"Wait for the Spring Kisuru"
By robblu (https://pastebin.com/u/robblu)

URL: https://pastebin.com/pLwBT1Vm
Created on: Friday 29th of July 2016 07:28:38 PM CDT
Retrieved on: Saturday 31 of October 2020 03:30:55 AM UTC


Wait for the Spring
Kisuru

Summary:

Winter has set in. Yuuri wonders what will become of the School Live Club, and Kurumi reassures her that there's always a new beginning.
Notes:

For Star of Heaven (rubylily).
(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Looking outside had become an entirely new stage of dull scenery. Before the season's turning point, even the autumn weather had been balmy for a dip in the makeshift "pool" on the rooftop. Back then, the world had been too similar to the normalcy Yuuri had once known but still a sandbox too deep to explore.

But now everything was shielded in a halo of radiating white and gorged silver clouds gliding past the school windows she stared outside every single day.

For miles and miles a fresh coating of snow encased the landscape. Flurries dotted the nurse office's windowsill. The haze of the sheer temperature drop had condensed on the glass; smeared and unchipped ice weighed the window's hinges down in a spiked collar shape.

But... that was not what Yuuri's eyes were observing on that cold morning.

Darkened shapes every once and a while disturbed the peaceful scenery. Drooling, strained faces bobbed from under the snowdrifts as if to play a deadly game of peek-a-boo. Cold, unresponsive eyes peered through the cracks in the snow, and the zombies wailed in discomfort. One straggling zombie that had slipped on the cement waved his arms wildly over her head, the discomfiture of the ice and snow around him a crude angel.

Yuuri gripped onto the ledge just a little bit tighter. Even under the pair of blue gloves she wore, she might as well have been holding a snowball in each hand.

How are we going to survive this? Yuuri thought. What if we run out of supplies or the temperature drops too low, or we just can't deal with it mid-winter?

A sharp jolt of anxiety spiraled down her spine. No, no. She would not think the worst, especially not when the winter had only settled in after a mild autumn.

“How long do you think they’ll be like that?” Yuuri wondered. To give herself something to do, she lightly scrubbed at the steam at the window. Seeing the zombies outside was always unsettling, but without the additional view of their whole body and their limbs swinging to and fro restlessly, she could stomach staring out into the city limits again. The sight of pure snow greeted Yuuri with a tingle of mystery and intrigue.

One day, she might be able to explore without fear after the snow melted.

Startled almost, Yuuri saw Kurumi glance up from her place on the room's bed. Yuuri could not really blame her—she had not said anything for an hour or two now—but the way Kurumi's eyebrow lifted listlessly from her lap to the window, as though she had been on another thought altogether, made Yuuri wonder what she had interrupted.

“Oh, I think a while. After all, it’s not like they can navigate their way out of that slushy mess without falling or hurting themselves on the concrete,” Kurumi said thoughtfully. "Look at them, once they've fallen on the black ice they don't even know how to stand up again."

Yes... the zombies could not endanger them if they were trapped themselves.

At times like this, it was best to look at the positives rather than the negatives. And it held some truth; there was less of a chance the zombies would invade the school and climb through the broken windows and smashed in doors if finding purchase was such an issue for them.

Yuuri rubbed her hands together through the gloves. Friction spread warmth from her fingertips to her elbows. She sighed, putting a hand to her forehead. She nodded. “And they’re probably really cold. I mean, I'm cold just standing by this window. I don't want to move.” She should not watch them struggle, but the bluster from the winter-swept winds outside was almost a relaxer, a way to clear her mind more than the leftover medicines in the room could provide.

"So am I!" Kurumi said while shivering slightly, pulling the red jacket around her frame closer. "Once we get used to it, I think we'll barely notice it anymore. We have heaters and blankets. For now, we'll be okay inside the building."

Yes... it'll be like this for a while. Yuuri closed her eyes and dropped her hand to her side. It should give me hope, but... I don't know. Anything could go wrong.

“Where’s Yuki-chan, Taromaru and Miki-san?” Yuuri asked instead.

Kurumi bounced on the cover. She placed a finger to her chin in thought.

“Well, Yuki wanted to build the blanket fort with Miki," Kurumi recalled. "Miki said she’d handle it, and the fire and cooking the snacks. Right about now they're probably telling each other campfire stories or something."

