Blame It On The Rain

Hikari woke up close to eight that morning, stretching out on her bed. She looked over to see the time on her clock, and panicked. "Oh no! I'll be so late! Oh no..."

She fretted around her room, desperately trying to find something decent to wear as she realized Amane would be picking her up that morning, and nearly fell into a panic. Finding a white tank top and light blue jeans, which matched the earrings she'd left in from the day before, she slapped on her white converse, a birthday gift from Tsubomi and Yaya.

At a quarter after, she was ready for the day, but had completely forgotten about her evening. Sighing heavily, she stared hopelessly into her closet, hoping something would jump out at her from within, something that would be good enough for Amane to bring her to such a special dinner in. Giving up quickly, she packed a pair or ornate white sandals with a strap for her ankle, and a soft yellow dress with a white collar, her favorite, in a small green bag for that night's dinner with Amane. The thought of it made Hikari's heart bounce. This was by far the turning out to be the best week so far of her sixteen year old life. She grabbed another apple from the kitchen, and waited out in the backyard, her phone in her pocket waiting for Amane's call.

The young blonde girl listened to the birds and watched them flutter about the tree. She thought they were the most beautiful creatures in the world. She began to hum a tune from which she learned when she was very young, all the way from preschool. Soon, however, her phone interrupted once again, buzzing a call from Amane.

"Hey, I'm almost there, I got stuck at a red light."
Hikari replied quickly "It's okay, I'll meet you out front!"

She hung up, bounced off, saying goodbye to the birds, and skipped gleefully across the house, from the kitchen to living room, opened the door to her front porch, and walked out again into the midmorning sun. She took in a deep breathe, and released it happily, seeing Amane pull up not much later.

They smiled at each other, waving hello. Hikari remembered the field of sunset from her dreams the night before, and looked at Amane as the handsomely pretty woman she is, watching the sunlight peak through the clouds as she approached the bluenette, adding a glow to hair and face. She wondered what Amane had dreamt of as the older girl leaned in to hug her. She caught a whiff of Amane's smell, a mix of something clean but not like perfume, and it almost reminded her of an oak tree. She blushed as she met Amane's eyes again, hoping she liked raspberries and apples. She quickly strapped on the helmet Amane handed to her, and then situated herself on the bike with the older girl's help. As they headed on out to the main road, Amane turned her head and asked, "So, how are you this morning?"

Hikari, her arms tightly firm around Amane's waist, answered, "Pretty good, yourself Amane-senpai?"
The older girl laughed, teasing Hikari. "Hey, just Amane , remember? And not too bad, I slept really well last night"
I dreamt that we kissed last night and it's killing me to find out if my imagination can do your lips any justice.
"You?" Amane winced at the own vulgarity of her mind.
Hikari smiled. "Not bad myself."
You have no idea... so kind, so dashing...
Thinking this, Hikari tightened her grip around Amane's waist, even as tight as it already was.

They soon arrived at the park, asked the man again for entrance, parked the motorcycle, and went into the stables. They walked side by side, seeing Star Bright at the end. Amane fetched a bag of apples from her backpack, giving one to Hikari to feed him. He chomped it down in one bite, nuzzling Hikari's cute little hand as he chewed. Amane opened up the stall so he could put his saddle on and grabbed two helmets. Hikari, however surprisingly, declined. "Amane, your race is tomorrow. I want you to get as much practice as you can." She smiled, her eyes shining up at Amane, causing them both to blush. "Well, alright... But if you wanna ride, just shout okay?"

"I'll be right there with you Amane-san," Hikari answered. She honestly wanted to watch how Amane trained. She wanted to see how her body moved and reacted with Star Bright's up close. She wanted to watch the long, strenuous tasks that required daily repetition to grow such a synced, natural bond, making them capable of defying air and gravity together. Amane might've been a sports star to most people, but to Hikari, she was a dare devil on that horse. She was a unique, singular living wonder of the world, and Hikari adored her as she rode across the field, reading Star Bright reigns back for a leap over the fence to get in. Of course Amane wouldn't have just walked Star Bright in- she was ready to finally be a bit of a show off. Amane saw how intently Hikari was watching them, and rounded off for another lap, pushing Star Bright as hard as she could. Hikari watched enthusiastically, entranced even.

