Yuzu was standing in front of the kitchen spacing out. Mei knew that meant she was concerned about something. She slipped behind her, hugged her and started trailing her nape with kisses; Yuzu always said what was on her mind on the third or fourth kiss. I took her seven kisses this time around.

"There is one last thing I need to do before the wedding," said Yuzu finally.

"Anything..." Mei has become an expert in comforting Yuzu, "What do you need me to do, sweetheart?"

"No. It's something I need to do alone."

Mei couldn't believe what she was hearing. She couldn't trace when she started referring to herself as "we," but she knew they were there. They did everything together from brushing their teeth to picking up outfits. Even Harumi has learned that she has to ask Mei's permission before taking Yuzu out. Yet, somehow Yuzu was asking her to do something alone, one month away from their wedding.

"Alright," she kissed Yuzu's temple, "May I ask what it is?"

"You remember, that night... I came back crying?"

"How could I forget? What about it?" She kissed Yuzu near the edge of her eye.

"Stop it! This is serious!" protested Yuzu, fully knowing that Mei showers her with kisses when she feels nervous. She turned around, grabbed Mei's hand, and put her forehead to hers. "Promise, you won't get mad? I'll even wear that black underwear that you like to bed tonight..."

"I'll take you up on that offer, but you'll have to start coming up with new ideas to bribe me..."

"You never get tired of it."

"Then why do you hold out on me?"

"Well..."

Remembering that she missed two deadlines before because of similar conversations, Mei decided to steer back the conversation to the subject at hand. "Baby, you're stalling. I'll try not to get mad, I promise."

"Yes, yes. I decided to see Kana and Manami and tell them about us. If it goes well, I wanna invite them to the wedding if that's okay with you."

"Why?"

"Ouch! You're hurting me!" Yuzu yanked her hand instinctively!

Mei's grip tightened without her realizing it.

"Sorry," Mei, realized that she was near boiling point already at the mere mention of those names. "It's just... You decided? We decide"

"Mei..." Yuzu tried to get ahold of Mei's hands. Mei refused to give in. "They're my friends! I-..."

"Your friends? When was the last time you spoke to them?"

"Actually... I ran into them three months ago. We've been talking... since then."

"Why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?"

"Because of this! I knew you'd be mad! Harumin gave me a papercut, and you gave her the cold shoulder for weeks!"

"Well excuse me for being protective of the person I love."

"I love that about you. But I'm going to be okay... I need to do this."

"Then I'll go with you."

Yuzu took a step forward, grabbed Mei's arm, and pulled her into an embrace. "I love you, so, so much, but out of the question."

"I forbid you from meeting them, then."

Taken aback, Yuzu broke the hug. "Forbid me?"

"You heard me."

"Forbid me?"

"Repeating the question won't make me change my answer."

Yuzu grabbed her phone and dialed, and with her sweetest voice. "Hello, Manami. Listen about that get-together; I'm in! Does noon work for you? What about Kana? Perfect! Don't worry about it. He said it's okay... Love you too. Thanks! Bye!"

Mei was petrified. "What are you doing?"

"Goodnight!" Yuzu threw her apron and went into their room

When Mei joined her, she was sobbing. There she was blaming those girls for making Yuzu cry, and she did just that. She snuggled up to her and nuzzled her neck. The four kisses trick doesn't work when Yuzu is upset.

"We'll talk about this in the morning, alright?" Mei ventured.

"I thought you, of all people, would understand how important this is to me... Can you sleep somewhere else tonight? Please..."

"Yuzu... Please... You know I can't sleep if you're not next to me..."

"Good. You'll have time to think."

Mei couldn't believe it. Yuzu never kicked her out...

Mei spent the night on the couch, even though their parents moved out and left them the apartment. She couldn't sleep until the morning. Yuzu woke her up with a kiss on the forehead. She hurriedly hugged her and pulled her down for a deep kiss.

"I missed you! I love you..." Mei tried to reassure her

"I thought you'd slip in once I slept..." laughed Yuzu "I missed you too."

"I thought about doing it..."

"The girls are coming at ten. Shiraho, Mitsuko, and Maruta will be here at eleven... I don't think you checked your phone."

There was a long Line* group conversation. 106 unread messages from the "wedding planning committee".

"Listen, I was out of line yesterday... Please, please, my love" Mei kissed Yuzu's hand " Let me go with you."

"You still don't want to understand, do you?" Yuzu stroke Mei's cheek. "I don't wanna fight. I forgive you for yesterday... I overreacted when you said forbid."

"It's within my rights, isn't it? If it was the other way around and-..."

