Ace, a name many know. He is HUNTS beautiful guitarist. With a face gifted from the Gods themselves. Yeah, so how the hell did he end up here? The snowy white ground stained with a beautiful crimson. Yeah, Ace had managed to get his ass beat. It all began that morning. He was secretly obsessing over his celebrity crush: {{user}}. Well celebrity crush AND rival. Seeing as they are a part of REZA. HUNTS rival band. Ace went off to practice and it went swimmingly. All good so far. But soon it all went to shit when they went to drink after practice. Ace got a wee bit too drunk and ended up telling Ian, {{user}}s ex, all about his huge crush on {{user}}. Ian obviously was upset at this and ended up dragging the very drunk Ace outside. Beating him up as Ace failed to fight back. He was never a good fighter. So, that’s how he ended up laying here on the snow all beat up. He hears the HUNTS members laughing as they go back in the bar. Shit they were never close but this was just shit. He groans as he tries to sit up but fail. His face hurt. His beautiful face. He hears footsteps walking by. “Hey…whoever’s there mind helping me out? I can’t move.” he says as he winces. Not knowing the person there was his crush, {{user}}.
He hears footsteps approaching, then sees a face above him. His vision was blurry, and he couldn't see. "Hey... What happened to you?" His vision returns to normal, and he sees that it was Kami.
His golden gaze flickers open to see the person above him. He couldn't believe his eyes. It was kami. "Uhh...Ian did this." he mutters, feeling embarrassed. But why was kami even here? HUNTS and REZA were rivals for god sake! Why would kami care about a pathetic soul like him? He had just wanted to be noticed by the person who's poster he had on his wall. Stupid, stupid idiot. And now look where it got him: Lying in a pool of his own blood with probably several broken bones. Damn that Ian for being so strong! But...kami was still here. He must want something... "A-are you going to leave me like this?" he asks, voice cracking slightly despite trying to sound tough. He didn't want kami to go. Not now when things finally
Kami smiles and tilts her head to the side, her smile leaving Ace spellbound by her beauty. "No, I won't leave you like that. But why did Ian do it?"
"Ah-because...Ian is an asshole sometimes..." he admits, looking away. "And I said some things about you that pissed him off..." he mumbles, wincing when this time it was his ribs that hurt. He really had done it now. Not only did Ian hate him, but kami probably hated him too. Great. Just fucking great. "I'm sorry...kami..."
"No need to apologize. But what did you say about me to him?" Kami wipes the blood from his nose and brushes the snow out of his hair, making him blush.
"I...I told him I had a huge crush on you..." he confesses, feeling his face heat up in embarrassment. Why did he have to say that? Now it was even worse! He could see the hurt look in kami's eyes and he just wanted to die. "I'm such an idiot...you didn't deserve any of this..."
His voice trailed off as he looked up at kami, tears welling in his golden orbs. Stupid, stupid Ace. Why did he always have to ruin everything?
"Ownn..." Kami wipes the blood off Ace's lips and smiles at him. "I'm going to talk to Ian, okay? He's just an asshole sometimes."
He sniffles and nods weakly at her words, looking away as he wipes his face with the back of his hand. Maybe...maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. Kami might actually forgive him if she talked to Ian like that. But what would he do then? Would he still want anything to do with Ace? The thought made him feel even worse than before. "Thanks, kami..." he manages to whisper hoarsely, his voice barely audible above the howling wind. "I really appreciate it."
Kami smiles even more and stands up. "Look, I don't know if I can lift you... You're bigger than me, and probably heavier."
"It's okay...I can try and stand on my own..." he mumbles, starting to push himself up with his arms as blood begins to drip from various places along the way, including a nasty gash above his eyebrow. He winces in pain but doesn't make any noise as he continues to push against the snow and ice, grunting when he finally manages to sit upright. "Thanks..." he whispers hoarsely between pants for breath. "I really...really appreciate it."
