rlm@2: A Pretty Sammy Story rlm@2: By The Amazoness Duo rlm@2: And Yosho Masaki rlm@2: amazonessduo@hotmail.com rlm@2: rlm@2: As the battle settled to a finish, Pretty Sammy stood as the victor. Pixie rlm@2: Misa levetated not to far from the battle scene and watched. She often rlm@2: wondered who Pretty Sammy was. Even though she didn't really know her own rlm@2: identaty she would at least like to know her enemies. Maybe, just maybe if rlm@2: she found out before she was reverted back she would remember who Sammy was. rlm@2: Just as Sammy started reverting back to normal Misa did as well. rlm@2: rlm@2: Pixie Misa was engulfed in a bright white light and her outfit disappeared rlm@2: and she was there in the middle of the sky glowing white and nude. Her hair rlm@2: then reverted from blonde to black as her street clothes reappeared. Misao rlm@2: got up off the ground. Her headache was now gone. She walked around and rlm@2: wondered how she had gotten in the alley that she was in. rlm@2: rlm@2: As Misao walked around the corner someone knocked her down. The person rlm@2: stopped and it was Sasami. rlm@2: rlm@2: "I'm sorry Misao." Sasami said, "I was just looking for you. I rlm@2: heard that rlm@2: there was a battle going on in this area of town and I had gotten worried rlm@2: about you." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Thank you, Sasami. I'm fine though. I just don't remember how I got rlm@2: back rlm@2: here. I'm sure that I'll remember though." rlm@2: rlm@2: Elsewhere... rlm@2: rlm@2: "Damn that Pretty Sammy! She is always getting in my way!" a rlm@2: shadowed rlm@2: figure yelled in anger. "It doesn't matter though. I'll get you when you rlm@2: least suspect it. Be warned Pretty Sammy, you will not be a thorn in my rlm@2: side for much longer. You can count on that." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Master." Ramia said. rlm@2: rlm@2: "What is it, Worm!" rlm@2: rlm@2: "If my warrior was allowed to stay in her other form a little while rlm@2: longer, rlm@2: She could find out who Sammy is and Kill her before she can turn into Pretty rlm@2: Sammy." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Your 'WARRIOR' should be greatful that she is even able to turn into rlm@2: Pixie rlm@2: Misa. I'll give you and your 'warrior' one more chance. But be warned, If rlm@2: you fail me THIS time I will show NO mercy!" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Yes Master. I am very grea" rlm@2: rlm@2: "SHUT UP AND LEAVE!!!!" rlm@2: rlm@2: On that note Ramia vanished fearing what would happen to her if Misa failed rlm@2: agian. rlm@2: rlm@2: A few days later on the Afternoon News. rlm@2: rlm@2: "This is the third day in a row that monsters have been constantly rlm@2: attacking the city. The Super Soldier Pretty Sammy Has put a stop to every rlm@2: attack to this point. Police are baffled and can not detect any connection rlm@2: between any of the attack sites. Some people have began to wonder, that rlm@2: with all the constant attacks, just how long Pretty Sammy can keep this up. rlm@2: This is Sara Ulrich with WKBM News at 1:00. Signing off." rlm@2: rlm@2: 'Yeah. Just how long can I keep this up? Not long, I know that much. I rlm@2: can't even get a good night's sleep anymore.' Sasami thought to herself. rlm@2: This was the 3rd day that she has gone without any sleep at all. Just then rlm@2: a little grey rabbit looking creature was hopping across the school yard. rlm@2: 'Oh no. Not AGAIN.' rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sasami! More Luvluv monsters have been spotted. You must hurry." rlm@2: rlm@2: "I can't do this much longer Ryo-ohki. I'm about to collapse as it is rlm@2: already." rlm@2: rlm@2: Elsewhere... rlm@2: rlm@2: 'My plan is working. With Pretty Sammy exhausted, she won't have the rlm@2: strength to fight much longer. I just need a little more time.' rlm@2: rlm@2: "Ramia! The Master want's to see you right away." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Thank you Rumia. You may leave now." On that note Rumia changed rlm@2: into rlm@2: bird and flew off. rlm@2: rlm@2: Back in Japan.. rlm@2: rlm@2: The battle raged on anf for a little while it had seemed that the LuvLuv rlm@2: monster had an edge over Pretty Sammy. With her last bit of energy she was rlm@2: able to launch her ultimate attack, Magical Resolution, and was able to put rlm@2: the LuvLuv monster at peace with it's inner self. