Disclaimer: I own neither K-on! Or any anime/manga reference I make for the totality of this series.
A big thank you for the reviews! ^^
Just an explanation for moeRitsuMio (many thanks for pointing this out) and others who got a little confused: When Azusa got 'zapped' by Yui, some of the charge got carried onto her own hands, which was why Mio got pulled in this mess as well.
Another K-On?
Heart to Heart…
Ugh…what happened? Mio groaned, immediately feeling something soft and warm beneath her. Recognizing it automatically, she snuggled into it, or rather, her. Once she was satisfied she lifted her head and looked at Ritsu, expecting a welcoming grin and a warm pair of honey-colored eyes.
She all but wanted to see a hostile scowl and cold amber orbs hidden under those long bangs. "…R-Ritsu?"
"Get off me."
"Wh-what?"
"Didn't you hear me?" Ritsu growled. First she starts an argument and now she's all over me? What's with this woman? "Get. Off."
Mio winced, but nonetheless didn't move. "I'm sorry for what happened…I'll do better." Placing both her hands on either side of the girl's face and ignoring Ritsu struggling beneath her, Mio strengthened her resolve and spoke before kissing her. "I love you, Ritsu."
All throughout the kiss Ritsu struggled, hurting Mio as she found out the brunette kept trying to push her back, never returning the gesture. Once she managed to break free, Ritsu turned her head and spat before glaring at the other girl. "Disgusting. Are you really that desperate, you slut?"
It took all of her not to cry on the spot, but Mio stayed and ignored the tears that stung her eyes. "R-Ritsu…that hurts…"
The brunette scoffed. "What does it matter? Get off me."
Unable to resist the urge any longer, Mio hung her head, tears starting to flow. "…being your girlfriend doesn't matter? Do you hate me that much now?"
Looking at the crying girl on top of her, Ritsu's harsh expression softened a little due to confusion and mercy. She turned red at the thought. "What…are you talking about, Akiyama?"
That was all she could take.
-=Heart to Heart…=-
Was that…Mio-senpai? B-But…how? ! Azusa thought, not knowing whether to intervene or to stay put. Wait, if Mio-senpai is here then…Azusa immediately put a hand on the door. She won't stand a chance! "Mio-sen—"
The door swung open, and Azusa stumbled in, catching a glimpse of the crying raven-haired girl exiting once she sat up. "M-Mio-senpai! !"
"Azusa…what's going on?" The nekomata looked behind her to see a confused, and rather flustered, Ritsu. Deciding it wasn't the time to talk about the situation, she spoke. "Let's talk about it later. I…I'll call you!"
With that, Azusa ran off to find the only other person in this world that's in the same situation as her.
-=Heart to Heart…=-
Mio ran.
She ran as fast as she could, uncaring about the looks people gave her when they saw her tear-stained face.
If she concentrated on running hard enough, she would forget. Forget everything she saw and heard moments ago.
If she was so tired that she won't be able to think, much less walk, she won't have those words— that voice in her head.
She won't be able to hurt her again.
But, as Mio panted, hands resting on her knees while she tried to regain her breath, all she could think of was Ritsu.
Mio closed her eyes as she let a few more tears slide down her face. Why does it feel like she doesn't even know me?
"Mio-senpai?"
The raven-haired girl turned, seeing a girl approaching with a pair of school bags. "A…zusa?"
Thank god. The nekomata sighed in relief. It's her. "Are you all right?"
"A-ah, this?" Mio wiped her tears as she tried to smile. "Y-yeah, nothing too serious. I'm just being an idiot about something, that's all."
Azusa hesitated, trying to figure out how to comfort the older girl and to explain their situation at the same time. "Is it about Ritsu…senpai?"
Funny how only one word can make her tear up without getting extremely frightened. "Ritsu…"
Feeling extremely uneasy knowing she was the one who made Mio cry, Azusa quickly thought up of a solution. "Mio-senpai, the Ritsu you just spoke with isn't the Ritsu-senpai we know!" Azusa took a deep breath. "We aren't from here!"
Hearing Azusa's statement, the raven-haired girl stopped crying and turned to look at the supposedly younger girl. "What do you mean?"
