(aka they are in high school and this is an excuse for me to use all the dumb tropes that I didn't actually use in the novel.... yes, this is going to be ridiculous and extremely unedited)
Enjoy!
Scene 3 Emotional Kiss
(this may or may not be a deleted scene from the original novel...)
"I'm sorry, Kathleen-san. Maybe another time."
Kathleen frowned at Saeki-san, who was currently rejecting her offer of a date. She might have been a little over-eager in inviting him out. She hadn't really boosted her intelligence rating that high and she needed to earn a little bit more money so she could buy the fancy clothes Saeki-san liked. At least she had started making some progress on Hariya-san, who she had only started pursuing because his character was so much easier to please. The only benefit of dating him was that sometimes it would make Saeki-san jealous enough to force her to walk home with him.
Ai leaned over, pressing against Kathleen's shoulder and looking at her game. They were sitting together on the bus, going down the highway and far from Tokyo. Apparently, their little play at the school festival raised enough money for their class to take a day trip to Kamakura.
"What's this?" she asked, reaching for it.
Kathleen let her take it. The reject had probably lost her a couple of heart points. Ai couldn't ruin it much more. "Girl Pure Love Story. My dad got it for me."
Ai scrolled through some of the dialogue with Hariya-san. She laughed, handing it back. "This is ridiculous! You should play Love Friend, it's so much better."
Kathleen saved her spot and closed the game. "You play these sorts of games?"
Ai shrugged. "Yeah, why not?" She leaned forward, pretending to whisper. "Yuriko actually introduced them to me. She managed to beat every boy and girl in Love Friend."
Yuriko, who was across the aisle and staring out the window, grunted.
"Wait, you can date girls in Love Friend?" Kathleen asked.
Ai nodded. "Yes, that's why it's so much better. But it's also harder, because so many people get jealous when you flirt with anyone."
Kathleen looked back to Yuriko. “You really play these types of games?”
Yuriko looked over her shoulder. “I beat those types of games.”
Ai giggled and Kathleen smirked, waving her game with one hand. “Well you might have a hard time with Saeki-san. Nothing makes him happy!”
Yuriko leaned forward, across the aisle. “Let me guess, he treats you like your always in the way? He turns up his nose at just about everyone in school? Yet everyone loves him because he is rich or something?”
Kathleen raised an eyebrow. “Also because he is the cutest boy in school.”
Yuriko snorted and leaned back. “Easy. You just have to stand up to him.”
“What?”
“Argue with him. Fight him, if you're prompted. Obviously he hates everyone because everyone is a pushover to him. Stand up for yourself and call him out for being a jerk. He’ll definitely fall for you then.”
Kathleen wrinkled her nose. “That doesn't sound very realistic.”
Yuriko laughed loudly. “You are asking for realism in those types of games?”
Kathleen flushed, but when Ai started giggling, she couldn't help but smile too. “Shut up.” She shoved Ai, who only pushed her back.
The bus started to slow and they looked out the windows to the town. The main street of Kamakura was lined with old buildings, tall with dark wood. Kathleen could see different shops spilling from the doors, gifts, candy, art, and even an ice cream stand.
“Is that purple ice cream?” Kathleen asked.
“Sweet potato ice cream,” Ai answered.
“Is that any good?”
“Of course! It’s actually Yuriko’s favorite.”
Kathleen leaned over. “Does it really taste like sweet potatoes?”
Yuriko rolled her eyes. “You just have to try it.”
The bus passed through the town towards the shrine they were going to visit. Apparently they were going to visit Hase-dera shrine, then move on to the Daibutsu.
Kathleen, practically jumping off the bus, didn't really know what to expect from either. However, this was her first trip outside of Tokyo and she was glad to be spending the warm summer day outside instead of a classroom.
Their teacher, Tamura-sensei lead them through the gates into the hase-dera shrine. There was a large building, a beautiful garden, and large stone steps leading up the mountain side.
They had all be given guide books and told to take notes and various locations in the shrine. Quickly everyone in the class split into small groups, running around and talking excitedly. Kathleen wasn't surprised to find herself with Ai and Yuriko.
Ai held out the map. “What do you want to look at first?”
