Pink Camellias
19 – Happier Than Usual
SethSolare

- - -

In the early morning, the light of day shone on the thin coverings of Kitsune's doors. She shifted under the covers before opening her eyes to the slight mess that was her room. The dim light from outside shone on the laundry she hadn't done and on the clothes next to her futon. Two pink camis laid on the floor next shorts and underwear. Realizing that the night before wasn't a dream, she smiled.

Pulling the blanket closer to her body, she felt for Motoko's arm around her bare skin. She gently held on to the other woman's hand and took a deep breath. After a second one, she slowly pried Motoko's hand off her body as she groped for her clothes. She pulled at the covers trying to keep herself covered. However, as she did, it tugged on Motoko who had been sleeping on the blankets the whole night.

Motoko groaned softly in a complaining way. Kitsune shook her head as she grabbed her cami and the rest of her clothes. Awkwardly, she put on her clothes from under the covers. "What am I worried about? I mean, it's not like we haven't taken a bath together, seen each other naked," she thought, rolling her eyes. But, part of her felt too modest after last night. She shrugged, as she threw the blanket back on top of Motoko when she finished dressing. She, then, kissed her girlfriend on the forehead before leaving her room.

As she stepped out of her room, she met with another woman, Naru. She had already been dressed out of Keitaro's room in a nice, formal skirt and blouse. "You look nice. Special presentation at class today or something?" Kitsune asked.

Naru looked over at Kitsune slightly puzzled, "You forgot? I mean, I can understand considering that we could hear you. Well, maybe her. Either way, you guys thought you were quiet? No."

Kitsune blushed and scoffed as she leaned on the railing of the house. "So what? And what did I forget?" she asked, trying to avoid talking about the night before.

"You seriously forgot?" Naru asked with slight disbelief.

Kitsune returned the look, puzzled.

"Well, it's just as well. Su didn't tell a lot of us about it. She's kind of embarrassed but-"

"Oh, crap, I forgot. Her graduation ceremony is today!" Kitsune exclaimed, her jaw dropping. "I've got to get dressed. And I haven't worn anything nice in forever."

"Well, I can see that," Naru giggled, pointing out Kitsune's very sheer clothing.

"Shut up, Naru," Kitsune's eyes narrowed.

Her expression softening, "So you guys are okay now? Like, for real?"

"I hope so. I mean, we just kind of went at it last night. I guess I sorta figure we're okay. But, I want to be sure. Maybe I might ask her," Kitsune responded in a soft tone.

Naru smiled, "You guys look great together. She's cute. You're cute. It's a whole bundle of cuteness."

"Really?" Kitsune asked, trying to hold back her smile.

Naru turned to Kitsune, looking into her eyes, "Really. This happiness thing looks good on you."

Kitsune smiled as she turned back to her room. She reentered her cluttered room to find a fully dressed Motoko. "I heard you and Naru talking," she said.

"Yeah," Kitsune said, slightly uncomfortable.

"We're good. Really, really, really, good," Motoko sighed. "And, well, I think I gave you an answer to your ultimatum last night." Motoko smiled coyly at Kitsune.

"Stop it," Kitsune giggled. "You're being all girly-girl. It's weird on you."

"You'll get used to it. I feel all in-love and stuff. It's making me all girly-girl-like," Motoko said.

Kitsune walked over to Motoko and kissed her lips softly. "So did you forget that Su's graduation ceremony is today?"

Motoko laughed, "She's my best friend. I wouldn't forget. And, besides, she reminded me in a text message before our date yesterday."

"Oh, so last night was a date," Kitsune said, taking hold of Motoko.

"Well, it is now. Or, was a date? I don't know. It sounds funny either way."

"I need to look all nice for the event. You gonna go change, too?" Kitsune said as she walked to her closet.

Motoko's eyes narrowed, "No, I totally plan on wearing what I slept in to this."

Kitsune giggled, "You didn't sleep in that."

Motoko nodded with laugh and walked toward the door. "I'm wearing something black and white. Kinda plain. Since we're together, we might want to, you know, match." She coughed sarcastically at Kitsune.

"I'm not gonna be one of those couples that wear matching outfits." Kitsune continued to look through her clothes.

Motoko shrugged as she opened the door and stepped outside. "Well, I'll see you in a bit. And uh," she stopped. She walked back over to Kitsune and kissed her softly again, "And I love you."

"Get dressed. We don't want to be late," Kitsune said, making a pouting face. "And I love you, too."

Motoko started once again for the door and headed past a grinning Naru to her room.

- -

"Hey, everyone! I'm so happy you decided to come out," Su yelled from the school entrance. She waved her diploma in front of everyone; her face as happy as ever.

"You look older now, Su," Shinobu said with a smile.

"I feel older. It's kinda neat," she replied. "But what's more awesome is that you two look awesome together," she said, turning towards Motoko and Kitsune.