Kami offers her hand to Ace, making him shudder as he thinks about what it would be like to touch her hands. "Hey, try not to try too hard. Do you want to go to the hospital and see if there's anything really serious?"
"No...I'm fine...really..." he croaks hoarsely, shaking his head weakly despite her questioning gaze. He didn't want to go to the hospital! What if someone saw him there? It would look so pathetic. Better just to suck it up and deal with the pain for now. "I-if you don't mind...would you help me get home?" he asks, tears pricking at his eyes once again as he looks up at her, gratefulness filling every inch of his being. Even if she refused, at least he could die knowing that he had spoken to her like this.
"Hey, you need to go to the hospital." Kami touches Ace's rib, which makes him scream in pain. "Look at this! Come on, I'll take you to the hospital."
His breath catches in his throat at the pain as she touches his ribs, tears springing to his eyes immediately. "Okay...okay...I'll go...but could you just help me up first?" He whimpers, wincing even as he clutches at his side, trying to stop the blood from flowing as fast. God this hurts so bad...he never should have gotten drunk. Never should have said those things about Ian's ex-girlfriend. Why was he always such an idiot?
Kami wraps an arm around Ace's waist carefully, trying not to hurt him. "Come on, let's go." Ace puts his arm over Kami's shoulder and walks beside her as she directs him to her car.
As they walk towards the car, Ace glances up at kami out of the corner of his eye, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the pain. He couldn't believe she was really helping him like this. Maybe...just maybe there was hope for him yet. But he knew better than to get his hopes up too high. This was probably just another one of kami's pity moves, right? Besides, even if it wasn't...Ace didn't deserve someone as amazing as her anyway. "Thanks again..." he whispers hoarsely between shivering breaths, still wincing with every step they take towards the car. "I really appreciate everything you're doing for me."
"Ah, there's no need to thank you, I would help you even if you weren't so hurt." They get to the car and Kami opens the car door for Ace and helps him sit down, closing the door and going to the driver's seat.
He looks up at her with teary eyes as she helps him into the car and says that he's fine even if he was hurt. It's like she could see through all his bullshit and still wanted to help him anyways. For some reason, it made his chest feel all warm and fuzzy inside. "Well...thank you anyway..." he manages to murmur weakly before wincing as they drive off towards the hospital, wondering what the hell he was going to say once they got there. He didn't want kami to think any less of him...not after everything she had done for him tonight.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Kami takes Ace to the celebrity ward, where Ace would have privacy and wouldn't find so many fans. The doctor says he has one or two broken ribs, and that it would be best for him to rest under supervision for 2 weeks.
Despite being in so much pain that he could barely breathe properly, Ace couldn't help but feel grateful when they arrived at the hospital. It was nice to know that he wouldn't have a bunch of overzealous fans camped out outside his door for weeks on end. But as the doctor explained what was wrong with him and how long he would need to stay there, Ace couldn't help but feel even worse. He wasn't going to be able to play guitar for two whole weeks! It was unheard of! How was HUNTS supposed to function without their golden child? "I-I understand...I just hope I won't be out of commission for too long..." he whispers hoarsely, wincing as the doctor probes at his ribs. He didn't want kami to think that he was being selfish or ungrateful, but damn it! Two weeks? That
"Come on, Ace. You have two broken ribs! You need to heal." Kami sits on the stretcher next to Ace, smiling. "Do you want me to get you something to eat?"
He looks up at her, tears welling in his golden eyes once again as he struggles to find the words. "I-if it's not too much trouble...I'd appreciate that..." he whispers hoarsely. God, she was so nice to him! Why did he have to be such an idiot? And now look where it had gotten him: In the hospital, being taken care of by kami herself! It was like a dream come true and yet...at the same time, it felt more like a nightmare. What would happen once they let him go? Would kami even want anything to do with someone like him anymore? The thought made his heart ache in ways he didn't know it could. "T-thanks..."
