Shinken Pink could never remember wanting to cry this hard, yet not doing it. Normally, she wouldn't have any reason to want to cry, especially during a battle where a second not focused on the objective could be the last. This was one of those battles. The Ayakashi Utakasane was stealing everyone's souls and they only had a day to live. This was no time for her or the other Shinkenger to worry about personal needs. However, that was hard to do when she was seeing the love of her life near death right in front of her. Shinken Yellow had become Utakasane's 54th victim. As she fell, she unhenshined back into a weak Kotoha. Shinken Pink almost threw up at the sight as she cradled Kotoha's near lifeless body.
"Kotoha, please make it." Shinken Pink pleaded, despite knowing Kotoha most likely hated her right now.
That night, after the briefing with Hikoma, Mako went into her room to sulk, lying face down on her bed. She wanted to let loose and cry so hard, but she was taught to never show weakness and held it in. As Mako looked outside, she heard nothing. A single tear dripped from her eye as she remembered the first time she Kotoha told Mako that she loved her as much as Mako loved her back. That memory strengthened Mako.
Kotoha will be okay. Mako thought. Once she's okay, we'll… Mako then remembered. She had made Kotoha furious with her.
Even if Kotoha makes it, she wants nothing to do with me. Mako thought bitterly. She rested her head on her wall, a tear rolling down her eye as she remembered what had happened a few days earlier…
"Good morning Mako-chan" Kotoha said in a happy sing-song voice after saying good morning to the others in the room. She wrapped her arms around Mako from behind as Mako was sitting, eating breakfast with Takeru, Hikoma, and Ryunosuke. Mako smiled at Kotoha's affection, although she was a little uneasy that Kotoha made a bigger deal over her hello than the others, something she's sure the others noticed. Chiaki definitely noticed Kotoha hugging Mako.
"Well, well" Chiaki said with a perverted, yet joking menace. "Looks like I'll finally get my wish about two ladies together."
Mako nearly choked on her food as Chiaki got slapped on the back of the head by Hikoma.
"Don't be ill-mannered, especially when you're not awake on time" Hikoma said sternly as both he and Chiaki sat down.
"He was just joking around." Kotoha said as she took a seat next to Mako. As Ryunosuke grumbled about Chiaki being irresponsible, Kotoha continued "He didn't say anything mean about two women being together. He just got silly."
"Of course" Hikoma said. "He'd have lost an ear if he had gone further." he finished as he glared at Chiaki.
As Chiaki gulped at Hikoma's stare, Kotoha pressed further. "So if there was someone in the house who loved someone else of their own gender, that wouldn't be a problem?" Mako got uncomfortable with where Kotoha was going with this. The men shook their heads, none of them looking like a gay person would bother them, although they looked at each other thinking Kotoha was talking about one of the men. That didn't help ease Mako's worries. Kotoha squeezing her hand made Mako realize what Kotoha was about to do.
"Well, then me and Mako…" Kotoha started.
"Were wondering if Kotoha's friend Urara could visit here then." Mako finished. "She's such a big fan of the Edo period and wanted to see the artifacts in the house. Kotoha's been meaning to ask, but she didn't want to be a bother. She does like women, but she didn't want to bring anyone else."
"If she stays out of our way if anything happens and she doesn't know our true roles." Takeru said, taking a sip of his tea, with a small smile on his face.
Mako smiled at him then turned towards Kotoha. Kotoha was smiling, but Mako can sense Kotoha was not happy.
"What was that about?" Kotoha said in Mako's doorway, a little while after breakfast. From a normal person, her tone would be mildly upset. From Kotoha, it was practically yelling. This was a tone that Kotoha usually saved for an Ayakashi. I'm in trouble Mako thought.
"Kotoha, please listen" Mako said as she turned around.
"To what?" Kotoha said, the anger creeping into her voice. "How you're ashamed of being my girlfriend?"
Mako sighed. "Kotoha, no, that wasn't…"
"Then what? What is it?" Kotoha asked.
"…Our relationship isn't something we should be shouting all around" Mako said tentatively, hoping it would placate Kotoha. It didn't.
"Why not? You love me?" asked Kotoha, angrier and now with tears in her eyes.
"Yes."
"And I love you" Kotoha said. "Love is beautiful and nothing to be ashamed of."
"But I don't want problems from people, especially from our friends." Mako pleaded, though her anger at Kotoha's ignorance was starting to rise. Mako kept it hidden, like she was taught to.
"Other people shouldn't matter, just me and the others." Kotoha said. "Besides, our friends don't care. You heard them saying they wouldn't care."
"Saying and doing are two different things." Mako said, annoyed. "They were just being nice... They were just being nice." She finished with hurt feelings. Mako would've liked being accepted for her love for Kotoha, especially from her friends, although Kotoha was starting to annoy her now. It was not being helped by Kotoha starting to cry.
"Quit being stupid." Mako said, her impatience breaking to the surface.
Instantly, Mako knew she said the worse thing possible. Kotoha usually believed that she was stupid and was not bothered by it. This even protected her against an Ayakashi once. However, coming from Mako…well, it's not something Mako said often. Kotoha turning away and going toward her room should be an indicator of how Kotoha was feeling about Mako's outburst. Mako followed her.
"Kotoha, wait." Mako said, grabbing Kotoha's shoulder. Kotoha turned back around with hurt on her face.
"I will work with you to protect citizens and complete our mission, but other than that, I want nothing to do with you." Kotoha said, tears streaming down her face. She turned back around and went towards her room. As she got farther away, Mako could hear Kotoha crying. Mako wanted to cry with her, but she was not a crier and kept her emotions in check. As she walked away she ran in to Takeru.
"Mako, can you try and have Urara come Sunday?" Takeru asked.
"Sunday?" Mako said, briefly forgetting who Urara was.
"For Kotoha's birthday party." Takeru said gleefully…well, at least by his standards.
"Oh, yeah, sure." Mako said, remembering both the party and Urara. As Takeru walked away, it hit Mako that she can make it up to Kotoha someway on her birthday. Mako promised herself she would get Kotoha something wonderful to make it up to Kotoha…
Except now I might not be able to Mako thought bitterly as she looked at the locket she knew Kotoha wanted. She wished she could go back in time and warn herself against saying what she did, and against stopping Kotoha revealing their relationship.
If only I let her, we wouldn't be angry at each other and… A terrible thought then occurred to Mako, and she cried herself to sleep.