Here's another Update!
Hope it's been good so far!
Thanks for all the reviews!
And lol...Someone hated me for the events of chapter 12 XD
I wuv you all!
I Sincerely Apologize for any type of Mistakes I may make.
Rated: M (This Chapter is rated T)
Language and Adult Situations.
Genre:
Drama, Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, and Friendship.
Chapter: Dyin' For You (P.1)
"They told me Love was made up, I told them they were fools."
Ayame gave out a heavy sigh, their track team was short a good runner.
and two other sports teams were also down one.
Ichigo wasn't in, and her volley ball team needed her.
Himeko wasn't able to play due to her injury...she couldn't run just yet.
their school's team took quite the blow, and games against other schools would begin soon, and coaches were trying to find temporary fill-ins for the missing players.
but you can't exactly just replace the softball team's best pitcher or batter.
or The Volley ball team's best spotter and server.
just no.
And Ritsu was in no way capable of running, hell, she limped for now.
'Damn it all', Ayame thought to herself.
"Ah, it's good to see you again", a certain club advisor spoke, relief in her tone.
Ritsu smiled lightly, she was sitting at the makeshift table, "Hey, Sawako-sensei."
Sawako smiled lightly, she took her seat at the table.
currently, HTT was in the clubroom with their club advisor, they were discussing whether they could even perform for an up-coming sports festival, they wanted to be an opening, but with everything going on, they weren't sure they had enough time to practice, and with Ritsu still hurting a bit, it all seemed unlikely.
"Ricchan, you want cake?", Mugi offered the girl a slice.
Ritsu nodded, "Nah, I'm good"
Mugi pouted, "Awwe", the girl then gave the Cake to Yui, whom happily gobbled it down
Sawako rose an eyebrow, "It's been a while since you girls have been, 'Whole'.
Ritsu blushed a bit, "Yeah"
Mio sighed out softly, she was currently sitting at the couch, reading a book.
Azusa could sense the tension, but she had no idea as to what may have caused it, Yui and even Mugi seemed oblivious to it.
Sawako propped her chin onto her hands, "How are feeling, Ritsu?"
Ritsu's amber eyes looked around for a moment, "Ehhh, Still in pain, I gotta take it easy of the wonds'll open, and that would be awkward.", the teen chuckled out lightly.
Yui hummed, "Captain, why don't you eat cake anymore?"
Ritsu no turned to Yui, giving the girl her full attention, it was a random question, but she answered non the less.
"I guess I got used to not eating so many sweets", The Tainaka answered.
"To keep with your time in track, you needed to maintain your body right?", Sawako asked as she sipped some tea.
Ritsu nodded, "Yeah, and if I wanted to beat my own time, I needed to weight train a bit, to get more strength in my legs."
Mugi sat down into her seat.
while all the girls were all chatting at the table, Mio was the only one sitting at the couch, headphones plugged in.
"Oh will you look at the time!", Sawako said, "I have a teacher's meeting this morning, so I'm going to have to go now, bye girls, see you after school", the teacher got up from her seat, she pushed the chair in and collected her bag and made her way out of the clubroom.
with Sawako gone, the girls just chatted about on other subjects, Yui and Azusa started bickering about how eating to much cake is bad, and you can guess as to what Yui thought.
"Noooo, cake is good!", Yui pouted, she whined out like a child.
Azusa rolled her eyes, "Senpai, Cake is fattening."
Mugi giggled, she looked on, listen to the two girls bicker.
While the three did that, Ritsu couldn't help but eye her girlfriend...Mio had been acting weird since she first woke up, Mio for some reason, wasn't really talking to her much, the Akiyama seemed to be a bit distracted lately.
Ritsu breathed softly, she looked at the girls, she quietly got out from her seat, Leaving her tea untouched, she limped to where Mio currently.
"Hey". Ritsu said softly. as she made it to the couch, she reached out and put her hand on the couch's cushion to balance herself, she didn't want to just plop down, she still ran the risk of messing her stiches up, and opening her wounds.
Mio remained silent, her headphones plugged in.
Ritsu sighed out she sat all the way back into the couch, her back against the cushions, she slowly snaked an arm around Mio's shoulders. She felt Mio's shoulders tense a bit.
Ritsu frowned, "Baby", she whispered softly as she leaned in and kissed Mio's cheek.
Mio's eyebrow knitted together, she reach up and pulled her headphones out of her ears, her heart thumping in her ears, she turned to Ritsu and gave her the attention she wanted.
Mio grabbed Ritsu's bruised face and leaned in, crushing her lips against Ritsu's in a very needy kiss.
