Ethan
"I will try my very hardest not to hurt you." Akane promised. At a loss for words, I pulled her closer to me.
Within a moment, her hands were caressing my face. She pulled me in for a kiss. It was a different kind of feeling than the usual elated one I had when kissing Akane. This one made me as if there were fireworks exploding in my chest. I felt warm and complete.
After we pulled away from each other, I began to feel light-headed. I stumbled over to Akane's bed before falling asleep.
Erela
I opened my eyes to see a familiar girl in the room standing over me. It appeared I was in her room, and I was quite confused.
"Ah.. Akane?" I spoke but the name was foreign in my mouth. I felt an odd attraction to the girl there, but it was strange.
I sat up slowly and blinked, unknowing of how to react or what to say. I was just as clueless as she was. How long had I been asleep? What was happening here?
BrokenTear
"I don't think you'd be the type to do something as domestic as, say, gardening or something along those lines. Which is strange, because you smell a lot like a forest in summer." Yuki was thinking aloud before shoveling food into her mouth.
At the thought that she didn't take me for a gardener, I grinned. I was trying to force down a laugh but I wasn't successful in doing so. A smirk of amusement spread across my face and Yuki's face jolted into an expression of disbelief.
"Gardening certainly is something I spend quite a bit of time on, even if it is domestic. I highly enjoy it." I explained, basking in the confusion on Yuki's face.
"Before I had adopted the castle, it had looked quite worn down and dreary, rather than the inviting feeling I intended. So I began gardening, at first to liven the place up and leave for Forever and Erela to attend. However it became something I did myself."
Forever
"I feel better now." Setsu expressed to me as he wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder.
"I'm glad." I smiled and pressed my masked lips to his cheek before blushing and hiding my face in his chest, giggling like a little schoolgirl.
(sorry for the shortness of this part. I'm limited on time and a bit brain dead)
Yuki
"Is there something you think I wouldn't ever do?" Brokentear asked me, the question itself making me pause in my eating and lean back to inspect him, really think about him. He was sweet and sorrowful, fleetingly happy and infinitely guilty. He still smelt like summer and sweets and earth, along with something I had come to find was just him, his natural scent.
"I'm not entirely sure," I said at length, picking my words carefully, not sure what to say to something like that. "I don't...I'm just not sure. That's a very general question, there are a lot of ways to answer it." I blew out a breathe in childish frustration, eating my food absent-minded. He smelt like earth...how does someone perpetually smell like the wild?
"I don't think you'd be the type to do something as domestic as, say, gardening or something along those lines," I mused out loud, frustration forgotten in the face of my new musings. "Which is strange, because you smell a lot like a forest in summer," I said, stuffing more food into my mouth afterwards.
Said food almost came spewing out at the look that crossed Brokentears' face, something a mix between smug, confused, and amused, along with something I couldn't focus on in favor of making sure I didn't choke on my delicious food. Once I could breathe without inhaling food, I shot him a quizzical look. There was no way that Brokentear, sad, sweet smelling Brokentear would like getting down and dirty in a garden. The thought was almost comical.
Setsuna
I sighed in sadness when Forever asked to be put back on solid ground, but complied anyways, floating down slowly back to the balcony. I didn't want to put him back, I wanted to ingrain the joy of flight into him, until he found as much peace in it as I always had.
I couldn't stand the thought to be ground born so soon, not when there was still tension and adrenaline and the love of the sky flowing through my veins. When Forever was safely on two feet and solid ground, I leaned down and kissed him, pulling back with a content sigh.
"I'm not ready to be grounded just yet, but I won't be long," I promised, stealing another kiss before flipping backwards over the railing. Unlike the first time, I enjoyed my free fall, arms spread wide and laughter spilling from my lips, just like before. I turned to meet the sight of the ground growing closer and sprung my wings out, grunting when the updraft pulled painfully on them.
I soared up, up into the sky I loved so much, with a reckless grin still painted on my lips. It was adrenaline inducing, and yet, also peaceful. I always felt like nothing could get me if I was in the sky. Flipping and speeding and floating with the wind, I must have circled the castle 15 times before the tension finally left, and my body thumped soothingly with my heartbeat.
I landed with a soft sigh, slowly closing my wings so they could rest against my back once again. I smiled at Forever when he held out my shirt and vest and used the vest to wipe the sweat away before walking forward and resting my head on his shoulder, arms wrapped loosely around his waist.
"I feel better now,".
"Akane. I don't want to be hurt, either. But I'm willing to take the risk. I don't want to miss out on you just because of fear. You're worth taking the chance," Ethan told her, his voice soft and gentle, assuring me what he was saying was the truth.
I stared into Ethan's eyes. His gorgeous, sky blue eyes. Those eyes that lit my very soul on fire when his gaze was on me. I could see it in his eyes, the truth of his words, of how he wanted to truly be with me. He really thought I was worth the risk, that I deserved a chance. And that meant more to me than anything else in this world.
His lips met mine, and I melted into him. As if his words weren't enough, he was proving how serious he was in this simple kiss. I could feel his sincerity, how much he wanted me.
Breaking the kiss, he ran his hand down my neck and shoulder and held my hand for a moment before letting go. Afraid that he was going to leave, I grabbed his hand again and pushed myself into his arms. How I wanted those arms around me. I felt safe their, as if I was worth loving.
"I want to be with you," I whispered into his chest, and I smiled when I felt his arms encircle me. "I will try my very hardest not to hurt you," I vowed. More to myself than to him. He merely hugged me tighter. There were no more words that could convey our emotions.
