A/N: Did I ever mention how much I love receiving reviews? Be it good or bad, I love them all!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sasameki Koto.

Sunday flew by and the happy couple had almost forgotten about the incident on Saturday afternoon. Almost.

"You really don't have to follow me, Sumi-chan." Ushio said with her head bowed in shame.

"What're you talking about?" Sumika grinned, her head held high as she walked with Ushio into the busy secondary school. Teenagers in uniforms watched them with curious eyes before talking amongst themselves. This only caused Ushio to lower her head even more and Sumika's grin to widen. They weren't holding hands or anything, but Sumika's over-protective, silver eyes told them all they needed to know.

"Okay, I'm here, you can go now, Sumi-chan!" Ushio muttered, standing outside her homeroom class and pushing against Sumika's arm, but the woman remained rooted to the floor. She scoured the area like a scout on duty until she was satisfied.

"I'll see you after school." Sumika grinned, patting Ushio on her head and purposely messing up her neat blonde hair.

"Sumi-chan!" Ushio pouted, keeping her voice low but already dreading the rest of the day without her protective lover, "Go already!"

Smiling at her flustered face, Sumika shoved her hands into her pockets, looked around and after making sure no one was looking, she dove down and pecked Ushio's lips.

It was so fast that Ushio remained dazed, the feeling of Sumika's lips on hers lingering much longer than usual. When she snapped out of her stupor, she watched Sumika stroll down the corridor, towering over all the secondary students and many male teachers.

When Sumika sent her a teasing wink and mouthed the words 'I love you', before disappearing around a corner, Ushio took a deep, deep breath and slapped her cheeks with both hands, "I have to focus!"

Forcing her blush away, Ushio marched into the classroom, ready to tackle the first day of the week head on when the whole class exploded with noise, clapping and hooting, asking who that 'tall, dark, handsome woman' was.

"Quiet down!" Ushio tried in vain to settle her students.

At the front entrance to the school, Sumika leaned against the concrete wall as students rushed past her, chanting, "I'm so late. I'm so late. I'm so late!"

She smiled, recalling her high school days where she was constantly fawning over Ushio and with the help of Tomoe and Miyako, they did so many stupid things to help the violent black belt become cuter.

"You know, when you smile like that, you look like an old man reminiscing his youthful days." a dishevelled Sanraku Minako laughed, both arms were carrying bags, files and a 3D model of an atom.

Sumika focused on the messy looking woman and smiled, "Just the person I was looking for."

"Oh?" Minako raised an eyebrow, "I swear I didn't do anything to Ushio!"

"It's not that," Sumika took out a name card and offered it to Minako, "My mobile number. I would really appreciate it if you could help me keep an eye on Kazama? After Saturday... I'm worried about leaving her alone."

"Did you find out what happened?" Minako stepped closer and gestured for Sumika to put the name card on top of her pile of stuff.

"She won't talk to me about it, and I haven't brought it up either." Sumika sighed.

"Well, you should! I didn't see much but one moment, she and that creep were having a stare down and next thing I know, Ushio's clawing her way over the back of the couch and racing out the door like my cat when I mention the word 'bath'."

"Creep?" Sumika repeated.

"Yeah, this new lab technician. I do not ever want to be in the same room as him." Minako shivered exaggeratedly.

"Any chance he's a man with black hair and burn scars all over his face?"

"That's the one. Have you seen him? I can understand why Ushio just bailed like that, I don't mean to be judgmental but his face is just plain scary, and when he smiles, he looks like he wants to eat you alive! Not to mention his crazy eyes." Minako paused, "Hey, what happened to your cheek?"

Sumika's hand touched her right cheek that still sported 2 faded pink lines, "Karate practice. Accidentally let myself get nicked in the face. Anyway, I think you should go in. Don't want you to be any later than you already are."

"Holy shit! You're right!" Minako started to run up the stairs but she stopped when she reached the top, "Don't worry about Ushio, I'll take care of her! If that creep tries to go near her, I'll show him who's boss!"

Sumika waved as Minako rushed to her class.

"Guess there's nothing left I can do." Sumika walked towards her car when she felt eyes on her back. Turning around, she didn't see anyone nearby but couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

Disregarding the thought, she got into her car and drove off, not too surprised when, just before she turned the corner, saw the same man with the psychotic leer gracing his burned lips staring at her through her rear view mirror.

