Chapter 4

Chikaru spent the rest of the day at school, going over a few things with the rest of the girls from the various clubs she managed. Making sure everyone had their jobs and what to do over the coming week as a play approached the deadline.

After she was done, she dismissed all the girls and once they left she sat down with a sigh. That's when her sorrow sank in once more, remembering the story about Emi's past and her relationship with Amy tore her heart in two. She couldn't believe that the world would be so cruel like that, what kind of world does that, to just take her away and worse that those people were never brought to justice. Now more than ever did she want to be there for her, she could see all the pain in her eyes as she told her the story.

She at least was happy to know how close she was to Amy, they were even going to be married and she loved everything about her… well besides her foul mouth but she could tell she was a sweet person just from how Emi talked about her. that was however when she began to feel something strange and she felt horrible for feeling that way… what was she feeling? No… she couldn't be… could it?

She was jealous of Amy, and Chikaru felt like the most horrible person in the world for being jealous of her, deep down she wanted what she had with Emi. But now she wanted to be there to help Emi and she knew she could never replace Amy but truthfully she didn't want too, she just wanted to help her and maybe bring back the girl that was lost within her.

The door opened up getting Chikaru's attention, -"Kizune? Remon?"-

Kizune walked in with a big smile on her face, ear to ear, -"Chikaru-oneesama! Your girlfriend is here!"-

-"Nani!?"- she bolted straight up nearly knocking the chair over, seeing Emi walking inside the classroom being led by the hand by Kagome who had a warm smile on her face.

Chikaru's face went completely red, mostly because they weren't in fact girlfriends but friends.

"Hey Chikaru." She greeted her in that soft, warm voice.

-"Emi!?"- she cleared her throat, -"I didn't expect to see you here."-

She slipped her hands in her pocket, "Thought I'd visit you."

-"We'll just leave you two love birds alone."- Kizune giggled as they left the room and closed the door behind them, leaving the two alone.

Emi only chuckled as she looked back at Chikaru whose face was still red as a tomato.

"They're cute."

She quickly tried to shake it off, -"Yeah they are, I wouldn't know what I'd do without them. They help me out so much on the clubs that I probably wouldn't be able to meet some deadlines without them."-

She nodded.

-"So… what brings you here Emi?"-

"Like I said, to visit you," she then smiled once more, "And to pick you up."

She gasped, -"Oh my! I forgot that we were going to the movies today!"-

She chuckled, "A lot of work?"

-"Sort of, I've been busy all morning,"- she sighed, -"Can you come with me to my room? So I can get ready and we can go."-

"Sure."

The two opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, and the two could see many girls looking down the hallway to see, most likely Kizune told everyone and now they all wanted to see Chikaru's 'girlfriend'. Chikaru immediately blushed.

-"Wow… she's so cool!"-

-"Chikaru-oneechan is so lucky!"-

-"Look at her, she's so awesome!"-

-"Gives Kaname, Amane and Shizuma a run for their money!"-

-"Have you seen her car!"- Chikaru could hear it all and no doubt Emi did too, which further flustered Chikaru. Emi smiled as she looked at Chikaru, then the girls. She then decided to reach out and hold Chikaru's hand, further adding more to the poor girl, her face felt so hot and the moment she had done that, the girls all went into a cheerful panic seeing Chikaru with her.

They made it to the dorms and it was the same back here too, girls from Miator, Spica and others from Lulim all noticed Chikaru with the much taller blonde haired girl with the lavender purple eyes and holding hands no doubt.

Shortly they finally arrived to Chikaru's room, "I can wait here." She said softly.

Chikaru only rolled her eyes, -"Come on in silly."- she pulled Emi inside her room, but not before hearing some girls woo her as they closed the door.

After the door was closed, Chikaru brought her hands up to her face, -"Oh god… I'm not going to hear the end of it."-

Emi softly laughed, "I think its cute."

-"Of course you would, you don't seem to be bothered in the least!"- Chikaru glared at her, Emi however chuckled.

"Well I don't go to school here."

Chikaru gasped, -"Oh you little!"- she pinned Emi against the door, their height being very noticeable. The two were motionless for a while, staring into each other's eyes before Chikaru slowly pushed herself away from her, -"Gomen, I'll go get ready."-

"You don't have to apologize." She replied as she leaned against the door.

Chikaru didn't say anything, what could she say, that she loved her? She knew her love would go unanswered and not that she could blame her, but she wanted to try anything but she didn't want to be too pushy either.

She came back out, -"I don't usually go with jeans, but today I'll make an exception."- she stepped out wearing black jeans, and a pink blouse with a white silk sleeved top.

"You look great."

-"Arigato."- The two stepped back outside, immediately seeing the girls pretend to go back to minding their own business.

They walked along the hall, getting many glances which made Chikaru feel flustered and when they turned the corner, Emi ended up bumping into someone.

-"Hey watch where you're going moron!"- She finally looked in front of her, seeing a girl taller than herself, and the girl that was next to her was none other than Chikaru.

-"You should be a little more careful Kaname."- Chikaru answered, though the two were glaring at each other, Emi didn't even know her and neither did Kaname but they were already at odds.