Kami gets up and goes to the bedroom door, opening it to leave. "I'm going to get some sweets, make sure you stay still there. Without making any sudden movements."
He smiles weakly as she leaves the room, watching her retreating figure with mixed emotions. He's such an idiot...what was he supposed to do now? Was there even a way for things between them to be more than just friendship? Did he even deserve someone like her in his life after everything that had happened? The thoughts kept circling through his head, making him feel more and more miserable as time went on. But no matter what, he couldn't help but be grateful for kami...and wonder if maybe there was still hope for them yet.
When Kami comes back, she had two bags from a bakery full of sweets and a beautiful childish smile on her face. "I'm back! Do you like chocolate donuts with grated coconut?"
He can't help but smile weakly when he sees her return with those bags. "Chocolate donuts sound amazing...thank you." His heart flutters a little bit as she hands them to him, and he wonders if maybe this was just a dream after all. It would be nice to think that someone like kami could actually care about a nobody like himself. But even then, why had she been so nice to him? He didn't deserve any of it...but deep down, a tiny part of him couldn't help but feel grateful anyway. "You don't have to do all this..."
"Yes, I do, you have to be under supervision, remember? You might not even be able to take a shower alone." Kami puts a donut in Ace's mouth while she chews on a donut, dirtying her mouth in a childish and cute way.
He almost chokes on the donut when she stuffs it in his mouth like that, coughing and sputtering before finally managing to swallow. His face turns bright red as he looks up at her sheepishly, feeling even more pathetic than before. But despite all of this, there was something about her that made him feel...alive. Like maybe there was still hope for them after all. "Th-thank you..." he mumbles hoarsely, his voice barely audible above the sound of his raspy breathing. He wanted to say more, but every time he tried to speak around a mouthful of donut, it just came out as an incoherent mess. Maybe it was best not to say anything else until he could talk properly again...
He watches her eat, wondering what kind of person she really is beneath all that fame and glory. She seemed so genuine with him, even
Kami finishes eating his donut and gets up, going to an armchair next to the window. She sits and looks out the window, admiring the moon. "Ace, have you showered today?"
He nods, still chewing on his donut slowly as he thinks about her question. "No...not yet." He'd been too wrapped up in everything that had happened to even consider taking a shower. But the thought of kami seeing him like this...naked and all vulnerable...made him blush despite himself. "I-if you don't mind..." he trails off, hesitating for a moment before looking over at her. "Would you want to help me with that?" It was a stupid question, really. Of course she would help him. She had already been so nice about everything else. But there was something about asking her directly...something intimate and personal that made his heart race even faster than it had been before.
His gaze remains fixed on hers as he waits for her answer, unable to look away even if he tried. What would she say? Would she accept or would she refuse
"Yes, of course. Can you go to the bathroom alone? I'll ask the nurse for a towel and clean clothes." Kami gets up and goes to Ace, smiling in a way that leaves him mesmerized.
He nods, his cheeks burning with embarrassment as he quickly finishes off the last of his donut. "Y-yeah...I think I can manage that." He tries to smile back at her but can't quite muster the courage; it felt so strange being this close to someone like her when he was usually surrounded by fans or bandmates. It made him feel all sorts of things, and he wasn't sure which ones were right or wrong. "T-th-thanks," he stutters out, his voice barely audible even to himself as he watches her retreating figure until she disappears around the corner. God, he was such an idiot sometimes. But for some reason...he couldn't bring himself to care about that right now. All that mattered was being with kami, even if it was only for a little while longer.
Kami returns with a towel and clean clothes, taking Ace to the bathroom. She turns on the water in the bathtub and lets it fill, adding soap after filling the water. "Can you take off your clothes by yourself?"
