Hello!
My deepest apologies for the unexpected hiatus!
I had a lot of fun writing this story, and I wanted to thank you guys for braving the storm with Noriko and Shimako -and for being okay with the ups and downs of my writing.
I hope this last chapter wraps things up properly for our main characters. It took me a while to get it to where I felt it was ready and worthy of being published.
To everyone who followed the story, left comments or even just visited for a couple of minutes: THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I really appreciate the feedback! Maria-sama ga Miteru is one of my favorites -if not my favorite- Light Novel/Anime and being part of this fandom is an absolute delight! :)
Thank you!
Whatever it was - Chapter XIII
A thick layer of snow had covered the streets of Tokyo, thick jackets adorned the shivering bodies which were strong enough to brave the windy roads, and train stations were perhaps a warmer choice than bus stops. Inside the faculty building Noriko locked her office door and stepped onto the hallway with the resolve to brave the weather.
Flashbacks from Nara had been a continuous part of professor's life ever since she left the town. Onee-sama! She brought her fingers to her lips. The idea of those words, screamed at the top of her lungs again after so many years still made her chest tighten. Noriko stopped in front of the exit door; the faculty hall was empty, giving the professor the ability to stare at her feet until the echo of that plea subsided in her head. When her heart slowed down again, she inhaled deeply and opened the door.
Once the freezing wind touched upon her cheeks, Noriko exhaled. Lifting her head, Noriko expected to find an empty path painted in white ahead of her; however, what she saw was so much more beautiful than the bareness of a wintry afternoon: black jeans and a navy pecoat; Maria-sama leaned against one of the trees in front of the faculty building.
Brunette wavy tresses swiveled to the rhythm of the chilly gusts and as she started to walk toward Noriko, one of the ends of the woman's scarf loosened up making her halt her steps and fiddle with it for a second before pressing on. That Maria-sama, as imperfect she might have been, was one of the most incredible women Noriko had ever known.
"Yumi-sama, it's cold!"
The architect closed the distance between the two and offered Noriko one of the warmest embraces she had received in a long time, "How about we get out of this blizzard?"
Noriko was almost certain Yumi wasn't there to meddle; nevertheless, she accepted the invitation to move away from the cold with hesitance. Truth be told, Yumi had asked innumerous times for Sachiko not to interfere in Noriko's choices. She had asked her partner to stay still and wait, "because only time could settle things for Noriko and Shimako." However, the more Sachiko sat by Shimako when the blonde read the letters written to Shizuka, the more the heiress wanted to help Shimako mend the relationship with Noriko. Still, Sachiko found herself torn between wanting to support Noriko's decisions, and wanting Shimako's happiness as well.
The last time the friends met to read letters, Sachiko had said her goodbyes quicker than usual; the heiress then drove straight to the Fukuzawa Architecture office, charged through the small house-turned-workplace, ignored the secretary's greet and rushed into Yumi's office, slamming the door shut before leaning against it and slowly lowering herself to the floor between sobs.
The commotion had happened so suddenly that Yumi was only able to stand up before Sachiko had already melted into a small pool of tangled hair and tears. The architect didn't utter a word. She simply took a step at the time, reaching Sachiko and kneeling in front of her; she then swept those tresses carefully to the side before arms wrapped around Sachiko.
The room went quiet for the split second deep blue met chocolate. Sachiko reached for Yumi's face, though before any words were said, the heiress broke down again. Sachiko felt anxious once more, even though she had been with Yumi for several years now. At that second, the heiress wanted with all of her heart to tell Yumi she loved her, that she was absolutely the luckiest woman in the world for being able to share her life with the brunette. Yet, all Sachiko's body allowed her to do was to let Yumi hold on to her until the sobs subsided, until her heart untightened, until all she could feel was Yumi's steady breath.
