From: Lara Bartram This is a direct continuation of 'Love Takes a Backseat'. It would be a good idea to read that before this. This takes place someplace in first TV series continuity. No movie, no second series. It should be accessible to people who have only seen the OAVs though (more TV series oriented things will happen in the future though). Lara lara@emunix.emich.edu http://nabiki.newberry.edu/lara/index.html {Situations and characters belong to Kosuke Fujishima.} Driving Off a Cliff *** Everyone in the women's changing room stopped and stared. Miyuki felt like she was about to be reduced to the size of a gnat by the intense gazes of the others. Trying to play it cool, she walked calmly to her locker, not acknowledging the others. For once, Yoriko was not there. She was not the one that had been gossiping. That could mean only one thing. Suddenly very nervous and having no clue how to handle things, Miyuki dressed quickly. The others eventually got around to returning to their own activities, but she could still feel their eyes on her. Avoiding eye contact, she hurried out of the dressing room. It couldn't be... _that_ obvious. It was just... Miyuki blushed. Just... "Kobayakawa." "Nakajima." Business as usual between them. She smiled faintly to herself, a warm remembrance of what they had shared settling in her heart and soul. Miyuki just hoped he liked the little gift she had left for him. *** The others slapped his back and congratulated him as he passed. Why he wasn't sure. But then, there were a lot of things Ken didn't understand, and he wasn't afraid to admit as much. Heck, he didn't know anyone who understood women, and Miyuki seemed to be the most mysterious female of them all. That little smile she had given him, the one that had almost caused him to smile in return, for instance. What had that been all about? There was nothing wrong with her smiling at him; she had done it plenty of times before. But this was something different. A different smile, one he couldn't quite figure out. The only thing he was sure about it was that it made him feel... fuzzy inside. He shivered the tiniest bit, wondering why the station was so cold in the morning. Making his way down to the garage, Ken nodded at the others who continued to congratulate him. There was something he was missing, but he didn't really feel he should ask what the big deal was. Just play it cool. Story of his life. Unless he was in close proximity to Mi... Kobayakawa. She smiled and made him feel fuzzy inside. She talked and he couldn't help but listen, sometimes not even hearing what she was saying. She moved and he... Well, fuzzy didn't really describe it. Not even realizing it, he approached his bike with a silly smile on his face. If ever he could manage to get his tongue untied in her presence, Ken would probably end up on his knees, professing his undying l... lo... Business as usual. That was the only way he could cope. It did nothing to help his situation though. His situation with Kobaya... Miyuki. Miyuki. "Miyuki. I want to hear you say it," she had said. "I want to hear you say my name." "Miyuki-chan," he had whispered to her, closer to her than he had ever been. Miyuki. He... he loved her. He just couldn't tell her. "Way to go, Nakajima!" A violent slap on his back and the near- howling voice snapped him out of his pleasant memory. Giving a stuttering laugh, Ken grinned uneasily. "Thanks." And still he wasn't sure what they were referring to. His mood partially ruined, Ken continued to his bike. What he saw there stopped him dead in his tracks. Embarrassment mixed with boyish happiness and an irrational need to take the object and keep it with him. Tied delicately to the right handle of his bike was a pale red ribbon. With fumbling fingers, he untied the ribbon and tucked it into his pocket. *** "Natsumi, can I talk to you... alone?" Looking groggy as she often did in the morning, Natsumi grumbled before agreeing. It was obvious this would not be a pleasant conversation. "What did you say to them?" Miyuki asked when they were alone. "What did you see?" The tone of her voice actually worried Natsumi a little. "Tell who..." she started. "You know who! And I'm sure you know what." Miyuki was having a hard time deciding whether to be very angry or very worried. After all, if Natsumi did what she normally did, there was no telling the kinds of rumors floating about. "I really don't know what you're talking about." Whatever was bugging Miyuki was serious, and Natsumi was waking up quite quickly. "What have people been saying?" "Nothing." "Don't be too embarrassed to tell. I won't..." "They haven't said anything. They've all been... looking at me." Natsumi blinked. "Looking at you?" "Staring! They all know something." "Things like?" she tried to prompt. Miyuki's mouth opened, but no words came out. It took her a few moments to find her voice, but when she did, there was no mistaking her mood. "How could you do this to me? And Ken? Don't you care at all?" There was indeed anger there, and Natsumi took a step back before answering. "I