Ritsu hummed a bit surprised, but soon melted into the kiss, enjoying the warmth of her lover's lips over her own. The Tainaka closed her eyes, she felt Mio shift closer to her, kissing her more deeply, passionately even, she could feel Mio's hand over her chest, while the other hand, still caressed her cheek. Ritsu allowed her back to relax into the cushions more, Mio leaned her body on hers a bit, Ritsu felt Mio tangle a leg with her own.
'wow', was Ritsu's only thought, she'd kissed Mio feverishly before, but this...was different, it was Mio doing it to her, but it was more than feverish, it was filled with need and something else...something Ritsu couldn't pin point exactly.
Mio's tongue ran passed Ritsu's bottom lip, as if asking for entrance.
and Ritsu allowed it by meeting Mio's tongue with her own. The Tainaka reached down and put her hand on Mio's hip, she gave a slight squeeze.
mean while, unknown to the two teen whom were making out rather deeply.
three girls silently looked on with red faces.
"Uh...Ricchan sure got the moves", Yui whispered innocently.
Azusa blushed, she tried to look away, but couldn't it was so distracting, and not only that, but if she did turn around, she could still hear her senpais lips crashing into each others.
Mugi smiled, her eyes twinkled slightly, "Oh sweet love~", she whispered as she sipped some more tea.
Ritsu smiled as she felt Mio pull away from their deep French make out session, "Woah"
Mio's rosy lips curled into a content smile, she leaned closer and rested her head onto Ritsu's chest, just under her chin, Ritsu smiled and hugged her close, "Bear", Mio whispered softly.
Ritsu felt her cheeks warm up at that name, her facial features softened, "Yeah, Honey cakes"
Mio blushed, she giggle lightly, "that's a new one", she spoke softly.
the Amber eyed teen grinned, "Kinda thought about it", Ritsu's eyes just seemed to glow with love for the ravenette.
Mio's hand moved to be over Ritsu's heart, "I love you", she said softly
Ritsu's eyes widened for a moment, her heart thumped a bit harder in that moment, 'she loves me'.
a small moment of silence passed by. Ritsu's heart still thumped hard, Mio could feel it.
"I love y-"
"Yooo!", a voice came called out in the club room.
Ritsu and Mio both shifted a bit to see whom it was.
Mugi, Yui and Azusa looked at the door.
"Himeko, wassup?", Ritsu spoke up first, her arm still around Mio, holding her close to herself.
Himeko smiled a bit, "Yo, Uh, I uh kinda needa borrow Tsumugi-san.", Himeko's eyes laid themselves onto the blonde's figure.
Mugi hummed, curious as to why Himeko would want her.
the blonde tilted her head to the side.
"Uh, mind?", Himeko said a bit nervously.
Mugi nodded, "Of course not, Himeko-san", the blonde stood up from her seat, "Let's make it quick, classes are about to start.".
Himeko nodded, "Right", and Himeko began to lead the Blonde out of the clubroom.
Mio's hand ran down a bit to rest on Ritsu's stomach.
Ritsu smiled a bit, "speaking of classes, we should start packing up anyways", the Tawny haired teen said as she leaned in and gave Mio's cheek an affectionate Kiss, "C'mon, Mio-chuan~"
Mio rolled her eyes, and got up first, she assisted Ritsu up a bit.
Yui and Azusa both kept smiling, they couldn't help it, seeing the drummer and bassist so lovey dovey with each other, was very cute.
'Oh senpai', Azusa thought.
Yui's hand grazed Azusa's, Azusa was pulled from thought, she turned to Yui, whom in return, gave her an adorable smile.
"Senpai, start picking up", Azusa said, a smile curling her own lips.
"Chikane-chan", a voice greeted the Kazumi girl.
Chikane hummed, she turned around, "Rize, Akane", she greeted the two girl's back from her seat, she was sitting in.
"How's it going?", Akane asked her friend.
Chikane shrugged, "Okay, I guess"
"You still have that nasty bruise", Rize sighed out with a frown.
Akane and Rize both sat down.
Chikane shrugged again, "It'll go away soon."
the kazumi girl had gotten slightly distant, but not of Akane, she would never leave the girl hanging somewhere, she told her everything, and she cared for her deeply.
Rize turned to Akane, and both girl began to chat.
Chikane eyed Akane from the corner of her eye, Seeing that Akane was quite serious these days.
'she always worries so much'
"Ichigo-chan?"
a small knock came to the wooden door.
"Ichigo-chan", the voice repeated once again, seeing that no response was being returned.
a small sigh came from the other side of the door.
"Ichigo honey, I'm coming in", the voice spoke softly.
no response again.
the person whom was trying to speak with Ichigo, entered the large room, and then closed the door behind her.
"Ichigo honey", the voice spoke gently towards the lump on the bed, sheets over the lump.
