Angel With A Shotgun

Chapter 9

Lorelei accepted gratefully, stripping off her clothes and stepping into the water. The cool spray of the waterfall felt incredible on her skin, and she let out a sigh of contentment as she leaned back against a smooth, round rock. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and saw Kyoya watching her from a distance, its expression unreadable. "Thank you," she said simply, "this is perfect."

Kyoya nodded, his massive frame shifting as he settled into a more comfortable position. He closed his eyes, allowing the sound of the waterfall to wash over it. As Lorelei bathed, Kyoya found himself thinking about their conversation from earlier that morning. It had never considered that the young woman might not know what she wanted to do with her life, or that she might be struggling with the weight of her past. He felt a pang of guilt for not having realized this sooner.

The sun beat down on their naked bodies, warming them to the core. As the minutes passed, Lorelei felt more and more at ease. She climbed out of the pool, drying herself off with her clothes, and joined Kyoya on the shore. They sat in silence for a while, simply enjoying each other's company. Eventually, Kyoya broke the silence. "Lorelei," he said softly, "if you ever need someone to talk to... someone who won't judge you... you can always come to me."

Lorelei looked up at Kyoya, surprise etched on her features. "Thank you," she said quietly. "That means a lot." She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and placed her hand on Kyoya's massive arm. "I appreciate everything you've done for me, and I'm sorry if I've been... distant."

Kyoya smiled down at her, his eyes twinkling with warmth. "You have nothing to apologize for," he said gently. "I understand why you might need your space." he paused, considering his next words. "But I hope... I hope that you'll continue to let me be a part of your life, however small a part that might be."

Lorelei smiled back, her expression softening. "You have been a good friend to me, even if you are a little... intimidating sometimes." She chuckled, her laughter bouncing off the surrounding cliffs. "I don't know what I'd do without you, honestly. And I'm grateful for that."

They sat in silence for a while longer, watching the waves crash against the shore and feeling the warmth of the sun on their skin. It was a peaceful moment, one that seemed to wash away the weight of their past and their worries about the future. As they sat there, Lorelei realized that perhaps she didn't need to have all the answers right now, that it was enough to have someone like Kyoya by her side.