Hello, again, faithful reader. I'm glad you're still here.

I've been busy the last week, doing... stuff. Yeah, that sounds good. So I apologise that this installment of this lovely story is late, but hey, at least I have something to post this week. All Happy

This story is still a mirror to Steel Flint's story. It is also still dedicated to her. (Like that would change :P) and there is still lemon moments, lesbians, and just a few innuendoes sprinkled about, so stop reading if ya find something wrong with that.

BTW the characters still belong to Naoko-sama, who is the coolest Ever. : )

The Unrequited Love: Minako's Side of the Story
Chapter Six: Morning After

Walking to school with the other girls, I start to regret being so touchy- touchy with Makoto earlier. She hasn't said anything to me since then. I wonder if I have upset her... I sure hope not, that would be so awful.. It's hard enough being stuck just watching her from afar. If she starts hating me or something, that would be so unbearable!

Even worse, she might suddenly realize that I am in fact a pervert. Then where would I be? Cast out to the cold, I bet. I need to cool down my flirting a bit, or she wouldn't even dirty her lips on me....

It doesn't help that as we walk through the school, it seems all I can see are couples with lips locked. Why do I always run into pairs of lovers when I'm in a bad mood? Seeing them makes my mood darker, cause they are showing me exactly what I long for. A good make out session.

I'm so pathetic! I can't even catch a regular old boyfriend, how am I ever going to land the love of my life?? It's impossible!

And it's so unfair, cause most of these...people who are making out so blatantly in the halls aren't even truly in love.

That girl over there who is letting that boy feel her up is secretly waiting for something better to come along.

Another boy who is whispering sweet nothings in his girlfriend's ear secretly has three other girlfriends.

Sukiko is only dating Daisuke cause he has a cool car.

Keijin is dating Yuriko, but he's still hung up on Sakura who dumped him for a more popular guy.

And Akira and Natsume are only together cause they are both horny and like to make out. Besides that? Nothing in common.

Sigh. This is so depressing... and on a different level than just the fact I'm jealous.

Isn't there any true love in high school?

I then stop, sensing it in a nearby corridor. I look and see two girls making out, true love radiating offa them like a neon sign in Vegas. It figures that they are Haruka and Michiru. (Damn, I'll never get used to seeing Haruka in a dress.)

I stand there and stare longingly at them, wishing I had what they have.

Until the bell rings and I'm late for class.

As usual.

The longing is still there when I enter the gym for class. I look around hoping to spot Makoto, and there she is.

Man, she looks so hot in those short shorts. I feel the desire increase, and I make a mental note to tone it down a bit.

Remember, Aino, no more touchy- touchy, I don't want to scare her.

"Hey there Mako-chan." I say, hoping I sound natural, as I finally approach her.

"Hey Mina-chan." she replies, smiling back. Oh happy day! She's not mad at me! And she doesn't think I'm disgusting! At least not yet...

I play it cool by chatting with some other friends, mostly girls from my volleyball team. They're all excited cause we've finally reached the volleyball unit in gym class. All right! This is a mood booster, if I ever heard one.

We're divided into teams and unfortunately, I don't get to play yet. But I get to watch Makoto play which is almost as good. I try not to drool all over the girls sitting next to me. Very tough.

"Woooo! Go Mako-chan!!" I scream after one particularly good dive. The other girls cast me a few weird looks, and I wonder if I'm being too obvious, but for once I don't care.

After thoroughly enjoying Makoto's games (and body) I finally got to play. Yay! Yay! Yay! Now I can show everyone what I could do! Hee hee hee

Okay, I want to show off in front of Makoto. I'm only human.

And it works, I am playing the best game of my whole entire career. Even better when I fought against that youma that WAS a volleyball.

I have control over the ball like it was an extension of my body.

Until I hit the ball too hard and it flies straight at Makoto, hitting her square in the face.

Oh.

My.

Kami.

My heart lunges in the chest, and not in the GOOD way.

I race toward her, vowing to kill myself if Makoto has to go to the hospital. Finally, I reach her after I shove some people aside. "Mako-chan! Mako-chan are you alright? Speak to me! I'm SOOO sorry! I didn't mean to hit you like that! Please say you're ok!"

"NI'm aw-wight..." She mutters in reply.

Thank Kami, she's still conscience. "Let me see." I lift her head up as the teacher finally pushes her way through the crowd. Together we pry Mako's hands from her face. There's blood everywhere.

"Oh my god..."

But it isn't the blood that stops me cold.

It is her eyes.

It's hard to explain what I saw... It's like a fog that had covered her forever suddenly disappeared, and I got my first real look at her.

And then I saw it. And I knew....