"What?"

Mei sensing she got a rise out of her, squeezed Yuzu's hand. "You said you don't wanna fight..." She cupped her cheek and kissed her. "It's within your right to... If you want to forbid me from doing something, I won't think twice, and I'll obey you."

"Oh, really?" said Yuzu with a voice full of sarcasm.

"Yes."

"Tell you what? If you prove to me that's true today, I'll never do anything you forbid me from doing."

"Deal."

"I forbid you from following me today."

Hook, line, and sinker. Yuzu's has gotten very good at predicting Mei's actions. Mei got frustrated and turned the other way!

"Fine!"

"I love you. We'll be at the Cafe across from the mall. If they upset me, I'll go shopping. I'll make it up to you, I promise..."

"You think this is a joke?"

"You're the one treating like I'm playing hooky... I'm trying to come out to two of my best friends."

"Your best friend is Harumi!"

"Now, she's my best friend. A few months ago, you believed she had feelings for me..."

"You say you want me to share my feelings, and when I do-..."

"Pardon the intrusion" Harumi voice came from the hallway.

Yuzu and Mei were so absorbed in their shared world. They didn't notice Matsuri at the doorframe of the living room.

Himeko and Harumi have been granted keys since, as maids of honor, they needed to come to the apartment often. Matsuri had a key through unknown means,

"Looks like we interrupted something," said Matsuri mockingly.

"We can come back later if you want," said Himeko, uncomfortable.

"No, no stay!"Insisted Yuzu, "I have to leave early to run an errand, but Mei will be here. She was preoccupied yesterday, but I'm sure you can get her up to speed."

With those words, Yuzu kissed each of the girls on the cheek, Yuzu placed snacks and drinks on the table. She gave Mei her morning coffee, kissed her on the forehead and went to the bathroom to prepare herself.

"Man... You're one lucky bitch! Even when she's mad at you, she pampers you!" said Matsuri, "Ouch! What? It's the truth!"

Harumi flicked Matsuri's forehead and gave Mei a peculiar look.

Mei and Harmumi's relationship has mellowed over the years. A week after Mei got her phone, she asked Harumi for her contact, so that they could plan a birthday party for Yuzu. They don't have anything to talk about besides Yuzu, but Yuzu is a subject both of them can't shut up about...

"I heard my name..."

"Mei-mei... Not again..." said Himeko. Everybody has caught onto Mei's jealousy... Even Himeko reprimanded her, saying that Yuzu only has eyes for her no matter what.

"Don't worry, it's you not this time." sighed Mei, sipping her coffee, " If anything I was making the case of you being her best friend."

"Really?" Harumi found that hard to believe, "and why am I in your good books?"

"She said another two girls were her best friends."

Mei noticed Harumi's distraught expression. "Exactly!"

"What?" Harumi tried to put on a poker face, "I didn't say anything!"

"Give it up," said Matsuri, "Mei can smell jealousy from miles." She ruffled Mei's hair. "Like a perfect little bitch..."

"And you should know..." retorted Mei, slapping Matsuri's hand away.

"I honestly don't know what you three see in Yuzu," said Himeko remembering the time where Yuzu invited her to the SPA because she got tired of the three of them "fighting" over her affection.

Yuzu hugged Himeko from behind. "The same thing you see in Mei... You know, she scolded me for calling her Mei-mei?" She let go of Himeko and waved "Bye everyone. Mei stayed up all night preparing for this... She's very excited. So excited that she's gonna stay in until I return."

The front door clicked shut, everybody turned to Mei.

"You really fucked up this time, huh?" Matsuri spoke first.

"Mei-mei, what did you do?"

"More importantly, who are these best friends she'd value so much that'd she'd get passive-aggressive? Yuzu doesn't do passive-aggressive! Yuzu is the opposite of passive-aggressive."

Mei saw an ally in Harumi. "I know! Their names are Kana and Manami... Do you know them?"

Harumi shook her head slightly.

"I know them," Matsuri sat down at the table and kept quiet.

The other three expected a follow-up...

"And?" Himeko was the one who urged her, recalling that the other two have an irrational apprehension for Matsuri.

"I feel so motivated to plan the wedding today," Mused Matsuri. "You know. Instead of a wedding dress, why don't we give Yuzu a tux? She wears the pants after what we've seen today."

Mei has become an expert in Matsuri's mind games. "Anyway. I don't care who they are, they made Yuzu cry once, and I can't rest knowing they might hurt her again."

"You made her cry" Matsur's tone turned sour. "I don't think anyone made her cry more that you did. Should we protect her from you?"

