I had the happiest moment of writing ever when I read your reviews and realized that I had made some of you readers laugh. That is some very good news. I really appreciate the reassuring feed back. When you tell me I'm doing this right, that really REALLY helps allieviate some pressure I feel to live up to your expectations.

Well, here is the next installment, as promised. Man...I'm just relieved I had to time to write this. My mind is currently on fire with story line, so I'm hoping to pump this out asap before any potential writers block sets in.

Chapter 4

After buying the tangerines, Miyuki and Tsukasa left the grocery store, expecting to find the two racing fanatics in the parking lot. Who they did find was an angry police officer looking around, radioing in with a device on his shoulder, trying to find the two girls. The attention from the police made the two more civil girls scared for their friends.

"Huh?" Miyuki pulled her phone out of her pocket. "It's from Konata?" The text message told them to walk to Kagami's house. They had ran the rest of the way and were waiting.

"That was…..really surprising." Tsukasa said. "I'm really surprised they took that whole cart race that far."

"I'm surprised the police arrived." Miyuki said, walking away from the store and down the street.

"It feels like Konata and Misao reach a new level of stupid…." Tsukasa sighed. "…I don't mean for that to sound rude…"

"I…think I agree." Miyuki nodded slowly. "…They really could have hurt someone…or themselves."

"It was a really good thing that sis wasn't here to see this…."

Meanwhile, Konata and Misao had made it to the Hiragi house, panting, with broad smiles on their faces. Once they reached the front door, they had to take a few seconds to laugh and get the giggles out of their system before going inside. Someone inside, however, had heard some commotion outside and had looked through the peek hole to see who was acting like a loon outside. One of the voices in particular sounded familiar, and she had a good guess as to who the little obnoxious blue haired troublemaker was.

Annoyed, Matsuri opened the door with crossed arms and an angry expression. No doubt Kagami's hereditary agitation had also been passes down from someone unknown into her blood as well. With short, messy light brown hair and matching eyes, slim form, wearing a loose fitting yellow zip up sweater and camo green capris, her attitude wasn't very intimidating from first glance. Only those who knew of the Hiragi wrath actually felt the ice. Konata, however, didn't seem to be fazed. The fact that the older college student was trying to act more mature was almost funny to her. The taller brown haired girl was still smiling and experiencing a dieing giggle from the whole experience.

"Hey-ya, other Hiragi!" Misao said, making a wave with her hand over her head as if the girl was far away.

Matsuri frowned. "Don't 'hey-ya' me!" she said, indignant. "What they hell are you two doing running and screaming outside."

"We weren't screaming." Konata said in a mock deep voice, trying to sound like a wise priest or something along those lines. "We were laughing. You should try it sometime. It does wonders for the soul."

"Oh, shut it, shortie." Matsuri growled. "Kagami is sick today, so you two should probably go home."

Konata didn't like what she just heard. Not just the jab at her height, but the fact that they were turned away so fast.

Misao's eyes lit up light pink candles, and she looked at Matsuri as if she was about to either hug her or kiss her. "I call her shortie too!"

"Eh?" Matsuri looked at the energetic girl like she had something wrong with her face. "Hey, I've seen you before. You're one of Kagami's old friends from a while back, huh?"

Misao frowned. "We're still friends." she said, annoyed. "We go to the same school."

Matsuri looked at her like she was stupid. "I can see that, from the uniform you're wearing." she said. "But thanks for clearing that up for me."

"What's got you tied up downstairs?" Konata asked, clearing annoyed as well. It seemed, just like the laughter from before, the agitation was suddenly contagious. "All we want to do is say hi to Kagami. Why are you being such a-"

Konata was cut off by a very loud, very forceful, and very exaggerated sneeze that nearly rocked the two off their feet. When Matsuri opened her eyes again, her nose was red, her eyes were bloodshot, and she had tissue over her nose with one hand.

"Ugh…" she groaned.

Misao and Konata both looked at each other. "Oh…" they both said.

