07. Hurt

Asuna and Ayaka groaned in annoyance as Setsuna revealed her cards.

"No way, not again!" Asuna complained. "How do you keep winning?"

"Skill," Setsuna answered with a grin.

Konoka simply sighed in amusement. She really didn't care that much who won or lost. She was rich anyway, and a few rounds of poker would barely touch her fortune. Besides, they were friends. If they went out and one person was broke, another would pay for her. Plus, she wasn't exactly the competitive type. Not like Asuna or Ayaka, who both hated to lose.

"Here," Ayaka grumbled as she pushed her money toward the smug winner. Asuna did the same, except with more mumbled expletives. Setsuna looked so damn smug, she wanted to... to, uh... "You must be cheating!" Asuna declared.

Setsuna blinked, but her amused smile grew wider.

"Really? How?"

"Uh," Asuna sputtered. "By... With your, um, one-three-three-seven skills?"

"Really."

"Yes. Well, I, I don't know! But you, Setsuna Sakurazaki, are a cheater! A, uh, lying, traitorous..." she opened and closed her mouth for a while, searching for a different word, but all she could think of was... "cheater!"

"Now that's just pathetic," sighed Ayaka.

Asuna hmphed, but there was a smile on her face. Arguing with Ayaka wasn't really a fight; it was more like sparring, except instead of the heavy breathing and sweating, there was teasing... Um. She quickly dropped that line of thought.

"You were just as grumbly as I was when she won, shotacon."

Setsuna and Konoka glanced at each other in amusement.

"Well, I... at least, didn't complain about it afterwards. No, I'm not a sore loser like you."

"Excuse me? You don't have anything to bitch and moan about. You're stinkin' rich!"

"Most of it isn't even mine," Ayaka pointed out.

"Your parents spoil you rotten!" Asuna countered.

"At least I have parents," Ayaka retorted. She immediately regretted her words as they escaped her lips though—stupid, stupid! What the hell is wrong with you! As much as they 'sparred' it was never done to hurt the other. And now she had just crossed the line.

Asuna stared with eyes that were starting to tear up. Her lips were parted in a trembling, shocked 'o.' She stood up with an abruptness that made Ayaka shoot up with her.

"I'm sorry," Ayaka was saying as she desperately reached out a feeble hand.

Asuna jerked back and didn't respond, but her mouth, thin in fury, and her fists, clenched and white-knuckled, said everything. Her arm twitched, and a powerful, lean muscle spasmed as she tried to contain her wrath and disgust. Then her legs were lurching into motion, cold eyes refusing to meet dismayed, shamed eyes.

The door slammed behind her, and it was impossibly loud in the tense silence. It was so quiet, it left a ringing in their ears.

What... just happened? Setsuna wondered in astonishment.

Ayaka broke down then, tears of guilt and regret sliding down her cheeks. Konoka quickly moved to sooth her, and she gently rubbed the distraught woman's back.

"I'm so damn stupid," she was sobbing.

Setsuna wanted to move, to jump up and flee, but her legs were frozen. She was really bad with people, especially hysterical, crying people. She had always hated attention, and she was afraid that if she made a single move, those wide, wet eyes would turn on her. Her chest was squeezing in pity, and she bit her lip, willing herself to do something, anything to get herself out.

She swallowed nervously as Konoka turned to her with worried eyes.

"You should go after her, but don't push," she whispered.

Setsuna nodded numbly, and quickly got up, her uneasiness suffocating her.

The cool air quickly calmed her down, and she ran a hand through her dark hair, wishing she had a hair band. Of course, Konoka liked it better down, said "it was pretty," and hid them all. That was a few months ago. To this day, she was still looking for them, but with no luck.

Right, she shook her head with a wince, Focus on finding Asuna.

It wasn't that hard. The redhead was sitting in her truck—"This, is my baby. Touch her and you die,"—in the parking lot just outside of their apartment. One fist was crushing the wheel, the other gripping the car key, her knuckles so pale Setsuna wondered if her hands were getting numb. She was breathing hard, chest rising and falling so fast, and she would've made the perfect picture of rage and hate if it weren't for the hurt tears slipping from her shimmering eyes.