The two girls smiled, first at each other then at Su. Motoko, letting go of Kitsune's hand, moved forward to Su. "I'm really proud of you. And you got into Tokyo U the first try. And you're just amazing, you know that?" Motoko began to tear up as she hugged Su.

"You know," Su said, straining, "you have an awfully tight grip."

Motoko stepped back, "It's just wonderful seeing you so accomplished."

"Yes, and now you are one of us," Naru said from behind her.

Su giggled and looked past the gleaming girls, "And Keitaro, thank you for believing in me."

Keitaro blushed, hearing her sound so adult. "It's not a big deal. You did this all by yourself. I kinda just helped when it got too rough, which it didn't much."

"Well, if you say so. Regardless, what you did was awesome." Su then looked past him and to another, "And thank you, Tsuruko, for staying for so long. I'm sure you must be missing your home."

Tsuruko bowed to Su, "This is your special day. I wouldn't miss seeing you here, someone so like Motoko's other sister."

"Are you leaving today, Tsuruko?" Su asked.

"I'm afraid so. Tonight, in fact," she said.

Su looked at the other girls and Keitaro, "Then it's time we get home and partied!"

- -

When they arrived, they found Haruka, Mutsumi, and Yumihiko waiting inside the house. Behind them, the foyer was decorated with balloons and a banner. The words read plainly, "Congratulations!" She smiled happily at the two women and gave them hugs as the rest piled in past them and into the kitchen. Then, she turned to Yumihiko.

"Now, why did you come here?" she asked as everyone had already headed off to the dining room.

"Well, Keitaro told me about it last night before I left," he said. "I kinda wanted to stop by and give my regards. And, of course, my regards to Motoko's sister."

"Well, you're more than welcome to stay. I want you here and I'm sure Shinobu does, too."

He smiled, "I, uh, wanted to thank you for setting me up with her."

She smiled back, "I think she'd happier than you are."

"What're you doing out here with him?" Shinobu asked smiling. "Keeping him from me?"

"He wanted to be all smooth by getting in good with your friends," Su replied with a giggle.

Yumihiko took Shinobu's hands, "Is it working?"

"No. It's totally contrived. You don't get points and I'm a difficult girl to please," she said, folding her arms.

"If I can give you advice, Shinobu likes it when guys do randomly nice things. Even when they don't ask. In fact, she really likes it when they take charge and do awesomely sweet things, like stay for her friend's graduation lunch," Su nodded her head.

"Yeah, I'm into that stuff. You want to be that guy?" Shinobu laughed.

Yumihiko shrugged and walked past the girls and into the dining room. The remaining two girls giggled as they followed behind him. As he entered the dining room, Su pulled Shinobu aside before they could be seen by the others.

"You didn't come to my room last night and tell me how it all went, Shinobu," Su said.

"Well, that's because I could talk. It was that amazing," Shinobu replied.

"So, what now? Did he ask you out on another date?"

Shinobu nodded. "It's kind of neat, really. I mean, he's nice. He's cute. He even opens doors. He buys me stuff. And I couldn't stop staring at him."

"Buys you stuff? That's actually important?" Su asked skeptically.

Shinobu frowned, "Have you met my ex-boyfriend? Because last time I checked, he never did anything nice."

"True," Su shrugged. "So did he say what you're doing on the next date?"

Shinobu shrugged back, "He didn't say anything about it. Maybe it'll be a surprise. I don't know. I'm sure it'll be nice, though."

"Like, how nice? Like just dinner and a movie? Or just dinner? Just movie? Dinner and a movie at his place? What?" Su asked excitedly.

"I don't know! But, I'm all excited. I hope it's like, dinner, movie, and kisses and stuff at his place. Who knows? Besides, if anything at all, it'll be another opportunity to stare at him." The two girls giggled in the hallway.

After composing themselves, they walked into the dining room where everyone was already waiting. The food was prepared by Keitaro and Mutsumi's hands. They smiled proudly before their work and at the graduated young woman who sat down next to Motoko. As they sat, the food was served to everyone. And Su, of course, got the first and hugest portions.

"So? How does it feel?" Mutsumi asked. "Do you feel older now?"

Su nodded. "Though, I'm going to have to start school soon. It's going to be kind of crazy. I mean, it's funny how when you grow up you're privileged with more responsibility," Su shrugged. "Kind of makes me want to stay young. But, you know, responsibility isn't so bad."

"That's very adult of you, Su," Motoko said.

Su smiled through her chewing.

- -

By the evening, everyone who didn't live at the Hinata house, Mutsumi, Haruka, and Yumihiko, decided to leave. It wasn't entirely late, but there was no more food for dinner, and, at least Yumihiko, felt like he didn't want to impose. So, he said his goodbyes before leaving. As he left the house, Shinobu followed him outside to the top of the steps leading down the hill.

