Chapter 6. Mosso
more, with motion or animationfighting, leaving
"It's really hot."
Momoko panted, sitting on a park bench. She rested her hands on her thighs while she looked at the ground, exasperated.
"There's a water fountain there." Kaoru pointed. She was jogging in place as she waited for Momoko to cool down, adamant to not lose her adrenaline rush.
"Thanks." Momoko languidly stood up and sauntered to the fountain, bending over the faucet as she graciously slurped with pursed lips, flicking her tongue out occasionally like a kitten. Her tongue still absently out, she peered at Kaoru from the corner of her eyes. "Is something wrong?"
"Mm, no."
Momoko took another sip of water and stretched, making a small high-pitched moan. The curve of her mouth widened, and although her cheeks were dimpled and pink, she wore a smug expression, making Kaoru feel more uneasy.
"You're going to teach me how to fight, right?" She had a knack for creating tension and then destroying it.
"Of course!" Kaoru exclaimed as she remembered.
Lately the two had spent their Sundays together, working out in the mornings and doing whatever else Momoko wanted to do in the afternoon while Miyako visited Takaaki. The blonde had several times invited them with her, and each time, for their own separate reasons, they had declined.
"Today I'm going to teach you how to strike. Make a fist."
Momoko watched herself curl her fingers up in a ball, then looked at Kaoru, as if to inquire whether this was right or not.
"Cover your knuckles with your thumb." Kaoru took her hand and molded it into a proper fist. "Now, when you punch, remember to keep your fist tight upon impact so your strikes are solid. Also, strike with your top knuckles and your palm turned down." She demonstrated, making a sharp 'whoosh' sound in the air. Momoko mimicked, seeing some improvement, but noticed her fist didn't strike the air as strongly as Kaoru's.
"Maybe I should have taught you how to make a good stance first," Kaoru wondered aloud, resting her fist on her chin. She shuffled behind the redhead as she gave her instruction, moving her limbs in the right places: left heel in front of her right toes, legs shoulder width apart. Kaoru paused as she adjusted the other girl's legs. They were soft as down feathers and cool to the touch. Cautiously she ran a thumb along Momoko's thigh and her chest began to swell. It felt as if her chest was pounding along with her heart. She hoped no one around the park or Momoko spotted her dirty motive.
She peered up and realized what exactly said motive was leading to. Her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates as she sluggishly withdrew her hand and strained to disregard the salty sweet scent from above.
Momoko looked down at her and let out a vocal type of smirk: a 'hunh' tinted with a snicker.
"You said no funny business." Kaoru stood up. Her cheeks burned with shame. She would never hear the end of this, she thought.
"I'm not doing anything," Momoko coyly replied, prompting Kaoru to turn away. "So what do I do next?"
Kaoru was surprised her actions weren't being rubbed in, like one rubbed a dog's nose in his feces.
"B-bend your knees." Kaoru bent her own for show. "Bring your fists up, elbows tight at the side..." She waited for Momoko before continuing. "Now rise up slightly on the balls of your feet and-- jab!" Their fists shot at the air almost in unison. They turned to each other, astounded at Momoko's progress.
"I wanted to go to a movie today but this isn't as boring as I thought! Teach me more."
Just as the girl had the ability to create and decimate tension she could be tired one minute and bursting with enthusiasm the next. More often than not she was ecstatic, a trait in her that had annoyed Kaoru weeks ago.
She had always seen Momoko as a naive child, thinking more of her own wellbeing than of others'. There were battles when Buttercup felt like she had to take the torch, protecting the two girls while Blossom stared with shock. Maybe this was the reason why Kaoru had raised the idea: "Why don't I teach you how to fight a little?"
Despite her faults, Kaoru began to see her as a girl who tried to hide her smarts-- or at least didn't realize her intelligence. A girl sweet as kind, but bitter when she looked at Kaoru knowingly, nearly coquettishly.
Before they were about to leave the park, her red eyes glimmered over Kaoru, wearing the same expression that gave Kaoru a bittersweet taste in her mouth. Kaoru swore if she listened closely she would hear whispered giggles.
Kaoru was almost off guard when Momoko suddenly bolted behind her, about to wrap an arm around her neck. Instinctively Kaoru's composure returned and she grabbed the girl's thin arm and unraveled it from around her neck. Then she bent down slightly and lifted the lean body over her head. Her movements slowed seconds after she remembered she could injure Momoko. She strained to lower the girl to the ground gingerly, rather than slamming her into the dirt.
Finding Momoko was unharmed, Kaoru leaned forward, her hand a little below the middle of Momoko's chest. The girl's breaths felt hollow under her palm, and her cheeks were stained red, exhausted. Her lips were swollen and red as well, billowing hot breaths against Kaoru's mouth.
Kaoru finally closed the distance between the, sealing it with a kiss.
