******************************
Moon Mist & Autumn Puppets
******************************

I watch him. Like rippling shadows hiding from the sun, I watch him.
Watching always, my heart seems to bleed. Bleed with love that never flows.
Empty like the dark coast of the ocean. Watching him now is not enough, not
as it once had been. When my emotions were strewn in confusion and disarray,
I had simply looked. I knew nothing else then, had never felt such flaming
intensity. Now is different. Now brings with it acceptance. For without him
I cannot live. This I know. My reason keeps quiet, though it remains
tattered. The salvation I seek can come only from his hands as everything I
had ever known falls apart into the cold ice of chaos.
The time to watch and remain silent has passed over me. I want to tell him,
to spill the words that echo inside of me so persistently. The need to make
him want me, to let him know that he is mine overwhelms me. These feelings
erupt within me, filling broken spaces so completely that I believe I could
shatter into fragments. Thousands of them, shining like frozen glass. I've
never been so scared before. I'm unable to let him go but unable to make him
stay. And still, even as I think it, I break, enveloped in inability.

Concealed in the folds of the night, his beauty beckons me. Thoughts melt. I
can't tear my gaze from his body, don't want to. I hear the velvet softness
of his breath as he sleeps, oblivious to my presence, to my pain. His dreams
are sweet, without the burden of what I am. And yet...my arms ache to hold
him, to crush his soul into mine. Molten desire washes over me as I watch
this dark haired boy. With eyes like liquid hope and a smile of strawberry
coated candy. I want to eat him. Never have I seen anything so close to
perfection. Everything that is he burns inside of me. My caution dissolves.
I can't bear it.

He moans quietly as he turns over and buries his face into his pillow. The
dark blue blanket that covers him slides away from his body. Perfection. His
chest is bare in the streaming moonlight. Pure perfection. Thin, but smooth
and slightly tanned. His chocolate locks fall lightly over his angelic face.

Time stands still, lonely and quiescent. I forget everything in that one
moment. Forget that he is not mine to have, that he doesn't love me. Revenge
is gone, melting like broken ice, with my hatred and everything. Until this
star kissed night, I was able to kill all my emotions. Under control, I was
frozen. But tonight, watching him bathed in the moonlight, something inside
of me snaps. I know this can never be enough. Only passion remains,
submerging my senses. The world falls away leaving behind only this stolen
moment and my love. I dissolve as reality smiles on swirls of shattered
colors. So long I've waited.

I find myself sitting on his bed before I have time to stop myself. I shall
not return now. I will risk everything for these few stolen moments. My hand
touches his cheek, smoothing away those soft, brown locks from his exquisite
face. He feels like liquid heaven. I watch, transfixed as long, white
fingers trace his lips. He sighs. My heart pounds rapidly.

He is my precious. It's all worth it. I love him.

******** Ken was having the oddest dream. He couldn't distinguish illusion from
reality, if one was the other. Stark strands of color shrouded him, dancing
like waving ribbons. This world felt vivid, as a crisp wind caressed his
cheek. A gesture so light, as though real fingers were touching him. He
could see violet. Violet shadows against a red sky. Brilliant and scorching
like raving flames. And yet, violet and...red? There was something
hauntingly familiar about those colors. He couldn't quite place it.

Airy fingertips touched his chest. It felt like liquid silk. He sighed. And
now...a quiet voice was speaking to him, as if against his lips. The words
weren't comprehensible but there was something infinitely soothing about the
voice. Soft and serene. Like the hands touching him. Everything felt
beautiful. The red sky sparkled as the violet shadows danced.

"My precious."

The familiar voice, in a familiar world. Like sleeping on a silken bed of
déjà vu.

And yet, when he awoke, the room was achingly empty, wispy curtains jerking
against the wind.

******** The shop was filled with stupid schoolgirls. Again. Their high-pitched,
annoying voices grated on my nerves.

"Oh Ken kun! You're so kawaii!!!" one blond girl gushed. Two more tittered
in agreement.

