Ship: Akagi Mako/Hiyama Chinatsu/Hanaoka Shizuku Fandom: Ballroom e Youkoso Major Tags: none Other Tags: none Word Count: 580
***
For a moment, Chinatsu felt relieved to see Mako on the other side of the dueling arena. Then Mako stepped forward, light glinting off her sword, and the relief vanished. Of course; why not? It wasn't like Chinatsu didn't have anything better to do than fight people she actually liked.
“Oh, Mako,” she sighed. “What are you doing here?”
For a moment, Mako didn't reply. The duelists had been...weirder, lately. Weirder than normal, which was saying something, considering.
“I won't be left behind,” Mako said. Chinatsu didn't think she'd ever heard her sound so determined, so fierce.
“No one's going to leave you behind, Mako,” Chinatsu replied, confused. Mako laughed, and the sound was so bitter and unlike her that Chinatsu couldn't help but flinch.
“I don't expect you to understand, Chinatsu.” Mako turned to Shizuku, who had been standing quietly next to Chinatsu all this time. “But you do, don't you Shizuku?” Chinatsu turned to catch...something flicker across Shizuku's face, before being replaced by that bland half-smile. Chinatsu liked to think she was getting better at catching Shizuku's real expressions. Was that pity? Regret? Understanding? She wasn't sure, and she didn't have time to think about it, not with Mako laughing that awful laugh again and bringing up her sword.
It's amazing what a person can get used to. Things like pulling a sword out of another human being stop being fantastic by the fifth time, and fighting people for some mystical power that Chinatsu isn't sure she believes in was old by the first time she'd finished climbing those awful stairs. But she was caught up in this mess, now, so she reached into Shizuku's chest and pulled forth her sword and faced Mako.
She really didn't want to fight her. Mako was too sweet to be pulled into this. Maybe if Chinatsu ended this early, one quick strike?
Mako lunged, and the fight was on. She moved quickly, gracefully, and Chinatsu was surprised at how good she was. And then she was irritated with herself, because why wouldn't Mako be good? Just because she was overshadowed by her ass of a brother? Just because she was quiet and kind?
In the end, though, Chinatsu was better. She stepped in close and plucked the rose from Mako's chest, tossing it to the ground. She felt exhausted. At least she didn't have to climb down all those stairs anymore.
Mako sunk to her knees, curling her arms around herself. She began to sob, quietly, but the sound seemed loud in the arena.
“I'm going to get left behind,” she said. “I know it.”
Chinatsu was tired; tired of this weird school; tired of Shizuku's fake expressions; tired of these duels she didn't understand but couldn't, apparently, stop fighting. She didn't know why Mako thought she would be left behind, but maybe that didn't matter.
She knelt down and put a hand on Mako's shoulder.
“I won't leave you behind,” she said gently. Mako hiccuped and looked up at her.
“I think you already have,” she replied, smiling. Another tear slid down her face. Some distant thought of Chinatsu thought it was unfair Mako looked pretty even like this, but she ignored it.
“No, I haven't,” Chinatsu insisted. “I'm not going to leave you behind, and neither will Shizuku. Right?” She turned her head to see Shizuku looking at them, wearing a look that was definitely pity.
FILL: Team Grandstand, G
Fandom: Ballroom e Youkoso
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: none
Word Count: 580
***
For a moment, Chinatsu felt relieved to see Mako on the other side of the dueling arena. Then Mako stepped forward, light glinting off her sword, and the relief vanished. Of course; why not? It wasn't like Chinatsu didn't have anything better to do than fight people she actually liked.
“Oh, Mako,” she sighed. “What are you doing here?”
For a moment, Mako didn't reply. The duelists had been...weirder, lately. Weirder than normal, which was saying something, considering.
“I won't be left behind,” Mako said. Chinatsu didn't think she'd ever heard her sound so determined, so fierce.
“No one's going to leave you behind, Mako,” Chinatsu replied, confused. Mako laughed, and the sound was so bitter and unlike her that Chinatsu couldn't help but flinch.
“I don't expect you to understand, Chinatsu.” Mako turned to Shizuku, who had been standing quietly next to Chinatsu all this time. “But you do, don't you Shizuku?” Chinatsu turned to catch...something flicker across Shizuku's face, before being replaced by that bland half-smile. Chinatsu liked to think she was getting better at catching Shizuku's real expressions. Was that pity? Regret? Understanding? She wasn't sure, and she didn't have time to think about it, not with Mako laughing that awful laugh again and bringing up her sword.
It's amazing what a person can get used to. Things like pulling a sword out of another human being stop being fantastic by the fifth time, and fighting people for some mystical power that Chinatsu isn't sure she believes in was old by the first time she'd finished climbing those awful stairs. But she was caught up in this mess, now, so she reached into Shizuku's chest and pulled forth her sword and faced Mako.
She really didn't want to fight her. Mako was too sweet to be pulled into this. Maybe if Chinatsu ended this early, one quick strike?
Mako lunged, and the fight was on. She moved quickly, gracefully, and Chinatsu was surprised at how good she was. And then she was irritated with herself, because why wouldn't Mako be good? Just because she was overshadowed by her ass of a brother? Just because she was quiet and kind?
In the end, though, Chinatsu was better. She stepped in close and plucked the rose from Mako's chest, tossing it to the ground. She felt exhausted. At least she didn't have to climb down all those stairs anymore.
Mako sunk to her knees, curling her arms around herself. She began to sob, quietly, but the sound seemed loud in the arena.
“I'm going to get left behind,” she said. “I know it.”
Chinatsu was tired; tired of this weird school; tired of Shizuku's fake expressions; tired of these duels she didn't understand but couldn't, apparently, stop fighting. She didn't know why Mako thought she would be left behind, but maybe that didn't matter.
She knelt down and put a hand on Mako's shoulder.
“I won't leave you behind,” she said gently. Mako hiccuped and looked up at her.
“I think you already have,” she replied, smiling. Another tear slid down her face. Some distant thought of Chinatsu thought it was unfair Mako looked pretty even like this, but she ignored it.
“No, I haven't,” Chinatsu insisted. “I'm not going to leave you behind, and neither will Shizuku. Right?” She turned her head to see Shizuku looking at them, wearing a look that was definitely pity.
“As you say, Chinatsu.”