Compilation Of Unseen Scenes - Private RP

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"I'm sorry. Can we just...I don't know. Rewind back to this morning or something?"

Erin exhaled a little, giving a little nod. "Yeah, I'd like that..." Her hand found his, and she sighed again as he squeezed her hand gently. "Let's just go home... I don't think I could finish this practice if I tried right now... I promise I'll do better next time, though... you know, with the whole... thing.... if you still wanna try, I mean..."

"Of course I want to. But I guess I need to stop trying and start doing myself, too." He said it so seriously, and she knew he meant it. The thought made her smile. "Just know that I'm going to screw up. Probably a lot, but, I don't know... hopefully we'll find something worth it afterwards?"

"We will," Erin assured him as she let him help her up.

Picking up his bass, Yukito glanced back to her. "I do love you, Erin. I really do. I just don't see myself the way you do, and that bothers me..."

"I know," she replied honestly. What else could she say to that? She wasn't about to apologize for seeing him the right way. She plucked her own guitar off its stand and started slipping it into its bag. "Help me bring my keyboard down after these go, okay?"

Erin is done here.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Of course I want to. But I guess I need to stop trying and start doing myself, too." He said seriously, and she sent him a little smile. He really did want to go back to that morning, to find some other alternate path that he could go down instead of making such a huge deal about it...instead of acting as stupidly as he had. Most of the time, the greatest mystery he could find in Erin was how she justified all the wrongs he did to her, all the things he forced onto her shoulders needlessly. But despite the wordless awe that overcame him at the idea of taking all the mental jarrings that had been his fault, that continually came between them, he also knew that it something similar to the way he felt about her, the way that he could accept her as she was. Even with everything else. There was something to be said for knowing someone not only had your back, but was willing to take a bullet for you without hesitation. "Just know that I'm going to screw up. Probably a lot, but, I don't know... hopefully we'll find something worth it afterwards?"

"We will," Erin assured him as she let him help her up.

Picking up his bass, Yukito glanced back to her. "I do love you, Erin. I really do. I just don't see myself the way you do, and that bothers me..."

"I know," she replied honestly, sounding a little distance. She plucked her own guitar off its stand and started slipping it into its bag. "Help me bring my keyboard down after these go, okay?"

“Sure,” came his easy response, reaching down to single-handedly roll up a cord and slip it into its proper case. It was strange, how fast they could move back into a semi-normal rhythm. As he held the cord in his fingers, he clenched his fingers tightly around it for a moment, wondering at their strength, and wondering about himself.

It didn't take them long to pack up their things, and on the drive home, there was silent resolve between them that went unspoken. It went unspoken because he wasn't sure he could name it aloud. Or if the sincerity of it could even be caught in words. I'm sorry, Erin. I really am...

Yukito is done here.

[Elda Forever]

post-Fight + Freakout



Erin Spenser

Stupid Formspring. Stupid Internet. Stupid computer. Stupid technology. Stupid friends that lie and keep secrets and hurt you. Stupid boyfriend that wasn't home when she needed him. She slapped the computer shut and stormed off to another room, where her phone started buzzing.


Cassie had started texting her frantically when Erin snapped at her on formspring, as if she was a horrible person for getting upset at finding out Cassie had gone and kissed another person that wasn't her boyfriend. And of course, when Erin explained that, Cassie pulled the "I'm a victim" card. The "you'll never understand what I've been through" card. The "let me enrage my friend to no end because --heaven forbid-- she cares about what I do" card. Finally, Erin declared to Cassie that maybe SHE should go around kissing all the people that Cassie cared about, and snapped the phone shut. It didn't take long for more texts to start ringing out, but Erin ignored them. They kept coming, and so Erin grabbed it, took to her feet, and hurtled the cell phone across the room where it bounced off the wall and clattered to the floor. The back popped off, but she didn't bother to check it out. At least, until it buzzed again. Erin let out a scream of frustration, and a ribbon of growled curses at the phone and at the sender of the texts as she stalked over to the phone and ripped out the battery. "Now let's see you call," she challenged, glowering at the phone before chucking it back down to the floor again.


It was only a few minutes, but it felt like forever, as Erin sat there by the wall, smoldering. She didn't even notice the sound of Yukito arriving.


Yukito Maki


He'd taken his sweet time coming home, feeling sore and bruised after the rough encounter with Trent. Out of habit, he'd checked the window of a shop for his reflection, to get a better assessment of his injuries, and instantly found himself scowling. There was blood in his mouth, a bruise beneath his right eye that was obviously fist-sized, and he had blood all over his shirt and jeans. Yukito wasn't sure why he didn't call Erin, even though he should have, to let her know why he was a bit late in coming home. He'd been meaning to surprise her with the news of the band gig, but now he was going to have to explain to her why his face looked so freaking mauled. It wasn't like when they were just dating, where he could cover it up or avoid her for a couple of days under conjured pretenses - she was bound to see it sooner or later.

He tried to mop up some of the blood off on the shirt, muttering about why he'd just had to wear one of his favorites today - and it just happened to be a light gray that would show the blood all over the place and make it look worse than it was. If he'd picked a black one, he could have just mopped most of it up and looked almost okay. Almost.

Maybe he could sneak past her to the bedroom, and if luck was with him, he could change and wipe off most of the blood before she spotted him. Fat chance. He swore and stumbled up the sidewalk, his hands sticky and his mind starting to numb when he turned his key in the knob. He frowned, turning it again as he realized she hadn't locked it. Probably she'd forgotten, even though he kept mentioning it to her. Yukito pushed the door open and heard the tail end of a string of curses.

Forgetting about sneaking past her, he took a step into the bedroom and found Erin tearing her phone apart, ripping out the battery and chucking the mess to the ground with a growled, "Now let's see you call," A string of guilt washed over him - why hadn't he texted her at least? She was obviously in a mood, so he stepped back, intending to slip into the kitchen and make use of the sink before she noticed, when his shoulder bumped into the wall and made him wince and let out a hiss.

Glancing away from Erin and toward the living room, he called over his shoulder, "Hey, I'm home. I have some good news for you, too. Just give me a minute..." With as much casual air as possible, he slipped toward the kitchen.


Erin Spenser


"Now let's see you call," she growled at the disemboweled phone. Of course, no sound came from the mutilated electronic as she curled her legs under her and glared at it, but still, a little thud and hiss of discomfort reached her ears, and Erin whipped her head around to see Yukito. Immediately her glare returned to the cell phone. If he wasn't going to bother to be home when she needed him, the she wasn't going to bother giving him attention. Even if he was making whiney baby sounds to try to get her to look at him.


"Hey, I'm home. I have some good news for you, too. Just give me a minute..." His voice trailed off as he left the doorway. He was leaving her? Didn't he see she was upset? Didn't he see that she needed him? Erin let out a growl of frustration, leapt to her feet and shoved the phone away with a kick. It thudded hollowly against the wall. Again.


"Yukito!" Erin stalked out of the room and followed after him. "Do you know who else Cassie's kissed now? Clarence! Your brother's brother Clarence!" The words rushed out almost too quickly as she paced the hallway. "First you, then him, and then she gets mad at me because I get mad that she thought it was a brilliant idea to keep this secret, too! And now it's all my fault? I don't think so! Oh, no, so then she has to start texting me, pulling this whole "no one understands me" bull crap, as if I'm not even trying to understand! And oh, wait, she didn't kiss anyone after 'it', but she can go around now kissing whoever she --------- well pleases, as long as it's not the one she's supposed to love! What kind of bullcrap is that?! And then I tell her she's pulling the "pity me, I'm a victim" card, it's evil of me because 'OH MY GOD I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND AND ONLY YUKITO KNOWS ME ANYMORE'! What's next, all her music changes to Evanescence and My Chemical Romance and she buys black lipstick? Why do I even freaking BOTHER?! Yukito! Are you listening? Yukito!"


She whirled around to finally take him in. He looked covered in blood, awkwardly bent over the sink with his shirt off and wringing under the faucet. "YUKITO!! What did you DO?!?" Eyes wide in sudden panic, she rushed over to him and frantically began splashing water onto her hands, the onto all the bloodied parts of his face. "Oh, my god," she repeated over and over to herself. Once Erin could finally see his face without the blood, she took him by the shoulders and peered anxiously into the bruised face. "What did you do, freaking try to kill someone?! What happened?!" The anger in her voice was fighting now with the urge to cry as her face contorted at the sudden onrush of tears.


Yukito Maki


He cursed himself at the slamming of his shoulder into the door jamb, his ribs still super-sore from the elbow that had crushed against it. Seeing Erin's glance upwards, he dodged out to the hallway, facing away from her as though he hadn't seen she was already in a mood. "Hey, I'm home. I have some good news for you, too. Just give me a minute... His voice trailed off as he left the doorway, trying not to stumble as his head tried to numb out his senses. He hated the feeling of losing blood. It wasn't just a physical loss – it was a mental one, too.


"Yukito!" his vague hope of escaping went unheeded by her storm as he heard her following. He let out a sigh, stepping to the sink and quickly trying to wash his hands, the water freezing cold and not a comfort at all to his fingers.


"Do you know who else Cassie's kissed now? Clarence! Your brother's brother Clarence!" came her shouts from the hallway. He could hear her pacing, back and forth, back and forth. The need for a real explanation was safe for the moment. He hesitated, then peeled off the bloody t-shirt, letting it hit the sink with a sick splattering sound as the blood mingled with water. He cursed under his breath as the blood just spread around the sink, and started trying to mop himself up as Erin raved, not noticing him. His face went stony, torn between wishing she would notice and hoping she wouldn't go all crazy on him when she was already this ticked off. It was an understandable ticked off - he'd been infuriated at Cassie when he'd found out - but angry Erin was not one of his favorite things to deal with. "First you, then him, and then she gets mad at me because I get mad that she thought it was a brilliant idea to keep this secret, too! And now it's all my fault? I don't think so! Oh, no, so then she has to start texting me, pulling this whole "no one understands me" bull crap, as if I'm not even trying to understand! And oh, wait, she didn't kiss anyone after 'it', but she can go around now kissing whoever she --------- well pleases, as long as it's not the one she's supposed to love! What kind of bullcrap is that?! And then I tell her she's pulling the "pity me, I'm a victim" card, it's evil of me because 'OH MY GOD I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND AND ONLY YUKITO KNOWS ME ANYMORE'! What's next, all her music changes to Evanescence and My Chemical Romance and she buys black lipstick? Why do I even freaking BOTHER?! Yukito! Are you listening? Yukito!"


“Yeah,” he said, spluttering through the water he was trying to rinse off his mouth with, spitting more red as he tried to listen to her calmly. “I'm listening. Why don't you and Cass--”


"YUKITO!! What did you DO?!?" He glanced up to see her in the doorway, finally taking him in and the results of the afternoon's work. Her eyes went as wide as saucers, and she rushed over and started to wash it away, too. She must have noticed most of the blood was his. He sent her a wry little smile, feeling the hardness of the unwashed blood mixed with the sting of the cold water. “Hi,” was his only reply.


"Oh, my god," she repeated over and over, as she cleared away the mess. He let his hands fall to his sides, just standing there and watching her face while she worked. When she stopped, it was to grip his shoulders, which he frowned at, her expression just as vapid and crazy as it had been when her problems were focused on her and Cassie. Knowing the questions were about to come, he stopped enjoying her momentary attention and wished she hadn't noticed until later. Don't, Erin... don't freak out too much, okay? Please...mother got used to it..it just happens to me, okay?


"What did you do, freaking try to kill someone?! What happened?!" Her voice was breaking with emotion, and he knew this had been a bad day to pick a fight with Trent. Even if Trent had started it with his cock-and-bull crap about what was best for Erin. But seeing her face, he felt a trickle of doubt as to who had been the one in the right during that particular dispute.


He tried to chuckle a little, trying to fend off her hands and turn away to finish the job on his shirt. Like it would ever come out, anyways. “It's actually not as much bleeding as sometimes. I think I have a natural tendency to just...I don't know. Bleed all over the place. It's okay, I'm fine..just kind of banged up.” His smile faded as he stared down at the sink. He wanted to tell her who it had been, why they had fought. He wanted to ask her if that's what she really thought, but he knew what her answer would be, whether it was how she truly felt or not. He knew she wasn't likely to tell him to his messed up face that she thought he was a bad idea for her, it just didn't work in his mind. “I got into a disagreement with a guy at that Hysteria place.. I think I lost. But I did kick him a few times. And I made a dent in his stupid gas-guzzling hunk of transporation, too...” he paused, tossed the shirt back in the sink with defeat, and letting out a sigh that hurt his ribs. “I definitely got my a** kicked.” Rinsing off his hands again, he tenderly inspected his ribs, and finding them all relatively intact, he turned to Erin. “Tell me again what happened with Cassie. I couldn't hear you very well out in the hallway.” It was a blatant lie, but it was a lie he deemed necessary for the moment.


Erin Spenser


"What did you do, freaking try to kill someone?! What happened?!" He looked terrible, and all wrong, and there was way too much blood for her to feel comfortable enough to just sit back and watch him bandage himself. She couldn't leave him alone, could she? No, he went off when she needed him and got himself freaking mugged! If he blacked out now or something, she had no idea what she'd do… how bad was he hurt?! Erin's fingers ran over the markings and injuries on his face gingerly.


“It's actually not as much bleeding as sometimes."


"Sometimes?!" she balked, watching him uselessly wring out his shirt.


"I think I have a natural tendency to just...I don't know. Bleed all over the place. It's okay, I'm fine..just kind of banged up.”


"No freaking duh! What's wrong with you? What did you do?! Where have you been, Yukito? What happened to you?!" Her voice came out tense through her tightened throat, the sight of him hurt like that coupled with the fight with Cassie making her feel more weak and helpless and lost than she'd felt in a long time. Yukito….


“I got into a disagreement with a guy at that Hysteria place.. I think I lost." Erin's response was just to stare at him aghast. "A disagreement?" She let out an exasperated breath. "Yukito…"


"But I did kick him a few times. And I made a dent in his stupid gas-guzzling hunk of transportation, too...”


"You kicked him," Erin echoed in disbelief.


Yukito apparently had given up on the shirt, chucking it in the sink, defeated. “I definitely got my a** kicked.”


"Yukito… you need ice or something…" she muttered to him, feeling overwhelmed and distraught and ready to curl up and cry. Why did it all happen at once?! She moved past him and paused when he twisted to examine his side. "Yukito," she grumbled again, face twisted in anxiety as she looked, too. "How bad is it, Yukito?"


“Tell me again what happened with Cassie. I couldn't hear you very well out in the hallway.”


Erin sighed, frustrated, and wrapped some ice in a towel and thrust it at him. Another look at him, and suddenly all she waned to do was cry. "Cassie kissed Clarence, and never even told me, and while she was dating Kagayaki--" She was crying now, and it only frustrated her more, her words tumbling out quickly and emphatically. "And she gets mad at me for getting mad at her! And then she starts texting me crap." Erin dropped to the doorway of the kitchen, crying and dropping her head onto her knees. Catching her breath, she looked up at Yukito and blurted helplessly, "And she said I couldn't never understand her anymore, and that she said she's just like you, and she's not, and it's not the same, and I told her that, but she kept saying I was wrong, and I'm not, because it's not the same, it's not the same at ALL, and she's wrong, and it's all wrong, and you're hurt, and she's mad at me over I don't even understand it, and it's all wrong!!" Irritated, Erin shoved away the tears on her face with the heels of her hands. "When did I become suck a big freaking crybaby?" she muttered, but fresh tears came anyway. "It's all wrong…"


Yukito Maki


“It's actually not as much bleeding as sometimes," he commented, trying to smile.


"Sometimes?!" she balked, not impressed. He tried to clean out his shirt, scrubbing at the blood and wondering what the heck his mother could have been using in the previous times..it had obviously worked before.


"I think I have a natural tendency to just...I don't know. Bleed all over the place. It's okay, I'm fine..just kind of banged up.”


"No freaking duh! What's wrong with you? What did you do?! Where have you been, Yukito? What happened to you?!" He looked up at the tight sound in her voice, gazing at her solemnly through his stiff and sticky bangs as they fell in his eyes.Please, Erin. Calm down. I'm sorry this had to happen today. But I'm not sorry it happened. Well, not really.


“I got into a disagreement with a guy at that Hysteria place.. I think I lost."


Erin's response was just to stare at him aghast. "A disagreement?" She let out an exasperated breath, and he could only raise one shoulder to excuse himself and his bad choice of words. "Yukito…"


"But I did kick him a few times. And I made a dent in his stupid gas-guzzling hunk of transportation, too...”


"You kicked him," Erin echoed in disbelief.


"Well," his words started to get mixed up, "I'm not very top thick or anything, and my boots were helping, and I had to get him off of me where he pinned me...and.." Yukito let out a sigh, tossing the shirt back into the sink, frustrated with his attempts, “I definitely got my a** kicked.”


"Yukito… you need ice or something…" she muttered to him, starting to move past but hesitating when he looked down and started gingerly testing the already bruising area on his ribs. He'd been sure at the time that something had broken, knowing he was already pretty frail before, and the fact that he'd been unable to get any good hits in really grated on him now.


"Yukito," she grumbled again, her face contorting at the size and color of his bruise. He mentally searched the house for a discarded shirt, and decided he should probably grab one when she was a little reassured. "How bad is it, Yukito?"


"Not too bad, Erin. Seriously. I'm fine." He felt like he'd been hit by a cement block instead of a fist, but he didn't want to tell her that. He was sure she could see the marks, and he knew she wasn't used to seeing that on him. In an attempt to distract her, he said, “Tell me again what happened with Cassie. I couldn't hear you very well out in the hallway.”


Erin sighed, frustrated, and wrapped some ice in a towel and thrust it at him. Feeling like she was frustrated at him more than the situation of coming home like this, he took it begrudgingly and shifted the ice pack frombruise to bruise. Chest, cheek, shoulder blades... He'd forgotten about those until he had to twist his shoulders in the slightest. Then he remembered quite clearly. "Cassie kissed Clarence, and never even told me, and while she was dating Kagayaki--"

her voice crackled as the tears started to stream down her face, "And she gets mad at me for getting mad at her! And then she starts texting me crap."


He knew it had been time to mention her own problems again, but he hadn't expected her to break down quite so suddenly. She dropped to the floor, curled up with her forehead resting on her kneecaps. He sank next to her, legs crossedindian -style as he gave her head a light touch with his forehead, still feeling the throbbing there and wondering if she could feel it, too. They waited for a moment, until she was ready to lift her head up again, "And she said I couldn't never understand her anymore, and that she said she's just like you, and she's not, and it's not the same, and I told her that, but she kept saying I was wrong, and I'm not, because it's not the same, it's not the same at ALL, and she's wrong, and it's all wrong, and you're hurt, and she's mad at me over I don't even understand it, and it's all wrong!!" Irritated, Erin shoved away the tears on her face with the heels of her hands. "When did I become such a big freaking crybaby? It's all wrong…"


Calmly, he laid his forehead against hers for a moment, just looking into her eyes and willing comfort to be passed between them. Kissing her cheek gently, he whispered, "I know it is. But it's going to be alright. Just take a breath and we'll think this through." He winced a little from the shoulder blades and the ribs as he sat back against the counter opposite her, both of them sprawled in the doorway. "It's not the same for Cass. She's got a lot going for her, and I don't mean that in a 'poor me' kind of pathetic way.." he snarled, even at the idea, "That's just fact. But you know, Erin. It is a little the same, and it's something we've both experienced, and she's kind of right, in a way. Hard as you try, you're not going to quite understand it - most people won't." His eyes closed a little, as he searched his mind for the words. "It's a big deal when your trust has been violated like that. It makes you question everyone and their motives. It makes you question yourself. I can kind of understand where she's coming from, in that way. And it's something I'm not going to share with you... not really." He opened his eyes to look at her with a mingling of sadness and conviction. "I hope it's something you never truly understand, Erin. Do you get that?" He let out a sigh, rubbing a hand along his mouth and inspecting his fingers to check for any more bleeding, and finding himself satisfied, adding, "On the other hand, I think Cassie is making a very big mistake by shutting you out like this. If I'd had the chance to have you around in that first year, I just may have killed someone." He offered her a grim little smile, then changed the subject, "By the way, Clarence irritates the **** out of me. Especially when he's flirting with you."


Erin Spenser


"When did I become such a big freaking crybaby? It's all wrong…" she muttered, irritated at the warm salty streaks on her face.


Erin felt his forehead touching hers, and the little kiss on her cheek. It made her feel awful to know her cheek was kissable and his was a swollen bruise from a "disagreement". Against her will, Erin's lip quivered. "I know it is. But it's going to be alright. Just take a breath and we'll think this through."


She exhaled a huff of breath and shot him a look. "There. Now what?"


Yukito had moved to sit across from her in the doorway, looking just as painfully banged up as ever. "It's not the same for Cass. She's got a lot going for her, and I don't mean that in a 'poor me' kind of pathetic way.."


"Told her so," she muttered, crossing her arms over her and glancing into the living room darkly.


"That's just fact. But you know, Erin. It is a little the same, and it's something we've both experienced, and she's kind of right, in a way. Hard as you try, you're not going to quite understand it - most people won't."


The dark expression faded and it felt like she might cry again. "But… but you just said it wasn't the same! It can't be both, Yukito! It's not the same, and I want to understand! Yukito…" Erin had to pause; her eyes were burning from the sudden onrush of tears. "It's important…" The explanation was weak, really weak, and it probably didn't make sense, but it was all she could get out.


"It's a big deal when your trust has been violated like that. It makes you question everyone and their motives. It makes you question yourself. I can kind of understand where she's coming from, in that way. And it's something I'm not going to share with you... not really."


"Why?" she demanded sharply.


"I hope it's something you never truly understand, Erin. Do you get that?"


"I get it," she sneered, still stifling the shuddering breaths that came when she was torn between screaming and crying. "I get that she thinks she's excusable for her actions just because she's a victim. I get that she doesn't think of me enough to even talk to me anymore. I get that she likes having secrets with you, while I sit back here with-- with nothing! She won't even let me touch her freaking hand, Yukito, without acting like I'm freaking poison!" Crying again. "She won't tell me anything, I can't even take her hand anymore, she hates me! Nothing I can possibly do for her is right anymore because she hates me!"


"On the other hand, I think Cassie is making a very big mistake by shutting you out like this. If I'd had the chance to have you around in that first year, I just may have killed someone."


"Whatever," she muttered, sitting back against the cabinet wall and glaring away from Yukito.


"By the way, Clarence irritates the **** out of me. Especially when he's flirting with you."


"What?!" Erin turned back toward him, widened eyes revealing her surprise. "I thought that was just someone being stupid! He really is flirting with me? Why? Ugh!" She dropped her head back, making it thud painfully against the wall where she sat, and she closed her eyes in a wince. "First Cassie hates me, then you come home like --like that, and I still don't know if you're okay, and now the guy who kissed her and ruined everything and who supposedly takes care of your baby brother is flirting with me and I didn't even catch it?! AUGH!! Why is everything so screwed up?!?" Erin shouted getting to her feet and pacing again, hands in her hair and eyes nearly shut. "It's all WRONG, Yukito! Why is everything so -- so screwed up now? Why can't anything go right? Why?! Ugh!" Turning to pace the other way, Erin kicked her bare foot on the corner of the wall, letting out another string of curses as she sat down right there and tried to massage the dent out of her foot. "Stupid, stupid, stupid…!"


Yukito Maki


Yukito had moved to sit across from her in the doorway, not even bothering to truly mask his discomfort for the moment, though Erin's complaints offered a good distraction. "It's not the same for Cass. She's got a lot going for her, and I don't mean that in a 'poor me' kind of pathetic way.."


"Told her so," she muttered, crossing her arms over her and glancing into the living room darkly.


"That's just fact,” he continued, then changing his angle a bit to drive his point, “But you know, Erin. It is a little the same, and it's something we've both experienced, and she's kind of right, in a way. Hard as you try, you're not going to quite understand it - most people won't."


Her face twisted in confusion at his words. "But… but you just said it wasn't the same! It can't be both, Yukito! It's not the same, and I want to understand! Yukito… It's important…"[/b


“I know...” was all he could offer her, “It's very confusing..I'm sorry, but it's hard to explain..” he let out a sigh, and ran his hand through his hair. "It's a big deal when your trust has been violated like that. It makes you question everyone and their motives. It makes you question yourself. I can kind of understand where she's coming from, in that way. And it's something I'm not going to share with you... not really."


"Why?" she demanded sharply.


He raised his eyes to meet hers, and added solemnly, "I hope it's something you never truly understand, Erin. Do you get that?"


"I get it," she sneered, and he could see her getting increasingly upset again, after the momentary calm. "I get that she thinks she's excusable for her actions just because she's a victim. I get that she doesn't think of me enough to even talk to me anymore. I get that she likes having secrets with you, while I sit back here with-- with nothing! She won't even let me touch her freaking hand, Yukito, without acting like I'm freaking poison!" Tears streamed down her face, and he was unsure of how to comfort her. "She won't tell me anything, I can't even take her hand anymore, she hates me! Nothing I can possibly do for her is right anymore because she hates me!”


“Nooo, Erin..” he leaned forward too fast to reach out to her, and paused, “She doesn't hate you. I know she doesn't. I know she doesn't..” he paused, let out a sigh, and added, "She's super-confused on this, you know? She'll figure it out.. On the other hand, I think Cassie is making a very big mistake by shutting you out like this. If I'd had the chance to have you around in that first year, I just may have killed someone."


"Whatever," she muttered, sitting back against the cabinet wall and glaring away from Yukito, as if the confession didn't matter. He felt his brows furrow at that, finding her flippant remarks getting increasingly tiresome.


"By the way, Clarence irritates the **** out of me. Especially when he's flirting with you."


"What?!" Erin turned back toward him, widened eyes revealing her surprise. Of course, mentioning Clarence would be what made that little crinkle on her brow vanish, even if just for a moment. "I thought that was just someone being stupid! He really is flirting with me? Why? Ugh!" She dropped her head back, making it thud loudly against the wall where she sat, and she closed her eyes in a wince. "First Cassie hates me, then you come home like --like that, and I still don't know if you're okay, and now the guy who kissed her and ruined everything and who supposedly takes care of your baby brother is flirting with me and I didn't even catch it?! AUGH!! Why is everything so screwed up?!?"


As she leapt to her feet, Yukito considered what she had said. Then, he started to laugh. “Wow..that is pretty messed up, isn't it? When did things get like this?” He looked up at her as she continued to rant and rave.


"It's all WRONG, Yukito! Why is everything so -- so screwed up now? Why can't anything go right? Why?! Ugh!" Turning on her heel, Erin managed to smack her foot on the wall somehow, making her even more cross.


“You okay?” he asked, tentative about getting in arm's reach of her right about now.


"Stupid, stupid, stupid…!"


“Erin..” he called out to her calmly, holding out his hands to her, “Come here...please?”




Erin Spenser


"First Cassie hates me, then you come home like --like that," Erin grumbled, suddenly feeling like there was too much weight on top of her and everything was too overwhelming. "And I still don't know if you're okay, and now the guy who kissed her and ruined everything and who supposedly takes care of your baby brother is flirting with me and I didn't even catch it?! AUGH!! Why is everything so screwed up?!?"


Then, Yukito started to laugh. To laugh!! Of all things, to laugh!! What was wrong with him?! “Wow..that is pretty messed up, isn't it? When did things get like this?”


"Ugh!! How can you freaking LAUGH about this, Yukito?! Everything's WRONG! It's all WRONG, Yukito! Why is everything so -- so screwed up now? Why can't anything go right? Why?! Ugh!" Angrily, she lashed out at the wall's corner and immediately regretted it. She dropped to the floor and started rubbing the bottom of her foot, seething.


“You okay?”


"Stupid, stupid, stupid…!" She turned around to glare at Yukito. "No, I'm not okay!" Suddenly all Erin wanted to do was curl up against him and cry, cry, cry… But there was no way she was caving now. No. Way!! She gritted her teeth and concentrated on rubbing the bottom of her foot even more, even though it didn't help really.


“Erin..” Yukito called out to her, sounding so much more calm than she could ever feel, she was sure of it. “Come here...please?”


"No, Yukito, I'm hurt; you should come here!" she snapped at him, but the feeling kept welling in her, and a glance at Yukito sent the wall crumbling and she was rushing to curl up next to him, tumbling into his open arms and sobbing as she buried her head in him. "It's all wrong, everything's wrong! I'm losing Cassie, and Clarence is -- he's-- I don't even know! I don't know! It's wrong, and you're hurt, and it scared me so-o much…"


Yukito Maki


"Ugh!! How can you freaking LAUGH about this, Yukito?! Everything's WRONG! It's all WRONG, Yukito! Why is everything so -- so screwed up now? Why can't anything go right? Why?! Ugh!" Angrily, she lashed out at the wall's corner hitting her foot. Yukito watched as her fury became centered on that one spot of her foot, hissing and seething, her expression untameable.


“You okay?” he asked quietly, unsure of how to react, sure that to come closer and try to take care of her would result in some kind of physical assault.


"Stupid, stupid, stupid…!" she was muttering, then sent a glare his way that was cold and heated at the same time. "No, I'm not okay!" He was pretty well aware of that, but the question seemed to be called for. Erin continued the assault on her own foot as he watched, mentally fishing desperately for something to say that would be in any way helpful.


“Erin..” Yukito called out to her softly, holding out his hands to her. “Come here...please?”


"No, Yukito, I'm hurt; you should come here!" she snapped at him. He just stared at her. Well, I'm hurt too! As though she heard his thoughts, Erin glanced up at his expression, then rushed to him, crumbling into his arms and sobbing. He wrapped his arms around her, as comforting as he could will his arms to be, settling her head against his neck as he pulled her into his lap, cradling her. "It's all wrong, everything's wrong! I'm losing Cassie, and Clarence is -- he's-- I don't even know! I don't know! It's wrong, and you're hurt, and it scared me so-o much…"


“It's gonna be alright, Erin.” It was a statement, nothing less, as he stroked her hair with one hand, “I promise. I'm fine, and so are you. And Cassie's going to be alright, too. I don't know what the hell is going on with her and Clarence, but we just have to let her try to figure this out, you know? The best we can do is just be here for her.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek, making a face in the moments before he reached her, as his ribs screamed in protest. Tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, he spoke to her softly, trying to calm her further. “I have good news for you, too.” He paused long enough to send her a little crooked smile, and continued, “We've got a gig for the band. A real gig, you know? With a full-on stage and a regular audience starving for some good music and a hot girl holding the mic. What would you say to Veritas taking another step forward like that?”


Erin Spenser


“Erin.. Come here...please?”


"No, Yukito, I'm hurt; you should come here!" she snapped at him. After a moment her hardened expression crumbled at the look on Yukito's face, at seeing all the fresh bruises and sores and welts appearing so painfully. She rushed over to him, burying herself in him as she finally cried. Despite the comfort she felt in his hold around her, she still cried. "It's all wrong, everything's wrong! I'm losing Cassie, and Clarence is -- he's-- I don't even know! I don't know! It's wrong, and you're hurt, and it scared me so-o much…"


“It's gonna be alright, Erin.” She still shuddered from the tears willing their way out, even as he did his best to comfort her, stroking her hair and holding her close. Erin tried to best to stop, but the sudden breaths leftover from crying still snuck through. “I promise. I'm fine, and so are you. And Cassie's going to be alright, too. I don't know what the hell is going on with her and Clarence, but we just have to let her try to figure this out, you know? The best we can do is just be here for her.”


"It's a lot," she muttered lamely. He made it sound so easy, and she made herself sound so pathetic. But it was a lot. And all at once… "Why's it all come at once?"


Yukito kissed her cheek. Tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, he kept talking to her, his tone so calm and quiet and beautiful. She wished she could be like that sometimes… like now. “I have good news for you, too.”


"What?" she asked meekly, brushing away the remains of the tears. Erin looked up to see him giving her a crafty little smile, the kind that she'd learned meant he knew something she didn't, and he was going to tease her about it until she laughed or something.


“We've got a gig for the band." Her eyes widened. "What?" Now she was more alert. " A real gig, you know? With a full-on stage and a regular audience starving for some good music and a hot girl holding the mic. What would you say to Veritas taking another step forward like that?”


In spite of herself, Yukito's words seemed to lift a huge weight off of Erin's shoulders, and she felt she could smile again. "Yukito! At Hysteria? That's why you were there? Is it really, like totally officially official? It's real? Really?" Her voice was rising in her excitement, and so Erin just kissed him instead, holding his shoulders as she prolonged the kiss until she caved and recognized her need for oxygen. "I love you!"


Yukito Maki


“It's gonna be alright, Erin.” She still shuddered from the tears willing their way out, even as he did his best to comfort her, stroking her hair and holding her close. “I promise. I'm fine, and so are you. And Cassie's going to be alright, too. I don't know what the hell is going on with her and Clarence, but we just have to let her try to figure this out, you know? The best we can do is just be here for her.”


"It's a lot," came her muffled response,sounded fully worn out from everything. "Why's it all come at once?"He shook his head, at a loss, and leaned down to kiss her cheek. There was little he could do to make it any better for her. Life like to move fast for the two of them, and as they sat on the kitchen floor wrapped around each other, each feeling separate and shared pain, it was a rare moment of stillness. Yukito gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, wishing his words could smooth over scars of their own accord.


“I don't know why. Life sucks. Sometimes the only thing that keeps me going is knowing I have at least one thing going for me all the time, no matter what. And I don't have the strength to doubt that anymore.” he smiled, a little sadly, and kissed her cheek.“I have good news for you, too.”


"What?" she asked meekly, brushing away the remains of the tears and unable to hide her sparkling interest. He smirked down at her, drawing out the moment to let her know it was definitely a good thing, that he had brought home for her.


“We've got a gig for the band."


Her eyes widened, becoming like saucers of emotion that just swam with color and questions that started to boil over for him to revel in. "What?“


“A real gig, you know? With a full-on stage and a regular audience starving for some good music and a hot girl holding the mic. What would you say to Veritas taking another step forward like that?” They were both smiling at this, a gift for her that was – in his opinion – a lot cooler than a lot of the gifts other girls would have wanted. He could already imagine the lights lifting, the heat from the room in a tangible cloud hovering over them as Erin reached out to the crowd, her eyes sparkling with joy.


"Yukito! At Hysteria? That's why you were there? Is it really, like totally officially official? It's real? Really?" He chuckled, starting to reply when his words – and his breath – were abruptly caught off by Erin's lips crushing down on his, the . If she had waited until she needed breath, he had already gone past that point, more than a little light-headed. He mentally claimed it was the blood loss, leaving room for another attempt on Erin's part if she so wished. "I love you!"



“That's a fantastic sort of a celebration,” he laughed, leaning in to keep their faces close. “Do it again? But please be gentle...I'm a little sore..” His fingers brushed up against the round bruise from Trent's elbow, testing it with the brush of a fingertip while he watched her large brown eyes. Instead of waiting for her to kiss him again like he'd told her to, he tilted his head forward to meet her lips, deepening it and exhaling into her before tilting away, resting his sore eye against her cheek. “So... how was your day?”


Erin Spenser


At Yukito's announcement, Erin immediately felt her weighty feelings evaporating. Her squealed exclamation was quickly punctuated with an enthusiastic kiss. A kiss that lasted long enough for her lungs to remind her that she needed them. She pulled back and squealed, "I love you!" It was so easy then to forget all of Yukito's injuries. Already in her head were swirling images of the stage, the sounds, the lights, the sound check, the bustling crowds, the audience, the vibration of the drum, the reflection of the stage floor…


“That's a fantastic sort of a celebration.” Yukito laughed, drawing a bigger smile from her and her own giggles. “Do it again? But please be gentle...I'm a little sore..”


The reminder immediately reflected in her face, suddenly making Erin feel much more somber. She shifted away a little to try to avoid his sore spots and watching him test one of the wounds. She knew it probably bothered him, or even annoyed him, but she couldn't help but care…


Yukito didn't wait for her to apologize, or chastise, or to get another word in-- instead, he leaned over to continue the kiss she'd stopped. Despite his warning, he was still very good at making her nearly forget his injuries entirely. What was left of her logical mind at the moment was reminding her that if she had to hold him, not to do it by the waist tonight. Instead, she kept her arms around his shoulders, then his neck, unwilling to be the first to break it off. Yukito did, though, but he stayed close to her, resting his face against hers. It made her wince inwardly to see the unnatural colors on his skin, knowing he was so vague about what had happened, and knowing that he'd been out to get the biggest gig they'd probably ever had…


“So... how was your day?”


Erin had to give a short laugh at that as she kept her hands loosely about his shoulders. "Yukito… I dunno! First it was fine or whatever, then it was all crappy, then it sucked more, then you were like, 'hi, a gig!', and I'm like-- like this, and I dunno!" Somehow she was laughing again, close to him now, the news for their band still reeling about in her head. A real gig, with an audience wanting to see them, paying to come in and watch them, wanting them to be good. And they wouldn't let them down. Maybe (Erin allowed the thought to creep in in her excitement), some kind of marketing person might even hear them. See how everyone needed to hear what Veritas could do, and help them get it really out there. Another squeal of excitement started to seep out of her, and Erin's excited hug on him briefly tightened. "I still can't get over it!!" Another kiss. "I freaking love you!"


Yukito Maki


“That's a fantastic sort of a celebration.” Yukito announced with a breathless laugh, “Do it again? But please be gentle...I'm a little sore..” He gently brushed the round bruise on his rib-cage, seeing Erin watch him while he tested it gingerly. On her face he read a conflict; knowing she wanted to 'fix it' in an instant but knowing she wouldn't be able to. He knew for certain now that he didn't want to tell her the bruises had started because of her. Not giving her time to apologize, he leaned in to kiss the pout that had started on her lips. Erin had no complaints to that – or if she did, he wasn't giving her time to speak it. Her arms entwined around his neck, anchoring him to her, his own hands finding her cheeks, still feeling the trace of tears that was quickly warming up to her body heat. When they had finished, he laid his closed and swollen eye against her heated cheek, letting out a sigh. He missed the little reassurances throughout the day that Erin gave him. Even when she wasn't trying.


“So... how was your day?” he joke, earning a bit of a laugh from her. He congratulated himself silently as her tone continued to hold hidden giggles, showing that she was calming down.


"Yukito… I dunno! First it was fine or whatever, then it was all crappy, then it sucked more, then you were like, 'hi, a gig!', and I'm like-- like this, and I dunno!"


He smiled, closing his eyes as he rested against her. Then, in typical Erin fashion, she let out a squeal, giving her hold on him a quick squeeze, making Yukito chuckle. "I still can't get over it!!" Another kiss. "I freaking love you!"


“Well, I love you, too..” he murmured, liking how the phrase sounded so common and easy on his tongue now. His arms wrapped around her waist to help hold him up. He started to hum a little, not realizing it was a song from Phantom of the Opera, then lifted his face to meet her eyes. “How does your foot feel, now?” He smirked, "I could carry you to the bed. I'm in the mood for a shower and a long nap or something...Unless you want to continue celebrating..."


Erin Spenser


“So... how was your day?” He asked it so casually and nonchalantly that Erin had to laugh.


"Yukito… I dunno! First it was fine or whatever, then it was all crappy, then it sucked more, then you were like, 'hi, a gig!', and I'm like-- like this, and I dunno!"


Resting against her, Yukito sank into a moment of silence, and a glance toward him told Erin it was a happy one. Or at least content, even with the darkening bruises. A beat passed, and her excitement exploded again as she squealed, giving him a quick hug. "I still can't get over it!!" Another kiss. "I freaking love you!"


“Well, I love you, too..” he murmured, making her smile broaden, and she gave his cheek a kiss. Wrapping his arms around her waist, Yukito's humming registered in her ears as a familiar tune, one she learned well during the summer, and it made her giggle giddily to hear it from him. “How does your foot feel, now?” he asked after a moment. Before Erin could answer, he added with a smirk, "I could carry you to the bed."


"My foot's fine, Yukito," she giggled, keeping her comforting hold on him.


" I'm in the mood for a shower and a long nap or something...Unless you want to continue celebrating..."


More giggles. "Aww…" Erin looked up at Yukito, smiling as she rested her hand gently against his cheek. Lightly, she brushed her lips against his. "You go shower… I'll wait for you." A pixyish smile, and Erin stepped out of his way, watching for him to leave.


Yukito Maki


They sat there at the small entrance to the kitchen, each wrapped up in the other like a tangled wire, as Yukito hummed absently to himself, not realizing it was the theme from Phantom of the Opera. When Erin giggled, he just sent her an automatic flash of a smile. “How does your foot feel, now?” he asked after a moment. Before Erin could answer, he added with a smirk, "I could carry you to the bed."


"My foot's fine, Yukito," she giggled, but he was pretty sure that she wouldn't protest if he went through with that particular suggestion.


" I'm in the mood for a shower and a long nap or something...Unless you want to continue celebrating..." He nuzzled her hair with his nose gently, as she let out a little burst of giggles that may not have soothes his sore spots, but certainly brightened his mood. He had almost forgotten the defensive anger that had started the whole fight, as she continued to giggle.


"Aww…" Erin looked up at Yukito, smiling as she rested her hand gently against his cheek. Lightly, she brushed her lips against his. "You go shower… I'll wait for you." A pixyish smile, and Erin stepped out of his way. But now that she'd actually let him go, he felt a little deflated, and less motivated to take that shower. A quick glance at the bloodied shirt in the sink, however, and he gave a little shrug of defeat. He took the shirt with him, cupping it so it wouldn't drip any as he left her in the kitchen. He'd be able to wash it a bit better in the shower anyways, he figured. Though most of it was out by now. Once he saw his reflection in the bathroom mirror, he felt a little bit better. Trent may have had some hard fists, and plenty of issues to send Yukito careening to pavement, but it didn't leave as bad a marks as he could have. Once the blood washed away, it would be a lot better.


Especially if Erin was still there when he came out. The stream rose to the ceiling and despite being sore, Yukito decided he was happy.


Done here! ^.^

[Elda Forever]

(Sorry for all the triple-postingness! D: You know I'm good for it, and it has plenty of content!



Vacation :3


Erin Spenser

Ever since Kagayaki had barely even mentioned Japan to her, Erin had been looking up everything she could on traveling to Japan, and the different places she wanted to go. She was looking at hotels and stores and famous landmarks, and what the airports looked like where they might land, and the different famous music venues. Everything she could think of to Google, Erin was Googling it for Japan. In between jumping to her feet and dancing around in excitement, squealing to no one or the neighbors next door that she was going to Japan with her boyfriend. Eventually it turned into more dancing around the house than internet-searching. And that was exactly what she was doing when she heard Yukito at the door.


"Yuyukuuun!!" she squealed, throwing the door open and crushing herself against him in an ecstatic hug. Before saying another word, she gave him a kiss that ended up being much longer than her typical greeting kiss. Erin pulled back finally, to tell him how excited she was, or maybe to just let him close the door, but instead she found herself kissing him once more, hands in his hair, then on his face, then back in his hair as she finally pulled back this time, grinning widely. It was hard to keep from laughing, too. "We're going to Japan!" she squealed, then pulled him into another tight hug. Pulling him farther inside toward her computer, Erin continued, "I've been looking up all these different places I wanna go when we're there! Look, there's what they say is the world's oldest hotel.. it looks pretty raunchy to me," she giggled out. "But wouldn't it be fun to say you've just seen it? Ooh, and I found these really pretty pictures of Tokyo-- Oh, I showed you those! Right? Come--" She cut herself off and squealed in glee again, abandoning the computer for another hug, nuzzling her face in his neck and giving him another kiss.


Yukito Maki


He opened the door and was instantly assaulted by his hot and excited girlfriend, who nearly bowled him over with her embrace.

"Yuyukuuun!!" she squealed. He was very glad in that moment that things were different now, because with anyone else, he would have stiffened and shoved her away. But instead, he found himself laughing and returning the hold.


“Tadai-” he began, cut off by her electrifying kiss that stunned him where he stood. Then, she pulled back, just long enough to caught the dumbfounded – but happily so – look on his face, before pulling him back under for another one, this time with added benefits. He felt goosebumps as her fingers trailed across his cheek, momentarily distracted from their dizzying work in his hair. Yukito chuckled into the kiss, his own hands finding their most fitting spot around her waist, then up to her shoulders. When she pulled back the second time – this time for good..well, at least for a few moments – she was grinning.


"We're going to Japan!" she squealed, then pulled him into another tight hug.


“So I heard,” he teased, reluctant to let her go far away after a welcome home like that. '”If I had known you would get this excitable, I would have suggested it a lot earlier..”


Pulling him farther inside toward her computer, Erin continued, "I've been looking up all these different places I wanna go when we're there! Look, there's what they say is the world's oldest hotel.. it looks pretty raunchy to me," she giggled out. "But wouldn't it be fun to say you've just seen it? Ooh, and I found these really pretty pictures of Tokyo-- Oh, I showed you those! Right? Come--" She cut herself off and squealed in glee again, abandoning the computer for another hug, nuzzling her face in his neck and giving him another kiss. He laughed aloud, taking her hand in his and standing close enough to nuzzle her face back. Just like kittens...


“Definitely should have mentioned it earlier..” he chuckled, mostly to himself. His mind flickered across the sights of Tokyo from the year he'd spent there. He wondered if Erin remembered he'd seen most of what she would be looking forward to sharing with him... “There are places I decided I want to show you...” He squeezed her hand, his smile faltering. “Erin... you know I'm worried about the money here, right? I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but it isan issue right now.” He squeezed her hand again, “But we'll figure out something, okay? I just don't know how yet..” Leaning over, he gave her cheek a kiss, “Show me everything you've found...”


“I don't care about any raunchy hotels, by the way...” he added for good measure, his arm snaking around her. “We can find those anywhere. But I want to show you, eh...the food we eat there, and things like that. And the places I grew up...”


Erin Spenser


"We're going to Japan!" she squealed when she broke their kiss, then pulled him tight into a hug again.


“So I heard. If I had known you would get this excitable, I would have suggested it a lot earlier..”


"I totally asked you before!!" Erin retorted brightly, voice high and excited in her delight. "I did, and you said you didn't want tooooo!" She laughed, pulling him with her to see her computer. "Come look! I've been looking up all these different places I wanna go when we're there! Look, there's what they say is the world's oldest hotel.. it looks pretty raunchy to me," she giggled out. "But wouldn't it be fun to say you've just seen it? Ooh, and I found these really pretty pictures of Tokyo-- Oh, I showed you those! Right? Come--" She cut herself off and squealed in glee again, abandoning the computer for another hug, nuzzling her face in his neck and giving him another kiss. That resulted in a full-out laugh from Yukito that only made her more happy, if that was possible, as he took her hand in his. She held his hand tightly in her enthusiasm, letting him return her little gestures of affection with a perpetual smile on her face.


“Definitely should have mentioned it earlier..” Yukito mumbled, laughing a little. "Well duh," Erin declared perkily, leaning her head back to rest on his shoulder, beaming at him. “There are places I decided I want to show you...” He briefly tightened his hold on her hand, just as she'd done a moment ago. "Ooh, yay, where at? Come show me, let's look them up so I can seeee!! What kind of places?" she rattled off, sitting up from him and posing herself over the keyboard, ready to go at his word. Glancing back at him, she halted, though. "What is it?"


“Erin... you know I'm worried about the money here, right?" Despite herself, Erin's face fell a little. After all her excitement, he was gonna say they couldn't go? Or worse… that she couldn't go? "I-- I know, but… you said… "


I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but it isan issue right now.” He squeezed her hand again. She knew. And at least fifty percent of that issue was her fault. "I know," she muttered. "But…" You shouldn't have said we could if we really can't… “But we'll figure out something, okay? I just don't know how yet..”


"Promise?" She moved her head back to his shoulder, wanting to feel the reassurance his presence offered.


Leaning over, he gave her cheek a kiss, “Show me everything you've found...”


Her smile returned, and Erin leaned forward to pull up the different windows she'd left open. The window of the oldest hotel was up, which earned another comment from Yukito as he wrapped his arm around her again. “I don't care about any raunchy hotels, by the way… We can find those anywhere. But I want to show you, eh...the food we eat there, and things like that. And the places I grew up...”


"I wanna see that, too!" she echoed excitedly. "Look, I was already looking at these outdoor markets where everything is laid out and fresh and like, right there, so you get to see it and smell it and touch it and sometimes even taste it before you buy it, and look at all the colors, Yuyukun! It's so pretty!! And do you think there will be festivals when we're there? 'Cause I found these pictures of some and they're awesome! And we should go do karaoke-- the real kind, in some place cool or famous or something! And I want to go see concerts with you! And, oh, what about that train? The one that was all over the news and Travel Channel and junk a few years back, that super-fast one?" She giggled, hugged him again, and squealed. "I'm so excited!!"


Yukito Maki


His excitement definitely didn't register as clearly or as beautifully as Erin's, but he had come to love that about her...and about them. Erin giggled, leaning her head back to rest on his shoulder, beaming at him as they held hands so casually. “There are places I decided I want to show you...” he told her, squeezing her hand to add meaning to the simple comment.


"Ooh, yay, where at? Come show me, let's look them up so I can seeee!! What kind of places?" she rattled off, sitting up from him and posing herself over the keyboard, ready to go at his word. Glancing back at him, she halted, though. "What is it?"


“You won't find the places I want to show you on a google search,” he said with a sad smile. “Erin... you know I'm worried about the money here, right?" The effect was immediate, as her expression went from cloud nine to plummet into a dark depth of disappointment..


"I-- I know, but… you said…


“I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but it isan issue right now.” He squeezed her hand again, trying to reassure her before continuing.


"I know," she muttered, on the verge of a child's whine, as she struggled to deal with it calmly, "But…"


“But we'll figure out something, okay? I just don't know how yet..”


"Promise?" She moved her head back to his shoulder, making his heart skip a beat, even if she did it several times a day.


“Promise,” Leaning over, he gave her cheek a kiss, “Show me everything you've found...” The radiating smile returned, making the air tangibly warmer as her wrapped his arm around her, drawing them close as they both turned their eyes to the screen. A simple-looking hotel was there, claiming to be the oldest in the world.


“I don't care about any raunchy hotels, by the way… We can find those anywhere. But I want to show you, eh...the food we eat there, and things like that. And the places I grew up...”


"I wanna see that, too!" she echoed excitedly. "Look, I was already looking at these outdoor markets where everything is laid out and fresh and like, right there, so you get to see it and smell it and touch it and sometimes even taste it before you buy it, and look at all the colors, Yuyukun! It's so pretty!! And do you think there will be festivals when we're there? 'Cause I found these pictures of some and they're awesome! And we should go do karaoke-- the real kind, in some place cool or famous or something! And I want to go see concerts with you! And, oh, what about that train? The one that was all over the news and Travel Channel and junk a few years back, that super-fast one?" She giggled, hugged him again, and squealed. "I'm so excited!!"


He just smiled at her, nuzzling her cheek with his nose while she rambled on. “That could be fun..” was all he managed to chuckle. “When we go karaoke,” he mumbled, pronouncing it differently than her – more how he was used to - “I think we should bring Kagasan with us..”


“So I was thinking about this..” he started slowly, “When we go, will we be staying in Tokyo, or Chiba? It's not quite a short walk or anything, you know?”




Erin Spenser


“I don't care about any raunchy hotels, by the way… " Yukito told her. "We can find those anywhere. But I want to show you, eh...the food we eat there, and things like that. And the places I grew up...”


"I wanna see that, too!" she cried. "Look, I was already looking at these outdoor markets where everything is laid out and fresh and like, right there, so you get to see it and smell it and touch it and sometimes even taste it before you buy it, and look at all the colors, Yuyukun! It's so pretty!! And do you think there will be festivals when we're there? 'Cause I found these pictures of some and they're awesome! And we should go do karaoke-- the real kind, in some place cool or famous or something! And I want to go see concerts with you! And, oh, what about that train? The one that was all over the news and Travel Channel and junk a few years back, that super-fast one?" Erin started giggling as she turned around to hug him again, squealing gleefully. "I'm so excited!!"


Yukito kept close to her, nuzzled close as he commented, “That could be fun..” A little laugh slipped through, making Erin echo the laugh harder as she hugged him. “When we go karaoke,” he said, making her giggle with the precision in his accent at the word in its native tones. I wanna say it like that, too.. Kahrahokeh? “I think we should bring Kagasan with us..”


"Yeah! Why wouldn't we?" Erin asked with another laugh. "Omigod, it's gonna be so awesome!!" she squealed again, hugging Yukito even as she rocked them from side to side in her overjoyed state.


“So I was thinking about this..” Yukito started when Erin's movement stopped. "What?" she asked happily, shifting her position to lay across his lap, gazing brightly up at him. “When we go, will we be staying in Tokyo, or Chiba? It's not quite a short walk or anything, you know?”


Erin exhaled a long, happy sigh as she only half-thought on Yukito's question, stretching her hands above her head lazily. "Oh, I dunno… as long as we're there I don't care…" she told him, her tone dreamy as her imagination produced movies and pictures of them discovering (or re-discovering) the country. Together. "Niisan said we could stay with him, so I guess we'd stay there for however long then we could go to Tokyo the last few days or so, you know? Hmm… I've never been out of the country before, you know that? Or on a plane…" Her bubbly expression faltered a little. "It's long, isn't it?"


Yukito Maki


“When we go karaoke,” he said, making her giggle somehow, “I think we should bring Kagasan with us..”