Fighting the urge to turn her car around and confront him, she continued driving towards the heart of Tokyo.

However, all day long, she was worried sick about Ushio. She couldn't work, couldn't focus, couldn't do anything as all she could think of was Ushio's fear stricken face and that school technician.

"Maybe I'll give her a call... no, she's probably having class now." Sumika pocketed her phone, "It's only a few more hours before the end of the school day. I'll call her then."

Sumika kept her phone with her at all times, as if she was expecting something to happen and was waiting for Minako or Ushio to call her. She didn't like that feeling of anxiety so when, in the middle of a meeting, her phone vibrated in her pocket, she didn't hesitate to excuse herself, instantly saying there was an emergency and storming out of the room.

She glanced at the caller ID as she gathered her things, shoving them fiercely into her briefcase. Her heart rate quickened when the words, "Unknown caller" flashed across her screen. Keeping a level head even as her stomach churned with dread, she answered her phone while sprinting towards the basement where her car was parked, "What happened?"

Minako's worried voice replied, "I-I'm s-sorry, U-Ushio-"

"What happened to Kazama?" Sumika reached her car and screeched out of the parking lot.

"I-I don't know. She's locked herself in her classroom and refuses to let anyone go in! The Principal is trying to talk to her right now, but thing's don't look good. You should come over as soon as possible, if there's anyone she'd listen to, it's you." Minako rushed to explain, stumbling over some of her words but Sumika understood clearly.

"I'm on my way. Until then, can you stay outside her classroom? Tell the Principal Kazama's not feeling well or something, make up a medical excuse. Please. I'll be there in 15 minutes. Until then, stay with Kazama and tell her I'll be with her soon."

"Okay. I will!"

"Thank you, Minako-san. Thank you." Sumika said just before hanging up, tossing her phone to the passenger seat. With both hands tightening on the steering wheel, Sumika raced across town, breaking the speed limit but she didn't care. She just hoped that no police cars would catch her.

"Where is she?" Sumika demanded when she neared a group of teachers and nosy students.

"Everyone go back to your classes." Sumika heard some teachers say, but none of the students budged.

When she got to the front where the Principal and Minako were talking to a classroom door, she swivelled on her heel and ordered the students, "You heard your teachers, go back to class! Right now!"

Maybe it was the severity of her voice, maybe it was her volume, or maybe it was the intense look in her eyes, but all the students dispersed immediately, scampering and shoving each other down the corridor.

"Thank you... but who might you be?" a teacher asked.

Ignoring him, Sumika walked up to the Principal and said firmly, "I'll handle things here."

The scowling woman stared Sumika up and down, "I will not tolerate this nonsense. Once on a Saturday afternoon meeting I can overlook, but in the middle of the day while students are still present?"

"I understand completely. This won't happen again. Just let me speak to her alone." Sumika met the woman's scowl with a glare of her own.

"Very well. You should take her to a psychologist, just in case. I can't have a mentally unstable teacher as a member of my staff."

A nerve bulged but Sumika breathed deeply, calming herself, "If Kazama is sick, I'll be sure to hand in her resignation letter first thing tomorrow."

"Fine by me. Just get her out of here before school ends. I don't want to have to answer to parents."

"I will." Sumika bored holes in the Principal's ramrod straight back as she and the whole group of teachers walked away. She watched them leave to their own classes when she spotted someone observing her from afar. She clenched her fists, glowering at the man's hungry eyes. She was about to threaten him when he retreated, his sneer disappearing around the corner.

"Do you need anything?" Minako asked cautiously, pulling Sumika away from her murderous thoughts.

"Yeah. I need the files for that school technician. Or at least a picture," Sumika softened her expression to look at Minako, "Can you do that for me?"

"Right now?" Minako asked, a little surprised.

"If possible."

"I think I can do it, actually." Minako's face lit up with her cheery smile, "I'll bring you a photocopy of whatever I can find on him!"

"Thank you." Sumika waited until she was gone and the corridor was completely silent before she approached the door, knocked gently and whispered in her softest voice, "Kazama? Can you open the door for me?"

She could hear faint footsteps from the other side before a muffled voice asked, "Sumi-chan?"

"I'm here."

"Are you alone?"

"Yes."

Slowly, almost shyly, the door peeked open and teary brown eyes gazed up at Sumika who offered a comforting smile, stepping closer. When she entered the room, she closed and locked the door behind her.