"You two should probably just go home." she said. "I don't want anyone else to get sick. If you stay here, I have a good feeling you will."

"Geez…" Konata sighed, looking the older girl over. "You look awful…but not like that! I mean you look really sick!"

Misao nodded. "Why didn't you say you weren't feeling well?" she asked, "Now I kind of feel bad…"

Matsuri let out a long sigh while wiping her nose and stepping aside to let them in. "Sorry, guys…" she said in a decongested voice. "I'm just mad because I still have to study for a test this weekend while I have this cold…"

Konata and Misao both felt really guilty for yelling at her. The older girl slumped back down into a chair at the kitchen table she had been sitting in before she heard the noise. Books, papers, and other study materials were scattered all over the table. A box of tissues were by her books and a small trashcan with tissues were next to the chair, nearly full.

Misao wasn't too versed in the older sisters of the Hiragi household, but Konata knew that for Matsuri to study in her condition, or even study this hard period, she must really need the good grade.

They took their shoes off and both did a small bow and apologized.

"It's ok…" Matsuri sighed. "…Just keep the noise down."

They both nodded and quietly made their way upstairs. It wasn't hard to distinguish Kagami's room from everyone else's rooms. Her room was the only one without anything on the door. The two girls could hear what sounded like rock music coming from inside.

"Hello?" Konata knocked. "Hey, Kagami, you in there?"

The volume dropped about halfway and a voice from inside said, "Come in."

They opened the door to see Kagami wearing her light blue pajamas, sitting on the floor against her bed. Her hair was still tied to the side in pigtails, but her eyes were a little puffy. Her nose was red and a box of tissues were beside her. Beside the TV in front of her was a trashcan with a small basketball hoop attached to it. Most of the tissues were in the can, but a few either had missed or danced on the rim and bounced out.

"Oh…" she sounded agitated. "It's you two."

"That's no way to greet your friends, Kagamin." Konata said teasingly. "Aren't you glad your friends care about you enough to visit you while your sick?"

Kagami sighed. "Sorry guys….I'm just not feeling the best."

"Looks like…" Misao said. "You and Matsuri both."

"This cold sucks…" Kagami complained, using her remote to lower the volume at a comfortable level to easily hear her guests. "…It's so annoying to be sick….I was thinking about it, and it's gotta suck for little Yutaka. I forgot how much a cold bites."

"Aw…" Konata sat down on Kagami's bed beside her and patted her on the head. "…poor Kagamin lost her fighting spirit. I guess it just proved that your smarter than you look then, huh? hahaha."

"Knock it off, damn-it!" Kagami brushed Konata's hand off her head and crossed her arms while direction her attention back to the TV. "If your just going to bother me, then go bother someone else and leave me alone."

"Would it help if you knew we brought something for you?" Konata asked.

Kagami's expression turned a little softer. "You did?...For me? Really?" she asked, "What is it?"

Misao and Konata both looked at each other. "Well, we don't actually have it with us." Misao said. "Tsukasa and Miyuki are on their way. I think they bought it."

"Oh, I was wondering why my sister wasn't here with you." Kagami said. "Good, at least they know how to treat a sick person. So what are they bringing?"

"What tastes sour, puckers up in spring, and turns orange?" Konata asked, slumping down in the floor next Kagami with little catlike smirk on her face, repeatedly poking Kagami in the cheek.

Kagami felt that tinge of annoyance again. "I'm not in the mood to play games." she said. Misao had sat down in front of the TV to the side, and seemed to be extremely transfixed by whatever show they were watching. "Fine…is it an orange? That wasn't very hard."

"No, but close." she said. "We got tangerines for ya! They're the best when you're sick!"

Misao looked back at Kagami and asked, "Hey, what are we watching? I don't think I've ever seen this anime."

"It's Darker Than Black." Kagami said. "I rented all the DVDs, since I'd be in bed for a while."

