A Kimagure Orange Road story.


A Kiss?
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She-Hulk (brobinso@neocomm.net)


	Madoka watched Hikaru drag Kyosuke away and tried not to be angry with her
friend. It really wasn�t her fault. She removed the empty glasses and wiped
the counter dry. If only Hikaru didn�t push Kyosuke into things. Madoka
sighed and wondered if she was really pushing him or if he went willingly. 

	Sometimes she thought that they were growing closer and other times he
seemed to be like a complete stranger to her. She felt like the three of
them were standing on top of a cliff, but there was only room enough for
two and if something shifted one of them would fall. Madoka automatically
began to sweep the spotless floor behind the counter.

	Akane sat in the corner of the ABCB and sipped her drink slowly. She
watched Madoka work and sighed at her graceful movements. She was so
pretty! Akane felt herself blush and cast a quick look around. There was no
one else there and she suddenly felt silly. <I shouldn�t listen to the
girls at school. I don�t need a boyfriend!> Madoka began to refill the
napkin holders on each of the tables and Akane grew nervous as she came
closer. <It shouldn�t matter who you love as long as you love them with all
of your heart!> 

	The phone rang and Madoka answered it. �ABCB. Yes. I see. All right. No,
it�s fine. Good-bye.� She hung up and stared into space for a few minutes.
Akane frowned at her sad expression and was on her feet without realizing
it. Madoka started at the sudden movement and she turned to Akane. 

	Akane found herself staring into Madoka�s beautiful eyes and spoke
haltingly. �Uh...I...That is..� She drew a breath and let it out. �What�s
wrong?�

	Madoka shook her head. �My father was coming home tonight before going on
to France, but he�s been asked to participate in a charity concert. He
isn�t coming.� She was used to the sudden schedule changes, but she really
didn�t want to be alone tonight. Images of Kyosuke and Hikaru flashed
through her mind and she grew melancholy.

	�Would you like to go to the movies with me?� Akane spoke hesitantly.
Since that day she�d tried to push Kyosuke at Hikaru she had backed off a
little. Kyosuke had insisted. But that didn�t mean she�d given up!

	Madoka started to shake her head and Akane�s face fell. Madoka paused and
reconsidered. <Why not? It would be better than sitting home alone.> She
smiled at Akane and agreed.

	

	The movie was a romance and Akane blushed through the whole thing. She
couldn�t help it. Every time one of the actors confessed their love, she
felt an incredible urge to do the same. She would then argue with herself
and finally manage to hold her tongue only for it to happen again. Then the
urge would return. Akane kept glancing at Madoka from the corner of her eye
and looking back at the screen quickly whenever she turned. She could smell
Madoka�s perfume and the sweet scent was going to her head. 

	She heard her sigh softly and Akane could stand no more. She jumped to her
feet and turned to Madoka. �Madoka, I think you should know that I-� The
house lights came up and she froze as people began to leave the theater.
She turned beet red and stammered, �t-that the movie is over.�

	Madoka looked at her oddly and replied, �I know. Are you all right?�

	Akane nodded and stepped out into the isle quickly. She stopped when she
saw who was sitting several rows behind them. Madoka followed her startled
gaze and froze. 

	Hikaru was in Kyosuke�s arms. They were kissing.

	Akane watched a wall of control slam over Madoka�s face and she moved back
to let her pass. Madoka sailed out of the theater and did not look back.
Akane was right behind her.

	<I can�t believe it! I thought he-! Well obviously I thought wrong!>
Madoka silently berated herself as she walked home. Akane walked beside
her, feeling the waves of energy roll off of Madoka.

	Madoka opened the door to her home and stopped. The house was dark and
empty. She was suddenly hit by a wave of dread and she shivered. She didn�t
want to go in.

	Akane saw her reaction and touched her lightly on the shoulder. Madoka
jumped and looked at her over her shoulder. �May I come in?�

	Relief washed over her as she realized that she didn�t have to face the
emptiness alone. Madoka smiled and stepped inside, motioning Akane to join
her.



	The TV was on, but the sound was low as the two girls sat talking. It had
taken some coaxing, but Madoka was beginning to listen to Akane.

	�You know Hikaru. She probably kissed him! Don�t believe everything you
see.� Akane shook her head slightly as she listened to herself. <I can�t
believe I�m making excuses for him! I want her to dump him, right?> Yes,
but she didn�t want it to happen like this. With Madoka in pain.

	Madoka wiped her eyes and smiled a little. �You�re probably right. I guess
it just caught me off guard.� She held her calm expression for a moment
longer, then it crumpled as the tears started again. Akane was startled
when Madoka hugged her and began to cry. 

