Chapter 6
(( This chapter has an interactive part to it! Its actually my version of a song from Kamen Rider Kiva called This Love Never Ends. I call this my Phoenix Edit! Enjoy! watch? www. youtube watch?v=vdp55DGWuGM&t=107s
Not sure how well the link will hold up on my upload though, so may have to look it up on youtube ^_^;; ))
"Please…promise you'll come back to me safe ok? I-I love you…" A sweet, soft voice echoed in the depths of Katsuro's mind as his eyes wearily creaked open, gazing at the ceiling. Dust particles dancing in the room, were set aglow by the morning sun's luminous beams that slowly crept through the window of the room. As his chest rose and deflated upon his breaths, he felt a weight resting upon him. His tired eyes slowly moved his glances between two elegant beauties that lay upon him. What was this…? It was something he just could not comprehend; Minako and Rei were huddled close to him, proving that yesterday was no dream.
Their warmth, wrapped around his body felt amazing, their breaths grazing his chest as they continued to sleep contently. He was an unknown variable in this world, someone that wasn't supposed to even be here. Something like this should be damn impossible. He knew their stories, and it didn't include him. Not only that, but with all he lost, he definitely didn't deserve something like this. The golden light shining through seemed to highlight their silky, smooth, beautiful hair that draped over him as they laid there on him.
He could feel his heart skipping beats as he studied their delicate figures, their gorgeous forms were enough to distract him from the pain that haunted his mind, at least for this moment. Why were they here? Is this really how they would act or what they would do when someone like him happened to stumble across this world? His fingers twitched, his heart raced with anticipation as he moved his hands, tracing down their backs with his fingers.
It was probably just out of pity or worry from seeing how he broke down last night that they stayed the night here with him. It was most likely that they didn't want to leave him alone to his own thoughts or devices. Fuck, even now with something like this happening, he just felt mentally exhausted. He had cried and exhausted himself to the point where he couldn't even push out more tears if he wanted to now.
The scent of their hair was as sweet as the smell of cherry blossoms filling the air, and the light of the dawning sun seemed to glisten on their soft lips. God, what the hell was this? He shouldn't be feeling so enticed by these absolute beauties. The only explanation for these feelings could only be his current vulnerable state right? That's all this was. His once stone solid bravado had been shaken to its core and broken in just minutes. The world he once knew crumbled to ruble at his feet.
He was a warrior though, the cruel, despicable evil responsible for all of it was out there still and MUST be held accountable for his sins. Revenge. It was all he could focus on. Once filled with nothing but optimistic positive energy, his heart could feel the taint of rage making it's way through his soul, even now. His sapphire eyes rolled from the two women laying with him to the ceiling. He started to move his hand away from Minako to brush back the crimson hair from his face. No, there was no time to be infatuated with trivial things like feelings of longing or love.
The deafening silence that captivated the room was broken by the roaring sounds of his stomach, pining for sustenance to replenish the strength and energy he had burned through so much yesterday. The continuing rumbling coming from his body began to stir the two girls from their slumber. His face became tinted with colors of red from embarrassment of it.
Their eyes slowly fluttered open, drowsily gazing into each other's eyes for seconds before realizing where they were and remembering the events of the previous night. There was a slight jolt as they moved back from him. "Oh…Katsuro…I'm sorry, we must have passed out." Rei began to apologize, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"I hope its ok with you. It was so late, and we just decided to sleep here." Minako explained, glancing to Rei. She kissed her last night, and she kissed him. There were so many feelings inside her. Feelings she had known long about for Rei, but now this on top of it? Were…they going to talk about this now? "By the way…about last night…" She shyly began to speak.
Katsuro's stomach roared out once more as the red-head groaned with fatigue. He was starting to realize just how much he had really pushed himself the previous day. The only reason he had kept going was the constant rush of adrenaline surging through him.
"We should get something to eat." Rei deflected the statement Minako had brought up, her cheeks pink from the thoughts of it. She knew what happened, she had kissed her dearest friend. The thing of it though, it felt…right. She had known for some time she had certain, feelings, for the blond. Then with all that happened last night, it was everything she wanted. Though, with what went on between all three of them, things were more complex now.
