Second to last chapter.

Chapter 17: Take Me Out

"Ms. Sabrina!"

The psychic turned her head at the voice, to see two familiar faces. One she hadn't seen in a while, but have seen many times. The other she only had once, but very recently. It was an odd mix of initial feelings, but nevertheless curious.

"Ren?" Sabrina also felt the need to address the other one. "Mom?"

"Hey honey." Penny waved at her daughter, excitedly. "How are you?"

"I'm… alright." Sabrina certainly did not expect to see her mother, here of all places. "What are you doing here?"

"Why, I'm here to accompany Ren of course." It was anything but obvious, but Penny was trying to make sure the mood was as light as possible. She didn't really had the mind to ask how Ren and her daughter view each other, and with the psychic's history, it may not be very pleasant. "Mostly to make sure you play nice, dear."

"You seem too excited for that." Sabrina was still inside a hot spring at the time. Red left a bit ago, but she didn't feel the need to mention him. She didn't think he would come back, at least for a while.

"I just happened to have a pretty good hiking companion." Penny gave Ren a light pat on the back. The blonde hadn't said a word so far, not wanting to interfere with the mother-daughter greetings. She was also a little bit disoriented after the trip she just went through. "I believe she had something to say."

"Of course." Ren quickly spoke up when her name was mentioned. She was not completely sure of what to say at first, however, creating a moment of difficult silence. "Right…"

"Yes?" Sabrina was getting out of the water at this time, prompting Ren to cover her eyes out of sheer impulse. It was almost reminiscence of childish innocent. "What do you want?"

"I'm here on behalf of the mistress." Of course it was that. Sabrina looked at her mother with guilt in her eyes, knowing fully well that she had failed to keep this matter a secret. Penny stayed silent, but she still displayed a smile. It was not as genuine as it could be, however. "She wanted me to deliver a message, knowing that reaching you would be difficult after the events that unfolded at the mansion."

"She's right." Sabrina had finished dressing, and was now approaching the two visitors. Her face showed a mix of regret and shame, not knowing what's coming. She also saw her mother's worrying gaze. "Don't worry mom, I can take it."

Penny only nodded.

"Well," Ren continued. "The mistress wishes that you understand the gravity of the situation, since you're most likely unaware of a lot of implications and responsibility that she holds."

"Hm…" Sabrina had no good reply. She never asked about any of those things. Somehow, she had always just assumed that Erika led a carefree life, as how that's what the botanist usually acted in her presence. The whole mansion business was already out of the psychic's expectations, so anymore would not surprise her by this point. "Go ahead."

"The mistress' father is the first son of the Tsuyo lineage of last generation. As he had already passed on, she would remain his only child." Sabrina had no idea of any of this. "Thus, her actions have a significant amount of weight on the reputation of the family. She is expected to carry the next head of the family."

"Carry…" Sabrina remarked, a bit dazed.

"To bear the child." It stung, but she had no choice but to not, urging the exposition to carry on. "Anything she might do that may go against that predestined goal will face heavy resistance, from members of her family, or even herself."

"I see." Sabrina was lost in words. She had known for a long time that the fall out of their relationship was not something that made her a victim. It was wholly her fault, but even more so now that she was told all of this. Not once did she even stop to consider the position of somebody else. This way had gotten her through life up until this point, but even she could see the repercussions of such a lifestyle. "You were right. I didn't know."

"I didn't expect you to." Ren never knew how much she despised this confrontation until now, how terribly frustrated it would seem to her. Her mistress was risking so much for someone who had never even taken the time to ask the simplest of questions, and was never going to blame anyone. It made her so angry.

"Ren." Penny's voice reached through to her. The butler didn't expect it, but her attention was pulled away. "Calm down, ok?"

"Ok." Calm down she did. It required sitting down and breathing, but Ren managed it. Silence filled the air once more, as she simply did not have the energy to finish what she started.

"Ren." Sabrina took that as the queue for her to say something, anything. "I can't pretend to know how you feel, but I know that you have nothing but animosity towards me."

"You're right." It was something that Penny didn't want to hear the blonde say, but it was not her place to interfere. Ren and her daughter had to work this out between themselves. "I don't think of you as someone deserving of the mistress' love, especially after what happened the last time."

"I take it Erika told you about it." Ren looked like she was ready to create a fight should Sabrina badmouth her mistress, but something like that was not happening. "Well, I don't blame anyone, except myself. I also take it that you came here to tell me that Erika told me to stay away. Don't worry, I understand."

"I…" Ren was shaking. The decision was hers. What she said right now could prolong everyone's suffering, or end everything immediately. On one hand, she didn't want the struggle to continue; on the other, was it really fair of her to do something that's so against her mistress' direct orders. Was she being selfish to decide this for herself, if she was just looking out for the relevant party involved? "You see…"

Ren stopped at the touch of Penny's hand on her shoulder. The two exchanged a look, but Penny countered Ren's frustration with a smile. It was the best she could do, and she felt like it was the right one.