-=Heart to Heart…=-
"Mama—Okaa-san, I'm home." Mio called as she and Azusa entered the Akiyama residence, finding all the lights turned off and no sign of any living being. "That's strange. She should be home by now."
Maybe her family's changed too? Azusa wondered. "We should probably look around for a note, or something." She spotted a pink slip of paper on the nearby table, immediately recognizing the penmanship.
Future Mio-tan,
Don't forget to take the Day-Walker drug Eva-baachan sent. We don't want another pigeon-massacre like one last month. -_-" Make sure you drink a packet of blood before taking it!
Signed,
Mio-tan. ;)
What the heck…Azusa gaped at the slip. This might be more embarrassing than Mio-senpai's lyrics…
"What do you have there, Azusa?" Having exited the bathroom, Mio approached the other girl, trying to peek over her shoulder.
"N-Nothing!" Azusa immediately put the slip of paper behind her back.
Before feeling something—two appendages to be exact—lift up her skirt from behind.
Her red eyes watched as Mio's coal orbs go wide. "A-Azusa, why do you have cat ears…?"
Azusa sighed. "I think we should sit down…"
=-Heart to Heart…-=
"I…am never…doing…this…AGAIN!" Ritsu huffed as she climbed the final step of the stairs, an unconscious Yui's arm conveniently draped her shoulders. She forced herself to drag the other girl into the Music Room, placing her on the table beside Azusa as she literally fell from exhaustion. Why the hell does it feel like I'm being punished for something? ! "Damn it, all of you are heavy! I'm going to make sure Mugi brings diet cakes for the three of you for the rest of the year!"
Having somewhat recovered, Ritsu stood up, then noticing all four of them were soaking wet. We better get out of these soaked clothes if we don't want to get the flu. Spotting her spare jersey draped behind the clothes rack, Ritsu immediately shed her wet uniform and changed.
She then frowned as she had found nothing else for Azusa, Yui and Mio to change into.
Nothing, that is, except for the outfits Sawako had made.
Ritsu rubbed her temples. "I hope I don't get a three-person beating when they wake up."
-=Heart to Heart…=-
"…and that's it." Azusa finished, quieting down to let Mio take in all the information.
Azusa's never the one to joke…especially in times like this. Mio thought to herself, glancing at the other girl. Those ears and tails do look pretty real. There was something off about Ritsu too, now that I think about it. Thinking of that name made her heart wrench, but somehow it had lessened, now that she knew that it wasn't really her Ritsu who said those things. Wait… "Azusa?"
"Yes, senpai?"
"If you're a Nekomata, Yui and Mugi are both Mages, Ritsu's a…mutt?"
Azusa tapped her chin. "That's what the other Mio told us a while ago, so I think it's best to assume that she's a canine youkai."
"I see." Mio nodded, and then pointed to herself. "Then…what am I?"
Azusa froze. She had yet to figure out how to tell the older girl what on earth she was. I guess there's no choice but to spit it out now…before she finds out through some other means. "Senpai…you're…" Azusa hesitated as she saw the curious look in Mio's eyes; the girl was obviously expecting something out of a fairy tale. "…a vampire."
"Eh?" Mio blinked. Perhaps I didn't hear her right… "Can you say that again?"
"You're a vampire." Azusa repeated, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.
Mio stayed silent for a full three seconds, before blowing up.
"HOW IN THE WORLD DID I END UP A VAMPIRE? !" Mio stated incredulously. "V-Vampires are supposed to be menacing, scary, sneaky, cunning and s-seductive!" Mio blushed. "I can't be any of those things!"
"Believe me, Mio-senpai, you can." Azusa mumbled grimly, her experience with the other Mio earlier crawling back to her mind. She then handed the other girl the slip. "…I think this is for you."
Both girls stayed quiet as Mio read the note, and the silence was only broken when Azusa shouted as Mio promptly fainted. "Mio-senpai? !"
-=Heart to Heart…=-
A few minutes later, Mio opened her eyes and found that she was lying on the living room sofa, and was about to conclude everything that happened to her as an obscure dream if she hadn't seen Azusa and her cat ears.
