Chapter 2 - Ekyt CAN say it!

“Sakura…I…” Ekyt felt his courage failing him again. No! You’ve come so close! You’ve got to tell her!

“Ekyt-kun? What’s wrong?” Sakura put a hand to Ekyt’s forehead. No fever…then why is he so red?

“Sakura…I-..(damnit!)C-can I…? I really like you!” The words burst from Ekyt’s mouth like a gunshot. He had said it quietly, but with such passion behind the words that he might as well have yelled.

“Huh? R-really?” Sakura stammered. W-what does he mean?

“I’ve…I’ve been in love with you for nearly three years now. I couldn’t say it. But I HAD to. Please, don’t feel guilty when you say no…” Ekyt cringed.

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t! I love you, too!” Sakura zipped forward and hugged Ekyt. “You couldn’t tell me? That’s so…cute!”

“You were always out of my league, and I didn’t want to make you unhappy, sensei.”

Sakura led Ekyt to the cherry blossom path. This early in the morning, no one would be here, as the park was closed. But Sakura had always dreamed of bringing her boyfriend here.

“Please…let me just…” Sakura slid Ekyt’s mask down, so it was around his neck.

I’d forgotten how handsome he looked without his mask…and I’ve always seen his eyes, but somehow, now, I see them differently. There’s so much love there.

“You really love me? How could you? I’ve got a big forehead, and…well, that’s the only thing that’s big…” Sakura muttered awkwardly.

“I’m not that shallow. You were the first to befriend me when I came to the Leaf Village. And you’ve patched me up more times than I can count after fights. All those times I meant to tell you…but I couldn’t. I felt like I would be a disappointment to you…that you could do better than me. And I didn’t want you to feel guilty when you told me I wasn’t good enough…”

Ekyt looked away shyly. “I think you’re the most beautiful kunoichi in the village, and easily the most intelligent. You just seemed so…wholesome and beautiful, like no girl I’d ever seen before. You didn’t complain about clothes, and you aren’t a ‘material girl’. You’re strong, beautiful, smart, and everything I’ve ever wanted in a girl.”

No one had ever told Sakura that before. Not even remotely CLOSE to that.

“A-all those times you fought in my place, and all those cuts that I healed…they were for me, weren’t they? To protect me?” Sakura asked.

Ekyt nodded, blushing even deeper. It had been such a hot day, Ekyt had pocketed his gloves. That was when he felt Sakura’s hand snake it’s way into his own, then close tightly.

“I…I never knew. I always thought you were cute, and brilliant. I didn’t think you’d have time for a girlfriend, with your studying. Otherwise I would have asked you…a long time ago…if you’d go out with me…” Sakura’s voice trailed off, but her green eyes looked hopefully up at Ekyt.

“I-I would love to! But, um, thing is, I’m completely clueless. That’s another reason I didn’t ask you out. I have no idea how to…court a kunoichi. Kunoichi scare the hell out of me. You’re part girl, part warrior. Warriors are deadly, and girls are the unknown…”

Sakura had to laugh despite the seriousness of his voice. “Well, I’ve, um, only seen a couple dating sims that Ino owns…never the…you know…but the dating. I’d say going to the park qualifies as a date.”

“Are you supposed to kiss on the first date?” Ekyt asked, suddenly aware he didn’t know if he possessed any kissing skills, and didn’t know any of the fine points.

“In the sims, they did…” Sakura said with a giggle, “But most girls don’t.”

Ekyt sighed with a combination of disappointment and relief.

“But I’m not most girls…” Sakura had suddenly pulled herself in closer to Ekyt. Ekyt was only a couple inches taller, so Sakura didn’t have to get up on her toes to reach him. She reached up, put one hand around his neck, and brought their heads together. Then their mouths met in a warm embrace. It lasted longer than most first kissed, and was a little more provocative, being that both giver and receiver were older, but it was still a first. Ekyt ran his hand through Sakura’s silky hair, then down her back lightly. He was actually copying her movements; he was as clueless as they came. After what felt like hours, but was only seconds, the two broke apart.

Sakura kept a grip on Ekyt’s hand. “(giggle) I heard Asuma-sensei’s advice to you…”

Ekyt went pale. “Oh…the cigarette thing? I don’t do that…”

Sakura rolled her eyes. “No, that’s a perv guy thing! I meant the “Once they kiss you, they own you” advice about girls. I want to assure you…that it’s completely true. I guess you’re mine, now.”

Ekyt nodded stupidly. “I g-guess so. I don’t object!” Ekyt bowed suddenly, as if apologizing.

Sakura giggled again, then patted Ekyt on the head. “It’s okay, I was kidding. But if you’re that willing, it’s kind of a Haruno clan tradition…if you’re okay with it…”

Ekyt nodded. He would have done anything at this point, and he was apparently living on something other than oxygen, because he hadn’t breathed in about two minutes. It’s funny how you work so hard to make your dreams come true. But, at the same time, a nagging voice tells you that ‘it’s only a dream’, never an encouraging ‘it can be a reality’ accompanied with it. For Ekyt, a dream coming true might as well have been the world ending.

“Here, take this…I’ve got one just like it…it’s kind of proof that you’re ‘taken’…” Sakura held out a kunai. It looked ordinary, except for the red grip tape. That, and the loop at the end of the kunai was white.

“The white part is a circle, the symbol of the Haruno clan. And the red part is the Haruno’s clan’s color. And it’s the tradition that the Haruno clan member gives his or her boyfriend or girlfriend the knife. It’s supposed to symbolize the union of two clans under the branch of the Hidden Leaf.”

You are not authorized to comment here. Your must be registered and logged in to comment