¡Here I present myself with this last consecutive chapter!
On this occasion I would like to thank Lucario, since he renewed his membership and thanks to him is that we have one more extra chapter. Remember that if you want to order more consecutive chapters of my stories in development you can become a member of my Patre-on for a dollar, you can find me as: Jyanzein.
Before we start, let's go with a review:
Vanhellsing9000: As always, I'm so glad you like the chapters. Now I hope this final development of the beginning of the romance between the main characters meets your expectations.
With nothing more to add, let's get on with the chapter.
¡Enjoy!
"I'm going to love you with all my soul."
"What...?" Takashi couldn't say anything else, as Saeko's lips had merged with his in a kiss covered with unparalleled passion and love.
Takashi stood completely transfixed, trying to take in everything that was happening. Meanwhile, Saeko continued to share her lips with his in a kiss that would be considered rather awkward and childish.
But even something like that wasn't enough for her to stop.
She didn't care about her inexperience.
She didn't care that he didn't even react to the kiss.
She just wanted to share all her love with the man who had conquered her heart, and much more than that.
Takashi finally seemed to react, and his dismayed look turned into one of complete disbelief as he felt Saeko press her lips against his. But that didn't last much longer, as she pulled away a couple of inches to look at him.
"Sa-Saeko..." Takashi barely found the strength to mention her name, as what had just happened was slowly hitting him.
It was hitting him like a ton of concrete on top of him.
But strangely there was no weight at all.
In fact, he felt very light.
He felt lighter than ever.
"The way you smile at me, the way you make me laugh, the way you take care of me, the way you make me feel..." Saeko hugged him by the neck even tighter as her deep light blue eyes met Takashi's. "I just couldn't take it." Saeko sketched a faint smile that made her look very beautiful.
"¿How could I not fall in love with you after all you did for me?"
"¿How could I not want you so much after you made me feel so alive?"
That clarification in question mark mode made Takashi finally react in a more appropriate way.
"I... I don't know what to say..." Takashi lowered his gaze still trying to digest all those mixed emotions that kept him in shock.
"You don't need to lie to me." Saeko rested her forehead with his, something that surprised him. "If you don't love me, you just have to tell me. I'm never going to force anything on you, because I want to see you happy, because I really do love you..."
"When you said you didn't know at what point you fell in love..." Takashi interrupted her, and Saeko felt her lover's hands grab her waist. "In my case, it was something similar. But subconsciously, I always knew I was falling in love with you. That's why I made that promise." Takashi broke away a little to look at her, and it was easy to notice that she was very surprised. "After what I experienced with Rei, I guess I was afraid to accept how I felt about you. Because there is no more perfect woman in my perspective, and as such, the fact that I had any chance of being with a Goddess was impossible." A laugh emerged from Saeko's lips, that beautiful melody combined with her small cry covered in happiness.
"I'm no Goddess, I'm just Saeko." She clarified, making Takashi chuckle.
"I know very well..." Takashi stopped his laughter to then look at her very fondly. "But to me, you are a Goddess. You are my Goddess." Takashi placed a hand on his woman's wet cheek, and she leaned over his touch lovingly.
"¿Does that mean you love me?" The small circumstantial tears camouflaged behind his question, giving her a more than radiant look.
She simply looked wonderful.
She looked like the happiest woman in the world right now.
In fact, she was.
And seeing her this happy made Takashi feel his chest ache from all the happiness he felt.
He finally discovered that those unruly emotions that had originated from Saeko's confession were pure happiness.
An overflowing, uncontrollable happiness.
That was exactly why Takashi answered her question in a rather unique way.
Saeko closed her eyes as she felt Takashi kiss her. The answer to her love had been so clear and forceful that it made her cry with even more momentum.
They both clung on each other's body as if their lives depended on it, and their lips slowly began to move with more and more intensity, with the clear intention of transmitting all that love they felt.
Their tongues collided with each other the moment Takashi clung tightly to her back, and the unbridled passion between them made their completely inexperienced kiss reflect even more.
But that didn't matter.
In fact, that very kiss was responsible for reflecting their love in the purest and most innocent state.
They just wanted to kiss.
They just wanted to hold each other.
They just wanted to love each other.
But all good things always come to an end.
Their lips desperate for the outpouring of emotions parted panting, as the lack of air did not allow them to continue.
