Was going to wait until December to plunk this here since December 8th onward my friend is really going to need this content. However, one good turn deserves another…so here is one early. As for why I haven't touched my other story, it's simple. I can't seem to please everyone, so I'm going to please the people I can, who actually appreciate it.

Beth Cyra, thank you for being such a great friend to me.

18. Trust
(Generic romance)

Being a lesbian, that just didn't sound right.

It didn't sound like the person she wanted to be, but Mai had to admit, she'd found more than one woman attractive. She hated labels though, and she refused to use them at all.

What lead them to this point wasn't exactly something she would have placed her bets on. In fact, the gamble is what stranded her here. It wasn't like she could just write off her feelings though, pure impulse or not.

That kiss had burned fire into her belly, just like game that she was still learning, though the cards had long since been abandoned. A royal flush left upright and ignored among a sea of booze and snacks.

It was just a game at first, but now, Mai wasn't so sure anymore.

A blush painted her cheeks, timid and unsure as they kiss, eyes closed. Feeling, but not seeing, the emotion laid bare between them. The room was dark, soft caresses soothing away the fear in the air, but crimson eyes opened anyway.

"We don't have to do this." Shizuru said, sorting out the messy, unkempt carrot colored hair that got in the way of violet eyes. "I can choose a different reward."

Mai knew it was a lie though, a mask thrown up out of kindness. She shook her head. Her first time with a woman, she wanted that woman to be strong enough to carry the weight of that choice. More so, Mai needed her to. She needed to feel something.

Anything…

"This…" Mai gestured between herself and the taller woman. "It's just a game right? Something for fun."

Shizuru glanced over to the door, where Natsuki's things were missing. Chances were, she wouldn't be back until morning, and Shizuru had to admit, she almost wanted to see the flustered look on her friend's face. Natsuki had never handled sexuality well, in spite of being such a habitually sensual creature.

Shizuru grinned. "A game? I'm not sure about that, but it'll be fun either way."

Mai grew pensive. "I have never felt like this. I don't know how I feel about this…"

Shizuru swallowed hard, unsure what to think of those words as they drifted in the air. "About me, you mean."

"You love Natsuki." Mai said simply.

So it was true then, Shizuru thought to herself. Mai was interested in other women. Further, Mai proved Natsuki's suspicions correct. Mai had a thing for Shizuru, and that blush was as cute as it was fierce.

"Natsuki and I aren't exclusive." Shizuru finally said, getting to the heart of the matter. "We're not even dating. I don't even love Natsuki, I just love the idea of what she means to me. We have something that no one else has, but, those qualities rest within our friendship, not our bedroom frolics. Why, does that bother you?"

Mai frowned, her hands balling into fists, tangling into the fabric of Shizuru's uniform. "It's more than that, I can't explain it well."

"But, you can explain something, can't you?" Shizuru asked, feeling lost in the gaze Mai had given her. A near rejection was a judgement Shizuru refused to accept.

"I don't want to." Mai answered, hating herself the moment those words fell from her mouth.

"Do you want this at least?" Shizuru asked softly.

Mai licked her lips, her gaze falling to the bed in the far corner of the room, her breath unsteady as her quivering lips slipped open and closed, silent thoughts becoming murmured words. One step backwards, then another and another, until finally the back of her knees hit the bed.

It wasn't a hard choice, not really.

She shrugged, nervously shedding the vest that covered her. "The only thing I truly know is this; I don't know if I want too, but, I know that I need to. For myself, and for you."

That simple sentence alone, punctuated her free fall onto the cotton sheets below, dragging Shizuru down deeper into the pits of demise.