"I just want to be alone, Mom", Ichigo spoke softly from under all the sheets and pillows.
a woman with dark brown hair sighed, she walked to the bed and sat at the edge, "Honey, It's okay"
"It's not...It won't be okay", Ichigo's Tone was slightly shaky.
the woman sighed.
she'd never seen Ichigo like this, Usually, Ichigo kept herself calm and collected, but lately, since the incident and Mr. Tachibana's warning, the girl had slipped into an emotional state.
did Himeko mean that much to her daughter.
"What's gotten into you?", Mrs. Wakaouji questioned.
Ichigo shifted, but remained under the sheets, she sniffled, "It's not fair"
The woman hummed, "There's nothing that can be done-"
"Why not!", Ichigo got up from the covers, she sat up, her hair was a mess, and her eyes were slightly puffy, her cheeks were a faint rosy color.
the woman eyed her daughter's state, she never seen her daughter so distraught. "Honey"
Ichigo pressed her lips into a thin line.
The Young Wakaouji's eyes shun with a glossy determined look, it was odd. One would expect her eyes to be dull.
"Your father tried to speak with Shuuhei-"
"He's stubborn, he won't budge", Ichigo slid her legs from the covers, she hugged her knees to her chest, "He wants Himeko to go abroad for college, he's going to separate us"
The woman's eyebrow rose at the was Ichigo had said the word, 'us'. She knew how close the two were, they basically grew up together, she remembered how Ichigo would complain over how Jumpy and hyper Himeko was back then, when they were mere toddlers. and still, Ichigo complained sometimes, saying Himeko still spoke of ridiculous things.
The woman allowed her eyes to softened at her daughter, "Himeko-chan tried to fight him on it.", the woman commented.
she remembered how determined Himeko was that day, fresh out of the bed after being stabbed, She argued with her father pretty heavily, resulting in Shuuhei ultimately, Stripping the young teen of her status within the family.
"He stripped her", Ichigo mentioned, "I don't get why he's so mad-"
"It's because she was almost killed protecting you, Ichigo.", the woman said, "He...felt some type of way about that, about Himeko's actions."
the teen sighed out, "That's just how she is", Ichigo said, "She's always been like that"
"Yes she has, but the both of you can't afford to get hurt like that".
the girl looked away from her mother's eyes, "I guess"
"It...Just...didn't look right...in a way", the woman continued.
Ichigo snapped her head to her mother, a curious expression on her face, "What do you mean?"
The woman shifted, she turned her body to her daughter, "Well, you two have been close for years, but...there's an extent to certain actions. Himeko...tends to not think twice when it comes...to you", the woman said.
Ichigo felt her cheeks begin to burn, "W-What..."
"Ichigo honey...Is there something you want to share with me?"
The teen was starting to get it. Her mother suspected something.
"A-About what?", Ichigo was losing her composure.
Mrs. Wakaouji gave the girl a look, "About Himeko...and you"
the Young girl's cheeks reddened considerably. 'no', the girl knew if she dared to share her secret, Her own parents will separate them further from each other, and she didn't want that.
"Ichigo?", the woman spoke softly again.
Ichigo spaced out, she hummed, and looked at her mother, "W-What?"
"Honey, just tell me.", the woman appeared understanding, "Are you and Himeko together...romantically?"
The Wakaouji teen froze, she stiffened.
"What?!", a voice nearly shrieked.
Himeko nodded her head, she leaned against the cement wall outside the school, "Yep.", she popped the 'p'.
Ayame shook her head, "Shit, Your old man's really pissed"
Mika frowned heavily, "This is crazy, he's actually going to send you off abroad after high school"
Fuko scoffed, "Damn"
Himeko sighed out, she kicked at the floor, some sand picked up, "He wants me as far away as I can be from Ichigo. He's so desperate for some reason."
Ayame felt slightly bad, "How'll you confess to-"
"Confess?", Himeko halted Ayame from speaking further, she looked up from the floor, she stared at Ayame with narrowed eyes, "What are you going on about?"
Ayame sighed out.
Mika looked in between the two girls, "Himeko-chan-"
"You fucking dig her, just admit it already.", Ayame spoke rather roughly, cutting off whatever Mika was about to say. "You just can't admit it for some reason, not even when you're so close to losing her completely, Geez, just suck it up already! I'm sick of seeing you beat around the bushes", Ayame balled her hands up, she wore a frown.
Himeko frowned herself, "Back off-"
"No!", Ayame's demeanor changed completely, "You're going to lose her! You literally protected her with your life, shouldn't you be fighting your dad! Go see Ichigo! You should be free to do that!", the girl huffed out.
Himeko shook her head, "Shut your mouth, you have no ide-"
"There's nothing holding you back, you're just being a little pussy!", Ayame spoke out.
Fuko and Mika looked at each other, not sure if whether of not to get involved.
