I have returned, to sate growing questions about one of my ongoing projects. Rest assured, things are looking up. I'm inspired again, lol.
You know I don't own it, so don't accuse me of anything. .
Chapter 12, "Keeping Vows".
As it was, the summer home incident was a travesty. Not only was Tomo slowly falling into Kagura's suspicion, but now she had Yomi to think about, the latter of which seemed to trouble her to no end. The return trip had been tense and silent; not that there was much to be said anyway. She hadn't yet told Kagura, and that would be the hardest part of all. How would the girl react? She was really sensitive, Tomo knew, but she was also just as likely to clobber her for "cheating on her", if just because she was Tomo.
'It figures. It's a lose-lose situation for me as always. If they could've just been straight, I wouldn't have to deal with this!' she thought vehemently. Given, she hadn't denied either of them, but then it was all spiraling downhill fast from the beginning. She'd hoped she could be content, and get on with it, not intending her friends to have a near blood rivalry over her. She also wasn't too keen on the idea of returning to school, as she'd be in the vicinity of both of them for long bouts, and that was bound to cause excess friction. Deciding to put it out of mind for the time, she'd gone off by herself after settling in back at home.
Wandering aimlessly had seemed to help her in the past, so why not now?
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Kagura, on the other hand, was starting to become impatient. Tomo had yet to reveal the goings-on of the summer vacation, and they hadn't been together since. Not that she didn't want Tomo to have her privacy, but this was beating a dead horse, so to speak. The thought of pressing her on it was pliable at the moment, but considering the circumstances, it could only result in some kind of melodramatic confrontation. Probably with results for the worse. She glanced at the clock, making out 7:36 P.M. against a small group of items scattered across her nightstand.
Should she do a run before going to bed, or should she call Tomo, or should she just rest? For lack of knowledge about Tomo's presence at home, and being restless, the first option seemed tempting. Donning her sweatpants and a jacket, she exited her house, feeling the cool night breeze meet her. Starting down her street, she followed a route she normally took, past a small convenience store with a sakura tree on the middle. Throwing a look to it, it occurred to her that she'd never taken Tomo to watch the cherry blossoms. 'If she's in the mood, we'll have to do that some time. Considering her taste in...clothing, she might be into that sort of thing.' She grinned at the thought of a little secret she'd learned about Tomo earlier that year.
Reaching the end of her normal route, she looked at the point where her suburban surroundings transcended to steel and masses of people, the bright city lights illuminating the sky. In a rather impulsive move, she continued on, into the local city district where their school also resided. Albeit a bit difficult, she managed to work her way through the large crowds of late-night workers and teens that spilled from the woodwork when dusk fell. In the distance a large neon sign displayed the name of a well-known arcade.
'...I've got plenty of time. And I wanna work off some steam.' Kagura decided as she ambled to her destination. Entering the gaming area, it was nearly filled to capacity.
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She played a series of fighting games, besting anyone who challenged her, amused at the small crowd that had gathered around her after a number of matches. She was about to leave, but glanced a familiar face among the crowd. Before she could get a better look, the face disappeared as quickly as it had come, blending into the crowd. Shaking an odd feeling off, she headed for the exit. Outside, back in the cool air, a large screen depicted the time as 8:57 P.M.
'Was out longer than I thought. Which reminds me...which one of them would be out this late, and at the arcade, no less?' her mind shot back to that moment inside. Surveying the area, she saw no one she knew right off, and turned to head back home when she bumped foreheads with someone.
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"Hey! Watch it, j-" the voice began as Kagura doubled back, but stopped abruptly. The two faces gazed at each other momentarily before the realization struck:
"Tomo!" Kagura wailed, caught off guard. The other girl, found out, stumbled back a bit and donned an incredulous face.
"Err...hey. Sorry about that. I wasn't expecting you to pop out of nowhere." Tomo waved her forming insult off after a moment of hesitation. Kagura grinned at the excellent opportunity.
"No problem. Say, you wanna do something? It's still early." She suggested, having forgotten the time completely. Not seeing a way to escape, Tomo agreed, being dragged off by the other girl.
"What's up? I figured you'd be out jogging or something." Tomo finally spoke up after several moments of silence.
"Ah, I was at first. But I was kinda bored, and I guess I just sort of wandered in here. I was in the arcade earlier." She elaborated.
"So that was you drawing the crowd? What happened, did you break something?" Tomo chuckled, fending off the half-willed batting at her.
"Hardly. So, that was you I saw in there. I didn't figure you to go out and do this kind of stuff alone." Kagura remarked offhandedly.
"Well, normally I don't, but..." her partner began to respond, before halting, not wanting to drudge up memories. She still had something she had to do.
"Yeah, we haven't done anything together in a while," Kagura said, thinking back on how things had been as of late, "so I was thinking, was there anything you'd be up for? Shopping? A movie? I mean, it's kinda late, but-" she rambled on, before she felt herself be stopped. Tomo grasped her arm, stopping the pull she'd been exerting previously.
"Actually, I just wanted to talk, but I can see how your short attention span couldn't take that for too long." She chuckled at the indignant look her friend flashed.
"I wouldn't be talking about short anything, Miss 154 cm." Kagura declared, dodging a rush from the hyper girl.
"What's 2 cm? Don't even try to get off on that. Anyway, come on, it's kinda late." Tomo replied, and the moment found them headed back toward the calmer housing division.
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Little was said on the trip, which was bad, as Tomo had stated the need to talk; Kagura would no doubt get suspicious if they didn't start soon. Looking a little farther forward, she recognized Kagura's house, and she floundered. She was in enemy territory, so to speak. There was no telling what would happen when she told the girl, and wasn't optimistic about making a scene.
