CHAPTER 102
I do not own Skip Beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.
~~Magical Summer Trip~~
~Part~7~
~~Let's go for a ride~~
~part 2~
Ren hovered close as she grabbed back the helmets and he proposed to hold them under the embarrassed keen eyes of the tech man.
She was ready to say it was no trouble but he cut her.
"You already drove. Let me."He proposed softly.
She nodded and he took them while she turned to the technician, Riley.
"It isn't an issue if Ren comes watch the shooting, Riley?"
The man shook his head.
"We know you don't bring people often and that you are careful, so as long as he respects the rules, it is okay."
"I'm part of the industry, I will be careful."Ren said, stepping in.
Riley squinted at him for a second as he was suddenly trying to replace him before his gaze lightened.
"You're right. I think I saw you in a movie, right?"
Ren chuckled innocently.
"You will have to be more precise."
The man thought about it, scrunching his eyebrows.
"A thriller one, I think."He let out after some thought. "I don't remember the title but there was a hitman that looked like you."
Ren nodded.
"Blue Target."
Riley nodded with excitement, making his badge dangle from his neck crazily.
"Yes, that is the one!"
"So, you are an actor."
He nodded humbly but Kyoko wouldn't have it.
"And a damn good one at that."
Riley whistled.
"If that's Kyoko that is saying it, then you really must be good." The man said and Kyoko noticed Ren beaming happily before he replied.
"I'm trying to be."
"I'm sorry Riley," Kyoko cut then, "But I really need to go if the director is already looking for me."
The man nodded, remembering work.
"Of course, go ahead you two."He told them and was fast to give a pass to Ren before they entered the studio.
Once inside, she waved at Ren in a rush, and said she would be going, making a beeline to where the director was.
§§§
Ren POV
He contemplated her as she inched away to what he supposed was the director of the movie she was in. To each step of her gait, he regarded her.
He had such an overwhelming sensation seeing how much she had grown as an actress, how far she had gone. He could say he felt proud but it wasn't that. He could say he was impressed but it didn't graze the surface of his feeling. He was… Touched. Relieved?
He had been so worried while she had been away. He knew how cruel the Hollywood business could be. He knew how devastatingly difficult it was to succeed here. Without being tarnished. Without having your soul been ripped away. Without losing sight of what was important. Without succumbing to vices. Substances and otherwise. He knew.
He knew how hard it was to withstand the pressure to reach success. Yet, sometimes hating the taste it had, if you hadn't managed to get it in a pure and untainted way. And lord did he knew how high the temptation was sometimes. To sell your soul, heart, body or both, to crumbles of what everyone said was, what you wanted. And the way things were done.
When it usually wasn't. And when there were other ways. Genuine ones.
So, yes, he had been worried. Yet, knowing it was her choice to take a step back from others, to take some distance, he had felt helpless in his desire to respect her volition.
Gnawing relentlessly in his fear and care on how she was doing, what she was doing. If she was happy, okay.
But here he saw it. He saw her.
Impervious to every dirt and mud. To any obstacle. She shined. Acting for the pure still innocent joy of it. Never adulterated by her surroundings. True to her core. In movement. Free.
Just as an angel that had spread its wings above, and unreachable by the dusty earth below. Twirling in the sky, flying. Streaks of shimmering light colliding with her golden locks as she would rise, un-bashful, and igniting her strands in a halo of ochre, red, orange and yellow. Such an angel of sparkling life.
The mental vision blinded him as much as it eased the unrest of his heart. She was okay and would be okay, even in the darkest decors, she would find ways to roar the life in her. Always. He was now sure of it.
Yet, in this bright vision, another turmoil existed in him.
He closed his lids, his memories replaying the fresh sensations he had just experienced. The leather seat he had sat on. His hands grazing on her hips. Then, his arms that circled her waist so tight.
The rush of wind and speed hitting him as she sped up. The snuggled up feel of her against his chest when she would push her body backwards. The tensing and releasing of her abdominals she flexed, and relaxed in rhythm to the moves of her bike. Her voice in his ears when they would talk. Like a sweet enamoured murmur. Between the subdued ballads echoing through their helmets. Her hair caught between them or flowing up and into the breeze.
