Muahahahaha. Locked in! Oh dear, I'd had to be in Lucia's position right now. How awkward would you feel? This chapter is gonna be a fun one. Please ENJOY!

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Lucia desperately jostled the handle and then pounded on the door. "LOLA! YOU LET ME OUT NOW! LOLA!" She kept pounding the door for several minutes, until she finally gave up and cursed as she rested her forehead against it…"I don't even know what to say.." she whispered. The room was completely dark; Lucia could only make out shadows of the furniture. She leaned against the door and sighed. "..Sumire?" There was only silence to greet her. She grimaced and crossed her arms uncomfortably. "…I.." she began, but her voice failed her.

She couldn't think of any of the right things to say, her words jumbled in her mind and she couldn't make sense of them. In the quiet, she couldn't even hear Sumire breathing. She assumed Sumire was on her bed, either drowning in sorrow or brooding with anger. There was never an in-between with Sumire, her emotions were always extreme.

She wanted to turn on the light, but she knew she couldn't handle looking at Sumire's face now, and she doubted the younger girl wanted to see her. With her back to the door, she tried the handle again. Still locked. There was no escape. She let herself lean against the door and slide down to the floor, where she sat without a sound. Her head ached, but her mind would not rest; like it was solving some impossible equation, fitting different words into various sentences trying to form some comprehensible statement, some expression of apology, a request for forgiveness, anything. She felt pitiful. She groaned and wrapped her arms around her knees, putting her forehead on them as she hugged them to her chest. She let her mind replay the terrible things she had yelled at Sumire. She took a deep breath.

"I lied." She whispered, "I didn't mean any of that stuff..I lied." There was no answer, Lucia was suffering in the stillness. Who knew silence could be so loud? "I..treasure your friendship..and the time we spend together. I need it. And..ever since you met that guy, I felt like I was losing you. I knew someday you would resent me because you have to fight viruses now, and that you can't live a normal life.. And, he makes you feel normal. I got..nervous. I didn't want to let myself get anymore attached to you..but recently..I just let it get to me. And Róisín..she just made me realize more how much I really do care about you, and I – I want you by my side." She paused, "I mean, when we fight viruses or whatever. You are so important to me. I'm sorry I'm so..awful and appalling." Her voice caught, "I didn't mean it Sumire..not for a second. I care about you so much and I'm thankful to have met you. Please don't hate me. Please." She pleaded to the shadows, tears rolling down her cheek. There was no response, though she hadn't entirely expected one anyway, how could Sumire forgive her if Lucia couldn't even forgive herself? She hugged her knees tighter and tried to stop her crying. It was ruined, it was worthless now.

Then she felt something, arms wrapping around her gently. She didn't need to open her eye to know it was Sumire kneeling beside her, embracing her tightly. Lucia let go of her legs and allowed her head to lean on Sumire's chest, hugging her back as if she were a child.

"Lucia, you know you're the most important person to me. I was just worried you didn't trust me as a friend…And then suddenly that foreigner appeared and you seemed so close to her. I..I thought you'd replace me. You never say what you're thinking, and keep so many secrets, I didn't know what you thought of me anymore..if you wanted me around. And..as for Yoshiki, I can't explain how I feel about him… but it's different than how I feel about you. If it weren't for you..I wouldn't be who I am today. And I'm proud of the person I'm becoming. I'm getting stronger and more focused, I'm helping people." Murmured Sumire, "You've made me happy..to know that you care about me too. Thank You, Lucia. Thank you so much." For a moment, she just held Lucia, like she was cradling her own daughter. But Sumire didn't want it to feel motherly, nor sisterly..she wished it could be something else, although, she didn't understand the feelings that were growing inside her, she knew they were strong. Lucia finally let go of Sumire and sat up. She rubbed her azure eye and laughed softly.

She noticed Sumire's dazed expression, "What are you thinking?"

