Little Angel ch. 10
HI! So sorry it had taken forever to update, but I'm back now with the latest chapter XD
So anyways, if any one forgot, or just doesn't click on the last chapter, Amane won her race against Miyo and now Yaya had offered to go out to- dun dun dun!- Wing House to celebrate! We'll see what lies in store for poor Hikari as she know the inevitably dreaded karaoke is to come
Yeah yeah, I don't own Strawberry Panic, but I damn sure wish I did 3
Hikari had a special distaste for the restaurant. And Yaya knew very well there were dozens of other places she could've dragged her best friend to and forced to sing something to Amane. But further still, many would be either packed or closed for later into the night.
"Ya gunna head with Amane?" She had asked.
"Well I-" the blonde stammered.
"Course! You two follow us out, okay?" She smiled and turned with Tsubomi in hand to her little white car. Hikari nervously turned to her blue haired rider. "Um... Is it alright if I..."
Amane smiled, and took Hikari's small hands in her own. "I got a leather seat with your name on it."
The happiness in the younger girls smile could warm a Russian winter. Amane blushed, secretly and seriously thinking about getting a plate or pallet or something to put into the seat that said Hikari. She opened her door for her and walked around to her own driver's side. The white car she had seen Yaya and the pink haired girl walk into- Tsubomi-chan, right? - pulled out from their parking space. Looking back, the tall black haired girl motioned for the bluenette to follow. Amane's hand easily found Hikari's, not even realizing she was looking for it. As they ventured out behind Yaya into the main road, traffic proved itself a mischievous endeavor to say the least. Hikari laughed mentally thinking of how bad Yaya's mouth would be getting, and how much Tsubomi's eyes are rolling, telling her to calm down. She was still nervous though about going to Wing House. Not only did she really not care for the American food or their lack of taste for fully clothed women, but she mostly dreaded however Yaya would yet again set her up on a stage singing some song for the sake of embarrassing her friend. She wished that just once Yaya would come up with her, knowing her voice was just a good, with far more energy the Hikari's. Where the black haired girl's voice was powerful, the blonde's was gentle, like a small ripple in a pond, which came to turn and tame Yaya's tsunami. They sang rather well together, but the feisty girl was just macho to be caught dead singing karaoke in public.
Hikari understood Yaya could get just as nervous as her, but it still brought a smile to her face in her discontent that Yaya could be a bit soft in this way. Not completely such a...what was it Tsubomi called her? Hard ass? Hikari giggled, causing Amane to look over with a question already on her lips.
"Yaya," Hikari said simply. She started to turn shyly to look at Amane.
As Hikari stole the glance at Amane, she noticed a small scratch on her face. Curious, she tried to open her mouth to ask, but shied away and looked out the window, watching the droplets fall onto the door and slide around as the truck's velocity sent them every which way but up. Amane noticed this however and looked over for a moment. She thought Hikari looked so peaceful and adorable with her pink cheeks in the rain. It brought back memories of when they first met. The sting on her face from the race rose suddenly. She had seen the piece of wood only out of the far corner of her eye, but refused to take any attention off Miyo.
"What's wrong?"
"Um...how's your cheek?"
Amane nodded once to herself. So that's what it was. "It stings but it's not bad."
Hikari looked at it as Amane's attention remained very firmly on the road. She was surprised she hadn't noticed it at the stadium. But then again, whatever had hit probably hadn't had enough impact to make the wound immediately flare. The blonde girl leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Amane's cheek. The older girl blushed and scratched the back of her neck.
Yaya made a sharp turn left into a rather full parking lot lying beneath a Wing House sign. Hikari groaned to herself when Amane inevitably followed. She could see Yaya devilish smile discreetly hidden by her black hair behind her tinted windows. They exited their vehicles, walking hand in hand with their respectful partners, quietly walking to the entrance, where the crowd inside was anything but calm.
Cries for Amane rung up as people saw the group walk in. The taller, older bluenette ducked her head and let a small wave go with an equally small sigh. Here too?
