Summary: HTT decides to go on a long deserved vacation. Mio and Azusa are reluctant at first, but Ritsu and Yui soon persuade them into going, saying they would be practicing. With the help of Mugi, they soon make a trip to one of her parents' beach houses. What happens there is…
Universe: Set in the summer vacation after Ui/Azusa's first year in college, Yui/Ritsu/Mio/Mugi's second year in college
Chapter 2 Furo Interlude
Mio sat silently on the bench seat by the window, taking in the view of the beach. The scenery was beautiful – an expanse of white sand in front of a deep blue ocean, all under a sunny, crystal-clear sky. The gentle sounds of the waves rolling onto the shore, together with the gentle breeze that caressed her skin and ran through her raven locks, had a soothing effect on the young bassist. She smiled, convinced there wasn't a more beautiful place to spend time with her beloved.
A few steps away, on the bed, lay a still-sleeping Ritsu. Mio turned from the window to look at her lover. Her steady breathing and calm expression showed she was in a deep slumber. As the raven-haired girl's stormy grey eyes danced over the drummer's features, she chuckled to herself.
Heh, you've always been a sleepy-head, Ritsu… I can never depend on you in the morning.
With that, Mio turned back to the window, once again enjoying the view. Like any other day, vacation or not, Mio woke up early, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sunrise. It always made her feel peaceful, and this morning was no exception.
As she closed her eyes and rested her head against the window frame, her mind drifted off to the memory of when she and Ritsu first met. The rowdy, ochre-haired girl couldn't seem to stop teasing her every chance she got. At first, Mio considered her little more than a nuisance, but as time went on she began to look forward to Ritsu's attention, even though the girl could sometimes bring her to tears by playing on her insecurities. There were times when she truly wanted to hit the drummer, but never dared to because of her shy nature.
I wonder when I hit you for the first time… That must've come as a shock for both of us.
Even so, you've always been there for me despite the many times I pushed you away. Sometimes I even wonder why you put up with me.
Mio couldn't help but smile at that thought. She and Ritsu had best friends for almost fifteen years, and lovers for the past two. They had fought and made up countless times, but they always seemed to wind up back together. Mio suspected that was mostly due to Ritsu being so persistent.
We've come a long way and even with her flighty attitude towards…um, well everything, she's been patient with me and always has been.
Her eyes snapped open when she heard the groggy voice call out her name.
"Mio…you left me."
Mio looked in the direction of that familiar voice, in time to see Ritsu stagger to her feet. The drummer rubbed her eyes, then stretched and yawned, before walking unsteadily over to the bassist.
"You're up early, Ritsu."
"I couldn't sleep without my Mio next to me."
Ritsu's sleepy voice was cute, Mio thought. So full of innocence…
The brunette unceremoniously flopped onto the window seat, laid her head on Mio's lap, and promptly fell back to sleep. Mio simply chuckled, idly stroking her girlfriend's hair.
Just like a lost puppy… I can never stay mad at her for too long, especially not in the morning. I don't know what I would do without her. I need her, like I need air or water.
Mio smiled and kissed her lover gently on the forehead.
"Wake up, sleepyhead…"
"Nope."
Surprised by the sudden reply, Mio stared at Ritsu, until she heard the all-too-familiar giggles. Mio couldn't help but smile.
"Come on. We promised Yui, so let's get ready to go to the beach."
At the sound of the word "beach," Ritsu sat bolt upright. The thought of potential fun suddenly had her wide awake and flashing that trademark grin.
"Would you hurry up, Ritsu? I've been waiting forever."
Mio stood outside the bedroom door, arms crossed, impatiently waiting for her sandy-haired girlfriend.
"Well, wait a couple more minutes, would ya?" came the voice from inside the room.
Mio rolled her eyes, deciding it was pointless to argue with the drummer so early in the morning. The energetic girl had already given Mio the beginning of a headache with her usual nonsense.
At first she didn't know what kind of swimsuit to wear, and then when Mio told her to wear the blue two-piece instead of the grey one, Ritsu exclaimed she forgot the blue one at home.