"Yeah! Why wouldn't we?" Erin asked with another laugh. "Omigod, it's gonna be so awesome!!" she squealed again, hugging Yukito even as she rocked them from side to side in her overjoyed state. He smiled to watch her, the excitement making him a little restless as it rubbed off of her. Just looking at her, he could tell images were flashing through her mind of the things they would do, things they would see and share. He wanted a trip with her. But...someone had to think about what they were gonna do when they were tired of seeing everything, about where he would be taking her when that energy vanished and she was barely keeping her eyes open.


“So I was thinking about this..”Yukito started when Erin's movement stopped. "What?" she asked happily, shifting her position to lay across his lap, gazing brightly up at him. “When we go, will we be staying in Tokyo, or Chiba? It's not quite a short walk or anything, you know?”


Erin exhaled a long, happy sigh, moving her hands above her head and not taking the question very seriously. "Oh, I dunno… as long as we're there I don't care…”



Yukito smirked. “You will care when you start falling asleep sitting up... And it matters, because we need to figure out how much money we need for transportation.”



“Niisan said we could stay with him, so I guess we'd stay there for however long then we could go to Tokyo the last few days or so, you know? Hmm… I've never been out of the country before, you know that? Or on a plane…" Her bubbly expression faltered a little. "It's long, isn't it?"


He smiled again, “Yes, it's very long...I was a zombie for about a week, just from the time difference.” Yukito leaned down, though it was uncomfortable, to kiss her forehead where it rested on his knees. “You are going to hate that plane ride. Which is a shame, because it's a good place to take a nap, if you can stand it.”


Erin Spenser


"What?" Erin asked, happily nestled across his lap, looking up at him.


"When we go, will we be staying in Tokyo, or Chiba? It's not quite a short walk or anything, you know?"


"Oh, I dunno," Erin answered airily, stretching her hands out above her head. "As long as we're there I don't care…"


She grinned at his smirk. "You will care when you start falling asleep sitting up…."


"I won't!" Erin retorted in laughs.


Yukito plunged on. "And it matters, because we need to figure out how much money we need for transportation.”


“Niisan said we could stay with him, so I guess we'd stay there for however long then we could go to Tokyo the last few days or so, you know? Hmm… I've never been out of the country before, you know that? Or on a plane…" Her words faltered then, thinking of all that entailed. "It's long, isn't it?"


He smiled again, as if that made it all easier. (And it did, a little, but only a little.) “Yes, it's very long...I was a zombie for about a week, just from the time difference.” Her face fell into a pout at the thought of wasting time being tired in Japan, instead of going everywhere and doing things. She wasn't very good at keeping her thoughts from him, and even though it could drive her crazy, she was grateful for it now, where he could lean down to kiss her and give her a little comfort when she needed it. “You are going to hate that plane ride. Which is a shame, because it's a good place to take a nap, if you can stand it.”


She made a face. "I don't want to nap… I don't wanna be stuck on a plane for hours and hours with nothing to do but stare at whatever's in front of me…" Erin sat up and hugged Yukito close. "I guess if you're with me it won't be bad, though." Her smile came back, and she kissed his cheek. "Okay, so where do you wanna go when we're there?" she asked, brightening up substantially.


Yukito Maki


"It matters, because we need to figure out how much money we need for transportation.” he insisted, his logical side taking over for her emotional high.


“Niisan said we could stay with him, so I guess we'd stay there for however long then we could go to Tokyo the last few days or so, you know? Hmm… I've never been out of the country before, you know that? Or on a plane…" She trailed off, considering, "It's long, isn't it?"

He smiled knowngly. Just imagining Erin on a plane, bouncing as everyone loaded on to the plane and insisting on a window seat, was amusing in itself, and he looked forward to seeing that, and reveling in it. “Yes, it's very long...I was a zombie for about a week, just from the time difference.” She pouted, looking like a petulant child, and he added, “You are going to hate that plane ride. Which is a shame, because it's a good place to take a nap, if you can stand it.” That singular sentence, he was sure, wrapped up the majority of his plane ride recollections.


The petulant face returned. "I don't want to nap… I don't wanna be stuck on a plane for hours and hours with nothing to do but stare at whatever's in front of me…" Erin sat up and hugged Yukito close. "I guess if you're with me it won't be bad, though." They shared a smile, then. Yeah, it would be nice to have that little calm set of hours, when he didn't have to worry about getting to work on time the next day, or making sure she had studied for her next test... Erin reached up and kissed his cheek. "Okay, so where do you wanna go when we're there?" she asked, brightening up substantially. He made a little gesture with his hand to warn her to calm down.


“You'll just have to wait and see. I'll make it a surprise for you or something.” He paused, leaning forward to give her a slow, lingering kiss, then moving up from the couch to go drop his jacket in the bedroom and set up his phone to charge. Over his shoulder, he called, “We have to buy some curry while we're there, you know...haha..” Once he'd dropped the contents of his pockets on the 'junk shelf', he poked his head out of the bedroom to smirk at her crookedly. “And I'm going to con you into eating some of our world-famous ice cream flavors.”


Erin Spenser

"I guess if you're with me it won't be bad, though," Erin decided, giving him a smile that she was very glad to see him return. Hmmm… I love your smile. She reached up to give him a kiss. "Okay, so where do you wanna go when we're there?" she asked, brightening up substantially.


Yukito gestured with his hand, probably wanting her to calm down a little. He had no idea how excited she was, though! “You'll just have to wait and see. I'll make it a surprise for you or something.”


"Come one, just one idea?" she pleaded, only to receive a long, sweet kiss as her answer, effectively distracting her from her question. Yukito slipped away, though, to disappear into the bedroom. Erin followed, watching him charging his phone and grinning at him, bouncing happily on the balls of her feet. "Now can you tell me?" she called.


Yukito decided to stick to his guns and keep things secret. “We have to buy some curry while we're there, you know...haha..”


"Yukitooo!" She started laughing, trying her best to be irritated with his persistence. "You're doing that on purpose!"


Once he'd dropped the contents of his pockets on the 'junk shelf', he poked his head out of the bedroom to smirk at her crookedly, finally giving her a little answer. “And I'm going to con you into eating some of our world-famous ice cream flavors.”


"Oh, god, I saw a Food Network show about those! You're gonna kill me!" she exclaimed, bursting into laughs and running to wrap him in another hug. "You won't!"


((Done!!))

[More than Music]

And HERE is the elusive Kagamane stuff. : )


KAGAMANE -- TO HIDE IN A BOOK


Kagayaki Aidou

It was getting closer and closer to the end of June. Then it would be July. Then he would be going back to Japan.

He really had mixed feelings about going back... Well, he missed his mother, and his friends. And he wanted to go back and make things right with them so he didn't have that holding him back anymore -- or them either. But there was some sense in his head that if he went, he'd be too comfortable to come back and be alone in that apartment.

But not coming back wasn't an option. He'd told everyone he'd be coming back soon... no more than a month since Yukito and Erin were coming. And he wanted to study English with Karyu's help so he could talk better... So he could come back to America for good this time. Because it was home now.

There were things here he'd miss more than things back home. And he wanted this to be the last time he went back and forth for a long period of time. He didn't like moving around... he'd never moved out of his house back in Japan as long as he could remember... And he'd switched between staying with Yukito, Erin, and Cassie for a while until his father had come to America, and he didn't want to move anymore for a while... It was tiring, not knowing where he was going to stay. Some people might have seen it as freedom.

Kagayaki didn't want so much to feel free as he wanted to feel safe, and they didn't often mix for him.

Staring in the store window beside him, Kagayaki realized this was the same book store he'd met Amane-chan at... They'd been looking in at Yukito. Reaching out and putting his fingertips against the glass, he thought back to that point in time... It hadn't been so long ago, when he thought about it, but getting past his false-alarm with Yukito was something that made him feel like a new person. And he'd lost Cassie since then... They'd broken up and she'd given her heart to Clarence now.

Clarence. That guy who was so rude to everyone and then acted like it was just them over-reacting when they acted hurt...

His hand tightened into a fist, eyes narrowed. He didn't know what Cassie saw in that man, and he didn't like how she rarely talked about him... It was like some secret endeavor of hers. And he didn't like secrets.

It was moments like this that made him want to go right up to her and tell her everything he'd been through, hoping that would mean she'd be honest with him.

But it wouldn't work that way. They were 'separate people' now and he didn't have any right to be in her life. Because she didn't want him around anymore... Not at all...

And that hurt more than anything else.

Kagayaki backed away from the window a little bit, narrowly missing bumping into someone. "I.. I sorry!" he exclaimed, putting his hands up in surrender. Then he paused, his eyes widening. "A... Amane-chan?"

Could this possibly be coincidence?

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

It had taken months to get anywhere near over the escapade with Yukito. In a lot of ways, Amane was sure she'd never get over it. Everyone acted like she was psychotic, stupid, obsessed, ridiculous, or petty in her actions and feelings. No one even considered that this was something more powerful than she could control, beyond the realms of just 'getting over it'.

Any old haunts seemed even older, now. Any new places seemed already tarnished. There was nowhere she could go. Where she used to plan out paths for chance meetings, she now had to avoid everywhere. Seeing Yukito and Erin in any public place was too hard to bear. From them idly chatting outside the school and leaning against the sacred Volvo, to the two of them trying to reach some sort of rapport over shopping for vegetables, the ringing laughter from Erin and the little smiles from Yukito, the sound of their voices mingling, the way they stood next to each other – it was heart-breaking for her. There was no getting over it. How was she supposed to stop feeling? How was she supposed to just put up a barrier against her own thoughts and dreams? How was she supposed to control what passed through her mind at night while she slept? It was impossible. There was no getting over it. There was just learning to cope, knowing that whatever chances she'd had --- no, just learning to know that there had never been any chance for her... that was all she had to look forward to. It was hard, especially, knowing that she was now very much alone.

The fanbase she'd started, the website that had brought everything to an ugly beast of a head, it had not entirely vanished, simply fading into a dormant ghost of a place. No one commented anywhere, no news was updated to the twitter account, no texts were sent to her phone. If anyone ever went to the site, it was just to reminisce. All the 'friends' she had acquired through their mutual fascination had quickly dissipated, an evanescent link to something that had become poison for her. There was nobody now. Even her old friends, before the day Tevin had introduced her to Yukito Maki, had long ago been distanced from her 'weird obsessive craze'. There was nobody now.

Amane had turned into herself lately, and in the last few months, it had gotten a lot better. She was done crying for now, she was determined to be done. There was a kind of quiet to her movements, like she was constantly in a very fragile bubble of control, and that bubble was trying constantly to avoid being burst. Her fingertips grazed across the novels on the shelves as she passed, her face impassive and her steps slow and sluggish. What was she to do now? Summer had started, and now her days were painfully empty. There was nowhere to go, not even anyone to talk to about what had happened...

That's when he bumped into her, sending the books in her limp hands tumbling to the ground. Amane looked up, wide-eyed, to see none other than Kagayakisan.

"I.. I sorry!" he exclaimed, not recognizing her at first, and tossing his hands up in a dramatic movement of surrender. Then, his eyes fell on her, taking in her expression, as she suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry as seeing his pudgy, innocent face, a source of constant comfort. "A... Amane-chan?"

“Senpai!” she screeched, leaping over to throw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest and bursting out into throat-thrashing sobs, not caring anymore who saw. She had already been embarrassed and ridiculed enough. Even in her own mind, there was no rest anymore. “I'm so s-sorry for all I did! I should never have met him!”

And so the fragile bubble burst.

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

"I.. I sorry!" he cried, putting his hands up in surrender, hoping he wouldn't be verbally thrashed for not looking before he moved on the busy sidewalk. The girl he'd knocked into dropped her books, but she didn't even seem to notice when their eyes met. "A... Amane-chan?"

“Senpai!” She jumped forwards and wrapped her arms around him tight, crying wildly into his shirt. He froze for a minute, not sure what to do for her. She was obviously upset, but... about what? It had been longer than he'd thought since their last meeting, hadn't it? Sighing, Kagayaki hugged Amane close, biting his lip.

“Amane-chan, I... I no...”

“I'm so s-sorry for all I did! I should never have met him!”

His mouth fell open and he held her away from him so he could look into her face again. “Amane-chan, stop! Stop.... stop now!” Kagayaki took a deep breath, then loosened his grip on her. “Why... why you be sayin' that?”

Had something happened with Yukito he hadn't heard about? Yukito had never mentioned anything to him about Amane, and he'd considered that a good thing... Meaning there had been no conflict. But obviously Erin knew about her, from how she'd mentioned her several times. 'I don't want this to become another Amane thing,' she'd said. He hadn't understanded it...

Did that mean she'd told Yukito?

Kagayaki swallowed, pulling her to his chest. “Tell me... all what happen.”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

"A... Amane-chan?" A single, stuttering of her name was enough to send her over the edge again, the reminder of all the images associated with Kagayaki, with his friends, his past, they way he had treated her and talked to her last time they'd met.. it brought the delicate little facade crashing down around her, and she started to cry.

“Senpai!” She jumped forwards and wrapped her arms around him tight, crying wildly into his shirt. There was a little refuge, hiding her face so that he couldn't see, but a comfort, in feeling his arms around her and knowing that he wouldn't push her away.

“Amane-chan, I... I no...”

“I'm so s-sorry for all I did! I should never have met him!” she screeched, her muffled words thick with her sobs, sniffling in an unattractive, five-year-old kind of way as she tried to bury herself into him. But he held her at arm's length, looking into her face to see the ugly tears and the reddening on her cheeks. Amane looked down, ashamed of herself as her lip trembled uncontrollably.

“Amane-chan, stop! Stop.... stop now!” Kagayaki took a deep breath, then loosened his grip on her. “Why... why you be sayin' that?” At first, she just shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut to block out his words, his questions. She didn't want to answer him. It hurt too much to say anything, to look him in the face. She should have known. He'd push her away, just like everybody else. 'You're crazy,' and 'You should just forget about it all'. Amane tried to pull away from him, but found her feet rooted to the floor.

“Because I should have known better! I t-told him, Kagayaki! I told him! And it didn't make a difference!” Well, it certainly had made a difference, so that was a lie. It had torn down her patience and self-control, it had openly ridiculed her. Now there was no going back, no letting it sizzle out without holding onto that embarrassment and shame. She wanted out. She tried to move away, but Kagayaki pulled her to him, and she was too worn-out from crying already to resist him. Amane resumed her crying into his shirt, her fingers clenching the brightly-colored fabric in her sweaty fist, offering her some solace.

“Tell me... all what happen.” he said gently, and it started to calm her. Amane waited until her sobs had turned into silent tears, allowed herself a moment to regain her breath and control. He wanted to know. Kagayaki wanted to know, which was more than she could have ever asked him for. And from the way he'd spoken before...Amane could hope that he could also understand.

“I...” a hiccup interrupted her, “I was at his work, and they saw me. They'd seen my website and they were angry. Erin started y-yelling at me, telling me to go aw-way..” Another choking, and she clung to him more tightly, “You should have seen his face, Kagayaki...he looked like he'd been violated again and again, anytime I looked at him..he hates me, he truly hates me...and he told me to go away, b-because he could never love me...” Her crying returned, pitiful and childish, but she couldn't stop it if she tried, “Because he loves Erin! And I want to be happy for him in that, but I can't! I don't know what to do! He hates me, now!”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

“I'm so s-sorry for all I did! I should never have met him!”

He held her at arm's length for a moment, looking into her face. “Amane-chan, stop! Stop.... stop now!” He wasn't usually so firm, but then again, girls didn't usually run right up and start crying when he saw them either. He took in a deep, calming breath and let his hands relax a little. “Why... why you be sayin' that?” She shook her head a first, not saying anything, half-heartedly trying to move away. He tilted his head so he could see her face better. “Amane-chan?” His voice had softened. “Is okay...”

“Because I should have known better! I t-told him, Kagayaki! I told him! And it didn't make a difference!” She started moving away again, but he pulled her close, that feeling in the pit of his stomach that told him this was a very serious matter. He was just starting to get used to that feel, and get used to reacting seriously instead of brushing it off.

“Tell me... all what happen.”

She didn't answer him for a while, not until the sobs had died down into heavy breaths and quiet tears. “I...” She was forced to pause when a hiccup came out, making him smile a little although this wasn't a time for smiling. “I was at his work, and they saw me. They'd seen my website and they were angry. Erin started y-yelling at me, telling me to go aw-way..” He felt her holding tighter to him. 'Good... it's okay to be upset and scared. Just stay close.' “You should have seen his face, Kagayaki...he looked like he'd been violated again and again, anytime I looked at him..he hates me, he truly hates me...and he told me to go away, b-because he could never love me...” His smile faded altogether, but he didn't say anything. Kagayaki even bit his lip a little so he wouldn't interrupt her. Amane-chan needed to talk for a while. It sounded like she hadn't talked about it much until now... had no one listened to her? Maybe she sort of felt the way he did? “Because he loves Erin! And I want to be happy for him in that, but I can't! I don't know what to do! He hates me, now!”

That was all he could take. He held her out again, looking in her face with a bit of disappointment. “Amane-chan,” he said, sternly, “No talkin' like this!” Slowly he smiled. “I know feelings.” He took her hand gently, leading her away to a bench that was kind of out of the way. “I... I did... sometime... too.” Kagayaki was smiling now because his face refused to be in any other emotion. “I...” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “I... I kiss Yukito...” He held his hands up right away, letting her hand fall absentmindedly. “He no remember. I just... I...” He looked away, resting his hand on hers, sighing. “I no love Yukito, Amane-chan. I no do.” He finally met her, his face and his eyes showing compassion he could not manage in English yet. “I have... no telled Yukito-kun about... I am... afraid...” Kagayaki bit his lip, hesitating. “Afraid he hate me...”

“But,” he began, turning to her and taking both her hands in his. “You so brave, Amane-chan! You tell him. I so... I so... proud.” He looked away side-ways, a bit ashamed to meet her eyes. “I no so brave.” Leaning over, he placed a gentle kiss on Amane-chan's cheek. “Is okay... lovin' no workin' yet... I know feelings! I know!” He laughed a little, kicking his feet. “I... I is all alone now, ne.” He didn't take his eyes off his shoes as he spoke. “Cassie leaved me... I... I hurted her, and... and she hurted me... Still!” He took both of Amane's hands in his now. “Amane-chan! Life go on and... people get a new people and love!” Kagayaki beamed, kicking his feet a some more, like a small child that just couldn't contain their excitement. “We can too! We can! Promise!”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

“I...” She hiccuped “I was at his work, and they saw me. They'd seen my website and they were angry. Erin started y-yelling at me, telling me to go aw-way..” She clung more tightly to Kagayaki, the closeness getting quickly addictive and necessary for her to keep going, to remind her of where she was. She could have gotten lost in the memory, if Kagayaki hadn't been there as she rambled. She saw Yukito staring at her, silent and at a loss. Erin was easy enough to picture, as a furious ball of energy descending down on her. But Yukito's face...that was hard for her memory to cling to, even as it was the thing she felt she needed the most. Her brow crumpled as the image splayed itself cruelly across her mind's eye. “You should have seen his face, Kagayaki...he looked like he'd been violated again and again, anytime I looked at him..he hates me, he truly hates me...and he told me to go away, b-because he could never love me... Because he loves Erin! And I want to be happy for him in that, but I can't! I don't know what to do! He hates me, now!”

Kagayaki held her out roughly again, staring at her face and making the red flicker of shame flash across her face. “Amane-chan,” he said, sounding angry at her. Everybody is angry at me! “No talkin' like this!” More tears came, and her shoulder shook, but she didn't say anything, willing herself to clear her head out, to listen to Kagayaki. Through the blurry tears, she looked up to see a warm and comforting smile on his face. “I know feelings.” He took her hand gently, leading her away to a bench that was kind of out of the way. “I... I did... sometime... too.” His lips still smiled, but his eyes were sad, and caught Amane's tears in a quick, deadly movement, leaving her cheeks with the only remaining streaks of tears, and only the hiccups to remind her of her crying bout. “I...” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “I... I kiss Yukito...” Amane's jaw dropped open unceremoniously, and she gaped wide-eyed at Kagayaki, the image crashing into her conscious with a shriek of unexpected feeling.

“You what?!” she asked, louder than she intended to. “You...you...”

Kagayaki tossed his hands up defensively, though she couldn't figure why he would even attempt to do that. “He no remember. I just... I...” He looked away, resting his hand on hers, sighing. “I no love Yukito, Amane-chan. I no do.” He met her eyes, and his garbled speech made sense to her, like a light shone on that glittered in his eyes, conveying their true depth. “I have... no telled Yukito-kun about... I am... afraid...” Kagayaki bit his lip, hesitating. “Afraid he hate me...”

“But,” he began, his words striking a chord in her, and her hands started to tremble with emotion again, sitting in both his hands. “You so brave, Amane-chan! You tell him. I so... I so... proud. I no so brave.” Leaning over, he placed a gentle kiss on Amane's cheek, sending her blood pumping from the long-forgotten contact. He did it so casually, and she wasn't sure what to think of it. Her mind swiveled and funneled into a very confused hole until she just had to abandon thinking of it entirely and move on with what Kagayaki was saying. “Is okay... lovin' no workin' yet... I know feelings! I know!” He laughed a little, kicking his feet. “I... I is all alone now, ne. Cassie leaved me... I... I hurted her, and... and she hurted me... Still! Amane-chan! Life go on and... people get a new people and love!” Kagayaki beamed, acting as if he hadn't just admitted his hurt feelings aloud to her, admitting his fears. Instead, he was striving to push forward with optimism and a smile. Amane didn't know if she had the strength to do that. “We can too! We can! Promise!”

What if I don't WANT a new people and love?

“It wasn't as brave for me as it would be for you..” she muttered, his eyes on the ground. “You'd be risking a lifelong friendship. This was my only chance for him to even know who I am..” She sniffed a little, wiping away at her cheeks to remove the tears from them. “How did you hurt her? I mean...” Another hiccup, and she made a disgusted sound at the little leap in her throat. “Stupid hiccups...” she grumbled, as another one touched on her. “I'm so sick of being the one on her own. The one left behind. The hurt one...”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

“I... I kiss Yukito...”

She looked confused, scared even. “You what?!” She was being very loud! “You...you...”

He put up his hands so she wouldn't punch him like she had before. “Sh, sh, Amane-chan!” he cried, then calmed himself down. “He no remember. I just... I...” He looked away, resting his hand on hers, sighing. “I no love Yukito, Amane-chan. I no do.” He met her eyes, hoping she'd understand. “I have... no telled Yukito-kun about... I am... afraid...” Kagayaki bit his lip, hesitating. “Afraid he hate me...”

“But,” he started, a happy tone in his voice. “You so brave, Amane-chan! You tell him. I so... I so... proud. I no so brave.” He kissed her quickly on the cheek, then continued. “Is okay... lovin' no workin' yet... I know feelings! I know!” He laughed a little, kicking his feet. “I... I is all alone now, ne. Cassie leaved me... I... I hurted her, and... and she hurted me... Still! Amane-chan! Life go on and... people get a new people and love!” He beamed at her, finding a little hope in her eyes. “We can too! We can! Promise!”

“It wasn't as brave for me as it would be for you..” Her voice was low and she didn't seem sure. Kagayaki pouted.

“You say still you no mean,” he prodded, poking her in the shoulder.

“You'd be risking a lifelong friendship. This was my only chance for him to even know who I am..” She sniffled and wiped at her tears. Kagayaki smiled softly, reaching over and cupping her cheek in his hand, getting rid of those silly tears with his thumb.

“Is okay, Amane-chan,” he whispered. “Is.”

“How did you hurt her? I mean...”

Kagayaki's smile wavered, but he kept it up there. “Long-long story-story, make me sorry-sorry,” he jeered, trying to make light of a very heavy situation.

“Stupid hiccups...”

“No stupid,” he frowned, “Silly. No stupid.”

“I'm so sick of being the one on her own. The one left behind. The hurt one...”

“Me too,” he said quietly, smiling. “Still, you has... has go on, yah? You has find... find happy in you. Then, you has happy... all time!” He laughed, smiling at her brightly. “Trust, Amane-chan. Trust me.”

He looked around the area a little, then gasped. “You... You book!” He leapt from the bench and rushed over, picking up the forgotten books on the sidewalk and coming back to Amane with all speed. “I sorry maked you dropped them!”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

“It wasn't as brave for me as it would be for you..”

“You say still you no mean,” he prodded, pouting and poking her in the shoulder. A little smile crept up onto Amane's lips, and she kept her head down as if that would hide it.

“But it's true... you'd be risking a lifelong friendship. This was my only chance for him to even know who I am..” She sniffled and wiped at her tears. Kagayaki smiled softly, reaching over and cupping her cheek in his hand, getting rid of those silly tears with his thumb. She let him, watching his face as he continued to try and comfort her.

“Is okay, Amane-chan,” he whispered. “Is.”

Seeing that sincere concern and conviction on his face, Amane couldn't imagine Kagayaki hurting Cassie as much as he said he had. He'd made it sound terrible, what he'd done or said to her. But how could he, when he was being so nice to an almost-stranger? “How did you hurt her? I mean...”

Kagayaki's smile wavered, but he kept it up there. “Long-long story-story, make me sorry-sorry,” he avoided the subject, but still managed to make her smile a little. Then, she hiccuped, cursing the way she always got them when she cried.

“Stupid hiccups...”

“No stupid,” he frowned, “Silly. No stupid.”

“I'm so sick of being the one on her own. The one left behind. The hurt one...”

“Me too,” he said quietly, smiling. “Still, you has... has go on, yah? You has find... find happy in you. Then, you has happy... all time!” He laughed, smiling at her brightly. “Trust, Amane-chan. Trust me.”

She sent him a little smile, his words offering a reassurance she hadn't received in a long time. It was a good feeling, knowing someone else 'got it', and wanted to make you feel better. It made her want to help him back..

He looked around the area a little, then gasped. “You... You book!” He leapt from the bench and rushed over, picking up the forgotten books on the sidewalk and coming back to Amane with all speed. “I sorry maked you dropped them!”

“Oh, that's fine,” she assured him, taking the book and smiling up at him, “Thanks, Kagayakisan. I really appreciate you listening to me...” Her eyes flickered to the ground, the back up to his face as she held the book to her chest. “You know, you deserve to be happy all the time, too.” She dropped one hand lightly to his shoulder, lifting up a little to kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you...”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

“How did you hurt her? I mean...”

Kagayaki's smile wavered, but he kept it up there. “Long-long story-story, make me sorry-sorry.”

“Stupid hiccups...”

“No stupid,” he frowned, “Silly. No stupid.”

“I'm so sick of being the one on her own. The one left behind. The hurt one...”

“Me too,” he said quietly, smiling. “Still, you has... has go on, yah? You has find... find happy in you. Then, you has happy... all time!” He laughed, smiling at her brightly. “Trust, Amane-chan. Trust me.”

She smiled a little at him, and they were happy for a second before he realized... “You... You book!” He leapt from the bench and rushed over, picking up the forgotten books on the sidewalk and coming back to Amane with all speed. “I sorry maked you dropped them!”

“Oh, that's fine,” she said, smiling. He smiled too, feeling better since she wasn't upset. “Thanks, Kagayakisan. I really appreciate you listening to me...”

“Iie-iie, Amane-chan,” he said, shaking his head. “No... no problem.”

Her eyes wandered a little, ending up back on him again. They were staring at each other so much! It was kind of silly. “You know, you deserve to be happy all the time, too.” Her hand fell on his shoulder, and his smile trembled.

“A... Amane-chan...”

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, sending heat up his face. That little gesture... that little kiss... how long had it been since someone had kissed him? Not him kissing someone, but someone kissing him. His eyes closed and he didn't move until she withdrew.

“Thank you...”

He nodded, slowly opening his eyes. “A... Domo.” Kagayaki leaned closer to her face, staring into those pretty eyes. “You... you earn happy all time, Amane-chan.” He winked with a crooked smile. “I earn only... fight be happy.” He shrugged, his eyes flickering about for a moment. “Still... will be better... in time.” Smiling, he reached over and took Amane's free hand in his. “How I helps you feel good now, ne?” He looked around. “Ah! I go colors my hair!” He pointed up to his head with a wide smile. “Come with me?”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

“You... You book!” Moving quickly, as though he was trying to put some safe distance between them in the silent moment, he went to retrieve the books she had let fall and forgotten completely about, “I sorry maked you dropped them!”

“Oh, that's fine,” she said, smiling, meaning it. His returning smile was warm and – above all – sincere. “Thanks, Kagayakisan. I really appreciate you listening to me...”

“Iie-iie, Amane-chan,” he said, shaking his head. “No... no problem.”

Her eyes wandered a little, ending up back on him again. She wanted him to know she meant it. Having someone there for you...who understood, or, even if they didn't really, wanted to understand, and let you know that...that was a big deal for her. She wished she could return the favor to him somehow. To lift up him from a dark moment as he had so easily and so readily lifted her from hers. “You know, you deserve to be happy all the time, too.” Her hand fell on his shoulder, and his expression faltered, questioning and making her flush a little.

“A... Amane-chan...” He was so different from Yukito, and all the other boys she'd known. He let his uncertainty show on his face and in every movement. He never seemed afraid of looking stupid...even if he was afraid of most everything else. It definitely made him seem all the more human, all the more real. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, and instead of reacting, she noted, he seemed to freeze in utter surprise, making her giggle as she breathed, “Thank you...”

He nodded, slowly opening his eyes. “A... Domo.” Kagayaki leaned closer to her face. “You... you earn happy all time, Amane-chan.” He winked with a crooked smile. “I earn only... fight be happy.” He shrugged, his eyes flickering about for a moment. Still so nervous, his mind probably racing in his head as hers was. Even while she tried to simplify it all as a simple thank you, spoken in a language she knew he would understand, despite their choppy language gap. “Still... will be better... in time.” Smiling, he reached over and took Amane's free hand in his, instantly spreading a heat to hers. She hadn't known he had warm hands like that.

“I hope you win your fight for happiness much more often,” she said sincerely.

“How I helps you feel good now, ne?” When she just shrugged, at a loss, he looked around, struck by an idea all of a sudden. “Ah! I go colors my hair!” He pointed up to his head with a boyish grin, as her eyes widened as she followed his gesturing hand to his spikey locks. “Come with me?”

“Y-you're coloring your hair?” She was thrown back by the apparent suddenness of the idea, or at least the invite, but she found herself nodding. Then, sending him a smile. “Yeah! Let's go! What color are you gonna do, senpai?” Instinctively, she reached up to take a bit of his hair between her fingers, inspecting the color that was already there. “Do you like to color your hair a lot? I kinda liked your reddish orange thing..it was bright and happy..” She smirked, “Kind of like you are, most of the time.”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

“A... Amane-chan...” She moved closer and laid a little kiss on his cheek. Kagayaki held as still as he could, eyes closed, not sure what else to do.

“Thank you...”

Nodding, he opened his eyes. “A... Domo.” He leaned closer to her, the gesture of her returning his little kiss giving him confidence. “You... you earn happy all time, Amane-chan.” He winked with a crooked smile. “I earn only... fight be happy.” He only said it because he really believed it was true, but he shrugged so she wouldn't get too sad because of it. “Still... will be better... in time.” He took her hand. She didn't seem bothered by it.

Good.

“I hope you win your fight for happiness much more often.”

“Ah,” he laughed. “I hope too.” Then he put the attention back on her. “How I helps you feel good now, ne?” Amane-chan shrugged. Good thing he had ideas of his own! “Ah! I go colors my hair!” After all, that was kind of why he'd wandered out of the house anyway... wasn't it? Amane-chan looked interested. “Come with me?”

“Y-you're coloring your hair?”

Kagayaki hesitated. She sounded a little... thrown. “Yes...” His voice had lost its vigor for a moment. What was wrong with him coloring his hair? He colored his hair all the time...

She finally snapped back. “Yeah! Let's go! What color are you gonna do, senpai?”

He laughed, feeling much better now that she was inspecting his hair and on track with his smiles. “Think... maybe... yellow again?” Kagayaki shrugged. “I no know!”

“Do you like to color your hair a lot? I kinda liked your reddish orange thing..it was bright and happy..” Her little crooked smile made him blush. That wasn't why he'd colored his hair like that... but okay. “Kind of like you are, most of the time.”

“Amane-chan, you... you say nice words.” He giggled, reaching up to tug on a lock of his own hair. “Think maybe I make hair... WHITE!” He put on a wide-eyed, scary look for her. “White-white-white!”

This was fun. It was like things used to be with... He caught himself before he thought it. With... everyone.

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

“Ah! I go colors my hair!” Kagayaki exclaimed, “Come with me?”

“Y-you're coloring your hair?”

Kagayaki hesitated, watching her stunned expression. “Yes...”

She gave a nod, then a smile. “Yeah! Let's go! What color are you gonna do, senpai?” Her hands flew up to inspect his hair, staring at the color already there.

“Think... maybe... yellow again?” Kagayaki shrugged. “I no know!”

“Do you like to color your hair a lot? I kinda liked your reddish orange thing..it was bright and happy..” Her little crooked smile made him blush. “Kind of like you are, most of the time.”

“Amane-chan, you... you say nice words.” He giggled, reaching up to tug on a lock of his own hair. “Think maybe I make hair... WHITE!” He put on a wide-eyed, scary look for her. “White-white-white!”

Her own eyes widened like saucers as she tried to imagine Kagayaki with shocking white hair. “You'll probably look older... Or maybe like Allen Walker from D. Gray-man!” She giggled at that. He would make a cute Allen Walker. “Let's goooo! I've never helped someone dye their hair before!” Amane paused, considering. “Do you think I could...I mean..dye my hair? I always wanted a streak...They look so...so cool...”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

“Yeah! Let's go! What color are you gonna do, senpai?”

“Think... maybe... yellow again?” Kagayaki said with a shrug. “I no know!”

“Do you like to color your hair a lot? I kinda liked your reddish orange thing..it was bright and happy..” Her little crooked smile made him blush. “Kind of like you are, most of the time.”

“Amane-chan, you... you say nice words.” He let out a little laugh and tugged on his hair. “Think maybe I make hair... WHITE!” He put on a wide-eyed, scary look for her. “White-white-white!”

Amane-chan's eyes went wide like his. “You'll probably look older... Or maybe like Allen Walker from D. Gray-man!” She giggled and he joined her, pulling his knees up and hugging them to his chest.

“Oooh yeah-yeah-yeah!”

“Let's goooo! I've never helped someone dye their hair before!” She stopped a moment and he tilted his head to the side, wondering what he was thinking. “Do you think I could...I mean..dye my hair? I always wanted a streak...They look so...so cool...”

Kagayaki nodded fervently. “Yeah! We do that!” He jumped up and held his hand out to Amane-chan with a wink. “Is fun, yeah!”


This interaction is over.

[issie]

Chiv - The Show Must Go On

Chance Savege


"Where are all my...? Oh, crap!"

"Get out here, quick!"

"Someone tell those idiots to dim the lights!"

"Are you ready?"

"Are you nervous?"


"Chance, are you nervous?" He looked up with a smile. Amy, black hair pulled back into a ponytail and drawing attention to the sharp curves of her cheekbones as she returned his smile, had her hand on his shoulder in a movement of comfort. Chance stood up and gave her a thumbs up.

"I'm as nervous as they come, but I'm ready!" He laughed, finished the stretches he'd been doing the last couple of minutes and starting for the stage. He peered around the corner, out of sight but looking for the familiar face that should have been in the crowd. Of course, he couldn't see very well, and he couldn't see Liv at all. But he tried, just the same. For some reason, just before a show, Chance became quite calm, and he waited behind the deep blood-red curtain until his turn came with excellent patience. Taking several deep breaths, he willed away the shaking in his legs and stepped out onto the barren stage. There was a full audience tonight, but luckily he couldn't see them. The stage was empty save for the three or four other dancers that were entering. All of them wore simplistic outfits of black pants and red shirts. Chance's was open loosely in the front, allowing him the freedom to reach out into the air, holding position in a specific spot, his feet placed for the perfect balance across the stage as he waited for the first hums of the music to begin.

A drum clapped, making an almost tribal beat as Chance started to spin, leaping into the air to catch the vanishing star and then letting out a quick reach for the invisible hand that he desired. The music kicked up and became desperate, wailing into the darkness of the stage and the hollow spaces of the theatre and begging for relief.

This is who I am, he said, his face solemn but his heart filling his chest to overflowing, This is who I will be, who I have become. And this is the place I will rise and fall.

By the time the recital was over, Chance was breathing heavily, a beam rising to his lips as he raised his face to the crowd, sweat dripping from his forehead and energy racing through him. He hoped that she had seen, that she had liked it. He didn't even bother to change, racing down to the hallway that led to the auditorium he'd asked Liv to meet him at. Once she arrived, he raced forward and barreled into her, wrapping his arms around her and taking them both to the floor, but cradling her gently in his arms so that they fell softly on the ground. "Liiiiivy my sweet! Did you see me? Huh? Did you like it? I know I must have been very distracting for you, but did you like it overall, I mean?"

----------

Liv Aldis


Liv smiled broadly as Chance stepped onto the stage and she sat up straight in her seat in the very middle. She had gotten there 45 minutes beforehand, wanting to get a good seat so she could see him, and she was glad she did. About four dancers walked on the stage, Chance included. She didn't pay much attention to the others, because she hadn't come to see them. There was only one person she wanted to watch dance. And he was her boyfriend. He wore a very simple outfit with black pants and a red shirt, but it still looked good on him. He was standing in the front of the stage, which made her even happier. She could see him very well as the music began to start.

A tribal beat filled the air around the stage and audience and he started spinning and leaping. Dancing like the people she had seen on TV a couple of times. It was, to say the least, amazing in Liv's sight. She knew she wouldn't be able to do something like that even if she tried, which just made her appreciate it even more. The music kicked up and her smile broadened, there was just no way she could describe how wonderful it all was to her.

When it all ended, Liv practically ran to the hallway he had told her to meet him at after, the smile still bright on her face as she spotted him. He was breathing heavily and sweating but he looked so happy and excited. And in just one moment he was running towards her and knocking her to the ground with one of his gigantic hugs that she loved so much. His arms were wrapped around her, cradling her so the fall didn't hurt her. "Liiiiivy my sweet! Did you see me? Huh? Did you like it? I know I must have been very distracting for you, but did you like it overall, I mean?"

She smiled up at him and said, "It was.. amazing, y-you were great!" She fumbled with her English excitedly as she tried to find the words that would describe how beautiful it was in words that she could actually say. "You are fabulous. I loved it!" And she sincerely meant that, with everything she had. She enjoyed it more than anything she had seen in a very long time.

----------

Chance Savege

As soon as he saw her, running towards him with colorful streaks flying around her face, he raced toward her and tackled her, knocking them both to the ground. "Liiiiivy my sweet! Did you see me? Huh? Did you like it? I know I must have been very distracting for you, but did you like it overall, I mean?"

She smiled up at him and said, "It was.. amazing, y-you were great!" He giggled and grinned at her stumbles in English, sitting up with her wrapped protectively in his arms, not minding how heated he still was or how tired he felt. He was pumped and ready to go. "You are fabulous. I loved it!"

"Really?!" he squealed, squeezing her into a hug and then letting out a little peal of laughter, then capturing both her cheeks in his hands, turning her towards him to meet his eyes. "Thank you so much for coming!" He told her, then pressing his lips to hers in a long, lingering kiss. It was like every time he kissed her would be the first and last, and even as often and casually as they could come, he still wanted to savor being able to be so close to her and tell her he loved her in that way, to reach her and make her feel any of the things he did. Chance's hands became quickly tangled in the mass of Liv's hair as he kissed her again, more adamantly this time, finally pulling back to grin at her. Then squealing. "Oh my gosh, I'm just so happy right now! Well, what do you want to do next? Do you want to go meet some of the people backstage, or go get something to eat or something, huh?"

-----------

Liv Aldis

"You are fabulous. I loved it!" she exclaimed truthfully, smiling at his excited expression. She could tell he loved to dance, just by watching him and how he acted afterward.

"Really?!" he squealed and she nodded, laughing as he hugged her tightly and Liv hugged back. He then caught both of her cheeks in his warm hands, turning her face so she was looking towards him now, her eyes caught in his and she blushed. "Thank you so much for coming!" He said and before she could reply, he pressed his lips to hers. She tensed for half a moment, then melted in his arms. Jolts of excitement ran through her in waves and made her giddy. he was the only one who could make her feel like that, make her heart catch like that and keep her there in moments of pure bliss. She could feel his hands in her hair and he kissed her again. Her heart was beating faster now as her fingers brushed the back of his neck. God, she loved his kisses.

When he finally pulled back, he squealed, "Oh my gosh, I'm just so happy right now! Well, what do you want to do next? Do you want to go meet some of the people backstage, or go get something to eat or something, huh?"

"You pick," she said softly in her accent, dropping her hands to his chest and smiling sweetly at him. After all, this was his special night and it was all about him and what he wanted to do. Nothing could change her mind about that. Kissing his cheek, she relaxed even more in his arms. Even if he was extremely skinny and didn't look intimidating at all, she felt protected and most importantly, safe.

---------------

Chance Savege

"Really?!" he squealed and she nodded, laughing as he hugged her tightly and Liv hugged back. He then caught both of her cheeks in his warm hands, turning her face so she was looking towards him now, her eyes caught in his and she blushed. "Thank you so much for coming!" He said and before she could reply, he pressed his lips to hers. He could feel her tense muscles hold in an intoxicating moment before she melted into him. Chance gave a visible shudder as her hand brushed his neck, making him hold her tighter and smile.


When he finally pulled back, he squealed, "Oh my gosh, I'm just so happy right now! Well, what do you want to do next? Do you want to go meet some of the people backstage, or go get something to eat or something, huh?"

"You pick," she said softly in her accent, dropping her hands to his chest and smiling sweetly at him. He felt a little shudder of happiness race through him like an adrenaline shot, reacting to that touch and that smile. Liv moved forward to kiss his cheek, both of them effectively ignoring any passersby as they went to meet friends or take off costumes. Several of them sent looks their way, and Chance was tempted to croon in their faces that none of them would feel half the bliss that he did right now, sitting there sprawled on the floor with Liv in the middle of a hallway.

"You spoil me," he boasted happily, nuzzling noses with her, "Let's go get something to eat, I'm starved! I don't eat before performances, you know? I just can't. Haha...How about pizza?"

-------------

Liv Aldis

"Oh my gosh, I'm just so happy right now! Well, what do you want to do next? Do you want to go meet some of the people backstage, or go get something to eat or something, huh?"

"You pick," Liv said softly in her accent as she dropped her hands to his chest and smiled up at him. He looked so happy, she realized. And part of her wanted to believe that he was that cheery because of her, not just the after effects of performing in front of an audience. She moved forward to kiss his cheek, and she was vaguely aware that people walking by would see them. It was just Chance and her in her own mind, and people looking just didn't register in her brain as something important.

"You spoil me," he stated happily, nuzzling noses with her and making her laugh. "Let's go get something to eat, I'm starved! I don't eat before performances, you know? I just can't. Haha...How about pizza?"

"Pizza is good." she said, struggling with the word 'pizza,' it sounded really more like 'pitzuh' but she knew he'd understand her, he always did. That was just Chance though, he could understand what someone means even though they probably don't even. Even if he laughed at her pronunciation mishaps and tragedies, he always got the general concept of what she meant.

Burying her face in his the side of his neck she laughed, completely giddy with knowing that he was hers and she was his. She could be beaten within an inch of her life, and she would still laugh and smile around him. There was just something about him that drew her like a moth to a flame. And this particular moth died and went to heaven.

--------------

Chance Savege

"You spoil me," he stated happily, nuzzling noses with her and making her laugh. "Let's go get something to eat, I'm starved! I don't eat before performances, you know? I just can't. Haha...How about pizza?"

"Pizza is good." she said, and he smiled. He loved the way she said things. Everything was a smooth, rounded sound with a heavy depth to each vowel that he found super-sweet.

"What kind do you like the most?" he asked, standing up and offering her a hand up, then immediately gluing himself to her side, running his hand along her back with the lightest of touches and coming to the other side to hold her hip, successfully holding her to him. "I am kind of a pepperoni fan, but I will eat anything by this point..."

When they pulled into the pizza place, Chance was singing along to the radio with a lot of laughter and dancing, once or twice even swerving and swaying the car along to the beat of the music, making giggles erupt as they smacked against the windows with their shoulders. "I'm AWESOME! No you're not dude, don't lie..I'm AWESOME!" he sang, bouncing to the beat and slamming the driver side door closed, swinging the keys on the tip of his finger. "Pick someplace to sit down, girlfriend!" he told her, gesturing across the pizza parlor and beaming because he could actually call her that. And he did, at every opportunity.

----------

Liv Aldis

"Pizza is good." she said, messing up once again with her English. But he didn't seem to mind, in fact, she was starting to believe that he actually liked it that she was saying almost everything incorrectly. She wasn't sure why she thought that, all except for his laughter and the way he smiled when she spoke.

"What kind do you like the most?" he asked as he stood and offered her a hand which she gently took in her own and followed his lead. She shivered as his fingers brushed along her back, the feeling giving her chills. Then he had her hip, pulling her even closer to himself. "I am kind of a pepperoni fan, but I will eat anything by this point..." She nodded and agreed. Pizza was pizza to her, no matter what kind and it was all good.

When they got to the pizza place, Chance was singing and dancing which caused the car to swerve back and forth with the music. It kind of freaked her out but Liv was laughing anyway, loving how easy-going he was and how silly he was being. "I'm AWESOME! No you're not dude, don't lie..I'm AWESOME!" he sang. She had never heard the song before, but he seemed to enjoy it. When he got out she instinctively unbuckled to get out and join him again. "Pick someplace to sit down, girlfriend!" he told her and she smiled broadly. She did that every time he called her girlfriend, because he was the only one to call her that and in her mind, it was something special.

He gestured across the place and she tilted her head at the choices. Pointing to a booth in the far right corner, she looked at him questioningly and asked, "That one?" She was never really good with making decisions, she knew. So she always asked his opinion, just in case. She knew that she rarely made the right choices, even with small things and Chance was the exact opposite. He always had good ideas and he liked to share his ideas with the world, thankfully.

"Is that good?"

-----------

Chance Savege

"I'm AWESOME! No you're not dude, don't lie..I'm AWESOME!" he sang. Liv didn't join in, but he was alright with a solo once in awhile as they entered the pizza parlor. "Pick someplace to sit down, girlfriend!" he told her and she smiled broadly, seeming to like the nickname more and more. He wondered if she had any idea of the dozens and dozens of times he'd held himself back from calling her that. He wondered if she would ever ask.

He gestured across the place and she tilted her head at the choices. Pointing to a booth in the far right corner, she looked at him questioningly and asked, "That one?" Chance smiled at how nervous she could act about choosing a table. "Is that good?"

"Perfect," he smirked, leaning over to kiss her again, "I pick pepperoni pizza. Meet you over there in a minute?"

-----------

Liv Aldis


"Is that good?" she had asked him, worrying about choosing the wrong sort of table.

"Perfect," he smirked and leaned over to kiss her again. "I pick pepperoni pizza. Meet you over there in a minute?"

She nodded and walked over to their table, thankful that the table was clean. She was actually happy that he had taken her somewhere to eat, because she hadn't actually eaten that day and her stomach was protesting that loudly.

She looked around her, wishing she had brought her sketchbook. She wanted to remember this place and she didn't really have a camera so drawing it was the next best thing. And plus, Chance liked her sketches. She smiled and played with the tips of her nails, thinking about how happy she had been ever since she started being with him. He made her genuinely happy with him.

She realized that he was kind of clingy, but she didn't mind. She thought it was so cute, really. He made her blush time and time again just by being himself and being so protective of her. She was getting attention everywhere she turned and she loved it more and more each day. And he was just so cute!

------------

Chance Savege

"Perfect," he smirked and leaned over to kiss her again. "I pick pepperoni pizza. Meet you over there in a minute?"

She nodded and walked off, and he went up to the counter with a grin on his face. "I need some pepperoni pizza and two drinks, please..."

After a few minutes, he went over to find her playing with her nails and smiling to herself. "Hey, gorgeoussss!" he called out gleefully, setting the coke down between them, sitting down next to her and leaning over for another nuzzle. "What are you thinking about?" He took a long sip of his grape soda and cuddled up next to her. "I am tired..." he murmured, closing his eyes and leaning his head on her shoulder. "I think I'll just take a nap.."

About four seconds went by, then he sat up again and went to eat his pizza, "Nom nom nom...Liv, what kind of pizza do they have in Norwegia?"

-----------------

Liv Aldis

After a few minutes, Chance was over at the table she had chosen. "Hey, gorgeoussss!" he called out, making her smile even though she didn't know what the word 'gorgeous' meant. She guessed that it was a compliment and put it out of her mind, smiling up at him as he set the coke down between them. Then he sat next to her and leaned over to nuzzle against her. He liked doing that, she realized. Mainly because he just did it so much. "What are you thinking about?"

She shrugged, too embarrassed to tell him that she was thinking about what she always thought about. Him. She couldn't seem to think about anyone or anything else for long periods of time anymore. He took a long sip of his drink and and cuddled up to her, making her smile softly. He just reminded her of a little kid sometimes. "I am tired..." he whispered. His head was on her shoulder as his eyes started to close. "I think I'll just take a nap.." Her eyes widened in surprise, because for a moment she actually thought he was just going to go to sleep there.

But after a moment he was up again and his hand went to the pizza. "Nom nom nom...Liv, what kind of pizza do they have in Norwegia?"

She stopped a minute, then laughed openly. "Norway?" she asked between laughter and taking deep breaths. She honestly tried to be serious but it just didn't work, even when she felt guilty for laughing at him.

"Many kinds." she said slowly, trying her best to describe them with words she knew. "They are nommy." Liv used the word he had just moments before, still a bit confused. "Don't know what you would call them..."

She took a big drink of the soda, loving the fizzy effect it had on her tongue. Grape. It was her favorite and she smiled at Chance in her silent thank you.

Her stomach made another hungry noise and she wrapped her arm around her stomach as if she could silence it by the act alone. Then without a second thought, she reached forward to grab a piece of pizza and slowly started eating, a blush on her cheeks from her embarrassment.

-----------

Chance Savege

He laid his head on her shoulder, dropping his coke to his lap as he let out a sigh. "I am tired...I think I'll just take a nap.."There was a long pause spanning less than a minute before he leapt up again, not noticing Liv's skeptical look, as he continued toward his meal. "Nom nom nom...Liv, what kind of pizza do they have in Norwegia?"

She stopped a minute, then laughed openly at him. He sat with his pizza held in his mouth comically, staring at her and tilting his head to the side as he waited for an explanation. What had he said that was so funny? "Norway?" she asked between laughter and taking deep breaths. Chance smiled.

"Um..yeah! That place!" He tossed his hands to the air helplessly.

"Many kinds." she said slowly, "They are nommy." He snickered at that, covering his mouth with one hand. "Nommy..."

"Don't know what you would call them..." She demurely sipped at her drink and smiled at him. He started to open his mouth to ask something else, when Liv's stomach let out a growl of protest, making him look down at her belly in surprise. When Liv noticed, she snapped her hand to her stomach, and Chance laughed openly as she shot forward for a piece of pizza.

"Your belly is very musical!" he declared, poking it gently with one finger. "Tell me something in Norwegian. I like to hear you speaking it. I think it's pretty..."

---------

Liv Aldis

"Norway?" she asked between laughter and taking deep breaths. Chance smiled, not feeling insulted by her laughter at all.

"Um..yeah! That place!" He tossed his hands to the air helplessly.

"Many kinds." she said slowly, trying to think of exactly how to describe them in something other than Norwegian. "They are nommy." she stated, and he snickered in reply. His hand flew up to cover his mouth and she smiled. She did that a lot when he was around. "Nommy..."

"Don't know what you would call them..." She said softly before demurely sipping at her drink. Liv's stomach let out a growl of protest from the hunger she was feeling and she blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed as his eyes went down to look at the source of the noise, her belly. Her hand quicklly went to cover her stomach like she was trying to muffle the sound. And as he laughed her hand shot forward to re3trieve a piece of pizza.

"Your belly is very musical!" he exclaimed and her blush went slightly darker. Gently, he poked her in the belly with one finger. "Tell me something in Norwegian. I like to hear you speaking it. I think it's pretty..."

"Din piken elsker du mye. Kyss meg?" she smiled at him and happily translated for him. "Your girl loves you very much. Kiss me?"

She didn't wait for a reply though, she just leaned over and gave him a small kiss on the lips.

And then the cellphone in her pocket vibrated and she froze.

Silently, she hoped it was Erin or someone, wanting to talk or hang out but she knew WAY better than that. Her hand shook slightly as she reached in her pocket to pull out the device. Her eyes widened instinctively as she saw the number. It was her dad's. Quickly, she snapped the phone shut and dropped it on her lap like it was something repulsive. She didn't feel so hungry anymore.

She knew what it was about, too. It was the same thing that happened every night for the past week. He tried to get her to go to the house to 'meet' his friends. He had had friends over before.... she knew the people he hung out with. The vast majority of them wanted to hurt her.

It was like all of her energy was sucked out of her then, she rested her arms on the table and placed her head on the makeshift pillow she made. And for a moment, thoughts about Chance completely went out the window.

--------

Chance Savege

"Your belly is very musical!" he exclaimed and her blush went slightly darker. Gently, he poked her in the belly with one finger. "Tell me something in Norwegian. I like to hear you speaking it. I think it's pretty..."

