Here's the next one, as promised.

I

"Tadaima!"

"Oh my Kami, Chihaya-chan! Long time no see!"

Two delighted squeals resounded around the kimono shop as Kanade gave her a hug, and she noticed that Chihaya was careful enough to hug her around her protruding belly. The taller woman was obviously overjoyed to see her, but couldn't run to her and give her one of her biggest hugs in her excitement due to her eight-month belly.

"I've missed you, Kana-chan! Oh Kami, be careful, your stomach…" Chihaya let out a giggle, rubbing her belly gently. "Oh my. I really missed you to death!" She added, a genuine smile blooming on her face.

Kanade laughed as she reached up and jokingly patted her best girlfriend's chestnut-brown hair. "Yes, you baka, I've missed you too. Come on, let's go to the back of the shop, you have much to tell me about your trip! It's almost my break anyway."

Chihaya clucked her tongue as she gently snatched the 'On Break' sign Kanade held in her left hand and went to hang it on the shop's front doors and locked it for her. "You know you should be resting at home instead of running around with your little one in there, Kana-chan. Especially now that you only have less than a month before giving birth." She scolded her in a very obvious half-hearted way, pouting at her friend in displeasure.

Kanade laughed good-naturedly in response, though she didn't miss the way her best friend seemed to blink tiredly looking as if she was struggling to keep her focus. "Well, I was the one who wanted to keep moving, Chi-chan. I feel so restless just sitting at home and doing nothing."

Chihaya gave her a glare as she dutifully followed her to the back of the Oe kimono shop. "Still, what will you do if the little angel suddenly decided to come out early? What is Tsukue-kun doing, allowing you to be still running around like that?"

Kanade snorted in laughter once more. "Oh please, Chi-chan! I am not an invalid, I can take care of myself. And Tsutomu himself gave me an earful before he had agreed to let me continue running this shop, so it's fine. And to appease your worries, I am ready. I already have a bag packed just in case." Kanade then turned to look at her, pausing in her tracks to look her over, scrutinising her from head to toe that she just knew made Chihaya feel like she was a specimen being examined under a microscope with her attempting to avoid meeting her gaze. "Wait a second, I think this is unfair. You just came home from Paris and you're already scolding me? I think I am the one who needs to scold you now."

She raised a perfectly-arched eyebrow in surprise. "Why me, what did I do?"

Surpising Chihaya with her grip, Kanade grabbed her hand and pulled her to the garden outside. "Are you kidding me? You look like you've lost weight! I mean, it's good to be slim, but look at the bags under your eyes. Have you been losing sleep?" She sat her down on one of the chairs and Chihaya opened her mouth to protest, but she beat her into it. "Hold that thought. I'm just going to boil the water first."

"I can do that with you." The brunette offered, obviously still worried about her pregnancy, and the fact that she was already on her last trimester and she was still bouncing around the shop.

"Oh fine. Come with me." She then led the way to the small kitchen area of the shop. Kanade gave her a look somewhat full of worry, as she began placing the water in the kettle and Chihaya almost snatched it from her to place it on the stove, making her roll her eyes at her friend's overprotectiveness and observe her out of the corner of her eye.

Kanade had seen the news flash last night which she knew basically surprised everyone. They weren't expecting it – no one was expecting it at all. She and Komano had suspected that it had to do something about karuta, but never along the lines of retirement. After all the years she had spent on it, after everything she had sacrificed to reach her goal, she thought grimly, Chihaya just didn't seem to be the type to just give it all up.

Not after what she had to let go in exchange for it.

"You know, Chi-chan… you never mentioned anything about retiring early." She muttered cautiously, trying to keep her tone light by forcing a small smile on her lips. She didn't want to broach this subject with her, not when she had just returned to Japan and everything, but Kanade was worried. There was just something with the way that Chihaya looked so exhausted, as if she was fighting to keep herself upright, that was just tugging at her worried nerves. Every instinct as her friend was screaming at her that something was wrong with her best friend.

Chihaya paused in her motion of rummaging through her cupboards to find some green tea – both their favourite since their high school days. Kanade knew that Chihaya was aware that she was watching her, observing every minute action she had throughout the whole ordeal. After a few more seconds of pause – as if Chihaya just overcame a debate with herself – she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I just felt that it was just about time for me to leave the field."

Kanade wasn't buying it. They hadn't been friends for seventeen years for nothing. She knew how to detect each lie which comes out of her mouth. "Chi-chan…" she prodded on, tone stern and knowing.

Perhaps Chihaya knew her well enough to know that she wasn't going to let this one pass, not when she can read through every line of her face that she was hiding and not telling the truth. Really, Kanade thought, this was different. Normally she would lie through clenched teeth and tight-lipped smiles, but what was making the warning bells ring inside her head was the way that Chihaya just didn't seem to care whether she'll see through the lie or not. It was like she was just going through the motions, like she was just saying it just for the heck of it.

