OOC: This contains spoilers for the finale to GARO. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't read.


It was over. They’d popped popcorn, they’d gotten soda, they’d settled in, and they’d finished the epic that was GARO. Kealey had been hooked from the beginning, right from the moment Kouga had taken Kaoru’s painting from the gallery…then hadn’t paid for it. The characters were awesome, the story was riveting, there was action, adventure, death, destruction, and a love story. There had been episodes that had made Kealey want to cry, and there had been episodes that had made her want to crawl out of her skin they were so creepy. The hero was stoic and emotionally stunted and his anti-hero rival was snaky and oh so damaged. In short…it was great.

On top of it all, she’d gotten to watch the whole thing with Shin. What had there been to dislike?

One thing. One. Huge. Glaring. Thing. The last scene was playing out and Kealey sat, leaning against Shin with her head on his shoulder, staring at the screen as a limo rolled away from the lone figure standing in the street.

Sure the rest was great. Kouga looked at the last page of the book Kaoru‘s father had written…he even shed a few tears…but Kealey was confused.

”Woah, woah, woah, woah….” she said as the credits started to roll.

”She’s going to Italy. Seriously, Italy?”

It made no sense! They'd won, they'd defeated the giant naked demon woman. Feelings had been revealed...now they were going to go their separate ways?! Kealey looked at Shin in disbelief. Italy.

((OOC: Hikikomori are shut-ins. dictionary.reference.com/browse/hikikomori ))

Shin had liked GARO ever since the first time he'd watched it. There really wasn't another show like it. Golden knights in shining armor, a distant hero with a wall between himself and his emotions, a love interest who gave him inner strength, whom he wanted to protect with every fiber of his being, whose sadness he couldn't deal with, and epic outfits. The emotional stories behind each of the characters were astounding. As he'd watched the show with Kealey, he'd laughed, he'd cried, he'd been moved. The show really was powerful.

Especially the final scene.

Kouga was such a strong character. He worked so hard to protect his girl. He saved her from the big bad, and there were fireworks, giant flaming wings of green-gold. He'd stabbed a naked woman in the forehead, and told her who the hell he was. He'd confessed to Kaoru he needed her, and even walked through the spirit world itself to save her... and then, he'd let her go to pursue her dream.

He was a Man.

He was the manliest man Shin had ever seen on Japanese television... and he'd seen commercials for Segata Sanshiro. Segata Sanshiro, who punched kids for playing baseball, and gave them video games. Who threw people over his shoulder, promoting the Sega Saturn... and in the end, sacrificed his life turning a missile around, and launching it into space to save Sega headquarters... he went with it. In space. Without air, riding a missile. Segata Sanshiro... Segata Sanshiro... SEGATA SAAAAN------- shiro....!!!! The missile exploded, taking him with it. He'd saved Sega... but in the end, he'd been unable to save the Sega Saturn.

Yeah. Kouga was manlier than that. That was saying something.

Kouga had been strong enough to let her go. He wanted the best for her, and let her go. Never held her back. He knew she'd return to him, even if he missed her forever.

Shin dabbed at his eyes. He wasn't crying, no way. There was just something there in the corner of his eye. Yeah. The ending wasn't enough to make him cry. It certainly didn't bring about manly tears the same way Kouga's horse had, or even his wings of flame. It really was the perfect ending. He was allowed to be moved by such a thing. And Kealey could be doubly moved, okay?

... She really was amazing for watching this with him. It was so hard finding girls these days who would watch anime and tokusatsu series. Most of the ones who did lived reclusive lives, locked away alone in their rooms, surrounded by things that weren't friends.

Shin glanced around Kealey's room, and noticed something. Sketches, tons of them, and scattered bits of half-finished clothing designs.

... Okay. Maybe Kealey was a bit of a hikikomori. But she was his hikikomori. It was okay.

The credits rolled, and Shin watched gladly. He rested his head against the side of Kealey's head, grinning to himself.

Then, she started going 'whoa'. It wasn't a good kind of whoa, either. Less a 'whoa, this is epic', more a 'WHOA, HOLD THE PHONE'.

>>”She’s going to Italy. Seriously, Italy?”