Yuuri smiled a bit. "It sounds like fun. I'm sure they're wondering why we're not there having fun with them, though."

"I told Yuki she shouldn't worry, because we were helping Megu-nee shovel the snow," Kurumi explained. She pushed herself to her feet and started pacing around the room, not seemingly knowing where else to go for the moment. "It was the best way I could think of to distract her from going play in the snow. She really wanted to build a snowman.”

Yuuri frowned. At least Yuki and Miki were preoccupied with something fun, but… She bit her lip, restless still. Now Yuki and Miki were even more barred in the school than they had been months ago. Her gaze shifted from the window to see Kurumi's back to her at the desk.

"What is it?" Yuuri asked, making an effort to peer over Kurumi's shoulder at what had captured her attention.

On the desk two snowglobes sat side by side. Plum blossom trees took residence within one of them; white gates fenced them inside the crystal sphere, a golden shrine housed in the back behind the trees. In replica the one next to it was similar except even more lavish in its color scheme. While wisteria were not the same as the plum blossoms, the festive purple, blue, and yellow tunnel of flowers were cheerful and inviting. Silver glitter stars drifted in lazy circles around the colors, accentuating a bright shine under the smidge of sunlight pouring in through the window.

"Remember these?" Kurumi asked. She traced a finger down the base of the slowglobe with plum blossoms. "That trip to the convenience store—the one near the arcade. We couldn't rip Yuki from that crane machine. These snowglobes were pretty, but I didn't want Taromaru to accidently knock them over and smash them, so moved them in here."

The snowglobes had been on the desk for what could have been months or weeks for how often she spared them a glance. Yuuri rarely ever noticed them unless she took an extra moment to linger on them, but once Kurumi pointed it out she could not disagree one bit.

Yuuri stepped forward and lightly tapped the wisteria snowglobe. It was so lovely, and the overhanging branches were beautiful. Just like a hanami viewing, she could see herself walking underneath and staring straight up in astonishment. "They really are pretty," she agreed.

Tentatively reaching out herself, Yuuri flexed her fingers to call the sensation of touch from the coldness in the room. Yuuri grasped the glass bottom between her index and thumb. Yes, the group had scoured one last time for supplies before the snow clouds had marched onward towards the city and sprinkled a lifetime's supply of snow over the buildings. And ever since the group’s last excursion out, she barely even touched anything in fear the others might need it somehow.

Flowers… flowers, would she ever be able to see them again? Would she ever be able to open the window in the early morning before handing Yuki her daily assignments and inhale the spritz of the morning dew? Would she be able to see greenery in this wasteland of smothering white and ivory sky once more, a world too blurry to understand its meaning?

Will we see the spring? Yuuri wondered. It was something she knew Kurumi would not want to hear. It was something she avoided thinking, because one day at a time was enough for them to venture forth. No, it was a horrible thing to ask after how far they had come, but…

“Do you… Kurumi-chan, do you think...” Swallowing thickly, her gaze swept back to the window. Her voice dropped. “Do you think they’ll die out there like that?”

Outside the safe frame of the curtains, a dark mass swiped at the cluster of snow he was caught in. A small avalanche of snow dropped on him from above on the school’s fence, and he furiously pounded at the mountain of snow that collapsed.

In one whiplash of a second, one of their problems simply disappeared. No, it was not completely gone, but the zombie and infection was covered out of sight and mind.

The school was equipped for essentials besides what they had scoured for. Of course, though, even under the strain of no maintenance the fact that the walls surrounded them added some mild insulation to their rough living situation. Zombies did not have that luxury with their scattered minds.

Zombies freezing would solve so many of their problems; human skin, even under an unknown illness, was no less vulnerable to the outside elements. Battling through the plummeting temperatures to the end of the winter unscathed for the four of them would be less terrifying then, a miraculous hope.

Following Yuuri's motion for a second, Kurumi shrugged. “Probably. I don’t see why they wouldn’t. Some will starve. The ice will give some of them injuries. And hypothermia would set in for the unlucky.”

The butterflies nibbling at Yuuri’s nerves relaxed and took root against her skin. Kurumi was usually right, so… so this could be a blessing in disguise; Yuuri hated to think they would die here cold and alone without a god giving them a watchful glance over their progress. If they could, making a trip to a nearby shrine might just be in order to give praise for the possibility.

