Natsuki laid some fruit down on the grave titled Inou Kenji. She didn't know what the truck drivers favourite fruit was so she played it safe and got him oranges because everyone likes oranges.

"Sorry I can have lunch today I got roped into this friend gathering thing," she told the headstone apologetically. "I'll come by next month and stay for longer, I'll bring Shizuru as well to keep the conversation going so its not just me sounding like a mad woman." she felt a bit awkward talking to the unresponsive stone and turned to walk away.

She moved back to her car. Selling her bike was probably one of the hardest things she had to do but she made herself a promise not to joyride anymore and knew she wouldn't be able to keep to it if she kept her bike. After all her dangerous driving had already gotten one person killed. The thing she liked about the car though was that it was far more comfortable to sit in when it rained and it had a large back seat for her and Shizuru to act like the teenagers they were.

"God damn it would you move!" she thumped the dash board angrily, honestly who the hell invented gear sticks? She eventually got the car to go forward like she wanted and once again wished for her bike back. She never got stuck in traffic jams with that.

XxXx

Youko stirred annoyed from her sleep as the banging on her door increased. She groggily wiped the sleep from her puffy eyes and shuffled to the door an old grey throw wrapped around her shoulders hiding her mismatched pyjamas from view.

"yes?" she yawned opening the door only to be thrown backwards onto her bum.

"YOUKO ITS CHRISTMAAAAASSS!!" Midori burst into the room framed by the door grinning. Under both her arms she held two six packs of beer and in her hands another two six packs "well its Christmas eve anyway." Midori bounced passed the startled Youko to throw herself down on the couch "close the door its getting cold in here!"

Dazedly Youko got up and closed the door "Midori what are you doing here?" if she sounded surprised it was because she was. They had not spoken or seen each other since the truth about the world came out. Youko just couldn't face her and Midori had so far complied with her wishes to stay away, until now that is.

"Its Christmas Eve I always spend Christmas with you," Midori smiled as she put the beer on the coffee table "There's more in the car these were all I could carry."

Youko shook her head and wrapped the blanket around her tighter "Yes but that was before..."

Midori's shoulders slumped and she replaced the beer that she was about to drink "your just not going to let me do this huh?" she wanted to come in here and pretend like nothing had changed. She wanted to go back to how she and Youko used to be before the whole Perfect World or even how they were during it because these last few days without the other woman were hell. It was like she was walking around trying to do everything with her left hand when she was right handed. She could do it just not as good as she could have with her right. Youko was her right hand. "I hoped ignoring the awkwardness would make it go away but I should have figured a tight pants like you wouldn't let me."

"Midori..." she stopped because she had absolutely no idea what to say. Why was this so hard?

"Youko can't we just drink? It'll be like old times and we'll feel a lot better and I-" she looked up sadly into the doctors eyes, this was probably the most honest she had ever been in her life " I miss you."

Youko stayed there in her hallway for an excruciating few seconds before her entire body slumped. She threw of her blanket and strode to the couch with a smile. It wasn't an award winning smile and the happiness wasn't all genuine but it was the best she could come up with and Midori seemed to appreciate it. "You better not have got none of that light stuff I told you before that that crap was banned in my house!"

"No I wouldn't dare after the last time!" Midori threw Youko a beer her own grin wasn't fully honest either but they were both trying. "Come on lets check out those bad Christmas movies and make fun of them!"

"Oh like we did last Christmas and the Christmas before that..." Youko's smile this time was genuine because she had missed Midori as well. She popped her can open only for it to spill all over her. She screamed as her comfy mismatched pyjamas become soaked and Midori instead of throwing her head back in obnoxious laughter like she would have done last Christmas tucked her hand into her sleeve and tried to help Youko wipe the spilt beer up.

"Damn it Midori! I swear if you did that on purpose I'm going to kill you!" She glared at her annoying friend who in the process of drying her froze. Youko stopped slightly confused until the burning heat of her upper thigh told her were Midori's hand was.

Midori froze as she was trying to help Youko. It had been an instinctive thing to do, in the past the Perfect World past, she had did things like that frequently so it must have become a habit. She was slightly embarrassed to find that her hands hand travelled to Youko's upper and inner thigh but there was a wet patch there left by the over flowing beer and at the time she didn't think nothing of wiping it but now so close to Youko's sex she felt extremely embarrassed and awkward. The stiff breathing from above her told her Youko felt the same. And things had been going so well too.

"Your supposed to get it in your mouth Youko not on your cro-legs," Midori retreated to the safety of her side of the couch and tried to goon as normal.

"Well if your bad driving didn't shake the cans all over the place I might get the chance to drink them," Youko continued with forced cheer snatching at the remote and savagely pressing the buttons to find something to watch and mock.

"My driving is much better than yours," Midori said quietly the earlier mood of almost no awkwardness shattered replaced with tense silence filled only by the chopped sounds of channel surfing.

They needed a lot more beers...

XxXx

Midori laughed loudly as yet another contestant fell to his doom in Takeshi's castle. They had watched all the bad Christmas shows till the earlier hours of Christmas morning and somewhere around Midori's third trip to the car had switched to game shows. Their old mutual friend beer had soon gotten them into quite a friendly atmosphere all earlier tension gone.

She turned to point out the flaws in the next guys costume, he was a badly dressed transformer, when she saw Youko head hanging of the side of the couch drool coming out of her mouth fast asleep. Huh wonder when that happened. Deciding that she too would call it a night a slightly (only slightly!) drunk Midori wobbled to her feet. She managed to get there on her fourth try and as she bent down to pick Youko up she nearly fell on top of her. The idea that she might be to drunk to carry the other woman to their bed entered into her head but was quickly discarded because nothing as little as a few paints of beer could stop a HiME Ranger! She slid her arms under the other woman and took a deep breath and braced herself.

