MalokaiKuhlua: Thanks! And she wouldn't be Yaya if she wasn't stupid =P
Huggler: I'm trying =P I'm about to start college, though. And thank you- it's a pretty big deal when your writing actually evokes emotions in people, so thanks =)
Kaze Rei: Yeah, Yaya's a little thickheaded sometimes =P
XRosarioX: Yeah, Shion and Chikaru are an OTP of mine. Really I only did Shion/Miyuki because I wanted to see if I could xD And thanks- it's just that it's pretty apparent that the faster you update at first, the more impatient people get for more chapters =P And I'm starting college REALLY soon (or at least moving out).
Stavri: Thanks =)
RomanticVulcanolight: Thanks =) And don't worry- as if I'd ever give Yaya to that two-bit whore =P /doesn't like Hikari much/
GardenBeauty: Thanks =) And it's not a stupid question- I had to google it when I first started using it. It just means Page Break, and I use it because FFn rejects all my other page break options for some gay reason =P
Xxnatxx: Thanks =)
Kaizer20: I don't mind =) I don't understand people who turn off anonymous reviews, anyway. To me a review is a review =P I find that I don't like the Chikaru/Tamao pairing enough to do a story on it- at least, I like Chikaru/Shion so much that I'd probably end up going WAY off tangent with the purpose of the story =P
Suicchin: Thanks =)
Sorry for the huge delay- I've finally moved in to college, and have about a week before classes start. I'll try to update more frequently, and hopefully everyone will keep reading =)
How Can You See With Your Eyes Closed?
Chapter Ten: All Again for You
Tsubomi's arms were folded tightly over her chest- the bus they'd taken was air-conditioned despite the cold weather, and she was only wearing her usual light sweatshirt. Yaya had attempted to put an arm around the pinkette's shoulders an admirable amount of times, but Tsubomi (reluctantly) shrugged her off within several seconds. She had to know that this wasn't acceptable anymore- that Hikari couldn't be priority number one for her Yaya anymore. Tsubomi had put up with it for a year, and God help her if she put up with it for longer.
Only…she was terrified to present Yaya with the ultimatum because deep inside her she was terrified that Yaya would choose Hikari over her. It was an understandable fear, the pinkette reasoned, given Yaya's hopelessly devoted personality. She felt a sudden weight land on her shoulders again, and she shrugged it away, again, but this time the weight didn't disappear.
"This is getting a little stupid," Yaya muttered beside her, pulling Tsubomi in close so that she could hear her. "You're freezing- anyone could see that."
"I was doing just fine by myself," Tsubomi snapped, shoving Yaya away with both arms this time, but her strength was pathetic in comparison to the brunette's.
"You're overreacting," Yaya said bluntly. "I know you're doing this because of what happened with Hikari-"
Tsubomi jerked away and glared up at the brunette. "If you know I'm doing it because of her, why did you agree?" she asked, eyes shining with hurt. "How would you feel if I agreed to share a room with someone like Sei-sempai?"
Yaya's jaw clenched reflexively and she reached out, wrapping an arm around Tsubomi again, though she didn't allow the pinkette to escape. Yaya had a pronounced possessive streak, and the mere mention of the blonde's name was enough to make her want to take Tsubomi right there. "It's different," she finally muttered.
Tsubomi huffed. "It is not," she replied shortly. And it wasn't really- though Yaya preferred to show off her possessiveness for the world to see and Tsubomi preferred to keep it hidden, the pinkette was known to get quite horribly jealous. "Move your arm, Yaya-baka."
The brunette ignored her girlfriend's protests- it was her right to keep an arm around the pinkette, and she wasn't about to give that up, especially when Tsubomi was like this. Despite her protests, she knew that Tsubomi secretly loved the attention, and it would be even worse if she let go of her.
PGBR
Miyuki found herself blinking back sleep, her head resting against Shion's chest, the blonde's arm wrapped snuggly around her waist. The Spican had been even more protective around her since the incident with Hideshi, and Miyuki couldn't say she wasn't enjoying it at least a little bit. She felt slender fingers running through her hair and leaned into the touch involuntarily, sighing in contentment when Shion's arm tightened around her.
"This isn't really like you," Miyuki commented after a moment, lightly tugging at Shion's wrist, which was resting on her thigh.
Shion looked surprised for a moment and Miyuki felt the body beneath her tense, almost as if the Spican was wondering whether she was out of line or not. The blunette barely held back a giggle at the blonde's flustered expression. "Uh…I'm sorry," Shion said after a moment, moving to remove her arm, but Miyuki held fast.
"I didn't say it was a bad thing," the Miator president clarified. "I was just confused. You're acting quite…chivalrous."
Shion frowned, almost as if the comment wounded her. "Am I not usually?" she asked, visibly affronted.
Miyuki rolled her eyes. "No, usually you're hardheaded and difficult," she said, squeezing the sulking blonde's hand in reassurance. "What's changed?"
