Page 97 of Calming the Storm

"Can I hug you?"

"Yes," I whispered.

He gently wrapped his arms around me. I took a few shaky breaths, needing a second to adapt to his hold before my tense shoulders relaxed.

"I'll never hate you, Crimson. I can't explain everything, but let's just say you're stuck with me now. If you think James is worthy of your love again, I'll support you. Though I won't sleep in the same bed as his ass. He can sleep on the floor, right next to Urufu, just in case she needs to give his balls a test trial."

I snickered and began to giggle.

It was the first time I'd laughed since the incident.

"That would be funny," I snorted.

"I miss your laugh," Aki commented. We pulled back to stare at one another.

"I miss you..." I confessed. "I miss the others too. I...just need a bit more time."

"Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere, remember?" Aki reminded.

"You'll tell me the details when I'm better?” I asked.

He nodded. "Ya. I promise."

"Do..." I trailed off, unsure how to word what I was thinking.

"Storm...right?" Aki stated.

I nodded, glad he understood my hesitation.

"Who knows?"

"Yoshimitsu knows the full extent of everything. Haru knows a little. The others are clueless," Aki explained. "And you?"

"I know everything. I helped Yoshi find the hidden documents and track her hotel stays. We got the surveillance footage and everything. It was the truth."

I saw the hurt in his eyes and he looked away, trying to compose himself.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Everything happens for a reason. Without her...well, we never would have ended up meeting you. I won't deny the fact it hurts, because it does. It hurts because I was used, and she didn't think we'd be okay with her having a female lover," Aki said dryly.

"You would have been okay with it if she was honest?" I asked.

He stared into my eyes for a minute before he replied.

"You just told me you were still in love with your ex. You told me because you trust and love me. You informed me and gave me the reigns in deciding if I could live with the idea of you loving and maybe bringing James into this relationship one day. You're giving me the chance to choose because you respect my opinion. It proved to me that you would be willing to ditch that love to stay with our group, or you wouldn't have told me," Aki summarized.

"True..."

"Yoshi wants us all to be present before we tell them," Aki suggested.

"That would be a good idea...but..." I didn't want to delay telling the others the truth just because of my healing process.

"I need you there, Crimson. I don't like withholding the truth, but there's no way I can stand in the room and drop that bomb of truth on them alone. Just your presence will give me strength, and I think it would help the others as well," Aki unveiled.

"One more week?" I suggested.

"Will that be enough for you?" he countered.

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