"Mako, we did it!" Ryuko cried out in disbelief as she ran out of the wreckage that used to be Ragyo's fortress. "We beat Ragyo! We won!"

Mako came flying at her so fast Ryuko barely caught her in time. "Of course we did it, Ryuko!" Her hug landed with such force that it knocked Ryuko over into the dirt.

But Ryuko didn't mind in the least as her breath was knocked out of her, because Mako was hugging her around the neck, laughter of pure joy bubbling into her ear. She hugged Mako back tightly, burying her face in the other girl's shoulder and smiling.

The timing was perfect. Ryuko hesitated for only a moment before she placed her hand on Mako's cheek, prompting the other girl to look at her. Ryuko blushed deeply but she gave Mako a little reassuring smile and leaned in, brushing her lips against Mako's in a sweet kiss-

Or at least she was about to until Mako replaced her mouth with her hands.

"WHOOooaa there, Ryuko!" Mako said loudly, keeping her hands in place.

Ryuko froze on the spot, eyes wide and lips still smooching Mako's palms. "Mmpf?"

"Ryuko, we can't do that!" Mako said in great exasperation, shaking her head so hard it almost dislocated off of her shoulders to fly off into space.

Ryuko ducked her head, cowed by the unexpected rejection of her affection. "But I thought we.. uh…"

"Ryuko, no!" The space coconut scolded. She pounded a fist against her chest. "I have a crush on Gamagoori!"

"...Oh," Ryuko said softly, her mouth twitching slightly in pain. She sat up in the dirt, avoiding Mako's gaze. "Oh, um… You could've told me…"

"I was going to!" Mako said, standing up, a light shining on her. "You're my best friend! Of course I was going to tell you!"

Ryuko briefly glanced at her, trying to force a smile but she only managed for a second before her mouth twitched and pulled down again. "J-Just tell me when he needs to get his ass kicked," Ryuko said with a weak voice that nearly choked. She grit her teeth and looked away again, her jaw flexing as she tried to contain her emotions.

"That's why we can't do that! We need to save our kisses for the ones we love!" Mako proclaimed, demonstrating the act with a cardboard cut-out that was conveniently within arms reach.

A pained grimace twisted Ryuko's mouth, her forehead going red as she did her damndest not to cry. "But I… that's what I…" She had to stop when her voice trembled dangerously and she bit her lip. The dark haired girl got to her feet, turning her back to Mako. "I'm just gonna…"

"Ryuko!" Mako latched onto Ryuko's back. "I'm sorry!"

"Mako…"

"You'll be my best friend forever and ever and ever! Please, don't be sad!"

"Mako, stop." Ryuko pushed Mako away, but the girl came right back, hugging tighter than before. Ryuko desperately needed space to breath, she needed space to cry and shout and destroy something. She grit her teeth and pried Mako off of her. "Mako, stop!"

"Never!" Mako cried, bouncing off the ground and latching onto Ryuko's back with both her arms and legs. "I'll never let you go!"

"Please," Ryuko's voice sounded increasingly strained as gut-wrenching pain brought her to her knees. Her chest felt like it was about to shatter into a million pieces and she didn't want Mako to see her like this, please please please just leave her alone…

Mako buried her face in Ryuko's shoulder which was trembling and rock hard as if her very skin were about to explode from the tension. She hugged Ryuko as tightly as she could as she felt a violent shudder wrack Ryuko's body and a strangled sob escape her mouth. Mako started singing a lullaby and rocked Ryuko's body back and forth as those sobs increased in intensity.

Despite her victory, Ryuko suffered a great defeat that day.

a/n- Happy belated birthday, Moid! Hehe... lemme just slink out this backdoor.