Kathleen glanced at it. “There is a cave here?”
Ai threaded her arm through hers. “Doesn't it sound awesome? Let’s check it out!”
The cave had an opening large enough for a couple people to walk through. Inside was a small stream of water with wooden foot bridges. There were statues carved into the walls, peaceful faces only lit by candles and a few electric lights.
It was quiet in there, only footsteps and soft murmuring. Kathleen looked at the statue's feet, offering of food and coins in little bronze bowls.
“Who are they?” Kathleen whispered.
“Buddhist gods,” Yuriko answered. Ai was flipping their their guide, trying to read.
The cave suddenly narrowed making them crouch into a small series of tunnels. At the end of one was a room full of warm light. A statue of a goddess, holding some instrument stood at one end. Surrounding her were small plastic statues of the same goddess.
Kathleen picked one up, seeing something written in Japanese on the back. It was a name, she was pretty sure. She looked up, finding that Yuriko was still next to her. Ai must have already moved on.
“What are these here for?”
Yuriko picked up another statue. There had to be hundreds, lining the floor and pushed into any crack in the wall. “Prayers I think. You can buy one of them, write down a name or prayer, then leave it as an offering.” She carefully put the statue back.
Kathleen couldn't help but stay for a bit, crouching in the cramped space. There was something sort of mystical about the stone statue, who looked a thousand years old, surrounded by the little plastic copies. Kathleen wondered if she same back here in ten years, would there be any room to walk?
Yuriko reached out, taking Kathleen's wrist and tugging her. “I bet Ai has already gone out and been to three more shrines.”
Kathleen smiled, letting Yuriko lead her from the cave. The sun seemed brighter and the air almost too warm. However, Kathleen inhaled the scents of the garden, the large hydrangea bushes, and the musk of the cave with relish. She looked up the steps that seem to number in the thousands. She turned to Yuriko, shifting her grip so she could hold Yuriko’s hand.
“I feel like I could climb a mountain.”
There were several shrines on the premise of Hase-dera. All of them seemed stacked leading up the mountainside. However Kathleen was suddenly much more interested in seeing just how high she could climb.
The steps eventually disappeared, turning into a narrow food path through the shrubs and trees. Between the gaps in the branches, Kathleen could see the beach and distant ocean.
“Look!” She pointed. “I think there are people windsurfing!”
Yuriko managed to keep up, though Ai lagged farther behind. Yuriko looked out over the view, squinting. Kathleen looked further up the mountain.
“I’m going to see if there is a better view!” she called back.
“Wait!” Ai shouted, “I don't think that is a footpath!”
Yuriko took Kathleen’s hand again, but Kathleen only pulled her up with her. She knew there had to be a better vantage just a little higher, just a little more. She scrambled over a half buried boulder, covered in moss, letting her feet land in a pile of dead leaves.
They gave away under her. Kathleen didn't even have a moment to scream, suddenly sliding down faster than she could have imagined. For a second, she felt Yuriko’s hand slip from hers and felt a panic rise in her chest, breathe caught in her throat. She slid through a patch of prickly bushes and fell.
She landed with a painful jolt, bending over her legs, her face pressing into damp earth . She felt something hit her side, making her gasp and grunt. She concentrated on breathing.
Kathleen remained still for a moment, crumpled into herself. Her heart was racing, but her mind felt blank. Was she alive? How far did she fall? She was a total and complete idiot.
“Ka-Kathleen?” Yuriko gasped beside her.
Kathleen whipped her head up, feeling dizzy for a moment as she noticed Yuriko was on the ground beside her. Her hair was a tangled mess, a stick poking out beside her neck. One cheek had a thin scrap and a smear of dirt. Her blue eyes were wide with worry and fright.
Kathleen sucked in a deep breath. The air was cold and smelled like moss and decay. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Yuriko bit her lip. “I think so…” She shifted, then slowly stood up, as if testing her weight. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Kathleen let out a breath of relief. “Oh shit. I’m so sorry.”
Yuriko shook her head. “It’s okay. Try standing slowly.”