"No." Ren was ready. "Despite all of that, she wanted to give you a chance."

"Really?" Sabrina was not expecting this turn of events. After everything she's done, she was ready to give it all up. However, this changed everything. "You're not just pulling my leg, I hope."

"I would never joke about something like this!" Ren felt insulted. Her resolve was shaken, but ultimately she didn't mean anything bad by it. It would certainly be a matter of harmful discourse should her motives me questioned.

"Thank you!" Of it all, Ren certainly did not see herself being caught in Sabrina's embrace, but she was. The psychic was simply too excited. "Can I find Erika back at the mansion?"

"Yes…" Ren was lost in a daze, and was not properly reacting. She could barely feel the weight of it before Sabrina had already pulled away.

"Mom" The psychic was apologetic, so unlike her usual self. "I'm sorry I kept this a secret, but I need to go."

"Don't worry honey, I understand." Penny replied with a beaming smile. Her daughter had finally grown up. "Go, someone else needs you more than I do right now."

Sabrina left her a kiss goodbye, then quickly departed.

"Hey," Penny sat down with Ren, who was wrestling with her own emotions. "Are you ok?"

"No."

"You didn't want it to be like this, did you?"

"No."

"You feel sad because even after you did the right thing, nothing will be better for you in the end. Even if their story ends happily ever after, you won't be a part of it, even though you want to. Am I right?"

"How do you know?"

"You're easy to read." Penny showed her smile one last time. "You're too strong for your own good, and you can't even cry properly."

Ren stared at the ground. She knew that Penny was correct. She did her best to not be selfish, but it didn't change the fact that there was no happy ending for her in this. It was best that her unrequited love remain unanswered, she thought, but it wasn't making anything easier.

"You're welcome over for tea if you ever feel like it."

"Thank you." It was the best she could mutter, but at least she wasn't alone.

…

The last few days have been uncomfortable for Erika. It's not exactly a matter of solidarity, but rather uneasiness. Ren hadn't even attempted to contact her, and the counter with her grandfather was unnerving at best. It was getting on her nerves. Plants could only do so much, evidently, and she wasn't focused enough to take care of them.

"Mistress."

"What is it?"

"You have a guest."

The botanist gazes up, only to find that she had been locking herself inside the bedroom all this time. Finally there was an excuse to leave, maybe.

"Who is it?"

"It's the woman from a week before, mistress."

It was all too obvious now who was here. Erika readied herself, taking a deep breath and gradually walked. This mansion never felt so massive, and she never felt so small. Even then, she did not hurry. Rushing wasn't an option. Rushing was for someone who lacked finesse, who was unladylike. Yet she found her own steps rapidly speeding up. She would just discard these getas if she could. This feeling was otherworldly, but not foreign. She felt it before, and was on her way to take it all in again.

"Good morning." In front the mansion gate stood Sabrina, wearing a wryly smile.

"Good morning." Erika answered, as nonchalantly as she could afford. There was something inside of her that was waiting to burst if she didn't take this slow.

"I know I should have called, but…" A nervous scratch on the ear was seen. "I'm here to pick you up. Are you free?"

"I think I need to change first."

"Of course."

Erika disappeared inside once again, her heart beating furiously. That could have been handled so much better, but there was no going back now. Changing clothes was nothing more than an excuse, since this kimono was what Erika usually wore outside anyways, perhaps not a geta. She had to wonder if she just went in just to change shoes. It didn't take long before she was before the gate again.

"I'm… done."

"Lovely." Sabrina extended her hand. Only now did Erika start to focus on the psychic's appearance. Still the same semi-long ebony hair, shimmering figure that people have come to expect, but now complimented by a velvet dress wrapped in a dark outline, hugging the outlines of an elegant contour. It was stunning. "Would you join me?"

"Yes." Erika was anxious, as her hand was taken. She was lead to the black vehicle parked down the mountain slope. She could only imagine who this belonged to.

"After you."

The doors was soon shut, and the two of them sat inside the car, alone together in the end. A brief moment of silence passed.

"I hope I'm not intruding like this." Sabrina was obviously fidgeting. Her chivalrous acts, as well as formal get-up, while impressive, was not comfortable at all. However, it was deeply appreciated. "I would've preferred to ask before I came over, but I was in such a rush that I can't help it."

"I've been waiting for you." Erika finally graced a smile. It was the first one she had displayed in a long time. It felt right.

"I'm glad." Sabrina was just about as out of character as she could be, but she promised she would try her best. She had been given a second chance, and there was nothing else that mattered at this point. "I'm here to make up for the time we've lost."

