Whole

Chapter 18

Masato's POV

"Hey, buddy." Ryo's voice caused me to turn my head to him from where I stood outside of the bus.

"We all set?"

"Yeah, we're leaving in fifteen minutes, Kat and Sugi are fighting over what movie to watch." He chuckled as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up. "Kat said she told you."

I furrowed my brows at him before I realized what he meant, and my face fell, "Yeah, she did. Ryo, I knew it must have been something rough, but that? That was so far from what I was expecting. At worst, I thought he cheated or something, but that?"

Ryo's head nodded slowly in understanding as he took a drag of his smoke, "Yeah, trust me, I wanted to kill him. It was only because we were on tour, and I knew it wouldn't help her that I didn't."

"What am I supposed to do knowing that, Ry? Since she told me a couple of days ago, I've not wanted to leave her side. I don't on any given day, but now, I just- I want to be able to make it better, help her forget. I want to fix it for her."

Now I knew what had happened; I'd begun to notice the small signs of her past pain. It was how she'd apologize for the smallest thing, and always checking if I'm okay and I'm happy. I'd not thought much of it until she told me that, and it killed me that she felt the way she did.

"You can't fix it, buddy, you know that. You make it better, though, that I can promise you. Honestly? I've never seen Kat so happy, and the same goes for you as well."

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips, "I don't think I've ever been this happy. I guess it's just going to take me a few days to process what happened to her."

"Yeah, took me a little while, too, but soon you'll almost forget about it. Soon as she told me, I had one goal, getting Kat here. She'd already talked about moving out here anyway, but I left her to do it of her own accord. However, after that, I helped so that she could get out here as quick as possible after the trial. And I'm glad she took the job and came out here, and I'm glad you two hit it off. I was hoping you would."

I raised an eyebrow at his words, "You were?"

"Yeah, I knew you were exactly the kind of guy she needed. Soft, sweet, caring, attentive, funny, but not afraid to take a bit of charge without being a dick about it. I knew you'd give her the perfect balance of keeping her in one lane, but also letting her have her freedom. I knew you'd care and protect her without being overbearing. And, equally, she's the kind of girl you needed. Calm, carefree, quirky, and laidback, someone who'd let you do your thing without causing a million arguments over it like your ex did."

I sighed as my head shook, recalling my ex. She was great at the start until she turned everything into an argument. Then one night, she looked me dead in the face and told me it was her or the band. It was obvious which of the two I picked, I cared for her, but not like I did, Kat. I couldn't believe she even made me choose, but I knew Kat wouldn't.

"Yeah, I think that's the best thing about her, she won't ever put me in that position to choose."

"No, she wouldn't, she'll fight for it, alongside you. You both know it's not going to be easy, but I trust you'll figure it out. And, even if you don't, I know you'll both do the right thing if it comes to such a decision."

"Ryo?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for everything, not just for things with Kat, all the things in between, too."

Ryo laughed as he put his smoke out on the bin and chucked it away, "You're my best friend, Masato, anything I do, I do because I want you happy, and her. Right, you ready to hit Tokyo?"

"Let's do it." I nodded with a smile. He grinned at me before we walked back to the bus.

"Everything okay?" Kat looked at me, eyeing me in suspicion as I found her in the bunk area. "I saw you two talking out there."

"Everything is fantastic, don't worry baby." I smiled, pulling her close to me and pressing my lips to hers softly.

Ryo was right, I couldn't fix what she'd been through, but I could make it better, just by being there any way I could. By making her know she's loved and that I love her, that with me, she was safe.

"Sugi won the coin toss on the movie." She pouted, sticking her bottom lip out. I couldn't help but catch it between my teeth before I chuckled.

"Let me guess, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?"

"Got it in one. I wanted to watch Ip Man, personally."

"Well, how about I grab my tablet and ee can squeeze ourselves into the bunk and watch it? Leave those losers to drink their beer and act like big kids."

"Hmm, that sounds perfect. I'm just going to get ready for bed, and I'll be back in a minute."

"Okay, Koneko, be quick." I smiled as a broad smile spread across her lips. She leaned in for a kiss before moving past me. "Kat?"

"Yeah?" She turned to look at me, the smile still there in all it's glory.

"I love you."

"And I love you." She stepped forward, cupping my cheek and leaving me with a soft, tender kiss, allowing it to linger,