You're too young to die, Mio. Just let it go… Let it go… let it-
"Mio, do you think I should wear my beach goggles instead of my headband? Oh, but I don't have them in my suitcase. Meh…headband it is. Do you think I should wear the green one or the blue one, then? Hmm. I'm thinking blue."
As the brunette gabbed on and on about trivial things, Mio waited by the door, gradually losing her battle to keep calm. Finally, she couldn't take it any longer.
"Oh, would you just hurry it up?! I-"
The words died on her lips as Ritsu opened the door and walked out of the bedroom. The light gray bikini with the thin amber stripes clung to the brunette's figure just right. She looked gorgeous, and Mio couldn't help but stare openly, her eyes drifting appreciatively over her girlfriend's curves.
"Mio, what do you thi-…Ohoho! Like what you see, do ya?"
Ritsu struck a pose intended to make her appear sexy, complete with pouting lips, but it only succeeded in making her look silly. Mio covered her mouth, trying and failing to smother her laughter.
She's so crazy, and so much fun, and she always knows how to cheer me up. That's what makes my love for her grow stronger every day…
"Well, don't just stand there laughing like an idiot! Let's go!"
Ritsu grabbed Mio's hand, marching her out the door and toward the kitchen.
"Hey, Ritsu, did you remember to put on sunblock?"
Before the brunette could answer, they heard some muffled noises, followed shortly by a loud thud and a yelp. Soon after, Yui's all-too-familiar cry of "Azunyan!" echoed through the hallway. The duo could only shake their heads at predictable antics of their lead guitarist.
"She's at it again," Mio sighed.
"Yeah. I do not know how Azusa puts up with her."
Mio feigned annoyance as she crossed her arms.
"I don't know how I put up with you either, but here we are."
"So mean, Mio-chan!"
Ritsu pretended to have hurt feelings, and her puppy-dog expression was enough to break through Mio's fake disapproval. Defeated, the raven-haired giggled, and gave the brunette a light peck to her cheek.
"Come on," she said as she took hold of Ritsu's hand once more. "We promised the others we would make breakfast today."
As they walked to the kitchen, they saw Mugi and Ui out on the veranda, giggling and seemingly having a lighthearted conversation. Mio told Ritsu not to disturb them, and steered her towards the kitchen. Once there, they stood for a moment, deciding what to make.
"I call the miso soup," Ritsu proclaimed. "You grill the fish."
Mio smiled as Ritsu went to work. The brunette was certainly in her element, preparing what she called "Ritsu's Epic Miso Soup."
I love watching Ritsu doing something she enjoys. She really puts her heart into it. Another admirable thing about her…
Mio thought the determined look on Ritsu's face was utterly adorable. She was not about to say so, however, for fear of the drummer teasing her about it.
As they prepared breakfast, Mio was suddenly hit with a pang of guilt.
Maybe we shouldn't be going to the beach today. We've barely done any practicing, and I think we should at least get one good session in before we play.
When Mio proposed the idea to Ritsu, however, she got the expected answer.
"But, Mio! Today is our fun day! Plus you promised Yui we'd go to the beach… and… um… I want to spend time with you."
That last part caught Mio off guard. She had to admit, she wanted to spend more time with Ritsu as well. With a sigh, she realized there would be no practice that day.
"I want to play beach volleyball! Yui hurry up and let's play some-… Huh? Where is she?!"
Instead of helping carry the towels and chairs, Ritsu ran ahead after Yui, trying to catch the daffy guitar player as she raced over the sand. Mio stayed behind with the others, who more or less ignored her. Mugi and Ui were in their own little world, and Azusa was pretending to be annoyed by Yui's antics, as usual. Mio shook her head.
So in the end Azusa and I gave into their silly reasoning, huh… Well, I guess it's all right once in a while. And I really do want to spend more time with Ritsu.
As she helped Mugi and Ui spread the beach towels, Mio discreetly stole glances at her girlfriend. Seeing her laugh and play put a smile on the bassist's face.
Even if she's way too loud and obnoxious sometimes, and even though she drives me crazy constantly, I still love her. Behind all of her mischief, there is a very lovable and caring Ri-
Just then Ritsu, who had been horsing around with Yui and Azusa, bumped into Mio, and the bottle of soda in her hand spilled all over, covering them both with the sticky orange liquid. Once the reality of the situation sank in, Mio's face flushed with anger.
