Mute

52 | Hurt

I smoothed her hair, hoping it would soothe her. "Im sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that. I was worried he'd said something to hurt you."

Emiko laughed softly. "Shouto, if he did anything to me, don't you think I'd tell you?" She pulled away to smile at me, and I was relieved.

"No, I know you can take care of yourself. I just had a moment of panic, I want you to never live with any fear in your life."

She laughed, nuzzling into my neck, I noticed she was still wearing the jacket to my suit. "I can't have the same hope, because you're going to be a hero."

I leaned against the back of the couch, pulling her with me as I relaxed. "Emiko.."

"Yes Shouto?"

I smiled slightly, "May I have an apology dance? My way of saying sorry." I clarified quickly. She laughed and nodded. I didn't bother to turn on music as I pulled us to our feet and wrapped one hand around her waist before taking her free hand in mine.

She smiled up at me. Even wearing heels I was taller. "You're a dork, but I love you Shouto. All of you." She added as she brushed my scar with her thumb. I leaned into her touch, feeling completely relaxed.

I moved the hand I was holding so it was resting on my shoulder before sliding both hands around her waist and drawing her closer. I pressed our foreheads together before replying. "Emiko Satoshi." I addressed her like she would in america, startling her. "I love you with every fiber in my body, so much so that it physically hurts me to see you upset."

Emiko giggled and kissed my cheek. "Don't do anything to upset me, and neither of us will have a problem." She teased.

I laughed and kissed her abruptly, basking in her immediate response. Yeah, she was definitely wearing a new chapstick. I dragged my tongue over her lips, attempting to figure it out. It tasted something like limes, maybe fruit? A great side effect to my curiosity was the new space she offered.

I eagerly pushed my tongue into her mouth, tilting my head for a better fit. I swirled our tongues together and heard her moan as I pressed her against the wall. What had started out as a teasing kiss was very quickly becoming something much more heated. I refused to press it though, she was giving me an inch, I wasn't going to take a mile. Besides, I was in absolutely no hurry to disrespect her like that.

Everything I'd read said if you waited to know each other before engaging in sexual intercourse, your relation was much more likely to last. Of course there were exceptions to that rule, but I didn't want to risk it.

My desires did not matter right now, and as much as I wanted to give in to them, I smothered them.

Emiko pulled away for breath, and I trailed my lips down her face until I was kissing her neck. I found a nice spot and attached my lips, sucking and licking for several seconds. When I pulled away I was sure there'd be a mark, so, my intentions fulfilled, I returned to her mouth, running my hand down her side and back up her arm.

I pulled away when Emiko suddenly started coughing, rubbing her back despite the warmth I felt in my entire body.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded. "Sorry, I choked on air." She smiled shyly up at me and I laughed before ruffling her hair.

"You're such a little gem." I teased.

She lightly hit my arm. "You're being mean!" She whined. I loved this side of her, the playful side only I saw.

I tilted my head. "By telling you secrets, dancing with you, and then kissing you? I don't see how that's being mean."

She grumbled something under her breath, giving me a quick kiss I wasn't prepared for. "I relent, you win Shouto."

I blinked. She wasn't going to challenge me? I playfully spun her around and kissed her. "That wasn't nearly long enough to be an apology gift." I explained with a teasing smirk. She only laughed before hugging me.

"I am grateful you told me." She whispered. "And I'm sorry I haven't really shared my secrets."

I smiled into her hair. We were on this topic, even if we didn't get anywhere today, it raised my hopes for the future. "You spoke to me, that's more than enough." I soothed. I felt her shake her head.

"You want to know why I moved all the way up here without my parents for no reason right?" I hesitated, slowly nodding. She was still holding me tightly. "Well, my mother was Uncle Yamada's sister, and she married my dad, who lived there. Umm, they died in a car crash. The roads were icy, and the guy in front of them didn't see the black ice is all. I don't really have any other family, so we came up here."

I held her close, refusing to let go as I absorbed her words. It was just an accident, a horrible, horrible accident. "Don't worry, nothing like that will ever happen to the rest of our family, I promise."

Only after the words had left my mouth did I consider them. Our. Our family, did she consider my family her family? Did I consider hers mine?

"Thank you." She relaxed slightly, and I swayed, pulling us into a very, very slow dance.

Ours. Someday, hopefully someday we would have a family that was just ours.