Ushio immediately flung herself at Sumika who pulled her close. And just like on Saturday evening, Ushio cried into Sumika's chest while the other woman offered her the comfort she needed desperately.

They stayed like that for several minutes. Sumika listened with a sore heart as Ushio's sobs grew softer and softer.

"I know this is selfish to ask, but I want you to quit. I can't allow you to work in the same place as that lunatic." Sumika said.

Ushio pulled away to stare fearfully up at Sumika, "You know about him?"

"Minako and I talked this morning. She said he was the one who made you dash out of your Saturday meeting, and I can only guess that he's the reason you're locked up in here." Sumika smiled slightly, "I can understand why you're afraid of him, I mean he is plenty scary looking, you never know what he's thinking when he looks at you with such crazy eyes."

Ushio's eyes lost their emotion and she dropped her gaze. She mumbled something under her breath and moved closer.

Frowning, Sumika pushed Ushio away so that they were staring at each other's eyes and asked seriously, "There's more to this than just his scary appearance." she didn't say it as a question, but as a statement, and when Ushio broke eye contact, Sumika interpreted that as a yes.

"What happened?" Sumika started to question Ushio, "What did he do to make you so terrified of him? Did he hurt you? Do you know him from somewhere? Kazama, look at me!"

Shaking her head fiercely, Ushio tried to push Sumika away but the taller woman refused to let go or give in, "Kazama, I need to know otherwise I can't help you!" Ushio continued to retreat, frustrating Sumika even more, "Please Kazama, I want to help you but how can I when I don't even know how you and him are associated? Just tell me what happened, please Kazama."

But Ushio wasn't listening. She had both palms planted flat against her ears as she continued to shake her head vigorously, blonde hair flying all over.

"Kazama, I need to know. Please, I'm begging you. I can't keep going on like this, can't keep pretending to be happy when you're suffering like this! Please Kazama, please."

"He-" Ushio faltered, her eyes screwed shut as if trying to block out a mental image or, in this case, a memory.

"Keep going, Kazama."

Ushio opened her eyes and stared up at Sumika with petrified bronze eyes, "I can't. I just can't. It's... I don't want to remember."

A knock interrupted her and Sumika nearly tore the door from its hinges, roaring, "What?"

"I found the documents..." Minako shrunk back.

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to scream. Thank you, Minako-san." Sumika accepted the brown folder with a few pieces of paper inside.

"Is there any thing else you need?" Minako looked past Sumika to smile and wave at Ushio who waved back weakly.

"No." Sumika scanned through the documents briefly.

"I have to get back to class then... Will Ushio be okay?"

"I think I'll be taking her... away from here. At least for a while." Sumika looked over her shoulder and her smile faded, "I don't think she'll be working here much longer."

"Oh." Minako sighed, "Then I guess I should say bye?"

Stepping aside, Sumika said, "Go ahead."

Minako didn't hesitate when she enveloped Ushio in a hug, "It's been great working with you, Ushio-sensei! We're still friends so don't you dare forget me!" she teased and Ushio smiled feebly, "I'll be off then! See you around, Murasame's!"

Sumika frowned and grumbled to herself as Minako waved and ran off to her classroom. When she was gone, Sumika turned to smile at her lover, "Shall we go home now?"

Ushio nodded, moving on autopilot to get her belongings. After a while, Sumika went to help her.

"Are you hungry?" Sumika asked when they reached their apartment, "I could-"

She stopped talking when their bedroom door slammed shut. Sighing, she went to knock on the closed door, "Kazama, I'm coming in."

Inside, Ushio was curled into a tight ball, completely covered by the thick blanket. Sitting at the edge, Sumika sighed again.

"I don't want to talk about it, Sumi-chan." Ushio mumbled.

"Kazama-"

"You don't need to know!" Ushio raised her voice, "It doesn't concern you."

"It doesn't?" Sumika sounded amused, but in reality, she was mad. Mad that Ushio refused to tell her why she was so affected by that man. Mad that she didn't have a clue about something involving Ushio. Mad that she didn't confront the school technician sooner.

"No, it doesn't." Ushio grumbled.

"You know, last time I checked, we both promised that there'd be no secrets between us. That's one thing, but twice now, twice, I had to watch you break down in front of me and feel completely clueless and helpless. So, contrary to what you believe, I think it does concern me." Sumika replied, unable to keep her anger from seeping into her voice.

