Pairing: Kotori X Eli

Rating: T

Chapter: Questioning feelings.

In which Kotori measures Eli's sizes in the clubroom.

Eli stiffened as she felt smooth cold fingers trailing its way along her hips. The owner of those finger was standing behind her, trying to tighten the measuring tape around the blonde's hips. The pony tailed blonde tried to not feel self conscious, yet each time she felt the younger girl's fingers on her, she couldn't help but shiver slightly at the touch. It didn't help that Kotori had insisted that she remove her uniform so that she could be more accurate in her measurements, unhindered by the crisp white shirt and blue skirt. Eli was also fully aware, perhaps too aware of the fact that she was only clad in her bra and panties. Even though Kotori was also a girl, she just couldn't get used to being seen almost naked by others for prolonged periods of time.

At least she'd worn simple white undergarments that day, she sighed inwardly with relief. She'd never hear the end of it from her friends if she had actually worn her favorite yet seemingly childish chibi fox printed panties.

"84cm..." Kotori muttered to herself as she released the white tape, writing the number onto the sheet of paper that was attached to the clipboard by the table next to them.

"K-Kotori...? May I wear my skirt now?" The third year tried to ask, her voice in stutters.

"Eh? Hm...that's fine...since wearing your skirt doesn't affect your waist or bust measurement." Kotori answered almost casually, causing the blonde to reach for her school skirt immediately. At the sight of a flustered Eli quickly putting on her skirt, Kotori giggled. Who knew that her senior could be so adorable and so self-conscious?

"W-Why are you laughing?"

"'Cause Eli-chan's so cute when she's embarrassed~" The taupe haired girl answered with another chuckle and the older girl blushed further.

"K-Kotori!" Eli hissed, very much embarrassed at being seen and laughed at by her junior. She couldn't help it! She was fine when everybody was in the room when they were changing into and out of their live costumes but for some reason, being alone with Kotori, only in her undergarments, when she's taking her measurements was utterly embarrassing for her.

"Right, right, I'm sorry." The second year smiled. "Now for Eli-chan's waist..." The taupe haired girl murmured as she moved the tape further up.

The pony tailed girl tried not to let whatever Kotori was doing affect her, yet she couldn't help another shiver as she felt cool fingers resting on her stomach.

It felt too hot all of the sudden as her body temperature shot several degrees up with how the second year seemed to be carelessly running her smooth fingers across the flatness of Eli's belly.

"Uwah~ Eli-chan your abs are so firm and smooth~" Kotori said in awe before she glanced at the number on the tape.

"And you're so slim too~ You're beautiful and have such a great body shape! I wished I have a body like yours Eli-chan!" The taupe haired girl continued, her voice thick with pure admiration. Kotori really liked Eli's figure. As an aspiring fashion designer, she had a keen eye on people's figures, and she knew that many girls, even woman, would kill to have Eli's mature figure. Kotori wondered if Eli was interested in being a model after she graduated. It would be a waste of her good figure if she didn't want to be, the taupe haired girl thought. The younger girl then wondered how Eli had managed to keep her good figure.

"I-It's not that great..." Eli couldn't help but blush at the compliment, although the compliment had made her extremely happy, and it also caused a slight jump in her heartbeat.

"It is!" Kotori insisted, "It's almost perfect! You have curves at the right place, and if I'm not wrong..." Kotori trailed off as she moved the tape even further upwards. Eli-chan seems to have grown bigger there.

Eli's face reddened considerably as she felt the same gentle and cool fingers brushed against her skin slightly above her stomach slowly.

"K-Ko-Kotori..." Eli gulped as she felt yet another shiver running down her spine. Despite the coolness of Kotori's fingers, the blonde could feel herself getting warmer, her sensitive skin practically burning.

"Yes, Eli-chan?" Kotori blew softly into Eli's ears, causing the older girl to tense up, her face turning 20 shades darker.

"C-Could you please h-hurry up...?" The older girl stammered.

"Sure~" Kotori answered with a smile, though Eli probably couldn't see that. The taupe haired girl was actually having fun watching how the blonde got easily flustered and embarrassed. She now understood why Nozomi liked to tease her best friend. Besides, Eli's skin was so smooth and soft, and it felt good and nice to touch it, Kotori admitted inwardly. She couldn't help it, it was almost as if her hand had a will of their own and it was just so soft!

