Will you marry me?

~ * ~

The locker door opens, the hands that pulled the handle trembling visibly. The face that accompanies it is pale.

Aoi Futaba glances at the extra clothes inside. There are extra uniforms, a red dress that was prepared for today, rubber shoes, other jogging wear...many kinds of clothes.

A glance at the mirror...it says that the person is in shock. Who wouldn't, after what just happened ...after what that person would face?

He proposed! The thought echoes, screaming in Aoi's mind. He proposed...he loves me!

It might have been true.

But...

It might have been true...

~ * ~

I needed courage. I feel like I've been needing it these days.

~ * ~

Eyes wide, Aoi leans against the locker door. Then, stares at the mirror. Pale lips. When had there been tears? They are falling...dropping like rain.

I can't deceive him. I...even in small ways...

Would it be difficult?

...I want to be happy. I deserve happiness, after everything I've been through. But...

If only he hadn't returned! If only he had requested someone else to be his bodyguard for this one day, not Aoi. They've met only once in a year before, and then today. How could he, Gouki Tsunakouji, fall so fast?

How can I?

The questions and disbelief creeps in Aoi's mind again. But they are mingled with fear.

I want happiness. I want him to be happy..

A sad, dejected face replaces the confused expression, and Aoi releases a sigh.

But I love him.

Love wasn't everything that mattered. It was Aoi. Aoi was the matter.

If it wasn't for Aoi...

If it wasn't for love...

~ * ~

I'll give you time to think about it. Later, in my party, if you want, I'll announce our engagement.

~ * ~

A hand shoots out to trap the sob that threatens to escape. I should be happy now! Angry thoughts enters Aoi's mind. I should be happy.

Brown, wavy hair falls on white skin, red lips pressed together in a strict reminder. Aoi looks at the mirror on the door of the locker. The face that stares back is...

Quietly, nimbly, two hands pull away, wet from tears. They pull the brown hair up on the head.

I've forgotten how I looked.

Wide eyes that were filled with tears, trembling lips accented by a light lipstick. One hand loosens from the hair to wipe off the lipstick, the makeup. Tear-streaked face stares back from the mirror.

I can't deceive him.

And when Aoi decides, nobody, not even Aoi can break it.

Eyes closed, the forgotten clothes that lay at the back of the locker were brought out, put on. Straighten the black coat and put on the black loafers. I'm not going to a funeral. But it might as well be a funeral. It would be the last time.

The last time.

Why, then, should the last time always be heart-breaking?

~ * ~

I'll be waiting...Aoi...

~ * ~

Gouki Tsunakouji laughs at the chief's little joke. His laughter seems to be worried, however. Aoi...where are you? He absent-mindedly stares at his wine. I didn't scare her off, did I...?

"Excuse me," a quiet voice says from behind.

Startled, he looks behind him. He is even more surprised to see that the man standing behind him is in a black coat, pants and cap. The only thing white he wore was the shirt under the coat. "Yes?" But he knew who it was exactly who it was before he asked.

"We have to talk," Aoi tells him in a hoarse whisper.

Gouki nods understandingly then grabs her hands. He is shocked to find the fingers cold and trembling. He looks back at her questioningly.

"Let's just..." The words are choked by Aoi's silent sob.

He bows and nods, leading her away to the garden.

The fountain drips quietly, the small statuette angel staring at them with ceramic eyes. Aoi pulls away from him and looks down at the water. What am I looking for? Assurance?

"Have you...decided?" Gouki asks quietly.

A shake of the head, then slowly followed by a nod. "I--I'm sorry," Aoi whispers, still not turning to him.

Gouki puts a hand on Aoi's shoulders, willing himself not to be too heartbroken. It couldn't be help. "I understand."

"No you don't!" Aoi whirls around to him, eyes filled with tears and anguish. "You don't understand! It's not you--it's not you..."

"Then what is it, Aoi?" Gouki asks desperately. "I love you...even if we only met for a few hours, I love you!"

"You love me...but can you respect me?" Aoi glances up at him briefly.

Gouki steps back involuntarily. "Aoi..."

"I have to tell you something," the person before him whispers, not looking at him. "You earned my respect...I don't know if you can ever give me yours. You see, Tsunakouji-san..."

Gouki's heart sinks at the mention of the distant name.

"...I...I am..."

The fountain suddenly lights, waters springs forth from the jug the angel carries. Water sprinkles noisily down the cupful of ceramic. It is ten o'clock.

Gouki closes his eyes when he hears the words uttered with the water.

Then, as briefly as they come, the water slowly lessens, the falling slowly receding from streams to drops. Everything is quiet again.