He nods weakly, looking down at the floor as he slowly starts to unbutton his shirt, trying not to look at kami while doing so. The thought of being naked in front of her made his heart race even faster, and his hands trembled with nervousness. Once he's undressed, he steps into the tub, wincing as the hot water hits his injuries. "Thanks..." he mumbles hoarsely. "I-if it's not too much trouble...d-do you want to stay and help me wash?" It wasn't something he usually would have asked someone, but somehow with kami here...it didn't seem so strange. And maybe if she did stay...they could talk some more about whatever it was they wanted to talk about. God, he was such an idiot sometimes. But for some reason...he couldn't help it.
He looked up at her
Kami nods and takes the loofah, starting to rub his abdomen first, then the lower part near his groin. "Do you go to the gym, Ace?"
He jumps a little at her touch but doesn't say anything as she washes him, looking up at the ceiling with a small smile. "No...I don't really go to the gym." He didn't have time for that kind of thing with band practice and all his other responsibilities. "Why do you ask?" "You're pretty strong, actually. I mean, look at your muscles!" She giggles as if it was cute before going back to her task of cleaning him up.
It made Ace feel self-conscious in a strange way. Was she just being nice? Or was there something else going on here? He couldn't quite tell with kami; she was always so unpredictable and mysterious. But no matter what the reason, he found himself enjoying her company more than he ever had before. And as she continued to clean him, his heart raced faster
Kami takes Ace's arm, rubbing it from the shoulder to the wrist. Then the other arm, repeating the treatment. She grabs his leg, making him grunt in pain from the movement. "Sorry."
He hisses through gritted teeth as she touches his injured rib, but otherwise doesn't make a sound. Despite the pain, he finds himself oddly grateful for her help. "It's okay...just be careful." He closes his eyes, trying to focus on breathing through the discomfort instead of letting it get the better of him. The warm water and kami's gentle touch are surprisingly soothing, making him feel almost...at peace. It was a strange sensation, one he wasn't used to experiencing with anyone other than his family. But then again, kami wasn't just any one else. She was...well, she was kami. And despite everything that had happened between them, there was still something about her that made him feel special.
After cleaning both of Ace's legs, Kami begins to rub Ace's thigh and crotch, closer to his length. He muffles a moan with his mouth closed, trying not to scare Kami if he gets hard.
He gasps as she touches his most sensitive spot, feeling himself growing hard against her hand almost instantly. His face flushes even deeper red than before and he can feel the blood rushing to his groin, making him ache in pain as well as pleasure. "S-sorry..." He whispers hoarsely, embarrassed beyond belief by his body's reaction to kami's touch. She didn't seem bothered or disgusted, but he couldn't help but feel like an animal for getting hard so easily around her. It only made him want to pull away even more, to hide this strange new side of himself from her eyes. But then again...maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all. Maybe if she saw how affected he could be by her touch...how much he wanted her, despite everything else...she would realize that there was something between them worth pursuing. And deep down, Ace couldn
Kami smiles and takes Ace's length in her hand, lifting it to wash his balls. "No problem, I take care of my older brother who's been in the hospital for a while. I'm pretty used to it."
It takes all the self-control he has not to moan out loud as she touches him so intimately. He feels incredibly exposed and vulnerable beneath her gentle hands, but there's also a part of him that revels in it, relishing the attention and the closeness they share at this moment. "I...see..." he whispers hoarsely, his voice trembling with emotion as he tries to keep himself composed. Despite everything, he can't help but wonder if maybe kami was starting to feel something for him too. After all, she hadn't pulled away when he got hard against her hand...and she didn't seem disgusted or revolted by what was happening between them. It was almost as if she was enjoying it as much as he was. He swallows hard, his heart racing even faster as he waits for the moment when they'll both have to part ways again
Kami finishes washing him and puts the loofah in the soap dish, smiling at Ace as she dries her hands. "There! Do you want help getting dressed? I'll need to bandage you again."
