Camping with your Crush (Ryu)

[Ryu Hikari]

His chin cradled in the palm of his hand and his elbow resting on top of his bent upwards knee, his eyes closed, he would hear Kazue groan a little and crack one eye open when he heard footsteps stop in front of him. Taking the bottle of water rather groggily, he would crack it open and take a sip from it, parching his throat.

Kazuki unsuccessfully stifling another yawn after Kazue yawned and take her pigtails down, her hair falling in waves, he'd just nod slightly at her, still too sleepy to say very much. Ducking back into his tent, he'd emerge a little bit after with a towel wrapped around his shoulders and his toiletry bag containing his toothbrush, toothpaste, and various other medical items inside. Nodding slightly again, he'd kind of stiffen up as she leaned up and kissed his cheek before heading off to the shower facility.

Kazuki standing there looking blank for a good two solid minutes, finally snapping out of his slightly taken aback state, he'd quickly dash to the men's bathroom facility, and wash his face and brush his teeth, returning to his tent after he was done and changed inside his tent, emerging form his tent dressed in a black tank top and a pair of black long board shorts, along with a small packet of back bacon, two eggs, and two English muffins.

Just as he got everything set up, he'd notice Kazue returning from the top of his peripheral vision, still looking a little groggy. Getting to work, he'd fry the eggs up, then cook the back bacon, and a few minutes later, had two breakfast sandwiches assembled for the two of them to eat, with a couple pieces of back bacon he had cooked arranged nicely on the side of each plate, the rest he would store back in the cooler. Grabbing a seat at the picnic table, he'd wait for Kazue to join him and sit down, before starting to eat his breakfast.

"... What should we have for our picnic lunch, nee-chan? I know you said you were going to make lunch, but we should at least figure out what ingredients to bring with us."

[kazue]

Kazue watched her brother cook and while he did, got her picnic basket out. She wouldn't pack it just yet, but did make sure it had the blanket and dishware still strapped on the inside of it. After breakfast was made, Kazue would sit down across from Kazuki and take a sip of her water.

"Well, we can pack some water and soda. Mom pre-made some stuff for me to take. Uhm..."

Kazue said as she thought before taking a bite of her breakfast sandwich. She stared at her tent for a moment thinking of what it was her mother had packed. After all, yesterday morning was almost a blur to her.

"Well I know I have grilled fruit salad. I also have mom's home made chips and salsa. Though I warn you... her salsa is pretty hot. If you don't have a pallet for it... you might burn your tongue. I also have some pasta mom made. If we warm it up over the fire it should be good to go on our picnic."

She smiled and would finish her breakfast. She would disappear into her tent and return with a cooking rack and a foil pan full of pasta. She would set up the cooking rack over the fire and then put the foil pan on top. After that she went about packing up the picnic basket. She even packed some cookies that she had made. Double chocolate chip to be exact. Soon after all that was squared away, she would get her mother's bug spray out and spray the outside of the picnic basket then spray her arms and legs.

"You should put some bug spray on before we go on our hike. Don't wanna get bit by random bugs while we are having our picnic."

She smiled over at Kazuki before she set the bug spray near him and went about putting the now hot pasta into the picnic basket. She was rather excited to be camping with him. Though... she thought quite a bit about what their younger sister had said to her. Perhaps... perhaps Kazue would tell him about it during their hike.

[Ryu Hikari]

"... I'll provide the water and soda, since you're already providing lunch. I have enough Ramune and water bottles to last us for at least a week, imouto-chan made sure of that. That sounds good, though... I think I'll pass on your mom's salsa, to save my tongue some agony... Though I am fine with and can handle spicy food, just... Not quite on your mom's level of spiciness..."

Finishing up his breakfast, while Kazue heated up the pasta for their lunch on the fire and packed up their lunch after, Kazuki would wash and dry the dishes, and store them away back in his tent, getting to work on packing up the cooler with water and soda chilled to perfection for the two of them, as well as packing a compass and other items for the hike in his small shoulder bag.

Poking his head out through the entrance flap of his tent, he'd nod and climb out of his tent, and grabbing the spray placed nearby, would spray his arms and legs and hand it back to Kazue, before ducking back into his tent again, emerging soon after with the cooler and shoulder bag, as well as a baseball cap on his head, and set them down on the picnic table, zipping his tent up.

"Ready to go, nee-chan?"

[kazue]

Kazue giggled and nodded. Her mother made food that would probably give most people heartburn for years after having it. Kazue felt rather lucky to have developed the taste for it. After everything was set and Ryu was ready, Kazue scooped up the picnic basket and nodded to her brother. She would look around a moment before seeing a little path they could take into the woods.

"This way, don't worry I'll make sure you don't touch anything poisonous."

