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Twenty-six
Touko sighed as she closed the door to the kitchen, she turned and he was there to pull her against him for a kiss. His hold tightened feeling her arms around his shoulders in a move to put her on the counter he was letting her catch her breath in a second with a flushed look on her face.
She bit her lip.
"That's what you needed?" she asked, amused.
"Among other things...I really don't want you clinging to that girl."
"Which girl?"
"Bianca, the Triad had to check on you it was part of their rounds I saw her grab you."
"That was just a hug, relax."
He shook his head Touko didn't see the look on her face when she was hugging her he didn't trust her one bit.
"Still, humor me."
"Okay okay...wait what do you mean rounds?"
"Concordia gave you a bracelet..."
"I didn't get..."
"It's in your jacket pocket, she said she slipped it in, it's something I use that the Triad share with the other bosses, makes it known that the people met while it's held are under protection."
She blinked as a smile grew on her face.
"They're completely protected?"
"I have Concordia make them she was supposed to make sure you just had it in your possession, I only use them for my group but you see even if I have problems with the others. One of the Triad will be here to get them somewhere safe for now there are no issues but I...well I don't want you to be afraid to come see them I just had a hard time not getting to see you." he chuckled a bit bitterly.
"Pathetic isn't it?"
She kissed him again, sagging against her as the rest of the tension he felt in his back from his nerves...faded.
"Thank you...and thank Concordia too."
He nodded.
"I will head out soon." he said slowly resting his head against her shoulder.
She absently ran her hand over his hair and down the ponytail, it was a simple action with only a few scattered memories but with the emotions behind her it meant something to him. They spent too much time seperated he didn't want anymore of that, more than needed. It wasn't like he could always just be by her side he knew N and his daughters were warming up to her they weren't the most normal family obviously but it worked like this.
They never did well pulled apart.
He blamed the testing, though not in the negative to have that peace of mind just enjoying how a loved one expressed feelings he didn't want to lose that. He could keep it all in the back when he had to be feared but when it was just the pair, just family he needed that.
They all did.
"It's okay Ghetsis."
He paused in his thoughts backing up to look at her as she smiled at him a light blush on her face.
"You obviously came while you had a break in work...so stay they'll be a lot less worried if they see you here nice and relaxed."
"I can only relax so much...but you used to talk about them a lot, but that doesnt' completely decide how I feel about them."
"Don't be so nervous." she said slowly stroking his cheek.
"You're much more affectionate here.."
She laughed.
"You think? I just missed you don't know if that's strange or not."
"It's not and one day you won't have to question that." he said leaning to kiss her again.
Bianca couldn't hear their whispered words but seeing how closely he held her in that position, one she would have preferred to hold Touko in she gripped her fists. They really had left them alone, Paul looked over from where he sat with Ash and Brock, he glanced at them.
"Is she...interested in Touko?"
They paused and looked over just barely seeing her face she was playing it off well enough.
"Never really thought about it.." Ash said he was interested in Serena the brunette had grown out her hair and could barely sit still she loved to travel. When he was out he saw her but he wasn't yet sure if she liked him if she'd even be interested in a long distance relationship.
He preffered to take his time and never looked twice at his friends though he knew he had a lot of pretty friends that was all they were she was different.
"Does kind of look jealous, I've had that look before..." he trailed off looking at his girlfriend as she talked with May if possible they were even more excited about one of them getting married than Touko was. He smiled glad there were no more lonely nights.
They wanted to take care of her dress and were deciding without her input.
Dawn didn't compete as much with her travels but that didn't mean she'd given up contests completely, Zoey and Drew wouldn't let her if she tried they only visited now and then but they were just as much apart of the group as any of her friends. Even Harley would go after May if she let her quit and he was so particular about those he liked to compete with.
"Maybe we should bring everyone together again." Brock said thinking of the past, he tended to dwell on those pointless relationships in the past.
They'd never seen Bianca act any sort of way he wasn't sure if she was getting over it or coming out a shell he'd had enough therapy to recognize at least a moment when it was worth the worry.
"Touko! Before you run off let's watch a movie!" Ash called.
"I wasn't running..."
she jumped as she bumped into Bianca who only smiled she grabbed her hand to pull her toward the couch before Ghetsis could say another word granted Touko took his hand too. She didn't think he had any reason to be jealous but she understood.
Glancing at Bianca she wondered if that was wrong..if something was off.
She was definitely out of the loop.
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