Steamy Night

                                    

                                          
I counted the stars
One by one
Your eyes traced my body
Line by line
Cherry's pov:
After exchanging sweet words of comfort, we stayed in each other's embrace for a while. Silence filed the room. My skin craved his warmth. His breath caressing my back. I shoved my face in his neck, craving for his smell. Why was I so attached to him? How could he have such effect on me? I played with his fingers, caressing every corner. I lived for his touch. 
"Baby..."
"Hmmm" I hummed in response.
"Do you want to go the hot spring. The kids are gone to bed by now and Shadow is with them. It's just gonna be us two" he said while playing with my hair.
"I'm too tired to walk there..." Experiencing the fear of losing Kojiro absorbed my energy, leaving me helpless and weak. 
"Oh, no problem then!" He took me in his arm, carrying me, bridal style. "I will just have to carry you there, princess"
"KO! LET ME DOWN!" I yelled, trying to escape his grip. But he was stronger and taller. So eventually, I gave in and grabbed his neck, hoping I don't fall. 
I feared height. However, the only time I didn't fear it was during skateboarding. I could jump as high as the mountains and be infinitely fearless. I tried explaining it so many times but there was no explanation to my condition. Skateboarding was like magic: I could go from Kaoru to Cherry in a split second. Sometimes I wished I could have the confidence that Cherry had but then I remember that Cherry was in me... I just had to know how to balance both personalities. 
"Ko... baby please let me down... I..." 
"Baby do you trust me?" He asked, interrupting me.
"Yes..." I whispered, shoving my face back to his neck.
"Then let me take care of you please. Your eyes are red from crying and your body is shaking from tiredness" He stated the obvious which made me blush from embarrassment. 
"It's not!" I said. He giggled.  
The walk to the hot spring was quick. The garden of the hotel was beautiful, covered in different flowers of different shape and colors. Pure beauty. I could feel the steam of the water tickling my skin. It was asking me to get in. Without hesitation Ko got in the water still carrying me.
"KO! Let me dow- MY CLOTHES!" My words were all the over the place. I didn't make sense. 
"Baby... hey... It's okay..." he tried calming me down while I was trying to push him away. 
"OKAY?! Look at my kimono! It's brand new!" I yelled back, frustrated. 
"I don't want to let go..." He whispered which made me silent. 
"Ko...? You, okay?" I asked, trying to pull out a little so I could see his face. But he wouldn't let me, pushing me back onto his neck. "Ko, I want to see your face..." No answer. "Baby... please..." I said one last time while playing with his soft hair. 
"Can we stay like this for a little longer?" He asked, his voice cracking. He was crying but I couldn't understand why.
"We can but let me see your face... please" I insisted. But the only response I got was silence. I started to get frustrated. I wanted to look at his face and wipe his tears. Kiss him. I gathered all the strength I had left in me and pushed my way out of his grasp and here it was. A crying Kojiro. It was obvious that he was trying to cry silently, but his face was clear as snow. He was hurting. "Baby... hey hey... why are you crying?" I asked, grabbing his face in my hands.