"This is good one." Konata said. "In this episode, Hei infiltrates PANDORA's military-"

"Shhh!" Kagami silenced her. "Geez. Don't ruin it for me by telling me what's going to happen. I want to find out for myself."

"I didn't know you liked this kind of show." Misao said. "When did you start watching action stuff?"

"I don't know…while back I guess." she said. "Why, do you like this kind of show?"

Misao's face lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, they're the best."

"Oh, really?" Kagami seemed genuinely pleased that Misao shared that common interest. "I didn't know that."

Misao sighed quietly to herself while returning her attention back to the TV. She wouldn't say it, but it was because they didn't spend that much time together anymore.

There was another knock at the door, and Miyuki offered Kagami a pleasant wave and a warm smile. Right behind her, Tsukasa held a bag of tangerines from the grocery store, which reminded Konata of something.

"Oh, Kagami, you missed the coolest thing at the store today!" Konata cheered.

Miyuki sighed as she sat gracefully on the floor with her feet tucked under her. Tsuakasa sat down on the bed, opening the bag. "Kona-chan….I'm not sure I'd tell sis about that."

"Tell me about what?" Kagami asked, "What happened?"

"Me and shortie had a cart race at the grocery store." Misao said. "After I won, *ehem*..Yeah, winner right here...the police came looking for us."

"What do you mean, you won!?" Konata asked, indignant. "I so pulled ahead at the end there. You were trailing me!"

"You wish!" Misao said, "I beat you by miles!"

"NO!" Kagami broke the beginning of the argument. "I'm so not putting up with that today! Konata, Misao! Stop arguing or I'm sending you both home!" She took a tissue out of the box and blew her nose. The toss to the trashcan was off, and the tissue bounced to the side a few inches. Right now, the thought of something really stupid like that and having the police shown up was the last thing she felt like running through her mind. In her sick state, she focused all mental effort into pushing that out of her mind. Miyuki and Tsukasa gave each other cautious looks.

"Um…sorry Kagami." Misao apologized. It wasn't her intention to piss off both Matsuri and Kagami in the same fifteen minutes of her visit.

"No…" Kagami sighed, sniffling and wiping her nose with the back of her sleeve. "It's my fault. I guess if you all want to take the risk of getting sick to visit me, then I should be nicer." she said, thinking about the situation logically.

Konata got up and sat down on the bed next to Tsukasa. "Nah, it's ok." she said. "We're stupid, so I think we'll be safe."

Misao wanted to say, "Speak for youself, shrimp," but instead merely grunted her angry and went back to watching TV.

"How are you feeling, Kagami-san?" Miyuki asked, still dawning a pleasant expression.

"I'm doing alright." Kagami said. "Thanks for asking. How've you been? Anything important happen at today's committee meeting?"

"No, nothing worth mentioning." she said. "I do hope you're feeling better since this morning. When I heard you collapsed I became very worried." Kagami's expression softened into a smile. "Tsukasa was very worried the whole day."

"Yuki-chaannn." Tsukasa turned to face her sister and was met by sympathetic eyes.

Kagami got up from her position and gave her sister a big hug. "Thanks Tsukasa."

Tsukasa returned the affection and giggled. "…heehee…You're welcome, onee-chan." she said. "What are sisters for?"

"Awww…isn't that so cute?" Konata cooed. "If you two weren't sisters, I'd totally root for ya both."

Kagami let go of Tsukasa and shot Konata a really angry glare on the bed three feet away. "I swear, one more weird comment like that again and I'm kicking you out. If you start getting weird on us again, I'm not letting you come back."

Konata scooted a little closer and made a sad kitten expression that only she could pull off. "I sowwy, Kagaminnnn." she cooed softly while running her face against Kagami's soft flannel sleeve.

Kagami was actually half expecting Konata to start purring. She gently pushed her away and sighed. "Fine…but at least try to behave."

Miyuki smiled at the warmness, and Tsukasa giggled. "That was really cute, Konata." Tsukasa said. "Where did you learn to act like that?"