Head contact broke. They just stared at each other for a second, both in disbelief.

Shin was the first to speak. He arched an eyebrow, a little confused with her reaction. "Wait. What?"

If Kealey had enjoyed watching GARO, she didn’t know how to put words to how Shin had felt about it. Needless to say, he’d liked it, and his emotions had given Kealey cues a few times when she wasn’t sure how to feel about things that had happened. The emotional overflow in situations like this was okay, even thoroughly enjoyable at times. It was nice to be on the same page as the person you were watching with.

Kealey had been so flabbergasted by the ending, however, that she’d forgotten to even notice how Shin was feeling. Now, staring at him as the credits rolled, the blond could feel the afterglow of some pretty powerful emotions. Obviously Shin had felt a bit differently about the ending than Kealey had. Sudden hope blossomed in her chest…maybe she’d read something in the subtitles wrong. Maybe Kouga was just driving away to….run an errand? Okay…that was lame…but still.

>>"Wait. What?"

Shin was confused, looking at Kealey with an eyebrow raised as he obviously tried to figure out what the problem was.

”He’s leaving. She’s leaving? Just like that?” she said, looking back at the TV for a moment, eyebrows drawn together in a deep frown.

Yes Kealey had enjoyed the action, yes she’d liked the verbal play between Kouga and Rei, and creepy parts were always appreciated when watching something with one’s boyfriend…but if Kealey were being completely honest, it was the romance that had held her interest the most. Kouga had been so emotionally stunted for so much of the series…and after so much he’d finally admitted how he felt…

”How could they go through so much together…know how they feel…and just walk away?” she asked, ”You don’t just walk away from someone when you care about them like that…”

She sighed a little.

”It was so romantic…I just….” Kealey trailed off, feeling like a silly little girl. They’d just walked away from each other…even in Disney movies the hero and heroine shared a kiss at the end….

The reason Kealey was so upset was the ending, it seemed. The fact Kouga and Kaoru were parting ways... the way it was happening. She didn't like that? 'Just like that'? It was supposed to be romantic, she said. They'd told each other how they felt, been on the same page, and then... wait. She thought they were breaking up or something?

The confusion mixed with mild disbelief. He'd thought Kealey would understand the bigger picture. It wasn't a 'break up', but rather a 'parting of ways'. It was temporary. Kouga would come back to her, or she'd come back to him. They wouldn't be apart forever.

... At least, that's what he'd gotten from it. But Kealey wanted romance. Kealey wanted Kouga and Kaoru to run off together and get married, and have little GARO children in a house with white picket fences and a garden that was green?

She wanted... wait, what did she want?

Shin eyed her, still uncertain. He'd have to ask her. Shin spoke slowly. "You're telling me... you'd rather he... she..." How to put it. "Would have given up on their dreams and duties, in order to... stay together? Make a family? Make Gonza a 'granddaddy'? That Kouga should be selfish, and keep Kaoru from her artistic dreams, after he worked so hard to pave a path to the future for her? For them? That he be weak? Not manly at all? Selfish...?" It was coming off like Shin was mad, but he wasn't. He was just shocked. Surprised, that Kealey wouldn't have interpreted it the same way as him. "What would you have wanted?"

He looked at her, face a mix of impatience, curiosity, and opinionated disbelief. What was she thinking? He wanted to know. And how could she possibly have interpreted it as anything other than Kouga being strong enough to support Kaoru in her decisions, no matter the distance it put between them?

Seriously, Italy? It was romantic. He was doing it all for her. How could that not be?

He wasn't angry. He just wanted to know.

Needless to say, Kealey wasn’t expecting the reaction she got from Shin when she expressed her disbelief about the ending of the series. His emotions weren’t exactly angry but they were intense. He wasn’t sure about something too, it made Kealey confused. She frowned slightly as he spoke, trying to piece the emotions together with the words.

Shin was missing the big picture here. It wasn’t the separation that was bothering her. It was the way they’d left each other. Maybe she was missing something…some little piece of the puzzle that would make it all make sense. Shin was taking it a little too far though. The blond shook her head, staring at her hands in her lap.

”That’s not what I was saying at all…I never mentioned ‘settling down‘.” she said softly.

