Chapter 12: Taxes and Declarations

The student council is on break to prepare for midterm examinations the following week.

"Midterms already huh…"

"Why do you look worried?" Sayaka said as they walk together towards the school gate.

"I can't concentrate when I am alone. I always procrastinate and end up playing or reading other things."

"If you want you can study with me."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but you need to pay taxes."

"Taxes?"

"You know. Twenty five percent of the time you need to give me attention."

"Ah, it's a bad idea. I will be more distracted. Maybe I should ask Nanami-senpai instead."

Sayaka, with a passive expression, looks straight ahead. They reached the school gate, and Yuu didn't receive the usual farewell. Her senior just walks off towards the train station.

"Sayaka, you know I was joking, right?" Yuu said, catching up quickly beside her.

No reply.

"Hey, Sayaka, don't be like that. I was clearly joking."

The second year just walked on. Yuu tried to take her hand, but the lanky girl was quick to dodge. They reached the parking lot, and Jin quickly got out and opened the door for them. Sayaka sat down, looking straight ahead, after putting her seatbelt on. Yuu stopped by the door.

"I will close it, Jin-san. Thanks." When the driver went back inside the car and closed his door, Yuu faced her senpai. " Sayaka, I don't want today to end like this. Please forgive me." The brunette still ignored her. After a moment she closed the door defeatedly and tap the driver's side window. "Jin-san, can you unlock the other door? I will go with you today."

"Of course, Koito-san." Jin had dropped the -sama honorific at Yuu's insistence.

Yuu went to the other side of the car and opened the door. Sayaka's expression was unchanged. She got inside and closed the door. When she was about to reach for the seatbelt, a slender hand got to it first. The redhead gaped at this, but after the belt was on, her friend leaned back on her chair and turned her attention to the window at her side. The car started moving.

"I am sorry Sayaka. It was a bad joke. It won't happen again. I promise."

No reply.

"I'll do whatever you want. Please look at me."

Nothing.

They arrive at the glass mansion, and Sayaka goes out immediately. Yuu waved gratefully at Jin and watched as her senpai walked towards the house without waiting for her. 'Just a few days ago, she wouldn't let go of my hand, and now she won't even look at me.' She debated going home to prevent more trouble. But she knows that a terrible night awaits her if she doesn't resolve this now. She walks slowly to the house and ponders what she needs to do.

"Ah, Yuu-chan, welcome." Yume greeted the miserable girl "Why do you look so sad?"

"Sayaka is angry with me. I made a stupid joke and now she won't talk to me."

"Ah, maybe just give her time. Come inside and have tea with me."

Yuu accepted the invitation and was led to the living room area.

"You look so gloomy, is it that bad?"

The little girl explained what happened, and to her surprise, the woman was smiling when she looked up at her.

"She is just jealous. Go to her. I am sure she is waiting for you and will try hard to hide it."

"The last time she was jealous, she bit me."

"Really? Wow my daughter has changed a lot these days." Yume smiled at Yuu. "She cares deeply about you, Yuu-chan. She just doesn't know how to express it properly yet. Go on. Go to her and try to make up. If she ignores you again, find me and I will set her straight."

"Thanks for the tea." Yuu said bowing deeply.

When she reached Sayaka's door, she breathes deeply and knock.

No invitation to come in.

She knocks again.

Still the same.

"Sayaka, I am going in."

She opened the door. Sayaka is sitting with both legs up in the chair by the window. Resting the book she's reading on her lap. She's wearing a light pink button-up shirt and white pants. Even with a serious expression, she looks breathtaking. Yuu walks slowly towards her.

"Sayaka, I know I did something wrong. If you can't forgive me, I will understand. But can you say something, anything? I feel awful, and I know I won't feel better if I go home knowing that you are still angry." Yuu sits next to her. The brunette continues to read.

Minutes passed. Exhaling, Yuu decided that she had to give her friend more time. As she tries to get up from the chair, two hands reach for her and pull her back. Sayaka is hugging her from behind, one hand over her collar and the other on her waist, her face pressed against her shoulder. Body shaking a little.

"You belong to me" said a raspy voice.

"Yes, definitely." Yuu tried to face her but was held in place.

"You need to pay for that."

"Tell me how?"

Yuu was pulled closer until she was in between Sayaka's long legs. The yellow ribbon was undone. Collar pushed to the side. Soft, warm lips touch her skin. A few kisses in, and she felt the perfect set of teeth biting her gently. The same patch of skin was kissed, licked, and sucked. Yuu's body is beginning to warm up.

"Do you really need to bite me every time you are jealous?"

"I can't understand it either. I just feel the need to do it."

"I guess you are marking your property. It's a universal practice."

"Did it hurt?"

"You tell me. Does it look like it hurt?"

A purple bruise was on Yuu's shoulder.

"It does."

Yuu exhaled loudly. "Is that enough payment? Do you forgive me now?"

"Not nearly enough."

"Are you planning to bite me all over?"

"I thought about it, but I know I shouldn't."

"Thank goodness for your conscience."

"I am sorry, Yuu. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I can't help it. The thought of you and Touko together is eating me up inside."

Yuu sags against her. "Ah, it's alright. I did say I would be patient." Her neck was kissed again. But this time they are tender and lingering. Her skin warm up again. Breath caught. The kisses didn't stop and soon the lips found the other side of her neck.

"Yuu"

"Yes" she gasped

"Stop me when it's too much."

"Okay"

Her chin was sought for and tilted to the side. Lips cover every inch of skin they can find. Air coming in raggedly. The embrace was released, and the girl's face was turned. Mouth captured. Long-fingered hands found her waist and hips, grasping fervently. A moan, escaping from the abyss.