Setsuna opened the door and slipped in the front seat next to her. She made sure to close the door quietly. She wondered why Asuna was still here. The key was in the ignition, but she hadn't started the car. She was glad Asuna hadn't left though, and it wasn't just because it would've been a hassle to track her down, it was also because she worried that the distressed woman wouldn't have been able to drive properly with her jerky movements and her vision blurred by tears.

"I should've changed first. Then I could've gotten the hell outta here," Asuna declared bitterly. She was still in her pajamas.

Then they sat there quietly for what seemed like an eternity, the only noise being Asuna's fruitless wiping at the tears that wouldn't stop falling.

"That bitch," Asuna half-sobbed half-chuckled, finally breaking the somber silence.

"She didn't mean it," Setsuna said quietly.

"Oh, so now you're defending her now. The one who... who—" She broke off with a scoff.

"...Yes," Setsuna remarked seriously. "She is a bitch then."

"No she's not," Asuna said indignantly, before her cheeks flushed with something more than just anger.

Setsuna tilted her head.

"I mean... I mean, she is. She's a total bitch. The bitchiest of, of all... bitchy bitches!" Asuna bit her lip in frustration. She was too emotional too think of original words, and her redundancy just frustrated her more; it was a vicious cycle of her frustration feeding her lack of eloquence and her lack of eloquence fueling more frustration.

That... bitch, she thought again as she pried her numb fingers from the wheel and key and wiped her tears away.

"But she's my bitch," she muttered softly, then flushed.

Setsuna gave her a wry, sad smile. "That's why it hurt so much."

Asuna's lips twisted into a grimace, her mouth unable to decide whether it wanted to smile bitterly or frown in denial.

"Yeah," and she gave a short, humorless laugh that was so bleak Setsuna cringed to hear it. "And it's true, you know. I don't have parents. They didn't want me."

"Well fuck them then," Setsuna said fiercely.

Asuna started and laughed a little at the swear. "You sound weird swearing," she pointed out, and Setsuna rolled her eyes.

"Come on. You're an awesome, loyal, dedicated, fierce, warm person with a big heart—"

"What am I, a dog?"

"Seriously!" Setsuna said, and grasped Asuna's left hand, which was already loosening on the wheel. "Those dumbass excuses of parents are the ones missing out."

Asuna sniffed, and tried to disguise it as a cough.

"Thanks."

Setsuna smiled then grew serious again.

"What else?" she asked quietly.

Asuna sighed.

"Ayaka. She's just... She's so straight, you know? So damn hung up on that stupid kid."

"Maybe not."

Asuna shot her a look of befuddlement.

"She hasn't seen him since... high school. That's, what, five, six years?"

Asuna chewed on her lower lip until it was raw.

"I've known people who've loved others for decades without seeing each other for almost just as long," she protested. She wasn't even sure why she was protesting. Now that she actually had a chance, she was afraid to take it?

No, she was scared. Now that she had even an inkling of hope... It would hurt more if it turned out to be for nothing.

"Do you really think that was love?"

"What?"

"No, really," Setsuna persisted. "That wasn't love. That was infatuation. You really thought she thought he was her... soul-mate or whatever?"

Asuna's cheeks burned for maybe the millionth time that day.

"So I was a retard," she retorted defensively.

"No," Setsuna sighed. "You were just in denial. Remember Takahata?"

Asuna stiffened, and Setsuna thought, damn! "Don't push, Setsuna," and what do you do? Push!

Takahata had always been a rather sore subject with Asuna. Of course, she didn't like him anymore, but, still, it was mortifying to remember how stupid she had been, practically tripping over her tongue to woo him. He had been so old. Ugh. And she hated herself for feeling so hurt when he had rejected her and ran to Shizuna.

"Sorry," Setsuna sighed. "I'm a bitch too."

Asuna smirked anyway.

"It's about time I got over him though," she admitted. "And don't worry, I know you're Konoka's bitch."

Setsuna coughed incredulously.

"Am I that transparent?" she croaked weakly.

"Yes," Asuna confirmed.

"Damn," Setsuna muttered. Then, suddenly, she remarked, "You should talk to her."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"I hope you will, 'cause—"

"I won't."

"You should."

"No, I really shouldn't."

"You want to."

"I don't."

"Really."

"Yes."

"Well go anyway."

Asuna glared at Setsuna, who raised an eyebrow back.

"No," she pouted petulantly.

"Why not?" Setsuna asked plainly.

"She's straight."

"Maybe not."