"Din piken elsker du mye. Kyss meg?" She said without hesitation, making him smile from the sound of her voice in something that was so natural for her to say. He wondered what she had told him, and was glad to hear her translation - "Your girl loves you very much. Kiss me?" He only had time for a nod as she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the lips, making his blood pump quicker. But just as quickly as she had moved forward, she froze, reaching for her pocket. Chance giggled as he felt the vibration between them.

"Sweet, I do believe you are vibrating," he smirked, the expression fading as he saw her face. She looked genuinely freaked out, and from that fear in her eyes as she recognized the number, he was sure she knew just what the call was about. "Livvy?" he leaned closer to her, concern written on his face as he touched her cheek with his nose. "Are you okay?"

She dropped to the table, resting her forehead in her arms and sitting very still. He touched her arm, not sure what to do, or what had happened. She had fallen so quickly from cloud nine he had whiplash, and was trying hard to think through a reaction to it. "Livvy, are you okay? Talk to me.."

---------

Liv Aldis

Chance giggled as she retrieved her cellphone from her pocket, instantly freaking out at who it could be. She knew who it would be, deep down but she didn't want to admit it to herself.

"Sweet, I do believe you are vibrating," he smirked at her, but her expression wasn't so happy then. And then what she feared was confirmed. It was her dad again, with plans for her to meet his friends. She just knew it. "Livvy?" he asked, sounding concerned as he leaned closer to her, and touched her cheek with his nose. "Are you okay?" She didn't reply to his question, because she didn't exactly know how to explain it all to him quite yet.

It's true that she trusted him, it was just telling him with him trying to do something to help her and she loved him, not his pity. She didn't want him to hang around her a lot because he felt sorry, she wanted him to want to be with her no matter what. But how could she say that?

Liv dropped to the table then, resting her forehead in her arms and extremely still like someone had strapped a bomb to her back and was threatening to blow her up if she made a move. He touched her arm and she relaxed a little bit. His presence always seemed to calm her, if only for a little bit. "Livvy, are you okay? Talk to me.."

Liv turned her head to the side and met his eyes. "Dad... wants me back home. I can't." She said, frustrated at her accent then. "People are waiting." She grimaced and prayed he would understand that she just couldn't go home then. She didn't even know the words in English to tell him the full story. And Liv wished that she had some sort of translator working for them then.

It's the most annoying thing, trying to communicate with someone you love and they can't fully understand you. It almost drove her crazy as she wrapped her arms around him and willed him to understand that she would get hurt if she went back there. That there were people there who weren't good to be around, especially when they were angry or intoxicated. That's just the way all of her dad's friends were.

"They're bad." she said softly, not wanting to release him from her gentle embrace.

------------

Chance Savege

"Livvy?" he asked, "Are you okay?" She didn't respond, flopping down on the table and looking stunned. It was like she had totally separated her mind from her body, and was floating somewhere he couldn't see. Her forehead rested in her arms and her arms remained folded on the table, hiding her face from view and protecting her from whatever it was she was scared of. But he got the distinct feeling that despite her protective stance, that dulled out, resigned fear in her eyes, would not be any protection for her, and that she was still as vulnerable as ever. Reaching over, he touched her arm tentatively, feeling her relax beneath his touch. "Livvy, are you okay? Talk to me.."

Liv turned her head to the side and met his eyes. "Dad... wants me back home. I can't." She said, and he arched an eyebrow, unsure why such a thing would make her this whacked out. "People are waiting." She grimaced.

He didn't understand. Were they really freaky relatives, pervy co-workers? What people were waiting for her? Was this just annoyance? If so, why was she so serious about it? Was there something he could do to fix this, or was she hesitant to tell him because she knew that he wouldn't be able to help, just sit by, powerless?

"They're bad." she said softly, making his mouth open a little in surprise and realization as her simple words came across. More was conveyed in her tone and her face than her words would be able to explain, even with a thousand words, and he held her tightly at that.

"Oh my God...is it that bad?" He pulled back, looking into her eyes, then resumed his cradling of her, resting her head beneath his chin. "Do you have to go back? I mean, you don't have to go, do you? You can just..?" But he didn't know what to suggest. He didn't know what to do. There didn't seem to be any easy answer to this one.

-------------

Liv Aldis

"Dad... wants me back home. I can't." She said, looking up to see his arched eyebrow and look of confusion on his face. Somehow, the look he had did 't make her feel any better about her situation. "People are waiting." She tried to explain with a grimace on her face.

He sat there silently until she said something else. "They're bad." she spoke softly, her voice revealing a lot more than her words could. She watched his mouth open in surprise, a look that she hadn't seen very much on him before. He held her tightly then and she breathed in deeply, trying to slow her racing heart to normal speeds. She didn't want to look around her, then. It was like she feared that they would walk in at any minute and drag her home. It had happened before and it was worse then.

"Oh my God...is it that bad?" he asked, but she didn't want to answer. He pulled back from her for half a second to look into her defeated eyes and then cradled her again, the top of her head resting beneath his chin.

Liv was scared then, scared to go back to the place she lived and sad that she ruined his happiness. She never intended this to happen, really.

"Do you have to go back? I mean, you don't have to go, do you? You can just..?"[ His voice trailed off as she shook her head gently from side to side, being comforted by the closeness of him. She knew that he wasn't sure what to think, if the same thing happened to someone she knew then she'd be completely lost.

"I'm sorry." she stated, pulling away from him a little bit and taking in what was supposed to be a calming breath. "They go after a while."

It was as if what she said flipped on some kind of switch and her cellphone started ringing in her lap. They were calling, something her dad had never done before. Mainly it was her mom who called when she wanted to yell and her dad used texts. She picked up the device and pushed the 'off' button like she normally did, fumbling with it at first.

"Sorry." she apologized again and tried to give him a smile which only halfway worked. But she was genuinely freaked out at this, and she didn't want to know what was so urgent that made her dad call her on her cellphone. She reached out to the soda in front of her and took a drink quickly, her throat suddenly feeling too dry.

-----------

Chance Savege

"Oh my God...is it that bad?" he asked, but she didn't want to answer. He pulled back from her for half a second to look into her defeated eyes and then cradled her again, the top of her head resting beneath his chin. "Do you have to go back? I mean, you don't have to go, do you? You can just..?" His voice trailed off as she shook her head gently from side to side. He felt so lost when it came to this...what could he do to make it better? There seemed to be nothing.

"I'm sorry," she stated, pulling away from him a little bit and taking in what was supposed to be a calming breath. "They go after a while." As if on cue, her phone start ringing, each noise like a grating scream of protestation between them. Liv fumbled with the phone, effectively shutting it up as he watched her solemnly, deflated from his previous mood.

"Sorry." she apologized again and he shook his head adamantly.

"Stop apologizing, honey..." he leaned over to kiss her forehead, as though she were a child to be comforted and consoled. As she reached out for her soda and started drinking it as though her life depended upon it. "It's not your fault. We just gotta get you out of there, you know? There has to be something we can do.." But what good did talking about impossible gestures do? He was stuck at home, too, wishing he could come home to any other place but his parents' place. What good did it do Liv to say he wanted out, too, when his problems were so small next to hers?

---------

Liv Aldis

"Sorry." she said as her phone finally got shut off. his mood had completely changed from just a few moments before, but so had her's. Maybe it was the feeling of helplessness that they shared? Knowing that they could do absolutely nothing about her problems.

"Stop apologizing, honey..." Chance said as he leaned over to kiss her pale forehead. She smiled slightly at this, happy that even though her world seemed to fall all around her, he was always there.

Silently, Liv reached out for her soda and started drinking it, feeling her throat incredibly dry then. "It's not your fault. We just gotta get you out of there, you know? There has to be something we can do.." Chance said and she shrugged partially, knowing that there was no way to get her 'out' before she turned 18 and could go out on her own. She would be okay until then, right?

He looked so sad then, the complete opposite of his usual cheery self. "Hey," she began, taking his right hand in her pale ones. "I'm okay." Her eyes met his and her smile widened. "I...h-have you. I'm okay." It was her turn to kiss his forehead then, wrapping her arms around his neck in an embrace.

"No ... no matter what. I love you."

----------

Chance Savege


"Stop apologizing, honey..." Chance said as he leaned over to kiss her pale forehead. She smiled slightly at this, making him feel a little better in the process. But then Liv snatched up her drink as if she had just gone through an impossibly long desert, and Chance leaned in close. "It's not your fault. We just gotta get you out of there, you know? There has to be something we can do.." His expression darkened as he realized how futile his suggestions would be to her right now. He wasn't smart, he couldn't come up with some brilliant escape plan. The most he could do was a temporary fix on this open wound created by her family.

"Hey," she began, taking his hand in hers and yanking him out of his reverie, "I'm okay." Her eyes met his and her smile widened. He tried to smile back, and it looked genuine enough, save for his eyes. But are you, really? How do I know you're going to be safe? Will you ever be?

"I...h-have you. I'm okay." It was her turn to kiss his forehead then, wrapping her arms around his neck in an embrace. Despite his worry for her, he couldn't stay depressed long, and it was doubly difficult when she was this close, talking to him quietly and in that cute little accent of hers. "No ... no matter what. I love you."

"I love you, too, baby." He leaned in to nuzzle her, exhaling and then smiling for real. "Oooh...you're gooood..I think you should enter into a contest or something, with smoothing-over skills like that." Chance sat up a bit to catch her lips with his. "Does that just come naturally to you, hot stuff?"

---------

Liv Aldis

"Hey," Liv began, making sure that she had his attention. "I'm okay." Her bright green eyes met his familiar ones and her smile widened a little more, wanting him to be happier than he seemed to be. She would just feel terrible if she ruined his entire night. The smile she received back didn't reach his eyes and she noticed it. She could see the doubt there and she wanted to fix it.

"I...h-have you. I'm okay." She tripped through the English and kissed the top of his forehead before wrapping her arms around his neck in an embrace. He still looked worried, but not as much as before and she realized that what she was doing was actually working. "No ... no matter what. I love you."

"I love you, too, baby." He said, then leaned in to nuzzle her. She nuzzled him back, making her imagine them as cute little animals, being close together to comfort each other. She felt exceedingly accomplished as he smiled for real. "Oooh...you're gooood..I think you should enter into a contest or something, with smoothing-over skills like that." She laughed, only partially getting what he meant. He sat up to kiss her again and she kissed him back willingly. "Does that just come naturally to you, hot stuff?"

She shrugged, slightly confused at what he meant by 'hot stuff'. She didn't feel warm, did she?

"It's 'cause I love you." she grinned playfully, then hesitated as she tried to think of the right English words for what she was trying to get across. "It gives me special powers." She wiggled her fingers at him like a magician she had seen performing on TV. Chris Angel, she remembered his name. She was entirely convinced that what he did was more than just smoke an mirrors and good acting skills. She really and truly believed that he did his stunts without help. Some people would think that she was childish for it. But what was wrong with believing that there was a little magic in the world? Miracles and things that couldn't be explained. She had met Chance, and that was enough to make her a believer in miracles.

He was her miracle.

"You ... make me happy." she said, grinning broadly at him as if to back up what she had just said.

-----------

Chance Savege

He nuzzled close to her, momentarily forgetting the fear from earlier. When he realized how easily she had distracted him, he grinned. "Oooh...you're gooood..I think you should enter into a contest or something, with smoothing-over skills like that." She laughed, him cutting the sweet sound off with a kiss that she returned without hesitation. "Does that just come naturally to you, hot stuff?"

She looked at him and just shrugged, as though uncertain. He giggled - she always took every question so seriously.


"It's 'cause I love you," she grinned playfully, adding, "It gives me special powers." Chance laughed openly as she wriggled her fingers at him as though she was performing some sort of freaky spell.

"Nice! Now make me a sandwich from your special powers!" he teased, opening his palms in front of her in waiting for his gift sandwich.

"You ... make me happy." she said, grinning broadly at him. He leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"It's what I enjoy doing the best, girlfriend," he responded easily, picking up another piece of pizza. "Now let's eat."

I think we are done with this, ne?

-------------

Liv Aldis


"It gives me special powers." she said, wiggling her fingers in front of him like she was a magician. That earned a laugh from Chance, so her looking silly was completely worth it.

"Nice! Now make me a sandwich from your special powers!"

She could tell he was teasing her, his palms were open as if she was supposed to give him something. But she couldn't for the life of her remember what a sandwich was. So she decided to change the subject again.

"You ... make me happy." she said, grinning broadly at him. He kissed her cheek and she blushed like she always did, in her cute little way.

"It's what I enjoy doing the best, girlfriend," She nodded, as she picked up her piece of pizza and took a bite out of it. "Now let's eat." She had no objection to that as she took another bite. Pizza had never tasted so good to her, but that could have partly been because she hadn't eaten all day. Everything seems like the best when your deprived of it for a while. She smiled to herself... even though she had a mouth full of pizza that puffed her cheeks out and made her look slightly like a chipmunk.

I do believe we is done.

[GGJ5]

10 hours and 55 minutes-- Yukirin's last night before Yukito leaves!

Yukito Maki

“Erin...” he frowned, closing his laptop and setting it on the floor next to the futon, where its case lay open and ready. Everything was ready. The tickets, the arrangements, the packing..pretty much everything was either in a fully prepared state, or a 'last-minute' stage. Yukito and Erin had been moping around most of the evening, and apparently his mentioning the miniscule amount of hours left before his flight left hadn't helped matters any. He just wanted to know that the little time they had before he was gone for two whole weeks meant a lot to him, too. Yukito reached over and took hold of her arms, wrapping them around his shoulders, then dropping his own hands to her waist and burying his face in her hair. “Please? Just a couple of pics? I want recent ones of you...” He knew he sounded kind of whiny – well for him – especially as he tried to coax her with a few kisses on her cheeks. Ten hours and thirty-seven minutes...I'm never going to sleep tonight...

“I was thinking earlier, you know...about the whole livejournal update thing. I know it's kind of being a bad-luck spot in the past, and I'm usually terrible about updating it..” As he spoke, his fingers trailed up and down one arm, half-tickling, half-remembering her. “Maybe I'll send you an update each day, instead of an email or something. That way, you can give me that spam crap that you love so well, instead of trying to text it to me or something.” He chuckled, kissed behind her ear, “I'm a little worried, Erin...Actually...” he drew back, his expression dropped to a more somber one, meeting her eyes, “I'm really worried...About a lot of little things. And seeing you upset isn't going to make it any easier on me. Please...just give me a smile so I can put it on my phone? I want it as a good-luck charm.”

--

Erin Spenser

"Erin…" Yukito abandoned his computer, and in turn so did she, but his mood wasn't helping hers any. It wasn't just that he'd be gone for two weeks, it was that he would be on the other side of the world for two weeks, making her take her first flight by herself, traveling across the globe alone, over a massive ocean of water, and landing in a place she could barely pronounce, and what was going to happen in those two weeks? What if she forgot to drop of the utilities bill or something? Erin wanted him to tell her he understood, to be a little more uplifting, to say it would be okay and to hold her and kiss her and do something fun and distracting with her, but apparently he didn't feel he would miss her enough to sacrifice his biased ways to watch what she wanted, so why bother? And then there was trying to study for her end-of-summer-school tests, and even if Yukito wasn't the best person to study with, the idea of doing it all without him was more daunting than she cared to admit…

Yukito broke her from her thoughts, or at least distracted her for a moment, when he reached over and pulled her to him, resting her arms over his shoulders and pulling her into a hug about her waist. "Please?" he asked, muffled by her hair, and making her feel horribly guilty for feeling sad in the first place. "Just a couple of pics? I want recent ones of you...”

"Yukito…" she muttered back, even as he kissed her. "I caaaan't… I just want us right now…" Whenever she said that, it didn't make any sense aloud. Erin doubted Yukito really knew what she meant. She just wanted them to be together, paying attention to each other and being normal, instead of constantly reminding each other that he was going to be on the other freaking side of the world…. She rested her head against him, trying to draw comfort from his presence while it lasted.

“I was thinking earlier, you know...about the whole livejournal update thing," Yukito started, but Erin was lost. What livejournal thing? "I know it's kind of being a bad-luck spot in the past, and I'm usually terrible about updating it..”

"No friggen duh, Sherlock," she muttered, unable to keep from smiling a little as his fingers brushed against her arm. “Maybe I'll send you an update each day, instead of an email or something. That way, you can give me that spam crap that you love so well, instead of trying to text it to me or something.”

The idea brightened her mood a bit. She smiled more wholly now, looking up at him to say, "What if I do both?"

He chuckled, kissing behind her ear. “I'm a little worried, Erin...Actually...” Yukito drew back, and Erin's smile faded. Uh-oh…. "What now?"

“I'm really worried...About a lot of little things. And seeing you upset isn't going to make it any easier on me. Please...just give me a smile so I can put it on my phone? I want it as a good-luck charm.”

"Then don't tell me you're really worried, jerk!" she retorted, playfully giving his arm a punch. "'Hey, I think you might get attacked by a psycho clown while I'm gone and that kind of sucks, here, let's get a picture!'" she mocked, providing more agitated but playful shoves. "You're so weird! I'm not giving you a smile; you have to earn it," Erin finished cheekily.

--

Yukito Maki

He had decided to lower himself to the levels of trying his very best to be persuasive with her. "Please?" he asked, muffled by her hair. "Just a couple of pics? I want recent ones of you...”

"Yukito…" she muttered back, even as he kissed her. "I caaaan't… I just want us right now…" She rested her head against him, though, and he hoped that meant she was willing to cave, even just a little.

“I don't want to go anywhere...” he kissed her head, then sighed, thinking that two weeks was, by the hour, becoming a relatively longer time to bear. “I was thinking earlier, you know...about the whole livejournal update thing. I know it's kind of being a bad-luck spot in the past, and I'm usually terrible about updating it..”

"No friggen duh, Sherlock," she muttered, as he trailed his fingers in a slow dance up her arm, making her smile.

Looking up through his bangs, which had grown long in the last few months living here in the apartment with her, he met her eyes and offered, “Maybe I'll send you an update each day, instead of an email or something. That way, you can give me that spam crap that you love so well, instead of trying to text it to me or something.”At her interested look, he chuckled, kissing behind her ear.“I'm a little worried, Erin... Actually...”

They were apart now, and he could see that caving-in that he'd been hoping for was starting to revert. "What now?"

“I'm really worried...About a lot of little things. And seeing you upset isn't going to make it any easier on me. Please...just give me a smile so I can put it on my phone? I want it as a good-luck charm.”

"Then don't tell me you're really worried, jerk!" she retorted, playfully giving his arm a punch. He didn't smile, since he had been serious about that worry. But the last few weeks of avoiding the subject of him leaving hadn't given him the time to come up with a way to talk to her about it. You sure chose a hell of a time to bring it up.

"'Hey, I think you might get attacked by a psycho clown while I'm gone and that kind of sucks, here, let's get a picture!'" she mocked, providing more agitated but playful shoves. "You're so weird! I'm not giving you a smile; you have to earn it,"Erin finished cheekily.

At this, Yukito pulled away entirely, sitting on his side of the bed with his arms wrapped around his knees, staring at his toes. The radio was on, playing off one of the many CDs that adorned every wall in their bedroom. He'd spent a lot of his spare time building those shelves for the two of them, and he'd taken a lot of pride in the moments they could mix and mingle their music together on the shelves. Now, they'd be just for her to browse, then, neither of them. The quiet thrum of music in the background made him start to tap one foot absently. He took his time before speaking, not looking up at her when he did so.

“The last time I left my girlfriend alone in our apartment together for more than one night, I came back to find out she'd killed herself,” was all he said, trailing his finger along the comforter's design, over and over again. After a pause, he added, “And Aidousan insisted I stay with them. I've never stayed the night in someone else's house before, much less with their dad sleeping in the house. I'll probably have to sleep in the living room, and there aren't any doors there.” His trailing finger turned into a fist, and he looked up at her, a frown on his face. “What if all the progress we've been making doesn't make a difference? What if everything so far doesn't stop things from screwing up, just like before?”

---

Erin Spenser

"'Hey, I think you might get attacked by a psycho clown while I'm gone and that kind of sucks, here, let's get a picture!'"[ she mocked, providing more agitated but playful shoves. "You're so weird! I'm not giving you a smile; you have to earn it," Erin finished cheekily.

Her teasing had the opposite effect of what she'd hoped, and it was too easy to let her face slip back into a sad countenance. He pulled away from her, as if she'd said something wrong. He was curled up into himself, habitually tapping along with the music. "Yukito… Come on, don't do this." She frowned deeply, moving back to sit next to him, gently resting her hand on one of his. And suddenly it all came out.

“The last time I left my girlfriend alone in our apartment together for more than one night, I came back to find out she'd killed herself.”

Way to darken the mood, she thought at him, her brow wrinkling with processing his words. "I didn't know you shared-shared it with her… like we do…" The idea that she'd missed another first hurt, and the fact that he was still haunted by the fears Natalie had left him with hurt worse. How could she have been so selfish, to leave him like that, to deal with that image of her for therest of his life? To make theirrelationship so much harder because of what she decided? Erin exhaled a long sigh, trying to respond the way he needed her to. He was sharing with her, she couldn't refuse that just because missing another important first was stinging her ego. "Yukito…" Without really noticing, she had started rubbing her thumb across his hand, a subconscious gesture of comfort. "Don't think like that. I never want to leave you, and you know that. Cassie will be here, and you know one of us will call you right away if anything happens. If a bird poops on your car, I'll call you, okay?" she asked, sending him a smile and hoping desperately to brighten his spirits a little. It didn't look like it was working.

“And Aidousan insisted I stay with them. I've never stayed the night in someone else's house before, much less with their dad sleeping in the house. I'll probably have to sleep in the living room, and there aren't any doors there.” His hand had balled into a fist, and Erin bit her lip. Such simple, normal things made his stomach turn into knots, she had learned. And it was enough to drive her mad. He didn't deserve to have those fears! And what was almost as maddening was that she had so few ideas as to what to do about it."Yukito, it's Aidousan, though… and you can call me if you want--"

“What if all the progress we've been making doesn't make a difference? What if everything so far doesn't stop things from screwing up, just like before?”

"And what if the sky turned to fire and your nose falls off?" she retorted immediately, falling to the quote he could never catch but was perfectly valid to use whenever he started all the what-ifs. All the crazy, anxious, worried, pessimistic what-ifs. "Yukito, stop doing that to yourself," she chided strongly, seriously. "Stop psyching yourself out and predicting horrible things for yourself, because then you'll help make them happen. So justdon't, okay? You know things are different now. Theyare. Anyone who knows you can see that, and they don't even really know! I see it, more than anyone else, and I can promise it's real. And it'll be real over there, jut like it is here!" Erin tilted her head, trying to look at him squarely, feeling heavy with concern. "And you can always call me. Always. Okay? It'll be all right. I mean it." She pulled her arms around him, bringing him closer to her whether he wanted it right then or not. "I mean it," she repeated, then kissed his cheek. "Promise me our last little bit together isn't going to be depressing, okay? Let's make it a good one, okay?"

---

Yukito Maki

Despite her chipper attempts at brightening the mood, he just felt something in his chest start to cave, and he moved away from her, curling up into himself and struggling for control of his thoughts so he could verbalize them to her. It felt like anything he said right now would go past her, wouldn't be truly understood. Why didn't she get it, just simply get that he felt just as lost as she had these last few days together?

"Yukito… Come on, don't do this." She frowned deeply, moving back to sit next to him, gently resting her hand on one of his and pleading with him not to retreat this time. But he didn't really intend to. He needed a moment, and he took it. Then exhaled in a single sentence the best explanation he could come up with for the thousands of questions and fears that liked to float around his head all day.

“The last time I left my girlfriend alone in our apartment together for more than one night, I came back to find out she'd killed herself.”

There it was, and her face contorted with the message and all its implications. But the first thing she had to say surprised him. "I didn't know you shared-shared it with her… like we do…" Yukito shook his head, adding quietly, “It wasn't. Not the same way we do. It was different, but still...it was a place I made for her...a place we hid...” And it became her temporary tomb.

Erin exhaled a long sigh, and he figured she was quite exasperated at him for bringing this up again, even before the conversation had truly begun. He curled up a little tighter, wishing that she would let him talk about her, just for once.. "Yukito…" He continued to frown, stubbornly trying to ward off the comforting feel of her fingers on the back of his hand. Did she know that no one else was allowed to do that? "Don't think like that. I never want to leave you, and you know that. Cassie will be here, and you know one of us will call you right away if anything happens. If a bird poops on your car, I'll call you, okay?" she asked, sending him a smile. He turned to look at her, meeting her eyes searchingly for answers.

“Aidousan insisted I stay with them. I've never stayed the night in someone else's house before, much less with their dad sleeping in the house. I'll probably have to sleep in the living room, and there aren't any doors there.” His hand had balled into a fist, and Erin bit her lip, immediately picking up on his silent fears.

"Yukito, it's Aidousan, though… and you can call me if you want--" How will that fix anything? he wanted to scream. But he only turned to glare at his knees bitterly. How will being able to whine to you across the world fix anything if I go out of my senses again? What will they do if I have a nightmare? He couldn't imagine any of them not being totally afraid to go near him, not after seeing that..

He couldn't stop the emotion from pulling at his vocal chords as he fumbled through a few of the questions ravaging his mind. “What if all the progress we've been making doesn't make a difference? What if everything so far doesn't stop things from screwing up, just like before?”

"And what if the sky turned to fire and your nose falls off?" she retorted immediately, silencing him. "Yukito, stop doing that to yourself," she chided strongly, seriously. He frowned more deeply into his knees. "Stop psyching yourself out and predicting horrible things for yourself, because then you'll help make them happen. So just don't, okay? You know things are different now. They are. Anyone who knows you can see that, and they don't even really know! I see it, more than anyone else, and I can promise it's real. And it'll be real over there, just like it is here!" Erin tilted her head, trying to meet his eyes, and he reluctantly raised his to see the concern written on her face. "And you can always call me. Always. Okay? It'll be all right. I mean it." In addition to her words, she threw her arms around him, letting him a moment to display on his face all the pain that had been waiting there, while hiding his face in her hair as he embraced her just as tightly back. He didn't know he'd be taking the separation so hard. He knew she would, but hadn't realized until now just how close they'd grown in the last few months. Whatever had been thrown at them – stalkers, failed tests, parent problems, drunken parties, tight money, or drama between their friends – they'd been able to conquer it here, in their own home. Now he felt like he was sort of abandoning her, and running away from something that had been so good to him.

“I love you...” he breathed, hearing his voice catch a little at the words.

"I mean it," she repeated, then kissed his cheek.. "Promise me our last little bit together isn't going to be depressing, okay? Let's make it a good one, okay?"

He just nodded, moving in to lay her head on his shoulder, so he could place his cheek in her hair and sit there holding her for a moment. When he let out a sigh, the extra oxygen giving him the strength to fend off the lump in his throat, he sat up and smiled at her softly. “Let's go out and do something stupid. It would make the time last.” He rolled off the bed, sending her a hand to pull her to her feet. A random idea occurring to him, he smirked. “Let's go T.P. the park.”

--

Erin Spenser

All her words seemed so fruitless, even though she meant every single one. What could she possibly say that would calm his worries? What could she do that could make the years of fighting any easier? She couldn't, and it made her feel totally useless. Not knowing what else to do, and wanting desperately to do something, Erin threw her arms around him in an urgent hug. A small bit of relief released itself when she felt him hugging her back, keeping her as long as he could. She wanted to just stay there until all the things she hoped for him actually soaked into his form, through his skin and onto his bloodstream, easing all the fears eating beneath the surface.

“I love you...” he breathed, voice catching a little as though he'd gotten chocked up. No, he wasn't getting any of her hopes for him, was he? Why couldn't she do a thing? "I mean it," Erin repeated, trying to emphasize her words so t least he would know she cared. She looked up and kissed his cheek. "Promise me our last little bit together isn't going to be depressing, okay? Let's make it a good one, okay?" Because I don't want us to leave each other this way. That would be the worst…

Yukito just nodded and shifted her to lay her head on his shoulder. She felt him resting against her, relishing the moment of calm togetherness. A long moment passed, finished with Yukito's slow sigh as he sat up. When Erin looked at him, he was smiling a little smile that she soon found herself returning. If he was smiling this way, then somehow it worked-- he was feeling better. And that made her feel better. “Let's go out and do something stupid. It would make the time last.”

He moved off the bed, offering his hand to her. Erin started to giggle. "Like what?" she asked as she took his hand and stood to her feet.

Yukito sent her a smirk. “Let's go T.P. the park.”

"What?" The giggle immediately turned into a loud laugh. Erin threw her arms around him, still grinning. "I knew I chose the right one! C'mon," she ordered, taking him by the hand. "We'll need a lot more than what we have now!"

--

Yukito Maki

She looked up and kissed his cheek. "Promise me our last little bit together isn't going to be depressing, okay? Let's make it a good one, okay?"Yukito just nodded and shifted her to lay her head on his shoulder. A long moment passed, finished with Yukito's slow sigh as he sat up. He sent Erin a smile, and she returned it after a moment of hesitation, seeming to be studying his face to gauge how he was doing.

“Let's go out and do something stupid. It would make the time last,” he told her bluntly, moving away from the bed – and away from the somber mood they'd fallen into – and offering a hand to help her up.

Erin started to giggle at the prospects of his suggestion. "Like what?" she asked as she took his hand and stood to her feet.

Yukito sent her a smirk. “Let's go T.P. the park.”

"What?" The giggle immediately turned into a loud laugh. Erin threw her arms around him, still grinning. "I knew I chose the right one! C'mon,"she ordered, taking him by the hand. He decided not to question her about 'the right one' and just go with it, chuckling as he grabbed his keys and led the way to the door. "We'll need a lot more than what we have now!"

“That just means a late-night trip to Wal-mart,” he said matter-of-factly, opening the door for her without thinking about it, then dropping to the other side, “I say we get the cheap stuff. Who cares if the neighbors get that extra-quilt softness, right?” As they drove, Yukito turned to her and asked, “Okay, so if you had to choose – pink or yellow?”


--

Erin Spenser

“Let's go T.P. the park.”

For a moment, Yukito's sudden words caught her off guard, and her smile at his words was huge. "What?" Her giggles turned into laughs, and Erin threw her arms around him. "I knew I chose the right one! C'mon," she ordered, taking him by the hand. "We'll need a lot more than what we have now!"

“That just means a late-night trip to Wal-mart,” he said matter-of-factly, keys in hand. She beamed at him as she stepped outside, watching him follow behind her. "That's when all the weirdos come out," she giggled. "Does that make us the weirdos, or the weirdos that get to take pictures of the dudes in mullets and skirts?"

“I say we get the cheap stuff. Who cares if the neighbors get that extra-quilt softness, right?”

"Well, duh," Erin agreed, sliding into the car and propping her feet up on the dashboard. "The cheaper you get, the more you can get of it!"

As they drove, Yukito turned to her and asked, “Okay, so if you had to choose – pink or yellow?”

The sudden question made Erin laugh again as she leaned over to rest her head on him, holding one hand on his arm. "Um, yellow?" More laughs and then she added, "What, they make toilet paper in colors now? That would be a funny thing to see in the morning!" She sat up, visualizing the trees with her hands, pinching her thumb and forefinger to draw invisible lines where the dew-filled paper would be hanging. "'What are all these strange Easter-egg colored strips of--ooooh…'" Her laugh turned into a momentary cackle that came to an abrupt halt as she looked seriously at Yukito. "Let's do it." Then the massive smile returned-- she couldn't keep it back longer if she tried. "Go faster so we get finished before the sun comes up and you leeeave!"

--

Yukito Maki

“That just means a late-night trip to Wal-mart,” he said matter-of-factly, keys in hand as they started for car.

She beamed at him as she stepped outside, watching him follow behind her. "That's when all the weirdos come out," she giggled. "Does that make us the weirdos, or the weirdos that get to take pictures of the dudes in mullets and skirts?"

Yukito made a face. “Mullets and skirts...wow...” A pause, then, thoughtfully, “I say we get the cheap stuff. Who cares if the neighbors get that extra-quilt softness, right?”

"Well, duh,"Erin agreed, sliding into the car and propping her feet up on the dashboard. "The cheaper you get, the more you can get of it!"[/b]

“Buckle up,” he told her, starting up the car. A few minutes down the road, he randomnly asked, “Okay, so if you had to choose – pink or yellow?”

The sudden question made Erin laugh again as she leaned over to rest her head on him, holding one hand on his arm. "Um, yellow?"He nodded his approval as she continued to laugh. "What, they make toilet paper in colors now? That would be a funny thing to see in the morning! 'What are all these strange Easter-egg colored strips of—ooooh…'"

Yukito chuckled, shaking his head. “I was just wondering, is all. I'm not planning on Easter-egg toilet paper. Though that does sound fun..”

Her laugh turned into a momentary cackle that came to an abrupt halt as she looked seriously at Yukito. "Let's do it."

“Okay,” he responded, looking as deadpan as her. But she couldn't hold it any longer and her lips sizzled out into a warm smile.

"Go faster so we get finished before the sun comes up and you leeeave!"