In the warmth of Yumi's embrace, head against a chest which rose calmly up and down, Sachiko was finally able to whisper, "I love you." She was at last able to tell Yumi for the millionth time that not owning up to the pleading of her heart earlier was something she regretted and would regret for the rest of her life: happiness could have began much earlier for the couple. Still, Yumi reiterated the fact that the tempestuous times strengthened their relationship, matured their hearts and helped them in the adjusting and compromising every strong relationship goes through.
There was a fire in Sachiko's eyes, a love toward Yumi that not even the own heiress, as well-read she was, could put into words. Yumi knew that Sachiko was not only hurting because she thought of the times when she made Yumi suffer, but also because she couldn't bear to see Noriko –as well as Shimako– go through the same suffering: hurting for the simple fact they thought they deserved the pain of being apart. "Both of them hold on to their demons as if they need them to survive. I'm afraid of what would happen if they let go," Yumi whispered.
At that moment, under the dim light of a small lamp, sitting on the floor of Yumi's office, Sachiko didn't have to say a word in order to make Yumi change her mind about helping her friends, "They have to meet each other in the middle, Sachan. There's only so much we can do, but I will do whatever I can to at least make Noriko speak to Shimako. If they're not ready, though, not even Maria-sama can change their minds…"
And so, Yumi sat across from Noriko inside a ramen house, cup of tea in hand watching her friend sip on a can of coffee. The architect, long known for her 100 faces, smirked; she knew by then Noriko had realized why she had reached out to the professor.
"Yumi-sama…"
"Have I ever, even once, forced you into anything which would jeopardize your health or your heart?"
00XX00
New leaves, strong and green adorned the trees in front of Noriko's apartment.
She heard a familiar honk and took a quick glance at herself in the mirror for the last time. Out the window she saw Sei's car, Youko sat on the passenger seat. Then, her phone rang.
"Your carriage awaits you, Milady." Sei started.
"And where is this carriage supposed to take me to, if I may ask."
"I'm not sure, Milady, all I know is that 'tis seven o'clock and I am supposed to pick Milady up.
"Ok?"
"However."
"However?"
"Yes, however. Milady will have to forgive me as I must send a servant to dress you."
"What are you talking about, Sei-sama?"
"Dude, just shut your mouth and wait for Youko, she's coming up."
"Why is Youko-sama coming up?"
"Are you deaf? To dress you."
How Youko convinced her to wear such a hideous dress, Noriko had no idea. All she knew was that Sei was, at that moment, cutting through parking lots and going over sidewalks around downtown Tokyo.
Then, suddenly, she took a turn toward the burbs and slowed down. The trees were packed with green, the cars, neatly parked on driveways. Kids played soccer on the streets and so Sei had to wait for a few of them to run to the sidewalks before she could proceed with the drive. It was almost as if time, rather than Sei, had slowed down.
And then, without much warning, there they were: those two gates, strong as ever, protected by a pathway of trees, and Sei, against her will, crossed that simple threshold between Lillian and reality. Clenching her jaws, she pressed on the gas, Youko laid a hand on her thigh, a small sign of reassurance. Noriko had none of that; rather, she held on tightly to the fabric that covered her heart.
Sei parked the car and quickly stepped out followed by Youko. Noriko also opened her door and felt the warm breeze graze her cheeks.
"What is this?"
"We were told you had a date and needed a ride." Youko responded, even though Noriko's gaze fell upon Sei.
Noriko thanked her friends then fell into silence before opening the door, which led to the foyer, which led upstairs. The old house smelt the same, the stairs still complained to be stepped on, making Noriko wonder about how many other hearts had been broken by forbidden love inside those walls.
As Noriko approached the biscuit door, she heard a soft melody seep through it. The professor had grown very fond of a few pianists, having many songs engraved in her memory. Though she was not sure who the artist of Shimako's choice was, the melody gave her butterflies. She liked the way her heart moved when music touched it; that feeling was incredible, comfortable, warm. What she felt when she finally opened the door and lifted her eyes; however, was so familiar, yet completely different than anything she had ever felt before.
