Chapter 28 Return to Otherworld!
The wind howled loudly, it whistled through Kagami's ears, and the umbrella she was holding. The rain pounded loudly against the surface of her rain shield, and yet Konata's laughter was the only thing she could hear. Everything seemed odd. Somehow more real than real. At least more real than anything she had ever experienced. The wet blue hair in front of her was a more beautiful hue than she knew could exist.
Kona's laugh making its way through her ears, and reverberating in her mind was sweet music a professional symphony could only ever hope to achieve. The smile Kagami knew was on her girlfriend's face as she led the Tsundere, running down the sidewalks, emptied of traffic with the rain, it was more beautiful than all the beauty that could possibly exist, even though Kagami couldn't see it herself.
Her breath was short, and a mist rose in front of her face, steaming around her with every exhalation, and being left behind to warm some passerby who would come through, days or years as far as Kagami could tell, later.
Her thoughts were gone, she seemed to be only a vessel for sensory input, her mind could only focus on how amazing she felt as her heart raced along with her feet, feeling the warmth of Konata's breath as it steamed in a similar manner. How could it seem that the bridge their arms made, linked at the hand could be both miles, and inches long? Kagami couldn't figure out.
Somewhere inside, very deep she was hurting, she was hurting because she hurt the most important, and beautiful thing in the world. The beauty had renewed itself though, and come back, not to crush what had caused its pain, but to make it into something beautiful, and to join with it.
As the two ran, the umbrella was pretty useless. The rain found its way around, and under, and even through somehow, wetting both Kagami, and the blue haired angel flying in front of her. A voice reached her, and even though it was a voice she was familiar with, Kagami could swear it was the voice of an angel or deity, its true greatness always lost on her before, but now it echoed through the cavern that was her mind.
The ringing was a cacophony Poe could never imagine, so far from his world it was that if he could glimpse it his sepulcher by the sea would have been a tower in which he dreamed his dreams with his love, singing back to the wind that would steal her away.
"Have you ever seen rain fall, and known that soon it'll just dry up? You know it's going back to the sky, but you wonder, how many places has it fallen. Has the same drop ever hit anyone more than once? Has it touched someone famous, or maybe gone to an awesome concert for free? Maybe it ruined a great manga, or maybe it was the drop that inspired a great one?"
Who could think things like that? Was it a seraph that stooped to spend its time with her? Maybe it was just a little kid with an overactive imagination. The voice was in her mind as she reflected on it. Kagami could feel it though, and knew she heard it more with her heart than her ears. How long had it been since she had run like this? The strain wasn't very much, not with such a strong hand gripping hers, and leading her forward. It gave her more strength than she knew she could have.
"It moves on, no matter whether it falls into a beautiful fountain or a garbage dump though.Maybe it doesn't have a choice, it always has to move on because the world won't wait on it. I always liked to think it rained on purpose though. Like each drop is a little different from every other one, all of them raining for their own reasons."
Were they like the rain? Moving on even when they were hurting because that's just how it was? Or were they like the rain that moved on because it knew it loved raining down? It moved on because it hoped to meet a certain raindrop it had seen before again. Kagami had never had such thoughts in her mind before. She couldn't figure out why it was now with the blood rushing through her face, warming her ears as she dreamed on her feet.
"Yuki-chan said matter can never be created or destroyed, only change shape. I guess that means that every part of us has been around since the very beginning. Have you ever wondered what are the odds that everything came together just right so that we were born the way we are? Like if I had gotten some tiny piece of me from one rock instead of another a thousand years ago, would that have made me a different person, or maybe I wouldn't be at all?"
You would be. Kagami's mind chanted it over and over. If she just wasn't then the world wouldn't be either. Without you there couldn't be anything. At least nothing I would care to live in.
It seemed Kagami's mind was coming alive finally. Different from before, more certain. The Tsundere had no idea why she felt so amazing. Even though she was with the most important thing in the world, she had been with Konata for a long time, and only now her mind had developed enough to see how amazing she really was.
"If you think about that further though. Wouldn't that mean that everything is alive technically? Maybe it isn't alive yet, maybe its just waiting to be born. Maybe one day when I'm gone a part of me will be the rain, and a part of me will be a tree, or a road, and all of my parts will just be waiting our turn, looking for the next time we can all get together, and be us again."
Where was the weak and fragile Otaku? Who was this incredible, and adventurous woman latched on to Kagami, pulling her into a strange world full of warmth, and comfort? Kagami wondered if they could possibly be the same person. Somehow Kagami felt like she was talking to someone else, the warmth in the voice was Konata, and yet it was something else entirely.
"If all my parts could reform a thousand times into a thousand things, and have to do that times a thousand more times. I wonder what the odds of them ever returning back to make just me again would be? Even if it was like something that happened every hundred years though, I wouldn't want to be me, if you weren't you."
The movement stopped, and the four of them stood in the rain, panting heavily, their misty breaths mixed, and rose, being caught under the umbrella for a few moments before finding its way through tiny holes to dissipate. The two women looked at each other, Kagami's mind in a jumble, and trying to process what exactly had happened.
Why was everything suddenly so different since they left that china shop? What could a simple run possibly have done to make her feel so incredible?
"That's why the rain always represents Love to me. It's my promise to myself, that I'll always find my way back to you. I never really realized it, but it's possible we've been together thousands of times thinking along those lines," said Konata looking up into her lover's eyes, and smiling broadly even as she panted from the recent exertion.
Kagami looked around, and couldn't determine how long they had been running. The street lights were on even though it wasn't nearly night time. The storm made it seem much darker than it really was. Kagami was suddenly afraid. She had been hearing people who weren't Konata speaking through her girlfriend with the same voice, and love. The Tsundere had even heard the hurt in Konata's voice, she had recognized the Pain she was responsible for.
