Yumie continued to smirk as she sat up, letting the shirt hang loose and open.
"I was actually hoping it might come to this…"
"Yumie…what do you think you're doing!"
Yumie simply rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, shaking her head from side to side.
"Yumie! Why would you…howcould you do this to her?"
"Simple. It's what she wants."
"What she…Yumiko doesn't like me like that! We're-"
"Only friends, yes, I know. That's the problem. You see, little Yumiko here doesn't have the courage to admit that-"
Yumie broke off, her entire body tensing up, her eyes losing focus, growing distant. Seras had seen that look before, when one personality or the other tried to forcibly gain control. Seras waited until the girl shivered and relaxed, the twisted smirk reappearing.
"Not this time, Yumiko…you could have tasted her though me, but noooooo…"
Yumie crawled forward on the bed towards Seras, who grabbed her shoulders and held her at arm's length.
"Sorry Seras, but I've never had a taste for drama. I'm more…direct…in my approach. So here it is. The two of you were trapped together, and Yumiko was immensely happy to find someone with problems like hers, a friend, someone she could talk to. Innocent enough, right? Of course, when you nearly bit her, there was a bit of angst for a minute, but our dear, forgiving Yumiko cleared that right up, didn't she?"
"What does that have to do with anything? So we're friends! That doesn't mean we've got some kind of…feelings for each other. I've never thought about her like that!"
"You're sure?"
"Yes!"
"Are you really, vampire? Desire is what makes your world go 'round. Desire for blood, for power and gratification…when you were trapped with her, pressed up against her, warm for the first time in so long…"
"I…"
Seras looked away, and Yumie laughed.
"And when she approached you, after the fight? Your blood was rushing in your veins, but you didn't up and tear her throat out, oh no…"
"That wasn't…I wasn't myself."
"Fair enough. You are a vampire, after all. But Yumiko is human, and one who hasn't felt close to anyone, felt wanted by anyone in a very long time. She's been a weapon, a tool for so long…and then she found you. And then, everything she knew, practically her entire life…"
Yumie grabbed the rosary that had fallen forgotten on the bed, lifting it into view a moment before tossing it away.
"Gone. Well, everything except you. Vampire or not, her one true friend stood with her even as the church, the loving church that had pulled her from her misery, abandoned her. Her friend, who even if she didn't consciously desire her, was still never far from her side, from lending her support and confidence, or even from a little hug or three…"
Seras reeled as the implications set in, and as her arms relaxed, Yumie moved closer, ever so slowly.
"And then…one night…Yumiko had a dream. Not a nightmare from youth past, or a memory of atrocities seen through my eyes. Did you know? I can see what she dreams sometimes. Do you want to know what she did once she got her arms around you?"
Seras was pulled back to her senses as Yumie's arms went around her, her face already moving closer.
"This."
She kissed her, heavily, passionately. It took only the slightest effort for Seras to brush the arms aside and grab the girl's shoulders, ready to push her away. But Seras stopped as she felt Yumie tense once more, the hands grasping her arms relaxing. For just a moment, the girl against her renewed the kiss, the slightest bit of pressure on her lips before falling away, soft eyes opened wide.
"Yumiko?"
Her only answer was to grab her shirt and pull it shut, covering herself as she looked away and let her head drop.
"Yumiko?"
Seras tried to reach out, but Yumiko jerked away and buried her face in her pillow, her whole body curling up tightly.
"Please…just…say something, Yumiko."
"Just…go, please…I can't…"
Seras stood, and after looking back, turned to the door. She didn't get half a step before turning around and sitting back down on the bed next to Yumiko. Seras felt Yumiko startle as she leaned down a rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Seras…please…"
"Yumiko…You don't really think…I'd leave things like this? Just run off?"
Slowly, a single eye think with tears turned to focus on her, and was met with a warm smile.
"S…SERAS!"
Yumiko flipped over, throwing her arms tight around Seras, pulling her down, hiding her face under Seras' chin.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have…It's just wrong! I couldn't help myself! You've always…I just wanted…I don't know why…I just…I just…"
"Shhh…"
Seras stroked the girl, whispered to her, tried to comfort Yumiko, who was now sobbing loudly.
"It's all right…"
"How…how can it be…"
"It just is. You're my friend, remember?"
"You don't…hate me?"
"Why would I hate you?"
"Because…I'm…and you're…"
"A girl?"
A tiny shift that was a nod answered her.
"Well…it is a surprise, I'll admit. But you can dream whatever you want, Yumiko. I don't mind. And I don't hate you for it."
"Thank you, Seras."
After a minute, Yumiko slowly pulled back, not crying anymore, though her face was still flushed. She opened her mouth to speak, and another yawn came out. Seras chuckled and laid the girl back down, standing and stretching.
"Ahh…"
"Yes?"
Seras looked back to see Yumiko brushing even brighter, one hand tangled in the spot Seras had just vacated.
"It's nothing, nothing."
Seras noticed, with a blush of her own, that Yumiko had moved back far enough to leave plenty of room for a second person on the bed.
"You…want me to stay here tonight?"
"If…if…it's not too much to ask…"
"Sure, why not?"
Seras flicked the lights off and began to undress, tossing her uniform over a chair and climbing into bed opposite Yumiko. She could literally hear Yumiko's heart pounding in her chest as she settled in.
"Good night, Yumiko."
"G-good night, Seras."
Seras closed her eyes, still able to 'see' Yumiko in her mind's eye. Saw her breathing and heartbeat finally began to slow, the tears drying and face softening. And a hand that inched towards her before being quickly pulled back, Yumiko's face brightening once again.