~Chapter Two~
~Autumn Leaves~
Nadeshiko Ohmuro had been sound asleep when she was startled awake by movement from her covers - the sun had not even risen yet. Nadeshiko wiped the sleep from her eyes and waited for them to adjust to the deep blue light of the early morning hours.
It was Himawari Furutani - in the process of getting dressed.
"Eh?" Nadeshiko yawned, "what are you doing?"
"I have to go," she whispered, slipping her t-shirt over her head, "before she wakes up - not making the same mistake twice."
The sharp pang of urgency quickly knocked Nadeshiko out of her morning haze; instinctively her arms reached out and wrapped around Himawari's waist.
"Can't you stay a little longer?" She pleaded.
Himawari turned and gave Nadeshiko a quick peck on the lips, "I'm sorry."
as Nadeshiko savored the taste of Himawari on her lips, Himawari crept quietly through the door and back to Sakurako's room.
Always quickly, always quietly, every morning just like this one ~ Himawari would leave Nadeshiko alone in her bed, just as quickly and as quietly as she had arrived.
Sakurako Ohmuro sat in the shade of a tree, enjoying the sunlight that trickled through the autumn leaves. It had been quite a while since Sakurako just sat down. She was always busy now;
schoolwork, student council, friends and family.
"What are youuu doing here?"
And of course, Toshino Kyoko ~ Sakurako turned to see her; a broad grin on her face, her hands on her hips in a heroic pose.
"Just passing the time," Sakurako replied, "wanna join me?"
"Don't mind if I do." Toshino beamed, settling in the grass beside her.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while; it was Sakurako who decided to break the silence.
"So, what's new?"
"Nothing," Toshino giggled, "just finished the final frames of my Mirakurun Doujinshi."
"I see, that's so cool." Sakurako said in awe.
"Yep, then I ate some pizza, annoyed Yui for a while, came looking for someone else to bother."
"Keeping busy." Sakurako teased.
"We can't all be Top of our Class," Toshino huffed, "Student Council, all those new friends you've made. What about time for me?!"
"There's always time for you." Sakurako chuckled, wrapping her arms around Toshino. Sakurako felt her heart melt as Toshino embraced her as well.
"I really do love you." Toshino said earnestly, resting her head on Sakurako's shoulder.
"I know," Sakurako smiled, "and I love you too."
Sakurako felt relaxed; feeling the gentle heartbeat of her lover against her chest. Suddenly Sakurako felt herself falling backwards into the grass, she let out a loud yelp.
"Shh!" Toshino quickly slapped her hand across Sakurako's mouth.
Sakurako's face started turning red as she felt the buttons of her light brown duffel coat pop open.
"What are you doing?!" Sakurako whispered.
"I'm passing the time." Toshino smirked, pulling Sakurako's coat open and kissing her bare neck.
"Really?" Sakurako urged, "Here?"
Toshino stopped, leaning up to look into Sakurako's eyes.
"You don't want to?"
"It's not that, its just..." Sakurako drew circles in the dirt with her fingertip.
Toshino released her grip - slowly her confusion faded, "Is this about Himawari?"
Sakurako lowered her gaze.
"Look at me." Sakurako sighed in defeat, her eyes lifted from the ground.
"You told me you were over her," Toshino started, "I asked and you said no."
Sakurako lowered her gaze again - feeling the guilt wash over her.
"Look at me!" Sakurako could hear the pain in her voice.
"I love you, Sakurako," Toshino choked, her eyes starting to dampen, "I really do. But can you honestly tell me that you're over her?"
"I..." Sakurako paused for a long time, finally she let out a deep sigh.
"I don't know." She answered.
Toshino Kyoko felt her chest sink.
"I see." she smiled.
Toshino lifted Sakurako's chin up with her index finger. She kissed Sakurako deeply, staying on Sakurako's lips for as long as she could.
"Why don't you call me when you do know the answer," Toshino stood slowly, "whatever your answer may be."
"Toshino, wait-" Sakurako pleaded.
