INDEXEntry#1
Mia-san requested me to write one this morning and I promised to posted this fic before 12. I don't have much time to write, so I'm really sorry if my story not really that good.

[I was late for 8 minutes! I'm really sorry Mia-san]
Title : Not You, Not Me but Us (weird title! I know!

)
Paring : AtsuMina
Words : so many words + warning for weird english usage
[Not You, Not Me but Us] Minami wakes up with the very annoying sound of her alarm clock. She opens her eyes and presses the clock’s button to allow her to sleep ten more minutes. She was about to fall back asleep again when she heard a sound from downstairs, the front door unlocking and then locking again. She turned around and layed her left arm on the bed. It was empty. She opened her eyes and started looking around.
“Atsuko?” She sat up on her bed and looked over at the clock; it was just past 5 a.m.
Minami decided to get out of bed and look for Acchan. When Minami was in the living room, she heard Atsuko’s voice talking to someone over the phone.
“No problem Mari-chan, we can have the party in my house. Of course Minami wouldn’t mind about it. Yes, sure. See you later then, okay bye.” Atsuko hung up and put her phone in her pocket.
Grabbing her bag before going upstairs, Atsuko was surprised to see that Minami was standing there. Perfectly silent looking at her.
“You just got home?” Minami asked, folding her arms across her chest.
“Oh, Minami. Y-Yea I just got home.” Atsuko said with a faint smile on her face. “I was busy going through our clients files that I lost track of time.”
“Again?” Minami asked with a frown.
“I’m sorry okay, you know me when I’m working right?” Atsuko explained, hoping Minami would understand.
“I thought we had a deal? You promised to text me if you’re going to be late again.” Minami said.
“We did. But like I said, I lost track of time. I didn’t plan to be late okay?"
“You should’ve texted or called!”
“I know I should’ve texted you. I know you’re worried about me but I’ve told you countless times that I’ll be fine! I know how to take care of myself Minami.”
“How can I’m not worried if you keep going on like this?”
“Minami please? Can we not argue now? I’m really tired.”
“It’s just a simple text, how hard could it be for you to send me one?”
“You know what? If you really trust me, you wouldn’t be like this!”
“What?”
“You really need to control that jealousy of yours! I was busy working! And not flirting around until 4am in the morning!”
“Jealous? You think I’m doing this out of jealousy? I’m being like this because I really care about you! Can’t you see that?”
“Just stop it okay?! Since we moved in together the only thing we do is arguing! Argue! Argue! Argue! And I’m sick of it Minami!”
“No we’re not! We’re just discussing.”
“Why did you have to make everything complicated Minami? I thought you understand me! Have faith in me, that’s all I’m asking for.”
“Of course I have faith in you! I trust you more than anyone else! Is it wrong for me to care about you?”
“No, you’re not wrong. But with you being overprotective around me, it’s suffocating me!” Atsuko said, with her voice piercing through her lover’s heart like a knife.
With what being said, both of them kept silent. Hurt was written clearly on both of their faces. Atsuko quickly run upstairs leaving Minami behind with tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. The usual Minami’s calm demeanor slowly cracking as she thought more and more about what Atsuko have said to her. She sighed and silently laughed to herself.
“The overprotective Minami you once loved is suffocating you now?” Tears silently made their way down her face.
┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓
During lunch hour, Minami decided to find a suitable gift for Atsuko. Apparently she was too busy as well to remember that today is Atsuko’s birthday. Only when she heard Atsuko talking to Mariko about a party that she remembered she didn't buy any present for Atsuko yet. She walked around downtown for hours but she can’t seem to find the right birthday gift for Atsuko until she walked pass a jewellery boutique’s display and saw a sign of custom design bracelet and jewellery.
“Should I get her that?” Minami asked herself. She stared at the display for a while before she shook her head. “Nah, maybe not this time.”
Minami started walking again to continue her quest for Atsuko present but stopped only a few steps after. She turns herself and quickly went into the jewellery boutique.
┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓
Later that night, everyone gathered in Atsuko’s house. She invited some of her old classmates in university and her law firm friends. With mariko as the organizer, nothing could go wrong as everyone were having fun with the music, beverages and delicious food that was made especially for Atsuko, their ace attorney in their law firm. It took them a while before they realize that the ace attorney lover is not present at the party.
“Acchan, where is Minami?” asked Mariko while she handed a glass of wine to Atsuko.
“Oh! Um- Minami wa- busy?” Atsuko answered before taking a large gulp of her wine.
“Busy? How can she choose work over you?” Mariko asked before taking a sip of her wine. “That’s the most insensitive thing you can do as a lover.”
Atsuko, who was half-way drinking her wine, almost choked upon Mariko’s words because that was actually what happened 3 months ago on Minami’s birthday. She was so busy with so many cases that she couldn’t keep her promise with Minami to have a romantic dinner together.
“I don’t see what you really see in her? She's just a dance instructor in a small dance studio, compared to you, you’re one of the board directors in one of the biggest law firm in Japan!” Mariko stirred the wine in her glass slowly.
“She never leaves me even after she saw the different side of me.” Atsuko took a deep breath and continued. “And the look in her eyes, every time she looked at me, is still the same as 7 years ago when I first fall in love with her.”
“What you’re trying to say is that she hasn’t changed ever since?”
“Hm, something like that I guess. A never ending love? I think I'm being greedy when it comes to love.” Atsuko says with a laugh.
“As long you two are happy, I will always give you my support okay?” Mariko raised her wine glass. They both clinked their glasses together and gulped down their wine.
“Ah! Yuko, you’re here!” Atsuko said when she saw Yuko walking toward their direction.
“Happy Birthday Acchan!” Yuko said and hugged her best friend.
“You’re late. You’re supposed to be here like 2 hours ago.” Mariko said opening her arms, inviting Yuko to hug her which she did.
“Sorry guys, got myself into an accident a while ago.” Yuko explained.
“Accident?!” exclaimed both Atsuko and Mariko.
“Oh, nothing serious guys. I was getting off from work when someone bumps into my car.”
“No injuries right?” Atsuko asked, examining her best friend.
“Nope. I’m fine. But my car-” Yuko sighed.
“Who bumped into you?” asked Mariko.
“I don’t know. I think she’s a model or something? She wants me to compensate her medical expense as well as her car! But she’s the one who bumps into my car!” Yuko exclaimed.
“Don’t tell me you two had a fight?” Mariko asked again with a laugh.
“I work at a law firm! Of course I know how things work! I can’t let some model who thinks so highly of herself to look down on me!”
“So what happened?” Atsuko asked in amuse.
“I told her I work at our law firm and I will not tolerate her claims. But she just laughed at me and said that she will get me fired! Ugh! I’m so pissed! If I ever see that woman again! Arghh!” Yuko said, clenching her fist tightly.
“A model you say?” Mariko asked, smirking beautifully.
“Yes, I think so because she’s really tall?”
“You mean that tall?” Mariko pointed to a really beautiful lady who just walked in.
Yuko turned around and gasp in surprise. “How did- But why- She’s here?!”
“NyanNyan! I’m here!” Atsuko waved to her just as she come in.
“Acchan!” the guest quickly went over to Atsuko. “Here is your present! I bought you a big one this year!” she hands over a big red box to the birthday girl.
“Thanks NyanNyan! So big!” Atsuko smiled and placed the present on the table next to her before hugging her ex classmate.
“Because I know that Baka-chan is going to give you the small sized one, so I just thought that maybe I should make my present the biggest!” Haruna exclaim excitedly.
“Baka-chan?”
“Your midget?”
“Oh! Minami? What do you mean she will give me a small one?”
