We Are Better Together!

Chapter 16 - Anxious, but Secured

Karasuma's Pov:

"A-are you p-pitying m-me?

"W-What?"

"Y-You don't n-need to do t-that...."

She said, a hurtful look in her eyes as tears were continuously dripping from her face. She looked down as she left my embrace and started wiping her tears, but more fell down.

"What are you saying Irina? Of course not, I'm doing all this because...."

She looked up at me, expecting an answer. I didn't know what to say, I've never been good with words and never verbally expressed how I felt, so I was finding it difficult to explain it in words, but I knew, I knew it was noting compared to the difficulty Irina had gone through when she was kidnapped and raped, just thinking about what those monsters did makes my blood boil. She needs my actions as well as words to make her feel safe and I am going to try my best.

"Because I care for you Irina, I can't see you hurt, that's why I am doing all this...to make you feel better, to make you happy again, to make you forget that you ever were sad...because....because I-I love...you...."

Her eyes widened at what I said and more tears fell. I raised my hand to her face wanting to wipe her tears, but instead she grabbed my hand and held it close to her face and started crying, whispering apologies.

"I am sorry!....I didn't trust you, I-I am sorry....y-you were doing all this f-for me and I-I doubted you...I am s-sorry...."

She sobbed out, chocking on some of the words and I immediately gave her some water, but she did not move to take the glass so I held the glass close to her mouth. She was hesitant, but I made her drink it. She drank some of the water and pushed the glass away, holding tightly onto my hand. I caressed her cheek and she looked up at me with teary eyes.

I hated it, all this situation, I hated that she was shedding tears because of some assholes who did things I would not even wish for my enemy.

"T-Tadaomi....S-Sorry...."

She said quietly and I was brought out of my thoughts. I hugged her tightly without wasting anytime, stroking her head and rubbing her shoulder.

"Don't ever think those things again, not ever again...I'm here with you and I am doing everything because I want to, do you understand?"

I asked firmly and she nodded, her head still buried in my shoulder as she clutched my shirt in her hand. I broke the hug and caressed her cheek making her look up, directly in my eyes.

"Promise me one thing!"

"W-What?"

"If you ever have any of those thoughts, anything it may be, anything you feel, you'll share it to me, please Irina..."

I said, helplessness clear in my eyes and actions as I stroked my thumb over her cheek, looking at her and holding her hand tightly. After a while of looking at each other, she held my hand a bit tightly and put her other hand over my hand on her cheek. Her face shifted in my hold as more tears fell from her eyes, she kissed my palm and looked at me, a faint smile on her face, almost not visible. Even while crying she looked beautiful, but I didn't want her to cry anymore. I was waiting for her to speak and answer, until she spoke the words I wanted to hear.

"I-I Promise..."

She said looking directly at me and my gaze softened as I smiled at her, the atmosphere was warm around us with a comfortable silence. I sighed and she quickly removed her hand from mine, blushing slightly at what she just did. I chuckled at her behavior and she looked at me as if surprised to see me laugh. I put my hand on her cheek and she leaned into the touch as I broke the comfortable silence.