HiME POWER!

she staggered to the bedroom glad Youko's apartment wasn't that big because even her super HiME POWER was feeling the strain under her girlfriends weight. She frowned at that thought something about it just not right. She sat Youko as gently as she could onto her side of the bed and was about to leave her friend to go sleep on the couch when Youko reached out and grabbed her.

"Stay" she murmured still half asleep.

Midori nodded despite the fact Youko never opened her eyes. She tottered to her side and did what she usually did before she crawled into bed with Youko. She crossed over so that she could wrap her arms around the other woman and was nearly asleep herself when Youko stirred.

"Midori?"

"hhmm?"

"Your not my girlfriend anymore so put your pants back on and take your hand off my breast."

That startled Midori awake slightly and sure enough she had on no underwear and her right hand was groping her friend. Also their legs were intimately entangled but Youko never mentioned that.

"Sorry, force of habit I guess, damn thing has a mind of its own" she removed her offending limbs and reached over Youko to get to the bottom drawer of her cabinet. She pulled out a comfy pair of scrub pants that Youko used when she used to be an intern. There was no way she was sleeping in her jeans.

It wasn't until she was about to flop back that she realised how close to the other woman she was. Youko stared up at her wide eyed pressed flat against the mattress their bodies moulding into each other with familiarity. Midori remembered the last time they were in this position thought Youko had her head thrown back and her face scrunched up. There was no denying that Youko looked funny when she was about to come. Her eyebrows drew together wrinkling her forehead and her eyes squeezed shut her lips pulling back to bare her teeth in a demented smile and her long white neck straining backwards. It was funny in a super sexy way.

They both seemed to be thinking along the same lines and their breathing was shaky. She wanted to kiss Youko, wanted to lower her head and taste her neck and any part of her skin, wanted to feel slime hands tangle in her hair and hear her friends usually bossy voice crack and moan. She almost did but stopped herself because it wouldn't be fair to Youko. Who knew if what she felt was just the lingering desires from the prefect world? like her taking her underwear off and thinking of Youko's bedroom as 'theirs'? She couldn't hurt her friend again. Even now thinking about how broken Youko seemed when she found out that their relationship was a sham was enough to cool her desire. She rolled over and put on the scrub pants. Youko sighed in relief or maybe disappointment.

"Youko?" She asked a little while later not really expecting answer.

"Hhmm?"

"Would you go out on a date with me?"

"No," was the short and quick reply. Her ego was bruised.

"Oh, Why not?"

"'Cus I said so."

"But whyyyy?" she whined as she rolled over and buried her face in Youko's neck. Her ego was taking a series hit here.

"Because your love that professor" Youko said sounding as if she would rather be asleep.

"But can't we try anyway?" was her voice really that whiney?

"No face it Midori your one of those disgusting straight people" Youko joked as Midori slung a leg around her. She would love nothing more than to say yes but Midori loved the Professor and even if she didn't her friend was straight.

"But I can change!" she laughed into Youko's neck "you can save me."

"It was your own choice you should live with it," youko turned on her side and Midori moved with her. The other woman was now pressed against her back.

"Awww damn do I really have to?" her arm slid around Youko's waist pulling them closer together.

"Yes now go to sleep," it was unfair to expect somebody who drank as much as them to stay up this long.

"Okay good night Youko,"

"Night Midori."

there was silence through out the apartment filled only by soft breathing and the occasional ruffling of sheets. Sometime later in the quite a soft voice spoke but wasn't loud enough to disturb the night.

"Hand, Midori."

"Sorry, Youko."

XxXx

Chie cried out and jerked for a final time before falling limply backwards. She lay at the foot of Aoi's bed head staring straight ahead and mind off in a nice white floaty land that required nothing as exhausting as thought or breathing or moving in general. Aoi crawled up beside her and rubbed her smug smile into Chie's shoulder so as the other girl wouldn't see it. Truth be told she was feeling mighty proud of herself, that had to have been the loudest she had heard Chie scream ever. If God somehow didn't hear her the first two time he definitely heard her the last.

"So," Aoi raised her head to hover over Chie who still looked dazed and said in engrish "who's your daddy?"

Chie was dragged from her floaty land by the comment and curled in on herself with laughter. Tears streamed down her face as she happily smushed Aoi to her "never say that to me again."

Aoi laughed as she settled on top on Chie "come on tell me how much I rocked your world!"

"Oh yea Aoi you rocked my universe, your the best I ever had baby," Chie's eyes sparkled as she laughed and her voice was bursting with happiness as she continued "they never knew what sex was until you reinvented it" she couldn't keep a straight face and started laughing all over again.

"Yeah yeah you sound like your joking but I know the truth," Aoi shifted on top of Chie to give her room to get her breath back "you are so my bitch."

"Stop Aoi just stop I can't take anymore," Chie actually had to roll away from Aoi and drag big lungfuls of air into herself to keep from suffocating on her laughter. When it seemed as if she wouldn't be in danger anymore Aoi rolled her back and settled down to wrap herself around her girlfriend. She gently rolled with the aftershocks of Chie's laughter and sighed contentedly.

"So I'm the best girlfriend in the world huh? You love me so much huh?" Aoi looked up at Chie but didn't raise her head from her shoulder "I'm, Oh God, it, for you?" she repeated everything that Chie had cried out in passion back to the other girl who's face shifted from deliriously happy to horrified embarrassment "you like my jelly thighs?"

