A Thunderstorm Without Emotion [Reina]

[Sayumi Michishige]

Following what had transpired in Europe; Sayumi had become quite depressed. Beginning to neglect the things around her--her idol life, contact with Reina, even her own health--she had a lingering feeling of worthlessness in her mind. If she had been unable to be of help to Yami, or even protect her, how would she be able to protect Reina? The soul-crushingly depressed Shinobi sat in her apartment, staring at the ceiling as she laid on her couch. Her eyes closing as she felt tears beginning to form.

'W-what do I even do... I promised I would be strong for Yami and Reina, but I don't feel like I can...' She thought to herself.

[Reina Tanaka]

Returning from her schedules, Reina had received news that Sayumi had returned from Europe. She quickly told her manager to dirve her down to her apartment. Rushing up the stairs, she knocked loudly on Sayumi's door. "Sacchan! Sacchan, are you home?" she called out loudly before opening the door.

As she spotted her friend on the couch, her lips curved upwards into a smile. She dashed over and practically tackled her onto the couch, burying her head into her friend's chest. "Ahh, Sacchan, I missed you!" she chimed, looking up at her with a slight pout.

[Sayumi Michishige]

Sayumi blushed darkly when she felt Reina tackle her, "A-ah! R-rei-chan." She smiled, wrapping her arms around Reina, "I'm sorry I left so suddenly... something came up and I didn't have time to tell you in person." She apologized, "I-I'm sorry if you missed me, I know I missed you."

[Reina Tanaka]

Reina puffed out her cheeks slightly, sitting up and straddling Sayumi's waist. "We're partners, aren't we?" she glared slightly, pouting down at her, "You could've told me that you were going somewhere, then I could've came with you," she sighed, leaning down again to cup Sayumi's cheeks in her small hands.

Once again, she turned her head side to side, inspecting every inch of her porcelain skin, "Well, at least you aren't hurt," she nodded before raising an eyebrow, looking her in the eyes again, "Or are you? What happened in Europe, hm?"

[Sayumi Michishige]

Sayumi perked when Reina asked that, her eyes grew heavy, even going as far as to water. "...A lot..." She answered weakly, looking to the side. "I...was investigating something big for the World of Shadows..." she told her, closing her eyes, a single tear coming from her eyes onto her cheek. "Yami-senpai and I were both onto something big, we almost cornered it but... some ninja from the World of Shadows betrayed us and Yami-senpai almost lost her life. She's still in Europe recovering in the hospital. I had to come back without her, suffering only a small arrow wound on my left leg."

[Reina Tanaka]

Reina's eyes widened a bit as she saw her friend's eyes begin to water. She held both of Sayumi's hands between her's, pursing her lips as she listened to her describe what had transpired in Europe. She bit her lips softly after hearing about what had happened to Yami.

"Eh?!" she exclaimed, "We need to get back to her right away, Sacchan," she sighed softly. She slid off Sayumi's lap, onto her knees next to the couch, "How is your leg now?" she inquired, looking from her partner's face then to her leg then back again, "Has it been healing well?"

[Sayumi Michishige]

Sayumi let out a cold laugh, sitting up as she wiped her eyes. "Its fine. I'm fine." She told her simply, "It just hurts a little when I walk... Its nothing serious." She claimed; "We can't go to Europe, we have responsibilities here in both our own lives and as Shinobi--there's something big about to go underway and we have to be here to stop it in place of Yami. She's depending on us." Sayumi told her.

"Besides I'm scared to get you involved with the matters of Europe, its bad enough the woman I respect as a 'mentor' is now laying in bed fighting for her life." She began, "If the same or worst happened to you Reina, I don't think I could bear it." She clenched her fists on her knees, her eyes watering heavily. "I...I..."

[Reina Tanaka]

"Responsibilities here?" Reina tilted her head to the side, "What's going on here, Sacchan?" she inquired, scooting up a bit closer, "You never did tell me, after all, what did you and Yami-san find out? Who were you two fighting with?"

As Sayumi expressed her worries, Reina reached up to her, cupping her cheeks gently, pressing her forehead against her's, silently holding them together as the rain began to pour. "Sayumi, you're too protective of me," she said softly, "I'm a grown up now. You've trained me well, I'm not the weak little girl that you found at the temple all those years ago." Reina separated her face from Sayumi's, smiling gently at her before leaning in and kissing her forehead, "It's my turn to protect you."

[Sayumi Michishige]

"Reina--" She cut herself off, closing her eyes as Reina kissed her forehead. "I know, I just don't want to lose you, there are powerful people out there that we're against--not just physically, but socially. Its because of the social power this one man had that almost cost Yami her life." She told Reina, putting her hands on Reina's shoulders, trying to hold back tears. "I care about you too much... I lo..." She began, blushing darkly, looking down shyly, her eyes were open--unable to really get the words she wanted to say out.

[Reina Tanaka]

Reina closed her eyes, giving Sayumi a simple nod of confirmation, "As long as we're together we can do this, right?" she tilted her head, looking up to Sayumi, "We can get stronger, together, with the others. We can make allies like Yami-san, we can get through this," she spoke softly, running her fingers through Sayumi's soft locks.

She giggled softly as Sayumi's speech froze. Admittedly, it was kinda cute, she fixed her hair and held Sayumi's cheeks, tilting her head up to look her straight on in the eyes, "You 'lo--' ?"

[Sayumi Michishige]

Sayumi blushed more, being held like this by Reina--it was cute of her but it also just flushed Sayumi up more as she felt like a child. "I um... P-please don't think of me ill when I say this b-but..." She cleared her throat up some, "I-I'm in love with you, Reina-chan." she confessed to her, "I-I know I'm rather affectionate with Yami-senpai, maybe I act like I crush on her even, but I really care about you Reina, I always have. That's why... I-I'm scared."

[Reina Tanaka]

Reina couldn't help but smile at the sudden confession from her friend. It wasn't too often that Sayumi and herself were open with each other like this. Her cheeks flushed a faint pink, admittedly still a bit caught off guard from it. Of course she knew that there was some sort of special connection between the two of them, but she wasn't expecting Sayumi to confess at a time like this.

"O-Oh..." she smiled uncontrollably, tucking her own hair behind her ear as she looked away in embarrassment. "I...don't know what to say, Sacchan..." she looked down, pursing her lips before holding both of Sayumi's hands, looking back up to her face, "I love you too, Sayumi. Let's grow stronger for each other...together."

[Sayumi Michishige]

Sayumi perked at her response, her eyes almost developing a sort of spark in them--a twinkle even--as she smiled big at her partner. She smiled warmly, the smile stretching ear-to-ear, going and taking Reina's hands into her own she clenched them firmly and nodded with that smile still upon her face. "Y-yes... Let's... um, grow stronger together..!" She nodded again, her eyes almost watering even as she said this.