Kathleen felt a little like crying. She reached up and Yuriko took her hand, steadying her. Kathleen unfolded her legs from under her. Her left foot gave her a stabbing pain as she tried to stand. She let out a gasping whimper and sunk back to her knees.
Yuriko knelt beside her. "Where does it hurt?"
Kathleen was already looking at her left foot. It didn't look injured, but as she prodded her ankle, she felt the sharp pain again. "I must have… landed on it wrong," she gasped.
Yuriko reached towards her foot and Kathleen flinched away, which only made it hurt. Yuriko drew back her hands. "You should probably take off your shoe. Then we can get a better look at it."
Kathleen wondered if the fall must have put her into shock, because it was only now she felt the deep throbbing of her ankle, even though she wasn't moving it. She really didn't want to manipulate it to take off her shoe.
There was a cry overhead. They both looked up and Kathleen finally noticed that they had fallen into some sort of ravine. Steep, moss covered walls rose up around them. Trees clung to the edges, roots dangling free. The branches covered most of the light that it was deeply shadowed, though it was midday.
"Ai!" Yuriko shouted. "Ai! We are over here! Be careful!"
Suddenly Ai's head popped out around the trunk of a tree. It must have been steep, she clung to the trunk to keep from falling in herself. Her face was pale and sweaty as she stared over the edge. "Yuriko? Kathleen!" she shouted. "Are you okay?" She reached down and Yuriko went closer, reaching back up to her. Their fingers weren't even close to touching.
Yuriko took a step back. "I'm fine. I think Kathleen twisted her ankle, though."
"Oh no!" Ai gasped. "Kathleen? Is it bad?" She twisted a little further, trying to get a better look where Kathleen still sat.
Kathleen waved a hand. "I think it's fine. I don't know…"
"We need you to get help," Yuriko shouted back to Ai. "Find Tamura-sensei, or someone working at the shrine." She looked around the walls. "I might be able to climb up."
Kathleen reached out, though Yuriko was too far away. She gripped a handful of dead leaves instead. "No! Don't leave me!" she cried.
"Stay there, Yuriko!" Ai ordered. "I'll go find someone and be right back, okay? Don't move!" Her head disappeared and Kathleen could hear the ground crunching as she scrambled back up the hill.
Yuriko stood for a moment, staring at where Ai had been. Then she sighed and moved back to Kathleen, sitting beside her again. Kathleen realized she was shaking slightly and felt a little sick.
Yuriko shifted closer, putting her hands on Kathleen's leg. They felt warm against her cold and dirty skin. "I'm going to take your shoe off, okay?"
Kathleen nodded, bracing herself. Yuriko untied the laces then slowly removed the shoe. Kathleen winced, but held still. Yuriko set aside her shoe and began to feel around Kathleen's ankle. Kathleen jerked her leg in pain as the careful prodding hurt her.
Yuriko stopped, sighing. "I think it might only be a sprain. Here, let me…" She quickly removed Kathleen's sock. Her ankle was red with a dark purple bruise. Yuriko quickly began wrapping the sock around her ankle and heel. Then she rested the foot back on the ground, removed her own shoe and sock, and used her sock to wrap it again.
"Yuriko, you don't have to-"
"It's okay," Yuriko interrupted, looking critically at her work. "It was swell up like a melon if we don't wrap it." She set Kathleen's foot in her lap, checking that the sock ends were secure. She looked up at Kathleen, giving a weak smile. "I've twisted my ankle a few times before."
"How?" Kathleen asked automatically.
Yuriko's hands were rubbing her calf, sending a soothing warmth up her leg. "The first time I felt from a tree in the backyard." She smirked. "Ai had to go run for help that time too. After that, it just became easier to sprain it, I think. Another time while bike riding, and just last year, here in Tokyo. I was running to catch a train and managed to fall down some steps."
Kathleen's eyes widened. "You fell down a flight of stairs?"
Yuriko shook her head, hands still massage Kathleen's leg. It felt good and Kathleen hoped she wouldn't stop. "No, just the last couple. My bag opened and all my books went everywhere. I was still too concerned about grabbing everything and catching the train that I didn't even notice that my ankle was bad until I had jumped on." She grimaced, but smiled. "By the end of the ride, my ankle was the size of my head."