A hostess met them at the front and asked Amane how many, who quickly replied four. The hostess gave her a dazzling smile, doing an exceptionally well job of ignoring the smaller three. Honestly, it couldn't have been hard for anyone, considering Amane did shine like the brightest star in the sky, but still... It made Hikari nervous to see, but she hoped her girlfriend hadn't noticed her unease. Still holding hands, they walked to a table in the back and soon ordered their food. As a waitress came back with their drinks, Hikari noticed the gears in Yaya's head as her black haired friend's plan began to work itself out. The blonde begged silently it would fall apart, but she knew better.
And immediately she knew it would only get worse.
The restaurant could hear microphone's being set up and screens being placed with generic, uncaptivating logos and blue backgrounds. On the overhead a man's voice could be heard," Aaaallllllrighty people, you know what we're gettin' ready for!"
Cheers bellowed from the restaurant, some of the more rowdy and intoxicated patrons waving their partially devoured wings in the air. The group stifled a laugh- except for Hikari. Who tried hard not to groan, exasperated as Yaya's face twisted into pure mischief. When the taller girl opened her mouth, Hikari knew it was over
"Hey Hikari, you're gunna go up their right?"
"Well um..."
"C'mon, you've got a voice to die for. I'm sure Amane would love to her it," she said slyly.
Amane looked to her Hikari, captivated by the thought. "Do you sing?"
Yaya replied for her before she could deny it. "You kidding? This girl could bring the dead back with her voice! She brings stadiums to a dead silence"
Hikari's face instantly went from a drained corpse to looking like a tomato committed suicide on her face. Every word Yaya said in talking her up was one more word of assurance to Amane that Hikari couldn't deny her, even if the bluenette didn't know it.
"Um...it's not that good..."
Her voice was hardly heard though as the first group went up to sing a horrible rendition of Queen's We Are the Champions.
Amane looked at Hikari and said to her, "Hey, I know there's no way anyone could be worse than that." She chuckled, thinking that Hikari's nerves would be calmed with a little food, which came around not longer after a pair of girls sang some other American song that didn't recognize. Something about a super bass? For a time, Yaya left her friend at ease and teased Tsubomi, playing around with their food. The other two chuckled, and Hikari noticed a bit sauce to the side of her lip. She kissed it off of her, blushing at her open affection. The two of them, now off in their own little world, sat there practically giggling like school girls, feeding each other and occasionally giving each other small, quick kisses, not noticing a thing going on in the restaurant.
Not noticing what would ruin probably their entire afternoon.
"Hey, next up for karaoke night is a girl willing to sing her heart out for a special customer we have tonight- Amane Ootori!"
"What?" They snapped their heads up collectively and then looked back at each other- then to Yaya.
"I swear to God, it wasn't me!"
"It's true actually," Tsubomi added. "She's been with me the entire time."
"Then who?..."
A girl got up, giggling senselessly, looking at her friends, then searching the room for Amane. The rider blushed and hid her face. "Hikari, I'm so sorry..." Just some random girl... Really? Is it always going to be like this... Hikari must hate me...
The blonde blushes, but doesn't look at Amane with hateful eyes. Instead she whispered out," Does this happen a lot?"
She couldn't speak. She wanted to tell her no, but that was an obvious lie. She wanted to apologize, but she didn't know how. All she could do was hang her head sadly. As the girl sang some slow song unrecognizable to the group, they couldn't find it in themselves to look at one another. Tsubomi, being the most outside of the situation, realized as she looked up to the makeshift stage that a whole line of girls, and a few guys, had started, and she feared that it was all for the same reason.
Unfortunately, this all proved too true. Someone sang acapella and the people around had the good grace not to boo him offstage. Finally, Yaya had enough. She was about to go rage hell to the restaurant when Hikari stood up first and over to where the hostesses were standing. The group stared at her worriedly, and then it clicked to the raven haired girl. She knew what was going on inside her blonde best friend's head.
The pair left the front of the restaurant and went back to the stage. The line had pretty much died down a lot, but had no real promise of stopping. The man finished- thank heaven- and before anyone could get the chance, the sub hostess let Hikari up, giving her a small smile and a thumbs up to go. Amane and Tsubomi looked at each other, trying to figure out what might be going on. Yaya knew though... Slow, soft piano filled the room, quickly followed by an indescribable melody, like mists and chimes and then...