I wanted to smash those girls. They were fawning and simpering all over Ken
and I didn't like it one bit. What made them think that they were worthy of
Ken's affection? They knew absolutely nothing about him. Not like I knew
him. They didn't know that Ken liked to talk to himself when he was alone or
that he twisted his sleeves and shuffled his feet when he was nervous or
that he loved to buy candies for children. They hadn't seen Ken bare-chested
and bleeding like I had. They hadn't worked by his side, killed by his side.
They hadn't silently watched his every move, dreamed of him every night.

They knew nothing about him.

They couldn't possibly love him like I did.

The yellow tulip in my hand crumpled. I hated them all. Almost as much as I
hated myself. For thinking the impossible. For being such a damn fool.

"Maybe you'd like to come with us for ice cream sometimes?"

Ken rubbed at the back of his head sheepishly, his cheeks red. "Well I--"

I couldn't stand it, even though every reasonable part inside of me shouted
to keep quiet. But hadn't someone, somewhere, once say that love made a
person reckless? Indeed. Propriety be damned. Ken was mine, not theirs.

Before I knew what I was doing, I had tossed the tulips aside and was
stalking over to them, scowling. "If you aren't going to buy anything than
leave!"

My threatening tone and dark mood was enough to empty the shop of all girls
in an instant.

"Stupid girls," I muttered, resisting the urge to smirk.

"Is that any way to treat our most esteemed clientele?" Yohji teased,
snickering. He always got a kick out of me throwing out all those dumb
girls. "You wouldn't want us to get a bad reputation, would you?"

I ignored him and went back to my tulips. It wasn't as though Yohji would
understand. How could he possibly grasp what I was going through; know what
I was feeling? He probably had never been rejected in his life. He only knew
confidence, not fear. Anyone he wanted, he got. Male or female. No one could
resist him. I wondered briefly if Ken would want Yohji.

"All those girls are too young for you anyways Yohji kun," Omi pointed out.
He smiled shyly at me. "Besides, we have lots of work to do. Those lily
displays aren't going to make themselves."

Yohji groaned as he began to help the younger boy with the display,
complaining all the while.

I looked away from them and over to Ken. The sight of him shocked me. I'm
such a fool. I live near him, work near him, fight near him. I see him
everyday. And still, everytime I lay eyes on him, I'm not prepared for how
beautiful he is. How sweet and cute and utterly huggable he is. The way his
shiny locks fall into his dark eyes. The warmth of his smile as he hums
softly under his breath. He's wearing the same dark blue mechanist's
jumpsuit he wore that second day when I met him in the shop. Without the
bandana covering his hair this time. The black apron was too long on him. It
took every ounce of resolve within me to keep from grabbing him and never
letting him go. I was going crazy. I had to stop. I couldn't just ravish him
in the bloody shop, as much as the idea appealed to me.

I took a deep breath and watched him quietly, trying to control myself.

He was staring intently at the bougainvillea plant he was watering. "I can't
believe they asked me," he muttered quietly to himself.

I felt a pain tighten in my chest at the sound of those quiet words. Was it
that Ken actually *wanted* one of those idiot schoolgirls? That was a
thought that hadn't occurred to me. Though, upon reflection, why should it
have surprised me? He liked girls. I thought I had too. Why shouldn't he
want one of them?

"Are you disappointed that they're gone?" I asked tightly, trying to control
my urge to head off and attack those idiot girls.

He blinked up at me, flushing slightly at being caught talking to himself.
"Well no, not precisely. It's just, you know..." he trailed off, tugging at
his bangs.

"What?" I demanded, my hand absently crushing another tulip. I braced myself
for the harsh rejection that was to follow. The searing hurt that he would
unconsciously but inevitably cause me. He wanted one of those girls. He was
in love with one of them. He was angry with me for making them go away. He
hated me.

"Well, it's just that, um, not too many girls would choose me when they
could have any of you guys." He fiddled with his apron strings. "I'm just
sorta, you know, the common one of the group."

I stared at him, my rage and paranoia diminishing. I certainly hadn't
expected him to say that. "What do you mean 'the common one'?" I asked,
puzzled. "Who told you that?"

