I'm sorry I took so long to post again! That's what I get for having a Mac computer... I can't upload at home and at school I almost never have time. I'm finally taking a computer class though, so now I will have time. I should have steady updates every other day through chapter 10... I need to get writing and finish 11. My muse refuses to let me write lately T.T

Disclaimer: The usual, I don't own Loveless. Tori, Aya, and any other characters that aren't from Loveless are, however, mine.

Chapter 6

I raced into the bedroom to see Ritsuka holding his head. All I could do was comfort him, so I put my arms around him until he stopped shaking.

"All right, that's way too much drama for one person to handle! I'm going to bed," Kio complained. He glanced at Aya, but when she turned he looked away. He left the room and we all stared at Aya.

"What?! Why're you all looking at me?" Aya asked, confused.

"Go follow him," I sighed. "We can all see that you want to." Aya blushed, but walked out and followed Kio to his room. I smiled at Soubi knowingly.

"Well. It seems my big sister might finally lose her ears!" Soubi remarked. Ritsuka laughed. I looked at him in surprise. I couldn't remember ever hearing him laugh like that.

"I heard that!" Aya shouted back at us. We shut up immediately, but as soon as we looked at each other we burst out laughing again.

"Ne, Ritsuka-kun. I heard they're showing a great movie tonight. Wanna go watch it, get our minds off of things?" I asked. Ritsuka frowned, then got it.

"Yeah sure. Soubi, you should come too. You know, as a chaperone?" Ritsuka replied slyly. Soubi's face lit up.

"You're just trying to give Aya and Kio some..." he began.

"Shhhh!" Ritsuka and I said in unison. Soubi went and got our jackets, we left a note and left silently.

Aya's POV

I knocked on Kio's door cautiously. I swallowed, not believing how nervous I was.

"Eto, ano...Kio-san? may I come in?" I asked. He didn't answer, so I opened the door and peeked in.

He was standing by the window, silloueted by the setting sun. I watched as he took his shirt off, then stared out the window for a few minutes before turning. I gasped and he saw me.

"Oi! What are you doing in here, Aya-kun? Why didn't you say anything?" he asked.

"Go-gomen nasaii, Kio-san. I knocked and called to you, but you didn't hear me," I apologised. In one swift movement, he crossed the room to my side. I gasped as his arms closed around me.

"Ki-Kio-san?" I asked. "What are you..." He put a finger over my lips to hush me.

"You've been a bad girl, sneaking into my room," he said teasingly. He removed his finger and I started to speak, only to be cut off again when his lips replaced his finger. For a moment I froze, but then I realized what was happening and warmed to his touch.

Kio's POV

When I kissed her, I felt her tense and wondered if maybe I'd read her wrong. Then I felt her relax and relief came over me. I didn't want to do anything she didn't want.

Aya's POV

I put my arms around him and was reminded that he wasn't wearing a shirt. My touch sent shivers down his spine. His mouth left mine and moved to my ear, nipping at my earlobe. I tipped my head back, granting him access to my neck. He moved down, trailing kisses down it. Everywhere he touched felt like it was on fire. I turned my head and noticed my shirt on the floor.

When had it gotten there? I wondered. Kyo's next target spot made me forget all about it.

"Oh! K-Kio! What..." I gasped. He looked up at me, smiling wickedly. The tip of his tongue flicked out and over the nub of my breast repeatedly, sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. Then he began to suckle on it. I threw my head back and fought against a scream. My nelected breast began to ache. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, he switched to give it equal attention.

"Are you enjoying this?" he asked. I glared at him like No. I'’m letting you continue because I hate it. He laughed.

"Okay, okay. I get it." He moved to return to his ministrations, but I stopped him.

"Kio, don't. Someone might hear," I warned. I walked out the door, clutching my shirt to my front.

"Soubi? Ritsuka? Tori? Are you here?" I asked. A white piece of paper caught my notice. I picked it up and read the note written on it.

"Dear Aya-chan and Kio-kun, we've gone to see a movie. You and Kio have the house to yourselves until around midnight. See you, Tori, Ritsuka, and Soubi."

"They knew!" I exclaimed "They purposely left me and Kio alone!" I groaned "Was it really that obvious?"

I walked back to the bedroom and closed the door. "They left us!" I exclaimed. "They went to see a movie and 'give us some privacy!'" Kio laughed.

"That Soubi. He always was good at that," he said. "So. Shall we pick up where we left off?" I blushed.

"I...guess. I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous," I said. He smiled.

"Don't worry. I won't make you do anything you don't want to," he assured me.

