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1 First Kiss
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2 by G. P.
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3 A Sonomi and Nadesico Story
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4 All characters are the property of Clamp. This work is in no way
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5 meant to infringe upon their rights.
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6
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7 I.
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8 "He has to be strong. I want to be kissed by someone strong, who can
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9 sweep me up in his arms, and protect me like a Princess from a fairy
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10 tale. And not just strong outside, but inside, too. "
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11
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12 Izumi glanced about the circle, and saw the other girls smiling in
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13 agreement. Except for Nadesico, who was either distracted or deep in
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14 thought; it was impossible to tell which. The rest concurred that
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15 inner and outer strength was a must. The girls at the sleepover had
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16 gathered in a circle on the floor, debating the necessarry qualities
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17 of the boy who would give them their first kiss. After what seemed
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18 hours of debate, Izumi had suggested that each girl state just one
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19 quality, the one they thought most important. If the group agreed,
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20 then there would be five characteristics by the end. This, it was
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21 fervently hoped, would then help reveal to each the boy who would
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22 bless them with their very first kiss. All eyes now fell on Mayu as
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23 she distractedly played with a lock of her long, black hair.
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24
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25 The girls treasured Mayu as a sweet and beautiful soul. She was
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26 always there to comfort, to support, and to reassure when a friend
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27 was hurt, or sad, or lonely. Her features were somewhat plain, and
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28 she was sometimes teased for it by those did not know her well. But
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29 every girl in the circle would trust her with her heart, or her very
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30 life. She stared at the plush carpet, meditating quietly on the
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31 difficult question. Finally, in soft voice she stated firmly,
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32
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33 "He would have to be honest. How could you ever trust somebody who
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34 wasn't?"
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35
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36 The other girls nodded their heads sagely at Mayu's words. There was
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37 no doubt that honesty and strength were essential. They waited now
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38 for Sayaka to speak, but she sat silent, enveloped in a deep, crimson
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39 blush. Izumi gently elbowed her and teased,
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40
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41 "You're not getting kissed yet, Saya-chan. Come on, its your turn."
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42
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43 Sayaka looked up with glistening blue eyes, fighting off the
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44 embarrassment and struggling to speak. Though the first of their
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45 circle to reach the age of 13, she seemed as naive and child-like as
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46 ever. Endearing and exasperating in turn, they loved her dearly for
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47 her gentle heart and naive innocence. Looking at the floor again, she
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48 spoke in a feathery, halting whisper.
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49
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50 "Handsome. I...I know it's silly, but I wouldn't want my first kiss
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51 to be with someone who wasn't beautiful."
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52
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53 Had anybody else said this, there would have been giggles and
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54 smirks. But not with little Sayaka. Besides, the girl was right, for
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55 all of them prayed for a first kiss with their own ideal of beauty.
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56 All eyes now turned to Sonomi, who looked aside in embarrassment. She
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57 was often impatient with games like this, and the others half-
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58 expected some sarcastic comment on the foolishness of the night's
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59 proceedings. Though obviously uncomfortable, she spoke with
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60 surprisingly earnest passion,
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61
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62 "They would have to be kind. Otherwise, I'd be too afraid."
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63
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64 The other girls looked on in astonishment, for to them Sonomi was a
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65 tower of strength. She seemed fearless and aloof, untouched by the
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66 worries that haunted other girls in their daily lives at school.
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67 Athletic prowess had earned her the nickname, "Diana", the proud
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68 goddess of the hunt from the Western myths of long ago. That Sonomi
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69 would so treasure kindness touched them deeply. And it was true. A
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70 first kiss was a scary thing, and fragile hearts should only be
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71 offered to those who would treat them gently. Izumi broke the warm
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72 silence as she looked at the girl nestled next to Sonomi.
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73
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74 "OK, Nadesico chan. It's your turn. Yo-ho!"
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75
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76 Nadesico turned from gazing out the window, smiling as always. She
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77 looked pleasantly baffled, but no more than usual. Gathering her
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78 thoughts, she said,
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79
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80 "Oh. it's my turn?"
