"You told me! You told me that you would take responsibility!" A tear rolled in streams on her face.

Souji's eyes narrowed by the sound of the word, said with her shivering voice and pierced by her tearful eyes. It's the same big word that he told her in the same manner as she's doing to him now. It's the same big word he wanted to assure her. But the same big word he failed to comply.

For one of the things that Souji wanted during the year he stayed here was to protect Yukiko and give his love to her as freely as he could. But he blew up his chance four years ago when he failed to do such just because of a day's worth of rage and jealousy, and a year's worth of confused romancing. He thought he already lost the chance years ago.

But now she's offering it back to him. He's not sure how to put sense to it, how on earth can he take responsibility when she's someone else's already. Well, it doesn't matter now. What he needed was her to say it. And as she did, it stirred up flamed arousal in him—this time it's burned up not by lust, but with love…passion to make it up and fervor to show her how much he wants it too.

She's right. I really did say that.

Souji raised his neck to kiss her, needier than he'd ever been. Then he gently rolled them both to the side just so he'd be on top of her now. He started thrusting again and it could only be too much for his already sensitive cock. He buried his face on to Yukiko's neck, groaning and sweating, as the feeling of floating into the air crept back to tremble his sensitive nerves.

"S-souji…?" Yukiko moaned his name but in a sound that seemed to be surprised of his sudden want. Nevertheless, it's not as if she will stop him. As he thrust inside of her, rubbing and hitting all her sweet spots, Yukiko felt her own want, slowly building up and tightening down her navel and her thighs. She tied her legs on the back of his waist, just to force him deeper, her hands clutched harder to his embrace and she moaned his name again—tickling his eardrums as if telling him to unwound that tingling knot of pleasure that both of them oh so wanted to be released.

"Oh god, Yukiko, Oh Oh Ohhhh" Souji could no longer think straight, he could no longer sound comprehensible, he could no longer perk his eyes open, and he could only hug into her tighter while his breathing became gasps and his hips can no longer take control. Warm, slick and slippery, he pushed into her again and again, knowing he had hit something sweet hearing Yukiko's quickened gasps and strangled moans. And as he hit that spot again and again, faster and faster, he knew that he had finally brought her to heaven when she bucked into him and trembled, moaning his name.

Souji kept moving inside her so desperately and groaned incomprehensibly just for a few more seconds until her tighter clamping took him over his limit. That one last thrust made him freeze and that delicious sensation that built up by his quick and uneven strokes, had finally released, spilling his hot seed inside Yukiko. Both of them trembled and he laid on top of her, wheezing, still bucking, but spent.

When he caught his breath, and his involuntary jerking subsided, he planted one wet kiss on her neck that was already raining in sweat. He rolled to the side, finally drawing his softened member out of her, and raised an arm over his eyes, while his mind became blinded with a temporary shut-down.

Yukiko was still breathing hard but when she finally got her rhythm back, she reached to Souji's chest, gently feeling it first. Soon after, she dragged her torso, feeling so heavy, then rested her head to snuggle on his chest. She didn't want to move her waist-down yet, it still felt numb from their heavenly tryst. She laid her face on his sweaty shirt, and thought about touching his nipple, but then again she felt a little bit nicer as not to tease him again. She just kept rubbing on Souji's chest then, calming him down, and just enjoying the feeling of contact. After a minute or so, she felt his hand, doing the same to her hair. Just patting her head, then sliding it down her long, black, dampened locks.

"Souji" She called him by name, as intimate as before whenever they're alone. "You didn't...you didn't hear me out before and, uhm this may be four years too late but…" Yukiko tilted her head to look up to him. "…I love you too."

She wasn't sure if he's listening. He looks like he's asleep and his arm is covering his eyes while the other had stopped gliding her head. It's fine. She smile weakly, and kissed his chest, even through his drenched shirt, then rested her head back there again. But as soon as she did, it was as if a cord snapped in Souji. Inadvertently, he rose his chest up, causing Yukiko to roll off of him. When he stabilized, he stood up and walked a few steps away until Yukiko demanded he stops. "W-wait! Souji-kun?!"