Eli's breaths deepened as Kotori's hand started to move deliberately slower across the area below taller girl's bra.

Too close. She's too close...! Eli bit her inner lips, trying to control herself from trembling too badly. She could hear her heart beat pounding loudly against her ears and she was almost sure that the taupe haired girl could hear it too. Calm down, Eli! Breathe. Yet, no matter how much she tried to calm her increasingly wild heart, she couldn't rid of the nervous flutter in her stomach, nor could she will herself to stop shaking.

Kotori swallowed, her throat suddenly dry when she heard the blonde's labored breathing, sensed the slight shivers, and felt the heat emitting from the blonde's soft milky skin. She found herself being unable to concentrate on the task on hand, as she was too distracted, and overwhelmingly aware of how close the two actually were, and how dangerously close her hand was to the older girl's bra clad breasts.

Sucking in a shaky breath, Kotori forced herself to move her hand away - much to Eli's relief - bringing it to the end of the measuring tape as she tightened it gently.

"...84cm..." The younger girl managed to choke out as she released the tape quickly, updating the measurement sheet on the clipboard.

"T-Thank you," Eli muttered before she grabbed her uniform from the chair and donned it on.

Kotori looked away, unable to keep the heat off her cheeks. The feel of Eli's skin was still vividly fresh in her mind and she clenched her fists tightly. What was wrong with her?

Eli, on the other hand was distractedly buttoning up her uniform. Her heart wouldn't stay calm and her cheeks continued to burn at the thought of feeling Kotori's hand on her bare skin again. The blonde took in a deep breath, hoping that it would calm herself down. Yet, she couldn't stop thinking about her taupe haired junior. How her breath had tickled against her ear and how her fingers caressed her stomach. The pony tailed girl closed her eyes, biting her lips. Was it because it was Kotori who was doing that to her? Or was it because Kotori's the first one who ever did that to her? Or was it because she was just sensitive? If that was so, how could she explain the fact that she really wanted to feel Kotori's hands on her again?

"Hey, Kotori..." Eli began softly, causing the younger girl to turn towards her.

"Y-Yes?" Kotori's voice came out a tad higher, almost a squeak but the blonde didn't seem to notice, too absorbed in her thoughts.

"What if..." Eli bit her lips and swallowed before she continued in a throaty whisper, "What if...I said that I was in love with you?"

Kotori blinked, once, twice before she tried to open her mouth, but no words came out. Her heart had raced even faster as she tried to absorb and digest Eli's words.

"I meant that as a 'what if'!" Eli asserted, blushing madly. "T-Take it as a hypothetical situation..." Eli murmured.

"I-I..." Kotori stuttered. How was she even supposed to answer that? And why the question all of the sudden?

"I-I'm sorry! Forget what I said!" Eli blurted out before hastily adding, "I-I don't know what came over me so...I...I mean...j-just forget what I said." Why on earth did I say that?! Eli chided herself internally. What is wrong with me?!

Kotori nodded mutely, unable to say anything. "What... if I said that I was in love with you?" Eli's voice echoed inside the taupe haired girl's mind, causing Kotori's heart to race faster. Why? When Eli-chan says that...why do I feel like my heart's going to burst?

Silence ensued as neither girls knew what to say. The room felt tensed and awkward all of the sudden and Eli cursed herself for blurting out such an outrageous question. The blonde silently observed the taupe haired girl who was deliberately averting her gaze from her. Her heart clenched slightly at that but she tried to dismiss it.

Kotori on the other hand, was too aware of Eli's gaze on her. She could feel the tips of her ears burning and she suddenly felt self-conscious. Groaning inwardly, Kotori wondered if this was retribution for teasing the older girl too much just now.

"What... if I said that I was in love with you?"

