Finding Someone Like You
Chapter Ten - The Teasing
In which Makoto can barely handle her frustration.
continue.
It wasn't easy for Makoto to contain her impulsiveness. It seemed like at every turn, Shinozaki was grinning his head off about their latest date. Rei was constantly bringing them up like they were a celebrity couple that they needed to gossip about whenever something new happened. And Minako, it was almost like the blonde was trying to torture her with sexual innuendo.
Every other day, Minako was barging in and jumping in her bed half naked. Yet, at the same time, she would talk about Shinozaki. She knew Minako was a natural flirt, but this was cruel and unusual!
She had never paid too much attention to how touchy feely the blonde was, until she realized her attraction. And boy, did the blonde go out of her way to touch her. It kept bringing her mind back to that night she was kissed out of nowhere. Damn that Minako for being a good kisser, even when she was drunk!
As much as Makoto tried to forget about her, Minako was a constant presence. For someone with a career and serious relationship, it was amazing how much time she managed to spend at Makoto's apartment. Always teasing her. There was something about forbidden fruit that made her want to give Shinozaki a black eye.
But she wasn't going to be impulsive. She had to wait on the sidelines. It was the best thing. Doctor's orders.
"Mako-chan, can I borrow this shirt?" called a sultry voice from her bedroom.
"Yeah, sure," she called back.
Apparently, she wasn't loud enough in her answer, because Minako paraded out of her room in just a black bra and a towel around her waist.
"What did you say?" asked the blonde innocently, running her fingers through her wet hair.
Makoto clenched her jaw and turned her eyes back to the stove, "I said, yeah you can."
"Thanks." She snapped her wet towel at Makoto's rear playfully. The brunette responded with an "Ack!" but refused to turn around to see if the blonde was wearing underwear.
The ocean eyed woman left with a giggle, and Makoto sighed heavily. Why the hell did Minako take so many showers at her place anyway? Didn't she have her own apartment to prance around naked in?
But she had to admit to herself that she'd rather have Minako naked at her place than at Shinozaki's. They hadn't really spoken about their more intimate moments, but Makoto was assuming that the boy had to have gotten lucky by now. She didn't want to think too much on the details, so she was happy that neither of them mentioned it.
—
Little did Makoto know, Minako was getting more and more frustrated. She hadn't had sex in a month and sleeping in Makoto's bed constantly wasn't helping douse her desires. She could tell that the flirtation and jealousy thing was affecting her precious fighter, but the whole process was taking far too long for her tastes. Though she wasn't ever one for subtlety, she was starting to get worried that she was being too obvious in the way she was throwing herself at Makoto. She didn't want to scare her off. But boy, did she ever want that dense brunette.
"I love your shirts, Mako-chan," said Minako, coming out of the room in just that and underwear. "They're so comfy. And they smell so good."
"Probably the fabric softener," brushed off Makoto, trying not to stare.
Minako opened the refrigerator door and found it restocked with diet soda. She knew the brunette didn't drink the stuff, so the pack was obviously for her. "Oh, Mako-chan! You're so sweet!" She sauntered over and gave Makoto a lingering kiss on the cheek, close to the side of her mouth.
Makoto visibly stiffened at the touch.
"You look tense. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah!" squeaked the fighter. She cleared her throat and repeated. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just fine."
The blonde smirked and laid her hands on the brunette's shoulders. Before Makoto could register the touch, Minako began to massage near the back of her neck.
"Mina-chan, you don't have to-" protested Makoto half heartedly.
The low satisfied groan that escaped the brunette was enough to encourage her to push further. "Don't worry about it, babe, just relax. You've been so worked up lately."
"Because of you," mumbled the brunette in a haze.
Minako's fingers suddenly stopped. Makoto's back straightened, once she realized what she said. She tried quickly to cover it up. "Because of you...I um...feel much better now! Yeah, that really did the trick. Thanks. But I think I heard my cellphone, be right back!"
Makoto darted off into the bedroom, leaving a stunned blonde standing next to the stove. The water in the pot was getting close to boiling over, so she turned the heat down. Makoto never left her cooking unattended, it was downright shocking.
Minako couldn't tell if that was a good sign or a bad one.
"She's driving me nuts!"
"Calm down, Mako-chan," ordered Ami. She forcibly sat the brunette in a chair and made her take a deep breath. "Okay, are you calm now?"
The brunette had to take a few more breaths. As soon as Ami was sure that the agitated fighter had composed herself, she continued. "Alright, tell me what's on your mind."
"Minako-chan," started Makoto, "She's been rather...personal lately."
Ami's eyebrow rose. "Personal?"
Makoto gulped and nodded. "Like, barely wearing any clothing and keeps touching me personal."
"I see."
"It's getting a bit difficult to...maintain my composure," admitted Makoto with an increasing redness. "I'm still trying to figure out all this 'attracted to Minako-chan' stuff like you said, but it's getting harder and harder to act normal."
"Have you asked her to stop?" asked Ami.