"Yuu" Sayaka whispered as she goes back to the neck.

"Tell me"

"I want more"

"Me too"

She was moved to stand up. Lips found each other as the brunette stood up. The small girl was led to the bed. When Yuu's back touched the sheets, Sayaka gladly laid on top of her, bracing herself slightly with her knees and elbows but drawing as close as possible. Yuu felt the weight and was grateful, pulling her closer. Sayaka's kisses only intensified, and soon she was unbuttoning the girl's uniform with one hand. Small hands did the same with the rose-colored shirt.

"Yuu"

"Yes?"

"You are supposed to stop me."

"It's not too much yet."

The lanky girl's shirt was taken off. Yuu had never touched another person's breasts, nor did she feel an intense desire to do so. But the ones in front of her now, though still covered in a black lacy push-up bra, are the most mesmerizing sight she has ever seen. Her face moved on its own accord, and she caressed the tender and pale skin with her lips and cheeks. A husky moan was heard. She moves upward to the neck. Trailing her lower lip behind, and her tongue traced a line to her chin.

"How about you? Why are you not stopping me?"

"I could not find any reason to."

They both laughed, and the vibrations did something to their hunger. The lips sought each other again. Yuu's hand kneaded Sayaka's waist. Touching the bare skin for the first time. Sayaka's moans aren't contained anymore. Small hands go to the back, weaving her fingers through the soft flesh.

"Am I not crushing you?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

"That is not the proper way to talk to your senpai." But her lips were seized, and one hand was at the back of her neck to keep her there. Their tongues met. Hands roaming around. Sayaka rolled them to the side so she could use both hands to properly undo the girl's uniform.

There was a knock on the door. Yuu froze, but Sayaka seemed unperturbed, still kissing passionately, and trying to take off Yuu's jumper. "Yes?"

"I told the maid to send some tea and biscuits to you. Did you girls make up?"

"We are making out now."

"Ah, alright, see you at dinner."

"You needed to tell her that?" Yuu asked.

"Told you, lying isn't tolerated in this house. Also, what's wrong with your jumper."

"You have the same one."

"Not as small as this one."

"Oh, you are not getting to second base now." Yuu said as she quickly got out of bed.

"You come back here this instant or you will be in big trouble."

"Catch me if you can." Yuu said as she put the buttons of her shirt back on. And hurried to go out of the room. 'She's so stunning. How can someone be that gorgeous and whip-smart at the same time? It is so unfair. And she's tall. Dang it!" She was out of the hallway when long arms captured her.

"If you think that me being in my bra will hinder me from going out to catch you. You are very wrong." The little girl was dragged back to the room and was pressed to the other side of the door after it was closed.

Yuu hugged the taller woman's shoulders and gazed up into her emerald eyes with a dashing smile. "I love you, Sayaka."

The shirtless girl blinks a few times. 'She's dazzling. That smile—no one else should see it. It weakens all my resolve.' She shook her head a few times, trying to clear her head.

"Fine, that's enough tax for today. Let's study for midterms."

The little girl chuckled. "Make-up kisses are kind of nice."

The next day. They are eating lunch on a bench beside the student council.

"You will study at my house again, right?"

"Maybe we should go to a coffee house or library instead. You know what happens when we are alone."

"That was the fun part."

"I am not a genius, like you. I really need to study, or I will fail."

"How about this? I will only kiss you on the car ride to my house and to yours." Sayaka offered while mentally planning on sending a text to Jin to take the longest route possible.

"Very tempting. You sure you can hold back?"

"If we are in the music room, will you be able to hold back?"

"Not if you play me White Clouds again."

"You really like that, huh? I was captivated by that song when I first heard it too. When I heard it again after our weekend together it reminded me of you."

"When I watched you play it and heard those notes. It was like you were trying to say thank you and that you care about me."

Laying her bento on the bench, Sayaka turned to face Yuu. Clutching her shoulders. "Was I not obvious enough? Do my feelings not reach you?"

"I… yeah of course they reach me."

"You want me to say it?"

"No, I told you I won't demand..."

"I love you, Yuu." She cuts her off fervently. "I apologize if I ever give you the impression that I don't care enough about you. I am not good at conveying my feelings with words. But you should know that you mean a great deal to me. You rule my world already. I am just a comet in your universe."

"Not good with words, you say."

"I speak three languages, but I still struggle to find the right words to describe how I feel."

"It's okay, I know your main love language is touch."

"It's no excuse." Sayaka said dejectedly.

"Hey, I don't need one." Yuu said, reaching for her cheek. The green eyes met the brown ones, made golden by the midday sun. "And I love you too."

"Tell me why we can't kiss at school again?"

"We didn't set a rule about it, but you wanted intimate kisses."

"What are the rules?"

"No classical concerts and stay away from musicians." Chuckled Yuu. And Sayaka joined her.

"Yeah, those are the ones."

"Does this mean we are officially dating?"

"So, you have been kissing me and still think we are not dating?"

"We never talked about it."

"Ah, I failed." Sayaka exclaims while putting a hand on her forehead. "It seems like I need to spell things out for you."

"Stop being dramatic. It is better to be clear than assume things."

"Okay, after the midterms, we are going on a date."

"We don't need to." Yuu said shyly.

"I know you want to. So, we will. And think of it as a celebration for passing the exams."

"We don't know that yet."

"Oh, you will pass the exam. I will tutor the hell out of you."

"That is so romantic." Yuu said, shaking her head. "Where did you read that? Shakespeare?"

"Cheeky." Sayaka remarked, and then something clicked in her head. "But there is a passage in his play about Juliet being the sun. I like that." She smiles and gazes at her girlfriend radiantly. "You are my sun, Yuu. You killed the moon."