"Oh…yeah. You're right." There was hints of sadness in her voice as her beautiful shimmering eyes glanced away from the two for a few seconds while she tried to reset her mind and reboot. "Yeah! Let's grab some grub. I'm sure you are STARVING after that heroic display yesterday!" Minako's happy upbeat tone returned as she moved her eyes to meet his once more.
Those eyes…
His heart moved to his throat for a second before regaining his composure. He slowly moved his attention to Rei, seeing deep violet eyes looking at him, and again, that feel of his heart trying to burst from his chest. Could this be because she looked like her? Because she shared so many similarities to his beloved? Gritting down, he pushed these thoughts to the deepest corridors of his mind clear his mind. "Yeah, I guess with everything that happened. I just forced myself to push on." His voice became solemn.
"Well, say no more. I'll cook us up an awesome meal!" Minako flexed, setting her hand on her bicep.
"First of, we should get you cleaned up, I could go for a shower as well. Secondly, for the love of G-…" No she didn't want to shoot her friends feelings down like that. Though she knew the dumpster fire of a disaster it was when Minako touched a kitchen. She wasn't about to risk that ass catastrophe in her home. "I think we should maybe go grab something? Maybe sit down and eat?" She suggested, giving a smile.
"Ooooo. So, like a date?" She winked. "What will everyone say with him walking around with two beauties like us?" She tried to joke. She really wanted them to talk about last night though. The ghostly feel of their lips still resonated with her. Both of them. She was after all the Senshi of love. Though, the complexity of wanting both of them? Was that right? Was that ok for her to yearn for?
"Uh, well. I don't quite have. Money." His voice became filled with embarrassment. "I mean…I do. But in this world…I don't know if my card/accounts would really work you know?" Oh shit. That was a real thing. He had the clothes on him now, but in this world he had nothing. Damn, I hadn't thought about real life issues like that.
"I'll take care of that for now. But you're going to work your ass off here got it?" Rei sternly spoke as she sat in the bed looking at the two. Why did this feel strangely natural? Could this be remnants of that girls spirit in her? From last nights encounter…could her feelings and their bond have been that strong to infect her? She shook her head to herself, crawling to the foot of the bed to get out.
"Come on Minako. Let's get ourselves cleaned up and ready. There's another bath down the hall for you to use." She instructed Katsuro as she took Minako's hand, leading her off the bed and to the hallway.
Minako could feel a blush onto her cheeks as she felt the soft grasp of Rei's slender fingers. Instinctively, she interlocked their fingers. "You know, lovers are supposed to hold hands like this right?" She teased, winking to the raven-haired beauty before her.
"Minako! Ugh, why do you always make things awkward?" She scoffed, her face becoming a deep red herself. The sound of her voice speaking such words was enough to make her heart flutter with feelings. "C-Come on, lets get washed up." She pulled the blond into the hallway as she waved off to Katsuro, winking.
Those two…damn. He took in a breath before heading down and around the hallway to the other bathroom she directed him to, which was back-to-back with the one they would use.
Rei found a good change of clothes for Minako as well as extra towels. "Luckily everyone always keeps some sort of extra clothes here. You still have this." It was an orange sundress with thin straps that went over the shoulders, a laced up behind it that revealed her back when she wore it. Rei also pulled out a red sundress of hers that was more conservative than what Minako wore, but it came halfway down her thighs.
"Oh, these are definitely cute! I'm sure it'll leave Katsuro absolutely speechless." She jabbed as Rei turned red.
"We barely know the guy, come on Minako." She groaned as the blond giggled. She knew last night would eventually come up in conversation, but was she ready to verbalize those feelings? Especially for Minako? What if it ruined the bond they had now? No, that wouldn't happen. They had been through everything through the years. But throwing…love…into the mix and feelings always complicate things
"Yeah, I know, but he seems sincere." A light gasp left her lips, remembering the feel of his lips on hers, then Rei's. She brought her fingers to touch her lips gently. The kiss with Rei, both of them were filled with so much…passion. "I think I…"
"Come on before you say something you'll regret." Rei carefully took hold of the blonde's other hand, leading her to the bathroom. "We'll shower together…we can save some time and water for him to use. It should be safe to take those bandages off for now. Thankfully you weren't hurt REALLY bad." With that, the clothes she slept in slowly dropped to her feet. Her slender body was exposed before Minako. She wore lacey red panties and a red bra to match.
