A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own Strawberry Panic or its characters, all goes to their respective creators.
This story takes place before 'Forever Always'
Chapter 1
She brought the brush to her hair, gently moving it down her crimson sea of hair just as she always had though she would spend a good deal of time on it due to the length of her hair. As she brushed her hair she felt a pair of warm arms embrace her.
-"Here let me do that."- Momomi grabbed the brush and took over.
"Thanks."
The two stayed silent for a while till Momomi looked over Scarlet's entire hair, -"Babe, doesn't it bother you having so much hair?"-
"No way I love my hair."
-"Don't get me wrong Carly I love your hair too but doesn't this annoy you?"-
"No…well at first but now it doesn't really bother me."
-"I can never picture me growing my hair out like this."-
"You probably wouldn't want too." She giggled.
Two months…two months since the two have been together, to Scarlet and Momomi however was an amazing two months ever since they became a couple. Not once did the two regret telling each other how they felt for one another, and their lives since then were much happier. It's been an entire life changer for Momomi, in the past she didn't care for anyone or bother to spend time with friends but now here is a girl like Scarlet whom her heart belongs too now and ever since she became her girlfriend she found her life turning around for the better. She was finally experiencing something she's always wanted, the feeling of loving someone that loved you back and to be there for you when you were at your worst, to help you through anything, she loved everything Scarlet brought into her life.
Scarlet too felt the same, at first she was lost ever since she let Eleanor go from her heart. She wondered many things, though her heart was still alone but not before stumbling into Momomi by chance at the bar. From the beginning Scarlet didn't expect anything from Momomi other then she was a friend to her and helped her find a place to live, but from that moment her life slowly began to change. The two began to hang out after Momomi felt something for the red haired vixen, though Scarlet thought nothing of it till the more they spent time together did Scarlet start to feel something for Momomi. It wasn't till after did the two finally confess what they felt for one another and for the first time in Scarlet's life, she was finally happy.
Though their relationship did have a rocky start, as Scarlet saw the awful side of Momomi more than once and their relationship was put on risk when Kaname had called Momomi to try and win her back and she snapped, calling Scarlet something awful when she tried to help her through it. Momomi quickly tried to apologize to Scarlet and regretted what she said, though Scarlet was deeply hurt she still forgave her and that's when Momomi promised she would do everything to change even though her beautiful red head had told her she would love her anyways.
As the months went by everyone noticed the change in Momomi, Scarlet being the first then all their friends did they notice that Momomi was not as shallow as she once was or at least a little, trying to be a better person for own sake proved hard after having been with Kaname for so long. But Momomi tried to talk to everyone mostly Shion and Chikaru which was surprising but great, Momomi even felt comforted being able to talk to those two and it was a good start.
The only person Momomi hardly ever talked to was Shizuma, now there was some bad blood between the two, since Astraea Hill the two hated each other even though in the meeting rooms the two never spoke to each other it was only after one meeting did Momomi insult the former Etolie behind her back and it wasn't subtle either. Shizuma heard this however and a fire erupted from Shizuma as she grabbed Momomi by her collar and dared her to repeat what she said though Momomi was unphased by it and repeated her words. This earned her a painful slap but not before Momomi gave her one of her own and everyone knew it was about to explode out of proportion till Miyuki and Shion stepped between the two.
Though Miyuki harbored no hatred towards Momomi, she did however avoid her but now she occasionally talks to her mostly because she's friends with Eleanor and Miyuki knew she didn't want any bad feelings between them.
She felt her arms slowly embrace her, -"Carly?"-
"Yeah?" she held her arms.
-"I'm really sorry for telling you off."
Scarlet chuckled softly as she reached up to hold her, "Momomi I told you its okay."
-"No its not, you're the last person I ever want to blow up on. You were only trying to help and I tell you to…"-
"Shhh, its okay. Kaname doesn't exactly leave you in a cheery mood, so I understand." She smiled at Momomi.