Chie's face flushed at the last one while Aoi grinned evilly at her. It should be illegal for things you cry out while making love to be used against you or even remembered by your partner. She contemplated what to say that wouldn't lead to her having to relocate to a hole in the desert when Aoi buried her face in her shoulder and seemed to take pity on her. "That's okay Chie I like your jelly bits as well."

Chie wrapped her arms around Aoi and snuggled in contented to go to sleep. They really should get up and get a shower and air out the room but that just seemed like sooooo much work that the thought nearly sent Chie to sleep in exhaustion.

It had been such a wonderful date. It was Aoi's turn to take her out so she showed up to her room dressed in her best slacks and shirt and paid Nao to stay away for the night. Nothing really changed much when it was Aoi's turn to take her out, she still found herself paying for things, the only difference was Aoi got to choose where she spent her money.

Aoi greeted her at the door with a chaste kiss on the cheek and off they went for a romantic mean. Or that's what she thought anyway. Instead of a romantic meal Aoi took her to McDonalds and to make it worse she didn't even let her sit in. Though she would have felt stupid sitting in McDonalds dressed as nicely as she was. They sat on a bench across the street from a love motel eating their food.

"Have to say Aoi not that impressed," Chie bit into her Big Mac and stared at Aoi "after I took you to that fancy French place last week and had candles and music and all that other romantic crap and when its your turn you take me to McDonalds a park bench and even made me pay for the food. I'm not feeling the love."

Aoi sipped her coke unconcerned and said "you will, wait and see." she then reached into her bag and pulled out to caps one pink and the other a dark green. She put the pink one on herself and handed Chie the green one. Chie hesitated because it didn't really go with her outfit but when Aoi waved at her annoyed she stuck it on her head moodily.

So they sat there in silence Chie waiting for the date to get better when Touga Hino captain of Fuuka's baseball team walked down the street and stopped in front of the motel. He was the star pitcher or something Chie didn't really know much about baseball but knew he was popular and going out with Mina Kanzake a model who's popularity in school was only revival by Shizuru's when she attended. Now that Shizuru was out of the way however Mina had claimed the heart of Fuuka Academy as her own. Chie watch curiously pulling the cap down to obscure her face as Touga glanced around him. He seemed to be waiting on someone. A few minutes later another student Mika wondered down the street. Chie winced at the other boys appearance he would no doubt scare Touga away or she would be forced to watch another Touga vs. Mika match. It was widely known that those two boy's hated each other and took every opportunity to show it. Mika was bitter that Touga had become captain of the baseball team instead of him and Touga hated that Mika didn't admit that he was better than him. It had lead to some titanic clashes in the hallways.

The two boys spotted each other and didn't waste time. They start screaming at each other loud enough that Chie could make out every word they said to each other. It was the usual really, your mothers a slut and your dad's a bum nothing really new. Just when it looked like the boys would come to blow Mika's younger brother the more delicate and girly Jun dragged his brother away.

"Is that what you wanted me to see?" Chie asked but Aoi was frowning then hurriedly hit her arm furiously pointing back to Touga.

Touga was still standing there red faced when Jun came back. What was that poor boy doing there? Touga was twice the size and weight of the shy boy. Chie's watched as Touga shouted in a lower tone at Jun then her jaw dropped as he suddenly deflated and put his arm around the smaller boy and together they walked into the love motel.

"Oh wow," her eyes were as big as saucers as she turned to Aoi who seemed to sit there smugly sipping her coke "you knew?! you knew that Touga was cheating on Mina with his rival's little brother?!" She couldn't help the stunned tone of her voice. This was the gossip of the centaury!

"Yep Jun's my art buddy and he wanted my advice since he knew we were together," Aoi smiled at her and removed her pink cap. Ever since the Perfect World they were more open about their relationship. "You can't say anything of course until their ready but Jun's agreed to give you first scoop."

"I love you," Chie said because that seemed to be the only thing she could say. This was the best date ever! Aoi smiled and nodded quite happy with herself "I know" she said getting up of the bench extending her hand to Chie "not such a bad date now am I?" she laughed.

Aoi had plans of ice cream and a movie afterward but Chie had dragged her home to show how much she had really enjoyed her date. They had only mentally scared two juniors with their display in the elevator so Chie counted the date as fantastic.

And now she was just about to drift of to sleep with the most wonderful woman in her arms when she was shocked away in indignation.

"What 'jelly bits?!'"

XxXx

Haruka sat in her room or what used to be it anyway. All around her were brown boxes and black bags labelled with her life. She sat on the naked bed and stared, this was were she had been happiest. Her father had agreed to take her back or more like had his secretary phone her and tell her that the things She had done in the Perfect World would by the good grace of her father be forgotten about. She was putting her withdrawal notice into the academy tomorrow and re enrolling in college the next day.

She hated business. All the underhanded deals and back stabbing coupled with bad communication she didn't want to be apart of such an organisation. She was a Suzushiro the only direct heir to the company she couldn't abandon her duty to her family. This might actually make her father proud of her.

there was a soft knock on her door. Kenji hung half suspended in the entrance. He was her mentor at the academy and had helped her out more than anyone else in her life had. He had given her a place to stay when her father disowned her and she would always be grateful to the big man for that. Now that she was female he seemed even larger and thicker but he still had the nice blue eyes and easy smile of the man that had won her respect. "Can I come in?"

She nodded and he entered followed by his brother Tanki whom she hated. He was just as big as Kenji but had none of his brothers warmth. It amazed her how two different people siblings or not could get along so well. Tanki was a womanizer and out and out pig. what little manners he had he never wasted them on people he deemed lower than himself which if you weren't apart of his family was very few.

"How's the he she doing?" he grinned nastily and perched himself on a dresser. She glared at him and was spared from retaliating when his brother smacked him on the head before turning a seat backwards straddling it. "how are you doing Haruka?"