She thought about the first race she watched Amane in. The Rider almost had been neck and neck against a much, much older rider, someone with at least a dozen years experience over her. Hikari watched from her seat in amazement, even before it had started. People behind her had been swearing up and down the whole time that anyone with any sense would bet on the older rider, as she would've without a doubt leave Amane in the dust. Hikari found herself hanging onto her seat white-knuckled, wishing silently that Amane would pull ahead and win. She didn't bet, but looking at her from her distanced seat, she could still see her focus in the sport and passion for Star Bright, plainly see standing side by side with the horse, scratching his ears and looking like, from Hikari's view, they were holding a conversation, much like teammates before a ball game. The announcer came on, warning the racers that the event would start in less than a minute. Amane stroked Star Bright's mane one last time, then climbed up to his saddle, steering them into their stall, labeled number 2. At the call of the buzzer, the horse riders and their partners emerged viciously from their stalls, aside from Amane- who came out like as graceful as a cat, with Star Bright leading them, and never slowing down, resistant to the wind and natural forces. Elegantly they rode, but determination was far more immediate and evident. Against the older rider, some argued in front that she was struggling, others that she was being teased by the older rider, making it an interesting race, and others yet argued it was the other way around. Hikari didn't listen, mostly she didn't care. But Amane and Star Bright had pulled through; the bluenette had spurred Star Bright on in with just enough push in the last moments, forcing him into catapulting over the finish line. With a winning signature smile, she again captivated the young girl. Hikari jumped out of her seat, cheering and clapping when Amane won. Yaya had to pull her down so not to fall over the railing, laughing all the while. Her heart bounced, realizing how much of a fool she probably made of herself. Amane then turned to go shake the older woman's hand, the other racers already sulking away as they realized it'd really been no competition.
She's always nice, to everybody. I can't believe of all the people she could have fawning over her, she'd pick me to have around...She has to know it's impossible not to fall for those warm brown eyes or sugar-sweet smile...

Hikari smiled in her memories, coming back to the present, still watching Amane. So amazing... So handsome...

Amane slowed Star Bright suddenly, looking curiously about, and then felt a rain drop onto her bare shoulder. Remembering what Amane said about Star Bright's fear of the rain and thunder, she almost started running to Amane to help her, but the bluenette yanked her stallion's reigns back and sped towards Hikari, and got close enough to grab her with one arm and pulled her up to rest her horizontally in her lap.
Whoa, she IS really strong... Hikari looked up again to Amane, but became distracted by a low roll of thunder, and Star Bright was a slow stir of anxiety under them. They raced back to the stables, Amane's arm securing the little girl, Hikari's hands clasped around the rider's neck. Star Bright began to fidget worse as the clouds began to roll in. They had just gotten inside and off the white stallion when thunder struck again, making the tame creature go from skittish to wild. Hikari went to help soothe him, but Amane turned to her and said, "No, stay against the wall. If he kicks you, it's gunna be nasty"
She complied, suddenly nervous and scared for both Amane and Star Bright. It wasn't his fault he was so frightened, she wished that he could be calmed easily, because, well...with things looking the way they did... and if Amane got hurt...
Star Bright reared up and his hooves lay but inches from Amane's face, but the older woman remained as calm and collected as could be in the face of the imminent danger. Hikari's eye shot open wide in fear, and she used her hand to cover her jaw-dropped mouth followed quickly by a frightened scream. The stallion whimpered and whinnied as the next blast roared in the sky, but Amane backed away, putting her hands slowly out to show him no harm. The thunder clapped again, and he bucked, racing from one end of the stable to the other, knocking right into Amane. Hikari tried running to her, but Amane shouted for her to stay back. The rider quickly sprung to her feet, and aimed a lunge right at Star Bright, grappling her arms around his neck as she flew over and contortioned her body awkwardly onto his back. Minutes passed by like hours as Amane slowly reigned in the terrified horse. Star Bright had just enough control over himself to allow Amane to lead him back into the stall. Once inside, he calmed slowly, feeling strangely secured in the walls.
Amane locked the door, sighed and chuckled with her head hung, walking over to her younger friend. She dropped her stance into a lean against the wall closest to Hikari, turned again to her and laughed again. "Crazy horse."
Hikari was still a little stunned, but soon was overtaken in laughter. Her laugh was contagious, and Amane started laughing right along with her and embraced her, the pair of them still giggling.
Amane, now looking exhausted, released Hikari and slid down against the wall. She looked up at her and motioned for her to come down next to her.
They sat in silence, peacefully watching the rain pour from the trapezoid-shaped opening from the top of the stable. On the bottom perch, two birds flew in, seeking shelter, and nestled close to the wall together. Hikari looked at them and felt an overpowering sense of happiness for the small animals. Her hands fell to her sides, and hers briefly brushed against Amane's. She quickly pulled hers into her lap, trying to ignore the fire in her cheeks, ignited by the small sparks from where their skin had touched. She looked to Amane, who had a small pink in her face when she too stole a look at Hikari. Unsure of what to say, they looked away, momentarily, but found they couldn't keep from looking at each other. It was as if a magnet had been placed inside of them with the small touch. Why now though? They had touched before; they had hugged and rode horses and motorcycles together.
What was stirring now inside of them?
"Hikari"
Amane softly whispered the smaller girl's name, unaware that the two of them were leaning slowly but continuously closer to each other. The pull of the other...
Those eyes... They look even cuter against your pink cheeks... But... What if you already have someone else...?
"Hai...?"
Hikari sat nervously, smelling Amane's oak clean and horse smell. It was beautiful to her, but...

