Well, since I've written myself into the proverbial rock and a hard place
in "Hidden Fires", and since I have nothing better to do right now (I'm
"babysitting" my roomie's fishies and virtual pet while she goes to
Nashville
for the weekend), I figured I'd do... well, something. I had had this
running through my mind for the last few days anyway, so I figured I'd try
it out... As usual, all comments, criticism, etc. are welcome and asked
for.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight...?


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


The cool breeze from the ocean gently caressed the young couple sitting
together on top of the remains of an apartment building. The slight taste
of salt and the fresh scent of greenery filled the air around them; the
sparkle of the stars seemed to highlight the night sky over Tokyo.
Fujimiya Momiji stretched out her legs and yawned, sleep quickly
encroaching upon her consciousness. "It's so beautiful...," she murmured,
snuggling in closer to the young man next to her for warmth. "It's like
this whole nightmare is a million years away...."


"Hmmm...." Kusanagi Mamoru sighed heavily and tightened his grip around
her shoulders. The coming day's events weighed heavily upon his mind, and
with those thoughts came forebodings of doom. If the TAC's hasty plan to
use the Kushinada Pulse against the Aragami didn't work.... and if Kaede
refused to resonate with her sister.... then the only option left would be
for Momiji to offer herself up as a human sacrifice. That thought, of
Momiji thrusting the knife in her breast in the act of seppuku, chilled
him to the bone. Momiji's love for him had finally set his shattered soul
to peace; could his heart survive her death? *If she dies, then I... I
don't know what I'd do....*


"Are you all right, Kusanagi? You look worried...."


Her hand gently covered his; he started, then looked down at her with a
faint smile. "Hai, I'm fine, Momiji-chan," he lied.


"Everything will turn out all right...." the young princess whispered,
resting her head against his chest. "It will all... be.... fine...., my
love...." Her eyelids fluttered closed; soon her breathing evened out in
sleep.


As she curled up tight against him, his mind involuntarily roamed back to
that afternoon in Sakura's apartment, not long after the discovery of the
true Kushinada Pulse. No particular scene came to his mind; instead, he
vaguely remembered standing by the window and watching discontentedly as
Matsudaira poked and prodded on Momiji. There had been a song playing in
the background; a gaijin song that had somehow called to him when most
things were unable to penetrate the shell he kept up around himself....
The words suddenly came to him unbidden, and he found himself softly
humming the words to it despite himself.


There's a calm surrender

To the rush of day

When the heat of the rolling world

Can be turned away

An enchanted moment

And it sees me through

It's enough for this restless warrior

Just to be with you


Momiji shivered in his arms; Kusanagi eased off his trenchcoat and draped
it around her shoulders. He never dreamed he would be sitting here, with
the young woman he loved in his arms, but it seemed so natural for them to
be together that it brought a flicker of hope to his soul.


And can you feel the love tonight

It is where we are

It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer

That we got this far

And can you feel the love tonight

How it's laid to rest

It's enough to make kings and vagabonds

Believe the very best


There's a time for everyone

If they only learn

That the twisting kaleidoscope

Moves us all in turn

There's a rhyme and reason

To the wild outdoors

When the heart of this star-crossed voyager

Beats in time with yours


He gently reached out and took her hands in his, feeling the pulse of her
heartbeat against his fingers. The simple gesture reassured him of her
life everflowing; he ever so hesitantly leaned down and kissed the top of
her head. "I believe in you, Momiji-chan," he whispered, gathering her up
against him. "Momiji-hime, my love...."


And can you feel the love tonight

It is where we are

It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer

That we got this far

And can you feel the love tonight

How it's laid to rest

It's enough to make kings and vagabonds

Believe the very best


It's enough to make kings and vagabonds

Believe the very best.....



Jess, the LilTigre =^_^=