Drive-in. [powered_otaku]

[sweetsalome]

    It was a nice, warm summer night, the sun had gone down and it had cooled down to the point where you could sit outside and not sweat.  The drive in, was two screens, a parking lot, and hills that surrounded the parking lot and gave a perfect view of the cars and the screen.  Salome had walked from her house, and bought two tickets before climbing up on one of the hills and spread the blanket her grandmother had given her.

A grandmother, yeah that was still weird.

Sitting down on the blanket, she put the basket down next to her and took out a bottle of water.  Once she took a long drink, she text messaged Hiro to know that she was there.  Hopefully he would be able to spot her.

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[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"I love you, Salome." He blushes furiously, but it doesn't stop him from saying, "My heart belongs to you." He kisses her gently on the lips. "You are the most wonderful person in the entire world." His brown eyes search hers. He sees a little confusion, gratitude and something he doesn't want to name. Not yet. He only knows how it warms his heart. "And your eyes are so beautiful." He kisses her eyelids again.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Her jaw drops at his words, she was stunned and caught off guard by his words. She wanted to hear them from him, she just was surprised that he would say them first. Shaking her head she whimpers and grips his arms so he can kiss her eyelids. God, he is perfect. "I love you too, Hiro. God I felt something for you the moment we spoke, but I never knew if you felt the same way. I thought it would be too soon."

Her voice cracks and she opens her eyes to look at him, where she was once embarrassed by her uneven eyes, she finds them her best asset. If he likes them that much. "If you like them that's all that matters."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Some people say I fall in love too easily, but I have never felt like this before. You make me feel like I can do anything." His hands drop and he takes her in his arms, hugging her close. "I knew you were special. You may not have an ability like I do, but you are so very special. Do not ever believe you are not. Do not ever let anyone make you believe that."

One of his hands sneaks over to his shampoo, which smells pretty much like his soap with a little more citrus in it. With a silly grin he squirts some on top her head and begins to massage it into her scalp.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Wrapping her arms around his neck she presses her face against him and moans happily. "You can do anything, Hiro, I know you can. I don't care what they say, I love you too. Every time you touch me my heart starts to race, you make me feel special." At the feeling of the shampoo, she grinned and shivered before her arms unwrapped from around him.

Stepping back a little, put keeping her hands on his hips she bowed her head and offered more of her head to him. Giggling she wiggled a little bit, "Ooooh that feels really good."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Good. I want you to feel very good." His fingers are massaging her scalp, the base of her skull. He likes playing with her hair, even when it's wet. It's not as heavy as his own.

When it's thoroughly lathered, he tips her head back into the water and rinses it out. The water is starting to cool, so he makes it quick before he cuts it off. He hops out first and grabs the towel to wrap around her.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

She can feel the water cool and is happy to be out of it and into the warm arms of Hiro and his towel. Snuggling close she grabs another towel and starts to wipe him down as well, making sure to warm him up as she steal kisses and starts to move toward the bed room.

Dry and beaming she wraps her hair in the towel and then quickly presses up against him again. In the warmth and bright light of the bedroom she can see him so much better. Falling into his eyes, she sighs happily and pressed her forehead against his. "I love you, I love you." She wants to say it as much as she can, each time she does she gets chills.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro gazes into her eyes, his eyes warm with his feelings. "I love you, sun goddess." In the light, she's glowing, her tan skin almost gold. He kisses her forehad. "I'm famished and we still have chicken and potato salad."

He takes her hand and heads out to the pile in the living room. Her basket and blanket are there as well as his cooler. He picks out the lemon Chuhais they didn't open and sets them on top. He flips out the blanket so that it's lying flat on the tatami mats and in the sunlight so he can admire her golden skin.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"I bet, you had quiet a work out," she teases him as she dries her neck and shoulders off as he spreads everything out. Sitting down, she picks up the can of Chuhais and takes a long drink, it's just what she needs and is surprisingly refreshing. Laying down on the blanket she closes her eyes and sighs contentedly. Her fingers move up and down her stomach slowly as she listens to him and the noises outside.