Kenji's eyes held nothing but concern but even so she couldn't bring herself to confess her conflicted feelings to him. She just nodded and said fine.

"You know if you want to stay here I would like that," Kenji spoke softly placing his head on the back of the chair so they were at eye level.

"He would like it even more if you brought that girl of yours 'round as well," Tanki grinned but flinched as she dove towards him. He was saved only by the quick reflexes of his brother who was used to stopping people trying to kill him.

"Don't you dare bring Yukino into this!" she glared at a still grinning Tanki over one of Kenji's thick arms. a bastard like him shouldn't even be allowed to say her name.

"Oh yeah I forgot you broke up with the little thing," he then rolled his eyes "how could I forget the tears? on and on, Oh and the phone calls 'I will always love you Haruka-chan'" he snorted and paid no head to the woman who looked murderous. She looked like she was going to break away from Kenji any moment, not something many people could brag about, so he threw her on the bed. The room was saved from become a crime scene when Tanki's phone went off.

"Yo, the good looking Senous brother speaking, what's up?" he listened for a few seconds before passing the phone to his brother "moving men are coming now so Blondie better start shifting these boxes herself because I'm not helping."

"like I would want your help!" she glared at him as he jumped from the dresser and kicked a box out of his way needlessly before exiting.

"Yes 15 minutes away? No problem we'll be ready," He closed the phone and sat it down on her desktop and once again turned to look earnestly at her "are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yeah, but thank you for everything you've done for me," she paused but the forged ahead "it meant a lot to me."

He smiled and caught her up in a bear hug. She kicked and flailed not used to this but it had no effect of the big man who held her until he had gotten his fill of cuddles. "Its going to take me awhile to get a new tenant so the doors still open if you change your mind." then he left carrying one of the bigger boxes.

She had a small smile on her face despite being manhandled. She felt glad that she had met Kenji because he was a wonderful person. The mobile phone went off again and she hesitated not knowing what to do. It stopped before she could decide so she turned to her boxes again only to be interrupted by it a second time.

"Tanki's not here right now-" she began but was cut of by Yukino's voice.

"-I know, I was actually phoning my best friend because you see I have a problem," Yukino's voice sounded nervous and she wanted to fix her problems regardless of their last meeting "I kissed the girl of my dreams and she kissed me back..." Yukino paused as if waiting for her to say something but she waited in silence instead so the nervous voice continued "...that's not the problem in fact it was very good the happiest moment of my life actually, it was when we stopped she ah she pushed me away and..." her breath hitched on the other side of the line and Haruka gripped the phone tighter. She had been avoiding Yukino's calls and knocks on her door because she thought, thinks, she's doing the right thing by staying away from her. She could hear how much pain leaked through the other girls voice and into her words "...she won't see me anymore, why do you think that is?"

"Maybe," her voice broke so she had to try again "maybe she thinks that its the best way to protect you"

"Well I have to say that her protection hurts a lot worse," Yukino's voice was thinly controlled just like her own. "Her father came to visit me..."

Her head was reeling from all the emotions that Yukino invoked "what did he want?" her voice was frightened of the answer.

"He gave me a million dollars to stay away from you," her voice laughed in tortured disbelief.

Haruka gripped the phone harder fearing if she let go Yukino would slip away from her "did you take it?" her voice was strained.

"Its sitting here in my room in a briefcase," Yukino sounded tortured "I don't know what to do."

"Yukino," she breathed but had no idea what to say because this was what she wanted for Yukino to stay away. but she had only planned for her to stay away long enough for her to stop being in love with the wonderful girl so as they could go back to being friends.

"That's not all," she didn't think she could take anymore of this, she gripped her desktop for support "he's offering me a place in Harvard business school next semester."

"But Yukino that's in America!" she shouted as if the woman wouldn't have known that.

"I know!" Yukino cried "its an amazing opportunity that I would never be able to do on my own," her voice seemed to finally crack as Haruka could hear the tears "my family isn't as rich as yours Haruka and with the store struggling that money could really help my parents."

"Yukino..." her voice was soft a tone she had never spoken in before "what-what about me?"

The tears on the other line grew thicker "I don't know, Haruka this is what you want isn't it?" Yukino sounded as if she was trying to get control of herself "I love you but you keep rejecting me and I don't think I can be that brave anymore." there was a click as Yukino hung up.

Yukino! Yukino! she cried in her own head but the words wouldn't make it passed the lump in her throat. She couldn't let Yukino leave her, she was the only bright spot in the dismal life that lay ahead of her. She...loved her. She dialled the number to her fathers private line.

"I am very busy Haruka so make this quick," came the clipped voice.

"Father, why did you do that to Yukino?" she asked voice hard.

"Yukino? Who the hell?" there was a brief pause and some shuffling of notes "oh that girl you took up with, I took care of her she wont go to the press about this and soon will be out of your life forever. No need to thank me."

She gripped the phone hard enough to make it crack and thought good its that bastard Tanki's anyway "I don't want her out of my life forever!" she felt mild hysteria coming on as this was the first time she had raised her voice to her father "She loves me I love her! I wouldn't be with her because I knew you would disapprove! And now you take away the one person that loves me for who I am..."

"That shows the extent of her bad taste then doesn't it?" came her father cool voice. She felt her knees buckle she fell on the bed dazed. All she had wanted her whole life was for this man to like her, not love her or even be proud of her, but just maybe acknowledge her. Know that in the house full of strangers, that was her childhood home, that she was his and he thought she was ok. Now to hear so blatantly what she had always known...

"I love you Dad but she loves me more," she flipped the phone closed and threw it behind her "and I love her more too."

