AIYOKU ~My Short Challenge~

I wrote this as a challenge. It's a super short. Just over 700 words...LOL It's about reunited lovers. I don't know how it reads, but I'm going to post it anyway. AIYOKU means Love in Japanese.

AIYOKU

Adjusting the lighting in the room, Ichuro went through the box he’d taken down from the attic. Searching through the photos he smiled as he pulled the one he was searching for out. She hadn’t changed, at least not much. The photo was of them ten years ago, in college. They were sitting in the booth of the diner along with their friends. Linda, her big brown eyes and soft round features on chocolate skin was lit with the biggest smile and he was looking adoringly at her. They were so in love back then. When she left for Europe, they decided to break it off instead of maintaining a long distance relationship, something he regretted. He'd made a promise to her, now he planned on keeping it.

Ichuro hurried out of the house to his car. He barely navigated through the traffic before parking at his destination. His heart was racing with anticipation at seeing the love that he’d never forgotten once more.

Pressing the button to the elevator Ichuro ignored the calls to him as he raced through the hallway. She was foremost in his mind. He walked to the room, stopping in front of it before entering. Looking at the figure, tears welled in his eyes as he compared the two. The one in the photograph to the one that lay before him.

“Linda.” He breathed. The air in his lungs seemed to squeeze around the constant racing of his heart. Her head turned, only a second to recognize before a smile graced her lips.

“Ichuro?” She whispered. She gave a soft laugh and held out her hand. Ichuro took it and sat beside her. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you.” They both said at the same time, chuckling afterwards.

“You haven’t forgotten me.” She noted. "I thought you would have forgotten me by now."

“Never, aiyoku (love)” She squeezed his hand as her big eyes roamed his handsome features, wanting to touch the full lips, the jawline that seemed cut out of marble, and become lost in the narrow dark brown eyes that smiled at her.

“You waited?” She stated. Ichuro nodded. "Maybe you shouldn't have." she said sadly.

“I promised.” Her eyes shimmered with tears, Ichuro caught them with the pad of his thumb before they could leave her eyes.

“I won't hold you to it. I should have came back, I'm sorry.” Linda whispered, her face and heart filled with regret.

“No need to apologize. We are together again, now.” He bent down and pressed his lips to hers, relishing in the warmth that moved over him. He had yet to feel for another woman as he'd felt for Linda. Their tears mingled with one another as he cupped her cheek. “We will live a long happy life together now.” She laughed. “You laugh, aiyoku, but I speak the truth. I’ve found you again and I'm never letting you go.” Linda could only believe him. Time had only made their hearts grow fonder for one another.

Linda could feel her the emotions course through her as her thoughts ran rampant. She closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of him. The comfort it gave and the way it made her feel. It wrapped around her in a tight blanket and calmed her. Ichuro watched as her eyes closed a smile on her lips as she drifted into sleep. He kissed her slender hand, stroking the soft skin before he stood.

“Doctor Nakamura…” the nurse took his attention away from her momentarily. “I have to do her vitals.” Ichuro nodded and kissed Linda quickly before checking her chart. She would be fine. She had to be. She was his soul mate and God wouldn't take her away from him when he'd just found her.

Ichuro went back in the past when he’d met his first and only love, the woman that was destined to be the mother of his children. Linda had been introduced to him at a study group. He’d never believed in love at first sight, but he’d be lying if he said it took awhile to fall in love with her. It took him all of five seconds. They had been inseparable for the remainder of their college life, until he’d gotten the perfect residency and she left to go overseas on a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Now she was back in his life, in his arms, needing him. Ichuro wished he’d urged her to stay, asked her to marry him like he‘d intended to do, but in her excitement at getting the letter he‘d stayed quiet. Ichuro had not wanted her to choose between him and her dreams. They’d thought they had all the time in the world. Now, it may be only years, months, or days. He lifted his head up and left her room reluctantly. He made a special note to visit her physician to discuss her prognosis.

******

“I’m making you my wife, Linda.” Ichuro promised her when he was finally done with his shift.

“Is that a proposal?” Linda giggled, she felt better already at having him beside her. He grinned and reached into his pocket. Ichuro held out a simple ring of diamonds and jade.

“Wherever you go, I go, from now on?” He stated simply. Linda touched his face, feeling the smoothness of his skin against hers. He slipped the ring on her finger, kissing her palm. "I bought this years ago, I should have put it on your finger then." he confessed. Linda wished he had of. She would of stayed.

“Come lay with me, aiyoku.” she whispered, her eyes wet with unshed tears. Ichiro complied, wrapping her gently in his arms. He moved the tubes carefully, until her thin body lay against his. He inhaled deeply the scent of jasmine and vanilla he loved so much. Ichuro would be content to love her for however long God wished it. She was his, aiyoku.

All Rights Reserved (c) Copyright 2007 by Desiree Lovely

The above story is a work of fiction. Places, people, and situations are strictly the imagination of the author. No reproduction of any kind is allowed without the express permission of author.