"I'm just happy." She quickly responded, suddenly smiling again. "I'm really happy you don't hate me Lucia-san." She took the hunters hands in her own and Lucia felt her stomach twist inside her. When she was like this with Sumire, it felt entirely different than she felt with Róisín. She didn't even want to think of the other girl. She wondered if that's how Sumire felt when she was with Yoshiki, she frowned. "Oh, won't you stop frowning already? I'm not upset anymore, now that I know you didn't mean it. I'm not, really. You've made me so happy just now." Lucia decided the least she could do was smile after everything she'd done, but it was still only half-hearted. Sumire knew Lucia still doubted her. "And, you don't have to worry Lucia-san. I'm not going to run off and leave you to fight viruses on your own." Lucia cringed a bit, proving Sumire's assumption was right.

"Well..I did it before, I don't mind." Lucia stated simply.

"Please don't say that Lucia, I want to help you fight them." pleaded Sumire.

"I know..but you shouldn't have to, it's my fault you got dragged into this war." Retorted Lucia.

"I.." Sumire began, "I hated these powers once. I truly despised them." Lucia flinched. "But, I'm ok now. I'm better than ok…because I'm getting stronger, and I can protect people….and I met you." Sumire smiled at Lucia, "And, knowing someone like you..so strong, and mature..clever, responsible..and well, extraordinary..made it all worth it. I'm really happy I know you, and I look up to you Lucia." Sumire's words were more honest than she thought they'd be, as she spoke she became aware of other feelings inside her, she was comparing Lucia to Yoshiki without even knowing it. And although he had such a gentle face and genuine personality, she discovered she was more attracted to Lucia's uniqueness and individuality. It surprised her, to say the least. As she listened, Lucia hugged her knees to her chest.

"Sumire..you act like I've done so much to help you, when in reality I haven't done anything. I used you as bait when we first met, then I was cruel and critical to you when you started your training, and I'm so cold toward you.." the hunter replied.

"I don't know what you're talking about, you never act that cruel. What about the other day when you thought I had a fever?" said Sumire, "I mean, I feel like you just punish yourself and dwell on it every time you think you do something callous.."

" I don't even know…my point is, I didn't want to be your friend..because I'm so scared. But now, I'm so much more dependent on you than you are on me. And I hate it. You've changed me, you've made me want to learn things and actually live my life. Now, you're beginning to control your powers better, and you can fight viruses on your own. You say all this now, but soon you won't need me to protect you anymore, and you'll leave." Said Lucia, digging her face into her own arms. Sumire just stared at her, her lack of trust was her greatest downfall.

"Is that really what you think? Is that what you're so worried about? That I won't need you so I'll leave? Lucia, don't you know what friendship is? Friends don't just desert each other, ok? I'm not going to leave you! I'm not!" vowed Sumire, grabbing the other girl by the shoulders. Lucia was surprised to see her act so forceful. Sumire's jade eye's were fixed on Lucia, serious but gleaming with resolve. Lucia just gazed at her, wanting to believe her words more than she could even comprehend. Her heart was begging but her mind wouldn't accept it, she had been scarred by too many memories, too many faces that turned away from her. She was certain Sumire would be one of them soon too. But she knew she had allowed herself to get too close to Sumire, to enjoy her presence too much, and to depend on seeing her smile every day. She looked down, avoiding her dazzling green eyes. Sumire knew what that meant, she let go of Lucia's shoulders and groaned, "I don't get it. I just don't know what you want me to do here."

"I…I don't know." Said Lucia, frigidly despite the confusion on her face.

"Why can't you just believe me?" She asked, begging for one real answer.

"I want to! It's just.." she sighed before finishing her sentence. Sumire waited, but saw that Lucia had no intention of explaining. Sumire groaned.

"I'll prove it to you, I don't know how yet. But I will." stated Sumire with a determined expression. "I won't ever leave you, Lucia-san. I will, so help me, I'll make you trust me. And I will always be with you." Lucia looked at Sumire with a stunned face, 'Always?'. It made her heart flutter, she wanted to believe it was true. She shook her head, 'What have I become? Getting all soft over some girl..' She could not help but grin though; those were words she longed to here, perhaps in a different context, but still it felt the same somehow.

"Look at you..I'm the one who tried to hurt you, and yet you're the one trying to cheer me up and prove your friendship. It doesn't make sense." She sighed, "I'm so weak, I let my jealousy and silly emotions get the best of me. I'm so sorry Sumire.." She looked at the younger girl with a serious face. Sumire started laughing and couldn't stop. Lucia was startled by the outburst of laughter.