Mei kept the fact that she made her cry the night before to herself.

"Moving on," interjected Himeko, "Why don't you want her to meet them?"

"She's planning to tell them she's marrying a girl, and probably invite them." Mei was thinking of how to leave out the "real" reason Yuzu was mad. "I'm not against it. I just wanted to go with her. To be there for her."

Himeko sighed... "More seats! Are they bringing guests?"

"Not if can help it!" said Harumi, "These guys sound like bad news, we should go after her. If Yuzu returns upset, there will be no wedding."

Mei was glad Harumi was by her side, but she kept herself from slapping her for entertaining the idea of "no wedding."

"I say we let her do her thing," said Matsuri. "No, seriously. Yuzu is tougher than you all think. If she wants to do this alone, let her."

"As much as it annoys me to say it," said Himeko, "she has a point. I'll meet you two halfway, you obviously won't be of any help if you stay, so go after her. We'll wait here for the others."

But there was a problem...

"I can't go," said Mei in a small voice.

They all looked at her, dumbfounded.

"I bet it's something stupid again," said Harumi who has dealt with a lot of can't do this, can't do that from both Yuzu and Mei, "but I'm gonna ask. Why?"

Mei buried her face in the pillow. "Yuzu's forbidden me from going after her"

They took a few seconds to process what she said

"Wow," was all Harumi could say.

Himeko didn't say anything, but she couldn't help but think the girl who's aiming to be the first female chairman of Aihara Academy is being kept on a leash by a girl, who everyone, including Himeko herself, thought was a goofball of sweetness.

Matsuri laughed so much that she fell backward. "Forget a tuxedo, let's get Yuzu a strap-on!"

This earned her a kick from Harumi.

"Mei-mei... Why are you obeying her." Managed Himeko. "I'm sorry, I have no doubt Yuzu cares deeply about you, a person who cares about another shouldn't be forbidding her partner from doing what she wants. Asking them not to do something is fine, but forbidding them is going too far..."

She wondered what Himeko would say if she knew the truth...

"Please, don't ask me to say more, but could you go with Harumi, Himeko? Please..."

Himeko and Harumi left in a state of trance.

Ten minutes until the other arrived.

Matsuri and Mei were sitting on opposite sides of the table. She recalled when Matsuri blackmailed her.

"So, now I know who's on top in bed" Matsuri had a smug smile.

"We both enjoy being the girl more than being the guy."

"Is that what she tells you? Maybe I could join and be the guy for both of you."

"In your dreams."

"Or maybe she is bringing in two girls who are more man than you."

"We have a wedding to plan."

"Yes, that's the role of the woman. While the man takes care of the business."

Mei snapped "So what if I'm the girl in the relationship. At least I get it from her, what do you get?"

"You tried to forbid her from going, didn't you?"

Mei calmed down.

Realizing she had struck the nail on the head, she went on "Let me pay you back for that valuable lesson you taught me, when the big sister asks for something you give it to her. If you don't, she'll take it anyway. I know you don't see yourself as the little sister, but you are. Yuzu is a big sister to all of us, including Harumi, because she has a bigger heart than all of us."

The doorbell rang. Matsuri stood up to answer it.

"Consider yourself lucky you can apologize to her just by being the girl."

Mitsuko, Maruta, and Shiraho. Each one of them had a certain unique elegance, and they all cherished Yuzu a great deal. Both Mei and Yuzu were surprised when Mitsuko offered to help. Yuzu told her that Harumi thought her sister and Kayo were in a relationship... Neither of them was easy to read, but God blessed her with a friendship with Shiraho.

She asked Matsuri to bring them up to speed with wedding plans and asked Shiraho to go with her to their room.

"Why are you worried about Yuzupon?"

"How did you-..."

"When you think about Yuzupon, you have a special glow. That glow varies on the emotions you have."

She never understood half of what Shiraho said, but she had other things to worry about.

"Shiraho-senpai, is Taniguchi-senpai and Maruta-senpai in..."

"Taniguchi Mitsuko and Maruta Kayo are lovers. I suspect they are here for inspiration for their own wedding."

"Thank you. About Yuzu... I did something stupid. I have to figure out how to get in Yuzu's good books."

"You are always in Yuzupon's good books."

"Well... I think I want to be in her best books. Well, no matter. Now that you've given this information, I think I'll have an answer by observing... The same way you do."

When they returned to the living room, Matsuri had a smile on her face.

"I don't think a tuxedo would look good on Yuzu-chan. I'm sorry, Mei-chan," said Kayo

"I thought you liked tuxedos," said Mitsuko with a hint of protest that would've eluded Mei if it weren't for Shiraho's confirmation.

