A soft rumble down the road startles Ryoshi and me. A squealing, rusting, maroon pick-up truck spins into the driveway of Ryoshi's empty house, jolting to a frantic stop. Ryoshi's grandfather, his white beard poofing out behind his scarf, cranks down his window and yells at us, "I'm here, kids! Get in! Quickly now!"

Ryoshi and I pile into his back seat, the cracked and faded gray car seat cushions squeaking under my knee caps as I crawl in, Ryoshi darting in after me. I plot into my seat without time for buckling up and my body bangs against Ryoshi's as his Grandfather hits the gas, and with a coughing thrust the truck shoots forward. Ryoshi and I crash into the back of the front seats and the wind is squeezed from my excited lungs in a gasp. And then the little plantation house is a nostalgic blur as we rocket away from it, the truck sputtering with age, the forest scenery smeared and flying.

"Whoa… uh, we did it," I observe. "We actually did it. God." I stare into Ryoshi's emerald eyes. And we both grin.

I can't remember when I've felt so freaking alive! The rush of the moment flies through my body and I suddenly roll down my stained window and lean my head out of it, feeling my bronze hair stream out as the wind roars in my ears. I stare back at the house, getting smaller and smaller and I can't resist—it's really stupid and totally embarrassing, but I let out a huge howl! I smile so big my face hurts and I laugh until my stomach hurts.

We made it. This is the single most amazing moment of my life. I actually did it.

When I remember where I am and how retarded I probably look, I duck my head back inside and turn my coffee-colored eyes, shyly, to Ryoshi. His eyes smile at me, and suddenly he begins to laugh.

"I can't believe this, Ryoko! I'll never forget this. I'll never forget this for the rest of my life."

"Damn right, you won't," says his Grandfather from the front seat. "After it's all over I'll have a heart attack and die! You kids are stressing me out," he says playfully. "I haven't been this excited in twenty years."

Ryoshi laughs softy.

"Sorry Grandfather."

"No… It's a good thing. It's been a while since anything real has happened to me. I spend all day watching over plants, for God's sake," he huffs cheerily.

"I guess you could say… I'm quite pleased to be a part of it."

I tear my gaze away from Ryoshi and look at the window, heart soaring. The sun is setting in a deep blue sky, the Indian red sunlight cutting through the violets and pinks like the sky is ripped open and heaven is spilling out. The light fills Ryoshi's eyes and shines out of them, a jade fire. When I turn to look he is staring at me.

I look away slightly, a pink blush rising on my cheeks involuntarily. Ryoshi's right hand twitches, and for a moment he hesitates—and then, his fingers are tracing the top of my left hand, and without thinking, I turn my palm over, and his fingers lace through mine.

My face burns, and I'm suddenly afraid that the moment will be awkward, just as Ryoshi's grandfather says, "Oh, rats." The truck hacks and gasps, and then we begin to slow.

"This piece of work!" His grandfather curses, and bangs a wrinkled fist on the dashboard.

"Are we gonna make it into the city?" asks Ryoshi.

"Seems unlikely—the old girl can only take so much. She needs gas, and a good night's rest." He pops the clutch and twists the keys in the ignition stubbornly. The truck spits.

"We'll stay at a hotel in the next town. If I can get her started it'll only be about thirty minutes."

He stomps on the gas.

"Come on, you!"

The truck shudders to life right on cue, and lurches forward.

"There's a gas station in town, I'm sure. We'll stop there and then find a place, yeah?"

"Yeah, sure Grandfather."

The fist thing I think is, OK, but where am I gonna sleep?

Somehow Ringo's voice pops into my head. Why, you'll share with Ryoshi of course!

I blush. He—hell no…

Well it's not like you haven't done it before.

"It's okay Ryoko, I'll sleep on the floor. You can have the second bed," Ryoshi says kindly, answering my question before I even ask.

"Oh, um. Thanks. But… that doesn't sound very comfortable."

. "No, its okay. I'll be fine, as long as you've got a nice place to stay."

I blush again. I want to say, No, I want you to be comfortable, I want to share… But the thought embarrasses me way too much, and anyway his Grandfather is right there. Awkward.

And… how much I like the idea of cuddling with Ryoshi in a soft bed makes me wanna punch myself. I'm just like a girl in one of Yukime's romances.