Himeko huffed out, "I-"
"Shut up already, no excuses. I'm disappointed in you.", Ayame pointed at Himeko, "You have her in the bag, you're just so blind!"
Himeko gritted her teeth. each time she tried to speak Ayame cut her off, she was sick of it, "Damn it, let me talk!"
the two began to raise their voice.
Himeko stood straight up, "How can I see her! I can't!"
"You can!"
"My dad'll kick my ass-"
"He already did! He stripped you of your inheritance, You have nothing to lose!"
Himeko hummed all of a sudden, "He's going to give it back-"
Ayame paused, she rose her hands, "You'd chose status over Ichigo?"
Mika and Fuko both swallowed thickly, both feeling the rise in tension.
Himeko paused, "Wh-UHHGH!"
Himeko was very much interrupted by a fist to the face.
"WOAH!", Mika intervened at this point, Fuko grabbed Ayame from behind, holding her back.
Himeko sniffled as she turned away, she was seeing stars for a moment, she leaned against the wall again to try and grasp her balance.
a faint copper taste entered her mouth.
Ayame clicked her tongue, "Tsk, Money will never fill what Ichigo can", Ayame shrugged Fuko off of her, she turned away and wiped her fist onto her shirt, blood was on her knuckles.
Himeko balled her fists up, she was pissed, she wanted to fight Ayame...
'money can't fill what Ichigo can'
the girl huffed. she looked up and the sky wasn't clear and blue, it was dull and grey, clouds looked sad.
Mika had a hand to her mouth, "H-Hime-chan?"
"Go", Himeko merely said, her back sliding down the wall.
Mika frowned. "Alright"
the girl turned around, she reached out and pulled Fuko along with her, at the same time, she pulled out her phone and began to text someone.
Himeko could very much taste the bitterness of the crimson liquid that filler her mouth, she looked down at the sand on her sweat pants.
all her life, she had things her way, never had she had things not go her way, she never had reason to rebel against her father.
she was afraid of him truth be told.
but she kept that to herself.
Ichigo's cheeks were quite the pink hue.
she sat in her bath tub, relaxing a bit, she allowed herself to lean back a bit into the water, she had, just moments ago, had a very long conversation with her mother, one that she'd never had before with her.
it was about Himeko, all about Himeko.
for once, Ichigo in her life, found a loophole in this world, a good one at that.
her mother was very calm and understanding.
Ichigo admitted it, she said it...she told her mother about her true feelings towards the Tachibana girl, and her mother gave her a small smile.
"I saw it coming. Your father did as well, we just noticed how Attached you got to her, but I guess we noticed more by the way Himeko treated you"
Ichigo felt accepted, like she could be herself.
all the years she's been on this planet, she'd been living in her shell, the only time she ever got out of it, was with Himeko, and now, she can be out of her shell with her family.
But...as much as she wanted to be happy, nothing would change the fact that Himeko would still be away from her, Ichigo wanted to be with the girl, she wanted Himeko to hold her like the few times she had before.
The Wakaouji wished that she could have savored those hugs a bit more, she was always so stiff with affections, she never wanted to stay too long in Himeko's arms, even when in reality, she did.
Ichigo released a sigh, she'd do anything to be with the taller girl.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Himeko walked back to class after she cleaned her face, a new bruise formed.
'Status over Ichigo', Himeko sighed out, she stepped into the class, avoiding the weird and curious looks she was getting from her peers.
Himeko looked up and she saw a certain blonde looking at her weirdly.
Himeko knew that she had some blood spots on her shirt, but to her it didn't matter-
wait a minute, Mugi wasn't looking up...rather, she was looking...down.
Himeko stopped walking. she felt warmth on the side of her stomach, she knitted her eyebrows together and looked down for herself.
'Shit'
Himeko reached up and touched the very wet looking crimson stain that was slowly growing on her shirt.
"Uh...", Himeko pulled her fingers away from the spot, and she saw blood stain her fingers.
Mugi and the other students all grew concerned as Himeko remained put, clearly...
Himeko's knees bucked, but Himeko grabbed onto a desk for balance.
Mugi gasped and Ran to Himeko to provide more help.
"Himeko!", Mika yelped out as she too joined Mugi on helping Himeko.
The Tachibana huffed, her hand stained the desk with bloody prints.
it appears that her wound re-opened after all.
The day went by pretty fast, news about Himeko's sudden wound opening, went around, the result of her wound re-opening, was her being picked up by her father and taken to the hospital.
the blonde and the rest of the girls from HTT were al pretty concerned the same might happen with their drummer.
"Ricchan, How's yours?", voices asked with concern.
Ritsu sighed, "I've been careful all day, I was afraid of mine re-opening. Geez, Himeko must have done something to have had the stitched give out like that."
