@rndy: I take it you approve
@badsaints: they are indeed, everything is Rokkies and nothing hurts~
@kurosawa87: ahaha hopefully I can deliver.
I'm actually almost finished with this, just staggering updates so I have more time to work on Rockstar... And also the internet lately has been crap. :/ Enjoy!
Ookii Hitomi, pt. II <<Shabondama>>"Okay! Cut!"
Every muscle in her body cried out in pain as Sayumi flopped backwards onto her rear, and she couldn't help but let out a groan, glad that the whole ordeal was over. Never mind that she'd just sat down in about six inches of water; it didn't really matter considering she was already completely soaked, and besides the coolness felt good in contrast to the baking hot studio.
Eri had collapsed in a similar fashion beside her, panting heavily and all but leaning against her for support. The rabbit whimpered out some weak words of comfort before lifting her head slightly to glance around at the others.
The elder members seemed tired as well, but unlike her and her companion, most of them had managed to already stagger back towards the dry part of the studio where towels and fresh sets of clothes awaited them. Even Reina was already on her feet, Makoto checking up on her like a good senpai, even if she did mix her up with Eri from time to time.
Seeing their fellow rokkie made her pretty determined not to fall behind as well, and Sayumi pushed herself to her feet despite her body's protests. She reached down to help Eri, wobbling dangerously when the turtle stumbled, but eventually the two of them began to limp towards Reina, who was currently chattering away at one of the cameras.
Sayumi couldn't hear what she was saying, but it was soon over anyway, and she and Eri both mumbled a few sentences as well before following after the youngest rokkie into the dressing room.
Though several of the elder members had already changed and cleared out, the room was still a bit tight; the gokkies shared a corner by themselves, while Rika, Yossi, and Miki had lingered behind to talk with Kaori. Reina was in one of the unoccupied corners, attempting to peel off her heavy red jacket. She smiled slightly as Sayumi and Eri approached, though the rabbit noticed that away from the cameras and the other members the girl was letting her exhaustion show.
"...Some debut, huh?"
Eri slumped into the chair beside Reina, completely spent.
"I won't forget it any time soon..."
"That training camp doesn't seem nearly as bad as it did before," Sayumi chimed in quietly, burying her face into the soft towel she'd been handed moments earlier. "But it was kind of fun, dancing in the water like that. Even if I'll feel this for days..."
They chatted, the three of them together, laughing and smiling, and the rabbit decided right then and there that she wanted things to be like this forever.
<<Iroppoi Jirettai>>"The things she says to me sometimes, can you believe it?! And they say I'm the one with a sharp tongue- are you even listening to me, Eri?"
She wasn't, at least, not completely. The not-quite seventeen-year-old's mind and eyes were elsewhere; specifically, Reina was busy filming her close-up shots and lately Eri found herself wondering things like how to get the girl to look at her that way, or how soft her lips might taste.
"What exactly did Reina say to you, Sayu?" She asked, still focused on the monitor in front of her. The rabbit gritted her teeth.
"She actually scolded me about how I've been treating Koharu-chan lately. She said--and I quote--'Though I don't know why
you were chosen to be her mentor, that is the case, so you should at least try to take it seriously.'" Sayumi finished in a clipped, half-assed imitation of Reina's voice, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"Ah..." The reply she got was not at all satisfying, and Sayumi followed Eri's gaze, her patience wearing thin. She focused darkly on the monitor for a moment, several different emotions running through her head, jealousy the most prominent one. And then, though she was sure Eri hadn't even heard her, the turtle girl spoke.
"Are you mad because she scolded you? Or are you mad because she pointed out the truth to you?" Eri asked calmly, looking up at her fellow rokkie for the first time and meeting her gaze, "Because... Well, maybe it isn't Reina's place to tell you what to do, but it's really not a secret that you haven't been treating the new kid right."
Sayumi deflated slightly, not completely sure what to say. She searched for some excuse, knowing it was lame and stupid the moment it slipped past her tongue.
"Miki doesn't like her either..."
"Since when is life about 'What Would Miki Do'?" The eldest shuddered as she said that, obviously remembering some terrifying backstage memories. Eri always walked sort of funny whenever the subleader was around. "...and if it were, that's a poor excuse because she's still doing her job as a leader and a senpai with Koharu. Even if she yells at her, at least she's paying attention."
Sayumi couldn't argue that, much as she wanted to, and yet anger bubbled up inside of her.
Stupid Miki. Stupid Koharu. ...Stupid Reina!Her head snapped up immediately when the yankii herself wandered over to them, having finished her shooting. Eri, for her part, had already risen and moved to cheerfully greet the girl, touching her hands and quietly praising her work, all of which Reina took in with a slightly amused look. Sayumi clenched her fists; that really was the last straw for her, honestly. It was obvious that the turtle was seeing the kitten in a different light, but Reina seemed to think it was a joke, and the bunny wouldn't have that. She wasn't quite sure herself of what she felt for Eri, but was certain the girl was her best friend at least, and no one was going to toy with her emotions.
