Favourite Mistake

This is shorter than most chapters and takes on a bit more serious tone.

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Part Ten

Katsu had told me about this trip a few months ago. After reading the brochures and listening to him explain things to me about it…I could hardly contain my excitement. This is going to be amazing! The cruise line we’re on will go to different places around Europe, staying a few days at each place. This will last for an entire month. He made sure to take off work and I made sure nothing important was coming up in school. Even if there were something, I could easily catch up later or work around it. There is no way I’m passing this up!

I flop down on the bed in our room and smile brightly up at the ceiling. This was very expensive and I really want to help pay for some of it but Katsu insisted. So I guess I’ll pay him back in other ways. Right now, he’s putting his stuff away. I’ll do mine later. I want to relax a little first.

This really should be his birthday present. It was only a couple of days ago, after all.

“So, what do you have planned for us?” I sit up and watch him finish his work.

“You will have to wait and see.” He turns to me and slowly walks my way.

My cheeks heat up instantly. “Will I like it?”

“Of course.” His smirk and the look in his eyes tell me all too easily without him having to voice the words.

“I-I was wondering…”

“Yes?” He sits down next to me.

“…um…why did you choose this cruise line specifically?”

“It was the only one with a certain activity.”

“And what would that be?” I shift away from him slightly.

“A painting class.” My eyes widen.

“You told me once that you wanted to be a painter. I have seen you paint a few times since you moved in. The expression on your face…” I silence him with a finger to his lips.

“Thank you.” I smile and press my lips against his right cheek.

***

It’s only the first night on this cruise and I can’t sleep at all. There have been a lot of things on my mind lately. Ever since Christmas, I’ve tried so hard to keep that lid tightly sealed and block everything from my mind. But it’s not so easy to ignore anymore. It probably started when Katsu and I became more serious. I was so nervous those first few times he touched me. And when he silenced me when I was drunk…it really helped things. But I don’t think I’m being fair to him. He’s so kind and I know he loves me. But it’s still so hard.

I let out a slow sigh as I lean against the rail of the boat. I stare up at the stars in the cloudless sky.

I don’t want to remember. I don’t want to be haunted by these things. I want to be completely open with him but I just can’t. I haven’t told anyone about what happened to me. Katsu has guesses and he fought for me that day I went to the club. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to tell him.

“I wish I could forget.”

“You shouldn’t wish that.” I turn around quickly and stare wide eyed at him.

“What are you doing here?”

“You shouldn’t want to forget.”

“Why not?” I turn back around.

“I do not think it is right to forget something or run away.” He wraps his arms around my waist.

“But what if it just eats away at you every single second of every single day?”

“There is a reason for everything in this life. If even one thing in your past had changed, the present and future would be different.”

“So what?”

“You have no regrets?”

“My life would have been better off.”

“Even if you never met me?” I turn in his arms and stare up at him.

“If it didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have me you…you wouldn’t be my bodyguard.” I rest my forehead against his chest and hold on loosely to his arms.

“Even bad memories can be precious. Even if the memory itself is not worth remembering, there are positive things that can come out of it. I am fully aware that you may never tell me what had happened and even though I can only try to imagine how you must feel and what you are going through, I want you to know that I am here now. I will be with you for as long as I am able to. I do not plan on ever leaving your side.”

“Katsu…” I tighten my grip on his arms and hold back the tears that I know are coming.

“I love you, Kei.”

I pull away from him slightly and smile. He bends down and connects our lips for a brief kiss.

***

Unlike most of the people in this class, I’m like a professional. The instructor is really impressed by me and a little uneasy about Katsu. He isn’t taking the class. He’s just sitting next to me, watching. I would usually get uneasy but I’m not for some reason.

“Why didn’t you take the class?”

“I am not an artist.”

“No one is in here.”

“Except you.”

“Well…yeah…but…still…” I mix a couple of colours on my pad before placing it on the canvas.

“You are very good at it.”

“I know.”

“Your style has changed.”

“What?” I stop moving the brush and glance over at him.

“You used to use a limited amount of colours and they were more on the dull side.” I look back to my canvas.

“You’re right. When did I start to change…I wonder.”

“Alright everyone, class is over for the day.” It doesn’t take long for everyone to clean up and leave the room.

Katsu and I head back to our room. After a few seconds, I feel his hand touch mine and entwine our fingers together. Blood rushes to my cheeks instantly and I squeeze his hand slightly out of nervousness. He pulls our entwined hands to his lips and kisses the back of mine. Our eyes meet briefly and the nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach vanishes completely. I smile up at him in return before pulling him along the hallways.

“Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, right?”

“Yes it is.”

“Then, I’m going to let you unwrap your present early.”

“You bought me something?” He does that deep chuckle thing. The blood rushes back to my cheeks.

“N-not really.”

We reach our room but before I can open the door, he turns me around and presses me up against it. He bends down so his lips touch my ear faintly.

“This, however, does not mean that you get to open your present early.”

“Th-that’s o-okay.” I stutter my response.

He opens the door suddenly and we tumble in. He catches me around the waist and pulls me against his chest as he locks the door behind me.

“You are way too skilled at this.” He chuckles.

“At what?”

“Me.” I lean up and press my lips to his but pull back too quickly. “You have to unwrap the present first.” I pull him towards the bed, trusting him to lead me in the right direction.

When the edge hits the backs of my legs gently, he begins to run his hands up under my shirt. The feel of his fingers sends fire coursing through my veins. I love it. We both rid me of all my clothing before we fall to the bed. His lips are instantly on my neck. He sucks on my Adam’s apple a few times and I moan loudly to the room, running my hands through his hair. His lips venture lower, down my chest, past my stomach, and finally to what needs the attention most. His mouth envelops the head and I arch my hips up at the sensation.

“K-Katsu…” He takes me in completely.

I bury my hands in his hair and clench my eyes tightly shut. His lips and tongue and teeth float over me and I can’t help but to start squirming.

“How can you be so damned skilled at this?!” I cover my mouth with my hand after saying those words and arch my hips again.

This time, he holds me down. His fingers make light patterns across the skin of my stomach. He removes me from his mouth a second later and kisses the spot just above my bellybutton. He crawls up my body and joins our lips. I taste myself in his mouth. Our tongues melt and mesh together in blissful ignorance. I feel one of his hands slide over my thigh and pull my leg up.

I break the kiss suddenly.

“You’re not ready, are you?”

“I’m sorry.” I turn my head to the side.

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.”

“Well…it kind of is.”

“I am sure that when you are ready, the sex will have been worth the wait.” Blood rushes to my cheeks and his lips press gently to my temple.

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Hmm...will our little Kei-chan ever get over what happened in the past? Will you readers ever find out!? O_O