Both collided their foreheads lovingly as they tried their best to catch their breath.
A treacherous tear fell down Takashi's cheek, as he found it impossible to conceal how happy he was to be sharing this moment with the woman he loved so much.
The two stood hugging for several seconds as they tried to catch their breath, until Saeko resumed the conversation.
"I never thought a simple kiss would make me travel to the stars."
_ CHAPTER 16: ¡HIDDEN ROMANCE! _
Takashi and Saeko were in each other's arms, tucked in the blankets as they watched the quiet fall of the snowflakes.
The silence of this moment would be something they would undoubtedly remember.
Saeko watched as some snow fell on her nose, causing her to sneeze. Takashi laughed at this, to which his beloved only smiled.
In the end, Saeko rested her head on his shoulder and the two continued to watch the scenery for a while longer, until Takashi leaned his face down to give her a kiss.
"I think it's too late now." Takashi whispered in her ear, earning a nod in response.
"I'm starting to feel the cold again." Saeko commented, who adjusted the blankets even more to better wrap around them.
Takashi didn't say anything about it, just turned his gaze back to the snow-covered sky, as did Saeko.
They both made their way inside without saying much more, and Saeko watched intently as Takashi arranged the blanket on the couch to lie down again.
"¿Don't you want to come sleep with me?" She asked, crouching down in front of him, all the blankets still wrapped around her.
"It can lead to trouble if we do." Takashi replied as he stretched his body.
"¿What kind of trouble?" Saeko asked very curiously as she started stroking his hair, a gesture Takashi rather liked.
"I think Rei is obsessed with me, and on top of that she hates you." Takashi closed his eyes as he felt quite relaxed by his lover's caresses. "¿What do you think would happen if she finds out we're together?"
"¿Are you afraid she'll hurt me?" Saeko asked quizzically.
"No, I'm afraid you'll kill her if she tries something stupid." Takashi clarified, opening his eyes once again.
"Well..." Saeko lowered her gaze a little after listening to him to debate with herself. "But if we don't tell her anything, I'm sure she'll still have the intentions to come behind you." She stated with a worried look, something that brought out a smile in Takashi.
"Rei can try whatever she wants..." Takashi sat on the bed and cupped her cheek with one hand.
"But she can never get you out of my heart."
Saeko could not help but look away as a shy smile and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Okay..." She looked back at him. "But if she gets too smart, I'm not going to hesitate to show her hell." The comment was followed by a cold aura surrounding the woman, something that made Takashi a little nervous.
"W-well, I guess she'll be asking for it if that ever happens." Takashi's somewhat hesitant comment made Saeko look at him rather curiously.
"But, I find it strange that you want to protect her. I mean, the normal thing would be for you to wish her the worst, ¿wouldn't it?" A rather confused Saeko asked, something that brought out a slight smile on Takashi's face.
"I guess you're right..." The brown-haired man closed his eyes, his face looking somewhat nostalgic. "But, all that hell she put me through had its great reward in the end. You know, if it hadn't been for her we might never have met, ¿don't you think?" Saeko's eyes widened a little at that revelation.
"Now that you mention it..." She looked a little surprised.
If it hadn't been for Rei, then she would never have met Takashi.
Then she would never have been able to meet real friends.
Then she would never have had the chance to meet someone who understood her so well.
Then she would never have had the chance to meet her soul mate.
"¿Should I feel grateful to her?" Saeko asked suddenly, drawing a slight laugh from Takashi.
"¿You know something? Now that I know the end result, I honestly wouldn't have minded having to live that a thousand more times." A nostalgic Takashi stated, something that caught Saeko's attention.
"¿Why?" She asked rather confusedly.
"Because at the end of those thousand times, you would always be waiting for me."
Saeko was surprised at first, but in the end she smiled.
She didn't say anything about it, just took that hand that was caressing her cheek, then approached her beloved and planted a kiss on him.
In that way, Saeko wrapped the blankets around him and rolled on top of him in a somewhat funny way, to which Takashi played along. It seemed like they were playing a game to see which of the two would break the kiss.
They were both completely entangled between the blankets, and as if that wasn't enough, their bodies were tucked inside them from head to toe.
"¿What are you doing?" Takashi asked with an amused tone as he broke the kiss.
"It's cold, I'm just warming us up." Saeko replied in a similar tone.