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81
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82 The others nodded. For many, the first impression of Nadesico was
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83 that of a perfect airhead. Her absent-mindedness was legend at the
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84 school, and nearly everyone had a favorite story to tell. Everyone,
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85 of course, except her cousin Sonomi, who protected the perpetually
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86 distracted girl with fierce devotion. Nobody, not the nastiest bully
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87 or strictest sensei dared say anything about Nadesico in front of
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88 her. Izumi half-kiddingly held that Nadesico was an angel who had
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89 unwittingly stumbled onto Earth, "She spends all her time trying to
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90 remember why she is here, and how to get back again." Izumi's little
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91 joke rang true, because there was an angelic aura about the strange,
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92 beautiful girl. And they all loved Nadesico inspite of, or perhaps
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93 because of, her odd otherworldliness. She loved everyone she met with
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94 the same effusive sweetness. Invariably all hearts yielded to her
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95 insistent kindness, and the love she poured forth came back tenfold.
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96 So the girls were eager and curious to hear her contribution.
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97 Glancing about the circle of faces, she blinked her large green eyes
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98 in puzzlement. Izumi suppresed a giggle and reminded her that they
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99 were each stating the most important quality of the one with whom
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100 they would share their all-important first kiss. At this, Nadesioco's
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101 face lit up as she spoke in an excited tone,
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102
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103 "Oh, yes, I remember, sorry, sorry. Umm, that person would have to
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104 be special. A first kiss is very special, so it would have to be with
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105 a special person."
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106
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107 The girls looked at one another, and then laughed their agreement.
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108 Nadesico's logic was unassailable. A first kiss happened once in a
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109 lifetime, and was a precious gift as well as a golden moment to
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110 remember forever. It could only happen with someone special. Mayu,
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111 who had written down each quality, read them off her list,
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112
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113 "So, the person has to be strong, honest, handsome, kind, and
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114 special, yes? Everybody agrees?"
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115
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116 All five heads nodded, so Mayu went on, "And that means, ummm, we,
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117 ummm..."
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118
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119 Izumi quickly interjected,
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120
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121 "And that means now we have to tell who we want our first kiss to be
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122 with. And since Nadesico chan was last before, this time she should
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123 go first!"
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124
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125 As always, Izumi had maneuvered skillfully. Someone else would have
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126 to go first in revealing such an intimacy. The other girls were
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127 inwardly relieved, but Nadesico seemed utterly unconcerned as she
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128 cheerfully exclaimed,
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129
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130 "Oh, that's easy. I knew the answer before we ever started. I want
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131 my first kiss to be with Sonomi chan."
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132
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133 For once, Izumi was speechless. Sayaka looked puzzled, unsure of
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134 what Nadesico could possibly mean. Mayu stared down at her hands as
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135 if they were the most interesting things in all the world. Sonomi
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136 blushed a deep crimson and looked away in utter embarrassment. But
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137 Nadesico simply smiled, oblivious to the pillow that sailed past her
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138 head as Izumi laughed out,
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139
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140 "Nadesico chan, you are such a weirdo!"
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141
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142 Instantly Sonomi hurled her own pillow at Izumi, practically
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143 knocking the cackling girl off balance. More pillows flew amid
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144 squeels of laughter until one tore open and filled the room with a
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145 blizzard of downy feathers. That brought Izumi’s parents in, and
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146 resulted in lights out and everyone being tucked away. But it didn’t
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147 end the whispers and the giggling that lasted far into the night.
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148
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149 II.
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150 Walking home from school, the two girls made a peculiar contrast.
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151 Sonomi strode straight and steady in utter silence as if she were
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152 struggling for words that didn’t exist. Nadesico, on the other hand,
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153 meandered from flower to tree to interesting crack in the concrete
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154 sidewalk, stopping here and hurrying there, engrossed in the luminous
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155 miracles of the everyday world. Sonomi suddenly noticed that she was
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156 quite alone, and turned to see her cousin sprawled in the grass,
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157 smiling at some sort of bug. A yellow and black caterpillar was
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158 threading it’s way through the grass. Nadesico let it crawl on her
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159 finger and laughed softly as it tickled it’s way up her arm. Sonomi
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160 rolled her eyes and stalked back, calling out with feigned impatience,
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161
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162 “Nadesico chan, what on earth are you doing?”