She immediately crouched down in the corner, chanting. "I didn't see anything…I'm not hearing anything…Azusa's just accidentally glued the cat ears to her head, those aren't real…And I'm sure Sawako-sensei forced her to wear cosplay panties…"
Still in the room, Azusa shook her head at Mio's accusations. Mio-senpai can be really bold when she's scared sometimes.
Mio's frightened rants continued for minutes, but were then cut off when a low growl of hunger came from the corner she was in.
The raven-haired girl looked at Azusa, looking more horrified than she was minutes ago.
The young nekomata merely sighed to herself. I guess we'll have to find her stack of…supplies then.
-=Heart to Heart…=-
"I…don't…want!" It was now minutes later, and Mio was trying to get as far away from the kitchen as possible—or more specifically, her own refrigerator.
"But you have to!" Gripping onto the raven-haired girl's arm as hard as she could, Azusa struggled as she tried to take a step in the opposite direction, where a memo-filled refrigerator stood. At any other situation, Azusa might have reacted to the strangeness of her upperclassman being afraid of an appliance, but considering that the said appliance might be the only storage of a vampire's food source…
A hemophobic vampire… On second thought, Azusa figured she would have to bonk her head against a desk after this feeding issue is resolved.
"B-But Azusa…! There's going to be blood…!" Mio retorted as she tried to free her arm. "I-It could be dripping all over! Who knows how—"
Mio was cut off by a resounding growl from her stomach, and she looked down in embarrassment as the nekomata gave her a stern look. "Senpai, you have to eat—erm, drink to stay alive!" She then had an idea. "If you die here, how will you be able to get home?"
At that, the raven-haired girl ceased her flailing. "Ritsu…"
Slightly alarmed that the other girl had suddenly looked upset, Azusa was surprised when Mio spun around and walked to the refrigerator, hand shaking slightly as she reached for the door. Wincing slightly, the raven-haired vampire swung it open.
And was utterly relieved to see only suspicious-looking juice boxes on all the shelves, all labelled 'TOMATO MILK'
Mio almost fell to her knees. Thank god. She picked one of the containers and looked at it sceptically, got the straw from the back and punctured the top of the box, and then proceeded to drinking.
Azusa watched her upperclassman for any signs of distaste or discomfort, and sighed in relief when the girl finished her drink. There was a few seconds of silence before Mio spoke. "…It's not that bad."
"It shouldn't be. You're a vampire after all." The younger girl noted before catching sight of the numerous papers tacked to the refrigerator door. Zeppeli Deliveries? "Senpai, I think this is the number for—"
"Azunyan?"
"Wah!" Azusa jumped as Mio looked at her strangely. She looked around the room, but found that Yui wasn't in the same room. "Yui-sen—Yu-chan?" She called out tentatively.
"Azunyan, where are you? It's almost dinner and if Mama finds out you're not home yet—"
"Yui, have you seen Azusa?" Azusa's eyes widened as she heard an unfamiliar voice. Could this be…
"Sh-She said she had something to do at school, Mama!" She heard Yui shout back, then hearing the brown-haired girl's alarmed voice. "I don't know how long I can keep this up, Azunyan. You better get here before Aoi-mama gets suspicious."
"Yu-chan?" The nekomata vaguely felt something being disconnected, and got no telepathic reply from the brown-haired girl.
"Azusa, are you all right?" Mio tilted her head, giving the other girl a concerned look.
Assuming that Mio didn't hear anything from Yui, Azusa nodded. "Yui-senpa— Yui just told me that I needed to get home." The other girl then returned the concerned expression. "Will you be all right by yourself, senpai?"
Mio considered it for a moment, and sheepishly nodded. "I think I can."
The two girls made their way to the living room and Azusa grabbed her bag as Mio walked with her to the front door. "See you tomorrow, Mio-senpai."
Mio sighed, rubbing her temples. "We're going to need a lot of luck tomorrow."
"Yeah…" The nekomata felt a pang of nervousness as she realized they were going to try out their aforementioned powers, both of them completely clueless on how to use them.