"You don't need to know." Ushio remained persistent.

"What do you expect me to do then? Remain ignorant as you suffer by yourself? Continue to comfort you without the slightest idea why you're crying in the first place? You think it's easy for me to watch you tremble in my arms? You know I hate it the most when I see you cry, but if you think I don't need to know. Fine. I won't ask you again." Sumika got up to leave but fingers wrapped around her wrist, halting her movements.

"Don't go." Ushio sniffled, "Please don't go."

"I can't help it, Kazama." Sumika turned and fell back onto the bed, "I can't stand watching you bear this burden alone."

"I know... but..." Ushio snivelled, fresh tears leaking from her swollen eyes.

Feeling as if her heart was being crushed, Sumika reached forward and wiped away Ushio's tears with her thumbs. She left her hands holding Ushio's wet cheeks and leaned forward to whisper, "I'm sorry for being so harsh. You don't have to tell me now. Get some rest and we'll talk when you're feeling better."

Ushio's eyes widened when Sumika apologized, "No, you don't need to say sorry. It's ju-"

"Okay, okay. Enough talking." Sumika pulled back and started to push Ushio back, "Sleep. I know you haven't been sleeping too well since Saturday."

Ushio fell back onto the soft mattress. Sumika tucked the covers over her body and smiled warmly. Bronze eyes stared into grey ones before they moved downwards to rest on the slightly swollen lines running down Sumika's cheek. Scratches she inflicted on her beloved Sumika.

"I was 7 years old when it happened." Ushio suddenly said, sitting up and moving back to lean on the headboard, "My parents were still alive then and I was attending elementary school here in Tokyo due to my dad's work. We were only meant to be here for 6 months, but in that 6 months, every thing I believed in until then was taken away from me when I met that man."

Sumika climbed onto the bed to sit next to Ushio, taking her small hands into her larger ones.

Ushio took in a shaky breath before continuing, "One day, I walked home from school with my brother. My dad was working and my mother was at the neighbour's house. My brother and I had the house to ourselves when we realised we were hungry. He offered to go out to buy some snacks and I agreed. Even though I was only 7, I was independent enough to stay home alone. He left to the supermarket just downstairs."

Ushio leaned into Sumika, chewing her lower lip as she forced herself to remember, "I heard a knock on the door. I assumed it was my brother who forgot his wallet or something, and without thinking, I opened the door and there he was, staring down at me. He hadn't been burnt then, but every thing else was almost the same as now - messy black hair, silver fillings, yellow teeth, insane eyes and a demon's smile.

"I was frozen with fear as he casually walked in and locked the door behind him. I couldn't find the strength to run, to scream, to say something, any thing. He smiled at me with the same hungry expression and at the age of 7, I was paralysed with fear. We were in the kitchen when it happened. I didn't even know what he was doing at that age, all I could think of was the pain. It hurt so badly. My insides felt like they were being torn apart. I screamed and screamed, but he would smile even wider and go even faster. I can't even begin to describe how excruciating it was, in fact, I can't even put it into words."

Ushio's voice cracked and a steady flow of tears ran down her face, dripping off her chin and soaking the blanket below.

"It was my brother who rescued me. He was just a young boy then, but after he got home to find me screaming my lungs out, he pulled the man off me. In my attempts to get up, I accidentally opened the oven door. The heat escaped, I hadn't even known the oven was on, but my brother used that opportunity and he kicked the man so that his head entered the oven. My brother came to carry me and ran out of the house, going immediately to our mother. She called the police and an ambulance. I was brought to the hospital while that man was arrested. While recovering in the hospital, I forced myself to forget and for many, many years, I did. Until-" her voice cracked and a sob tore free from her throat.

"Until you saw him again on Saturday." Sumika finished. As Ushio talked, she had slowly inched towards Sumika so that now she was curled up in Sumika's lap, weeping.

Sumika didn't know what to say, but her emotions were clear. She saw red as she thought of that marred faced rapist. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms as she held her sobbing lover with tensed arms.

Her body shook with rage while Ushio quivered like a leaf in a hurricane. Tears of her own burned trails down her face and she locked her jaw to stop her teeth from grinding against each other.

In her heart, she swore that she would make him pay for what he did to Ushio. Her Ushio.

