Getting back into the habit of updating. :3 Hope you guys'll stick around a bit longer, cause this one's almost finished.
A/N: The opening paragraph is what some might consider risqué. There's nothing expressly indecent going on, just some thoughts on the side of one of the characters. So, don't get all up in my case about that please. XD
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 13, "One For The Money, Pt. 1".
'She held her close, tight, as they kissed, longing for what was coming. She stroked the other girl's hair, lightly sliding her hands over the small girl's back, her face, her sides, before unbuttoning the shirt in her way. Slowly, she pushed the girl onto her back, placing delicate kisses on her cheek, jaw, collarbone, progressing lower. Her partner gasped at the contact, a go-ahead for her to continue. She inched down, bit by bit, until she reached the end. At this, she-"
Kagura's head jerked up in a split second, and she immediately surveyed her surroundings. She made sure that she was in her room, that she was in bed, that no one else was with her, that she had just been dreaming. Images came flooding back into her mind, and a deep feeling of guilt rose in her as she blushed and wiped a cold sweat from her face.
Taking stock of the situation, she checked the clock. It read 5:17 A.M., meaning roughly two hours before school began. Leaving her room, she walked down the hallway, intent on taking a shower. As she drew the water, the only thing on her mind was that dream, and the other person in it; predictably, her girlfriend.
'That was...that...I can't believe I even dreamed that! I mean, that's wrong, isn't it? We're still teens. And that just came out of nowhere this time...' she alluded to the past. She'd been having dreams, at first starting out with innocent things, but then advancing into more active territory. The thought made her extremely embarrassed, both because that was still a long way off, and because she longed for it to be real; not just some dream that kept reminding her.
She washed off quickly, and exited the shower. As she readied for school, a thought occurred to her. However, she immediately shot it down, her cheeks coloring again. "There's no way she'd...ugh, I need to get my mind off of this. It's only gonna lead to trouble." With that, she put on her shoes, and left the house, bidding farewell to her mom. She jogged the usual distance to Tomo's home, her eyes narrowing as she spied the large grin plastered on the other girl's face.
"Heya, Kagura! Took you long enough, I was beginning to think you might be slouching on your exercise." Came the informal greeting, as Tomo stepped forward to join her.
"At least I get exercise. Which one of us can't even come close to beating Sakaki?" Kagura retorted, shifting her eyes at the unfazed girl.
"Touché, Kagura, I'll give you that. Then again, I'm surprised you're faster, since you've got a lot more weighing you down than I do." Tomo plied once again, her eyes making a beeline for a familiar area. Processing the insinuation, Kagura blushed and batted her away as they began their walk toward school. It was these moments that Tomo enjoyed, where there was nothing unexpected or compromising coming up; just the moments where they could be themselves, as they always had been in the past.
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Entering the upstairs floor, they spied Osaka glancing out the window. She gave a small wave as they approached her. "So, the Athletic Festival's comin' up. You two gonna try and beat Miss Sakaki again? I hope I do good in the obstacle course this year. Wonder what kinda candy they'll have...?" The girl drawled, trailing off into her own world.
"That does bring up a spectacular point. I'm gonna put Sakaki and you in your places this year!" Tomo declared, leveling a finger at an indignant Kagura.
"As if! You'll collapse halfway through one lap, like you always do!" Kagura shot back.
"Oh ho? Make that three-fourths of the way, my dear Kagura." Tomo responded, as if it were something to be proud of. Kagura simply deadpanned and dragged both of the girls to class. Already present were Sakaki, Chiyo, Yomi, and, to the Bonkuras' surprise, both Yukari and Nyamo.
"Hey, coach! What's up? You kinda tend to stay away from this place." Kagura chuckled. Before Nyamo could respond, Yukari thrust her out of the way.
"We're making a wager! If we win the Sports Festival, she's gonna-" Yukari ranted before being silenced by the more stable teacher.
"I never agreed to a wager on anything! Stop putting words in my mouth! Anyway, the festival's about having fun, not some half-baked scheme to get a little extra cash. If you'll excuse me, I've got a class to tend." Minamo excused herself from the room, as Yukari mumbled an undoubtedly foul series of sentences at her.
"Bah. What's competition without a little something on the line? I swear, she needs to loosen up more than anyone I've met in my life." Yukari continued as she took a seat at her desk.
"I agree one-hundred percent, Miss Yukari! Maybe we ought to squeeze it out of her!" Tomo chanted, only to have her cheeks grabbed by Kagura. Mimicking the move, a face-grab fight ensued between the two as the rest of the class looked on in mild amusement.
"Go, go! Make her face look like an alien." Osaka cheered, to the great bewilderment of her friends.
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Yukari proceeded to voice her demands on behalf of her bet that her class overwhelmingly win the festival. Tomo, much to the others' chagrin, agreed, nominating herself, Sakaki, Kagura and Yomi to win single-handedly.
