Love Is All You Need

Natsumi stared at the mistress, gaping at the news she had just received.

"Sorry, Natsumi. I guess I won't be able to see your baby after all," the mistress said sadly.

"...I don't believe it..." Natsumi whispered as she sat down on the couch.

"Well, I guess I should have expected this. Besides, hopefully, they won't be bothering you anymore. Another bad thing is that this house will be cleared and another successor will rule. So, I advise you not to go anywhere near this place again," the mistress tells Natsumi.

"You're awfully calm about this." Natsumi observed.

"Are you kidding me? I am freaking out inside."

But no one knew but them- and that was what the mistress hated the most.

Miya stared at the text she had just received.

They're awake.

Currently, Amemiya and her are running towards the house. Miya had to beg her grandmother to let her go with Amemiya to their friend's house. Her grandmother was skeptical at first, but after lots of whining from Miya, she eventually had to let her go- so long as the two kept safe. Amemiya and Miya were blushing by that point.

"Come on, Amemiya!" Miya shouted at him as they continued running.

Amemiya huffed, "I'm doing my best."

Miya shoots a smile at him.

"Can't you use your powers or anything?" Miya asked.

"You should know that my powers are limited to sunlight." Amemiya said.

"Well, then, faster!" Miya exclaimed.

They ran faster towards the house. Grins illuminated their faces as they continued on faster, relieved that their friends are safe.

Kairi gave a grin at Hakuryuu who was blushing too much.

"Aw, you didn't have to be so worried, Hakuryuu." Kairi said as she continued nibbling her sandwich.

It had been a few hours after she woke up and a few hours after Hakuryuu was caught holding her hand. Kairi wouldn't let anyone know, but she found her heart fluttering when Hakuryuu's hand was on hers. She really like his warmth, he was like the sun to her darkness...

That sounded cheesy.

"You should have seen yourself! You looked so helpless and..." Hakuryuu trailed off and sighed.

"I'm sorry to worry you." Kairi murmured.

Hakuryuu offered a smile and they sat in a comfortable silence.

Kairi decided to break it by asking, "So, what about the others? Are they fine?"

"Well, including you, Kira, Fujisaki and Hyyuga were in a coma-like state. They all woke up, though." Hakuryuu said.

"That's a relief." Kairi said and took another bite of the sandwich.

Hakuryuu simply stared at her and that made Kairi conscious. She asked, "Is there something in my face? You keep looking at me."

"I don't know, maybe." Hakuryuu said with a smile.

"What? Oh shit..." Kairi said and tried to wipe her face for any embarrassing crumbs or anything else.

"Relax," Hakuryuu laughed, "There's nothing on your face, I swear."

"You're mean." Kairi frowned and stopped fiddling with her face. She coughed, "Then why were you looking at me?"

"I don't know. I just can't look away." Hakuryuu said casually.

Kairi blushed red as she looked down. Her heart fluttered with his compliment and she wished it didn't.

"Hey, are you okay? You look a little red," Hakuryuu chuckled evilly.

"You're a douche." Kairi said and looked away from him, embarrassed that she fell for the joke.

Hakuryuu looked at her and said, "I wasn't kidding when I said I can't look away. You're really beautiful to look at."

Kairi blushed a deeper shade of red. She stuttered, "S-stop! You're such an ass!"

Hakuryuu laughed and smiled cheekily.

The two sat in another round of comfortable silence again.

Then, they decided to play a game of Go Fish. With how many rounds, Hakuryuu kept winning and Kairi kept complaining that he rigged the game. Finally, after a game, Kairi won and she wouldn't stop cheering about it.

"I won! Ha, take that Hakuryuu!" Kairi exclaimed happily.

"Anything for the girl I like." Hakuryuu said casually.

And Kairi turned red yet again.

"I really meant that, you know," Hakuryuu said.

Kairi knew, and that's what made her blush turn worse.

Ai didn't feel eating at all.

She didn't feel talking and moving, too. She stayed on her bed, laying down with her eyes on the ceiling for how many minutes.

Kariya found her like that when he entered. He was the first one to find her awake and the only one to stay with her even if she's motionless. Kariya didn't really panic or anything and knew that she just needed some space. That's what Ai like about Kariya.

"Hey," Kariya greeted and sat down on his chair. He held out a glass of water and explained, "You should drink."

Ai shook her head.

Kariya sighed and put down the glass. He said, "You should really drink. You really look pale, you know."

Ai didn't answer.

"I know you're just in shock. I don't know what you've been through, but could you at least move a little? You're kinda scaring me here." Kariya confessed as he looked down at his friend.

Without saying anything, Ai sat up and took the glass of water. She drank a sip, but that was enough for Kariya to breath a sigh in relief. Ai stared at the glass before remembering her flashback. Her mother abandoning her, the kids all looking deathly scared of her and... the helplessness she generally just felt during those days. She couldn't help but let out a tear.

Kariya took the glass away from her and placed a hand on her back. He said, "Hey, it's okay. You're here now, you're not alone."

This side of Kariya was rare and Ai appreciated that he showed it right now. A lot of people who knew Kariya turned the other way so they wouldn't meet him at all. Ai hated how they treated Kariya because she knew there was more to him than that...

Ai did the most unlike thing for her to do, she hugged Kariya.

Kariya didn't look surprised and simply kept murmuring comforting things. He rubbed her back as they hugged and Ai let out the few tears that she had been holding. Kariya said, "It's gonna be fine. Just let it all out."

Ai sniffed, "I ruined your shirt."

Kariya smiled and said, "It's fine. You alright, now?"