Those other two were gone now, now they were just her Konata. Her happy, beautiful Konata. Kagami was going to ask a question when Kona suddenly said excitedly, "So that's why they never walked into the light. That's why the rain never touched them even though it was falling everywhere."
"What are you talking about Kona?" said the Tsundere, still in shock from how incredible everything seemed.
Konata squeezed Kagami's hand, and said, "The shadows were hurt. They were always all alone, and wouldn't go into the light. Love wouldn't give up though, so she became rain. She fell everywhere, she blanketed everything, so that they could be together, but her sister was just too scared to accept her."
"Where are we?" said Kagami, she knew she was never going to figure out what her girlfriend was talking about, it was probably some anime, knowing her.
Konata's eyes had seemed sort of glazed as she had looked at Kagami before, but now there was clarity, and the little Otaku looked around, and said, "We're at the park."
Kagami facepalmed, she could have given that answer herself, but Konata hadn't realized Kagami was asking more about why they were at the park. When the Tsundere stated her thought, Kona answered back, "This is where you made me feel better Kagamin, so I thought maybe this is where I could make you happy again."
Happy? Wasn't Kagami happy? Shouldn't she be happy just being with the girl she loved? Kagami couldn't answer the questions, and that made her hurt on the inside. She knew Konata was everything she needed, she knew Kona was more than enough to make her happy forever, but then why wasn't she happy?
Konata started walking, Kagami followed behind her, still holding Konata's right hand in her left. The constant drops, and hammering of the rain on everything around them was unimportant to the two of them. Konata's dress was soaked, and it was clinging really closely, so Kagami could see every little curve of her body.
She had never realized that even though Kona's figure was small, it was very womanly. The curve of her thighs kept attracting the Tsundere's eyes as they walked. The umbrella was more useful now that they weren't moving so quickly, but now any hint of life besides the two girls was gone. No one came to the park while it was raining like this, and they were utterly alone.
The lights along the cement walkway were slowly coming on, and blinking off as particularly heavy clouds came and went over them, changing the amount of light constantly. The whole scene made Kagami remember the last time she had been with Konata in the rain. It had seemed as if the two of them had been the only ones in the world, and yet Kagami hadn't had a hint of loneliness, because she knew even then that as long as her Kona was around, she would be fine.
The sound of cars, and planes couldn't be heard, the tops of building could not be sen in the distance because of the haze. This was a place that only the two of them could possibly discover. A bench was found a little ways into the park, and the two of them sat down on it. Kagami could feel the wetness soaking into the bottom of her jeans.
The lavender haired girl held the umbrella over the two of them, and they just listened to the raindrops hit it, and everything around them. Warmth spread across Kagami as the little Otaku leaned against her shoulder, dextrously wrapping her left arm around Kagami's right, and holding the hand of the same arm with her opposite.
Kagami looked down into the happy face of her little lover, and smiled. Konata smiled back, and said, "I'm really in love with you Kagamin."
Finally Kagami could understand something that was happening as her mind slowly recovered from the numbness that had settled in. She responded, "I know how you feel."
Silence continued for a few minutes. The grass bowed before them weighted by raindrops, and sparkling as the street light came on above them.
"What happened to you Kona?" said Kagami, remembering the different ways Konata had spoken to her.
The small blue haired girl just hugged Kagami's arm tighter, and nuzzled her face against her girlfriend's shoulder, and said, "That was just every part of me, wanting to say we love you. They're not gone, but they found the way out."
The Tsundere had no idea what her little girlfriend was talking about, but she could hear relief in the Otaku's voice. It was obviously a good thing, but she felt something behind those words. Something she needed to ask about.
Kagami asked, "You're still hurting aren't you?"
Konata just nodded her head in response, and Kagami felt her heartbeat slow. That was why she wasn't happy. It was because something was hurting Konata. The younger girl had a feeling that it was her who was hurting the blue haired girl.
"You sure like to feel guilty about stuff, huh?" said Konata, a cat grin making its way across her face.
"I don't see what's so funny about you being hurt," replied Kagami seriously.
The little Otaku chuckled, and said, "You don't get it at all, you're hurting too, aren't you Kagamin?"
The Tsundere nodded, her chest was burning, deep inside she was hurting because she still felt bad about what she had done, nothing could ever take it back, but she wanted to try her hardest to make up for it. Kagami responded, "That's because you're-"
She was interrupted by Konata saying loudly, "Nope."
More silence, Kagami didn't understand, but Konata continued a few moments later, seemingly enjoying keeping her girlfriend in suspense. Konata continued, "It's not my fault you're hurting, and it's not your fault that I am. Hurting is just a part of life Kagami. We hurt when something bad happens, and we never let the hurt go completely away, because we promise ourselves we'll never let that bad thing happen again. We know if we let our pain go completely away we might forget, and get hurt even worse because of it."
Since when did Konata speak in such an intelligent manner? Kagami wasn't sure, but the wisdom of the words weren't lost on her. Sure she was hurting inside, but when Kagami thought about it, she didn't want that hurt to go away completely. She never wanted to forget about what she had done to Konata, if she did, then she might do it again, and that thought terrified her.
Kagami wrapped her right arm around the little Otaku, making the blue haired girl release her grip on the Tsundere's arm, but Konata renewed the hug as she wrapped both her arms around Kagami's torso, and buried her face in the soft belly waiting there.
