Whole

Chapter 10

Masato's POV

Katsuko looked breathtaking as she sat opposite me, as she happily ate her food laid out in front of her.

I'd missed her far more than I thought was possible while I'd be over in Seattle. I'd loved being able to see my brother, sister in law and nephew; I'd missed them more than words could say. However, when the week came to a close, I was eager to get home to see her. The journey back to Nagoya had been a little sweeter than before, knowing she'd be there waiting for me.

While I was there, watching my brother, with his wife and son, I found myself thinking of things I'd not before. I found myself imagining myself with a wife and children, and when the picture of my wife came to mind, it was Kat who was looking at me with her wide smile.

Before I met her, my life with the guys and the band had been enough. I never wanted more than that, at least not for a long while. I'd thrown my all into the band and my music, never needing more than that. I thought I was whole until I met her. I'd never felt like something was missing before until I was in Seattle, and it was as if someone had taken a piece of my heart away. Then I saw her when I got off the plane, and that piece had been returned.

"You know, if you keep staring at me, your food will get cold." Her eyes flicked up from her food to mine as she looked at me with a smirk.

"Sorry, I can't help it. After we're done here, I thought we could take a walk along the Hori river."

"I'd like that." She smiled at me before her eyes turned back to her food, and she picked up more with the chopsticks she used so perfectly.

She was doing something so small, so ordinary, but it left me speechless. That's why tonight, it wasn't going to be like our other date nights, where we'd go for dinner, then back to hers, or mine and just lay there talking. Tonight was going to be special if things went the way I hoped they would.

I smiled to myself before I finally decided to start eating myself.

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"Okay, so if you could move anywhere in the world, where would you move too?" Kat asked as we strolled along the river, our fingers laced together.

"America. There's a part of me that's always wanted to live out, you know, explore that half of me. There was a time; when I was younger, I felt lost. Was I more Japanese or American? I never really got to explore my American half, so I guess I struggled with my identity a little. I don't anymore, but still, it would be quite fun to go live the American life for a while. What about you?"

"I'm here already." She chuckled, "Moving out here was always something I wanted to do, and well, now I'm here. Although, if I were told I had to move again, I'd probably pick England. I love their accent, and while their culture is similar to America, there's a lot of differences too."

"England would be pretty amazing, I think." I hummed in agreement.

"Okay, so next question. Who inspires you, either musically or otherwise."

"Musically, Brandon Boyd from Incubus. Outside of music, my parents. We had our differences; when I was younger, they forced me to learn English, which I hated back then. Although I'm grateful for it now, mind you. My mom hates that I have tattoo's as well, but despite the downs, they've always had my back. They've always supported me, and they worked hard to give me the life I had. If it weren't for them, Coldrain would have never happened. How about you?"

"Honestly? Ryo. I always looked up to him, growing up. He was like a really cool big brother to me, doing what he wanted, not caring what people thought. I spent so many years trying to please everyone else, trying to do what I thought others expected of me. I was too scared to stand up for myself, and well; ultimately, it landed me in some real shit situations. However, when I came out here, I promised myself I was going to be more like Ryo. Live for me, not other people, be happy and all."

I squeezed her hand gently and stopped my feet, causing her to stop and turn to me. "For what it's worth, I think you're pretty amazing just the way you are, right now. I love how happy, confident, carefree, and down to earth, you are. You're smart, driven, witty, and whenever you're around, it's impossible to feel sad or mad. I'm glad you decided to stop letting life or others rule you because who you are, well, I love her."

Kat's eyes went wide as she looked at me in bewilderment, "You...what?"

I sighed as I took both her hands in mine, my eyes meeting hers as I moved, so I was barely an inch away from her.

"I love you, Kat. I know I've only known you six weeks, but when I was out there, in Seattle? I felt like there was this part of me that was missing. Then I saw you, standing there waiting for me, and I was whole again. I thought I was complete before, but I was wrong. I've dated other girls and had one serious relationship before, but I never felt like this with any of them. I didn't even realize there was a part of me that was missing until you came along. Now I know a life with you in it, I can't bear the thought of one without you. I've never been able to just lay in bed with someone, holding hands and talking absolute nonsense and be wholly happy. But with you, that's exactly how I feel. I love you, Kat, I'm in love with you. Tonight? Well, the reason why I wanted this to be different and special is that I knew I had to tell you these things. And, now it's my turn to ask you a question."

Kat's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at me with pure, innocent expression. Her eyes were unwavering from mine as I held her gaze, the eyes of her's I lost myself in and could happily get lost in forever.

"What?"

I took a deep breath, "Katsuko Aria Shizimu, will you be my girlfriend?"