Chapter 3"Ai-chan, AI-CHAN!"
"Hai!"
The elder's eyes refocused onto Eri's face as she was abruptly jolted from her daydream. As the pair waited for the service staff to set up the apparatus required for the Shabu-shabu meal, Ai's mind had unwittingly drifted off. Her thoughts were as disconnected as the air pockets bubbling on the top layer of the broth which was contained in a circular metal pot.
"You and Gaki-san are so similar. No wonder you're best friends."
"Huh?"
Not quite understanding what Eri meant, Ai looked at her with a confused expression on her face. Shaking her head slightly and hence causing her fringe to fall over her eyes, Eri reached for the chopsticks placed neatly on the table in front of her. She was all ready to tuck into a steamy hot dinner and explaining matters further to Ai wasn't at the top of her current list of priorities.
"What would you like to eat Ai-chan? I'll cook it for you."
Smiling sweetly as she submerged a piece of meat into the boiling water, Eri tilted her head and beamed expectantly at her new girlfriend. Her action was undoubtedly adorable and the simple act brought a smile onto Ai's face. This was the exact reason why she had agreed so readily to be with Eri. Besides the fact that she was confident the younger would never put anyone else before her, her main reason for reciprocating the rokkie's affections was how unbelievably endearing she was. Anyone who knew the nineteen year old could ascertain to its verity.
"I want that piece."
Pointing to the meat dangling between Eri's chopsticks, Ai grinned mischievously at her. There were plenty of various types of meat on the table all separated in suitable portions. Yet Ai was determined to claim the slice of beef which was in the process of entering Eri's mouth.
"But I was going to eat it."
Whining like a small child, Eri shook her shoulders from side to side and pouted at the leader, declining her blatant request. From a bystander's point of view, passing this thin serving to Ai wasn't a big problem, in fact it was obvious that the shorter haired woman was just teasing her. Nevertheless, being slow animals, the incarnation of an adorable turtle did not realize Ai's intentions. The teasing escalated into more serious play and resulted in Ai chasing Eri around the private room. As Eri tried her hardest to hide away the morsel of food protectively, her fleeting concentration on Ai's whereabouts allowed the smaller but stronger woman to tackle the shapely girl onto the sofa. Yes, there were large and cushy couches in the VIP rooms of this up market Shabu-shabu restaurant.
Lying on her back with one hand still holding onto the wooden chopsticks, Eri stared with widening eyes at the perpetrator of the sudden suggestive deed. In the modestly illuminated room, Ai's eyes caught the reflecting light and shined with a wondrous gleam. Extending her neck to bite at the rapidly cooling red meat, Ai chewed slowly, savoring it to the very last mouthful. When she finally swallowed the piece, she removed the rendered useless utensils from Eri's fingers and threw them carelessly to the side. Now that there was nothing superfluous holding them back, Ai went in for the kill. Her prey whimpered sensitively at her rough advances. Even so she soon gave in to her repeated demands. Takahashi Ai was Kamei Eri's first girlfriend and it was she, who obtained Eri's very first time.
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The icy winds that caressed her face insistently roused Sayumi. Opening her eyes, she was met with the view of someone or something standing at her window. Squinting to see better, she saw the shadowy outline of what she thought was an unknown intruder. Shrieking hysterically at the top of her voice, she backed warily away from the trespasser. Startled by her frightening screams which could have easily woken the dead, the blackish form whipped around and started making its way towards her. Screaming even louder, Sayumi grabbed at the nearest objects within reach and threw them at the approaching being.
“Ow! Stop it! SAYUMIN!”
Recognizing the voice as a familiar one, Sayumi halted in mid throw and gapped stupidly at the face which had now become apparent as she came to stand where light fell.
“Gaki-san?”
“Is this how you repay me after I saved you and even cleaned your house?”
Rubbing at her sore head with one palm, Risa grumbled with an annoyed look on her face.
“Am I dreaming? Gaki-san’s at my house?”
“Try pinching and see.”
Going to sit down on the bed next to Sayumi, she glared hard at her ebony haired kouhai.
“OW!!”
Clasping her cheek with both her hands, Risa slapped at the fingers which were squeezing at the flesh on her face.
“I meant pinch yourself, NOT ME!!”
Returning her angry stares with a sheepish grin, Sayumi replied cheekily.
“You claim you didn’t feel pain when others pinched your cheeks. So I thought why not.”
“Damn you Michishige.”
Dropping the ‘san’ while referring to her and completely disregarding her assortment of nicknames, Risa growled with obvious displeasure.
“Since you’re well enough to bully your sub-leader, I presume you’re fine. I’m leaving.”
Spinning around to pick up her cell phone and wallet from the dresser, Risa was about to exit the room when Sayumi called her back.
“Gaki-san! Stay with me?”
Her second sentence was significantly softer than the first and it almost sounded like a desperate plead for help. Stunned by the surprising request, Risa turned back.
“Sayumin?”
“It’s late. The last train would have stopped running by now. I don’t want you wasting money on cab fare.”
Frantically trying to think up excuses to conceal her true motive for keeping Risa, Sayumi blabbered on. She didn’t want to appear weak in front of anyone. She was poison tongue Sayumi and masking her real character behind that term was the only way by which she could protect herself. Pulling Sayumi into her arms, Risa rubbed her back gently and ran her fingers through her length of hair.
“I know you’re hurt and I can understand your pain. But don’t harm yourself to release that frustration.”
Recalling the image of Sayumi gripping tightly onto the shard of broken glass when she first barged into the dwelling, Risa was aware of her unbalanced emotions.
“I’m not…I didn’t…”
She refused to admit her unrequited feelings for Eri and she hated herself for being so vulnerable. Nonetheless Sayumi couldn’t deny the pain that was numbing her heart and the tears that had began falling from her eyes.
“Rely on me Sayumin. Whenever you need a shoulder to cry on, I will be here.”
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@SxY: Thanks gal. I have one more paper to go and I’m done!
@TGF: I’m so happy my hypnotizing is working on you. Sorry to hear about how stressful school is but hang on! You can do it!
Topic: Merry Go Round - Chapter 23 (110615) (Read 70314 times)