For once, he pressed a little harder on the gas.

~~~

“I'm all out,” he called over to her, waving his empty toilet paper roll at her. A little bit of paper still dangled from the end of the cardboard, waving back and forth like a flag of truce. They'd ended up buying more than a little toilet paper, and in addition, Erin had found the crazy string in the checkout aisle. On a whim, Yukito had bought a dozen of them for her, and they had held an insane crazy-string fight. He now had colorful clumps hanging all over in his hair and on his clothes. Somehow, Erin got a huge hunk stuck to his elbow, wrapped around and squished against his skin in a colorful array of foamy-substance. He shook his can of lime-green string and shot over at Erin unexpectedly as she approached, catching her thigh with it. “This is gonna be terrible to get off,” he muttered with a shake of his head and a smile. “Aw, come on. I promise I won't get you again,” he laughed, the sound ringing in the night as he looked around the empty park, now littered with their games. He was surprised no one had heard them laughing and come to see what was up. But they had managed to go through a few large packages of toilet paper with no interuptions, and now he was tired. “Hey, let's go sit on the merry-go-round, and I'll spin you,” he offered, smirking and pulling crazy string off his cheek. Then, he reached out and grabbed her hand, “But first...” He yanked her closer, “Kisu shite?”

--

Erin Spenser

For a while, it had seemed their last night for two weeks was going downhill fast. But now it seemed far removed from that feeling-- running around in the cool darkness, attacking Yukito in intervals with the boldly sticky string from a can, it was a much better way to spend the night than moping in a room. She could feel the soreness from laughing in her side and treasured the dumb, silly, loud moments they were making, claiming the park as their own for just a little while. It was freeing and ridiculous and awesome, and no one even bothered them. Why would they, when nighttime police were busy catching psychos and drug lords to worry about two almost-adults goofing off in a park?

Erin reached her arm back and launched the last bit of her roll as hard as she tried to reach for the higher branches. Instead, she missed, and the paper wad bounced back, slightly damp now, and smacked against her head before rolling to the ground. "Heeyy!" she fussed at the tissue. "Behave, stupid paper!" Erin couldn't help but laugh, even if nothing was particularly funny, as she tried again and made it, though a bit lower than her target branch. "Go hiiigher," she whined at the toilet paper through her giggles, stumbling back to get a better view of their work. "My arm's gonna be sore!" she called out to Yukito in more laughs. "Beautifully, vandalism-ally sore!"

“I'm all out,” Yukito called back. She laughed at his little toilet paper signal, practically skipping through the trees to make her beeline towards him. "Me too!" she called. Erin had crumpled the last roll of hers into a flat piece, then into a square, and held it clutched in her hand. Just as she made it from around the last tree root, she felt the now familiar but still surprising sensation of a silly string attack on her leg, making her jump. "Yukito!!" Her voice was playfully incredulous. Immediately she went to unwind the electric green gunk off her bare leg and the bit that had made it onto her shorts. "Totally not fair!" Even though she hadn't played fair, either, having come up to him earlier for a kiss, then pulled away to reward him with a long spray of bright pink string. And no spot had been off limits, which explained why both now had huge stripes of the phony plastic in their hair.

“Aw, come on. I promise I won't get you again,” Yukito said, laughing at her. She didn't even care that it was at her, really, she just loved to hear him laugh. It melted away any real frustration she might have had with the surprise attack, and she chucked the wad of bright green toward him playfully. Then quickly, she skipped over to wrap her arms around him and giggled. "Now maybe some of my silly string is stuck back to you," she declared, pulling at a funny-looking piece she'd put in his hair. It came out and she rolled it into a ball, lightly tossing it toward his cheek.

“Hey, let's go sit on the merry-go-round, and I'll spin you,” Yukito piped up.

"Okay!" She pulled away and started to head to the merry-go-round before Yukito caught her by her hand. “But first...” He pulled her closer, making her smile widen. “Kisu shite?”

Erin found herself giggling again. What was making her so giggly? "Like this, you mean?" she asked, giving a short kiss on his lips. "Or this?" She kissed him again, a bit longer. "Or…" A third kiss, this time longer and deeper, holding him to her with one hand hugging him while her other felt his hair beneath her fingertips.

--

Yukito Maki

"Yukito!!" she cried out as he hit in the leg with a strange of crazy string yet again, the bright green clinging to her shorts as she tried to swipe it away. "Totally not fair!"

“Aw, come on. I promise I won't get you again,” Yukito said, laughing proudly at his trick even as he feigned innocence terribly. Erin shot him a smile, tossing her wad of bright green string at him, and it uselessly bounced against his shin. He looked down at it, and she skipped over to wrap her arms around him, giggling as she successfully got more of the goo all over his front. "Now maybe some of my silly string is stuck back to you," she declared, pulling at something in his hair that turned out to be more crazy string, rolling it into a ball with her fits and bouncing it on his cheek as he made a face.

“You're so mean to me,” he whined, then glancing over his shoulder, “Hey, let's go sit on the merry-go-round, and I'll spin you,”

"Okay!" She pulled away and started to head to the merry-go-round, but he reached out and caught her hand, making her wait a moment.

“But first...” He pulled her closer, making her smile widen. “Kisu shite?”

She let out a giggle as though he had just told her a hilarious joke, or said something naughty. "Like this, you mean?" she asked, giving a short kiss on his lips, making him smile. "Or this?" He felt a little jolt in his abdomen as she kissed again, a little longer this time and more meaningful. "Or…" Not really expecting the third, Yukito felt all his breath escape from his lungs as she wrapped her arms around him, deepening her kiss with him and making him shiver as her hand brushed the tips of his hair, tickling the back of his neck a little while her main focus was on his lips, fully engaging him while at the same time distracting him.

“Mmm...” he murmured, smirking as he slowly pulled away, “Yeah, that ought to do it.” Yukito tilted his head at her, struck with a thought, then before saying anything, he pulled her away by the hand, racing towards the merry-go-round. The sand of the play area kicked up as they raced, weighing down their footsteps and almost making him trip once or twice. “Okay, get on and I'll get us rolling. Hold on tight!” He gripped one of the iron bars, planting his feet, then deciding to kick off his shoes into the sand, then starting them off at a slow grind, quickly working up to a run. He fought to keep a hold of the merry-go-round as it started to speed faster than he could move, and he laughed as he tried and fail to leap on, slipping up on his second try and winding his arms around his chosen bar, turning to smile at Erin as the world started to spin faster and faster. While they still carried enough momentum to make it difficult, he crawled over toward her, getting to the center circle and leaning over to plant another kiss on her lips, feeling dizzy for about a hundred different reasons. And most of them good ones.

--

Erin Spenser

“Hey, let's go sit on the merry-go-round, and I'll spin you,” Yukito suggested. Immediately, Erin perked up at the offer. The nighttime park was their own little palace for the evening, where they could be kids and be in love and be dorks and make memories and relive them, too. She took off for the merry-go-round. "Okay!"

Suddenly her wrist tugged her to a stop, and she turned back to see Yukito. “But first...” He pulled her closer, making her smile widen. “Kisu shite?”

Easily her smile broadened and she let out a giggle. "Like this, you mean?" she asked, giving a short kiss on his lips. In reply she earned a smile. Now it felt like a game. "Or this?" She gave him a longer kiss, a richer one, but pulled back. "Or…" Erin felt Yukito's reaction as she prolonged the kiss, holding him tightly as her fingers hid away in his head of hair.

Yukito was the one to pull away first, so Erin went automatically to lay her head against him, grinning and keeping her hug. “Mmm… Yeah, that ought to do it.”

For some reason, that made her giggle. "Okay, good!"

Without warning, Yukito became the impulsive one. Erin found herself pulled by her hand towards the merry-go-round. Kisses made impulsiveness contagious, Erin decided with a loud laugh as she followed him closely, undeclared need to pass him up and reach the old toy first. Yukito stumbled, and Erin made an over-dramatic jump to skip ahead. "First!" she cried when her hand hit the cold metal. Erin turned back to see Yukito, who quickly ordered, “Okay, get on and I'll get us rolling. Hold on tight!”

"I'm ready!" Erin called, wrapping her hands around the metal bars and turning so she faced the outside of the circle. She couldn’t quit grinning, and it was awesome. Soon, Yukito had her spinning, and she had to close her eyes. Half her hair attacked her face, sticking to her lips until it fell or was blown off, and, as she always had done on merry-go-rounds since she could remember, Erin automatically sounded a high pitched squeal as the speed reached its peek. The squeal melted into giggles as they slowed a tad when Yukito jumped on. The sounds his feet made against the metal were too curious, Erin opened her eyes and looked at him, but by that time he was right by her. She opened her mouth to let out a surprised "hi!" but he caught the words with another kiss. Erin giggled more, the wheel slowing down enough that she could sink to the floor of their little ride, using the center as a backrest. She tilted her head back to look at him, the world spinning like crazy around her, and so she decided just to keep tilting back until she was laying on the floor of the merry-go-round, looking up at him with a smile. "Do that again," Erin ordered, still full of laughs. It was impossible to think at this moment, she wouldn't be seeing him again for 2 weeks, that he would be across the world. Practically in a whole different world. But it was also perfectly possible that she could picture them being this close and this happy again, and again, and again, and…

--

Yukito Maki

Yukito tugged her along to the merry-go-round, but tripped. Erin shot ahead of him, gripping the iron bar as he stumbled through the thick sand. "First!" she cried.

“Okay, get on and I'll get us rolling. Hold on tight!”

"I'm ready!" Erin called, wrapping her hands around the metal bars and turning so she faced the outside of the circle. Yukito started them forward, pushing and hearing Erin release a high-pitched squeal as they reached top speed. He loved that sound, smiling as she melted into giggled. Yukito leapt on, missing the first time, but managing up onto the merry-go-round on the second attempt, then crawled over to Erin. Her eyes were shut, and he grinned roguishly at her until her eyes opened to find him, discovering how close he was. She opened her mouth in surprise, and he caught her lips with his, her giggles contagious as their dizziness could be blamed on more than just the rapid cycle of their new favorite toy. They shifted, and he stayed close to her while gripping hard on the iron bar. Erin looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes sparkling and her hair caught around her cheek as she sent him a radiant smile. He could tell she was getting dizzier, as she decided to go with the flow of the mechanism and just lay down on the floor of the merry-go-round, still smiling at him in a way that made his chest swell and ache in a painfully pleasant way. Yukito leaned over her, planting his palms on the merry-go-round on either side of her head, and lowering himself carefully to kiss her again. "Do that again," Erin ordered, still full of laughs. He nodded, slipping off the edge of the merry-go-round and going for another spin, then leaping on with a quick hold and dropping down beside her.

I wish it would just keep spinning forever, he thought happily. It was so easy to just forget about the sun coming up and ruining their fun. It was easy to just relax and enjoy being with someone who just wanted to laugh and hold him, to be near him and didn't mind that he was terrible with words or could only get so close. Yukito closed his eyes to let the merry-go-round careen him into a new dizzying level, smiling as he faced up toward the blackened sky. He didn't really think he believed in God, or a heaven, or any sort of afterlife. He couldn't imagine everyone liking one kind of 'bliss' and living in that created place for all eternity with no evil, no darkness or corruption. But he figured, if there was anywhere on earth or in any sort of cosmic existance after death, he would rather return to this park, this night, with Erin. It was so simple, and something he would always miss after it was gone.

“Okay, I'm tired. Your turn,” he commanded flippantly, tossing one arm over his eyes and waving her on, “I expect you to go fast-fast-fast, not just your normal fast.” He lifted his arm up and peered over at her with a roguish grin, sticking his tongue out at her.

--

Erin Spenser

Everything was tilting and swirling around her now, and it was all Yukito's beautiful fault. They were still spinning, even if it wasn't as fast, and she melted to lie down on the floor of the spinning top. She grinned up at him and at the nighttime sky behind him, outlining his face in dark lines. She could just keep watching him, just like that, as he hovered over her. A slow, happy sigh escaped from Erin's smiling lips, just before he leaned in to give her a kiss. Their wheel had quit turning. "Do that again," Erin ordered with a laugh. With a quick nod as his only answer, Yukito jumped off and sent them into another quick spin, hopping back on with a little tell-tale thud against the metal. Another little squeal came from her as Erin groped for a handhold to stay on, and she reached up to hold against the bar above her head. "Woah!" she shouted, laughing full and loud and echoed across the park.

Eventually they slowed again, leaving only Erin's quiet giggles and the squeaking of the merry-go-round slowing the only sounds. “Okay, I'm tired. Your turn,” Yukito ordered, looking and sounding as tired as he claimed. Erin grinned, slipping off the merry-go-round. Everything was still spinning dizzily about her, and she couldn't hide her stumble, so Erin went for humor to distract him from teasing her. "Okay, kareshi. You can sleep while I spin, you then," she teased instead, giggling.

“I expect you to go fast-fast-fast, not just your normal fast.” He lifted his arm up and peered over at her with a roguish grin, sticking his tongue out at her.

"Oh, yeah?!" Erin retorted, smiling wide at the challenge. "That's what you wanna play? I can play that game," she declared, grabbing a hold one of the bars and starting to push. It was a lot heavier than she'd anticipated, or maybe just old and needed oiling, but there was no way she wouldn't at least get as fast as Yukito had. The sand kicked up behind her as she pushed, and finally she felt it breaking into speed. She was going with the momentum as she made to jump on the merry-go-round, but only half her foot made it and she was bounced off, landing back against the grainy sand. "Ah!" she squealed, before falling into peels of laughter. "Yuyukun, help, the sand attacked me!" Erin stayed down in the sand, holding her hands up to him, knowing that if she got up now, she'd still be dizzy, plus, Yukito coming to "save" her was cute and fun, in a cheesy sort of way she loved.

--

Yukito Maki

As they spun around in circles in the dark, empty solitude of the park, it was filled only with the warm, bubbly sounds of Erin's laughter and the creak of the merry-go-round as it ground around its eternal course. Yukito leapt on, joining her in her joy as they got dizzier and dizzier, hoping the merry-go-round would never lose its momentum, praying that they wouldn't lose their firm hold on it, either. When they eventually slowed, Yukito was laying across the center of the merry-go-round, feeling suddenly exhausted. “Okay, I'm tired. Your turn,” Yukito ordered, genuinely surprised when she did as he instructed. He chuckled, expecting a surprise attack at any moment. He kept his mouth closed in case of a crazy string onslaught, one arm flopped across his eyes.

"Okay, kareshi. You can sleep while I spin, you then," she teased instead, giggling.

“I expect you to go fast-fast-fast, not just your normal fast.” He lifted his arm up and peered over at her with a roguish grin, sticking his tongue out at her.

"Oh, yeah?!" Erin retorted, smiling wide at the challenge. "That's what you wanna play? I can play that game," she declared, grabbing a hold one of the bars and starting to push.He looked up at her slow start, smirking and ready to tease her about it, when it finally started gaining momentum. He sat up and gripped onto one of the nearby bars with one arm, leaning against it heavily so he could watch her. She tried to jump on, but slipped and fell to the sand, letting out a “Ah!” Yukito leapt up, nearly toppling off the merry-go-round himself, and flew to the edge, dragging his heel in the sand for a quick stop, turning to Erin as she let out a loud ring of laughter, making him sigh with relief.

"Yuyukun, help, the sand attacked me!"Erin stayed down in the sand, holding her hands up to him like a petulant child.

“So I saw,” he muttered, taking her hands and pulling her smoothly up to a standing position again. “You dizzy or something, Sunshine?” He tilted his head at her slightly, taking hold of her head gently and facing her towards him, touching his forehead to hers. He let out a slow sigh, smiling as he reached up with one hand and pulled more crazy string out of her hair, “I think it's time we bail out, before we need a bail out for vandalism.”He dropped his hand from her cheek to take her hand, pulling her along gently and not mentioning aloud that he did have a plane to catch in the morning. “I think we did a good job. You should take pictures in the daylight of it tomorrow, with that camera I bought you.” He smirked, leaned over, and kissed her, softly and sweetly, before they reached the Volvo again. “Your silly escapades wear me out, Erin,” he feigned the complaint, pulling open the driver side door and smirking at her.

We done here, ne?

--

Erin Spenser

Her attempt at jumping on board like Yukito had backfired, and it took her with it. She landed back on the sand, letting out a shocked squeal at the merry-go-round's rebellion. “Ah!” The squeal morphed into laughter as she held her hands up for him to take. "Yuyukun, help, the sand attacked me!"

“So I saw,”Yukito muttered, suddenly having come to her side. She giggled more, keeping up her hand so he would take them, and he did, pulling her to her feet. Erin's arms went around him for a moment, using him as her excuse to steady herself, head still reeling from the last spinning rejection. “You dizzy or something, Sunshine?” Erin couldn't help but laugh, looking up to give him a short kiss. "Was it that obvious?" she joked. "Let's do it again!"

But he kept her from going, gently holding her back and bringing her face to meet his again. He touched his forehead to hers and sighed. It was a happy one, though, because he was still smiling. He really did have an incredible smile, and Erin was pretty sure he was clueless of this. Sometimes it made her heart leap as if it were a kiss-- like now. Until the moment was tarnished with a tug at her hair. "Ow!" she complained as Yukito's hand came back down with more silly string. "That one hurt," she pouted.

“I think it's time we bail out, before we need a bail out for vandalism.” Erin rolled her eyes at the lame pun, but smiled, because it was a cute lame pun, as Yukito's hand went form her face to her own hand. "Awww… Yuyukuuun…"

“I think we did a good job," Yukito decided, and Erin glanced back at their work and grinned. It was a total mess. She laughed. "Yeah!"

" You should take pictures in the daylight of it tomorrow, with that camera I bought you.”

"'Course," she promised, not saying what else she was thinking-- that it wouldn't be half as fun memorializing their little adventure without him there, too. But he knew, at least she thought so, because he leaned over to give her another kiss as they reached the car.

“Your silly escapades wear me out, Erin.” He smirked at her, teasing her, as he slid in the car. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"I'm sure it was so hard on you." Then she giggled again, echoing his choice of words. "Escapades…!"

Yeah, done. XD

[More than Music]

Kagamane cuteness for youuu~ ^^ Kinda short... only 3500 words, but it's cute! Promise! ^^

Could This Be Out of Line? -- Kagamane across the distance ;D

Kagayaki Aidou

He laid on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He was tired but couldn't sleep. Glancing up at the clock, Kagayaki saw it was about eleven. Wow. He really was having some insomnia. Maybe some tea-- No, kaachan went to bed early. He smiled. Well, in her condition, she was bound to be tired and such.

Too bad he couldn't tell anyone else until September, when she went to the doctor to make sure it was going to work out.

The excitement inside of him had to be contained though: if he blew it by telling someone, then kaachan would be very upset. Like, to the point he didn't even want to know what she'd do to him.

Would he ever have kids? He pouted his lips. He loved babies so much. Babies and little kids and kids. They were so beautiful... he wanted so bad to have some kids... someday. Not yet, no! He was too young for kids. But... someday...

He looked over at his phone. He missed home. Not this home, back home in Amerika. It felt more like home than this place did. Why? This had been his home for his whole life...

Because Amerika was part of him now. That was it. He had hopes for settling down in Amerika, growing up and growing old in Amerika... And his heart was definitely still back home in Amerika.

He missed someone right now. A lot.

Picking up the phone, Kagayaki squinted his eyes to dial her number. Putting it to his ear, he shut his eyes and waited for her to answer. 'What time is it there? Late?' He thought for a moment. 'Well... it's late here... so it must be early there... right?' Then he heard her voice and it made him smile.

"Hi, Amanechan," he breathed. "How is you?"

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

"Hey, mooooom?" Amane cooed, slipping up to one of the stools in the kitchen, her elbows resting on the island, "Can I have pizza for lunch today? Pleeeease?"

Her mother sent her a questioning look, and Amane just grinned innocently at her, kicking her legs a bit where they dangled. "I'm hungry enough to eat a whole one myself!"

"Well, you better not, or you're going to end up with a stomachache," her mother warned in a weary voice, "There's a bunch of frozen ones in the freezer if you want one."

Amane bounced a little on her seat, "I wouldn't get so many stomachaches if I had people over to share my lunches."

"I'm not the one stopping you from having people over," her mother said with a smile, closing the dishwasher with a clang.

"We-e-ell, I think that in a few weeks I might have -- ooh!" Amane jumped as her cell phone started ringing out with 'Happy Boom Boom' by Nigahiga, the uppity beat clattering out of the tiny speaker and making it rumble and move on the countertop. Amane snatched up the cell phone, grinning when she saw who was and a letting out a mini squeal, then putting it to her ear. "Hello?! Er, moshi-moshi?!"

"Hi, Amanechan," came Kagayaki's voice, sounding tired, but happy. She could hear his smile. "How is you?"

"I'm gooood," she smiled, twisting in her chair happily, "I think I'm on a bit of a sugar high, though. I can't sit still!" Her fingers rose to play with her hair, her grin broadening when she saw the light-brown tip. Originally, she'd dyed large streaks of white in it with Kagayaki, but the end result had looked more like a demented skunk on her black hair and tan skin, and she had hated it. But after a few laughs, Kagayaki had gone and got her some light brown coloring, and they'd just done the whole thing over again. It looked beautiful now, she thought. And it was so fun to look at. "How are things going with you? How are Yukito and Erin and the gang? Wait a minute..." She looked over at the clock on the oven, "Isn't it really late for you?" She slowed down her speech a little, enunciating just enough to help him but not enough to make it obvious, "What time is it right now for you?" She trailed off into giggles, "You're so silly!"

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

It didn't take very long for her to answer the phone, and it helped him take his mind off of everything he'd just been thinking about when her cute -- if a bit loud -- voice answered with: "Hello?! Er, moshi-moshi?!"

"Hi, Amanechan," he said, unable to stop smiling now that he'd heard her speak. "How is you?"

"I'm gooood," she said, and he could hear her talking through her teeth -- a sign she was smiling. 'Her smile's so cute, too...' Kagayaki found himself blushing a little as he laid there. "I think I'm on a bit of a sugar high, though. I can't sit still!"

Kagayaki laughed. "I like when you happy," he told her, reaching up to play with his hair. They'd dyed their hair together, and it had been so much fun.

She was so much fun...

"How are things going with you? How are Yukito and Erin and the gang? Wait a minute..." He was about to reply when she spoke up again. "Isn't it really late for you?"

He hesitated. "Ah... what?" He tried to cover up his yawn by covering the phone and laughed to try and distract her.

"What time is it right now for you?" She'd said it clear enough that he couldn't feign ignorance this time.

"Aaaah..." Kagayaki twisted a little. "Soon, will be... tomorrow!" He punctuated it with a little giggle to draw away from the idea.

Amanechan giggled too, making him smile. "You're so silly!"

He shifted in his blankets, staring at the tips of his hair. It was strange, but now he connected his hair to Amane, not Takeshi. Well, it was a good strange anyway.

"A... Amanechan..." He turned onto his stomach and let out a deep breath. "Do... you like me?" He bit his lip a little, nervous. "I... I miss you."

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

"Isn't it really late for you?" she could tell it was, by the silence over on his end of the phone. Amane pursed her lips together, one end rising up in a disapproving expression. Did this mean he was waking up just to call her at a decent hour, knowing she'd get in trouble if he called later? Or did that mean he wasn't sleeping, or he was in trouble?

"Ah... what?" He wasn't able to hide the sounds of his yawn over the phone, and he gave a nervous laugh. There were a lot of things Kagayaki was, and a good liar wasn't one of them.

"What time is it right now for you?" She said clearly, knowing he would understand and needed to answer her.

"Aaaah...Soon, will be... tomorrow!" He punctuated it with a little giggle that she had to return. He sounded so tired.

Amanechan giggled at his ridiculousness. He sounded too happy for it to be an emergency anyways. "You're so silly!"

"A... Amanechan..." Kagayaki started, and she could tell by his tone he was about to say something important.

"Yeah?"

"Do... you like me?" Her eyes widened a little, then grew sad. "I... I miss you."

"I...I miss you too, Kakikun..." she said, her voice quieter. She slipped off the stool and left the kitchen, feeling her mother's eyes and ears zeroed in on her. "But...you know this is complicated..." Once in her room, she flopped back onto her bed, her hair flying out to land on her cheeks. "I care a lot about you. A whole lot. So you know that if we get together, I want it to mean a whole lot, too. I don't want either of us hurt again..." She worked her lip, "I'm just afraid, Kakikun. I don't want to be like Yumi...I don't want that to be us, all over again."

She smiled, blushing a little, and grateful he wasn't there to see and make her feel embarrassed by it, "But I do like you. A whole lot..." Amane sat up, playing with her fuzzy socks and changing the subject, "I listened to the clips you sent me. They were totally worth begging you for hours for. You're so talented, Kakikun! It sounds so cool!" She wished she knew enough about music to tell him what it was that sounded so amazing about the humbly recorded guitar pieces and ideas he'd sent her, but she was at a loss. And she didn't want to go into detail about 'that one jumpy part' to him. "It sounds so different from Myriad of Horrors, though..."

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

"A... Amanechan..." He hesitated in continuing at first, still a little nervous to ask the question on his mind.

"Yeah?"

He had to go through with it now, or he never would. "Do... you like me?" She didn't say anything at first. 'Oh no... I've scared her...' "I... I miss you."

"I...I miss you too, Kakikun..." She sounded little and quiet. Kagayaki frowned, pulling a pillow to his chest. 'Then why do you sound so sad?' "But...you know this is complicated..." He heard a sound on the other end and tilted his head, but didn't have time to speak because she did first. "I care a lot about you. A whole lot. So you know that if we get together, I want it to mean a whole lot, too. I don't want either of us hurt again..." Kagayaki nodded but didn't say anything. He knew what she was getting at. He was used to hearing it.

"I'm just afraid, Kakikun. I don't want to be like Yumi...I don't want that to be us, all over again."

He tensed. "Yumi... Yumichan is not... a bad... person..." He swallowed hard, bit his lip for a moment, then went on. "She were... hurting..."

"But I do like you. A whole lot..."

Kagayaki managed to smile. "I like you more." He laughed. "More, more, more."

"I listened to the clips you sent me."

He froze. Oh no.

"They were totally worth begging you for hours for. You're so talented, Kakikun! It sounds so cool!"

He let the air out. "I... I glad..." It sounded more like he was breathing than speaking.

"It sounds so different from Myriad of Horrors, though..."

Kagayaki shrugged, turning again. "Yukito writed music for band," he explained with another yawn. "I writed these, silly." He smiled, playing with his hair again. "I writed one for you..." He tilted his head a little, then shifted so it was pressing the cellphone against his shoulder. "You...you like it too?"

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

"I care a lot about you. A whole lot. So you know that if we get together, I want it to mean a whole lot, too. I don't want either of us hurt again..." she said quietly, disconcerted by his silence. "I'm just afraid, Kakikun. I don't want to be like Yumi...I don't want that to be us, all over again."

"Yumi... Yumichan is not... a bad... person..." he said defensively, "She were... hurting..."

"I know, I know!" she jumped to fix her words, "I didn't mean to say that she was! I just think it was wrong of her to do that to you... just because she was hurting didn't mean you had to be, too..." She paused, a little smile sneaking onto her lips, "But I do like you. A whole lot..."

"I like you more."

"Do not!" she protested, and they laughed.

"More, more, more."

"Liar," she teased, then added, "I listened to the clips you sent me." Silence from Kakikun. "They were totally worth begging you for hours for. You're so talented, Kakikun! It sounds so cool!"

He released a breath, as though he had been holding it, and that amused her. "I... I glad..."

"It sounds so different from Myriad of Horrors, though..."

"Yukito writed music for band," he explained with another yawn. "I writed these, silly."

"I knooow...but still. It's very different." She rolled over onto her stomach, "I like it. When you get back, could I hear you play it, like, in person? That would be so cool!"

"I writed one for you....You...you like it too?"

She found herself nodding, even though she knew he couldn't see it, "Uh-huh! It was so gorgeous!" Amane trailed one finger across her comforter, smiling, "I wish I could play an instrument...I can only play a kazoo for birthday parties at best. Haha.." A blush started across her cheeks, and her eyes brightened, "Oh, by the way...what size are you? In the chest and arms and stuff, I mean... I need it for my present for you. Do you know?" She reached up with one hand and pulled her half-started knitting off her bookshelf. Amane had excitedly rushed into her second sweater ever, deciding Kagayaki would like one. She'd already finished a matching scarf and set it aside for him to enjoy when he got back, but the sweater needed specific measurements right off the bat... She'd picked out a creamy-white color in a soft angora yarn. It was so soft under her fingers, it felt like a cloud, and she grinned as she picked it up and held it in her hands. "It's kind of important...but don't stress about it or anything, okay?"

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Kagayaki Aidou

"Yumi... Yumichan is not... a bad... person... She were... hurting..."

"I know, I know!" She seemed to understand what she'd said was wrong now. "I didn't mean to say that she was! I just think it was wrong of her to do that to you... just because she was hurting didn't mean you had to be, too..."

Kagayaki nodded. "Yeah..."

"But I do like you. A whole lot..."

He smiled. "I like you more."

"Do not!" They both laughed together. It felt good to hear that she believe she liked him more... None of the other girls he liked had argued with him about that. It had been obvious he'd feel more for them than they ever felt for him.

It felt good to have more of a balance with Amane.

"More, more, more."

"Liar," she insisted, and he took in a deep breath. Being called a liar never felt so good. "I listened to the clips you sent me." The breath he'd just taken froze in his lungs. "They were totally worth begging you for hours for. You're so talented, Kakikun! It sounds so cool!"

He breathed again, happier both because she'd liked his music and because she'd called him Kakikun... again. He only let his mother -- and more recently, his father, because he'd just recently stopped protesting it -- call him that, but it felt right to have her call him that. It felt as good as it had for Cassie to call him Kagayaki, only... Amane was different from Cassie. Maybe he was making it up, but he felt... safer with Amane. Like, because of how much she'd cared about Yukito, that this would finally be a relationship he wouldn't regret, even if just for a moment.

"I... I glad..."

"It sounds so different from Myriad of Horrors, though..."

"Yukito writed music for band... I writed these, silly."

"I knooow...but still. It's very different." 'Isn't that a good thing? I don't want to sound just like Yukito when I write music. I want it to be mine.' "I like it. When you get back, could I hear you play it, like, in person? That would be so cool!"

He hesitated a little, wanting to mention the song he'd worked hardest on. "I writed one for you....You...you like it too?"

"Uh-huh! It was so gorgeous!"

He laughed. "Yeah..." 'Because it was inspired by you...'

"I wish I could play an instrument...I can only play a kazoo for birthday parties at best. Haha.."

Kagayaki shook his head. "Eh, you can. I... did no think... I could... Eh..." He looked away as if she was staring at him. "Yukitokun... he believed in me."

"Oh, by the way...what size are you?"

Kagayaki blinked. "Eh?"

"In the chest and arms and stuff, I mean... I need it for my present for you. Do you know?" He just blinked again. What was that? He looked down. She meant, like, how far around? He had no idea... "It's kind of important...but don't stress about it or anything, okay?"

Then it hit him. She'd said my present for you... She... she was getting him a present! He froze in place a little. "Um... Can has kaachan helps me... in morning." He nodded. "Yeah. In morning. Promise!"

He looked over at the clock again, yawning. "Eh, Amanechan... I has go to sleep..." He laughed. "Will... call... later. With... um... size." He smiled. "Okay?"

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Amane Ourmura

"I wish I could play an instrument..." she commented, jealousy evident in her voice, "I can only play a kazoo for birthday parties at best. Haha.."

"Eh, you can. I... did no think... I could... Eh...Yukitokun... he believed in me." Kakikun's words made her smile vanish, as her fingers played with the edges of her colored hair. She didn't want to think about the way Yukito would gruffly encourage others all the time. She didn't want to think of the way he always conveyed much more without saying a word. She didn't want to think of him helping Kakikun and the others along, performing a near-impossible task of making a bunch of lazy teenage boys sound fantastic.

"Heh..." she muttered quietly, just murmuring to let him know she'd heard him. Even if she really didn't want to talk about Yukito right now. Not all the time. But what could she expect? He was Kakikun's friend. Even if they were having so much trouble these days. "Oh, by the way...what size are you?"

A pause, then, "Eh?" She giggled at his reaction, realizing how funny that sounded.

"In the chest and arms and stuff, I mean... I need it for my present for you. Do you know?" There was silence on the other end. Was that too creepy to ask? She'd never asked him something like that before, but it did sound kind of creepy. Amane flushed. She needed it to make the sweater for him. "It's kind of important...but don't stress about it or anything, okay?"

"Um... Can has kaachan helps me... in morning. Yeah. In morning. Promise!" She beamed at his promise, and the cheery tone in his voice that let her know it wasn't quite over the line of weird. She breathed a sigh of relief, barely hearing his yawn. "Eh, Amanechan... I has go to sleep..."[b/] He laughed warmly. "Will... call... later. With. .. um... size. Okay?"

"Okay! You get some sleep, Kakikun!" she called out cheerfully, "Don't forget to call me! Or I'll wake you up in the middle of the night. Talk to you later!" She hung up the phone, flopped her face down onto the pillow and sighing, unable to suppress a smile. She was willing to bet her month's allowance that he would call her back. He never forgot to call her. He was sweet like that, and didn't forget people existed. Plus, she felt like she could talk to him. Amane just wished they didn't have to be so careful all the time. She knew that things would get difficult for him, once his friends knew she was...

Well, what was she to him? A friend, she supposed. Amane pushed herself up and propped her chin in her hands, frowning in thought. Did she want them to be more than that?

Could she be?

It was so hard. It was confusing, too. She knew she'd always care about Yukito. She would always love him. It wasn't some flighty crush like everyone pretended it was at first. It wasn't an obsession to sick levels, like everyone claimed it was now. Amane dropped her head again, her chest tightening as the waves of images and memories washed over her tenfold, always painful, and always hard to suppress. I just want to move on. Kakikun helps me forget that. He helps make it okay.

I wish I could tell him yes. But I can't...not yet. Maybe someday soon. She smiled, kicking her feet absentmindedly behind her, and nearly knocking over a pile of CDs. Someday soon...And it won't be like with Yukito. I'm not going to be afraid of him telling me no. That he never loved me. That he can't stand me. Kakikun will care. He likes me. He notices me and remembers me.

Someday soon.



Endeth Hereth.

[Elda Forever]

Arrival! - Yukirin

~~

Erin Spenser

The only good thing about being stuck on that plane was that they hadn't given her a window seat. Erin was pretty sure she would have died had she seen the earth 30,000 feet below her. It almost made her sick to even hear the pilot announce when they were that far up, while her ears twinged and whined with every painful little pop.

Another good thing was the guy next to her wasn't a creep. He didn't talk a lot and he was boring, but he wasn't a creep. Just some business man. Boring, not creepy. And he didn't sleep on her.

And the best thing was that once she got off this deathtrap, she could be with Yukito again. It felt like she was missing him more the closer she got. She'd been sneaking texts to him the whole way, whenever she wasn't shaking so bad as to get caught. And it only made her want to be with him more, to have someone to hold her and tell her it would be okay, even though her stomach felt like an iron wad of knots. At least having him there would make it tolerable. Right now, if there was anything in her stomach, she was sure he would be making use of the sick bags. But Erin hadn't been able to get herself to eat anything since the night before her flight out. She'd hardly slept, either, and sleeping in the plane felt impossible, despite the pillow in her lap, its cover creased and dented by her tight fingertips.

The business guy probably thought she was crazy.

Little relief came to her when the descent started, and the phone started to slip from her hands, so she quickly scrambled to store it away in her jeans pocket as the popping in her ears resumed. Erin was pretty sure at this point, from all the painful pops, they had to be bleeding, or she would be deaf, or something. Frantic to get off now, she stuffed her pillow away into her carry-on bag (and she had brought a purse, and it was fine, unlike what Yukito had said), and reassembled all her things.

Then the seatbelt light came on, and everything in her tensed as she fastened herself in and the popping got worse. She kept the bag clenched against her as the plane dove and circled, coming in for its landing. Ow, ow, ow, ow, owww.... Her empty stomach lurched, and her fatigued body was sick of protesting. A tiny moment of relief came when the wheels met the runway, but Erin was sure she wouldn't feel at all safe until she was off the plane.

After what seemed like forever (and Erin was pretty sure it was), they stopped. And waited. And were finally allowed to get off! Feeling like her hands were made of the lead that had to be coating her stomach now, Erin scooped up her carry-on bags and felt the blood rushing to move her feet. Everything felt so sore and heavy and tired and she hated planes!

People seemed to fly past her out of the plane as Erin stumbled her way to the terminal and out the gate. As tired as she was, though, Erin immediately picked up on searching for Yukito, before panic of being stuck alone in a foreign airport got to her.

There!

Rushing the last few steps to get to him, Erin let the bags drop as she half-collapse/half-hugged Yukito desperately. "Don't ever," she ordered earnestly, pausing herself with a long-needed kiss. "Don't ever make me do that again, Yukito Maki!" Her head wanted to give him more kisses, to make up for all the time they'd missed, but her body was too aching and too tired from lack of sleep and lack of food. So she just held onto him, so she wouldn't fall or something stupid like that. "I missed you," she muttered, feeling her heavy eyelids now that all the fear wasn't controlling her and compelling her to stay alert in case of a crash. "My stomach hurts like crazy," Erin added without thinking about it. "I missed you so much.. kishu shite," she insisted, tired tongue fumbling over the foreign words, despite having said them a hundred times before.

Yukito Maki

As promised, he had been there two or three hours early at the airport. Despite the two hour drive. Yukito had tried to sit in one of the uncomfortable chairs near where she was supposed to come out, but he was too impatient and ended up pacing most of the time anyway. Two weeks was a long time, was all he could think, and it changed people a lot. There hadn't been a chance since Erin's move-in for him to be away from her for more than one night, and that had been strange and silent enough as it was. Two weeks, though, had been more than enough to wake him up and remind him how special the whatever-it-was they had could be, and how vital for his survival her love and presence was.

For the sake of humoring her in their reunion, Yukito was wearing the enormous baseball cap with LOVE written on it in purple letters. He'd worn it the day he'd dyed his hair, just to prove that he would to her. He was physically incapable of hiding the smile on his lips as he remembered her reaction. In addition, she had just teased him the other day about his unspoken surprise, and her guesses had been too far from the truth to be anything but hilarious...once suggesting he'd dyed his hair again without her there. Every time he managed to get his face back to vaguely normal, a memory would spark up, or an image of their hello, and he would be smiling yet again. It was kind of ridiculous..and kind of better than any euphoria. Yukito paced back and forth, his cell phone constantly in his hand if it wasn't being hurridedly shuffled from pocket to pocket. People passed him by, but none of them seemed to have the warmth of familiar chocolate-brown eyes and a happy squeal of delight.

He checked his cell phone. 4:37. They should have landed by then. He went to the window, but had no idea which plane was hers. He tried to imagine her on the enormous vehicle, sitting still and nervous. He wondered if she'd been unable to sleep at all, either. 4:38. He was pacing again, walking back and forth along the entire length of the terminal and scanning the crowd for her child-like face.

There.

She must have spotted him mere seconds before he saw her, and she started racing to him. He met her halfway, surprising himself with not a ridiculous grin or flush of embarrassment, but a surge of serious need to hold her. Yukito practically held her up, but instantly he felt all the insomnia's repercussions of the last two weeks bearing down on him like an anvil on the head. He opened his mouth to greet her, but found himself completely winded, only able to exhale, “Erin!”

"Don't ever," she started earnestly, cutting herself off with a desperate kiss. He felt something explode in his chest so roughly he couldn't breathe for the next few seconds. It was the scariest and most thrilling thing he'd ever experienced. His hands felt as though they had no strength as he fumbled for a firm hold on her, anchoring her to him. "Don't ever make me do that again, Yukito Maki!"

“You got it,” he responded simply, ignoring the way she went limp in his arms from weariness and cupping her cheeks with both hands, insisting on another breath-vanishing kiss, lingering this time and inhaling her scent sharply into his lungs. Then, he just stood there and cradled her in his arms, more tired than he had ever expected and unwilling to let her go. Erin immediately rested into her special spot on his shoulder, and he laid his cheek in her hair, closing his eyes and wanting to scream, cry, and sleep all at once.

"I missed you," she muttered, and he murmured that he had missed her, too. "My stomach hurts like crazy. I missed you so much.. kishu shite,"she sounded sotired beyond words, and Yukito's face broke out into a grin as he realized they had both probably skipped the last night's sleep entirely. Together.

“Of course,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. Then twice on each cheek, then on her lips again. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, leaning down to grab a couple of her bags. “Let's find you someplace to sleep, Sunshine. You look clouded over. I've got a car outside. It's a long drive, though.. Can you sleep in a car?” He leaned over and kissed the little space below her neck. “I missed you.”


Erin Spenser

“Erin!” Neither of them bothered to say hello or anything, just fell into each other, drawing the warmth and strength from each other they'd missed so much over the last two weeks.

"Don't ever," she demanded, then cut off her own words with a starved kiss. It woke her up just enough to cling to him longer and finish her order. "Don't ever make me do that again, Yukito Maki!"

“You got it,” Yukito responded easily, and it was like the best, deepest breath of fresh air to hear his voice-- to really hear it, unfiltered by any kind of tinny tone the phone supplied. He had just the most beautiful voice… Erin felt Yukito cup her face and lift it up towards him, kissing her with a rich kiss that she wondered if she could melt into. She pulled into him easily, resting against his wonderfully-familiar form, breathing in the smell of his clothes that now triggered the word 'home' in her mind. So, now she was home. And it felt incredible. "I missed you," she muttered sleepily, as Yukito told her the same. "My stomach hurts like crazy. I missed you so much.. kishu shite." Erin didn't care that she'd fudged the words, she just wanted to feel him and hold him and fall asleep safely with him by her side.

“Of course,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. More kisses came as she held onto him, knees locked to keep her up, even if she did go to sleep standing there. He kissed her cheeks, then another kiss on her lips. One arm around her shoulder, and the other reaching for a couple of her dropped bags, Yukito continued to talk with her. To make her smile despite the horrible trip and the hunger pains and the sleepiness. “Let's find you someplace to sleep, Sunshine. You look clouded over. I've got a car outside. It's a long drive, though.. Can you sleep in a car?”

For a moment, she looked at him with a snarky smile, despite the sleepy eyes. "Yuyukun… if I'm not on that friggen plane, I can sleep anywhere… Hey, don't forget the bags from the… the rotating thing-whatchamacallit," she added, gesturing to the conveyor belt that held the rest of her luggage-- one very large and oversized duffle bag she'd pulled from her closet back at her parents' house, and one jam-packed rolling suitcase her mom had loaned her.

He leaned over and kissed the little space below her neck, making a tired smile blossom on her face. “I missed you.”

"Missed you more," she responded, leaning into him.

Inside the unfamiliar car, Erin pushed the seat back as far as it would go, turned on her side, as close to Yukito as the car would allow, and nearly instantly fell asleep. She had no idea how long the drive was, easily sleeping through it so heavily that she didn't remember dreams or sounds or anything. At some point Yukito's voice broke through, and she cracked her eyelid open just enough to see him. "Hmmm?" They were still moving. "Sleep…" She only woke again when the car had come to a full stop. "Mmmm…" Erin knew she could still use many more hours of sleep, but now that she was even half-awake, her stomach reminded her of how starved it was. "Yuyukun…" She stepped out of the car, barely registering that they were at the hotel. "My stomach hurts… It hurts, but I'm too tired to eat anythin'," she muttered, once again, wrapping her arms around him.




Yukito Maki - OOC: www.myfavorite.bz/azuma/pc/contents23.html Pics of the hotel room. It's in Japanese style! SURPRISE SURPRISE! XD (Can you imagine paying 35 bucks a night for that? It doesn't even have a bathroom in the room. BIC:

One arm around her shoulder, and the other reaching for a couple of her dropped bags, Yukito continued to talk with her. To make her smile despite the horrible trip and the hunger pains and the sleepiness. “Let's find you someplace to sleep, Sunshine. You look clouded over. I've got a car outside. It's a long drive, though.. Can you sleep in a car?”

For a moment, she looked at him with a snarky smile, despite the sleepy eyes. "Yuyukun… if I'm not on that friggen plane, I can sleep anywhere… Hey, don't forget the bags from the… the rotating thing-whatchamacallit," she added, gesturing to the conveyer belt that held the rest of her luggage. He gave a nod, pulling her along with him as they went to grab her bags off the conveyor. Yukito had to dodge several dozen people trying to get through, but he managed to grab the only familiar-looking bags there. Crap, she got a lot of stuff... He worried that it wouldn't fit into the trunk of the car. He should have known Erin would bring a lot of things. But at least she was here now, and he looked forward to seeing the open bags around the hotel room, instead of the emptiness everywhere he looked. He leaned over and kissed the little space he had known very well before leaving for Japan, trying to reaquaint himself with her. “I missed you.”

"Missed you more," she responded, leaning into him.

“Liar,” was all he said, chuckling. He led the way to the rental car, managing to shuffle the suitcases into the tiny trunk, and tossing some into the even tinier backseat, and slamming the door shut on them. When he sat down in the driver's seat, Erin was getting comfortable on her side of the car, reclining back and leaned over toward him. He smiled, habitually reached over to give her seatbelt a tug for reassurance, and then started the car up. It didn't take Erin long to fall asleep, and he would have liked to set the vehicle on autopilot and take a nap with her, or at least pull over for a few minutes. He was tired all the way to the deepest part of his bones, and seeing her curled up sleeping so close beckoned to him and made him want to curl up beside her. But it was a two-hour drive, at least. If traffic wasn't that terrible. And he could always sleep back at the hotel. He made sure to keep himself awake, playing the radio on low enough not to disturb Erin but to keep his foot tapping and his fingers drumming the wheel. It was difficult not to keep glancing over to check on Erin, dozing peacefully beside him. Taking his right hand off the wheel, he reached over and began to stroke her hair, relishing the heat from her he could feel emanating and the feel of her hair between his fingertips.

It was an agonizingly long two and a half hours, but Yukito had just entered Tokyo when he gave Erin's shoulder a little tap. “Erin, we're almost at the hotel. Are you alive over there?”

One eye peered open skeptically, still in a sleepy half-doze. "Hmmm? Sleep…"

“Okay, then,” he chuckled. The silence in the car continued for a few minutes, and he started to hum to himself, then sing quietly, as he navigated the heavy traffic of Japan's most well-known city. The familiar hotel sign was a welcome one, and he pulled in with relief.

“Erin?”

"Mmmm…" He smiled at her sleepiness, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "Yuyukun…"

“Let's go inside, you can go back to sleep on the bed with me.”

She stepped out of the car with him, but he could tell she was still very much asleep. He had to admit, lifting his arms was getting steadily more difficult, and he was fighting hard not to sway or blink too much. The suitcases felt heavier, but he managed to get them out, setting them down on the pavement.. "My stomach hurts… It hurts, but I'm too tired to eat anythin'," she muttered, once again, wrapping her arms around him. He returned the embrace, inhaling her smell again. He was officially addicted to that smell.

“I know. We'll get you something to eat in the room. It won't be much, but it'll be great after the nothing you probably ate for the last ten hours.” He slammed the hatch and led the way to the hotel room. It was very different in comparison to the room he'd had in the U.S. after leaving his mother's, but it was something for her to sleep in, at least. “I know it's small, but...” he didn't finish, shrugging off her things into one corner, with the rest of his bags. “It seemed a lot bigger when you weren't here..."


Erin Spenser

She had been sleeping so well with the rhythm of the car's engine. Then it stopped. And the inner parts of her brain that were alert enough to care signaled to her to wake up, at least a little, because they were at the hotel. Yukito's voice helped.

“Erin?”

"Mmmm…" Her heavy eyes opened slowly as Yukito leaned over her to kiss her forehead. "Yuyukun…"

“Let's go inside, you can go back to sleep on the bed with me.”

"'Kay," she responded automatically, more than ready to collapse into a real bed. With Yukito. Erin leaned against the car as Yukito removed her bags, and her eyes closed as she felt the warmth of the sun reflecting off the unusual car, and warming her back. Another harsh wave of the pullings in her stomach made her open her eyes, just before she would have started falling, probably. "My stomach hurts… It hurts, but I'm too tired to eat anythin'," she muttered to Yukito, pulling her arms around him once more.

“I know. We'll get you something to eat in the room. It won't be much, but it'll be great after the nothing you probably ate for the last ten hours.”

"Mmmhmm," she agreed, nodding so her hair was mussed against his shirt. Then she pulled back so that she could actually follow him to the hotel room. At that point, Erin was too tired to feel bad about not being more excited about being in Japan with Yukito. She didn't think until later what a pathetic "welcome back" kind of attitude she'd put on the day.

Finally, they were in the room, and Erin took in nothing but the bed, and once she saw it, she made a beeline for it. It was the low traditional Japanese kind of bed that, in this room, took up almost all the floor space. She didn't care.

“I know it's small, but...” Yukito dropped the bags in the free spot reserved for bag-putting as Erin used her feet to make the bed to her liking as she lay across it. “It seemed a lot bigger when you weren't here…"

"I love it," Erin declared happily, eyes closed and shoes still on even as she lay across the bed, having gotten it to her satisfaction. "You, too," she added, simultaneously meaning that she loved him too, and that he should come lay down next to her. And just as quickly, she was asleep again.

Yukito Maki

Erin obviously was too far out to notice the size or simplicity of the room, and Yukito didn't realize it until he set her bags down and took note of the fact that they took up a quarter of the room on their own. “I know it's small, but...It seemed a lot bigger when you weren't here…"

"I love it," Erin declared happily, eyes closed and shoes still on even as she lay across the bed. Yukito smiled, and went down to slip her shoes off, setting them down beside the low, flat bed. "You, too,"she added sleepily. His own shoes found their normal place beside hers, and he brushed aside his thoughts of finding nourishment for her in favor of cuddling her on the bed. He laid beside her, wrapping his arms around her and hiding his face in her hair as he hugged her to him. Within moments, they were both asleep. Yukito slept more soundly than he had in two weeks, and he knew it was because she was there. The nightmares didn't return, nor the cold nightsweats or the more chilling realization that no one was there for him to wake up next to. He might as well have been home.

~~

He woke up first, surprisingly, letting out a little half-awake groan until he realized they weren't back in their apartment. Yukito sat up a little, blinking around the dark room and then smiling a little as he looked down at Erin, her face lax and her hands curled up next to her face as though she was holding onto something very special to her. Yukito leaned down and gently brushed his lips against her cheek, wanting the little high he got off of contact with her, but not wanting to wake her up just yet. He knew it was pretty late, but it would feel like morning to her, and he figured her body didn't care for the long plane ride anyways and wanted the rest. Yukito slipped off the bed and started fumbling through the dark for his wallet for ten minutes before realizing he'd fallen asleep with it in his pocket. A quick search told him it must have fallen out while he was sleeping. Cell phone, yes. Keys, yes. Wallet, no.

Crawling back to the bed, he started running his hand along the blankets, searching for his wallet as his eyes adjusted to the light. He pulled his cell phone out for light, and did a little double-take. Curled up as she was, Erin's jeans had been tugged down a little, and Yukito could see the top line of her underwear and part of her back peeking through. Instantly, Yukito fumbled and almost fell over, cursing under his breath as his face instantly heat up to boiling temperatures as he reached under the pillow next to Erin's head, finding his wallet. Immediately at finding the wallet he closed his cell phone, shutting out the light. He was just glad she'd been asleep. Although, now he was tempted to pull up her jeans a bit to cover her better. But wouldn't she wake up at that? Yukito blushed worse at the thought. He sufficed with dropping a blanket on her abdomen, even though it was plenty warm in the hotel room without it. Turning away from Erin, Yukito slipped out the door, leaving Erin alone for the moment as he went to find something for her to eat when she woke up and, inevitably, started grumbling.

~~

He slipped back up the steps quietly, unlocking the door as carefully as he could and assuming Erin would be asleep still, his hands carrying a couple of assorted containers of food he'd managed to find this late at night. He wasn't sure what kinds of Japanese food Erin would actually like, so he'd just gotten a few different, decently-priced things - Yakitori, Karaage, Yakisoba and a bit of Edamame, though he hated those. Pushing the door open, he was surprised to find Erin awake. After a brief expression of surprise, he smiled, “Hey, Sunshine...you hungry?”


Erin Spenser

It was incredibly easy to slide back into that familiarity, that sense of home and contentment that came with Yukito's arm around her, and him close to her side. Just the way it should be, and just the way she hoped it would be for the rest of their lives. Actually, at the moment she hoped nothing, sleep had enveloped her so heavily.

Eventually the demands of her angry stomach pulled her back from slumber. It wasn't just growling or anything, it had long given up that signal-- now, like on the plane, it was just cramping, like it was trying to eat itself. And it was worse now, because she wasn't quite as distracted by tiredness or anxiety or fear or Yukito or-- Her eyes opened. He hadn't just moved away so she couldn't feel him, he wasn't in the bed at all. Which meant he wasn't in the room, since there was nowhere to be beside the bed! She sat up and shoved the blanket off of her that she hadn't remembered putting on and called for him, the remaining tiredness and the inner gnawing making the edge in her voice particularly sharp. Erin turned to where she thought the bathroom might be-- there was none. At least, no toilet. She rolled her eyes. "Yukito! Uugh!" Erin felt in her pockets to find her phone, and, stepping out into the hall to look for him, she called him.

Voicemail.

"Aughh!" Erin ducked back inside and chucked her phone onto the bed, pulled her legs to her, and pouted, glaring at the wall. It was boring. She glanced at the TV. It was boring, too. He'd left her while she was sleeping, in a foreign country, and now didn't want to answer his phone. The familiar, yet distinctly quiet, sound of a door unlocking reached Erin's ears, and immediately her eyes looked up, now glued to the door. And in waltzed Yukito, hands filled with boring boxes. For a second they just looked at one another, then he smiled. Like it was totally awesome to leave her alone in the middle of a huge city where she didn't know a word of the language except "kisu shite, kareshi" and "kurisumasu" and "ohayo". He smiled! "Hey, Sunshine...you hungry?”

"You left me!" Erin responded immediately, getting to her feet. "You left and didn't even leave a friggen note or answer your phone and I didn't know where you were! Don't do that!" Irritated with him and her sleepiness and her hunger, she dropped right back down and crossed her arms over her chest. In the moment of ticked-off calm, the smells from Yukito's little boxes wafted over to her, and she looked up at him questioningly. "You brought that for me?" A pause, and the scent reached her stomach and made it clench in want. She hopped back up on her feet, gratefully taking a box and kissing Yukito briefly on his lips. "Thank you!"

Opening the box, Erin immediately recognized the grilled chicken, though she had no idea what it might be called here, and started in on that quickly as she examined the other food he'd brought in. The other meat looked easily familiar, too, and she tried it, and was pretty much right in her guess. Then, her mouth still half full from her last bite, she pointed excitedly to the green-bean-type veggies. "Omigod, you got something green?" It came out funny but she was sure he understood, and she started giggling. "Never thought I'd see that!" Erin laughed, and picked up a green bean thing. "What are they?" She put the end in her mouth, then took it back out with a shock. "Ah! It's fuzzy! Yuyukun, it's a hairy vegetable!" She looked up at him. "How'm I supposed to eat it?" Erin asked with a laugh. She put it back in her mouth and chewed, a bit sideways so the little bean inside popped out. Truthfully, it didn't have that much taste. But it was a heckuva lot of fun to play with, getting the little beans out. She giggled, bouncing a little in the contentment that came with shutting up her stomach, with finding fun in a lame green bean, and with Yukito being back with her. The last was the best, she'd decided.

"Come share mine!" she decided, half-teasing him of his avoidance of edible green. Erin popped out a few more of he beans and poured a trio of them into her hand. "They're so tiny and green and non-fuzzy!" she giggled, then picked up one and held it out to Yukito. "My gift to you, daaahling," she drawled out before falling over into giggles again. "Don't deny my gift!" Erin cried, sitting up and shooting the bean at him. "Accept my gift! It loves you! It wants to beee with you! It wants to be crushed by your molars!"


Yukito Maki

He stared at her for a second, where she looked like she had just sat up in the bed. She looked up at him with an unreadable expression, and he supposed she was still half-asleep. He smiled at her. "Hey, Sunshine...you hungry?”

"You left me!" Erin responded immediately, getting to her feet and erasing his smile in less than a second. "You left and didn't even leave a friggen note or answer your phone and I didn't know where you were! Don't do that!"

“Sorry...” he murmured, shuffling the boxes in his arm so he could pull out his cell phone. Crap “It died on me. I forgot to charge it after we got back.” Erin flopped down on the ground, crossing her arms and looking petulant. “Erin, look, I'm sorry, okay? I just went to go get you something to eat really quick, and I figured you'd be fine in the room with --”

"You brought that for me?"He nodded, and she hopped back up, suddenly back to giddy and cheerful, even going so-far as to give him a quick kiss."Thank you!"

Handing them to her, he sent her a little sideways look full of skeptism at her mood change, then deciding to drop it and find his charger among the mess of the room. His clothes were tossed haphazardly across the floor, things growing out of bags with a life of their own. But he was surprised Erin didn't ask about the gifts he'd mentioned for her yet, despite her supreme weariness, jet lag and starvation. She was still Erin.

He looked over at her as she rummaged through the packages, letting steam escape into the room. She was quick to dig in, apparently not against any of his choices as she found them. With her mouth full, she pointed toward the edamame. "Omigod, you got something green?"Her words were extremely muffled through her food, but Yukito understood enough to roll his eyes at her. "Never thought I'd see that!"

“Just because I happen to think green foods are the most disgusting things on the planet we could come up with to eat, doesn't mean you wouldn't like it. Or something...”

Erin just laughed, picking up a piece to inspect, "What are they?"

“Edamame,” he said with a shrug, sitting down across from her and picking up some one of the containers of yakisoba. “It's boiled soybean, pretty basic.”

Erin tested a piece in her mouth, immediately removing it in her surprise."Ah! It's fuzzy! Yuyukun, it's a hairy vegetable!"

He smirked, “The worst kind,”

"How'm I supposed to eat it?" Erin asked with a laugh. He just shrugged, not feeling like being a help today. It was just a bean, after all. She couldn't go too wrong. Erin tried again, giggling and bouncing a bit on the spot, making him smile up at her.

