Taiga, taking me by surprise, pushing me back and looking up at me with anger and tear filled eyes. "How is this all going to be ok?! I just said I lost everything! I have no money, what am I going to do about that?! I have payments I need to make! What can be done to fix what just-"

"I don't know how to fix it Taiga!" I said, cutting her off and taking her by surprise. I grabbed her shoulders so she would stay facing me. I didn't care if anyone was looking at us now, all I knew was that Taiga needed to snap out of this. "I have no idea what we can do about this, but all I know is that I am going to do what I can to figure it out. You say you lost everything? I think that's total bullshit! I'm still here aren't I? Yasuko is still here, right? If we aren't part of your 'everything', then I must have been pretty damn mistaken! I don't care about the money, Taiga, I care about you. We can still get by, but even without any money at all, as long as I go to bed knowing you are by my side and happy, then that is everything to me! I want you to know that." At this point, I lowered my voice to a more gentle tone, "Even with nothing in the world, having you will be everything for me… and as long as you are here, I will do everything I can to make sure you stay happy."

She was silent for a while, looking down at the sidewalk in front of her feet. I sighed and was close to letting go of her when she let out a soft, "You're right…"

She looked up at me, her eyes still wet with tears, but the anger had gone. She held a gentle smile on her face, her expression… loving. "You're right, Ryuuji… as you usually are… and here I am being selfish like always. To be honest, it wasn't even the money being gone that worked me over so badly… I guess it was the thought of it being gone so easily that shook me. I spent most of my life with only myself and my bank account to feel safe and secure, so much that the thought of losing what helped me to live alone was one of my worst fears. But… that changed when we started spending time together, because for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel so alone, like I had someone I could lean on should I ever need it. But I was still selfish… and even right now I haven't changed."

She began to tear up again, leaning her head onto my chest as she continued, holding back sobs;

"Every m-minute I am w-with you, I-I feel safe… I m-may never show it l-like I sh-should, but I do… I don't care about the money… I c-care about you R-R-Ryuuji… th-the thought of losing you… I… I… can't…"

"You are never going to lose me, Taiga." I said as I realized she wasn't going to be able to finish her sentence. She looked up at me again, tears pouring from her eyes as she bit her lip to keep from sobbing. I caressed her cheek with my hands, using a thumb to wipe away a falling tear as I leaned down and kissed her. I could feel her returning the kiss, as if she didn't want to forget the feeling of it. I smiled down at her and said, "Now, like I said, I got paid today, so tonight's dinner is gonna be your choice, so what would you like to have?"

Her lip quivered a bit and she leaned her head against my chest once again, but even then I could hear her slightly muffled response…

"H…H-hamburgers…*"

That night, I made western style hamburgers and French fries. They turned out pretty well, and I guess Taiga thought the same thing, as she tore through four of them without any kind of trouble. I could tell that she was still troubled, but she did her best to not show it. My thoughts had drifted back to earlier, just as we had finished with the shopping. Yasuko walked with Taiga back to the house so they could set up the kotatsu for dinner when I said I had one more errand to run…

I made my way to the bank where Taiga uses the ATM, heading to the front desk area. The lady was busy with some papers on her desk, so I said to her, "Excuse me, I need some help ma'am."

She looked up and flinched back, looking at me with fear. I was confused until I realized it must have been my eyes… dammit. "Wh-what do you n-need sir?" she stammered, not tearing her eyes away from me, making me slightly annoyed.

"My name is Ryuuji Takasu, and I need to report an issue that my fiancé had earlier today." I said to her, seeing her calm down when she realized I wasn't here to rob her. "I think someone cleared out her savings without her knowledge or consent, is there any way you can help us out with that?"

The lady thought a moment then began typing onto her computer. "Name of your fiancé please?"

"Taiga Aisaka."

A few more types into the computer, a few clicks and the lady pulled up her account information. Her expression changed a little as she then said, "I can see where the money was taken out, it was earlier today like you said, but the transaction was legal." She looked at my confused expression and continued, "Ms. Aisaka is not the only holder of this account, seeing as it was opened by her father a few years back. The transaction says here that it was used by his card, so there was no foul play or any kind of illegal transaction."

This made my heart skip a beat, did Taiga really never close that joined account with her dad? That klutz… that meant he could've cleared her out at any time… it was nothing more than a ticking time bomb…

"I am sorry that I can't be too much help, I would make a report with the police if I were you… oh, I can help you and your fiancé with one thing."