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Finally!" rlm@2: rlm@2: "I'm proud of you Sammy. I"m glad to see that you can still rlm@2: fight." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Ryo-ohki! Did you have doubt?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Well... no but you looked very tired." rlm@2: rlm@2: "I am VERY tired. By the way you are a terrible lier. I also had doubt, rlm@2: but I knew that I had to beat it." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Bonjour Pretty Sammy. You look very tired. Do you think that you have rlm@2: enough strength to defeat me?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "PIXIE MISA! I don't know if I have the strength but I know that I can rlm@2: always defeat you!" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Oh come now. Even I know that you can't defeat me in your weakened rlm@2: state. rlm@2: However it wouldn't be any fun if you just up and surrendered. So get rlm@2: ready Sammy." rlm@2: rlm@2: Misa charged at Sammy and hit her with unbelievable power. Sammy knew that rlm@2: she was no match for Misa now but she just couldn't give up. No. She rlm@2: wouldn't give up. When Misa had was getting ready to give the final blow, rlm@2: Sammy was surrounded with a bright magical light. rlm@2: rlm@2: 'No. Not now. I.. I can't change back now!' Sammy thought to herself in rlm@2: panic. rlm@2: rlm@2: At the same moment Misa was confused and blinded. Ryo-ohki saw this and rlm@2: told Sammy to run for it but she was too weak to make a move. The light rlm@2: disappeared and there lay, in Pretty Sammy's place, was a nude Sasami. Her rlm@2: clothes soon materialized in place of where the Sammy outfit used to be. rlm@2: rlm@2: Misa regained sight to see Sasami laying where Pretty Sammy was at just a rlm@2: second ago. rlm@2: rlm@2: "So this is who you are. Get ready to die, Sammy! Pixie Blade!" rlm@2: Suddenly rlm@2: a short bladed sword appeared in Misa's hands and she thrust downward. rlm@2: rlm@2: "NOOOOOOOOOO! I can't, no, won't do this!" The blade disappeared rlm@2: and Pixie Misa Stood up and turned around with tears forming in her eyes. She, rlm@2: too, was then Surrounded in a brilliant flash of light as she started to rlm@2: revert back to Misao, Ramia appeared. rlm@2: rlm@2: "What do you think that you are doing?! You will kill this rlm@2: annoyance!" rlm@2: rlm@2: "No! I can't do this to my best friend! You knew this all along didn't rlm@2: you! You knew that Pretty Sammy was my best friend!" The reverting rlm@2: stopped and she retransformed into Misao. rlm@2: rlm@2: "So. She will eventually betray your friendship. It's best to destroy rlm@2: her now, I mean, you will destroy her anyway. It is better to get rid of her rlm@2: befor she can hurt you." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Never!" With that said, Misa took Sasami and left. rlm@2: rlm@2: Two hours later... rlm@2: rlm@2: "Uhhhhhhh... What happened?" Sasami said still drowsy and begining rlm@2: to come around. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Don't worry, you are safe now." Sasami knew this voice but couldn't rlm@2: place it. Her vision cleared after a few moments and she looked around for her rlm@2: rescuer. After another moment she found someone and jumped up ready for rlm@2: battle. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Pretty Mutation Magical Re..." rlm@2: rlm@2: "You don't have to transform Sammy. There is no one else here. I saved rlm@2: you." Suddenly Misa was covered in a brilliant flash of light and a few rlm@2: minutes later the light was gone and Misao stood in Misa's place. rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami's eyes watered and she started crying. Crying for her friend and rlm@2: crying for herself. The whole time that she was having fun with her friend rlm@2: she was also fighting against her friend. Fighting in battles that could rlm@2: kill her. She could have hurt Misao. She could have killed her. Misao meant rlm@2: too much to her to lose like that. She couldn't stand the thought of hurting rlm@2: her. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sasami, what's wrong?" Misao asked concerned. She blinked a couple rlm@2: times, confused about what was going on. The last thing she remembered, she'd been rlm@2: having another headache and then everything had faded away. Now she was with rlm@2: a very distraught Sasami. She quickly realized they were in her room, but rlm@2: she couldn't make out how she had gotten there, or when Sasami had arrived. rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami through her arms around the black haired girl, throwing Misao off rlm@2: balance. Misao fell back onto the bed with Sasami still clutching to her. rlm@2: "Oh Misao… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Sasami sobbed. "I should rlm@2: have known. I should have done something. I'm so sorry." rlm@2: rlm@2: Misao hugged Sasami, trying to comfort her. She didn't know what to do. rlm@2: Sasami was always the one who made her feel better when something went rlm@2: wrong. She wasn't sure how to calm her friend. "Sasami, its alright. I rlm@2: don't know what you're sorry about, but there's no reason to. I'm fine. rlm@2: Everything's okay." rlm@2: rlm@2: The sound of Misao's voice in her ear sent shivers down Sasami's spine. She rlm@2: was locked in a close embrace with the black haired girl, Misao whispering rlm@2: soothingly to her. Sasami blushed a deep shade of red and tried to rlm@2: disentangle herself from her best friend. Sasami's emotions overflowed as rlm@2: she sat there. The fear of what could have happened to her best friend. The rlm@2: sadness that she'd almost hurt her, the relief that maybe now they wouldn't rlm@2: have to fight anymore. And something else. Some other feeling flowed through rlm@2: her. It was deep and warm and enveloped her like a soft blanket. 'What's rlm@2: going on?' she thought to herself. Her torrid emotions had ripped down a rlm@2: barrier inside her, pouring forth emotions she'd hidden, even from herself. rlm@2: Things she'd pretended not to notice, not to care about. She sat up and rlm@2: stared at the wall of Misao's room. 'Why do I have to pick now to fall in rlm@2: love?' Sasami asked herself angrily. 'And with Misao? How could I be in love rlm@2: with Misao?' Sasami took a deep breath while Misao looked on, confused. 'I'm rlm@2: just being over emotional right now. I'm sleep deprived and I'm just happy rlm@2: she's alright.' She looked back at the black haired girl. Misao was looking rlm@2: at her worriedly with her gentle aqua eyes. Sasami turned back towards the rlm@2: wall. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sasami? Are you okay?" Misao asked nervously. "What's going rlm@2: on?" rlm@2: The blue haired girl smiled warmly at her friend. "I'm fine. I'm just glad rlm@2: things are working out now. I'm sorry I can't explain what's going on right rlm@2: now, but I will. Someday I'll explain. I promise." Misao nodded weakly. rlm@2: "I should go for now. I'll call you tonight. Be careful, Misao." Sasami hugged rlm@2: the other girl tightly before smiling and heading to the door of the room. rlm@2: rlm@2: Misao wrung her hands, still worried. "I will, Sasami. I hope you feel rlm@2: better." rlm@2: rlm@2: "I think all I need is some sleep and I'll be back to normal," Sasami rlm@2: said. She waved to Misao and headed downstairs to the door. Sasami sighed deeply rlm@2: after she got outside. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the sun light. rlm@2: She wanted to go back in, to see Misao again, but she needed to get some rlm@2: sleep. She tried to ignore all the thoughts invading her sleep hazy mind. rlm@2: After what seemed an eternity, Sasami reached the house she shared with her rlm@2: mother and brother. She stumbled up the stairs to her room. Ryo-ohki looked up in surprise when rlm@2: Sasami collapsed on the bed. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sasami? You're okay?" Ryo-ohki hopped over to her side happily. rlm@2: "I was so worried about you!" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Thanks," Sasami mumbled, her eyes half closed. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Where were you? I saw Pixie Misa take off with you, but I couldn't catch rlm@2: up in time. How did you escape?" rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami yawned and tried to make out what Ryo-ohki had said. "Oh, no. I was rlm@2: fine. Misa wouldn't have hurt me. She saved me." She lazily unbuttoned her rlm@2: shirt and threw it to the side, trying to pull the blankets up around her. rlm@2: rlm@2: "She saved you?" Ryo-ohki asked incredulously. Sasami just nodded and rlm@2: rolled over. "Sasami…" Ryo-ohki nudged the blue haired girl after rlm@2: waiting for an answer. rlm@2: rlm@2: "I'm sorry, Ryo-ohki, but I'm tired and I'm confused. I need some sleep rlm@2: after all this. We can talk later, okay?" Sasami smiled tiredly at the rlm@2: cabbit, trying to keep her eyes open. rlm@2: rlm@2: Ryo-ohki sighed. "Sure. You deserve some sleep after all those LuvLuv rlm@2: monsters you stopped. Goodnight, Sasami." Ryo-ohki waited for a reply, but rlm@2: Sasami was already asleep. rlm@2: rlm@2: *** rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami yawned and stretched as she woke up. She felt a lot better after the rlm@2: non-stop fighting she'd dealt with over the past couple days. It was dark rlm@2: outside now. She had a hard time remembering what had been a dream and what rlm@2: was real. One thing stood out above all else, Misao. Her mind centered on rlm@2: the thoughts of her dark haired friend. Misao smiled at her in her mind's rlm@2: eye. Suddenly, the image shifted, the dark hair was now blonde. The rlm@2: beautiful aqua eyes were now pink. Sasami let out a silent sigh, remembering rlm@2: that her best friend was her worst enemy. But was she? She had saved her rlm@2: life. Maybe it showed just how deep their feeling were for each other, rlm@2: strong enough to get past the magic that cause Misao to be Pixy Misa. rlm@2: rlm@2: The blue haired girl blushed deeply. What was she thinking? Her heart beat rlm@2: had quickened while thinking of Misao. Just what was happening to her? rlm@2: rlm@2: Stretching as she stood up, Sasami hopped off her bed. She glanced around rlm@2: for Ryo-ohki, but the cabbit was nowhere to be seen. She shrugged her bare rlm@2: shoulders and padded across the floor to her dresser. Pulling on her rlm@2: pajama's, she couldn't help but feel a stab of worry for her friend. Was she rlm@2: alright? What would happen to her now that she betrayed that strange lady rlm@2: she'd been working for? Sasami bolted upright and grabbed for her phone. She rlm@2: pushed the speed dial button and paced nervously as she waited for an rlm@2: answer. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Hello?" a gentle voice answered. rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami smiled at the sound of Misao's voice. The other girl had always been rlm@2: her very dear, best friend. She felt so relieved to know that she was okay. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Hello?" Misao repeated. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Oh! Hi, Misao," Sasami said quickly. She leaned down, picking up her rlm@2: discarded blouse. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sasami? How are you? I was worried about you…" Misao said softly. rlm@2: Sasami fell back on her bed, a blush on her cheeks and a smile on her lips. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Thanks, Misao. I'm just fine. Actually, I was worried about you." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Me?" the purple haired girl asked in surprise. rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami giggled. "Yeah. Don't worry about it. I'd protect you if anything rlm@2: happened, anyway," she said, her voice suddenly sounding serious. She rlm@2: promised to herself she wouldn't let anything happen to her friend. If she rlm@2: wasn't Pretty Sammy, then her friend wouldn't be in such danger. Misao never rlm@2: would've been used as Pixy Misa. She owed it to her friend to watch out for rlm@2: her. And she couldn't live with herself if anything happened to Misao. rlm@2: "Thank you, Sasami," Misao said after a short pause. "I really rlm@2: hope you're doing better." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Yeah, I am. I got some sleep after I got home. I feel a lot better," rlm@2: Sasami replied. rlm@2: rlm@2: "That's great. You were acting kind of strange," Misao said rlm@2: concernedly. rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami sat up on the bed, crossing her legs. "Strange?" she asked rlm@2: worriedly. 'Am I acting strange around her? Did she notice I was?' rlm@2: rlm@2: "I think you were probably just tired," Misao said thoughtfully. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Yeah, that was it," Sasami agreed hurriedly. 'That was all it was, rlm@2: right?' rlm@2: rlm@2: "I'm sorry, Sasami. I have to go," the blue haired girl could hear rlm@2: the regret in Misao's voice. rlm@2: rlm@2: "That's okay. I'll see you tomorrow, Misao. Maybe we can go someplace rlm@2: after school," Sasami said hopefully. rlm@2: rlm@2: "I'd like that," Misao answered happily. rlm@2: rlm@2: "It's a date, then," Sasami heard herself say. She blushed as soon as rlm@2: the words were out of her mouth. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sure. Bye, Sasami!" Misao said, seeming not to notice her friend's rlm@2: odd behavior. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sleep well, Misao," the blue haired girl said reluctantly. "I rlm@2: love you," she added as an afterthought. rlm@2: rlm@2: "What?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Nothing! Nothing! Umm… Goodnight, Misao!" Sasami hung up the phone rlm@2: quickly before she could say anything else. After a glance at the phone, she tossed rlm@2: it to the side as if it were diseased. "What's going on?" she said rlm@2: aloud. rlm@2: rlm@2: The next day.... rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sure you can ask me anything Sasami." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Thank you Mihoshi. What do you do when you love someone but you aren't rlm@2: sure if they love you in the same way?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Love? Oh! I'm SO happy for you Sasami! Who is it? Has he said anything rlm@2: to you? Have you two gone out on a date yet?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "I'd rather not say who it is now and not for the other two. Would you please rlm@2: answer my question." rlm@2: rlm@2: "What question was that?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "What do you do when you love someone but you aren't sure if they love you rlm@2: in the same way?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Oh. Well I'm not." Mihoshi stopped in midsentence when she heard the door rlm@2: knob turn and the door start to open. Reflex had taken over when she reached for rlm@2: her gun and had it armed and ready, aimed for the spot right beside the door. rlm@2: "FREEZE!" Ever since her and Kiyone had been robbed while they were sleeping, rlm@2: she has been training hard and improving her senses. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Mihoshi, it's me, Kiyone. Now put the gun down." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sorry Kiyone. Did you have any luck?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "No. Neither I nor the police have been able to find anything. I honestly don't rlm@2: think that we'll see any of that stuff agian." rlm@2: rlm@2: "At least none of our stuff for the store was stolen." Mihoshi then returned rlm@2: her attention back to Sasami. "As I was saying, I'm not sure what to do. I would rlm@2: tell that person how I felt and then do something special for them." rlm@2: rlm@2: "What are you guys talking about?" inquired Kiyone. rlm@2: rlm@2: "Little Sasami here is in love. She wants to know what to do so she came here rlm@2: to ask for advice. Do you have any Kiyone?