”I just…after everything, they just walked away from each other. I know he was being all noble and letting her go off to become a great artist, but it was all so…distant. What if something happens to him while he’s working up north? It was noble and all, and I get that, I just…”

Kealey sighed. ”Would it have killed the guy to show a little affection before he walked off? One kiss…or at least, ‘We’ll see each other at Christmas…’ How is she supposed to know for sure?“

Kealey shrugged, cheeks coloring as she felt even sillier than before, ”I guess that’s silly.”

"You wanted a kiss?" Shin stared at her for a second, seriously, judgementally. Then, the look softened. He leaned forward to plant a gentle peck on her cheek. He spoke softly, calm smile on his face. "Well, why didn't you say so? I can stow my opinions and agree with you. He really should have made things clearer for her, even if he was doing it all for her. A little affection wouldn't have hurt..." He paused, then tilted his head at her, continuuing. "And, you know... there is a movie after this..."

"Sorry if I came off judgmental. It's just... Kouga would never run off from Kaoru like that... he was doing it for her, and... I guess I feel a little strongly about him and his dumb machismo. You aren't silly. It's just like saying Bogart's character in Casablanca should have kissed the girl before leaving her to escape Casablanca and being the bigger man... I like the ending how it is." He smiled at her frankly. Shin hadn't wanted her to feel bad. What could he say to make her feel better? "Wanna watch the next one?"

That'd do.

Kealey nodded, cheeks still burning slightly when Shin echoed her request that the series had ended with a kiss. He was looking at her so intently it was hard to look back for a moment, then the slight tension broke and Kealey smiled as he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. That was much better.

Shin was calmer now, and it made it a little easier for Kealey to think things through. What he’d said made sense, but the romantic side of Kealey had just wanted a little bit more out of the end of things. Shin pointed out something that Kealey hadn’t known and the blonde’s eyebrows rose fractionally.

”A movie? Well, why didn’t you say so before?” she teased. Surely there’d be at least one kiss there.

Shin explained again, and while Kealey wasn’t quite sure what Shin was talking about when he referenced Casablanca, she knew enough to remember that it was a movie with a great separation scene. Maybe that’s what had her a little up and arms, ”And as noble as it was, I guess I feel a little strongly about separation. So very much can happen…” she said, and then she let it go. That was more than enough to say on the matter.

Shin pointed out that he liked the ending the way it was, and Kealey had to smile again, ”It’s obviously a great ending if it can provoke so many feelings in two people. Even if the feelings were slightly different.”

Shin asked if she wanted to watch the next one, and Kealey nodded her head. ”Absolutely.”

>>”A movie? Well, why didn’t you say so before?”

Because there wasn't really a kiss in that either... He thought. He didn't say that, though. That was a spoiler. Instead, he settled for outlining what he had brought up. He hoped she'd get why he thought the way he thought.

Maybe she did, but... it turned out he hadn't gotten why she was upset.

Separation bothered her. Oh. He hadn't really thought of it that way. A bit of the wind in his sails died down, as he thought about that. He didn't go silent. Emotionally, he was the same as he had been. There was a lot of thinking, a thoughtful change of the subject, and a suggestion.

He nodded at her comment about discussion. When she agreed to watch the movie with him, he paused. She seemed happier now, but he still felt he had to say it. It had been obvious ever since he'd confessed he liked her. He supposed she may have figured out before already, but whatever.

"... Just so you know, Kealey... I..." He started slowly, watching her reactions. Inside his chest were the warm emotions. He was serious about letting them find words.

There was also something else. Something... difficult? Not quite certain... like he was trying to settle on something. The 'I' hung for a moment, with just those two feelings, dueling.

OOC: Joint postage! Shin parts written by Shin!

Shin was doing a lot of thinking as they talked about the end of the series and what had happened between the characters. Some of Shin’s initial fervor had calmed, though, and it seemed that Kealey’s admission that the separation of the characters bothered her had given him quite a bit to think about.

