Disclaimer: I do not own Elfen Lied! *Shakes Fist*
To those of you who read my story and gave a review, I thank you so much. Work is stressful and I just haven't had the time to escape into my writing world, but today is that time! I may have gotten a bit rusty so bear with me if I have please!
Last Chapter Review: The girls finished dinner and soon got ready for bed, Lucy even got the chance to take a bath with Mariko. Will something happen during the night and into Christmas Morning?
The Bedrooms
Yuka's Room
Cheerful laughter and giggling could be heard through the soft walls of Yuka's bedroom, she had turned in early for a reason. Since Kouta wasn't around, she had to prepare the one part of Christmas that made it special, the tree. No christmas was complete without one. She would wait until everyone was sound asleep before making her move. Yuka however was a bit restless, she rolled over in bed and looked at a picture of Kouta on her nightstand, she sighed in heavy heart-ache. It just wasn't a Christmas without him around, but since he wasn't around she was determined to make this the best Christmas these girls ever had. Yuka rolled back over and simply sighed into a pillow before drifting off into a light slumber.
Nana/Mayu's Room
"No fair!" giggled Yuka as she was hit with a pillow from afar. Nana who was across the room was using her vectors to toss various colorful pillows at Mayu, a pillow fight so it seemed. Nana laughed as she pelted Mayu with another one, "Ha! Got you th-Umphf!". Nana's taunting was quickly ceased by a solid hit to the face with a display of two brightly colored pillows brought on by Mayu's determination to win. Mayu bursted into cheerful laughter after her graceful attack on her friend, "That's what you get for bragging Nana!"
It wasn't over, "Oh yeah? Haaa!" A playful tackle was made by the pink haired girl at Mayu onto the bed , where she then assaulted her with tickling fingers . Mayu couldn't help but giggle and laugh after this, "O-Okay! Y-You w-win! Hee! Stop t-tickling me!" Mayu squealed, the laughter making her turn red. Nana stopped her tickle torture and laid down next to her best friend, smiling and then speaking softly, "Hey, do you think…I don't know, Lucy will enjoy herself this Christmas?" . Mayu thought for a minute, Nana had a point, not many people showed so much kindness to Lucy other than everyone at the Maple Inn. Mayu tapped her chin before responding, "Yeah, she will, because we are here with her to share the moment, plus she has Mariko too." Nana nodded in agreement to her statement and spoke again, "Well, let's get some shut eye, I want to be the first up when we get presents from Santa!" Both girls giggled in response before they both parted to their beds and headed off into a pleasent slumber.
Lucy/Mariko's Room
Moonlight drifted in through a window in which Lucy stood, casting her silhouette on the floor behind her. She couldn't sleep and was still thinking of the time she spent with Mariko. Mariko who was wide awake but was pretending to sleep, rolled over and stared at Lucy, frowning slightly. Lucy stared out the window into the pale moon's gaze. Her thoughts rolling over her like an ocean's low and high tide, she longed for Mariko but didn't know how to express herself to show it. It would be so nice…if she knew how I felt, just a little bit.
Mariko who couldn't take any longer slipped out of bed and walked up behind Lucy, her voice soft and concerned, "Lu? Are you okay? What's wrong?". Lucy didn't respond, well she was too tongue tied to respond, the knot in her stomach tightend as she fought with her body for what words to say to her friend. Soft warm hands landed on Lucy's hips, causing her to flinch, it was Mariko. "Its okay Lucy, I am right here." Mariko quickly spoke as to not scare Lucy any further. "Tell me, why have you become so quiet? I mean after our bath you simply just didn't speak to me like I wasn't here." Mariko's voice was some what choked, as if tears were going to fall from those eyes. Lucy frowned and turned, staring down at Mariko's cherubic visage. "I…don't…know." Lucy finally responded, her heart pumping rapidly. No! You idiot! Tell her how you feel! You do know…stop fighting your emotions! Lucy's mind was now raging in a war against itself upon being in contact with Mariko so closely. Mariko sighed before speaking softly, "You're a bad liar Lu, please tell me? Why won't you open up to me Lucy?" Tears fell from Mariko's eyes, a soft whimpering followed as she began to cry. Lucy felt her body quickly go numb, she had never imagined Mariko would breakdown like this, her own emotions quickly sinking to the bottom of her heart. The older diclonii looking down on her, she then ran her hand through Mariko's soft locks as to comfort her. The numbness in her body melting away as Lucy comforted her friend and instinctively pulled her close before softly whispering to Mariko, "I will…tell you on Christmas. It will be your present, is that okay?"
Mariko looked up at her, a soft cute hiccup left her lips before she nodded and fully embraced Lucy, the two standing in the moonlight's warming aura. Mariko hiccuped again before speaking through soft sniffles, "I-I…j-just wan-want to know y-you m-more. I-It's been so l-long Lu." Lucy quietly nodded, "I know Mariko…I know. But for now we should sleep, I want us both to be prepared for what comes our way tommarow morning." Lucy pulled away from Mariko softly and walked towards her bed before climbing into it, Mariko who stood at the window rubbed her eyes, they were red, puffy and glossy, teardrops clinging to her eyelashes. She then softly spoke as Lucy climbed into bed, "L-Lu…c-can I sleep with yo-you tonight?" Lucy blinked, her heart stopping for a moment before it began pumping again. She responded with a nod and moved over and patted the mattress softly. Mariko smiled slightly and hiccupped again before climbing into the bed and clinging to Lucy quickly. Both Diclonii falling asleep in each other's embrace, one of them being happy that tommarow would be Christmas and she would be giving a gift that didn't need a bow or fancy wrapping.
Woo! I finally got out my third chapter! Please R&R (Read and Review) I'd love to hear your thoughts about my work!