"I don't deserve it." He looked down where his forgotten pants and boxers are. "I'm sorry…but…I don't think…I deserve your love…" He stammered, trying to look for words.

"What?" Yukiko couldn't believe. Is this rejection after all this time?

"…Not after what happened. And I'm sorry! I guess even my feet brought me back in Inaba….I wanted to apologize for my mistake." He finally added. But even his admission didn't relieve him from the heaviness he remembered out of that last night he had here.

"That day…when I walked home, I heard rumors…and they're about me." She ignored him and voiced herself, in spite. "I guess they were saying that I was silent on the outside…but a whore deep down." Yukiko forced a smirk. "While I wouldn't have really taken that to heart…I happened to hear this conversation of an old salesman and someone else. They said my family had engaged me to some guy, to cover up my bad reputation. That salesman was just delivering something at the inn that morning so I thought my father has really talked about having me engaged already. Knowing my father, that's totally nearly possible. So I ran, I didn't want to go back to the inn yet. I just walked and walked until it rained then I got soaked." She slumped back down, looking directly at the ceiling.

Souji subtly picked up his pants. But he's still listening to her, intently. He clutched on his clothes hard when Yukiko resumed talking.

"It's pathetic but…I wanted for you to take care of me that time…Even if I knew you were going home soon…and even if I'm not even sure how you felt towards me." Yukiko giggled weakly, remembering the good old days of her puppy love towards him. That once she has been one of his fans. Then her giggling turned in to a smile, "Then it happened between us. But it was because I was ashamed of myself and was still bothered by the rumor that I cried. It's not because I hated it." Yukiko shook her head ever so lightly that the sheets under her head, didn't even give a sound.

Souji was not amused though. He had already put up his pants then he turned to her. His voice is pitched and slightly tensed, "Even so! It's not an excuse for me to-"

"But then, you told me you love me!" Yukiko lifted her chest to face him, returning the same tone of desperate plea as she clutched on the comforter covering her breasts. "And now you know that I…that…that I've loved you too…" She looked down this time, obviously trying to hide a blush that has been dimmed by the lack of light anyway. "And I'm glad…that you were my first…I still think so, even now."

Souji felt his own face heat up. Standing there with mouth agape, he couldn't even force words out anymore. It was the lightest feel of heaven when he heard what Yukiko said. It's as if a big boulder from his chest has been extricated right then and there. All these years, he never thought he'd ever be relieved of such pain, that there'd never be a cure to his damaged person, and he has to live on for more years suffering from it every single day. And even if he punished himself mentally or physically; even if he kneeled down before her and accept an excruciating rejection; even if he'd go to the mountains and live as a monk in penance….he'd never live the way he did before it happened between them. And that he'll never deserve to love her, no matter how much he still does even until now. But he was wrong after all. Yukiko brought him back to his ground, just like that, like nothing, just so simply and calmly, just with her words and presence—the same way she put him in heaven and in hell.

Souji could not fathom, that however indignant he had acted towards her...Chances are, Yukiko loves him the way he does her. He never would've guessed.

In silence, he walked straight towards the door and slid it open.

"Souji?! Where are you going?! Hey!" She called.

He paused for a moment to completely buckle back his pants, then walked out to the hallway without looking back. Yukiko immediately jumped to her feet, grabbing her bra and dress by the edge of the door, then hurriedly put on both to catch up to him.

By the end of the hallway, the elevator door just opened, and Souji slipped inside. Yukiko managed to follow before the door closed. She's gasping for air, and her shaky hands are still fidgety in clasping her bra on the back. But then the elevator door opened again and Souji slipped outside to the first floor, leaping away without looking back at her.

She walked hurriedly towards him again, "Stop! Souji! Wait! Where are you-?!"

Souji turned left, to the familiar hallway where they dined with friends earlier this evening. "To see your dad. The office is this way, right?" He didn't even wait for her answer, he was so sure of what he's doing. "I'm going to kneel before him and ask him to call it off."

"Call…it…off?" She asked breathily, trying to catch up with his steps.

They can already hear the clatter near the end of the hallway, familiar voices and laughter of their friends from inside the second dining room. It was getting louder and louder with each step, especially when the group left the shoji doors hanging open.