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163
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164 The girl looked up and smiled sweetly. Gently she put the
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165 caterpillar down and then rose swiftly, dusting off her knees and
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166 straightening her pleated skirt. Sometimes she looked gawky and
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167 clumsy, a danger to herself and others that brought out a protective
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168 spirit in her cousin. But at other times, like now, her movements
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169 were as gracefully ethereal as a prima ballerina. It was only one of
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170 the contradictions that left Sonomi utterly flustered, unable to
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171 think straight, let alone voice her jumbled thoughts. For years she
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172 had been her cousin’s best friend, delighting in her presence as the
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173 two passed dreamily through childhood. Now her feelings were sharper
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174 but sweeter, and so intense that some nights she tossed and turned
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175 until the sun chased the moon away. Sometimes the very sight of
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176 Nadesico set her heart racing wildly, and plunged her into a joyful
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177 embarrassment. She looked at the beautiful, gray-haired girl and
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178 suddenly blurted out the question that had obsessed her since the
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179 night at Izumi’s,
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180
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181 “Nadesico chan, why did you say what you did at the sleepover?”
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182
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183 As soon as she said it, Sonomi felt regret. A hot crimson blush
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184 spread over her neck and shoulders. But Nadesico blinked her lovely
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185 blue eyes and asked in a puzzled voice,
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186
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187 “What did I say?”
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188
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189 Sonomi fought the urge to drop the entire matter, and with a steel
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190 will forced out the words,
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191
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192 “That you wanted your first kiss…to be with me.”
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193
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194 Now poor Nadesico looked completely bewildered. She furrowed her
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195 brow and looked at Sonomi helplessly, as if the question concerned
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196 some arcane formulae of quantum physics. Perhaps repeating the
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197 question would help, so she asked,
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198
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199 “Why did I say it?”
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200
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201 Sonomi nodded her head vigorously. Nadesico smiled and answered in a
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202 matter-of-fact voice,
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203
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204 “Because it’s true.”
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205
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206 Sonomi gaped at her in silent wonder. Nadesico spoke earnestly in
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207 her odd, sing song voice,
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208
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209 “A first kiss should be special. That means it has to be with a
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210 special person. No one is more special to me than Sonomi chan.”
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211
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212 Breathing raggedly, Sonomi abruptly turned away and stared at the
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213 horizon. She felt delighted and frightened by her cousin’s words.
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214 Still looking into the distance, unable to face those shimmering
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215 azure eyes, she whispered,
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216
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217 “Nadsico chan, we’re both girls. We’re cousins.”
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218
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219 “Um-hmm.” Nadesico replied distractedly, as if she were merely
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220 confirming simple facts, which indeed she was. Sonomi realized that
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221 such conventions as girls only kissing boys had simply never occurred
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222 to Nadesico. Sonomi swallowed hard and managed to stammer out,
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223
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224 “But when, where would we….” Her voice trailed off into silence.
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225 Nadesico perked up, and started rummaging through her book bag.
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226 Triumphantly she pulled out an astonishingly kawaii calendar book,
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227 decorated with massive pink ribbons and plush red hearts. The pages
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228 fluttered as she leafed through them. Finally, she announced in a
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229 cheery voice,
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230
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231 “Sunday after next is a full moon, and the sakuras should be in
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232 bloom. How about at the Park, under the cherry trees? Can you come to
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233 my house at 8:00 PM?”
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234
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235 Sonomi could only nod her head yes. Suddenly Nadesico threw her arms
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236 around her and hugged tightly. Then she picked up her book bag and
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237 looked at Sonomi, all smiles. Still stunned, the red-haired girl
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238 turned and started to walk home, but her cousin wandered over to a
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239 hedge, enraptured by the stately progression of snails on the dark,
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240 green leaves.
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241
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242 III.
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243 Sonomi rummaged through the contents of her closet one more time.
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244 The pink dress was too much. The black skirt with a white silk blouse
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245 was nice, but just so plain. In frustration, she slumped down on the
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246 edge of the bed and thought,
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247
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248 "I don't know what to wear for this. I don't have any idea. This is
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249 just crazy. Nobody decides they will have their first kiss like this.
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250 It's like being on....on a date or something." Suddenly inspired,
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251 Sonomi exclaimed,
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252
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253 "OK, that's it, I'll just wear what I would on a date!"
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254
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255 But the girl had never been on a date, either, so this proved to be
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256 of little help. She glanced at the clock on her dresser and grimaced.