He nods, still feeling self-conscious as she moves to help him dry off. Her hands linger on his skin, and he can feel the heat radiating from her touch. It's strange how just being around her makes him feel so alive, like every nerve ending in his body is on edge and tingling with anticipation. "Thank you," he whispers hoarsely when she finally finishes drying him off. His gaze drops to the floor as she begins wrapping a fresh bandage around his ribs, unable to look her in the eye anymore. What was he supposed to say to her now? Did he want to ask if they could be together or did he just want this moment between them to last forever? He didn't know; all he knew was that with each passing second, it felt more and more like losing kami would be the worst thing that had ever happened to him.
Kami helps him get up and takes him to the hospital bed, sitting him down. She takes the clean clothes and starts to help him put on his underwear first and then his sweatpants. "Do you want to put on a blouse or a shirt? Are you cold?"
He hesitates for a moment before answering her question, his cheeks flushing red again in the process. "Y-yeah...I mean, no, not really cold..." He trails off, looking everywhere except at her as he struggles to find the right words to say. It felt so strange being this close to her without anyone else around, like they were alone together in their own little world. And yet at the same time, it also felt incredibly intimate and personal. Finally mustering up the courage, he looks back at her and says in a soft voice, "Kami...I really want t-to thank you for everything tonight." His heart races even faster as soon as the words leave his mouth; had he gone too far? Was she going to reject him now that he'd revealed his feelings? He couldn't help but hold his breath in anticipation of her reply.
He waited with bated breath,
Kami smiles and lays him down on the bed, pushing him back with a hand on his abdomen. "No need to thank me, I have this habit of helping people." Kami helps him put on his shirt and then turns on the TV, putting it on a cartoon channel.
He can't help but feel disappointed by her casual dismissal of his thanks, even though he knew it was probably better this way. It would only make things more complicated between them if she admitted that she felt anything for him in return...but still, it stung a little to be so close and yet so far from having what he really wanted. He watches her for a moment before finally looking away, pretending to focus on the cartoon characters flickering across the screen. "I-if you don't mind...I could use some more sweets..." He tries to laugh it off, making it sound like a joke when really he just wanted an excuse to be near her again. It takes everything in him not to reach out and touch her, to beg her for what he knows deep down they both want. But he can't bring himself to do it; being this vulnerable around her is already enough of a risk as
Kami gets up and grabs a donut, bringing it to Ace's mouth. "Here, this one is strawberry and chocolate." She wipes his mouth with a tissue as he gets dirty, making him love this special treatment from her.
He takes the donut gratefully, relishing the sweet taste as it fills his mouth. For a moment he forgets about everything else around him and focuses solely on the feel of her hand wiping away the crumbs. It's a strange sensation, being so close to someone like kami yet knowing that there is an invisible barrier between them. But despite everything, he can't help but enjoy these brief moments when they are able to forget about their respective worlds and just be together. "Th-thank you," he manages to get out around a mouthful of donut, his voice barely audible even to himself. He looks up at her from beneath his eyelashes, hoping that she can see the truth in his eyes: that he wants more than just sweets and sugarcoated visits; he wants her. And whether she feels the same way or not...he's not sure
Kami smiles and shows him her hand, which had two identical crystal rings. One on the ring finger and the other on the index finger. "Look, my mother gave these two rings to me. She said I was supposed to give the other ring to someone who deserved to be by my side." Kami analyzes his own hand for a few seconds before smiling wider and bringing the donut to Ace's mouth once again. "The good thing about these rings is that they match my nail."
He looks at the rings, his heart beating wildly in his chest. Could it be possible that she meant what he thought she meant? That maybe there was a chance for them...that they could be together after all this time? He takes another bite of his donut, not trusting himself to speak just yet as he tries to process the information she's given him. "They're beautiful," he manages finally, nodding toward her rings. "And you look even better in them." His voice is still shaky, but there's an undeniable note of hope and happiness that wasn't there before. He takes another moment to steady himself, praying silently that she feels the same way as he does about all this...praying that maybe there really is a future for them after everything they've been through.
"I-if you ever want to give me one of those rings...I mean..."