And that scared her, more than anything. That Chihaya just looked… so… lifeless wasn't helping matters. It was alarming, the way Chihaya looked so fragile as if she just needed one more push and she would… break.

The brunette opened her mouth, as if she wanted to continue denying it, but Kanade was prepared to rebut. She was never the pushy person and they both knew that, but Chihaya's pale countenance was just making her feel uncomfortable.

She had to get her to talk.

All of a sudden Chihaya straightened up on wobbly legs, looking as if they wanted to give way, but she supported herself with one hand on the kitchen counter. She took a deep breath then closed her eyes, in a manner of someone who looked like she wanted nothing more but to break down and be honest with her feelings.

When she opened her eyes, Kanade didn't like that they were glassy and unfocused – as if she was on the verge of slipping from the reality.

Chihaya then surprised her with what she said next. "I'm so tired, Kana-chan… I just want to let go."

Her feelings of worry intensifying, and more than alarmed with the direction their conversation was going in with Chihaya's sudden admission in a pained tone, Kanade came over to her side and started to rub her shoulders. Chihaya's shoulders shook, but she had a feeling the brunette was holding her sobs in. "Why, Chi-chan? Why do you feel tired? Tell me. You know I'm here to listen to you, right?"

Even with her question, Kanade suddenly felt foolish when the sudden realization hit her like a ton of bricks. There was only one possible reason that her friend was feeling like this, and they both knew it. Still, she felt that it would help Chihaya more if she admitted it out loud rather than keeping it all bottled in.

"I knew that I was an idiot for letting go of everything… I know it was my fault, and I know that it was my choice, but I… I still miss him. I miss him like crazy, Kana-chan." Chihaya was hiccupping, unable to hold back her sobs.

Kanade sighed, rubbing her back in a very motherly fashion. "Then talk to him. Tell him, Chi-chan. It's not too late. Call him. I'm sure he will listen to you."

Chihaya shook her head vigorously, as if her doing so was more important than life itself. "No. I cannot do that now, Kana-chan."

Kanade wanted to get frustrated, but she knew Chihaya needed her support now, not her frustration. She had just come home from a different country after a tour, possibly seeking solace in her mother country. It was the very reason why she asked, no, ordered more like, her best friend to meet with her as soon as she was settled from her flight back into Japan anyway.

For her sake, she would have to put her personal feelings aside.

Kanade guided her to a chair first and sat her down, and waved her aside when she attempted to still help her in preparing the tea. As the water was already boiling, Kanade got out two porcelain teacups and set them down on the counter, before carefully pouring the water in it.

Once she had completed the domestic task, she sat down beside Chihaya, who had remained quiet the whole time she was doing the tea. Kanade didn't like the way Chihaya was slumped on the chair, how she appeared as if she would just… crumble anytime now.

Gone were her vibrant eyes. Chihaya had always had such brilliant eyes, the color of cinnamon when she was at rest, and the color of the brightest wine when she was in her element. She had seen the wine color countless times, because the Chihaya from their teenage years to their late twenties had been the epitome of beauty… and simple happiness. Not that she wasn't as beautiful now, what, with her age seemingly giving her distinction and respect, but…

Every plane on her face screams exhaustion. As if this Chihaya felt trapped with nowhere to go, like she was cornered – like she had already come to the end of herself – as if she was just tired of living altogether.

And it was scaring the hell out of her. Kanade knew it was something she should be panicking about now, but she would be of no help to Chihaya if she herself loses her head.

"Chi-chan – "

"Don't worry, Kana-chan." The current karuta queen then continued, as if she could sense Kanade's frustration and panic. She wouldn't be surprised if she could, actually, with them having been friends for so long. "I was just undergoing a serious withdrawal case."

She was exasperated with her attempt to joke and make light of the situation. "He's not a drug, Chi-chan!"

Chihaya smiled through her tears. "I know. I – I still couldn't help but miss him though."

Kanade knew she was on the verge of pulling her hair out in exasperation. "I do not understand why you were so unwilling to talk to him when you were already like this." She stated empathically, making no effort of hiding her worry. "He will listen to you. You know he's just waiting for you to talk to him willingly."

"I don't think I can do it anymore."

"What can't you do anymore?"

"Karuta."

Kanade didn't know if this was an attempt to divert the topic of conversation, or if this was just what Chihaya was really saying from the deepest part of her heart.

But, even when they were teenagers, Chihaya didn't make much sense. No, Kanade noted, she couldn't make sense of her because Chihaya's speed of thoughts changes at the speed of light it was practically impossible for anyone to keep up with her.

There were two people who can actually, now that she thought about it more thoroughly. She was still learning, but those two people can effortlessly follow Chihaya's seemingly incoherent train of thoughts. But this was only because one of them was naturally talented and strange in his own way, and the other one was a genius and had spent the majority of his life figuring out her thoughts that he had seemingly developed the ability of reading her best friend's mind that it was scary and amazing at the same time.

This was not without the complaints that she normally hears from him though. God, why does this girl have so many thoughts at the same time?