She rushed down the stairs and out the door. Tanki and Kenji were on the lawn arguing, Kenji was probably trying to get Tanki to help with the boxes and he was loudly refusing. "Kenji!" she called still running "keep those moving men away from my stuff! Tanki! get the car keys your driving me to Fuuka!" as much as she loathed the other man he was the fastest driver out of them all. And he owned the police car.

"Like hell I a-ow!" Tanki started to refuse but the twin sets of glares and the big meaty hand that had just hit him forced him to reconsider. He moved moodily to the car, well at least he like to drive.

"You go girl!" Kenji called sounding a little bit gay as he did so, uncaring he waved his big paws after the flashing car that was now swerving dangerously about the road.

"Out of the way!" Tanki yelled at an old woman driver, oh he really hated those. Haruka was gripping her seat belt and hanging on for her life. She didn't know where the urgency was coming from it wasn't as if Yukino was about to board the plane right that very minute, but she felt as that if she didn't get to her right now she would never be able to get to her. She could feel her slipping further and further away and had to stop it now. She also didn't know if she would have the courage to defy her gather again and was trying to outrun the panic that that thought had created "I thought you said two girls screwing each other was wrong?" Tanki turned to look at her giving her a heart attack.

"Eyes on the road! On the road!" she squealed grabbing at the wheel so they avoided a passing car. "Two girls screwing each other is wrong but me loving Yukino is the best thing I could ever do!"

"Isn't that hypeicritcal or something?" Tanki yelled back at her over the sound of the sirens.

"Its hypocritical! and no she makes me a better person!" then she laughed at the fact that she had corrected someone else's speech. Yukino really was good for her.

"So its bad two girls fucking but okay for them to love?" he swerved to the left sharply to avoid a bicycle "Bastards! The roads are for cars!"

"Yeah! loving makes it right!" she yelled back as she lurched towards him. Damn she thinks she bruised her shoulder on that swerve.

"Funny I think the opposite," He yelled back going faster if that was even possible "two girls fucking is great but the love stuff is just between men and women!"

"Then why are you helping me?" she yelled confused.

"Because Aoi would kick my ass if I didn't!" he stopped dead nearly throwing them both through the wind screen. "And its not as if your a real girl anyway Shim" he turned the sirens off so he didn't have to yell.

"Thanks!" she shouted anyway just to see him wince. She grinned suddenly thinking maybe he wasn't as bad as she thought. That lasted a whole five seconds as he leered at a passing school girl and she thought she had stumbled upon the real reason he drove her here. She threw the car door open and took of sprinting towards the dorms. She could still remember the way and knew every security lock and camera. Not that she would need to break in or she hoped not anyway.

Yukino sat at her table staring at the open brief case. It was the largest amount of money she had ever seen in real life. It could wipe out her family's debt and still give them money to reinvest in their small food store. The only price was Haruka.

She couldn't believe she was even think about taking it. A year ago had the offer been made she would have flat out refused but a year ago she hadn't been so thoroughly rejected by Haruka and her family owned a successful store. She let out a sigh an reached out to touch the money her hand hovered over it afraid that if she touched it she would make her decision and have to leave Haruka.

She didn't even want to go to America! She didn't like their food and couldn't speak the language but it was such a big opportunity that she couldn't just let it go because it wasn't what she wanted. She had always expected to be a secretary or something else that meant a great deal of work behind the scenes that gave no thanks. She had always wanted to be Haruka's secretary when she took over her fathers business but when Haruka had quite and become an officer all she wanted to do was take over her fathers store and provide a welcoming place for Haruka. She wanted to be her wife...

She just wanted Haruka.

Now she ugh she threw her hands up and went to stick the kettle on glad her dorm mate was out. She like the girl well enough it was just that her primary focus in life was politics and Yukino had no real interest in it unless it effected business which would effect Haruka. When had her life come to revolve so solely around the blonde girl she wondered and why wasn't she as upset as she thought she should be?

Damn Perfect World she thought as she took out a cup she wouldn't be in this position now if it wasn't for that. She also wouldn't know how Haruka tasted or how she kissed either so it wasn't all that bad. Yukino whirled sharply around as her locked door flew open with a bang. She stepped out of the kitchen area just in time for Haruka who was still filled with momentum from breaking the door down to crash into her.

They landed hard the carpet doing nothing to cushion their fall. The tea cup that Yukino had been holding smashed against the far wall over their heads. Haruka looked flushed and out of breath she managed to lever herself up enough for Yukino not to be squashed and looked down at the girl. Yukino's glasses were askew and she was looked rather dazed from the fall. Her hair was a mess and strands fell here and there across her face her lips were parted in a surprised oh and Haruka just had to kiss her.

"I want to protect you, I want to take care of you, I want to help you and your family and I want to love you," she said hurriedly afraid the words would escape her. She buried her face in Yukino's neck and breathed deeply, she was fighting of her tears. "I don't want you to go!"

Yukino placed her hand on the back of Haruka's head and the other on her back pressing them together. She wanted all that as well. But her family-"Haruka-" she said sadly.

"No! I don't care! I'll get a job I'll pay of the debt your family owes! I'll do anything if it means that you won't leave!" She still had enough pride in her that she didn't say leave me. But she hugged the other girl harder wanting her to agree. She had never wanted anything so bad in her life. "you don't like American food! you think English sound horrible! you get sick flying planes and have terrible hay fever I don't know why that's elephant er I mean relevant but you do! You hate people with no manners and Yukino its America, no one has manners there!"

Yukino listened to Haruka's babble quite flattered that it was her that brought out this adorable quality in Haruka. "Will you be mine Haruka?" she asked quietly.

