Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ginny smiles gently. "I'll be right back. Or at least Tidus will. I should see about getting you two some more soup. Maybe a slice of the fresh bread I baked yesterday while you were out. If you're up to it." With a wave of her tails she shut the door behind her. She might as well tell Moochi & Morgana the pair were up. Trelweny too.

Sitting back on her knees, Relm plucked nervously at the bed covers. She was not sure she could meet Keme's eyes. Not the way he had just looked at her. Relm's heart fluttered anxiously in her throat & she swallowed heavily. "Keme... do you think you can you ever forgive me?"

Her eyes dip lightly closed as Keme moves her hair & she tilts her head automatically into his hand. A soft sigh escapes her at his words. "Keme, I..."

Relm gulped, trembling. Could she tell him, now... when he was awake what she could tell him while he slept? "I never really wanted to leave you, you know." Her eyes fluttered open, needing & fearing seeing his reaction. "What I was running from... I took it with me anyway." She shuddered gently, feeling a little lightheaded & woozy. "I never meant to hurt you, Keme." She lowered her eyes, still able to see him slightly if she glanced up. "I love you."

Relm felt all warm & tingly inside -and she was certain it had nothing to do with being sick or having certain needs to answer the call of nature herself. Her smile was warm but incredulous as Keme looked back at her.

As the boys left, Ginny snuck back in the opening they made, a tray with two bowls & two thick slices of warm buttered bread on it floating before her. A shimmer-y film covered the food & Relm squinted her eyes to see the make up of the magic shield the witch had used. She smiled at Relm. "You'll be next, I wager? Do you think you'll do okay with me or should I fetch Yuna or Morgana?" The artist blushed as the tray was set down upon the bed. "I'll go with you. I'm sure they're nearby anyway, if my stubbornness fails me." With that she swung herself out of the bed, ignoring her dizziness & putting her hand on Ginny's back to steady herself to be led from the room.

Relm returns, wobbling greatly & having to lean on Ginny more than she would like to admit. She smiles though, seeing Keme eating -glad that Ginny had the foresight to make the protective barrier user specific to her & Keme. The witch flicked Relm's ankles with her tails when the pictomancer stopped moving, reminding her that she should be eating too. Sheepishly Relm made it to the bed, practically needing to crawl in. "Thanks. The bread smells great."

"You're welcome. Eat it if you can. Give you something in you 'sides liquid."

Then there was a worried face at the door. A look of relief crossed Trelweny's face as she saw them trying to eat. "Oh good. You're eating. I'm going to go talk with Moochi. You'll tell me if you need anything?" Relm nodded & the human woman smiled. Before she left Trelweny glanced back & forth between the two. "Remember the greatest gift, Relm."

With that she was gone.

After Trelweny's quick peek in Relm is half glad, half disappointed that Keme does not ask what the human woman was referring to. She ate slowly & steadily, watching Keme out of the corner of her eyes as she leaned carefully over the bowl & tray. She wanted to talk to him... but how? Relm shot Ginny a helpless glance as she sopped up the remainder of her soup with her bread. For her part, the kitsu stifled her laughter, "lifting" the tray away as soon as Relm finished. Inclining her head to the door, Ginny let Arnold translate for her to Tidus. "C'mon, Tidus. Whyn't we give them a moment to rest up before Trel & Moochi are likely to descend upon them."

Relm shot her a grateful look as the witch headed to the door. Now all Relm had to do was figure out how to broach the subject!

Relm could swear her heart was in her eyes as she looks up at the much larger male when he speaks her name. Though still frightened, she does not feel ashamed, nor that her feelings are a weakness. "Keme... I... " Her voice too chokes but stubborn as she is Relm plods on. "I don't know what to say either." She manages with an almost shrill, choked laugh. "There's so much..."

Relm spread her hands out flat, in an almost helpless gesture. Then she gave him a wobbly smile. "I sure can make a mess of things, can't I?"

"I asked though, didn't I? I asked & you told me. I didn't have to run. I shouldn't have run. I wish to the 3 Goddesses I'd not run!" Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes. "I wish I'd stayed... I wish I'd... " I wish I'd really kissed you. Relm looked away, bringing a full white sleeve up to hide her face. "You said you forgave me... I... I'm not sure I can forgive myself. Keme you might have died! Because I was afraid to be wrong... about what I wanted... about loving you..."

"... loving you even though you weren't what I thought I wanted. 'cause I was wrong bout what I wanted... I wanted you. your kindness, your friendship, your strength... the way you make me feel so safe & peaceful... espers, Keme..."

Relm lets herself be enfolded in his arms, tears falling gently down her face. She leans her head against the white of his chest, floating on his words of comfort. After a while she lifts her head, casting eyes wet with tears to meet Keme's eyes. Relm tilts her head up, heart racing, eyes wanting to close. A kissable face. "Keme..."

"Why don't you kiss her already, Ke-eme? You know she's just achin' for you to." The sound of Rikku's voice piercing the quiet as she & Naruto peeked into the room. Obviously she had seen enough to be assured her sister was well or she would not have been so teasing.