He caste me a brief, fleeting look and then quickly went back to watering
the plants. "No one told me that Aya. It's the truth. I'm not complaining or
anything. It's just that I've got nothing special about me. I'm just your
stereotypical good ol' boy-next-door, you know. Not like you guys anyways. I
mean girls like you because you're mysterious and quiet and intelligent.
They like Yohji because he's charming and sexy and knows how to treat a
lady. And they like Omi because he's cute and caring and shy. Me? I'm pretty
much like most other guys. Just a clumsy soccer player." He shrugged, adding
some more potting soil to a trailing English ivy. "Not that I'm complaining
or anything but it's kinda nice to be wanted." He flushed and then laughed,
a hollow sound that said nothing and everything. "You must think that I'm
such a moron."

His tone was casual and dismissive but his hands told a different story.
They were tightly gripped around the lacquered pot. I wanted to be the one
to comfort him, to hold him tight against me. He was so special, so perfect.
Not wanted...if only he knew just how much I *did* want him. Hell, I
couldn't even recall a time when I hadn't *not* wanted him. My every moment,
my every resolve, falling into scattered turmoil. This is what he had done,
with the innocence of his smile, his being. The one with eyes so bright and
a pure soul. I wanted him so badly. If only he knew...

"That isn't true," I said, struggling to keep my voice impassive and casual.
I couldn't let him know now, if ever.

He looked at me sharply. "I'm not fishing for compliments Aya. I like myself
just fine. You don't have to pity me."

"I want you."

Who was more stunned by that sudden outburst, he or I? Mentally I cursed
myself. How could I simply blurt out what I felt like that? He had
inadvertently reduced me to a bumbling fool, an emotional wreck. "You said
that no one wanted you," I hastily amended. "We all want you. You're very
important to Weiss."

There was a smile in his voice. "You don't have to do this Aya. I appreciate
it but I know where I stand." He shrugged as he poured water into a spider
plant. "It doesn't matter."

Oh but it did matter. He was perfect in my eyes. Why couldn't he see it?
More than anything, I wanted to enfold him into my arms and show him just
how special he was. "I admire you Ken."

Chocolate eyes widened as he turned about to face me. "What?"

Feigning interest in a pot of azaleas, I nonchalantly repeated, "I admire
you."

"But why?" Ken boggled, making adorable saucer-eyes at me.

I said the first thing that came to my mind. "Because you're good with
children." I pulled out a stray brown leaf from the pink azaleas, attempting
to look busy. And because you're so selfless and caring and sweet and
beautiful and I love you.

"Uh yeah," Ken said slowly, watching me intently. He continued to stare at
me for a few minutes.

"What?" I demanded finally, hiding my unease at his gaze behind gruffness.

Ken set down his watering pot and grinned a huge, toothy grin. "I have a
good idea."

God I wanted to kiss that grinning mouth. "What is it?"

"Take off your apron and come with me." He wiped his hands on a cloth and
then tossed off his apron.

I blinked in surprised but obeyed. "Why?"

"Because we're going to do something fun!" He beamed up at me.

"Ken," I warned weakly. How could I possibly deny him anything when he
looked up at me with those enormous eyes and smiling face?

A shiver raced into my bones when he grabbed my hand. His skin was soft and
warm against my own. "Just trust me, okay?"

"Hey where do you guys think you're going?" Yohji demanded as Ken dragged me
unceremoniously towards the door.

"Aya and I have some business to take care of," Ken declared, winking at me.

"You can't just leave right now," Yohji complained, thumping down a vase of
hyacinths in protest. "The afternoon rush will-"

"You leave all the time during the afternoon rush," Ken retorted.

"Just let them leave," Omi told Yohji gently. "We'll be fine without them."
"Knew you'd see it our way Omittachi, " Ken announced quickly, pulling me
out the door. "Ja!"

Omi smiled and waved at me. "Have fun," he called out.

Behind me I could hear Yohji grumbling. Inwardly, I smiled.

The day was incredibly bright and I squinted, unused to the dazzling
sunshine. It was also windy, making it just a little bit cold. I felt
goosebumps sprouting onto my bare arms.