The hall was quiet as the girls all watched on, seeing the two stand each other down.

-"Back off."- Emi told her causing Kaname to flinch as she was not expecting a response from her and the way she said it made her see how serious she was.

-"Alright alright, Kaname quit bothering the girls."- another girl came into the hall, a girl with long chestnut colored hair and had two smaller tails of her hair tied up, she grabbed Kaname by the wrist and began to drag her away as Emi kept her eye on her which made Kaname start to feel uneasy, -"Congrats Chikaru."- she told her which Chikaru knew there was a misunderstanding but… Emi didn't seem to mind.

They walked back outside, along the paved walkway and down the long flight of stairs to where Emi had her car parked. She opened the door for Chikaru and she took a seat, then took a seat on the driver's side to start going to the movie theater.

The two drove for a while before finally making it to the movie theaters and after buying their tickets they walked right in and to their seats. They enjoyed their snacks and watched the movie, enjoying one another's company till before they knew it the movie had ended and Chikaru then suggested to go back to Emi's place to hang out.

They rode the elevator up, and into her small apartment.

-"That movie was really hilarious!"-

"Yeah it was."

-"I've never laughed so hard in my laugh."-

"Neither have I."

Chikaru smiled, -"Its nice to see you laugh."- she stopped once she realized how that sounded like, which only made Emi laugh.

"That's adorable."

-"Here, I'll make something for us to eat."-

"I restocked the fridge, help yourself." She walked over to hang her white leather jacket on the rack, leaving her in only her short sleeved black shirt.

Chikaru began to prepare things, when she looked behind her and finally realized that there was one room in her Emi's home that she never entered, -"Hey Emi, can I ask you something?"-

"Sure." She leaned against the counter.

-"What's in that room? The times I've been here, you've avoided that room."-

Emi lowered her eyes, "It's where I keep her things."

It didn't long for her to understand what she meant by 'her', -"Oh… gomenasai."-

"No its okay," She replied, "I brought all her things from my old home here. I never bring myself to go in, to many memories."

-"I didn't mean to push."-

"It's alright, I want you to know." Emi walked closer to her, "I still have my old home, where we lived… I cant bring myself to sell it."

-"Do you plan to go back?"-

"Maybe…" Emi then turned away, "I… kinda have a reason to stay now."

Chikaru looked back to her, -"Really?"-

What she didn't want to tell her was that she had a few more races to win then she would head back but the actual reason was because of her, because of Chikaru, "Yeah."

-"What reason? If I may ask?"- Chikaru took a few steps to her.

After a long silence she opened her mouth to say, "…You…"

Chikaru was stunned and touched that she was the reason Emi wanted to stay, "But… but I'm confused, I…I really…"

Love? Like? Were the thoughts that were running in Chikaru's mind, -"It's okay Emi, just say what you want to tell me?"- she placed a hand on her cheek, seeing her melt by the warmth of her hand by the way her expression softened.

"I… want to be with you, more than anything, I l-lov…, she stopped herself, "but at the same time… I feel I'm betraying Amy's memory."

Chikaru nodded softly, -"I understand, but you would never do that and I know Amy would never think that about you. But knowing Amy as much as you do, then you would know that she would want you to be happy."-

She chuckled, "She would hit you right now for saying that." Chikaru gasped softly, "But deep down, she would want that too. But it feels wrong of me… after losing her I just feel anything I'd do would betray her."

-"I don't want to pressure you into anything Emi, but you should think of your own happiness, I may not be able to relate how it feels to lose someone but I understand."- Chikaru said, -"I loved another girl once, she loved me too but she had to move away before she could ever tell how she felt or how I felt about her and I've never seen her ever again and I know that doesn't compare but… but I wanted to be happy, and I knew if I'd look hard enough I would find it again."-

She reached up, gripping Chikaru's hand that was still on her cheek, enjoying the warmth of her skin against hers.

"I want to be happy… and I know if can be happy, then it would be with you. I just need a little time."

Chikaru nodded, -"Take as much time as you need."- She then went back to cooking their food, while Emi watched on seeing how beautiful she really looked, how the red ribbons on her hair made her look even more adorable.

She was different, so different then Amy, but they were alike in that they both really cared for her and she loved that about Chikaru, but in the end she was a completely different person… not that it was a bad thing.

After eating it was time for Chikaru to held back to the dorms and Emi drove her back, chatting along the way, till she finally pulled the car to a halt in the parking lot.

-"That's pretty much what happened!"- Chikaru finished telling her story about a girl that accidently ruined Kaname's uniform by spilling mud on her shirt but some had fallen in her mouth further disgusting her and tried to run away only to fall on the steps to the dorms.

Emi was laughing uncontrollably from the story; not only that one but Chikaru had told a previous story about herself which was cute but very funny.

Chikaru finally calmed down, -"Sorry if I distracted you, driving and all."- She smiled.

Emi only wiped the tear from her eye from laughing so much, "You don't have to apologize…" she was quiet for a moment, "It's been a while since I've just… laughed so hard, thank you."

Chikaru smiled at her, -"Well in that case, you're welcome."- she giggled and stepped out of the car as Emi followed behind her.