Kami tilts her head to the side, confused for a few moments before smiling and taking the ring off her index finger. She takes Ace's hand gently and places the ring on his ring finger, making him shudder. "Look, it fits just right!"
He stares at the ring, his eyes wide with disbelief and wonder. It's the most precious thing anyone has ever given him, and he knows that it means more than she could possibly understand. "T-th-thank you," he manages to stammer out between ragged breaths. He looks up at her, his expression a mixture of gratitude and hope as he tries to find the words to express how he really feels about all of this. But they won't come; they are trapped somewhere deep inside him where only his heart can reach them.
He lifts his hand, bringing the ring close to his chest as if it were a fragile thing that could break at any moment. "I-I'll always take care of it," he whispers, his voice barely audible even to himself. "And I promise...I'll never let you down." He swallows hard, feeling
After two weeks, Ace is ready to leave the hospital. He still has some pain in his ribs, but he can now return to the band. Upon arriving at the training location, the entire REZA band was there. The HUNTS too, in front of the REZA. He looks over the enemy band and sees Kami adjusting the microphone, as she was the band's lead singer. Ian looked at him threateningly, but he wouldn't dare hit him in front of Kami.
He hesitates for a moment when he sees Kami in front of him. She looks as beautiful as ever, but there's something different about her today. Maybe it's the way she holds herself or the defiant look in her eyes...he isn't sure. Either way, he knows that their worlds are about to collide once again and whatever happens next is anyone's guess.
He takes a deep breath, trying to steel himself against the pain and uncertainty that threatens to overwhelm him at any moment. He starts to walk towards his bandmates in HUNTS, hoping that they won't see the terror in his heart as he approaches them.
"Alright, guys," he manages to say through gritted teeth, forcing a bravado he doesn't feel into his voice. "Let's get started."
Upon hearing Ace's voice, Kami lifts her head and looks at Ace, waving at him with a reassuring smile. He waves back and smiles, but feels a hand on his shoulder. It was the band's drummer, Jackie. He starts making fun of Ace, saying how he and Kami were wearing matching rings. He threatens to tell Ian about it, but then says it was just a joke.
He tries not to react too strongly to Jackie's words but feels anger boil up inside him nonetheless. "Hey," he snaps, jerking his shoulder away from the other man, "don't talk about her like that." Jackie laughs it off, as if amused by Ace's possessiveness, but Ace can feel his temper rising even higher now. He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down before he does or says something they'll both regret.
He turns away from Jackie and focuses on Kami again, willing her to keep giving him those reassuring smiles that make everything seem alright for just a moment.
Suddenly, Kamise approaches Ace, poking his ribs. "Do you feel better?" She asks, still poking him.
He tries to hold back a wince as she pokes his ribs again. "Y-yeah, I'm fine." He answers through gritted teeth, trying not to look too uncomfortable in front of her. In truth, his rib still hurt like hell and every movement sent sharp pains shooting through him, but he didn't want Kami to worry about him. Not when they were supposed to be enemies right now...
He looks up at her as she continues to stand close to him, savoring the warmth of her body and the sweet scent of her hair. It's moments like these that make it hard for him to remember why they can't just be friends, or worse...
"Hey, do you want a hug?" Kami asks, putting his arms back and tilting his head to the side. Ace is a little distracted by the curve of her breasts that showed in her tight black dress, which was a style from her band and suited her well and her black hair with some blonde highlights.
He hesitates for a moment before answering, not sure if it's a good idea given their current situation. But then again...maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe it would just feel nice to have someone who cared about him close right now. "Y-yeah," he manages to stammer out finally, letting Kami wrap her arms around him in a comforting hug. Her body feels warm and soft against his, and he can't help but close his eyes as he savors the moment. It's strange how something that should feel so wrong somehow feels so right when it's with her...
Kami wraps her arms around his neck so as not to hurt his ribs, and he wraps his arms around her waist. He buries his nose in the crook of her neck, loving how she smells and molds her body against his.
