Down by the Riverside (Taku)

[Freya Shimizu]

Her back to the Academy, Freya lent over the small stone bridge which crossed over a small but deep river. The river ran around the Academy from the Mountains in the distance and it was always peaceful. It was like a treasure,not many knew about it and those that did, were discreet about it, like Freya, they didn't want anyone to destroy it.

It was early evening, the hot sun was starting to cool down and the evening magpies sat cheeping in the tree branches. She was excited. It felt like so long since she'd last seen Takuma that her patience was waning, she'd missed him far too much but exams, general work commitments and family visits had impeded their chances to meet. A smile on her face when she thought about him, Freya listened to the gentle babbling of the river as it passed over the rocks, watching the odd ripple interrupt the surface every now and then when a fish came up to the surface.

She'd opted for a summer look today, a simple black vest top with a pair of denim 3 quarter length trousers, she wore a pair of black and white skate shoe son her feet and a black hoodie was tied around her waist. Her hair was up for once, in a high ponytail, bangs as uncontrollable as usual hung nicely around her face. Waiting patiently she continued to watch the surface of the water, content.

[Takuma Ichijou]

Donning a simple white dress shirt, black vest and black pants, Takuma made his way over to the little stream of a river that was conventionally hiding upon the campus. He was going to go see her. The one and only for her and the one that he had been missing dearly. Exams were horrible along with the family and his meetings with Kaname were catching up to him. Lately his happy-go-lucky attitude had disappeared. But luckily as soon as he got a not last night from Freya herself his mood started to return to normal.

The more steps he took toward the river the more he could sense that Freya was already there. Soon he saw her figure and silently he came up to Freya and stood behind her. He put his left hand in front of her face and showed her the bracelet that she made him. Takuma smiled and whispered in her ear, “It's nice to see you again. I missed you,” He paused and kissed her cheek, “Every time I looked at this bracelet it made me think of you and how much I wanted to see you. But here you are.”

He smiled once more and moved to her left side. Takuma looked out to the river and the setting sun and sighed, “Peaceful, isn't?” Takuma then looked back to Freya and her outfit. He chuckled a little and shook his head, “Wow... how matching are we? And yet we didn't plan it.” He chuckled a little more and then reached up to frame Freya's face with his hands and asked, “Did I say how much I missed you?”

[Freya Shimizu]

"Huh?" A sudden arm appeared in front of her eyes, tilting a bracelet towards her. She stared wide eyed at it for a moment before she felt a familiar body brush up against her back and her face split into a grin. "You got it!" she muttered happily, feeling his breath on the side of her face as he whispered in her ear. Her cheeks lit up with a long awaited blush and she felt the gentle pressure of his lips on her cheek.

“Every time I looked at this bracelet it made me think of you and how much I wanted to see you"

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"I'm glad you like it, I wanted to do something for you, 'cause I've not been a very good girlfriend recently with exams and stuff" she grinned, the bracelet had taken her hours to make, she'd wanted it to be perfect for him. He moved to her left and she laughed at his comment "Great minds think alike I believe the term is babe" she said, for the first time ever giving him a 'pet name'. Babe? where had that come from, she began to laugh at herself before turning towards him. "Sorry that was terrible" she said grinning as he reached up and gently took hold of her face.

“Did I say how much I missed you?”

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She tried to shake her head but instead smiled and spoke jokingly "I don't believe you did. You can tell me now if you want to". she said, stepping closer to him. Her bare arms rubbed against his clothes as she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly, she buried her face in his chest for a minute, breathing in his scent, before looking up into those startling emerald eyes she loved so much. As usual, they captivated her, held her gaze. "I know that I missed you..." She said, before standing on her tiptoes, her lips barley millimeters away from his. "I missed you so much" she finished before, pressing her strawberry flavored lips against his, parting them ever so slightly. The joys of flavored lip balm!

[Takuma Ichijou]

With his arm stretched out in front of both himself and Freya, Takuma couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. One she was surprised that he came up behind her and two she was happy that he got the bracelet. Takuma smiled, “Of course. How could I not receive the perfect gift from someone that worked her hardest on it,” He paused, “I thank you for giving me the perfect gift. I'll cherish it and wear it. And when I look at it... your face will be in my mind and it will make me smile even more.”