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Sasami all I, or anyone else for that matter, can tell you is to do what your rlm@2: heart tells you to do. The only other thing we can do is give you ideas." rlm@2: rlm@2: "Thank you Mihoshi. Thank you Kiyone. I'll tell you how it turns out." With rlm@2: that Sasami left. Still as confused about her situation as ever. rlm@2: rlm@2: As she walked down the street she heard a load explosion to her left. She ran rlm@2: as fast as she could to the next cross section and looked to her left. There were rlm@2: flames and smoke everywhere. rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami looked around her and saw that no one was around. "Pretty Mutation rlm@2: Magical Recall!" A bright flash of light engulfed Sasami and out came Pretty rlm@2: Sammy. rlm@2: rlm@2: At the scene of the explosion.... rlm@2: rlm@2: "Where the hell is Pretty Sammy!" Ramia shouted. rlm@2: rlm@2: "What do you want, Ramia?" rlm@2: rlm@2: "Ah, Pretty Sammy. I want you to DIE!" rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami sweatdropped. She really didn’t need this, especially not now. She was rlm@2: having enough trouble with her love life to worry about a maniacal magical person rlm@2: trying to kill her. “Is there anyway we could possibly do this some other time?” the rlm@2: blue haired girl asked pleadingly. rlm@2: rlm@2: Ramia furrowed her brow angrily. “How dare you mock me, Pretty Sammy. rlm@2: For that I’ll have to make sure your death is drawn out. And very painful.” rlm@2: rlm@2: The magical girl sighed. Things just never could be easy for her, could they? rlm@2: Pulling her wand up in front of her, she prepared for the attack. A flash of light rlm@2: appeared in Ramia’s hand, quickly hurtling her way. The blue haired magical girl rlm@2: raised her wand in the air. “Pretty Coquettish Bomber!!” Energy surrounded rlm@2: Sasami as she used her strongest attack, trying to force her concentration on this rlm@2: rather than a certain dark haired girl that had been the focus of her thoughts as of rlm@2: late. The attack flew straight at the red headed woman. Sasami smiled rlm@2: triumphantly, but the victory was short lived. Sasami’s smile faded away as she rlm@2: saw her attack rather than hit the magical woman, head right through her. Her rlm@2: mind reeled with the implication. “And illusion?” Sasami whirled around, her rlm@2: eyes wide in horror, but it was too late. rlm@2: rlm@2: “Die.” Ramia grinned, energy lashing out at the bane of her existence. She would rlm@2: finally get what she wanted, the end of Pretty Sammy. rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami stood trapped like a deer in headlights, the energy seeming to move in slow rlm@2: motion towards her. She closed her eyes tightly, her arms going in front of her in rlm@2: reflex. She knew it would do her no good, but she also knew there was nothing she rlm@2: could do. Before the blast could hit, two arms wrapped around her waist and leapt rlm@2: off with her. The energy hit right were Sasami had been standing. Her eyes slowly rlm@2: opened when she realized she was still alive. She took a deep breath, her hands rlm@2: going across her body, making sure she was okay. Looking up to her rescuer, she rlm@2: was shocked by the sight. The girl was slightly taller than her, long feathery rlm@2: blonde hair falling to around her shoulders. Sasami could feel some of the dark rlm@2: purple, almost black leather of the girl’s costume against her. The girl’s hands rlm@2: were still around her waist, holding her close. The background seemed to fade rlm@2: away for Sasami, everything gone except this beautiful girl that rescued her. rlm@2: ‘Misao and Pixy Misa are the same person. She must really care about me, too, rlm@2: then.’ The thought that Misao had come to her rescue in a sense sent a tingle up rlm@2: and down Sasami’s spine. Before she knew what she was doing, the blue haired rlm@2: magical girl leaned forward, her soft lips brushing against her rescuers. That rlm@2: moment, those soft lips against her own, the whole moment felt truly wonderful. It rlm@2: was more magical than anything magic she’d done as Pretty Sammy. rlm@2: rlm@2: Pixy Misa’s eyes went wide as saucers as she felt Pretty Sammy kiss her. She froze, rlm@2: unsure of what to do for once in her life as Misao’s other personality. Her hands rlm@2: tensed against Sammy’s sides, but that just spurred the blue haired girl on, making rlm@2: her kiss the blonde deeper. Misa’s eyes started to fall closed, not knowing how to rlm@2: stop what was happening. Not wanting to. Misa barely shook herself from her rlm@2: trance in time to drag Sasami out of the way of another attack. The blonde feigned rlm@2: anger as she turned to the blue