Little Angel ch.18

Wow, talk about some late deadlines , Sorry, it's really short, but I think there's a lot going on in this chapter. Love ya!

Amane was first to awaken the next morning, and upon gazing over Hikari, who was still wrapped up in her arms, she instantly remembered their adventure from the night before.
My God... When it comes down to it, Hikari looks like an angel even half naked. There's not a girl in the world I'd rather wake up to in the morning. Amane sighed happily, and stroked Hikari's soft, pale cheek slowly. She allowed her fingers to caress her face- although very carefully- and her neck, then to study the contours of her collar and shoulders and sides. Her curves were majestic to Amane, striking her in the way she'd watch Star Bright neigh and rear up into the sky, demonstrating his intensely handsome build. Hikari was just as striking, and she took Amane breath away just thinking about the closeness that now barely set them apart. She was holding in her arms this glamorous figure, protecting it, and it suddenly seemed surreal. For all the warmth in her heart, she didn't know limits for Hikari, the angel that could have the world. She was beautiful and shy, wildly intelligent from what Amane could tell, yet so unaware of certain... Things. Amane was still nervous to think that she'd been intimate last night; that she had taken her innocence, because it meant that it could change Hikari and their relationship.
Well... Had she taken her innocence?
It was flipping her mind as much as her stomach. Her Hikari... She put any doubt aside though. Honestly, last night could only prove that I really do love her, and she me; that we trust each other enough to let our bodies touch the way they did. Even... Even with... What happened last week, she still let me in and gave me something no one else had.
Suddenly Amane felt like she was being over dramatic. She blushed at herself, thinking of the silliness she probably seemed like right then. But then she felt Hikari stir, and a smile plastered her face. When the blonde rubbed her eyes and looked up with half-asleep eyes, Amane smiled wider and her own brown eyes shined.
"Good morning love."
"Good morning Amane," the younger replied, snuggling in tightly to Amane's chest. A soft, happy noise came from her, and her legs curled up. One wrapped itself around Amane. In turn, the bluenette traced her fingers down along Hikari's bare skin, feeling the warmth emanate from her. They stayed cuddled like that for maybe only ten minutes before Amane heard her phone ringing. Groaning and rolling her eyes, she got up, kissed Hikari sweetly on the forehead, then left to go talk to whatever asshole it was that was calling to ruin her morning.

Hikari sat waiting for her Prince to return, knowing she was on the phone with who it sounded like was the stable manager. She got up to go listen from the door. Amane was talking in a hushed tone, so the blonde decided it must be some private deal thing. She hoped Amane was okay; after last night however, Hikari felt like nothing could go wrong again.
I never could've imagined sempai... Being so... Wow... I can't even explain it! This exoticness would have Hikari bewildered for days. Or maybe... Just until... We do it again...
Just then, a sharp pain in her gut shot up and from head to toe, driving her motionless and breathless onto her knees. A small cry was all it took and immediately Amane was back in the room, her phone apparently not important anymore.
"What happened? Did you fall?!" Amane asked in frenzy.
"N-no, it just happened... I don't know why."
Amane looked at her worriedly. "Hikari, this is serious, what can I do?"
Hikari blushed, for small tears were forming at her eyes. "It's nothing that serious, you know. Just a bit of jelly knees…"

"Hikari…"

