Thanks to all who have read and reviewed! I'm intending this to be a 3 Chapter Fanfic with a fourth separate one-shot epilogue.

Sony Ninja: Thanks! I was trying to come up with another pairing outside of my favourite (KonokaxSetsuna) and these two seemed to work really well, and as I've spent time writing their pairing the more I've come to love it. I hope I can do the pairing justice and give it some of the recognition it deserves.

ShadowCub:There's no doubt Ako had at least a crush on Nagi when he appeared to be who he was, but I'd hope that Ako would be a stronger and better character than one who continued to chase after/fall head over heels for an image rather than moving on to love someone real. Having said that I did like the NagixAko pairing - I think a version of it when Negi and Ako are 5/6 years older might work quite well.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the next instalment! :D

Deepening to Dependence

Several months passed and winter vacation had fallen upon the pair before the first major straining of their relationship. During that time Ako and Makie ate together every night, went out each week to standard destinations such as the cinema, karaoke rooms and bowling lanes and spent far more time around each other: Helping with homework, doing chores and watching the other's club activities. In doing so they became very close; the evening meals in particular providing ample time to monitor how the other's day had gone and to understand the other better. The subject of their relationship becoming more intimate had never risen since the day they'd begun; the only noticeable difference was that neither girl changed in front of the other anymore. Yet in their hearts they had both started implicitly relying on each others presence; assuming it would be there forever.

Only when this assumption was shaken did they come to realise just how much they meant to each other…and just as the strongest of friendships usually results from many small innocuous steps of progress, so the biggest storms are often a culmination of several small rifts and insecurities.

Makie had reached a huge gymnastics final and was training extra hard whilst Ako was involved in a backlog of football matches and increased nursing duties. So for the first few weeks of December the two saw a lot less of each other and the evening meals were more silent as both were exhausted. Being tired also made them more snappish and Makie was at her time of the month, so was more frayed than usual, which meant there had been a number of conversations about the smallest things that left one or both of them upset or frustrated.

The final catalyst occurred the night before Makie's final rehearsal: Ako had been too busy to attend Makie's previous rehearsals - as Makie had assured her they weren't important. That evening Makie was desperately trying to catch up with homework whilst Ako was cooking up a pasta dish.

The heat and noise of the cooking, the internal irritation of her system and worst of all pages of heavy maths was doing Makie's head in.

Concentrate on tea! Just push yourself a bit further Makie! Just keep going until tea.

Crash! ..."Ahhhhh!"

Makie swivelled to see Ako looking despondently at the floor where their tea was. Ako was trying not to cry as she surveyed the mess with abject dismay.

"Oh Ako! Honestly!" Makie exclaimed crossly, annoyed at the loss of their food.

"Ah! I'm sorry Makie. My dress snagged the saucepan and it went over." Ako was quite close to tears herself, and usually that would have moved Makie to compassion...but all her compassion had evaporated into the humid air.

"Great! What else do we have?" She already knew the answer before Ako replied. But as the whole world seems to be conspiring against me, why not show how unfair life is being by highlighting yet another problem?

Ako hopefully checked the fridge, but their shopping was ordered in on Saturday mornings and so the proverbial cupboard was bare.

"Sorry Makie, there's nothing. I could ring up and try and order in a pizza." Pizza would have been good, but it was already late and delivery usually took at least half an hour.

Stuff it! Stuff it all! Subconsciously Makie was so far into playing the tortured, troubled damsel that cutting off her nose to spite her face came naturally. Besides which she really did need sleep for the practice tomorrow.

"Forget it Ako. I'll just get some sleep." Makie slammed her murderous maths book shut and shoved it away from her before storming over to her bed and clambering in.

"Are you sure...?" Ako asked from the kitchen where she was trying to deal with the saucepan and spilt food. The concern in her voice, mixed with the clear guilt of being the one at fault was enough to halt Makie in a moment of regret. I'm being so silly. I should help her not hurt her...but I can't back down now. She ruined the evening anyway and I have enough on my plate without dealing with this...I'll make it up to her tomorrow. I promise! With that last thought she satiated her conscience and slid under her quilt where she finished changing and went to sleep – so deeply that she didn't even hear Ako's soft goodnight as she followed Makie to bed about fifteen minutes later.

The food arrived the next morning and both girls seemed perfectly normal. Makie helped Ako put the food away and they went through their morning routines: One eating whilst the other showered then visa versa. Ako had a football match mid-afternoon that Makie would usually have gone to, but she had gymnastics training all afternoon.

Ako left the house at 11.30 to head to the game and it wasn't until she left the room that she let her insecurity take hold, brought on by her hectic schedule and lack of quality time with Makie. In the last three months we've drawn so close; just a few weeks ago I was marvelling at how well we were beginning to understand each other...I even felt...well admit it...felt like she was someone I could share my life with. She's attractive, funny and kind and she delights in breathing new life into me. Maybe I haven't always been as lively as her because of the past...because I feared her rejecting me as well. How ironic if it was my own fears that caused that very thing to happen! Tears were threatening her eyes and as no one was around and spots of rain were falling from the sky, she allowed them to run down her cheeks with the threads of rain.

I shouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions...but in the last few weeks it feels like we've been drifting apart - and last night was a perfect example. I was clumsy, and she basically shunned me for it. I know she's under pressure at the moment...I hope that's the reason for this; but even if it is, I'm a fat lot of good helping her aren't I? The side character and nearly girl...they should write that on my virgin tombstone.

Ako's face briefly lit up with a sadistic smile at the baleful image then she shook her head. Focus Ako! Things aren't so bad! You still have many supportive 'friends'... but really only Makie my own age who I can share stuff with. Suppose this isn't a rough patch but terminal. That someone else enters her life and leaves me alone? I'm not so foolish as to believe I'd kill myself or anything but...a shiver involuntarily ran down her spine...but she means the world to me. She's been a constant source of happiness and comfort for so long, before, between and after my crushes. I...I love her. Not like my past boyfriends who I crushed on but far more deeply, she is my source of strength!

As she entered into the changing room corridor of the football pitch she felt as though it was yet another sadistic picture: where the love of her life was drifting from her just as she was realising her true worth.

Those negative worries continued to trouble her as she entered the gymnastics stadium to observe the end of Makie's final practice session. Ako's team had lost, 3-0, and Ako knew she had been too distracted to play well; her coach had had some sharp words for her and subbed her after 70 minutes. As she stepped out into the stadium, about two thirds of the way up, she heard gasps and 'oos' and looked down past the seats to the central arena where Makie's tightly clad form spun high in the air. It never failed to make Ako gasp and stare in amazement and certainly of late the figure hugging, skimpy outfits Makie wore had been doing much more than generating mere admiration. She watched as Makie tumbled and fell...right into the arms of an attractive upperclassman.

He had dark hair with smooth handsome features and Ako knew from her conversations with Makie that he was the sort of guy she'd find attractive. As she watched the nightmare play out before her it was as though the hall suddenly drained of colour. The man set Makie down gently before him and the two started talking and laughing as though they were on extremely good terms; the guy ruffling Makie's hair and standing very close to her. There were several others watching the training but at that moment Ako felt that she was the only person in the hall. She remembered Makie mentioning it was a doubles routine but hadn't thought anything of it at the time; after all I've been busy too. Ah...so this is why she wasn't particularly keen for me to come to her other practices. Well I hope you'll be happy Makie…It looks like you're getting on well with him. She remained frozen, halfway down the steps between the seats, until Makie began glancing a little guiltily about the stadium. I should go before she sees me, its better that I don't ruin this relationship for her. So Ako turned and fled the stadium - and this time tears flowed freely from her eyes.