"Come share mine!" she decided, and Yukito just shook his head, starting in on his soba. "They're so tiny and green and non-fuzzy!" she giggled, then picked up one and held it out to Yukito. He leaned away from it. "My gift to you, daaahling," she drawled out before falling over into giggles again.

“Hey!” he complained through his noodles, leaning away from the strange boiled bean. "Erin!"

"Don't deny my gift!" Erin cried, sitting up and shooting the bean at him. Despite his growl, he was smiling. "Accept my gift! It loves you! It wants to beee with you! It wants to be crushed by your molars!"

“Like hell it does!” Yukito shouted, picking up the bean with his chopsticks and tossing it back at her. After a few more tosses back and forth with the beans, Yukito set down his yakisoba carefully on the tatami mat and then took a leap at Erin, bowling her over as he pinned her down and tickled her stomach. He laughed aloud as he quickly rushed to find and hold the places he knew she was most ticklish. Which was pretty much everywhere. “Don't you dare threaten me with edamame!”


Erin Spenser

"You left me!" Erin blurted, hurt by the momentary feelings of worry and abandonment. "You left and didn't even leave a friggen note or answer your phone and I didn't know where you were! Don't do that!"

“Sorry...” Yukito fumbled for his cell as Erin rolled her eyes and dropped back down on the bed, arms crossed defiantly. “It died on me. I forgot to charge it after we got back.”

Of course it did, she wanted to say, but instead, she just glared at the wall.

“Erin, look, I'm sorry, okay? I just went to go get you something to eat really quick, and I figured you'd be fine in the room with --”

"You brought that for me?" Erin said, smelling the scents that drifted from where he stood. He nodded, and she hopped back up, and thanked him with a quick kiss. "Thank you!"

For food she couldn't name but could recognize mostly, it was pretty good. Pretty much anything at that point would have been good, but this was good. At one point, still with her mouth half full, Erin announced, "Omigod, you got something green?" Yukito understood her-- he rolled his eyes. "Never thought I'd see that!"

“Just because I happen to think green foods are the most disgusting things on the planet we could come up with to eat, doesn't mean you wouldn't like it. Or something...” was his weak excuse. It was adorable. And it made her laugh.

She picked up one of the green bean things and examined it. "What are they?"

“Edamame,” he tossed out, sitting down and opening his own box. “It's boiled soybean, pretty basic.”

Erin tested a piece in her mouth, immediately removing it in her surprise. "Ah! It's fuzzy! Yuyukun, it's a hairy vegetable!"

“The worst kind,” Yukito replied with a smirk.

"How'm I supposed to eat it?" Yukito didn't answer, but she just laughed, getting a kick out of popping the little beans from their pods.

"Come share mine!" Yukito shook his head. So she pressed more. "They're so tiny and green and non-fuzzy!" she giggled, then picked up one and held it out to Yukito. He leaned away from it. "My gift to you, daaahling," she drawled out before falling over into giggles again.

“Hey!” he complained through his noodles, leaning away from the little play offering. "Erin!"

"Don't deny my gift!" Erin cried, sitting up and shooting the bean at him. Despite his growl, he was smiling, and so she was laughing. "Accept my gift! It loves you! It wants to beee with you! It wants to be crushed by your molars!" Erin mimed the gnashing of teeth, curling her fingertips into claws and making chomping sounds.

“Like hell it does!” Yukito shouted over her noises and chucked the bean back at her. "Hey!!" she cried, voice high pitch in amusement. They chucked it back and forth and somehow Erin managed to make use of the meat conveniently located on a stick to continue her meal mid-bean throwing. Somehow she finished a stick, dropping it absentmindedly on her little carton as she tossed the bean at him one more time, giggling. He didn't pick it up. Instead, he pushed his food to the side and surprised her with a sudden tackle. Erin let out a loud, surprised squeal that fell into laughter as Yukito's hands tickled her totally vulnerable stomach. "Yu--ki--to!" she shouted between laughs. "Stooop!"

He did, his laughter joining hers as he abandoned the first tickle spot. Just to tickle everywhere else. “Don't you dare threaten me with edamame!”

"Yukitoooo!" She cried back at him, still laughing and trying to wriggle free. "It loves you, thou-u-ugh! Where are you friggen-- ticklish?!" Erin shouted, sore from laughing now but loving it. "Not fair!" she declared, just as every time… It wasn't his stomach, or his ribs, or his feet, or any normal place. Not even the weird behind-the-knees spot that people used to tease her about in junior high! (It means you're boy crazy, they told her.) Out of ideas, her hands went to his face, and she reached behind his head, then his ears, then his chin. Her face lit up, and from her mouth came a loud and victorious "HA!" She wriggled free finally and stood up on the bed. "Yatta!" Hands above her head, pumping the air with her fists, Erin dance something akin to a more feminine version of a touchdown victory dance in a little circle on the bed. "It's no longer unfair anymoooore! Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Erin dropped back down to hug him, still shaking with laughter. She kissed his lips. "I love you so much." The she tickled him again, and laughed.


Yukito Maki

"Don't deny my gift!" Erin cried, sitting up and shooting the bean at him. He let out a growl, picking up her tossed bean and sent her a playful glare, unable to mask his smile as she mockingly mimed the gnashing of teeth. "Accept my gift! It loves you! It wants to beee with you! It wants to be crushed by your molars!"

“Like hell it does!” Yukito shouted, recycling her disruptive bean as return fire, as she let out a cry of protest. They started in on a laughter-filled battle of green, somehow managing to eat some in between attacks. Finally, as Erin set aside a finished yakitori, he saw his chance and abandoned his soba in favor of a playful tackle, tickling her all the while. Erin squeal, her peals of laughter ringing throughout the room and compelling him to join her in creating the sound.

"Yu--ki--to!" she shouted between laughs. "Stooop!"

He abandoned her belly and searched for other ticklish spots, which was pretty much every part on Erin he was allowed to touch, and he growled, “Don't you dare threaten me with edamame!” In this moment, Yukito got a little flash, an image, of the two of them playing like this for years to come. If he had his way, it would be on of those moments that would never end. Just being near her again made it a little easier to relax, and a lot easier to smile. She just brought out the playful side of him, made him forget all the concerns and worries for a little while. And she didn't even have to try.

"Yukitoooo!" She cried back at him, still laughing and trying to wriggle free. "It loves you, thou-u-ugh! Where are you friggen-- ticklish?!”

“Nowhere!” he declared triumphantly, trying to pin her down and simultaneously grab hold of her hand, to trail a single finger delicately down her palm in a way that would have her in fits.

"Not fair!" she declared, starting her habitual search of a spot that would make him squirm. First, his face, sending chills down his spine but not of the ticklish sort. Nonetheless, he smirked, trying again for her palm and keeping himself calm to tell her that her tickling wasn't working. Then, she tried a tickle up by his head, making him stick his tongue out at her, then his ears, but she'd tried that before. Then...she caught her finger underneath his chin, and he spazzed so hard he almost fell away from her. He tried to recover, scrambling to pin her down again, but it was impossible as Erin's eyes lit up with victory and realization.

"HA!" She wriggled free finally and stood up on the bed. "Yatta!" She did a ridiculous little dance off victory on the bed, making him smirk and shake his head. "It's no longer unfair anymoooore! Ha-ha-ha-ha!"

He just stuck his tongue out at her, “What makes you think this changes things? I have one to your hundred, easy.” But he laughed, even as he knew she would never let him live this one down. She dropped down again, embracing him and kissing his lips. "I love you so much." He started to respond, but amidst his roguish smile, Erin tickled him again, making him jerk involuntarily to try and get away from her threatening finger. She laughed aloud, and he pushed her over backwards in another successful tackle. But instead of more tickles, he pressed his lips to hers, deepening it as he took a hold of her head and tangled his hands in her hair. He inhaled sharply, catching firmer hold and pulling her towards him. His thoughts raced, sending him from the laughter of the evening to the chill of the night to thoughts of his plans while she was here, and he couldn't repress a grin as he continued to mesh with her.

He'd missed her so much while he'd been gone. And now they had to make up for lost time. Those now-familiar chills ran up his spine and around his stomach, making him shiver, and long for a day when there wouldn't be those worries nagging at the back of his mind, when there weren't cold questions that tried to eat away between them, questions that made him hold back and refrain, when he just wished he could hold her closer and let her know that he wouldn't leave her alone again. His mouth, attempting to compensate for his unspoken fears, rebelled and left her mouth to begin a frantic trail of its own down her neck, finding his favorite spot behind her ear as he leaned in to whisper into it, “I love you more, Erin Chloe Spenser.”


Erin Spenser

"HA!" Erin shouted victoriously at the sudden jolt that went through Yukito. She lept up, released in his moment of shock, and started dancing around on the bed. "Yatta! It's no longer unfair anymoooore! Ha-ha-ha-ha!"

Yukito sticking his tongue out at her just made her want to rub it in more. She kept dancing, partly showing off for him, and partly teasing him. “What makes you think this changes things? I have one to your hundred, easy.” They both laughed, and Erin was sure it was because there was no way she was letting go of that tidbit-- the one she'd been begging to know for months now! She dropped down again to be next to him, embracing him and kissing his lips. "I love you so much." He started to respond, but she couldn't help it-- Erin tickled him again, practically cackling at the funny jerky motions he made. As if she'd forget about it that fast. In retaliation, Yukito gave her another tackle to the ground. But instead of more tickles, he pressed his lips to hers, giving her a deep and prolonged kiss she hadn't realized till then just how badly she'd missed them. She clung to him, fingers entwining around his shirt to keep her close as she kissed him back hungrily. She'd had no idea how much she'd missed him… Make it forever, she wished. Not the kissing-- there were other things, too-- but the excitement and peace and happiness they felt with one another, the elusive love she knew they shared right there, that was the part she wanted to keep forever. That was the part everyone lost, that made people give up and marriages end and everything ruined.. But they could do it. They were different. They could make it…

His kisses stopped, at least on her lips. Her heart leapt up in her as his kisses continued where they pleased, and she cuddled close to him, rememorizing what she hadn't forgotten. A familiar, tickling kiss by her ear and then, “I love you more, Erin Chloe Spenser.”

"Prove it," she ordered automatically, smiling, and feeling breathless-- surprised to hear it reflected in her voice. It was her turn to kiss him as she pleased, kissing his mouth, his jaw, his ear, then back down. Without thinking about it, she'd gone back to playing with his hair, feeling it between her fingertips as she held him close. "I missed you so much," she murmured quietly, her kisses slowing until she was just hugging him again, smiling like she'd won some grand prize. "Oh hey!" she exclaimed as the thought popped in her head. "You said you had something for me! Two somethings! I remember," she blurted quickly as Erin squirmed into a sitting position, "because you said you wouldn't give them to me if I was mean to you, but you didn't mean that, right? What are they?" she asked, leaning forward to give him another excited kiss.




Yukito Maki - OOC: I imagine it looks like this right now - BIC:

Yukito tackled her to the ground, covering her with kisses more fervently than he normally would have, missing the scent of her and that full feeling of being heavy and light in the same instant, and he could feel her responding whole-heartedly. Her fingers entwined around his shirt and his hands flew to her hair, carefully tangled, always gently holding her to him with a resolution not to let go. His mouth flew from its defined path, then, and he felt her tense up and inhale sharply as he murmured, “I love you more, Erin Chloe Spenser.”

"Prove it," she ordered automatically, making him laugh. It was another little quirk of hers, that playful obstinance. He wouldn't have wanted her any other way.

“Someday, I will,” he promised her in a gravelly voice that crackled as she took her turn, and he was more grateful than ever of her patience with him, her willingness to wait until they were ready to move closer. He was grateful for it as he gave a little shiver, her fingers playing in his hair as her kisses continued their journey. Eventually, her kisses slowed, until they were just holding each other, laying there calmly.

"I missed you so much," she murmured quietly, sounding happier than he'd ever heard her. "Oh hey!" she exclaimed suddenly, sending his eyebrow into a defined arch. "You said you had something for me! Two somethings! I remember," she blurted quickly as Erin squirmed into a sitting position, leaving his arms empty but his chest surprisingly full-feeling. "Because you said you wouldn't give them to me if I was mean to you, but you didn't mean that, right? What are they?"

“Wha-at?” he complained loudly, flopping over onto his back on the bed, “You want my presents, not my presence, huh? I see how it is.” He smirked at the English play on words, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that the last few minutes had been full of everything far removed from presents over presence. After a roll of his eyes to feign reluctance that was more from habit than anything, Yukito sat up, rolling over onto his stomach and reaching off the bed to pull out the small bonsai plant he'd been tending to for her. It sat in a small, simple, but pretty container and had a silver ribbon around it. Pulling it over, he held it out to her with both hands, bowing his head a little and murmuring, “Tsumaranai mono desu ga...“ He lifted his eyes to her face, looking a little mischevious, and added, “For you. Don't kill it, please. It's very small and delicate right now..”



Erin Spenser

Her own kisses slowed until they were both just lying there, holding one another as if they could absorb each other through osmosis, to take each other in and make up for what they had missed. Missed… "I missed you so much," Erin said quietly, contently, nuzzled against him. In a foreign land in a tiny cheap hotel having a lame fight with soybeans, and it felt the truest feeling of happiness. "Oh hey!" she exclaimed suddenly as a new thought entered her head. Yukito just looked at her, bewildered. "You said you had something for me! Two somethings! I remember," she explained, squirming away to sit up. "Because you said you wouldn't give them to me if I was mean to you, but you didn't mean that, right? What are they?" Erin was leaning forward, bouncing a little on her knees in her excitement. And in amusement at Yukito's reaction on his face.

“Wha-at?” he complained loudly, making her laugh as he fell back onto the bed dramatically. "You heard me!" Erin retorted, still laughing.

“You want my presents, not my presence, huh? I see how it is.” Erin kept giggling as he rolled his eyes. "Aw, come on, for me, kareshi?" she pleaded with little bits of laughter. Quickly she leaned down to give him a pleading kiss. He rolled over on his stomach and moved to reach for something Erin hadn't noticed-- even though it hadn't been exactly hidden. That's what she got for being a sleeping zombie after landing.

He handed her a small, bright green miniature tree planted in an equally miniature pot decorated with a simple shiny silver ribbon. It was a bonsai tree, just like Yukito and Kagayaki had talked about online, and her face lit up. It was so cute! She held out her hand to receive the baby tree, gently taking it into her hands. Yukito passed it over to her, saying something beautiful that she couldn't understand but it made her grin anyway. He looked up at her, smirked, and added, “For you. Don't kill it, please. It's very small and delicate right now..”

"I won't kill it!" she squealed back, happily lifting the little tree to her face and examining it. Lightly she brushed the tiny trunk of the tree. "It's so CUTE! Omigod, Yuyukun, it's precious!" Yeah, she never would have expected to squeal so much over a baby tree, but it was impossible not to! "Awww…" Erin giggled, then put it down just enough to see him without little green puffs in her way. "Arigato, kareshi! Daisukiii! Is my second present a little, miniature watering can thingy?" More giggles. "It's so cute…" Erin murmured. "I don't wanna hurt it…"


Yukito Maki

“You want my presents, not my presence, huh? I see how it is,” he teased openly, rolling his eyes for the effect and sending Erin back into her easy giggles.

"Aw, come on, for me, kareshi?" she pleaded with little bits of laughter. She leaned down and give him a kiss, and he moved away fast to oblige her, instantly convinced by her unique way of asking. He pulled out his little bonsai tree gift for her, holding it out and offering it to her in customary Japanese fashion, delighted by the smile that beamed across her face at his humble offering. He smirked up at her, adding, “For you. Don't kill it, please. It's very small and delicate right now..”

"I won't kill it!" she squealed back, happily lifting the little tree to her face and examining it. Lightly she brushed the tiny trunk of the tree. "It's so CUTE! Omigod, Yuyukun, it's precious!" Her squealing had him falling into laughter. He'd bought her a freaking treeand it made her happy. Karyu had lost a bet. ”Awww…" Erin giggled, then put it down just enough to see him without little green puffs in her way. "Arigato, kareshi! Daisukiii! Is my second present a little, miniature watering can thingy?" More giggles, but he just smirked and shook his head mysteriously. "It's so cute…" Erin murmured. "I don't wanna hurt it…"

“Then don't,” he said matter-of-factly, forgetting for a moment his attempts to be lazy and his determination to stay on the bed close to her as much as possible, and reached into the depths of the piled-up bags he'd brought with him, pulling out a brown paper package and holding it out to her as he had done before, bowing his head a little.“Tsumaranai mono desu ga...” he then translated, “It's not much, but...” he openly laughed, “But I hope you will wear it on our date tomorrow night. Forgive my very-male tastes, but I tried.” He tugged on the top string that held the paper together, releasing the meticulously folded kimono he'd bought for her, complete with obi and shoes – the shoes he had tucked in his backpack for the moment.


Erin Spenser

The tinier-than-tiny tree looked too adorable and vulnerable to be touched, but she gently brushed her finger on its miniature stalk anyway. Only Yukito could give her a present like this, that made her giddy over a baby-sized plant that probably couldn't even sprout flower. She loved it. "Arigato, kareshi! Daisukiii! Is my second present a little, miniature watering can thingy?" Yukito didn't say a word, just shook his head. "It's so cute…" Erin cooed, peering at her new treasure once more. "I don't wanna hurt it…"

“Then don't,” Yukito responded promptly, provoking a little gasp of lighthearted shock from Erin. "Yukito!" she giggled out. "I can't believe you! I won't hurt it," she objected, smiling widely. Then Yukito moved, for some reason the simple act of shifting positions sending Erin into a heightened happiness-- he had a way of making really simple movements and gestures seem artistic sometimes. She'd seen it before, but it hadn't occurred to her the words to described why she liked to watch him so much. He was artistic and he didn't even try. It was beautiful. And it was amazing what two weeks apart could show you. I love you.

Erin had let herself drift off into daydreaming, only returning fully when Yukito and the brown package her right in front of her. She beamed at him as he bowed his head in an endearingly simple gesture, rattling off what sounded like the same Japanese phrase he'd used earlier. Thankfully this time he translated-- she'd forgotten to ask. “It's not much, but...” Then he laughed as Erin leaned forward, unable to stop smiling, feeling wonderfully captured. “But I hope you will wear it on our date tomorrow night. Forgive my very-male tastes, but I tried.” The reminder of their date night brightened her, as if she could be brightened anymore, and Erin felt herself practically bursting with anticipation. Yukito opened the brown package and revealed the shining mix of bold and soft colors, and Erin's mouth dropped open. Her hands flew out to feel the material against her skin, and she held up pieces close to her eyes to fawn over it. He'd bought her a kimono! "Yuyukun," she whispered in near-disbelief, then looked up to give him a delighted smile before kissing his lips excitedly. "I love it!" Another quick kiss. "So much!" Erin took it into her own hands, held the clothe against her, and spun around with it once. "I'mma go try it on now!" She started to turn away, the stopped herself, reaching back to wrap one free arm around Yukito's neck and give him another, longer kiss. "Two minutes," she breathed in a rush as she pulled away, then disappeared into the tiny shower room with her newest treasure.

Erin unfolded the beautiful clothe, extending it fully. It practically filled up the little room as her arms held it outstretched before her-- all inky black, cherry-blossom pink, and warm yellow. It was full of ribbons and pools of color, and she couldn't wait to see what it looked like on her. The only problem was… it looked like too much. For a moment, she stared thoughtfully at the kimono, then decided to just jump for it. Taking off her shirt so that it just left her with the underlying camisole, Erin debated whether to bother with jeans under the dress or not. In the end, she decided not-- how weird would that look, jeans poking out at her ankles? She could easily slip her arms in the loose sleeves, but it was after that it got confusing. It looked way too long, and she was sure that wasn't right… She crossed the kimono over herself in a way that felt too much like a bathrobe to be the right way, and wished there was a full mirror in this place, instead of the tiny face-sized one. She tried folding it the other way. It was still way too long, and way too confusing, and she felt like something was missing. After several more tries and some repeated efforts of the promising ones, Erin turned back to the door, brows knit in confusion. "Yuyukuun…" she called, a little whine of frustration creeping into her tone. She opened the door partway, wearing the kimono like a too-loose and -long bathrobe and looked at him with a little pout she didn't even notice in her frustration. "I need help." Erin sighed. "I dunno what to do with all these ribbons, and it's really long, and I wanna see what I look like!"

~Cont'd~

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

As he opened his present to her, he glanced up to see her expression as it exploded in a look of awe and surprise. He felt inspired as she gently reached out to feel the fabric, which he knew was one of the softest things on the planet. When he'd been little, he would sit on his mother's bed and just play with the end of the kimono laid on the bed, running his fingers along it absently while his mother got ready. Erin took a long moment of silence to hold the fabric up to the light, her mouth agape and, for once, speechless. Yukito smirked. He was as happy as she was, just watching her get more and more excited over something that was so traditional and everyday in his world, but new and different and special in hers. "Yuyukun," she breathed, then looked up to give him a delighted smile before kissing his lips excitedly. "I love it!" Another quick kiss, and he chuckled into it. "So much!" Erin took it into her own hands, held the cloth against her, and spun around with it once. "I'mma go try it on now!" He had expected she would, obviously. It wasn't like she would be content just to stare at it all day. He quietly laughed as she started to whisk away, then paused and came back to him in movements that denied gravity's existance, wrapping her arm around his neck and catching him in one of her talented kisses, long and oxygen-stealing. Yukito didn't have to consciously think about moving closer to her, pulling her to him and returning the kiss even as his head swam in circles and his head started to ache from the lack of air. It was natural. It was needed.

It had been a very long two weeks.

"Two minutes," she breathed in a rush as she pulled away, him automatically mumbling,"Little Lotte," before she vanished. He chuckled as she vanished, smacking his fist against his forehead with the realization that that last comment of his had been spoken aloud only because he still felt like he was on a serious Erin-high. He wondered how he was going to survive the next few weeks with her, with all their plans and work on getting to know each other all over again, and better. He was sure he would die either by soy bean to the head, or lack of oxygen. She was very good at both.

Yukito flopped down on the bed to wait for her, pulling his cell phone out, plugging it in and turning it on. The sounds of it starting up were the only ones in the room, and he already felt lonely, even if she was just on the other side of a very thin screen and dressing. He opened the cell phone and started a text. 'gave her the presents. idk if she likes the kimono or the tree better. lol'

He closed the cell phone and set it beside him, leaning his chin in his hands and watching the door. Until he realized...he was watching the door. Yukito shook his head and laid his cheek against the blankets, folded over and mussed from their sleep and then their food fight. His cell phone vibrated. That was fast.

'Treeeeee~'

Yukito arched an eyebrow at that, smiling and holding back a chuckle. Kagasan could be such a dork. 'shes tryin to put on the kimono now :333'

"Yuyukuun…" came the call, and Yukito looked up as the door opened partway, sliding as she peered around the corner. Yukito felt an instantaneous heat hit his face as he realized. She was in there putting on a kimono. And nothing but a kimono. And she would probably have a hell of a time putting it on. And he was the only one here to help her. Crap... Erin's face as she peered out at him was frustrated, her lips pursed in a cute little pout as Yukito's stomach clenched and he knew she would look gorgeous in the outfit. "I need help..." Erin let out a sigh, and he offered a little tight-lipped smile, feeling another wave of heat across his cheeks.

His phone vibrated again, and he glanced down to see. 'Kaachan can hep her if you want...' That settled it. Yukito sat up. "I dunno what to do with all these ribbons, and it's really long, and I wanna see what I look like!"

"Don't worry about it, okay? They can be confusing..." though he'd never seen his mother hesitate once about it. He supposed that was because she'd been doing it awhile. "There are schools for this kind of thing. So don't..." He stopped at the doorway, another wave of realization hitting him like a punch in the gut as he recalled that he would have to help her tie the obi in quite close quarters with her. "Ehh..." At his sides, he clenched and unclenched his fists, his weight shifting as he tried to think of a good way around this. But there wasn't any, except going to get someone else to help her. When she didn't know anybody around here - much less someone female, that he would feel just as awkward letting help her.

"Here..." he sighed, stepping up to the doorway and wiping at his cheek nervously, as if that would take the furious blush away. He noticed his hands were chilly in comparison to his face, and he hoped that wouldn't be a bother. "You have it wrapped on the wrong side. You have to go...Yeah.. Right side in, left side on top. Or outside. Or whatever..." He tried a little smile, "Unless you're a corpse, that is." Yukito turned to picked up the peach-colored koshi-himo. "I forgot to buy the underclothes for it...crap.." They would have to go out and buy that later. "Here, you have to fold up the extra material..like this.." He gingerly took hold of the mass of material left and pinched it upwards, setting it against her sides. "Hold that there. Please..." He stepped in and wrapped the belt just below the extra material folded, tying it around her front and touching as little as possible. "Koshi-himo belt," he explained, then moving to grab the next belt. Yukito looked her up and down, checking that nothing was blatantly out of place or bunched up or something. He tugged on the material she held, arranging it around her as best as he could. "Date-jime," he murmured again as he held up the last belt of the two, this one with yellow with a floral pattern on it, this time moving closer so he could wrap it around her. By this point, so much material was being wrapped around other material, he was starting to have some serious difficulty keeping it together, and he began to fumble. Each time his fingers brushed against her he started to apologize under his breath, not meeting her eyes. "I'm trying..." he muttered. One hand reached behind him for the obi-jime, the thin red cord that was used to tie the whole thing together, and Yukito scowled and blushed simultaneously as he had to leave one hand on her waist to hold up the date-jime while wrapping the cord around her. "Sorry..."


Erin Spenser

A surrender of a sigh escaped Erin's lips. This was way more confusing than the Western equivalent. "Yuyukuun…" She stuck her head our the thin little door, searching for him and hoping he wouldn't laugh at her ineptitude. "I need help..." she said with another sigh. He just looked up at her for a moment with an expression unreadable. Her brow furrowed, and she added, in case he thought she was joking, "I dunno what to do with all these ribbons, and it's really long, and I wanna see what I look like!"

He got up. "Don't worry about it, okay? They can be confusing..."

"Yeah, I noticed," she giggled as he headed over to her. The tiny shower-room was, well, tiny, and with Yukito coming in, Erin shoved her other clothes over into a messy pile, halfway still under her feet. Oh, well. At least they're out of the way!

"There are schools for this kind of thing," Yukito was saying. "So don't..." His words fell off into nothing, drawing Erin's attention to the silence. She looked over to see him stuck in the little doorway, looking almost like she'd done something wrong. "What?"

"Ehh..." He was clenching his fists, but wasn't angry, at least she could be sure of that. It just confused her more. "What, Yukito?" A pause, then, "Why are you all red? Are you hot?"

Yukito sighed. "Here..." He stepped in, and she stood, feeling helpless, but it was okay as long as it was helpless with him. "You have it wrapped on the wrong side. You have to go...Yeah.. Right side in, left side on top. Or outside. Or whatever..."

She cocked her head at him. What the heck is wrong with you? "Um… okay?" In her confusion, she had to laugh.

"Unless you're a corpse, that is."

Erin guffawed at the mental image his sudden addition made in her mind's eye, and she turned to fix the overlapping part. "I know people say they're zombies after jet lag, but I'm pretty sure I'm not moldy and decaying and craving your brains." She tilted her head up to him and feigned ravenousness, making her eyes wide. "Or am I?" she growled, then fell out of character and into laughter.

Suddenly Yukito seemed pretty sullen, holding a piece of the kimono that she had no idea what she was supposed to do with. "I forgot to buy the underclothes for it...crap.."

"Yukito…" His weird flustered-ness was starting to get frustrating, but she still had to laugh at his words. "You, buying me underclothes? That'll be the day!" she giggled. "I have my own underclothes, Yuyukun, thank you. I'm not wearing an outfit under an outfit. Are you?" she teased.

Yukito kept going right back to working with the kimono. Apparently it wasn't fun-tease-goof-off time, which disappointed her a little. What did I do? "Here, you have to fold up the extra material..like this.." He took the part that was too long for her and folded it under near her waist. "Hold that there. Please..." She did. He wrapped one of the many confusing ribbon/belt deals around the folded clothe, but he did it like he was trying not to break her. "Koshi-himo belt," he muttered, moving onto the next one. Now she knew she had to be doing something wrong. Didn't she thank him right? Or did he want her to do something else? Why was he acting like this? "Yukito…?"

He straightened her kimono a bit more, then added the next piece of the kimono. "Date-jime," he muttered. Again. It was about to make her cry if he felt like helping her was that terrible. It got to the point where he was fumbling and muttering apologies and stuff the entire time, and she was getting really tired of it. She couldn't help but huffing in her frustration. "Yukito, come ooon…"

"I'm trying..."

"I know you are but why are you getting all half-freaked?" You're doing fine, a lot more than I was, and if you quit with the random minor-freakout, I'm sure you'd be great…

He started to wrap the final belt around her, muttering apologies all the while. His hand on her waist earned another apology. "Sorry..."

"For what?" She took her hand and rested it on his. "For this? What's wrong with this?" She started to smile, turning her head to see him more straight-on. "Yukito, why are you apologizing for something you've done plenty before?" She looked down at the kimono, then back at him. "Am I done?" Stepping backwards, she slipped herself out of the tiny room and back into the main room. "How's it look?" Erin sent him a smile, a mix of hope and pleading with him, then held out her arms as she went to hug him. "Yukito, you sure you're all right?" A kiss on his cheek. "You know I love you."


Yukito Maki

She didn’t seem to realize that her teasing and flippant movements were about to drive him crazy, as if this wasn’t awkward enough for him. He struggled to control his fingers, fumbling with the knots as he helped her into her first kimono. When he realized that he hadn’t bought her the underclothing for it, seeing the empty space at the collar that was supposed to reveal a white material was empty, showing off her pretty neck, he could have smacked himself.

"Yukito…" she sounded frustrated, but she was laughing at him just the same. "You, buying me underclothes? That'll be the day!" she giggled. "I have my own underclothes, Yuyukun, thank you. I'm not wearing an outfit under an outfit. Are you?"

His hands gripped the koshi-himo a little tighter, knowing that the kimono was made of quite thin material to begin with. Yukito knew if he hugged her to him now, it would feel as if she was wearing nothing. And he flushed deeper, not meeting her eyes as he focused on the task at hand, needing to hurry and get out of that bathroom before he had to explain himself.

"Yukito…?" Obviously, she would notice immediately that he was acting funny. But he avoided answering her, giving her in a deadpan tone the names of each of the belts as he tied them around her, trying to do it properly but with as little touching as possible. This just frustrated Erin more. "Yukito, come ooon…"

"I'm trying..." he muttered to his hands.

"I know you are but why are you getting all half-freaked?"

Because we are in a tiny hotel alone together, I haven’t seen you in two weeks, and I can’t help what I want to do and am afraid to even consider. Because you are really beautiful and only wearing a kimono that is only half-on right now. Because I love you and you freak me out. He started tying the obi-jime, but his hand brushed against her waist, revealing that, just as he had predicted, it felt like the silky material was barely there. “Sorry…”

"For what?" She took her hand and rested it on his, her smile and gesture sending a jolt of electricity through him. "For this? What's wrong with this?" He opened his mouth to respond, to deflect her accurate accusation. But he could only shuffle his weight nervously, his eyes darting away. "Yukito, why are you apologizing for something you've done plenty before?"

“Because…” he sighed, his voice low, “It’s different…” Yukito just shook his head, willing away the troublesome blush on his cheeks, tying the obi-jime at last and then removing his hands from her.

She looked down at the kimono, then back at him. "Am I done?" He nodded, following her out into the main room, realizing once again just how small the whole place was. "How's it look?" Yukito’s eyes locked on Erin, taking in the long kimono and its pattern as it accentuated her beautifully, transforming her very much from the boyfriend’s-shirt-and-shorts version of Erin he was accustomed to seeing. She held out her arms to him as he returned her smile at last.

“You’re gorgeous,” he told her simply, taking a step closer to her as his smile went nervous. “It suits you.”

"Yukito, you sure you're all right?" A kiss on his cheek, as electrifying as usual. "You know I love you."

“I love you, too…” he murmured, one hand fiddling with the edge of his shirt as he stood close to her, “It’s just…it’s been a long time since I saw you, you know?” Slowly, tentatively, he reached up to wrap his arms around her waist. And you make things very difficult for me, Erin. He inhaled sharply, then let out some of that nervous energy in an equally nervous chuckle. “I missed you…”


Erin Spenser

"Yukito," she asked, confused to the point of irritation with his sudden plethora of apologies. "Why are you apologizing for something you've done plenty before?"

“Because…” The fact that he had an answer surprised her enough, but then he went on. “It’s different…”

"No, it's not," she replied quietly, suddenly feeling as though it was Christmas morning, but all her presents had been set under the tree unwrapped. What was she doing that made it different, and why did different have to be bad?

When it felt like Yukito was finished, she looked down at herself then turned over to Yukito. "Am I done?" He nodded. Erin stepped out into the bigger room, relatively speaking. "How's it look?" She held her arms out to him, hoping he'd take her in and she'd know everything was back to the way it should be. No more weird or different.

He smiled. “You’re gorgeous.” Erin smiled, too. At least he thought she was pretty in the gift he'd gotten for her. “It suits you.”

He was still off, though, and terrible at hiding it. Erin put her hands on his shoulders, peering closely in his eyes. "Yukito, you sure you're all right?" A kiss on his cheek, and she added, "You know I love you." So tell me what's going on… I missed you, and now you skirt around me all the sudden like I'm contagious, and I just don't get it..

“I love you, too…” He still wasn't holding her. It was a little unsettling. If she looked so gorgeous and everything, then why didn't he just hold her? “It’s just…it’s been a long time since I saw you, you know?” Erin nodded, giving a quiet uh-huh, but not really knowing what that had to do with anything. And so she pulled her hands to link behind his neck, leaning her head down to rest against him. Finally, she felt his hands around her, familiar and yet almost foreign now, in its own subtle way she couldn't put her finger on. She was sure there were things about Yukito she could never understand. Maybe this was one of those things… Yukito gave a flustered little chuckle that made Erin glance up at him. “I missed you…”

"Well, now you don't have to miss me," she replied brightly, and gently she kissed his cheek. With one hand, she fingered the hair just behind his ear, then suddenly recalled something. She hadn't seen what the kimono looked like on herself yet! Erin pulled away from Yukito with a sudden "Oh! Oh-oh-oh-wait!!" and started tearing through her carry-on bag. "Help me find my camera!" Very quickly the floor/bed/some of Yukito's things were clouded over by Erin's carry-on innards: a pair of flip-flops, her swimsuit, a nightshirt, her phone charger, her iPod charger, the camera's USB cord, passport, and her little bag of mini-toothpaste and mini-toothbrush and other mini-bathroom additions. "Aha! Found it!" she shouted, finding the camera in the bottom corner of the bag, which was pretty much empty now. Turning quickly, Erin thrust out the camera to Yukito, grinning. "Take a picture so I can see what I look like! A freaking shaving mirror does not cut it!" She giggled, and waited for him, bouncing on her feet a little.


Yukito Maki

“I love you, too… It’s just…it’s been a long time since I saw you, you know?” She gave a nod, murmuring as though she agreed, but he could tell she didn't understand. He knew she didn't, because her wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning so closely against him was not helping matters any. As she curled closer against his chest, he gave a little chuckle, making Erin look up at him. “I missed you…”

"Well, now you don't have to miss me," she replied brightly, moving in and giving hima gentle kiss, her hand in his hair and playing with it in a way that made goosebumps rise on his arm. And he couldn't blame it on the air conditioner. Just as his lungs started to pound in his chest, Erin pushed away from him, making him inhale sharply and stumble a bit at her sudden disappearance.
"Oh! Oh-oh-oh-wait!! Help me find my camera!" Yukito didn't answer her, sitting on the bed and staring blankly at the wall with a stern expression. Erin, on the other hand, moved about easily in the kimono, sweeping around the room as she rummaged through her things.
"Aha! Found it!" she shouted, finding the camera in the bottom corner of the bag, which was pretty much empty now. Turning quickly, Erin thrust out the camera to Yukito, grinning. He caught it, sending her a tight-lipped smile but not moving from the bed. "Take a picture so I can see what I look like! A freaking shaving mirror does not cut it!" She giggled, and waited for him, bouncing on her feet a little.
He lifted tbe camera, pointing it up at her as she posed. After taking a couple of shots - in the case that she moved and make the photo blurry - he set down the camera and sent her a shaky little smile. "You really don't get it, do you? You're driving me crazy over here." He looked up at her, then patted the bed beside him, quietly asking her to sit down next to him. "I haven't seen you in two weeks, Erin. Two weeks. And after that long, seeing you again? Well, just look at this!" He held out the camera for her, displaying a smiling Erin showing off her kimono. "You're driving me friggen crazy." Yukito sent her a smile, leaning over and giving her a gentle kiss, pausing and then leaning back in, kissing her more deeply and the faster, speaking in between movements as he shifted closer to her on the bed. "You're always making it hard for me to follow the rules, Erin Spenser. Do you get that?" He paused, somehow finding himself up against her and with his hands around her waist, his forehead touching hers. He let out a sigh, "We really need to get out of this hotel room."


Erin Spenser

A few minutes were spent digging through her bag to find the little buried red camera. Finally, after a brilliant mess exploded from the bag, Erin found the camera and turned around with triumph. The kimono was actually really light, despite all the ribbons and belts used to keep it together, and really comfortable for the most part. "Aha! Found it!" She thrust the camera at Yukito, who took it up quickly but didn't bother to move from the bed. "Take a picture so I can see what I look like! A freaking shaving mirror does not cut it!"[/b] Her excitement now was making her bouncy and fidgety. There was no way she could be sitting down casually on the bed like he was right now.

Which turned out good, because then he could be her photographer as she posed for him. The whole act made her feel like the only girl in the world for that moment, and the little snapshots would later show a captured essence of fun for Erin. Not too long after he started snapping though, Yukito set the camera aside. "Aw, that's it?" she asked playfully. "But the camera loves me and you know it!"

"You really don't get it, do you?" His words surprised her; she stopped her playing as her eyes fell on him, feeling now that she should be somber. What did I do? Erin wondered for the umpteenth time. "You're driving me crazy over here." Her brow wrinkled. What? "How?" she asked aloud. Yukito gestured for her to come sit next to him. She did, sitting delicately to try and not mess up the kimono, but it felt so light anyway that it almost didn't matter. Her finger absently traced a pattern of a flower that was by her knee. She turned to look at him expectantly. "I haven't seen you in two weeks, Erin. Two weeks. And after that long, seeing you again? Well, just look at this!" As if to prove something, he held out the camera to her, showing her one of the snapshots. Erin was looking back at herself, sideways and one hand on the kimono's collar. It just looked like one of her regular pictures to her-- his point still felt lost. "What?" she repeated with a little laugh, for some reason feeling herself smile. Maybe he was joking with her.

"You're driving me friggen crazy," he repeated, sending her a smile as the light of what he meant dawned on her. Just as her lips formed to voice the "oooh!" of realization, Yukito stopped her with a kiss. There was only the briefest of pauses before he decided to continue their kiss, and Erin would have been totally nuts to argue. His kisses quickened, so that they were almost desperate, and Erin was certain then that he'd actually missed her just as much, if not more, than she missed him. And that, she knew, was a huge admission. But most of her mind was occupied by Yukito, the way he was holding her and kissing her and keeping her earnestly close. "You're always making it hard for me to follow the rules, Erin Spenser," he told her between the famished kisses, "Do you get that?" The kisses paused, and for a moment Erin was silent as he held her, letting his words register. Letting his actions register, too. And together, it made sense. Her eyes widened, and a smile came to her face. Then she said what she'd nearly said earlier. "Ooooh…" As serious as she knew Yukito's words were, Erin couldn't help the relief she felt. This was normal. This was oaky. This was good, because it meant that Yukito really felt about her the way she felt about him, in everything, and that in some ways they were normal, even if it made Yukito all red-faced and flustered to realize it. And it wasn't her. That was an encouragement, in its own way, that Yukito probably had no idea about. She'd be happy to keep it that way. Erin lightly brushed away some of his hair and gave him a very brief kiss, then smiled at him. "So you do have those thoughts," she half-teased, the other half trying to silently reassure him that she wasn't flustered or upset or anything that seemed to plague him-- she knew nothing would happen that neither of them would agree to. That's just how it was. But she had missed him, too… so much…

Yukito sighed. "We really need to get out of this hotel room."

Maybe it was intuition, but Erin knew she couldn't object to that. Plus, the lights and sounds of the new country had been calling at the back of her mind since she woke up. All she remembered seeing of Japan were the four walls of the hotel room, really. Erin pulled away from him and stood to her feet. "Okay!" she chirped easily. "You have to take me somewhere fun, though. Somewhere really memorable, with people and stuff to do and places to take pictures! Should I leave this on or change?" she asked him casually. See, I'm being good. I can help you when you need it. Because I love you! "What time is it, anyway? Did you charge your phone? Is it breakfast time yet? What kinds of stuff do they have here for breakfast? Oh, I know! Take me to a show! Let's go find one!" she said, taking his hands in hers and smiling at him. At least this way, she could help… right?


Yukito Maki


He set aside the camera, and Erin protested in typical Erin-fashion. "Aw, that's it? But the camera loves me and you know it!"

Yukito just looked up at her. "You really don't get it, do you? You're driving me crazy over here." Her brow wrinkled in confusion.

"How?" she asked aloud.

Relinquishing a weary sigh, Yukito gestured for her to come sit next to him. When she sat down, he wished he had thought that request a little more thoroughly, as her figner traced the pattern of her kimono on her knee, moving back and forth in a repetitive motion that did anything but soothe him. "I haven't seen you in two weeks, Erin. Two weeks. And after that long, seeing you again? Well, just look at this!" He showed her the camera, and her poses, flamboyant and full of life. But she didn't understand, letting out a little laugh of confusion. "You're driving me friggen crazy," he repeated more pointedly, allowing a smile to shine through. Erin met his eyes and then finally got it, and he felt a wave of relief wash through him. Even though it was kind of embarrassing that it took them that long to get this idea expressed. He had to blame himself for that.

Yukito leaned forward to catch her in a quick series of kisses that had her melting almost immediately, a gesture released that more accurately described his difficulties with her in the bathroom in a wordless form. When his arms went around her, he could sense how little his resolve had become, and it always surprised him when he came upon that wall, and didn't fear it. There wasn't going to be fear in this room today. A boyish nervousness, perhaps, like an overeager adolescent who fumbled over his words and didn't know what it was he was worried about. But not fear. Definitely no more fear. And it made him smile as he trailed the kisses across her. "You're always making it hard for me to follow the rules, Erin Spenser," he told her between the famished kisses, "Do you get that?" He paused, and she seemed to be pondering that. He didn't understand why she would need to ponder it. All of it made perfect sense in his mind. Even if he couldn't word it very well to her. At last, her eyes widened, and a smile came to her face, as infectuous as he recalled it always being, an ability of hers that was only more potent in the rediscovery.

"Ooooh…" Erin lightly brushed away some of his hair and gave him a very brief kiss, then smiled at him. "So you do have those thoughts," she half-teased. He rolled his eyes.

“I told you. How could I not, when you're right here, with me?” was his only response to that, then leaning close and sighing, their foreheads touchign gently as he murmured deeply, "We really need to get out of this hotel room."

And just like that, she leapt away, eager for a new toy and making him feel like he'd just been totally rejected in some way. Even though he'd practically asked her to. She was just so abrupt...

"Okay!" she chirped easily, her slow understanding and quick change of subject leaving a trace of worry in the back of his mind. "You have to take me somewhere fun, though. Somewhere really memorable, with people and stuff to do and places to take pictures! Should I leave this on or change?" she asked him casually.

He smiled, a little weakly, “Change it, please. Or I'll hyperventilate.”

"What time is it, anyway? Did you charge your phone? Is it breakfast time yet? What kinds of stuff do they have here for breakfast? Oh, I know! Take me to a show! Let's go find one!" she said, taking his hands in hers and smiling at him. He shook his head at her.

“You realize it's like midnight here, right? It's nowhere near morning...” but he followed her out anyways. "Oh, look. A busy street... And look, a lot of people. And vending machines..."


Erin Spenser

Yukito's admission, she knew, wasn't easy for him. The fumbling and stumbling proved that much. So she didn't plan on telling him outright that in its own way it was a relief. Instead, she just smiled, hoping to make it easier on him in her own way. "Ooooh…" Lightly she brushed away some of his hair and gave him a very brief kiss, then smiled at him. "So you do have those thoughts." He picked up on her tease, rolling his eyes.

“I told you. How could I not, when you're right here, with me?” And in a weird way, that was actually really sweet. It had never occurred to her before that Yukito could or would think of her like that. It was actually pretty flattering, too. In a weird way… She grinned as he kept his face close to hers, sighing heavily. "We really need to get out of this hotel room."

"Okay!" Erin agreed easily, getting the sense he wanted out of that situation quickly. The least she could do was help him out a little… Briefly, Erin wondered if now she had to watch herself more, so he wouldn't feel flustered and all again… He didn't seem to deal with that too well. She'd never thought of that before, about watching herself like that... "You have to take me somewhere fun, though. Somewhere really memorable, with people and stuff to do and places to take pictures! Should I leave this on or change?"

Yukito gave her a shaky smile. “Change it, please. Or I'll hyperventilate.”

That made her giggle, in spite of herself. He probably wouldn't appreciate that, but she couldn't help it. It was nice to know he liked the way she looked that much… "Wow, really? I should watch when I wear this then!" She disappeared back into the little shower room to change back. A bit later, she came back out, kimono and friends folded as neatly as she could in her arms and hair now a disheveled mess of a ponytail. "What time is it, anyway?" Erin set the kimono folded on the bed, not really knowing where else to put it. She stood back up and pulled the ponytail holder painfully out of her hair, wincing for a moment. "Did you charge your phone? Is it breakfast time yet? What kinds of stuff do they have here for breakfast? Oh, I know! Take me to a show! Let's go find one!" Erin took his hands in hers excitedly, already imagining in her mind's eye seeing a show at some of Yukito's old venues…

“You realize it's like midnight here, right? It's nowhere near morning…"

"What?" Erin responded, taken aback by the time, because she was sure it was much later-- or, earlier. With a pout, she cursed the time loudly. "Really? Well let's find midnight crap, then!"

He followed her. "Oh, look. A busy street…" he muttered blandly as Erin stopped on a dime on the sidewalk, gawking like a pure tourist. Even at midnight, there were lights and people and everything… " And look, a lot of people. And vending machines..."

"Oh, THOSE are the vending machines you wouldn't shut up about!" Erin giggled out, then took his hand and pulled him along as she raced to the nearest vending machine. "Hey, can I get a coke? One I haven't tried-- pick me out something!" she said excitedly, pulling on his shirt sleeve a bit. "What's this one?" Just to the right of it an orangey light caught her eye. Her eye, which widened, along with its pair, immediately. And she started laughing. "Yuyukun, do you need some more underwear?" The laughter escalated until she was nearly double from it. In her mirth Erin had backed up against the vending machines. Once her laughs died down enough, her eyes settled on what she'd leaned against. She gasped. Immediately Erin tried to cover up the revealed "merchandise" inside, hands and arms plastered onto the glass. "You can't see that!" she objected. "I can't believe they stick that on a friggen street corner! Kids can see that!" She couldn't figure out whether to cackle or be aghast at the vending machine designed just for …adults. So she flitted somewhere in between. "Moving over to the coke one, gonna pretend we didn't see that," she sang out, skipping back over to the one she'd gotten a drink from. "According to these, you're supposed to get cokes as part of a date, get new panties for the part after the date, and then the last one is for when it doesn't go your way!"


Yukito Maki - OOC: pics.livejournal.com/kate_nepveu/pic/000zg825/g101 It comes with skull patterns!? ROTFLOL And just for kicks - gakuranman.com/panty-vending-machines/ BIC:

"Oh, look. A busy street…" he muttered, " And look, a lot of people. And vending machines..." Erin stopped as soon as they reached the sidewalk, her eyes wide and surprised at the activity and color in late-night Tokyo.

"Oh, THOSE are the vending machines you wouldn't shut up about!" Erin giggled out, recovering from her surprise quickly, then dragging him by the hand to the vending machines he'd spotted out of the corner of his eye. "Hey, can I get a coke? One I haven't tried-- pick me out something!" she said excitedly, pulling on his shirt sleeve a bit.

“Eh, Erin? Maybe we shouldn't...”

"What's this one?" She did a double take, then started to laugh as she realized what a neighboring vending machine was advertising. "Yuyukun, do you need some more underwear?" The laughter escalated until she was nearly double from it. Yukito didn't say anything, just keeping his hands in his pockets and waiting for her to calm down. He turned his head to hide his embarrassment, seeing with relief that no one seemed to notice them for the moment. But then a gasp and a thud yanked his attention back to Erin. They discovered that she had backed up against another vending machine selling adult magazines, and she was unsuccessfully plastering herself across it so as to hide it from view. Yukito's eyes widened at her in surprise.

"You can't see that!" she objected. For some reason, he found the sight of her pressed against a porn vending machine, telling him he wasn't allowed to see very hilarious, and he let out a laugh. "I can't believe they stick that on a friggen street corner! Kids can see that!"

“They're usually covered up during the day, Erin,” he said quietly, a strange mix of embarrassment and uncertain humor mixing in his head and making him confused. “Let go of the vending machine, please.”

"Moving over to the coke one, gonna pretend we didn't see that," she sang out, skipping back over to the one she'd gotten a drink from.

“Happy to oblige,” he offered, reaching into his pocket for change. In a couple of clicks, he'd gotten them a couple of cokes, opening his and using it to keep his hands busy as he tried to forget the awkwardness of the nearby machine that sat outside their hotel room. Previously, he hadn't noticed it there. And he supposed this was because his mind had decided to block out the existence of the magazines entirely.

Meanwhile, Erin decided to give the strange order of the vending machines a nice summary, "According to these, you're supposed to get cokes as part of a date, get new panties for the part after the date, and then the last one is for when it doesn't go your way!"

Yukito nearly snorted out his coke, starting to hack and cough on the soda as it stung, needing to lean one hand on the coke machine. “Oh my god, Erin,” he reprimanded between coughs, feeling that irrepressible heat on his face as his mind kept imagining this scenario. “Oh my god... You're going to kill me. You're trying to kill me...” He shoved at her arm, stepping away from her as he muttered, “Drink your friggen coke and move on.”


Erin Spenser

"You can't see that!" Erin shouted. Without thinking about how it made her look, she tried to hide as much of the machine behind her as she could. It didn’t faze her when Yukito started to laugh. "I can't believe they stick that on a friggen street corner! Kids can see that!" Her shrill voice creaked a bit in her flustered and overly quick reaction.

“They're usually covered up during the day, Erin,” Yukito replied calmly. As if she'd said nothing out of the ordinary, and that pit of nasty wasn't festering on the corner. “Let go of the vending machine, please.”

Erin rolled her eyes at the way he said it. Like she was hugging it. Ewwww…. Erin let go, and announced in a sing-song voice, "Moving over to the coke one, gonna pretend we didn't see that." A few skips and she was back next to Yukito. I bet there's some weird disease on that machine, too… ewww…

“Happy to oblige,” Yukito muttered. A few coins and a loud set of thumps later, he'd gotten her a coke, which she opened happily. The moment of ew with the vending machine was gone, and now she hopped a bit from side to side and took in her surroundings more. An experimental sip of the soda, and a thought occurred to her, which she announced immediately. "According to these, you're supposed to get cokes as part of a date, get new panties for the part after the date, and then the last one is for when it doesn't go your way!"

Yukito's reaction was priceless. Priceless! He started hacking and coughing like an old man, or like someone punched him in the gut, but it was honestly hilarious. He was leaning on the coke machine like he was about to keel over, which made Erin start cackling herself. “Oh my god, Erin,” he reprimanded between coughs, as Erin just kept laughing. He was too funny! If this was the kind of reaction she earned, then it might be something she'd have to do more often! “Oh my god... You're going to kill me. You're trying to kill me...” He shoved at her arm, and Erin let it stumble her backward a few steps. "No!" she cried through doubled-over laughter, some of her coke spilling onto the floor. “Drink your friggen coke and move on.”

"I can't!" she cried, still unable to keep her laughter down. In an effort to calm herself, she took a drink of her coke that only resulting in making her cough almost as bad as Yukito. "Take it -hic- back!" Erin shouted in laughs, holding out the remaining coke to Yukito. "Crap, now I have -hic- hiccups! And they hurt! Oww… -hic!" She leaned against the vending machine, still seeping giggles even as she held her arm across her stomach. "It's your fault, freaking drama queen! I freaking love you!"


Yukito Maki

The moment of control ended in an embarrassing sputter-effect as he struggled to swallow the soda that had been caught in his throat when Erin made a flippant comment about the strange order of the vending machines. He also wondered if Erin had noticed that they were fitting into that first step, the 'coke as part of the date'. Either way, he was too distracted with leaning on the vending machine and staving off the little pains in his throat as his eyes watered and he tried to cough up his drink. Meanwhile, Erin was having a ball.

“Oh my god, Erin,” he reprimanded between coughs, as Erin just kept laughing. “Oh my god... You're going to kill me. You're trying to kill me...” He shoved at her arm, and Erin stumbled backward a few steps, unconcerned.

"No!" she cried through doubled-over laughter, some of her coke spilling onto the floor. He sent her a look, his coughing fit over as he started to walk away.

“Drink your friggen coke and move on.”

"I can't!" she cried, still unable to keep her laughter down. She tried to follow his advice, but apparently he was still the funniest topic, and she did her own version of a drink-and-laugh that ended in pretty much the same result, making him smile. "Take it -hic- back!" Erin shouted in laughs, holding out the remaining coke to Yukito. "Crap, now I have -hic- hiccups! And they hurt! Oww… -hic!" She leaned against the vending machine, still seeping giggles even as she held her arm across her stomach. "It's your fault, freaking drama queen! I freaking love you!"

“Glad to amuse you,” he muttered, shoving his free hand into his pocket while he tried to finish his coke in relative peace. But he should have known that didn't exist with Erin. He took a drink and smirked at her. “I love it when you get the hiccups. So I'm not taking it back. Whatever it is.” Yukito leaned over, pressing her up lightly against the coke vending machine and giving her a quiet kiss, waiting until another hiccup passed through her, the little convulsion making him chuckle. "Let's go-o-o."


Erin Spenser

Now it had to be impossible to quit laughing, especially with the way Yukito kept going on about it, trying to be all cool and nonchalant about it. Her stomach muscles were complaining about all the laughter, and she loved it.

Yukito was determined not to care. Or at least to hide that he did, which Erin was pretty sure he did, otherwise he wouldn't be trying so hard. “Drink your friggen coke and move on.”

"I can't!" Erin was still practically doubled over from her laughter, but she tried her best to just "drink the coke and move on," and virtually choked herself. Playfully fed up with the coke's rebellion that made her cough and sputter, Erin held out the coke to Yukito. "Take it -hic- back!" He didn't, and the fact that her effort of trying to calm herself had only given her hiccups made her laugh more. "Crap, now I have -hic- hiccups! And they hurt! Oww… -hic!" The vending machine made for a good resting spot as her laughter continued, only worsening what the coke-choke had done. "It's your fault, freaking drama queen! I freaking love you!"

Still, Yukito sounded unfazed. “Glad to amuse you.”

"Yuk-hic-ito!" Erin complained amid laughs. "You're so mean to-hic- to me!"

“I love it when you get the hiccups. So I'm not taking it back. Whatever it is.”

"The coke!" Erin spat out in giggles. Yukito just answered her with a sudden kiss, her back against the vending machine. He only pulled away until after her next hiccup, which really wasn't all that long, since now she had them pretty bad. And it all just made her laugh more. Maybe she was still sleep deprived. Or something. Or high off of Yukito. That was a possibility, she thought, pulling herself back to him in a hug. Yukito was laughing ever so quietly. "Let's go-o-o."

For a moment Erin mockingly gasped at him in disbelief. "Yukito! I -hic- can't believe you! You're ma-hic-aking fun of me, aren't you?!" She gave his shoulder a shove with her hand. "You're so mean!!" Then just as naturally, she looped her arm in his and started walking quickly down the sidewalk. "Where are we-hic- going? Oww… those still hurt!" More laughs, and another tug at Yukito. "What can we do in the middle of the night here?" she asked him, half-teasing. "Oh, I know! You can take me -hic- to a Japanese 24-hour Wal-mart, and I can see if people here wear pajamas to shop at midnight! Omigod, that -hic- would be hilarious! Or-or-or we can go karaoke at a Japanese bar," she suggested in a series of giggles. "You -hic- have to sneak me in. I'd love to see you try that! C'mon, let's go somewhere! Where are-hic- you taking me?"


Yukito Maki

"The coke!" Erin spat out in giggles. Yukito stepped forward, giving her a forceful kiss, somewhere in the mix slipping the coke from her fingers and holding it for her. He kept his lips on hers until the next hiccup came around, sending a jolt through them both and making giggles erupt.

"Let's go-o-o,” he teased, urging her forward – and away from the vending machines, as amusing to her as they had been.

For a moment Erin mockingly gasped at him in disbelief. "Yukito! I -hic- can't believe you! You're ma-hic-aking fun of me, aren't you?!" She gave his shoulder a shove with her hand. "You're so mean!!" But he figured she wasn't too bothered by it, as she looped her arm in his as they started off down the street. "Where are we-hic- going? Oww… those still hurt!" More laughs, and another tug at Yukito, who was beaming each time she let out a hiccup. "What can we do in the middle of the night here? Oh, I know! You can take me -hic- to a Japanese 24-hour Wal-mart, and I can see if people here wear pajamas to shop at midnight! Omigod, that -hic- would be hilarious! Or-or-or we can go karaoke at a Japanese bar," she suggested in a series of giggles. "You -hic- have to sneak me in. I'd love to see you try that! C'mon, let's go somewhere! Where are-hic- you taking me?"