Haruka lifted her face and despite her best efforts they were red and puffy. This is were she should say something horribly romantic and embarrassing but she couldn't get the words out. She didn't even know the words so she just nodded frantically. She was always better at actions.

Yukino smiled up at her just gazing in wonder at Haruka who was well wonderful and who wanted her. "I love you Haruka."

"Does that mean you'll stay?" she said hopefully. Yukino nodded and Haruka's smile split her face. They lay there on the floor ignoring the sounds of the boiled kettle and those that passed by the broken door. Yukino turned her face and Haruka gently kissed it none made a move to leave or do anything other than be together.

XxXx

Haruka and Yukino entered Haruka's old new room at Kenji's hand in hand. Haruka stopped as a man in a business suit got up from her bed. He was just a little taller than her and his black suit seemed glossy it was such a deep shade which made the white shirt and violet tie stand out much more. The suit itself was probably worth more than Kenji's whole house. The man himself was firm and his figure displayed non of his fifty six years. The face however did as it was engraved with deep lines and harsh black eyes and the hair that was once as blonde as Haruka's was now white instead of grey.

"Suzushiro-san," Yukino bowed followed more stiffly by Haruka.

"So this is the girl you threw away a fortune for?" he scrutinised Yukino until Haruka stepped in front of her.

"Yes sir it is," she tensed ready for a fight but was totally unprepared for her father launching forward and grabbing her in a head lock. Haruka squawked and flailed about but it still didn't release her from her fathers hold.

"As of this moment your both engaged, She's taking your name and barring my grandkids while you are going to be the best damn police officer to hit Japan since the samurai and I will not have you two canoodleing outside marriage got that?" he tugged Haruka's bound head his face splitting into a grin. He had had to live with the disappointment of a daughter for years but what was worse was that she had no back bone. In the Perfect World he had gotten a son who could stand up to him and he was proud. Back in the Real World he wanted to see if his daughter had that quality so that was why he picked on her girlfriend. He was please to see his daughter was a true Suzushiro!

"Ow Ow!" Haruka had no idea how to take this knew development in her father. He had never touched her and certainly had never smiled at her before. He sounded positively giddy.

"But aren't you worried about losing business Shizushiro-san?" Yukino asked confused. This did not fit in to what she knew of the cold man. He was actually grinning at her.

"Hell no! The only competition my company has is Fujino and if he tries to use this against me I can always let it leak that his daughter is screwing a biker dyke!" he declared to the whole room and Yukino started to see where Haruka's loudness came from. "The company was actually attacked for being too traditional! Wait till those damn liberals get a load of this! The amount of free publicity the business will get will last years!" he cackled and release his daughter from the head lock.

"Where's my phone? Oh here it is!" he started to punch the numbers in savagely seeming to ignore the two puzzled girls "Fujino is that you? Hah your not the only one with a dyke daughter! What you didn't know? Hell your little girl has taken up with some juvenile delinquent while mine has got miss goody two shoes!" He walked out of the room continuing to talk on the phone both Haruka and Yukino were ignored "wait 'til they start their own alternative families-the press coverage I'll get will be huge! How does it feel to be stuck in the past?! Suzushiro corporations is the future!"

"Haruka I think he just outed Shizuru to her father," Yukino said dazedly she still hadn't fully recovered from the strange encounter. "So that was your father...?"

"I have no idea who that was," Haruka stilled stared after the man that looked and talked just like her father but didn't act like him at all "I like him though. He and Fujino are friends, sorta, I mean I think...I'll apologize to Shizuru next time we see her."

There was a stunned silence before Yukino turned to Haruka "So you want to get to work on those grandchildren?" she smiled at Haruka's blush. During their kissing they somehow managed to fall on the bed. Haruka was breathing heavily atop Yukino who was flushed and out of breath herself. They kissed again and Yukino's hand found itself under Haruka's shirt while Haruka sucked on her lip.

HHHHHHOOOOOOONNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

Haruka jumped and bit Yukino's lip. Yukino recoiled at both the sound and the pain. Both girls turned to the door where Tanki stood with an evil grin and a fog horn. "Sorry girls but this relationships has to stay PG-13 until the wedding night, Mr Shiz's orders."

"I hope its a short engagement then," Yukino muttered rubbing her sore lip.

"Tanki I swear if you don't get out of here right now," Haruka growled moving Yukino off her to make good on her threat.

"He's right Haruka," Kenji appeared wearing an identical grin and holding another fog horn "Miss Kakukawa or should I say the future Mrs Shizushiro won't be allowed upstairs any longer, bosses orders."

Haruka growled and threw the closest thing at hand which turned out to be Tanki's phone. Both men dodged and it made a satisfying dent in the opposite wall. "That's coming out of your rent money!" Kenji said as he and Tanki stepped menacingly into the room "Get 'em!"

Both Haruka and Yukino were seized by the burly laughing men and carried downstairs protesting all the way. Now Haruka knew why Kenji and Tanki got along so well they both like to torture frustrated couples.

It was nice having new friends.

XxXx

Nao sat on the hard plastic chairs outside her mothers room. She was getting a sponge bath and Nao would at least afford her that one last dignity of not have a bigger audience that necessary. The nurses all avoided her now when they could ever since she flipped out after finding her mother back in the coma. She knew all about the damn Perfect World and was starting to even wonder if the woman she had talked to was even her mother or had she just been talking to a figment of her imagination?

She sighed and placed her head in her hands covering her face. She was all alone again and didn't think she could do this anymore. She was tired of living this half life hoping and praying her mother would wake up so she wasn't alone anymore.

"We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas!" the nurses sung jovially at their station their festive mood helped along by something extra in the punch. She glared at them but they took no notice of the sour faced girl in the corner. How could they celebrate when the entire ward was full of living dead people? That even included the visitors.