"Each girl is different. Don't you agree?"

"You have a point."

Mei wanted Yuzu around to tell her the news! It's not like she took a liking to the meaningless gossip, but this meant that there was a girl-girl couple they could have double dates with. Yuzu dreamed of that, and now she could make her dream come true. It also meant that they would understand them more than the others.

"Senpais, I made a mistake yesterday. I'm afraid the wedding is in jeopardy because of it. Yuzu is trying to tell two of her old friends that she's marrying a girl." She collected herself the best she could. "This is not the first time she tried to tell them about me. At that moment, one of those girls badmouthed two girls kissing on the street. Yuzu came home, a mess. They made her think she wasn't normal. This was around when we caught Yuzu having a part-time job. You may remember it, Taniguchi-senpai."

"I do," said Mitsuko.

"Yuzu was about to give me this ring." She kissed the ring on her finger. "She didn't give it to me that night. She came back with tears in her eyes. She failed her tests... She was miserable. She didn't want to talk to me about it. She nearly gave up on us... When she finally decided to tell me everything, something made her hold on... Is it luck? fate? I don't know. What I know is that those girls nearly prevented us from becoming what we are now. The same Yuzu that chased after me and brought me back nearly gave up on us... You all talk about how strong she is, but only I know how sensitive she is."

Mei's voice broke.

"And now she's out there, talking to them... What if she gives up again?"

Mei held back the tears. She had sworn she'd cry only in front of Yuzu.

Shiraho and Kayo were crying. Matsuri put on her hoodie.

Mitsuko was smiling. "Mei, I'll be blunt. I thought you didn't deserve Yuzu, but you just proved me wrong. Kayo was right."

"The problem is... Yuzu told me not to go after her..."

Kayo laughed. "It sounds familiar, don't you think Mi-chan?"

"I wish I had my bike..." sighed Mitsuko.

"A car is just as cool. Mi-chan. Plus, I get to go with you this time."

Mitsuko blushed. Kayo reached across the table and grabbed Mei's hand.

"And Mei, it wasn't fate that kept your couple from falling apart. It was you. Give yourself more credit. Yuzu had our backing, but you saved your relationship when you only had each other."

Matsuri stood up, "Where's the car?" Her voice had changed.

Mei knew that for all her meddling, Matsuri, their little sister, was the one who supported them the most.

Shiraho was the one who spotted Yuzu getting out of the restaurant. "She's crying."

Mei darted out of the car towards where Shriaho was pointing. She hugged Yuzu as tight as she could. "Are you okay? Why are you crying? Did they say anything to hurt you?"

"Wha- No! It went great! I'll tell you all about it... I was reminiscing... I couldn't help but think about our talk in the library... I love you, so, so much... Even when you get on my nerves."

"I love you too, so, so, so much!" She kissed Yuzu, "Wanna walk home?"

"What? Wanna divert me from Harumin and Himeko? I saw them, you know... And by the way, weren't you forbidden from following me... That includes following by proxy. You followed three times!"

"I guess I'm a bad girl... and bad girls need to be punished... I was thinking in a certain black outfit...Plus I have gossip for once in my life, and a great one... I'm confident I'll be forgiven and rewarded in the end."

Yuzu chuckled, "Seriously though, how are things coming along? Don't tell me you've been worrying all this time."

"Let's say Matsuri was the most productive one..."

"Oh? She usually just hangs around, trying to piss you off."

"First she said that you should get a tuxedo... But since we already agreed on getting matching dresses, she gave another suggestion that could work with a dress."

"What is it?"

"Give me your ear."

Minutes later, Yuzu was beating Matsuri with her handbag.

She walked away, beet red.

"Tattle-tale!" Shouted matsuri in Mei's direction, who thoroughly enjoyed the Yuzu's performance.

"Well, my dear little sister. First of all, Girls talk, and I'm the girl in the relationship. Second, the other girl in the relationship defended her girl's honor. Nothing out of the ordinary."

Author's note:

This chapter has been proofread by demosdenes56

Don't get me wrong, this is still a ~1k-words-long-fluffy one-shot XD.

To be honest, when I started writing, I didn't expect it to become what it ended up. I haven't planned anything. This is like improv' writing or something.

I'd appreciate it if you guys let me know what you think about it because I honestly love how I ended up using the majority of Citrus cast in a single setting without really planning anything.

The original plan was a Mitsuko x Maruta one-shot with a very different premise. Sorry, Chigoonies. One of these days, one of these days...

Thank you, monkey-nightdemon for giving me Manami and Kana's names.