Rain was still hitting their feet, and legs, but Konata couldn't care less, as she let her face sink in against Kagami's stomach. The younger girl just enjoyed the feeling of Kona resting on her. After a few moments Konata said, "You're really warm. That's something I always loved about you Kagamin. Even when its cold outside, you're always so warm I just want to hold on to you."
At this the Tsundere grinned, and said, "So THAT'S why you always liked to hang on to me before. I always wondered why you were so grabby before we were together."
"Hehe," was Konata's only response.
The two girls stayed that way for nearly ten minutes, just glad to be soaking in each other's warmth. Finally Kagami let Konata go, and placed her right hand on top of the little Otaku's head, saying, "Maybe we should go somewhere else, you're going to get sick all soaked like that."
Konata raised her head from Kagami's stomach, and wrapped both arms around the Tsundere's neck. She looked into Kagami's face, and said, "Sorry I get so crazy all the time."
The lavender haired girl responded, "It's fine Konata. That's something I've always loved about you."
"Oh really?" replied a mischievous looking Otaku.
Kagami knew she was going to regret her previous sentence judging by the smile Konata had, and sure enough, the blue haired girl let go of Kagami, and stood up quickly. Kagami tried to stand up too, and cover her with the umbrella, but Konata placed a hand on her Tsundere's shoulder, and forced her sit, before saying loudly, "Then catch me."
Kona turned, and fled with Kagami immediately rising, and chasing her, yelling, "Kona! You gotta be kidding me. You know I can't catch you!"
The little Otaku didn't respond in words, just laughter as Kagami would chase her, and when she finally got close, the little athlete would speed up, and stay just out of her reach, once again they were both getting soaked, but soon Kagami was laughing too as she chased.
As they entered the playground though, Konata came to a stop, and Kagami immediately wrapped an arm around her girlfriend to stop her from running off again. Now Kagami was really worrying about Konata getting sick. Wearing that dress would have been chilly even without the rain at this time of year, and Kagami also noticed Kona was shivering.
Besides the shivering Konata didn't show any signs of discomfort though, she just turned to face to Kagami, and said, "Whenever I go out in weather like this, I always feel like I'm in a different world, you know. Everyone's gone, and it's all dark, and really cool looking. I don't really care much for thunder and lightning, but just dark and rainy is so awesome. All the shadows seem so huge, and it makes you feel really tiny."
"You are really tiny," Kagami responded, unable to bite it back before the words left her lips.
The little Otaku didn't react to the jab, she only asked, "Are you having more fun now?"
The younger girl gave Konata a confused look before she realized that she had actually forgotten all about how she thought the rain had ruined her date. Konata had managed to make her enjoy the storm maybe even more than she would have enjoyed the kite flying they had originally planned to do here. Suddenly Kagami didn't want to be here anymore. It wasn't that she wasn't enjoying herself, she was just overly aware of how likely it was that Konata could catch a cold.
It dawned on Kagami that even if she had been freezing to death out here, Konata wouldn't have given up until Kagami was laughing, and having fun. The younger girl sighed, as she angled the umbrella to cover Konata more than herself, and said, "Hey, why don't we go home now?"
Kagami noted the worried look on Kona's face as she turned to look at Kagami, saying, "You don't want to stay here anymore?"
The younger girl replied, "It's not that at all. I just want to take you some place warm, and dry, so we can just spend the rest of the evening together. Doesn't that sound good?"
"Yeah," said Konata, now moving closer to Kagami, finally seeking the shelter of the umbrella.
Kagami wrapped her free right arm around Kona's shoulders as she led her little girlfriend away from the play area. They walked quietly along until they reached the cement walkway that would lead them back to the entrance they had come through. The younger girl noticed the strained look on Konata's face, and wondered why the smaller girl seemed so tired all of a sudden.
Kagami didn't ask her thoughts, she just squeezed Konata's shoulders a little tighter, letting Kona know if she ever needed it, the Tsundere would be there to support her. The mist started by the rain falling everywhere was now rolling along the streets as the two girl left the park, and started down the path of sidewalks that would lead them to the train station.
Blankets of white rolled through their vision, finally completing the illusion that they were the last two people there. Kagami thought it seemed odd how fog muffled the sounds of their footsteps, making the little taps of their feet echo back at them, while making the rain sound as if it were pouring much more intensely than it actually was.
Very occasionally they would see another pedestrian passing by on the opposite side of the road they followed. Usually looking like a shadow clearing the white from its path as it walked. A big man stirring through the fog, and then slinking down a shady alley between two buildings gave the Tsundere the creeps.
Once on board the train heading towards Konata's station Kagami finally got a good look at her girlfriend in the light. Her hair and dress were completely soaked from running without the protection of the umbrella. The heated cars provided the younger girl with more than a little relief as she watched pink make its way into Konata's cheeks, replacing the white imprinted there by the cold outside. The pretty ribbon she wore was also wet making it appear a darker color than it really was.
Kagami's gaze followed the dress downwards, noticing how closely it clung to Konata. She noticed she could make out the shape of her girlfriend's nipples quite clearly, and almost immediately noticed a couple guys in the car had also noticed it. Anger flowed through the younger girl, and she considered telling the people staring at Konata off, but instead, she pulled her girlfriend in closely, and let Kona rest her head in Kagami's lap.
Konata folded her arms over her chest to block the view of the hounds, and combined with the warmth of Kagami, and the train car, she quickly fell asleep.
Konata dreamed she was hearing rain, but all she could see was white fog everywhere. Suddenly her stomach lifted, and her hair flew up behind her, as Konata recognized the familiar feeling of falling. She fell along with the raindrops, going their speed as she cleared the cloud she had been sleeping in. The blue haired girl examined all the drops around her, wondering why all of them were falling.