The soft warmth emitted by her body that she transmitted and seeped into his.
The smooth thin cotton tee that wrinkled between her and his arms as he held on to her. A barrier no thicker than a veil and that he struggled to perceive at all, lost in other perceptions.
And then, worst of all,
The move of her legs, of her thighs and hips. Between his own legs. Driving from the left to right, following the bike dives and rises. No, guiding them. Grazing left, brushing right. Moving, again and again. Way too much. Bumping a little. Inclining and skimming. To each move and curve she took, her hips moved. Against the inside of his thighs.
He pitied every man before him, that had ever been passenger behind a woman on a bike. Especially one you were attracted by. Even if he had managed to quiet down the rush of excitation, and his damn aroused appendage after seeing her perched on top this bike – damning him to heaven and hell with this wild beautiful goddess sight – , and furnishing his sexiest fantasies into the next century, this would have made him unable to. Not with the way she was brushing so close. And so often. Not that he had been sure he would have been able to, either way. Those damn clothes she was in, were outright criminals, to begin with. A true challenge to his calm and control self. A deep dent into staying collected.
So strong and sexy… He thought. That was still something he wasn't used to sometimes. Where had gone the very demure conservative girl? She was nowhere to be found anymore. And he had no defence against this new side of her. Yet again.
Ultimately, the only thing he had managed was preventing her to graze him there, and keep at least an inch away from that problematic zone.
If someone had told it would be one of the most arousing experiences he would live, he was not sure he would have believed them. In his mind, riding a bike had just been another means of transportation. A riskier and less comfortable one. One you did for the shot of adrenaline and some freedom feeling, or for people who wanted to portray a certain image about them. And that was it. He had thought he would always prefer cars. Sports cars were safer and you could still damn well drive fast. Though, if he was fully honest, the Porsche he owned was more attributable to Lory. His boss had wanted him to respect certain standards of "cool" as Ren had risen in renown.
If it had been up to him only, he would have rent a fast car once in a while for the thrill when he had the urge, and that would have been it. Not that he minded his car. It was great and efficient. And made it easy to accelerate and by-pass traffic jams in time. And he had fully grasped the need to denote and stand out and sell yourself when in this business. But the flashiness and need for luxury of some of the aspects of his life tired him sometimes. Like his car, or being peered on at all times, for example. Some other factors made his life easier, and were very enjoyable, and truthfully, he was thankful for them. As luxury often came with lots of comfort in life and a taste into what life had best to offer on the material area.
But something costy, risky, uncomfortable-his opinion of before – , and that didn't protect from the rain like a bike? Very little for him. He wouldn't have understood the appeal. Until he tried. And with her.
This was exhilarating. He had felt like a kid again. The sense of adventure brought to him… To ride with her. To experience this with her. He felt intoxicated with the sensations. Not just as her making him discover something she clearly enjoyed immensely but also, as her showing him. Her being the one to make him discover and leading him. The way she made sure he was safe and instructed him. Hell, even commanded him around. It was fun to see her be such an expert in this; plus he didn't mind being bossed around by her.
It was a truly freeing exposure. The world faded away around, and remained only them. Just the two of them, together. Driving in the distance. Without a care. No worry about his career, his parents, her feelings, his own, or the future. Only her and him on that bike. No more stress or thoughts rambling around. Just the stream of speed hitting his senses, forcing him into focus and the feel of her snuggled tight into his arms. He could have gone on like that forever. Moulded and anchored against her back.
The experience had been unbelievable. His whole opinion about speedsters had now changed.
He was so thrilled. He wanted to know more about Kyoko's enjoyment with it, and about bikes in general.
And no matter the torture it could be to feel this close, he couldn't wait to jump back on that bike with her.