“Not to a Japanese bar,” he answered matter-of-factly, standing a little closer in protectiveness as they entered a crowd passing by. “Most things are closed right now, though, except nightclubs...” He frowned, looking from side to side, then smiling as a game arcade came into view. “Purikura?” he suggested, nodding his head toward the Japanese style photobooth . The exterior was covered in bright colors and exploding words, with a dozen or so sample photos on the outside. Yukito took Erin's hand, slipping up to the machine and pushing in 400 yen, pulling Erin inside while he pressed the buttons to set it up. He immediately pressed for the 'love-love' theme and selected a middle-ground lighting, then leaning back to wrap his arm around Erin's shoulder. He turned to her and smirked, “Smile!” just before the camera went off the first time, surprising even him with its abruptness. The first few were awkward for Yukito, but he loosened up fast around Erin, it seemed. A lot of laughter was erupting from their machine by the time they managed to catch each other in a kiss, happily holding the pose until the camera went off. They took about a dozen pictures or so before the screen started to display their photos, asking them in Japanese to select their favorites. “You have to narrow it down to a few, or we'll never get out of here,” he said through his laughter. "Then we get to add your favorite - shiny things."


Erin Spenser

"Let's go-o-o.”

For a moment Erin mockingly gasped at him in disbelief. "Yukito! I -hic- can't believe you! You're ma-hic-aking fun of me, aren't you?!" She gave his shoulder a shove with her hand. "You're so mean!!"Of course, she didn't mean that too much. Erin took his arm in hers as they started down the street. "Where are we-hic- going? Oww… those still hurt!" She laughed and gave him a little tug as she headed down the walk. "What can we do in the middle of the night here? Oh, I know! You can take me -hic- to a Japanese 24-hour Wal-mart, and I can see if people here wear pajamas to shop at midnight! Omigod, that -hic- would be hilarious! Or-or-or we can go karaoke at a Japanese bar," she suggested in a series of giggles. "You -hic- have to sneak me in. I'd love to see you try that! C'mon, let's go somewhere! Where are-hic- you taking me?"

“Not to a Japanese bar,” he answered her quickly. Erin rolled her eyes in playful agitation with him. "You're such a stick in the mud, Yukito-face." Another little jolting hiccup came, which she tried her best to silence. Now they were just annoying. “Most things are closed right now, though, except nightclubs...”

"And you already shot that idea," Erin teased. She saw the smile grow on his face, but his eyes were away from her. He had an idea.

“Purikura?”

"Um, pikachu?" responded Erin, giggling at the way he tossed around words like she knew them. It was cute. She saw what he was talking about, though. The little cheesy yet addictive photobooth like they had in the mall at home, but this was a bit more on the loud and ridiculous side. Like it popped out of an anime, which some of it probably did. She gave a short nod and a giggle as they headed into the little booth. Erin's eyes darted around the interior of the machine. "Okay so what now? Where's the start button?" she asked happily.

Yukito was already working on that, as she peered over his shoulder. "I'm glad you can read all those buttons and line-thingies," she observed keenly, grinning.

Yukito finished the little starting-picture-process and wrapped his arm around Erin's shoulder. "Oh, we're starting? Like, now?" He turned to her and smirked. “Smile!”

"Yukito!" Erin cried, smiling wide as she called his name when the flash went off. Easily laughter tumbled out form Erin and into the booth. It was beautifully
contagious, with Yukito soon joining her. Laughter, kisses, and flashes of the camera swirled around the little booth until the machine had had enough of them.

"Aww… I love them all!" Another glance at the pictures and Erin let out a loud laugh, hugging him. "Especially that one with your eye like, half closed. It's so funny!"

“You have to narrow it down to a few, or we'll never get out of here,” Yukito said through his laughter. "Then we get to add your favorite - shiny things."

"You're teasing me again!" Erin drawled out, as if it came as a huge surprise that he'd tease her. But she couldn't help but jump up and down a little in excitement. "Okay, I wanna play with it! Let me try!" At least the pikachu-pictura-whatever it was called would offer hours of entertainment. Okay, well, at least five minutes' worth. Ten if they added kisses.

[The endz heres?]

[Elda Forever]

To The Beach! - Yukirin

OOC: www.tune-in-tokyo.com/2009/08/shonan-beach/ BIC:


Yukito Maki

It was just a couple of train rides and a short walk to the beach for Yukito and Erin. He held her hand as they strode toward the long stretch of sand that was just coming into view for them. Yukito had had sunglasses on since they'd left the hotel room, not wanting to squint into the sun reflecting off every available surface to scratch at his retinas. And maybe...just maybe, the shades were big enough to cover up the inevitable scarlet coloring that would come to his cheeks the instant they reached their destination and his mind started to wander.

But he was trying hard not to focus on that. He had Erin holding his hand, excited and elated just to be in Japan with him, eating Japanese food and pointing out strange passersby. A couple of kids raced past them, and Yukito wrapped his arm around Erin's shoulders and leaned in close to lean his head against hers. "Welcome to Shonan beach," he told her, "But first..." he smirked, "You have to try some ice cream. That's the rules."


Erin Spenser

She'd never been on a train before today. Much less a Japanese train. Much less two. She wondered how different they were from American train rides, but mostly, she didn't care. It was just fun to be there and doing it, with Yukito by her side the whole time. She was bouncy and fidgety and kept squealing about the most normal things outside of the window, and then squealing louder at the less normal things. There were tons of things that made Japan different, and each time it blew her mind how different her and Yukito's worlds were. She'd bombarded him with questions and her thoughts and all that came to her mind the entire way, with a kiss or hug here and there in between.

He held her hand as they walked down towards the shoreline, Erin resisting the urge to take off without him instead. She wanted to run into the surf, feel herself pushed back by the waves. She wanted to feel her feet sinking into the sand and taste the salt in the air. But she wanted Yukito with her. So she tugged on his hand to pull him forward, just subtly enough not to be annoying or anything. There were people having fun all around them on the beach, and she was itching for her and Yukito to join them. At her silent signal, Yukito wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned in close to touch his head to hers. "Welcome to Shonan beach," he said quietly, making her laugh a little for no real reason. "But first..." he smirked, looking smoking with the sunglasses and that smile on his lips, "You have to try some ice cream. That's the rules."

"Fine!" she retorted playfully. "Nothing freakish, though! I'm not eating whales!" Erin declared, keeping her arm, around him. "And what's the beach's name?" she asked, walking alongside Yukito and following his lead. "Shonen? Doesn't that mean 'boy'? Did you bring me to a place called 'boy beach'?!" Erin's voice escalated with her teasing and her laughing. The giggling joke she punctuated with a kiss.


Yukito Maki

Walking along the streets with Erin seemed to make the past, their previous fights and darkest moments, start to dissipate. As they neared the beach, he could feel Erin’s excitement, lightening her step and giving him little tugs to keep him moving, unappeased by his leisurely pace, as usual. Yukito noted the looks they got, especially since Erin was so obviously American, in everything from the way she looked and talked to the way she walked and held herself. He secretly willed them all to be jealous as they wished. “Welcome to Shonan beach,” he told her quietly, and she giggled at that, as though it was amusing. He gave her hand a squeeze, starting to swing their hands a little, in the hopes of dispelling her impatience with the motion as he turned to her. “But first, you have to try some ice cream. That’s the rules.”
"Fine!" she retorted playfully, more than eager for their long awaited little game. "Nothing freakish, though! I'm not eating whales!" He just stuck his tongue out at that.

“And people think I’m the dull one….” he teased under his breath. “You won’t even give my mother country’s ice cream a try.” Yukito rolled his eyes, though she couldn’t see that, and let out an exasperated sigh, stepping up to a small soft cream shop, a list of detailed flavors accompanied by color-correct plastic cones sitting on the counter. “What about pumpkin, then? Would that be too far out for you?”

"And what's the beach's name?" she asked at his side, "Shonen? Doesn't that mean 'boy'? Did you bring me to a place called 'boy beach'?!" Erin's voice escalated with her teasing and her laughing. The giggling joke she punctuated with a kiss. Yukito could see the amused look on the soft cream man’s face as he watched them, and he chuckled a little.

“Shonan, not shonen,” he accentuated for her, “Shonan is the beach, shonen are boys. You sound like such a foreigner."


Erin Spenser

“Welcome to Shonan beach,” Yukito said quietly, and she couldn't help but bubble over in giggles. He gave her hand a squeeze, pulling their hands into a swinging motion she easily fell into, looking up at him with a happily charmed expression. Thoughts darted across her mind like fireworks. “But first, you have to try some ice cream. That’s the rules.”

"Fine!" As if it was chore. Well, it could be… "Nothing freakish, though! I'm not eating whales!" She was serious about that, but Yukito just stuck his tongue out at her order.

“And people think I’m the dull one….” he teased quietly, but it didn't pass over Erin. Her eyes widened and she gasped as if he'd announced something totally improbable and somewhat insulting. "Hey!"

“You won’t even give my mother country’s ice cream a try.”

Erin made a face at him, giving his shoulder a shove with her fist. "Not the freakish ones!" she specified again as Yukito approached the little ice cream place. She followed closely, once more linking her arm around him. He sighed, like she was seriously bothering him or something, and inside Erin wondered if that was true. She really hoped it wasn't….

“What about pumpkin, then? Would that be too far out for you?”

"I like pumpkin!" Erin chirped, moving her arm to loop around the bend of his elbow. "It's like Thanksgiving mixed with summertime! And what's the beach's name? Shonen? Doesn't that mean 'boy'? Did you bring me to a place called 'boy beach'?!" she teased loudly, though she didn't hear how loud her voice had gotten, and she kissed Yukito excitedly. Erin's voice escalated with her teasing and her laughing. The looks they were getting--probably because of her-- only fed into her excitement more. She loved getting attention by Yukito's side, Erin finally admitted it to herself. And why not? It was fun!

“Shonan, not shonen,” he accentuated for her, and she started to giggle again. “Shonan is the beach, shonen are boys. You sound like such a foreigner."

"No, really?" Erin cried, grinning widely, and mockingly voicing shock at Yukito's observation. "What gave it away? I was trying so hard to fit in!" she giggled out, leaning against Yukito in her laughter. Her laughter calmed a bit as the experimental ice cream arrived. Automatically she waved at the server and chirped, "Hi!" Then more laughs at her slip-up, and she tried to correct herself. "Um, arigato!" An impish grin at Yukito as she held the ice cream to her lips. "Are you gonna take a picture of my reaction or something?" she asked, giggling, then took a bite of the orangey ice cream. Her eyes widened. "It's like cold pumpkin pie!" Erin wasn't sure if that was good or not, so she tried it again. "It's just like cold pumpkin pie! Here, you try!" She held out the ice cream to him, grinning and bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. "Can we take this to the beach? I wanna go down there now! Let's go!"


Yukito Maki

He loved the way they always teased each other, playfully insulting, prodding at their differences like they were something special in a good way. He loved the way she walked with her arm around him possessively, unafraid to tell the world that she was his. “What about pumpkin, then? Would that be too far out for you?”

"I like pumpkin!" Erin chirped, moving her arm to loop around the bend of his elbow. "It's like Thanksgiving mixed with summertime! And what's the beach's name? Shonen? Doesn't that mean 'boy'? Did you bring me to a place called 'boy beach'?!" she teased loudly, kissing him and sending those little jolts of electricity through him as they waited for their snack.

“Shonan, not shonen,” he stressed with a smile, and she started to giggle again. He wanted to take a picture of her like that, looking happy and amused beside him. He decided to commit the sight of her now to his memory. “Shonan is the beach, shonen are boys. You sound like such a foreigner."

"No, really?" Erin exclaimed in sarcasm, "What gave it away? I was trying so hard to fit in!" When she leaned against him, his arm went around her bare shoulders, holding her to him. He leaned over to bury his face in her hair, but just then the man came back with their cold pumpkin treat. Erin, shameless as usual, gave the man a wave and chirped, "Hi!" making the man laugh and wave back at her. "Um, arigato!" The man gave her a couple of bows behind the counter, now chuckling at her antics.

Yukito laughed, whispering in her ear, "You're such a dork. But I love you for it." She just sent him a mischevious smirk, holding up her orange ice cream. "Hold that," he told her, reaching into the pocket of his shorts for his cell phone.

"Are you gonna take a picture of my reaction or something?" she asked, giggling, as he clicked the phone into camera mode and aimed it at her with a smile. She took a bite of the ic cream, her eyes immediately widening in surprise as the camera clicked, making him laugh. "It's like cold pumpkin pie!" Yukito nodded. Erin seemed fixated on her cone, testing it again and enjoying th strangeness of it all. "It's just like cold pumpkin pie! Here, you try!"

"That's the general idea, actually," he smirked at her, giving a nod and taking a few tastes of his own.

She held out the ice cream to him, grinning and bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. "Can we take this to the beach? I wanna go down there now! Let's go!"

"Fine, fine, fine..." he teased, taking hold of her arm and taking more licks of his cone. He didn't normally try the pumpkin, so it tasted foreign on his tongue. The beach was pretty busy, dozens of people racing back and forth, and kids making sculptures in the strange blackish sand. Once they picked out a spot, Yukito set out their towels and sat down with his ice cream. He was determined to pretend nobody else was out here today, and he was hoping Erin would be a great help with this. "So I'm guessing you like the pumpkin flavor... next time you should try something less common."


Erin Spenser

"You're such a dork," Yukito whispered to her after she clumsily thanked the man behind the counter. "But I love you for it." She just sent him a mischevious smirk, holding up her pumpkin ice cream for the first bite. "Hold that," he told her, reaching for where she knew he kept his phone. Erin giggled.

"Are you gonna take a picture of my reaction or something?" He was, he totally was. And it was funny! She took a bite of the dark orange ice cream-- a color she'd never though ice cream could be-- and her eyes widened at the oddly familiar taste as his camera clicked her image. "It's like cold pumpkin pie!" Yukito nodded, but Erin didn't really notice. She went back to taste-testing the ice cream, trying to figure it out. "It's just like cold pumpkin pie! Here, you try!"

"That's the general idea, actually," Yukito said, taking the ice cream from her for a few little bites.

Taking it back, Erin started bouncing on the balls of her feet, unable to stop grinning. "Can we take this to the beach? I wanna go down there now! Let's go!" She tugged a little at his hand.

"Fine, fine, fine..." Yukito took her arm in his and shared a bite more of her ice cream. "Hey, don't steal all my ice cream!" she teased him, pulling it away. "I'm still trying to figure out if I like it! I need to try it more!"

Erin kept her hand in Yukito's as her feet started to sink deeper into the sand that was so different than what she was accustomed to. It was such a great, weird mix of what she knew so well and what was new, and different, and exciting. She had to push down the impulse to run out into the ocean. She could smell the salt in the air, invigorating. Erin left out a little squeal of delight. "It's so beautiful!" She slipped away and ran to a free patch of the beach, jumping on top of the sand. "Right here!"

Yukito followed over to her and started to lay everything out across the sand. She sat down next to him on the laid-out beach towels and licked some of the dripping ice cream before it got onto her hand. "So I'm guessing you like the pumpkin flavor... next time you should try something less common."

"I think it'd be better with graham cracker crumbs, actually," Erin decided seriously. "What'd'you mean by 'less common'?" A fresh smile grew on her face. "No whale! No horse meat! Other stuff- maybe!" She giggled, scooting to sit close next to him, resting her head on his shoulder and exaggerating a happy sigh. "I like this date already," she announced lightly. "It feels so good out heeeere! Hey, hold this." She handed him her remaining bit of ice cream and moved to stretch out on the beach towel, lying with her face in the sun, eyes closed and smiling brightly.


Yukito Maki

"Hey, don't steal all my ice cream!" she teased him, pulling it away as he attempted another lick. He made a face at her, then waved it off as if he hadn't really wanted it anyway. "I'm still trying to figure out if I like it! I need to try it more!"

“Fine,” he muttered, “I see how it is.”

Their hands remained entangled as Erin continued to consume her new pumpkin treat, squealing with delight at the busy beach. "It's so beautiful!" She slipped away and ran to a free patch of the beach, jumping on top of the sand as though that would lay permanent claim on it. "Right here!" He trailed over, laying out the blanket and their enormous bag of stuff that Erin had insisted on bringing with them, while Erin plopped directly down and focused on her ice cream before it melted in the heat.

“I heard it was supposed to get to ninety-six today,” he said quietly, looking across the beach. Then, he glanced over at her and smiled. “So I'm guessing you like the pumpkin flavor.. next time you should try something less common.”

"I think it'd be better with graham cracker crumbs, actually," Erin decided seriously, then, "What'd'you mean by 'less common'?" He just grinned at her, and she returned the gesture, looking radiant. "No whale! No horse meat! Other stuff- maybe!"

He let out a “Pffft!” sound with his lips, leaning his head onto her as she rested her head on his shoulder, the small cuddle a little uncomfortable in the heat, but totally worth it. Erin let out a happy sigh, making them both shift a bit accordingly. "I like this date already," she announced lightly. "It feels so good out heeeere! Hey, hold this." She handed him her remaining bit of ice cream and moved to stretch out on the beach towel, lying with her face in the sun, eyes closed and smiling brightly.

Instead of focusing on the ice cream in his hand, however, Yukito found himself just watching her. She laid there for awhile, just soaking in the sunshine like it was air itself, looking so blissful and pleased with herself and everything around her. Without moving, Yukito just smiled down at her. Then, the ice cream started trailing down his hand, the sudden cold making him jump and frantically start trying to clean it up. “Crap...” he breathed lightly, barely audible. He glanced back up at Erin as he struggled to lap up the rapidly-dribbling half-liquid, then smirked mischeviously. With a playful glint, he took the melted ice cream cone and turned it upside down, landing it on Erin's barren and vulnerable belly, pressing down a little so as to get as much of the freezing-cold snack on her as possible, then laughing and jumping away to escape her wrath. “I win!” he exclaimed prematurely, sand flying as he attempted an escape.


Erin Spenser

As soon as their spot on the beach was claimed and properly decorated with all they'd brought with them, Erin was able to take in the feel of the shoreline fuller. The sea breeze, the reflecting light off the water, the fine-grained sand, the ruckus of laughter and running and splashing and conversations she couldn't follow if someone paid her-- but she didn't care. It was all part of the beauty of it all, what made it so fun and perfect. She leaned her head against Yukito briefly, wondering at the back of her mind when he'd get hot enough to ditch the shirt. Out loud, she announced happily, "I like this date already. It feels so good out heeeere! Hey, hold this." She handed him her remaining bit of ice cream and moved to stretch out on the beach towel. Already the sun was warming her, and vaguely she wondered if she should bother putting on sunscreen. The rest of her mind shut out the thought easily, listening to the sounds of the water and the people and feeling Yukito beside her. At that moment Erin felt much more blessed than she could ever remember feeling before. There couldn't be anyone luckier than her right now.

The moment shattered with a sudden shock of creamy shivers just above her bellybutton. Erin's eyes flew open, and she jerked away, lettting out a loud squeal of protest. "Yukito!!!" She glanced down at the icy pumpkin on her stomach, then lunged at Yukito to retaliate.

He cackled at her, trying his best to dodge her. “I win!”

"No, you suck!" Erin shouted back, falling into her own giggles. She yanked the remainder of the ice cream and its cone into her hand and shoved it onto the base of his neck, dragging it down across his shirt as she pressed to break the cone into little crumbs across it. The crumbs stuck successfully to the ice cream remains, and Erin resumed her lunge to tackle him in retaliation. "Some boyfriend you are!" she reprimanded through her own laughter, as Erin playfully rewarded him with punches in his non-creamed arm.

"Ugh!! Now I'm all stickyyyy!" she complained once her initial retaliation was complete. Erin sat back and looked down at the damage again, then pointed at his shirt. "It's ruined!" she declared proudly. "You can't wear it anymore!" With more giggles, Erin tugged at the hem of his shirt. "It's ruiiined," she half-whined and half-drawled, then shifted tactics, setting her shoulders squarely and trying her best to sound reasonable and logical. "You know, kareshi, more people notice someone at the beach still wearing a t-shirt waaay more than they notice someone looking just like everyone else." She nodded, as if offering a second opinion, and sat back on her knees. "Please?" she added, the "logical" façade melting away. Erin leaned forward to give him a little kiss. "Anyway, you owe me for ice-creaming me without warning," she reasoned smugly, giving him a smart smile. "And I need to go wash off now!" Her voice was louder now, and she stood up, brushing off the sand from her legs, and turned to the ocean. "Come with me!" Erin didn't wait for an answer before taking off into the water, going until just her head bobbed along with the friendly waves.


Yukito Maki

The instant the cone dropped onto her barren stomach, Erin's eyes shot open and she flew. "Yukito!!!" She glanced down at the icy pumpkin on her stomach, then lunged at Yukito to retaliate. He laughed openly, jumping back to avoid her inevitable attack. “I win!”

"No, you suck!" Erin shouted back, falling into her own giggles. Yukito paused, grinning at her and thinking that she was done for the moment, as she paused to pick up the ice cream cone he'd dropped onto her. But then she caught him, shoving it down his shirt. Automatically, he tensed, jerking his shoulders up and letting out a hissing sound as the freezing cold ice cream started to drip down his back, sticking to him the whole way. Crap. Should have seen that one coming. She took pleasure in crumbling the cone up to join the mostly liquid mess, and he tried to glare at her while his mouth was twitching towards a smile. “Nice....” he muttered. Now that they were both sufficiently sticky and gross, Erin leapt over to tackle him in a hug.

"Some boyfriend you are!" she reprimanded through her own laughter, as Erin playfully rewarded him with punches in his non-creamed arm.

“Yes. And you know you would have done the same thing if you had thought of it first,” he teased, trying to wipe away at the majority of the mess, and only succeeding in making his fingers stick together.

"Ugh!! Now I'm all stickyyyy!" she complained, checking on her damage, then pointing accusingly at his shirt. "It's ruined!"

“You did it!” was his retort. But she was obviously more proud than upset by the loss of the shirt. Whatever. He didn't care much anyways. It could probably just be washed. Probably. Either way, her logic stung - he couldn't wear a sticky shirt all day.

"You can't wear it anymore!" she giggled, and he didn't look up at her, appearing to be more focused on getting the majority of the crumbs off his shirt. Unfortunately, he did not have Erin's ability to change the subject at the bat of an eyelash. Erin tugged at the hem of his shirt, sending more crumbs to the sand. "It's ruiiined," she said again, pointedly, then with attempted seriousness added, "You know, kareshi, more people notice someone at the beach still wearing a t-shirt waaay more than they notice someone looking just like everyone else."

“Right,” was all he said, just staring back at her with a blank look, still stony on his decision to at least put it off as long as necessary. And if he hadn't gone through with the spur-of-the-moment ice cream plan, they wouldn't have gotten sticky in the first ten minutes, and his plan would have been a lot easier to accomplish. He cursed his idiotic moment of spontaneity.

Erin just sat back on her knees, knowing she would win the battle if she just kept trying long enough. "Please?" she added, Erin leaned forward to give him a little kiss. Now that's just unfair. "Anyway, you owe me for ice-creaming me without warning," she reasoned smugly, giving him a smart smile. He opened his mouth to protest as she called out suddenly, "And I need to go wash off now!” He didn't answer, just watching her as she dusted off the excess sand from her legs. ”Come with me!" Before he could respond otherwise, she was racing off toward the water, feet kicking up sand and hair trailing behind her, a pretty picture that he didn't want to be left behind by.

Yukito watched her for a moment, swearing breathlessly and muttering more to cover up his own secret thoughts than to really complain about the situation, as bothersome as it was for him. He couldn't even get away with lamely taking it off in the water, either. But he had, at some point, become resigned to constant discomfort rising up in most any outing with Erin, and managed to yank off his shirt to discard it next to their towels. Yukito frowned, shoving his sunglasses up onto his nose and dropping his cell phone and burying it under their stuff. Since it was really hot, he didn't feel the eerie chill he had previously and was able to resist wrapping his arms around himself as he went to follow her, starting off at a walk and then running as he rushed to meet her in the water and going in about chest-deep. And the first thing he did was sent a large splash her way, trying to recover his pride as he realized yet again how stupid it was to not be able to swim. “There, you happy?” he half-growled, half-teased as he tried to splash away the crumbs and ice cream. He opened his mouth for another comment, but just then a wave came in and shot him back a bit, surprising him and getting saltwater into his mouth, knocking his glasses askew. He frowned, trying to readjust the glasses and knowing that with water on them, they were practically useless. “Nice..” he spluttered, coughing on the bitter taste in his mouth.


Erin Spenser

"It's ruiiined," Erin reminded Yukito, then told him seriously, "You know, kareshi, more people notice someone at the beach still wearing a t-shirt waaay more than they notice someone looking just like everyone else." As sincere as she was when she said that, the comment made her feel a bit selfish in the back of her mind. Erin knew how shy he was, how big a deal it was to him with the whole hide-behind-a-shirt thing, and she thought she got that as well she could. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a little selfish. She liked it when he wasn't quite that shy…

“Right,” Yukito muttered. And Erin felt herself caving to her more selfish mind a bit more. It was helping him, too, really, and how lame was it to be at a beach and hide in a shirt the whole time? Yukito had to get out sometime… She tried again. "Please?" A kiss punctuated her newest request. "Anyway," she added logically, "you owe me for ice-creaming me without warning." Erin gave him a smirk, then stood up for a new announcement. "And I need to go wash off now!” A quick dusting of her sandy legs and Erin took off to the ocean. ”Come with me!"

He didn't follow immediately, but Erin kept going until the salty water hit her, and she was surrounded up to her neck in it. That far out, the waves could bob her along as her toes brushed against the sand. Briefly she wondered if Japanese jellyfish were much more potent than what she was used to, but jellyfish didn't bother her much before, anyway… She turned around to look back at Yukito, letting the waves push her forward just a bit. She grinned in his direction as Yukito walked her way, having decided being with her in the ocean was more important than wearing a sticky shirt and feeling "comfortable", however you did that in a sticky shirt…

Yukito met her in the water as Erin jumped with that half-weightless feel the water gives, smiling at him brightly. Yukito took her by surprise though, giving her a quick, hard splash. For a moment Erin sputtered, shaking the water off that had made it on her face. "Heyyy!!" She laughed.

“There, you happy?” He sounded like he was pretty ticked, as he used the ocean water to rid himself of the ice cream remains. But Erin thought he couldn't be too upset. "Yes!" she shouted back, giggling. Yukito's answer was cut off as a wave knocked him off balance-- he really had never been in the freaking ocean, had he? "Yukito!" Erin couldn't help but laugh-- she knew he was okay, if not totally soaked now. He popped back up, sunglasses askew, which looked perfectly adorable and made her wan to kiss him. A lot. He was frowning, trying to readjust the glasses and Erin giggled, walking through the waves and watery sand to stand by him. “Nice..” He coughed a bit to clear the salt from his throat.

"Aww-w-w," Erin sympathized with a smile, hugging her arms around him. "I freaking love you." She pulled him closer in her hug and pressed her lips against his. Then she started giggling-- a song had popped into her head. Erin started humming the song, then sang out loud, "It's just tequila and the beach, it's quite salty when we kiss." More giggles. "I love that song!" she announced, keeping her hug on him. Then on impulse she snagged the sunglasses from his face and put them over her own eyes, making a few mock super-model poses and pursing her lips here and there playfully. "How do I look, my dahling?"


Yukito Maki

To dispel some of the awkward feelingand get her eyes off him for a moment, he sent a splash her direction, making her splutter and shout, "Heyyy!!"

“There, you happy?” He grouched, only half-meaning it as he tried to wash away the ice creamy goo.

“Yes!" she shouted back, giggling and making water-type sounds as she relished in her newfound ocean freedom. He opened his mouth to add more to that, but ending up choking on ocean instead as a wave shot up when he wasn't watching, nearly throwing him off his feet. He heard Erin's voice as he broke his way to the surface again, her words trickled with laughter. "Yukito!" He stood up, finding his sunglasses on crooked, pushed over by the force of the waves, and he frowned as he tried to readjust it while Erin slipped over to his side. “Nice..” He coughed a bit to clear the salt from his throat.

"Aww-w-w," Erin sympathized with a smile, hugging her arms around him. Her arms felt strange and cool covered in the salty water, but he didn't pull away from her. On the contrary, he stood still a moment, memorizing the feeling. "I freaking love you." He felt a cheerful little jolt in his stomach as she pulled him closer and down into a kiss, which felt so different with the loud roar of the ocean around them, pounding in at their ears. He leaned down to deepen the kiss, but Erin got distracted and started giggling, humming into their kiss and then pulling back to sing, "It's just tequila and the beach, it's quite salty when we kiss." Yukito chuckled, sending her a befuddled look and shaking his head, but enjoying her giddiness. "I love that song!" she announced, keeping her hug on him.

“So you want tequila now, do you? I think I can arrange that...” Suddenly, Erin reached up and pulled it sunglasses off his face, making it thud across his nose. She slipped them on herself, taking a dramatic pose and pouting out her lips. "How do I look, my dahling?" she asked him, making him smile.

Sexy. Thrilling. Happy. Heart-stopping. Better in my sunglasses than I ever could. He leaned in, always one for few words. Yukito caught her by the waist and crushed his mouth against hers, exhaling as he paused to smile at her and whisper just loud enough to be heard above the waves, “Mine,” before deepening the kiss. “Come sit with me on the beach,” he told her after awhile, taking her hand in his and leading them away from the waves as they continued to pound on him, making him unsteady in his trudge. They were most of the way back when Yukito pulled another impulsive move that would always surprise him, even though he knew it was because of Erin. He leaned over on her hard, kissing her as he knocked them both over into the water, making a terrible splash and getting sand on them. Pushing himself up on his hands, Yukito waited for Erin to resurface, then rushed in for several more kisses, holding them above the water but low enough to continue to feel the ocean brushing around between them, tickling him and making him shiver noticeably. He let out a laugh, finally standing up and holding out a hand to help Erin. “Well, now you have something to claim as one of my 'firsts', Erin Chloe Spenser,” he said, pointedly using her full name. After sitting down on one of the towels, trying half-heartedly to wipe away the sand on his arms, he added, “You're the first to ever convince me to actually come to the beach. I'd successfully avoided it until today.” Now it was his turn to lay back, closing his eyes against the blinding sun with one arm draped across his eyes. He smiled, and let out a sigh, feeling the sunlight already burning down on them. “And we're gonna have other firsts, too. You just watch and see.”


Erin Spenser

After the ocean threw Yukito off guard, Erin couldn't help but wrap him up in an affectionate hug. And she'd hold onto him as long as he'd let her. "I freaking love you." She pulled him closely into a kiss that lasted only as long as her attention, until a lyric grew in her head and made her giggle. "It's just tequila and the beach, it's quite salty when we kiss." The song snippet made Yukito chuckle, shaking her head like it was an odd thing for her to do to sing a song. "I love that song!" she explained happily, keeping her hug on him.

“So you want tequila now, do you? I think I can arrange that...”

"No!" Erin squealed in giggles. "It's a song! Drinking and swimming is a bad combination!" Without missing a beat, she reached up and pulled off the sunglasses from his face, making it thud across his nose. She slipped them on herself, taking a dramatic pose and pouting her lips. "How do I look, my dahling?"

Instead of an answer, Erin received a sudden rush of a kiss from him. "Mine," he said in her ear before continuing to take away her breath.

“Come sit with me on the beach,” he told her after awhile, and for a second Erin was speechless as she beamed at him and nodded. Yukito took her hand and walked with her cumbersomely through the water and sand. A few shells filtered up underneath her toes. Before they even fully reached the dry shore, he leaned over on her hard, kissing her suddenly as he knocked them both over into the water and sand. For a moment the salty water cascaded across her. Easily she pushed herself onto her elbows, keeping her head up above the waves as Yukito graced her with many more kisses, lifting her into his arms as the waves swept around them. It was about the most romantic thing she could remember him doing, and Erin's own kisses didn't slow. Even when he let out a laugh, pulling away to offer her a hand up back to her feet. As soon as her feet where as firmly planted as the Pacific would allow, Erin continued to lean into him for more little kisses.

“Well, now you have something to claim as one of my 'firsts', Erin Chloe Spenser,” Yukito told her, the simple way he said her name making her look up at him with a huge smile. Sure, maybe it was a little dorky for her to react that way, even after so many months with him. But she couldn't help it if she tried, which she didn't want to, because she decided she loved it. And that what he said was true-- it finally felt like they were sharing something that was just for them. A ping of memory signaled at the back of her brain at his words. "Mmm… I like having firsts with you! What's this one?"

They sat back on their towels, Yukito attempting to remove the sand from himself. Erin didn't bother-- it would fall off when she dried. Which really wouldn't be long. “You're the first to ever convince me to actually come to the beach. I'd successfully avoided it until today.” A little, happy laugh escaped Erin at Yukito's words, as he laid back on the towels. Her eyes were drawn to the fresh tattoo he'd gotten, right on his stomach like he'd planned. She had felt a sense of relief when he went through with the idea, and now a sense of happiness. In its own way it was a permanent marker of another tiny first between them. The skin was slightly red and raised where the ink had gone in, but it was less than it had been before. She was imagining what it would look like after a few more days when Yukito suddenly added, “And we're gonna have other firsts, too. You just watch and see.”

Her lips split into a new, fresh grin. "Oh, really? You have something in mind, kareshi?" she teased with a giggle, laying down next to him. Then the ping came in her head again at his words, and Erin grew a bit more somber. "You know what?" She rested her head against his shoulder. "I hope you get to see her again someday." A pause, and she clarified, thinking of the firsts she missed out on, but the ones she might get because of her. "Natalie, I mean," she added gently, honestly. "I think it's possible…" she tacked on, so that he wouldn't misunderstand her. It wasn't like she was suggesting a séance or anything. She did think it was possible, too. "Maybe I might, too… just to say thanks, at least." Erin looked over and offered a hopeful smile.


Yukito Maki

“Well, now you have something to claim as one of my 'firsts', Erin Chloe Spenser,” Yukito told her with a smile, coming up to their things set out on the sand.

"Mmm… I like having firsts with you! What's this one?"she asked as they made themselves comfortable on the towels. Yukito brushed away some of the sand off his legs, sure it wasn't going away quite yet, but getting the majority off anyways so it would stay off his towel.

Yukito lifted his eyes to squint across the brightly sunlit beach, letting out a sigh, “You're the first to ever convince me to actually come to the beach. I'd successfully avoided it until today.” A little, happy laugh escaped Erin at Yukito's words, as he laid back on the towels. He laid an arm across his eyes to block off the sun, letting out a sigh as the heat quickly started to dry them both. “And we're gonna have other firsts, too. You just watch and see.”

"Oh, really? You have something in mind, kareshi?" she teased with a giggle, laying down next to him. He just smiled, lifting his arm enough to peek over at her with a boyish smirk.

“Never. Not me...” he added in sarcasm, replacing the arm over his eyes and feeling suddenly quite tired and happy.

"You know what?" She rested her head against his shoulder as he let out a little, “Mm?” sound. "I hope you get to see her again someday."

“Hm?” he lifted his arm again, this time looking at her in slight confusion. "Natalie, I mean,"she added gently. Yukito didn't say anything, feeling still that heavy delicacy of the subject and all its surrounding wounds. Was this how it was, that she could bring Natalie up, and he wasn't allowed to? Was this to be something always lightly touched upon for him, but not fully dealt with? He was surprised Erin even said her name aloud. "I think it's possible…Maybe I might, too… just to say thanks, at least." Erin looked over and offered a hopeful smile. Yukito was quiet, shifting where he lay again and feeling a shift in his feelings just as potent.

“What do you mean 'see her again'?” he wondered aloud, although he knew perfectly well what she meant. He didn't want to believe in that kind of a lie. Or at least, that's what his mind screamed at him whenever the idea came up. Don't set yourself up for heartache, don't live by emotions alone... all that sort of thing. But it wasn't so easy to mask his fear and confusion on the whole subject. He felt like Erin's God had already condemned Natalie long ago, and everyone thought it was deserved, and all Natalie's fault. So why would Erin even mention seeing her again like it was a possibility?

What do I say now? he wondered hopelessly, falling to silence because his mind wasn't used to just handling Natalie in a real conversation anymore. Yukito shifted over to his side, reaching over and touching gently the skin around the new bellybutton piercing she'd got, a new mark they'd both gone in together to receive.

“I really think you would have liked her...” he murmured, feeling like a child wishing for something even though he knew it would just keep hurting if he did. “I know she would have loved you...” His hand trailed across her until it found her cheek, then his hand ran through her hair as he lifted his eyes to meet hers. “I'm sorry you have to live with her ghost now...” That hand in her hair wrapped the long, colored strands around his fingertip absently, as he added in a quieter voice, trying to sound more prepared for her answer than he actually was. “Do you honestly think that's a possibility?”


Erin Spenser

"You know what?" Erin said suddenly, resting against him.

“Mm?”

"I hope you get to see her again someday." She said it before she thought about it. Half of her wondered if she'd just ruined the moment-- would he get depressed because of what she said now? That would be terrible…

“Hm?”

"Natalie, I mean," she added gently. His hesitation didn't register with her, and she tok his silence as a cue to continue. So she did. "I think it's possible…Maybe I might, too… just to say thanks, at least." Erin looked over and offered a hopeful smile. Yukito still didn't say anything. Did he not hear her or something? "…Yukito?"

“What do you mean 'see her again'?”

"I mean just what I mean. You know. Not like, séances or anything… I think those are a load of crap anyway. But, you know, just one day. In the future. The really distant future, hopefully… but still. I like to think we get the chance one day to say at least thank you to the people who impacted us. You know? Because I know that's what she did for you. And I don't think we'd even get to be here now without her. That's all."

Quietly, Yukito shifted over to his side, reaching over and touching gently the skin at the new piercing she'd gotten. The gesture sent hyperactive butterflies up through her stomach. Yes, bellybutton ring was definitely a good idea. “I really think you would have liked her...” he murmured. “I know she would have loved you...”

"Really?" The simple phrase prompted an impulsive sigh of relief from Erin. "That's so good to hear, you have no idea." She looked over at him with a lighter smile, matching her lighter shoulders. "You don't know how many times I thought she might hate me. You know, for like, loving you so much…" She laughed, a bit nervously at how dumb her words sounded. "That sounds so dumb… True, but dumb…" The words trailed off into giggles as Yukito's hand moved to rest against her cheek, then her hair.

“I'm sorry you have to live with her ghost now...”

"Don't be sorry," she responded easily, honestly. "Told you, she's part of why we're here. And I like this 'here'. A lot."

His hand was wrapped in her hair now. “Do you honestly think that's a possibility?”

"Well, yeah." Erin's voice carried the tone of the obvious. "Why would I bring it up if I didn't believe it?" She sat up a little, suddenly feeling serious. It was an odd feeling. "Yukito, I know what you've been told about people whose lives end the way hers did. And I get it, it makes sense… but… You know, they say that because the idea is you have to have time to ask for forgiveness before you die and stuff… But that's like, how we work, on technicalities. Because we can't really know someone's heart the way God does, so…" Erin pointed her index finger into the sand and started to doodle. "We have to work with time and stuff, and with what we hear from people's mouths as the best way to see what's inside them. But I think God gets her. I think he knew Natalie's heart, you know? I don't think he'd reject her because of actions. I don't think he rejects anyone because of actions… So, yeah, I do think it's possible. I know not everyone thinks that way." She shrugged. "But I do, and you deserve the chance to see her again." For a moment she smiled at him, then shifted into a confused expression. "Is that wrong to say or something?" A shrug. "Because it's true."


Yukito Maki

With Erin's softly spoken words he was hit with an onslaught of memories. It whisked around them, keeping them sectioned off from the noisy beach and making it feel very far away, and making him believe they were alone, with no interruptions. Just them, and this discussion of a ghost that hadn't stopped haunting them yet. He would be lying if he said he didn't think about her a lot. He would be lying if he said he didn't miss her anymore, that he hadn't really loved her. But in a strange, indescribable way, he felt as if that didn't change or effect the way he was now, the way he felt as he reached out to Erin and touched her, feeling shy and uncertain in wording his thoughts, but sure that she would wait for him to find the right ones. Sure that he could be close to her. “I really think you would have liked her...” he murmured. “I know she would have loved you...”

"Really?" She sounded so surprised he glanced up into her face as she let out a sigh of relief. "That's so good to hear, you have no idea." An amused smile lit on his face, wondering if Erin had been too worried about impressing a dead girl from his past. The smile faded fast, though, as she continued. "You don't know how many times I thought she might hate me. You know, for like, loving you so much…That sounds so dumb… True, but dumb…"

“Why the hell would she hate you for loving me?” he let out a little chuckle to mirror her nervous laugh. Then, more soberly, he added, “And I don't think Natalie felt the same way about me as I did her, anyways. She was the type to move on quickly, and she would have wanted me to do the same.” Shifting slightly, and curling up a bit more, he added, “Unfortunately, that's what I tried to do with Yumi...and you see how that ended...” He lifted his hand to rest against Erin's cheek, his mind forming a symphony to explain how much better this felt than anything before it. His hand found her hair, playing with it as his eyes, wandering along the path of his hands, expressed his apology before his mouth ever did. “I'm sorry you have to live with her ghost now...”

"Don't be sorry,"[b/] she responded easily, honestly. "Told you, she's part of why we're here. And I like this 'here'. A lot."

“I happen to like this 'here', too,” he murmured, twisting her hair around his finger. A long pause as he considered her words, flipping back to the earlier portion of their conversation. “Do you honestly think that's a possibility?”

Without needing him to explain what he meant, she answered easily, "Well, yeah. Why would I bring it up if I didn't believe it?"

She sat up, and he replied quietly, softly, with a trace of hope in his words that he was wrong in his assumption. That she wasn't like others in this way. “Just to make me feel better.”

"Yukito, I know what you've been told about people whose lives end the way hers did. And I get it, it makes sense… but… You know, they say that because the idea is you have to have time to ask for forgiveness before you die and stuff… But that's like, how we work, on technicalities. Because we can't really know someone's heart the way God does, so…" Erin pointed her index finger into the sand and started to doodle,while he made no answer. "We have to work with time and stuff, and with what we hear from people's mouths as the best way to see what's inside them. But I think God gets her. I think he knew Natalie's heart, you know? I don't think he'd reject her because of actions. I don't think he rejects anyone because of actions… So, yeah, I do think it's possible. I know not everyone thinks that way." She shrugged. "But I do, and you deserve the chance to see her again."

He didn't respond, seeing holes in her logic but not wording them, knowing it didn't really matter, since it was the way Erin saw it. Besides, wasn't there some sort of black hole for logic around the realms of religion, anyways? Religion was too much a reflection of humanity in that way. All up to interpretation. For a moment she smiled at him, then shifted into a confused expression. "Is that wrong to say or something?" A shrug. "Because it's true."

He lifted one shoulder in a return shrug, “You can say what you like, so long as it's not a threat against the emperor or something.” A brief smile as he shifted again, finding his stomach too warm in the direct sun. “I do have to agree with you on one thing – if there is a God, he isn't much like people. Like, you and me. But I have a question for you – if God doesn't judge people on their actions, then what is there for my father?” A pause, “Because you said they're judged on their hearts. And my father used to love me...and my mother, too. So if he is judged on his heart, then perhaps there is still some love there...it's what my mother always waited for. If his actions are insignificant because his heart wasn't in them, his drunkenness was, then what does your God say to that?” He sat up to join her, his knees drawn up against his still sore belly and his sand-covered arms wrapping around his legs. “This is a very serious discussion for a beach...”


Erin Spenser

Yukito asked, so she answered, albeit not very elegantly or sensibly. It somehow managed to all make sense in her head, but when she tried to communicate what she felt was true, half of it got forgotten somewhere deep inside, or was too intricate to try to stick into words. And Yukito kept distracting her.

Eventually, he lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “You can say what you like, so long as it's not a threat against the emperor or something.” Erin laughed. "Mental note-- check!"

He moved again next to her, then continued. “I do have to agree with you on one thing – if there is a God, he isn't much like people. Like, you and me. But I have a question for you – if God doesn't judge people on their actions, then what is there for my father?”

Erin looked at him for a moment, unsure of how to explain she didn't know what exactly he meant. She didn't say judge, did she?

“Because you said they're judged on their hearts. And my father used to love me...and my mother, too. So if he is judged on his heart, then perhaps there is still some love there...it's what my mother always waited for. If his actions are insignificant because his heart wasn't in them, his drunkenness was, then what does your God say to that?”

She smiled. "Yukito… I love you, but I'm not God. Just because I believe in him doesn't mean I get everything… or a lot of things. But I still think that he doesn't reject people based on what they've done… If they want him, they want him… If not, they don't…."

Now Yukito sat up to join her, pulling his knees to himself. She took a finger to brush off some of the sand that came with him. “This is a very serious discussion for a beach...” he announced.

Erin laughed. "No way! I thought it was so lighthearted and bouncy and stuff! Have you ever made a sand castle?"


Yukito Maki

“I do have to agree with you on one thing – if there is a God, he isn't much like people. Like, you and me. But I have a question for you – if God doesn't judge people on their actions, then what is there for my father? Because you said they're judged on their hearts. And my father used to love me...and my mother, too. So if he is judged on his heart, then perhaps there is still some love there...it's what my mother always waited for. If his actions are insignificant because his heart wasn't in them, his drunkenness was, then what does your God say to that?”

She smiled. "Yukito… I love you, but I'm not God. Just because I believe in him doesn't mean I get everything… or a lot of things. But I still think that he doesn't reject people based on what they've done… If they want him, they want him… If not, they don't…."

It sounded like a cop-out to him. An excuse to say, 'I just don't get it either' on nicer terms. He sat up, feeling the need to change the subject and relieve some of the heaviness of the conversation. Somehow they had gone from being happy over the beach, to Natalie, to religion. And he wasn't sure if either of them really wanted to face the realities of this yet. He knew he didn't want to. “This is a very serious discussion for a beach...” he announced.

Erin laughed. "No way! I thought it was so lighthearted and bouncy and stuff! Have you ever made a sand castle?"

“Um...maybe in a sandbox when I was three or four...” he murmured hesitantly, looking skeptically over at the damp sand. It seemed like terrible building material, but it could be fun. “I was more of a runner than a builder when I was little. I guess I didn't sit still very long...” he shrugged, moving closer to her and leaning over until he could nuzzle into her hair gently. He followed close behind her, refreshing that closeness by little touches while they started on a sand castle. The sand was wet and rough beneath his fingertips, the tiny grains rubbing and rolling against his skin. The waves continued to roar next to them, and Yukito laughed with her and lightly shoved her with his shoulder when they worked too close, moving her away and then moving closer himself as part of the game. But his mind kept wandering, and he soon fell to a somber silence as he patted the ground together in the vague shape of a lumpy wall. He tried to shake himself out of his thoughts, but the more he avoided them, the more it pressed on him.

“Erin...” he murmured quietly, staring down at his working hands, “I mean it when I say she would have liked you. You guys were...uh...are...” He struggled with which word was correct, frowned, then moved on, “A lot alike. She liked most of the same music you do.” A long pause, and a fear struck him that this would continue to blacken their afternoon. “But she couldn't sing. Definitely nothing like you.” Another pause, and a little smile had appeared on his lips. “I remember first hearing you sing. I remember when you first played a song for me that you had wrote. It was for some dumb talent show...and I remember thinking 'there's something...something like me there. It's colored and shaped differently, but it's still alike'.” He finally, slowly looked up at her face. “To be honest, Erin, I believe Natalie would be jealous of you. And of today. You see, Natalie was always pushing people around. She liked to make them try new things, to push the boundary line. It's because of Natalie I can do this," he leaned forward and touched his lips to her cheek. "She insisted I move forward and stop wallowing. But because of you, I do this.." He leaned forward and pressed his mouth on hers, his sand-covered hand trailing in her hair and getting entangled while he deepened the kiss, finally pulling away to inhale.


Erin Spenser

“This is a very serious discussion for a beach...” Yukito decided.

Erin laughed, enjoying the quiet segue into more lighthearted territory-- though she had wanted to let him know honestly what she'd been feeling . And now that she had, they could get back to business-- which was no business at all. "No way! I thought it was so lighthearted and bouncy and stuff! Have you ever made a sand castle?"

“Um...maybe in a sandbox when I was three or four...” Somehow the murmured answer didn't surprise her so much. He didn't seem to have much of the same childhood experiences she did. It was kind of a bummer, but at least in that way, Erin could build her own memories with him. "I was more of a runner than a builder when I was little. I guess I didn't sit still very long...”

Erin laughed. "Then you must've gotten that all out of you when you were little!" She could picture him now posed for the longest time, meditating on something he'd read or something someone had said…. He would never admit it, she was sure, but Yukito could be such a cute nerd.

He shrugged, moving closer to her and leaning over until he could nuzzle into her hair gently. They played in the sand like kids, Erin's experienced hands leading the pattern as Yukito half-followed, half-played along with her. He was a bit clumsier, being it was his first real try, and many times it made Erin giggle. Soon, though, his more serious tone came back.

“Erin… I mean it when I say she would have liked you. You guys were...uh...are...” He paused, Erin waited, and then he continued, “A lot alike. She liked most of the same music you do.”

The comment made Erin smile. "Like your music!" she said brightly.

“But she couldn't sing. Definitely nothing like you.” Erin chortled at that. She was sure Natalie had her own things she could do that Erin would suck at. Her mind drifted to Yukito's guitar. Yeah, they definitely had different talents. “I remember first hearing you sing. I remember when you first played a song for me that you had wrote. It was for some dumb talent show...and I remember thinking 'there's something...something like me there. It's colored and shaped differently, but it's still alike'.”

The compliments and beautiful words sank into Erin's ears, making her smile happily as she poked more detail into the sand castle-- a puncture with her finger to make a "window". "I like being in talent shows," she objected playfully. "I kick butt in them."

Yukito looked up at her. So serious. “To be honest, Erin, I believe Natalie would be jealous of you. And of today." He must have seen a confused look on her face, because he went on to explain, "You see, Natalie was always pushing people around. She liked to make them try new things, to push the boundary line. It's because of Natalie I can do this." He leaned forward and touched his lips to her cheek. "She insisted I move forward and stop wallowing. But because of you, I do this.." He leaned forward and pressed his mouth on hers, his sand-covered hand trailing in her hair and getting entangled while he deepened the kiss, finally pulling away, and Erin could breathe again.

For a moment, though, all she could do was stay there and stare at him, heart beating a million times a minute. And for another moment, she tried to get out a smooth statement declaring the success of the kiss-- something eloquent, like "woah" or "wow"… After two more moments passed, Erin gave up and just said, sounding rather dumb in her own ears, "I like that one better." So can we do it again? she thought, but her mind had gone blank again on how to connect to her voice. Suddenly she blurted, "I love the beach!" and, breaking her moment of silence, sprang a hug on Yukito that even she didn't see coming.

[Endddddzzz...because this site can only take SO much making out. ]

[Elda Forever]

The Question - Yukirin

~~

Yukito Maki

If it was physically possible, then today Yukito was high off of butterflies. Well, tonight, actually. He was jittery and excited, and it was hard to hide it. They milled around most of the evening, Erin whining about not wanting to get ready to go home. He knew she was wishing they could stay at least another year. But he also knew she was starting to get homesick. It had been difficult enough for her, getting used to suddenly living outside her parent's home. And when she had finally adjusted to that, he'd swept off with her across the world. They called her a lot, and he knew one of the many reasons why was because he'd gone to talk to them before they left. There had been a very important question he needed answered by them. That Erin had no clue about, even today. Yukito laid sprawled as much as he could across the tiny bed, most of his things already packed. Because he knew, and she didn't. He knew tomorrow wouldn't be full of much task-complete-ting at all. And the thought made it very hard to fight a smile. So he buried his face in a pillow and pretended to be taking a minute-nap. His eyes peered over at the clock, seeing that it was almost eleven. He wondered if he could make it that long. He knew Erin would be energetic as much longer as she needed to. He sat up and looked over at her, pausing for a moment to watch her while she was unawares. He smiled. She was so beautiful, and so talkative, and loyal... And she was so ready for them to move forward. He knew it was time. He wiped the smile from his face, years of lying finally coming in handy for something good.

"Erin? Let's go out somewhere," he said suddenly, propping himself up on his elbows. "You want to see a beach at night? It's probably illegal to do here, but I don't think either of us should be too concerned with a criminal record, since we're leaving day after tomorrow anyways." A smirk crossed his face, and he stood up to take her hand. "Hurry up and grab your shoes!"


Erin Spenser

She wasn't ready to go home. She wasn't ready for another all-day flight, and she'd told Yukito so in no uncertain terms that day as he was packing. Erin was determined to put off packing as long as possible. At least that way it wasn't so final. And it still didn't feel like they'd done half the things she'd wanted to do. If she had it her way, they might just stay and do everything… Her parents had kept calling her and emailing her, and once she had even managed to skype with them on a borrowed webcam, and it wasn't even in a suffocating way. It was in a way that just made her miss them more, which she hadn't realized she'd been doing. But he had, and in Japan it was harder, especially because they both sounded so happy whenever they talked. But there was so much more here she hadn't done yet! And Erin wasn't ready to be stuck on a plane again. But, she'd told Yukito earlier in one of his packing moments, it would at least be better with him, though. It was too scary alone, but she didn't say that part aloud. Erin felt sure already that he knew, and that was bad enough.

Now she sat next to Yukito on their hotel bed as he lay down perfectly still next to her. Yukito had left some of the yakitori from their last meal, so Erin sat next to him finishing it. No fridge, she would argue if he teased her. She was being responsible! Erin laughed quietly at the thought.

Suddenly Yukito popped up, and were it not for the suddenness, Erin would have thought she'd woken him. He must not have been sleeping very heavily… Weird.

"Erin? Let's go out somewhere."

"Huh?" Erin laughed a little at the sudden suggestion. "Last time you were all 'everything's closed this late!" Not that she would complain at all if they did go out.

"You want to see a beach at night?" he asked her, propping himself up on his elbow. "It's probably illegal to do here, but I don't think either of us should be too concerned with a criminal record, since we're leaving day after tomorrow anyways."

Her smile grew wider. It was so rare to see this side of Yukito, the one that got the sudden ideas and impulses to go out and do something. She loved it. Erin sat up straighter. "Sure!" Anything to put off the trip back, and anything to explore more sides of Japan with Yukito. She couldn't remember seeing the beach at night.

Yukito was already up, holding his hand out to her with a smirk. "Hurry up and grab your shoes!"

Now that made her laugh. Erin grabbed his hand and let him help he to her feet. "What got into you?" she giggled, slipping on her shoes and turning toward him again. "Not that I mind or anything," Erin added quickly, teasing him. "I'm ready!" She slipped her arm into his and headed out the door. "It isn't really illegal to go on a beach, is it?" Erin asked with giggles of disbelief.

The train seemed to go by slower at night, and the whole place --the whole country for that matter-- was different at night. It always was, and she wondered why anyone would close anything here. New York never closed anything… The beach itself was much, much quieter. It was weirdly empty. And weirdly beautiful. The moon was a white crescent reflecting on the waves, so little glints of moonlight jumped form crest to crest until the darkness of the ocean swallowed them. Immediately Erin took off her shoes and felt the midnight sand under her feet, in between her toes. Again, she pulled Yukito close to her. Summer or not, the ocean had a breeze, and the darkness made it a cool one. It was a wonderful excuse to hold close to him. "It's so different now," she observed quietly. "What kind of stuff you think comes out here at night?" A glance up at him, and she giggled. "Like monster-night-crabs! Raaahraw!" With her free hand she mimed a claw snapping at Yukito's nose and laughed. "Let's just stay here. Forget all that airport crap. Okay? Good deal?" Erin grinned and kissed his cheek.


Yukito Maki

"Erin? Let's go out somewhere."

"Huh?" Erin laughed a little at the sudden suggestion. "Last time you were all 'everything's closed this late!"

He ignored her argument. It would be moot in a moment. "You want to see a beach at night?" he asked her, propping himself up on his elbow. "It's probably illegal to do here, but I don't think either of us should be too concerned with a criminal record, since we're leaving day after tomorrow anyways."

Her smile grew wider, warming up quickly to the suggestion. "Sure!" He smiled, holding his hands out to her and urging her to hurry up, making her laugh. He took note of the way her hand fit easily in his as she accepted his help up. "What got into you?" she giggled, slipping on her shoes and turning toward him again. "Not that I mind or anything," Erin added quickly, teasing him. "I'm ready!" She slipped her arm into his and headed out the door. "It isn't really illegal to go on a beach, is it?" Erin asked with giggles of disbelief. He just shrugged and smirked at her, not answering any of her questions and knowing the most important one of the night would be his.

The train couldn't have taken longer to get to the beach, he was sure. They snuck onto the empty beach, the sand still littered with marks of a hundred feet, the tide much higher than he recalled and lapping up towards them like an eager, but heavy hand. The moon was seemingly smiling down on them, offering just enough illumination without loosening its hold on the shadows. Their shoes were immediately discarded, forgotten and covered in sand as they started off, a bit of a breeze pulling them forward as they walked across the beach. It was as beautiful as he had hoped it would be. He smiled as he pulled her closer, thinking he'd spotted the place they had set up their stuff during their daytime trip here.

"It's so different now," she observed quietly, as though a loud voice over the thrum of the waves would disturb the tranquility. "What kind of stuff you think comes out here at night?" A glance up at him, and she giggled. "Like monster-night-crabs! Raaahraw!" He stared at her for a moment, then chuckled as Erin mimed a claw that looked more like a tiger claw than a crab in the dark. "Let's just stay here. Forget all that airport crap. Okay? Good deal?" Erin grinned and kissed his cheek.