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257 Being a naturally punctual and organized person, she was rarely late
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258 to anything. To be late for this was just not acceptable. With a
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259 determined look she got up and stood in front of the rack of clothes
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260 and began to think about what would be right.
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261
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262 "It should be mature, but pretty. And it should match the sakura
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263 blossoms." She placed her finger to her lips and squinted at the row
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264 of clothing. Suddenly, her eyes caught the coral dress and she
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265 snatched it from the rack and ran to the mirror, holding it in front
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266 of herself. Perfect! Breathing a sigh of relief, she rushed for the
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267 shower, quickly considering what shoes to wear.
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268
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269 Walking to Nadesico's house, Sonomi struggled to sort out the
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270 complex feelings she had for her cousin. They had been the closest of
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271 friends ever since they were little girls. Normally high-strung,
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272 Sonomi always felt perfect contentment in her presence, a calm,
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273 peaceful sense that everything was all right. She felt safe with the
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274 girl, confident enough to tell her anything without fear. Nadesico
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275 was a gentle, sympathetic listener, and for all her flightiness
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276 offered perceptive and insightful advice. So the red-haired girl
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277 shared all her secrets, save one: her love. She had always loved
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278 Nadesico, and her alone. But lately, that love had changed,
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279 blossoming, from a cute little bud to a lush, sensuous, tropical
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280 flower. All her friends had their crushes, their hidden passions and
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281 desires. Most of it seemed silly to Sonomi, who scoffed at such
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rlm@0
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282 school girl melodramatics. But her own love mocked her. It shook her
|
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rlm@0
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283 skeptical heart and whispered, "Oh, so I'm not important, am I?
|
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rlm@0
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284 Something childish, that you'll soon outgrow, neh? We'll see, Sonomi-
|
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rlm@0
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285 chan, we'll see. Before I'm done, I'll set you on fire and break your
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rlm@0
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286 heart."
|
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rlm@0
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287
|
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rlm@0
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288 And it was true. Recently love had become a passionate yearning she
|
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rlm@0
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289 could not still, a painfully sweet longing that distracted and
|
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rlm@0
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290 confused her. It was heaven, and it was hell. Sometimes, late at
|
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rlm@0
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291 night she lay in bed and whispered her name, over and over, just to
|
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rlm@0
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292 hear of the sound of it, "Nadesico.....Nadesico.....Nah-deh-shih-co."
|
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rlm@0
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293 She played ridiculous games like "She loves me, she loves me not".
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rlm@0
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294 She kept little treasures: notes passed in class, birthday cards, and
|
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rlm@0
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295 a garland of grass and flowers from years ago, now brown and dry but
|
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rlm@0
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296 still a crown fit for a princess because she had made it. In school,
|
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rlm@0
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297 her grades had slipped, worrying her parents. Sonomi couldn't
|
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rlm@0
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298 concentrate; she kept glancing towards the desk by her side, at the
|
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rlm@0
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299 beautiful, silver-haired girl who smiled back so sweetly. Nadesico
|
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rlm@0
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300 was all she thought about, cared for, wanted. In the last year it had
|
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rlm@0
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301 gotten even worse. It was as if her body was no longer hers, but some
|
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rlm@0
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302 alien presence with a will and a mind and desires all its own. Out of
|
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rlm@0
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303 nowhere she would cry for no discernable reason. One minute she was
|
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rlm@0
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304 hot and feverish, the next cold and shivering. Her body ached with
|
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rlm@0
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305 a helpless longing that terrified her. And now this. Now, she was
|
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rlm@0
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306 walking to see Nadesico, to kiss her.
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rlm@0
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307
|
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rlm@0
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308 Unlike most of her friends, Sonomi had never thought much about a
|
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rlm@0
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309 future love life. Yes, she would no doubt marry, and have a family
|
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rlm@0
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310 like everybody else. But for the red-haired girl marriage was of
|
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rlm@0
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311 little interest, and certainly not the topic of ecstatic speculation
|
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rlm@0
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312 that obsessed other girls her age. But now, her feelings confronted
|
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rlm@0
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313 her with the question of just what to do. What if I love her, but she
|
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rlm@0
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314 doesn’t love me? She sensed that Nadesico did love her, but not in
|
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rlm@0
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315 the same way. Nadesico loved everybody and everything. Yet, she had
|
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rlm@0
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316 said Sonomi was special, words that set her spirit soaring even as
|
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rlm@0
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317 she blushed in embarrassment.. And why, if she does not love me like
|
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rlm@0
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318 that, does she want to kiss me? The more Sonomi thought about it, the
|
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rlm@0
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319 more confused she became. She would have to ask the girl. Tonight.