"I used to do that to my dad all the time when I wanted something." she said. "If he was ever mad at me, I'd rub my face on his hand, and he'd start balling and hug me and say how precious I was and stuff."

Tsukasa had no problem imagining that scenario. "That's funny…heehee." she giggled. "That doesn't surprise me at all."

"You're family is really weird….and I don't think that kind of behavior should be encouraged like that." Kagami sighed. "I swear…the only normal one in you family is that cop aunt of yours, and even she has her moments."

"What about Yu-chan?" Konata asked, "She's not like the rest of us."

"No…" Kagami looked up and thought about it, "…but she's…really…um…"

"Cute?"

Kagami nodded. "Yeah I guess that would be the word…."

"You have a hard time saying cute, don't you Kagamin." Konata teased.

Kagami shook her head. "I do not! It's just…well, sometimes it's hard to say when talking about someone. Why are you making this weird for me?!"

Konata started to rubbed up against Kagami's arm again. "Aw…Kagamin is so shy about her crushes….that's so cute."

"Oh, not even!" she shoved her away. "I don't have a crush on your little cousin, you sick weirdo!"

Kagami got off the bed and sat down on the floor next to Miyuki. Misao had gotten up and had something in her hand.

"Oh magical eight ball…" Misao said, rolling the toy over in her hands like she was casting some sort of spell. "…tell us…Does Kagami like Yutaka?"

"Knock it off, both of you!" Kagami screamed, grabbing the eight ball out of her hands and rolling it under the bed behind her.

Konata looked at Misao and asked, "Was it a yes or a no?"

"It was a maybe." Misao said.

"Grrrrrrrr…." Kagami looked really pissed. She pointed to the door and screamed, "OUT!" just before entering a coughing fit. She doubled over with a tissue over her mouth, shoulders heaving. Miyuki leaned over and gently pounded her back while Tsukasa looked panicked and confused.

"Sis, are you ok?" Tsukasa asked.

After one last productive wet cough, Kagami nodded and slumped back against her bed with a deep sigh. Her eyes looked tired and red from the heaving. "Ow…" she put a hand on her side and cringed. She had coughed so hard her sides hurt. "…ow…damn-it…"

Miyuki pulled out a bottle of water from her book bag and opened it up. "Please drink this." she said, handing the bottle to her.

Kagami gratefully took the water and started chugging. After finishing over half, she gasped and set the bottle down on the ground. "Ahhh…thanks, Miyuki." she said. "I really needed that."

"Are you alright, sis?" Tsukasa asked, "That really looked painful."

"Yeah.." she nodded, panting. "I'm ok…."

"Hey, um….sorry about that." Misao apologized while slowly sitting down again. "If you want…I mean…I can leave if I really am bothering you."

Kagami sighed and shook her head. "No, it's ok. I'll make Konata leave long before you ever will."

"Hey!" Konata sounded mad. "And after everything I did to cheer you up!"

Kagami turned around to face Konata on the bed. "You haven't done anything except bug me to death! Literally! To death!"

"But you haven't seen the best part!" Konata held up a tangerine. There was a very scared and surprised face drawn with a black marker on the skin.

"Oh, that's where they went." Tsukasa said. "Kona-chan….please don't play with Kagami's food."

"It's ok, no worries." she said. "It'll just peel off." As if on cue, Konata stared to peel back the skin next to the face. In a high pitched squeal, she said, "I'm being torn apart!"

Misao fell backwards into hysteria. She grabbed her sides and gasped for air in-between each fit of laughter, which turned out to be infectious. Miyuki gracefully put a hand over her mouth while giggling, Tsukasa pointed and laughed at the small fruit, and even Kagami started to giggle.

Konata set the half peeled fruit down and picked up another one she had again drawn on. This time, it was a face of an angry person looking up in her direction. Konata had to really control her giggles, but finally managed to fake an angry face back at the fruit. "Why the sour face?" she asked the tangerine, trying to sound casual.