When you walk away
You don't hear me say,
"Please, oh baby, don't go."
Hikari's voice simultaneously raised hearts and broke them. Every one knew who she was singing to, and they all knew instantly she was the only one getting through.
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go...
"Oh my god..." Amane's mind felt numb, more likely completely unaware of what was around her except for Hikari.
You're giving me too many things Lately, you're all I need.
You smiled at me and said,
"Don't get me wrong, I love you,
But does that mean I have to meet your father?"
Hikari looked up a little and immediately her eyes were attached to Amane's, whose dark orbs seemed to swell with affection and adornment and amazement. Yaya saw this and thought to herself, "Please... Please don't stop... It's so good"
When we are older you'll understand
What I meant when I said,
"No, I don't think life is quite that simple"
The whole of the restaurant became a captivated cluster of men and women gazing helplessly to the small blonde girl and her voice.
When you walk away
You don't hear me say,
"Please, oh baby, don't go."
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
Yaya knew how entranced Amane was immediately. How everyone had become entranced. She'd felt this a million times.
The daily things that keep us all busy
Are confusing me
That's when you came to me and said,
Amane was barely on the edge of her seat, listening to Hikari. So amazing...
"Wish I could prove I love you,
But does that mean I have to walk on water?"
When we are older you'll understand
It's enough when I say so
And maybe some things are that simple
Tears formed in the eyes of near everyone there. Hikari sang like a sweet toxin, beautiful, irresistible to the crowd before her. The rare, often restless child sitting amongst them, watching the young women no more than a few years older than them at most, astonished in their own way that she could sing so elegantly.
Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on
Yaya hid tears at the edges of her eyes by flipping the random strands of hair in her face out of the way, simultaneously attempting to move her way out of Hikari's spell before anyone could notice, especially Tsubomi.
Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before...
They song ended with an upscale arpeggio on piano, Hikari's singing flowing into it. People lost their own voices cheering for her- if anyone was going to get Prince Ootori's attention tonight, the crowd knew it was to be her. Hikari blushed a soft pink, did a small curtsey and walked off stage to her table. In the front the intruder from earlier asked the hostess for a seat at the bar, trying to understand what beauty they just witnessed.
Upon returning, Amane greeted Hikari with the warmest, deepest kiss she knew how to give. Their smiles ran leagues wide, the display showing the crowded building that no one else had ever stood a chance tonight, song or no. To them, she had simply gone up to tell them Amane was hers. And it was very well likely to stay that way.
"Hikari, that was beautiful!" Amane said, still astonished. "How long ha-"
"At least since middle school Amane-kun. She sang in the choir with me and Tsubomi," Yaya relayed. Don't worry, you're not the only one to have fallen for her like this...
Hikari blushed magnificently now, and Amane couldn't help but smile wider. She was so pretty, it was unbelievable. When she was singing, Amane knew that this girl had wings and a halo, somewhere, maybe just hidden from mortal, unworthy eyes. The great rider felt unworthy to be holding her, claiming the small wonder for her own. They talked fervently then, the three of younger ones with Amane listening intently, about their middle school years and being in the choir. The rider was amazed at how much they had done, and how much they grew with just a voice. She thought about her and Star Bright's mutual dependence; how they always had and needed each other, had always been the only ones they needed, but knew they couldn't move on without the other. Amane knew it couldn't always be like that, Star Bright was aging everyday she was. But these girls... Her wonderful Hikari, she would always have that beautiful voice, that wonderful draw that Amane knew she would never forget. Her heart swelled at the thought. Hikari... Don't ever stop... I want your voice to be heard forever my angel.
It was quite some time before the four of them paid and left. Amane had reached for the bill, but Yaya, with all her masculinity apparently being threatened by the lack of a dip in her wallet, got to it first.
"I asked yall to come, I'm not gunna make you pay," was her excuse.
They parted in the parking way, Hikari hugging her dear friends and Amane shaking their hands politely. Although Yaya unnerved her a bit, she seemed to have good intentions. And she loved Tsubomi's lecturing whenever she got too out of line. The pairs walked away, again hand in hand with their respective dates.