Kazue said with a smile as she held up one end of the skirt a little as she began to move through the woods. Almost every step she took was quiet and a quite graceful. Hardly any plants rustled or sticks cracked as she stepped around almost everything. She kept her eyes open looking for plants or things she could tell Ryu about. Maybe use that little gift her mother gave her. It wouldn't be long before she spotted a plant she knew something about.

"Ne Ryu, look a Bonset plant."

She smiled being very delicate as she placed her fingers around the stem of the flowery plant and began to look it over.

"Natives used to use the plant roots as a charm on their whistles cause they believed that it would help them call deer out of hiding. It was also used for reducing fevers and other things."

Kazue would smell the flowers and wrinkle her nose a little as they tickled her nose. A smile would cross her lips and she would let go of the flowery plant's stem.

"They are late bloomers too. Late summer through early fall but they do attract pretty butterflies. Mom used to have a bunch of them at our old house."

[Ryu Hikari]

"... My heroine, I feel safe already."

A wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, his shoulder bag slung over his shoulder, picking up the cooler, Kazuki would follow after Kazue, letting her lead the way. The two of them making their way through the woods, peering over Kazue's shoulder after seeing her stop, he'd look down at the flowery plant she had picked and was currently looking over, his mouth on the edge of a wry smile seeing her crinkle her nose after smelling the flowers.

"Let's keep going, shall we? Lead the way, Super Sentai Pink Ranger."

Only reason Kazuki called Kazue the Pink Ranger was because in the very first Super Sentei series, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, there was only one girl in the team. It was aired in 1975, what were you expecting?

[kazue]

Kazue stuck her tongue out at him and lead him off into the woods. They stopped for a moment to look over the flower before continuing on. Though Kazue was trying to figure out why she had just been called the pink ranger. Her face showed it too. A confused yet thoughtful look covering her normally happy features.

"Pink Ranger? I don't know if I should be happy about that or greatly disturbed. All the Pink Ranger costumes have looked so stupid."

Her inner geek was showing and she blinked for a moment before reaching up and rubbing the back of her neck. A nervous giggle leaving her lips.

"Haha, not that I'd know. I never watched that terrible show in the first place. It was mom's favorite though. Must have heard her talking about it."

It was a terrible cover but not really a lie. Silk was a pretty big geek despite her tough girl attitude and though Kazue had never sat and watched the Super Sentai series, Silk had her watch the old Mighty Morphing Power Ranger series when she was younger. Occasionally she caught her mother watching the new series and complaining how the MMPRs was the best series. So during those times Kazue sometimes caught a glimpse of a pink ranger in some stupid uniform or another.

"We should find a nice clearing to set up our picnic."

Kazue smiled trying to obviously chance the subject from her slightly geeky comment.

[Ryu Hikari]

"... Nee-chan... Are you talking about the Super Sentai series, or the Americanized version of the series that started in Japan, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers? Because I'm pretty sure your mom wasn't in Japan when she was younger, because it wasn't just the Pink Ranger that had ridiculous looking costumes..."

Kazuki unfazed by Kazue's inner geek showing, he'd just let it go, although he had never watched the original and very first Super Sentai series, since it had come out before his time, his grandfather had, and had shown it to Kazuki when he had just started getting used to living in Japan. Suffice to say, all five Gorengers had pretty ridiculous looking costumes. Capes, seriously?

"Lead the way, the Red Ranger has your back. You have more botanical knowledge that I do, after all, if I see a good picnic spot, I'll let you know."

[kazue]

"I actually don't know if mom saw that one... anyway... you are right, all their costumes are stupid. I just think the pink rangers was always the stupidest."

She shrugged as they meandered through the forest. It wasn't dense, at least not where they walked. Kazue managed to find a path and occasionally to make sure they wouldn't get lost would find a stick and stab it into the ground like a marker. After all, most sticks weren't standing straight up out of the ground. That would make them trees.

"Red ranger huh? Well in the old series my mom used to watch, he was cute. I think I can live with that choice."

Kazue said with a smirk. Spotting some poison oak she quickly grabbed hold of Ryu and tugged him back and more towards her.

"Shoes or not, you step in that the oil from the poison oak will get all over your pants and shoes. Then get on you when you go to take them off."

She said as she walked around it and held onto Ryu's hand to lead him so he didn't accidentally step in it. It wouldn't take long to find a clearing and Kazue would look around before using her foot to clear away sticks and stones.

"I don't see any poison oak around but would rather us not touch the ground if we could help it. There we go, all clear... I'll get the blanket."

She would set the basket down and take out a blue and white checkered blanket. She'd shake it open and then lay it out on the ground before setting the basket on one corner to keep it from moving. A smile would cross her lips just before she'd sit down waiting for him to do the same before she began to empty the contents of their picnic. She glanced around seeing a few more Bonset flowers and a few butterflies that still lingered before the bitter fall temperatures settled in.

"Ne, Ryu... Is there a girl you like?"

