Whole

Chapter 20

Masato's POV

I held Katsuko tight in my arms as she rested her head on my chest and entangled her legs with mine.

"I'm going to miss this." She sighed sadly after we'd laid there for a long while in peaceful silence.

"Me too, baby." After tonight, our tour began, and I was going to be away for the next three months. Shows all over Asia, America, and Canada, along with video shoots, press, meet and greets, and everything between.

Of course, we'd made plans for her to come out and join us. In the first six weeks, we'd be around Asia, so I'd ensured I had her flights booked to join us for a couple of weekends. One while we were in Taiwan, and one while we were in the Philippines. After that, we'd be able to come home for three days before we jetted off to Canada for three weeks.

The final three weeks were going to be spent in America, and she was flying out for the last week. With plans to see her family during our two shows, we had in Maryland. We'd be celebrating my birthday during the last show of the tour too, in New York.

Still, despite knowing I would see her during the time, it wasn't enough. At this point, we spent so much time together, Ryo joked saying we may as well move in together. I had pondered the idea, but I decided to hold off. I believed we were strong enough to survive the next three months; however, this was going to be the most prominent trial our relationship would face. Me, being away all the time, I decided it was best to see how things went before I threw that on her.

Being away from her was going to be hard. For the first time since the band started, a part of me didn't want to leave. I'd always been so eager to get back out there, doing what I loved, but this time, it was bittersweet. I was still keen, I was still excited, but there was a sharp pain to it. As my eyes cast down to Katsuko, drawing random shapes on my stomach, I knew that pain was because I was leaving her.

"I'm going to miss you so much." I pulled my arms around her tighter, feeling my chest tighten and a lump form in my throat.

"Please don't, Masato, or I'm going to end up crying." She wrapped her arm around me in a tight grip as her face nuzzled into the crook of my neck.

"I'm sorry, baby." I pressed my lips to the top of her head. I hated that my leaving was making her sad. I didn't want to hurt her, she'd been hurt enough, and although I wasn't hurting her the same way, I still was.

"You're not even gone, and I miss you already."

"I know. Me too, baby, me too." My hand ran through her silk-like hair, and I couldn't help the tear that slipped.

Neither of us said nothing more, holding each other tightly, both hiding the silent tears from the other until we fell asleep.

------

"Look after him," Kat spoke, pulling Ryo into her arms as we stood outside the studio where our bus was picking us up from.

"Of course, I will." Ryo held her tightly before he let her go so she could hug the other three.

"Kill it out there guys. I know you will." She said as Sugi scooped her up and swung her around. Something that might have bothered me before, but I didn't mind; they'd become pretty good friends over the months.

"Look after yourself, Kat. And hey, Atsumi?" Yokochi turned his eyes to Kat's friend, who'd come to join us to say goodbye. "Make sure she stays out of trouble."

Kat burst out laughing, "Okay, clearly the past few months, you haven't gotten to know Atsumi well enough."

"My middle name is trouble!" Atsumi chuckled, "But I promise, I'll keep her out of trouble at least, well, I'll try too."

"Bus is coming," Katsuma announced, and my eyes turned to look further up the road. Sure enough, a black, large tour bus was coming down, and my heart sank.

"We'll load up, dude, say goodbye to your girl." Ryo gave me a sympathetic smile as he patted my shoulder.

Katsuko turned to face me fully, the smile on her face falling along with mine. I flicked my head to the left of the site and walked over to the far wall, Kat a step behind me.

"I love you." She sighed, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist.

"I love you, too, baby." I cupped her cheek with my hand and brought her lips to mine. "I'll call you every day."

"You better." She nuzzled her cheek into my hand as my thumb ran soft strokes over her smooth skin. If life had a pause button, right now is when I would pause it. Her in my arms, my hand on her flawless skin, her eyes on mine so full of love. "I knew this was going to be hard, but I didn't think it was going to be this hard."

"I know, baby. I've always looked forward to getting back out there. Waiting for the day we go, I've been like a child a Christmas, but this time? Not so much. I'm still looking forward to it, but yeah, it's so much harder knowing I'm leaving you behind."

"You go do your thing, babe, do what you love, I'll be right here, I'm not going anywhere. Here, I got you something." She released my waist as she opened her bag and pulled out a large, cube box and handed it to me.

I opened the lid, and inside was a watch, a thick leather strap with a square clock face in silver. "Kat, you shouldn't have."

"Look on the back."

I turned the watch over, and on the back of it, words had been inscribed in perfect calligraphy. As each second passes, there isn't one that goes by that I'm not thinking of you. I love you, always.

My chest pained as I pulled her tight into my arms, "I love it, thank you."

"I have mine, and now you have yours." She looked up, smiling at me, and my eyes turned to her necklace I'd given her yesterday. A small white gold chain, with two pendants hanging from it. A heart in a Zircon, my birthstone, and the second pendant, a while gold M. A necklace she could wear every day, carrying my heart around with her.

I held her a minute longer before Ryo walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder, "We got to go, dude."

"Okay, I'm coming." I nodded and let go of Kat so she could give Ryo one final hug and cheek kiss.

"I love you, always." I stroked her cheek and pressed my lips to hers for the final time for three weeks.

"I love you forever." I could hear from the way her voice strained; she was biting back the tears, much like I was.

As I walked away, Atsumi took Kat in her arms, their eyes on me as I placed my foot on the step up onto the bus.

I blew an air kiss to Kat, and she returned it, both of us with bittersweet smiles on our faces. I sighed deeply as I entered the bus fully, praying to god the next three weeks past quickly.