Chapter Three
The darkness followed Miyuki in to the bedroom that night. She had not been alone for years; yes, he'd turned out to be a bastard but the shock of Gregory leaving still left her feeling alone in the dark once more. Miyuki thought back over the years to when she might be upset at Miator and Shizuma would come to her in the night and comfort her, hold her until the tears turned to dreams. But this time instead of Shizuma being there for her it was Tamao. And Tamao was a stranger. The younger woman kept to her side of the bed while Miyuki kept to hers and silently the tears of sadness rolled down Miyuki's face.
But she could still hear crying, soft sniffles from time to time. She turned her head and lay in the dark intensity listening. She rolled over. Tamao was her side facing her and her wet eyes held starpoints of light. Upon seeing the now grown woman's face that she'd known so well at the hill, Miyuki broke down only to suddenly find Tamao's arms wrapped around her as she comforted a lost friend.
---ooo---
The morning started badly for Shizuma. And early. The phone woke her up. Still tired and moving slowly she answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Shizuma," came the reply from a deep male voice. Shizuma recognized Miyuki's father.
"How are you doing Mr. Rokujō?"
"I'm doing fine. Shizuma, would you please do me a favor and tell Miyuki she doesn't have to worry about the house or Gregory any more. It's all taken care of, things are finished here, the lawyers have tidied things up and my princess child is free once more."
Shizuma's heart soared. Miyuki would be happy. The door to that disastrous room in her life could finally be locked.
"Sure not a problem Daniel, and thank you very much. I know she will be pleased to hear it. We are going skiing so I think I will let her know during the trip."
"Shizuma my dear, have fun and be gentle to Miyuki. She has had it tough these last three years. Thank you and have fun on your trip I have to go back to the office now so be safe and take care."
"You needn't worry Daniel, I will handle it out here. You relax, she's in safe hands here. Don't worry she will be fine. Miyuki is stronger then she looks, she will be okay. Your princess will be back to her old self after this trip I guarantee that."
"Thanks and have a good day," Daniel Rokujō said as he hung up the phone.
Shizuma put down the phone and looked at the sleeping person beside her. The phone conversation hadn't woken her. The older woman sat for a moment just looking at the peace on the face of the girl next to her. Dragging herself out of bed was always difficult, especially when she'd much rather stay and look at this view. Sighing, she got out of bed and went to make coffee and breakfast. Today was a good day to make Nagisa's favorite breakfast. Shizuma knew how to get her princess up in the morning with little or no rebuttal. The smell of fresh bread and bacon always woke up Nagisa. Better even than kisses.
Well, maybe not. Almost as good as kisses, Shizuma smiled to herself as humming softly she went to work early this morning to get her plans underway.
Nagisa was dreaming of warm loaves like hills, soft and fresh and white, their amazing scent filling her lungs. She drew in a big breath and opened her eyes. She sniffed. Hm, she wasn't dreaming. Bacon. And bread, freshly baked. I know what you're doing, Shizuma, she thought. Pushing aside her lovely dream she arose from the depths of her slumber. With sleep still in her eyes she rolled out of bed. Walking down the stairs she stopped in the archway to the kitchen. Shizuma in her morning gown was there making breakfast, the sun glistening off the silver hair of the woman she loved, the smile on her face shining like a rainbow of pure happiness. Nagisa was still young and her love was that of a young person, innocent, strong and deep.
Shizuma turned away to work at the far counter and Nagisa slowly walked up behind her. Shizuma stopped working, her hands frozen. She felt Nagisa's breath as it folded against her neck, driving warm tingles down her spine. Nagisa lifted her hands and placed them on her lover's waist, slowly sliding them around, hugging her stomach and resting her face on Shizuma's back. The older woman slowly turned her head to face the pretty red-haired woman behind her only to find herself being kissed. The kiss was slow and romantic, surprising Shizuma a little with it's early morning passion. Shizuma buckled slightly before regaining her footing and resting back on the counter.
Nagisa ended the kiss and giggled, her innocent sweet laughter filling the kitchen.
"Ha! I told you I would get you and this is only the beginning," Nagisa giggled as she slowly released her arms from Shizuma's waist. Only to be suddenly embraced again and bought to her knees from the intensity of the second kiss by Shizuma.
"You have to get better then that my dear," the ash-grey taller girl whispered, her mouth leaving Nagisa filled with a breathy urgency. Nagisa let her hands slide down Shizuma's waist slowly cupping and squeezing her rear. Nagisa catching Shizuma off balance pulled her with her and brought her to the kitchen table turning the older woman around and pressing her back down onto the surface. Nagisa lay partly on top of Shizuma and looked into her beautiful green eyes, entranced as she again slowly kissed Shizuma's neck bringing a small moan of life and love from her partner.
"Hmm, don't. The bread will burn…" Shizuma whispered.
"Let it burn," Nagisa answered, her lips kissing up her lovers neck and finding her mouth again. Shizuma agreed… the bread could burn. This was much more important.
---ooo---
Tamao got up early certain that everyone was asleep as she headed down the stairs. Upon reaching the kitchen archway however she stopped, stunned to see Shizuma pressed against the kitchen table with Nagisa on top.
"Excuse me but I think your bread is burning Shizuma," Tamao announced in a blasé tone.