"Rei…you know, you have a body that would drive guys absolutely wild." She teased, her cheeks red. "I don't see why you don't try dating." Minako undid her bandages and dropped her skirt, removing an orange and blue blouse she had on. Her panties were silky and orange with a bra to match. "Uhm…I-I can't reach to unhook this. It still really hurts…" Her voice was shy as she turned, exposing her smooth back, lifting the silky glowing locks of hair from it. "C-Can you…?"
"Sure…let me get that for you…" She slowly moved her slender fingers to the hooks, carefully undoing it as it dropped to the floor, Minako's perky breasts bouncing out. Rei's eyes gazed over the fascinating site before her. So delicate, yet strong and carefully toned. Her finger's carefully slid down her back, feeling how soft and smooth it was. She could see some of the injuries and wounds from yesterday. "You really did get hurt bad didn't you…?" There was a tone of sadness in her voice. If Katsuro hadn't made it in time when he did then…would she have lost Minako? She placed her hands onto her back and leaned her head against it.
"R-Rei? Are you alright?" Her shimmering sapphire eyes gazed back to her dearest friend. "I…did. I think I got too careless, I shouldn't have gotten into such a position. I just thought I could handle it. If I'm being honest…I really thought I was a goner. I would have been if…he hadn't shown up." Her voice grew quiet, remembering his dramatic entrance knocking the creature away from her.
"Don't you ever try to take something like that alone again, you hear me?" Rei scolded. Fuck, if she lost Minako, she didn't even want to think of something like that.
"Hey, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere, I promise." She turned to see Rei's eyes swelling with tears. She was usually the strong one out of them, with a fiery attitude to match her powers. "Rei, don't cry. It all turned out alright, and we met a new friend out of it." Friend, yeah, that's right. It shouldn't be anything more than that, right? Besides, he didn't seem too interested in either of them. If she could have things her way though, she'd have both.
"You better not, I'll drag your ass out from the spirit world back to your body by force if I have to." She wiped the tears from her eyes. The two finished undressing as they got into the shower. She lathered her fair skinned body with bodywash as Minako did the same. "Here, let me get your back…" Rei offered, taking a loofa and spreading the wash around her back.
Rei scrubbing her back like that felt so relaxing, she closed her eyes happily, letting her mind drift off some. "I'll get yours next." She smiled back to her then placed a finger to her chin. "Rei, what do you think of him? Be honest, I mean last night, we all…" She started to say with hint of shy nervousness in her tone.
"Last night he needed people to be there for him…he's going through a lot." She deflected the topic to an extent. She wasn't quite ready to process all the feelings that were brough up, or these emotions. "As for what I think? I agree with what you said earlier. He's sincere. I couldn't possibly imagine what he's going through. Yesterday I could tell he was trying his best to swallow all those emotions and doubts down. He…" Should she tell her she saw that girls spirit? That it was her that passed on this message.
"He what, I never did really hear what happened. I just knew it was something rough and emotional for him. I remember him just saying he didn't know where his friends were? Is that why he was sad last night? He was going on about maybe being the only one to survive…" She got quiet. "I don't think I could even hold it together like that if I thought you all were gone." She turned to scrub Rei's back for her next.
"That…was only part of it." She closed her eyes feeling Minako's hands and the loofa over her back, it was soothing. "You know I have visions, and I have spiritual abilities." She began to explain. "Well, I think the girl he…loved…also had spiritual abilities." She couldn't think of how to quite get this out.
"Wait, what do you mean had?" She came to a halt, the loofa just being held against the center of Rei's back as she peaked over her shoulders slowly.