Later that day, Sumika and Ushio, both much calmer than before, were snuggled up to each other on the small couch in their little home. The TV was switched on, but neither were watching as they were both lost in their own thoughts. Empty bowls sat on the coffee table in front of them, along with an empty sake bottle.

"Have I ever told you how big your hands are?" Ushio hummed happily, staring at Sumika's hand as if it were a new toy.

"Every time you're drunk, yes." Sumika sighed contentedly, her cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol. They rarely drank any alcohol due to Ushio's low tolerance to the bitter fluid, but after Ushio cried her tear ducts dry, Sumika turned to sake to hopefully elevate their moods. So far, she was successful.

"I mean, they're so much bigger than mine! See?" Ushio placed her hand against Sumika's and giggled when she lost her balance and fell into Sumika's lap.

"What're you doing, Kazama?" Sumika laughed as Ushio continued to play with her hands, her blood-shot eyes shining with innocence and her puffy cheeks tinted red.

"Nothing~" Ushio sung, her head resting on Sumika's lap.

"You know, I was thinking... We should make a trip to Umegae." Sumika said, stroking Ushio's hair and gazing down at her intoxicated partner.

"Ume? We should! I wanna meet my nephew again! He's soooo cute, Sumi-chan! And there's your funny dad too! And Tomoe-chan and Miyako-chan and..." Ushio frowned, momentarily forgetting what she was saying earlier.

"Yeah, everyone's still back in Ume. How about it, Kazama?"

"I'd love to! A long drive down with Sumi-chan and then we'll get to relax in your room in your hugeeeee house again! It'll be super fun!" Ushio beamed like a little child.

"I'll ask you again when you're sober."

"Why? I'm perfectly fine right now!" Ushio pouted cutely and Sumika chuckled in response.

"Sure, sure."

Silence reigned with only soft background noise emanating from the television. Ushio went back to busying herself with Sumika's hands while the latter stared at the TV, her thoughts elsewhere.

"Sumi-chan?" Ushio called, catching the woman's attention, "You're upset. Why?"

"Because I feel helpless, Kazama." Sumika admitted, knowing Ushio wouldn't remember any of this tomorrow, "I wished I met you earlier, so that maybe things would've been different for you."

Ushio pulled herself up to straddle Sumika's thighs, her arms looped around Sumika's neck and she rested her forehead against her lovers, "You can't change the past, Sumi-chan. I regret not noticing your feelings earlier, but since there's nothing I can do about that, I look forward to the future, our future, and make the most out of every day I have with you."

"Our future?" Sumika echoed with a goofy grin plastered to her face as the words rolled off her tongue smoothly.

"Ours," Ushio nodded, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Sumi-chan. I'm too scared to even consider a future without you in it."

Sumika felt emotion bubble up in her chest, as her smile grew wider, "Are you happy with how we are now?"

"I don't care about labels like girlfriends, partners or husband and wife. So long as I get to be with you, I'm happy."

"You're surprisingly cheesy when you're drunk." Sumika chuckled to hide her blush, her hands moving in small circles on Ushio's back.

"I told you, I'm not drunk!" Ushio smashed their lips together with more force than usual, her tongue forcing its way into Sumika's willing mouth. Sumika groaned into the kiss when Ushio pressed her body against hers, slender fingers ghosting up and down her side before reaching under Sumika's shirt to caress the tanned skin beneath.

"Time for bed." Sumika breathed when they parted.

After Ushio told her about her childhood, Sumika began to feel apprehension at the prospect of touching Ushio intimately before they talked more about their situation. And with Ushio not completely sober, there was no way she could let herself take 'advantage' of the woman, regardless of the fact that she knew the clearheaded Ushio wouldn't have minded.

"I don't wanna." Ushio whined, fighting half-heartedly when Sumika picked her up and carried her to their room.

"Wash up, I'll be with you once I clear up outside." Sumika said sternly, depositing a sulking Ushio on the toilet floor. Ushio started to complain, but she did as Sumika told her to anyway.

The dark-haired woman re-entered her bedroom when the living room was cleaned, only to find Ushio passed out on the bed. A warm smile graced her lips and she carefully tucked Ushio under the covers before climbing in beside the snoozing woman.

"Sweet dreams, Kazama." Sumika whispered.

Just as her eyes closed, the face of the man she hated the most in this entire world appeared behind her eyelids and she felt her fury burn with renewed hatred. Breathing in Ushio's scent, she forced herself to calm down and try to get some rest.