Kealey appreciated that thinking, it meant that he really was trying to see things from her point of view. Even if he didn’t totally get it, the fact of the matter would be that she knew he had tried. It meant the world and she settled her head back down onto his shoulder and focused on the warm and squishy feelings she’d gotten so used to. These were nice feelings, very warm feelings, and Kealey thought that they were probably her favorite ones in the whole world.

"... Just so you know, Kealey... I..." He started slowly, watching her reactions. Inside his chest were the warm emotions. He was serious about letting them find words.

There was also something else. Something... difficult? Not quite certain... like he was trying to settle on something. The 'I' hung for a moment, with just those two feelings, dueling.

Shin spoke, and something in his voice or the subtle change in his emotions made Kealey raise her head again, her eyes looking for his. Somehow, it was a slightly tense moment, not necessarily in a bad way, but in a way that felt like the edge of a precipice. There was uncertainty there, and Kealey tilted her head slightly, mild confusion crossing her features.

”You what?” she said softly, hoping everything was alright.

"I..." Shin paused. There was that uncertainty again. It left her hanging.

Kealey frowned slightly, so much uncertainty all of a sudden. What had happened? "Shin? You what?" she said, still softly but a little more emphatically.

Silence, again. Mental wheels were turning. Was it funny? Maybe it wasn't funny...? Ah, what the hell. He thought it would be. The words came out quickly, after he'd made his stand in the sand. "I'mmovingtoItaly...!" They exploded out of his mouth. After it was done, Shin put on his serious-face, just watching her reaction. He clasped his knees with clenched fists.

The silence was absolutely deafening and Kealey found herself getting slightly anxious at the look on Shin's face and the body language he was projecting.

Then he spoke. Kealey's jaw dropped and she let out a sort of half-strangled sound that was partway between a laugh and a frustrated growl. He couldn't be serious. There was no way...was there?

Suddenly, Kealey's slightly confused mind started putting puzzle pieces together in strange ways that possibly fit.

"You're not seriou--?" she started.

Shin cut off off with a finger placed against her lip. An all-knowing smile had slipped its way onto his face. "I'm kidding. Kealey. I'd never leave you like that, and I wouldn't let you leave me. You're stuck with me, girl. I... just wanted you to know that."

Kealey cut off when Shin put his finger against her lips, staring back intently at him as the grin spread across his face. He had been teasing her. For a moment, irritation flashed through the blond, but then Shin spoke and those feelings evaporated.

How did he get her so well? How had he worked out what was upsetting her about the ending of the end of the series? How had he known exactly what to say?

She felt like she should be grinning, but somehow this was serious and she looked Shin right in the eyes.

"Really?" she asked, "That's good, because you've been stuck with me for a while now."

"That's okay," The grin softened. Now, it was just a warm smile. Shin bowed his head. "Because." Dramatic pause. Shin looked her in the eye. "I love you." He just let it hop out and hug her 'hello'.

Another moment passed, another subtle change in emotion, and the smile on Shin's face changed just slightly. Kealey noticed this and found herself smiling back as Shin dropped his head slightly. She was going to say something,but he spoke first.

Because....

It was okay if he was stuck with her...because he loved her.

Three little words. Three little true words. Kealey gasped softly at the revelation, looking at what she was feeling.

"Oh....that's what it was...." she said almost to herself, talking about the warm feelings that had seemingly grown warmer as time passed.

Kealey never broke eye contact, and the only hesitation was while she identified the emotions for what they really were, "I love you too, Shin." she said past her heart, which was currently trying to beat its way out of her throat. Then came the grin, and Kealey had feeling it wasn't going anywhere for a while.

They were both grinning, and yes, it stayed there. It wasn't going away any time soon. But alas, all grinning silences have to be disturbed by something. Shin broke the grin-fest first, turning back to the television screen and slumping against Kealey's side. "So. Garo-movie?" He hugged her hopefully.

The moment was there, and then it was gone...but not really. Kealey knew what all those warm, glowy feelings that had a tendency to settle over her like a blanket were. She was also sure, no positive, about what she'd replied. It was nice to b e so certain, and she kept right on grinning as Shin slumped agianst her and suggested the GARO movie.

"Absolutely." she said, hugging him back tightly. Suddenly, it didn't matter quite as much what happened on the screen, but watching it would still be fun.

*Fade to GARO*