"So, I guess I'm taking you home now?" Amane asked as she climbed into the cab of the truck. It was now a bit late, and they hadn't realized all the hours that had passed at the restaurant.
"I'd hate to leave, but if I'm gone much longer, my parents' will wonder where I am," Hikari sighed. "I didn't want this night to end."
Outside in the parking lot, a small car whipped out, the only break in the silent night. Hikari leaned her head onto Amane's shoulder, oblivious still. All that mattered right now were the lingering few minutes she had with Amane. Her Rider slowly revved the truck to life, and Hikari felt the lull of the engine, Amane's presence, and the heat of the cab pull her into a soft, but unwanted sleep.
Amane knew her girlfriend lay fast asleep snuggled into her arm, but she looked so adorable she couldn't bring herself to wake her up. The girl's voice was still playing in her head. The song repeated over and over in the blonde's beautiful voice like a mantra. When she cut off the engine and rested in her seat on her driveway, she felt Hikari stir. She nuzzled against the bluenette, and looked up at her eyes with a smile. Amane couldn't help but lean in and kiss her softly.
"Good evening deary."
"Hi there Ms. Ootori," Hikari giggled.
"No need for formalities Hikari," the older girl replied, kissing her again. "You and I are equal."
They sat there, silent and smiling, for a time where nothing existed outside the cab of that truck. The air seemed to warm, and Amane pulled her soft, delicate angel in for a long and slow kiss. Several moments quickly turned into minutes, the couple exploring past their partners' sweet lips, letting hands fall on shoulders, then hips, and an accidental slide on a thigh.
"Amane..," Hikari started as she jumped a little, her hands undecided as to stay on her riders hips or retract back to her own body.
"S-sorry, Hikari, I wasn't- I swear, I wasn't-" Amane became flustered, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry... I'm not a pervert, I promise Hikari, I swear..."
The rider was at a loss. She swore one long string of obscenities in her mind. If I scare off Hikari... Oh god, kill me...
"No, Amane, I don't, I'd never think that. It just surprised me." Hikari blushed, as easily foreseen, thinking of the nights past, and how passionate and fiery their kisses where. And I choose now to be awkward?
The silence wasn't companioned with smiles, just awkward eyes, looking away.
"I'm sorry-" they both started.
"I didn't-"
"I know..."
"So-"
"Please Amane," Hikari interrupted. "Please, just... Kiss me again..."
Hikari thought she was going to die as she said it, mulling over already the rejection Amane would give her, when their lips crashed together once more, quickly making a heat in the car quite like their episode the night before on the porch.
How much farther will this go? We're in the cab of my truck making out like we'll die if we don't, and she's technically supposed to be inside the house...
And then it was that Amane's thoughts stopped, her heart as well, when she realized the car wasn't there, that rusty old jalopy of Hikari's mother's boyfriend's.
"Hikari. He's not here."
"H-huh? Who Amane-senpai?"
"Jack. His car's gone."
"You just noticed? He's probably out drinking somewhere." She frowned, not noticing her grip on Amane shirt tighten a little, shifting it downwards just slightly. "I don't really care honestly..."
"What if he comes home and I'm still here?
"Oh sh... Darn, that's a good point..."
"I'll walk you u-"
"No," the small blonde. "I'll be fine, promise, I'll let you know when I'm in my room, okay?"
"Alright," the rider replied with a sigh. Hikari hopped out and headed inside, and Amane slowly and quietly as possible started her truck and backed up into the ivory black street behind her. She watched as Hikari disappeared from behind the closing door, and drove off into the night.
Amane fell into deep thought as she turned onto the major road.
"Good god Ootori..." Amane said out loud to herself. "What've you gotten yourself into?"
She hoped that Hikari's mother had left with Jack as well, or was at least in a deep enough sleep so where Hikari wouldn't wake her. She wanted so bad to turn around and check on her, but…
She said she'd text me… She'll be fine… But…. I wonder if Jack went out looking for her? Amane was riddled with conflict. Calm down, it'll be fine, either she'll text me or fall asleep and we'll talk in the morning. No big deal.
But the rider could not help but shake the overbearingly terrible feeling that something… very… horrible was going to happen.
And she had no clue what she would do.