I reached my hands up and cupped his face, caressing his cheeks with my thumbs. Holding his gaze for a moment, I kissed him again. I had to prove to him how serious I was now that I knew how serious he was. I never wanted him to doubt my intentions.
When our lips met this time, I felt a spark unlike any other. It was as though all the pieces of our lives were falling into place, as though this was meant to be. As though we were meant to find each other. Being in his arms, even in his bed had felt so right. In that moment, I truly believed we had been destined to be together.
Ethan
"I don't want to hurt you." Akane whispered.
My legs carried me to stand in front of her. I lifted her chin with my index finger to look at me.
"Akane. I don't want to be hurt, either. But I'm willing to take the risk. I don't want to miss out on you just because of fear. You're worth taking the chance."
I pressed my lips to hers briefly, but with enough passion for her to know that I wanted her. If she wanted me.
I stood back after running my hand down her neck and shoulder and hung on to her hand for a moment before letting go.
BrokenTear
"Bet you didn't think I could cook, did you?"
Yuki asked with a grin as she held her coffee close to her mouth. I realized the reason behind that grin when she stole a slice of toast from me.
I raised an eyebrow in amusement and decided I should answer.
"You're right." I smirked, "I didn't think you the type to do so."
I thought for a moment, then spoke again, "is there something you think I wouldn't ever do?"
Forever
"Hold on tight then, and never let go." Setsu whispered.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and I felt my stomache drop when we fell from the balcony.
I let out a scream in terror and couldn't stop myself from crying. For a moment I felt myself lose trust in him. I felt betrayed and scared. But I latched myself into him as he managed to pull up, until we were higher than I had ever been. He restored my faith in him once again but I still trembled in his arms with fright. But at least it was only from the fall now.
"I'm sorry love, that was mean of me to do to you, especially when this is probably your first flight. Shh, there there, I've got'cha, I won't suddenly drop you or anything, you're safe." Setsu reassured me as we were still. His hold on me tightened, enforcing his words. He ran one hand through my hair and down my back.
I buried my head in his neck and he moved one of my arms, resting my hand over his heart. I could feel it racing under my hand. He smiled at me and I smiled slightly that he was feeling some kind of rush of emotion as well. I'm sure my own heart was pounding as well.
"I've got you, I wouldn't ever let you fall. Do you want me to take you back?"
At that I felt guilty that I thought he might drop me. I should have more faith in people.
I nodded, then looked up at him, "I'd like to go back. But maybe we could try this again sometime..." I blinked at my own words. I mean, I liked where we were now. Just sort of floating here. Just as long as I didn't look down, of course.
Yuki
"Do you cook often?" Brokentear asked. I paused in my making of French Toast and waited as he poured the coffee, rolling words and explanations around in my head to find the right way to explain.
"Not really, not anymore at least." I said vaguely, pulling a carton of milk from the fridge. Fixing my coffee to the way I liked it - one cup of milk, four spoonfuls of sugar - I took a sip and glanced to the man at my side, slightly surprised at the interested look Brokentear sported. I tilted my head a little and he raised his eyebrows in silent askance for clarity. I sighed softly through my nose and went back to making the french toast, the slow, almost automatic pace slightly comforting.
"When I say not anymore, it means in recent years. When I was little, I was taught how to cook, and before an unfortunate circumstance happened, I bar-tended and infiltrated places as a cook, but not so much recently." I said, the memories stinging a little. I brushed them off and slid the last piece onto the second plate, the first already piled with four pieces. I slid both plates over to Brokentear and turned to get the butter and syrup, the we both headed to the dining room.
He handed me the second plate, the more recent one finished, and we fixed our plates up and dug in. I smirked at him over my mug of coffee. "Bet you didn't think I could cook, did you?" I smirked, said smirk widening at the slightly guilty look. I shrugged at him and stole a small slice of food in retribution. He looked amused, and I grinned at him, enjoying eating a meal with someone again.
I'd been on my own for longer than I cared to remember, it was nice to finally have someone to eat with, especially when I didn't feel obligated to talk with them and could just sit in companionable silence. I enjoyed talking with Brokentear, but it wasn't forced, like some conversations I'd had.
Setsuna
"Yes, I'd like to fly with you, Setsu." Forever said, tightening his grip on me. I grinned unrepentantly, enjoying the amount of emotion I picked up from that single sentence. I slid his arms to wrap around my neck and then slid my arms around his waist, grinning down at him, my body humming with tension in preparation of flight.
"Hold on tight then, and never let go," I whispered, and then leaned back and together we fell from the balcony. I grinned sadistically when Forever screamed, then flipped us over and snapped my wings out, the wind jerking painfully on my wings and pulling us high into the air. I flapped them more until we were higher than the tallest tower and fell still, the only movement that of my wings keeping us in the air.
Forever was shaking in my arms, and I thought I caught the scent of tears. I frowned at myself and made soft comforting noises in his ear, tightening my grip around his waist in reassurance. I had messed up this time and I knew it, terrifying the poor boy beyond words.
"I'm sorry love, that was mean of me to do to you, especially when this is probably your first flight. Shh, there there, I've got'cha, I won't suddenly drop you or anything, you're safe," I assured, mentally smacking myself a good one. Keeping one arm tight around his waist, I moved the other to run through his hair and down his back soothingly.
I sighed softly and moved one of his arms from my neck to rest his hand over my heart again, said organ beating erratically. I smiled down at the head buried in my neck. "I've got you, I wouldn't ever let you fall. Do you want me to take you back?" I asked, feeling sad that I may have stupidly ruined his first flight. It was the first flight that was the most important.