"Ahaha, I'm sorry, It's just..you, Lucia-san. You're so..I can't explain it." She said between laughter, "I was so certain you hated me or something, I was so scared and here you are..Afraid I could hate you. I could never hate you! I.." she suddenly stopped laughing, "I think I.." her voice trailed off and her face turned red.

"And..I'll do my best to trust you. You're a true friend, Sumire. Thanks for being so..tolerant of my dreadful behavior." Said Lucia, standing up and flickering on the light.

"After all you need to put up with when it comes to my mishaps..how could I not return the favor?" replied Sumire, finally blushing and laughing too. She had already returned to her old self and forgot where her mind had just begun to take her..something about not ever being able to hate Lucia. However, she felt as if she was looking at Lucia differently now. Despite her reddened eye, again Lucia was more beautiful than anyone Sumire had ever seen. Her small smile radiated with loveliness, and her cheeks were slightly rosy as a result of the afternoons misfortune and her own embarrassment. Sumire liked this more human part of Lucia. But, it was her sparkling sapphire eye, which was focused on Sumire now, that entranced the younger girl. It held an emotion so much deeper and stronger than the sadness it had been edged with. Sumire felt her own face get hot as she looked at her, so close. Lucia didn't seem to notice, she held her hand out to Sumire to help her up. Sumire took her hand and stood up, but didn't let go right away. She liked the way her hand fit in Lucia's, as if they were made to fit perfectly together. It didn't occur to her for a while how strange such a thought was, nor the bizarreness of the desire she unexpectedly felt to hug Lucia. And when she suddenly embraced the hunter, not once did she feel like Lucia hugged her too close, or too fondly. Frankly, she wished Lucia could pull her nearer and hold her more lovingly. She didn't want to draw away from such an embrace, she wanted it to last as long as it could. And when she looked up at Lucia, the way her heart skipped a beat wasn't as unnerving as it should've been. She never thought she could enjoy butterflies in her stomach. However, Lucia let go too soon.

"So..friends!" she said, her voice strangely stressed. She backed away from Sumire a bit.

"Uhm, yes…friends!" replied Sumire, laughing nervously as she returned to her senses. What had she been thinking? 'How close was I to-' Lucia's voice cut her thoughts short.

"I wonder if we'll be stuck in here all night." Lucia considered aloud. "Lola doesn't sleep much so we don't have to worry about that, but she's stubborn..she probably won't believe that we've made up."

"Yea, we'll probably be locked in until morning. I don't mind though, we never really spend time alone together anymore anyway." said Sumire, feeling a bit like that was a peculiar statement to say but knowing she meant just what she said, she wanted to be alone with Lucia.

"Yea, me neither. I just hope there isn't some virus attack tonight."

"Is that all you ever think about?" accused Sumire with a joking scowl.

"Mostly.." replied Lucia with a sigh.

"You could always just kick the door down, I know you could do that easily." Laughed the younger girl.

"I kinda wanted to when you wouldn't let me in.." chuckled Lucia, "but I didn't feel like it'd help the situation." The hunter looked down at the gun in her holster, "I hope nothing goes wrong tonight." Sumire decided it was time to stop thinking about work. She finally had Lucia in a place she couldn't escape, she wanted to be able to learn everything she could about the hunter.

"Well…the world can do without us for just one night. Tonight is our night off!" declared Sumire, "Let's have..a slumber party! ..I mean, we're stuck in here anyway, right? We can talk and…make tea!..and uhm..brush each other's hair, and paint nails, and oh, sleep in the same bed, and eat sweet food, and talk about b-" Sumire rattled on about things they could do, but Lucia stopped listening at the mention of sharing a bed. Her heart raced and she was very nervous. Sumire had tried this action once before..but Yoshiki called and Lucia had pulled the curtain over the bed by the time Sumire returned, so they slept separately. "Doesn't that sound fun!?" Sumire asked excitedly. She then noticed Lucia's hesitant face.