Across from Noriko, stood Shimako, dressed in her Lillian uniform. For Shimako's surprise and thanks to Youko –by Yumi's orders– Noriko also had the ten-year-old dress on. Between the music and what they saw, neither one of the girls knew exactly how to react until Shimako started, "Gokigenyou, Nijou-sensei." She then led Noriko to the table placed in the middle of the conference room, and perhaps unmoved for decades.
"I'm not sure–" Noriko started only to be interrupted by Shimako, " No one's sure of anything…"
Awkwardness lingered between the two women and no matter how hard they tried, nothing, not even the familiar surroundings, could have made that feeling go away. Noriko offered to make coffee as well as tea; realizing everything had remained in its place, she chuckled. Not only was that room magical for it was able to bring the loneliest hearts together, it also had the power to make time stand still. Sei had experienced that feeling as she drove through the gates of Lillian; Noriko was finally experiencing the same sensation. Lillian was a supernatural place; there was no denying that fact.
"All they have is black tea. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you still don't like it?" Noriko said, closing the cabinet and walking toward the table.
"That's alright. I brought wine… and beer, if you rather have that."
Noriko pulled a chair and sat down across from Shimako, "Anything stronger than that?" she asked.
"Gin." Shimako joked with a smile that gave it away.
"You've got wits, Todou-sensei."
"I actually brought a bottle of Jack. Would you like some?"
"That'd be better than coffee, actually."
Shimako poured the two of them a glass, handing one to Noriko and keeping the other to herself. She then raised the glass, "Cheers."
Noriko said nothing. She simply lifted her glass quickly before taking a sip of the dark liquor, Shimako imitated the action. The soft melody coming from a laptop was the only noise in a room once full of heated discussions, tight embraces and love confessions.
"…"
"E-even after all of these years, this dress suits you beautifully," the words escaped Shimako's lips with grace and innocence only a Lillian girl could evoke.
"Thank you," Noriko replied, "I was a bit confused when Youko handed it to me."
Although the younger woman was trying hard not to give too much away, she couldn't keep the blush from reaching her cheeks. Shimako had always been very encouraging and supportive of Noriko. There had never been any doubts regarding the love Shimako had for the younger woman, and that, Noriko couldn't use against her. Shimako's eyes glimmered at the sight of Noriko, a smile always adorned her face when the brunette's voice echoed across the Rose Mansion. And even though Noriko knew all of those facts, that one time when Shimako didn't smile at Noriko's words, that one time when Noriko's presence was not wanted by Shimako, that one time, scarred Noriko's heart and damaged her trust toward the older woman for years to come. At another place and time, Noriko would have smiled brightly at the slightest compliment coming from the blonde. Noriko's fingers would find Shimako's and a warm wave would overcome her body. At that moment, though, a thank you, unfortunately, was all the younger of the Gigantea sisters could say.
When Sachiko reached out to Shimako to explain the date plan, the blonde was ecstatic. Yumi had given her an incredible chance to finally tell Noriko her side of the story; nevertheless, Yumi had ground rules, which needed to be laid out not only for the safety of Noriko's heart but also to protect Shimako. Remembering she needed to start things slowly, she began, "Where have you been all of these years besides Boston?"
Hiding from you, Noriko chose to keep the thought to herself, there was no need to start a fight when she already knew the arguments Shimako would use; excuses for bad decisions made by a very smart, but very stubborn child. Shimako was a child. Looking back now, at 19, coming from a Buddhist family that spoiled the girl to the extent of letting her attend a Christian school, Shimako was nothing but a stubborn brat. Noriko experienced the extent of Shimako's immaturity in the very beginning of their soeurship when the blonde couldn't grasp the concept of sharing and didn't understand that she could have had both, her Yamayurikai friends and Noriko if she only could own her feelings. Shimako's fear of making waves had always been one of the woman's biggest flaws. Ironically enough, by denying Noriko, she also built a very thick and tall wall between her and her Yamayurikai friends.