“Hm, well." Haruna turn to look at Mariko but the short haired attorney pretend to be really enjoying her wine. "A- Anyway, where’s is she?” Asked Haruna, looking around the living room for Minami.
“She’s not home yet. I think she’s kinda busy today.” Atsuko answered with a faint smile.
“You think?” Asked Mariko.
“Oh! Mari-chan!” Haruna hugs Mariko. “I'm so excited!” she whispered to Mariko.
“I have to make a call, excuse me.” Atsuko excused herself and went out.
“Hm, something went wrong with those two?” Asked Haruna to Mariko.
“Lovers. It's a usual thing.”
"The plan is still going on right?"
"Of course. Besides it's normal to have some conflicts before going all happy and lovey-dovey in the end. It was so typical in a fanfic."
"What?"
"Nothing, I just remember about the case I'm working on right now."
“Ah, none of my business then.” Haruna said before turning to Yuko who has been watching silently and trying to figure out the relation between the model and her two best friends.
“You!!”
“Yes, me?”
“What are you doing here? Did you follow me all the way here?!” Asked Haruna, half shouting.
“Yes!”
“What! OMG Mari-chan! We need to call the police! This person actually hit my car on my way here and now she followed me here!” Haruna took out her phone, ready to call the police.
“I came here to settle your claims, miss….?”
“Kojima. Kojima Haruna.”
“Ah, Kojima Haruna.” Yuko smiled. “Kojima-san, here is my phone number.” Yuko passed her personal business card to Haruna.
“Oshima Yuko?” Haruna read the name printed on the card.
“Yes. Just give me a call when you already know how much I need to pay for the compensation.”
“Oh, ok.”
“Let’s discuss this claims matter over a cup of coffee maybe?” Yuko said with a wink before she smiled, flashing her dimples. “For now, I need to enjoy myself a bit after a long day at work, excuse me.” Yuko excuses herself and make at stop at the mini bar.
“Is she really one of your colleagues Mari-chan?” Asked Haruna and tilt her head to the side.
“Well, hmm. More like one of the biggest shareholders?” Mariko scrunched her shoulders up with a smile.
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Staring at her phone, Atsuko was silently hoping inside of her heart that Minami would call or maybe send her a text message. Today is her birthday but the person she wanted to celebrate with is nowhere near her sight. She just realized her words from this morning probably really hurt her sensitive lover. Her words came out all wrong, all she ever wants is for Minami to understand her better. For ten minutes, she keeps staring at her phone screen until tears began forming in her eyes and not able to hold the waving feeling inside her chest, Atsuko decided to send Minami a message.
Typing…Minami, I’m sorry for what I've said to you this morning. I don’t really mean it that way when I said you’re suffocating me. I don’t know why I said those things to you but I’m really sorry. Please forgive me. Onegai. Where are you now? Are you still at work? When will you come home? We’re celebrating my birthday now. Come home soon okay. I miss you so much and I love you. (。’▽’。)♡
Message Sent┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓┗(^0^)┓
In a playground nearby her apartment, Minami was sitting alone on the swing. Minami felt her phone vibrate in her pocket; it continued to vibrate as she sighed and grabbed her phone but smiled when she saw the name on screen, it was a text message from Atsuko. She tapped the read button and read the message. She was happy Atsuko send her a message to apologize but at the same time she knows she was at fault too. She thought all this time she was protecting Atsuko, but today she realized that all the things she does was only suffocating the person she loved the most.
“Am I really suffocating you?” She breathed in deeply, holding in her tears. “What should I do? I don’t think I can go home and face you right now.”
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“Ha~” Yuko breathe out and smile when she saw her breath fog in front of her face. “Waiting for Takamina?” she asked when she saw Atsuko sitting on a sturdy wooden bench in a gorgeous garden behind the Ace Attorney apartment.
“Ah! Yuko.” Atsuko quickly wiped the tears on her cheeks and smile. “What are you doing down here?”
“I should ask you that. You’re the birthday girl and it’s your birthday party. What are you doing down here?”