"Your marriage! I'll handle everything. If you don't let me do that then I-!" He's almost there. Ignoring the party going on inside the dining hall, Souji looked straight at the door after it which was clearly the Amagi's Office.

"Oh." She stopped walking and just stood calmly before the opened shoji doors of the dining room, "That was a lie."

Souji almost slipped. He's not even sure if he heard it right but it got him tripping down on his own feet. Good thing he regained balance before his face would've dropped down the floor.

That was a what?!

"Hey bro! Come on! You got everybody waiting for you!" Yosuke called on from the opened shoji door of their dining hall. Everybody else inside turned to the door, then noticed Souji passing. Rise and Teddie squealed and jumped on their feet to rush towards Souji, smothering him with embraces.

Both of them dragged Souji inside and Yosuke was walking towards them too but he has his arm splayed on the shoulder of an older man, and holding a drink. His other hand is holding another glass, as if offering it to Souji, then he saw Yukiko who had just walked on in to join them too.

"Yukkiko-san!" Yosuke greeted, his grin ever so evident of his subtle alcohol influence. "You didn't tell me your old man is such a cool dude!"

"Well I'm kinda no stranger to that." Kanji interjected as he gulped his own glass in one shot. "When I was small, Amagi-san has always encouraged me to play it rough and tough…'s why I go with my Ma every time for deliveries at the Inn when I was a kid."

"Hmmnn" Yukiko giggled. "I told you, if you'd be too loud, he'd go crashing in to the party." She went past Souji, who's been entangled to Rise and Teddie, and walked straight to Yosuke and her dad.

"Why hello my princess!" The old man gleefully greeted. His cheeks cherry red, and with an inebriated voice. Yukiko still kissed him, lovingly on his cheek. She always has been the daddy's little girl.

Souji just froze in space upon realization of who the old man is. He couldn't even think straight when Chie (or was it Naoto) had to ask him: "So, did you two make out okay?"

And as if the old man heard the question darted to Souji, he hugged his daughter, then asked the similar. "You two made out okay, huh princess? Did you get me a son in law?"

Yukiko chuckled as she hugged back, then she pushed away, still all smiles, and said in a cheery but hushed voice, "Yup! I got him."

Her voice may be soft but it was enough to blow the soul out of Souji. He gulped and he's now flooding in cold sweat, feeling so alienated about the conversation. His mind is all on a jumble and he couldn't comprehend what's going on. What's this? A reality TV? Is there a camera somewhere filming my reaction on how much of a fool I will get?

"Woohooo! Ha ha! You're easy partner!" Yosuke cheered as he raised his glass with the old man.

Yukiko's father just gulped his glass, but laughing at the same time. "Easy! Ha Ha! I told you! Those city boys…fall in one shot!" He said in between hiccups.

"Hey, that's dirty father." Yukiko reprimanded, then raised a hand to cover her mouth. But no one could deny the tone of amusement in her voice. Yosuke scratched the back of his head in agreement to Yukiko. His own words have boomeranged at him in just mere seconds. He pouted, then whispered a complaint, "Hey, I wasn't that easy Amagi-san…!" It earned him a laugh from the men. Then it drowned the room with laughter.

But Souji could hear, Rise's disappointed grumble despite that, as her grip from Souji's arm loosened, but not as to let go. "What?!" She sighed. "Naoto going over a date with Kanji was so two weeks ago; even busting Yosuke-kun and Chie-senpai's secret relationship is already soooo one hour ago. Tsk. And now, the latest will be an engagement…"

Yosuke and Chie?! B-b-bbut waitasecond...! What?! I'm engaged? Well…not that I'm against it…In fact I'm all for it…but…I don't really remember asking yet for….

"Sensei! We're going to a wedding? I've never been to one before!" Teddie jumped in excitement, causing Souji's arm to go up and down along.

Slowly, the rest of them walked to Souji to give him cheerful compliments. Kanji raised a glass and even messed Souji's dampen gray hair with his big hand, like to a kid who did something good, "'Grats senpai! Yer always a hundred steps ahead of us aren't cha?"