"¿Aren't you supposed to go to sleep?" Takashi posed a second question, starting to stroke her hair.
"¿Do you want to sleep?" Saeko answered him with another question, to which brought out a smile on Takashi's face.
"You're right, I want to stay like this with you all night long." Takashi hugged her, to which Saeko closed her eyes happily.
"I like it too. You're so warm." She said with a small laugh at the end, then kissed him.
Takashi opened his jacket so he could caress her body in a more direct way, to which Saeko didn't refuse. In fact, she seemed quite happy about it and returned the gesture when she slipped her hands under his black shirt to embrace him very tenderly.
They both pulled apart and gasped for air. Their foreheads and noses collided as they became intoxicated by each other's delicious warmth.
"¿How long until sunrise?" Takashi asked when he caught his breath a little.
"About three hours." Saeko replied in a similar state.
"¿Only three hours?" Takashi let his face fall a little, to which Saeko smiled at him.
"It's not enough for me either." She answered him, then kissed him again.
_ LINE BREAK _
Department
3 hours later...
Takashi and Saeko found themselves with their eyes closed, enjoying the intimate moment they had been looking forward to having with each other. They were still tangled between the blankets, but at least they were both with their heads out to make sure they didn't miss each other. Saeko found herself with her head lying on his chest, enjoying every delicate touch that fell on her back.
"It's getting light already." Takashi whispered in her ear as he opened her eyes.
"Just 1 more minute." Saeko hugged him tighter.
"You've been saying that for like 20 minutes now." Takashi teased, causing Saeko to open her eyes.
Saeko tried to move, but all she managed to do was make them both fall off the couch from how entangled they were, which undoubtedly brought out a chuckle in both of them.
The cell phone alarm clock echoed in the bedroom. Hirano slowly got up, his face revealing that he hadn't been able to sleep all night. His gaze strayed to Saya, who had the pillow over her head to try not to hear the alarm clock, something that failed miserably.
They both came out of the room after a few minutes, and the first thing they saw was Takashi who was sitting on the couch already with his leather jacket on while looking for some news on his cell phone.
"¿Is there anything new?" Saya asked, approaching him.
"The channels are dead. I'm trying to use my cell phone to look up some news, but the truth is it's not working very well either." Takashi put the cell phone aside to look at his friend.
"It's natural. The collapse of society meant that no one took care of the ongoing maintenance that stations and connections need. It's only a matter of time before even the electricity stops working." Saya clarified as she took a seat next to Takashi.
"¿Where are the others?" Hirano joined the conversation as he stood in front of the balcony to look out over the snowy city.
"Saeko went to take a bath, since the clothes are dry and ready to wear." Takashi explained.
"Then I should get in too." Rei appeared from the top of the stairs along with Hisashi.
"By the way, ¿what the hell happened to you?" Saya looked at Takashi with narrowed eyes, something that confused the brown-haired man. "You reek of woman's perfume." The young man's confusion turned to fear.
"¡It's-it's because of the jacket! ¡I had lent it to Saeko and that's why it has this smell now, it's not like I like women's perfume or something!" Takashi gestured with his hands in a rather funny way, creating a believable excuse.
Though the one who didn't seem too convinced was Rei, but still she didn't decide to say anything about it.
"Hey,¿ can someone wake up Shizuka and Alice?" Hirano commented, noticing that the two of them were the only ones still still in a room.
_ LINE BREAK _
Half an hour later...
Once the girls had finished showering and using a much more dignified wardrobe, everyone found themselves in the living room. Hirano remained silent as he cleaned one of the weapons while still watching the snow, he was definitely debating and taking in everything that had happened with his family.
"Let's leave him alone to think." Saya whispered, to which everyone else nodded in understanding.
The group paused outside the kitchen, and a slight tense feeling surrounded the vast majority of them.
"I wonder how Zeke is doing. I hope he's feeling better." Alice commented happily as she moved to open the door, but was stopped by Takashi.
"I understand that you want to see him first, but we need to assess his well-being to make sure he can have visitors." Takashi watched the rest of the group for a short second, then fixed his gaze on Alice once more. "¿Wouldn't you like to try a game on my cell phone until they finish assessing his condition?" Alice was a little reluctant at first, but quickly curiosity ended up winning her over, so she did not hesitate to join him.
Takashi gave them one last look. He didn't need to say anything because his eyes were able to express what he felt.