"Doesn't it?" she pouted. In reaction, Lucia could only nod apprehensively. "Alright!" She ran to the door and tried to push it open to no avail. "Oh..I forgot." She said. Lucia sighed. Lola had probably left them for the night. She was mostly likely in her own room feasting on chocolate. "Well..We can't make tea now..or get food. But! We can still brush each other's hair!" she realized, grabbing Lucia by the arm and pulling her over to her vanity. She nearly forced Lucia to sit down. Lucia was tense, she wasn't used to such events, and she certainly never let anyone brush her hair before. She wanted to tell Sumire to stop, but she also didn't want to hurt her feelings again. She hated her own confliction. Sumire picked up Lucia's brush and studied her for a second, "You don't mind..right?" she asked, hoping she wasn't breaking any personal boundaries or something of the sort.

Lucia smiled warmly, "Not at all." Hearing Sumire so worried made all her doubts fade away, she had to do this for Sumire, to prove she trusted her. Sumire grinned in response and began to brush Lucia's long bluish hair gently. To her surprise, it was a nice feeling. Lucia felt herself relax as Sumire brought the brush down and smoothed her hair.

"Wow!" cooed Sumire, "Your hair is so soft! I always thought it looked nice, with such a unique color, but I didn't realize how silky it was. You're so lucky!" Lucia blushed at the compliment. "And it smells so nice." She continued, "I really like the way you smell Lucia." Lucia's ears began to burn scarlet and Sumire realized what she had said, she blushed too. She stopped talking and just brushed Lucia's perfect hair.

"Thank you.." Lucia finally whispered, breaking the silence. Sumire set the brush down, but continued to play with Lucia's hair.

"Do you ever braid it or anything?" she asked, "It's so long!" She tried to braid it but remembered she didn't know how. She let it fall out of her hands, "Then again, I've always thought the way you wear it now it really pretty!" Lucia laughed a bit. Sumire also sat on the bench in front of the vanity, right next to Lucia, so close that their shoulders were touching. She looked at their reflections in the mirror.

"..I've always liked your hair too Sumire. I..think it fits you." Said Lucia, trying to return the compliment, she turned and looked directly at the younger girl. Their faces were only inches apart. "I mean..It's a very pretty color, it makes your lovely eyes stand out .." She said with a soft smile.

Sumire's cheeks flushed, "Oh, you're just saying that." She muttered, giggling nervously.

"No, I'm not." Lucia replied, taking Sumire's hand in her own. Sumire nearly shivered, Lucia's hands were always so cold."I really think you're beautiful. Stunningly so. I'm actually so captivated by you I get distracted from time to time." She said, laughing at herself. Sumire's entire face went red, she felt like that was something a boy should say, but she didn't mind. She wondered how Lucia could always say things like that so casually. She put her hand over her face to hide the color and turned her head away. Lucia wondered what she had said that made Sumire such a peculiar shade.

"We..should..uhm..do something else! Let's..oh! let's do nails!" Sumire said quickly, she knew she could not handle Lucia touching her hair, she'd probably melt though she didn't understand why. Just the hunter's hand over hers made her whole body smolder.

"But…I haven't brushed your hair yet." Responded Lucia, a bit confused.

"Oh that's fine, mine is always a mess, it really wouldn't do anything." Argued Sumire.

"But I want to." Said Lucia, picking up the brush, "It's what friends do right?" She stood up and placed herself behind Sumire, he hand slightly grazing her shoulder. "Please relax a bit..I won't hurt you or anything, I promise." Sumire took a deep breath, but it did nothing to slow her heart. The brush ran soothingly through her short hair. Lucia brushed, piece by piece, slowly and delicately smoothing Sumire's wild hair. A few times, the tips of her cold fingers would gently skim over Sumire's neck as she picked another lock of hair to brush. She quivered a bit at each touch. Once, Lucia grazed her ear and Sumire felt a warm sensation tremble through her body, she wanted Lucia to touch her again. Lucia eventually finished, but Sumire was lost in some reverie. Lucia stepped back, admiring her work. "Lovely." She said.

"Thank you." Sumire replied meekly as looked in the mirror and saw her burning face. 'Why can't I stop blushing?' She thought.

"Now what?" asked Lucia, "Nails?"

"Oh..I don't know." Sumire responded, putting her hands on her cheeks.