I looked at her curiously as she continued to say, "The transaction was done in one of our banks in the next town. There aren't many of ours, so I would assume he wouldn't stay far from where he could make the transaction."…

The paper of the next banks address rested in my pocket as I ate dinner that night. The thought of her own father taking her money out again… it took an effort to not get angry… the bastard. The last time he did this, he kept trying to contact her and get back in touch… just to desert her again. Now this time, he didn't even bother to call her. He was the most selfish man I had ever met, I felt sorry that Taiga had to deal with this…

'I promise Taiga' I said in my mind, 'I will not let something like this happen ever again…'

"Hey Ryuuji" said Taiga, taking me out of my trance. I looked over to see her… smiling at me… holding her plate to me and asking, "Mind if I have another?"

I couldn't help but smile back. This girl has been through all kinds of hell, even now, after over a year of not seeing or hearing from her father, he still managed to screw her over once again… and she still smiles. I handed her another patty, taking the last one for myself so we wouldn't have to deal with leftovers. I thought to the small box that was hiding in my pocket, the gift I had for Taiga. Something told me that right now, it wouldn't be the time to give it to her. Knowing her, it would be a lot like the first time I said I loved her… I would have to find the right time and place.

Taiga and I cleaned the dishes and soon enough we were in the room gathering our clothes for our baths. I guess it was out of habit that I took my day shirt off as I gathered my pajamas, but I looked over to see Taiga staring… blushing at me. I raised a curious eyebrow when I noticed why she was getting flustered.

"Oh come on Taiga, it's not like you haven't seen me shirtless before."

"I know that!" said Taiga, her blush deepening as she squeezed her eyes shut, "Its… just that… it was in a public place… not alone with you…" When she explained it, I guess she had a point, but that only made me chuckle. I sat down on my nearby chair and looked at her as she opened her eyes slightly.

"Come here" I said, extending a hand out to her. She looked at me like I was insane for a second, but took a breath and shuffled over to me, taking my hand. With a playful smirk, I pull her toward me and wrap my arms around her waist. She let out a small 'eep' before my lips met hers. She had tensed for a few seconds before relaxing into my embrace, wrapping her arms around my neck. As we continued to kiss, I could feel her pressing her body against me, feeling the fabric of her shirt against my bare skin. Her hand ran across my chest as her other hand made its way to the back of my head, her fingers closing on my hair as her kissed intensified.

With a small breath, she pushed back a little, I could tell she was thinking something, it was in her eyes. Her fingers played with the bottom of her shirt a little before she took in a deep breath and pulled it over her head and let it fall to the ground. Time seemed to have stood still at this moment, completely unexpected by me. I couldn't help but match her blush as she looked down at the ground. After a few seconds, she wrapped her arms to cover her bra as she said;

"I know what you'll say… I'm not like other girls who actually have a figure… I'm nothing but an underdeveloped, flat chested girl…"

"Stop that, Taiga." I said with a strong and stern tone. She looked up at me with wider eyes, waiting for me to continue. "If that was what I cared about, do you really think you would be here with me right now? I didn't fall in love with a figure, I fell in love with you, Taiga. I care about you, Taiga. To me, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, and you will always be that to me. Now come back here." I finished, holding out my hand once more.

She looked like she was thinking of something to say, but came up with nothing. Instead, she gave me her loving gaze once more, taking my hand and wasting no time with coming close to me again. Eventually, she sat herself on my lap as we kissed. I could feel an almost yearning in her kiss, trying to get her fill of affection that I could only give… it was the same with me for her.

'I will always be yours, Taiga. Through thick and thin I will stay by your side… to catch you should you fall, to pick you up when you are down. We will get through what happened, together…'

*Unlike American Style hamburgers (which is what he ended up making anyway but this is a good education point) Japanese style 'hamburgers' actually are quite different. First, they do not use buns or any traditional sense of condiments that we are familiar with. The hamburgers are served as the dish itself usually with a sauce to go over it, usually the sauce consists of red wine, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, etc. The hamburgers are usually served in ball form so they are more easily picked up and eaten with chopsticks!

Yeah remember when I said that I would update this quickly? That was a lie. I sorry :( But I am pretty happy with this chapter! Got a little bit going on with the father, and it was mostly gonna be about how Ryuuji is gonna react with these situations. More will definitely happen in the next chapter, and be prepared for Minori to come back for it! Until Next time!