Takuma made a small face and shook his head, “Nah... you've been the greatest girlfriend. I've been the one in the wrong. I had all the chances to talk and see you but I chose not to take them. I'm sorry.” He gave a small baby faced grin and soon moved to her side. And after their little matching moment, Takuma felt an eyebrow lift on his face. 'Babe'? Takuma found himself laughing with Freya. He nodded and said through laughs, “Yes it was. Don't do that again. It doesn't sound like you.” He laughed some more.

Again an eyebrow lifted but his grin remained on his face. He now knew that she kidding and it gave him the chance to play along, “I didn't? Well, I did... oh so terribly much. You don't know how much I just wanted to just take you away from here and go on a vacation. We should that this summer.” He smiled and held her close now seeing as Freya found her way into his arms. He held his hands on her back and bent his head down beside hers. He whispered, “I'm glad you did....” Takuma leaned forward as Freya did and soon their lips touched. The kiss was long missed.

After they kissed, Takuma tasted a little hint of strawberry. His favorite. He smiled and asked, “Is that strawberry? Cute...” He smiled and kissed her once more and then leaned away. “Say, what should we do for vacation this year. All I know is that I want to be with you.” Takuma let go of Freya and leaned on his elbows on the railing on the bridge. He looked to the ground and back up to Freya. It was a big suggestion. He wanted to spend the summer with her... the whole summer. “I was thinking something like a trip across Europe or something...” Takuma chuckled and looked away for his face was blushing.

[Freya Shimizu]

"New lip balm, it tastes far to good though, I put it on and end up eating it!" she grinned, her arms still fastened around her boyfriend, yes HER boyfriend, it felt good to say that again. He kissed her a second time and her cheeks lit up. Releasing her, he lent on his elbows and she went up behind him this time, her head over his shoulder, she didn't want to let go just yet. Slipping her arms around his waist, she hugged him from behind as he began to speak about the upcoming summer.

It was hard to believe they were coming up to their year anniversary and it made her wonder if he was aware that it had been a year since they'd met under the stars. Listening to his low voice she closed her eyes and thought back to Tanabata, ever since that night she'd prayed to the gods with her thanks. He began to talk about spending his vacation with her and she felt the butterflies kick start in her stomach, she grinned and buried her face in his back.

He wanted to stay with her this year, she wouldn't have to go home alone for 3 months because he wanted to stay with her. The prospect made her giggle and she looked at him as he turned his face away. "Is that blush I see on your cheeks Taku? Instead of mine?" she giggled, switching shoulders so he had to look at her. "I've always wanted to go to Italy and Greece...and if It means I get more time with you..." her voice grew quiet, her emotions filtering into her speech "...than a trip aroud Europe...with only you for company...is my heaven..."

Her grip around him tightened, 'me and my vampire lover tour Europe' she thought almost bursting into laughter, it was an interesting image. "I'm so glad...that you picked me..." she mumbled, Breathing in his scent again. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him, until now. "Where do you want to tour first?" she asked.

[Takuma Ichijou]

“Are you sure it's okay to eat that stuff?” Takuma asked but then again he didn't know. After all he was a human and a male for that matter. Takuma didn't know a lot about girl products and their habits all that much, other than screaming for him and the rest of the Night Class males. “But then again, what do I know. I'm only male.” He chuckled a little bit and leaned against the railing. He felt his girlfriend's arms around his waist and her head on his shoulder. Takuma grinned as he looked out to the river. Many things were on his mind but he didn't want Freya to get too involved with them. She didn't need to worry about him.

Takuma looked up to the skies and heard Freya begin to giggle. He looked over to her the best that he could and smiled. He then shrugged and said, “Well yes it is. Is that a problem for you, Red? Or do you want to have the blushing to yourself?” Takuma chuckled and listened to Freya. Takuma turned around and took Freya by the waist with one hand and the other in one of her hands. Then he took a step back and began to waltz with her. He smiled and said, “I know there isn't music but I couldn't resist. I haven't danced with you since that night I told you everything.”