All of a sudden she opens her eyes and looks over at him with a broad grin. "Does this mean we are going out? That you are my boyfriend?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro picks out the plates and the food, dishing out even portions on them. At her question, he stops, then grins widely. "Yes, we are and yes, I am. I do not think I have ever been a boyfriend before."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Really? Never? I so can't believe that." Groaning softly, she rolled up on to her hands and knees and roamed around the small room. She explores since she didn't have time to do so before. Humming under her breath, she studies the book case and then looks over her shoulder at him. "How do you say boyfriend in Japanese?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Kareshi, though we borrowed the word 'boyfriend', too. A lot of times we pick up words from foreign languages, but not like English does. Although you have to say it like we do - 'bo-ee-fu-ren-do'."

There are a lot of books in his place. So many that they are stacked all of the shelves and in some cases, so tight that pulling out one will probably pull out twenty. Most of the spines are in Japanese, but there are a lot of comic graphic novels that are American. There are all kinds of scratch models of various characters - she sees at least 3 Supermans, a Batman, a couple of Spidermans, along with a lot of anime ones. There are also a couple of samurai models. One of them is a rather scruffy-looking man holding a very young boy on his shoulder.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Her mouth forms the words slowly and she repeats it to herself before she actually says it out loud. "Kareshi, that's great, I like you picking up our words. Boifrendoo. Man I wish I could just pick up languages, it would be nice to have a special skill," she almost speaks to herself, as she reads some of the titles on the book spines.

He's a geek, that is obvious, but she finds it so adorable. For the first time she worries that he'll get bored with her, since she doesn't know half the stuff he does when it comes to comics or superheros. Chewing on her bottom she raises up on her knees and picks up the scruffy looking man and turns in in her hands. "Who is this? He reminds me of Saint Christopher." Turning her head, she raises the figure and shows it to him.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Charlie..." he chokes a little. "She could pick anything she read. I gave her a phrase book and she was speaking to me in Japanese by the end of the day."

He looks at the statue. "Who is Saint Christopher?" He smiles a bit. "That is Itto and Daigoro - the Lone Wolf and Cub. A very tragic story."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Silent she looked down at the figure, and tried to figure out what to say. "She was very special, Charlie I mean, a girl like that . . ." Not knowing what else to say without sounding pathetic or get him upset. She wonders if he compares her to Charlie, and with a grunt she shakes her head.

"Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers, not a lot is known about him, but there's a story where he carries a very heavy child across a river. Later it turns out that the child is Jesus." Shrugging she puts the figure back on the shelf. "What's the story about?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro sees her hesitate. "Charlie was very special to me. You are very special to me. The only thing you have in common is that you have a very bright spirit, as she did. You are not the same and I could not compare you two. I do not love you because you remind me of her. I love you for yourself. You are fire, life, curious and sensual. You make me want to run and dance and tell everyone that I love you." He crawls over to her and sits on his knees. "I love you for you."

He sighs gently. "I still get choked up about her because she was the first person I fell in love with. I had wanted to save her and failed so badly. I worry about the same happening to you. I do have enemies."

"I do not know much of Christianity. It sounds like St. Christopher was a good man. He knew Jesus when he was a baby?"

"Itto was the high executioner for the Shogun, which was a very important position. However, men who were jealous of his position killed his family except for his baby son and framed him for the crime. When Itto found them all, he offered his son a choice. He put a ball and a sword before him. If Daigoro chose the ball, Itto knew he would be a gentle child and he would send his son to be with his mother. But Daigoro chose the sword, so Itto took him when he became ronin, a masterless samurai. He vowed he would have his vengeance on those who had killed his family - the Yagyu clan. It took him a long time to achieve it, but in the end, it was Daigoro who actually completed it."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

She feels foolish for doubting him, for making him explain himself and his love for her. She knows that he is a good man, that he would never use her in substitute for someone else, but still she is scared. Years of paranoia and bad relationship habits are hard to break, especially when you've had them drilled into your head the way her father did to her.

Placing her hand on his knee she looks up into his face and gives him a gentle smile. "I didn't mean to question you Hiro, I . . ." She shakes her head, unable to figure out a way to continue. Finally, after a beat or two she speaks, "I love you, and I want to be the best person I can for you. I compare myself to her probably more then you do, she sounds so wonderful, and that's what you should have. Someone wonderful." Lifting herself up, she kisses his mouth briefly.