His mind returned to the present as he heard the director shout, and he tried to come closer to actual filming area. He had to stop his approach, though, as he would have got in the way of the technicians and the cameras, as well as the other people around. It wasn't a huge set and he knew it made it vital to keep the least people involved present when it was the case. Besides the ones like cameramen and actors. It didn't mean the movie was small budget, and his thoughts were confirmed with how high-tech and how many cameras were around. As well as the numbers of decors they had available.
But it wasn't L.A., and he could imagine people had to share and exchange studios and sets more often than not in San Francisco. Hell, he was even pretty sure, some of the more imposing sets in Japan were bigger than this one. Though, many were also smaller in Japan.
No matter, the conclusion was Ren was unable to get closer enough to get a proper look at her acting, and it was kinda disappointing. He had acted with her since she returned to Japan, and had been able to see how much she had grown in all those years. Yet, it was not enough. It was never enough. It would never make up for all those years away and the missed sights of her evolution.
He wanted to see her act again. He wanted to see everything and anything about her. If there had been movies about her life during those last years, he would have bought them and watched them earnestly. But there wasn't. And despite the movies and shows with her in it, he watched several times already, it wouldn't be the same. It was her, but it also wasn't. He had been able to witness some sides of her appearing through those films. Things she had got confidence into during her growth. But if some sides were hers, it was not fully her. Only the actress part of her, the roles she was acting. And if it was a big part of her life, it didn't show him everything. It didn't tell him what was inside her mind. It hadn't shown him how her thoughts changed and matured. The reflexions she had had. The actions she had done during all those years, besides acting. It hadn't shown her being herself, all natural. It hadn't shown him when she decided to buy her house, each action as she renovated it. Each sweat and moment spent over it. How her wearing habits had changed. How her way of talking had changed. How her hair had grown. Little by little.
How she had become so free. How her body had morphed over time. How her maturity had started to shine through different smiles, different expressions, different gazes. All the new skills she had got knowledge into. Her fun, her enjoyment, her difficulties in those. How graceful she had become. She had always been enchanting, but she also was always pushing to new highs. How she had adopted her cat. She had told him but it wasn't the same. How she had learned to play some instruments. How she had met her friends.
The hardships and joys she had lived. All those little daily, monthly, yearly things passing by as she evolved to transform into this beautiful wonderfully strong young adult woman.
He had missed all that.
And a part of him would always mourn not being able to see it. The same as a part of him would always yearn having been able to see her grow from the little cute girl he knew when they were children to when they met again in LME when she was sixteen.
He knew there was no solving those feelings. But even knowing there was no point in entertaining them, he longed for those missed moments of her life he didn't get to witness.
It was especially glaring in his heart when he failed to understand her because of a past suffering or hardship. Or when he discovered new incredible knowledges she had trained into,-like biking. It wasn't like he didn't want her to live life to its fullest. He wanted her to experience absolutely everything she desired to, whether he was present or not. He just wished he would have been here to see it, and he felt sometimes lacking finding himself clueless about some areas of her life. It was only natural, and his rational mind knew. You couldn't know everything about someone you hadn't seen in years just like that. His heart refused to listen, though. It craved to resolve this as fast and as definitely as possible.
And she was just so discreet and demure about what she had done all those years away, it felt impossible to tighten the bridge of those years. It drove him nuts to not know more, even more when he felt she took some distance back. He never knew if it was because he had gone too far or because of something he hadn't understood about her.
Despite everything, despite knowing her so well. It was still so hard to know all her new tells, sometimes.
Then, she would smile angelically at him, assuring him on those moments she was okay, nearly choking him in her candid maturity and preventing him to ask further. At lost if he had imagined it, if there had been anything to dig down deeper to begin with. And if she had the misfortune to touch him while doing so… Be it his hand, his shoulder or a hug. He lost all coherence in his reasoning and intents into questioning her, into asking for explanations for this or that action.
It was truly maddening. How undone she did him.
Amusedly resigned at this last thought, his eyes returned their focus on the set to notice they had stopped filming. He just had the time to turn around and saw Kyoko coming towards him, the insufferably sexy clothes she had had on, back on her. She was cut on her way by a young man.