They continued to dance slowly to the sounds of the rushing river. Everything was romantic and perfect for the couple. They need this time together, time that got lost. Takuma looked at Freya lovingly and said, “I don't think that I picked you, my Freya. You picked me. After all it was you that fell into my lap about,” Takuma thought for a moment, “A year ago? I'm sure that's correct.” Takuma thought to himself once more, “If you think about it, being under the stars is our thing. When we met it was under the stars. When we confessed to one another it was under the stars. And even now, when we plan to spend this summer together it's under the stars.” He smiled to Freya.

They continued to dance a little more till Takuma's hands went to her waist. Slowly and gracefully, he picked up his girlfriend and placed her on the railing of the bridge. He kept his hold on her and looked up into her face, which was higher than his at the moment. Finally Takuma answered her question, “It's wherever you wish to begin, my Freya. I'll be there beside you no matter what on this trip. To Greece, Itatly, France and England. I already planned it all just for you, in hopes you said yes to this trip.” The moon shined behind Freya and gave her a glow. Takuma smiled and whispered, “You are so beautiful tonight. You know... I love you so much.”

[Freya Shimizu]

She shook her head, relived to see him blushing for once, it sort of made her realize why he liked to see it on her so much, he looked very cute. "I like your blush" she muttered, running the back of her hand softly across his cheekbone. It was soft to her touch, He was always so gentle with her that she felt like she need to be gentle back. It was hard to believe they'd been apart for so long. Gently he turned around, slipped her arms from around his waist and interlaced his fingers with hers. Staring into his eyes again, she let him lead her in a silent dance, and realized, she was moving perfectly in time with him, her dancing had always been sort of clumsy and a little jerky but now, she flowed as naturally as the river beside them.

"We don't need music Taku...your the music in me..." she whispered, a little embarrassed, it sounded so cliche but it was so true. He brought up their first meeting and she laughed a little, "If I hadn't fallen into your lap that night...I wonder what would've become of us..? If I hadn't made that wish..." she said quietly as he lead the dance. Would they have found eachother anyway or would he still just be 'that hot, sweet blonde from the Nightclass' and would she just be 'Shimizu-kohai, Day Class'. Thinking about it made her feel strangely empty and she decided to push the thought out of her mind.

Suddenly elated that he'd noticed it had been a year too, Freya's smile lit up. "I didn't think you'd notice that" she grinned and for the first time, realized the sun had gone down and now the two of them were now bathed in the silver light of the moon. She listened to his speech about the stars and moved closer to him, she hadn't realized that until he'd said it but it was true. He continued to steer her and she locked her eyes with his once more "...and every time...I look at you...I see...my star..." she whispered.

His hands slid down to her waist and she felt a gentle lift as he placed her on top of the railings, holding her steady. She stared down at him, her smile still in place as he stared up at her. Taking him by the shoulders she pulled him a little closer, she didn't like any sort of distance between them. "I think we should start in England!" she grinned "There's so many places I want to show you...so many places I want to lie under the stars with you..." excitement bubbling at the prospect of having him with her all summer, she pulled him in more and fastened her arms around his shoulders, hugging him felt so good!

There was soooo much for them to do, she wanted to show him her favorite places in England, study the Olympian Gods in Greece, experience all the Romance of Italy and France, yes she wanted to do a lot, but only if it was with him. Blushing violently at his comment, Freya looked down to the ground. "Thank you..." she was only wearing what she usually wore but if he thought her beautiful in it, she'd obviously made the right choices, she chuckled. "I like you...in that outfit...it looks really nice, you really suit it...much better then the uniform..." though he looked dashing in the uniform, it was too white for her, she liked it when he simply wore the shirt, tie and pants...it was sexy to her.

He spoke again and she blushed once more.

"I love you so much.”

To think he could say that to her made her soul soar, a year ago, she'd never have thought anyone could say that to her but now, she'd definitely changed her mind. Taking him gently under his chin, Freya tilted Takuma's head up gently and smiled only for him "I know you do and I love you...with all my heart..." She lent forwards and kissed him once on the cheek before tracing the distance from his cheekbone to his lips with her own. She kissed him again, passionately, she kissed once, then went in for a longer one, his lips were soft and welcoming and she caressed them with her own, running her fingers gently through his soft golden locks.

"What would you like to do tonight?"