Looking down I could see Ken's hand holding my own. My fingers were white
poles of bone beneath his tanned, sturdy fingers. Ken holding my hand on a
crisp autumn day was probably the best feeling in the world.

"Where are we going?" I asked over the hustle and bustle of the busy street.

Much to my disappointment, he let go of my hand and instead fell into step
beside me. "Patience is a virtue," he quoted, shaking a finger at me.

"Aa."

We weaved our way through the busy streets. Ken watched Tokyo with avid
chocolate eyes. I only watched him.

"Don't you just love this?" he asked me, gazing around at everything and
anything.

I blinked bemused. "Nani?"

His face broke into a smile. "You know, the world around us." He gestured to
the shop-lined sidewalks and traffic-filled roads and all the people
actively bustling to various destinations. "It makes me feel so alive. So
many people doing so many different things. Everyone is so busy and I could
just stand back and watch it al. There's so much to see. It's like the whole
world is alive and waiting for us to explore it. Know what I mean?"

I nodded, wanting to tell him that I didn't care about the whole world, I
only cared about him. He was my world, so alive and brimming with life. I
wanted to stand back and watch him. "It's beautiful," I replied, my voice
sounding raspy.

Ken didn't notice. "It is beautiful," he agreed, not realizing that I was
talking about him. "Fall is my favorite time of the year. It's not too hot
and it's not too cold. I think it's the most vibrant time of the year."

A memory of Aya chan dumping multicolored leaves on me flitted into my mind
at that moment. She and I used to rake up big piles of leaves and then jump
into them when we'd been young. I remembered the scrapbook we'd make of all
the most unique and prettiest leaves we'd been able to find. At one time I
think that autumn had been my favorite time of the year too.

Ken continued to talk cheerfully as he lead me through the crowded streets.
I loved to watch him as he spoke of things that interested him. He become so
animated, his eyes gleaming as he gestured with his hands to emphasize a
point. The brisk autumn wind had tinted his cheeks pink, tousling those
jagged bangs.

Suddenly Ken grabbed hold of my hand again, pulling me into a different
direction. "Look an ice cream shop!" he shouted straight into my ear.

I winced.

"Let's go! Right now is the perfect time for ice cream!" He hauled me
towards the shop.

I had to smile at his enthusiasm even if his overzealous voice had done a
number on my ear. "Isn't it a bit cold for ice cream?"

He gave me a look of pure disbelief as we entered the shop. "What, are you
kidding me? It's always time for ice cream Aya!" he proclaimed with great
authority. He nodded at the lineup ahead of us. "Would all these people
lie?"

"You're the expert."

"So what kind of ice cream are you gonna get?" he asked, standing on his
tiptoes to see the menu board over the heads of the people in front of us.

As I studied the menu board, filled with flavors I'd never heard before, I
realized just how long it had been since I'd last eaten an ice cream cone.
"I don't know. What about you?"

"Moon mist." He smacked his lips. "It's yellow and purple and white and it's
ssssooooooooo good! You should try it."

"Alright." If Ken liked it then I wanted it.

"You won't regret it!" he enthused happily.

About ten minutes later, we walked out of the shop with our ice cream cones.

"Isn't it good?"

I nodded. It had a unique taste, sweet and cold and delicious. Like Ken.

"I think ice cream always tastes better in the cold," Ken continued between
licks.

I could feel my lips quirking upwards. He had ice cream on his nose. "Wait,"
I said, unwrapping the napkin from my cone. "You've got ice cream on your
nose."

His eyes crossed as I wiped at his nose. "I always make a mess eating ice
cream," he confessed, flushing slightly.

I smiled gently at him. "My imouto chan used to tell me that there wasn't
any point in eating ice cream unless you made a mess."

Ken blinked, looking shocked. Whether it was from me smiling or from me
talking about Aya chan, I couldn't tell. "Maybe that's why I love ice cream
so much," he responded after a few seconds of silence. "But of course
there's always the taste."