But she did not wait; Toshino Kyoko danced away under the falling autumn leaves, leaving Sakurako alone under the tree - Trickling sunlight fading as grey clouds began to stir in the sky.
Sakurako got home just in time for the rain to start pouring.
Her head still stirring from her conversation - I really don't know... She sighed.
As she was taking off her shoes she noticed a shadow looming over her; it was her sister, Nadeshiko.
"Can I help you?" Sakurako chuckled.
Nadeshiko folded her arms across her chest.
"A massage maybe?" Sakurako joked.
Nadeshiko's eyebrows began to crease.
"Just tell me what you want - I'm too tired to play."
"Stay away from Himawari."
Sakurako stopped taking her shoes off - looking up at her sister to see if she had only imagined what she heard.
"Excuse me?"
Nadeshiko stepped forward, standing over her younger, smaller sibling.
"Stay away from Himawari - she's mine now."
"Oh really?" Sakurako laughed, "does she know this?"
"She should," Nadeshiko scoffed, "she's been sneaking into my room for a month now."
Sakurako froze, Nadeshiko caught the shock in her eyes and smiled.
"You didn't know, did you?" She pressed, "Sometimes we go for hours without stopping."
Sakurako could feel her chest twisting - the way it had when she first caught them together a year ago.
"How does that make you feel?"
Sakurako realised what her sister was doing, and quickly collected herself.
"It's her life," Sakurako shrugged, brushing past her as she made her way to the living room, "she can do whatever she wants."
"She wants me," Nadeshiko followed quickly behind her, "so stay away from her."
"Why would she want you?" Sakurako snapped, "you used her as a rebound, then cast her aside like a piece of garbage."
Nadeshiko's mouth quickly snapped shut, her feet starting to waver.
"I was there to help her," Sakurako continued, "I was there for her when you tore her heart in two. Now you want her back?"
Then Sakurako began to see something she had never seen before - she watched as the cool exterior of Nadeshiko Ohmuro started to break away, and Sakurako saw a scared, desperate girl.
"I hurt her," Nadeshiko clenched her fists tight, "but I promise, Sakurako. I promise I won't hurt her again."
Sakurako nodded slowly, noting the sincerity in her sister's words, "Okay, but why ask me to stay away from her?"
Nadeshiko gave her sister an annoyed look, "Don't play dumb with me."
A long pause followed as Sakurako tried to piece together what Nadeshiko was talking about.
"She loves you," Nadeshiko sighed, "I thought that maybe in time..."
Nadeshiko took a deep breath, "She could learn to love me too."
Sakurako felt her heart skip a beat, she... loves me?
Someone began knocking on the front door. They both already knew who it was.
Sakurako and Nadeshiko stood staring at eachother, the knocking on the door echoed through the house as they did.
Sakurako hated seeing her sister like this, in all the years that they had spent together not once had she seen Nadeshiko like this. It made her feel hollow.
I just wanted to be happy... Sakurako shook her head, she felt tears welling in her eyes, why do things have to get so complicated...
"You promise you won't hurt her again?" Sakurako asked.
Nadeshiko's face brightened, "Never again."
They both listened carefully as the knocking stopped, and they heard footsteps - she was turning to leave.
"Whatever." Sakurako cried as dashed into the kitchen, snatching the home telephone as she ran. Sakurako curled up in a ball behind the counter and began dialing.
"Hima-ko!" She heard in the hallway as she dialed.
"Oh, I thought everyone was gone. Is Sakurako home?"
"No, not yet. Wanna come up? I have something to tell you."
Sakurako listened to the phone, waiting for someone to pick up.
"I don't know... I was really hoping to talk to Sakurako first."
Sakurako clenched the phone so hard her knuckles turned white.
"Please?"
"Well..."
The ringtone finally finished, "... Hello?"
"Okay, I'll just talk to Sakurako later."
"Umm yes," Sakurako choked, "can I speak to Toshino Kyoko?"
Sakurako heard their footsteps as they quickly ran up the stairs together.
"Yes, this is Toshino Kyoko speaking."
"Oh, hi," Sakurako bit her bottom lip, "It's me: I have your answer."
~Chapter Two End~