The corner of Kanade's lips pulled up into a small smile from a fond memory back in their early twenties. If only everything wasn't so complicated now.

No, she added to herself. If only they weren't complicating things. Darn it!

Her smile disappeared and she was forced to go back to reality.

"I can't do it anymore, Kana-chan. I've tried so hard to forget…" Chihaya was mumbling almost incoherently as she stared at her tea, as if willing it to just rise up to her lips on it's own.

This was worse. It felt like she was talking to a drunk Chihaya, one who had swallowed two bottles of beer. And that was saying something, considering that before she used to get drunk with just one bottle.

Kanade, not knowing how else to make Chihaya see her point, moved her chair closer to her slowly and took her in her arms slowly, or attempted to at least, with her swollen belly and all.

Chihaya straightened up; refusing her comfort due to her situation, but Kanade shushed her down. "Let me do this, Chi-chan. You won't tell me the real reason why you can't talk to him now. This is the only thing I can offer you."

Chihaya leaned back against her, acquiescing to her light reprimand. Kanade rubbed her back in a motherly fashion, an action which she knew Chihaya appreciated quietly. "Chi-chan… when are you both going to stop pretending you don't love each other?"

She didn't respond. She didn't expect her to anyway.

In the end, she hadn't gotten much out of Chihaya, except making her confess that she was in fact, still heartbroken. The brunette had made it clear that it was her own choice though, a fact that she cannot understand, even when the separation first occurred. She wasn't privy to the exact details, as she felt that she would be violating their privacy if she did. All she knew was that the separation was Chihaya's own decision, a fact that left her other friend as exasperated as her, but a million more times disappointed and heartbroken.

It wasn't her place to intervene, she knew. But she couldn't help but think that something worse was happening, and Chihaya was keeping it to herself in an attempt to possibly protect them.

She didn't expect her suspicions to be confirmed though. And certainly not in the worst way possible.

They were making dinner for Komano for when he comes home – she had made Chihaya help out in an attempt to help her take her mind off of things at least – when she noticed Chihaya clutching her stomach while she was peeling carrots off.

"Chi-chan are you alright? Is your stomach hurting or something?"

Chihaya smiled, but the smile was more of a wince. "I-I'm fine, Kana-chan." But the wince turned into a grimace as Kana-chan saw her clutch her stomach even more in what seemed to her like another wave of pain passing through her.

Kanade's eyes widened as she suddenly fell into one knee, the pain more visible now on her best friend's face and the knife falling out of her hand. She was gasping in pain, making her panic. This didn't seem to be an ordinary stomach ache, if Chihaya's gasps were anything to go by.

"Chi-chan!? Oh gosh, you crazy girl, what is happening to you? Oh wait, let me call an ambulance first!" Thank God, she had her phone placed just on the table as she was waiting for Tsutomu's call. She hurriedly dialled an emergency number and waited for it to ring, and when someone picked up she all but yelled for them to hurry to her address.

"Oh God, Chi-chan, hang in there please. Don't lose consciousness on me, the ambulance is coming alright?" She tried to cradle her friend's face on her hands, but Chihaya looked so delirious with pain that she didn't appear to understand her. She was just mumbling something incoherent to her ears.

"…see him.."

"Chi-chan, save your strength please."

"…don't… him… know…"

Kanade's eyes were tearing up. "Who? Who do you want to see? What should be kept from him?" She was so exasperated that she was crying with her. "You crazy girl. What have you been keeping from us?"

Chihaya was on the verge of unconsciousness and Kanade wanted to panic. In her haste, she swept her phone aside. She suddenly realized that she could call for more help.

She dialled one of her friend's numbers, praying to all the gods out there that he would respond. He was the closest in her area after all.

It seemed that the gods had heard her prayer for he picked up at the first ring.

"Moshi-moshi Oe-san."

"M-Moshi-moshi? I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't be calling you with this, but you're the only one who can help – "

"Calm down Oe-san, you're barely coherent; it won't help with your pregnancy. Is something wrong?" The masculine voice asked, a hint of worry seeping in his tone with her obvious panic at the other end of the line.

"Yes something's wrong, your wife had a sudden bout of stomach pain, I'm having trouble keeping her awake and she needs you here right NOW!" She half-snapped half-screeched at her phone, panicking again as she saw Chihaya close her eyes already.

Silence reigned between their lines for what seemed like an eternity, though in reality it was only a few seconds. She could tell that she had caught him off-guard with her reaction.

"I'm coming over." Was all he said, before his line went dead.

I told you it would be quick. Thank you for checking out this corner once more, and for loyu-chan and fizanime08 for leaving reviews and not giving up on me.

Don't worry you guys, I am not giving up on ATD yet. I'll probably update this one first, or whichever inspiration strikes first.

I love you people, so again, let me know what you think by clicking on the little button there below. Next chap will probably be up… soon. This will probably a short story as well. So the chapters might be really short.

Toodles!

Love,

Michiko :)