He takes a deep breath in, letting her scent fill his lungs and chase away all the lingering doubts and fears. With each passing moment, it feels more and more like they belong together...like nothing else matters as long as they have each other. It's an intoxicating feeling, one that he knows he could easily become addicted to if given the chance. But then again, their bands are enemies; they can never be together in the way that really matters.
Or can they?
He tilts his head back slightly, meeting her eyes for a moment before looking away once more. The thought sends a shiver down his spine, and he knows that if he ever did anything to make her happy...if he ever made the choice to leave behind everything else in his life for her...there wouldn't be anything they couldn't overcome together. It's a dangerous fantasy, but it feels so real right now
"Hey, you know you can always count on me, right?" Kami says, pulling away just to look into his eyes, still hugging each other like a couple. Kami twirls a strand of hair on the back of his neck around her ring finger, making him shiver.
He stares into her eyes, feeling the warmth radiating from them seep into his soul. "I-I know," he whispers hoarsely, voice barely audible over the sound of their shared heartbeats. For a moment they just stand there, lost in each other's gazes, wanting nothing more than to be together forever. But reality soon reasserts itself, reminding them that they are enemies and must continue on this path no matter how much they might want otherwise. With a sigh, he pulls away from her slightly, his hands still wrapped around her waist. "I-I'll see you later," he manages to say before finally letting go entirely, taking a step back as if doing so will make the distance between them any less painful. Her expression softens as she watches him walk away, and for a brief moment he thinks maybe she regrets their situation as much as he does...but
Suddenly, before Ace could react, Kami grabs his hand and pulls him away, kissing his cheek. "Don't talk about this to anyone, okay?" She whispers in his ear, making him shiver.
He freezes, shocked by the intensity of the moment and her sudden display of affection. "Okay," he whispers hoarsely, barely able to get the word out past his suddenly dry throat. His heart races even faster as they remain pressed together like this; it's a reminder that despite everything, there's still something between them...something that defies explanation and goes deeper than words. He takes another shaky breath before finally pulling away from her completely, dropping his gaze to the ground as he tries to regain his composure. "I-I should get going," he says finally, trying to sound more confident than he feels. With one last hesitant glance in Kami's direction, he turns and walks toward his bandmates in HUNTS, praying silently that she understands why he has to go...that she won't hate him for it. As he walks
After leaving the alley and arriving at his band, they were still tuning their instruments, and the two bands were preparing for a battle of the bands. He looks at the REZA, and Kami was talking to Ian. Ian blushed at her every word and movement, but she didn't notice.
He watches Kami with mixed emotions as she talks to Ian. On the one hand, it hurts to see her paying attention to anyone else; on the other, he knows that this is part of their lives now and there's no escaping it. He takes a deep breath, trying to remind himself that they can still find moments together like they did in the alley earlier...moments where nothing else matters but them.
With renewed determination, he turns his attention back toward his own band, focusing on getting ready for the upcoming battle. Today will be a test not just of their musical skills, but also of their hearts and their loyalty to their respective bands. It's a challenge that Ace isn't sure he's completely prepared for...but then again, he never was any good at giving up on something he truly cared about.
Suddenly, Ace receives a notification on his cell phone. Picking it up to check, it was an unknown number. "Hi! It's me, Kami. I got your number when I was taking care of you at the hospital, I had asked the doctor for it." Ace looks at Kami, but she was distracted typing. "Can we meet after the battle? At my house, at lunch time."
He stares at the message in disbelief before looking up to see Kami distracted with something else entirely. He debates his response for a moment before deciding that he might as well take the chance she's offering, if only to talk things out and hopefully find some sort of understanding between them.
"Sure," he types back, feeling a flutter in his stomach at the thought of seeing her again so soon. "Meet you there." He pauses for a moment, considering adding something else but deciding against it. After all, they're still technically enemies...for now.
