A few blocks later, we step into a park looking exactly as I remember.
"Oh...Neph-kun, this is definitely the place," I say softly, looking around.
I notice small changes. The trees have aged a little, as have the benches and such. The pond was still there, but now there's a fence around it and a new jungle gym not far from it.
I jump slightly as I feel Neph take my hand, then I smile and twine my fingers with his.
I turn and see him gazing gently at me. I can't help but to get lost in those incredible eyes.
I feel that urge to kiss him again, but push it aside.
I'm not quite ready yet, I think to myself.
"Let's see if we can find your and your mother's bench," he says softly.
I nod slightly and walk the familiar old path that I remember so well with him.
"Oh," I say, smiling gently, "it's still here!"
I lead him over and settle respectfully onto it next to him. I savor the embrace of the trees as I would that of an old friend. The warm caress of the sun on my face and arms is like that of a loved one. I can almost feel my mother kissing and hugging me. Laughing and talking to me. Teaching me and learning from me.
Oh....how I miss her!!
I feel a tear trickle down my face. The pain of not being able to see and talk to her ever again hits me like a sledge hammer to the head.
"M-chan?" Neph asks, gently wiping the tear from my cheek with a curled finger. "What's the matter?"
"Oh..." I sigh brokenly, "just....the memories."
"They are pleasant though, are they not?"
"Hai, in this place they are....but I'm just reminded of how much I miss her."
"Your mother? Can you not just call her?"
I smile sadly, "Iie, I wish I could. She passed on about a year ago," I take a deep breath, feeling my heart break all over again, "She...was...crushed to death...in an earthquake. And I...discovered her."
I bow my head, trying not to break down in front of this beautiful man I had just met.
"Oh...M-chan, I'm so sorry," he says softly, pulling me into his arms.
I lean into his embrace, crying softly.
"Oh, Neph...I never knew how much this was going to hurt! It's been a year and still I cry like a little girl when I come here," I whisper into his shoulder.
He gently strokes my hair and whispers softly to me, "M-chan...some pain doesn't go away, but that's the pain that makes us stronger. It also shows how deeply you loved your mother. How much she means to you and how, in not forgetting her, she will never leave you. How she will always be with you to give you strength."
He pauses, looking into my eyes through the shades and tenderly wiping the tears from my face.
"As....will I," he finishes, gently tilting my face up and leaning down to place his strong, gentle lips on my own in a sweet kiss.
WHOA! Unexpected to say the least but definitely NOT unwelcomed!
After a few moments, he breaks the kiss and looks at me gently.
"Feel better?" he asks softly.
I smile shyly up at him.
"Much."
If this is how he treats the blues, I wonder how he treats a cold, I think to myself then slap my hormones back in line.
"If you ever need to talk, M-chan," Neph says softly, "you can come to me."
"That offer goes both ways, then," I answer softly after nodding to him.
Neph gently puts his arms around me and leans down, pressing his lips to mine again.
Mmmm....I think I like this.
I slip my arms around his shoulders and he pulls me closer.
Scratch that, I KNOW I like this.
I pull back reluctantly and smile gently at him.
"Somehow, I don't think this is the place to be doing this, Neph," I say softly to him.
Neph grins. "Oh?" He leans down and nibbles on my neck, sending shivers up and down my spine.
I tilt my head up, not even consciously meaning to as he kisses me.
"Ohh....gods, Neph....now I know this isn't the place for this," I say breathlessly.
Neph smiles gently at me before kissing my forehead.
"All right, let's head back to the mansion, then," he says softly.
"Ok," I answer, smiling back. I shyly run my fingers through his hair.
Wow, it's as soft as it looks, I think to myself, a gentle smile upon my lips.
Neph smiles, and gently does the same with mine, watching the red strands sliding through his fingers with the black ones.
After a moment of staring into each others' eyes, he stands gracefully, gently holding my hand and pulling me to my feet.
"Let's go, M-chan, your injuries need tending to, and then perhaps you would like to replenish your wardrobe? I was told that you lost almost everything material that you possessed in that bombing," he says, slipping an arm around my waist.
I sigh softly, sliding an arm round his middle, grimacing slightly at the fresh memory.
"Hai, I did loose pretty much everything, even the clothing on my back was destroyed," I respond.
"...not to mention your poor back itself..."
"Well, hai...but that heals, as it is now, but some of that stuff can't be replaced, like my records and such. Mostly possessions that were once my mom's..." I trail off.
Neph nods silently, comfortingly stroking my side.
I sigh softly, staying close to him as we stroll down the lovely pathway.
"This," I say as I pull the locket I hardly ever take off from my shirt, "is the only picture I have of her, and the only material thing I have left of her."
I gently open the heart shaped locket, inside on one side is a picture of a beautiful Japanese woman with long, flowing blue black hair. My mother. On the other side is a pretty little girl of about four years with gorgeous strawberry blonde curls flowing to her waist and striking ice blue eyes sparkling at the camera. Me.
I pause to show Neph.
"The woman is your mother?" he asks.
I nod.
"And the girl?"
"That's me."
He gives me an odd look, looks from me, to the picture and back again.
"But you look so different..."
"Hai...I know...there have been...changes," I say softly, gently closing the locket and tucking it back into my shirt.
"Ah..." he gives me a gently one armed hug as we exit the park.
Unbeknownst to either
of us, we were being watched by a sinister essence. A shadow detaches itself
from the rest and floats stealthily after us.
Part VI
Part VIII
Meetings Index