When Eri left them to do her own shoot, Sayumi approached Reina intending to give her a piece of her mind, but the kitten spoke first, halting the other girl in her tracks with a piercing look.
"If you're still pissed about what I said earlier, you really need to get over it. I didn't say it to insult you, so it's not my fault if you're choosing to take it like that."
"Explain to me the real reason, then," Sayumi spat back irritably, the last of her patience dissolving, causing Reina to raise an eyebrow at her. It had been a while since she'd completely dropped the cutesy act, since it was something she tended to do even when the cameras weren't rolling. But lately it was like there was nothing but friction between her and the youngest rokkie, and she was growing weary of trading barbs with the girl every time they encountered each other.
"...I just think you're a better senpai than you've been acting lately... So it's kind of a waste, when I see you ignoring Koharu-chan instead of taking responsibility." Reina replied slowly, carefully, as if she was exposing something about herself by airing her thoughts out loud, "You're actually really good at taking care of people, you know? Seeing what they need and being there for them and all... Like with Eri... Or with me, though maybe not lately, but that's not your fault."
Was that guilt in her voice? Could it be that Reina actually noticed she'd been pulling away? Sayumi's anger was slowly ebbing away, giving way to curiosity. It wasn't often that the kitten shared more serious thoughts with her, or anyone for that matter, and she waited, wanting to hear everything the girl had to say.
"It just... Makes me mad when people have potential and they don't do anything with it. Especially when that person is someone I care about."
"Reina..." Sayumi felt her stomach do a weird sort of flipflop, realizing that this was the first time in a while that the girl had complimented her, even if it was indirectly. And it had been much longer since the last time Reina admitted she cared...
The kitten seemed to grow skittish at Sayumi's voice, however, shifting uncomfortably as though she might flee, and so the rabbit blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"Eri... likes you, you know... like,
that way..."
If things weren't already awkward before, they certainly were now. Reina hugged her arms anxiously.
"I know."
That wasn't the way a malicious tease was supposed to sound. Maybe... Reina liked Eri back just the same? Sayumi's stomach twisted again, but for a different reason this time, the emotions too complicated for her teenage mind to register separately. But before she could speak again, Eri was with them, and Reina slipped back behind her mask to chat quietly with the turtle, that vulnerable girl she'd caught a glimpse of completely vanishing.
Eri shot Sayumi a questioning look above Reina's head, but the bunny only smiled and walked towards the set, burying her emotions in order to do her job.
<<Mikan>>It wasn't the first time she'd stayed over at her girlfriend's apartment after a recording session; hell, it wasn't her first time to stay over, period. But waking up in her bed, comfortably naked, was definitely a new thing. Not that Sayumi was complaining
at all; memories of the previous night flickered back to her as she stretched and tried to rouse herself, and she certainly made no attempt to stop the smile that crept onto her lips.
She lazily cracked open an eye, greeted with the sight of Eri sleeping peacefully beside her, all curled up with a sheet tangled haphazardly about her legs. The bunny's smile widened, and she moved to brush a stray bit of hair from the other girl's face before placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.
As much as she wanted to stay in bed all morning--she honestly thought watching Eri sleep could easily become her new favorite pastime--hunger soon drove her out of it, and she rose, picking her nightshirt up off the floor and slipping into it as she wandered into the kitchen.
As expected, it was not well stocked. Cute as she was, Eri lived quite like a bachelor, never picking up after herself and only taking care of herself when reminded to. Sayumi managed to find a box of cereal anyway, and sat on the counter as she idly munched on a handful or two, taking the opportunity to process her thoughts.
She was happy. There was no mistaking it. Eri was a good girlfriend, and things in Morning Musume were great, what with the nine of them steadily becoming a cohesive performing machine. Sayumi didn't think that anyone else in her position would have wished for much more in life.
And yet, even with all of the above being true, she couldn't help but feel she was missing a piece of the puzzle. At first, she'd felt guilty for even entertaining the thoughts, as if they made her selfish and ungrateful, or worse, unfaithful. But as her relationship with Eri had continued, she realized what it was she wanted.
Reina danced constantly through her mind; even now as she surveyed the mess in the kitchen she couldn't help but think with faint amusement that it would drive the girl crazy. But, it wasn't that she replaced Eri with Reina in her head, rather, she simply kept imagining the girl there with them in every scenario. Sayumi didn't want to be with Reina instead of Eri. She wanted to be with Reina
and Eri.
It was something she now accepted calmly every time it came to mind; whether it was strange or different didn't really matter to her anymore, as she couldn't deny the truth. The problem was, aside from the fact the kitten was all but married to her job as of late, was she had yet to tell Eri how she felt.
As if on cue, the turtle padded sleepily into the kitchen, hair sticking up in places and the t-shirt and shorts she'd quickly thrown on just as disheveled. Sayumi smiled fondly and set the cereal box aside as Eri stumbled towards her, eyes still closed as she pushed her head into the bunny's stomach, wrapping her arms around the younger girl's waist.