Light-brown hair, he was maybe one or two inches smaller than him-though it was hard to tell exactly from where Ren waited – , and good-looking.
He saw Kyoko wave in his direction as she told the man something and as she resumed her steps. But the man followed after her. She didn't see him right away, and she smiled at Ren as she reached him.
"Hi. We are done. It was only a couple of scenes, and they went faster they had planned."Kyoko said. "So, if you are ready, we can go."
He was about to reply when the man reached them too.
"Wait Kyoko."
She turned at the sound of her name to look at the young man.
"Cole? What's the matter?"
So his name was Cole. He was handsome indeed. Soft features, with grey eyes and a cheeky smile. A little younger than him, maybe. And if the looks he was giving Kyoko were any indication, he was totally into her.
He placed his hand lightly on her shoulder, right where her skin was uncovered by the loose tee. Ren breathed in. It was up to Kyoko to set up boundaries and limits. No matter how much he disliked seeing another man touching her, he had no right to intervene. The only reason he would feel entitled to do so would be if a man -or anyone really – , disregarded said boundaries. And without knowing anything about the man or his relationship with Kyoko, he has no right to judge or interpret anything happening between them. Even though he wanted to nudge that hand off.
Which Kyoko did next instant. She dislodged Cole's hand from her shoulder, smiling politely. She gave him a pointed look, clearly asking him to explain.
"I hope I'm not bothering," Cole started, ignoring him altogether, and Ren could see Kyoko was not all that pleased with his insistence, "but since you are not available for a small break right now – Ren frowned at his insinuated formulation – , then maybe for lunch in an hour, then?"
He saw Kyoko was about to reply but the man just continued.
"Once you are done with your – " and he took a pause here, looking vaguely to the side and in Ren's direction searching for a term more polite than what he had in mind, Ren was nearly sure, before stretching the last of his sentence – "business, I guess."
Well, thank you. Thought Ren dryly, getting more annoyed by the man by the second. Especially with how he insinuated he wasn't worth more than a quick hookup. Not that he really cared about what a stranger could think about himself. But linked to Kyoko, it was evident he couldn't help to desire to look and be someone important in her life. So, it was still irritating to be that unconsidered. But what annoyed him the most would rather be that this Cole could actually try to flirt with her, while not even knowing her. Not knowing she would never lack so much consideration for another human being. Even for the equivalent of a hookup.
They hadn't really talked about this aspect of their lives, granted, he had also been afraid to ask. Yet, he had been curious. Yet, hoping there wasn't anyone. But he was positive if there had been someone at any moment of her life those last years, as insignificant as the relationship might have been or was if there were still one nowadays- gosh, that thought hurt – , she wouldn't have treat that person as any lesser than another. Ren fully ignored if she had had company, lovers, during her time here. But it would have been her full rights to entertain any relationships she deemed to have. Even if the mere thought was crushing to even suggest to his mind.
So, he had even less idea if she would be the one to have adventures of this kind. His understanding of the past person she had been as a teen would have tended to say no. But he both knew that this view was biased by the past and by his desire to not have happened, somehow.
And he could even say that no matter the sadness it provoked in him, he actually had no business poking into her intimate affairs. Even if he couldn't totally help himself.
But to suggest in such a crude way she would be the kind to use lovers, even short-term ones, as you would use tissues was not only ridiculous and crass but also an insult to who she was. He had the urge to make the man bow down in apology and barely contained the harsh response on the tip of his tongue. That man was the one not worth her time. And if he might ignore the nature of their relationship yet, he was sure it wasn't the kind the man would hope for. Neither one Kyoko would like. Just based on how vulgar he was being. Thanks to this, Ren felt freer of his movements, though.
He also took note of the exact moment the rude insinuation collided with understanding in Kyoko's mind and she gasped with outrage, looking more enraged he had seen her in a while.