Mio wore a concerned expression, "Geez, that's very dangerous", Mio held onto Ritsu's hand.
Ritsu nodded, "Yeah, Your dad's offered to check mine later, which is something I should totally get check out"
the Akiyama agreed, she didn't want what had happened to Himeko, to happen to Ritsu, who knows how long the Tachibana had been walking around like that.
"Yeah, Dad wants to make sure your stitches remain in tact". Mio said.
The Tainaka agreed very much, she was afraid of doing any type of sudden movements, she was to be careful until her wound was completely healed.
"Maybe we shouldn't practice for today, we should wait until Ricchan at least gets those stitches out.", the blonde said.
Ritsu sighed, "Kinda miss drumming to be honest"
Azusa giggle lightly, "Never thought i'd hear you want to actually practice"
Ritsu smiled softly, "Hey, it could happen"
Azusa rolled her eyes, "The chances were pretty slim, it was leaning towards Yui actually finding something more important than Cake, kind of chance."
Yui pouted, "Heeeeey~"
The girls all chuckled.
"Not funny", Yui whined. "I have found something more important than cake~", the lead guitarist said with a huff and puffed cheeks.
all the girls laughed more.
"Right, Yui", Ritsu teased.
Yui shrugged, "Whatever, jerks~", the girl stuck her tongue out, her cheeks still puffy.
Mugi reached out and patted Yui's head, "There, there, Yui-chan"
Yui huffed.
Mio smiled as she stroked Ritsu's arm, "Well, Let's call at a day shall we."
Ritsu turned to Mio slightly, she threw and arm around the Akiyama and pulled her close, "I Agree"
Azusa snickered, "Of course you do", the girl teased.
Ritsu caught Azusa's teasing tone, and she smirked, "Hmmmm~ Oi, Oi, You know, even when we can't practice, You should still practice with Yui, Ya' know", the teen winked.
Azusa's cheeks began to burn, "W-Wh-"
"Yay!", Yui threw her arms up, a goofy smile took over her lips.
Mugi and Mio both giggled.
Azusa huffed, "B-Baka, Senpai!"
Ritsu smiled, "Oh Well, Neko-chan"
"Idiot", a deep voice spoke bitterly.
dark brown eyes merely stared out the car's window, trying to keep up with the blur of streets the car passed by.
"Tsk, for the damn Wakaouji girl, You're suffering pain. Pain that should have been hers"
the dark brown eyes still not giving the man whom was speaking a single glance.
"Are you listening, Himeko!"
Shoulders flinched at the sudden raise of voice.
"Yeah", a small voice answered. The girl's face not turning to the man whom sat just across from her in the limo.
"Then look at me, Damn it", the man spoke roughly.
Himeko released a sigh through her nose, she turned away from the window, a few dots of water on the window due to it raining a few moments ago.
"What?", Himeko spoke with a bit of sass.
"Don't sass me, Girl", Shuuhei said, "Tsk, Your little collapse at your school got me called out of an important meeting"
Himeko kept eye contact with her father, she looked at him very intensely.
Shuuhei rose his eyebrows, intrigued by his daughter's look.
Never had he raised his voice at her, never had he scolded her.
and never would he have done it.
But...something about His only kid taking a stabbing for someone else, just ticked him off...and it wasn't just that, but it was also for another reason...
He wasn't comfortable with the fact that Himeko did it for...the Wakaouji girl.
There was just something about it. He noticed many things change in his daughter of lately, and more so whenever that Ichigo girl came over their home, he saw the softness Himeko treated her with, they way Himeko stared at her from afar or up close.
The way Himeko wrapped her arms around her in a hug, if and so they hugged at any moment.
Shuuhei was a man with experience, he knew very well what it was that was changing with his daughter, and he wanted to avoid it.
he wanted to prevent his daughter from making the wrong decisions.
Someone like Ichigo Wakaouji, wouldn't return his daughter's feelings.
"Is there something you'd like to say?", the man said to his daughter, testing her really.
Himeko bit the inside of her cheek, clearly, she was frustrated with the events as of late, her father was being such a dick to her, bothering her, and only complaining about how many meetings he's missed because of her actions.
"No.", she huffed out a bit hoarsely, her eyes still locked with her father's.
Shuuhei frowned, "I only want the best for you-"
"How!", Himeko stopped holding her tongue, she sucked in a breath. "Tsk", she clicked her tongue.
Shuuhei sighed out, "Hime-"
"What's the point about keeping me and her away from each other!?", Himeko rose her voice.
Shuuhei wore a firm expression.
Himeko continued, "We've known each other for like, ever. and now you just want me to break off my friendship with her!", the teen's voice shook a bit, she was clearly frustrated with her father's choice.
"I don't want you to stay away from her, I Expect you to", The man rose his voice as well.