"No, sempai, you've already done so much. Taking me in was itself unbelievable. You know-"
"Hikari, wait," Amane interrupted. She knew she meant all of this, this whole thing, but the bluenette wasn't going to let her get into a spiral. "I'm sorry, I know this is rude, but I did this out of love, not a duty. When I 'took you in', it was because I couldn't let you go anywhere else and not worry about you every second of the day. As it is... If I take a job at the stables... I just don't want you to get hurt anymore, okay?"
Wait, huh? A job at the stables? "When did you..."
"Just a minute ago. But I can't in good conscience leave you for a minute. Not when you could just collapse in pain like this," Amane paused, choosing her words carefully. Now she was finding herself in the spiral. "I know that sounds... Over protective... But, Hikari... Every tear in your eye is another tear at my heart. If you couldn't move... If your chest hurt too much to breathe... How could I let that happen? It's my fault this happened, I'll be damned to let you suffer further for it!"
She was more yelling at herself than trying to prove her point, but Hikari saw now exactly every tear she'd caused Amane. Her shaking body mirrored Hikari's. Her red eyes matched hers, her bitten lip, her trembling hands, and her scared look. "I can't lose you Hikari. You're the only girl I've ever had that makes my heart beat the way it does. If yours stopped, so would mine."
"Amane... I won't die. I mean, it's just some... Bad chest pain," Hikari tried to reassure her, but her frail voice and long pauses spoke otherwise. She knew at worst she would be pretty weak, although when Jack was having his filthy way, she sure felt like she was going to die. The pain reminded her of it, but...
"Amane, when you hold me, when I'm in your arms, I've never felt safer. Or as alive. And, if you do go to work at the stables, I'm more than happy to come too. I know I'll be okay with you there, and honestly, being alone all day would drive me nuts anyway. Please Amane sempai, don't worry about it."
To prove herself, and to prove she would be okay, she- nervously- took Amane's larger hands into her own and slowly moved into her lap, motioning for her arms to wrap around her. Her cheeks a soft pink, she laid a quick kiss on Amane's lips and snuggled her head onto the bluenette's shoulders.
"Don't worry... I've already become a stronger person for having you Amane."
"As you have made me, Hikari dear."

Amane started work that next Monday. The remainder of their weekend consisted of grocery shopping, finding clothes for Hikari that fit, and trying to work out how the bills would get paid. Hikari had already decided that she, too, would look for work at the stable. If none was available there, she would beg Amane to please, stop worrying, and let her go into the city to look into part time, and yes, that she would call if something happened.
They were beyond nervous upon reaching the stable. They hadn't told the manager Hikari would be coming as well, and his questionable look when they pulled up in the truck didn't soothe them at all.
"As far as I recall, I only hired one of you." He stared at Hikari, noticing her slower pace. "A pretty face like yours doesn't belong working a stable anyway. Amane, care to explain?"
"Uh... Um... We wanted to know if, well..."
"I believed in more the merrier? To a point. A small point that's easy to cross. Hiring you is one thing, but two assistants cuts down profits way too much. This place, if it wasn't for those rich idiots, would barely make enough for maintenance."
"Sir, I-"
"Please honey, call me Shouta."
"Shouta sensei, I could take a part time job here, or half of what Amane makes," she pleaded.
"Now, Hikari was it? I've got two problems with that. The first is, I'm pretty sure Amane's got enough back bone in her to do everything I could ask her to do in half the time it would take myself to do it. The second is, I can't give you half, 'cause your blue haired friend isn't making much more than minimum wage anyway. Look honey, you seem a sweet, young thing. Go to the city and find work, your pretty face will get you anywhere.
She has more than a 'pretty face', you know. Amane was turning a little red from frustration, watching her employer look over Hikari like a meat stick, and completely ignoring what over qualities she might have.
"Regardless, I couldn't think to make her stay home alone all day, so-"
"What is this, the fourteenth century? 'Make her stay home'? Amane, I'm surprised."
"No! That's not what I meant!" She grew angrier with him, chuckling and winking at her like that.
"Hehe. Sure thing. Anyhow, I'd rather her not get caught up in your work, so I'll let her stay in my office. First thing I want you to do is let the horses out for their scheduled feeding. The things gotta breathe a little, you know?"
Amane hates being clearly dismissed the way she was, but not as much as she hated watching this guy she thought she knew spin on his heel, put his arm over her girlfriend's shoulders, and walk away with her, spouting aimlessly while Hikari looked back afraid and nervous. Amane's expression was hard, worried for her young charge. She could only trust she still knew enough of this guy to go work, and leave Hikari in his... 'Care'.
Good god, this world is getting more unrecognizable by the day. Star Bright, please cheer me up. And don't be too mad at me.
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