The Spican shrugged, relaxing once again with her arm draped over the blunette. "I don't know…it's just instinct I guess," she said. "I mean, we're kind of engaged now, and I kind of figured since I was the one proposing, I'd be the man…"
Miyuki couldn't hold back her laughter at this statement, causing a once-again sulking Shion to remove her arm entirely. "That's your logic?" she asked, one eyebrow cocked, and she was hit by a flash of déjà vu when Shion's eyes laser-focused on her own, arms folded over her chest. It was just like their council arguments. "I'm sorry, but isn't that just…kind of flawed? The man in the relationship, if there must be one, should be the more dominant partner, not the one who proposed."
Shion grumbled and sunk lower in her seat, leaving Miyuki to slip back closer to her fiancée (or fiancé, as Shion seemed to prefer), unfolding one of the Spican's arms and wrapping it around herself. Shion didn't resist, but mumbled something that Miyuki didn't quite catch.
"What was that?" the blunette asked, leaning against Shion's shoulder as the Spican finally tightened her arm around her waist once more.
"I said," Shion repeated, "I'd still be the guy either way."
Miyuki raised one eyebrow, but settled back into the seat, stroking Shion's arm gently. "Of course, dear," she cooed, smiling ever-so-slightly when Shizuma turned and winked at her, having overheard Shion's statement.
PGBR
Chikaru smiled contentedly in her seat, her fingers running very gently along the baby soft skin of the girl sleeping against her chest. She'd been worried about this trip at first- Tamao had glued herself to Nagisa's side as if she thought she could claim her just out of closeness. At least, that was until Shizuma had physically pried Tamao off of her girlfriend and shoved her off to the side like she were an old, unwanted doll. Chikaru had found her jaw clenching despite herself- despite her calm, nurturing demeanor, she was a very motherly person, and her protective instincts had flared up like a flash fire.
She'd been seconds away from confronting Shizuma about her constant treatment of the poet- there were, after all, better ways to deal with Tamao's affections than physical violence- when Tamao had slipped wordlessly into the seat beside her and slumped against the Le Rim president like a worn rag doll. Chikaru didn't have to look to see the silent tears streaming down the poet's face- the pain in her own heart was enough to alert her to that. Not only did it hurt to see Tamao constantly brushed aside, but it hurt to see Tamao watching after Nagisa with that longing look in her eyes.
Momomi had actually confronted her about her affections once- Chikaru had been slightly surprised that the girl had noticed her feelings, though she really shouldn't have been. She knew Momomi was much smarter than she seemed- her recent split with Kenjou Kaname was enough to prove that. The cunning brunette had just shown up in the council room one day after the split and asked Chikaru outright- why did she put up with these feelings for the lost cause when she could have any other girl in the school or outside it?
Chikaru wasn't stupid- she knew just how many girls lusted after her, longed for her to choose them. So much was apparent by the chocolate overflowing from her desk every Valentine's Day. She didn't know why she chose heartache over a happy relationship, but something inside of her told her that she needed Tamao- that the blunette needed her.
But, as a tired Shion had once said, everyone needed a little bit of Chikaru in their lives nowadays.
PGBR
When the group finally arrived at the cabin ("More like a mansion," Miyuki had noted, impressed, to which a disgruntled and prideful Shion had replied that her guest house was bigger than this "flimsy old shack"), Tsubomi seemed to have switched tactics entirely, clinging to Yaya's arm instead of avoiding her, as if her mere presence would keep Yaya from rooming with Hikari. Yaya seemed to be enjoying the attention for her part- at least, that's what the smug, lion-like grin seemed to suggest.
Hikari didn't seem to be enjoying the scene, and was even somewhat glaring in a very uncharacteristic manner. Amane was attempting to send Tsubomi a silent apology for the situation through her eyes- she managed to make eye-contact with the disgruntled pinkette once, and had come to the conclusion that she should maybe just stay out of her way. After all, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
"Yaya-chan, let's go see our room!" the blonde declared, rushing over to Yaya and taking ahold of her right arm. Tsubomi instantly pulled Yaya closer to her, breaking Hikari's hold on the girl and cuddling up even closer, to the point where the brunette was practically carrying her. Hikari looked as though someone had slapped her- Tsubomi had never been so outright disrespectful to her. The younger girl was always concerned with manners, especially when it came to her sempai. Once they got into the entryway, the others split and headed for the directions of their rooms. Hikari angled towards the stairs, but a small hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.
She came face-to-face with a stern looking Tsubomi, who was standing in front of a sheepish Yaya. "I don't mean to be rude, Hikari-sempai," the pinkette began, the look in her eyes telling Hikari that she really didn't care whether she came off as such or not, "but I think we need to lay down a few rules. ONE!" she cried out, cutting off Hikari's protest, "No sleeping together. If there's only one bed, one of you will have to sleep on the floor. Most likely Yaya-chan." Yaya was caught between being offended by Tsubomi's implications and flattered by the use of the more familiar suffix. "Two," Tsubomi continued, holding up two slender fingers, "no changing in the same room- you can wait to change in the bathroom or something. And lastly, no flirting of any kind, especially you," she finished, pointing at Yaya, though her eyes were still locked on Hikari.