It wasn't until she asked the question allowed that she wondered why she herself was falling. The wind pressed in against her face, stopping her from breathing properly. It roared through her ears, as she lost the ability to tell up from down. The raindrops all around her were suddenly people. All people she had seen before, but none of them that she knew. They were all falling together, heading towards the place that only they alone could fall.
Kona's heart was beating so fast it was almost painful, but the small girl was happy as her vision darkened. She wondered where her destined place to fall was, and wondered if she would meet Kagami there. If she didn't Kona made up her mind to dry up, and fall somewhere else, and keep on falling over and over until she was with her love.
Konata closed her eyes, and smiled, no longer able to breathe because of the intense speed she was falling at. Then the whole world shook her awake.
The train rumbled as it stopped, waking Konata from her peaceful slumber. She yawned and stretched cutely as she lifted her head from Kagami's lap, accepting the younger girl's hand as she was pulled up. Kona rubbed her eyes with her right hand as Kagami led her out of the train station. Once the grogginess was past, Konata's face lit up. She remembered she was going home with Kagami. They were going to be together that night.
Her energy expended by the run, and shivering in the cold had been renewed by her nap, and now Konata was almost bouncing with energy as her excitement welled up. The blue haired girl tugged on Kagami's arm, hurrying her out into the storm, and on their way back to where Konata was looking forward to cooking for her girlfriend, and probably cuddling all night.
Konata had managed to get everyone out of the house for this since she wanted to be alone with Kagami. Once outside though, there was a limit to how much rushing Konata could do since Kagami was holding the umbrella. Now that she was out of the heat of the car it dawned on Konata how cold it was getting outside, so she was forced to cling to Kagami for warmth.
The Tsundere was a little irritated with the exaggerated chattering of Konata's teeth, but it was made up for by the smaller girl clinging to her side. Kagami loved the feel of those slender arms wrapped around her. It was made even better when Kona gave up on rushing to lean against Kagami, and say, "You're going slow on purpose aren't you?"
Kagami laughed at Konata's cute annoyed face, but it was true. She was taking it slow on purpose, just wanting to stretch out the time, and enjoy the feelings Kona had created for her. Kagami reached down to grip Konata's hand, and squeezed it gently once it was in her grip. Even though Konata huffed in an annoyed manner, she squeezed back, and after a minute, she said, "It's because you loooove me, isn't it, Kagamin?"
Kagami laughed again at the way Konata drug out the word love, but responded, "Yeah, it is."
Kona looked down as she rubbed the back of her head with her right hand, and said, "I keep forgetting that one won't make you all cute and embarrassed anymore."
There was a small hint of sadness in Konata's voice as she said that, but Kagami knew Konata was happy. She was just bothered that it wasn't as easy to get Kagami all flustered anymore since they were girlfriends. The usual flirty and teasing remarks wouldn't cut it anymore. In a way, Kagami understood how Konata felt, it wasn't until recently that she had discovered how cute it was when Kona turned red, and acted all embarrassed. She loved seeing that little Otaku fidgeting as she blushed, and making cute faces.
Kona began humming some anime theme that Kagami couldn't quite place, and the two just settled into each other's feel as they walked happily in silence, all the way to Konata's house. Once they entered the dark home, Kagami was immediately grateful for the warmth provided by walls, and the dryness provided by a roof.
Both Konata, and Kagami removed their wet shoes, and socks immediately, and Konata went upstairs to fetch towels for the both of them. Kagami waited in the entryway for Kona to come back down, and the two girls began drying their hair and skin as soon as the towels were brought.
The Tsundere stopped in the middle of drying off just to watch Kona as she fought her hair with the towel, amazed at how cute she could be. Kagami's arms wrapped around Konata from behind, just below the Otaku's breasts, and Kagami gently nibbled on Konata's ear. After Kagami felt Kona relax after the attention she released Konata, and said, "You're really beautiful Kona."
The smaller girl was blushing pretty heavily, and she said quietly, "Thanks."
Kagami wasn't done though. Kona was too beautiful to possibly resist. Kagami pulled her in close again, running her hands through Konata's hair, as she leaned in to scrape her teeth against her girlfriend's neck. Konata squeezed her back, panting as Kagami felt all over the little Otaku's body. Kagami rubbed her right hand down the center of Konata's back, as her left hand caressed curve along the top of Konata's hip.
The blue haired girl didn't resist at all, she relaxed, loving that Kagami was so enraptured by her. Kona felt both of Kagami's hands squeeze her bottom, and had to repress a moan when the Tsundere went back to teasing her ears. Heat was flooding through her body, Konata was struggling to keep her eyes from rolling back, Kagami made her feel like her mind was going numb. She was going to go crazy if she wasn't released, and then suddenly it was over.
Kagami separated herself from Konata, and looked over at her girlfriend nervously for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry Konata. I couldn't help it, I know you're probably not ready for that yet."
Even as she was apologizing the bigger girl's gaze lowered down to Konata's chest, focusing on the shape of the smaller girl's nipples which were still visible through the fabric. Konata turned a slightly deeper shade of red when she realized what Kagami was looking at. The blue haired girl smiled, and said, "It's alright Kagami. I'm glad you want to touch me. I was kind of worried you didn't think I was pretty."
"No! You're beautiful Kona. I love looking at you...and...and...feeling...," Kagami trailed off after saying that.
The Tsundere's face was a shade of red equal to Konata's. Neither of them were sure how to proceed from here. Both wanted to hold each other, and feel each other all over, but neither was sure if they were completely ready for that yet. Kagami moved over, and gave Konata a hug around the neck. A normal, sweet hug, assuring her that everything was okay.