haired girl, too confused by what had happened to rlm@2: actually deal with it right now. “What are you trying to do, Sammy? Get us killed? rlm@2: You want to kiss, you wait till we’re not about to die. That does put a damper on rlm@2: my plans for the day, you know.” rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami looked down, blushing profusely. What had she just done? Why? She just rlm@2: hadn’t been able to help herself. It had felt so good, so right. Even if this was her rlm@2: former rival, she was just as much in love with her as Misao. They were the same rlm@2: person, even if she did act differently as them. “Sorry…” she said sadly, barely in a rlm@2: whisper. rlm@2: rlm@2: The blonde grinned reassuringly. “Worry about it later, Sammy. And if we do rlm@2: make it out of this alive, maybe I’ll let you try again.” She winked, drawing a rlm@2: blush from the blue haired girl. She laughed as she looked around for Ramia. She rlm@2: always did enjoy teasing the other magical girl. As long as she didn’t have to rlm@2: worry about the implications of the kiss. It wasn’t half bad. Kinda good, actually.. rlm@2: Misa’s mind started to wander back to it before she spotted her former master. rlm@2: “Pixy Sexy Fire!!” She yelled, the blast flying towards Ramia. rlm@2: rlm@2: Ramia faded out of the way just in time. Reappearing further off, she scowled. rlm@2: “You traitor! I’ll kill you as well.” After a moment, she added, “The next time we rlm@2: meet.” She turned around, fading away again. rlm@2: rlm@2: rlm@2: The two magical girls stood in silence for a long moment. Now that the battle was rlm@2: over and done with, Sammy’s little kiss earlier came to the surface in both of their rlm@2: thoughts. Pretty Sammy turned to Pixy Misa, hoping to find out what the blonde rlm@2: girl thought of it. But Misa had a trump card to play. Besides, this wasn’t her rlm@2: problem. She was the happy outgoing one. She’d let her other side deal with it, rlm@2: even if she wouldn’t remember. Dipping backwards, the leather clad magical girl rlm@2: fainted. rlm@2: rlm@2: Shifting back to normal from Pretty Sammy, Sasami sighed miserably. It figured rlm@2: that it would turn out like this. Things never could be easy, could they? Of course, rlm@2: Tsunami wouldn’t have chosen her as the earth’s champion if she didn’t believe in rlm@2: her. But then again, this scenario probably wasn’t something she’d been chosen rlm@2: for. “Misao-chan? Misao-chan, are you alright?” Sasami asked, shaking her friend rlm@2: softly. rlm@2: rlm@2: “Hmm?” Misao blinked her aquamarine eyes tiredly, trying to focus. It took her a rlm@2: moment before she could make out Sasami’s worried face looking down at her. rlm@2: “Sasami-chan? Owww….” She held her head as she tried to sit up but Sasami rlm@2: pushed her back down. rlm@2: rlm@2: “Wait until you feel better first. I don’t want you to hurt any more than you already rlm@2: do. I know how sick you can get.” Sasami bit her lip as she watched her dark rlm@2: haired best friend lying on the floor with a pained look on her face. She really rlm@2: wished there was something she could do about Misao’s poor health. They had rlm@2: first met when Sasami had helped her get to the nurse’s office. Even after all this rlm@2: time, it still scared her to see the poor girl wracked with pain like that. rlm@2: rlm@2: “I love you, too.” rlm@2: rlm@2: “What?” Was her mind playing tricks on her? She had just heard Misao mutter rlm@2: something, right? She really needed more sleep after all of the running around rlm@2: she’d been doing lately. All this stress really wasn’t good for her. She was likely to rlm@2: crack soon at this rate. “Did you say something?” rlm@2: rlm@2: Misao shook her head quickly, rolling onto her side. A scarlet blush colored her rlm@2: pale cheeks as she looked off. “No, I didn’t say anything, Sasami-chan. I didn’t say rlm@2: anything at all.” The nervous butterflies feeling in her stomach was so bad that she rlm@2: thought she was going to be sick. She closed her eyes as the setting sun started to rlm@2: hurt them. She wished that Sasami would just take her home soon so everything rlm@2: could go back to the depressing way of things. Then she wouldn’t have to worry rlm@2: about these things at the very least and that sick feeling would go away. Her eyes rlm@2: fluttered open as a pair of arms encircled her waist and helped prop her up. Pretty rlm@2: pink eyes and cute freckles along with a little light blue at the corners of her vision rlm@2: greeted her. Her blush grew deeper as Sasami looked deeply at her. ‘She smells rlm@2: wonderful. I feel so warm and safe in her arms. I always do. I wish she’d never let rlm@2: go.’ Internally pushing those thoughts away, she continued thinking to herself. ‘I rlm@2: hope she does let go soon. Otherwise I don’t think I’ll be able to pretend rlm@2: everything’s the way it used to be. I don’t know if I could handle anymore rlm@2: changes.’ rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami noticed Misao stiffening up in her grasp after a moment. ‘Why’s she so rlm@2: nervous all of a sudden? She was starting to relax just a moment ago. Am I scaring rlm@2: her?’ Shaking her head, Sasami never took her eyes away from Misao’s big, rlm@2: frightened aquamarine ones. Her soft body barely moved, feeling like a scared little rlm@2: animal in her arms. Misao’s breathing was very slow, as if she was trying to not rlm@2: bring any attention to herself. ‘If I heard right, she must be scared about the whole rlm@2: thing. She’s always been kinda sad. And with how things are, this could risk rlm@2: losing her best friend and what we already have. I’m not risking much because I rlm@2: know she’ll understand. I know she’ll stay my friend. I know… So why am I so rlm@2: worried?’ the blue haired girl thought to herself. “Misao-chan?” One hand went rlm@2: higher up Misao’s back as she brought her into a better sitting position. rlm@2: rlm@2: Misao swallowed nervously and nodded in acknowledgement. “Hai, Sasami- rlm@2: chan?” rlm@2: rlm@2: Licking her dry lips, Sasami tried to voice what was in her heart. “Misao-chan, rlm@2: you’re my very best friend. You’ve always been there for me and I can’t remember rlm@2: ever being happier than when I’m with you. I don’t want to fight against you rlm@2: because I care too much about you. You’re very important to me. I just want to be rlm@2: with you always. Misao-chan, I love you.” rlm@2: rlm@2: Misao’s cheeks went a deep shade of crimson as words caught in her throat. She rlm@2: was always so lonely, a scared little girl alone in the dark. But Sasami always filled rlm@2: up that darkness for her. She took away that deep loneliness. She was the only real rlm@2: important thing in her life. She was her reason to keep going, her reason to hope rlm@2: when all seemed lost, her reason to look toward tomorrow when her mother wasn’t rlm@2: going to be home and she had cram school to get to. But all that came out was a rlm@2: meek, “I love you, too.” That was enough. rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami’s face lit up as she hugged Misao tightly. “Oh, Misao-chan!” A warm rlm@2: feeling quickly surpassed any nervous ones that had been inside her as the girl in rlm@2: her arms began to hug her back. All of her unfounded worries and the torment this rlm@2: had caused her all melted away in the beautiful dark haired girls hands. She felt rlm@2: Misao bury her head against the crook of her neck, an altogether pleasant rlm@2: sensation. She held her close, still on her knees. rlm@2: rlm@2: Close to tears, Misao clutched onto Sasami like a life preserver in the choppy rlm@2: waters of her life. But now she could feel some of her faith returning. Things rlm@2: would work out. Because no matter what happened, she’d be with Sasami. rlm@2: Whatever else got thrown in her way wouldn’t matter as long as she could be in rlm@2: her arms. “Thank you so much, Sasami-chan. I never thought..” rlm@2: rlm@2: Sasami cut her off with a soft kiss, her eyes closed as she relished the soft feel of rlm@2: Misao’s lips against her own. The dark haired girl just sat there shocked for a rlm@2: moment, Sasami’s cheeks reddening in embarrassment. rlm@2: rlm@2: No longer able to form coherent thought and drowning in a sea of emotion, Misao rlm@2: returned the kiss. Yes, everything would be alright from now on. ‘Just never let me rlm@2: go. Never set me free from you.’ rlm@2: rlm@2: