Snippet #2326098

"Naze nara... Aishiteru."

Kanna stared up at her partner, wide-eyed, as she got the answer to all of her questions, delivered in three simple words. Why had Asher saved her? Why had he protected her? Why had he stayed with her for so long? What had he seen in her? And most importantly, exactly what was she to him?

She had lapsed into silence after she had spoken, gazing shamefacedly down at the pillows beneath her in an attempt to calm herself. Why had she said so much, anyway? It wasn't like Asher needed or wanted to know all of that. And yet, he still hadn't said anything. His expression, even, showed no hints as to what he might be thinking. For a moment, she was afraid that she'd only made things more awkward for him, that by saying so much, she'd made him decide not to answer.

And then, he spoke, and, with a quiet gasp, Kanna's eyes shot up to the face of her companion, her face wearing a mask of disbelief. Three words, more simple than perhaps any others she would ever hear, and yet more profound than anything else Asher might have said. That simple sentence, that one reason, was the answer Kanna had most desperately needed, the truth she hadn't dared to hope for, and the one thing she had wanted to hear more than anything else.

"I love you."

As Asher drew closer, repeating his declaration once quietly, then again, more strongly this time, Kanna's expression slowly changed. Bit by bit, the regret filling her face, every last ounce of sadness showing in her purple eyes... these things all burned away, replaced by the overwhelming like of hope turned to reality, of a dream that had come true. The faint red blush of embarrassment that lingered on her face was entirely forgotten, and, in place of the frown she had worn... Kanna Suzaku smiled with absolute joy, every last one of her features lighting up with the overflowing happiness she felt. She began to cry once again, but this time, there could be no mistaking her tears for those of sadness. Rather, Kanna was crying because she could no longer contain how happy she was. She leaped up from where she sat, not even bothering to disentangle herself from the blankets around her as she hastily jumped to her feet, and then, spreading her arms wide, she tightly embraced her companion, burying her face in his chest as she laughed and cried all at once, clinging onto Asher as though she feared that at any second he might be caught and tugged away from her. But no such thing would occur. Never again, Kanna resolved, would she be disconnected from the one she loved, the one who loved her. No longer would she be afraid of his rejection, his disapproval, or his disliking her. Because... he'd just told her, hadn't he? There was nothing to worry about. There was no reason to be afraid. For even if she was not perfect... there was one person in the world who loved her, who would think of her, and who would always be by her side. That had always been her dream, from the moment she'd first fallen in love with her partner. And now, it was a reality of both her present and her future self. With the overwhelming joy that now filled her, she broke down all of the walls she had spent her entire life building, and, for the first time... she let someone else into her lonely heart.

"T-t-thank you...!" She cried abruptly, struggling to make herself heard over her uncontrollable sobbing and through the muffling of Asher's coat. "I've... I've wanted... I've been waiting... f-for you t-to say that to me for so long..." Her words were broken by her crying, and yet, each time she stopped, she would immediately pick up again, forcing her words out with redoubled strength as she hugged Asher ever tighter, unable to keep from laughing for joy even as she broke down completely in his arms. Had the virtual reality had a mechanic for such a thing, her tears would have soaked into his shirt. As it was, they merely vanished into nothingness even as they fell, just as the sorrow inside her finally faded away at the sound of the longed-for words. And so, pushed forth on a current of happiness flowing forth from her very heart... Kanna finally found the strength to speak the feelings she'd been too scared to say for such a long time.

"T-the truth is... I l-love you too, Asher... No... I've loved you now... ever s-since you gave me a reason to live!" She confessed, looking up at him - the real him - with a tearful yet happy smile. She couldn't help herself. This moment... it had to be the happiest she'd ever felt in her entire life. Because for the very first time, she knew two things.

Kanna Suzaku was loved, and she was not alone.