Noriko went on to briefly explain her whereabouts during the past several years while Shimako sat across from the younger woman, taking in the sound of every syllable Noriko uttered, the anatomy of her mouth as it curled up when she spoke of exciting things and the way her bottom lip stiffened when she told tales of times when she struggle to grasp concepts. Noriko had always been a very passionate woman, someone to take responsibility for her own actions, those being correct or out of line. She knew what she wanted unless the subject was Shimako. Noriko went from loving to not loving, from a burning desire to break the walls of the Cloister and steal Shimako away to the pseudo-burying of Shimako's love for Noriko with the help from her friends when the younger woman turned 21. At some point in time Noriko had felt the utmost love and the deepest hate for the woman sitting across from her.
"Shimako-sama…"
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Shimako-sama, what do you want from me?"
"Noriko-san…"
Courage.
Shimako was looking for it, "I… I was wondering if you thought—"
"That's not what I asked."
"…"
"You, Shimako, what do you want?"
There was yet another long pause before Shimako spoke, the blonde gathered her thoughts for a second, not letting her eyes stray away from the brunette across from her. Noriko, understanding the significance of the question, allowed Shimako as much time as the blonde needed.
"I…" Shimako unclasped her hands and brought them from her lap onto the table before continuing, "I want you," she closed her eyes and exhaled, a shy smile adorning her face, "Plain and simple… You…"
"…"
"…It has always been you, Riko. From the moment I met you under that Sakura tree, to the time when you took my rosary and promised to be with me until I graduated. I was an idiot not to realize that having you in my life was what really made me happy. I was so lost I couldn't see I had other options besides becoming a nun. I was an idiot, and when I had realized I was an idiot, it was too late. You were gone, God knows to where and no one would tell me anything!" Shimako had tears in her eyes, shy ones which rolled from her face landing on her lap, but she pressed on, "I reached out to everyone until Sei broke down but I needed more information, so one day after many years I finally found myself at your aunt's steps. She told me you were about to travel to South America and also about the possibility of you coming back, about Tokyo U… I called Tsutako right away and she introduced me to Itou-sensei. There was a visiting scholar position open and I was able to take it, I got tenured just last semester. I–"
"You're selfish."
"You've already told me that years ago."
"You're still selfish."
"You're right… You also told me that I couldn't only focus on the two of us. You were wrong! All of these years without you and you were all I could think of. You have changed so much, evolved into complex creatures, and for some reason every time I look at you, I… I can't help but fall in love again!" As those last words were being said, Noriko stood silently and took Shimako by the hand, "I think we both need fresh air," she said, and slowly took Shimako to the balcony. The waxing crescent moon lit up the sky, the trees danced back and forth and Shimako leaned against the rail, Noriko did the same, their arms touched but neither one of them moved.
"All of these years and all I'm holding on to is the feeling of your body against mine. It's so stupid that we spent so much time together and I was such a coward not to even steal a kiss from you…" Shimako chuckle, her cheeks flushed with the forwardness of her confession.
The ginkgo trees stood ever so tall in front of the Rose Mansion, and Noriko stared a them in a attempt to tame the butterflies that appeared both from Shimako's confession and from the small contact that neither woman dared to break; she joked, "I really don't think that stealing would be the proper term. The kiss would've been more like an anticipated gift of sorts." And as Noriko turned to face Shimako, the gift was finally delivered.
Lips crashed; literally. And Shimako immediately pulled away, scared she had hurt Noriko, physically, as she knew what she had done to the brunette's heart, "I am so sorry, Riko," she started, frantically, "I… I tried to be romantic and I… just… I… Are you hurt? Are you okay? I'm so sor-"
"I'm fine." Noriko brought a hand up to her lips and quickly examine her fingers. At the sight of some red on her hand, she lifted her head to finally meet Shimako's gaze for the first time after the kiss, or attempt thereof.
"Blood."