“Well, I normally never take notice, but the moon looks so beautiful tonight." Atsuko said with a fake smile. "So I came down here for a walk.” Atsuko swallowed hard as she glanced down at her phone. It was almost an hour later after she sent the message but no reply from Minami.
Yuko walked over to the bench and take a seat next to Atsuko. “Hmm." She laid her back against the bench. "I know that I may not know exactly what’s wrong with you but, does all this have anything to do with Takamina?"
Atsuko lowered her head down. She doesn't really know how express all the mixed feelings in her chest right now. All she ever want is for Minami to appear in front of her right on this moment.
"She’s not the kind of person to miss your birthday like this.”
Tears slowly welled up in Atsuko’s eyes as the air also suddenly felt heavier around her shoulders.
“Let me tell you something. Do you know that according to recent research, the reason why many couples having problems in relationships are basically the same, which is.....a bad communication.” Yuko ended her sentence with a sigh. “So....You better start showing your true feelings because you can actually save lives if you actually do that. Your life and Takamina’s life. It will be such a waste for a 7 years relationship to begin crumble now, you know.”
Atsuko gripped her phone tightly in her hand, trying to control herself from burst into tears.
“And, do you know what feelings are, Acchan?,” Yuko began but stopped a moment before she continue. “..for me, feelings are like magical things in life. Do you know why?” Atsuko turns to Yuko, taking interest in her best friend words. “Because you can’t see it, you can only feel it.” Yuko hold Atsuko’s hand, gripping them tightly in hers.
Atsuko look down at their hands and slowly to digest what is Yuko trying to tell her.
“And to feel it, you must use your heart.” Yuko added. “Sometimes it’s so easy to believe someone when they’re telling you exactly what you want to hear. And it’s hard to except things you do not want hear especially from the one you love the most. Am I right?”
Atsuko smiled to Yuko’s wise words, because it was exactly what’s going between her and Minami.
“Open your heart, so that she can feel yours as well.”
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“You’re not being fair, Minami!” Atsuko’s voice surprised Minami that she almost fall off the swing. Turning over to her left shoulder, Minami saw Atsuko walking towards her direction and she’s not looking happy for a girl celebrating her birthday today.
“A- Atsuko?” Minami quickly gets off the swing.
“What are you doing here?” Atsuko asked Minami as if she would punch her if she did not give her answer immediately.
“I- I miss playing the swing, so I came here.”
“To play?”
“Y- Yea.”
“Do you know what time is it now?!”
“Hm, pass midnight?” Minami answered, looking at her wrist watch.
“And you’re still playing around? After midnight?!”
“I just sit on the swing, I didn’t-”
“I thought we had a deal as for us to text each other if we’re going to be late!”
“I know. I’m sorry. I was thinking too much that I didn’t realize it’s already after midnight.”
“Didn’t you receive my message?”
“Oh, I did.”
“Why didn’t you reply? I was waiting for your reply for the whole time! What time did you got off from work? Why didn’t you come home? I already told we’re having my birthday party, right?”
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Atsuko.”
“Minami, why are you doing this? Are you doing it on purpose?”
“I didn’t mean to-”
“Are you, avoiding me?” Atsuko asked nervously, unsuccessfully managing to hold back a tear. She could feel the distance between them is growing.
“I’m not avoiding you, Atsuko.”
“Then what is this between us? Why I can’t feel it anymore? I can’t feel it anymore.”
“You can’t feel it or the door to your heart is still closed? I was always here Atsuko, right in front of you.” Minami took both of Atsuko’s hands in hers and looked at her like she was the most beautiful and valuable thing in her life. “If only you could see me trying all this years, just to make you open up to me.”
Staring deeply into each other’s eyes, tears started to flow down their faces. It’s all started because a stupid simple text message which they’re not able to committed in doing so. Just why two people who are in love could love each other for every stupid reason that does ever exist and turn it into a fight for every stupid reason they could find. Maybe this is what makes a relationship memorable, being stupid and doing stupid things together.