|
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rlm@0
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320 She had to know. Approaching the house, she breathed deeply and
|
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rlm@0
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321 clutched the pink sweater tightly around her body. She looked at her
|
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rlm@0
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322 watch: 8 PM exactly. Willing herself to knock, she quickly heard a
|
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rlm@0
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323 commotion inside as her cousin sang out,
|
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rlm@0
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324
|
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rlm@0
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325 “I’ve got it!
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rlm@0
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326
|
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rlm@0
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327 The door swung open, and there stood Nadesico. The warm light from
|
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rlm@0
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328 inside the house formed a glowing aura all around her. She was wore a
|
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rlm@0
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329 delicate, ankle length white dress with long sleeves. The collar and
|
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rlm@0
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330 waistline were embroidered with exquisite lacework, and the dress
|
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rlm@0
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331 flared out from the waist with narrow pleats. White petticoats and
|
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rlm@0
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332 slips gave the dress a full, flowing look. Around her slender neck
|
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rlm@0
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333 was a simple white ribbon worn as a choker. Her long, silver-black
|
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rlm@0
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334 hair was entwinned with white daisies, and cascaded over her
|
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rlm@0
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335 shoulders. Her pale face was framed by the dark, scenetd hair, and
|
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rlm@0
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336 her green eyes shone with gentle passion. Sonomi stood transfixed,
|
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rlm@0
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337 her breath stolen away by the dazzling vision. Nadesico bowed with
|
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rlm@0
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338 mock solemnity and cheerfully sang out,
|
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rlm@0
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339
|
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rlm@0
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340 "Konbanha, Sonomi-chan"
|
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rlm@0
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341
|
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rlm@0
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342 Sonomi felt herself dragged from a dream, and spoke haltingly as she
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rlm@0
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343 returned the bow,
|
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rlm@0
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344
|
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rlm@0
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345 "Konbanha, Nadesico-chan. You look...so beautiful."
|
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rlm@0
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346
|
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rlm@0
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347 The girl took both of Sonomi's hands in her own and spoke in her
|
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rlm@0
|
348 feathery voice,
|
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rlm@0
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349
|
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rlm@0
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350 "Arigato, Sonomi-chan. You look so lovely, too. Shall we go?"
|
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rlm@0
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351
|
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rlm@0
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352 Coloring crimson at her cousin's touch, Sonomi could only nod hr
|
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rlm@0
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353 head. Suddenly, the pale girl let out a little gasp and whirled
|
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rlm@0
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354 about, muttering half to herself,
|
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rlm@0
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355
|
|
rlm@0
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356 "I almost forget! The bentoubako....there it is" Giggling, she
|
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rlm@0
|
357 grabbed the enormous lunchbox, her white Hello Kitty sweater, and
|
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rlm@0
|
358 dashed out the door. Smiling at her startled cousin she announced, "I
|
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rlm@0
|
359 thought we might like a little snack." Turning to the house she
|
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rlm@0
|
360 shouted, "I'm going now!"
|
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rlm@0
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361
|
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rlm@0
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362 Sonomi frowned, "That looks heavy. Let me carry it."
|
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rlm@0
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363
|
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rlm@0
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364 Nadesico shook her head and smiled, holding the bundle tightly. With
|
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rlm@0
|
365 that, the two began their walk to the park As usual, Nadesico was
|
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rlm@0
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366 fascinated by all that she could see. She walked erratically,
|
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rlm@0
|
367 starting and stopping as one thing after another gained her
|
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rlm@0
|
368 attention. The night was comfortably cool, and the stars shone bright
|
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rlm@0
|
369 before moonrise. Sonomi moved in a daze, enraptured by the celestial
|
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rlm@0
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370 apparition beside her. Nadesico's dress make swishy sounds as she
|
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rlm@0
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371 walked, following the odd rythms of her perpetually distracted pace.