"I'm not sure how to approach it," admitted Makoto, "I don't want to hurt her feelings or make her feel uncomfortable. Plus, I'm worried if I say something, it'll give me away!"
"She's driving me nuts!"
"Calm down, Minako-chan!" barked Rei.
"Calm?" cried Minako, "Calm? How am I supposed to remain calm when-"
The shrine maiden slapped her and waited expectantly. Once Minako got over the initial shock, she sat down on Rei's bed. "Thanks, Rei-chan. I needed that."
The raven haired woman sat down next to her friend. "Yeah, so did I. Now, tell me what's on your mind."
"Mako-chan," started Minako, "Has been so aggravating lately!"
Rei's eyebrow rose. "Aggravating?"
Minako scowled and nodded. "Like, she refuses to acknowledge me when I'm totally hitting on her!"
Rei face scrunched at the thought. Gross.
"It's getting harder and harder to hold back," growled Minako in frustration. "It's never been this hard to seduce somebody before!"
"Has she asked you to stop?" asked Rei.
"No!" Minako shook her head. "Sure, it's fine that she's not rejecting my advances, but it's pissing me off that she's not accepting them either!"
"I see your problem," considered Ami thoughtfully.
"Any suggestions?"
"You need some time away from her," stated Ami, "If she's not giving you an opportunity to think about your feelings, then figure out how to find some alone time. A lot of alone time."
"Apparently, my own home is out of the question for that," sighed Makoto. Somehow, Minako got a key and obviously wasn't planning on giving that privilege up.
"What about that time you went training in the mountains, could you go there for a bit?"
Packing up and hitting a temple? "Wouldn't that be a bit extreme for this kind of situation?"
"I'm not saying you need to go on a journey of spiritual enlightenment or anything," argued Ami, "I'm just saying you need to get out of here, while you still have your sanity, and do it without arousing too much suspicion. You've done this training thing before, after all."
Makoto had to admit the bluenette had a point. People knew she was a martial artist, so it wouldn't be too weird. And she could easily get the time off work...
"If you call it a vacation, Usagi-chan will invite herself and try to get all of us to come. Mina-chan will be the first to agree," reminded Ami. "If it's at a temple, they'll remember how bland the food was and steer clear."
Once again, the genius had a point.
"Unless that is, you give either of them reason to worry," remarked Ami astutely, "So, start dropping hints that you're getting restless in this time of peace and want to sharpen your skills. If they're worried that it's anything more than that, they won't hesitate to follow you."
And another point. Ami was good.
"Okay okay, you're right," Makoto waved her hands in surrender. "I'll do it."
It was embarrassing to think that she'd have to go run around the mountains to work through her sexual frustration.
How on Earth did she let it come to that?
"Hmm…That sucks," acknowledged Rei.
"Yeah, I know that sucks, Rei-chan!" huffed Minako, "Well? Any suggestions?"
Rei let out an exasperated sigh. Hadn't she done enough? She inexplicably agreed to aid Shinozaki and Minako's dumb plan, and now the blonde wouldn't leave her alone about how it wasn't working. No matter how much they were annoying Makoto, the brunette wasn't going to crack.
"Minako-chan, do you want an honest suggestion?" asked Rei. She made sure to add, "You're probably not going to like it."
At that point, Minako was ready to hear anything at all. Rei's ideas couldn't be much worse than Shinozaki's. "Fine, what is it?"
"Just tell her," said the shrine maiden.
Minako looked at her friend like she grew another head. "What? No! I can't do that!"
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know if she likes me back yet!"
The firebrand released a frustrated growl. "I've been watching Mako-chan get all pissed off and jealous about you and your boy-toy for almost two weeks. You barge into her apartment constantly, and she doesn't kick you out. You've been throwing yourself at her ceaselessly, and she hasn't thrown you out the window - which she can. She continues to cook for you, go out of her way for you, and I'm sure doesn't ask anything in return. Why does she do all that? Because she loves you, you red ribboned moron!"
Minako, felt like for the first time ever, she had nothing to say in her defense.
Which was fine, because Rei continued her tirade, "Whether or not she can be in love with you, doesn't matter anymore. She cares about you too much to let your relationship crumble, even if she knows you want to jump her bones." Rei had shuddered as she said it, but soldiered on, "We've been doing it your way, Shinozaki-san's way, and now I think it's time we just do it my way. Just confess."
Minako remained shellshocked and terrified at the concept. No games, no tricks, no schemes or seductions. Just say, Makoto, I love you.
"Please, Minako-chan," implored Rei genuinely. "You can drop all the hints you want, but you'll never know for sure, until you just tell her."
The blonde met the encouraging amethyst glance of her dear friend and knew she was right.
"You're leaving?"
"Just for a weekend," Makoto brushed off casually, as she packed a light suitcase.
"But why?"
"I've been meaning to visit Yakushiji-san for a while now," explained the brunette, "Plus, I've been getting kinda doughy in these peaceful times, so it's time I get a good, long workout in."