-=Heart to Heart…=-
Azusa felt extremely strange going home to the Hirasawa residence, but seeing as how her old home now had the name 'Harada' in front, she felt she had no choice. Her mind drifted back to the unfamiliar voice from when Yui had contacted her earlier. "Yui, have you seen Azusa?"
It couldn't be Yui-senpai's mother, could it? She thought, remembering that she had never seen Yui's parents before. They were always away on trips. She then tapped her chin at a random thought. If her mother had stayed here, no wonder the Yui from here looks just as dependent as Yui-senpai. She then frowned. But if their mother were here, then what would happen to Ui?
"I'm home…" Azusa mumbled quietly to herself, immediately seeing two flashes of brown heading towards her.
"Azusa-chan!" "Azunyan!"
In half a second, Azusa was glomped by two brown-haired girls, both wearing their hair down and looking exactly the same. The one at her left grinned. "Azunyan, welcome home~!"
The one at her right pouted. "Oneechan, no fair! I get to greet Azusa-chan this time, remember?"
Yui frowned. "But you did that the last time! It's my turn."
Feeling extremely uneasy as the sisters bickered, Azusa saw the silhouette of a woman by the stairs, who simply chuckled and gave no help whatsoever.
"Azusa-chan is mine!" Ui frowned, glaring at her older sister.
"No, she's my familiar! She's MINE!" Yui glared back, tightening her grip on Azusa's arm.
"Mine!" Eyes narrowing at the sight of Yui gripping the other girl's arm, Ui grabbed the girl's right, and attempted to 'free' Azusa by pulling her arm.
"Mine!" Yui, however, did not relent to her sister's effort and yanked back.
"MINE!" Ui pulled again, and Azusa winced at the amount of force the girl used.
"MINE!" The older girl returned the favour, her own pulls matching Ui's strong yanks.
I don't think I can handle the two of them like that! Azusa shook her head fiercely as she snapped out of it, barely managing to evade a stray black cat as she headed to her so-called home. Moments later, Azusa found herself in front of the Hirasawa's door, taking a deep breath before going in.
However, the welcoming pounce that Azusa had expected when she opened the door never arrived. Instead, she felt someone taller firmly grab the back of her collar, and Azusa was both surprised and frightened when she felt herself being pulled up.…Like a pet cat that did something wrong.
Her wide red eventually met vivid blue, and Azusa found herself staring onto the eyes of a woman she had never met before. This is…Yui-senpai and Ui's…
"Azusa, where have you been?" The girl could hardly listen as she took in the Hirasawa's features. Light blue eyes that neither Yui or Ui possessed were staring at her angrily, but the long veil of brown hair proved that she was indeed her friends' mother.
After processing her observations and receiving a look from the woman, she then managed to come up with a reply. "I…stopped by a friend's house."
She saw her calm down and felt herself being lowered to the floor, mentally sighing in relief as she felt the ground below her feet.
The blue-eyed woman sighed to herself as she put a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Geez, you should've told Yui-chan. She's been lonely all by herself, you know."
All by herself? Azusa frowned slightly. Ui must not be home yet… "I guess I better go upstairs and—"
"—practice." The woman gave the girl an intimidating look, causing her to swallow hard. "Don't think I didn't catch you slacking off the past week, Azusa."
"Y-Yes ma'am!" Azusa squeaked, turning around and scrambling up the stairs with her two tails in between her legs.
Hirasawa Aoi merely giggled at the younger girl's antics. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes!"
-=Heart to Heart…=-
It was now five minutes later and Azusa found herself in an unfamiliar room, but there was a sign on the door that indicated it was hers. There was a messy bed on the far right of the room, beside the window. On the other side was a desk cluttered with all sorts of papers, most of which had doodles and inherent scribbles. This looks more like Ritsu-senpai's room than mine! Sighing to herself, she skipped over a few discarded clothes, fixed her bed sheet and then sat down, feeling comfortable on the soft mattress.
She then gaped as she saw the pink scratching post that had been hidden from view when she walked in.
"What are you looking at?"
"Kya!" The red-eyed girl jumped, promptly falling of the bed. She looked at the other girl with wide eyes. "H-How did you—"
"You shouldn't leave your window unlocked, you know." Ritsu laughed as she winked. "It's pretty easy to trace your scent, since it turns out Ojousama and I live pretty close by."
