cttro.
Appreciation to this beautiful piece of art.
~
The following morning, Etsuko awoke with a sense of nausea washing over her. She hastily rose from the bed, her mind foggy and disoriented. She knew she wouldn't make it to the kitchen, so she resorted to gulping down handfuls of tap water from the bathroom sink.
As soon as her adrenaline receded, she crumpled to her knees, her whole body aching from the previous night's activities. The thought of going to work in this state seemed impossible.
Resting her head on her crossed arms over the cold porcelain of the toilet bowl, she winced at the pounding in her head. Alcohol and sex ain't a great combo.
Kenma was not beside her when she woke up. A pang of fear gripped her heart. Perhaps he had left her after all...
She recalled their past - their first meeting, their growing friendship, their shared dreams and aspirations. She remembered Kenma's nonchalant demeanor that hid a deeply caring heart, his bouts of illness before important meetings. She remembered it all.
Tears welled up in her eyes and began to stream down her cheeks.
"How stupid," she whispered to herself, her voice echoing in the cold, empty room. "Kenma, you're just like the rest of them."
Before she could wallow further in her self-pity, the bathroom door swung open. "Euko!" Kenma exclaimed, rushing to her side. "What's wrong? Talk to me."
Etsuko lifted her head, her tear-streaked face meeting Kenma's concerned gaze. He reached out, gently wiping her tears away.
"Are you hurt? Do you need something? Are you hungry? Just tell me what you need."
Etsuko remained silent, her eyes never leaving his. Kenma sighed, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her back to bed.
He sat down, positioning her on his lap. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.
"Kenma..." she finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
"Hmm?"
"Don't leave me."
And with that, she drifted back into sleep. Kenma smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I won't, I promise."
~
When Etsuko awoke, it was almost dinner time. She reached out for Kenma, but found his side of the bed empty. Pushing herself up, she made her way out of the room, her hand trailing along the wall for support.
"Kenma?" she called out as she descended the stairs. The familiar aroma of food filled her senses.
She followed the scent to the kitchen, where she found Kenma, donned in a black apron with a cat logo, busily preparing dinner.
"Kenma," she called again, tugging at the hem of his shirt to get his attention.
He turned around, wrapping an arm around her waist. "How are you feeling?" He nuzzled his face into her neck, planting a soft kiss. "How's my girl? Are you still hurting?"
"I can barely walk, you idiot. My whole body feels like jelly. I hate you."
"But you love this idiot," Kenma retorted with a grin.
"Unfortunately, yes," Etsuko admitted, rolling her eyes.
Kenma chuckled. "But this idiot loves you a lot."
"I love you too," Etsuko confessed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Kenma leaned in to kiss her, a kiss that Etsuko eagerly returned. After a few moments, they broke apart, catching their breaths.
A thought suddenly crossed Etsuko's mind. "Kenma, what are we now?"
