Disclaimer: see chapter one

Author's Note: I decided that this will be a Zane/Kari fluff and what goes on at the later part of the chapter isn't my idea.

Chapter 23: Comfort

Kari was walking in the streets of Tokyo, with her hands in her pockets, thinking about the scenario that happened this morning. Kira, her little sister, she never got to know her and had only Yusuke with her all those times. It made her mad that her father would take her away from her and Yusuke.

Before her stood five guys standing in a row, most of them with their arms folded over their chests. One with a piece of hay in his mouth, who in the middle, smirked. "Well, what do ya' think we got ere', boys? It's the little bitch, who gave me this mark!" he sneered, pointing at the right side of his forehead.

Kari remembered him, it was the same one, who she, Yusuke and Syrus encountered, before they painted the Truesdale's house, "The reason why I kick your face was to see if I could make you even uglier than you were before," Kari sneered, putting the emphasis on uglier, "Guess I was wrong. Now, leave before I make you and your goon squad uglier than you all already are."

The leader of the gang growled, "You little bitch!" he lunged himself at Kari, but the brunette simply maneuvered out of the way and tripped the leader, with her foot, making him topple over for his face to hit the ground.

Just then, the gang members took out their switch blade knives and lunged at Kari.

A few moments later, Kari was walking away from the thugs, who were lying on the ground with bruises on their faces, while unconscious.

Kari's legs led her to the Truesdale residence and she knocked on the door. To answer it was Zane, "Hikari…..um…what brings you here?" he asked, taking in Kari's features. She was wearing a red skirt to the knee, pink shirt, denim jacket and white socks and sneakers.

Kari walked in the house, "Oh I was just in the neighborhood," she walked into the house and Zane closed the door, "Are you alone here?"

Zane choked and blushed at that question, "Uh….yes!" he answered

It was Kari's turn to blush, "Oh well……I guess should…keep you some company," she said, playing with the hem of her jacket, "So I see that the paint is dry around here and you guys unpacked."

"Yeah," Zane replied, as his cheeks turned pink, "Thanks for the help."

"No problem." Kari said. The brunette blushed at the next question that she was going to asked and knowing that Zane's maturity behavior too well, "Can…we got to your room to get more privacy so we can talk?" she asked

Zane nodded, "Sure," as he and Kari went to Zane's room and Zane closing the door.

"You're frustrated that your father kept your sister, Kira, away from you and Yusuke aren't you?"

Kari was shocked, ignoring the faint pink on her cheeks, "How did you know?"

"Your mom was here earlier to pick up my mother for a day in the town and explained the story."

Kari grimaced and sighed as she made her way to Zane's bed and sat on it. She bowed her head down, for the bangs to cover her brown eyes. Zane came closer to Kari and sat at the right of her, "What is it?" he asked, wrapping his arms around the brunette.

In response, Kari wrapped her arms around Zane's neck and buried her face on his shoulder, "It was very wrong of him to take away my sister away from us, because supposed that she died and we never got to spend anytime with her. I wondered where was she this whole time." She whispered

Zane rubbed circles on Kari's back, "I'm sorry, Kari."

Kari was stunned and pulled back to meet with Zane's blue eyes, "Did you just call me by my nickname?" she asked

Zane realized, what he's done, "I wonder when……you'll start calling me that……ever since we were kids," Kari said, while lowering her head to hide the pink blush and looked into Zane's blue eyes with a smile.

Zane's heart stopped, when he saw Kari's smile, it felt so warm. Their faces were an inch apart, 1 inch, ½ inch, ¼ inch, their eyes were closing, finally Zane pressed his lips confidently onto Kari's. Pulling away, they opened their eyes and Zane was a little mortified at this, "Sorry….um……I didn't mean for that……" Zane was cut off when Kari pulled the blunette's face to hers, touching his lips with hers and pulled back, "You know……I kinda……like that kiss." Kari said, with a little pink on her cheeks and a smile.

Zane smiled back, "The same with me."

Kari gripped her arms around Zane's neck, started playing with his blue hair as Zane pressed his lips upon hers and Kari returned the kiss, until they finally closed their eyes and connected with each other. Zane's tongue glazed onto Kari's bottom lip, which made the pony tailed girl open her mouth and which allowed the blunette to place his tongue in her mouth, wanting to taste her.

Kari moaned as her and Zane's tongues wrestled with one another. To them, this was their first kiss ever in their lives and they were enjoying it. Kari buried her fingers in Zane's hair, while Zane's hand seek warmth in Kari's jacket and gently rubbing her back. Zane and Kari weren't even thinking anymore, they were completely lost in each other's passion. Zane pulled Kari's jacket away from her shoulders and threw it away. He wanted to touch her so badly, so he ran his hands up inside Kari's shirt caressing her back and inhaling her scent.

Kari purred and felt relax as she felt Zane's hands on her back. Kari broke away from the kiss, "You know that if we're kissing like this, we're officially a couple, right?"

Zane smiled, "Yes, I do and I wouldn't want it any other w..." Kari pressed her lips onto Zane's to shut him up.