She was fully ready to roast the man on the spot but he also knew she still had to work with him as a colleague. He couldn't help himself, then. He moved without thinking. He slipped his arm around Kyoko's waist, rejoicing in the thin texture of her tee once again, and just as she was about to open her mouth with fury in the eye.
"I'm sorry."Ren smoothly said. "I'm afraid she'll be busy for a lot more than just the next hour."He explained, deliberately keeping it vague and knowing how would it sound. He had the pleasure to see Kyoko switch hue to a pretty crimson as she heard his words and she twirled to him to gape and mouth a silent 'what are you babbling about' to him.
He smiled merrily, enjoying maybe a tad too much seeing her composure crackle away.
The Cole man didn't even deter himself as he bounced back, ignoring Ren yet again.
"Then, what about dinner? Tonight?"He asked and Ren watched as Kyoko polite smile turned nearly murderous. The man was unconscious and blind, truly.
"I'm sorry," said Ren again as he slipped his other arm around her, totally marking territory, and he didn't care. "I'm planning to monopolize her all to myself. She won't be available tonight either."
Kyoko looked at him to shoot him a silent 'You're crazy'. Yet, she let him. She let him touch her. Let him claim her in public. As if she didn't care. She didn't move him away or contradict his words. And just for that, he felt blessed. Like he was in a special section, she had indulgence for. Or better even, as if, as long as it was him, she was okay with it. Though he knew he was pushing his own fantasies on, for the last part.
She turned back to her colleague with a very thin hard smile and nodded. Not truly admitting anything but not denying anything either.
He unconsciously tightened his hold on her waist. This was really the kind of thing that could make him hope. Way too dangerous.
Yet, even though paler, Cole wasn't deterred fully as he pushed another attempt.
"Alright. What about tomorrow? Are you free tomorrow? We could spend the day together, it would be fun and – "
But he stopped mid-sentence when he noticed how aghast Kyoko looked.
He was finally a little more hesitant when he asked.
"Come on, you can't tell me you would still be with him? I know he is tall and all but – ."He let out with a snobby look at Ren himself before returning his attention towards Kyoko with a salty grin that brought an undisguised disgust on her face instantly. "Some variety is good for health, you know"-sick wiggled of brows added – , "and the most important part is how you use your engine."
"How distinguished."Ren let slip, not even caring about the insults thrown his way at this point. The reward of hearing her snort through her fury was all the comfort needed.
"Dear colleague of mine," Kyoko finally let out with so much irony dripping from her tongue Ren wouldn't have been surprised if her words cut. "Yes, I'll be with Ren tomorrow too. But I'll let you in on something…"She added as she tilted forwards a tint.
"Even if I hadn't been, do you really think I would accept the company of a man that insulted a person close to me several times?" She demanded with such a collected rage Ren found it hot. Her eyes nearly shined in her furore. "Not even including myself, though I was insulted too."
She continued on her diatribe with venom.
"And I think the only one who considers those crass words as proper propositions is yourself. It has been going on for weeks now, and I'm sick of it." She stated and she had raised her voice as she said that last sentence. "For my part, since it needs to be spelled out, I'm just disgusted. I'm not interested, Cole."
He looked positively appalled she had said that aloud but Ren saw several people and girls looking pleased and agreeing with Kyoko's sentiment.
So, he was that kind of guy.
He was even more outraged at how that man had been acting towards Kyoko. But some concern crept in too. Men like him tended to not appreciate rejection kindly or to respect consent.
"And for the records," Kyoko continued at a lower tone, "Ren is worth a thousand of you, so don't you dare insult him again."
Then, she caught of the hands still holding her hips and dragged him away, all the while grumbling as she got the two of them out.
They crossed paths with her director on the way out, and he apologized swiftly to her about Cole's behaviour, saying it was fortunate they only had one more time where they would need to be on set together, before Kyoko could be done seeing him.
That didn't sit well with Ren, though.
"I'm sorry to speak out as an outsider, and I apologize in advance if I'm overstepping Kyoko, but is there no way to avoid that last meeting?"Ren asked her director. "People that act this kind of way tend to have harsh reactions to humiliation and reject."