She's so close... Those brown eyes could hold me forever... How I wish she wanted me... How I wish I know what she wants... I'm probably taking this all the wrong way...
Amane was looking, falling, drowning into Hikari's big beautiful blue eyes. She could want me...
Hikari swam and drank her mind's fill of Amane's eyes, until only her face alone existed in the small world of the stable. Would she want me...?
The two birds in the sill of the stable filled the girls' ears, but it went almost unnoticed, only drawing them just inches from each other.
Hikari bit her lip, worried she'd do something wrong. Why had she said her name? Was she going to tell her that she wasn't interested in her like that? Her gnawing was turning into a habit. Amane saw this and put a warm, strong hand on her shoulder. The glance down from the blue eyes to her lips... Amane now found herself staring into them both. She wished she could make Hikari stop biting into those full... pink... gorgeous... round lips...

Just go for it baka.

Please do it...

What if you scare her away.

I don't want you to leave me...

What if you pull away? Will you hate me?

Does you really not like me?

Will you know I've never kissed anyone before?

Will you know I've never done this before?

"H...h...hai, Amane-senpai...?" Hikari stuttered out again, still at war with her mind. She craved to know what was going on with Amane.
"Hey, Amane!" the two girls jumped up in the same instant, their faces and necks beet red. Amane never finished her thought as the stable manager came in, but took no notice of their closeness, and continued to say, "I pulled the bike into my garage when I saw the clouds rolling in, but I figured you would want to peel outta here as soon as you could."
Amane nodded to the man, replying, "Thank you."
He nodded back, throwing the hood of his jacket over his head, and ran back out into the rain.
Amane looked at Hikari and thought of the ironically cold ride home in the summer rain. She took her own black jacket off, reveling her red and blue baseball-cut tee, and put it over Hikari's shoulder's. She looked up at Hikari's eyes, seeing the gratefulness in them...amongst something else...
Hikari touched Amane's sleeve, nervous as hell, but the blur of her heartbeat pounded a string of strength into her. It wasn't her words that needed it; it was her extreme nervousness to touch Amane, even in that simple friendly way. She had no idea that its flames were now coursing through Amane to her melting heart. She only simply asked, "Wont you need it?"
"No Hikari, I'll be okay," Amane smiled at her concern, wanting to assure her even more. Allowing Amane to pull the arms of the jacket onto Hikari's was almost taking on more than the Rider could chew. Hikari's apple and raspberry smell filled her head again, making the stable swirl around, making Hikari look that much closer to her. She made a small gasp when Hikari slid her slender arms around her torso, hugging her. She instinctively returned the hug, her own strong and defined arms pulled tightly around the younger, smaller girl's back. She combed one hand through the luscious blonde hair.
"Thank you, Amane, for all you've done for me this week" Hikari looked back up into those big brown eyes and was once again falling into them, and she wondered if this was what it was like falling in love. No, that's ridiculous. And after three days? Yaya would never let me hear the end of it.
She pushed the thoughts aside, however reluctantly, and continued radiating her large bright smile. Amane smiled, helplessly caught in her net of the cute innocent smile. "Its been all my pleasure" God, did she mean every word of it. "So, Hikari..."she stopped again, now unsure of what to say, so she asked the first thing that popped into her mind as a cover. "Uh, did you still want to come to the dinner with me?" She slapped herself mentally for being stupid. You idiot, make it sound like you forgot why don't you?!
Hikari nodded enthusiastically, answering, "Yes!"