“Okay,” he breathed, taking her hand in his, entwining their fingers. Her hand was empty now, but.... He smiled. “Erin? Where do you think we'll be in three years?” Yukito dropped his head, tilting it to his head rested against hers. “It's a long way ahead, isn't it? But the last two have been...wow..” He squeezed her hand. “I wouldn't have thought we'd come this far, looking back on those first weeks. I didn't know where I was going. I felt alone, and always unhappy. To be honest, I've always been a little jealous of you. Haha...you were always so happy, just being yourself. So pretty, but not full of it... You've got these pretty cool parents, and you can actually talk to them.. And you care about people, in a big way. I didn't know people could be that sincere...I didn't know I'd fall in love with you.” Yukito smirked, pulling his head away to meet her eyes. “Erin. I brought you here for a reason. I wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. I consider us in this....this relationship for good. You, and me. No matter how much else goes wrong for me, I know I can count on you. And I want you to know you can count on me.” He chuckled, “Now, you've already proven this to me about a hundred times, but now it's my turn to prove it to you.” Yukito took hold of both of her hands, and knelt down in front of her on the sand, his cheeks aching from the smile on his face. “Erin Chloe Spenser? I want you to know I'll always be there for you. I want you to be so sure of that, you can swear to it until your dying day. I want to show the world, for you to have proof that I'll always love you. That you'll be my first for a hundred things, and you'll always be the last, and most important. That I'll know you're the prettiest. That we'll share a million memories. Like T.P.-ing the park, or having food fights, or arguing over the Beatles. Or sneaking onto Tokyo beaches at night. ” He squeezed her hands, then reached into his jeans pocket to pull out his gift to her. “I want you in my life forever, Erin Spenser. But I'm going to have to ask you to do one thing for me first. And it involves changing your name." He paused, "Erin?” His smile broadened. “Will you marry me?”


Erin Spenser

"What kind of stuff you think comes out here at night?" Erin asked, then answered herself, gnashing her fingers like little claws at his nose. "Like monster-night-crabs! Raaahraw!" Finally she elicited a laugh from him, a quiet and subdued one that somehow still satisfied. The moment passed, and she announced in a moment of pure contentment, "Let's just stay here. Forget all that airport crap. Okay? Good deal?" As if sealing it, she kissed Yukito's cheek.

“Okay,” Yukito agreed easily, much to her surprise. She'd expected a laugh and some boring explanation as to why that couldn't happen, or that he liked America better or something. But the easy agreement was good, too.

He took her hand in his, feeling the familiar creases and textures of his palm and fingertips against her skin. "Well, that was easy," she announced quietly, teasing him lightly.

“Erin? Where do you think we'll be in three years?”

Her smile widened as her eyes memorized the moonlighted waves. "We could be anywhere," she responded confidently. Hopefully. "So much great stuff still gets to happen!"

Yukito dropped his head, resting it against hers. She inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of Yukito crashing perfectly against the salty beach. “It's a long way ahead, isn't it? But the last two have been...wow..” He squeezed her hand, and she grinned, giggling lightly. She knew what he meant, she was sure. “I wouldn't have thought we'd come this far, looking back on those first weeks. I didn't know where I was going. I felt alone, and always unhappy. To be honest, I've always been a little jealous of you." The words surprised her, and her face showed it in the half-darkness, but suddenly she wanted to say nothing-- to just let him go and hear his voice. "Haha...you were always so happy, just being yourself. So pretty, but not full of it... You've got these pretty cool parents, and you can actually talk to them.. And you care about people, in a big way. I didn't know people could be that sincere...I didn't know I'd fall in love with you.” All his words just piled into her heart, and she wondered if her chest would be strong enough to keep it from exploding-- she decided she didn't care. Erin was pretty sure she had never heard him say he'd fallen in love with her before, and she hadn't expected to hear it at all now, and it was almost enough to make her knees weak. Al the things he said about her… a seed of hope called out at the back of her mind.

Yukito smirked, pulling his head away to meet her eyes. “Erin. I brought you here for a reason. I wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. I consider us in this....this relationship for good. You, and me. No matter how much else goes wrong for me, I know I can count on you. And I want you to know you can count on me.” He chuckled, and her heart started hammering like crazy. The seed of hope sprouted into anticipation, and wouldn't shut up. “Now, you've already proven this to me about a hundred times, but now it's my turn to prove it to you.” Yukito took hold of both of her hands, and knelt down in front of her on the sand. And Erin gasped before she could stop herself, eyes wide in the darkness. No… Her breath caught. She was frozen. Stupidly, wonderfully frozen. “Erin Chloe Spenser? I want you to know I'll always be there for you. I want you to be so sure of that, you can swear to it until your dying day. I want to show the world, for you to have proof that I'll always love you. That you'll be my first for a hundred things, and you'll always be the last, and most important. That I'll know you're the prettiest. That we'll share a million memories. Like T.P.-ing the park, or having food fights, or arguing over the Beatles. Or sneaking onto Tokyo beaches at night. ” He squeezed her hands, and she felt herself sway a little when one hand he took to reach into his pocket. Right… breathe…. He was holding a ring. And it was like everything inside her exploded into fireworks. “I want you in my life forever, Erin Spenser. But I'm going to have to ask you to do one thing for me first. And it involves changing your name." Once again, she'd stopped breathing, and her head was screaming, "Yes, yes, say yes now, idiot! YES!" Yukito continued. "Erin?” His smile broadened. “Will you marry me?”

Then she did scream, suddenly and dizzily falling into a fierce hug, sinking to meet him on the sand. "Yes! Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!" More "yeses" came between excited kisses, though that didn't last very long. Traditions kicked into Erin's head, and she pulled back a little, feeling herself shaking like a leaf in elation. "The ring!" she half-gasped, half-giggled out. "You-- you need the ring! On my-- hand!" Grinning wider than she thought she ever could, Erin held out her shuddering right hand. Then took it back and held out the left. Then held out both, laughing a little. "I forget which one! Oh, let me see it, I didn't even look!" More laughs and another tight hug that led to an impassioned kiss. "I love you!! And I don't know why I'm crying and shaking, and I always thought girls who cried at this stuff were weird, because why do you cry when you're so happy? But I don't know and I don't care and I love you and I can't wait to be your wife!!"


Yukito Maki

Yukito actually wasn't so surprised by the stunned silence coming from Erin, as rare as it was. He could see in the dim light the shocked and mind-blown look on her face, as he held out his humble ring for her. “I want you in my life forever, Erin Spenser. But I'm going to have to ask you to do one thing for me first. And it involves changing your name." He paused, and she didn't respond. "Erin?” His smile broadened, “Will you marry me?”

The words were the flicker of flame set to a stick of dynamite, as Erin exploded into a scream of sheer happiness, tackling him in the sand and nearly knocking him over with her kisses. "Yes! Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!" When she pulled back, she was actually quivering from excitement, and the sound of her frantic 'yes's made it harder and harder for him to breathe, too, as he let out laughter drowned in a dizzy high. Oh my God...she said yes...! Something in him hadn't fully accepted the possibility of her acceptance, of the reality of getting married to her. To have all the shared things they wanted to share, and to have that kind of promise. "The ring!" she half-gasped, half-giggled out, pulling back from him. "You-- you need the ring! On my-- hand!" They both grinned at each other as though sharing some highly excitable secret, kept from everyone else, and he fumbled to pick up the ring in the sand, scared out of his wits for one killer moment he thought he'd lost it. But it was sitting next to his leg, and he picked it up and turned to Erin, who offered him her right hand, then her left, then her right again, laughing. "I forget which one! Oh, let me see it, I didn't even look!"

He had no freaking clue which hand, either, so he just took Erin's right hand and slipped it on, not sure if that was the right one, but too dizzy to care. They would have to sort it out later. Yukito held up her hand so she could see it, feeling that smile return to his face that hurt. More laughter, another wind-stealing hug from Erin and one of those kisses she could give that turned his insides out and made his head implode and his skin burn. "I love you!! And I don't know why I'm crying and shaking, and I always thought girls who cried at this stuff were weird, because why do you cry when you're so happy? But I don't know and I don't care and I love you and I can't wait to be your wife!!"

“Taiyou no Namida,” he said with a chuckle, brushing away the hair from her face. “Tears of the sun.” He leaned in to kiss her, feeling sand brush roughly against their cheeks and fall from his shaking hands as they entangled in her hair. It was a promise kiss, to go with his promising ring. “I love you,” he whispered, his words muffled by the ocean next to them. “I want to be your husband.” The word sounded more foreign to him than any word in any language before, and it tasted strange in his mouth. His forehead found hers in the dim light, their noses touching gently as he chuckled some more, the world still spinning around him as he tried to find some stable ground for his mind to rest on, and found none. “I chose your birthstone for it... I thought it fit, and it looked nice, so..” he shrugged a little, unsure how to explain why the pretty little ring had appealed to him. It just fit them better than the huge expensive ones, even if he could have afforded those. It fit them better than a nothing ring that was trying to be demure. It fit them better in its in-between, it's soft and strong, it's light-colored stone and the gentle design of the silver band. It fit them. It fit Erin. Even if it felt like an intruder when he entwined his hand in hers, pulling her closer. He would get used to it. “I heard a rumor, Erin...” he smirked mischievously, “About a girl who wrote 'Erin Maki' on her school binders once... And I've always wondered if that was true.”


Erin Spenser

Shaking from excitement, Erin held out one hand, then the other, then the first one again, for the ring. The ring. She had a ring, because Yukito wanted to marry her. "I forget which one!" she said, giving him both hands and grinning wider than should have been possible. "Oh, let me see it, I didn't even look!"

Yukito didn't seem to bother with which had was the right one, which was fine by her. She beamed, feeling sure she was dreaming now and might wake up any minute, as the night lights glinted quietly off the tiny gem on her finger. Right there on her hand was a promise she had been dreaming to see one day. And it was real. More laughter, more hugs, and another elated, breathless kiss. "I love you!! And I don't know why I'm crying and shaking, and I always thought girls who cried at this stuff were weird, because why do you cry when you're so happy? But I don't know and I don't care and I love you and I can't wait to be your wife!!"

Yukito chuckled, brushing away the hair from her face as he spoke in Japanese. He didn't have to translate, it was beautiful on its own. But he did. “Tears of the sun.” He leaned in to kiss her long and deep. “I love you,” he whispered finally, his words muffled by the ocean next to them. Her kiss was her response. She didn't trust herself to speak right now anyway. “I want to be your husband.”

"Husband," Erin managed to echo airily, almost in disbelief. "I like that… so much…" She kissed him again, clinging to him automatically. Everything couldn't be more right than right now. Nothing the rest of her life would compete with this. She was sure of it.

“I chose your birthstone for it…" It took a moment for her to realize he meant the ring. She lifted her hand for another look and grinned. "I thought it fit, and it looked nice, so..”

"It's beautiful," she murmured happily. "It's perfect." It's ours!

“I heard a rumor, Erin...” Yukito started, holding her newly-adorned hand in his. Her heart was about to explode through her chest with each passing minute. “About a girl who wrote 'Erin Maki' on her school binders once... And I've always wondered if that was true.”

Immediately, the giggles poured out like a salt from a salt shaker. "More than once!" she blurted, hugging him tighter than before. "I couldn't help it! I've always wanted to be Erin Maki!" Another squeal escaped, a translation of "and now I can!" that couldn't be expressed, and she kissed Yukito again. "I love you! I love this beach! I love Japan! I love my new name! Omigod, I can't wait to tell everyone! I don't care if they're strangers on the street who don't speak a word of English-- I wanna tell them all! I love you!"


Yukito Maki

Erin seemed to be in another world, her eyes sparkling and her words sounded distant and airy, as though she was sleep-walking and incapable of bringing herself back to reality. The instant her lips created the word 'husband' for the first time, Yukito started feeling a little dizzy himself. A shiver rose up on his back and continued every time her smile grew, or each time her decorated hand moved.

“I chose your birthstone for it…" he muttered lamely, finding nothing else coming to mind for him to say. Erin lifted her hand and grinned, sending a new shiver of excitement through him, though he couldn't have described why with any eloquence due the situation. "I thought it fit, and it looked nice, so..”

"It's beautiful," she murmured happily. "It's perfect."

Trying very hard to keep the hundreds of cheesy responses to that behind his smile, he took her hand in his, feeling for the ring he had just put there. “I heard a rumor, Erin...” Yukito started, slowly, “About a girl who wrote 'Erin Maki' on her school binders once... And I've always wondered if that was true.”

Erin started giggling like a little girl, blurting out, "More than once!" and leaping forward to hug him. Yukito let out a slow, happy sigh. Mostly because she was able to do this, hold him like this, on a dark cool night hidden from everyone. Because she could hold him and kiss him all she wanted. Because now he was ready to be this person for her, to be there for her. It felt like a nightmare had passed, dissipating into a glorious waking up he had previously only kept in dreams and wishes. "I couldn't help it! I've always wanted to be Erin Maki!" A squeal, and then another kiss. Would she ever truly know what she had done? That she had sent jitters through his stomach and sent little shivers up and down his spine that were as addicting as her smiles? That he'd never felt safer with anybody, never wondered that they would come to hate each other one day. Never wondered if she would stop loving him.

And now they were going to share a name.

"I love you! I love this beach! I love Japan! I love my new name! Omigod, I can't wait to tell everyone! I don't care if they're strangers on the street who don't speak a word of English-- I wanna tell them all! I love you!" He laughed openly at her antics, pulling her to his side in that automatic position they had discovered exclusively for walking-plus-cuddling purposes, shoulders as close as physically capable and him leaning over to catch scent of her hair.

“You can tell anyone you wish, Erin. But I would suggest you wait until morning. A lot of people are trying to sleep.” He inhaled sharply, moving even further forward to catch her cheek with a quick kiss. After a moment, a smile flashed across his face, hitting him with a sudden feeling of exhilaration he couldn't hide. In a flippant tone that teased and played with the situation, he commented, “So tomorrow I am taking you back home, with both of us pierced and tattooed in odd places, much poorer, and engaged. What will your parents say?” He caught her in another, longer kiss on the lips, then pulled her toward the street and the journey home. “Luckily I warned them about the engagement bit already...” He chuckled, lifting his head to a passing bus that squealed along in the busy traffic, the hum of a city that refused to say goodnight. "We should get back...I bet the trains are going to shut down soon..."


Erin Spenser

"I love you! I love this beach! I love Japan! I love my new name! Omigod, I can't wait to tell everyone!" Erin shouted. "I don't care if they're strangers on the street who don't speak a word of English-- I wanna tell them all! I love you!"

Yukito took her into his stride, Erin pulling herself as close into him as possible without hindering their walk. They were walking. On the beach. At night. Under the moon. On their engagement night. She had a ring. She had a fiancé. She was going to have a new name. And she could scream it out to everyone! "We're really engaged!" she squeaked out. "I can't wait to…"

“You can tell anyone you wish, Erin," Yukito finished for her as they strolled. " But I would suggest you wait until morning. A lot of people are trying to sleep.”

"Who's sleeping now?" Erin quickly objected, now wider awake than she could remember. She tossed her head back and yelled to the empty beach, "HEY, ARE YOU SLEEPING OUT THERE?" Then she fell into laughter as Yukito caught her in a surprise kiss.

"Hi, fiancé," Erin tried, grinning back at him. The foreign word made her giddy.

“So tomorrow," Yukito declared, "I am taking you back home, with both of us pierced and tattooed in odd places, much poorer, and engaged. What will your parents say?” Before she could answer, he caught her in another, longer kiss, slowly pulling her more back towards their temporary home. “Luckily I warned them about the engagement bit already...”

Erin's mouth dropped aghast. "What? You did what?!" she squeaked out, still grinning despite her surprise, and gave an impulsive whack against his arm. "Secrets don't make friends! I can't believe you! All freaking three of you! Omigod!"

"We should get back...I bet the trains are going to shut down soon..."

"Awesome," Erin responded immediately, only half-hearing his words. She beamed, resting her head against his chest and inhaling deeply. "I love you…"


Yukito Maki

“You can tell anyone you wish, Erin," Yukito said to her as they strolled. " But I would suggest you wait until morning. A lot of people are trying to sleep.”

"Who's sleeping now?" Erin objected loudly, sounding surprised that anyone in the world could peacefully try to rest while their big news was fresh and especially new news. Tossing back her head, she bellowed, "HEY, ARE YOU SLEEPING OUT THERE?" The airs on Yukito's arms stood on end, and he laughed while he tried to shush her repeatedly. He was half-serious in this intent – he didn't really want someone to catch them loitering on the beach at night and get after them for it. He also didn't want someone bursting in on their moment. To capture the best of both words, he cut off her boisterous laughter in a kiss, still feeling the tremble of her giggles through it and sending little waves through his insides. She was so happy, and his.

"Hi, fiancé," she tested the title, sending him a playful grin. He looped his arms around her, smirking.

“Hi, fiancée ,” he echoed. The words sounded stranger on his tongue than hers. “So tomorrow I am taking you back home, with both of us pierced and tattooed in odd places, much poorer, and engaged. What will your parents say?” Before she couldanswer, he caught her in another, longer kiss, slowly pulling her more back towards their temporary home. “Luckily I warned them about the engagement bit already...”

"What? You did what?!" Yukito jumped a foot in the air from surprise when she gave him a playful whack on the arm. He looked up and discovered Erin's jaw practically hitting the sand in surprise. "Secrets don't make friends! I can't believe you! All freaking three of you! Omigod!"

“But surprises of the romantic kind should make lovers,” he said without thinking, suddenly looking away from her and focusing on the sidewalk that was appearing beneath their feet. Then he stopped. “I just wanted to make sure they wouldn't totally shun you or something if they heard about it later. It wasn't like I was telling everybody.” He smirked, and looked toward passing traffic, “But I was tempted.” He hugged her close and then added, "We should get back...I bet the trains are going to shut down soon..."

"Awesome," Erin beamed, resting her head against his chest and inhaling deeply. He watched her shoulders rise and fall, felt her fall against him as he held her tighter. "I love you…"

“Good thing,” he chuckled, “Because you just agreed to marry me. Come on, already, fiancée." He stepped onto the train, "Let's go home."


Erin Spenser

The unfamiliar word "fiancée" sounded so elegant coming from Yukito, making her beam impossible to dull down in any way. Not that she could ever want it to. “So tomorrow I am taking you back home, with both of us pierced and tattooed in odd places, much poorer, and engaged. What will your parents say?” Before she could answer, he caught her in another, longer kiss, slowly pulling her more back towards their temporary home. Erin was far from protesting. “Luckily I warned them about the engagement bit already...”

That did earn a protest, though hardly an angry one. Just… shocked. "What? You did what?!" Impulsively, Erin gave his arm a whack and stared at him almost aghast, even with the incredible happiness bubbling out. "Secrets don't make friends! I can't believe you! All freaking three of you! Omigod!"

“But surprises of the romantic kind should make lovers,” Yukito retorted quickly, and Erin's happiness overflowed into laughter.

"Oh, so that's what this is about! God, I leave you alone for two weeks and you become such a guy!" She ate up the little moment to tease him, a playful payback for his secret-keeping, even if she didn't really mind it too much.

Yukito stopped suddenly. “I just wanted to make sure they wouldn't totally shun you or something if they heard about it later. It wasn't like I was telling everybody.” He smirked as Erin rolled her eyes at him. “But I was tempted.”

"Mm-hmm, I bet you were tempted… lover." The giggles resumed, and Erin pulled herself close to him in a hug that he soon returned.

"We should get back...I bet the trains are going to shut down soon..."

"Awesome." She wasn't really listening to anything but the sound of his voice. Marriage thoughts swirled in her mind, occupying her much more than the fact that it was so late at night/early in the morning. And maybe he had been serious about not supposed to be being out here. She didn't give a care right now, either, and it was amazing. Perfectly content, her head rested against his chest as she breathed in the sea air. "I love you…"

“Good thing." He chuckled as he kept her close, Erin grinning at the sensation of his laugh. “Because you just agreed to marry me. Come on, already, fiancée." He stepped onto the train with her close to his side. "Let's go home."

A happy sigh escaped Erin as she rested against him on the ride home. "That sounds perfect…"

The ends?

[GGJ5]

Art

Yukito Maki

He was still holding the piece of paper by his fingertips, firmly holding it but afraid to clutch it protectively in case he crinkled the already worn page. It felt like the buildings just faded past him, warped and too distant. Like he was in a thick glass globe that encased him on all sides. Trying to keep himself under control, he kept his gaze at the ground and walked into the house. The key was chilly in his hand, and he fumbled with it numbly, his brow a little furrowed as the only outward sign of distress. The apartment was empty when he entered it, with only Chica coming up to greet him in silence. Erin wasn't home from school yet. One hand pushed back the front door, and it closed partially, swinging back open as he went into the bedroom.
He started to remove his jacket but only got it slid off his shoulders before his eyes locked on a particularly hollow-looking space on the wall. He sauntered to the bed and dropped the drawing on it, his own face staring up at him in an almost accusatory fashion. He seemed to say Why are you doing this? Is it really going to make anything better? Or is it just going to make it harder on you?'

Yukito's face remained passive as he went back to the Volvo to grab the picture frame he'd bought today out of the passenger seat. Within minutes he had the drawing safe behind the glass, still staring at him. He stopped to inspect it, unsure if a drawing was supposed to have no glass so it wouldn't smudge, or if it was better to have it so it wouldn't be touched. He decided it would have to do as it was. Chica curled up on the bed while he continued to inspect the only thing he had left that was truly Natalie's. He knew it would continue to ache to look at it. He knew it would continue to constrict his breathing. But he had to hang it up. It was a painful reminder to himself, a physical handprint of his memory. It was something he had to face, yet another demon of the past. But he was hoping this one wouldn't be as cruel.

I'm such a masochist. Or maybe just a narcissist? I don't know...not anymore.

The moment his hammer first struck the wall, Chica hurled herself from the room, knocking over several objects on her way out. He didn't notice her missing, or hear Erin getting home as he gave the last few swings of the hammer, then the clatter resounding of the frame bumping up against the wall as he positioned it, completely in his own world. Non-responsive, he heard Erin's voice but didn't speak. Once he was done, he stepped back to view it anew, then slid down to the floor, his back against the edge of the bed. Yukito let out a long exhale that belied how breathless he felt, pulling his knees up to his chest. His eyes were still locked on the drawing as he rested his chin on his knees, murmuring, "M'sorry..."
--

Erin Spenser

Yukito's car was already parked when Callie dropped her off. Erin strolled into their home, dropping her bags by the door. "Hey, kareshiiii! Come say hi to meeee!"

When Yukito didn't come down the hallway, Erin's lips pouted into a short frown. "Yuyukun, I haven't seen you all day!" she called as she walked into the bedroom.

It was a much different sight than normal, and not one that warmed her heart. Yukito sat by the bed, looking sick or beaten down or something else totally miserable. And a new feature drew her eyes to the wall, not too far from where Yukito had sunk down. A little duplicate, somewhat younger Yukito, illustrated by a fine-tuned hand. Quickly the dots began connecting. But the dots were put on the back burner as the image of the real Yukito looking so bleak took priority. She bit her lip, torn between rushing to his side and examining the new feature that had apparently caused Yukito's current state. "Hey…" she called softly, in a voice that she hoped said, "It's okay. Really." With genuine curiosity piqued now, Erin crossed the room to the illustration, her fingers tracing the frame. He'd just bought this frame. For the picture. The one that showed a well-crafted version of his younger self. When she spoke, it was almost a whisper, surprising even herself from the quick change from a moment ago.

Yukito let out a long exhale in response, pulling his knees up to his chest. The usual signal of "I feel like crap. Life sucks." But he was looking at the picture, too. "M'sorry..."

The unexpected apology snagged her attention. She left her stance in front of the portrait and swiftly turned to kneel close beside him. "What are you sorry for? Yukito…" Her hand brushed against his face for a moment, a silent gesture that it was really okay. "Are you apologizing because it's from Natalie? Yukito, don't be sorry for that. Don't you ever be sorry for that." She kissed his forehead, then glanced back up at the picture again, a smile coming to her face. "She did such a freaking awesome job with that, too." Erin turned her attention back to Yukito. "Did Liv give it to you, or did you have it before?" Resting her hand on his shoulder, leaning close into him, Erin pressed on. "Tell me about it."

---

Yukito Maki

He watched fixedly Erin's hand tracing the frame of the drawing, her touch delicate and almost timid and shy to his eyes. It was so strange to see her next to it, so strange to stare at his own image and feel as if he didn't know the person behind the penciled-in eyes. In addition, seeing Erin looked over at him, he had the vision of Natalie standing there next to Erin and the drawing, all three sets of eyes looking at him and each with a different part of him, his past and his present and his future. Feeling that hollow vulnerability in his gut, he drew his legs to his chest and exhaled slowly. To the air, to himself, to the drawing and especially to Erin he murmured, "M'sorry..."

Erin looked at him in confusion, moving over to him. “What are you sorry for? Yukito…"

His shoulders gave a quick and abrupt shudder as though he was about to break down again, but he swallowed it, his face tensing and his eyes shutting as he dropped his chin, straining to hold up the thin thread of resolve. He didn't want to look at the picture anymore. He felt Erin's hand against his cheek, and quickly was capable of inhaling again. "Are you apologizing because it's from Natalie? Yukito, don't be sorry for that. Don't you ever be sorry for that.”He continued to stare intently at his knees as her lips brushed his cheek. It felt like should be sorry. It felt like he was trying to drag her down again with all of this baggage he carried.

He glanced up to see Erin turned away from him, looking at the picture. He watched her profiled face as she studied it, a smile inevitably coming to her face and loosening the tightness in his chest, offering him the sanctuary of distraction. "She did such a freaking awesome job with that, too."


“She had a lot of other really good ones,” he murmured, his voice crackled and strained. But this was the first I saw her do. The first she did of me. The first time I spoke to her. The first everything with her.

"Did Liv give it to you, or did you have it before?" Erin asked, gently but with genuine interest in the story of how he acquired the drawing. Her hand dropped to his shoulder, her whole body leaning in to offer him a little solace with her presence, a direct answer to his silent prayer. He leaned his head over to rest against hers, letting out a deep sigh. "Tell me about it.”

“Liv was at du Monde today. I had to talk to her. I feel like...like I need to connect with her somehow. Just some contact. Like we spoke the same language once, even if we don't anymore.” His voice was calm and hollow, his gaze distant and looking at the carpet and fighting the temptation to look back at the reflection of his own haunted image on the wall. “Then we talked awhile, and I said 'I just need anything of her. Just one, of anything.' And Liv had it with her, and she gave it to me. It was the first day I met Natalie, that day,” he looked up, pointing a single finger at the drawing, “See the fountain? Do you remember it? We went by it on our way to the beach. It's small and pretty. She was there that day and told me to sit down so she could draw me...” He trailed off, thinking on the foggy memories of that day. Then, mimicking the sarcastic undertones and flippant little noises, he related, “ 'Do you speak English, or what? Sit down.' 'How do you do that?' 'Your eyes, I want to capture it...' She liked my face, and kept saying over and over again that she couldn't do it. Capture it.... 'Sit still, and think just what you were thinking...' ”

'Your eyes, I want to capture it...'

Another sigh.

“I love you, Erin,” he murmured, shifting so he was closer to her, cuddling up against her and inhaling her scent in with every additional sigh. “I don't know why, exactly, I just need this here. Just one thing...”


--

Erin Spenser

Once again, Erin was out of her element. Sometimes it was like this, where it was like Yukito was haunted. And she was never really sure what the best thing to do was. All she could do was what came to her, and right now, it was asking about it. She was genuinely curious-- this was part of Yukito's past, the parts she uncovered over time even after getting story after story from Yukito. And she loved him, past, present, and future. So things that helped to make him the way he was... they interested her. And a lot of the way he was, it was owed to Natalie. So Erin went back to examine the picture again. "She did such a freaking awesome job with that, too."

“She had a lot of other really good ones,” Yukito muttered, and she could hear the ache in his voice. Again, she was torn. Yes, she wanted to thank Natalie for bringing him to her, in a way. But she wanted to scream at her for the scars she'd left on Yukito, on someone she claimed to love... look how she'd wounded him! But he'd loved her... she couldn't be that mad at someone he loved, could she? It was still confusing....

"At least I get to see this one," she decided. "Did Liv give it to you, or did you have it before?" Her hand dropped to his shoulder as she leaned in to warm him. He leaned his head over to rest against hers, letting out a deep sigh. "Tell me about it.”

“Liv was at du Monde today. I had to talk to her. I feel like...like I need to connect with her somehow. Just some contact. Like we spoke the same language once, even if we don't anymore.” Erin nodded quietly, unsure if he was speaking figuratively or literally. Couldn't he speak some Norwegian? At least this way he didn't sound so achy...It was good for him to talk this way, Erin felt. And it was probably good for her, too. “Then we talked awhile, and I said 'I just need anything of her. Just one, of anything.' And Liv had it with her, and she gave it to me. It was the first day I met Natalie, that day.” He paused, as if letting the significance of that announcement sink in for Erin. It was definitely sinking in. Wow.... No wonder he'd been so torn up... He was now pointing at the background of the portrait. “See the fountain? Do you remember it?" She'd passed a dozen of them, and didn't remember one from the other, actually, but Erin was sure Yukito had walked her by there, and so she nodded. "Mmhmm."

"We went by it on our way to the beach. It's small and pretty. She was there that day and told me to sit down so she could draw me... 'Do you speak English, or what? Sit down.' 'How do you do that?' 'Your eyes, I want to capture it...' She liked my face, and kept saying over and over again that she couldn't do it. Capture it.... 'Sit still, and think just what you were thinking...' ”

"Aw, Yukito, then that's really great you get to have it back again... And see, I told you... your face is just different! She knew it, too." Erin smiled up at him, hoping that the openness of conversation would help him feel better in some way. Okay with having the memories he had.

Another sigh.

Well, maybe in time, then....

“I love you, Erin,” he murmured, shifting so he was closer to her, cuddling up against her as Erin played with the fringes of his hair absently. “I don't know why, exactly, I just need this here. Just one thing...”

"Yukito, you sound like you feel bad for wanting it around... You don't have to feel bad for it. I already told you I thought it was awesome, and you need to keep it. It carries a lot of her with it, and we should have a bit of her. It wouldn't be right otherwise." Despite the lingering anger she felt at Natalie, for leaving him and hurting him among other things, Erin believed what she said. It wouldn't be right to leave unspoken the spirit that filled his memory, that in a roundabout way brought them together. It wouldn't be right to forget to acknowledge her, and it was such a simple and pretty portrait, too, it just fit right in... "If Liv has anything else from her she'd like to share, it's all good," Erin reassured him quietly, giving him a soft smile. "I can see what she meant, though, in your eyes sometimes. I mean, I don't draw... Unless you count cartoon doodles and hearts... But I think I know what she meant. You do have this thing about you, this.... aloofness... like in your eyes. Not a bad kind, just there... and then it's not. I think it's what made me keep looking back at you when I first saw you." She smiled at him again, kissing his cheek. "What else?"

--

Yukito Maki

He pointed up at the drawing, to pull her attention to the background. “See the fountain? Do you remember it?" Erin gave a little nod. "Mmhmm." He continued, "We went by it on our way to the beach. It's small and pretty. She was there that day and told me to sit down so she could draw me... 'Do you speak English, or what? Sit down.' 'How do you do that?' 'Your eyes, I want to capture it...' She liked my face, and kept saying over and over again that she couldn't do it. Capture it.... 'Sit still, and think just what you were thinking...' ”

"Aw, Yukito, then that's really great you get to have it back again... And see, I told you... your face is just different! She knew it, too." Erin smiled up at him, and a little smile came to his lips, gentle as he sighed. She was being so good about this,and he had tried so hard to avoid it with her, even though all of him wanted that drawing up on the wall more than he could say.

“I love you, Erin,” he murmured, shifting so he was closer to her, cuddling up against her. Instantly he felt the waves of relaxation come as she toyed with his hair, the slight pull on his scalp soothing as her presence. He was starting to believe this wouldn't be another ugly mess, a futile attempt of his to have Natalie's presence remembered and thought of, instead of some old and decrepit antique left in an attic, or a charred remain that had been burnt down to the ground. “I don't know why, exactly, I just need this here. Just one thing...”

"Yukito, you sound like you feel bad for wanting it around... You don't have to feel bad for it. I already told you I thought it was awesome, and you need to keep it. It carries a lot of her with it, and we should have a bit of her. It wouldn't be right otherwise." He felt tears starting to well up and his throat tense from choking down those tears as she spoke, his face in a tight lipped smile as his brow furrowed, straining not to cry. "If Liv has anything else from her she'd like to share, it's all good.” She sent him a smile, and he raised one hand to rub at his eye, silently berating it for its threats as he gave her a little nod. Yukito breathed in once, and let it out, now much more in control.

”I can see what she meant, though, in your eyes sometimes.” The comment made him look over at her in curiosity. ”I mean, I don't draw... Unless you count cartoon doodles and hearts... But I think I know what she meant. You do have this thing about you, this.... aloofness... like in your eyes. Not a bad kind, just there... and then it's not. I think it's what made me keep looking back at you when I first saw you."

For a long moment, he just stared at her, a smile waiting on his lips as he listened to her. “Well, I'm glad you like them.” Inwardly, though, he examined her words with more serious, thinking on that 'aloofness' and knowing what it was she probably saw. “I happen to think your eyes are one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. And I know that's what made me keep looking at you first.” Though of course he had usually casually glanced away when she noticed, most of the time. At least until his resolve had crumbled at getting her back, at needing her to be there. He didn't take her eyes for granted anymore, wide and warm and innocent.

"What else?"

“Hmm?” he murmured, still watching her face, then resting his head against her again, his arm reaching around her to hold her close his voice gentle and calm now. “What do you mean?”


--

Erin Spenser

”I can see what she meant, though," Erin said, "In your eyes sometimes. I mean, I don't draw... Unless you count cartoon doodles and hearts... But I think I know what she meant. You do have this thing about you, this.... aloofness... like in your eyes. Not a bad kind, just there... and then it's not. I think it's what made me keep looking back at you when I first saw you." She gave him a soft smile, resting herself against him in a silent form of comfort, doing her best to wait out the silence with him. The silence he needed and used so well.

“Well, I'm glad you like them," Yukito said finally. “I happen to think your eyes are one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. And I know that's what made me keep looking at you first.”

Erin gave a soft laugh at that statement. "I don't think so... I'm pretty sure I saw you first..." She paused, trying to rework her thoughts to focus on what Yukito would feel was important right now. And right now he wanted that to be Natalie. She redirected herself, addressing what she thought were Yukito's thoughts: "What else?"

“Hmm?” Yukito looked over at her briefly, then rested his head against her again. Almost automatically Erin's fingers traced the back of Yukito's hand, a mini-massage that took the place of hand-holding. “What do you mean?”

"I mean about Natalie. Anything else you're thinking about her, you know? Good things." As soon as the words left her mouth, Erin was almost certain she'd set herself up to receive a wound. But it would only be a tiny one, a little pang of jealousy left over, and that was natural, right? Plus she wanted to hear more, even if it hurt just a little. It wasn't like it used to be. And he needed to share, if he wanted to. It would be a lot more than a little wound if he shared these precious pieces of past with someone besides herself. So it was worth it.


--

Yukito Maki

“I happen to think your eyes are one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. And I know that's what made me keep looking at you first,” he told her, thinking the sharing time was over and they had to go back to avoiding the issue again. Erin gave a soft laugh at his tease.

"I don't think so... I'm pretty sure I saw you first..." She paused, and he didn't interrupt her, his mind wandering briefly off into his memories when she spoke up again. "What else?"

“Hmm?” he glanced up into her face, a little confused at the prompt, then dropped his head to lean on her, drawing something nameless and utterly necessary from the contact. He let out a relaxed sigh as her fingers trailed against his hand. She always did know, somehow. “What do you mean?”

"I mean about Natalie. Anything else you're thinking about her, you know? Good things."

Yukito closed his eyes, sifting through what he was fairly sure he had already told her, setting aside immediate memories that wouldn't fit in her 'good things' category. But the problem was, he had discovered, that all she heard about were the good things he remembered about Natalie. All the surprises, the smiles, her talents and her likes. Looking at the drawing on the wall, it was hard to remember her with those flaws, the mistakes she'd made that made her as whole and complete a person as her loves and beliefs. It felt like he'd been idolizing her in his head. And maybe he always had.

“I don't know... she liked to take charge of everything. Everyone around her were like pets, and she had to take care of them.” The frown on his face grew more and more distinctive, his voice speeding up as if that pressure on his chest was really an engine that was now growing momentum, a runaway train of his thoughts. “She bossed me around a lot, and I used to like it, because then I knew what was expected. But she got frustrated with me, and told me to back down, figure it out myself. It was as reckless of her to let me follow as it was stupid of me to do so. I wanted her to fix me. She made me think she could. But she was even more lost than I was, and she needed me even more than I could give. She needed me, but she couldn't love me, she never did. I told her a thousand times, and she never said it back. She couldn't tell me because it meant admitted she needed me more.” Tears were in his eyes, refusing to fall. At some point he had raised his head, looking accusingly up at the drawing. “It hurts because I'm afraid she's still lost and nothing I can do about it. Even if I could have before. It hurts because I never just let go of her like I should. But I'm better, now. I pushed harder than she did, and I found it.” Yukito wiped furiously at the tears, trying to wipe away all traces of them before looking at Erin. “She's not you, Erin. She kept herself protected. You wear your heart on the outside.”
--

Erin Spenser

"What else?" Erin asked, resting against him, comfortable in the familiarity of his form.

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

"I mean about Natalie," Erin said, gently wrapping her hand over his. Keeping it. "Anything else you're thinking about her, you know? Good things."

Yukito closed her eyes, and Erin wondered if maybe he was already ready to move onto other things… It would have surprised her… But soon he spoke up again. "I don't know... she liked to take charge of everything. Everyone around her were like pets, and she had to take care of them.” For remembering something that was supposed to be good, he didn't seem too pleased. Erin watched his eyes intently.“She bossed me around a lot, and I used to like it, because then I knew what was expected. But she got frustrated with me, and told me to back down, figure it out myself. It was as reckless of her to let me follow as it was stupid of me to do so. I wanted her to fix me. She made me think she could. But she was even more lost than I was, and she needed me even more than I could give. She needed me, but she couldn't love me, she never did. I told her a thousand times, and she never said it back. She couldn't tell me because it meant admitted she needed me more.”

It didn't look like the talking was doing any good at all. He looked like he was aching and all torn up, and it was gonna tear her up, too, and… She couldn't start crying, too, not when he was sharing himself so honestly. How could she not have loved him back, Erin wondered, unaware of the baffled look crossing her face. How could someone he cherished so much not love him back? And then had the gall to leave him with these wounds? Gently Erin brushed her lips to his cheek.

“It hurts," he said, glaring up at the new image. "Because I'm afraid she's still lost and nothing I can do about it. Even if I could have before. It hurts because I never just let go of her like I should. But I'm better, now. I pushed harder than she did, and I found it.” Yukito wiped furiously at the tears, as if Erin might not notice them. She bit her lip, pulling him closer in a hug. Found what? Half the stuff he said when he got all pensive and reflective like this didn't make sense to her… “She's not you, Erin. She kept herself protected. You wear your heart on the outside.”

Erin gave a short laugh at that, smiling as she held him close. "I'm guessing that's more of a good thing than bad then?" With a slight sigh she shifted, seeing his face clearer now. "I wish she would have loved you," Erin thought aloud suddenly, then returned to hug him tightly as she held her head against him, eyes closed almost fervently. "I love you, Yukito… I love you so, so much that I can't even say it, and even though she left you and hurt you and didn't love you back like you deserve, she let me be with you, she let you hold me like this, and I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I love you and don't want you to be sad every time you think about her, because good things came from it all, too, and it's gonna keep getting better," she rattled off, feeling her own mood elevating back up from that contagious sadness. She smiled at him. "I love you."

---

Yukito Maki

The more he spoke, the more he wondered. Things were never simple, were they? Sorting through the memories and the images was difficult, and painful. Gently Erin brushed her lips to his cheek, making his eyes ache.

“It hurts," he said, glaring up at the new image like a petulant child whining at a perceived wrongdoing. "Because I'm afraid she's still lost and nothing I can do about it. Even if I
could have before. It hurts because I never just let go of her like I should. But I'm better, now. I pushed harder than she did, and I found it.” Yukito wiped furiously at the tears, irritated with
himself for continuing to cry in front of her. He should be the strong one. Erin clung closer to him, offering comfort in the embrace. With a final swipe at the tears, he added, “She's not
you, Erin. She kept herself protected. You wear your heart on the outside.”

Erin gave a short laugh at that, smiling as she held him close. He didn't respond, just watching her expression with a blank one of his own, his face still damp and his resolve stabilizing under her smile. "I'm guessing that's more of a good thing than bad then?" With a slight sigh she shifted, "I wish she would have loved you," Erin added, suddenly falling over to hold him again, "I love you, Yukito… I love you so, so much that I can't even say it, and even
though she left you and hurt you and didn't love you back like you deserve, she let me be with you, she let you hold me like this, and I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I love you and don't want you to be sad every time you think about her, because good things came from it all, too, and it's gonna keep getting better,"

Yukito considered her words for a moment, feeling an unspeakable relief at her words, similar to the ones he'd been playing in his own mind like a broken record, especially in the last few weeks. Though it seemed so distant and so faraway for her, graduation, their wedding day, it
felt like a rush of air to him, quickly coming up and overwhelming him. Yukito smiled, his hand reaching up to the back of her head and running through her hair. She smiled up at him, radiant and comforting, letting him know he didn't have to sit in silence within his own head. He didn't have to bury memories.

"I love you,” she said, easily but meaningfully at the same time. Words that carried no effort but much subtle force behind them. Without saying anything, Yukito leaned forward and kissed her, his hands wrapping around her and pulling her towards him, wanting to feel her weight against him. He deepened the kiss, at a loss for words.

He was just thankful. And relieved.

[GGJ5]

School stuffs!

Erin Spenser

Frankenstein. She'd known for a month now that she'd have to read the novel. She'd tried every day for the past two weeks to read it. She'd made it as far as chapter five without breaking down to watch the movies, to use sparknotes, or to get Yukito to tell her about it. But now she was supposed to have it done by tomorrow... the task was more than daunting. But it was also a huge grade. And Erin didn't want to see the disappointment in Yukito, or her parents... or herself. Erin had gone over it half a hundred times in her head-- she was getting married, and she couldn't even finish a novel!

She had spent most of the night before up and reading to herself, listening along with an audio she'd downloaded onto her iPod. She'd managed almost three more chapters, doing nothing else but reading along in the novel. Math sat by, neglected and impossible to do when her mind was still busy trying to wrap itself around the lightning tree and the gravedigging and the weird alchemy references. History was completely made-up, a wasted grade. Science she would skip altogether tonight. This thing needed to be finished.... it had to be. The honest-to-goodness fear of failing loomed over her with Frankenstein. Not that that made it easier to concentrate.

Erin paced the apartment as she read, unable to remain still. She traveled, earbuds secure, from bedroom to living room to kitchen and back again, over and over. Yawns came more frequently, as much of the night before had also been spent on Frankenstein and its kinfolk, and the anxiety that she could never finish honestly clawed at her. She could watch a movie tonight, google the sparknotes before bed, and be fine, her inner self insisted over and over. This way, the "right" way, would only lead to failure. And if she failed, she couldn't graduate, and if she couldn't graduate, she couldn't get married, and if she couldn't get married, she would just die, Erin was sure of it.

Eventually, the words stopped making sense and Erin halted, right in the middle of the hallway. "Yukito!" Erin called, feeling herself more overwhelmed and on the verge of tears, even though she fought them off earnestly. "Can't I please just watch the movie? I don't care if it's different, at least I'll finish freaking SOMETHING!"
--

Yukito Maki

He was finishing up the dishes when Chica came up behind him, entangling herself in his legs and then reaching up to use his jeans as a scratching post, demanding attention. Yukito sent her a few muttered phrases and shushings, then dried his hands and went to feed her, picking her up and quieting her as he went. He glanced Erin pacing past the hallway, and he relinquished a sigh that made Chica claw playfully at the rise and fall of his chest and the dragon necklace that bounced there. Erin had been edgier lately as the end of the school year loomed ahead in the distance, and she'd been making a mess of herself with her latest project – Frankenstein. He didn't want to mention to her how quickly he'd read through it, and he'd been tight-lipped about its contents, sure not to give her a leading sentence for her project. But he knew it wasn't her thing, and that she would have a hard time focusing on it. But she was giving it a whole-hearted try, determined to complete it and do things right. He worried that her cramming to finish a novel as quickly as she possibly could would leave her with no solid memories about the actual content. What would be the purpose of straining to read through a book if she retained nothing from it for the upcoming test on it? But he wanted her to try, and he knew that she could do it.

“Here, here, Chica,” he dropped her to the ground and fed her, giving her back a little pet as the black fur rose to accept his touch. After a few moments, he moved to grab his laptop, dodging Erin as she sped past like a crazed sleepwalker, moving to the kitchen and laying it on the counter as he browsed a list of websites Erin frequented for recipes. He'd decided to try something challenging, since Erin was working so hard, and if it worked out at all, she'd have something to nibble on as she read, which he held a theory for that she understood more if she was eating at the same time. It was a theory he teased her for frequently. Worst case scenario, it was a waste of food and he could at least applaud his effort. And perhaps his failure would make Erin feel a little bit better, in a weird way.

But what to make? He frowned at all the cutesy cupcake designs and crummy-sounding desserts. Something simple, something straightforward and not challenging...

"Yukito!" Erin called, desperate in voice as he came into the hallway to find her standing there, finally beginning to cave. "Can't I please just watch the movie? I don't care if it's different, at least I'll finish freaking SOMETHING!"

“You can finish the book,” he said gently, walking towards her, “You know you'll kick yourself later if you don't finish it. And trust me, the movie doesn't even resemble it. The only similarities is that there is a doctor and there is a creation, and people scream. If you don't read it,” here he jabbed the book with a finger, “You miss the creation's entire story. You miss his side, and you miss the Dr. Frankenstein's reasoning, the purpose behind the end result. To just watch the movie is like writing a book from Chica's point of view where she makes us into aliens and feeds us crackers in exchange for us running the place.” He smirked, leaning in close to her, “It's not as interesting as the real story.”


----

Erin Spenser

"Yukito!" She stood in the hall and called for him, finally hitting a wall that overwhelmed her. "Can't I please just watch the movie? I don't care if it's different, at least I'll finish freaking SOMETHING!"

Of course Yukito countered. He had to counter. He kept doing that, kept acting like she could do so much more than she really could… “You can finish the book. You know you'll kick yourself later if you don't finish it. And trust me, the movie doesn't even resemble it. The only similarities is that there is a doctor and there is a creation, and people scream."

"Sounds close enough to me," Erin muttered quickly, hoping it would amuse Yukito enough to lay off. It didn't.

" If you don't read it,” --Here he jabbed the book with a finger-- “You miss the creation's entire story. You miss his side, and you miss the Dr. Frankenstein's reasoning, the purpose behind the end result." Erin wanted to say she didn't really care about the other side, or whatever else he said, but he caught her before she could: "To just watch the movie is like writing a book from Chica's point of view where she makes us into aliens and feeds us crackers in exchange for us running the place.”

Erin's eyes widened at the window of opportunity. "I would so read that!"

He smirked, leaning in close to her. “It's not as interesting as the real story.”

Erin fell close to him in a hug, arms easily encircling him. "Then why can't I just live this one instead of fighting with someone else's?" The thought of putting up the fight a whole year more slammed against her again, and her lip quivered even as she held close to Yukito. "I just want it to be over so I can marry you… and it's never gonna be over…!"


---

Yukito Maki

"If you don't read it,” --Here he jabbed the book with a finger-- “You miss the creation's entire story. You miss his side, and you miss the Dr. Frankenstein's reasoning, the purpose behind the end result." He was trying to explain it to her in a way that would interest her in the novel, but her face screamed that she didn't care for a single second about the nature of the goods and evils of creating a human being the way that Dr. Frankenstein had. So he switched tactics, "To just watch the movie is like writing a book from Chica's point of view where she makes us into aliens and feeds us crackers in exchange for us running the place.”

Erin's eyes widened. "I would so read that!"

He smirked, leaning in close to her. “It's not as interesting as the real story.”

Erin fell close to him in a hug, her arms wrapping around him in a way natural and easy to both of them. "Then why can't I just live this one instead of fighting with someone else's?"

“Erin...” he started, even as her lips started to quiver.

"I just want it to be over so I can marry you… and it's never gonna be over…!"

“It will,” he promised, tightening his hold on her. “You just have to actually do the work for it, and be patient,” he teased, touching noses with her lightly. “I will marry you.”

---

Erin Spenser

"To just watch the movie is like writing a book from Chica's point of view where she makes us into aliens and feeds us crackers in exchange for us running the place.”

She knew that Yukito was trying to entice her, to convince her to stick with it, but she couldn't help but get stuck on the joke in his words. Her eyes widened playfully. "I would so read that!"

He smirked, leaning in close to her. “It's not as interesting as the real story.”

The words invited Erin to hug him, even though she knew he was just trying to get her back to work. She just wanted a moment with him, and it'd be fine. That was all. Right? "Then why can't I just live this one instead of fighting with someone else's?"

“Erin...”

The overwhelmed feeling hit again, combined with the tone in his voice-- he was frustrated with her, but didn't get that she was frustrated with herself-- pushed her to the edge of crying. A long school year loomed ahead, full of more torture like this, and full of Yukito acting like it wasn't a big deal at all. Acting like she could just sit and do it.. "I just want it to be over so I can marry you… and it's never gonna be over…!"

“It will.” Yukito held her tighter, giving her a silent, real signal of comfort. She still protested, "It won't…"

“You just have to actually do the work for it, and be patient,” he explained with a touch on her nose. “I will marry you.”

"After I wither into an old prune from taking forever finishing a friggen book… Yukito, I'm trying… I really, really am… I don't know what else to do…" Her voice was tight from tears she didn't want to spill. She was not crying over a book. "I can't finish it all. I can't ever finish anything!"
----

Yukito Maki

“It will.” Yukito held her tighter, trying to calm her, to reassure her. But he didn't think he was doing so well. He figured that with Erin it was all a matter of persistence.

She still protested, "It won't…"

“You just have to actually do the work for it, and be patient,” he explained with a touch on her nose. Like kittens, right? “I will marry you.”

"After I wither into an old prune from taking forever finishing a friggen book…” He actually laughed at that, unable to really imagine her looking as an old prune. ”Yukito, I'm trying… I really, really am… I don't know what else to do…" Her voice caught, and he pulled away until he could see her face more clearly. Was she starting to get teary-eyed? Was she starting to cry? "I can't finish it all. I can't ever finish anything!"

“I'm sure that's what you said when you picked up your first instrument,” he countered, “Listen, say you only get most of the way through the book. That's still a good thing, you know? And you'll understand more of the questions than if you had just try to skim by on it. Just do your best, and don't freak out about it..” he lifted her chin with a single finger, making her look up towards him, sending her a soft smile, “As long as you do your best, I am proud of you.” He leaned in to kiss her cheeks, each in turn and banishing the tears from it. Then he whispered in her ear, his tone teasing, “And stress makes worry lines on your face, by the way...makes you look older...”

---

Erin Spenser

“I will marry you,” Yukito said in response to her worries that were starting to explode from her mouth.

But it just kept coming. Yeah, they'd get married, and it would seem like forever. "After I wither into an old prune from taking forever finishing a friggen book…” He laughed, and it only upset her more. Erin's face twisted in discontent, the frustration welling over. ”Yukito, I'm trying… I really, really am… I don't know what else to do…"[/b] Her voice caught, and she swallowed to keep from being pathetic and breaking down over a stupid book. Yukito would be so disappointed, and so would she… "I can't finish it all. I can't ever finish anything!"

“I'm sure that's what you said when you picked up your first instrument,” Yukito argued. Erin rolled her eyes. Inwardly, she was grateful he was there to help her. But she grew up in music. It was totally different! Nothing he said would make it easier… “Listen, say you only get most of the way through the book. That's still a good thing, you know? And you'll understand more of the questions than if you had just try to skim by on it. Just do your best, and don't freak out about it..”

Well, that was true… some was better than none. And it would mean she was getting closer to the wedding… Some seemed like a much more doable goal than all.

Yukito lifted her chin with his finger. She lifted her eyes to him, seeing his gentle smile. A smile reflected on her face, despite her remaining anxieties. “As long as you do your best, I am proud of you.” He leaned in to kiss her cheeks, one at a time, and slightly, Erin nodded, somehow his actions giving her comfort. She gave him a more sincere smile. “And stress makes worry lines on your face, by the way...makes you look older...”

"Yukitooo…" Erin protested quietly to his teasing, pushing her hand on his chest to keep him away. "I don't wanna look that old!" She held the book in front of her, fanning through the pages and exhaling over it. "Okay… so I can read it more and… You'll help me with it, right?"

On a whim, Erin closed herself in the bedroom and claimed the bed as her reading spot, sitting up and reading aloud. The entire thing was almost too frustrating-- even reading it out to herself, she'd have to go back over parts and reread phrases and summarize it aloud until it started to piece together. And it was so slow…. Painfully, frustratingly slow. Several times she wanted to just chunk the stupid novel at the wall and quit. But she'd practically promised Yukito… And she couldn't fail, because then the wedding would be even farther… Erin groaned as she looked at the pages left to read. It looked like there wouldn't be much sleep tonight either.

----

Yukito Maki

“Listen, say you only get most of the way through the book. That's still a good thing, you know? And you'll understand more of the questions than if you had just try to skim by on it. Just do your best, and don't freak out about it..” Yukito lifted her chin with his finger. She lifted her eyes to him, returning his smile with a gentle version of her own, though worry still crinkled her brow. “As long as you do your best, I am proud of you.” He leaned in to kiss her cheeks, one at a time. Erin gave the tiniest of nods, trying to smile for him. His tone went a little teasing.“And stress makes worry lines on your face, by the way...makes you look older...”

"Yukitooo…" Erin protested quietly, holding him back with a hand on his chest. He lifted both hands in surrender, his soft smile blossoming into a smirk. "I don't wanna look that old!"

“I'm just saying....I love you,” he chuckled, then added more seriously, “Erin, you can do this.”

She turned back to the novel, letting out an exhale that he hoped was resolve setting in, and not defeat. "Okay… so I can read it more and… You'll help me with it, right?"

“Of course,” he nodded. A few minutes later, Erin was sitting on their bed, reading aloud as Yukito sluggishly roamed about the bedroom, getting undressed and brushing his teeth. Although he knew she was reading aloud to help herself along, he liked to act as though she was just reading aloud to him, making little 'hmm' noises at appropriate parts to indicate he was listening. As he scooped up some forgotten laundry off the floor and chucked it in the general area of the basket, he made his way to the bed, crawling in and beneath the covers so he could lay next to her. At a break between chapters, he asked, “How much do you have left, now?” She just groaned in reply, and his hand went to her back, trailing a finger in gentle shapes along the spot where her hair trailed down. “You can do it. It's not that late or anything.” He shifted until he was closer to her, thinking that it was early to be in bed, but he had nothing else to do, so he might as well be in bed helping her stay focused.


-----

Erin Spenser

Yukito teased her a bit, and Erin batted back, even though she wasn't really in the mood. Finally, he resumed his usual somber tone. The thing she felt she sort of needed anyway… “Erin, you can do this.”

She turned back to the novel, letting our a sigh. There wasn't a way out of it… Why couldn't it all just disappear? And Yukito really wanted her to do better, so… "Okay… so I can read it more and… You'll help me with it, right?" Erin still felt stupid asking, but Yukito could help her so much more than doing it all by herself. She'd only get frustrated and would quit.

He nodded. “Of course.”

Resigned, Erin attempted to nestle herself in the bed, in it for the long haul. At least that way she could be comfortable as she attempted the stupid book. Yukito busied himself around the room as she read aloud, but Erin kept finding her eyes wandering to fall on him. She'd falter when her eyes left the page, but it was pretty easy to pull herself back. After all, Yukito would just chide her for being distracted so easily, or he might even leave the room if he thought it would help her, and she didn't want that…

Yukito made it sound like he was interested, even though all she was reading was something about alchemy or grave-digging or something. It was really cute the way he kept trying to engage her into that book… Soon Erin found Yukito next to her, curled up in the bed beside her as she sat up with her face in a book. And she had to keep reading about the freaky-skinned monster. Freaky monster wakes up, dude can't handle his problems and runs away like the ninny he is, monster gets all full of self-pity and runs off to pout. And this is a classic? Sure, it was mostly because it was forced upon her that she was being cynical about it, but the whole Frankenstein thing had never been her thing.

“How much do you have left, now?”