"Mrgnhgh..."
Sayumi laughed, gently smoothing out her girlfriend's hair with her fingers.
"Good morning to you, too."
They stayed like that for a moment, because last night had rendered a great deal of words unnecessary, the closeness more than enough to communicate everything they needed to say. Everything, except-
"You were thinking about something when I came in," Eri mumbled in between a yawn, blinking bleary-eyed up at the bunny.
"I was," Sayumi confirmed quietly, unsure of how to broach the subject. If she said nothing, Eri might be hurt, not to mention suspicious. The truth, however...
"I was... thinking about Reina." She stated delicately, closing her eyes and wincing as she waited for the turtle to react. Much to her surprise, she felt gentle lips against her own as Eri leaned up to kiss her, and when they parted, she blinked at the older girl in confusion.
"I guessed as much. I've seen the way you look at her lately, or rather, how you've always looked at her when you think no one sees you."
Sayumi blushed, mind racing for a way to explain, but Eri placed a finger on her lips, effectively stilling her. The turtle was smiling.
"I know how you feel. I've felt the same way for a long time... Probably longer than you have. I was just waiting for you to accept it on your own terms."
The bunny felt her heart swell up with gratitude and love, relief washing over her as she pulled the girl in for another kiss. Eri chuckled against her mouth, happy to return the favor.
"Now... Let's figure out how to get our girl, ne?"
<<Present Day>>Sayumi swatted at the hands wandering around her waist for about the twenty time that evening, using all of her willpower to ignore the lips and teeth that kept grazing against her neck. She was a woman on a mission, and would not be swayed, at least not so soon.
"Reina. Get out of here. I'm trying to make dinner."
"I don't care." The response was growled into her ear, and a small hand attempted to slip beneath the fabric of her jeans. Sayumi swiftly grabbed it before it could, however, and dealt her cat-like lover another smack. She finally spun to face the girl, meeting Reina's playful glare with one of her own.
"You
will care in about twenty minutes when your stomach starts growling again and there's no food on the table. And if you have your way with me now I promise you I'll be much less inclined to do anything about it by then."
The gears in the wonky-eyed female's head began to turn as she attempted to decide between fun and food. Eventually her stomach won out, but she would never admit defeat.
"Fine," Reina replied airily, turning to saunter out of the room, "But only because this gives Reina more time to plot out what she'll do."
Sayumi shook her head, turning back to the task at hand. She'd learned that the best way to deal with Reina was to make every thing seem like it had been her idea in the first place. The bunny didn't mind, and the sound of the TV flickering to life told her that she'd won a few rare moments of peace and quiet. At least, until she heard the patter of footsteps come up behind her again. She let out a long suffering sigh.
"Reina, seriously, if you don't- mmph!" Sayumi found herself being spun around and pulled into an embrace and a rather fierce kiss, though the lips she melted against were definitely
not Reina's. Coherent thought slipped away, and she relaxed into the arms of her 'attacker'.
"Eri..." She breathed when the turtle finally pulled away, a fanged grin on her face, "You're home early."
The older girl snuggled happily into her, breathing in the mixed scents of perfume and home cooking, the weariness of the daily grind immediately beginning to fade.
"Yep. And just in time, it seems."
Sayumi caught the turtle peering hungrily at what was on the cutting board, and before Eri could snatch herself a snack, she smirked and pushed the girl away.
"Not you too... It's not finished yet, so I'm gonna banish you from the kitchen too." Sayumi brandished the knife as a warning, and Eri put her hands up, backing off, the grin never leaving her face. "However, there is some chocolate in the cupboard, as promised. I only just managed to keep Reina from getting at it."
The turtle went about locating said treat like a child, making quiet happy noises when she found it. She obediently left the kitchen, satisfied, and Sayumi smirked when she heard a shriek sound from the living room moments later. Reina was just too easy to scare when she was engrossed in one of her trashy TV dramas after all.
Sayumi found the two of them cuddling on the couch minutes later, having left the water to boil, and she leaned comfortably against the doorframe to take in the scene. Eri's head was nestled against the armrest, the kitten situated pleasantly on top of her, attention on the screen. Every minute or so Reina would tilt her head up, a pleading look in her eyes, the cue for Eri to feed her bites of the chocolate.
"You're the reason she's spoiled rotten, you know." Sayumi chastised, not at all serious, a light smile on her face as Eri let her head roll back so she could watch the rabbit.
"As if it's any different from the way Reina spoils you." Eri responded, defiantly giving the kitten another piece of her treat.
"Or the way you spoil Eri." Reina chimed in, looking rather pleased with herself, regardless of what anyone thought.
Sayumi declined to answer, content to stand there and watch them until she had to return to the kitchen to check up on the night's meal.
I'm probably the luckiest person in the world, she mused to herself as she carefully stirred the ingredients into the pot of water.
That's why... I'm going to try and make tomorrow perfect for them. A wonderful anniversary...And it would be.