"Did you have a good time tonight?" She asked.

"I love hanging out here. Keitaro seems like a really cool guy to hang out with. And, well, what guy doesn't want to hang out with a bunch of girls?" he laughed.

Shinobu slapped him on the arm, "Hey, now. I live with them." She smiled up at him, "So, about the second date. When do you want to do that?"

"Tomorrow," he said confidently.

"Tomorrow? Did you plan on letting me know a little earlier?"

"Just dress up in whatever you like. Doesn't matter, really. I like you in whatever you're wearing," Yumihiko responded.

"Is that why you think I want to know if you planned ahead? So I can plan on what to wear?" Shinobu frowned playfully. "Well, fine. I'll wear what I want. So, if I show up in a clown suit, you won't care?"

"Nope. But, you might."

Shinobu giggled, "Okay, fine. Something reasonable. See? That was clear enough."

"In the morning, then. I'll pick you up," he said.

"Morning? But, what? Morning?" Shinobu asked.

"Yeah. I hear you're a morning girl anyway."

Shinobu rolled her eyes, "Fine. It better be amazing."

"Well, from what I hear, amazing is you staring at me," he laughed as he turned to walk down the steps.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" she asked, chasing after him. She stopped him on the steps where he stood 2 steps below her. She leaned in to kiss him softly, quickly. When she let him go, he smiled back at her before turning back down the steps.

Running back inside, she saw Tsuruko's bags along with their owner standing by the door talking to Motoko. The other girls surrounded the pair as Shinobu walked back inside. "You're leaving already?" Shinobu asked.

"I'm afraid so. My husband called yesterday and said he was very lonely and bored without me there. I guess I have to save him," Tsuruko smiled.

"Anyway, we'll be back," Motoko said, as Kitsune grabbed a piece of luggage. "Taking her to the train station, and stuff. Last hugs anyone?"

Everyone in the room gave their regards and a hug to Tsuruko. And after saying their goodbyes, the three women – Tsuruko, Motoko, and Kitsune – left the house.

The trio walked in silence towards the station. Kitsune lagged behind the sisters by a few footsteps as the other two walked side-by-side. It wasn't a long walk to the station. And, as Tsuruko noticed, she had about 10 minutes before she had to board the train. Her luggage was taken away into her little room as she waited outside with her sister and Kitsune.

Turning toward Kitsune, "Do you mind if we talk? I'd like to just talk to Motoko alone."

Kitsune nodded and walked off into the main station.

Motoko looked at her sister nervously. But, a soft hug took that away and Tsuruko stared down her little sister. "You look all grown up, now."

Motoko smiled weakly.

"Hey, that was an actual compliment."

"Oh, I know. It's just that part of me thinks you're not okay with Kitsune," Motoko said with a serious face.

"So that's why you've been avoiding me for the past few days?" Tsuruko asked, still smiling.

"I didn't mean anything by it," Motoko fretted. "I just – I needed to work things out, you know, by myself."

"I don't care about that, Motoko. What I care about is that you're happy. I always want you to be happy, Motoko. That's all that matters to me."

Motoko sniffed a little, "So you're alright with Kitsune?"

"She's the one that convinced me to give you a chance at being in a lesbian relationship and in our family," Tsuruko assured Motoko. "She's a really great girl."

"Thanks," Motoko blushed. "I'm pretty happy, now."

"Stay that way," Tsuruko nodded. She hugged Motoko as she saw Kitsune watching them. Beckoning Kitsune over, she released Motoko. She took a bow before Kitsune, "Please watch over my sister. Make her happier than anyone ever could."

Kitsune blushed along with Motoko. "Uh, I-I-I will. I want to. Motoko's very special."

"I know that. And you make her that way," Tsuruko said, hugging Kitsune goodbye.

"Stop that! You're making me all weepy and embarrassed, Tsuruko," Motoko yelled.

"Okay, okay. I'll get going. Call me from time to time, okay?" Tsuruko said. She turned away from the girls and stopped at the entrance of the train. "And let me know if you need anything."

"We will," the two girls said in unison. And Tsuruko disappeared into the train.

Motoko let a small tear drip down her cheek. Kitsune, seeing her like this, gave Motoko a small kiss before wrapping her arm around her and leading her home. As they turned to walk away, the train started to drift away from them. Motoko clung onto Kitsune likewise as they left the station and returned home.

- - -

Not a lot really happens in this chapter. I added an appearance by Tsuruko and Mutsumi because I just simply didn't use their characters that much. I kind of feel bad about that. But, really, I had no place for them.

Just a nice transition chapter. And, yes, I have an all new conflict for the Hinata girls and boy. Well, all the characters since. I've planned a bit of it, but I'm going to try and finish the planning stages. This means that next chapter might take a while.

Regardless, it'll be out soon enough. See you all soon, then.

SS