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''You don't have to choose now. Just take your time sorting your feelings out.''

That was what Hinata had advised after Kaira told her about her conflicting thoughts and feelings. It was easy for her to guess who the other man was who held a place in the Uchiha's heart, and the Byakugan wielder understood very well why Kaira was hesitating so much.

She also thought that Yuuji was a kind man, also a person who deserved to be loved again after losing his wife.

Just like Yuuji could fill the hole in Kaira's life, Kaira could do the same for him.

Kaira thought about this very carefully as she walked on a dark but familiar pad which led her back to Yuuji's house. It was frightening to think that her decision could turn her whole life upside down. Such a big change, was she even ready for that? Were Kazu, Daichi and Shunsuke ready for that?

A sigh left her lips. While talking to Hinata was helpful, Kaira was still far away from making a choice. To choose what seemed the best to her, a choice she felt comfortable with. Just like Hinata said, only time would reveal the answer. She needed to see for herself what her emotions were trying to tell her.

Pressing her lips together, she raised her gaze from the path, her eyes widening slightly when Yuuji and Aki appeared in her sight. It was difficult to see their faces, but it wasn't hard to recognize them. Aki was sound asleep, her head resting on her father's shoulder as he unlocked the door.

The Uchiha stopped moving and simply stared at the small family. Somehow, her heart fluttered.

''Ah, Kaira?" Yuuji called when he noticed her. ''Did you  have a good time with Hinata?''

Kaira merely nodded in return, slowly approaching them. A tingling feeling spread over her stomach and she pursed her lips. Now, after talking about it to someone, the Uchiha was even more conscious of what she felt toward Yuuji. She hadn't truly defined it yet, but she knew it was more than a simple 'like'.

''Have you already eaten?" Yuuji asked, letting Kaira enter the house first.

''I haven't.'' Kaira murmured softly.

Yuuji grinned. ''Let's make something together again.'' He spoke, closing the door behind him. ''Go to the kitchen. I'll come once I've put Aki to bed.''

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Kaira was once again cutting the vegetables while Yuuji told her about his day. She wasn't really listening, too consumed by her own thoughts. There was a lot to think about, and her head started to hurt. She didn't want to think about it anymore, she just wanted to be happy, together with the man she loved.

All this worrying exhausted her, both physically and mentally. She was tired of it.

The moment a hand gripped her shoulder, all the muscles in Kaira's body tensed and a gasp left her lips. The sudden touch came totally unexpected, which startled her.

Yuuji leaned forward, quickly wrapping his fingers around the hand which held the knife to keep her from dropping it. ''Be careful.'' He whispered softly, tightening his hold on her shoulder. ''Are you alright? I just asked you but you didn't answer.''

Kaira swallowed thickly, feeling his heart beat against her back. While it was probably her almost dropping the knife that surprised him, it was the closeness that made Kaira's heart beat faster. There wasn't any need to feel nervous or excited, but Kaira couldn't help it.

''I-I'm sorry.'' She mumbled. ''I was in my own world for a bit.''

Yuuji frowned and let go of her hand, motioning for her to put the knife down, and she did. He now also grabbed her other shoulder, turning her around to face her properly.

Ever since she came back, Kaira was absentmindedly replying to him whenever he asked something, or she didn't answer at all. She was usually pretty attentive, so her unusual behavior worried him. ''Are you okay? Is it about what you and Hinata talked about?"

Kaira raised her hand, taking his wrist. It was her intention to pull his hand away from her shoulder, but in the end, she ended up holding his wrist and nothing more. His touch calmed her

Yuuji frowned, his eyes flickering to her hand before he went back to studying her face. She seemed confused, conflicted as her eyes darted across the room, looking at everything aside from him. ''Kaira?''

The Uchiha blinked, her gaze now directed at him. ''Yes?''

Yuuji squeezed her shoulders. ''I asked if you were alright.''

''Oh,'' Kaira breathed, before chuckling softly. ''I've felt better before.''

Yuuji couldn't hold back a small smile. Even now, she could laugh. He admired her for that.

Kaira's expression already soon turned into one of doubt. The playful atmosphere didn't even last a second. A shaky sigh left her lips as she was debating with herself about what to do. This seemed like a golden opportunity. ''..Yuuji..'' Kaira didn't say more, she couldn't. While her mind was clouded with different thoughts before, it went completely blank now.

Yuuji's eyes narrowed, and he brushed his fingertips against her neck, which made her breathing tremble. ''Yes?'' He whispered, the corners of his lips twitching up. He had to admit;  he's always been curious about his feelings for her.

Kaira gently dug her fingers into his skin. Was it a warning or a sign for him to do it again, she didn't know. It felt weird. She took a deep breath. ''I hate making empty promises.'' She started. ''Or speaking words which might not hold any meaning, so would you allow me to do something which would normally be regarded as incredibly stupid and thoughtless?''

Yuuji smiled softly. He already knew where this was going. And if he had to be honest, he had been waiting and hoping for this. Kaira wasn't the only one who wanted to know. He nodded his head to answer her question, moving his hands up from her shoulders to her cheeks. His eyes softened once he noticed the confidence disappearing from her eyes, her movements becoming hesitant.

This was as far as Kaira dared to go herself. The next move had to come from him, but Yuuji didn't mind that. Slowly, he leaned in.

Her hands trembled slightly, giving away her anxiety, nervosity. Even though she wanted to know, she also felt unsure, yet she didn't make a single move to stop Yuuji as the distance between them became nonexistent.

It was a simple gesture, an innocent display of endearment. Kaira had done more intimate actions with another man, yet she felt as if this were her first kiss.  His lips were warm and welcoming, his touch gentle, capable of making every woman swoon, but a simple gesture like this had never felt so wrong before.

Maybe it was because Sasuke was the only man she had ever been intimate with. He had taken all her firsts, and he had also been her lasts. In these five years, she had never touched another man with a lustful intention.

 He was doing this not only for himself, but also for her, his kindness only increasing her feelings of guilt.  

At least now she knew that Yuuji wasn't the one for her.

A simple kiss like this made that clear.

After all, Kaira knew how it felt to kiss a man which she loved,

but now she also knew how it felt to kiss a friend.