-"That doesn't matter, I never wanted to do that to you"-
Scarlet gently lowered Momomi's head and locked lips with her lovingly, "I told you it's alright."
-"Baby…I'm just…I almost ruined us."-
"But it didn't happen, lets just put this nasty memory behind us okay. Nothing's going to change between us, okay."
She smiled at her red headed vixen and hugged her again, -"There is something else I wanted to tell you."-
"What's that?"
Momomi sighed heavily, -"My parents want to meet you…"-
"What? Really?" Now that she thought about it, Momomi never really talked about her parents much, "How did they know?"
-"How do you think."-
"Kaname?" Momomi nodded.
"How exactly?"
-"I never told my parents I broke up with her, they thought I was still with her and called her asking for me but she told them the rest and that I was with someone else."- She sighed again, -"And now they want to meet you."-
"You hate your parents?"
-"No,"- she spoke softly, -"I just…I wasn't a good daughter to them… Lets leave it at that."-
"They're your parents, they're always gonna love you no matter what."
-"I know..."- she sat next to Scarlet and laid her head on her shoulder, -"On the bright side, they hate Kaname just as much as I do."-
"No kidding?"
-"Nope."- the two shared a small laugh.
"So are they coming?"
-"No, we're going to visit them. Ugh I really hate going back there. But you know what…I haven't seen my parents since they left me in Spica."-
"I haven't really been to japan, this is going to be awesome and I get to test out my language skills over there."
-"You've never been there?"-
"No."
-"Trust me you'll hate it…"- Momomi looked at Scarlet realizing how bad it sounded, -"I mean, I'm sure you'll like it but I just cant bring myself to like it anymore."-
"I understand." There was a bit of a pause till Scarlet pulled Momomi's arms towards her so she could hug her, "If you don't want to go we don't have to."
-"No its fine, we'll go."-
"Alright then, when should we go?"
-"I guess tomorrow, I'll get us a flight first thing in the morning ."-
"Cool, well then lets get things ready for tomorrow and maybe I'll cook us up something good to eat." Scarlet stood up but she stood up rather quickly and placed so much weight on her right leg that it immediately surged with pain and she fell on her knee with a whimper.
-"Carly!?"- Momomi held her girlfriend close, -"You okay?"-
Scarlet chuckled, "Yeah…old injury."
-"Come here sit down."- she held onto Scarlet by her waist and guided her to the bed and sat her down, she then placed both her hands on Scarlet's leg and began to softly massage it to ease the pain.
-"Better?"-
"A little, thanks." She slowly stood up and walked hand in hand with Momomi to their living room. Scarlet began cooking breakfast for the two while Momomi looked on learning a few tricks from her red headed vixen. Once they were finished, Momomi helped Scarlet set the table and sat down while Scarlet served the both of them. However Momomi noticed that Scarlet was trying to hide the pain in her leg but not only that she was also trying her best not to limp.
-"Carly?"-
"what's up baby?" she sat down.
-"Does it still hurt?"-
"Was it that obvious?" she giggled.
-"I can see it when you walk, how bad was it? I mean you told me what happened but I don't think you told me just how bad that injury was."-
"Yeah, well the muscle in my leg was torn badly, the whole part of my leg was purple and I had to get surgery done."
-"My god…"-
"Yeah…the doctor's…well my parents told me that it left my leg unable to perform heavy actions, like running and stuff or it'll start to hurt. Even putting a lot of weight on my leg kills me." She chuckled, "I remember when I was walking to class a student running somewhere bumped into me but not without kneeing my leg by accident, the pain was so intense but a couch there recognized me and carried me to the doctor's office."
-"Geezus Carly, did you at least kick his ass when you saw him again?"-
"No, I never did see him again."
-"Carly that's horrible that you went through that."-
"It was but thank god that's past me now."
-"Did they give you any meds?"-
"Yeah, some pretty hefty painkillers but lately I haven't needed them."
-"Want me to get them for you?"-
"I'm not that crippled." She laughed.