For a few minutes, the two people stare at each other, the faint lights flickering on their silhouette. However, Aoi's hair is down, hair loosen from the black cap falling freely on the hefty shoulders.

"I'm a man."

Finally, Gouki smiles softly. "I'm glad you decided you become a police officer and not an actor," he says, trying to relieve the moment.

But Aoi does not smile. Instead, he keeps his head bowed. "Don't you see? I can't love you. I can't love you...even when, deep inside, I want to love you. And I do, Gouki. I do." He looks up, his all-too feminine face looking up at him imploringly. "I just don't think you'll have respect for me...as much as I do you."

Gouki grabs his hands. "I, for one, don't care," he tells him heatedly. "Marry me--"

"No." Aoi shakes his head. "You may not care. But I do. And I don't want you to do it for me." He touches his cheek tentatively and smiles through his tears. "I want you to do it for yourself."

"Aoi..."

"Ssh." Aoi puts a finger on his lips, then looks around. He smiles and picks one single white rose from the garden and closes Gouki's palm around it. "I know we might not see each other again. But keep this, to remember me by."

"Why?" Gouki searches at his face for answers.

"Because, like I said, white roses signify respect. And I want you to remember me." He looks at the rose, watching the dews fall slowly into the petals, disappearing inside the black unknown. "I want you to remember me, even not in love, but in respect."

Gouki smiles when he realizes that Aoi is blushing. Silently, he puts the rose petals to his lips, closing his eyes and marveling at it's scentless beauty. Then, he lifts Aoi's palm and puts it against his lips.

"Gouki." Aoi's voice is pleading and breathless.

Gouki looks up, his smile widening at Aoi's red face. Quietly, he steps forward and gathers Aoi in his arms. "Aoi..." His face begins to descend on his...

Aoi freezes as Gouki's lips meet his own soft ones. Then he unintentionally relaxes against Gouki's kiss. "Gouki," he murmurs.

A few minutes, Gouki pulls back, his eyes large and smiling. But Aoi grips his arm. "Promise me you'll remember," he tells Gouki.

Gouki looks down at him intensely. "I..."

"Promise me." Aoi clutches him harder, looking up at him imploringly. "Promise me, Gouki, please."

The actor nods dazedly, still enchanted by his partner. "I'll remember," he swears.

Aoi smiles his thanks, then, after another kiss on Gouki's cheek, wordlessly disappears into the night.

Gouki glances down at the rose he still clutches in his hand. Thorns painfully prick his fingers, yet still he tightens his hands around it. Small drops fall into the petals. Tears.

"I promise," he whispers to no one in particular. "I'll remember. How can I forget?"

~ * ~

"Hurry up, Aoi-chan, the press conference is already starting," Yoriko Nikaido calls to her fellow officer. She pushes her large eyeglasses further to her nosebridge and points at the TV screen.

"I'm coming," the sweet voice replies.

"Tsunakouji-san!" one reported cries. "How was your spending time as 'chief' of Bokkaido Station?"

"I had a very interesting time," Gouki replies, smiling his perfect smile for the cameras. "And I met some really interesting people."

"Really?" another reporter asks.

"Would you care to elaborate?"

"How did it fair from the other times you played 'chief'?"

"Did you get to go chase criminals?"

He laughs. "Sadly, no. I only had one day, after all. Maybe next time."

"Will there be a next time, Tsunakouji-san?"

He smiles. "I don't know. Maybe not for a long time. I'm sticking to my job for a while."

"What's the white rose pinned on your jacket?"

"When was it given to you?"

Aoi pushes himself to the front and stares up the screen. "Gouki," he murmurs.

Gouki in the screen looks down at the perfect white rose pinned on his left breast, smiling fondly. "It was given to me by someone very special."

The reporters note the tenderness in his voice. "A lover?" one throws in.

"Does this mean you're in love?"

Aoi holds his breath for the answer.

Gouki looks up to the reporters who look back at him expectantly. "But that's not what a white rose signifies," he states.

"What's he talking about?" Miyuki Kobayakawa asks aloud. Everybody in the force ignored her.

"What does it symbolize?" one reporter asks.

"Respect." The word comes out strongly. Gouki's smile widens. "It signifies respect for the person you care about. Yes, it can be love, but it gives more meaning to pureness, because in pureness and in truth, then that is the only time you can respect one person." He looks away from the camera, his eyes sparkling, dreaming. As if he is looking beyond the camera, beyond the people...inside Aoi's soul. "It came from a very, very important person."

"Aoi, don't you like white roses?" Miyuki asks, turning to Aoi.

But Aoi does not answer, continues to stare at the screen, at the close-up face of Gouki. He smiles, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "Thank you," he whispers.

Then, slowly and quietly, he disperses from the crowd and returns to his work.