He saw instantly the touched yet already reassuring smile blossoming on Kyoko's face as she turned to him.
"It is only once, it will be okay. You know I can defend myself."She told him, ever the strong woman. And yes, he was pretty sure she could handle it. Even if the man ended up using some dirty sneaky moves to get revenge for the humiliation, Ren was still positive she would be able to handle it. But it didn't mean she had to. Or that it was enjoyable. He would already have felt bad knowing she had to deal with this kind of thing each time a man felt a little too wrongly entitled in his actions. And truly, would have desired to avoid her this too. But knowing what she had to undergo in the past and not trying to lessen the burden for her, on something that already tiptoed on harassment, it was intolerable for him. If he could spare her one unpleasant moment assimilated to this kind of stuff, he would do it.
"No, he is right."The director said. "Even if you can handle it. It doesn't mean you should have to."He agreed. "We will move schedule to make sure on the couple of scenes you still have, he won't be there. He will be forbidden to be there."
"But – , won't it be a bother?"She protested, and Ren could just guess she was already fearing she would bring troubles.
The director shook his head and waved his hand.
"It won't. It's only some minor changes. Now go and have a good lunch. We already made you come on a day off."He added with an apologetic smile. He waved at them a second time as he turned and left. "Nice meeting you, young man."
He followed Kyoko out then, delighted she hadn't let go of his hand yet. He felt her soft elegant fingers strongly holding on to his, as she led him assuredly away on the parking lot with that poised firm gait of hers. She could have dragged him to all hells like that, he wouldn't have cared.
She stopped them as she got to her bike and pivoted on her heels to look at him.
"You didn't have to do that." She told him. But as she shook her head, her eyes were soft and grateful, when she returned his gaze. She grazed his hand with her fingers, hesitant, and it fired up shudders all above his arm. If she knew what it felt like when she touched him… And when she was staring at him with such a trustful look. "But… Thank you. He had been a handful for a couple of weeks now."
On a thoughtless spur, his nimble hand twirled and deftly, his fingers squeezed hers for a couple of seconds. He felt her warmth spread against his palm.
He let her hand go.
His response had been on the tip of his tongue. 'Happy to help. Always ready to be of service to you. Anything for you.' Or even more ridiculous things. But not a word had come out. And then it was time to step back. His control was a worn-out wall, a ruin he was maintaining by sheer will. It was better not to push it, these days.
He cleared his throat and presented her with one her helmets instead.
"Where to?"
She smiled and nodded but didn't reply. Rather, she threw one of those damnable toned legs over her bike, sitting on it with the ease of one gained by habit and confidence. Then she grabbed from behind the helmet he was still holding front for her without turning back. He peered at her as she put on the protective hard hat, staring at the broad feminine back she was showing once more. Watching her strong blades moving under than thin cotton, the strap of smooth skin leaking between her tight black pants and the tee. And that backside. Each time she went to straddle her bike or dismount it, the vision it gave him…
Leather pants are dangerous he thought as Kyoko waved her shoulder at him to climb on. He slipped on the helmet and sat on the bike behind her again. And to think he had once bought her a similar kind of pants in a security against miniskirts. She had been Setsuka Heel then. And what had really been safer, had been to not think of Kyoko. But only as her role, as someone else. But even so, covered had still felt safer at that time. Nowadays, he really didn't know what was worse. Every morsel of skin she uncovered drove him nuts with curiosity for the touch. But more covered just made him want to tear apart every damn piece she was wearing. It made his imagination overwork with guesses and visualizations.
It was like he was in an endless loop of wonder. There was no more 'safe option' anymore. And this biking experience pushed it even higher on the torture thermometer for him.
He lighted on the connection of the helmet and talked through the mike.
"You still didn't tell me where we were going?"
Her soft laugh tingled in his ear.
"You'll see."
He placed his feet on the installed steps, relishing in the way his knees and thighs grazed her hips as he did so, and she turned on the bike.
"Hold yourself."