"I want to. I...love you, Kio-san," I said. "Somehow, it feels like I've met you before. I don't know..."

Kio's POV

"Do you remember? Please, tell me you do. It was only two months, and it was so long ago, but it meant so much to me. I was truly happy for the first time in my life," I said. For a minute, recognition appeared in her eyes, but then she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember. I'’m trying, really I am," she replied.

"I do. I remember everything. You were 14 and I was 15. (A/N: I changed the ages a bit, Kio's now 24 while in the anime he's only 20) You were ill and had come to stay with your aunt while you waited for a cure to be found. I was staying at my parents' summer house."

xXx-Flashback-xXx

"Oh my god I'm so bored! All of my friends are on vacation, and I'm stuck here." I groaned and flopped back, laying on the ground and looking at the sky. "There's no one to talk to out here." I closed my eyes, hoping to get a little rest.

"Itai!" I sat up in surprise. Or rather...tried to sit up, but found something was stopping me.

"Ah, g-gomen! I didn't see you there!" the cause of my discomfort said. A girl about my age propped herself up on her elbows and tried to get up.

"Sh-shinpai desu. I'll be all right." I replied. "Just...who are you?"

"Oh! That's right. My name is Aya. Agatsuma Aya. Who are you?" she answered.

"My name is Kio. Kaidou Kio. Hajimemashite." I replied. I looked at her curiously. "Do you live around here?" I smacked myself mentally. Ofcourse she does, baka!

"For the time being, I'm staying with my aunt. I'’m waiting for a cure," she said. Suddenly she got really quiet.

"What's the matter?" I asked. She shook her head.

"Betsuni. I shouldn't have said anything," she replied. "You wouldn't want to hear about it anyway."

"I would like to, actually. I have plenty of time," I said. She sat down next to me and leaned back against a tree, staring at the blue sky.

"When I was young, I was diagnosed with a disease that no one had ever seen before, so naturally there was no cure. It's slowly killing me from the inside out. Without the cure I may not live the whole year. I came to live with my aunt while my family searches for a cure. Because of this, every time I meet someone I end up telling them about this because I feel it wouldn't be right to keep it from them. As a result, I don't have many friends." She paused. I could see the pain in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said. She put on a false smile and laughed like it was nothing.

"So that's about it. I'm here for another two months, if I live that long," she finished. I looked at her carefully and saw the hurt that was still so strong in her eyes. “Please don’t feel sorry for me.”

“Well, unlike those other people, I’d like to be your friend, if you’ll let me,” I said. Her face lit up and I realized she was quite pretty.

I’d... I’d like that,” she answered. “Well, I should get back to my house.”

“Heh... I think I’d better do the same before my parents have a cow...” For the first time, I heard her real laughter.

“Well, shall we meet here again tomorrow?” she asked. I nodded.

“Sure. How about around one? I should be able to escape again,” I said. Waving goodbye, we partedto return home.

-Six Weeks Later-

Aya ran towards me beaming. In her excitement, she nearly mowed me down.

“Kio-kun! Kio-kun! Guess what!” she exclaimed. I caught her in a tight hug, swinging her around and setting her down. Her illness made her unnaturally light. It hadn’t been very long since we confessed to each other and began dating. My parents didn’t like it. They didn’t want me losing her and being badly hurt. My mother voiced her oppposition at every chance she got. At least my father was quieter about it.

“What is it, my kitten?” I asked. Still beaming, (I swear her face was going to get stuck like that one of these days) she took a deep breath. “You know, we don’t act our age.” She glared at me.

“Don’t interrupt! And acting mature is no fun,” she shot back. I held up my hands in defeat.

“I get it, I get it!” I laughed. “What were you saying?” She brightened up.

“They think they might have found a cure! I’m gonna get better!” she exclaimed. I fell back in surprise.

“That’s wonderful! We should celebrate with some sort of party!” I exclaimed in response. Finally regaining the ability to stand, I took her in my arms. “I promise we will always be together. Even if we are separated in body, my heart will always be with you.” Unbeknownst to us, a figure watched this exchange from the shadows.

-Two Weeks Later-

“What did you want to tell me, mother? Father?” I asked. They glanced at each other so fleetingly that I wasn’t sure if I imagined it.

“It’s about Aya. I’m afraid they didn’t find the cure in time. I’m so sorry, Kio. She’s dead.” I dropped like a ton of bricks. I couldn’t believe it. My Aya, my precious Aya always so full of life was gone?

“I’m going home. Don’t even think about stopping me,” I said. I packed and went for one last time to our spot by the lake. Aya, I thought. I will never forget you. As long as I live, there will never be another.