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As Kin stopped speaking, he spotted Kuro and Aki running towards the door to the Third Year section on the far side of the room. Turning back to the lovely lady who sat on the couch beside him, Kin saw Rinoa processing everything he had just said. He then waited a few patient seconds for her to respond.
"So...you're here because of him.." Rinoa said matter-of-factly. Kin nodded. "And you left last year because of him..."
"That's right." Kin said as he turned his gaze back to the far side of the room where Kuro and Aki were now confronting the two female guards. "Although, you might say I didn't really leave by choice."
Following those words, Kin grasped his right knee and felt the bulge of bandages that surrounded it. He then began to think of all that had transpired in the last nine months or so. The hospital, the ignorant doctors telling him he'd never fight again, the rehab sessions, the training, convincing Kuro to come to school in Japan, and a new year with a fresh start.
"Um..." Rinoa began to speak, then paused.
"Go ahead." Kin urged her on, having a good idea of what she was about to say.
"You seem..." she paused again. This time, Kin urged her with a tender punch in the arm and a reassuring smile. Finding her resolve, she finally got the words out. "You seem different Kinnikun."
"Oh yeah?" Kin said with a slight smile. "How's that?"
"Well, for starters you seem to have acquired a few new features." She said hesitating a little.
"Like what?" Kin mused. "This?" Kin said as he lifted his right hand and brandishing his boken. "Or this?" He then patted his right leg.
"Well both of those, but mostly it's you personality. Compared to last year, you're alot less-"
"Mobile?" Kin interrupted with a laugh.
"Kinnikun!" Rinoa shouted as she lightly hit in the chest for interrupting. "I was gonna say arrogant. You seem alot more mature. Last year you were really cocky and hot-headed and frankly, something of a jerk."
"And you can tell all of that from our brief conversation thus far?" Kin was now looking deeply into Rinoa's eyes. She blushed a faint red. "And by the way, can you call me Kin? My mom's the only one who calls me Kinnikun."
"But I like Kinnikun!" Rinoa protested as she sat up from her lounged position on the couch. "If I called you Kin I'd feel like I was talking to my brother or something and-" Rinoa blushed again as she covered her mouth to keep herself from saying the words that were about to come out. Regaining her composure and retreating back to her lounged position, she finished. "and...I don't want to think of you in that way."
Kin laughed a little bit then placed his left hand gently on Rinoa's shoulder and looked into her eyes. "How about this. I guess you can call me Kin-kun." Kin said placing emphasis on 'Kin-kun' to differentiate between that and his real name.
Rinoa giggled a little and grasped Kin's left hand firmly. She then let go of his hand and stopped giggling all at once, as she realized she was wearing her emotions on her sleeve. In a calm and deliberate tone, she then said "That sounds agreeable to me, Kin-kun."
Hearing this, Kin smiled and eased himself off the couch and into a standing position. Leaning on his cane for a little bit of support, Kin looked down at Rinoa and spoke softly. "Well, I think you've distracted me for long enough now. And I should be getting back to the task at hand."
Rinoa laughed at Kin's words considering it was he was the one who walked over to her. "Okay then. And don't worry I won't tell anyone why you're down here. Not that it's that hard to figure out. And one last thing." Kin watched as she stood up to meet him and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. She then whispered in his ear, "Good luck."
Feeling his cheek where he had been kissed with his free hand, Kin began walking towards the far side of the room where Kuro and Aki were, but he paused after a few steps and turned around to face Rinoa once again. "You know, you've changed since last year too."
Placing her hands on her hips, Rinoa replied. "Oh yeah, how's that?"
Without missing a beat, Kin smiled and answered. "Let's just say, you've grown."
Following that, Kin began to walk hurriedly to the far side of the room. After a few seconds, he dared a glance over his shoulder back at Rinoa, whose face had contorted into a look of both loving anger and a held-back laugh. You know the one. Turning his attention back to what lay in front of him, Kin began to think about how Kuro and Aki were doing, but these thoughts were short-lived as Kin found himself falling face first onto the floor of the Second Year area. Glancing around to figure out what he had tripped on, Kin saw the outstretched leg of Onigami.
Kin laughed a little, while trying to hide his winces of pain, and pulled himself up against the wall into a seated position next to Onigami. Looking over at Onigami, Kin saw that his arms were limp by his sides and his head was hunched over facing the floor. Kin couldn't tell whether he was resting or if he was passed out. Kin then noticed that the two of them were sitting next to the refreshments table. Prodding Onigami in the side with his elbow in an effort to get his attention, Kin said. "Oy, Oni! Could you pass me a beer so I can have something to drink while we watch Kuro and Aki's show?"
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We're nothing like God. Not only do we have limited powers, but sometimes we're driven to become the devil himself.
Last edited by Wolfwood; 06-06-2007 at 12:24 PM..
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