"Alright, let's do this." Saya watched Saeko, who simply nodded and approached the door.
The swordswoman was quick to grab the hilt of her katana as she slowly opened the door. But when she took a good look at the scene, the surprise was great.
The others approached as they noticed that Saeko had not reacted in a hostile manner, and they were all surprised as well as they were.
But it was not an unpleasant surprise.
In fact, it was far from it.
Zeke was on the cushion as he wagged his tail and watched them excitedly.
"¿Is he okay?" Rei asked the question on everyone's mind.
"Apparently, the infection doesn't affect the animals." Hisashi replied with a smile.
"We're not too sure about that." Saya walked over and bent down in front of the dog to give him a couple of pats, something he gladly received. "Perhaps the pathogen managed to lodge in his brain, but the different motor functioning that animals possess didn't allow it to develop." Clarified the buxom dwarf, examining Zeke's eyes, which appeared to be completely healthy.
"¿Is it possible that an infection could do something like that?" Asked a rather surprised Rei.
"It's true that it's very difficult for such a reaction to happen, but we're not talking about a run-of-the-mill infection. There's no way to tell without the proper instruments." Saya stated, then sketched a slight smile as she petted the affectionate dog.
"¿What about his wound?" The question was asked by Saeko, who looked at Zeke's somewhat bloody bandage.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of him." Commented a cheerful Shizuka as she held out a small first aid case.
Meanwhile Takashi was stroking Alice's hair, who looked quite amused playing snake. His gaze drifted momentarily to Hirano, seeing that the chubby boy was still thinking about everything that happened.
_ LINE BREAK _
An hour later...
After eating breakfast, everyone stood on the balcony to see what situation they had to face.
Obviously the views were not very encouraging.
The fire had been fairly well controlled by the snow, but that didn't make the large swarm of zombies in the streets go away. In fact, there seemed to be more, as they were probably attracted by the shooting last night.
"It's impossible to go out on the streets like this. Plus the snow just impairs driving more." Saya commented while holding her chin with one hand.
"Basically it's suicide." Takashi was the one who spoke, Alice was being carried on his back as she dozed.
"But we can't stay here any longer either. We're almost out of food and we don't know how much longer we'll have water." Rei stated the obvious.
"¿Then why don't we use my friend's vehicle?" Everyone looked at Shizuka with some astonishment after what they heard.
"Wait, ¿there's a garage in this apartment? ¿why didn't you say so before?" Hirano asked rather surprised.
"I was never asked." Shizuka leaned her shoulders as she petted Zeke, who was quite comfortable in her arms.
"Anyway, ¿do you think a normal vehicle will help us with this?" Hisashi asked the question, earning a glare from Saya.
"We lose nothing in finding out." Clarified the buxom midget simply.
They all headed for the garage door that was initially thought to lead outside. Once they opened it and turned on the lights, the reactions were swift.
Most were surprised.
Others were shocked, and this was the case for Hirano.
"¿¡THAT'S A HUMVEE!?"
"¿A Humvee? Wait, ¿is that an armored car?" Wondered a rather shocked Takashi.
"That's right, when I first got my nursing degree I remember we drove all over the city in this vehicle while throwing confetti." Shizuka couldn't help but widen her smile after remembering those good times.
"But this is a late-model armored car. You need a lot of money to buy it." Hirano placed a hand on the vehicle, his eyes denoting great admiration. "In fact, I remember Rika-chan wanted to buy one of these when she was done with my tutoring." He concluded, to which Shizuka looked at him somewhat surprised.
"Wow, what a coincidence. My friend has the same name." The nurse stated innocently as she held her cheek with a finger.
Obviously, Hirano hadn't taken it that calmly.
"¿¡Your friend and the owner of this apartment is Rika-chan!?"
_ ¡END OF CHAPTER! _
¡I hope you enjoyed it!
There will probably be lemon in the next chapter, I'll make the respective warnings before it gets to those scenes for people who don't want to read that kind of content.
These weeks have been pretty fucked up for me, so being able to write and clear my head with all this helps me quite a bit. I want to thank you guys too, as your supportive comments also help me in this time of vulnerability. But don't worry, I am aware that life is overcome by fighting, and I will never stop fighting.
Saving this dramatic moment, I'm closing this chapter.
¡Thank you very much for reading!