The question had sparked a range of feelings within the taupe haired girl. Love. What if what Eli said was true? What if the older girl really was in love with-

That's...not possible. Kotori bit her lips. Eli had said "what if"... and it probably didn't mean anything. Yet, why did her heart ached just at the thought of it being merely a "what if"? Why did her heart felt like it was breaking just at the thought it not being true? Love? Kotori couldn't say she knew a lot about love, since she hadn't had a chance to meet with boys around her age, especially being in an all-girls school. She'd spent her life up till now hanging out with Honoka and Umi, her dearest childhood friends, and recently, new friends that she treasured so much, including the older blonde that was still standing near her. With a start, the taupe haired girl realised that she didn't want it to be only a "what if"- she wanted it to be true.

"...What if I said that I love you too?" Kotori whispered, her voice just as soft and quiet.

Eli froze, unable to formulate any response as her eyes widened, her heart threatening to leap out of her chest.

"What if...I said I wanted it to be true?" Kotori pressed on, now facing the older girl, her voice starting to tremble slightly as her lips continued to quiver, "What if I wanted you to say that...you love me?"

"I..." Eli could only look at the younger girl, stunned as Kotori continued to stare hopefully into the oceanic-blue orbs that were swirling with mixed emotions.

Eli couldn't breathe, she couldn't even think coherently. Her mind was blank, utter blank. She really hadn't expected Kotori to answer her, much less with her own "what if" question, throwing her own question back into her face. Yet, the thought of Kotori saying that she loved her, just the thought of the possibility of it only fueled the fire burning in her, caused her own heart beat to beat louder and quicker.

"I..." Eli swallowed. Wetting her lips, the older girl continued, "I...would say that...I'm in love with you..."

As soon as those words left her lips, Eli understood the truth in her words as she let heartfelt feelings be known. What she hadn't expected was a blurring force that had slammed against her, crushing her into a huge hug.

"K-Kotori...?!"

"Eli-chan! Eli-chan, Eli-chan! I love you~" Kotori chirped happily as she nuzzled against the older girl's shoulder.

"Kotori..." Eli chuckled slightly before wrapping her arms around her junior, liking the feel of Kotori's warm body leaning against hers.

"You're so warm..." Kotori murmured against the blonde before sighing, "You smell nice too..."

"W-Wha-" Eli sputtered out, her cheeks reddening rapidly.

"Eli-chan..." The taupe haired girl said again.

"W-What is it...?"

"I just like saying your name~"

"W-Wh-Wha-"

"Ehehe~ Eli-chan's so cute when she's embarrassed and red in the face~" Kotori grinned before stealing a kiss on the blonde's burning cheek.

Eli could only continue to sputter before she finally returned a similar kiss, one against the younger girl's forehead.

A/N:

Review Replies:

KevinCruelz: Thank you~

Enya Talisman: Thank you! and you're welcome!

GAT-X105VividPanzer: I'm pretty sure that Kotori wouldn't listen to your voice of reason now XD Since Nico's dense and all XD XD

Kumiko-chii: ^.^ thanks!

Jaez: The reason why Nico has to take care of Umi? *_* oh pray tell! Wait, NozoRin moments?! O_O Maaan, I wished I understood japanese T_T And thank you! The job's tediously boring so far ~.~

Dash24zappshift: Don't jump off the building! I still haven't thanked you yeeeeet!

Guest: Oh? Are those requests? If they are, I've already closed the request box. But then again, the pairs that you mentioned are already in the queue... so uh look forward to it?

Major Mike Powell III: Thank you!~ :D

ihavenoidea: Yep, totally!

rawr-uke: Hi! Um, is that a request...? If it is...then as I've told Guest, I've already closed to request box, but then again, KotoUmi is already part of the queue so I guess you can look forward it it! I'm really sorry since I only understand English and Chinese and I doubt what you wrote is English...?

This is a prompt by Jaez, therefore I do not own the plot since it belongs to him/her!

It wasn't supposed to be this hot and stuffy. (Please believe me! It was supposed to be more pure! -cries out indignantly-) T_T And the prompt wasn't this..."hot" either. Oh god. What have I done? T_T I'm sorry, Eli, Kotori and Jaez!

On another note, Merry (belated) Christmas! Hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas, however you choose to spend it! I was supposed to release this during Christmas or the day after (Chapter 26 on the 26th, ya know?) but I was dead tired after reaching home from work (Excuses, excuses).

Next: UmiMaki! (Continued from A shot of espresso)