"Oh. My. I'm so sorry, Riko."
"It's not mine," Noriko answered, and as Shimako brought her own hands to her mouth, a sea of red painted her fingers, "Oh, my!" She cried.
Noriko grabbed the older woman by the hand and guided her back inside, sat her down at the table and told her to wait there. She then walked to the cooler with beer that Shimako had brought and grabbed a handful of ice, wrapping it in a clean kitchen towel she found in the same place they had been stored for decades, she assumed. She then walked to the sink and grabbed a roll of paper towels, tore a few sheets and wet them in the faucet. And so, she walked toward Shimako, who watched the younger woman carefully. Noriko kneeled and brought the hand that held the wet paper towels up, "Let me see it," she sounded worried.
"You shouldn't. I can clean up in the bathroom."
"Let. Me. See. It!"
Shimako finally obeyed the command and Noriko held the blonde's face up with one hand while the other worked methodically, wiping down the blood from Shimako's lips with extreme gentleness. Noriko examined Shimako carefully: her gray eyes that glimmered with uncertainty and fear, her nose with nostrils that flared just a tiny bit when the ice reached the source of the bleeding. And her mouth; thin lips stared back at Noriko, a small pout, and the desire of so many years, which in a turn of events had brought them there; face to face again.
"I think it stopped bleeding, but I can definitely see the cut."
Shimako ran her tongue across her upper lip, " Thank you," she nodded.
"Let me see it again," Noriko said, bringing the improvised bag of ice up toward Shimako's lips. She lifted her head toward Noriko and closed her eyes tightly, fearing the harshness of the cold cloth. The ice stung and Shimako felt embarrassed for the situation she had put herself in. She opened one eye and peaked for a quick second: Noriko dabbed the ice carefully on her lips, the touch making her cheeks flush, and though she knew Noriko would notice, Shimako did everything she could to sit still. Noriko stopped to readjust the ice pack, then brought the ice back up toward Shimako's lips a third time, the blonde closed her eyes yet again but instead of cold, there was nothing.
"…"
"Shimako…" Noriko was already standing when Shimako reopened her eyes, "I'm sorry."
Noriko walked toward the biscuit door while Shimako stood quietly. She simply let Noriko walk away; it was part of the ground rules established by Yumi and unfortunately, Shimako had to respect Noriko's choice and let her go. To the blonde, that was it. She had promised herself that date night would be the last attempt she made in trying to tell Noriko how much she loved her and how sorry she was for the thing she made the brunette go through. Shimako was done.
With the click shut of the biscuit door, the blonde reached for the cellphone in her pocket. It was time to go.
"Hello!" Sei answered, "Is it time to pick everyone up?"
"Onee-sama…"
"…"
Sei heard a sniffle on the other side of the line, "Shimako-chan…"
"…"
"Little one," Sei started, "Once upon a time, this guy wrote: 'Love is a disease,' and I'm only quoting someone else because I can't really come up with a better explanation to how love makes people feel. To tell you the truth, I thought Noriko would understand where you were coming from and then things would be fine. But people change, love, feelings come and go and you need to understand that. You finally have closure now and I hope it helps you moving on and forward. It's not easy, love, but I'm here for you, ok? I'm… I'm here and Youko is here, too. This time you'll have us, we're not abandoning you. Just understand that Noriko had her reasons, okay? We all have our own reasons… you know, to do the things we do. I just can't believe I was so wrong to think she still loved you… I'm so sorry, love."
"…"
"S-should we come pick you up?"
"I'll call you again when I am ready," Shimako's voice cracked, "Thank you, Onee-sama."
"We're on our way, come down whenever you're ready."
Sei and Youko waited in the dim-lit, empty parking lot. Sei looked at Youko, who turned the radio on and up, then reaching across, she found Sei's hand, holding it tightly. No words were exchanged for a long time until they heard the back door of Sei's car open and close, then Shimako buckled her seatbelt silently.
