[quote=Kurisa] As Kaizo hugged Rio he felt her shaking which caused the pain in his heart to increase as the tears continued to flow down his face, he listened as she spoke and hearing what she said only caused him to grip Rio's uniform "it's not right Rio, you shouldn't have had to go off and face this alone...I should have been there...I waited to long like a fool!" Kaizo bit his bottom lip as the tears came on harder "Rio..." Kaizo then broke the hug as he held her by shoulders and looked into her eye "Your the strongest woman I've ever known, you've been through so much...I...I'm proud of how far you've come, your mother...I know she is incredibly proud of you, of how strong you are...she did what any loving mother would have done to save their child...I know she is gone but" Kaizo then swallowed the knot in his throat as more tears streamed down his face "I promise you...I will never leave you, I will never let anything stop me from standing by your side and holding your hand no matter what happens...I will help you achieve any goal you want to attain even if it goes against everything I stand for! I will help you do anything because...I love you Rio..." Kaizo then wrapped his arms around Rio as he continued to cry...this was probably the first time he had cried since that day... [/quote] Rio only closed her eyes as she heard Kaizo speak, taking solace in the sounds of his voice. He cared so much for her, that much was obvious, however Rio was too used to doing things alone that she failed to notice that she wasn't anymore... She didn't need to be afraid to ask for help, or to just be with someone and be happy without worrying when they'd eventually leave.... The first time Kaizo left her, that year was one of the most difficult ones she had even needed to endure.... It was one thing to be alone, but knowing what it was like to have someone... To be happy with someone just for them to leave was a completely different story.... As her eyes were closed, Rio thought about this but then spoke up after Kaizo spoke the first time. [b]".... But I'm glad you didn't join me.... The last thing I'd want is for you to be mixed up in something that I had no idea about.... besides.... I had to do this.... She had done so much to my family.... It wouldn't of been right if I didn't fight the battle they couldn't finish.... I-I just.... didn't think... [i]that[/i] would happen...."[/b] Kaizo then broke the hug so Rio got a good look at his face.... While she managed to calm herself in Kaizo's embrace, Kaizo was far from calm.... [i]'... I-Is he.... crying... for me?'[/i] She watched, her tears had stopped their descend but left their marks on her face.... all she really needed was to just be with Kaizo, to realise that she wasn't alone in all of this.... Looking down as he spoke, his words plummeted to her heart as if he spoke directly to it. Rio then looked back up at him, watching his tears quietly, her head beginning to hurt due to her emotions welling up inside her.... After Kaizo pulled her into another hug, Rio pulled back, just looking up at him before lifting both of her hands to his face, gently wiping the tears away with her thumbs. Her face had became straight at this moment, the emotion she felt unrecognisable as her body moved on it's own accord, leaning forward before her lips were placed on his... The kiss she gave him was gently and tender but mostly, loving... After a few seconds, Rio leaned her body back, a smile now on her face. [b]"Kaizo.... I love you too.... thank you... for everything... I wish to do the same for you////"[/b] She whispered while smiling softly up at him.