3 Ch 3 - Kissing is not a hobby, it’s a practice

[Take 1: "The Kissing Scene"]

Saiki runs up to the bus stop Xei Mei is under with an umbrella, raindrops falling down in 'plik's against the clear fabric. Panting, he grabs her hand.

"What are you doing out here? It's pouring!"

Xei Mei looks up at Saiki with a conflicted expression, then looks down. Her hair fell down with that action, blocking out her expressions. Sensing something wrong, he lets go of her hand and carefully moves her hair slightly.

"What's wrong," Saiki asks, voice underlying concern. "You can tell me."

After several long seconds, Xei Mei looks up again, looking into those concerned blue eyes and soft smile of the man in front of her. Her lips press together, her eyes filled with tears.

"You can tell me anything, Mei." Saiki gently grabs her chin and lifts it towards him, all the while softly smiling at her with only love in his eyes.

"I..." Xei Mei starts, trying to form her emotions into words. "I think... my feelings tell me I like you, but... I'm not sure. Because, I've never felt this way before... *sobs* What do I do?"

Her broken voice traveled to Saiki's ears with much distress. He didn't want her like this crying. He wanted her smiling like she did everyday in the morning light, beautiful and enchanting.

"I'm, I'm sorry you had to feel this way, Mei. This must be my fault isn't it..." Saiki looks down, eyes casted with pain and sadness. "It's because I pushed you too much when I told you I liked you, huh? And now you're crying and it's all my fault for those conflicting emotions. I-, I won't bother you anymore... You can find a proper man who you can love better and not make you like this."

Hearing this, Xei Mei was surprised.

"N-no! I don't want you to go and leave me!" she stopped crying now and was looking at him with defiance in her eyes.

"...huh?" Saiki was very happy to hear that, but also became very confused. "I thought I caused you pain and internal conflict, so I didn't want you to feel that way anymore."

"I am feeling pain and conflict inside me right now, but you leaving would cause me more pain. I don't want you to leave... please don't ever leave me."

Saiki's breath caught. He was ecstatic on the inside, but his love and care for her conquered his desire to holler out his love to the world.

"Then," he asked softly, "does that mean you like me?"

Now it was Mei's turn to be confused. "Is, is this feeling a 'like' feeling?"

Her eyes were still red, but she stopped crying. Her eyes now looked up at him with a questioning expression. Even in this rain pouring down on us as she cried, Saiki thought, she still looked so beautiful.

"Yes, it is a like feeling you're feeling Mei," he answered. "It is definitely a like feeling."

Saiki smiled softly, lips curved upward with the emotion of his love for Xei Mei. Slowly, he crept in closer to her, his hand brushing against her face affectionately. Xei Mei's breath caught.

Both pairs of eyes stared at each other, one a pale, crystal blue, one a warm, honey brown. As Saiki drew nearer, she also unconsciously moved closer, both glancing at each other's lips as they parted them. What came next, everybody watching them knew.

(the audience breaths in...)

The gap was finally closed, two pairs of lips coalesced together, one soft and supple and the other firm and loving. Eyes flickered as bodies leaned closer together. Sailing pulled her closer to him, arms enclosing around her waist. She let out a noise that was drowned out by the rain, reaching out for more as she stretched her feet as high as she could. Two voices panted as both hungered for each other's taste. The umbrella lay forgotten on the wet ground.

After what seems like an eternity as the rain splashed around them, the two slowly broke apart, foreheads touching each other as their breaths calmed down. Their hearts that were racing slowed down. Mei and Saki looked into each other's eyes, both softly smiling all the while. They were blushing, with one face more red than the other.

"So...," Saiki broke the silence, saying, "Does that mean you like me?"

She stared at him, wondering if responding to his kissing didn't tell him enough that she liked him.

"Um, because," he continued. "I, I just want to confirm that you actually like me and that it's not just me cuz that'd make me really sad so I just wanted to make sure... that you like me..."

Saiki ran off with his dialogue, stammering at his words.

Mei stared at him some more, taking in his flustered appearance. She laughed at his struggling, the noise cheerful and light. He looked at her in expectancy for her answer.

Mei Xei took a deep breath, building up her courage, and replied, " Yes, Saiki, I like you. I like you very much."

Saiki's smile grew even wider, as he led her out from under the bus stop and into the rain. She followed him, laughing as her dress got drenched. They swung around in circles and danced like the world wasn't watching, because all they saw was the person in front of them. Their feelings were sorted out and reciprocated, leaving them ecstatic and resplendent.

When they grew tired, they walked back home with their hands intertwined and bodies close together, smiling all the way home.

And the umbrella lay forgotten on the wet ground. Oops.