"Mina…" She brought her hand to her heart, her violet eyes showing troubled emotion. "She died with the whole city." She felt tears again. Maybe it was the connection she had shared with the spirit lingering with her, but truth was, she felt for him. "Her spirit, it somehow managed to transcend worlds with him to say goodbye. She begged me to watch after him." She sniffled, finally coming to realize what happened.
"Oh my god…" Minako released the loofa, plopping onto the shower floor, her hands moving over her mouth, sapphire eyes swelling with shock and sadness. That was what caused him to be overcome with such sadness? It was no wonder he tried to refuse any advances. Someone he loved and held dear was gone. How was he managing to push on like this?
Rei turned to her dear friend, both taken aback by sadness. "It hurt so much seeing him fall apart like that. I realize we don't know him but seeing him hurt like that, it was just too much. I want to help take that pain away." She explained, suddenly feeling Minako lunging to embrace her.
"Oh Rei, I didn't know he had suffered something so terrible like that." Suddenly, she shoved the thoughts of events that took place between the three of them away. "Yes…let's be there for him, he needs caring people to lean on right now more than ever." Just then from the bathroom on the other side of the wall, they could hear an emotional melody of music. His voice echoed through the walls, with a saddened but loving tone. Her heart was absolutely moved by the beauty of it.
"You hear that too…?" Rei questioned, feeling the raw emotion from the lyrics and melodic tones coming through the wall.
Katsuro had gotten in the shower, his thoughts filled with grief from losing the woman he loved, he remembered writing a different version of a certain song for her. He could only think of that song right now as memories flooded his mind of the beautiful and precious time they shared together.
"If it is to protect our love
I'll become stronger to fight if you need me
Flying towards the sun, these wings beat faster and faster
Igniting in the heat, turning into ashes in the wind
That kind of story does not describe my heart
For I only believe in the fated love between us
Soaring high, the blue-sky burns
Until it is filled with my heart's flames
I will show the extent and heat of my love
For you, if it is to win your heart over
This Love Never Ends
No one can ever place boundaries around my fiery heart
Even if my limits are being reached
For you I'll break through all of them
Once beautiful forests that stood until scorched in flames
Ashes spread into the winds as those who inhabited it flee in fear
My hearts flames are not like that, for it has so much more potential
It will always hold a home for your love
Soaring high, pushing through the blue sky
To unseen greatness of the universe
I will show you only the brilliant sights
For you, with the stars within our grasps
This Love Never Ends
With you by my side, I will break through every boundary, Nothing will be impossible for us.
For you, only for your sake, I will always be there
I am rising, overflowing infinitely
With unparalleled strength and confidence
This splendid world which we will have created together
I swear to fight for it
Soaring high, the blue-sky glows
Until it is shining bright
I will show you the extent and heat of this love
For you, if it is for your heart, it shall be unrivaled
So, this love will never ever end
For I have decided in my heart
The potential to protect this love
For you, I'll declare no limits to it
I swear, proud of our love, proud of our destiny" The music had ended, leaving Rei and Minako to simply gaze into each other's eyes, filled with the emotion he let out. Their hearts seemed to long for something, answers to these feelings, and for a love as powerful as what they heard.
The two finished their shower, drying off then going to retrieve their outfits for the day. Both were eager to just be with him, they wanted to help any way possible. Once done, they made their way into the hallway, where they saw him standing. Minako was always the one to feel so much emotion towards people, she was the warrior of love after all. As much as she wanted to just play it cool, she just couldn't. "Katsuro…" She made her way towards him, embracing him into her arms.
"Huh? Wh-What's this for…?"
"I just want you to know, that we're here for you. Alright?" She leaned up, gently kissing his cheek. "Now, let's go get you something to eat. Come on." She took his hand, then pulled him behind her, grasping Rei's hand as well on the way out the door. She would do her damned best to be supportive and enjoy some time with both of them.
As much pain as he felt in his heart…this did feel nice. Her soft hand in his, he glanced to Rei who was trailing behind her as well, seeing Rei's eyes look to him, flashing a smile then turning back to Minako. With that, they were off towards the usual diner they hung out at downtown when they were in school. Though Katsuro didn't know it yet, today would have some unexpected turns to it…