The question escaped Kazue's lips so casually it seemed like she was just curious about how her brother was doing in school. Though perhaps with all the time the two had been spending together, Kazuki could see past that. Because try as she might to hide her feelings towards him, she was just as bad at it as her mother was in hiding her feelings for Kazuya. Silk just had more practice at lying to children which is why she was getting away with it now.

[Ryu Hikari]

"... Really...? Good to know I guess..."

Casually shrugging his shoulders as they continued through the woods, Kazue occasionally sticking a trail marker in the ground with a stick she grabbed, feeling his arm being grabbed, he'd stumble a little as he was tugged back and more towards Kazue, as he looked over at the plant she pointed out.

"... Cheerful. I think I'll make a permanent mental note of what it looks like and avoid all poison oak in the near future. I think I rather not touch the ground either, a picnic sitting on dirt isn't exactly fun. Looks good nee-chan, I'm starting to get hungry..."

Kicking away a few leftover sticks and stones in the clearing Kazue had found away with his foot, he'd take a seat down on the picnic blanket after Kazue had shaken it open and laid it down, placing the cooler down on the opposite corner the picnic basket was on, and would open the cooler and empty the contents of the cooler.

"...? Yeah, to be honest..."

Looking at Kazue when she had asked, he'd look down and carefully stare into empty space, a slight smile on his face. Kazuki wasn't fooled, he had spent enough time around Kazue that he knew it wasn't because she was curious about his school life. There was only one girl he liked, and only that one girl.

"... What would you say, if I told you I had already fallen for someone?"

Staring up at the sky, the sunshine that filtered through the tree branches shining lightly on his face, as he placed his hands behind him, keeping him up as he leaned back on the picnic blanket before he turned his head to look over at her and leaned in close to her.

"... I love you Kazue... I love you more than anyone else in this world..."

He said quietly, right by her ear, before pulling away, as he looked down at the table, before looking back up at her, his eyes absolutely serious.

"There is no one else in this world I rather be with, than you..."

[kazue]

Kazue was putting the pasta on a plate for him and paused hearing him say he fell for someone. For that moment she felt her heart sink and it certainly hurt more than she thought it would. Yet a smile would cross her lips anyway as she went back to setting up the plates.

"I think I would be happy for you Ryu-chan."

Which is true. She would do her best to be happy for him even if she didn't like the girl. It was in this thought that he would catch her off guard. He leaned in close and spoke. Kazue blinked as she held onto the plate. She was stunned to say the least. Slowly she would put the plate down and turn her gun metal grey eyes to Ryu. To be honest she wasn't sure if she heard him correctly or not. Her? He LOVED her? That was a rather strong word though she supposed she felt the same. She hadn't really looked at anyone else since coming to the school, at least not the same way she looked at Ryu. A blush covered her cheeks as she stared at him.

"I...I... uhm... I l-love you too Ryu."

She'd look down at the plate in her hand and go about finishing her hostess duties by making sure everything was plated and served. The blush on her cheeks remained and grew warmer by the second.

"... I didn't think you... well Mai-chan might have mentioned it but... I..."

It was clear she was a little flabbergasted by his words. She had been working so hard to try and not get those types of feelings for him but his words had completely blown all that hard work out of the water so easily. Now she saw no point in trying to hide it any longer.

[Ryu Hikari]

"... Really? That means a lot to me, nee-chan..."

Continuing to look up at the sky, he then turned and smiled gently back at her, despite inside, her heart had sunk, as he leaned in close to her, and confessed his love for her, before pulling away, as he saw her slowly put the plate of pasta in her hand down and turn her eyes to him. He wouldn't force his feelings onto her, even if they were unrequited, and honestly, he was expecting his feelings to be only one-sided.

Kazue was the only girl he ever liked. Just thinking about losing her, tore his heart in two. He leaned in closer to her, a blush covering her cheeks as she turned to look at him, her eyes staring into his own eyes that were completely serious what he wasn't expecting was to hear her say those three words. Okay, it was more than three, but you get the idea.

"I knew it! I knew my feelings were just..."

Kazuki stopped in mid-sentence abruptly as soon as her words managed to register in his mind. She liked him back? She reciprocated his feelings? His feelings weren't just one-sided? Kazuki just stared completely and utterly taken aback at her as she continued, she liked him, she actually liked him.

"... Kaori did mention it, and I know we're adoptive older sister and younger brother... But... If you ended up with another guy just because of that... I wouldn't be able to bear it. Or... would you prefer another man?"

His expression softening, no longer completely shocked, if one looked close enough, they could see a hint of tenderness within, as he looked at Kazue, his gaze never wavering.

"I love you. So I... want you, Kazue."

He then leaned in close to Kazue, leaning on his right hand, as he lifted his left hand and held it against the side of her neck, staring into her eyes, his face close enough to kiss her.