"Best wishes." Naoto said, raising her own glass then gulped it on her own.

"Ha-ha! Good timing Souji-kun! That saved my ass, Congrats!" Chie grinned and nudged him by the elbow.

But Yukiko just bowed down to his father then turned to everyone, announcing she's resigning first. "I'll go ahead to rest. Everyone, please continue having fun, okay? Dad heartily welcomes you all to stay for the night…let the storm pass and take your time with the party. O yasumi nasai!" She bowed down before walking away.

"Wait, Yukiko!" Souji spoke for the first time in a couple of minutes. Yukiko didn't stop walking and was already out so Teddie and Rise did the courtesy of letting Souji go, so he can catch up. He leaped outside the room and ran towards the corner of the hallway, just in time to call for Yukiko's attention again before she could go inside the elevator.

He huffed a few heavy breaths then asked, "So, you mean it's a lie? You weren't about to get married?"

Yukiko turned to him, then bluntly said, "Yup. I mean…it was just a rumor that died a week ago. I don't know who told you about it though…my dad just wanted me to get married, then words got exaggerated, that's all."

"Yeah. But still—well, uh, it was Chie…and you know she'd tell Yosuke, and you know he'd relay it to me…so, you should've stopped her…I mean…you didn't have to end up lying about it."

"Hmm." Yukiko pressed the button of the elevator, before thinking about her answer carefully, bringing her index finger to her chin then wrinkled her forehead as she did. But she already knew the answer ever since then. Instantaneously, she looked at him again, with pouted lips and crossed arms, "Well...that's because you never came back here!"

Souji sheepishly scratched the back of his neck, then looked down, trying to conceal his blush that is ever so clear under the bright lighting of the hallway. "Even so…"

Yukiko stepped closer to him to reach for his free hand, then she squeezed it into hers, "You wouldn't come back to me if it weren't something so threatening as that, would you?" She giggled. It was easier since he's looking down but Yukiko still needed to tiptoe to nuzzle her nose with him. Souji's blush grew heavier, she could tell with the heat, even if she's closing her eyes.

The bell rang and at the same time, the elevator door opened "Now go on…have fun on your welcome party..." She let go of his hand, then stepped inside of the lift. She waved at the frozen Souji, who's obviously befuddled the way he forgot to respond before the door closes.

He stood there, thinking things through, and having freed of the heavy feelings of resentment while doing so. He never felt so relieved and carefree in the entirety of his four years, until tonight. He inhaled a good batch of air in, then straightened his stance, smiling as he started to walk again, slowly, towards the dining hall.

But before he got near the proximity of the noisy room, a rush of footsteps coming from behind got his attention again. And as he stared towards the coming of those steps, he saw Yukiko jogging towards him. "I…forgot…something" She said in between breaths as she stood right before him. "Souji…" Yukiko raised her hand to the back of his head, to lower his face down, then gave him a kiss, sweet and lingering on the cheek. "Good night!" It was sensational. Her signature goodnight that always leave Souji blushing and dumbfounded, while she jogs away again, trailing the scent of lavender on her hair.

He pressed his hand where her soft lips had just graced with a kiss. Then just like a child, he pressed that hand on his own lips, hypothetically transferring their seal of passion to a better spot. And in between his lips and fingers, he whispered, "Good night, my love."

...

Then a champagne bottle popped behind him, and a clatter of his friends cheered him on, blowing their party whistles and string of confettis, slapping his back and some dragging him inside the dining hall again, and making congratulatory noises. Souji just dragged his fingers to massage his forehead but smiling, then shook his head as a small laugh of amusement threatened to creep in.

Things are just starting to get better from her.

Author's Note: Walah! Is it better to cut the sex scene in half? Or would you have preferred them to finish the chapter before?

Well, I thought of dividing it, because of the swift changes of mood. From gloom to somewhat a humor/fun sort of ending.

This is the last chapter. But I thought I could move on some more...

Well, I'd see first if there are actually readers of this fic who'd grow interest on what happens to them afterwards…then i will continue, i guess.

I've gotta weigh possibilities and options. I hope you had a good read so far!

Let me know what you think :)