He slipped both his arms around her midsection and his chest bumped against the top of her back as he did so. Sweet torture.
"Harder."She ordered him. Oh yes, the bike was way worse torment.
He tightened his arms and the hold of his hands on both hips, feeling the supple curves against his palms, the tight contracting abs against his forearms. The fresh sweet scent of her skin waffled over his nose once more with how close they were, and he felt himself getting drugged again. She wasn't even wearing any perfume. How her natural skin could emit such an enticing odour was beyond him. It soothed him and turned him on all at once. It was not just magical, it was some kind of sorcery. He felt like an addict and wanted to rub his whole body in her scent.
Not helping! He groaned internally at his own thoughts.
She pulled the bike out of the parking lot, and he focused on espousing her and the bike moves during the curves.
She accelerated once the turns section was done, taking the highway shortly after, and he felt himself being pulled into a soothing trance. Those were moments they could have talked together but he couldn't bring himself to talk. Close against her, this fast out-of-time instant was too precious to disrupt. He closed his eyes. He only wanted to experience. Feel the movements of the bike under his thighs, the rash speed that hit his nerves. The tilts left and right at turns. Her rhythmic respiration and relaxed focus against his chest. Her muscles subtly moving against his torso, under his hands. The songs playing and what it said about her musical tastes pulling a smile to his lips. Soothing, light and electrifying. All feels co-existing. The calmness proposing him to fall into slumber. The flying lightness prompting him to new discoveries, to go hiking, on a trip or wandering in nature. A taste of abandon, of liberation to every chain, every rope, every attach keeping him caged in one place. The tense crackle that wrecked him was all thanks to her proximity. To his body, to his heart. It made him want to bolt. It kept him upright, alighted with desire and longing, and would have always succeeded into preventing to truly fall asleep.
She was leading them somewhere, and he didn't care where. He just wanted to stay like that.
"You okay there?"She asked at some point and he hummed happily.
"In heavens."
She snorted at his response, surely thinking he was exaggerating. Oh, he knew. Many times, when he was slipping recently, she would think he was pushing it. That it was only to tease her or joke. It was terrible, truly. How adorably blind she was.
He was starting to wonder if he would have to really fight against slumber when she cut the motor, and he realized they had apparently arrived.
He lifted his lids, already regretting having to stand down from where he was. They had stopped on a small portion of sandy soils serving as a parking area for a few bikes and a couple of cars. A small seawall separated the parking grounds from the seashore, just behind it. He looked to the side of her shoulder and – … Wow. He hadn't expected this. He was struck by the view. It was still the same ocean than he had known in L.A., or what he had seen near Kyoko's house. Yet, it was divergent from how it was near the city. Ren was awed by how broaden and large the sand beach was. It was stretching in the horizon from the farthest point on the left to the one on the right and he could only see the brightness of the water glistering afar forwards, appearing small yet immense from where he sat. He could only imagine the sea was at its lowest point but it felt so gigantically quiet, the nature breathing its pulsating force in silence, with barely a few humans to be witnesses, scattered on the drawn-out sand. Yet, what hit him was the singularity of the ocean colours. It was the same ocean than the one back at Kyoko's house. But here, he was sure to pinpoint at least three different hues. He looked right. Was it because of the cliffs? But it would have made the tones darker, not lighter. And only on a small portion.
"This is incredible."He breathed out, removing his helmet to see clearer. "But how is it possible? Those vibrant colours, it isn't due to the rock walls, right?"He inquired. Because, this… He knew it was bright today but those hues…
Kyoko pulled out her helmet too and tilted her head, smiling at him before shaking her head.
"It's because huge portions of the ocean near the shore have their bottom close to the surface. It is one of the rare places on this side that has those."She told him and Ren's mind connected exactly with what she was referring too.
Her eyes twinkled with joy as she nodded and continued.
"Yes, like in the Caribbeans. The principle is exactly the same."She added with excitation. "There aren't many corals as it would need more warmth but otherwise it is pretty amazing."
"That's an understatement. It is beautiful."
She grinned.