"Ritsu, what the heck? Watch where you're going!"
"So-sorry, Mio, I didn't mean to, it was an accident! I-…"
The amber-eyed girl struggled to come up with a suitable apology, but couldn't think of anything to say to calm the seething bassist.
"Forget it! I'm going back inside to wash off! DON'T follow me!"
The raven-haired beauty stormed off. She was so angry it didn't occur to her that she simply could have washed off the soda in the ocean. Instead, she stomped toward the house. After a few seconds, she heard footsteps behind her. She didn't need to look, because she knew exactly who it was. There was a heavy silence in the air as the two girls walked into the house and towards the bathroom. Mio wondered when Ritsu was going to break down and say something to her. As for her, she refused to speak to or even look at the drummer.
After removing her bikini, Mio silently sat on one of the stools, took hold of the showerhead, turned on the water, and began to scrub her hair and skin. It took a lot of effort, because the soda had dried rapidly in the sun's heat, leaving a sticky, unpleasant residue all over her body. Her hair was the worst.
Damn it, Ritsu, do you know how long it'll take to get this out? This brand of soda stains easily. Now I'm going to have orange color all over me. Geez, you're so difficult sometimes.
"I really am sorry, Mio."
Ritsu, who was sitting on the stool next to Mio's, was obviously embarrassed about what happened. When the bassist didn't react, the drummer simply went back to washing the sticky substance off of her own body.
I am not talking to her. I'm not even going to look at her either. Looking into those amber eyes will simply make me melt. She needs to know that her childish actions are annoying sometimes, and she won't learn that lesson if I give in.
The bassist gritted her teeth as she continued to wash herself. The two stayed like this, in absolute silence save for the hiss of the water streaming out of the showerheads, for what seemed like hours, even though it was only a few minutes.
Closing her eyes, Mio began to shampoo her hair. She tried to pay no mind to the drummer sitting next to her, choosing instead to focus on the floral scent of the shampoo.
With a start, she felt a second pair of hands join her own in shampooing her hair. With just that simple touch, Mio felt her indignation begin to disappear. After a moment, she relaxed, and let her arms gently fall to her sides, content to let Ritsu finish the job.
The drummer's strong hands worked like magic as she not only shampooed and rinsed Mio's hair, but also massaged her scalp, instantly relieving the young woman of her building headache.
When she was done, Ritsu wrapped her arms around Mio's shoulders and held her close, whispering a soft apology in her ears. Without thinking, the raven-haired beauty melted into the embrace.
She always knows what to do... Always knows what to say…
Wordlessly, Ritsu helping Mio stand up, then led her to the furo. When they entered, the drummer made sure to sit close to Mio. Silence settled over the room as they sat there, soaking in the hot water. Mio kept glancing at her girlfriend out of the corner of her eye, unsure of her intentions. They sat in silence for some time before Ritsu finally spoke up.
"Mio… Can I make it up to you?"
Without waiting for an answer, Ritsu's arms wound around Mio's waist, pulling her close. One look at the pleading in the drummer's eyes and Mio's resistance collapsed completely, just as she predicted.
"Ritsu," she began, but the brunette's kiss cut her off. The drummer's agile hands roamed over Mio's body, gently caressing every curve within reach. The touch felt electrifying, and before she knew it, the bassist was pinned between Ritsu and the wall of the gigantic furo, as the drummer's kiss threatened to consume her. Their lips parted, and a moment later Mio felt a series of soft kisses that began at her neck and slowly trailed downward to her breasts. The feel of Ritsu's soft lips on her skin sent shivers through the raven-haired beauty.
The heat within Mio rose, and her voice grew louder as the young drummer worked her magic. She groaned in frustration when Ritsu's lips pulled away. Amber eyes gazed deeply into hers, speaking to her, pleading with the bassist.
"Mio... I need you..."
Between longtime friends and lovers, words need not be spoken for them to understand each other. Without asking, Mio knew what Ritsu wanted. Powerless to deny her lover's desire, Mio pulled her into an embrace. The drummer didn't hesitate any longer, grinding her body against her raven-haired lover's as she kissed her hungrily. Instinctively, Mio wrapped her legs around the brunette's waist, returning the kiss with equal passion.
