Citrus

Nothing without you

Chapter One: Family arguments

The night was pitch black, as was the room with the king-size bed where a sleepless Yuzu was starring at the ceiling, despite the fact she wasn't able to see anything anyway. She sight and turned right too face the dark spot were Mei was supposed to lie. She moved a bit forward ,slowly not to wake Mei, until she felt Meis breath tickling her nose. For a few seconds Yuzu closed her eyes and felt a little bit calmer, but as soon as she had to breath again everything went back. Earlier that day she had a major fight with Meis grandfather, who was supposed to be her grandfather as well somehow, but since the family had found out about her and Mei 2 years ago, by accident, he gave them the cold shoulder, avoiding them and everything that is concerned to them somehow. Yuzu could tell that it hadn't been easy for Mei, even if she hadn't shared that deep of an bond with her grandfather, she was hurt. But the Situation escalated yesterday when he received his wedding invitation. Yuzu had sent one to him trying to fix the situation. She thought that maybe if he saw the two of them getting married he will calm down, knowing that Mei will be happy, and would maybe accept the fact that his granddaughter was going to marry a woman. But...

When she got home yesterday she saw Mei standing in the kitchen, looking down on the floor while her grandfather was yelling at her about, "what the hell she was thinking she is doing" and "what she thought would happen to the family reputation."

At first Yuzu was shocked to see Mei, just looking at the floor without doing or saying anything. That was so unlike her that Yuzu was glued to her spot. Suddenly he lifted his arm and Yuzu moved in an instant without hesitating. She just reached her fiance in time and took the hit from her grandfather which had been supposed for Mei. She heard a gasp in her back but didn't turn around. She just lifted her head until she looked into the eyes of her, so called grandfather holding his gaze.

"Don't you dare touch her again!" Yuzu said calmly still looking into his eyes.

"If you ever try to hurt her again, I won't hold back on you. You're still family, but if you don't agree with this wedding, then please leave this house." She added without turning down her gaze a second.

He exploded on that and they had a headed fight for about 15 Minutes until Yuzu managed to get him out of the house somehow without anyone getting hurt.

When she had closed the door and turned around she noticed that Mei had disappeared. She walked up the hallway and entered the bedroom. She stopped dead in her tracks. Mei was sitting on their bed, clenching her knees and her head resting on top of them. Yuzu could hear silent sobs coming from her and her heart broke. She never ever saw Mei like this. Slowly she made her way to the bed, sitting down carefully.

She reached out for Mei but pulled back her hand not sure what to do. After a few seconds, she slid a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at Mei closely.

"Honey? You okay? Please tell me...are you hurt?" Yuzu tried not to sound to frightened, but couldn't stop her voice from shaking.

Mei slowly lifted her had, her face covered with tears streaming down her cheeks and her eyes slightly red. Yuzu got closer to her, wiping her tears of her cheeks gently. Then she sat behind Mei, taking her between her legs so she could hug her from behind while Mei leaned against her chest. She couldn't bear to see her strong, independent and beautiful girlfriend like that. She placed a kiss on Meis head and rested her head on her shoulder.

"Please forgive me" Yuzu whispered.

" I just thought the wedding might make him thinking about everything. I just wanted it for you to be with all of your family members. I am sorry, it is all my fault." she closed her eyes and sighed.

"No..."

Yuzu lifted her head. Mei had turned around to face her and was now sitting between Yuzus legs, with her own crossed. She looked Yuzu right into the eyes showing something between fear,vulnerability and something Yuzu wasn't sure it was regret or something else.

Her eyes widened and a feeling of fear tightened her chest.

'I screwed up,shit. Mei is gonna tell me now...she's going to leave me...I screwed up'

Yuzus mind was racing but came to an halt when she suddenly realized Meis Hand on her cheek.

The look in her eyes had changed now being tenderly as Mei moved her thump caressing Yuzus cheek.

" Stop it, please. It wasn't your fault, I know you only tried to help, but I don't think grandpa will change his mind about us...just let it be, I don't want the wedding to be something else than OUR day."

Mei said leaning in a bit so she could rest her forehead on Yuzus.

"B-But...He is family and... I-I can tell...your not okay with the situation..."

"You may be right...I can't hide it...maybe I wished for his agreement more than I thought..." Mei interrupted Yuzu whispering the last few words.

"Ooh honey..." Yuzu wrapped her arms around Mei, trying to comfort her while trying to hold back her own tears.

They sat like this for what felt like hours until Yuzu tried to pull away but was held back by Meis arms wrapping around her waist.

"I love you Yuzu. You're my everything, the only one that matters to me. Please let it be okay?"

Yuzu nodded silently while stroking Meis back carefully.

After that Mei hat fallen asleep really fast in Yuzus arms. After Yuzu managed to lie her down on the bed correctly without waking her up, she had tried to get some sleep to, despite the fact it was only 9 pm. Now the clock read 2 am and she was still awake unable to sleep.

Yuzu felt responsible for what happened including Meis crushed feelings.

Ever since they started dating 4 years ago Mei had opened up her heart little by little showing more feelings from time to time but still being her cold, effective and strong self.

The only other time Yuzu saw Mei being overwhelmed by her feelings was the day Mei proposed to her. When Yuzu accepted, Mei smiled while tears were running down her face. It took Yuzu fifteen minutes to calm her down. She had never been happier than that day.

Yuzu turned around once more again lying on her back starring at the ceiling.

" You Okay?"

Yuzu looked to her right. Mei was looking at her with sleepy eyes.

"Yeah sure...I'm fine" Yuzu said cracking a smile hoping it was convincing.

"Liar" Mei said and wrapped an arm around Yuzus waist. Yuzu sighed and turned around to face Mei.

"How do you know?" Yuzu asked sheepishly trying to make out Meis features in the darkness.

"You barely stopped moving the past few hours. Besides I am the person that knows you best, I even know you better than you know yourself." Mei said and tightened her grip around Yuzus waist to pull her closer.

"Stop bothering yourself. You can't change what happened."

"But I can't...mmph"

Mei silenced Yuzu by pressing her lips against Yuzus. After a second she broke away and placed a small, light kiss on the corner of Yuzus mouth.

"Just stop it." she said and wrapped her arms once more around Yuzu.

Yuzu nodded in the dark and snuggled up to Mei, placing her head on Meis crook of the neck.

She slowly drifted of calmed by Meis heartbeat and her steady breathing.