-"I know I just…I worry for you."-
Scarlet smiled, "I know, but I'll be fine." The two continued to finish their meals as they conversed and once they were done Momomi called up the airports to schedule a flight to Japan so Scarlet could meet Momomi's parents. As she did that Scarlet walked over to the couch and laid down on it, resting her leg on top of it feeling the small jolts of pain that only made her feel uncomfortable.
-"Okay there, that's done we'll be leaving first thing in the morning."-
"That was fast."
-"Damn right."- she took a seat by Scarlet's legs and lifted her right one over her lap to continue massaging it, -"Does it still hurt?"-
"Well not as much, it comes and goes once in a while."
-"And this is permanent?"-
"Sadly yes…"
Scarlet saw Momomi's expression saddened, no doubt it pained her knowing this and wanted to do what she could for her.
Scarlet closed her eyes as Momomi's gentle fingers continued to sooth her aching muscle or at least till Momomi's hands kept climbing higher and higher up her leg.
"Uh Momomi... my injury is lower." She opened her eyes, seeing that mischievous smirk on her face.
-"I know."- it wasn't long till her hands made it to Scarlet's lower regions engulfing her in ecstasy and the two began to make love.
Scarlet stretched and yawned as the morning light seeped under the heavy curtains, she looked over to Momomi who was still sound asleep. Scarlet eased herself over to her and gently shook Momomi to wake her.
"Baby its time to wake up."
Momomi inhaled deeply as her eyes slowly fluttered open, -"Nani?"-
"We have to go to the airport remember."
-"Already?"- she turned over to her side.
"Yeah, are you sure you want to go? I mean we can just stay here."
-"I don't want to but my parents won't stop pestering me about this."- Momomi finally got off the bed though sluggishly and the two began to get changed and once they were done they grabbed their bags they had packed the night before, locked up the house and drove to the airport. After a while of waiting they boarded their plane, found their seats and the plane took off.
"Momomi?" Scarlet noticed the uneasy and annoyed expression on Momomi's face.
-"I just…I hate it back there just many things I don't want to come back to..."-
"Momomi I'm right here with you. You don't have to do this alone."
-"I know, thank you."- their interlaced their fingers together holding their hands as Momomi laid her head on Scarlet's shoulder as they flew to Japan.
hours had passed by when the captain came over the speaker and told everyone that they'll be landing in a few minutes. The two girls were woken up by the stewardess passing by them letting them know they were landing. Once the plane touched down, they got off and headed outside and called for a taxi. After Momomi gave him the directions to her home he put the car into motion and drove them there.
She paid the fair and now the two stood in front of Momomi's rather large home, she wasn't kidding when she told Scarlet that her home was extremely huge almost as big as Eleanor's home if not probably bigger.
"You live here!? Wow your house is freaking awesome!" Scarlet looked over Momomi's home.
-"Yeah I suppose it is."- she smiled at Scarlet, -"Come on."- she gently held Scarlet's hand as they walked up the front door and wondered if the door was unlocked. She twisted the door knob and luckily it was, the two walked inside her home. Momomi's home was filled with many paintings, pottery, the whole floor was covered in a blue rug and there was a stair case leading up to the many doors of her home.
"Oh my god its so awesome."
-"Wait till you see the pool, its pretty cool."-
"You have a pool!?"
Momomi giggled seeing her cute reaction, -"Yeah, and i can think of a few things we can do in there."- She smirked.
"Uh..."
Momomi only giggled till she said, -"I'm not joking."-
Scarlet said nothing, her face was red thinking of what Momomi had in planned.
-"Mom, dad?"- Momomi called out as her voice echoed throughout the walls, Scarlet looked over to Momomi, goodness knows what she could be thinking off just by her annoyed expression, were her parents bad people? Or were they annoying to her? She wouldn't know but as their rushed footsteps could be heard fast approaching it was only a matter of seconds till Scarlet found out.
End Chapter 1