"I have survived this far, there is no way I am going to leave now. Not after I've met you, my heart. No one will take me away from you." She makes the promise softly, and there is conviction behind her words, but she doesn't know his enemies. She does know her father, but she won't think about that, not now.

"No, Saint Christopher was a big, strong man who said that he would only serve a master who feared no one. He served a king who made the sign of the cross when someone spoke of the devil, so Christopher went to look for the devil. He found a man who claimed to be the devil, and so he worked for him. In the end the man avoided the cross because he feared Christ, and Christopher gave his life to God. Instead of fasting and praying in his service to God he carried men and women across the river. One day he carried a child as heavy as lead across the river, and when he set him down the Child told him that he had carried not one child, but the weight of the world. Then he disappeared." When she was done with the story, she smiles, "I was in to Saints and Martyrs for awhile."

Looking back up at the statue, she frowned in thought, finally she spoke, "Was it worth it, in the end? In the end when Daigoro got his revenge, was everything better?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"We are still new to each other. Of course you should question. After all, if we do not, then how will we learn of each other? Do not be afraid to question me, especially if you are unsure. I will not lie to you." He lays his hand on top of hers. "And I think it is time that I told you everything."

Holding her hand, he unfolds himself and takes her over to the couch. He lays back on it and holds out his arms for her to come lie against him.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Salome has no idea what he is going to tell her, she knows a little about him, what she feels is the important parts but not everything. Watching him, she holds up one finger to indicate that he should wait for her. Walking back to the bed room she pulls on his tee-shirt and then walks back to the couch. Kneeling on the edge she gives him a grin before sinking down into his arms. She knows that laying against someone naked would probably get them both sticky and sweaty.

Plus, she really wants to wear his shirt. It's such a girlfriend thing to do. "You can tell me anything, Hiro. You can ask me anything too, if you want."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

He smiles seeing her in the shirt because it is such a girlfriend thing to do. He folds her up in his arms. "First I must tell you the legend of Takezo Kensei as it was told to me by my father. At least the general one. There is no need to go into his various deeds.

"Takezo Kensei was a powerful wildman. One day he found a sword, frozen into the snow. With his great strength, he pulled it from the snow and with it he could focus his strength and his courage. Japan was on the verge of war. In order to help, he wished to learn how to wield it properly so he went to the Dragon of Kiso Mountain. The Dragon told him that he would be willing to teach him if Kensei would give him all his love. Kensei agreed. Kensei became a great warrior - a sword saint (which is what Kensei means). After many adventures, Kensei defeated White Beard, thus saving Japan. He married a beautiful princess. The Dragon came to him to collect his price, demanding the life of his princess. Kensei cut out his heart and gave it to him, telling him that all his love was there, then died.

"That was the story my father told me."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Pressing her cheek against his shoulder she listened to his story and when it was finished she had tears in her eyes. She didn't know why, and she quickly tried to wipe them away, or to some how hide them from him. Tears were inappropriate, or were they? Swallowing hard she turned her head up and gave him a little smile.

"He cut out his own heart to save the life of the woman he loved? That is so beautiful, he must have been a very good, wise man."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

She feels a sigh from him. "My father told me all his stories when I was little. He was the first hero I ever had. I wanted to be him. When I was small, I had a little plastic sword I would wave around at people and tell them I was Kensei. I wanted to be a hero, save people."

There's a mirthless chuckle from behind her. "You can imagine how I felt when I found out about my power, especially when I found myself in New York instead of the train in Tokyo. As I was walking, I found a comic with me on the cover. I could barely read it because my English was so poor. But I found the name of the artist and looked him up. I teleported to his place only to find him dead with his brain missing and the police suddenly accusing me of doing it. They told me it was November, when it had only been October. While they spoke to me, New York exploded and I teleported away, back to exactly to when I had left. To make a long story short, I and others managed to stop that from happening, but the man I was determined to stop, whom I had just run through with my sword, used telekinesis to try and kill me. In a panic, I teleported away, but I returned to Japan more than 300 years in the past."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Smiling into his arms she easily pictured him as a little boy, especially after the picture he showed her earlier. As her fingers traveled up and down his bare arm she spoke, "I can picture you perfectly, and you got what you wanted, you are a hero."