"Honestly, the two of you need to cool it. It's just a few games. You make it sound like someone's life is at stake. Besides that, making bets on these things are a surefire way to lose more than you gain." Yomi chided, bringing upon her head the wrath of Yukari.
"Look, I need money, so my life IS on the line! And I expect you all to make your best effort to bring home the gold! That includes you, Chiyo-chan. No slacking this year!" Yukari howled at the child, causing her to cower. Sakaki attempted to shield Chiyo from their teacher's onslaught, while Yomi's mind focused on the festival.
'Given, it's nothing to get worked up over. But, just maybe, I can use this to my advantage...and stop Tomo from cracking her weight jokes, all in one fell swoop.' A grin slid across her face as she developed a new strategy to impress her crush. It was common knowledge that she didn't have Sakaki's speed, or Kagura's endurance, but if she put in a little extra effort and prepped herself, she might be able to catch the spotlight for a short while, or, more accurately, winning Tomo's admiration. Thus, she set upon herself the task of becoming a steadier athlete, although time was scarce.
Kagura, on the other hand, was certain that she'd have no problem leaving the other two girls in the dust. "I've been swimming and practicing all year, so there's no possible way I can lose. You're gonna get ousted this year, Sakaki!" Kagura announced, turning to the large girl. Sakaki stared blankly at her momentarily before sweating; having hoped the other girl had forgotten their 'rivalry'.
"Admit it. You're totally thinking you can destroy me out there, but I've had enough of that. I'm putting my foot down now!" Kagura continued, growing more enthusiastic as she went on.
"N-no, I...I never thought..." Sakaki stammered her words, trying to avoid the confrontation she knew was coming. Luckily, Tomo grabbed the swimmer from behind, bear hugging her and sparing Sakaki from some kind of dramatic challenge.
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Lunch came, and the cafeteria was filled with talk about the festival, what events would take place, and who was poised to do well; namely the girls of Class 3.
"So how do ya think you'll do, Miss Kagura?" Osaka asked as she attempted separating her chopsticks.
"Ah, I'll do fine. All I gotta worry about is outrunning Sakaki and Yomi." She replied, eyeing the other two girls.
"HEY! What about me? I'm just as fast as either of them, probably both of them put together! I'll-" Tomo ranted, before Kagura shoved a small piece of egg roll in the wildcat's mouth. Glaring at Kagura, Tomo took the hint and ate the food.
"We already had that discussion, remember? Or can't your knucklehead brain keep that much in memory?" she continued, nearly making Tomo choke. Before the girl could fire back, though, Yomi intervened.
"So, Kagura, you're planning on taking Sakaki and me. What do you say to a wager on the winner?" she baited, hoping the other girl would take. Kagura eyed her suspiciously.
"Didn't Miss Yomi just say that making bets was bad?" Chiyo whispered to Osaka.
"Maybe she's tryin' to psyche Miss Kagura out. Ya know, like a psychologist? Maybe Yomi's gonna become a famous psychologist, like that Fraud fella." Osaka answered, and Chiyo, not fully understanding, agreed with her out of simplicity. "I think you mean Freud, don't you?" Chiyo answered scratching her head.
"What kind of bet...?" Kagura inquired, still weary of the situation.
"The loser gives the winner enough money to cover a trip for two anywhere in the city." Yomi said nonchalantly, but Tomo, Kagura and, to some extent, Sakaki, could see where this was heading.
"Oh really? You're on! And the loser can't say a thing in protest about who the winner takes, or where." Kagura fell for Yomi's trap, certain of her chances at winning. They shook on the deal, with Tomo sweatdropping at the foolishness of the situation.
'A girl after my own heart, I have to admit. Heh, she's starting to act like me. Wonder if that's good?' Tomo thought as she watched Yomi smirk. A short while later, a loud bell rang, signifying the end of the lunch period. As the students exited, Yomi spied Tomo and Kagura walking together through the crowd.
However, rather than contempt, she felt an air of pride about her as she played her strategy through her head. 'I shouldn't feel torn up about it, because soon, there'll be no need to feel bad. Tomo will pick me in the end, I'll make certain of it.'
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Walking home from school, Tomo caught up alongside Kagura and looked at her for several moments before she spoke up. "So, why did you accept her bet?" she asked, and Kagura glanced at her in confusion.
"What do you mean? Because there's no way I can lose. She basically just agreed to pay for me taking you out on a date this weekend!" She chuckled, placing an arm around Tomo's shoulders.
"But, come on. You've got to give her a little more credit than that. She wouldn't make any bet that risky unless she was pretty sure she would win it." Tomo insisted, but stopped as Kagura's finger closing her lips.
"Let's not worry about it yet. Right now's just for us, okay?" she stated, and it was enough for Tomo.
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End of Chapter 13.
I'll have Part 2 up in no time, ok? See ya then! R+R please. :3