Yet, she didn't resist when the other girl began leading her there. Slowly, she felt her resolve melting, and she began losing her cool as they entered the home. "Uh, so, is it okay if you stay over? Dinner's about done, so you don't have to worry about that." Kagura asked, taking off her jacket. Tomo watched the other girl, and she felt the last of her initial will slip as she submitted and agreed to stay for dinner. Both of them entering the kitchen, she watched as Kagura's mother placed a series of plates on the table.
"That smell's great! I might just have to get all of it." Tomo stated as she drifted over to the table.
"Oh, hello, Tomo! I didn't know we were having company over. Do your parents know you'll be dining with us?" she asked.
"Ah, actually, I guess I do need to call them, eh?" Tomo agreed, heading to the living room to dial up her home. She noticed Kagura watching her expectantly, knowing the other girl expected her to ask for the night over. As the phone rang, she could already here the other girl clearing it with her mom. She got the go-ahead from her parents after assuring them that she'd be home tomorrow night. With no red tape left, she returned to a waiting Kagura as she made conversation with her mother about what was going on lately.
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Finishing up after dinner, Kagura took Tomo's arm and led her upstairs, eager to get her alone. Both of them walked down a small hallway and used the small washroom to brush their teeth before Tomo was once again dragged along, this time to Kagura's room. She felt herself lightly pushed in, and heard the lock click as the door closed behind them. A cool sweat began as she anticipated where this was heading, but continuing her course through the night, she allowed herself to be pulled over to sit on the bed.
It somewhat surprised her that she hadn't been engaged in some sort of physical contact, so she chanced glancing to the other girl, seeing a nervous expression.
"Uhm. Is there anything you want to talk about yet?" Kagura asked bluntly, deciding that both of them had put this conversation off for long enough. There was no chance to avoid it now, and Tomo let out a heavy sigh.
"During the trip. Yomi...Yomi kissed me, told me she loved me, and I didn't know what to do. I didn't want you to start a fight over it..." she confessed, finding the floor interesting. It was a powerful blow to Kagura, who had suspected some, but not all, of what had just been said. To her credit, she didn't fly off the handle, although she wanted to.
"So she just forced herself on you? Or what?" she asked, pleading with herself that she was right.
"Technically, yeah. But..." Tomo answered, trailing off.
"But?" Kagura urged her on.
"I didn't stop her, either..." the words hit Kagura like a sack of bricks. Tomo expected to be berated, thrown out, anything. She became even more furtive when none of these happened. Instead, she became nervous when the other girl started chuckling.
"W-what is it? Cut that out." Tomo said, looking squarely at her now. Kagura stopped, and looked at her.
"So, is that all? Or is there more? After all, you seem to be good at forgetting key details." She said half-heartedly, standing. She walked over to the window, looking out and up at the sky, before asking, "So, what. Is that it? Is this it? For us?". A small war began in Tomo's mind.
'S-she just brought it up. No guilt now, she's waiting for it. Yes, it's through. Yes! Say YES!'
"No." Tomo answered, standing and slowly walking over to join Kagura. The latter turn abruptly, shocked. She's expected the other girl to say yes.
"D-do you really mean that? You won't go running around...with her anymore?" She said everything slowly, wanting her point across. Against her will, Tomo nodded. Relief flooded over Kagura as she embraced the other girl.
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"You're not mad at me?" Tomo asked, dumfounded.
"Of course I am. But if you're being honest, I'll let it go." Kagura answered, releasing her after several moments. Her eyes narrowed, and she added, "And you'd better be telling the truth. I'll make you regret it if you aren't." She sat down, reveling in the replenished joy she hadn't felt in a while. Tomo, still feeling guilty, and mentally hanging herself for not breaking it like she had planned. But, for reasons unknown to her, she didn't feel regret, and she didn't lament what she'd said.
Things had a semblance of normalcy again, something that they both needed. Suddenly, an idea lit up in Kagura's head, and she launched up too join Tomo.
"W-whoa, whoa. You're not gonna jump me now, are you?" Tomo joked, raising her arms in defense.
"Oh please, give it a rest. I just got an idea. If anything, it'll make us inseparable." Kagura beamed, and the other girl suddenly became suspicious. "We should make vows to each other, or something! That way, we can't go with anyone else." The athlete suggested, taking Tomo's hands in hers.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Tomo asked, puzzled.
"Promise me that you won't mess around with anyone else. That you'll stay with me, no matter what happens." Kagura said, almost pleaded.
This was probably the last chance Tomo had to break it, to say no, to leave. Instead, she answered "Yeah...I promise."
"...Thank you, Tomo. It means a lot to me." Kagura hugged her tightly, but decided not to take it further. Enough had already been done and said for that night. Instead, the both prepared for bed, with little discussion between them. Wearing a simple nightshirt and her sweatpants, Kagura hopped onto the bed. She had given Tomo some of her bed clothes to wear, which fell a little loosely around the other girl's less toned frame.
Tomo joined her, and the two lay together as Kagura switched the lights off and set the alarm.
"Good night, Tomo." Kagura said, embracing the addressed girl.
"Yeah, good night." Tomo replied.
"I love you, Tomo..." Kagura murmured before falling asleep.
It came naturally to her, and Tomo felt reassured by it. "Love you too." She responded, joining the other girl in sleep. For a time, it appeared, things were stable again, although completely opposite Tomo's plans. While she had a sneaking suspicion this might cause trouble later, she didn't care at the moment. Kagura was there, and that was all she needed.
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End of Chapter 12.
So, it's been a while, and I just whipped this up at like, 2:30 in the morning, finished a couple of hours later. XD So, tell me how it is. I've gotta sleep now, lest I get in trouble at school today. R&R please. :3