“Baka! We’ve been together for 7 years! Why do I have to open up to you! You’re supposed to understand me by now.”
“How can I understand you if you never tell me how you feel?”
“All this years, how did you love me?”
“I don’t really understand your question by how?”
“If I continue being myself, like this. Will you stop loving me?” Atsuko asked with a sob.
“No? I will love you no matter what.”
“Even if I changed and being mean and ugly?”
“Hmm, I don’t think so.”
“You won’t love me?”
“I don’t think you’ll ever be mean and ugly. That’s what I mean.” Minami let go of Atsuko’s hands and wiped the tears on her cheeks.
“When I become old and all wrinkles, I’ll be ugly.” Atsuko pouted.
“I have come to love you and accepted you for who you are to care about how you would look when you’re getting old. My pretty meter already broke after I met you. You’ll always be pretty in my eyes.” Minami said, blushing slightly.
“Y- You don’t have to tell me something I already know.” Atsuko said before she purses her lips to hide the smile that naturally invades her face whenever her short lover giving her the sweet talk.
“I'm just expressing my feelings, so you'll know how much I love you. Unlike that someone.” Minami said with a teasing tone before laughing.
“Tsk, you think I don’t know to express myself?” Atsuko frowned and pouted. She moved closer and brings her face closer to Minami’s.
Minami was surprised at first but she didn’t back away. She just smiles, wondering what her lover is going to do.
Atsuko then nuzzles their noses together making Minami to giggles and scrunched her nose before placed a soft kiss on her partner’s nose. “I love you.”
Minami smiles and tapped her nose before placing her finger on Atsuko’s nose. “I love you too.”
Atsuko couldn’t help it to blush when Minami is being cute and sweet at the same time. She hugged Minami so tight that she doesn’t want to let her go. Minami was about to wrap her arms around Atsuko when she’s suddenly got pushed away.
“Minami, is that the present you got for me?” Atsuko asked, tilting her head with an excited smile on her face when she saw the small maroon paper bag placed on the bench behind Minami.
“Huh?” Minami turn around where Atsuko’s eyes were looking at. “Oh, yes. Just a small a present.” She went over to the bench and took the paper bag before giving it to Atsuko. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you, Minami!” Atsuko placed a small peck on Minami’s left cheek. She could hear her heart beating hard while holding the present she got from the person she loves the most.
“You’re welcome?” Minami said with a small laugh. “I’m sorry if it’s not anything special. I tried to find the best present for you. But this is the best I can get.”
“It’s okay, I love everything that you gave me so far, because I know you’ll get me whatever your heart tells you to.”
“How did you know that?”
“Because it’s you, Minami.”
“You don’t have to flatter me that much Atsuko. It’s just a small present.”
“O-kay. Can I open it now?”
“Yea, sure I guess.”
Atsuko took out a small brown box out from the paper bag and her heart was beating somewhat frantically for no reason now.
“Open it up. I hope you like it.” Minami said excitedly, hoping Atsuko would like her present.
“Um, Minami. Can you turn around? It’s kinda embarrassing to open the present in front of you.” Atsuko said.
“Eh? Why? It’s not like this is the first time.”
“Mou~ Just do it will you?”
“Okay, Okay, anything for the birthday girl.” Minami sighed as she turned around as she was told to.
Atsuko could hear her heart thumping hard in her ears but she doesn’t know why she was so nervous right now to open the present. She swallowed down all her nervousness and Atsuko hesitantly opened the brown box. She felt her heart stop beating abruptly, her jaw dropping slightly with shock when she saw what was in the box. She felt goosebumps break out all over her body before a tear slipped out of her eye and went down her cheek.
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- The End? -
A/N: My first OS, hope you guys like it and thank you for reading
credits :
- original story by crappy writer
- proofreading by kana-chan