"Maybe yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No—"

"Yes, yes, yes."

"N—"

"Yes."

"Talk t—"

"Yes."

Setsuna grinned smugly as Asuna gaped at her.

"No," she whined. "You tricked me!"

"Okay, really. Do I have to drag you in?"

"Bring it."

They climbed out of the truck and faced each other menacingly.

"You could never really beat me whenever we sparred," Setsuna commented nonchalantly.

Asuna narrowed her eyes.

"I'm better."

"Really."

"Yes."

Just as they were about to spring at each other, Konoka's disapproving voice rang out.

"And just what do you think you two are doing?"

"It was all her," Asuna insisted, flinging a hand at Setsuna, who wore an innocent look.

"Me? Really."

"Yes."

"Just get in here!" said Konoka's exasperated voice, although there was a hint of amusement in it, and Setsuna could spy with her demon-eye a tiny smile. She slipped back inside as they headed toward the building, although with each step, Asuna grew stiffer and stiffer until Setsuna was sure she was walking with a wooden puppet with bad joints. In fact, it grew so bad, she started worrying that those joints would just snap... any second now...

"Oh god, she is so straight. Oh god, I can't do this," Asuna was whispering. They were standing right in front of the door now.

"Asuna," Setsuna started, but said girl cut her off with a wide-eyed exclamation.

"Oh my god. I am so gay for her. I am so gay, for my so straight friend. Oh my god, she must be terrified of me. I was so angry... and now I'm, like lusting after her. What if she thinks I'm a, a violent abuser?"

"I bet when you two get together, she'll have you whipped so bad."

"You mean if. And you're really not one to talk," Asuna retorted. "You're not even with Konoka yet, but you're already her bitch."

"No, I..." Setsuna sighed in resignation and decided to stop talking. She reached for the doorknob... that slipped out of her grasp as the door opened... and Ayaka stood behind it with eyes that were wide with apprehension, remorse, shock, and, and... hope?

"I'm so sorry, Asu, I really am," she whispered tearfully before launching herself in the stunned redhead's arms.

Ayaka's lips ravaged her own, and she stumbled back, her hands grasping for something to anchor herself, because the simple knowledge that Ayaka was kissing her and the exhilaration at the feeling made her dizzy and light-headed. Ayaka's lips slipped wetly over hers, and she moaned into the blonde's mouth.

She pulled away with a gasp, and stared with wide eyes into Ayaka's half-lidded ones. She was suddenly very glad there was a railing outside, because she had been so overwhelmed by that kiss that if there hadn't been one, they both would've fallen and cracked their heads on the cement. They wouldn't have plunged to their deaths, but they would have ended up in a hospital. And so she was glad, because now it was also supporting her body; her legs had turned to jelly with that one kiss.

"You're forgiven," she whispered.

Setsuna, who had slipped away as soon as their lips connected, smirked as she noticed through the window Ayaka, who was crying a little and showering Asuna's flushed face with kisses.

"So..." said Konoka as she watched Setsuna clean up their mess from the poker game before.

"So?" Setsuna repeated, looking up at Konoka curiously. She stiffened at what she saw though; Konoka's eyes were almost black with an unexpected emotion that she identified as desire, but that was impossible, because Konoka was straight. Maybe not.

"You're my bitch, hm?"

"Um," she said shocked, but she was quieted by Konoka's soft touch against her cheek. She trembled slightly as she breathed in. Konoka smelt so good... and she was so close, and Setsuna could feel her intoxicating heat...

The door slammed open with Konoka's lips just a breath away, and Setsuna waited for her to jump away in disgust.

It never happened, so Setsuna was pleasantly shocked when Konoka finally moved and kissed her. It was soft and sweet, and her heart melted a little more. Breathing became a necessity however, and Setsuna reluctantly pulled away, although she had barely gotten a breath in before Konoka was attacking her lips again. She was backed up into a wall, but that only made Konoka kiss her with more urgency and insistency.

"I think you broke my brain," she whispered dazedly when Konoka finally decided to give her a break. "You must be the best kisser in the world," she added, still feeling overwhelmed and awed.

"No she's not," interrupted Asuna. "Ayaka is the best kisser in the world." She punctuated that fact with a hearty kiss to the blonde's lips. Said blonde sighed happily.

"No."

"Yes."

"Really."

"Yes."