"Do you... not want me, Kazue? Do you not want to be with me?"

[kazue]

Well the camping trip had taken an unexpected turn for her. Kazue honestly hadn't imagined it ever coming to this but it had and here she sat, inches from Ryu on a picnic blanket and he had professed his love for her. She felt the same way so she couldn't say she wasn't happy to hear him admit to his feelings. Still it didn't stop her from feeling shocked at the whole situation.

"Someone else? Ryu... There isn't anyone else."

She looked down for a moment only to return her gaze to meet his. It was a bit startling how intense this moment felt for her. How he suddenly looked at her so tenderly. No one had looked at her like that. At least not that she remembers. He moved closer to her, she felt his left hand gently touch her neck and cheek. Surprising her self, she leaned into his hand. Her eyes only closing for a moment to savor the tenderness of his touch. This had all escalated so quickly and she wasn't sure if this was actually Ryu talking or if she was having one of her day dreams. Her gun metal grey eyes opened to look into his and she would smile, that ever sweet smile.

"Of course I want to be with you Ryu. I ... I just..."

She just didn't know what to say. This had all caught her off guard but her mom always told her to listen to her heart and as cliche as it sounds, Kazue trusted her mom to be right. There was only a moment of hesitation after the words had left her lips, but Kazue would press her lips to Ryu's and close her eyes. Her soft pink lips pressed ever so lightly to his own. She was scared, after all this was her first kiss, but the butterflies in her stomach were soon drowned out by the flutter of her heart at being able to kiss him. If this was a joke, oh what a cruel joke it was.

[Ryu Hikari]

"... There... isn't anyone else...?"

Feeling Kazue lean into his hand after looking down only to return her gaze to meet his, keeping his hand against her neck, his touch warm and gentle, seeing her eyes close for a moment, he loved Kazue more than anyone else, having thought of her being with someone else had broken his heart into pieces. Seeing her open her eyes again, her gun metal gray eyes meeting with his dark brown eyes, he would smile softly back at her.

"Kazue..."

Continuing to smile softly at her, despite the moment of hesitation, he no longer had to worry that his feelings were one-sided, Kazue liked him back. He could die happily right now, but he wouldn't. Because then Kazue wouldn't be happy if that happened. Suddenly feeling her lips press lightly to his, seeing her eyes close, Kazuki blushed furiously, but would kiss her back.

For a moment, this one single moment, it seemed to last forever, like time had stood still, the sunlight filtering through the tree branches providing the perfect backdrop. After several long moments, or it might have been half an hour, or possibly several sunlit days, he pulled himself away from Kazue, as he rested his forehead against hers, slowly smiling at her, his hands resting by hers.

"I love you Kazue..."

[kazue]

Kazue was actually surprised when Ryu kissed back. Granted the boy had proclaimed his love for her but for some reason, Kazue didn't really think he'd kiss her back. The moment seemed perfect. The quiet of the forest around them, the daylight dancing through the canopy of the trees almost looking like it was done specifically for them. Even as the kiss stopped, Kazue could still feel her heart fluttering wildly in her chest. She stared at Ryu with a soft smile, the blush on her cheeks not seeming to fade.

"I love you too Ryu."

She said softly. Though the world around them continued to move and spin. Kazue felt like everything had stopped. At least for them to have their little moment. She had almost forgotten why they had actually come into the woods in the first place. She would shake her head a little, as if snapping her self from her daze.

"We don't want everything to become cold Ryu."

Kazue said softly as she nudged the plate towards him. Though to be honest, she wasn't sure she could eat. The butterflies still flitted around her stomach and seeing how he looked at her, well... It wasn't something she was used to.

[Ryu Hikari]

Pulling away after Kazue had leaned in and gently kissed him on the lips, his forehead resting against hers, as he saw the soft smile on her face, a smile slowly appeared on his face. When Kazuki had first met Kazue, he had gone through a lot of hardship. So much, that not even he understood how hard it was. Ever since he lived with his adopted father and little sister, he changed for the better little by little.

But a part of his heart was still frozen solid. What Kazuki needed, was something warm to melt the frozen sections of his heart... something like a smile as warm as sunshine in spring. And that's where Kazue came in. The first time he met and talked to her, she smiled at him. The smile she gave him, was warm, and he had thought she was beautiful, and slowly, he developed a crush on her, and now, he loved her.

"...? Oh right, your mom's pasta..."

Taking the plate she had nudged towards him, he'd raise the plastic fork up like he was toasting her, before at least trying to eat it, despite the butterflies that were still fluttering around in his stomach. He never had a girl like him back before, actually, he never had a girl like him before, period. Looking up at the sky above, he'd have a content smile on his face, as he ate a bit of the pasta.

"I've had a crush on you from the day we first met... The first time you smiled at me, I began to fall for you..."