But she couldn't as her mind was filled with images of his sinister grin and Ushio's petrified face. In the end, she gave up and spent the remainder of the night plotting various ways of revenge and visualising how she would make him suffer for what he did to Ushio.

The next morning, Ushio woke to an empty bed. She looked around again, her head pounding with a vicious headache, and searched for the tall, dark-haired woman she loved, but when she found nothing, she fell back onto the bed with a loud groan.

Seconds ticked by and she nursed her headache by massaging her temples with her knuckles.

"Sumi-chan..." Ushio grumbled. Maybe she was taking her lover for granted, but every time Ushio wakes up with a hangover, Sumika who had much, much higher alcohol tolerance, would always be right by her side with a glass of water and aspirin in hand. Yet, she was nowhere to be found.

Ushio then heard movement coming from the bathroom. She assumed it was Sumika and sat upright in bed, her smile widening, "Why didn't you answer when I called y-"

The words died in her throat as from behind the bathroom door, a man, about Sumika's height but was much older than the young woman, emerged with a murderous grin and psychotic black eyes.

Ushio froze.

Much like how she does every time she laid eyes on the man who violated her when she was only 7 years old.

"My dear, Ushio-chan. Where's your big, strong protector? You really thought she'd be able to protect you from me?" Akuma leered, taking purposefully slow steps towards the paralysed woman. His burned face looked grotesque as he tried to widen his grin, "I'm back. To finish what I started, and to repay the favour you did to my FACE!" he lunged and the breath Ushio was unknowingly holding escaped her throat in an earth-shattering howl.

Her eyes snapped open and she felt familiar arms looped around her body tightly. Her fingers were clutching cloth, tears poured down her face, sweat glistened across her forehead, her lips were parted, her teeth chattering, her hands quivering, her fingers and feet felt cold, her soul was empty as if the only thing present in her body was her thundering heart that thumped erratically in her hollow chest.

"It's okay, it's only a dream. Only a dream, Kazama. It's going to be alright. I'm here. I'm here for you." Sumika repeated again and again, gently rocking Ushio while hugging her fiercely.

Seconds turned into minutes and Ushio gradually calmed down, her tears stopped but she was left with a bad case of hiccups. Using her sleeve, Sumika delicately wiped away Ushio's cold sweat, trying to make her more comfortable.

"You okay?" Sumika whispered after Ushio quietened down.

"Mmhm."

"Would you like to go to Umegae? For the rest of the week or something?" Sumika asked.

"Wha- why?" Ushio looked up with confused, wet eyes.

"For a change of atmosphere. Here, it's just you and me. In Ume, we've got all our friends and family."

"But what about your work?"

"I can take a few days off. I'm still entitled to take leaves every once in a while you know?"

"Are you sure?"

"Hell yes. Let's get packed and we can leave right away! It's only a two hour drive."

"Erm... okay. "

"Alright." Sumika got out of bed and ran around their small room, preparing two luggage bags, before she picked out the clothes she wanted and Ushio filled her own bag with her clothes.

"Why did you want to go to Ume so suddenly?" Ushio asked from the passenger seat as Sumika cruised down the highway towards the little town of Umegae.

"We haven't been back in almost a year." Sumika turned to give Ushio a small smile.

"Are you sure that's all?" Ushio leaned over and placed a hand on Sumika's denim covered thigh.

Sumika shivered, feeling heat gather in her lower regions from such a simple touch, "I thought a more familiar and home-y surrounding would do us some good."

"Is that really all?" Ushio's hand travelled higher, enjoying how her lover reacted by blushing fiercely.

"I want you to be around people you trust." Sumika admitted just before Ushio's hand reached her crotch.

"Sumi-chan... I'm fine." Ushio left her hand where it was, "I have you and that's all I need."

"I just... I don't know what to do. I feel so useless. All I can do is be there for you and..."

"And that's all I need." Ushio leaned over the armrest between them and kissed her lover softly on her cheek.

Sumika could only smile bashfully, forcing herself to keep her eyes trained on the road, "Regardless, let's enjoy ourselves back home."

"Mmhm." Ushio laid back into her seat. Switching on the radio to classical songs, she placed both hands in her lap and enjoyed the drive.

A/N: Soo? how'd you like/hate it? Let me know by leaving me a review! 3