Kathleen winced with her. "Well, at least you didn't injure yourself while running through the woods and managing to fall off a cliff." She felt her stomach sink. "Also you didn't bring your best friend crashing down with you."
Yuriko let go of her leg, setting her foot gently aside. Kathleen felt herself starting to shake again, feeling the cold and damp around her. Yuriko crawled forward, sitting beside her now and wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "It was an accident."
Kathleen only felt herself shake harder and she was ashamed to feel tears falling from her cheeks. She shouldn't be breaking down. She got them here. She should be the one to get them out.
Yuriko's arm was tight around her, however, and it just made the tears fall faster. "I'm sorry," Kathleen choked out. "I'm so sorry."
Yuriko's hand slid until she was cupping Kathleen's cheeks, thumbs wiping the tears as they fell. "It's okay. I'm not hurt and I'm not angry and I'm not blaming you." She offered a shy smile. "I was hoping to find a high spot to see the ocean too. If you hadn't run off, I might have."
Kathleen tried to smile in return, but it turned into a choking sob. She closed her eyes, feeling pitiful and idiotic.
She opened her eyes again, feeling something soft against her cheeks. Yuriko leaned forward and kissed the other cheek. Yuriko was kissing her tears and her forehead and, when Kathleen closed her eyes again, her eyelids. Her breath was warm and her lips were achingly soft.
Yuriko leaned back, her eyes searching. "Did that help?"
Kathleen blinked a few times, realizing that she had stopped crying, though her cheeks were still wet with tears. She could feel her heart beating heavily in her chest, but it didn't hurt so much now.
Yuriko gave a small smile. "Mom always did that to me or Ai when we were little. Did it help?" she repeated.
Kathleen felt her cheeks heat. She wondered if she was more embarrassed that Yuriko had just treated her like a little kid or that Yuriko had just kissed her again. Or if Kathleen wanted more than the little, feather-light kisses.
Yuriko's smile turned into a smirk. "Did you need more?" she asked, just a little teasing.
Kathleen reached out, cautiously, and gripped Yuriko's short sleeves. Yuriko looked at her in surprise. Kathleen looked down, unable to meet her eyes. She spied the necklace around Yuriko's neck. It had escaped her collar. The shining amethyst managed to catch the filtered sunlight.
"Kathleen?" Yuriko whispered, tilting her head a little closer.
"I… I need more," Kathleen managed to say, her voice softer than Yuriko's. "Please."
A cool draft managed to snake around Kathleen's legs. She edged closer to Yuriko, feeling like her heart might burst from her chest. Yuriko's hands slide from her face, around her neck. Then Yuriko was leaning forward, soft lips against Kathleen's.
It was hesitant, more gentle than the other kisses they had shared. At the moment, Kathleen realized, that this wasn't their first kiss. That, somehow, they kept running into situations like this.
No, not like this. This time Kathleen felt herself pressed against Yuriko, wanting to feel that pressure returned. This time Kathleen could feel Yuriko's fingers pressed into her neck and scalp, like a gentle massage. This time Kathleen let her hands slid up Yuriko's shoulder, just far enough to feel the edges of that silky hair that she had always wanted to touch. That she hadn't realized how much she wanted to touch until just this moment.
A shout from above and far away.
Kathleen and Yuriko separated and both looked up together. The shouts grew and Yuriko got to her feet, pulling Kathleen up with her and holding her against her side.
"We are here!" she shouted back, voice almost hoarse.
Kathleen bit her own lip, not quite trusting herself to speak. Instead, she pressed against Yuriko's warm side, hand around her waist, fingers curling just above her hip.
Calls answered Yuriko. Yuriko sighed in relief, looking down at Kathleen. "They'll be here in just a minute."
Kathleen, for a brief wild moment, almost wished they wouldn't come, so she and Yuriko could be alone for a little longer. Yuriko looked down at her, probably reading her conflicted expression. Suddenly, she tilted her head, pressing a firm kiss into Kathleen's temple. "It'll be alright," she whispered.
Kathleen smiled up at her, heart beating a little too wildly, but she would never want it to stop.
No comments:
Post a Comment