OMG I'm so sorry I that I have taken so long to update! *bows* Please forgive me! *clears throat* But um this is the beginning of the next arch, which will be announced in the next chapter…I think. But anyway, I hope you guys aren't mad at me heehee and don't forget to read and review~!
Strawberry Panic-Episode 16:
One Month Later
Nagisa sat on the couch in the living room, her person slumped over the tan piece of furniture. She stared blankly at the television, lazily flicking through the channels with her remote. The images reflected in her brown eyes as she changed them, an array of color disrupting the natural color of her eyes.
She sighed audibly as she finally stopped changing the channels, finally settling with watching a show called iCarly. The redhead watched as the three teenagers performed crazy stunts and had fun on their webcast. She chuckled when Sam used Freddie's straw to pick her ear and then put it back in his glass.
Poor Freddie! Sam is so mean.
Shizuma walked into the room and took a seat next to Nagisa, lifting an eyebrow at her girlfriend's choice of entertainment. ["So, iCarly huh?"]
Nagisa glanced over at the silver-haired woman, ["Well I think the show is funny and I have the say that Carly, Freddie and Sam are adorable!"]
Shizuma smiled and shook her head, ["Yeah but I prefer Drake and Josh a little more, Josh was hilarious!"]
The redhead turned on the guide, ["That's coming on next."]
["Well I'll be sitting here for the next hour then."] Shizuma sank deeper into the sofa as she pulled her legs up to her chest. Just as the show went on commercial Shizuma's phone rang and she pulled it out of the pocket of her jogging pants. The silver-haired woman flipped it open without looking at the caller id.
"Hello Tanya."
"Hi Shizuma, how are you?"
Shizuma smiled slightly, "I'm fine…and you?"
"You know my usual pathetic self…"
Though Shizuma had forgiven the dark-haired woman over time, Tanya would still beat herself up. Shizuma hated the fact that Tanya resented herself and that even though Tanya played a part in the incident, everyone deserved a second chance. The issue was Tanya didn't even want to give herself a second chance; no all she wanted was to be hated by Shizuma and Nagisa. Of course the two women couldn't bring themselves to hate even if Shizuma was still untrusting of her friend.
Shizuma also worried about Tanya's well-being, she just didn't seem like herself anymore. The ex-Etoile had a feeling that Tanya's misery trailed deep beneath the "cheating" ordeal. She thought that everything started with Amber and her deceit which probably scarred Tanya deep, making her slowly fall into desolation.
"Tanya…"
"I'm sorry…don't listen to me…"
She had also started to apologize a lot for the smallest things. The russet-skinned woman must have felt like she had to atone, and by doing that she would apologize.
"You don't have to apologize…"
"I know…sorry…"
"Tanya!"
"Oh...I'm…never mind…I was calling to ask about the next presentation."
"Didn't you get the memo?"
Tanya sighed on the other line and then a groan followed it. "My computer crashed so I haven't been online at all…I just bought a new one yesterday."
"Oh well that must have sucked," Shizuma said with a frown.
Tanya chuckled, "Not really, I backed my files up…I just couldn't get a hold of a computer to finish some things up."
"Oh okay that's good, well the presentation isn't until next week so you should be okay."
"Oh thanks Shizuma, you're a lifesaver. Sorry for bothering you, I'll talk to you later."
"Tanya-"
"Bye."
Before Shizuma could say another word Tanya had hung up, leaving the silver-haired woman with an expression of confusion and frustration. She looked at her cellular phone for a moment before closing the shiny device and closing her eyes. She sighed deeply as she stuffed the phone back in her pocket and then opened her eyes again. Her golden orbs flashed to Nagisa for a moment and Nagisa shook her head.
["Ah, that must have been Tanya again…is she still apologizing all the time?]
Shizuma nodded slightly, her eyes now on the television. She wasn't really watching Drake and Josh anymore but she was thinking instead. She massaged her forehead as she leaned back, sinking into the cushions of the couch. Nagisa watched her girlfriend with curiosity as the sounds of the show filled the room. Her eyebrows furrowed as she wondered what was going on inside Shizuma's head, a small frown appearing on her face.
Shizuma blinked as she felt Nagisa's eyes upon her and she turned to her, blinking a couple of times. ["Oh, sorry about that…I was just thinking about things."]
The redhead clocked an eyebrow, ["Really, what…if you don't mind me asking."]
["The reason behind Tanya's change in behavior…well other than the obvious reasons of course."] Shizuma yawned and placed her arms behind her head, leaning on them. ["She's worrying me you know?"]
Nagisa looked away for a moment, her eyes on the floor. She always felt her heart tug uncomfortably in her chest when every Shizuma spoke of her worry for the raven-haired woman. She worried for the woman too it was just that hearing her girlfriend speak of the woman bothered her. She would never say it aloud but she was indeed a bit jealous of Tanya and Shizuma's relationship, even it was just a friendship. It was really the fact that when she and Shizuma were apart, she was with Tanya. This really came to light after the occurrence at Shizuma's job. Ever since then, not only was the relationship between Shizuma and Nagisa was a bit shaky but she always felt anger when she heard Tanya's name. She knew that she held the right to be upset but she didn't want to be angry, she disliked that feeling to a great extent.
["Hey, Nagisa…are you there?"]
The redhead blinked and looked up to see that Shizuma's frown had deepened. The silver-haired woman touched Nagisa's shoulder and her golden orbs looked off to the side. ["I'm sorry; I know how you feel when I bring her up…"]
["You have been apologizing too much also…"]
Shizuma blinked, ["What?"]
Nagisa sighed and reached up to touch Shizuma's face, her brown orbs not entirely on the taller woman. ["Shizuma, you have been apologizing so much and I know that you still feel bad but…it's okay. I've forgiven you…both of you. When constantly apologize like that it seems to…well…make things worse."]
The silver-haired woman frowned and a sigh left her lips as her hand dropped to where Nagisa's was resting on the couch. Eyes of gold and chocolate met as a silence fell upon them. The there was the blaring sound of Nagisa's phone as it rang, finally having a real ring tone.
Sekai de ichi-ban OHIME-SAMA
Sou-yu atsukai KOKORO-ete
Yone!
Nagisa sang along with the song until she realized that it was ringing because she had a call. She reached for her phone that sat on the coffee table, nearly dropping the slide-up phone before pulling it to her ear and answering.
"H-hello?"
"Nagisa?"
The redhead blinked as she realized who was on the other line, her eyes lighting up slightly. "Tomao-chan!"
Tomao laughed on the other line, ["Hey, how are you?"]
["I'm fine, what about you?"]
["I'm excited!"]
["Hm? Why?"] Nagisa lifted an eyebrow and Shizuma leaned over, her curiousity getting the best of her.
["I'll be coming to California in about two weeks!"]
Nagisa blinked as her old friend's words registered in her head. The phone fell from her ear for a moment as she glanced over at Shizuma slowly. Shizuma had the same look on her features, her golen orbs filled with worry.
["Nagisa? Hello! You still there?"]
Nagisa blinked after the moments of silence and brought the phone back to her ear. "Oh...sorry about that..."
Tomao sounded worried on the other line, "Is everything okay?"
A false smile appeared on Nagisa's face as her tone morphed back into its cheerful nature. ["Oh its nothing! I can't wait to see you!"] I hope that she has grown past the incident back in high school or this visit will become...a disaster...
Haha I took me lon enough to updat eh? Anyway sorry about that guys. Anyway the song that is Nagisa's ring tone is The World is Mine by Hatsune Miku, look it up if you haven't heard it before! It rocks^^
Until next time guys~!
-NEKO