She helped the nekomata up and sat down beside her on the edge of the bed. "You said you'd call me, but I haven't given you my number, so I decided to track you down while Ojousama was meeting with her family." She explained, then turning to the other girl. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"
Should I tell her? Azusa thought, hesitating. She mentally shook her head. Of course I should. She and Mugi might be able to help us get home. She then looked at Ritsu, who grinned as she encouraged the other girl to speak up.
Azusa took a deep breath before speaking. I just hope she believes me.
-=Heart to Heart…=-
"I can't believe it." Ritsu quipped, frowning. Azusa had long finished her extraordinary tale, and visibly deflated upon hearing brunette's comment. She shook her head again. "I'm sorry, Azusa. I just can't believe that Akiyama and I actually get along in your universe…"
Had the red-eyed girl been standing she would have surely fallen, but the other girl's statement gave her a flicker of hope. "You mean, you believe me?"
"Of course I do! With the TSAB and other inter-dimensional police roaming around, it's easier to believe that than to believe that Yamanaka-sensei is less than two hundred years old!" The brunette exclaimed, grinning. She then tapped her chin. "But to get you back two years in the future is quite a challenge. Ojousama and I will have to look into that."
"You will? !" Azusa said happily, her black ears visibly perking up with joy. "I can't believe I'm saying this—but thank you, Ritsu!"
"Oi, oi, am I really that much of an idiot in your world?" She grinned wryly, scratching the girl's ear as she laughed. Azusa nodded vigorously as she joined in, both of them in comfortable silence once their chuckles died down.
"Hey, Azusa?"
"Hm?"
"What are we like?" Ritsu looked away. "Ojousama and I…"
The nekomata paused, weighing out what to say before speaking. "You and Mugi-senpai are good friends but…you're closer to Mio-senpai."
"I…see." The brunette nodded slowly, the silence between them getting a little heavy. "Was Akiyama really that important to me?"
Azusa nodded.
"No wonder she ran off crying." The brunette hung her head. "I must have really hurt her."
"It wasn't your fault, you didn't know." The red-eyed girl replied. "Though I think it would be better if you didn't act so hostile towards her. You're…Ritsu-senpai is very important to her."
I should go apologize…The brunette thought, then smelling a familiar scent wafting through Azusa's door. She stood up. "I think you have company, Azusa. I better take my leave before your parents find out I'm here." Ritsu put a foot on the window and grinned. "I guess I'll have to teach you the ropes tomorrow?"
Azusa smiled back. "Yeah, tomorrow."
With that the brunette leapt with such force that she had shot up, disappearing from Azusa's view. The red-eyed girl tried searching for her movements, but the closest things she had seen were a few blurs. Sighing to herself she then saw Yui's head poke through her door. "Azunyan, Mama says it's time for dinner."
Azusa nodded. "I'll be down in a few minutes."
-=Heart to Heart…=-
When Mio had walked Azusa to the door and was asked if she was all right with being alone at home, the bassist knew that her mother would return from work in a few minutes.
Well, she thought wrong.
Mama isn't home yet… Currently she was sitting in the dark living room, hugging her knees as she tried to make herself as small as possible. A while ago she tried to turn on the lights, but it seemed like the bulbs haven't been changed in a long time, so all she got was a violent spark that further fuelled her panic.
To say that she was frightened now would definitely be an understatement. What did I do to deserve this…this…Horror movie? !
Then—as if she really was in such a film—suspicious sounds came from upstairs, making her jump and her hair stand on its ends. She immediately reached for something to defend herself with, but grimaced as she realized it was the plastic straw from the juice box (I am NOT calling it a blood box…!) she had emptied earlier.
The footsteps got louder and Mio frantically searched for a safe place to hide; but with only a small, table, two sofas and a television set, she resorted to hiding behind one of the couches, clutching the straw with an iron grip. Inhaling sharply, she then frowned as she realized she was not exactly defenceless anymore. Oh, right…What's a plastic straw when I've got razor-sharp fangs and vampiric powers?
