A/N: This is probably my first attempt at a written work covering a slightly more mature field. It's not so serious, nevertheless please read the chapter/story rating before moving on. There may be some OOC-ness.

You may think that the title sounds strange, but it's pretty symbolic. Particularly in Japan, the neck is traditionally regarded as a very important part of a woman's body. Especially the nape, since it is considered a very attractive, erotic region. Just recently I also found out to my surprise that the English word 'neck' itself as a verb has an erotic connotation too!

Chapter/story rating: T (heavily romantic yuri, with suggestions of light erotic explicitness, touching/hugging and kissing included)

Description: Sumire tries on some necklaces one night. Kanna offers to help. Just for now, while they are alone together, their affection for each other emerges...

Your reading and reviews are truly appreciated!

Neck

It was attached to a simple chain made of platinum, a sole little pearl drop that glistened splendidly against her fair neck. The colour was good. The size was alright. The entire piece spoke of care and skill, the very legitimate parents of pure, good quality.

Sumire looked again in the mirror, turning this way and that. She had been doing this routine for nearly half an hour. Since then she had only fully tried on and inspected five necklaces, still counting. Taking off the pearl drop-chain, she reached for another accessory with careful fingers, when there was a careful knock on the door.

From behind issued a voice Sumire recognized all too well.

''It's me. Can I come in?''

Sumire sighed. It was late. Most of the others would have gone far away to their dreamlands by now. Awful luck, perhaps, that besides her, someone of all people was still up and about at this hour.

''It's fine. The door is unlocked.''

In the mirror she saw Kanna enter, closing the door behind her, and cocked her eyebrows. ''I thought you'd be asleep at this hour until I saw that your light was still on… What're you doin'?''

Sumire continued with her routine, saying, ''Can't you tell by looking?''

''I see that,'' Kanna said, staring at the large case of expensive trinkets, ''But why?''

''I have to attend a special party tomorrow.''

The redhead laughed. ''Just for that? Now then, as long as there's food, should be fun.''

''You are always thinking of food, Kanna-san. Anyway, this is a high-class occasion I am talking about.''

''That's boring.''

''If that is what you think, you could be so nice as to leave me alone." Sumire turned around, coolly crossing her arms at her chest.

''You're bad-humoured, as always.'' But rather than being provoked, as was usually the case, Kanna's attention was drawn elsewhere. ''Um, that won't do.'' She pointed, catching Sumire off-guard, at the pink-gold choker she was wearing.

''Eh...?''

Kanna seated herself nonchalantly on the sofa, waving. ''Anyway, show me every necklace you've got.''

"And you don't even know these things at all!"

''It's not like I'm interested, but I'll help if I can. Leave it to me!"

Sumire went silent. The frown on her forehead disappeared, and her face relaxed like a lake becoming still again after a ripple had vanished. Before long, she unclasped the choker, slid it back into the chest, took the entire boxful of jewellery, and shoved it into Kanna's hands.

''Alright, I understand,'' she said. "I'll leave it to you to take care of the matter.''

So the brunette sat down beside her. Without a word Kanna placed the box on the table and began ravaging through its contents. She estimated the number to reach no more than twenty necklaces, each one more brilliant than the next. It's weird that I hardly see her wearing them at all, the thought crossed her mind. Pulling out a modest-looking silver and lacquer one, she leaned forward and held it over her comrade's neck.

With such close proximity, Sumire gradually felt the warmth rising in her cheeks as she silently studied the other woman's face. Those violet-blue eyes, which so often glared at her when they argued, were now cool and beautiful against the tanned skin and red hair.

Being this close, Kanna could smell the gentle sweetness of Sumire's scent. It was the same scent that lingered on her lips back then when she had helped suck out the 'spider venom' from Sumire's wrist*. In fact, the Kanzaki daughter often wore her trademark ribbon like a choker, but now that she wasn't, it made Kanna realize just how lovely her neck really was.

How much time had passed, neither of them knew. They could only count it in heartbeats, if they had paid any attention to them.

''I noticed,'' said Kanna, coughing softly.

''Noticed what?''

''You wearing a necklace, is rare, at least to me..." Kanna's voice trailed off, and looking up - their eyes met.

Sumire slightly withdrew her head. ''W-What is it?"

''Ah, my bad, sorry.'' Kanna looked just as flustered.

''So have you made up your mind?''