She just groaned in reply, glancing at what still felt to be too many pages. "Still too much," she thought aloud. The idea of the test drawing closer was starting to make her stomach tighten, as the book felt heavier and heavier in her hands. A little jolt loosened her stomach when she felt Yukito's hand on her back. She glanced over at him as the sensation of his touch pushed angry thoughts of Mary Shelley aside. “You can do it. It's not that late or anything.” He moved closer to her as she nodded, laying down next to him and holding the book open above her head. "Mmmhmm…" For a moment Erin stared at the page, unthinking, unconsciously snuggling closer to Yukito. Then, forgetting the book, she turned to look at him, taking in the image of him there, happily next to her, comfortable beside her, so warm and reassuring. The book left forgotten on the bed's covers, Erin's lips met his in an impulsive and overdue kiss. She held herself against him, prolonging the kiss as much as she could, finding in the contact the sanity and comfort she wanted. But the nagging voice in her head still piped up-- and she pulled away. Erin couldn't just quit it like she'd quit before, not just because she had her wonderful, sweet, warm, safe, handsome fiancé beside her… "No, no, no," Erin corrected herself sternly, almost frantically, sitting back up and dramatically opening the book to a random page. She started flipping through to where she'd left off. "I need to finish. I have to. I have to. I don't wanna fail…."

----

Yukito Maki

“How much do you have left, now?”

"Still too much," she complained with a groan. Laying on the bed beside her, he just trailed his fingers across her back, letting her feel a little comfort beneath his hand. “You can do it. It's not that late or anything,” he was sure it wasn't much help to say so, but he could at least let her know he still believed she could do it. Erin fell back on the bed to lay next to him, brandishing the book over her head. She just murmured and moved closer to him, and he shifted to his side and draped an arm across her stomach, just as she dropped the book and looked over at him. He met her eyes and they just looked at each other for a second that dragged on happily. Then Erin met his lips in an impulsive and overdue kiss. Yukito knew she should be focusing, and a part of him wanted to pull away, but he also felt in her the need for reassurance. Erin ended up being the one to pull away first.

"No, no, no," Erin repeated, as though someone else , some other force, had pushed their faces against each other and she had to speak out against that force so they wouldn't continue doing it and distracting her. "I need to finish. I have to. I have to. I don't wanna fail…."

A little smile appeared on Yukito's face as he watched her self-pep talk, seeing the sweet furrowing of her brow as she declared her determination. Sitting up, he touched his nose to her cheek in a soft nuzzle, “Sorry, I didn't realize I was distracting you.” He sat back in the bed, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees, considering for a moment some way he could keep himself occupied that wouldn't pull her mind from her reading. Then, he gave a little smirk directed at his knees. It's hard to believe we've waited up to this point, much less until the wedding.

He ended up sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, his knees propped up with his laptop in his lap, comparing prices on some new equipment he'd be looking into for the band. Once in awhile he'd quickly correct Erin on the pronunciation on a word, and a couple of times they'd even stumbled across a word neither of them knew how to decipher. At about the point where Frankenstein had destroyed the second monster he had almost completed creating, Yukito interjected, "You about ready to call it a night, Erin? It's almost two..."

----

Erin Spenser

"No, no, no." Erin chided herself, breaking away from the momentary distraction. With Yukito being so close and wedding plans swirling in her head, she knew the momentary would probably quickly turn into "Forget you, Frankenstein" and the book would never have been picked up again. "I need to finish. I have to. I have to. I don't wanna fail…." The self-imposed order sounded so pathetic to her ears, but it was already said now... She couldn't take it back, and it was true-- she really didn't want to screw this up.

To her side, Yukito shifted and sat up over her, gently nudging her cheek with his nose. She wanted to be mad at him for keeping her mind on everything but the book, but he made it so freaking impossible doing that! "Yukitooo...."

“Sorry, I didn't realize I was distracting you.”

"Yes, you did!" Erin protested, grinning in spite of herself even as she looked away. "You totally did! You hate meeee...." She buried her face in the book, doing her best to stay on task. It was awful. She was tired and bored and despite Yukito's silence she couldn't help but drift off to glance up at him or think about the wedding or how she wanted him to come over and cuddle her right then.

".....'Do you,' said I, 'enjoy yourself, and let this be our ren... whatever.. I may be absent a month or two'.... Why don't they just say 'I said'? Ugh..." She would commentate her own reading, sigh, and continue. "'But do not interfere with my motions, I entreat you: leave me to peace and solitude for a short time; and....' Wait, who's Henry? I don't even remember that character...." She groaned, fought a yawn, and dropped her forehead into the book. Is it over yet.....?

More time went by, and she made pretty good progress, but how much she'd remember from being half-asleep and half-distracted by the beautiful boy in the room she doubted would be too much. Yukito must have sensed her caving because he interjected with a wise, "You about ready to call it a night, Erin? It's almost two..."

"Guess I am..." Erin muttered grumpily in response. The tired anger she felt for herself at her apparent lack of ability was beginning to resurface with her frustrations and sleepiness. "Not like I really have a ------ choice..." She dropped her head back onto the pillow and stuck the open book on top of her face. "Maybe I'l absorb it." The dry comment came out muffled by pages. A couple of breaths later, the book was off her face and shoved to the side of the bed. "It smells weird in there." Shifting to curl up on her side, hiding under the blankets, Erin peered out over at Yukito. "Tell me how it ends." At least she could know that much. And she liked it better when Yukito told stories anyway.

---

Yukito Maki

After she pushed him away so abruptly, he shifted to sit next to her, grinning and giving her cheek a little nudge with his nose. Her brow crinkled a little at his powerful - though not intentionally so - ability to distract her. It made him smile to think that the tiny little movements they made toward each other affected her just as much as they did for him. Perhaps she even realized how lucky they were to be able to hold each other and distract each other the way they did. He certainly hadn't planned on that to happen, as he cuddled her playfully. "Yukitooo...." she protested after a few seconds of staring at her book and pretending she actually remembered there were words on the page.

“Sorry,I didn't realize I was distracting you,” he whispered, his mouth now close to her ear for a moment, then pulling away slowly.

"Yes, you did! You totally did! You hate meeee...."

“I am nooot,” he protested quietly, chuckling as he slipped off the bed and went to get his laptop to keep himself busy while she studied. “I love you!”

Erin just buried her face in the book, seemingly worn out for a moment, or maybe gaining energy from the position. After a minute or two, she sat up and turned back to her book, struggling on the words. He did note that she stumbled less when he was across the room than when he was close to the bed, bending down to plug in his laptop cord. The thought made him smirk and wonder for the hundredth time how either of them had the patience they had. But it was nice to feel noticed, even amusing to watch her strain to keep her eyes trained on the page. Eventually, she settled down a bit and focused on her reading, her resigned voice smooth with sleepiness as a background noise to his internet searches. When he started to hear more slurs and her voice began to drop, he looked up in curiosity, seeing her reach her limit. "You about ready to call it a night, Erin? It's almost two..."


"Guess I am..." Erinmuttered grumpily in response, and he smirked, closing the laptop and slipping it aside before leaping up on the bed eagerly. The floor had been chilly. "Not like I really have a ------ choice..." By the time he had crawled up beside her, she had the open book balanced on her nose, covering her face. "Maybe I'l absorb it,” came her mutter through the paper. Yukito just shifted beneath the covers, then reached over and lightly took the book off her face, slipping a scrap of paper in between the pages and shoving it aside.

"It smells weird in there." came Erin's comment about the book.

“It can be a good weird,” he said flippantly, cuddling up close to gain her warmth back, and tugging the blanket up over their bare shoulders. Erin curled up on her side and peered out over at him.

"Tell me how it ends,” she insisted quietly. The way she said it made him think she was genuinely curious about the characters, instead of just wanting an easy answer for her test tomorrow. He smiled, brushing away the hair from her face as he faced her.

“After Frankenstein destroyed the monster's companion, he knew he would always be tortured and alone. And maybe that he was meant to be. Frankenstein cursed his creation by making him a monster...so he tried to get revenge on the doctor by destroying everyone important to him. Angry, Frankenstein tries to chase down the monster and destroy him once and for all. He tracks him way up into the north, but he can't quite catch him because of a huge rift in the ice. Frankenstein gets picked up by the boat you read about in the beginning of the story, and he ends up feeling very sorry for creating his monster in the first place.” He paused, his hands running through Erin's hair gently, “Frankenstein is very ill and dies on the boat. Walton comes into the room where the body is and finds the monster there, weeping over the body of his creator, begging forgiveness for being the reason he died. He says that now that the doctor is dead, their story is ended. He says he will go further north and burn himself, leaving nothing left of the doctor's dark work...” Leaning over, Yukito gave Erin's forehead a kiss, with a little smile, he whispered in a low voice, “And thus, ends the tale..."

----

Erin Spenser

"Maybe I'l absorb it,” Erin muttered under the book. The dim light of the room filtered back in as Yukito lifted the book off her face, putting it out of sight and out of mind. "It smells weird in there," she observed blandly about the book.

“It can be a good weird.”

"What?" Erin didn't really care if he gave an answer, she just wanted him to know he didn't make any sense at this point. She just easily slipped into his warmth as he pulled the blankets over them, letting herself wrap up in him the way she'd wanted to the entire time Frankenstein was babbling in her head. Now feeling much more relaxed, like everything was calming down and okay again, Erin felt the sleepiness hit heavily. But Yukito wasn't asleep yet… "Tell me how it ends.”

Of course, Yukito knew the whole thing. And this time it was a comfort, rather than an irritation. His voice was so comforting, and the way he told it was so much better than the drone of Shelley. “After Frankenstein destroyed the monster's companion, he knew he would always be tortured and alone. And maybe that he was meant to be. Frankenstein cursed his creation by making him a monster.." For a while, Erin didn't realize she'd drifted into a half-sleep. Her eyes flitted back into reality as Yukito's voice became more clear. He was still telling the story, so it'd been only for a moment, and his fingers were trailing a path over her hair softly. “Frankenstein is very ill and dies on the boat. Walton comes into the room where the body is and finds the monster there--"

"Waldo's a weird name," Erin muttered, nuzzling closer.

"--Weeping over the body of his creator, begging forgiveness for being the reason he died. He says that now that the doctor is dead, their story is ended. He says he will go further north and burn himself, leaving nothing left of the doctor's dark work...” Yukito gave Erin's forehead a kiss and added quietly, “And thus, ends the tale..."

"Mmmm…" Her face rested comfortably against Yukito's chest as she let herself fall into sleep finally. "You're better." It was easy, then, to fall entirely to sleep. Even with a test looming.

[GGJ5]

OOC: We never posted two of the best scenes evar?!?!?! I FIX NOW. BIC:

To The Beach!

OOC: www.tune-in-tokyo.com/2009/08/shonan-beach/ BIC:


Yukito Maki

It was just a couple of train rides and a short walk to the beach for Yukito and Erin. He held her hand as they strode toward the long stretch of sand that was just coming into view for them. Yukito had had sunglasses on since they'd left the hotel room, not wanting to squint into the sun reflecting off every available surface to scratch at his retinas. And maybe...just maybe, the shades were big enough to cover up the inevitable scarlet coloring that would come to his cheeks the instant they reached their destination and his mind started to wander.

But he was trying hard not to focus on that. He had Erin holding his hand, excited and elated just to be in Japan with him, eating Japanese food and pointing out strange passersby. A couple of kids raced past them, and Yukito wrapped his arm around Erin's shoulders and leaned in close to lean his head against hers. "Welcome to Shonan beach," he told her, "But first..." he smirked, "You have to try some ice cream. That's the rules."

Erin Spenser

She'd never been on a train before today. Much less a Japanese train. Much less two. She wondered how different they were from American train rides, but mostly, she didn't care. It was just fun to be there and doing it, with Yukito by her side the whole time. She was bouncy and fidgety and kept squealing about the most normal things outside of the window, and then squealing louder at the less normal things. There were tons of things that made Japan different, and each time it blew her mind how different her and Yukito's worlds were. She'd bombarded him with questions and her thoughts and all that came to her mind the entire way, with a kiss or hug here and there in between.

He held her hand as they walked down towards the shoreline, Erin resisting the urge to take off without him instead. She wanted to run into the surf, feel herself pushed back by the waves. She wanted to feel her feet sinking into the sand and taste the salt in the air. But she wanted Yukito with her. So she tugged on his hand to pull him forward, just subtly enough not to be annoying or anything. There were people having fun all around them on the beach, and she was itching for her and Yukito to join them. At her silent signal, Yukito wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned in close to touch his head to hers. "Welcome to Shonan beach," he said quietly, making her laugh a little for no real reason. "But first..." he smirked, looking smoking with the sunglasses and that smile on his lips, "You have to try some ice cream. That's the rules."

"Fine!" she retorted playfully. "Nothing freakish, though! I'm not eating whales!" Erin declared, keeping her arm, around him. "And what's the beach's name?" she asked, walking alongside Yukito and following his lead. "Shonen? Doesn't that mean 'boy'? Did you bring me to a place called 'boy beach'?!" Erin's voice escalated with her teasing and her laughing. The giggling joke she punctuated with a kiss.

Yukito Maki

Walking along the streets with Erin seemed to make the past, their previous fights and darkest moments, start to dissipate. As they neared the beach, he could feel Erin’s excitement, lightening her step and giving him little tugs to keep him moving, unappeased by his leisurely pace, as usual. Yukito noted the looks they got, especially since Erin was so obviously American, in everything from the way she looked and talked to the way she walked and held herself. He secretly willed them all to be jealous as they wished. “Welcome to Shonan beach,” he told her quietly, and she giggled at that, as though it was amusing. He gave her hand a squeeze, starting to swing their hands a little, in the hopes of dispelling her impatience with the motion as he turned to her. “But first, you have to try some ice cream. That’s the rules.”
"Fine!" she retorted playfully, more than eager for their long awaited little game. "Nothing freakish, though! I'm not eating whales!" He just stuck his tongue out at that.

“And people think I’m the dull one….” he teased under his breath. “You won’t even give my mother country’s ice cream a try.” Yukito rolled his eyes, though she couldn’t see that, and let out an exasperated sigh, stepping up to a small soft cream shop, a list of detailed flavors accompanied by color-correct plastic cones sitting on the counter. “What about pumpkin, then? Would that be too far out for you?”

"And what's the beach's name?" she asked at his side, "Shonen? Doesn't that mean 'boy'? Did you bring me to a place called 'boy beach'?!" Erin's voice escalated with her teasing and her laughing. The giggling joke she punctuated with a kiss. Yukito could see the amused look on the soft cream man’s face as he watched them, and he chuckled a little.

“Shonan, not shonen,” he accentuated for her, “Shonan is the beach, shonen are boys. You sound like such a foreigner."

Erin Spenser

“Welcome to Shonan beach,” Yukito said quietly, and she couldn't help but bubble over in giggles. He gave her hand a squeeze, pulling their hands into a swinging motion she easily fell into, looking up at him with a happily charmed expression. Thoughts darted across her mind like fireworks. “But first, you have to try some ice cream. That’s the rules.”

"Fine!" As if it was chore. Well, it could be… "Nothing freakish, though! I'm not eating whales!" She was serious about that, but Yukito just stuck his tongue out at her order.

“And people think I’m the dull one….” he teased quietly, but it didn't pass over Erin. Her eyes widened and she gasped as if he'd announced something totally improbable and somewhat insulting. "Hey!"

“You won’t even give my mother country’s ice cream a try.”

Erin made a face at him, giving his shoulder a shove with her fist. "Not the freakish ones!" she specified again as Yukito approached the little ice cream place. She followed closely, once more linking her arm around him. He sighed, like she was seriously bothering him or something, and inside Erin wondered if that was true. She really hoped it wasn't….

“What about pumpkin, then? Would that be too far out for you?”

"I like pumpkin!" Erin chirped, moving her arm to loop around the bend of his elbow. "It's like Thanksgiving mixed with summertime! And what's the beach's name? Shonen? Doesn't that mean 'boy'? Did you bring me to a place called 'boy beach'?!" she teased loudly, though she didn't hear how loud her voice had gotten, and she kissed Yukito excitedly. Erin's voice escalated with her teasing and her laughing. The looks they were getting--probably because of her-- only fed into her excitement more. She loved getting attention by Yukito's side, Erin finally admitted it to herself. And why not? It was fun!

“Shonan, not shonen,” he accentuated for her, and she started to giggle again. “Shonan is the beach, shonen are boys. You sound like such a foreigner."

"No, really?" Erin cried, grinning widely, and mockingly voicing shock at Yukito's observation. "What gave it away? I was trying so hard to fit in!" she giggled out, leaning against Yukito in her laughter. Her laughter calmed a bit as the experimental ice cream arrived. Automatically she waved at the server and chirped, "Hi!" Then more laughs at her slip-up, and she tried to correct herself. "Um, arigato!" An impish grin at Yukito as she held the ice cream to her lips. "Are you gonna take a picture of my reaction or something?" she asked, giggling, then took a bite of the orangey ice cream. Her eyes widened. "It's like cold pumpkin pie!" Erin wasn't sure if that was good or not, so she tried it again. "It's just like cold pumpkin pie! Here, you try!" She held out the ice cream to him, grinning and bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. "Can we take this to the beach? I wanna go down there now! Let's go!"

Yukito Maki

He loved the way they always teased each other, playfully insulting, prodding at their differences like they were something special in a good way. He loved the way she walked with her arm around him possessively, unafraid to tell the world that she was his. “What about pumpkin, then? Would that be too far out for you?”

"I like pumpkin!" Erin chirped, moving her arm to loop around the bend of his elbow. "It's like Thanksgiving mixed with summertime! And what's the beach's name? Shonen? Doesn't that mean 'boy'? Did you bring me to a place called 'boy beach'?!" she teased loudly, kissing him and sending those little jolts of electricity through him as they waited for their snack.

“Shonan, not shonen,” he stressed with a smile, and she started to giggle again. He wanted to take a picture of her like that, looking happy and amused beside him. He decided to commit the sight of her now to his memory. “Shonan is the beach, shonen are boys. You sound like such a foreigner."

"No, really?" Erin exclaimed in sarcasm, "What gave it away? I was trying so hard to fit in!" When she leaned against him, his arm went around her bare shoulders, holding her to him. He leaned over to bury his face in her hair, but just then the man came back with their cold pumpkin treat. Erin, shameless as usual, gave the man a wave and chirped, "Hi!" making the man laugh and wave back at her. "Um, arigato!" The man gave her a couple of bows behind the counter, now chuckling at her antics.

Yukito laughed, whispering in her ear, "You're such a dork. But I love you for it." She just sent him a mischevious smirk, holding up her orange ice cream. "Hold that," he told her, reaching into the pocket of his shorts for his cell phone.

"Are you gonna take a picture of my reaction or something?" she asked, giggling, as he clicked the phone into camera mode and aimed it at her with a smile. She took a bite of the ic cream, her eyes immediately widening in surprise as the camera clicked, making him laugh. "It's like cold pumpkin pie!" Yukito nodded. Erin seemed fixated on her cone, testing it again and enjoying th strangeness of it all. "It's just like cold pumpkin pie! Here, you try!"

"That's the general idea, actually," he smirked at her, giving a nod and taking a few tastes of his own.

She held out the ice cream to him, grinning and bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. "Can we take this to the beach? I wanna go down there now! Let's go!"

"Fine, fine, fine..." he teased, taking hold of her arm and taking more licks of his cone. He didn't normally try the pumpkin, so it tasted foreign on his tongue. The beach was pretty busy, dozens of people racing back and forth, and kids making sculptures in the strange blackish sand. Once they picked out a spot, Yukito set out their towels and sat down with his ice cream. He was determined to pretend nobody else was out here today, and he was hoping Erin would be a great help with this. "So I'm guessing you like the pumpkin flavor... next time you should try something less common."

Erin Spenser

"You're such a dork," Yukito whispered to her after she clumsily thanked the man behind the counter. "But I love you for it." She just sent him a mischevious smirk, holding up her pumpkin ice cream for the first bite. "Hold that," he told her, reaching for where she knew he kept his phone. Erin giggled.

"Are you gonna take a picture of my reaction or something?" He was, he totally was. And it was funny! She took a bite of the dark orange ice cream-- a color she'd never though ice cream could be-- and her eyes widened at the oddly familiar taste as his camera clicked her image. "It's like cold pumpkin pie!" Yukito nodded, but Erin didn't really notice. She went back to taste-testing the ice cream, trying to figure it out. "It's just like cold pumpkin pie! Here, you try!"

"That's the general idea, actually," Yukito said, taking the ice cream from her for a few little bites.

Taking it back, Erin started bouncing on the balls of her feet, unable to stop grinning. "Can we take this to the beach? I wanna go down there now! Let's go!" She tugged a little at his hand.

"Fine, fine, fine..." Yukito took her arm in his and shared a bite more of her ice cream. "Hey, don't steal all my ice cream!" she teased him, pulling it away. "I'm still trying to figure out if I like it! I need to try it more!"

Erin kept her hand in Yukito's as her feet started to sink deeper into the sand that was so different than what she was accustomed to. It was such a great, weird mix of what she knew so well and what was new, and different, and exciting. She had to push down the impulse to run out into the ocean. She could smell the salt in the air, invigorating. Erin left out a little squeal of delight. "It's so beautiful!" She slipped away and ran to a free patch of the beach, jumping on top of the sand. "Right here!"

Yukito followed over to her and started to lay everything out across the sand. She sat down next to him on the laid-out beach towels and licked some of the dripping ice cream before it got onto her hand. "So I'm guessing you like the pumpkin flavor... next time you should try something less common."

"I think it'd be better with graham cracker crumbs, actually," Erin decided seriously. "What'd'you mean by 'less common'?" A fresh smile grew on her face. "No whale! No horse meat! Other stuff- maybe!" She giggled, scooting to sit close next to him, resting her head on his shoulder and exaggerating a happy sigh. "I like this date already," she announced lightly. "It feels so good out heeeere! Hey, hold this." She handed him her remaining bit of ice cream and moved to stretch out on the beach towel, lying with her face in the sun, eyes closed and smiling brightly.

Yukito Maki

"Hey, don't steal all my ice cream!" she teased him, pulling it away as he attempted another lick. He made a face at her, then waved it off as if he hadn't really wanted it anyway. "I'm still trying to figure out if I like it! I need to try it more!"

“Fine,” he muttered, “I see how it is.”

Their hands remained entangled as Erin continued to consume her new pumpkin treat, squealing with delight at the busy beach. "It's so beautiful!" She slipped away and ran to a free patch of the beach, jumping on top of the sand as though that would lay permanent claim on it. "Right here!" He trailed over, laying out the blanket and their enormous bag of stuff that Erin had insisted on bringing with them, while Erin plopped directly down and focused on her ice cream before it melted in the heat.

“I heard it was supposed to get to ninety-six today,” he said quietly, looking across the beach. Then, he glanced over at her and smiled. “So I'm guessing you like the pumpkin flavor.. next time you should try something less common.”

"I think it'd be better with graham cracker crumbs, actually," Erin decided seriously, then, "What'd'you mean by 'less common'?" He just grinned at her, and she returned the gesture, looking radiant. "No whale! No horse meat! Other stuff- maybe!"

He let out a “Pffft!” sound with his lips, leaning his head onto her as she rested her head on his shoulder, the small cuddle a little uncomfortable in the heat, but totally worth it. Erin let out a happy sigh, making them both shift a bit accordingly. "I like this date already," she announced lightly. "It feels so good out heeeere! Hey, hold this." She handed him her remaining bit of ice cream and moved to stretch out on the beach towel, lying with her face in the sun, eyes closed and smiling brightly.

Instead of focusing on the ice cream in his hand, however, Yukito found himself just watching her. She laid there for awhile, just soaking in the sunshine like it was air itself, looking so blissful and pleased with herself and everything around her. Without moving, Yukito just smiled down at her. Then, the ice cream started trailing down his hand, the sudden cold making him jump and frantically start trying to clean it up. “Crap...” he breathed lightly, barely audible. He glanced back up at Erin as he struggled to lap up the rapidly-dribbling half-liquid, then smirked mischeviously. With a playful glint, he took the melted ice cream cone and turned it upside down, landing it on Erin's barren and vulnerable belly, pressing down a little so as to get as much of the freezing-cold snack on her as possible, then laughing and jumping away to escape her wrath. “I win!” he exclaimed prematurely, sand flying as he attempted an escape.


Erin Spenser

As soon as their spot on the beach was claimed and properly decorated with all they'd brought with them, Erin was able to take in the feel of the shoreline fuller. The sea breeze, the reflecting light off the water, the fine-grained sand, the ruckus of laughter and running and splashing and conversations she couldn't follow if someone paid her-- but she didn't care. It was all part of the beauty of it all, what made it so fun and perfect. She leaned her head against Yukito briefly, wondering at the back of her mind when he'd get hot enough to ditch the shirt. Out loud, she announced happily, "I like this date already. It feels so good out heeeere! Hey, hold this." She handed him her remaining bit of ice cream and moved to stretch out on the beach towel. Already the sun was warming her, and vaguely she wondered if she should bother putting on sunscreen. The rest of her mind shut out the thought easily, listening to the sounds of the water and the people and feeling Yukito beside her. At that moment Erin felt much more blessed than she could ever remember feeling before. There couldn't be anyone luckier than her right now.

The moment shattered with a sudden shock of creamy shivers just above her bellybutton. Erin's eyes flew open, and she jerked away, lettting out a loud squeal of protest. "Yukito!!!" She glanced down at the icy pumpkin on her stomach, then lunged at Yukito to retaliate.

He cackled at her, trying his best to dodge her. “I win!”

"No, you suck!" Erin shouted back, falling into her own giggles. She yanked the remainder of the ice cream and its cone into her hand and shoved it onto the base of his neck, dragging it down across his shirt as she pressed to break the cone into little crumbs across it. The crumbs stuck successfully to the ice cream remains, and Erin resumed her lunge to tackle him in retaliation. "Some boyfriend you are!" she reprimanded through her own laughter, as Erin playfully rewarded him with punches in his non-creamed arm.

"Ugh!! Now I'm all stickyyyy!" she complained once her initial retaliation was complete. Erin sat back and looked down at the damage again, then pointed at his shirt. "It's ruined!" she declared proudly. "You can't wear it anymore!" With more giggles, Erin tugged at the hem of his shirt. "It's ruiiined," she half-whined and half-drawled, then shifted tactics, setting her shoulders squarely and trying her best to sound reasonable and logical. "You know, kareshi, more people notice someone at the beach still wearing a t-shirt waaay more than they notice someone looking just like everyone else." She nodded, as if offering a second opinion, and sat back on her knees. "Please?" she added, the "logical" façade melting away. Erin leaned forward to give him a little kiss. "Anyway, you owe me for ice-creaming me without warning," she reasoned smugly, giving him a smart smile. "And I need to go wash off now!" Her voice was louder now, and she stood up, brushing off the sand from her legs, and turned to the ocean. "Come with me!" Erin didn't wait for an answer before taking off into the water, going until just her head bobbed along with the friendly waves.


Yukito Maki

The instant the cone dropped onto her barren stomach, Erin's eyes shot open and she flew. "Yukito!!!" She glanced down at the icy pumpkin on her stomach, then lunged at Yukito to retaliate. He laughed openly, jumping back to avoid her inevitable attack. “I win!”

"No, you suck!" Erin shouted back, falling into her own giggles. Yukito paused, grinning at her and thinking that she was done for the moment, as she paused to pick up the ice cream cone he'd dropped onto her. But then she caught him, shoving it down his shirt. Automatically, he tensed, jerking his shoulders up and letting out a hissing sound as the freezing cold ice cream started to drip down his back, sticking to him the whole way. Crap. Should have seen that one coming. She took pleasure in crumbling the cone up to join the mostly liquid mess, and he tried to glare at her while his mouth was twitching towards a smile. “Nice....” he muttered. Now that they were both sufficiently sticky and gross, Erin leapt over to tackle him in a hug.

"Some boyfriend you are!" she reprimanded through her own laughter, as Erin playfully rewarded him with punches in his non-creamed arm.

“Yes. And you know you would have done the same thing if you had thought of it first,” he teased, trying to wipe away at the majority of the mess, and only succeeding in making his fingers stick together.

"Ugh!! Now I'm all stickyyyy!" she complained, checking on her damage, then pointing accusingly at his shirt. "It's ruined!"

“You did it!” was his retort. But she was obviously more proud than upset by the loss of the shirt. Whatever. He didn't care much anyways. It could probably just be washed. Probably. Either way, her logic stung - he couldn't wear a sticky shirt all day.

"You can't wear it anymore!" she giggled, and he didn't look up at her, appearing to be more focused on getting the majority of the crumbs off his shirt. Unfortunately, he did not have Erin's ability to change the subject at the bat of an eyelash. Erin tugged at the hem of his shirt, sending more crumbs to the sand. "It's ruiiined," she said again, pointedly, then with attempted seriousness added, "You know, kareshi, more people notice someone at the beach still wearing a t-shirt waaay more than they notice someone looking just like everyone else."

“Right,” was all he said, just staring back at her with a blank look, still stony on his decision to at least put it off as long as necessary. And if he hadn't gone through with the spur-of-the-moment ice cream plan, they wouldn't have gotten sticky in the first ten minutes, and his plan would have been a lot easier to accomplish. He cursed his idiotic moment of spontaneity.

Erin just sat back on her knees, knowing she would win the battle if she just kept trying long enough. "Please?" she added, Erin leaned forward to give him a little kiss. Now that's just unfair. "Anyway, you owe me for ice-creaming me without warning," she reasoned smugly, giving him a smart smile. He opened his mouth to protest as she called out suddenly, "And I need to go wash off now!” He didn't answer, just watching her as she dusted off the excess sand from her legs. ”Come with me!" Before he could respond otherwise, she was racing off toward the water, feet kicking up sand and hair trailing behind her, a pretty picture that he didn't want to be left behind by.

Yukito watched her for a moment, swearing breathlessly and muttering more to cover up his own secret thoughts than to really complain about the situation, as bothersome as it was for him. He couldn't even get away with lamely taking it off in the water, either. But he had, at some point, become resigned to constant discomfort rising up in most any outing with Erin, and managed to yank off his shirt to discard it next to their towels. Yukito frowned, shoving his sunglasses up onto his nose and dropping his cell phone and burying it under their stuff. Since it was really hot, he didn't feel the eerie chill he had previously and was able to resist wrapping his arms around himself as he went to follow her, starting off at a walk and then running as he rushed to meet her in the water and going in about chest-deep. And the first thing he did was sent a large splash her way, trying to recover his pride as he realized yet again how stupid it was to not be able to swim. “There, you happy?” he half-growled, half-teased as he tried to splash away the crumbs and ice cream. He opened his mouth for another comment, but just then a wave came in and shot him back a bit, surprising him and getting saltwater into his mouth, knocking his glasses askew. He frowned, trying to readjust the glasses and knowing that with water on them, they were practically useless. “Nice..” he spluttered, coughing on the bitter taste in his mouth.


Erin Spenser

"It's ruiiined," Erin reminded Yukito, then told him seriously, "You know, kareshi, more people notice someone at the beach still wearing a t-shirt waaay more than they notice someone looking just like everyone else." As sincere as she was when she said that, the comment made her feel a bit selfish in the back of her mind. Erin knew how shy he was, how big a deal it was to him with the whole hide-behind-a-shirt thing, and she thought she got that as well she could. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a little selfish. She liked it when he wasn't quite that shy…

“Right,” Yukito muttered. And Erin felt herself caving to her more selfish mind a bit more. It was helping him, too, really, and how lame was it to be at a beach and hide in a shirt the whole time? Yukito had to get out sometime… She tried again. "Please?" A kiss punctuated her newest request. "Anyway," she added logically, "you owe me for ice-creaming me without warning." Erin gave him a smirk, then stood up for a new announcement. "And I need to go wash off now!” A quick dusting of her sandy legs and Erin took off to the ocean. ”Come with me!"

He didn't follow immediately, but Erin kept going until the salty water hit her, and she was surrounded up to her neck in it. That far out, the waves could bob her along as her toes brushed against the sand. Briefly she wondered if Japanese jellyfish were much more potent than what she was used to, but jellyfish didn't bother her much before, anyway… She turned around to look back at Yukito, letting the waves push her forward just a bit. She grinned in his direction as Yukito walked her way, having decided being with her in the ocean was more important than wearing a sticky shirt and feeling "comfortable", however you did that in a sticky shirt…

Yukito met her in the water as Erin jumped with that half-weightless feel the water gives, smiling at him brightly. Yukito took her by surprise though, giving her a quick, hard splash. For a moment Erin sputtered, shaking the water off that had made it on her face. "Heyyy!!" She laughed.

“There, you happy?” He sounded like he was pretty ticked, as he used the ocean water to rid himself of the ice cream remains. But Erin thought he couldn't be too upset. "Yes!" she shouted back, giggling. Yukito's answer was cut off as a wave knocked him off balance-- he really had never been in the freaking ocean, had he? "Yukito!" Erin couldn't help but laugh-- she knew he was okay, if not totally soaked now. He popped back up, sunglasses askew, which looked perfectly adorable and made her wan to kiss him. A lot. He was frowning, trying to readjust the glasses and Erin giggled, walking through the waves and watery sand to stand by him. “Nice..” He coughed a bit to clear the salt from his throat.

"Aww-w-w," Erin sympathized with a smile, hugging her arms around him. "I freaking love you." She pulled him closer in her hug and pressed her lips against his. Then she started giggling-- a song had popped into her head. Erin started humming the song, then sang out loud, "It's just tequila and the beach, it's quite salty when we kiss." More giggles. "I love that song!" she announced, keeping her hug on him. Then on impulse she snagged the sunglasses from his face and put them over her own eyes, making a few mock super-model poses and pursing her lips here and there playfully. "How do I look, my dahling?"


Yukito Maki

To dispel some of the awkward feelingand get her eyes off him for a moment, he sent a splash her direction, making her splutter and shout, "Heyyy!!"

“There, you happy?” He grouched, only half-meaning it as he tried to wash away the ice creamy goo.

“Yes!" she shouted back, giggling and making water-type sounds as she relished in her newfound ocean freedom. He opened his mouth to add more to that, but ending up choking on ocean instead as a wave shot up when he wasn't watching, nearly throwing him off his feet. He heard Erin's voice as he broke his way to the surface again, her words trickled with laughter. "Yukito!" He stood up, finding his sunglasses on crooked, pushed over by the force of the waves, and he frowned as he tried to readjust it while Erin slipped over to his side. “Nice..” He coughed a bit to clear the salt from his throat.

"Aww-w-w," Erin sympathized with a smile, hugging her arms around him. Her arms felt strange and cool covered in the salty water, but he didn't pull away from her. On the contrary, he stood still a moment, memorizing the feeling. "I freaking love you." He felt a cheerful little jolt in his stomach as she pulled him closer and down into a kiss, which felt so different with the loud roar of the ocean around them, pounding in at their ears. He leaned down to deepen the kiss, but Erin got distracted and started giggling, humming into their kiss and then pulling back to sing, "It's just tequila and the beach, it's quite salty when we kiss." Yukito chuckled, sending her a befuddled look and shaking his head, but enjoying her giddiness. "I love that song!" she announced, keeping her hug on him.

“So you want tequila now, do you? I think I can arrange that...” Suddenly, Erin reached up and pulled it sunglasses off his face, making it thud across his nose. She slipped them on herself, taking a dramatic pose and pouting out her lips. "How do I look, my dahling?" she asked him, making him smile.

Sexy. Thrilling. Happy. Heart-stopping. Better in my sunglasses than I ever could. He leaned in, always one for few words. Yukito caught her by the waist and crushed his mouth against hers, exhaling as he paused to smile at her and whisper just loud enough to be heard above the waves, “Mine,” before deepening the kiss. “Come sit with me on the beach,” he told her after awhile, taking her hand in his and leading them away from the waves as they continued to pound on him, making him unsteady in his trudge. They were most of the way back when Yukito pulled another impulsive move that would always surprise him, even though he knew it was because of Erin. He leaned over on her hard, kissing her as he knocked them both over into the water, making a terrible splash and getting sand on them. Pushing himself up on his hands, Yukito waited for Erin to resurface, then rushed in for several more kisses, holding them above the water but low enough to continue to feel the ocean brushing around between them, tickling him and making him shiver noticeably. He let out a laugh, finally standing up and holding out a hand to help Erin. “Well, now you have something to claim as one of my 'firsts', Erin Chloe Spenser,” he said, pointedly using her full name. After sitting down on one of the towels, trying half-heartedly to wipe away the sand on his arms, he added, “You're the first to ever convince me to actually come to the beach. I'd successfully avoided it until today.” Now it was his turn to lay back, closing his eyes against the blinding sun with one arm draped across his eyes. He smiled, and let out a sigh, feeling the sunlight already burning down on them. “And we're gonna have other firsts, too. You just watch and see.”


Erin Spenser

After the ocean threw Yukito off guard, Erin couldn't help but wrap him up in an affectionate hug. And she'd hold onto him as long as he'd let her. "I freaking love you." She pulled him closely into a kiss that lasted only as long as her attention, until a lyric grew in her head and made her giggle. "It's just tequila and the beach, it's quite salty when we kiss." The song snippet made Yukito chuckle, shaking her head like it was an odd thing for her to do to sing a song. "I love that song!" she explained happily, keeping her hug on him.

“So you want tequila now, do you? I think I can arrange that...”

"No!" Erin squealed in giggles. "It's a song! Drinking and swimming is a bad combination!" Without missing a beat, she reached up and pulled off the sunglasses from his face, making it thud across his nose. She slipped them on herself, taking a dramatic pose and pouting her lips. "How do I look, my dahling?"

Instead of an answer, Erin received a sudden rush of a kiss from him. "Mine," he said in her ear before continuing to take away her breath.

“Come sit with me on the beach,” he told her after awhile, and for a second Erin was speechless as she beamed at him and nodded. Yukito took her hand and walked with her cumbersomely through the water and sand. A few shells filtered up underneath her toes. Before they even fully reached the dry shore, he leaned over on her hard, kissing her suddenly as he knocked them both over into the water and sand. For a moment the salty water cascaded across her. Easily she pushed herself onto her elbows, keeping her head up above the waves as Yukito graced her with many more kisses, lifting her into his arms as the waves swept around them. It was about the most romantic thing she could remember him doing, and Erin's own kisses didn't slow. Even when he let out a laugh, pulling away to offer her a hand up back to her feet. As soon as her feet where as firmly planted as the Pacific would allow, Erin continued to lean into him for more little kisses.

“Well, now you have something to claim as one of my 'firsts', Erin Chloe Spenser,” Yukito told her, the simple way he said her name making her look up at him with a huge smile. Sure, maybe it was a little dorky for her to react that way, even after so many months with him. But she couldn't help it if she tried, which she didn't want to, because she decided she loved it. And that what he said was true-- it finally felt like they were sharing something that was just for them. A ping of memory signaled at the back of her brain at his words. "Mmm… I like having firsts with you! What's this one?"

They sat back on their towels, Yukito attempting to remove the sand from himself. Erin didn't bother-- it would fall off when she dried. Which really wouldn't be long. “You're the first to ever convince me to actually come to the beach. I'd successfully avoided it until today.” A little, happy laugh escaped Erin at Yukito's words, as he laid back on the towels. Her eyes were drawn to the fresh tattoo he'd gotten, right on his stomach like he'd planned. She had felt a sense of relief when he went through with the idea, and now a sense of happiness. In its own way it was a permanent marker of another tiny first between them. The skin was slightly red and raised where the ink had gone in, but it was less than it had been before. She was imagining what it would look like after a few more days when Yukito suddenly added, “And we're gonna have other firsts, too. You just watch and see.”

Her lips split into a new, fresh grin. "Oh, really? You have something in mind, kareshi?" she teased with a giggle, laying down next to him. Then the ping came in her head again at his words, and Erin grew a bit more somber. "You know what?" She rested her head against his shoulder. "I hope you get to see her again someday." A pause, and she clarified, thinking of the firsts she missed out on, but the ones she might get because of her. "Natalie, I mean," she added gently, honestly. "I think it's possible…" she tacked on, so that he wouldn't misunderstand her. It wasn't like she was suggesting a séance or anything. She did think it was possible, too. "Maybe I might, too… just to say thanks, at least." Erin looked over and offered a hopeful smile.


Yukito Maki

“Well, now you have something to claim as one of my 'firsts', Erin Chloe Spenser,” Yukito told her with a smile, coming up to their things set out on the sand.

"Mmm… I like having firsts with you! What's this one?"she asked as they made themselves comfortable on the towels. Yukito brushed away some of the sand off his legs, sure it wasn't going away quite yet, but getting the majority off anyways so it would stay off his towel.

Yukito lifted his eyes to squint across the brightly sunlit beach, letting out a sigh, “You're the first to ever convince me to actually come to the beach. I'd successfully avoided it until today.” A little, happy laugh escaped Erin at Yukito's words, as he laid back on the towels. He laid an arm across his eyes to block off the sun, letting out a sigh as the heat quickly started to dry them both. “And we're gonna have other firsts, too. You just watch and see.”

"Oh, really? You have something in mind, kareshi?" she teased with a giggle, laying down next to him. He just smiled, lifting his arm enough to peek over at her with a boyish smirk.

“Never. Not me...” he added in sarcasm, replacing the arm over his eyes and feeling suddenly quite tired and happy.

"You know what?" She rested her head against his shoulder as he let out a little, “Mm?” sound. "I hope you get to see her again someday."

“Hm?” he lifted his arm again, this time looking at her in slight confusion. "Natalie, I mean,"she added gently. Yukito didn't say anything, feeling still that heavy delicacy of the subject and all its surrounding wounds. Was this how it was, that she could bring Natalie up, and he wasn't allowed to? Was this to be something always lightly touched upon for him, but not fully dealt with? He was surprised Erin even said her name aloud. "I think it's possible…Maybe I might, too… just to say thanks, at least." Erin looked over and offered a hopeful smile. Yukito was quiet, shifting where he lay again and feeling a shift in his feelings just as potent.

“What do you mean 'see her again'?” he wondered aloud, although he knew perfectly well what she meant. He didn't want to believe in that kind of a lie. Or at least, that's what his mind screamed at him whenever the idea came up. Don't set yourself up for heartache, don't live by emotions alone... all that sort of thing. But it wasn't so easy to mask his fear and confusion on the whole subject. He felt like Erin's God had already condemned Natalie long ago, and everyone thought it was deserved, and all Natalie's fault. So why would Erin even mention seeing her again like it was a possibility?

What do I say now? he wondered hopelessly, falling to silence because his mind wasn't used to just handling Natalie in a real conversation anymore. Yukito shifted over to his side, reaching over and touching gently the skin around the new bellybutton piercing she'd got, a new mark they'd both gone in together to receive.

“I really think you would have liked her...” he murmured, feeling like a child wishing for something even though he knew it would just keep hurting if he did. “I know she would have loved you...” His hand trailed across her until it found her cheek, then his hand ran through her hair as he lifted his eyes to meet hers. “I'm sorry you have to live with her ghost now...” That hand in her hair wrapped the long, colored strands around his fingertip absently, as he added in a quieter voice, trying to sound more prepared for her answer than he actually was. “Do you honestly think that's a possibility?”


Erin Spenser

"You know what?" Erin said suddenly, resting against him.

“Mm?”

"I hope you get to see her again someday." She said it before she thought about it. Half of her wondered if she'd just ruined the moment-- would he get depressed because of what she said now? That would be terrible…

“Hm?”

"Natalie, I mean," she added gently. His hesitation didn't register with her, and she tok his silence as a cue to continue. So she did. "I think it's possible…Maybe I might, too… just to say thanks, at least." Erin looked over and offered a hopeful smile. Yukito still didn't say anything. Did he not hear her or something? "…Yukito?"

“What do you mean 'see her again'?”

"I mean just what I mean. You know. Not like, séances or anything… I think those are a load of crap anyway. But, you know, just one day. In the future. The really distant future, hopefully… but still. I like to think we get the chance one day to say at least thank you to the people who impacted us. You know? Because I know that's what she did for you. And I don't think we'd even get to be here now without her. That's all."

Quietly, Yukito shifted over to his side, reaching over and touching gently the skin at the new piercing she'd gotten. The gesture sent hyperactive butterflies up through her stomach. Yes, bellybutton ring was definitely a good idea. “I really think you would have liked her...” he murmured. “I know she would have loved you...”

"Really?" The simple phrase prompted an impulsive sigh of relief from Erin. "That's so good to hear, you have no idea." She looked over at him with a lighter smile, matching her lighter shoulders. "You don't know how many times I thought she might hate me. You know, for like, loving you so much…" She laughed, a bit nervously at how dumb her words sounded. "That sounds so dumb… True, but dumb…" The words trailed off into giggles as Yukito's hand moved to rest against her cheek, then her hair.

“I'm sorry you have to live with her ghost now...”

"Don't be sorry," she responded easily, honestly. "Told you, she's part of why we're here. And I like this 'here'. A lot."

His hand was wrapped in her hair now. “Do you honestly think that's a possibility?”

"Well, yeah." Erin's voice carried the tone of the obvious. "Why would I bring it up if I didn't believe it?" She sat up a little, suddenly feeling serious. It was an odd feeling. "Yukito, I know what you've been told about people whose lives end the way hers did. And I get it, it makes sense… but… You know, they say that because the idea is you have to have time to ask for forgiveness before you die and stuff… But that's like, how we work, on technicalities. Because we can't really know someone's heart the way God does, so…" Erin pointed her index finger into the sand and started to doodle. "We have to work with time and stuff, and with what we hear from people's mouths as the best way to see what's inside them. But I think God gets her. I think he knew Natalie's heart, you know? I don't think he'd reject her because of actions. I don't think he rejects anyone because of actions… So, yeah, I do think it's possible. I know not everyone thinks that way." She shrugged. "But I do, and you deserve the chance to see her again." For a moment she smiled at him, then shifted into a confused expression. "Is that wrong to say or something?" A shrug. "Because it's true."


Yukito Maki

With Erin's softly spoken words he was hit with an onslaught of memories. It whisked around them, keeping them sectioned off from the noisy beach and making it feel very far away, and making him believe they were alone, with no interruptions. Just them, and this discussion of a ghost that hadn't stopped haunting them yet. He would be lying if he said he didn't think about her a lot. He would be lying if he said he didn't miss her anymore, that he hadn't really loved her. But in a strange, indescribable way, he felt as if that didn't change or effect the way he was now, the way he felt as he reached out to Erin and touched her, feeling shy and uncertain in wording his thoughts, but sure that she would wait for him to find the right ones. Sure that he could be close to her. “I really think you would have liked her...” he murmured. “I know she would have loved you...”

"Really?" She sounded so surprised he glanced up into her face as she let out a sigh of relief. "That's so good to hear, you have no idea." An amused smile lit on his face, wondering if Erin had been too worried about impressing a dead girl from his past. The smile faded fast, though, as she continued. "You don't know how many times I thought she might hate me. You know, for like, loving you so much…That sounds so dumb… True, but dumb…"

“Why the hell would she hate you for loving me?” he let out a little chuckle to mirror her nervous laugh. Then, more soberly, he added, “And I don't think Natalie felt the same way about me as I did her, anyways. She was the type to move on quickly, and she would have wanted me to do the same.” Shifting slightly, and curling up a bit more, he added, “Unfortunately, that's what I tried to do with Yumi...and you see how that ended...” He lifted his hand to rest against Erin's cheek, his mind forming a symphony to explain how much better this felt than anything before it. His hand found her hair, playing with it as his eyes, wandering along the path of his hands, expressed his apology before his mouth ever did. “I'm sorry you have to live with her ghost now...”

"Don't be sorry,"[b/] she responded easily, honestly. "Told you, she's part of why we're here. And I like this 'here'. A lot."

“I happen to like this 'here', too,” he murmured, twisting her hair around his finger. A long pause as he considered her words, flipping back to the earlier portion of their conversation. “Do you honestly think that's a possibility?”

Without needing him to explain what he meant, she answered easily, "Well, yeah. Why would I bring it up if I didn't believe it?"

She sat up, and he replied quietly, softly, with a trace of hope in his words that he was wrong in his assumption. That she wasn't like others in this way. “Just to make me feel better.”

"Yukito, I know what you've been told about people whose lives end the way hers did. And I get it, it makes sense… but… You know, they say that because the idea is you have to have time to ask for forgiveness before you die and stuff… But that's like, how we work, on technicalities. Because we can't really know someone's heart the way God does, so…" Erin pointed her index finger into the sand and started to doodle,while he made no answer. "We have to work with time and stuff, and with what we hear from people's mouths as the best way to see what's inside them. But I think God gets her. I think he knew Natalie's heart, you know? I don't think he'd reject her because of actions. I don't think he rejects anyone because of actions… So, yeah, I do think it's possible. I know not everyone thinks that way." She shrugged. "But I do, and you deserve the chance to see her again."

He didn't respond, seeing holes in her logic but not wording them, knowing it didn't really matter, since it was the way Erin saw it. Besides, wasn't there some sort of black hole for logic around the realms of religion, anyways? Religion was too much a reflection of humanity in that way. All up to interpretation. For a moment she smiled at him, then shifted into a confused expression. "Is that wrong to say or something?" A shrug. "Because it's true."

He lifted one shoulder in a return shrug, “You can say what you like, so long as it's not a threat against the emperor or something.” A brief smile as he shifted again, finding his stomach too warm in the direct sun. “I do have to agree with you on one thing – if there is a God, he isn't much like people. Like, you and me. But I have a question for you – if God doesn't judge people on their actions, then what is there for my father?” A pause, “Because you said they're judged on their hearts. And my father used to love me...and my mother, too. So if he is judged on his heart, then perhaps there is still some love there...it's what my mother always waited for. If his actions are insignificant because his heart wasn't in them, his drunkenness was, then what does your God say to that?” He sat up to join her, his knees drawn up against his still sore belly and his sand-covered arms wrapping around his legs. “This is a very serious discussion for a beach...”


Erin Spenser

Yukito asked, so she answered, albeit not very elegantly or sensibly. It somehow managed to all make sense in her head, but when she tried to communicate what she felt was true, half of it got forgotten somewhere deep inside, or was too intricate to try to stick into words. And Yukito kept distracting her.

Eventually, he lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “You can say what you like, so long as it's not a threat against the emperor or something.” Erin laughed. "Mental note-- check!"

He moved again next to her, then continued. “I do have to agree with you on one thing – if there is a God, he isn't much like people. Like, you and me. But I have a question for you – if God doesn't judge people on their actions, then what is there for my father?”

Erin looked at him for a moment, unsure of how to explain she didn't know what exactly he meant. She didn't say judge, did she?

“Because you said they're judged on their hearts. And my father used to love me...and my mother, too. So if he is judged on his heart, then perhaps there is still some love there...it's what my mother always waited for. If his actions are insignificant because his heart wasn't in them, his drunkenness was, then what does your God say to that?”

She smiled. "Yukito… I love you, but I'm not God. Just because I believe in him doesn't mean I get everything… or a lot of things. But I still think that he doesn't reject people based on what they've done… If they want him, they want him… If not, they don't…."

Now Yukito sat up to join her, pulling his knees to himself. She took a finger to brush off some of the sand that came with him. “This is a very serious discussion for a beach...” he announced.

Erin laughed. "No way! I thought it was so lighthearted and bouncy and stuff! Have you ever made a sand castle?"


Yukito Maki

“I do have to agree with you on one thing – if there is a God, he isn't much like people. Like, you and me. But I have a question for you – if God doesn't judge people on their actions, then what is there for my father? Because you said they're judged on their hearts. And my father used to love me...and my mother, too. So if he is judged on his heart, then perhaps there is still some love there...it's what my mother always waited for. If his actions are insignificant because his heart wasn't in them, his drunkenness was, then what does your God say to that?”

She smiled. "Yukito… I love you, but I'm not God. Just because I believe in him doesn't mean I get everything… or a lot of things. But I still think that he doesn't reject people based on what they've done… If they want him, they want him… If not, they don't…."

It sounded like a cop-out to him. An excuse to say, 'I just don't get it either' on nicer terms. He sat up, feeling the need to change the subject and relieve some of the heaviness of the conversation. Somehow they had gone from being happy over the beach, to Natalie, to religion. And he wasn't sure if either of them really wanted to face the realities of this yet. He knew he didn't want to. “This is a very serious discussion for a beach...” he announced.

Erin laughed. "No way! I thought it was so lighthearted and bouncy and stuff! Have you ever made a sand castle?"

“Um...maybe in a sandbox when I was three or four...” he murmured hesitantly, looking skeptically over at the damp sand. It seemed like terrible building material, but it could be fun. “I was more of a runner than a builder when I was little. I guess I didn't sit still very long...” he shrugged, moving closer to her and leaning over until he could nuzzle into her hair gently. He followed close behind her, refreshing that closeness by little touches while they started on a sand castle. The sand was wet and rough beneath his fingertips, the tiny grains rubbing and rolling against his skin. The waves continued to roar next to them, and Yukito laughed with her and lightly shoved her with his shoulder when they worked too close, moving her away and then moving closer himself as part of the game. But his mind kept wandering, and he soon fell to a somber silence as he patted the ground together in the vague shape of a lumpy wall. He tried to shake himself out of his thoughts, but the more he avoided them, the more it pressed on him.

“Erin...” he murmured quietly, staring down at his working hands, “I mean it when I say she would have liked you. You guys were...uh...are...” He struggled with which word was correct, frowned, then moved on, “A lot alike. She liked most of the same music you do.” A long pause, and a fear struck him that this would continue to blacken their afternoon. “But she couldn't sing. Definitely nothing like you.” Another pause, and a little smile had appeared on his lips. “I remember first hearing you sing. I remember when you first played a song for me that you had wrote. It was for some dumb talent show...and I remember thinking 'there's something...something like me there. It's colored and shaped differently, but it's still alike'.” He finally, slowly looked up at her face. “To be honest, Erin, I believe Natalie would be jealous of you. And of today. You see, Natalie was always pushing people around. She liked to make them try new things, to push the boundary line. It's because of Natalie I can do this," he leaned forward and touched his lips to her cheek. "She insisted I move forward and stop wallowing. But because of you, I do this.." He leaned forward and pressed his mouth on hers, his sand-covered hand trailing in her hair and getting entangled while he deepened the kiss, finally pulling away to inhale.


Erin Spenser

“This is a very serious discussion for a beach...” Yukito decided.

Erin laughed, enjoying the quiet segue into more lighthearted territory-- though she had wanted to let him know honestly what she'd been feeling . And now that she had, they could get back to business-- which was no business at all. "No way! I thought it was so lighthearted and bouncy and stuff! Have you ever made a sand castle?"

“Um...maybe in a sandbox when I was three or four...” Somehow the murmured answer didn't surprise her so much. He didn't seem to have much of the same childhood experiences she did. It was kind of a bummer, but at least in that way, Erin could build her own memories with him. "I was more of a runner than a builder when I was little. I guess I didn't sit still very long...”

Erin laughed. "Then you must've gotten that all out of you when you were little!" She could picture him now posed for the longest time, meditating on something he'd read or something someone had said…. He would never admit it, she was sure, but Yukito could be such a cute nerd.

He shrugged, moving closer to her and leaning over until he could nuzzle into her hair gently. They played in the sand like kids, Erin's experienced hands leading the pattern as Yukito half-followed, half-played along with her. He was a bit clumsier, being it was his first real try, and many times it made Erin giggle. Soon, though, his more serious tone came back.

“Erin… I mean it when I say she would have liked you. You guys were...uh...are...” He paused, Erin waited, and then he continued, “A lot alike. She liked most of the same music you do.”

The comment made Erin smile. "Like your music!" she said brightly.

“But she couldn't sing. Definitely nothing like you.” Erin chortled at that. She was sure Natalie had her own things she could do that Erin would suck at. Her mind drifted to Yukito's guitar. Yeah, they definitely had different talents. “I remember first hearing you sing. I remember when you first played a song for me that you had wrote. It was for some dumb talent show...and I remember thinking 'there's something...something like me there. It's colored and shaped differently, but it's still alike'.”

The compliments and beautiful words sank into Erin's ears, making her smile happily as she poked more detail into the sand castle-- a puncture with her finger to make a "window". "I like being in talent shows," she objected playfully. "I kick butt in them."

Yukito looked up at her. So serious. “To be honest, Erin, I believe Natalie would be jealous of you. And of today." He must have seen a confused look on her face, because he went on to explain, "You see, Natalie was always pushing people around. She liked to make them try new things, to push the boundary line. It's because of Natalie I can do this." He leaned forward and touched his lips to her cheek. "She insisted I move forward and stop wallowing. But because of you, I do this.." He leaned forward and pressed his mouth on hers, his sand-covered hand trailing in her hair and getting entangled while he deepened the kiss, finally pulling away, and Erin could breathe again.

For a moment, though, all she could do was stay there and stare at him, heart beating a million times a minute. And for another moment, she tried to get out a smooth statement declaring the success of the kiss-- something eloquent, like "woah" or "wow"… After two more moments passed, Erin gave up and just said, sounding rather dumb in her own ears, "I like that one better." So can we do it again? she thought, but her mind had gone blank again on how to connect to her voice. Suddenly she blurted, "I love the beach!" and, breaking her moment of silence, sprang a hug on Yukito that even she didn't see coming.