For Mio every touch felt electrifying, every kiss made her mind foggier and foggier. Suddenly, the drummer pulled away and stood. After stepping out of the furo, she turned and guided the raven-haired girl up out of the water until she was sitting on the edge of the tub, leaning against the wall. Slowly, Ritsu began to kiss her way down from Mio's jawline to her breasts and then to her stomach, the gentle trace of her fingers following the movement of her lips. Mio arched her back and bit back on her moans, her arousal growing with each and every touch.
As Mio felt Ritsu's lips inch closer to their ultimate destination, she looked down into Ritsu's amber eyes. The drummer was clearly enjoying the effect she was having on her lover.
Suddenly, Mio felt a soft wetness against her womanhood, and it sent her soaring. She writhed, unable to hold in her arousal any longer. The moans now escaped her mouth freely, growing louder with each stroke, needier with each swipe.
Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, Ritsu gently entered her, forcing a gasp from her lips. As the brunette set up a steady rhythm, in and out, she returned her mouth to Mio's core.
The bassist was close to losing control. She reached out to grab hold of her lover's head, urging her not to stop with unintelligible words. Breath hitching, back arching, and head rolling, Mio's mind was a jumble as Ritsu drove her closer and closer to the edge.
With one final thrust of Ritsu's fingers, Mio exploded into ecstasy, screaming out her lover's name as the electricity surged throughout her entire body. After what seemed like forever, the pleasure ebbed out of her body like a retreating wave of hot water. Unable to move, she slumped against the bathroom wall, gasping for breath, trying focus on Ritsu as the drummer slowly stood to give her one final, gentle kiss.
Ritsu…Ritsu… Why do you always know exactly what to do? I guess words aren't needed. You know just how to please me, better than I know myself…
Breaking the kiss, the drummer's honey-colored eyes gazed deep into Mio's.
"Come on," she urged, her voice husky and slightly above a whisper. "Let's towel off before going back outside, hm?"
After helping Mio off the furo ledge, Ritsu led her by the hand back to where their towels were hanging. Mio silently followed, eyeing Ritsu from behind, noting how her girlfriend's hand was trembling slightly.
…And I know you more than yourself, Ritsu. You can't hide your needs from me.
After handing a towel to Mio, Ritsu began to dry herself off. Mio did likewise, watching the cloth glide over her girlfriend's body. Suddenly, something within her snapped, and she tossed aside her towel, then yanked Ritsu's from her hands. Before the drummer could react, Mio grabbed her wrists, and the drummer's back hit the bathroom with a thump. As the bassist pinned her hands in place, Ritsu gaped at her in shock.
"Uh, Mio, what're you-"
Mio silenced her lover with a deep and searching kiss. Unable to hold back any longer, she allowed her hands to wander, gently tracing down Ritsu's naked front, over her mounds down to her stomach and back up again. Releasing the drummer's lips, Mio nibbled gently at her earlobe while grinding against her, intoxicated by the feel of Ritsu's body against hers.
Knowing that it was the brunette's weakness, Mio ran her tongue along Ritsu's neck as her hands continued their exploration. By this time, Ritsu could no longer contain her voice, her groans of pleasure growing louder with touch after touch after touch.
"Mio… Please…please don't tease…"
Before she could finish, Mio swiftly spun her around so her breasts pressed against the wall. Pushing Ritsu's thighs apart, the bassist entered her in one swift movement, pausing for a moment to enjoy the feel of her lover's warm wetness clenching her fingers. She began to move in and out of Ritsu's sopping core, quickly increasing her pace. As she did so, her lips danced over Ritsu's upper back and neck. When her other hand reached around to touch Ritsu's pleasure center, the sandy-haired girl shivered and moaned, and began to push her hips backward to meet Mio's every stroke.
As Ritsu spiraled toward her peak, the bassist whispered in her ear. Speaking just loud enough for the drummer to hear, she said the words she knew Ritsu couldn't get enough of.
"I love you, Ritsu."
