Whole

Chapter 39

Katsuko's POV

"No more waiting. No more holding back." His lips touched my forehead lightly before he released his hold on me and took a step back as he reached into his back pocket.

I felt the emotions bubble up and threaten to burst as I studied him. Two more years and the band were stepping down. There were times I never thought I'd hear them say those words. The band had been their life for almost ten years since they started back in late 2008. Nine years since they formed the band, eight since their first song on a label was released. All of them had lived and breathed nothing but their dream since they first played together all those years ago.

Two more years and there would be no more long goodbyes, weeks without seeing each other surviving on video and voice calls, never fully knowing when we'd see each other again.

It was a choice he'd made entirely on his own, and the guys felt the same as him. Although that didn't help the pang of sadness, they had gone from nothing into something truly amazing. Before bands like them and Crossfaith, metal was a rare thing in Japan. They ushered in an entirely new scene and fronted it. It was because of them, metal in Japan now was as big as it was in other countries. It was because of them, more metal bands were now hailing from here, and new groups were forming.

They were an epic story of a group of guys who changed music history in this country and influenced the scene in others. They'd gone from young guys playing in Sugi's garage to headlining tours, playing major festivals, and inspiring so many. To know it would end for them soon, saddened me.

Although, on the other, it made me happy too. I knew all too well; we were both wearing thin, but especially me. It was hard seeing all my friends, even my little brother settling down and having children. I'd gone further in my job than I'd planned, but I'd been more than ready to settle down for a while. That's why we'd begun arguing so much, our wants and dreams became disconnected. We lost sight of each other as we walked our paths.

I knew my time was ticking on having children and something I'd never considered much before, now became this desperate want.

"I can't wait anymore, and I am so fucking sorry it took me so long, Kat. I know you've been ready for a while, although you've not said it. But I'm ready now, Kat, from this point onwards, you are my future and you alone. I will do what I need to, to finish Coldrain's dream, to complete the contract, but my life with you starts now."

I watched intently as he pulled his hand from his back pocket, clutching something inside of it.

"Masato?" I questioned cautiously as my heart began to beat harder in my chest.

"Katsuko Aria Shimizu, you are the single most important thing to me. I am so sorry for everything that being with me has put you through. I love you more than life itself, and I can never do enough to make up for everything. However, I'm hoping that this, right here, is a start."

Tears pools, my hands clapped over my mouth, and my heartbeat rapidly as he unfolded his hand and lowered himself down. He was kneeling before me on one knee as he opened the small black box.

"Kat, baby, Koneko, my love, your choice is a simple yes or no. Will you do me the greatest honor you ever could, and be my wife?"

Our gaze held as the tears began to fall, my chest felt as if it was about to burst with the overwhelming sense of pure joy I felt. I felt as if I was in a dream, and I'd wake up to find none of this was real. However, as I looked on at him, I knew it was real. This was it, him and me making moves to start our future together after a long, almost four years. After all, we'd been through; we were both finally ready.

"Yes." I managed to choke through a sob. "So many times, yes."

Masato's anxious expression turned into a bright, full grin as tears of his own pooled.

He pulled the ring from the box and I gasped as I caught full sight of it. It was a Claddagh ring, with a Sapphire diamond in the heart, with a small white diamond in the crown, and the two hands either side of the heart. All in white gold. He knew I loved Buffy, and he knew I'd always loved the ring and what it symbolized. And now I had one of my own, as my engagement ring, complete with my birthstone. It couldn't have been more perfect.

He took my hand and placed it carefully on my ring finger before he stood up, yanking me into his arms, and holding me tightly.

"I love you, so much, Kat." He whispered as he sniffed and buried his head into the crook of my neck.

"I love you, too, Masato, more than anything."

After a moment of standing there, holding the other, he pulled back. With both hands on my face, he brought my lips to his in a sweet, passionate kiss.

"Let's go home."

------

"Ah, Masato!" I mewled softly as he worked me up into a calm, feverish frenzy. His tongue worked my core with soft movements of his tongue, inside me, circling over my sensitive nub, running through the wet folds.

My fingers fisted his blonde locks, pulling him closer to me as my hips ground against him. I was thoroughly washed with the calm waves of the water he'd led me too as my breath became staggered, and my body began to shake.

All the love, emotions, and lust whirled together in a heady mixture as I began to skin beneath the waters.

"Oh, shit, yes, yes!" I moaned loudly as he focused on the nub, his tongue circling, his lips making soft sucks.

His hand moved, pushing two fingers inside me, and they moved, curling in the way that made me see stars.

A few more movements were all it took to pull me under completely, his name falling from my lips in a drawn-out moan. The waves were kissing my body as they ran through me, and he slowly allowed me to swim up to the surface.

As he led me back to the shore, he pulled away, his lips running up my body, barely touching my skin until he reached my lips.

I locked my lips with his as they met in a kiss that was the perfect mix between love and passion. Our tongues danced slowly, yet hungrily at the same time as we both let out satisfied moans before he sank into me.