Makoto loves me.

Cause in her eyes I saw the same longing that I feel in my own heart. And for the first time I could sense the love she has for me, which up until now she had covered up.

Yes!!!! Now all I have to do is to get her to confess her love for me, and we can finally live happily ever after!!!

A little too eagerly I follow her as she is whisked to the nurse's office.

Despite my excitement about my realization, I am still worried about her. It helps when she looks at me just so, but still.... I watch as the nurse pokes and prods her, then declares she just sprained her nose. I sigh in relief, but still feel guilty for hurting her, and eager to talk to her alone.

Finally the nurse leaves and it's just Makoto and myself. "NI'm aw-wight." She says, trying to reassure me. I guess she can tell I'm still worried.

"I know." I reply, then gathering my courage I tentatively broach the subject that was REALLY on my mind.. "But I... I wanted to talk to you about something Makoto."

"Wot?"

"I.. I saw how you were distracted today, Makoto.." I lie, assuming that was why someone with great reflexes like Mako-chan could let herself get clobbered by a mere volleyball. "The glazed look in your eyes. I've been noticing it for weeks, how you always seem to be so far away, thinking of... something, really hard, being surprised when your name is called, or when someone shakes you out of your reverie."

You know, now that I said that, it sort of makes sense... Hmm...

I continue when she doesn't say anything. "I've asked you countless times what's on your mind, but every time you look away and say 'nothing', then change the subject, or just pretend like I'm not even there. Mako-chan, why don't you trust me any more?"

Oh great, now I've done it. Before I can stop myself I start tearing up. Great, I really didn't want to cry... But finally admitting what had been on my mind for so long, proves to be too much for me...

My tears don't go unnoticed. "Oh Mina-chan.." Makoto whispers and pulls me into an embrace, which I gratefully accept.. "It's not that I don't trust you... it's just that..." And her voice trails off.

I pull back, realizing she wasn't gonna continue. "Then what? Please, tell me Mako-chan.. We used to be best friends.. you used to tell me everything, why can't you tell me now?"

She sighs and hugs me close again. "We ARE best friends and I DO still tell you everything.. it's just.. this thing with me.. is well.. it's just something I have to do on my own. Don't worry about it, it's not your problem."

I pull away again to look into her eyes. She has no intention of confessing her love to me. I can see it, but I can't accept it. "But if it has to do with you then it IS my problem! I care for you Mako-chan, we all do! You don't have to deal with anything alone any more, we're all here for you if you need us, just please tell me what's wrong."

But my pleading falls on ears that will not listen. She even stands and starts pacing. "I can't DO that Mina- chan, it.. it's complicated."

"Then let me help you with it, two heads are better than none and together I'm sure we can figure it out!" she stands to face me. This was NOT the happy ending I was expecting. I'm giving her the perfect opening for her to admit her feelings, but she's not taking it!

"I'm sorry Minako, I just can't. This's just something I have to take care of by myself. There's nothing you can do for me."

I only stare at her. My tears reform and spill over, running down my cheeks. "I.. I see.." I murmur, bowing my head and letting my long hair cover my face. "You don't need me then."

I turn to go, but once again she pulls me into her arms. "I didn't say that." She says, reassuringly stroking my hair.

But she still doesn't offer the confession of love that I really want.

Hesitantly, my arms come up around her and I bury my face in her shoulder; my tears dampening her uniform. "Then.. what ARE you saying?" I whisper, choking back a sob. I hope I hear the right answer this time...

But all she says is "I.. I don't know... I don't know what I'm saying Mina- chan.. I DO need you.. The others too.. but.. right now.. I just.. I don't know..."

I nod, accepting her answer as the only one I'm going to get.

I could hear Michiru's voice, urging me to be the one to confess my love, since Makoto apparently isn't able to.

But I find myself not being able to. My desire to be proposed to is too strong. I want Makoto to be the one that admits it first.

We stand embraced for several long minutes. But finally I pull back and look her in the eyes one last time. "Will you tell me when you can then?"

"I... I can try.." She replies, hesitantly.

I nod again, sadly. My hopes once again shattered, but I try to make the best of it.. "I guess that's the best I can hope for then, huh?"

"I'm sorry.." But it doesn't do any good..

"It's ok.. If you can't, you can't." I shrug, trying to save face a bit but utterly failing All I can hope for now is a clean exit.. "Well, I should probably be getting back to class now. I'll see you later, Makoto." And with that, I turn and leave her behind.

Only when I'm a safe distance away do I really let loose and cry. Not just because Makoto didn't say she loved me..

But because I didn't say I loved her, either.

What have I done?

End Chapter