Konata said quietly as she buried her face in Kagami's neck, "What about cooking supper for you?"
"Let's just order something," came the Tsundere's reply, "I don't want to let go of you long enough for you to make dinner."
"I guess that new game dad got is out of the question then, huh?" said Kona in response.
Kagami smiled, Konata was trying to get back into her comfort zone. She was trying to treat the situation as if it were a normal sleepover, but Kagami wasn't going to let her fool herself. She was here to love Konata as much as she could, and she planned on showing it to her. Kagami let Konata take a step back from her, and the younger girl took both Konata's hands in her own. Then she said, "I want to see more Kona."
The Otaku blushed deeply, but nodded, and soon felt Kagami's hand on her cheek. Konata leaned her face against the hand, loving its feel as her cheek fit perfectly into Kagami's palm. The hand traced its way down Konata's neck, making her tremble. Kagami said quietly, "It's okay, baby."
Kagami placed both hands on Konata's shoulders, and slowly slid the dress sleeves from the neck outward, causing Konata's dress to fall in a heap around her ankles. The Tsundere took in the incredible sight of her girlfriend's body as Konata moved both of her hands over the front of her panties to hide the sight.
Kagami's eyes followed the curve of Konata's slender shoulders even as her right hand traced down the middle of Kona's chest. Kagami's traced her pointer finger between the two small breasts, and slowly circled her girlfriend's right nipple with her finger as Konata moaned quietly. Her eyes moved past the little Otaku's chest, and along to her cute little bellybutton.
Kagami smiled, as she thought, "It's an innie."
Kona's panties were white with a small pink ribbon as decoration on the top in the middle. Kagami could see through them because they had gotten wet from the dampness of the dress. That was why Konata was embarrassed, and trying to hide the sight of her most precious parts. Konata was now shaking heavily, she seemed terrified, and Kagami was now beginning to feel guilty about being caught up in her feelings like this.
Kagami wrapped her arms around Kona's waist, and said, "Kona. This is too much for you isn't it?"
The blue haired beauty trembled in Kagami's arms before placing her hands against Kagami's chest, and hiding her face there. She said, "I like it when you look at me Kagamin. It's just really sudden, and I'm so nervous I kind of feel like I'm gonna throw up."
Kagami took Konata's hand, and said, "I'm sorry for being so pushy. Let's do something to relax before we do anything else, alright?"
Konata nodded, and let Kagami lead her upstairs, she thought maybe they were going into her room to play a game, and wished she had thought to grab her dress until Kagami led her into the bathroom. Soon enough hot water was running, and it was Konata's turn to be enraptured as Kagami started to undo the button on her pink dress shirt.
Suddenly Konata realized something was wrong with this picture, and said loudly, "HEY! No fair! You got to undress me, so now it's my turn!"
Kagami smiled at the accusatory tone Konata had taken, and then immediately began blushing herself as she realized Konata was actually about to undress her. Now Kagami was feeling uneasy but soon she felt Konata's hands tighten around her own, and lead them to her sides. The steam was rising from the water filling up in the large tub next to them. Kagami glanced at the mirror to see her own frightened eyes looking back at her.
Konata hugged Kagami tightly, and said, "Are you ready Kagamin? You're not too nervous to through with it are you?"
"N-no...I'll be fine," said Kagami, although her stomach knotting up tightly told her otherwise.
They had seen each other naked before, but now it was totally different. Now they were actually interested in each other's bodies. Now they were going to hold each other, and say how beautiful the other was. The closeness was pretty scary for Kagami as she felt Konata undo the first button on the dress shirt.
Soon enough the pink dress shirt was lying on the floor, but only after Konata had struggled with the buttons on the wrists for nearly half a minute. Konata was panting heavily, and Kagami could swear the smaller girl was almost drooling. She remembered how her eyes had wanted to look at every inch of Konata's body, and wondered if she had been in a very different state. She doubted it.
Kagami leaned forwards so that Kona could pull off her undershirt to reveal the blue lacy bra she wore beneath. Kagami found herself trembling as Konata had when the small hands of the otaku traced their way along Kagami's bare skin on her hips, and up her back as she undid the three clasps on the back of the bra, revealing Kagami's breasts for her little lover to admire.
Konata kissed one sweetly, right on Kagami's left nipple as her right hand pulled the button on the top of Kagami's jeans free. The same hand slowly undid her zipper, and Kagami trembled furiously as she became all-too-aware of how close Konata's hand was to her. The blue jeans fell to the ground, and Kagami stepped out of them, leaving them both in their underwear.
Kagami's panties were pink with a black frilly lining at the top, and on the lining of the sleeves. Kona lost her courage as she examined her girlfriend's underwear, and the two of them decided to disrobe themselves from there. A moment later, and they both stared at each other, hearts pounding furiously until Kagami once again took Konata's hand, and led her into the bathtub.
The water was warm, and felt very nice, but to Konata, what felt best was her lover's arms wrapping around her from behind. Kagami trailed kisses down the side of Konata's neck, and whispered about how beautiful she was. After a few minutes of just being wrapped up in how amazing their bare bodies were to each other, Kagami asked, "Is it okay to touch, Konata?"
Konata began shaking at the thought of Kagami's hands going all over her body. It terrified, and excited her to think of what her girlfriend could do to her. Konata had a nearly irresistible burning in her nether regions, she knew she wanted Kagami touching her, feeling her, and loving her, but somehow they had skipped a really important step.
They were rushing into something like this when they were still even scared of showing off their bodies naked. They were being caught up in how they felt, and weren't thinking about what was best for them, and Konata hated to pass up a chance of giving Kagami something she desperately wanted, but it wasn't the time yet.