"How do you think they're doing at the house right now?" asks Ryoshi suddenly. Huh? Oh right. Jared and Amaterasu. Already that feels like a million years ago.

"I'm not worried about it," I lie. "Those two can handle it, and anyway, I'm sure once her temper calms down things will be easier. So I guess you finished the letter, huh?"

Ryoshi nods. "I'm not sure how good it was, but I tried my best. I guess all we can do is hope for the best." And then he squeezes my hand lightly.

"Oh, you'll be fine," sighs his Grandfather, tapping the leather seating wheel softly.

"Mai has always had a bad temper, but once the initial fire passes she has a good judgement. I think this is in your favor. Besides, a few obstacles are to be expected, but they'll pass. After all, 'the course of true love never did run smooth" or whatever that Shakespeare guy said."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Fifteen minutes later a sign whips past my window that says NEXT EXIT—LEFT, and suddenly, we've made it to town. I recognize a few of the country style buildings from my trip down to the house three weeks ago—a family owned restaurant, a store or two, and a very small, very plain motel, right across the street from (yay) a gas station.

The shadow of the truck rolls across the parking lot. Ryoshi's grandfather spins the steering wheel, and our ride yanks itself into the station, pulling into the gas outlet closest to the entrance of the cute convince store neighboring the station.

Our bodies jolt as the truck stops with a clunk. Ryoshi's grandfather climbs out and leans into my open window.

"Why don't you both go into that store and get us some food while I take care of this?"

He digs his hand into his baggy pocket and pulls out a creased 500 yen fold. He hands it to me.

"Hurry up now."

Ryoshi and I scoot out of the car, me after him, and I hop out, stretching my cramping legs. The sun is almost completely gone, the dying light surrounding us in a warm, content glow. Ryoshi pushes back his bangs slightly, and his handsome face turns toward the store as we stroll toward it.

The inside of the store is as common as they all are. The overhead ceiling lights are too harsh, shining down on isles of over priced snacks, sunglasses, and I went to Japan and all I got was a T-shirt crappy souvenir gifts.

"Ryoko, what would you like?" he asks politely.

"Oh I don't care. Just… some chips I guess. What does your grandfather like?"

"He's on some kind of weird seaweed diet thing right now," answers Ryoshi, shrugging with a my relatives are weirdos smile.

"I'll see if I can find some. Meet me at the counter?" I say.

"Yeah."

We buy our stuff (two bags of chips, a pack of strawberry Poki, and a tin of dried salted seaweed) and with a ding! as the door opens, we walk back outside, me carrying the little bag.

Already the sun is gone. A single fluorescent lamp illuminates the entrance to the store, flies darting around it. It is dark, but not pitch black. A soft, velvety night.

I take a step towards the station, where the car is waiting. A hand suddenly catches my wrist.

"Ryoko?"

I turn around.

He doesn't let go of me. My heart flutters, and, watching him with my soft gaze, looking deep into those beautiful eyes I love, I mutter, "… Yes?"

Ryoshi pulls me near, hands caressing my waist, near my back, and kisses me.

I gasp against his mouth, and my eyes close automatically as the kiss deepens, his lips gentle but insistent, warm, and I'm rising out of my body, flying and pulled down Earth with him all at once. His embrace tightens (or is it mine?) And I drop the bag of our snacks, my arms draped over his neck like in the movies—only this isn't a movie, its Ryoshi and I, and God I love him. We press as close as possible, so close I can't tell us apart. I kiss back, and he's holding me so tightly I'm dipped slightly backwards, swept literally off my feet, and when we finally break apart I'm breathless and my heart a million miles off the ground, humming with ecstasy. My face flushes deeply as his lips travel down my neck lightly, our bodies still connected, and he kisses me there softly, before returning to my parted lips.

I can't contain a sigh, and Ryoshi responds eagerly, kissing me deeper, and the world is spinning around me as I kiss back just as eagerly, the warmth of his body spreading all through me, love swirling in my chest, my head, my fingers, until I can't move and my legs are shaking—but that doesn't stop me from kissing back, and I realize I love Ryoshi more than anyone, anything, and I never could feel any different, for the rest of my life, than I do at this moment, and when our lips separate, so does my heart, and it becomes his.