Himeko sat back into her seat, biting her tongue, hard enough to even draw blood.
"You've gotten everything you've ever wanted, Not once have I ever prevented you from doing something, but a line's been crossed, that girl makes you act all stupid!", Shuuhei yelled, he pointed his finger at her, "You lose your common sense, you do things without thinking, she brings out the Idiot within you!"
Himeko's eyes glinted with rebelliousness, she leaned forwards a bit, "She brings out the best in me", the girl spoke through gritted teeth.
Shuuhei hummed, taken aback by this.
"I only did what was right".
Shuuhei scoffed, "By basically throwing your life away? For her?".
Himeko frowned, "She couldn't protect herself-"
"And so like some guard dog, you protected her", Shuuhei scoffed again, "Tsk, what did you expect, You'd be her hero, and she'd fall into your arms?"
at this last sentence, Himeko stiffened, her eyes widened slightly.
"You're so easy to see through, so transparent", Shuuhei commented, Clicking his tongue again, he continued, "You think she'd put her eyes on you?"
the girl's face contorted into one of slightly pain, a frown curved her lips, "What."
"Idiot, She's a Wakaouji, she comes from a line of traditional woman. She couldn't possibly return you feelings. It was a mistake to not have separated the both of you so long ago.", the business man leaned his back into his limo's seat. "She's smart, and has talent in her family's business. You're a dope, and it was another mistake to have given you so much freedom"
Himeko swallowed thickly, she remained silent, absorbing her father's words.
"She wouldn't be interested in you, You're not good enough, especially now that I've stripped you", The man sighed, "Your cousins stand a better chance at inheriting what I've worked for"
The Tachibana teen looked away for the first time, losing all confidence all of a sudden.
"You're a nobody right now, Himeko. You think her family wants her to go with a nobody? It's bad enough that you're a female yourself, but a nobody as well...Tsk, your case is done", SHuuhei spoke with firmness, trying to break the girl's hopes and wishes if she had any.
Himeko's lips parted, as if she wanted to speak, but found no words coming out.
"Love isn't real, Himeko. It's all just some made up crap".
The teenager sighed out, she felt herself letting go of all those hopes...of actually being with the Wakaouji, she knew it was a long shot anyways...but she still kept hanging on.
Shuuhei sighed, "Look on the bright side, I know a few families with woman who aren't interested in men...You can easily nab a woman from those families, it'd also benefit us", the man leaned forwards, he reached out and put his hand over his daughter's knee, "and another bright side. I take the blame for you taking interest in woman in the first place, I didn't introduce enough handsome men to you. So, I accept you for your preferences, and in return, you just, sit back and meet a few of the other woman from those 'open' families, I'll even give you your status back. all's well and ends well"
Himeko felt a knot growing in her throat.
"You got her in the bag!", Himeko remembered Ayame's angry shout.
the girl bit her bottom lip, her father knew it all along. Himeko didn't know she was that transparent.
'He's right, Ichigo is on another league, even with me being wealthy myself, I can't do basic things without messing up, She's all about perfection.'. Himeko was allowing her earlier resolve of rebelling against her father's choice, go. He made sense, there was no way, Ichigo would look at her, especially now that she's been stripped, Ichigo deserved someone with wealth, someone who'll take care of her and love her.
'I'm such an idiot.'
"So what do you say, wanna meet some girls?", the man's voice was starting to sound normal again, as if nothing had happened.
"Sure, I guess", Himeko sighed out.
she gave in.
"Great, Shoot, Does today sound fine? There's this girl, she's half Japanese and half Spanish, she's a real beauty. She'd suit you well". the man began, oddly happy.
Himeko frowned she sighed out again, her body tensed, "Sure"
"Ayame, you know it's your fault her stiches gave away!", Mika frowned heavily, she followed Ayame around, hounding her.
"It's not like I thought about it", Ayame gritted her teeth.
Mika scoffed, "You spazzed out on her for now reason! You hurt her!"
Ayame stopped in her tracks, "She's stubborn!"
Mika Shrugged, "So! It didn't give you the right to just punch her", the younger teen scolded her senior.
Ayame bit her bottom lip, "She needs to be pushed-"
"No she doesn't, there's no point anymore anyways, her father forbids it", the kohai said, reminding her senpai about Himeko's father.
The teen dropped her bag on the floor, turning to Mika, shoulders trembling, "I can't let Ichigo be unhappy", she muttered her teeth gritting slightly.
Mika hummed, "S-Senpai"
"Her happiness is with that Idiot. and I can't just allow her happiness to keep hurting her", Ayame balled her fists up, "She's so blind to Ichigo's feelings."
Mika remained silent. She observed her senpai closely now.
"One way or another I'll make her see it, I'll beat her to pulp if I have to-", Ayame spoke with resolve.