"Is this your car?" Erika seemed very interested. It's not something they usually see around these parts.

"More or less…." In truth, it was Penny's. She did say Sabrina was free to use it for emergencies though, and this qualified as one. Penny probably was still walking back from Mt. Silver either way, so it shouldn't bother anyone important. "I bet you've been wanting to go to town."

"I have."

Movies, a nice lunch, time in the park, and a classy dinner. It was almost as cliché as a date could be, but it was fun regardless. Time flew by, as the two eventually found themselves lying on a grass mound, looking into the night sky, gazing up at the moon.

"Sabrina."

"Yes."

"You don't need to keep this up." Erika lightly giggled. It was fairly obvious that Sabrina was trying far too hard to be something she was not. The psychic wasn't someone who's too particularly observant nor sweet, and it was definitely jarring to see such a change come so unnatural. "I appreciate you wanting to treat me better, but it's alright."

"I can't." Sabrina fixated her gaze upon the bright golden lunar sphere, instead of facing her companion. She simply did not want to show how flustered she was in response to that statement. "I didn't even consider your feelings, or your situation, before I did all of those careless things."

"I'm happy that you want to show you care, but…" Erika rolled on her side, holding the psychic's arm in embrace. "You don't need to try so hard to show it; I already know you've changed."

"Damn…" Sabrina was finally ready to let go of the façade. The dress was certainly restricting her movement too. There was still some reserves, but it did make her glad to hear that she didn't need to keep this up. "I should have known that doing this was a moot point."

"Don't say that, Sabrina." Erika lightly brushed up against the left arm. It was cold, but soft. "It was pleasant while it lasted."

"Wouldn't you prefer that then?"

"Well it certainly is a much nicer and chivalrous than the true sardonic Sabrina." Erika's arms finished wrapping around the psychic's waist. "But it's the true Sabrina that I fell in love with."

"Ugh..." That was the kind of line that would make people swoon, the psychic noted. She had already confessed her love long ago, but the thought of declaring again was such a ridiculous barrier for no good reason. It was best just to dance around it for the moment. "At least I now know that you're facing all of those risks for doing this. I'd be… more careful in the future."

"Oh?" Erika was gradually getting closer. "How reserved do you plan to be with me?"

"You're just really frustrated aren't you?" It was easy enough to see.

"So crass." A smile.

"While I'm already being snide, I have to ask you something." Sabrina finally turned to face her date, still mortified. "Are you ok with being with me like this, knowing that it means you could get your position in the lineage revoked?"

"I don't know yet." Erika fidgeted. It was a sensitive topic that she didn't want to think much about. It was rather required, though. "The only thing I can say for sure is that I wanted to give us a serious try, what comes next is up to fate."

"I'm not a very optimistic person."

"You don't need to be." They settled into an embrace. "You just need to try really hard and I'd promise I won't abandon you."

"Yeah, that just makes me feel bad." For good reasons, Sabrina noted. It wasn't something she wanted to remind herself of, but there wasn't much of a choice involved. It was only natural to take responsibility for her own actions, however regrettable. "Is there anyone at home expecting your return tonight?"

"I don't think so, why?"

"Because tonight…" There was a hint of hesitation there, but it was overcame soon enough. "I won't let you go."

"That's the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me." Erika chuckled. She was serious, perhaps in more than one way. "That's saying something."

"Did it sound that ridiculous?"

"Coming from you, yes."

"Argh…" Sabrina grunted. She was at wit's end. "I'm terrible at this, aren't I?"

"I don't have much experience with dating and things." Erika didn't seem to care too much about methods. "But I can safely agree."

"Whatever, I don't care." Sabrina very much cared; it simply was getting to her that something she was trying so hard to do just wasn't working very well. Perhaps it was beneficial for her to realise that she never had the kind of suave necessary to sway girls, nor the personality. At the end of the day, it was hard for her to even know why Erika was here with her right now. "What do you even see in me?"

"Well, you maybe not always be honest with your feelings, but you wouldn't do something you didn't think was right." They were now locked in a total embrace, breath within reach. "And I've always found you pretty attractive for the longest time now."

"Good to know no one really is drawn to this personality."

Her train of thought was cut off, as she was drawn into a kiss. Their lips, blooming and pulsating, were drawn together into a lock of fiery passion. It lasted far longer than both of them expected, with desires keeping them intertwined. However long later, they finally managed to pull away.

"I wanted to get you back for stealing a kiss from me before, but…" Erika panted. She was getting in the mood, almost too much. "I didn't expect that."

"I was drunk at the time, spare me." They recalled that night on the cruise ship. It almost seemed like a life time ago, of which they appreciated. The both of them had their own time to mature since then, and there was so many promises to keep. "Feel like coming to my place?"

"Yeah."