|
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rlm@0
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372 Finally they approached the park and turned into the entrance. With
|
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rlm@0
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373 the exception of a few couples, the walkway was deserted. Nadesico
|
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rlm@0
|
374 led the way, though in her usual circuitous manner. Sonomi followed,
|
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rlm@0
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375 still entranced. Finally the dark-haired girl found a spot she liked
|
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rlm@0
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376 under the sakura trees, and busilly began unpacking the wrapping of
|
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rlm@0
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377 the lunch boxes. It was a beautiful pink and white silk, which she
|
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rlm@0
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378 carefully spread on the grass like a blanket. She knelt on both knees
|
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rlm@0
|
379 and smiled as Sonomi sat down accross from her. Nadesico let out a
|
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rlm@0
|
380 little sigh, and pointed to the horizon, where a great yellow moon
|
|
rlm@0
|
381 was slowly rising into the sky. Sonomi loked and nodded, feeling a
|
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rlm@0
|
382 rush of emotions as she struggled to speak. But before she could, her
|
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rlm@0
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383 cousin chirrped,
|
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rlm@0
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384
|
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rlm@0
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385 "Are you hungry? I wanted to make cookies, but they got sort of
|
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rlm@0
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386 burned. But I did make some rice balls, and there's pickles, oh, and
|
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rlm@0
|
387 some fruit, too. Plums and grapes, I think. And tea, green tea. we
|
|
rlm@0
|
388 should have that while it's hot." In a flurry she produced the little
|
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rlm@0
|
389 delicacies, plates, cups, and thermos. She laid the feast out
|
|
rlm@0
|
390 prettilly on the silken cloth, a heartfelt offering to her cousin.
|
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rlm@0
|
391 Sonomi noticed that the rice balls were poorly shaped, and smiled as
|
|
rlm@0
|
392 she imagined the billowing smoke of the burning cookies. Like her
|
|
rlm@0
|
393 other home made presents, it was so typical of Nadesico. She was far
|
|
rlm@0
|
394 from talented as a cook or a homemaker. But what she made was imbued
|
|
rlm@0
|
395 with love and enthusiasm, and fortunate were those who received her
|
|
rlm@0
|
396 tender little gifts. Though not hungry in the least, Sonomi politely
|
|
rlm@0
|
397 nibbled as her eyes scanned the blossoming cherry trees above her.
|
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rlm@0
|
398 Her cousin, crunching on a pickled daikon, looked up and smiled at
|
|
rlm@0
|
399 the sight of thousands of flowers.
|
|
rlm@0
|
400
|
|
rlm@0
|
401 "Aren't they gorgeous, Sonomi-chan? I've always loved the
|
|
rlm@0
|
402 sakura.flowers. I love how they fall from the branch in full bloom,
|
|
rlm@0
|
403 never withering or growing old and sad on the trees. You know, if I
|
|
rlm@0
|
404 have a daughter, that's what I'll name her: Sakura."
|
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rlm@0
|
405
|
|
rlm@0
|
406 Sonomi smiled back at her cousin, but thought to herself that there
|
|
rlm@0
|
407 were flowers she liked better. There was something haunting about
|
|
rlm@0
|
408 cherry trees, about a beauty so ephemeral and fragile. For some
|
|
rlm@0
|
409 reason this thought bothered her, and she shifted uneasilly as
|
|
rlm@0
|
410 Nadesico gracefully poured the steaming, hot tea. Sonomi craddled the
|
|
rlm@0
|
411 little round cup in her hands and felt the warmth of it in the cool
|
|
rlm@0
|
412 night air. She sipped the pungent green tea, liquid sunshine brewed
|
|
rlm@0
|
413 just perfectly. She looked at Nadesico, who glanced up at the heavens
|
|
rlm@0
|
414 with child-like wonder. Sonomi trembled, but from the cold or the
|
|
rlm@0
|
415 sight of her beautiful cousin all clad in white she did not know. As
|
|
rlm@0
|
416 the stars persued their stately courses, the two girls talked on into
|
|
rlm@0
|
417 the night. Nadesico was bright and cheerful as always, wondering if
|
|
rlm@0
|
418 flowers slept when they closed their petals for the evening, or if
|
|
rlm@0
|
419 stars talked to one another to keep from being lonely. In a wistful
|
|
rlm@0
|
420 voice she said,
|
|
rlm@0
|
421
|
|
rlm@0
|
422 "Sometimes I talk to the stars, but it's hard to hear them."