"Senpai", Mika nearly gasped, "W-Why?"
At her kohai's question, Ayame tensed slightly, then relaxed, "Personal Reasons", she merely said.
Mika frowned, she shook her head, "Senpai..."
Ayame looked at Mika in her eyes.
"It's just something I gotta do"
"Ichigo-chan".
"Yes, Mother?"
"Come down for a minute"
Ichigo sighed, she had, for the past few minutes, been staring out of her balcony's glass doors, the balcony was soaked, It'd been raining on and off all day today. the girl smiled softly, she turned around and began to see what it was her mother wanted with her, she exited her room.
She could hear her mother's voice faintly, talking with someone.
"-Oh yes, Tsumugi-chan, we've taken to the lawyers about it", the woman said.
Ichigo hummed, 'Kotobuki', Ichigo walked a bit faster down the stairs, she reached the bottom step and saw the familiar blonde and her mother chatting.
the blonde's eyes looked up, "Ah, Ichigo-chan"
Mrs. Wakaouji turned around to see her daughter, "Ah, Ichigo"
Ichigo hummed, "Tsumugi-chan, what're you doing here?"
Mugi smiled lightly, "Came for a chat, I need to talk to you about something", her blue eyes meeting Ichigo's brown eyes.
"Ah...Okay, come up", Ichigo said.
Mrs. Wakaouji shut the front door, Mugi stepped by her, "It was nice chatting with you, Wakaouji-san"
The woman smiled, "Pleasure"
and so, the woman left the two teens to themselves.
Ichigo led Mugi up. curiosity as to why the blonde came around.
"What's up?", Ichigo said as she and Mugi Reached the top step.
"Have you spoken to her?"
Ichigo's shoulders flinched, "I haven't, why?"
Mugi smiled, "Would you like to?"
Ichigo stopped in her steps, she turned to the blonde, almost wide eyed, "What?"
The blonde nodded, "Let's get to your room, shall we?"
Ichigo nodded, and led Mugi a bit faster to her room, upon opening the door, they both slipped in, Mugi shutting the door behind them.
"So?", Mugi asked again.
Ichigo gave Mugi a nervous look, "How?"
the pianist tilted her head to the side, "Want to use my phone?", The blonde then indeed produce a phone from her pocket, she held it in her hand, offering it to the Wakaouji girl.
Ichigo gave Mugi another nervous look, and she nodded her head, reaching out for the phone.
"why are you doing this?", Ichigo couldn't help but ask as she took the phone with a slightly trembling hand.
"She's been concerned, worried. and with her father forbidding her from seeing you, she's been stressed out.", Mugi answered.
Ichigo hummed, "What if...when I call, Himeko's father is around? He'll get mad, he'll take her phone away-"
"Stop worrying, I'm sure a few moments of speaking with you if worth more than a phone to her", Mugi countered Ichigo's thought.
the girl sighed, she stared at the phone in her hands. "Alright"
"You changed your mind?", Shuuhei asked his daughter.
Himeko sighed out In frustration, she shook her head, "I don't like any of them!"
The man sighed out heavily, his arms crossed over his chest, for the past hour or so, he'd been showing Himeko pictures of the many girls whom were openly gay.
But Himeko, being a brat, kept refusing the pictures a glance, saying things like, 'she's too short', 'she seems cocky', 'she looks mean', and other things.
Shuuhei was almost at his wits end, "It's not so hard to pick one, they're all pretty and wealthy, any partnership'll benefit us-"
"I could careless", Himeko muttered, her lips pressing into a thin line.
The man huffed, "I don't care if you care, I made myself clear, if you want your status back, you're gonna have to chose a girl from-"
"I don't want to, why now? can you at least not pressure me?", Himeko complained.
Shuuhei growled, "Urghh", he turned away from his daughter, trying to control his temper.
and just then, Himeko's phone vibrated.
Himeko hummed.
Shuuhei stared at her.
Himeko stared at it, she sighed out, "Tsk", she reached out and grabbed it, pressing the home screen button to reject the call.
but just as she had rejected it, the caller called back almost immediately.
Himeko grunted and answered, "What?", she hissed into the phone a bit, "Mugi, I'm busy right n-"
"Himeko-chan", a gentle voice spoke.
Himeko's heart sped up, she early jumped out of her seat, "Uh-huh!?", Himeko swallowed thickly.
The man hummed, "Kotobuki-san?", he asked.
Himeko gave him a look, "Y-Yeah. Uh I'll be back", the teen rushed past her father quickly.
Shuuhei wore a weird expression on his father, he knew the Kotobuki girl went to school with her, but Himeko hardly brought her up.
it was weird.
while Shuuhei was in thought, Himeko walked with a fast pace, creating distance from her father.
"I-Ichigo?", the teen whispered softly.