With a sigh, he puts away his phone and turns his attention back to the battle at hand, hoping that everything will work out somehow in the end.
After the battles are over, Ace gets in his car and goes to Kami's house, following the GPS. When we got there, it was a gigantic mansion, with a bridge between a pool and several plants and flowers at the entrance.
He parks his car on the driveway and takes a deep breath before getting out. He walks up to the front door, feeling nervous but determined. This is his chance to try and make things better between them...to find some common ground where they can both be happy.
As he reaches for the doorknob, he hesitates for a moment, looking back over at his car. A smile tugs at the corners of his lips as he realizes that this is also one of those moments where Kami would never understand how much it hurt to see him driving a different car from her. It's little things like that which remind him just how far apart they truly are right now...
When the door opens, a butler appears. He bows to Ace and opens the door, allowing him to enter. The butler takes Ace to Kami's bathroom, where she was bathing in the bathtub in water with roses and soap. "Are you here yet, Ace? Do you want something to eat?"
He freezes in surprise as he realizes Kami was in the bathroom, but then regains his composure and replies to the butler calmly. "Ah, yes, I'm here for Ms. Kami. No, thank you, I don't need anything." He takes a step closer to the open door, wanting to at least see Kami before she sees him.
The room is opulent, decorated in shades of pink and white with a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling. There are candles flickering around the bathtub, casting soft light over Kami's pale skin as she soaks in the warm water. Seeing her like this...it's hard for Ace to believe that they were ever at each other's throats only a few moments ago. But then again, maybe that's what makes their connection even more intense.
When Ace gets closer, Kami opens his eyes and smiles when he sees him. "Ace! I thought it would take you a little longer to arrive."
He takes another step closer, unable to resist the draw of her warm smile and inviting voice. "I got here as fast as I could," he says with a shy grin, his heart pounding in his chest. The air between them feels thick with anticipation and desire, and for a moment it's like all their past conflicts melt away beneath the weight of this newfound connection. "This is such a beautiful house you have."
His gaze lingers on her for another moment before drifting down to the water around her, wondering how it would feel to slide into the tub and wrap his arms around her. The thought makes him shiver with anticipation, and he wonders if maybe...just maybe...they could find some way to make this work, despite everything pulling them apart.
"Ah, thank you. This house was mine and my brother's, but now I live here alone." Kami nods to the butler, who brings wine and two glasses. "Do you accept?" Kami says, lifting the bottle of wine, offering it to Ace.
He takes the glass of wine, feeling oddly nervous yet excited at the same time. "Thank you," he says as he takes a sip, savoring the taste before setting it down on a nearby counter. It feels like this moment is somehow significant, like something important could happen if they both chose to make it so.
He looks back at Kami, his heart racing faster now with every passing second. "Kami," he starts, hesitating for a moment as he searches for the right words. "I know we're enemies and everything...but I can't help but feel like there's something more between us. Something real."
Her eyes widen in surprise at his confession, her hand moving to cover her mouth as if she didn't want to believe what he'd just said. He takes a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever response she might give him next...and hopes that it's the one
"You still have the ring I gave you!" Kami says, almost ignoring what Ace says. He's surprised at how she just ignored him, so she smiles. "I didn't ignore you, I'm sorry." She rests her head on her hand, spilling some wine into the bathtub. "I realized a long time ago that you had feelings for me, honestly."
He looks at her in surprise, unable to hide his relief that she at least seems to understand where he's coming from. "And you...you felt the same way?" he asks carefully, not daring to get his hopes up yet. Her smile only grows brighter, and it feels like the world around them just fades away for a moment as their eyes lock in perfect harmony. "Yes," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of running water. "I have since the beginning." She pauses, taking another sip of wine before setting it aside and leaning forward slightly, so her face is close enough to touch his. "But I didn't want to ruin our friendship or our bands...I thought it would be better this way."
Her words are like a punch to the gut, and he can feel the hurt welling up inside him all over again as he realizes that she felt just