"Are you feeling ok? You're looking feverish again...like you did the other day" observed Lucia, putting her hand on Sumire's skin, "I can't tell if your warm or not with these already freezing hands." Without warning, she took her hand away and pressed her lips to Sumire's forehead instead. It was a gentle kiss, but Sumire felt a jolt through her body. All of her nerves tingled and the air rushed from her lungs. "Ah, you are a bit warm." She whispered, sitting back. "Maybe we should do this another night and you should rest." She acted as if the kiss was nothing more than checking temperature, however Sumire was stunned and unable to react. Sumire didn't see, but as Lucia turned her face away to look at the door, she put her hand to her lips. She had kissed her without even thinking, what was this impulse? "Should I try to get you some medicine?" asked Lucia, knowing she had to get further away from Sumire.

"No, no. It's ok." Said Sumire quickly, suddenly nervous that her reaction would force Lucia away again. "I mean, we can still have our slumber party! I don't need medicine, I do feel a little hot though..uhm, like maybe something might be coming on..so we shouldn't do nails..the fumes might make me nauseous." said Sumire, forcing a large smile. In reality, she didn't feel ill exactly, it was just that her stomach kept knotting up every time Lucia got closer. She knew that she was just making an excuse not to do nails, because she couldn't handle Lucia touching her anymore…she liked it too much. "I'll be fine, let's just do something else for now!" she got up and walked over to her bed, sitting on the edge.

Lucia watched her but didn't follow, instead she went to the door and knocked on it. "Lola, if you hear me, please let us out, we're alright now. Sumire isn't feeling well, I want to get her some medicine." She said, she had to get out of the room before she did something she would regret, before she followed some other impulse.

"Please Lucia, come sit and talk to me. I'm not sick." Insisted Sumire, patting the spot beside her. Lucia did so hesitantly, sitting on the bed awkwardly a couple inches away from Sumire, leaving a definite space between them. "So..uhm" Sumire said, realizing she didn't know how to start a conversation between them. She laughed nervously and rubbed the back of her neck. Lucia smiled, but didn't say anything. "It's just..there's so much I don't know about you. Like..what's your favorite dessert, or what kind of music do you like?"

Lucia pondered, she never really thought about such things on her own, she was too focused on work, training, or fighting viruses. "I..don't know. I don't really eat sweets but I guess I like cake? And I don't often listen to music.. but classical would probably be my favorite, or something with good lyrics…though Lola was listening to this really interesting music the other day, I guess you could call it a variation of rock, I really liked it. It was really intense. I would like to play it while I'm training or something." She said, chuckling at herself, "I never think about these things until someone asks me, and then I never know what to say so I ramble."

Sumire smiled, she liked hearing Lucia talk about herself for once. She asked her more questions, about anything she could think of, favorite color, foods, books, tv, movies, etc. Lucia didn't have an answer for some of them, she didn't even own a TV and rarely went to movies, but she was always curious to know Sumire's answer to each question as well. Eventually it turned into a real conversation rather than random questions and answers.

Soon, they sat closer to each other again, excitedly talking about anything and everything. They discussed Sumire's school and her family; and Lucia even told Sumire a few stories about her mother and good memories from her childhood with Nahashi. At one point, they both fell over onto the bed laughing, Lucia even had to clutch her stomach because it hurt from laughing to hard. They laid there giggling.

Sumire liked the image of Lucia laughing; she wanted to remember that moment. Lucia turned her head to look the other girl, a smile beaming on her face. Their faces were only an inch apart. They stared at each other, both suddenly hushed. Not even thinking, Lucia touched Sumire's face with her cold hand, caressing her cheek lightly. Sumire nuzzled against her hand, feeling the strangest sensation to kiss her wrist, palm, and finger tips. She ignored it, but didn't understand the feelings. She wanted to move even closer to Lucia, to forever close that last inch that was seperating them…just as she wanted when she had embraced her earlier. She didn't quite comprehend what her body was aching for, but she didn't care anymore. It was about time she stopped trying to hold back. Looking at Lucia now, seeing her sapphire eye sparkle in the shadows and being closer than they'd ever been, she couldn't resist. She let go and her body moved on it's own. Her head pressed forward, toward Lucia's face. These feelings, whatever they might mean, were right.


So being locked in is turning out pretty well huh? Basically I'd love to switch places with Sumire right now. my girl crush is getting ridiculous now. haha. QUICK GO CHECK OUT THE NEXT PART OF THE CHAPTER!