Ichigo sighed into the phone, "H-How are you feeling?"
Himeko's cheeks turned a pink hue, "I'm perfectly fine, how are you? Did you get hurt then?", the teen asked the girl.
"No, I didn't.", The Brunette answered, her breath getting a bit shaky.
Himeko sighed in relief, a smile curling her lips, "That's good, I'm glad-"
"I-Idiot!", Ichigo said softly, her voice shaking, her tone was fragile.
The Tachibana inhaled through her nose, "Ichigo"
"I was so worried-", a small sob was produced on Ichigo's side.
Himeko felt her cheeks grow hotter, "There was no need for that.", her facial expression softening considerably, she could hear the thumping of her own heart.
"I thought the worst had happened! and your stupid father didn't help at all!", Ichigo whined slightly, almost like a child would. she sounded adorable to Himeko.
The softball player chuckled, "My dad's a douche. Nothing we can do", the teen said. She'd never heard Ichigo like this before, she sounded like a child whom hadn't gotten their way.
Himeko could almost imagine Ichigo's facial expression right now.
"Idiot, If only you hadn't-"
"Don't even go there, okay.", Himeko knew what Ichigo was going to say, she leaned against a wall, "There was no way I was going to just sit back and let him hurt you, I just couldn't do that, and I wouldn't.", the teen paused for a moment, "Tsk, If I had to take another stabbing I will", she added.
"W-Why?", Ichigo's voice squeaked girlishly.
Himeko's lips quivered for a moment, she got in thought...should she say it? it wouldn't make a difference if Ichigo reacted badly, they weren't seeing each other.
She had nothing to lose.
the Tachibana swallowed thickly, she heard nothing but soft breathing on Ichigo's end, as if ichigo was awaiting her answer, her lips parted to say her reason why, why she was willing to go to such lengths to protect her.
"Ichigo, I-Unngh!". before Himeko could say the words, the phone was slapped out from her grasp.
"Dad!", Himeko growled, she was pissed, "What the fuck!", she cursed.
The man frowned heavily, "Why can't you let her go!", he walked to the phone and then ended the call completely in one swift stomp.
the phone shattering under his shoe.
Himeko gritted her teeth, "What do I have to lose!"
"You little shit! You listen here!", Shuuhei stood up to his daughter rather roughly, he grabbed her by the front of her shirt, "You've crossed the damn line"
Himeko growled, "Fuck you"
The man huffed, trying to control his temper, but couldn't, and for the first time since she was born, Shuuhei hit her, backing handing her across the face.
Himeko huffed, her face turned away from her father.
"I don't understand why...Why I can't at least try", Himeko muttered, "Why can't you just give me the chance to get her...I love her", Himeko's thoughts began to circle around what Ayame said, Ayame was totally convinced, and she even punched her for being blind...
What if Ichigo really did return her feelings?
She had to do something about it, she needed closure. She wanted to know the truth, while also being honest herself.
but her father just wasn't allowing her for some reason.
and it'd only get much more difficult.
"You're not going to that school anymore.", the man said, holding Himeko by her shirt.
Blood trickled down the brunette's nose, she gritted her teeth.
"I hate you"
The man flinched at this.
"You're going overseas, back to you mother."
Himeko looked up at the man.
"I hate you so much", her eyes watery, but no tears came out of it, her eyes weren't betraying her.
"You're not to leave this manor's premises either, you will be closely watched.", Shuuhei released his daughter's shirt, he ahd half expected her to fall down, but she didn't, she remained put, standing strong, as if to signify her defiance to him.
Shuuhei turned away from his daughter and began to walk away.
with the newly forming bruise on her face, Himeko spat at the floor, no caring she just spat on her own floors...no...these weren't her floors anymore...
they were his.
Urgh...so like, clearly, I've got this side pairing going...in the original version of this fic, This wasn't supposed to happen really, but ehhhh, it did, nothing we can do right?
so, as you can see, the spotlight's shifted from Ritsu/Mio/Chikane, to slight hints of YuiAzu and some strong hint doses of Hime-Chi (Ichigo/Himeko basically).
we'll return to the original love triangle soon, this is basically a small little four chapter thing starting from chapter 12 to 15 dedicated to Himeko and Ichigo bending rules to be with each other...or at least try to.
and...Possibly another Love triangle in development...I'm sure y'all noticed this.
Chapter 15'll be up next month probably, I've updated enough for this month.
Hope it's been a good read lately!
Hue, hue, hue.
Don't expect a sex scene soon...possibly...maybe...Idk...tbh, not even I know if I'll throw in a lemon anytime soon, who's to say.
and by lemon, I mean all the way, not some half assed crud like wrote in chapter 10.
XD
reviews are always welcomed!
Till next chapter.
Bye!