She crumpled the paper cup that had once held some sort of liquid in it, she couldn't really remember what. Throwing the cup in the bin she made her way outside for some air. She hated this place. She hated these people and she hated herself for coming here everyday to talk to a body that she wasn't even sure if it was her mother anymore. Her tough bitch reputation at school was even starting to suffer before long first years may actually ask her for help instead of running away in fear like they should.

She lay down on a bench and stared at the stars or tried to at least. The sky was covered by thick heavy clouds that threatened to snow at any moment. She didn't feel the cold that nipped at the skin her uniform didn't conceal. She didn't feel much of anything anymore.

"They were all out of blackberry so I got you cherry this time I hope that's ok" Nao's legs were lifted from the bench as a chubby young woman sat down bedside her placing a can of soda by her hand. She was smaller than Nao and heavier. She wasn't fat but could stand to loose a few pounds. That's not to say she was ugly in fact she was rather pretty but it was her constant air of cheeriness that made her prettier than she was.

Nao hated the cherry woman.

"They're all getting carried away with the Christmas spirit in there," she smiled taking no notice of Nao's irritated look "I'm not a Christian but I love all the Christmas lights and anything that celebrates fat people has to be a good thing right?" she still smiled. "Though I'm going to try and loose weight this year. I can't very well lecture people on the dangers of obesity if I'm heavier than they are!"

She wasn't obese and if Nao was in a better mood she would have said that but as it was she just let the other girl chatter on. "It's been a slow week around here which I'm glad of but us interns have been doing nothing but skivy work, its driving us mental!" She laughed softly continuing to smile despite Nao ignoring her. She watched as the other girl opened her own tin and began drinking.

Nao sat up and took her feet of the other woman's lap. She had been reclining since the start of the conversation but she was thirsty now so she checked the soda the other girl was drinking, apple. Just as the other girl was about to drink again she took the can from her hand firmly and passed her the cherry. "I don't like cherry," she explained drinking the apple. Maybe her rude behaviour would be enough to drive this woman away.

"Oh she speaks!" the girl laughed in delight not seeming to mind the theft of her juice. She waited until Nao drunk from the can before grinning wickedly "you know that's an indirect kiss?"

Nao gave her a scathing look but for some reason she didn't throw the can at her like her first impulse was. That damn cheery smile.

"Sorry my dad tells me all the time that my humour is too cheesy for most people," she grinned again not looking at all embarrassed.

"Hey doc, why do you stalk me every day?" Nao asked suddenly curiosity winning out over annoyance. People always wanted something from you but this girl didn't look smart enough to use somebody and so far had just bought her soda. It could all be an act she considered or…no, no one was that nice to total strangers out of the goodness of their hearts.

"Ah so you don't remember huh?" the other girl leaned back on the bench her soda can between her knees it was the first time Nao had seen her without a smile. Weirdly she looked naked. "In the Perfect World I was dying for a sugar fix but I left my keys in the car and I had a surgery in five minutes so wouldn't have time to run down and get it. I think I was in tears banging on the machine," she laughed at herself as she mimed banging on a vending machine "then you can along and you were so nice and gave me the money for the machine telling me to pay you back whenever, you had such a beautiful smile on you face." She then smiled at Nao who was frowning.

She didn't remember and it certainly didn't sound like something she would do. But then again in the Perfect World she was a hell of a lot happier and nicer so it might have been possible. "Well, I'm sure you've more than paid back what you owe me so you don't have to keep stalking me."

"Well, actually Nao," the other girl got up and made a big drama out of throwing her can in the bin that was only two feet away. It went in and she pumped her fist in victory "the real reason I can't leave you alone isn't because of the money. You helped me that day without needing to and until I can make you smile the way you did then your stuck with me." She cocked her head to the side and waited expecting the other girl to smile when she received nothing but a glare she winked "well at least I'm spending my time with someone cute. Same time same place tomorrow? If not I'm coming to find you"

Why did that sound like a threat? Nao eyed the other girl suspiciously as she turned to walk back to the hospital. "Hey doc what did you say your name was?"

"Its Rei," she called waving goodbye and entered the hospital. Rei huh? Nao didn't know how she felt about the other girl stalking her but if she seemed real enough she would have plenty of time to find out. Same time same place? Nao settled down on the bench not quite ready to go back inside. It might have been a trick of the light but the corners of her mouth were quirked upwards slightly. Probably a reflex action.

XxXx

"Merry Christmas Nastuki," Shizuru whispered in her ear as she passed to sit on the other side of the sofa. They were in Shizuru's dorm room ready to exchange gifts. Natsuki wasn't actually worried because she knew her gift would make Shizuru go through the roof. Her smug expression told Shizuru as much and she smiled indulgently back at her girlfriend who was looking far to pleased with herself.

"Ready?" Shizuru said and Natsuki nodded still fingering the red papered parcels in her lap and they exchanged gifts and Shizuru instead of doing what Natsuki assumed she would do, i.e. find an un taped corner and peel away the paper neatly, tore into her gift with zeal. Natsuki was slightly taken aback by this but then wondered why because Shizuru had first undressed her that way last night. Her red jumper could never be worn again thanks to her girlfriend.

"Oh Natsuki!" Shizuru exclaimed as the digitally remastered face of Captain Kirk stared up at her from the DvD cover.

She accepted her hug with a please smile proud that she didn't blush at Shizuru's adoring tone. "open mine now!" her girlfriend, she loved thinking that, exclaimed.

She opened her gift with more reservation as her girlfriend did happen to be Shizuru...She frowned. "What is it?"

"Take it out!" Shizuru waited eagerly.

