Pairing: Shoujo Ai, MikaxAyaka of sorts.
Length: 500 words
The older woman patted out onto the snow, bare foot, wearing nothing but the yukata the hot springs had provided. Behind her, the younger girl waited, not willing to step into the cold snow. After a few minutes, the elder one stopped and stared up at the dark sky, her breath making small clouds in the air. The girl reached out a hand tentatively towards the other, but stopped when she realized that she couldn't reach any further unless she stepped out on to the snow.
"Mika-san, it is getting cold. We should go back." She shivered as she wrapped her arms around her slender body, wondering how the older woman could stand the cold.
Mika slowly glanced back at the other, a strange expression on her face. "You are the one who followed me. If it's so cold, you should go back in, Ayaka." Noting that the girl did not move from her spot, a tiny smile crossed her face. "No, you will not go back. Not when it's so lonely in there."
A small gust of wind blasted past them, stirring up light flurries of powdered snow. Ayaka said nothing, merely staring at the older woman, knowing that she couldn't disagree. "It should not be so lonely though, not when everyone who matters is here."
It was barely a whisper, but Mika could hear quite clearly. "I used to be like you. Even though he didn't love me the way I wanted him to, I thought that the fact that he cared and placed me upon a pedestal would be enough." She scrunched her toes in the snow, the cold sting refreshing. "But, a love like that is more sterile than the snow on the ground."
Ayaka once again wanted to reach out, even though Mika wasn't any closer. Instead, she clasped her hands together, in hopes of keeping them warm. "Hiro was and still is a good man. And at the time, I thought that there was love between us. Yet, I never seem to be able to hold onto him. Or anyone else for that matter. As if everything eludes my grasp."
There was a crunching sound as Mika turned around and looked at Ayaka, an odd look on her face. "That's because you have yet to meet half way with anyone. When you reach out, the other person must hold out their hand. It can't be just you or him."
A small chuckle escaped Ayaka's lips, even as tears seemed to be ready to spill. "You have pegged it perfectly. I guess, the problem is, until now, the only people I could reach out to were those who would not extend their hand to me. Until now." She gently held out her hand, her smile lighting up the night. Mika leaned forward and took the other's hand, pulling her off the porch, so that the girl stumbled into her arms.
"And here I thought I was going to freeze my feet off waiting for you."
The challenge for February is a valentine's day fic.