''Ah… I don't think I can decide.''

''Now, really!" Sumire turned her face away in annoyance. But she did not sound the least angry. ''That was some help!"

Seeing her reaction, Kanna grinned and reached out to pat her casually on the head as one would to a child. ''It doesn't matter much, does it?''

"Excuse me, Kanna-san—"

That seed of a protest was cut off when the Okinawan tugged her head to the side and gently spoke into her ear, ''I like this way better.''

Sumire did not move. She raised her eyes and lifted her gaze, a long pause hanging heavy in the air. The duo looked long at each other. Kanna chuckled, sounding helpless and tinted with embarrassment, though clear and firm with triumph at her own forwardness.

"Satisfied?" she pushed on.

When she exhaled, Sumire's sigh was somewhere between hesitation and relief. ''Why you...'' she took Kanna's hand as a way of completing her sentence.

''Besides, your neck looks much nicer without anything on. It's good enough."

''Naturally,'' Sumire smiled even wider and gave the Okinawan's hand a light squeeze. ''After all, I am the Top Star."

"Hey, don't get so high and mighty, Cactus.''

No sooner was that nickname mentioned did Kanna meet Sumire's lips with her own in that single brief moment between them.

Sumire slowly drew her head back, the heat of their lips together sinking fast into her consciousness.

She got up to return to the mirror, when she saw Kanna's face approaching in the glass, and subsequently felt drawn from behind into an embrace so strong and with a certain comforting tenderness to which she could simply surrender herself.

Save for Ensign Oogami who was as cherished to her as the others of the Troupe, even a man smitten by her famed beauty or by the glimmer of the necklaces she possessed would not make her feel this safe. Safe with the rival with whom she would always argue, the comrade with whom she could trust, the dear friend with whom she could share her deepest feelings.

Why, it surprised her too that she should think such a sentiment! And of a person at whom she would often inevitably hurl insults!

Diverting a little for a second, 'How many times had they wound themselves in each other's arms like this on stage?' would be the appropriate question to arise in the back of our minds. But this, in a contrast, was no act. There was no audience for whom they would make dreams come alive - only themselves alone.

And so a lengthy silence made most of the moment, with Kanna bearing the full weight of Sumire's body as the smaller woman leaned against her. Then she heard her utter something which she thought she had misheard. Her eyes widened as she looked into the reflection of the glass and asked, ''What did you say?''

''Hold me tighter,'' Sumire repeated, diverting her gaze up and away from the mirror. And then as an afterthought and with a faint blush, added, ''Frankly speaking, I generally dislike your stupid strength, but I'll forgive you this once. Go ahead, please don't refrain.''

Kanna said nothing. There was a momentary flash of uneasiness over her, but she rested her chin on the crown of the Top Star's head and pressed her closer.

''Tighter.''

If you break your back, it's not my fault, you demanding ojousama! Kanna secretly thought of saying as a way of teasing, although it never vocalized.

Eventually she relaxed her hold, little by little, allowing Sumire to recover her breath.

Their hands remained intertwined.

%%%%

The older woman's face nestled against the other's chest, feeling the heat of her body through the loose kimono fabric as they lay beside each other. Sumire traced the nape of Kanna's neck with her fingers, stroking it lightly, running them through the short hair, feeling her shudder beneath her hands.

''Ah, yours isn't so bad either.''

In that instant, amidst a chortle, Kanna lifted her head and pressed her lips to Sumire's throat. ''I'm flattered,'' she said against the soft flesh, inhaling her scent. ''But hey, did you just compliment me for real?''

''What are you saying, you wild ape? I was only –,'' the rest of the words, whatever they may be, clouded together and took the form a sharp sigh. Kanna had just moved her lips down to Sumire's collarbone in one feathery brushstroke.

''Only what…?''

"Never mind. It's nothing.''

Of course, this was a secret that was forever theirs to keep. Hiding it was not a problem: they would surely start bickering again tomorrow, just like any other day here, unchanging and automatic.

''Kanna-san.''

''Yeah?''

They saw their own reflections in each other's eyes, and two breaths closed in with another kiss. On the table, a particular necklace resplendent with diamonds appeared to make unnoticed glittering winks at them. They too, will keep tonight's story sealed within their cool lustre.

*this happened in the manga, where Sumire was bitten by a spider but with Kanna helping to remove the venom instead of Oogami.