"Yes, I had thought you might like it. And it's even more beautiful at high tide. The beach is very evenly levelled so the portion with the lightest tones are bigger." She added happily.
"It must be quite renown around." Ren commented, still admiring the sight of the ocean from afar.
She shook her head, surprising him.
"Only by locals. Otherwise, not that much, the town is pretty small."
"But why?"
He didn't understand how you could not want to see this.
"The main city is way more attractive and close, and it still has the ocean."She said. "It gets shadowed by it."
"But it has the perks of protecting the town from too much exposure and degradation. It actually preserves it more, and they still have enough tourism to fare." She added. "That's the opinion of local people around here, anyway."
He couldn't say he didn't understand. Too many humans in one place had a huge tendency to step on natural areas until it was too damaged to recover.
He saw her push her hair away, knowing instantly by now that she was feeling awkward or embarrassed by something.
"Anyway, I come here time-to-time, and I thought you might appreciate the sight as you love nature as much as I do." She let out to the side. Or rather, sitting as they were still doing, turning back front.
"I hope I didn't push it… But I thought you might prefer it to sight the centre of the main city."She softly ended.
She was too adorable. He hugged her from behind once more, resuming his hold of the drive.
"Kyoko, you bring me to a beautiful scenery, thinking about what I might like to discover and sharing some of your favourite spots," Ren started with tender amusement, "Please explain to me how it could be pushing? How it could be anything other than fantastic and caring?"
She mumbled unintelligibly in response, some sort of mix between a grumble and an explanation, and a low chuckle escaped him. He dropped his chin on her shoulder again, shamelessly enjoying the opportunities the situation it gave him to hug her longer.
"It is wonderful. Please show me more."
She let out a held sigh, showing she had been worrying way too much about this, and he wanted to say more to reassure her but she asked him to let her go so she could step down from the bike.
"What's the city name, by the way?"He asked once they had begun a slow stroll around, and she told him more about the area.
"Half Moon Bay town."Kyoko told him. "It's forty-five minutes away from San Francisco and merely a quarter from my house."
"You clearly have been visiting regularly."He slid, happy to discover more about her.
Her lips tilted.
"Maybe."
But her response was distracted, and she was clearly looking for something as they walked the side of the poor replica of a dyke, composed of a mere grid at times, or often purely inexistent. It was to the point Ren wondered if their protected parking spot had been the exception to it. But, with the amount of sand separating the beginning of habitation and the water, maybe it was never a concern.
He didn't have time to wonder more about the settings of the environs, though, as Kyoko exceptionally caught his hand and pulled him softly, carrying away all his thoughts at the touch once again.
"Come on, it's close by."She said evenly. But the cheeky smile she gave him, nodding at him to come, betrayed a joy, such it made his heart fill with a sense of belonging, of relaxed home. Because, she was including him, in what she loved, making him a part of her life. As if she couldn't wait to make him discover everything she knew about the area. To share every nook and crack she loved about this place.
"Where are we going?"Ren asked. Nonetheless that his question was pure form, compared to the prospect of staying like this.
"To the restaurant we will be eating at. The view is awesome from where it stands and the food isn't too heavy. I promise you will like it."She added, as if she needed to reassure him.
"I have no doubt in that."
§§§
PS: Hey everyone. Look who is back to bring you some food chapter. Sorry it took a while. February was a tough month. Gosh, you must be sick of hearing me having it rough. As it happens often... And i know that with the circumstances all around the world, no matter the person and the country, many people are also in dire situations. And even if it's not the case, life can be tough and bring anxiety and depression. So, i want to give all my readers a big hug and i wish them better, happier days after the sad and the gritty ones.
Also, if you never need a song to inspire you, to pick you up from the floor, search for Fearless soul channel on youtube. For the bad, for the sad and for the gloomy days. In hope it will help all of you as it did for me.
Kisses to everyone. I will continue to write to bring some joy and love and, well, torture to all of you.
See you soon, hopefully,
Mimagfan.
AUTHOT OUT.
