Hello! Sleygal here! I finally finished chapter 2 of this story! I know. Weird story huh? I ran out of ideas! But anyhoo. It's something for the Anemone gays. \o/ I was thinking of writing a late birthday fic for our dear Umi but I got lazy. Lemme think about it, alright? xD

Anyway.

I don't own LoveLive. Sunrise does.

"Umi-chan." Kotori muttered. Suddenly, there's stillness in the forest. The dragon finally stopped thrashing about and looked at the human in shock. Kotori didn't know what came to her when she suddenly uttered the name.

Kotori…

Kotori stopped.

"Umi-chan?" Kotori looked around her, trying to locate the source of the voice. It was the voice that she used to hear years ago. It was a voice that she yearns to hear once more. Once her gaze fell to the other creature with her, she noticed that it's calmed down and its head hung low.

Kotori. The dragon brought its amber gold eyes to meet the confused ones of the human.

"I… I-It can't be… Umi…chan?"

At the mention of her name, the dragon broke her gaze with Kotori. All Kotori can do is stare in shock at the sudden turn of events.

'Umi-chan… is…. Umi-chan is a dragon?'

'But… How?'

So many questions plagued Kotori's mind and the dragon knew it. Despite the fear running through her body, Kotori reached out her trembling hand and touched Umi's head.

"Is… it really… you?" The dragon slightly nodded its head. Never did Umi predict that she'll meet her ashen-haired friend after all these years in a peculiar place.

What are you doing here? Umi asked.

"Nevermind that… What are you—You're hurt!" Kotori suddenly remembers the binds that kept Umi on the ground. She rummages through her dress until she finds the knife that she always carries with her. Umi watched as Kotori untangles her leg from the trap by cutting the rope that's tied to the tree. When Kotori tries to lift her injured wing to inspect it, Umi growled in pain as she try to pry it away from the human.

"I-I'm sorry…" Kotori apologized. "It must've hurt…"

Umi looked from her wound to the apologetic human in front of her. She tried to stand-up but failed.

"D-Don't strain yourself!"

Kotori wanted to reassure the creature but can't. It's not every day you find out that one of your friends is a dragon now. She has so many questions but couldn't find the voice to ask.

"What are you, Umi-chan?"

Unknowingly, Kotori voiced out that question. The sudden question surprised Umi and chose to avert her head elsewhere than answer it.

"Y-You don't have to answer it. I'm sorry for being tactless." Kotori said.

I-It's fine…

"D-Do you mind i-if I…" Kotori hesitated as she stared at the injured wing. She wanted to treat it so badly but afraid at what Umi might do. When Umi finally calmed down, she lied back on the ground and brought down her wing at her side, low enough for Kotori to reach. The ashen-haired girl inspected the wound, which was a big gash from the tip of the wing all the way until it ended on the base of the wing. Dried blood coated it, informing Kotori that it happened for quite some time now. She checked the ground for any signs of blood but she found none, which confused her.

Ignoring that fact, Kotori inspected her bundle of cloth until she managed to spread out a yard's length of blue fabric.

N-No! It's okay, Kotori Umi protested. You don't have to waste your cloth on something like this! That statement earned a small giggle from the ashen-haired girl.

"So you still remember." Kotori giggled. "Don't worry. I can always buy new ones."

But…

"Umi-chan…."

Oh no.

"Please?" Kotori pouted. Umi tried to pry her eyes from the pouting girl but Kotori moved every time she does. She kept doing it until she finally gave in. After all, she can never refuse Kotori back then whenever she uses her pout to get what she wants.

You're so unfair, Kotori. I see that didn't change

"And you're still stubborn, Umi-chan." Kotori giggled while measuring the size of Umi's wing. She tried to ignore the feeling of its leathery texture under her fingertips. Once she's satisfied with the length, she used her knife to cut a part of the blue fabric, long enough for Umi's wing, and proceeded to wrap it gently around the wound. Umi kept still while the girl worked, emitting low growls everytime Kotori pulls it too hard. She kept still until Kotori finishes patching her up.

"There. All done!" Kotori chirped as she stepped back to admire her work. Umi took a moment to see her bandaged limb. She tried to move it but felt restricted because of the bandage.

"You really shouldn't move it around!"

Thank you.

"Y-You're welcome." Kotori flashed a smile. She went to check on the trapped leg earlier but found no other wounds to treat. After fixing her things, she sat on the ground in front of the dragon and Umi couldn't help but be self-conscious about it.

What are you doing?

"Looking at you." Kotori replied. "After all, it's been so long and you have some explaining to do."

Umi would've blushed if she's still capable. Sadly, her face is reptilian now but she could feel a little bit of the heat on her face. The look on Kotori's face finally made her confess everything.

Kotori. Do you know about the Dragonkins?

Kotori slowly nods her head. Dragonkins are humans with draconian blood in them. At a certain age, draconic characteristics starts to show itself, giving them physical qualities of a dragon. It cannot be stopped once the physical qualities emerge from a dragonkin until eventually, they'll turn into dragons themselves but kept their human mind. They blend well with the society but once their changes kick in, their fellow humans will hunt them down and force them to leave or will kill them, in fear of their abilities.

After pondering about it, Kotori gasped. She finally knows the reason why Umi left at that day. Why the blue-haired girl was insistent on keeping Kotori away from her. Why she doesn't want Kotori to touch her. Why she left in the first place, giving Kotori the pain of not being able to say goodbye properly. Everything made sense yet Kotori can't believe it.

"You're a dragonkin…."

Umi stayed silent as she let the information sink in on the other girl.

"So you left me because you're a dragonkin?"

Silence. Umi couldn't bear face Kotori after what she had put her through. After leaving her behind confused all those years and finally returning without a word, she doesn't even have the right to be called her friend anymore.

"Umi-chan."

The sudden firmest of Kotori's voiced made her slowly meet the amber orbs of the girl. Umi could see resolve reflected in those orbs.

"If you think that I'm afraid of you, you're wrong."

Kotori?

"Don't you remember? I'm an animal whisperer." Kotori said. "Big or small, wild or tame, cute or ugle, I would never shun them away from they are."

"And I know, deep down that dragon body, there's still the Umi-chan I came to know years ago." Umi was stunned at Kotori's outburst.

Why?

"Huh?"

Why?! Umi exclaimed. I-I left you years ago. I… I don't… If Umi could still shed tears, she would do so. She doesn't deserve someone like Kotori! She knows she couldn't make up for what she have done in the past and yet…

"Silly Umi-chan. You're my friend." That caught Umi off-guard.

Y-You… You still call me a friend? Umi asked. Even after what I've put you through?

"Of course!" Kotori smiled. "You're here now, right? You can make it up to me now!"

'I give up.' Umi thought to herself. She really doesn't deserve someone like Kotori but glad that she has someone like her.

"Why don't we start over?" Kotori said. "I'm Minami Kotori, a seamstress and an animal whisperer." She bowed.

I'm… Sonoda Umi. Umi returned the gesture.

It's very nice to meet you… again.

I know it's short. But I got nothing. Reviews are very much appreciated! 'Til next time!