She then silently bumped her head against the wall. What use are those when I have no idea how to use them? ! Why do these things always happen to me—
The raven-haired girl stopped in mid-rant as the intruder she so feared crashed down the steps. Her frown was replaced with a wry grin. Talk about a grand entrance…What is he, an idiot?
Someone groaned. "Dammit, do these mosquitoes really have to keep their houses pitch black? ! I bet even they fall down the stairs in this darkness!"
Mio's eyes widened, and she poked her head out of her hiding place and saw a familiar silhouette. "Ri…Ritsu?"
The figure immediately straightened up. "A-Ah, Akiyama-san! Good Evening!"
I guess I was right. She thought warily, memories from the bathroom still fresh from her mind. Feeling tears bordering the corners of her eyes again, she squeezed them shut. Calm down, Mio. She's not the Ritsu you know…She's not Ritsu. Timidly she reopened them, the all-too-familiar outline causing her emotions to resurface and her heart to wrench painfully. Still, that damned hurt."Why…are you here?"
That simple question rendered both of them silent, tension escalating into an unbearable level. The raven-haired girl was about to say something when Ritsu spoke up, rubbing her arm in the dark.
"I came to apologize." The brunette began. "Azusa told me everything, and I should have stopped when you weren't on the offensive…I sincerely apologize."
Ritsu tensed when the other girl didn't reply, and was about to say something when she suddenly heard a laugh from the couch the raven-haired girl was hiding behind. "I'm sorry, but that was just…" Mio chuckled. "You really are different from our Ritsu."
Extremely relieved, the brunette grinned. "So I've been told." She paused. "Can we sit down? It feels a little awkward talking to a person behind a sofa."
Mio simply laughed again, feeling a smile tugging at her lips. They may have different attitudes, but both of them are just as sweet.
-=Heart to Heart…=-
That was a good bath. Azusa thought as she stepped out of the bathroom, wet hair cascading down her back as a towel hung around her neck. She started walking towards her room at the end of the hall, but stopped in mid-step as she noticed one important detail.
There were four rooms, all having the same brown-colored door. Azusa's and Yui's rooms were facing one another, a nameplate hanging on each door. Right beside Yui's room was presumably her mother's bedroom, since Azusa saw the older Hirasawa entering the said room as she entered the bathroom.
But, right beside Azusa's bedroom sat what looked like an unused room, dust visibly collecting under its entrance.
Don't tell me… Without thinking, Azusa charged into Yui's room and forcefully opened the door.
"Uwah!" Yui, who had been writing on her desk, jumped in surprise, causing her to fall over backwards.
The girl at the door froze, noting Yui's normal-sized bed, with no futon spread out on the floor. It can't be.
"Mou, Azunyan, don't surprise me like that!" The brown-haired girl complained, and then frowned in confusion at the other girl's solemn expression.
With wide eyes, Azusa took a deep breath, and asked. "Where's Ui?"
Yui blinked.
"Who's…Ui?"
-=Heart to Heart…=-
"Man, was I really that stupid?" The brunette exclaimed, unable to believe Mio's words.
"Yep. Your forehead stayed that way for three days, too." By now Mio was in a fit of giggles, half from recalling the silly memory of Ritsu and a permanent marker, half from the unbelieving expression she received from the brunette beside her.
Seeing that the raven-haired girl was now in a better mood, Ritsu smiled and shook her head. "Why do all your stories depict me as a hyperactive monkey who's always up to no good?"
"Because you are a hyperactive monkey who's always up to no good…at least, in my world."
Chuckling, Ritsu nodded and leaned back. "So, are there any similarities me and your Ritsu share?"
"Aside from appearance?" She joked, laughing when she felt a playful shove in reply. "Well, both of you are rather…chivalrous."
"Ch-Chivalrous? But Azusa told me I was the rudest person she ever met! A-and…" Mio heard the other girl stutter, practically seeing a hint of red in the darkness. "I can't really see myself as gallant…"
The raven-haired girl paused for a moment to do a double-take. I'm still trying to get used to a Ritsu being humble."You are. Both of you are, actually, though I'll never admit that to the other you. She'll probably tease me to no end…"
Ritsu laughed at the other girl's slightly exasperated sigh, which led them to a comfortable silence as either thought of something to say.