00xx00
Dear sister,
I cannot believe that after so many years I still dream about her, I still feel the warmth of her fingers as they found mine. There hasn't been one day this week which I haven't woken up to the sound of her voice whispering my name.
Shimako slowly opened the biscuit door and as she lifted her eyes, she saw Maria-sama glimmering through lights illumining the walls which led downstairs. With the help of perfectly aligned projectors, Shimako's letters adorned the Rose Mansion's once bare walls. Letters written in cursive, addressed to Kanina Shizuka, signed Todou Shimako, with numerous dates and locations throughout a span of more than a decade; explaining in the most miniscule detail the love she had toward the woman who had still not turned around nor noticed that Shimako had walked out of the meeting room.
Dear Shizuka-sama,
I wish this snow covering the streets of Sapporo just swallowed me whole. Even though complaining about Hokkaido should be considered blasphemy, I still feel empty in this city. I thought my travels through Japan would bring me closure and solace; yet, my heart, for some reason, still cannot let go of the fact I lost the person I loved the most. There's yet to be a moment in this field trip that I found myself alone, even still, I feel lonely. Is this a curse?
"No-riko…"
…It's been so long since I've seen her smile. I wish somehow I could forget what she looked like, what her voice sounded like, how much light she brought into my life. Everything about her seems to be carved deep into the layers of my heart. I can't, to save my life, erase her.
"Are these real?" Noriko turned around to face the blonde. She pointed at the wall, "Are these letters real?"
…Love at first sight has been something which I had never believed in, until I met Noriko. I was standing under a sakura tree when she approached me. I'm sure she thought I was a crazy Onee-sama dancing under the falling leaves… I have fallen in love again today. Though my surroundings were much less striking, the woman who took my breath away was as stunning as she was when I first fell for her. Noriko has this ability to be both the same woman I loved a decade ago, as well as this new person my heart wants to get to know so badly. I love both these women equally.
Shimako brough one of her hands to her lips, taking a deep breath, "I didn't know they'd go the extent of…"
Yumi, who had known about the letters, had contacted Tsutako and asked if the photographer-turned-art-professor could help her turning them into posters. The architect, then reached out to Sei in hopes she could sweet-talk someone in her marketing department to help them set up the projectors. The motion detectors were installed by one of Yumi's friends who was a contractor.
"Did you write them?!"
"Y—yes…"
At least 15 letters out of the innumerous written to Shizuka were displayed on the wall, and Noriko took her time to read them all; carefully, soaking in all of the sorrow and love which was plastered across Shimako's handwriting. When she was finished, she looked at Shimako again, "How bad did it hurt?"
There was a split second when Shimako opened her mouth to answer, but refrained from words. She, instead, walked toward Noriko then lifted one of her long sleeves and turned her left wrist upward.
"It was my first Saturday in the Convent. The first Saturday I wouldn't be able to spend with you." Noriko reached forward and held on to Shimako's hand while her fingers ran across the scar.
That day Shimako had packed her bags and had decided she was going straight to Noriko's house, when she finally realized how much damage she had done. "I knew you wouldn't forgive me, even if I begged you. I had realized I had nothing to live for anymore." Shimako had already in her heart renounced the path she though was hers from the beginning, though "I had no home to go back to because I had destroyed your heart."
"Shimako…"
"I hope one day I can make you understand that I am so sorry for not being strong when I needed to be. But I hope you also realize that loving you is inevitable."
Grasping the concept of love had always been difficult, but Noriko knew from the beginning that her feelings toward Shimako were true. The younger of the Gigantea sisters had always had a strong resolve, a great understanding of her own feelings, her wants and her needs. Nevertheless, the cracks in Noriko's determination, all of her fears and doubts streamed from one singular source: Todou Shimako. A young Noriko never feared Shimako's rejection, it wasn't the denial of her love that scared her, it was not being able to be around the blonde that brought Noriko to her knees and silenced the girl. Although the two women had expressed with –subtle– actions the degree of their affection toward one another, the words that could have once bound the hearts together were neglected for years until Noriko spilled them forth the night before Shimako left for the Cloister.
