A battle

"Because, I saw her cry every day about a family that was lost to the world. If I revealed I was alive, then she would hope for the others. My mother and father were alive too. I was the only one counted as missing in that accident, that must mean the others either died or they survived. But if they survived they still haven't been found."

Sumire didn't know what got into herself but she leaned forward and kissed his cheek softly.

Toh turned his head however so their lips were inches away. "So, is this how you comfort people?"

If she wasn't embarrassed before, she was embarrassed now.

"I-" Her words were stuck in her throat. She couldn't speak.

Their faces were so close, and their lips would touch if she made a single move. Toh just said he wouldn't kiss her without permission. But just now she made the first move.

""So, I think I deserve more than a kiss on the cheek."

"Y-your doing this on purpose." Sumire mumbled.

"That might be the case. I know how to manipulate someones emotions so they can pity me."

Despite those words however, Sumire knew that he was lying. If he wanted to emotionally manipulate her he would have done so long time ago.

"But make no mistake, even when if I do this. I will still give you a choice Is it me?"

Her lips land on his, answering his question. Sumire didn't know what got into herself, but she made the first move. The minute her lips fell on his, it didn't take long before Toh took control. His tongue swept against hers. It felt like a battle, a battle that she would easily lose.

A battle she didn't mind losing.

"So my lady," Toj mumbled. "This is what a kiss with your beloved means. Do you understand the difference now?"

Sumire shakes her head. "I-I don't-" She replied embarrassed as she quickly stands up. "I will get those drinks, you stay here."

She didn't wait for him to reply and rushed off. After walking for a few minutes she eventually finds a fending machine. Sumire placed some coins inside and picked out two drinks. She still felt incredibly flustered after the kiss she just shared with Toh moments ago.

That kiss, seemed different than the ones he gave her previously. Despite the 'battle' of their tongues, it seemed like he is trying to convey something else.

'This person 'desires' me but his desires are not twisted like Sano's. He isn;t trying to posses me. When he kissed me, it felt like he not only wanted me but-' Sumire frantically shakes her head.

She doesn't understand what is happening recently. Everytime she thinks of Toh her emotions become a mess.However, when he told her earlier that he knew she wasn't in love with him. Sumire knew she couldn't deny it. The only reason she ended up accepting his confession is because she wanted to move on.

'I no longer, want to be a burden to Yuhi.'

If she dates somebody else, then Yuhi would pull away wouldn't he? He wouldn't work so hard for her sake. Sumire sighs deeply as she picked up the cans. In the end, what she is doing is selfish and cruel to not only Yuhi but Toh as well.

Toh seems to be more fond of her than she originally thought. 'I am using you.' She almost said that out loud. But someone as smart as Toh must understand that if she didn't accept his confession because of love, then she has other motives.

'No matter what anybody says, I sound so horrid. But I can't lie about why I picked Toh.' She wonders if she will fall in love with him if she spends more time with him and yet, didn't she say the same about Sano? She ended up hurt when he betrayed her. However, it wasn't because she was in love with him.

It didn't take long before she found herself walking back to where Toh was waiting for. She found him on the phone cursing angrily. This is the first time she is seeing him cursing. It is during moments like this where she is reminded that Toh is just like any normal guy. Whatever push and pull attraction that she felt towards him, disappears.

It's during times like this where she wonders if Toh will end up exactly like Sano. Anger is a normal human emotion, and yet she can't help but flinch and back away hearing Toh get angry. If she told him she felt frightened when she saw the sight of him beating up Sano, she wonders how he would feel?

However, those thoughts immediately dispel when she felt his gaze on hers. It felt like she was being possessed since before she knew it, she was in front of him again and Toh is holding her hands.

"Don't be frightened."

Oh, he must have seen her expression just now. Sumire looked away guiltily.

"I-I know your not a bad person. It's just-"

Everytime she hears shouting, she subconsciously flinches.

"I understand, you don't like violence." Toh leaned forward and places a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Sorry for scaring you."

It seems silly for her not to like violence considering how she is a member of the underworld. But, it's exactly like what Toh says. She dislikes violence, she dislikes people yelling.

"Toh- can we-go on that walk?" Sumire managed to mumble.

Toh nods and takes one of the drinks from her hands. "Thanks for this. I really need it after that."

Sumire wondered who he was talking to on the phone. Based on what she has seen of his interactions with other people so far. Toh treats everybody with kindness. So, it is rare seeing him angry at someone. But Toh is just a normal human like anybody else, if somebody makes him mad, he will express anger. If somebody makes him mad or hurts somebody important to him.

The sight of him beating up Sano frightened her, but at the same time she understood. The reason for his anger, is because Sano hurt her. Because Sano not only physically assaulted her but emotionally.

*Unedited*