Konata shook her head to decline Kagami's request, and said, "I just need some time to get ready for that Kagami, okay?"
Kagami nodded, and said, "I understand Kona. I'm not even really sure I'm ready for that myself."
Even after this, the excitement of seeing each other's natural form didn't fade. Kagami was gobbling her little girlfriend up with her eyes, and in her mind. Konata was doing the same, which made the bath take longer than it needed to. Once they realized this, the two began laughing at how wrinkly they had gotten, and it was time to get out of the tub.
The two got out, and took turns scrubbing each other. Even though they had said it was too soon for touching, they both had a little guilty fun rubbing each other's backs, and shoulders, and Kagami in particular took a long time playing with, and soaping down Konata's hair.
Soon enough they took one final soak, and then toweled off, before heading to Konata's bedroom. Sure enough, the bag with Kagami's clothes that Matsuri had been supposed to bring that day, was sitting on Konata's bed, and Konata busied herself looking through the closet. Kona was about to grab some shorts when Kagami pulled her in close again. She had a mischievous smile on her face, that Konata loved despite never having seen such a look on the bigger girl before.
Kagami said, "Why get dressed? Isn't it more fun with no clothes?"
For a moment Konata was surprised she hadn't suggested the idea herself, but after a moment, she replied, "Well, we at least need them until we order some food, right?"
Konata giggled, as Kagami pouted in an annoyed manner, and then threw on some tan shorts, and her favorite panda shirt. Kagami settled into a plain white T-shirt, and the same pair of athletic shorts she had worn the last time she had stayed over. Once they were dressed, Kagami said, "Well, hurry up, and order something to eat, okay?"
Konata laughed loudly at the way Kagami had said that in such an innocent voice. She had seen right through it, and teased, "Oh? Is Kagamin in such a rush just to see my vulnerable little body again?"
Kagami turned red, and Konata saw her favorite vein poke out in the Tsundere's forehead, she just knew some defensive denial was coming, but Kagami calmed herself after a few seconds of huffing, and said, "Yes."
It was said calmly. Konata's jaw dropped, and Kagami said with a small blush on her face, "Well. I need to start being honest about how I feel towards you, right?"
Konata responded, still recovering from the shock of a direct answer, "You're a Tsundere though! I have to fight you for a real confession!"
Kagami folded her arms, and looked away, saying in an annoyed tone that clashed heavily with how loving she had been just moments before, "I said to stop calling me that. I also said, I'm going to be honest about how I feel from now on. Don't expect me to go bragging to the world that I have a girlfriend since most people are uncomfortable with that kind of stuff, but I promise I'll never lie about how you make me feel anymore."
Kona's eyes were sparkling, and Kagami opened one eye, and risked a glance back at her girlfriend as she came out of her Tsun-Tsun phase. Kona had a big smile, and said, "Oh yeah! Kagamin's so cute, I can't stand it sometimes."
Kagami didn't show how happy that comment made her to her girlfriend since she had said nothing about showing how she felt about Konata's normal behavior, and she said, "Just go order the food, okay? I'm so hungry now I'll probably end up eating you if I don't get some food soon."
Konata's face turned scarlet, leaving Kagami confused until a possible meaning of what she had said dawned on her, and she joined Konata in being red. Konata would probably have teased Kagami when she recovered from her embarrassment, but a loud grumble from Kagami's direction sounded agreement with her previous statement, and Kona couldn't help but give in, and go to order some takeout for Kaeru-kun's sake.
The little Otaku headed downstairs, and the number for one of hers and her dad's favorite noodle shops. Konata ordered an extra big cup of ramen with tons of toppings like egg, ground bacon,and bell pepper,. Kagami ordered the same thing since Konata hyped it up so much, but Konata told them to deliver one more smaller cup just in case the first serving wasn't enough to fill up her Tsundere.
The wait for the delivery man was more than awkward as both girls kept looking at each other, wanting to see more than their clothes would allow. They focused on the television in order to keep their minds from wandering down dangerous paths again, and were soon absorbed in an anime movie Konata said was a classic.
A girl was built an android with human emotions, but the person who built her was killed, and she had no idea she wasn't a real girl with amnesia. The food arrived thirty minutes in, and Konata went to the door to pay the fee, and returned with their ramen. It was still hot, and the cup warmed Kona's hands as she passed it to Kagami, and then got the second one out of the bag, placing it on the table in front of the couch.
Steam rose as she pulled the lid off the top, and picked up her chopsticks begin slurping her ramen with pleasure. Konata had no idea why her ramen didn't taste as great, but she wished she could learn to make it like the pros at the ramen shop. Konata heard Kagami noisily slurping the ramen next to her, and she got distracted watching the cute way Kagami sucked the noodles off of her chopsticks, and smacked as the noodle completely entered her mouth.
The Tsundere was very interested in the movie despite having protested watching an anime every time they watched something together. Even after the food was finished, and the two could go back to what they had been doing before, and looking at each other, Kagami made no move to start undressing Konata again.
Kona wondered if Kagami was as nervous as she was. She was actually incredibly scared. If Kagami saw something about her body she didn't like, Konata didn't know how she would react. Kona moved in close to Kagami, and wrapped an arm around her girlfriend's waist, letting her know she was there. The Tsundere smiled at Konata, and then leaned in against the smaller girl's shoulder, just letting Konata hold her as they watched the movie.
By the time the movie ended Kagami had shed a few tears, and Konata was rocking her. The boy lead in the movie had managed to get through the machine part of the girl, and make her remember him right before she was destroyed. Kagami had really been hoping it would end in a more happy manner. She complained to Konata, who only said, "Shh, let's just watch the credits, sometimes these things have special scenes for people who wait through the whole thing."