"What if…" Noriko started, "What if I told you that a million butterflies want to escape from my chest right now?"
"I'd tell you to let them because they belong in my heart," Shimako smiled.
Noriko brought Shimako's wrist to her lips and ever so softly kissed the decade-old scar. Even before the brunette was completely finished with the endearing gesture, Shimako had already closed the distance between her own lips and Noriko's, capturing the younger professor's mouth in hers with all the care in the world. But Noriko wanted more, and Shimako was more than willing to give whatever the brunette asked of her. When Noriko's tongue finally parted Shimako's lips, the blonde finally felt as if she could press on as well. And pressing on she did, telling Noriko, without words, that, that kiss conveyed a love which withstood so many years of tribulations, uncertainties and a distance the size of the Atlantic Ocean. Though, it also carried the sensibility and the strength of a Lillian lady.
The brunette was methodical; a bottom lip biter who architected subtle pauses, which allowed Shimako to lead her own exploration with much detail. Noriko breathed in Shimako's sighs, breathed out Shimako's name, all the while studying with lips and tongue, every inch of a mouth that belonged to her from the start. A sturdy arm wrapped around Shimako's waist while the other hand found the softness of a neck, right below the ear.
Between smiles and gasps, Noriko and Shimako tried to convey their feelings through the most delicate yet passionate of gestures. As Shimako's lips danced slowly against Noriko's, the older woman's arms enveloped and brought Noriko closer to her and even then Shimako wanted more; with all of her heart the blonde wanted to abate both the physical and the emotional distance between their hearts.
It was one kiss, one long, awaited, dreamed of for so many years, forgotten and then remembered, then forgotten again then cursed and wanted yet again with even more fervor, kiss. One kiss that had ignited a flame subsided for years but never extinguished, and that flame at that particular moment, burned ever so bright. Perhaps, brighter than the two women had ever dared to imagine it could be. One thing both Noriko and Shimako knew: that moment, inside the Rose Mansion, with no witnesses but those walls, Noriko and Shimako felt as if they were 17 again. That's how it should've felt back then: the butterflies, the hesitant touches and the crimson hue that painted their cheeks.
In the silence of the Rose Mansion, with lips still connected, Shimako's whisper, "…ve you," echoed loudly within Noriko's mind. The younger woman ceased the endearing gesture she had commenced in order to look into two pools of grey,
"Shimako…"
Straightening her own back and clutching both of Noriko's hands, Shimako cleaned her throat, "I love you," she whispered again, the latter time, much stronger than the first.
Three words Noriko longed to hear from Shimako for more than ten years. Three words she never thought she'd hear from the blonde who was then standing in front of her, with a worried frown and questioning eyes that couldn't find a specific part of Noriko's face to focus on.
"Shimako…" Noriko breathed out for the nth time that night. The name rolled off her tongue leaving the sweetest taste in the young woman's mouth.
"Shi-ma-ko," Noriko sounded out, "…right now, those three syllables, together, resonate in my heart like the most beautiful symphony I have ever heard. There were deep flats and high sharps before, a cacophony of feelings. But right now, those three syllables… your soft hands, and eyes, and lips… I've been waiting for this melody to come together ever since my eyes fell upon you so many years ago just outside these doors, Todou Shimako. For so long I was scared to say this… and when I did I was not lying but I was also desperate, my timing was wrong. Tonight, though, I hope and pray that you can understand me… I love you, Shi-ma-ko. I always have. I don't think I can ever stop."
"…"
Shimako wrapped her arms around Noriko's waist. Resting her forehead against the brunette's she whispered, "I think I have fallen for you yet again."
00xx00
A few seconds after Shimako entered Sei's car, the other door opened and closed.
"No way!" Sei let out a very un-Sei-like squeal.