Post by More than Music on Jun 13, 2010 15:25:08 GMT -5
~ A Place I Knew When I Was With You ~
“Come, Cassie, come!”
Cassie laughed at the way he was being. He couldn't help it, he was just so excited! Staring around the empty house with awe, he could barely believe what had happened since he'd first come here. They'd met, became friends, and fallen in love. This was where they first kissed, where they had their first date, where they'd gotten together, and where they'd broken up the first time. It was a special place, in his mind, even if it was also the place Cassie had been attacked by that... that monster. It was the only place he could imagine doing this.
Leading her through the kitchen with a smile, he could barely escape the excitement rushing through him. It was time. Yes it was time to finally give this a try. With Erin and Yukito being graced with the presence of their first baby, Kagayaki had been seriously thinking about his relationship with Cassie. They'd been back together long enough. It was time to take the next step.
Stopping suddenly, Kagayaki held both Cassie's hands in his, staring her in the face. He was literally shaking, both with the thrill and the nervousness. She just laughed at him, leaning in to kiss his lips for just a moment.
“What's gotten into you?” There was still a laugh in her voice. It was beautiful.
“Wanna... ask you...” he began slowly, leaning in to lay his cheek against hers, pulling her boy against his. “You love me... yes?”
She hestiated a moment, probably just not understand what he was getting at. “Yeah, of course I do. Why?”
Avoiding her question, Kagayaki just smiled, kissing down her cheek and neck. He felt her tensing underneath his lips, and he knew it was partly out of pleasure and partly out of fear. That was how it was with her, and he'd come to understand it more than he'd ever thought he would.
“I love you,” he breathed into her ear. She gasped a little, and he turned his head to see her eyes close. “I do.”
“Kagayaki,” she started, breathless. “What's this all about?”
He swallowed and licked his lips, the nervousness taking over. “Cassie...” Was he doing this right? Did she want a ring, or would she have preferred something more Japanese? He wasn't really sure how to do an American proposal, even after watching all those movies... It just didn't seem like something normal people did, the stuff they did in those movies. But he got the feeling it was different for everyone. Thank goodness. Even if that didn't make him feel better about how he was doing this. “I...”
She leaned in and kissed him, taking away whatever breath he'd managed while thinking. “Come on, tell me.”
Kagayaki shivered, all the emotions inside of him rushing like a hurricane. “Cassie... I...” He just shook his head, falling to one knee a little too fast. A surge of pain went through him and she started to panic.
“Oh my gosh! Are you okay?!?”
He laughed a little and nodded, trying to make sure she kept on her feet. “L... Let me...” He took her hand in both of his, smiling up at her. Cassie's eyes widened, and her free hand fell upon her chest. “Cassie, I love you... And I.... I know... You hurt a... a lot...” He grimaced over the weight on his bad knee, but that didn't stop him. The happy tears that were starting to flood into Cassie's eyes made it worth it. “And you... been sad... a lot...” His eyes wandered around the room. “This... this place is... special... to me, to you.” He looked back to see Cassie nod slowly. “I want it... be special... more...” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a ring. “Marry me, Cassie?”
Her tears had broken lose like wild horses as he slipped the ring on her hand. It was a simple ring, a little ring that fit her perfectly. It had her birthstone and name down one side, his birthstone and name down the other. He'd been secretly working to pay for it himself, and it hadn't come cheap, but it wasn't exactly something she would flaunt the worth of. But she wouldn't care. “Oh my god...”
“Is... Is not... fancy,” he laughed, trying to release the shakiness in his words. “Still... is all yours.”
Cassie was laughing now, tears flooding down her face. “Kagayaki, when... how'd you know what size I was?” Of course she'd notice how it fit so well. That was one of the first things a girl noticed about a ring, right? He'd figured that.
“I know... things.” He sent her a wink to cement his knowledge, making her smile. She threw her arms around him, jumping into his embrace and knocking him over. “AH! CASSIE!” He was too busy laughing to be upset about how much that hurt his left leg, so he pulled her into a kiss as they laid on the floor. “I love you...”
“You've said that,” she reminded him, pressing her forehead against his. “Say it too much and I'll stop believing you.”
His eyes widened with genuine concern. “What?”
Cassie just smiled, kissing him so deeply he was sure he'd never breathe again. “I love you too.” She turned to lay beside him on the floor, and they both stared up at the ceiling as they held each other's hand. “So how'd you get the ring without me knowing?”
Kagayaki's eyes narrowed with mischief. “Shh... Secret.” She reached over and smacked him on the head, but they both laughed. “You were... busy.”
“Busy with what?” She was mocking annoyance. It was cute.
“Rae-chan.”
“Ah.”
Kagayaki looked over, seeing Cassie's blue eyes as they caught all the light in the room. “Hi.”
She looked over at him, a crooked smile on her face that showed she was a little bit confused. “...Hi...”
He just smiled, resting the hand of hers that he held on his chest. “You are so... lovely.”
Cassie giggled, making him look over, his expression a wordless question. “I like how you say that.” Kagayaki smiled, kissing her cheek. He moved slowly to lay on top of her, laying kisses like satin down her chin and neck. “Yes, by the way.”
Peeking up for a second, Kagayaki looked at her face. “Eh?”
“Yes, I'll marry you,” she laughed, putting both hands on his shoulders as he leaned in for another kiss. “I will.”
He smiled so wide he felt bones in his jaw crack. It didn't matter. Not at all. “Good!” She laughed again as he kissed her mouth. Laying there with her, everything seemed perfect. Like they'd never hurt before, like they'd never hurt again.
He knew that wasn't true. Of course it wasn't. But, in that moment, as he gave in to her half-giggled pleas to stand up again, nothing seemed broken. And when he took her hand by the fingertips and kissed up her arm, there was no trace of the anger he'd seen in her face the day they'd fought out in the rain.
Maybe he could make sure they never felt that far apart again. Slipping around Cassie and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, Kagayaki laid his head on his now-fiancee's shoulder.
“Cassie?”
“Hm?” She sounded blissful. He loved that.
“We will live... happy ever after... okay?”
Her eyes were closed as they swayed together. “Sounds good to me.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the house was completely quiet beside them, so it resounded through the empty room.
Kagayaki smiled, letting his eyes close. “Me too.”
