Delicate Hearts (A Yuri Story) Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I returned home from a long and literally painful day of school. Mother and Father were not home but I know that the school will call them anytime now while they're working. I sighed and took a seat on the couch, quietly reading a difficult book from Literature class. I suddenly heard soft footsteps coming from upstairs. I stood and spun around looking intently in the direction of the noise. To my surprise it was Nina, who looked a bit drowsy.
"Kimura?.." she said softly, rubbing her eye.
"oh..hey.." I replied a bit awkwardly since I felt that I said harsh yet truthful words to her last night. I then asked, "how are you home before me?.."
"Mother dropped me off after she took me to the doctors'," she replied.
I forgot that she had check-up today because of my suspicions about her, so I just gave a nod.
"H-how was school?" she asked in a pathetic tone but it was that pathetic tone that I use to know whenever she was nervous about a Physical Education test.
"Uh..not the best day I ever had.." I rubbed the back of my neck.
She nodded and walked to the couch across from the one I was sitting on. I sat back down and looked over at her yet she was looking down. I knew that she wanted to be back with me but I could not accept her so easily. Yes, I love her, I just don't love the things she's done.
"I have your homework.." I broke the silence.
"alright.."
"You're lucky that it's not as much as I predicted you would get," I gave a chuckle.
"Thank you, Kimura," she replied, glancing at me every now and then.
I gave a sigh and my eyes looked down. Then my eyes wandered up back to her pretty face, is it strange for me to think that she always looked cute whenever she was upset or mellow? Never mind that..
"hey..you like books," I said, "can you help me with our story from Literature class?"
The word 'books' was always her temptation so she looked up at me and nodded. She stood and sat next to me on the couch. I handed the book to her as she held it carefully in her soft, porcelain looking hands.
"chapter 4..'thy sister must be not reliable in the hands of leadership and authority..'" she began to read aloud. Despite our differences, she was never shy to read in front of me, only in front of others she would stutter.
"you can say that again.." I teased which made Nina make a soft grin yet it soon faded as she continued.
"'If thou art but a true queen, thou shan't have any faith in thy own wicked blood' said the minister.."
"So..all of that means she should not have blood?" I asked, since such a verbose book never appealed to a sporty girl like me.
Nina giggled and said, "no, silly..the priest is telling the queen not to put her sister in charge of anything political since her sister just wants to overthrow her."
"Ohhh, okay," I replied, taking notes on what she said.
"shall I continue?" she asked, noticing me writing.
"yeah, yeah, keep reading..you explain it better than our teacher does."
"alright," she nodded. I could sense her old self was sitting right next to me now, the shy girl whom I always admired for her intelligence and even pacifism. I could listen to her sweet voice read all day. It was as if I was in the presence of what the Christians call an angel. At one point I just stopped taking notes and listened since I convinced myself that I will remember it if it ever came up as a question(which is highly unlikely for me) and because her words were more verbal than the ones I had written down.
Finally, our parents returned from work.
"hello Mother and Father!" we called to them.
"hello Nina, Kimura," first greeted Father, "How are my girls?"
"You could say we've had better days.." I answered for the both of us.
"and you are exactly right," Mother said as she entered the room, "the school called me today.."
I almost shrunk in my seat and looked over at her.
"What was this 'fight' that you got in?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"What?? You were in a fight?" Nina asked worriedly, "with who? Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine.." I replied looking aside but then looking over at mother since I knew she would scold me if I did not face her.
"Please, explain.." Mother said.
"I was in the hallway..and that annoying- girl, Ayame was looking for Nina.." I said.
"and?"
"..and I slapped her," I shrugged.
"You slapped that innocent girl??" she asked in a surprised yet upset tone of voice.
"Innocent?? Mother, she is probably the reason why Nina has been acting the way she was!" I stood as if it could help prove to her my point, "I thought if I slapped her then she wouldn't bother me or Nina anymore..so we both fought after that.."
"How are you so sure that she is the bad influence?" Mother asked.
"Because if you asked Nina if Ayame was a bad influence..she would try to defend her if I wasn't present in the room.." I looked over at Nina, who had a look of shock and almost anger for hurting her 'friend'.
I could tell that Father was a little confused yet he said, "well tomorrow I want you to apologize to this Ayame-"
"That's the thing! I already did yet she did not accept my apology.." I replied, "Now I am afraid that..things aren't getting any better.." I slumped down in my seat.
Mother and Father looked at each other as if they were communicating telepathically.
"Go to your room..do your homework there and do not get out of the room until it is finished.." Mother commanded.
"Yes, ma'am.." I replied solemnly as I gathered up my things. Before I left to go upstairs, I looked over at Nina and said in an unusual soft tone, "I was only trying to protect you.."