I licked my cone, content. This was perfect. Walking and talking with Ken as
though we were normal. For this out-of-time instant, we weren't assassins,
we weren't Weiss. We were just two ordinary people eating ice cream on a
cool early October afternoon. I wished this moment could last forever.

We crossed a busy intersection, part of a large crowd.

"We're here," Ken announced as we stepped onto the sidewalk.

I blinked as I finished the last bit of my ice cream. "We're going to
Court?"

Ken rolled his eyes as he tossed his crumpled ice cream stained napkin into
a nearby garbage can. "Look beside the Courthouse stupid!"

I looked. "You want to go into that lingerie shop?" I inquired, raising an
eyebrow.

"No!" Ken gasped, flushing at the scantily clad mannequins the display
window. "I meant the other side dammit!"

I hid a smirk. "Oh you mean the library," I clarified innocently.

"You knew what I meant!" he accused, glaring.

"It was an easy mistake to make," I countered. He looked adorable when he
was all riled up. It was endearing. "You told me to look on the other side
of the Courthouse and I did."

"Oh shut up," Ken grumbled. "Now c'mon otherwise we're gonna be late."

I followed him up the granite steps of the Tokyo City library. "What are we
going to be late for?"

"You'll see," he told me secretively.

He led me downstairs to the children's section of the library. We passed a
play room with a bunch of children playing with blocks, a librarian reading
to a group of wide-eyed children, children playing board games on small
tables and children with their parents searching for various books. At last
we came to a yellow door plastered with reading posters and cute cartoon
pictures.

"We're just in time," Ken declared, opening the door.

It was a fairly large room with thick green carpet and small beanbag chairs
that lined the back and side walls. The walls were brightly painted with
scenes from fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Along the length of the front
wall ran a high ledge with swaths of crimson material sewn to the edge that
fell neatly to the floor. Matching crimson curtains were tied with yellow
braided tassel on either side of the ledge. Above the ledge hung ruffled red
material.

The room was occupied with about fifteen or so young children ranging from
about three years old to eleven years old. Some were wriggling excitedly on
the beanbag chairs, others were sitting on the floor chatting and playing
loudly.

A little blond boy was the first to notice us. He jumped up from his spot on
the floor screaming, "Ken niichan! Ken niichan! You came!!!"

Instantly Ken was surrounded with little squirming bodies all vying for his
attention.

"Maa maa, one at a time," he said laughing.

None of them quieted down, instead their voices got louder and louder as
they all tried to get Ken's attention.

Leaning against the doorframe, I smiled as I watched the children hug him
and tug on his arms and tell him stories of things that had happened to them
that day.

A boy of about eight broke away from Ken and approached me. "Who are you?"
he demanded, peeking out at me from underneath the brim of his baseball hat.

"A friend of Ken's," I answered, feeling uncomfortable. I'd never been good
with kids. They made me uneasy.

He stared up at me for a few minutes. "Your hair looks like ketchup," he
said at last.

"How kind of you to notice," I said dryly.

"Who do you like better, Carnage or Venom?"

"Excuse me?"

"Carnage or Venom?" he repeated, shifting impatiently. "You know, from
Spiderman?"

I thought for a moment, having no clue what he was talking about since I'd
never watched or read Spiderman when I'd been younger. "Well, Carnage
obviously," I claimed authoritatively as though I was an expert on the
subject.

He grinned at me, revealing two missing front teeth. "That's what I always
say! Ken niichan says that Venom is better but no way! Carnage may be
smaller but he's way faster and crazier too. He's the coolest!"

"Yes, that's what I always say," I agreed.

He turned back to look at Ken. "Oi Ken niichan!!" he hollered at the top of
his little lungs. "Your friend says Carnage is better! I told you so!!"

Instantly I was the center of attention as everyone turned to see their Ken
niichan's friend. Ken raised an eyebrow at me and I felt my cheeks grow
warm. He grinned.

"See this is my friend Aya," he announced to the group.

Choruses of 'hellos' rang throughout the room.

It was mere seconds before I was bombarded with questions and comments.

"Why do you have a girl's name?"

"How old are you?"

"I can touch my nose with my tongue. Can you do that?"

"Why is your hair funny like that?"