	Everything she�d ever wanted was in her arms and she held Madoka gently
while she sobbed. �Shh. Let it out.� Akane�s own eyes began to tear as she
rubbed her back. Madoka was so warm. 

	Eventually Madoka quieted and she pulled away from Akane. She wiped her
eyes and tried to apologize. Akane stopped her. �No, don�t apologize for
needing a friend. I�m just glad that I was here.�

	Madoka smiled and Akane felt her heart lurch. �Thank you, friend.� The
clock on the wall caught her eye and she gasped. �It�s so late!�

	Akane stood reluctantly. �Yeah, I�d better get home.� She stopped as
Madoka caught her hand.

	�No. It�s too late to be out by yourself. Stay the night.� Akane hesitated
and Madoka grinned. �Good! It�s settled. I�ll get the guest room ready and
then you can turn in.� She was out of the room before Akane could protest.


	
	Akane pulled the covers tighter around her and tried to sleep. She thought
of Madoka, lying a few yards away and knew she was wasting her time. A tree
branch brushed against the window and she jumped. Akane got out of bed,
tugging at the hem of the T-shirt Madoka had given her to wear. 

	She slipped into the kitchen and drank a glass of water at the sink. Akane
rinsed the glass and set in in the drain, wincing as it made a small sound.
She headed back to her bedroom and hoped she hadn�t disturbed Madoka.

	As she passed Madoka�s door, she heard a muffled sound. Akane stopped and
listened. There. It was a low moan. The distress of the sound had Akane
quietly pushing the door open.

	Madoka tossed restlessly and a gasp escaped her as she ran from her
dreams. She was sweating and her face was a study in fear. Akane moved to
the edge of the bed and wondered if she should wake her.

	She whimpered and her voice was faint. �No....please...� 

	Akane scowled and sat down on the bed. <I shouldn�t do this, but maybe I
can turn the dream into something more pleasant.> She focused her mind and
felt her astral self leave her body. She slipped into Madoka�s mind.

	It was dark and Akane couldn�t see anything at first. The cold fog caused
her to shiver. She imagined a torch and one appeared in her hand. The
warmth seemed to push the cold fog away and she could see the barren
terrain around her.

	A desolate landscape, with jagged rocks and dark, forbidding mountains
looming in the distance. She was standing on a small hill and Akane spotted
a flash of movement below her. She began to make her way slowly over the
treacherous surface, slipping as she struggled to stay upright on the icy
rocks. 

	Akane reached the bottom of the hill and stared at what she saw. Madoka
was in the middle of a large black pool and she was fighting to stay
afloat. Akane saw her reach out toward the shore and turned to see Kyosuke
and Hikaru standing there. They didn�t notice Madoka as they joined hands
and disappeared together. 

	Madoka cried out after them. �No! Wait! Don�t leave me! Please! Don�t
leave me alone!� She slipped beneath the surface and came back up,
coughing. Akane called to her, but she had gone under again.

	Akane tossed the torch aside and dove in, gasping as the frigid waters
chilled her to the bone. She swam towards the center and dove. She couldn�t
see anything and felt for Madoka with numb hands. Her lungs ached
unbearably and she was just about to surface for air when she felt
something brush against her leg. Akane reached down, caught Madoka and
began to race to the surface. They exploded into the arctic air and Akane
drew deep breaths of it�s cold sting. She towed Madoka to the shore and
pulled her out of the water. Madoka wasn�t breathing and Akane rolled her
onto her back and began to rub her back in hard steady strokes. She heard
Madoka cough and the sound of water washing over the rocks as she emptied
her lungs.

	Madoka felt the cold hands holding her and cried out. Akane spoke quickly,
turning her to face her. �It�s all right, Madoka. It�s me, Akane. You�re
all right now.�  Madoka stopped struggling and slumped against her. Akane
pictured a place in her mind and willed them there.

	The sudden change in temperature and lighting caused Madoka to jump in
shock. She looked around her and couldn�t believe what she was seeing. Soft
green grass spread out under them and across the low rolling hills in a
rich carpet. Huge trees dotted the landscape and Madoka could see
brilliantly colored birds soaring high above them. She gasped as a unicorn
galloped past and looked at Akane. �Where is this place?�

	Akane stood and offered Madoka her hand. She pulled her to her feet and
Madoka realized that she was dry. They began to walk. �You�re in one of my
dreams.� Actually it was one of the astral planes, but that was just a
technicality. �I come here whenever I feel alone or afraid. You can come
here now, too.�

	Madoka felt the warm rays of the sun and stared at the lake that appeared
before them. �How is this possible?� She stopped, unwilling to venture
closer to the water.