didn't say anything about anything!" She knew, of course, but really hadn't said anything. "I swear. I wouldn't." All it took was the look on her partner's face and the realization that she had called him Ken to know what the problem was and how upset Miyuki was. "Who then? How? They all..." Miyuki slumped against the wall, eyes shining from unshed tears of embarrassment and frustration. "They're all happy for you. You know we've all been waiting for this since... just about forever." Natsumi smiled reassuringly. "We were all just waiting for it to finally happen." "But..." "We're all happy for you. Why aren't you happy for yourself?" *** "I am happy for myself. I'm very happy. Just because they can't tell..." Miyuki spoke to herself in the mirror as she brushed her hair. They could tell. They could tell everything. Except that she wasn't really sure what next she should do. It seemed a bit sudden to just skip right to the... marriage thing, even if she felt she knew him as well as herself. Letting her hair hang loose, Miyuki sighed. Things were too strange. That night had changed her entire life, and it should have for the better, but she wasn't so sure. On the verge of tears, uncertainty and worry gnawing at her, Miyuki let the brush clatter to the dressing table. With sudden single-minded determination, she went to the phone and picked it up. *** "Could you... come over?" "Is there something wrong?" A pause that was probably longer than it should have been. "No." An odd conversation, but compelling. Could he say no? He knocked firmly on her door, the sound echoing in the still evening air. And what about Tsujimoto? If Miyuki needed help, she certainly didn't need to call him. After all, he had seen some of the things Tsujimoto could do when... she... was... ...dressed in a nightshirt with her hair flowing freely, framing her face. "I'm glad you could make it so quickly." She stood there, simply, in the doorway. There was no posing, no seduction... Just her and her hair. And her eyes, which seemed to be liquid in the light from the street. "I... I came right over." The blood trickled slowly from one nostril, but he made no move to wipe it away, nor did Miyuki seem to notice. "Come inside, Ken," she said, her voice soft and ever so inviting. Like a paper clip, Ken followed the magnet that was Miyuki into the apartment. The door closed, keeping their passionate kisses hidden from prying eyes. *** "You know how I said I liked you?" He nodded. "It's more than that." One hand rested on his chest even while there was a visible distance between their bodies. "Hm?" "I love you, Ken. I wouldn't be here, with you, if I didn't." Her body under the blanket moved, undulated, almost like a snake, and she was next to him. He gave no visible reaction that their bodies were touching other than his arm going around her shoulders and pulling her closer. This would be his moment of truth. Three words, one specifically... That was all. Ken turned his head and looked into her half-lidded eyes, wondering what she was really feeling. Happiness. Contentment. Love. So she really meant it. She really loved him. And just how was he supposed to react to that? "Miyuki-chan..." Her eyes closed in response to the utterance of her name, as if it were a physical touch. "Ken." She tilted her head slightly, bringing her parted lips very close to his. The sound of him swallowing was the loudest thing in the world. "Miyuki-chan, you... I..." He blinked. "I... was wondering when Tsujimoto would be back." Miyuki held her same position, waiting. He would say it, kiss her, and then they'd... do something else. Yet, the words did not come. He didn't say them. Opening her eyes, she saw the anxious/nervous face, something he could never hide, the guilty eyes... "She won't be back tonight, Ken." She leaned forward a little more. "We're alone. Completely alone." Things were very slowly starting to fall into place. Miyuki against him, bare skin touching bare skin, the words she had said... The ones he could not reciprocate. Yet. Instead of trying, he kissed her lips softly. The words would come in time; he was confident of that. Until that time, Miyuki would understand. Actions spoke louder than words, and there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her. *** "Um, Natsumi, are you sure you should be drinking that much?" Yoriko asked, dreading the consequences. She didn't want her floor to get stained. Natsumi dismissed her concern with a drunken snort. "I haf ta stay someplace tonight." Yoriko looked from side to side with just her eyes. "Why not your apartment then?" Grinning, Natsumi let her head roll to the side so she was looking at her friend. "I figgered Miyuki needed some privacy." Yoriko's right eyebrow twitched. "Privacy?" she asked in a whisper. "What for?" Snickering and taking another drink, Natsumi shook her head slowly. "Ya jus' don't git it. She's gotta... you know." Yoriko's eyes widened as she watched Natsumi make a vaguely explicit gesture with her hands. "With who!?" she shrieked. "Ken, dummy. Ev'ybody knows _that_." She blew a raspberry at nothing in particular. "Now? Right now? They're... together?" With every question, Yoriko's voice got a little higher. Whether it was disbelief, amazement, or just girlish innocence, Yoriko was far too interested in Miyuki's private doings than she should have been. It was really bad when even she thought so. "I know whatcher thinkin'. She'd get rilly mad if you did," Natsumi said as if she could read Yoriko's thoughts. Laughing guiltily, Yoriko shook her head. "I have no idea what you mean." She smiled innocently. "Jus' a fair warning. Thought she was gonna bite my face off when she thought I went and told everyone." Blood drained from Yoriko's face. Miyuki had gotten... upset? At Natsumi? And had expressed it? Maybe it was better not to butt into things. She liked spreading the gos... news, but if Miyuki really wanted to keep her privacy that badly, to the point she'd get angry and not bother to hide it, who was she to go against it? "Well, I'd... need all the details. I can't just make this up if I'm going to tell everyone." Oh yeah, that was believable. Grimacing inwardly, Yoriko hoped Natsumi was too drunk to notice. "If he wasn't so hopeless, I woulda given him a shot," Natsumi mumbled, starting to doze off. "So cute..." The next sound from Natsumi was a gentle snore. Tip-toeing, Yoriko went and covered her sleeping form with a blanket, not failing to notice the way her guest's hand was tucked down the front of her panties. Miyuki was off-limits, but this would be good for a laugh. Natsumi's file just got fatter and more entertaining every day. *** Miyuki had been awake almost all night. She had managed a few hours, not nearly as much as she was used to, but that was okay. A few hours was worth it when she could awaken in a place where she felt so completely satisfied though. Just a few more minutes... It wouldn't matter; she would have plenty of time to get to the station. Miyuki sighed and let her eyes close again. If she could only get him to _say_ the words, things would be great, almost perfect. And then if she could just... That step was still too much though. Too far, too fast. Too far, but then she didn't feel she could continue the way they were unless they decided to go that far. Sighing again, Miyuki decided it was best to get up and not wait. There was no telling what might happen if she stayed in bed, tucked under the blanket, curled against Ken... A smile creeping to her lips, she sat up, holding the blanket to her chest. "Ken, it's time to get up," she said softly, looking down at his still sleeping form. "We have to go to the station." Mumbling, he pulled himself closer to her. Waking up and work were of no concern to him this morning. His hands brushed her naked flesh briefly before settling on it and squeezing lightly. "I know you feel it," she whispered, putting her hand over his. "Just say it. Just tell me so I know." It was really the only thing she wanted. Once that was out in the open, she knew she'd be able to do anything. *** "Thank you for the ride, Miyuki." "It was no trouble. I was the one that called you, after all." She smiled at him, hands clasped in front of her. "Any time you'd like to... come over again would be fine." She watched him swallow and smiled. His reactions were getting less severe; maybe that meant he'd actually be able to say it. "Yes, well... I'll consider it." He tugged a little at the collar of his shirt and took a step back. "I suppose we should..." Before he could get away, Miyuki reached out and snatched up his hand. "Ken, about last night." She wished she could see his eyes, but it was almost like he was a different person. It was hard to decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "Last night?" he asked weakly. Miyuki stopped herself from rolling her eyes. He wouldn't say it. "Last night." She stepped closer until they were almost touching. His hand in hers grew damp with perspiration. There was a mantra running through her head... Please say it. Please say it. Please say it. Say it say it say it... "I love you." Eyes filled with hope, she looked up at him. "Miyuki," he whispered in a way that thrilled her to her very center. "Last night..." He shook his head, unable to find the things he wanted to say. With his body under alien control, Ken moved his head down and kissed Miyuki. Actions louder than words. A convenient phrase, but he was beginning to think it didn't quite work for him. Separating, a sigh on Miyuki's lips, Ken looked at her and smiled. "Miyuki." Not even realizing her eyes had closed, she opened them and returned his gaze. "Yes?" "I..." Everything inside of her was urging Miyuki to jump up and down and clap her hands. He was finally going to say it! Her feet stayed firmly on the ground though, and she hid her excitement as best she could. "I..." "Uuuuhnnnnn." Ken literally hopped back, dropping Miyuki's hand. "I need to get ready," he said quickly, and hurried away, leaving Miyuki standing there. It was a few seconds later, as Natsumi staggered past, that Miyuki realized she had the