Misao stopped breathing. Her laughing was so powerful it knocked the wind out of her. She gasped for air and let out bellowing. Miyuki had to lean against her hands on the ground to avoid falling over from laughing too much, and Tsukasa had fallen back, rolling back and forth while gripping her sides. Kagami now laid her head against her bed, one hand pounding a pillow, all the while alternating between laughter and the occasional cough. It turns out Konata was pretty good at this.

Konata, now giggling, picked up her last little tangerine. This one was the most yellow of the group, and she had drawn a face with a doctor's headband with a medical cross on the front. In her best superhero impression, Konata said, "No need to fear! Lemon-AID is here!"

No one could sit up straight or even control their bodies anymore. Everyone was on the floor rolling around. The only person not moving was Misao. No one noticed yet, but she had passed out.

Meanwhile, Matsuri was downstairs, grueling through her cold and schoolwork when she heard apparent comedy hour upstairs. She sighed and blew her nose again. "At least someone is having fun…" she thought, feeling dejected.

-o0o-

Yutaka had drifted off to sleep, which wasn't unusual considering her constitution and the fact that she was sick. Whenever she hung out with her friends late, Yutaka was the first to sleep, and always woke up disappointed the next morning, feeling as if she missed out on something fun.

No doubt, because Minami was there, she's feel the same way. Minami couldn't help but feel a little responsible for the small girls future guilt. When Yutaka had become cold, Minami had actually gone out of her way to clean up the floor to Konata's room to make room. A few things, especially the intimates and a few manga she dared not open, were a bit sketchy to handle, but after clearing the space, she compacted the kotatsu from Yutaka's room and brought it down the hall. After setting it up, Yutaka had crawled under with her head poking out to watch TV.

Minami leaned back against the piece of furniture while watching TV and realized Yutaka had slanted her body under the blankets to rest her head on her thigh. The initial contact had startled her, but she didn't have the heart to say anything. In fact, she may just be enjoying the contact more than little Yutaka.

Her face was tinted red around the cheeks, face flushed from her cold. Her eyes were closed gently as she slept. A strange sensation of warmth against her thigh in a very localized area made Minami's face turn deep red and she turned away. Yutaka was sleeping with her mouth slightly open and drool had started to pool on Minami's thigh through her skirt.

Minami moaned in a confused sensation of discomfort and pleasure. "mmmhhhm…..Yutaka?" she whispered. "….oh dear…"

If she was just a bit forceful, Yutaka would probably get up, but she didn't have the heart to do that. For now, she succumbed to gazing at her sleeping face as the TV idly provided background noise.

As much as she tried not to, Minami couldn't help but revel and memorize how cute Yutaka was. She didn't know why, but something internally in her subconscious kept nagging at her that this…whatever this situation was…was somehow wrong. Perhaps it was merely just the sudden surprise of the whole thing. Maybe it was the fact that Minami had never really been that close to anyone before in her life and this was extremely new for her, out of her comfort zone. Maybe it was the fact that she couldn't help this warming sensation filling her chest as she stared at the beautiful little angel in her lap.

Maybe it was all of that, and more.

Minami suddenly found herself caressing Yutaka's cheek and running a finger through her hair.

It was almost blissful, yet there was a lingering feeling of confusing and fear. What was happening exactly? Why do I feel so strangely drawn to this person in a way I have never experienced? Why do I feel so longing and wanting for more, yet scared and hesitant to even look at her straight in the face?

Those kinds of questions filled her mind, each questions running its course through Minami's processor. Of all her family experiences, of all her recent experiences with her new friends, out of everything she had possibly seen on TV, none of those things did any good as experience to drawn upon in this situation. Nothing seemed to explain why her mind, body, and even her inner soul seemed to be out of equilibrium. What was even stranger was the fact that her inner imbalance actually felt good, in a pleasant dull warming way.