Nagisa blushed a furious red, as deep as her hair as soon as she heard Tamao. Preoccupied with her own important little world she had forgotten they had guests. Nagisa almost leaped off the woman under her and spluttered something about taking a shower.
"Don't use all the hot water. And breakfast will be done soon." Shizuma spoke softly watching Nagisa's back as the red-head went out. She went back to work on her breakfast for everyone. Shizuma turned while kneading some extra dough and looked at Tamao. The blue-haired girl looked a little beleaguered this morning. Hair matted to skin and a little worse for wear as Shizuma bought her a cup a coffee.
"Drink this."
Tamao sighed heavily andlooked at Shizuma
"Why do you guys always have it so hot in that room? I feel as if I went swimming already and I just got up. Hope Nagisa doesn't take too long - I feel urh, slimy."
Shizuma set the cup of coffee down on the table.
"Its not that hot in here. We don't even have the heat on yet. Maybe it's just you and Miyuki? She was a little hot natured in school if I remember correctly. Miyuki is like a little fire in the bed."
Oh really? And since when did you know Miyuki was like that? Tamao thought, sipping coffee.
"About Miyuki… uh and her husband… is this the right thing to do?" Tamao shrugged as she held her coffee mug.
"Yes we need to get her mind off Gregory and on to something else. Besides it's been five years or more since we all got to do something together. Yet in this time I have heard you'd been with – what? How many girlfriends have you had since the Hill?" Shizuma teased as she knew Tamao would have a come-back.
Shizuma noticed that Tamao was not laughing and her gaze had lifted to something past Shizuma's shoulder. Turning her head slightly Shizuma could see Miyuki standing in the kitchen archway. The older girl wore pajamas crumpled from sleep, the shirt hanging off one shoulder and partly unbuttoned. The dark blue pajamas looked great on Miyuki, her pale ivory skin showing at her throat. Miyuki rubbed sleep from her eyes and then smiled, a look that radiated throughout out the whole room.
"So what do we have here? A breakfast meeting and no one wakes me up?" Miyuki laughed as she made her way to the kitchen table.
"We were just talking about how hot it was in your room last night," Tamao said.
The oven timer rang and Shizuma returned to it and took out the next batch of breakfast loaves. The fine smell of fresh-baked bread filled the room and Miyuki sat down hungrier than she thought.
"It wasn't hot at all. It was comfy, like a cloud all fluffy and soft. The night was nice and quiet you could actually hear the crickets outside the window in the flower bed."
Tamao sighed. "Like a cloud all fluffy and soft" – hm that would have been me. "That cricket and his friend early bird should go sleep too! Uhng… so early in the morning… chirping and screeching! I never thought a cricket could be in stereo but he was way loud. Little demon of nature, arghhhhh and that owl who doesn't give a… Oh, never mind, I am going to shower. Nagisa should be done by now."
Tamao left the kitchen in a hurry. Miyuki and Shizuma shared a look then made small-talk. Minutes later Nagisa returned to the kitchen wearing jeans and a thin v-neck white sweater and sat at the table to join the other girls. Shizuma got up to make the final touches to the breakfast - bacon, eggs, fresh bread and orange juice. Nagisa had found this American style breakfast while on vacation in the States last year. They'd had fun with Hikari and Amane on their horse farm they had bought in the state of Kentucky and these warm fresh American breakfasts appealed to them both. They rarely ate miso and rice and fish these days.
One of the farm hands was an older guy who was a cook he had made breakfast everyday on the farm for years. From that time Nagisa had always enjoyed the American style breakfasts. The calories were bad for her but working out alongside Shizuma in the gym more than made up for it.
"Nagisa you better eat quick or it will be gone once these others find out how good it is." Shizuma sauntered from the kitchen to the living room to sit upon the couch. Shizuma rarely if ever ate a sit-down breakfast. That came from having to hurry early in the mornings while she was at college.
---ooo---
Tamao was lost in the hot water in the shower, thinking about last night. What was that last night? Miyuki is hurting I know but that was not the Miyuki I knew in school. She was the rock at school. No one saw her hurting or in any kind of pain. But last night I saw a different side of her. Miyuki's tears bought back a lot of memories of the past. But what happened was not just her, it was me. What am I doing? Am I this confused? What is going on? She sighed, got out and dried herself off.
---ooo---
The whole winter cabin deal had caused a three-week debate between Shizuma and Nagisa. Well, 'debate' was a mild way of saying it. Nagisa had a passion for winter sport while Shizuma hated it. But Nagisa had so much wanted the house in Switzerland. Shizuma fought hard not to buy a house in the middle of nowhere. Worries about being cut off concerned her. But in the end she lost to her young lover. They had been to it once so far and it was miserable for Shizuma. Three days of being cold but then again she had never seen Nagisa so happy as when she was there in the blankets with her in front of the fireplace.
All the girls sat enjoying a cup of tea after Shizuma and Nagisa had finished packing for the trip. There was not too much to pack considering Nagisa had bought ski equipment last year for them both and stored it at the cabin and Shizuma had sent on ahead last week instructions for the caretaker to stock up with fuel, food and fresh bedding. Shizuma awoke from her reverie to the sound of a car horn. She got up and glanced out the window.
"Come on then guys, taxi's here!"