capacity to kill. She was about to demonstrate to her partner. "M'yuki. I feel so sick..." The anger faded to leave serious annoyance. Natsumi had done her a favor by going to Yoriko's, and that had been very nice. In more than one way. "Let me help you. I should have known this would happen." It would be a long day; that Miyuki was sure of. *** "Natsumi?" "Hnh?" "Could you do me a favor?" Miyuki was whispering. "If you can get rid of this headache..." "Please, Natsumi. I'm serious." Massaging her temples, Natsumi nodded. "What is it?" "I want you to... I guess you might say damage control." Natsumi's head whipped up to look at her partner, pain instantly shooting through her skull. Wincing, she asked, "And what is that supposed to mean?" "It means that I'm... I need more time with him. Alone." Natsumi groaned. Not another night with Yoriko. The girl could talk like there was no tomorrow, which did nothing to improve the situation. "I don't know if I can handle another night. I might end up killing her," she mumbled under her breath. "No, you don't have to do that. I just want you to cover for us. I'm going to... ask him out. And then when we're alone, I know..." "I don't want to hear it," Natsumi said quickly, holding her hand up. "Too much information." Cheeks coloring, Miyuki looked aghast. "Nothing like that! He was about to say it when you showed up this morning! I think he would if we had just a little more time." "It? You need to use smaller words here. My brain isn't working right now." "I think he's going to tell me he loves me," Miyuki answered in a loud whisper. "Mm, right. Love. Gotcha. Cover for you... Count on me. No one will ever know." That said, Natsumi's head dropped, and her forehead thunked as it hit the desktop. *** "About this morning..." He looked over at her, braid blowing behind her in the wind as they sped along the twisting road. The quickly darkening dusk somehow gave her a halo of golden light. It only made him feel like more of an idiot. "This morning? What about it?" Miyuki's eyes never left the road. "I... didn't get a chance to finish what I was saying." "That's all right. Natsumi needed some help. I don't mind." The smile seemed to be natural and forced at the same time. "But..." For a moment, Ken's brow furrowed behind his sunglasses. "I mind," he said finally. "Mind what?" "Not getting a chance to say what I wanted!" Miyuki's smile shifted just a touch, to be completely natural. "What was it you wanted to say then? No one can interrupt us now." The truth struck him. Alone in the car with Miyuki, no distractions, no interruptions... He wanted to panic, to jump right out. But something a bit more... intelligent in him kept him in the seat. Alone with her, this was the perfect chance. More than perfect. "I just wanted to say..." "Shh," she interrupted, putting her fingertips on his lips for a brief moment. "Not yet." Ken sat back in the seat, confused. She... didn't want him to say it? Not true! She wanted him to wait. He just hoped it wasn't too long. Losing his nerve again would have been disaster. The rest of the drive was made in silence, only the sound of the engine and the wind to occupy them. The sun quickly dipped into the horizon as the full, fat moon took its place in the sky. The stars shone overhead, combined with the silence, like frozen points of light. Miyuki took another curve, but instead of following the road, she slowed and went down a path barely fit for a vehicle of any kind. It looped around and ended at a drop-off, overlooking the road some twenty feet below them, and the outskirts of the city much farther below that. Everything spread out before them. The earth below, the sky above, it was like being on the edge of existence. Just the two of them. "What did you want to tell me, Ken?" Her voice ripped through the gentle illusion. Instead of the edge of existence, they were on the edge of... something else. Tearing his eyes away from the view, Ken looked over at her. Why it had ever been difficult to say was unknown to him. At the moment, it seemed like the simplest thing in the entire world. Not just saying it, but feeling it. "Last night," he began, "I never really told you..." "Yes, Ken?" "Just how beautiful you were. Did I?" "No, Ken." "Or how happy you've made me?" "No, Ken." "Or..." His voice quivered, but only with the force of emotion he was feeling. His hand found its way to hers and held on to it. "Or..." Down to a whisper now, as if it added to everything. Glancing out at the view, Ken knew that it did. The edge of everything, the world, the future stretching out in front of him. "How much I love you?" "No, Ken," Miyuki answered, smiling. "Lots." She blinked. "I love you. Lots." Miyuki remained smiling for a few seconds more, then broke into a fit of giggling. "See? It wasn't hard at all." "Why are you laughing then? I'm pouring my heart out!" "Because you're adorable, and I love you too." Tears trickling from the corners of her eyes, she reached over and hugged him, wondering just what had taken so long as he returned her embrace. End...