"Akiyama-san?"
"Mio." She corrected; the thought of Ritsu calling her by her surname was still too alien. "What is it?"
Ritsu paused as Mio heard her inhale.
"You're dating her, aren't you?"
-=Heart to Heart…=-
"Who's…Ui?"
Azusa froze, immediately feeling a sense of dread creeping up on her. Trying to ignore it, she gave the other girl an incredulous look. "What do you mean…'Who's Ui'? ! She's your sister!"
Yui tilted her head, obviously puzzled. "Azunyan, I don't have a sister. My Mama and Papa don't like each other anymore, remember?"
Ui is…gone? The dark-haired girl's mouth suddenly felt dry as she took in this truth and swallowed before saying a hushed 'Good Night' to her master. Wordlessly she opened and closed her bedroom door, feeling tears stinging the corners of her eyes as she slid down. Ui…
-=Heart to Heart…=-
Mio froze, but nonetheless felt her cheeks heat up. "Wh-Why would you say that?"
"You said it yourself when we were in the bathroom, remember?" She heard the other girl explain, blushing as she recalled her words from earlier. "…being your girlfriend doesn't matter?"
The raven-haired girl sighed. "I'm sorry for putting you in such an awkward position."
She saw the other girl nod. "Does…Azusa know about this?"
She shook her head. "We were working on a way on how to tell them before…this happened."
"I see." Ritsu paused to stretch her back. "Well then, Mio, your secret is safe with me. Though I really think you should tell them as soon as possible."
That's what she said to me too. The raven-haired girl thought, idly chalking up another similarity between the two Ritsu's. The one sitting beside her then stood up and looked at her. "It's about time I get back. Ojousama must be on her way home by now."
Mio blinked. "Who's…'Ojousama'?"
"Kotobuki Tsumugi…sama." The brunette replied, hesitantly adding the honorific. "She's your keyboardist, right?"
"Yes…"The raven-haired girl nodded idly, not thinking that the other girl might not see in the dark. "But, why are you calling her that?"
"I work for the Kotobuki…more specifically for Tsumugi-ojousama as her aide and guard." Ritsu paused, and then continued as she saw a slightly bewildered expression on the other girl through her lupine eyes. "Ah, I…don't exactly live with my family anymore. It's a rather long story."
Coal orbs widened, but nonetheless Mio voiced a meek reply. "I-I see. I'm sorry for bringing it up."
"It's all right." Ritsu shrugged, and then turned to the stairs. "I really think I should go now. We'll see each other tomorrow, right, Mio?"
"Right." Mio followed the other girl up the stairs, then seeing an open window that probably served as Ritsu's method of entry. Eyes squinting due to the sudden brightness, Mio held up a hand and asked. "Can you help me and Azusa at training tomorrow? We don't know anything about our powers at all."
"I can help Azusa with her powers. You, on the other hand…" The brunette looked back, grinning. "I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks, Ritsu." Mio smiled as the said girl turned around, putting a foot on the window, and then stopped.
"Mio?"
"Hm?"
"I don't know if I should say this but…" Full of uncertainty, amber turned around to lock with coal. "…my heart already belongs to someone else."
Another K-On?
To be Continued…
Props to everyone who got through reading this without wanting to smack youkaiRitsu upside the head in the beginning, even I wanted to do it when I was writing. ^^" Hopefully she got back in your good books by the time this chapter was over?
Another note: Hirasawa Aoi is NOT an OC. She's, in fact, Senou Aoi (from Mai Hime. Props to everyone who noticed, or remembered her.). With that knowledge, this is NOT a crossover, because I just needed someone to play other roles because there were too few characters to use (Frankly, I hate OC's, and I try not to incorporate any of them as much as possible unless its original fiction). More about her and the others later.
I'd like to end this with some good news: I've finished the fifth chapter! ^^ Usually I suffer a severe case of writer's block whenever I get to this chapter number, but luckily I finished it without any fatal blows. It will be posted as soon as I finish writing the sixth.
That aside, how was this chapter? Feedback is welcome!