"I got 100% on my spelling test today."

"He hit me!"

"Did you see the leaves falling down?"

"I got out five books today and they're all chapter books!"

"Wanna see my new Gundam Deathscythe Hell?"

"Carnage is so much better than Venom!"

"See this scratch? I got it when I fell off my bike yesterday. It hurt and I
cried."

"Are you married?"

"How come you don't talk?"

Helplessly I looked over at Ken. He was laughing at me.

Fortunately I was saved by the arrival of a young librarian who looked to be
about twenty or so.

She clapped her hands loudly to get everyone's attention. "Is everyone ready
for today's puppet show?" she bellowed.

My eyes widened slightly as the children screamed that they were. A puppet
show? I gazed back at the ledge at the front of the room. Of course, that
was a stage for the puppets. I looked at Ken who quickly looked away. Why
had Ken brought me to a puppet show?

The librarian made her way through the kids and faced us. "Please take your
seats everyone."

Writhing little bodies made their way back onto the beanbag chairs and onto
the floor. Ken sat down cross-legged on the floor, a little boy settling in
his lap while a young girl clung to his arm. I went and sat down beside him.

To my surprise, a little black haired girl sat down next to me. "Sayoko chan
wants to sit on Ken niichan's friend lap," she told me shyly, chewing on one
of her pigtails.

I hesitated and then slowly nodded. I didn't like kids but this she was
cute. She smiled happily and squirmed onto my lap.

"Today we're going to be showing 'Aladdin and the Magical Lamp' followed by
'Rapunzel'. Now let's go over the rules shall we? First of all--"

"Why a puppet show?" I whispered over the head's of the kids in our laps.

Ken shrugged, not looking at me. He was twisting a shock of his bangs around
his finger. "I thought it would be fun." I could see his cheeks blushing.

He was embarrassed! For some quirky little reason, that made me smile.
Everything that he'd done for me today, all the happiness he'd brought to me
today; I loved him even more for it, if that was possible.

My fingers reach out and curved around the arm that was holding the little
boy. "Arigatou," I whispered, wishing that I could kiss him.

curved into a smile as he gazed at me and Sayoko chan. His voice was soft.
"Anytime Aya."

I returned the smile as the librarian sat down and the puppet show began.

********

I think that if anyone would have told me that I'd be going to see a puppet
show with Ken and that I'd actually enjoy it, well they'd probably be
tasting the sharp side of my katana, to say the least. However, I did enjoy
it. The plays were humourous and I found myself smiling while all the kids,
Ken included, would laugh hysterically. If you'd seen the tiny cloth puppet
of Aladdin trying to lug about the large, brass magical lamp then you'd know
what I mean. I can't remember the last time I had such a wonderful, carefree
day. Probably before Aya chan's accident, in the days before Weiss. I'll
never know how to thank Ken.

The two puppet shows were over now. Most of the kids were standing tiptoed
by the ledge, trying to hug the hosts of the shows, a cow puppet and a cute
piglet puppet, while the librarian stood guard to make sure that no one
pulled the puppets of their respected hands, which appeared to be what some
of the older boys were attempting to do.

"Are you coming back tomorrow?" a boy wearing a Gundam Wing T-shirt asked
me. "They're playing 'Jack and the Beanstalk' and 'Little Red Riding Hood'."

"I'm not sure," I replied, watching Ken converse with the piglet puppet.
"Maybe."

The boy grinned. "I think Carnage rules too!"

I nodded importantly. "Yes he does."

I felt a gentle tug on my pants at that. It was Sayoko chan. "Will niichan
read Sayoko chan this?" she asked me, holding up a book entitled 'Little
Kitten makes a Mess'.

How could I resist reading aloud such a literary masterpiece? Didn't the
title say it all? What's better than a kitten making a mess? I sank down on
the floor and made myself comfortable while Sayoko plopped down on my lap. I
began to read to her. Soon other children gathered around and were listening
avidly.