As they were walking towards the steps, another car pulled up well it was actually a limo and the door opened up, Emi saw someone she'd never seen before, a girl dressed in the black uniform of one of the schools, her silver hair flowing behind her, and she was very beautiful.

-"Shizuma!"- Chikaru ran up to her and hugged her.

-"Heey Chikaru, I haven't seen you in a while, where have you been!?"- she said cheerfully.

-"I should be asking you that!"- but before Shizuma could finish, Chikaru noticed Nagisa step out of the car and it was enough for Chikaru to piece it together, -"I see."- Shizuma smiled in return.

She then noticed the other girl behind Chikaru, -"Well now, so this is the famous girl I've been hearing about. the girl that pretty much made Kaname afraid of her own shadow, not to mention…"- she cleared her throat while she smirked at Chikaru, -"Your girlfriend!"- Chikaru's face ran red.

Shizuma didn't even give Chikaru time to answer, she walked over to Emi as Nagsia merely giggled at Chikaru's flushed expression.

-"Hanazono Shizuma, one of Chikaru's close friends."- she extended her hand, one Emi took.

-"This is Emi."- Chikaru introduced her.

-"Emi huh, nice name."- Shizuma smiled at her, -"You're not from here are you?"- she asked to which Emi shook her head.

"I'm from America."

-"I see."- she said with a smile, -"Well anyway I gotta go, Etolie duties call. Nice to meet you Emi, pretty name by the way."-

"That's not my na—"

Shizuma's phone rang, -"Excuse me, I gotta take this. come on Nagisa."-

-"Coming!"- she looked at the two, -"Pleasure to meet you Emi! I'll see you for tonights tea party Chikaru!"- she ran to catch up to Shizuma who was already on her way up the steps.

Chikaru walked up to her, -"See."- she giggled, -"Something always interrupts."-

Emi laughed, "I'm starting to believe that too."

-"Well… I really hate to go, but I have to go now, the gates close in half an hour."-

Emi nodded, "Don't worry."

She then did something Chikaru didn't expect, she hugged her and it was a long, warm hug. Chikaru didn't object to it, she wrapped her arms around her as well and enjoyed every moment of it.

They slowly let go of one another, "I'll see you tomorrow?"

-"Of course, you can come hang out with me here. Its Saturday and I'm sure they won't mind if you come over for a while."-

"I'd like that." she replied in her usual, soft voiced manner which Chikaru loved.

-"Well I'll see you tomorrow."- Chikaru began her climb up the steps and maybe try and catch up to Shizuma but not before getting one last glance at Emi then resuming her climb.

Emi went back to her car, leaned against it for a while… deep in thought, she wondered what to do next. Could she honestly let go of Amy that easily?

No… she couldn't but she's had enough time to mourn her and it was a cruel thought but she had to try and move on with her life… yet the mere task alone seemed impossible.

She got in her car and drove, with no destination in mind till she found herself in an abandoned runway, where she began to drive fast, pushing her car as fast as she could, doing circles around the runway. She kept driving and driving, wanting for time to just stand still while she drove faster. She didn't want to stop, she just wanted to keep driving and hope to out drive the pain in her own heart but no matter how fast she went, it would not go away.

She let go of the gas pedal, slowly coming to a steady pace and drove back home, she didn't know what to do anymore. She rode the elevator back up and entered her home; she walked around for a moment before finally stopping in front of the bedroom door where she kept all of Amy's stuff. She gripped the door knob, twisting it slowly and pushed open the door.

She walked inside, her heart was already shattering seeing everything, the photos she would always set up and even her perfume bottles along with the other knickknacks she always kept. She would always arrange them the way she had always left them, this room was always a place to remind herself of the times she had spent with Amy. She grabbed one of the photos of her and sat on the floor with her back to the bed.

She must have stared at the picture for what felt like hours till finally she failed to notice tears beginning to fall from her eyes, she didn't even know why she drove anymore, she could only remember that it was something she'd always love doing back then, driving for fun and to excite the people and her fans. That's what she loved, not just the adrenaline that came with it but for the love she had for it and she was damn good at what she did. But now… she drove because she had a death wish, every race she had been in she just wanted something to happen to end her life, she wanted to die to be with Amy again… except now, when she thought about it again… she didn't want to anymore.

"Chikaru… what did you do to me?" she smiled warmly, as the tears kept flowing. She looked at the photo of Amy again, her tears kept pouring out of her eyes.

She couldn't hold it anymore as she began to cry loudly, she didn't even bother to wipe her tears as more would take their place. she cried and cried, letting everything out that was locked up in her heart, she then grabbed the photo and pressed it against her face, wanting to feel Amy's skin once more, "I miss you." Her voice broke with every word.

Even though she didn't want too, she stood up and retrieved one of the boxes from the closest, she opened and placed the photo inside it. She looked at everything in the room, retrieved the many boxes she had and began to pack everything in it.

Once she was done, it didn't feel any better and her heart ached. She wiped her eyes, put her hands on her head, "I'll see you in my sleep." She left the room, got changed and threw herself on her sofa to rest for the night.

End Chapter 4