Minami is a smart girl. There is no doubting that. She looked at everything from an objective perspective, only said what was necessary, and was very adept at getting things done. Because of this, she was able to approach the situation from a relatively collected standpoint.

The only thing in life she had never really experienced was the sensation of love. Of course she loved her parents, but the true love of complete unconditional surrender to another person was something almost absurd to her. Her mother had talked about how she felt about her father, and Minami always thought her mother had some very irrational emotions about that man, as if she didn't care about anything outside of him and their daughter. Now, in her youth and earlier years, Minami realized for the first time that she felt exactly the same way. There was no real logical explanation for why she felt like giving up the world and all its glory for this meek soul now sleeping on her lap, but now she understood. It was completely irrational. It was almost insane in its own way.

But it was what she wanted.

Nothing in life had made her feel complete. She always felt confused and daunted by the world's perspective that everyone else seemed to understand. This always caused her, somewhere deep in her soul, to hate herself. Her piercing downcast eyes had always been a beacon of that emotion.

Yutaka felt something wet and warm dropping on her face like hot rain. She blinked and slowly opened her eyes as another droplet landed on her cheek, and she rolled on her back to look up. What she saw surprised her.

"Minami-chan…." Yutaka said, almost in a hoarse whisper. The taller girl was looking down at her, eyes downcast with tears streaming down her cheeks as they made eye contact. Despite her tears and despite her crying, she was smiling. Yutaka couldn't understand for the life of her why she looked this way. "…why are you crying?"

Minami understood now. This completely insane way of life, to give up anything and everything, just for this little girl looking up at her with concern, this was the last piece of the puzzle to her heart. Her smile grew slightly wider as more tears ran down her cheeks and onto Yutaka's face.

"Minami-chan…" Yutaka started to sound broken up as she choke up a little. Her own tears were on the verge of leaking out of the corners of her eyes. She brought an arm out from under the kotatsu and place her palm on Minami's cheek, brushing a tear away. Minami rubbed her face against the girls palm and wept. "…what's wrong, Minami-chan?….Please….tell me…."

Minami looked straight into Yutaka's eyes. She didn't say a word, but leaned down slowly, inch by inch. Her heart was fluttering. Her face burned hot and her eyes blurred.

Yutaka gasped and felt hot moist lips gently press against her cheek. She froze, body now warming up so much she felt like she was being enveloped in a glow of bright heat.

As Minami pulled away only an inch between the tips of their noses, they gazed at each other, palms still caressing each other's cheek.

In an instant beyond even the control of all the deities in the world, a brilliance of love was exchanged between the hearts of two people, truly, deeply, and most of all, purely in love. A start was born that day, so far from the earth it would never be seen for eternity, but so bright and white it dwarfed all other stars in comparison.

Yutaka tilted her head up half an inch, and Minami could feel her hot breath against her lips, tantalizing her senses that not even all possible human restraint in the world could turn away from. As they closed their eyes, they slowly felt each other's burning wet lips meet in a fire of bliss as their hands reach around each other's necks. Their eyes, at first, closed tightly, but very slowly, their eyes relaxed into the blissful expressions of complete and utter satisfaction that neither of them had ever felt before.

After a second, they both pulled away just enough to break contact. It was almost half a minute before either of them could open their eyes to look at each other. Each of them feared that when they opened their eyes, the other person wouldn't be there.

Yutaka gazed up at Minami, and their eyes fell half open in admiration of each other. Yutaka felt so hot under the kotasu she felt she would melt. Minami was slightly trembling as she caressed Yutaka's neck against her thigh.

"….Minami…chan…."

-o0o-

The train station was plenty full one minute, then nearly empty the next. Floods of people got off one train, mingled together in a chaotic frenzy, then boarded another. Hiyori always was reminded of the ocean every time she came to the train station. The mass of people acted a lot like a wave. At first, the stand was white from the sun, then the next second, dark tan from over two feet of water foaming over in what appeared to be layers. Because of this, Hiyori was always reminded of the train station whenever she was at the ocean, just not nearly as fun or remotely pretty to look at.

