Disclaimer - characters are not mine...duh

CHAP 2

"Okay on the count of three! One, Two, THREE!"

Tomo watched on from the side of the pool as the young students began treading water. She smiled as one girl who was late jumped in the water nearly knocking out one of her fellow students. Tomo was pretty sure she liked the kid already.

"Hmmm now, who does that remind you of Tomo?" a voice questioned next to her.

"Oh come on Nyamo! The great Tomo Takino would have bombed, not just pin dropped!" She mocked hurt at her former PE teacher.

"That is true, and you would have been another 10 minutes later as well." Minamo Kurosawa winked.

"How is she doing out there?" Tomo inquired about the young student teacher out there with the kids.

"Oh, they love her. I think Kagura's become more popular than myself, plus with her tuition the kids are becoming better swimmers than ever. We've got a real chance of winning the champs this year. Plus who knew the literature department would gain such an asset." Minamo paused for a second

"But you know, sometimes I think its hard for her. She was so close and then... well it looks like she's finishing up. I'll leave you two to it. It's good to see you Tomo, you guys should visit more often. Yukari would love to see you as well." Minamo waved as she walked off.

"Alright everyone! That's it for today, see you tomorrow!" Kagura smiled as the kids poured out of the pool one by one. Tomo walked over to Kagura's towel and picked up the walking stick.

If anyone had it bad after high school it was Kagura. She had continued her swimming through college, found a passion for reading and had done incredibly well. National champion and had represented her country at the world champs getting a bronze medal. She was a national hero and primed for an Olympic victory. Then disaster had struck 2 years ago in a terrible car accident. A drunk driver had slammed into her car, killing her team mate and boyfriend. Kagura had been in a coma for a week, her left leg barely saved. It was the last time they were all together.

Tomo held a hand out as Kagura struggled to get herself out of the pool, Kagura gratefully accepted it. Tomo handed her the walking stick as she steadied and gave herself a wipedown before hanging the towel over her shoulder and giving Tomo a hug.

"Hey wildcat it's been a while. What's up?"

"You got time for a chat?" Tomo smiled a small smile. Kagura looked at the smaller woman up and down. Tomo looked thinner than usual and tired. Things were obviously not okay, unlike what she tried to convince. Kagura smiled back.

"Sure, coffee at mine?"

"Yeah, but i'm driving!"

...

"Oh my god! Do you remember when Osaka asked you if you were gay!" Tomo was almost crying with laughter on the couch as they reverted back to childhood memories. Kagura just shook her head.

"Uh yeah...how could I forget" her voice was laced with sarcasm. "I mean seriously just cause I had short hair and did sport...really..."

"Yeah but how funny was it, like in front of everyone! Totally Osaka! And who would have thought that Karoin would be the one."

"Yeah I know, although it made her behaivour towards Sakaki so much more understandable. That Osaka was and is still so weird! Well at least i finally got a date out of it, I'd had a crush on Inoue for ages! Speaking of Osaka check that out." Kagura pointed to a painting on her apartment wall, Tomo went over to it and looked puzzled trying to figure out what the aluminium foil and charcoal meant. Kagura brought the two coffee cups one at a time, unable to carry both while using her walking stick.

"Um...what is it?" Tomo turned and asked as Kagura got comfortable on the couch.

"I have absolutely no idea. But it is from my friend so i'll treasure it always... but yeah, that girl is seriously fucked up!"

"Is she still in Hokkaido?"

"Yeah still painting her way around the town, do you get her emails speaking about all the food? I think Yukari almost had a brain hemorrhage, she was so jealous."

"Ha that's our Yukari, always on about food." Tomo laughed taking a sip of her coffee. Kagura suddenly gave her a concerned look. Tomo gave her a puzzled look.

"Tomo you look exhausted, are you going ok? Look...Yomi gave me a heads up about whats going on, you need to talk to someone about what happened properly. I know that more than anything"

"That Yomi! Can't she keep her mouth shut for once? I don't need any help."

"Tomo she cares about you! She's your best friend, we all care about you."

They were quite for a while until Tomo broke the ice.

"Do they ever go away? The nightmares?"

Kagura gave her a pained smile.

"No, not quite... but it gets better. I promise Tomo, it gets better."