Minako forced back the images of a sweaty Makoto. Now was not the time for that.
"But you can't leave!" she floundered.
Makoto stopped packing and cocked her head. "Why not?"
"Because...because-" sputtered Minako. Because she was planning a romantic evening for them both! But she couldn't say that. "Because I'll miss you too much?"
Makoto chuckled, "Thanks, Mina-chan. Nice to know you care, but I'm still going."
"Let me come with you!"
"It's not a vacation," Makoto recited smoothly, "I'm going to be really busy running sprints around the woods and meditating on rocks and all that. Pretty boring stuff, remember? Plus, the food sucks, so you'll probably want to stay home for this one."
That did sound dreadfully boring to the blonde. "That's okay, I'll enjoy the scenery!"
"It's just a weekend," reminded Makoto, "I'll be back in no time."
Minako cursed internally. Sure it was 'just a weekend' to Makoto. But to her it was going to be 'the weekend.'
"Just enjoy some alone time with Shinozaki-san," suggested Makoto, with obvious distaste in her voice.
The blonde, trying to hide how miserable she suddenly was, nodded numbly.
"I guess, I'll get going and let you pack. Have a nice trip, Mako-chan."
Her plans were all definitely shot now. She'd have to cancel that reservation. And the flowers. And the mariachi band. Hopefully, she could get back her deposit on the blimp. With a bland goodbye, Minako slunk out of Makoto's apartment to get started.
Makoto lingered at the closed door, surprised to see Minako so sad about her trip. It wasn't like she was abandoning her. She just needed to clear her head. If she didn't leave, who knows what kind of crazy impulse she'd give into?
She wanted to go after Minako. Comfort her somehow, even though she wasn't sure what she was so upset about. At the very least, envelop her in an reassuring embrace. But Makoto dared not touch. Not until she got her wits straightened out.
She turned back towards her packing, resolving that it was all for the best. They'd talk once she had some enough time to figure herself out.
Makoto could have stayed there for ages. The mountains were so peaceful and quiet. The smell of earth and leaves calmed her restless soul like nothing else could. Master Yakushiji seemed as resilient and unwavering as ever, though he had aged considerably in the time since she had last seen him.
She ran barefoot through the wooded paths, hearing only her footsteps, breath, and heartbeat. She danced steadily through her kata, striking devastating blows into the mountain air. She cleansed her burdens underneath a bone chilling waterfall. And during those times of power and meditation, she felt truly at peace.
It wasn't until she laid down each night that the troubles returned to her. The distractions of her vigorous activity and her steady concentration all dissolved once her weary body hit the temple floor. She stopped moving, and Minako's face came back into her mind. Every night.
Internalize and analyze, she could hear Ami order in the back of her head.
She found herself drawn to Minako in a way unlike any other. What did that mean for her? For them? What were the potential outcomes? Consequences and repercussions? Could she live with the internal struggle or would it come out in a cathartic explosion? Should it?
These questions and many more finally had their time to be carefully considered. She was all alone, facing a void of natural silence and the blackest of nights. There was no choice, but to think.
And all of those thoughts swirled into a single conclusion.
I love her. But she can never know.
She couldn't stomach the idea of ruining their relationship. She knew that the blonde wouldn't exactly end their friendship, but the rules of the game would definitely change. Can't kiss Mako on the cheek anymore, she has the hots for me. Can't hug Makoto too hard, it'll give her the wrong idea. Can't sleep over anymore, what would the boyfriend think? Fessing up would add a thick layer of awkwardness to everything they did together.
Unrequited love was acceptable. Scaring Minako away was not.
She'd have to bury her feelings. Maybe find a new boyfriend to distract her for a while.
Luckily, Ami was the only one who knew. And the bluenette would keep the secret if she asked. Makoto whipped out her phone and called Ami, as soon as she stepped off the train back to Tokyo.
"You were right, Ami-chan," said Makoto, artfully weaving through the bustling crowd, "It was an enlightening trip."
"And what did you conclude?" asked the bluenette on the other line.
"That I need to start dating again," answered Makoto, narrowly dodging a large businessman, "I do like her, but our friendship is too important to me. So, my plan is that I'm just going to start dating and get over her."
"Do you really think it's wise not to tell her?"
"This is what you made me spend a weekend debating," shrugged Makoto, sidestepping two running children. "I'm trying to be smart about it. Why, what do you think?"
"I think that-"
The phone was knocked out of her hand, and Makoto was propelled gracelessly onto her rear end. She hit the pavement with an undignified 'oomph.'
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry!" apologized whoever had just knocked her over.
"It's okay," she muttered, trying to gather the things that spilled out of her duffle-bag.
"Makoto-san?" spoke the voice.
Makoto blinked, the sun was in her eyes, and she was still a bit dazed. Her green eyes refocused on the clumsy stranger.
"Oh. Wow! It's you!" smiled Makoto. She brushed herself off and picked up her phone. "Hey, Ami-chan, listen, I'll have to call you back in a couple minutes."