�Uh huh. You kissed me on the cheek and said it was just as good as Tenshi�s presents.�
�Look, we�re here,� Tenshi said quickly, as she pulled into the driveway.
�Neko-san, come in with me while Tenshi changes,� Puroko requested enthusiastically.
Unsure she could take much more, Tenshi got out of the car and ran in before them. She didn�t want to face Neko now. Not since she had already chosen Jasper. She didn�t even know why Neko had bothered talking to her.
*She wanted to pole vault and needed a ride, remember?*
All Tenshi knew was that she couldn�t keep doing this to herself. If Neko was going to move on, she needed to as well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Let�s go!� Tenshi said as she hit the bottom of the stairs, now changed into something that was probably more comfortable than her fuku. She carried a denim jacket, as the low-cut red top, which tied in the front, had crisscrossing cuts along the long sleeves that were sure to expose her arms to the cold March air. The fact that the top exposed her midriff and just that hint of cleavage, probably would only contribute to the top�s inability to combat the cold. Yet it looked great with the pair of blue hip hugger jeans she wore.
Neko totally renounced every thought she had had about Tenshi in a suit. This was so much sexier!
And suddenly she truly understood. What had been missing from the kiss with Jasper was the chemistry she had felt with Tenshi�s kiss. It wasn�t just the surprise of that first kiss that had made her heart beat so wildly. She had felt the same wild feeling when she had opened the door of her house and saw Tenshi for the first time, and when she had first seen Night Angel later. She�d just been a little more willing to let go of her inhibitions when Tenshi was a guy.
She had been so confused at the time because of the suddenness of that kiss, and the mistaken interpretation of their relationship, and of course, the fact that Tenshi was female. Mostly it was that confusion that had prevented her from properly processing her feelings at the time. But now things were even more messed up. And she wasn�t sure what to do about it.
And Tenshi didn�t seem willing to give her the chance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Come on, I have to get to voice.�
�Ne,� Neko said shyly, �can I come with you?�
Tenshi was taken aback. �To voice?� Even the old Neko had never mentioned coming with her.
�Uh huh. I just realized I�ve never heard you sing.�
For just a moment, Tenshi couldn�t have been as happy if Neko had been a major recording label asking to produce her song. But the moment passed and as her disappointment hit her, she dismissed the idea with bitterness.
�I�m sure there are other things you could be doing. Why don�t you go off and spend some time with your boyfriend?� Tenshi said, brushing her off.
Neko lowered her eyes. �He�s not my boyfriend. Jasper-kun and I are just friends.�
Tenshi narrowed her eyes. More like �friends with benefits.� She had seen that kiss. She wasn�t sure if it was the idea of Neko falling in love with Jasper instead of her, or the idea that Neko would be kissing someone she didn�t love, especially after rejecting Tenshi for kissing her in the first place, but for one reason or another, she had had enough.
�Look, Koneko! You can�t do this to me anymore. I�m sure it�s fine for you, with you still trying to figure out your identity and all, but Jasper-san and I can�t have you bouncing back and forth between the two of us, flirting, however unintentionally, with us both. And, as I think it�s pretty clear that you chose him, I can�t take the heartbreak of you hanging around me beyond our pole vault training. I will help you, but I can�t handle anything more than that. So please stop with this newfound interest you have in following me around.�
�You don�t want me around?� Neko asked, plainly hurt.
�Of course, I want you around! But I can�t. I�ll never stop loving you, and because of that I won�t stop you from following your heart. But you have to give me a break! Don�t make me watch you with Jasper-san.�
�I�m not with Jasper-kun!� Neko told her again.
Tenshi grabbed her by the shoulders. �I saw you kiss him! You don�t just go around arbitrarily kissing people! You wouldn�t even let me kiss you. You��
�I wanted you to!� Neko interrupted. �You gave me every indication you were going to. And I would�ve welcomed it. But instead you blew me off!�
�No, that�s not true! You told me not to!� Tenshi cried. �Right from the start I told you I needed your permission.�
�You had it.� Neko�s eyes filled with frustrated tears. �What did you want? A written invitation? Me to beg you for it? What did I have to say? �Damn it, Tenshi, just shut up and kiss me�?�
�No, not like that. You don�t even swear. But I needed some kind of sign! Anything to show me that it wasn�t just my imagination! You can�t expect me to read your mind; you have to give me something to go on! But you��
�Damn it, Tenshi! Just shut up and kiss me!�
Tenshi didn�t hesitate. She swept Neko into her embrace and kissed her, all her anger transforming into pure passion. And Neko kissed her back just as intensely. It seemed that they were going to make up for all their missed kisses this week in this perfect one.
After a few overwhelming moments that might have gone forever, they were interrupted by a squeal of joy from the top of the stairs. They looked up to see Puroko moments before she darted away.
�Was it okay for her to see that?� Neko worried. �Two girls�?�
�She�s used to it, don�t worry,� Tenshi assured her softly. She wasn�t ready to let go yet, but was hesitant to reinitiate the kiss. Instead she leaned her forehead against Neko�s. �You swore.� Neko nodded, but didn�t speak. �Are you okay? You�re crying.�
Neko stared into Tenshi�s eyes, and though tears still fell from hers, her voice managed to stay in control. �I�m just so sorry I wasted all that time hating you.�
Tenshi�s face fell. �You really did hate me?�
�I thought you were an arrogant jerk,� Neko replied apologetically.
Tenshi�s heart stung from such harsh criticism from Neko. But she knew Neko had had a limited, and at times presupposed, perspective on Tenshi�s personality. She took Neko�s hand. �Let�s go then,� she said.
�That�s right. You have to get to voice.� Neko was obviously trying to sound cheerful.
�Forget about voice. I�m taking you out.� She began to lead Neko out the door.
�Won�t you get in trouble?� Neko asked fretfully. Tenshi simply continued towards the car. �I kinda wanted to hear you sing,� she tried again.
Tenshi opened the car door and directed Neko into her seat. �Don�t worry, Koneko. I�ll sing for you.�
She hurdled the driver seat door, too elated to bother with little details like opening the car door. Neko liked her again, even loved her perhaps. And Tenshi believed that by the end of the day, Neko would know how much she loved Tenshi.
And maybe that was arrogant of her, but she liked to think of it as faith.
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