Indeed there was a scene at the end, showing the boy many years later in the ruins of the city the android he had loved was destroyed in. It only lasted a moment, but he was in a repair shop, and the android girl was there with him. Kagami gasped when she saw it before the screen went black. Konata smiled knowingly, and said, "I watched the movie three times before I saw that part."
Kagami was smiling her beautiful smile, and Konata couldn't help but wonder once again how she had landed such a beauty. Kagami wrapped her arms around Konata's neck, and said, "Let's go to bed now."
Kona was confused, she had been both dreading and looking forward to whatever Kagami planned to do after the movie, but she hadn't expected the Tsundere to want to go to sleep. Still, Konata helped Kagami stand, and they held hands as they went up to Konata's bedroom once more. Kagami entered slightly behind Konata, and closed the door behind her.
The digital clock on Kona's desk said it was eight-thirty pm. Kagami thought the date had went even better than if everything had gone according to plan. She moved in behind Kona, and gripped her waist firmly. Kona gasped as Kagami kissed her neck from behind passionately. Her hands crept under Kona's shirt feeling her soft stomach, and then she tugged the shirt upwards, and off Konata's body.
Kona's small chest was absolutely beautiful as Kagami looked at it from above Konata's head. The Otaku was blushing, and said, "I can take my own clothes off, Kagamin."
Kagami relented, and released Konata to pull off her own shorts so her girlfriend could get a look at her bare body. Kagami lifted Kona up, swinging her legs up, and catching them under her left arm. Konata looked into Kagami's eyes, and whispered, "Tell me I'm beautiful again Kagamin."
The Tsundere smiled at her lover, and said, "I wish I knew a word better than beautiful. Beautiful isn't strong enough enough to show how incredible you are."
Kagami laid Konata in her bed, and the blue haired girl quickly buried herself under the warm blanket, and rested her head in the center of the pillow there. She smiled up at Kagami as the bigger girl removed her clothes, and turned the light out before joining Konata under the cover. Kagami was burning, she wanted to do all kinds of things with her little Otaku, but she held back.
Neither of them were ready to go all the way, now they were just getting comfortable holding each other's bodies, and seeing each other. Kagami decided a little touching would be alright as long as they didn't go too far, and so she placed her hand on Konata's left breast, and squeezed gently, causing the little Otaku to squirm beside her.
Kagami smiled at the cute noise Kona had made, and then found herself gasping as Kona returned the favor by feeling Kagami's chest up. They had to stop after a minute or going further would have been impossible to avoid. Both girls dreamed of the day when they were close enough to be with each other freely, and to do things unafraid, but already Kagami was trembling from the fear she had of making love to Konata.
Kagami had no experience, she didn't know if she could make Kona feel good, she wanted Konata to scream her name, or to be so out of breath she couldn't scream at all. What if Konata suddenly didn't like how Kagami looked, what if she was too fat for the smaller girl. That thought made a little knot form in Kagami's throat.
Kona asked in a breathy whisper, "Hey, why are you so tense, Kagamin? Are you nervous too?"
Kagami responded, "Yeah. I am."
Kagami laid her head next to Konata's looking at the small girl's ear, and wondering if she should have some more fun with Kona's weak spot. She decided not to, she just wanted to be close, she never wanted to think about Konata not being with her again. Kagami snuggled up against the blue haired girl, but her head kept sliding off the pillow since there wasn't enough room on it for both their heads.
Kagami couldn't help but chuckle. The most beautiful woman on Earth was lying naked in the same bed as her, and Kagami was worried that her head wouldn't fit on a pillow. The Tsundere said with a smile, "Hey, quit hogging the pillow Kona."
Konata giggled, and said, "Why are you grumping about my pillow? You have two perfectly good ones to use."
Kagami didn't understand at first, but Kona wrapped both her arms around the Tsundere's head, and guided her downwards. Konata set Kagami's head to rest on her breasts, and then slid her arms downwards to hold Kagami's back tightly, as she whispered, "I love you."
Kagami rested against her lover's warmth. She was silent as she felt the softness of Konata's breasts sink in to accommodate her, and soon she became comfortable. She even adjusted to the little tremble Kona gave every time Kagami exhaled, and her warm breath traveled from where Kagami rest her head on Kona's right breast to the uncovered left one. Kagami could hear her love's heart thundering in her chest, and Kagami's beat in tune with it. This was it, this was the closeness she had always craved. Kagami had always wanted to be loved completely, and now her dream was undoubtedly a reality.
Kagami reached her left arm up, to grip the front of Kona's right shoulder, as she moved her right arm to rest under the Otaku's shoulders. Kagami was suddenly overwhelmed with feeling. She could feel the warmth of tears stinging her eyes. She just wanted Kona to keep holding her forever, to make her safe, and give her this security.
Kagami wanted her lover to protect her from ever knowing what it's like to be completely alone. She wanted Konata to keep her safe forever. Konata saw the sudden change in the woman she loved, and began stroking her hair, comforting her. Kagami whined, "You'd better not ever leave me Konata. I couldn't take it. I wouldn't ever be able to move on, I'm not as strong as you are."
Kona smiled, and replied, "You don't ever really think I'd leave you, do you?"
Kagami gripped Konata's shoulder more tightly, and said, "Not by choice, but your sickness..."
"I'm not glass Kagamin. It'll take something really really bad for it to kill me. As long as you're with me though, I can't think of anything that would take me away from you," came Kona's response, she squeezed Kagami a little tighter, showing how strong she was, and hoping to reassure the younger girl that she would never leave.