The words were a powerful trigger. With a scream of release, Ritsu shuddered and writhed, pounding and clawing at the walls as she came. When she finally collapsed against the wall, Mio wrapped her arms around her lover's waist to keep her from falling to the floor, then buried her face in the drummer's shoulder, content simply to hold her.
After a few moments, Mio felt the drummer stir. The raven-haired girl relaxed her embrace, allowing Ritsu to turn so they were facing each other, then tightened her arms again, pushing her lover back against the wall. There was a look of adoration in the brunette's eyes as she spoke the words Mio hoped to hear.
"I love you, Mio."
I'll say it to you again and again, because my feelings for you are true… I love you… The only words I can think of to express the feelings in my heart.
"I love you, too."
With a sigh, they held each other like that for what seemed like ages, taking comfort in each other's presence. Mio was overcome with bliss, wanting to stay in Ritsu's arms like that forever. However, the sound of Ritsu's voice ended any hope of that fantasy coming true.
"Hey, Mio? I think we need to take another bath …"
Feeling fresh, the duo dressed in khaki shorts and tank tops, although Mio was sure she still caught a whiff of orange soda. Ritsu stretched again, and Mio heard her stomach rumble.
"Wanna get something to eat? I could use a snack."
"Ui and Mugi are supposed to make lunch soon. You can wait a few more minutes."
"Aw, Mio…" Ritsu whined, flashing her girlfriend the puppy-dog eyes again.
The bassist sighed in defeat.
"Okay, but don't spoil your appetite. You know how you love Ui's cooking."
On their way to the kitchen, Mio heard noises coming from Yui and Azusa's room.
Oh, they must be back from their swim… Oh my, they're a bit noisy… I wonder what they're doi-…
Mio tried to hide her blush as she recognized the unmistakable sounds of creaking bedsprings coming from the two guitarists' room. She hustled Ritsu down the hall, hoping she hadn't heard anything. She didn't want the drummer teasing her with some crazy remark.
Things didn't get any better when they got to the kitchen. They were just about to walk through the door when Mio heard the unmistakable sound of a moan. It was Ui's voice. She looked at Ritsu and saw that she was blushing just as deeply. Clearly, she had heard it, too. The drummer scratched the back of her head, something she only did when she was nervous or embarrassed.
"Erm, that… Sh-shall we just take a walk instead, Mio? Everyone in the house seems to be, uh, busy."
Mio was all too happy to agree, wanting to give the others their privacy.
As the two girls headed outside, Ritsu took Mio's hand, intertwining her fingers with the bassist's.
"It's…okay if I hold your hand like this, right?"
Surprised by this question, Mio smiled.
"Of course it is."
The smile was all the reassurance Ritsu needed, and she gripped Mio's hand a bit tighter. They started walking at a leisurely pace, with no particular destination. The only thing that mattered was that they were with each other.
In the end, she's the one I'd go to first, even if she can be a bit of a tease. That's just the way she is, and I can't change that. Not that I ever would… She's perfect the way she is.
They left the house behind, walking toward the beach. Mio smiled as she listened to her energetic girlfriend tell corny jokes and gab about silly little nothings. The brunette babbled non-stop, pausing every few seconds to chuckle at her own wit.
Mio looked out over the ocean, enjoying the soft breeze blowing off the water. Suddenly, something caught her eye. It was a small white feather, dancing gracefully on the wind. As it drew near, Mio reached out and gently took hold of it, holding it between her thumb and index finger. She showed it to Ritsu, who simply smiled.
"It's a feather for luck, Mio."
The bassist studied the fluffy bit of down in her hand.
A feather for luck, huh…
After a moment's thought, she gently released the feather back into the breeze, watching as it floated away. Then she turned to the girl beside her.
"No. You're all the luck I need, Ritsu."
A/N:
Well. The only thing I can say is sorry for the late update, you guys… But better late than never, right? OTL
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! As always, many, many thanks go out to my magnificent beta-reader, Genki Collective, for her wonderful assistance and patience during my writing… erm, difficulties. Truly, you're awesome, Beta-chan :)
As for the third chapter, I hope to have it out before…soon. Nope, I'm not giving estimates. Just… soon. OTL
Thanks again for reading. If you liked the story, or have concrit, use the comment window below to drop a review. I'll be sure to respond :)
Until next time,
Musician74