Chapter 83: His

Aunty left me with the instructions to put some ice on my face and talk to Bokuto. She told me, "You needed him and he stepped up. Now he needs you."

She sent me off with the teams and the coaches to the hotel. My family gave me a list of things to tell him. While Uncle Koyoa's private police force handled Bokuto's dad.

When I got up to my floor, everyone was heading towards the wash rooms. I asked one of the guys where Bokuto was and he looked down saying, "He's already in the bath. But I'll let him know you want to talk."

"Thank you," I nod and head to my room.

I grab my things and head to the wash room. Where I slip in quietly as Hina talked loudly, "Well I don't care, he had no right to freak out like that and get all violent over her. I mean, it's about time someone put her in her place. Thinks just because her family has money she can say and do anything she wants, no the captain wants to get all mad when someone treats her like the slave she really is."

They all sit in the tub, most with their heads low as she speaks with her nose to the sky. None of them notice me until I turn the shower on and turn my back to them.

"One more day," I whisper into the water. One more game, one more win and I'm done with these girls.

I don't soak in the tub. I just shower, and head to the changing room. I throw on some shorts and the Way of the Ace, t-shirt Bokuto let me wear.

Quickly I head back to my room, with the girls still laughing in the background.

I'll call Bokuto in a bit. It wouldn't surprise me if he forgot that he was supposed to come to my room tonight anyway.

I go out down the hall to grab ice, to put on my cheek. I wrap it in a rag and hold it to my face, feeling the cool that seems to bring more stinging. The swelling has started. And tears bega. To swell as well as I think about the fact that I have never been hit by anyone like the before. Especially by a man. And then because of that, I caused Bokuto to get into a fight with his dad.

Although I don't know if I can count that as a fight. Bokuto was on his from the moment he touched me, and he refused to let him come anywhere near me afterward.

I was worried about Bokuto yes, but in the moment. I felt no fear. I knew nothing more would happen to me. He wouldn't let nothing more happen.

A knock sounds at my door and I jump a bit and wipe my face. I go to the door with the ice still pressed to my face. I expected Bokuto, thinking he must have remembered. But when I opened the door, Akasshi stood on the other side. Worry in his eyes, "Hey, um… can you check on Bokuto? He's… not himself."

"Where is he," I ask looking around him at the guys going into their room.

"He's still in the bath," he says, "When he gets out I'll send him to you."

I nod, "Okay," and go to close my door but stop to asking, "Is anyone else there?"

"No?" He questioned.

I only nod and close the door bidding Akasshi goodnight. I waited by the door, until the halls were quiet. Then I left my room and moved towards the washrooms. I walked past the female washroom, and went straight for the male washroom.

I looked up and down the hall making sure no one saw me, before I grabbed the door handle and went in. There's a changing room that you walk into which stood empty, thankfully. Then as I move towards the washroom, I hear Bokuto's voice, groan, "Not now Akasshi." 

I peeked into the room first. He was alone, like Akasshi said.

I saw him, sitting in the huge tub, alone. With his hands locked together at the back of his neck. Carefully I stepped closer, voice small when I say, "I'm not Akasshi."

He turned back quickly, snapping his head around looking throughout the room, "Baby Bird what are you doing in here?"

"I came to see how my hero is doing" I shrug stepping closer, sitting along the edge of the bath.

"Didn't feel like a hero," he huffed, looking down at the water, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you or your family or anyone to see me like that. It was just, I just couldn't let him get away with that. I won't just sit there and let someone hurt you, especially not him."

"I get it," I try, "It's like-"

He shakes his head, "No, it's not like my Mom. Yeah, this sucks with her, but at some point she still chooses to stay. You didn't pick him, you picked me. And when you did, I told myself I wouldn't let him hurt you and I did and-"

"And my family thanks you." I cut him off, "My grandfather told me to tell you, you have his trust. My Mom said you did just what she would have done, so congrats pretty sure you won her over." He chuckled a little, "The twin uncles are just glad they didn't have to do it. And luckily, the only recording of the whole thing is on Hana's phone so. No one else ever has to know.

Everything is fine Bokuto. You took care of me, so my family is taking care of you and your Mom.

And me, you don't have to worry about me thinking anything different of you. If anything, I feel better about being with you since I know, I'm worth the risk to you."

He eyes still rest on the still water, "Zara, you are worth so much more than what you're getting."

"Maybe," I sigh, "All I really know is, being with you just always feels like the right thing to do. Like, regardless of how much mess is going on around us. We always seem to do good by each other, and that is more than enough for me."

Silence falls throughout the room, before I breathe, "I really do love you Bokuto."

"I love you too Zara," he says, drawing his head back to look at me, "Can I have a hug?"

"If you get out of the water," I chuckle.

He pouts, reaching a hand out to me and grabbing my arm. "Bokuto what are you doing?" I ask as he starts to pull me closer, with nothing to grab I splash into the bath and pulled onto Bokuto's lap. His arms wrapped around me, his face tucked into the croak of my neck. He's already comfortable and relaxed. Me? My body tenses from the sudden wet that now drenches my clothes.

"Bokuto, why would you-" I start but can't finish. Not with his lips pressed to mine, kissing me. Show me what words just don't seem to be big enough to say. My hand settles on his bare chest, feel the heat from him, from the bath, it consumes me as I feel his heart. The way it beats strong and calm as his chest rises and falls. This is just as it's supposed to be for him.

My wet clothes didn't seem to matter much anymore, as he holds me as close as he can. Somehow, it's not close enough. My arms loop around his shoulders, fingers twisting in his wet hair, falling deeper into him.

Until he pulls back. Smile returned, kissing me light still, trying to pull away long enough to speak.

"We should probably get out of here before someone comes in here." 

"Well now my clothes are all wet."

"You're the one that came into the men's washroom fully dressed." He laughed. Removing me from his lap.

"What, you expect me to come into the men's washroom fully naked?"

He shrugged, "I did," as he stood up and stepped out of the water, no shame in any moment of me being about to see all of him. Not that there should be any shame. The guy's body is gorgeous.

He didn't even bother to hide the stiff member that moved about.

I got out of the water too, following him towards the changing room. "I need to borrow your towel when you're done."

He dried off and handed over with a skeptical look as I tried not to stare. "Baby Bird, you're just gonna have to take those off."

"And put what on?"

He reached for his things and tossed a shirt at me saying, "You just got to make it to your room. We'll be alright."

"Yeah sure, and right when I'm trying to open the door Hina comes out see you shirtless and me half naked going into my room," I huff, but I listen, snatching off the wet clothes and drying off.

I throw on his t-shirt, thankful that it's long enough to cover me since my underwear is also soaked. I stepped to the door with Bokuto following behind. I peaked my head out the door to check down the hall, while Bokuto just laughed and stepped out. "Come on, hurry up." He says, so I do. I hold the end of his shirt down and hurry down the hall to my room, quickly unlocked the door and dipping inside.

Bokuto was right behind me and once we were locked into the room, I sat on the bed and he followed, with one more thing on his mind. "Hey Baby Bird," He says to me, "I did want to say sorry for what I said too. I said you were mine, and you're not like my property or anything. I was just mad and saying dumb shirt."

For some reason it hurt worse to hear him say I don't belong to him, than it doesn't to hear him say I do belong to him. "You're wrong," I tell him, inching closer, "I am yours," I swing a leg on either side of him, straddling him, "All yours, if you want." I say, looking into his golden eyes, meaning every bit of it.

I move closer, kissing him, knowing that if he wants me, I'm his.