Kona could feel Kagami's heart thumping as their bodies pressed together. It was beating rapidly, but as Konata kept stroking the Tsundere's hair it slowed. Konata held her lover close, and said, "You think I'm really that strong, huh? Still, you're always so strong, and trying to make me feel better, that I guess I almost forgot how you were always so lonely. I used to hate it every time we talked about romance you would look so lonely, and I promised I would be there for you. I know you always focus on being strong for me Kagamin, but don't ever forget that I can be strong for you too. You don't have to wait until you can't stand being alone anymore to come to me, I'll always be here for you."
Kagami quietly replied "I'm not really that strong Kona. I act all mean and scary sometimes I know, but I always feel bad afterwards, I break down so easily, but even when you're hurt, you always take care of everyone, you take care of me, and you make me happy no matter what."
Konata ruffled her lover's hair, and said, "I know you're strong Kagamin. When I was hurt and all alone you made me strong enough to keep going, if it wasn't for you, then I'd be weak. I know I seem really strong in your eyes, like a steel type, but if that's true, then to me, you're strong like a fire type."
Kagami knew the reference when she heard it, but in her mind she translated it to say, "I seem strong to you, because no matter how bad I hurt, I can always take more, and I can always pull through, but to me, you're the strong one because you always fight, and make sure that nothing ever hurts the ones you care about."
Kagami nestled her head in between her love's breasts, and listened to Konata's slowing heartbeat. She loved everything about the person she clung to for support now. Kagami could never fall for anyone else, and knew she'd never regret loving Konata with all her heart. Listening to the steady thud in Kona's chest the younger girl pulled safety and security from the strong beat, and was lulled to sleep.
Konata lay awake for a short while after Kagami went to sleep, thinking about how she finally had someone to love her. She had been so worried when she was younger and suffering that no one besides her dad would ever want to love her. Konata had been terrified as she got older especially when she stopped growing, and developing that nobody would ever want to hold her, and touch her the way Kagami seemed to love doing.
The little Otaku whispered quietly, "Mom. I finally found someone to love me, okay? That means that you gotta be looking out for dad extra carefully now. Kagamin's going to take me away, and even though I'll still see him and talk to him, I know he's going to be lonely, so help him out if you can, okay?"
With her prayer finished, Konata went soundly to sleep.
Hours later the rain intensified. It hammered against the house, and echoed off the roof. Two figures clutched each other for comfort, safety, warmth, and love. They held on to each other with all their strength as if to signify they wouldn't separate even in the world of dreams. Their ribbons hung freely on the back of Konata's computer chair drying, and their clothes lay in a jumble on the floor.
A certain cup of ramen that had been forgotten was growing completely soggy. A small whisper crept through the room as the spirit of Konata's mother pulled the blankets close around the two lovers. Kanata Izumi looked at her beautiful daughter's face, and shed a tear at the happiness she saw there. She had not been able to be a part of her daughter's life, but she had always been watching.
This little girl was strong, much stronger than her mother, she had defeated the illness that had taken young Kanata's life. Horrified, and happy both, the dedicated mother had stood over her daughter's bed, she had rested her hands on Sojiro's shoulders while he sat on the floor crying. The blue haired woman had been waiting to finally greet her daughter if she were to pass, but thankfully their reunion would have to wait for a long time yet.
Kanata looked at her old ribbon, and smiled, remembering when her husband had proposed to her, hiding the engagement ring bundled in the ribbon, and presenting it as a birthday present. It now rightfully belonged to Konata, and her mother prayed, she would one day pass it along to someone she loved.
Kanata shed more tears remembering how her daughter had been so hurt and alone, but she could never hold her, and love her and comfort her. Watching the senseless suffering of such a beautiful child had been nearly as hard as the suffering itself, and yet, out of the pain, a beautiful flower had been born.
Kanata wondered as her tears turned to tears of joy what life had in store for the two of them. She wondered if they'd live happily into a ripe old age, and pass in their sleep, it was possible something terrible would happen to pull them away from each other, but Kanata didn't think that would be the case. She would never know the look of Konata's aged face, or the way Kagami would one day look as she held her lover close.
Kanata had always stayed, hoping her presence could give Konata some little bit of comfort and happiness. Now Konata was in Kagami's hands. It would now be up to the lavender haired girl to keep her daughter strong, and safe.
Kanata took one last look at her daughter before leaving, and on her way out, she stopped in her old bedroom. Their ring glistened beautifully in the dim light of her old lamp. Once the ribbon was given away Sojiro had placed their ring on a small gold stand on their dresser. Next to it was a picture of the two of them, looking down at a baby Konata not long after she had been born. That had been the happiest day of their lives.
Kanata walked down the stairs, and through the front door, out in to the darkness of the storm. As she left her yard where she had had so many happy memories of her lover, and her daughter, there was a bright flash of light. A mother's work was finally done.
Author's Note: I finally got back to the stuff I love to write here. Writing about families and people being really close makes me incredibly happy. I can't think of anything offhand other than my own family that makes me quite as happy. I really, really hope you enjoyed this story, because all that's left now is the Epilogue.
I'd really like to see any final words or thoughts about the story, especially ones that might help me make the next one even better. Thanks a lot for reading guys, it's only because of you that this story took off and developed into something much better than I ever thought I could write, so thank you all!
I'm really, really ashamed of this, but i forgot to give credit to Mugen Kagemaru who originally gave me the idea of Pain and Love speaking out through Konata, in case people didn't catch it, the bolded writing earlier in the chapter are the voices of Pain and Love from earlier in the story.