She did so only to find that Shizuru had bought her a uniform...with pointy ears? She glanced down at the cover of the DvD case and back at the uniform top. Yep same thing. She looked at Shizuru who had taken out the bottoms and nearly fainted. The trousers were crotchless.

"Natsuki! come out it was only a joke," Shizuru called through the bathroom door where her somewhat sensitive girlfriend had locked herself into.

"No!" come the hot reply "I went out of my way to find you a nice thoughtful gift and you give me that!"

"Ara Natsuki if you don't come out I can't give you your real present," Shizuru tried to coax the other girl out of the bathroom. Honestly she had saw the uniform on the internet and thought it would be a funny joke. A nice memory to take the pressure off their first Christmas, She didn't think Natsuki would react this badly. She sighed she guessed this meant there was no chance of getting Natsuki to wear it then...

Natsuki wavered. She was mad that Shizuru spoiled their first Christmas but if she went out she would get another gift...the bathroom door opened with a soft click. Natsuki came out her face hard despite Shizuru's beaming smile "this had better be worth it."

"I'll go get it now," Shizuru smiled and retreated into the bedroom and then came back with a box in purple wrapping paper. She gave it to Natsuki who opened it gingerly.

It was a framed sketch of her and her mother. She looked up at Shizuru who was smiling softly at her.

"I had an artist friend of mine do it," her finger trailed along the slightly crooked varnished frame "I made the frame myself," she smiled trying to keep things light as Natsuki's eyes started to water "did you know wood doesn't actually come smooth? You have to sand it yourself, see?" she took out the picture underneath the sketch of her in over alls staring at a piece of wood looking uncharacteristically puzzled.

Natsuki laughed at the image and smiled at her girlfriend "it must have taken you a few hours."

"Hours?!" Shizuru looked affronted "I spent two weeks on that frame!"

Natsuki looked down at the rather simple frame then back into Shizuru's annoyed face and laughed again. Two weeks on that? guess her girlfriend was that perfect. That made her inanely please for some reason. "thank you, Shizuru that was awful...butch of you." she laughed again at Shizuru's affronted look not noticing how it changed into something sly.

"Well Natsuki-chan, you know what they say about butches?" Shizuru leaned over Natsuki who looked startled. "there always on top..." they kissed and kept kissing after they fell from the sofa.

Merry Christmas indeed Natsuki.

XxXx

XxXx

"Why do you think Natsuki and Shizuru are late? Its not like them," Mai frowned at the door keeping an eye out for her friend. "Well, its not like Shizuru anyway..."

"You think they pulled over to the side of the road for a little fun time?" Aoi wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Well, it would explain Natsuki's change in vehicles," Reito grinned and leaned over to get the bread basket. Since the others were late they had started eating without them.

"Yeah those big back seats do come in handy," Nao grinned as she tried to swipe some of Aoi's fries.

"Back seats? that a bit up scale for you isn't it Nao?" Chie teased the pink haired girl while the others around the table laughed.

"Haha very funny Chie," Nao glanced over Chie's shoulder and her face turned serious "Oh hello Mr Senous."

At the name Chie's face drained of all colour and flinched before turning around to find nothing behind her. Everyone at the table laughed all knowing about Chie's deathly fear of Aoi's father. "Is that right brat?" Chie glared at her before addressing the table "you know the real reason Nao-chan has to cut out on us early?" Nao kicked Chie under the table but that didn't stop the other girl "she has a date with some ER nurse."

Nao flushed at the catcalling coming from her so called friends "She's a doctor not a nurse," she growled at Chie before ignoring the table who were all making aaaww noises.

"Don't listen to them Nao I think its wonderful!" Yukino beamed at Nao across the table making her feel even worse. Seriously the last thing she wanted was for Yukino's blessing but she wouldn't say anything because of the blonde girl at her side. She had more than enough run ins with the mad blonde when she was head of the discipline committee at school and was in no mood for a repeat.

The door to the cafe chimed open and Natsuki stood their flushed and trying her best to hide it. Shizuru stood just behind as serene as ever. Together they walked into the restaurant and took the two seats available just across from Yukino and Haruka.

"Glad to see you guys finally made it," Mai grinned at the couple.

"Well its not as if you waited for us is it?" Natsuki tried to seem grumpy but Shizuru had just taken her hand at that moment so the attempt fell flat.

"If we had we might have had to resort to cannibalism with how long it took you," Nao glared at Natsuki more out of habit than any real ill feelings. Natsuki glared back as well and chucked a bread roll at the pink haired girl.

"Did you hear that Aoi? no one else resorted to cannibalism," Chie whispered to Aoi who grinned back just as cheekily "but Chie I thought you liked it when I eat you?" Chie flushed and they both giggled together.

Reito who had over heard the exchange coughed and turned towards Mai who gave him a puzzled look. He mouthed later and she nodded going back to tease a sullen Natsuki.

"So why were you late?" she asked.

"Car trouble," Natsuki grouched, she really hated that damn thing she had never got so much hassle from her bike. "We had to pull over."

The entire table went quite and everyone avoided looking at each other. Natsuki frowned and glanced around "what?"

No one said anything and then Yukino cracked which set of Mai and the Nao and before everyone knew it the whole table was laughing hard at the puzzled looks on Shizuru and Natsuki's faces.

XxXx

A/N: I would like to apologise for the long wait my course work has kept be busy. Its all about The Color Purple which is a book you either love or hate and sadly I feel on the hate side of the spectrum so it took me longer than usual to motivate myself to write about it.

This is pretty much the last chapter . I wanted to give everyone their happy ever after but also have it be realistic so the only way to do that was not to end it concrete and give the feeling of life goes on.

For taking so long I added a bonus chapter…