"Tsubomi-chan, I…" Hikari began- she honestly hadn't meant to threaten their relationship. It was just that she trusted Yaya and okay, maybe it wouldn't be terrible if she found out that Yaya might possibly want her back.
Tsubomi rolled her eyes. "Please, Hikari-sempai," she began, "I'm not naïve enough to think that there isn't like, a huge chance that Yaya-chan still has feelings for you." She ignored the slightly indignant sound from behind her. "And if you must share a room with her, there's not much I can do other than lay these rules down. So please…just give me that?" Her voice had dropped down to little more than a whisper by the time she spoke her last few words, cracking at the end.
Hikari only nodded, and Tsubomi took a deep breath to collect herself before heading up to the room she was sharing with Amane.
"Tsubomi…"
"Not now, Yaya-chan," Tsubomi muttered, hastening up the stairs in case the brunette tried to follow her. Which was, of course, exactly what Yaya did, only she was much faster than Tsubomi, so she caught her wrist before the pinkette could make it all the way up the stairs. "What?"
Yaya pulled Tsubomi to her harshly, causing the pinkette to stumble and fall into the brunette's arms, their lips colliding almost painfully. Instead of moving away, Yaya only pulled Tsubomi closer, increasing the pressure of the kiss until the pinkette literally slumped into her arms. Then she pulled away, her breathing heavy, her lips resting against Tsubomi's forehead. "Don't doubt me, Tsubomi-chan," she said quietly. "Don't doubt us. Please."
Tsubomi raised tired eyes to meet Yaya's, her teeth meeting her lower lip as if debating her answer, before she said, "I can't afford that luxury, and I think Yaya-sempai knows why." She turned and ran the rest of the way to her room, leaving a stunned and slightly hurt Yaya behind.
PGBR
Chikaru lay on her back on the large bed in the center of their room, watching Tamao with playful eyes and an amused smile. The poet was pacing back and forth, her face rivaling Tsubomi's brightest blush, seemingly unaware of the Le Rim president watching her every move. "Tamao-chan…? Slow down, you're going to give yourself an ulcer."
The blunette jumped, confirming Chikaru's suspicion that she had, in fact, forgotten that she was actually in the room. She flushed even brighter. "Ano…gomen, Chikaru-sama," she stated shyly. "It's just the bed…"
Chikaru cocked her head, playing dumb. "What about it?" she asked. "I rather like it- the mattress is quite comfortable."
"No, not that, I mean, I'm sure it is, but…" Tamao hesitated. "It's just that there's only one," she finished lamely, her hands dropping to her sides in a gesture of defeat. "And there's two of us…"
Chikaru giggled at how mathematical the blunette's answer came out, and Tamao flushed even darker if possible. Finally, she said, "We're both rather small, Tamao-chan- I don't think there will be much of an issue."
"Well no, but…" Tamao broke off, mumbling something under her breath.
"Hmm?" Chikaru asked, leaning forward, well into the blunette's personal space. "Is something wrong?" she asked, beginning to become genuinely concerned. She slid off of the bed and ducked down so that she could meet Tamao's eyes. To her surprise, the poet seemed more embarrassed than anything.
"It's nothing," Tamao mumbled, "I mean, I can just sleep on the floor."
"Of course you can't," Chikaru said, frowning as she stood up straight. She wasn't sure whether to be offended by Tamao's statement or not. "That would be terrible for you."
Tamao seemed to read Chikaru's mood- or at least the small part of her that was hurt by the previous statement, because she started to shake her head violently. "Not that I have a problem sleeping with you in particular, but…I kind of have this thing where…" She leaned over and whispered into Chikaru's ear, apparently forgetting that they were the only two in the room. Suddenly Chikaru jerked away and giggled, collapsing back onto the large bed. Tamao flushed.
"Why didn't you just say so?" the older girl finally asked, pulling the blunette back to lie down beside her. "I don't have a problem if you cuddle in your sleep- and besides, you slept on me in the bus, remember?"
"I'd forgotten up until now," Tamao said quietly, so red that Chikaru was wondering if she should call the fire department. "So…it really doesn't bother you?"
"Not one bit," Chikaru stated cheerily. "In fact, I'll probably end up cuddling you anyway- you're just so cute, like my own life-sized teddy bear!" she squealed, slipping into what was fondly referred to as 'cosplay mode' which usually only came out around her younger friends.
Tamao allowed the older girl to pull her into a hug, her breath leaving her in one large sigh. When Chikaru didn't immediately let go, she buried her face into the black-haired girl's shoulder, her arms draped tiredly over her shoulders. In Chikaru's arms, she felt truly safe and secure for the first time since Nagisa had come to Miator. She didn't have to be constantly on her feet, constantly watching for mischievous Etoiles or making sure Nagisa didn't accidentally set herself on fire. Tamao had enjoyed caring for her roommate but now she thought that maybe being cared for was something she could get used to, though she ignored the warning bells going off inside her heart.
Sorry for the delay! I hope you all liked this chapter, and please don't forget to review!