This of course proved to be a mistake being as the moment I was done 'Little
Kitten makes a Mess' another book was thrust in my direction to read out
loud. And another and another and another. Then of course there were the
incessant stream of questions that just *had* to be answered. What was
little kitten's real name? Did he ever make another mess? Where did the frog
live? Why are some of the animals wearing clothes but some aren't? How come
Franklin the turtle had a pet fish? Can't the fish talk too? Etc. etc. etc.
It was enough to drive anyone crazy.

Ken sat behind all the children, snickering at my plight. The librarian was
happy, telling me that I was doing her job. She also laughed everytime
someone asked me a question.

Eventually, after he'd had a good enough laugh, Ken came to my rescue
telling everyone that we had to go. Good natured whines filled the room and
I was hugged by giddy children who demanded to know when I'd be back. I had
no idea.

"I never thought I'd see you sitting around reading out loud to a bunch of
kids," Ken commented as we left the library.

"Well I never thought you'd take me to see a puppet show," I responded
dryly.

He pinked lightly. "So how come you like Carnage better than Venom?"

"I just do."

"Do you even know who Carnage and Venom are?" he asked me, raising an
eyebrow.

"Of course I do," I told him with mock indignation.

Ken snorted, not fooled in the least. "That's what I thought."

We walked in a comfortable silence after that, Ken cutting through a small
park as a shortcut home.

"Did you have fun today Aya?" he asked me hesitantly, after a few minutes.

"Aa."

"That's good. I thought that maybe you wouldn't have fun or something."

I stopped beside a gorgeous Sakura tree that had littered the ground with
pink petals. "Why?"

"Nani?"

"Why?" I repeated. "Why did you take me there? Why today?"

Ken nervously wrung his hands. He studied a nearby orange-leafed bush. "Ida
know. When you told me that you, um admired me for liking kids, I guess I
just wanted to show you that anyone could get along with them. It really
isn't that big a deal." He shrugged, shuffling his feet. "It was really just
a spur of the moment thing. You seemed kinda down today and I wanted to
cheer you up. I used to watch puppet shows all the time with the kids
whenever I felt down. I thought that it would be the perfect thing to maybe
make you smile and cheer you up."

He was so selfless, pure charm. That he would care enough for me to do all
this for me, it was humbling. He had made a perfect day for me. I couldn't
help myself.

I seized his wrist and pulled his up against me.

Dark coffee eyes grew round. "A-Aya? What are you-"

I bent my head and kissed that parted, stuttering mouth. It was a simple
exploratory kiss, me brushing my mouth upon his. He tasted like Moon Mist
ice cream and the chilled autumn wind. I deepened the kiss, softly tracing
the curve of his lips with my tongue. I heard him gasp and I pulled back,
afraid that I had sickened him.

His cheeks were bright red, eyes owl-like. "Y-you jus-just...to m-me..."

I cupped his warm face in my hands and kissed him again. I mean, he didn't
*seem* disgusted. And well frankly, I don't think I could have stopped
myself even if he was. His embarrassment, those dark eyes, the fact that I
had rendered him nearly speechless, it was all too charming. He was my
weakness, I knew it. I would have done anything for him.

This kiss was longer and he responded, opening his mouth against mine. I
slid my tongue into his moist mouth, tasting and feeling him. It was better
than my dreams. He felt like pure emotions, loving into me.

When our kiss ended, both of us were breathing a little more heavily. He
lurched against me as though it was too much effort to remain standing on
his own.

"Aya," he panted, clinging to me. His head fell lightly upon my shoulder.
"Why did you do that?"

I kissed the top of his head, those shiny locks like silk touching my lips.
I felt his heart racing beneath his T-shirt. "Gomen," I whispered. "I
shouldn't have done it."

He lifted his head to meet my eyes. There was no repulsion, no regret in his
steady gaze. "I think I dreamed about you," he replied, smiling tentatively.

I groped for his hand. "Today was perfect only because of you."

I couldn't say everything that I felt for him but maybe soon.

He flushed, his fingers squeezing around mine. "I admire you too Aya."

The pink Sakura petals swirled around us as we headed home, Ken's hand warm
in mine. Moon mist lingered upon my lips, autumn puppets on my mind.

~*~OWARI~*~