"Y-yeah." Ai said.

They broke their hug and just gave each other small smiles.

"Thanks. You're always there for me, you know. Just... thanks." Ai whispered.

"It's fine. You're special to me." Kariya replied and put a hand on her head.

Ai nodded, a blush rising to her cheeks.

She really like Kariya.

"So, you want some food?" Kariya said awkwardly.

And Ai laughs softly. Kariya will always be Kariya, no doubt about that.

Ru cried for the first time after how many years.

Thankfully, Kishibe was there, comforting her. It was weird because Kishibe, as far as Ru knew, wasn't that much of a comforting person. Even so, he successfully calmed Ru down.

"Thanks," Ru sniffed as she looked down at her hands.

"I don't mind at all. You know, we should do this more often so we cold cuddle-" Kishibe didn't get a chance to finish the sentence because Ru had punched him in the stomach.

Ru laughed, "Sorry, too touchy-touchy for me."

Kishibe gave her a smile and said, "Well, I'm glad you're fine now. You want something to eat or drink?"

"Yeah, could you get me a water please?" Ru said.

Kishibe nodded and walked out of the room.

Ru sighed as she thought about what happened in her mind. Her parents always fought each other until now. She wondered why they still haven't separated but she decided it was best to not know. She put her head on her bent knees and sighed. Everything was all so emotionally stressing and she was glad Kishibe helped her.

Kishibe's hands on her, and his smile was intoxicating- making her feel all warm inside.

She really should stop thinking about that.

Looking at her parents, she knew relationships just ended with fighting. She couldn't, but at the same time she wanted to. She wanted to feel what it was like when someone held her or kissed her. All those things she imagined with Kishibe and she blushed without meaning to.

"Hey, I got your water... why are you blushing?" Kishibe asked, breaking Ru from her thoughts.

Ru blushed another shade of red, ashamed of being caught thinking nasty things. She coughed, "Nothing, nothing..."

Kishibe raised an eyebrow and then gave her the glass of water.

Ru accepted it and drank.

"Are you sure? I mean, Hyuuga Rukia blushing? That's pretty much next to impossible." Kishibe grinned.

Ru rolled her eyes and placed the glass aside. Kishibe can't know that she was thinking about him.

Kishibe grinned and said, "You know, Ru, I don't know if you forgot, but I could read minds."

Ru froze and blushed red as she thought, Crap.

"Yeah, but I'm flattered that you like me." Kishibe said.

"I don't!" Ru panicked and looked down at her hands again.

Kishibe smiled and said, "You know, I think I like you, too."

Ru looked up and the two locked eyes. The tension around them was really thick that you could cut it with a knife. The two didn't even know that they were already moving closer to each other, both entranced at one another.

"You know what I'm thinking right now?" Kishibe whispered.

"I don't need powers to know." Ru said. And it was true.

The seconds ticked by and, before they knew it, their lips met.

It was the damn most sweetest thing Ru experienced.

Kari liked Ibuki here, but she just can't seem to concentrate at anything.

She always looked distracted and suddenly would drop eye contact. Ibuki knew there was something wrong, but whenever he would ask, she would just shake her head and look down. He wondered what happened when they were prisoners. Kari always seemed so cheerful and nice and it made Ibuki's heart flutter wildly.

"I'm fine." Kari said for the umpteenth time that day.

"Kari-" Ibuki started but Kair shook her head to signal him to stop.

Ibuki sighed in frustration and said, "Look, Kari. I want to help you. I missed your old self, you're really not alright."

Kari stared at him with glassy eyes- eyes that looked like they were going to burst in tears. She sniffed and said, "Okay. Okay, you're right. I-I just feel ordinary, alright?"

"What do you mean?" Ibuki said as he looked at her.

"Like I'm just ordinary and I can't be good. I feel like I'm just here, existing but not living." Kari said.

Ibuki touched her face and said, "That's not true."

"It is! I have no problems at all and there's not a thing that's special about me!" Kari exclaimed.

"You are special! There's something special about you that can't be replaced by anyone." Ibuki said.

"Then what's so special about me?!" Kari asked.

Ibuki pursed his lips and hesitated in answering.

Kari sneered, "See? Nothing."

Ibuki shook his head and grabbed her face to force her to look at him. He said, "You're special. You're cheerful and happy and really optimistic when it comes to things. Whenever we hang out together, I always smile because you make everything better, Kari. You make me better and I like you for that."

Kari just blinked stupidly.

Ibuki smiled and let his grip on her go. Kari looked up at him and sniffed. Tears fell from her eyes and Ibuki almost panicked because he thought he said the wrong things. He said, "Oh, shit. I'm sorry. Was it what I said? I'm really-"

Kari hugged him and breathed his scent. She whispered, "No. I just want to thank you."

Ibuki smiled and held her.

They stayed like that in what seemed to be forever.

Amaterasu got ready for tomorrow.

She already talked to her brother about her being... punished. He kept crying but Amaterasu just simply smiled at him. She hated it, too, but life was just unfair. Besides, after how many years of being tortured, she would be finally free and that's the only thing she's happy about.

She didn't want to leave Natsumi, her brother and...

Well, that was unexpected. Amaterasu thought that she would never miss anyone if she left, but right now, that's all she could think about. How she would miss everyone if she left. It's horrible, she concluded, but there was nothing she could do.

Finally, a tear slipped from her eyes.

"So, I could cry, huh?" Amaterasu smiled sadly.

She wished she would have found out about it in another way.

Two more chapters left!

Any reviews? :)