	 Akane sensed her fear and pointed to a couple sitting on the beach that
Madoka hadn�t noticed before. �They�re the lake guardians. They protect the
water and anyone swims there. It�s safe, Madoka.�

	Madoka sat on the bank and let her feet slip onto the warm blue water. The
guardians were a mermaid and a merman. She listened to them talk with Akane
and realized that they were old friends.

	They departed and Akane turned to her. �You see? There is nothing to fear
in this world.�

	Madoka watched the water and spoke slowly. �I don�t understand this, but
I�m glad you saved me.�

	Akane thought of the dream Kyosuke and Hikaru. �That won�t happen, you
know. He loves you, not Hikaru. He just doesn�t want to hurt her.� Her
voice was flat, resigned. 

	Madoka frowned and saw her truly for the first time. Akane looked at her
and couldn�t hide the fact that she loved her.

	Madoka inhaled sharply and Akane turned away. �I�m sorry. It�s hard to
hide things here. I didn�t mean to make you uncomfortable.� She started to
rise, but Madoka touched her arm.

	�Don�t go.� Akane couldn�t deny her. �I didn�t know.�

	�And you won�t know when you wake up. This is playing out in your
subconscious.�

	�But-� 

	Akane waved a hand at their surroundings. �This place is one of healing. A
place to face all of the things that we try and hide from ourselves. You
see the water and fear it, but it�s not the water that frightens you. It�s
the step that you�ve yet to take, Madoka. The step you�re afraid to take.�
She laughed at the irony. �The step towards Kyosuke.�

	Madoka was silent for a time, then she asked a question. �You�ll remember,
won�t you?�

	�Yes.� 

	�How?�

	Akane sighed and decided the truth wouldn�t hurt. �Psychic powers runs in
my family. A few of us can project ourselves onto the astral planes.�

	Madoka frowned. �Kyosuke?�

	Akane shrugged. �He�s family.�

	The sun began to descend and Akane rose. �It�s time to go.�

	Madoka didn�t want to leave. �Can�t we stay a little longer?�

	�I�m afraid not. You�re starting to wake up, that�s why the sun is setting.�

	Madoka herself being pulled away and stepped close to Akane. �Akane, I....� 

	Akane saw Madoka lean towards her and froze as her lips touched hers. She
felt Madoka�s arm wrap around her and Akane let herself have this one
moment in time. She returned the kiss and felt Madoka slip away.



	The alarm was ringing insistently. Madoka groaned as she rolled over and
slapped the top of the annoying box. Silence descended once again and she
lay back against the pillows. <What an odd dream!> 

	Madoka stared at the ceiling and tried to remember the rest of it. She had
been in the water again, but this time.... She shook her head as the memory
refused to surface. All she knew was that she had been safe after that and
she had been warm again.

	There was a knock on her door and Akane poked her head in. �Good morning!
I�m making breakfast if you�d like to...?� Madoka was staring at her
blankly and Akane halted. Uh oh.

	Madoka blinked and laughed slightly. �Umm, yeah. I�ll be there in a minute.�

	Akane filled Madoka�s cup and returned the pot to it�s place. She sat back
down and tried to see if Madoka had remembered. �Pleasant dreams?�

	Madoka jerked and sloshed coffee over her hand. Akane was beside her
instantly and guided her to the sink. The cold water splashed over the burn
and Madoka felt the flicker of memory again. Try as she might, she couldn�t
see the rest of the dream. But certain things seemed familiar. The way the
sunlight was streaking across the table. The smell of grass from the open
window. Akane continued to fuss over the burn and Madoka realized that she
was familiar too. She smelled Akane�s perfume.

	�I don�t think it�s bad.� Akane watched Madoka carefully and was relieved
when the puzzled look left her face.

	The door bell rang and Madoka went to answer it. It was Kyosuke. She
stepped back and let him enter, but didn�t speak.

	�Hi. Uh, listen, I was wondering if you�d like to go to the pool with me
today?� He was suddenly nervous. Madoka seemed upset. �Is anything wrong?�

	An image of a large clear lake flashed through her mind and Madoka laughed
suddenly. �No. Nothing�s wrong. I�d love to.� She turned to see Akane
standing behind her. 

	�That�s great! I�ve got to be going, Madoka. Thanks again for breakfast.
See you, Kyosuke!� And Akane was gone.



	Two months later Akane received a package in the mail. She looked for a
return address and found none. Akane felt a shiver of something
inexplicable and tore the paper away quickly. She opened the box and
gasped. Inside was a tiny white unicorn. 


	
We now return you to the end of the world; Already in progress.

-The Keeper Of Lost Reasoning
-Brain