|
|
rlm@0
|
423
|
|
rlm@0
|
424 Sonomi looked at the girl in wonder, then smiled. Only Nadesico
|
|
rlm@0
|
425 would ever say such a thing. But if the stars listened to anybody on
|
|
rlm@0
|
426 earth, it was probably her. Being with her was always such joy, her
|
|
rlm@0
|
427 very presence magical. But Sonomi felt terribly nervous, remembering
|
|
rlm@0
|
428 the purpose of this curious picnic in the dark. Finally she could
|
|
rlm@0
|
429 hold it in no more, and spoke to up in a quivering, earnest voice,
|
|
rlm@0
|
430
|
|
rlm@0
|
431 "Nadesico-chan, may I ask you a question?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
432
|
|
rlm@0
|
433 The girl smiled and nodded, and Sonomi went on, forcing the words
|
|
rlm@0
|
434 out in a rush,
|
|
rlm@0
|
435
|
|
rlm@0
|
436 "Why do you want to kiss me?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
437
|
|
rlm@0
|
438 Unable to face her saying this, she bowed her head and stared at the
|
|
rlm@0
|
439 little dishes on the billowing silk. Her eyes averted, she didn't see
|
|
rlm@0
|
440 Nadesico's tender smile as she replied,
|
|
rlm@0
|
441
|
|
rlm@0
|
442 "Well, you know it's my first kiss, and that has to be with someone
|
|
rlm@0
|
443 special. Sonomi-chan is my most special person. But I told you that
|
|
rlm@0
|
444 already. So, should I tell you why you're special?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
445
|
|
rlm@0
|
446 The red-haired girl was silent, so Nadesico continued,
|
|
rlm@0
|
447
|
|
rlm@0
|
448 "Well, Sonomi-chan is the strongest person I know. She's never
|
|
rlm@0
|
449 afraid of anything. I always feel safe with her, and know she would
|
|
rlm@0
|
450 protect me from anything that would hurt me.
|
|
rlm@0
|
451
|
|
rlm@0
|
452 And Sonomi-chan is honest. Sometimes other people are a puzzle, and
|
|
rlm@0
|
453 they say things they do not mean, or hide things they do not say. But
|
|
rlm@0
|
454 I always know Sonomi-chan's heart. I know that whatever she says is
|
|
rlm@0
|
455 true.
|
|
rlm@0
|
456
|
|
rlm@0
|
457 Sonomi-chan is the kindest person I know. She is gentle, and caring,
|
|
rlm@0
|
458 and my heart feels cherished by her."
|
|
rlm@0
|
459
|
|
rlm@0
|
460 "Sonomi-chan is all of these wonderful things, but she is also the
|
|
rlm@0
|
461 most beautiful person I have ever seen. Sometimes I think about those
|
|
rlm@0
|
462 green eyes and soft red hair and smooth, pale skin, and hanyaan! I
|
|
rlm@0
|
463 forget everything I am doing. Seeing her now in the moonlight just
|
|
rlm@0
|
464 now made me forget everything except how happy I am to be with her."
|
|
rlm@0
|
465
|
|
rlm@0
|
466 At this Nadesico paused, and closed her eyes.
|
|
rlm@0
|
467
|
|
rlm@0
|
468 "But I don't need silly games from a sleepover to know why I want my
|
|
rlm@0
|
469 first kiss to be with Sonomi-chan. I knew it a long time ago, maybe
|
|
rlm@0
|
470 even when I first saw her. I want to kiss her because I love her more
|
|
rlm@0
|
471 than anybody."
|
|
rlm@0
|
472
|
|
rlm@0
|
473 Looking up, Sonomi saw Nadesico's azure eyes opening again, and the
|
|
rlm@0
|
474 startled look as she beheld her tears. A rare look of worry clouded
|
|
rlm@0
|
475 the dark-haired girl's face as she asked,
|
|
rlm@0
|
476
|
|
rlm@0
|
477 "Sonomi-chan, are you all right? I'm so sorry, did I make you cry?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
478
|
|
rlm@0
|
479 Sonomi peered through teary eyes and smiled radiently,
|
|
rlm@0
|
480
|
|
rlm@0
|
481 "Baka. I'm not sad. I've never been so happy in all my life."
|
|
rlm@0
|
482
|
|
rlm@0
|
483 Nadsico smiled again, and reached out, gently brushing away the hot
|
|
rlm@0
|
484 tears with delicate fingers. Her hand lingered on Sonomi's cheek, and
|
|
rlm@0
|
485 she gazed into her shimmering emerald eyes. Slowly, as if in a dream,
|
|
rlm@0
|
486 Nadesico leaned over, her body a delicate white arch bathed in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
487 moonlight. Sonomi breathed deeply as the girl's pale face came
|
|
rlm@0
|
488 closer, her eyes half-shut, her hair a cascading flood of liquid
|
|
rlm@0
|
489 silver. Their lips brushed ever so lightly, and Sonomi felt an
|
|
rlm@0
|
490 electric thrill streak through her shivering frame. Then their lips
|
|
rlm@0
|
491 met, gently at first, tenderly exploring, quivering with the soft
|
|
rlm@0
|
492 sensations that poured out from deep within. Sonomi tasted the
|
|
rlm@0
|
493 sweetest nectar as Nadesico's tongue playfully parted her yielding,
|
|
rlm@0
|
494 pink petals. The red-haired girl trembled, dizzy and breathless,
|
|
rlm@0
|
495 wracked by an indescribable ecstasy. They melted into one another in
|
|
rlm@0
|
496 a ravishing embrace, shuddering sweetly in each other's tender arms.
|
|
rlm@0
|
497 Suspended in an eternal moment, waves of passion swept over them like
|
|
rlm@0
|
498 an ocean storm, then slowly subsided as the ebbing tide. Finally they
|
|
rlm@0
|
499 parted, Sonomi breathing raggedly, her body still afire, shivering in
|
|
rlm@0
|
500 the chilly breeze that shook the trees and rained blossoms down upon
|
|
rlm@0
|
501 them in a delicate, pink monsoon.
|
|
rlm@0
|
502
|
|
rlm@0
|
503 Sonomi felt floaty and wonderful, her body as delightfully
|
|
rlm@0
|
504 weightless as a feather in the wind. Her first kiss! She felt a giddy
|
|
rlm@0
|
505 whirl of emotions, the vibrant throbbing of her heart, and the dewy,
|
|
rlm@0
|
506 lingering presence of Nadesico's lips. She hugged herself tightly,
|
|
rlm@0
|
507 and sighed in sheer joy. She glanced up, and was startled to see
|
|
rlm@0
|
508 Nadesico sitting beside her. The dark-haired girl smiled
|
|
rlm@0
|
509 enigmatically as she ran her fingers through Sonomi's short silky,
|
|
rlm@0
|
510 hair. Sonomi's eyes grew wide as her cousin delicately traced the
|
|
rlm@0
|
511 outline of her still wet lips, then gently caressed her tear-stained
|
|
rlm@0
|
512 cheek. She caught the scent of sakuras as Nadesico leaned closer, her
|
|
rlm@0
|
513 lashes fluttering. Their lips met in a another rapturous kiss that
|
|
rlm@0
|
514 plunged Sonomi into sugar-sweet darkness. As moonlight trickled
|
|
rlm@0
|
515 through the branches, illumining the two lovers in an intimate glow,
|
|
rlm@0
|
516 Sonomi dimly realized that Nadesico wanted more with her cousin than
|
|
rlm@0
|
517 just a first kiss. Here under the cherry blossoms was a second kiss,
|
|
rlm@0
|
518 quickly followed by a third, and a fourth. And here, under the
|
|
rlm@0
|
519 delicate flowers, and in countless other places as well, there would
|
|
rlm@0
|
520 be many, many more.
|
|
rlm@0
|
521
|
|
rlm@0
|
522
|
|
rlm@0
|
523
|
|
rlm@0
|
524
|
|
rlm@0
|
525
|
|
rlm@0
|
526
|
|
rlm@0
|
527
|
|
rlm@0
|
528
|
|
rlm@0
|
529
|
|
rlm@0
|
530
|
|
rlm@0
|
531
|
|
rlm@0
|
532
|
|
rlm@0
|
533 Izumi
|
|
rlm@0
|
534 Sayaka
|
|
rlm@0
|
535 Mayu
|