Patricia and walked to her to the train station, and even bought her a can of tea from a vending machine. Still, something seemed to be bothering the artist.

The both sat on a bench by the rails as people idly passed them by. Patricia looked at Hiyori while she sipped her drink and frowned.

"Hey, you sure you'll make it home alone?" Patricia asked.

"Alone…" That word echoed in her mind as she instinctively nodded. "…alone…" All she could think about was the fact that her home was quiet. No one was going to be there when she got back. Granted, she wasn't new to an empty house every night, but that never made the going any easier for her.

Patricia wasn't satisfied with Hiyori's response, but she didn't want to push her friend. "Okay…Just call if you need anything, ok?"

Hiyori nodded and slowly stood up as a train came clacking to a halt up in front of them. When the train stopped, a mass of people got up with cell phones, backpacks, briefcases, and anything else imaginable in their hands. Finally, the swarm dispersed passed the people boarding and the train started to fill up again.

Patricia waved her goodbye, and Hiyori feebly waved back with a slight gloom about her. It appeared that Hiyori had been swept up in the mass of people getting on the train, so the blonde turned around and started to walk away.

The doors closed with the sound of hydraulic breaks disengaging. The clacking of the train cars was long and drawn out for a few seconds before gaining more speed, now heading off down the rails into the distance.

Even as she walked away, something felt odd, like a presence was behind her that shouldn't be there. She turned around. Hiyori was still standing on the yellow line, just staring out in front of here as if in a daze. Patricia doubled back and approached her. "Hey, what are you doing?" she asked, "You missed your train."

After mustering up some courage, clenching the middle of her skirt in her fists. She turned to face her confused and worried friend. "Can I come over tonight?!" Hiyori asked, bowing slightly, sounding a little panicked.

Patricia put an arm on her shoulder. "Of course you can." she said. "You're making a scene, silly."

Hiyori looked up and nervously laughed. "Yeah…sorry. Heh heh…"

"What's wrong?" Patricia asked, "Something happen at home?"

"No…" she shook her head. "It's just….I don't want to go home….just yet."

Patricia's head started to move up and down in understanding. "Is it quiet at home?"

She nodded with a sighed. "Yeah…My mom doesn't come home until real late…..You uh…you sure it's ok for me to just come over like this? I kind of feel bad for asking now."

"Nah, girl!" She smiled and patted her on the back. "I live alone, remember? Except for the landlady downstairs, there's no one to bother us if we stay up and party all night."

"Party…all night?" Hiyori asked. "You're joking right?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It's not like we hang out like this all the time, you know?"

"Yeah…but I'm still really not feeling it." Hiyori sighed. "Sorry…I don't mean to be a wet blanket. If you want, I can go home and just mope there."

Patricia put an arm on her back and started to push her forward while rubbing gently up and down. "Hey, if you want to curl up in a blanket and watch sad movies all night, that's cool with me too. Like the old saying goes, Mi casa es su casa, amiga!"

Hiyori looked up at her in awe. "How many languages can you speak?"

Patricia laughed. "It's just an old phrase we say back home."

"What's it mean?"

"My house is your house." She said. "So, if you feel like crashing at my place, go for it."

Hiyori smiled gratefully and looked down at the ground. She felt a little unworthy of such straightforward hospitality. "Thanks, Patty-chan….."

"I know, I know…you love me." she said, giggling.

Patricia had said that as a joke, but the deeper more expounding truth behind those words were hitting close to home for Hiyori. It made her wonder, after everything she had felt for the energetic blonde, from gratefulness to even unexplained attraction, was love one of those emotions. Probably, right? She loved her friends, but maybe she loved this one girl, this girl who gave her more than she could ever ask for herself, more so than anyone else. "…more than you would know…" she thought to herself as they walked down the street together.

Well, hope to hear from you all, and I hope to get back to this as soon as I can. Thanks again for all the feedback and reassurance.