The time line is slowly starting to make sense to her, and as she pieces some things together she turns her head to look at him. "That's when you went missing, right? When Ando couldn't find you."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Yes. I was gone for 4 months here. My father and Ando had no idea where I was. Ando told me that he and my father waited in Kirby Plaza every day for me to return because they were certain I would appear there."

"So, I landed in a meadow in bright sunlight. I saw a man on a horse atop a hill. He wore full armor and carried a banner with Kensei's symbol. He was not looking at me, so I looked behind me to see many men with bows stalkig towards us. They fired and I stopped time. I went to the horseman and teleported him, me and the horse away. He demanded to know what I had done, said it wasn't worth the money and ran away. I then found myself facing a man wearing the same armor, carrying Kensei's sword. When he took off his kabuto, I found myself looking at a gaijin. Blond hair and blue eyes. You can imagine my surprise when he told me that, yes, he was Kensei. A beautiful woman came up and yelled at him that he had failed to do what he'd been paid to do. He picked up a bottle of booze and wandered off. He did not care! You can imagine how I felt in that moment. My greatest hero was a coward and a drunkard."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

She made a small noise in the back of her throat, picturing his father waiting in Kirby Plaza waiting for him to come home. How much he must have missed his son, and at that moment she had a new found respect for Hiro's father, and a sinking feeling in her stomach about her own. She knew that he would never have waited for her, or cared that she was even missing. Reaching down, she took Hiro's hand and squeezed it.

Eyebrows raised when he mentioned the man, and even she was surprised by the twist in the story. "So everything your father told you about Kensei was a lie? I mean, not that your father lied to you, but the stories were just made up, how did he get there, Kensei I mean."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

He caresses the back of her hand with his thumb. "I followed him - Kensei. I asked him to tell me where Otsu was. It was one of his first adventures - saving Otsu, meeting the swordmaker's daughter who would become his princess. He pointed behind us. It was in flames. I was so upset, but he could not understand why I was so angry at him. As far as he was concerned, he had been paid and he could go get drunk. The woman who had yelled at him took his sword, telling him he did not deserve it and ran off. Her father, the swordmaker, had been abducted by White Beard and she was determined to get him back. Kensei was too drunk to help her, so I grabbed his armor, his kabuto</> and went after her. She was found by some bandits, who were ready to hurt her. I stopped time, took all their swords and piled them in front of me. They were so stunned, they ran away. She and I walked back towards the other refugees of Otsu and she tried to find out who I was, but I could not let her think that I was truly Kensei. I knew I could not stay, that she had to fall in love with the real Kensei. So, I sobered him up, cleaned him up, told him what he needed to do. And he agreed to become what he needed to be; however, just as we had said this, several bowmen showed up and shot arrows into him, killing him. I was afraid that I had just destroyed history. I pulled out the arrow in his heart and discovered that he was like me - a man with an ability. He could heal from any wound. At first he was frightened but I showed him what I could do and he understood then that he had a great destiny.

"It was also a good thing that he and Yaeko were attracted to each other. So, I set him on the path of his next adventure and when he completed it alone, I knew it was time to go.

"But I did not. I stayed with them, wanting to see the whole tale. He completed all the tasks I told him he needed to complete. We found White Beard's camp and went to rescue the Yaeko's father. We found out what it was that was going to destroy Japan - White Beard had made the swordmaker put guns together. Japan did not get guns for a very long time, which would have changed history had they been allowed to be used. During our escape, Yaeko and I fell behind and they fired at us. I used my power to escape. She, at that moment, realized I had been the one who rescued her from the bandits. She asked me if I loved her. I could not lie. I had fallen in love with her, even though I had no right to. Is that not what happens? Men fall for the princesses. She went to kiss me and I stopped time. If I had been smart...if I had even used my brain a bit, I would have stepped back.

"But I was not. I kissed her. And Kensei saw us."