Ever since the winter had settled in, Yuuri had worried endlessly about their supplies stash. Dry food, medicine, and snacks had been stocked up from the mall and nearby convenience stores that had been feasible to carry back. After all, trudging through the snow through even the school gates would be exhausting, and the streets would be completely unplowed by city workers. Without a doubt Kurumi dreaded it despite not saying it. But if she had to brave those cold whiplashes and untamed snow, she would grab her shovel and dig a path as far she needed it to go in a heartbeat.

“And... I guess we won't be that cold, so it'll be okay." The half question, half statement bounced off Yuuri tongue in a rush. But there was a note of enthusiasm in her tone that had been absent a moment before.

Kurumi rounded on her. Instead of a grave reply, or anger, she firmly planted her hands on her hips and grinned impishly.

“Of course! There’s no doubt we can’t make it through anything. We’re the School Live Club,” Kurumi encouraged. That old spirit on Yuki’s behalf almost seemed to drone on, the sound almost as artificial as the sound of film being ripped out of a VHS tape—old, trampled on static that Kurumi and Yuuri only used to keep Yuki entertained.

Amusement wavered in Yuuri's heart for a split second. She shook her head as soon as she saw something flitter across Kurumi's face. No, it was true. Yuuri forced a giggle. Something still felt... empty... but Kurumi was trying to cheer her up. That mattered. "You don't have to say that."

"What do you mean I don't have to say it? That's what we always say!" Kurumi’s pigtails bounced against her shoulders. "I'll just keep saying it until Yuki-chan hears it, and she'll come in here and she'll—"

“No, I get it!” Yuuri laughed.

At least, Yuuri obviously did understand where Kurumi came from. Being reminded of so much hope when they had to fake their happiness sometimes... and Kurumi knew she carried burdens about it.

Deep down Yuuri even wished none of the zombies in the city had to succumb to the snowflakes pouring from the swollen clouds above. But this was the only option left.

“I don’t know.” Yuuri turned around and rested her eyes on the snowglobe on the desk once more. She was resolute in her power to say calm now that she had gotten over her fear a bit, and she found her strength in staring at the wisteria tree billowing in the snowglobe’s liquid. “This is pretty, isn’t it… It’s good we found these in that tourist shop, you know? This wisteria…” She watched the blue petals fan in and out in an imaginary breeze. “Wisteria blossom in the spring, and I realized that I didn’t even get to watch the flowers fade…”

A hot prickle formed at the edge of her eye. The tear bead teetered on the edge of collapse down her cheek. She was not per se, but she wanted this world to be as beautiful as it used to be, she wanted to see it blossom all over again even if they were the only survivors still standing.

“Yuuri—“ Kurumi started.

“Don’t worry, I’m not upset anymore. I mean, I never really realized how important it was to me until it was gone. The seasons,” Yuuri clarified. She clutched at the snowglobe’s glass sphere. “We couldn’t go outside often. I couldn’t watch that flower patch out front of the school slowly drain of color. And one day, I would have no longer noticed if none of the flowers had withered away. Isn’t that funny? Something with so much life… would have been gone one day.”

Kurumi’s eyes widened. It was obvious that she caught what was really being said—we were important once but nobody came looking for us in this abandoned place. And no, she would not let her start talking like that, but Kurumi understood what she was thinking this time. The world had changed drastically, and they were stuck in small, bloodstained and cramped classrooms.

Kurumi stepped closer to her, and she put her hands on Yuuri’s shoulders. Tension almost made her hands sweat, but Yuuri did not protest. She did not move them.

“We saw the leaves on the trees wither on the trees on the school grounds. But it wasn’t the same as looking up at them and grabbing a leaf fall in your hand, knowing it would crumble if you were even very careful. It wasn’t even the same to see the plants up on the roof die,” Yuuri remembered.

Trimming and watering those plants had been their heart and soul responsibility for food during the summer and fall months. But now the temperature and sunlight would no longer permit her and Kurumi to continue with the horticulture club.

Spring was the time of change. Was this a test of endurance until they prove they deserved a new beginning? Why…?

Yuuri neglected to realize her eyes were snapped shut until something soft and warm brushed her lips. Blinking dizzily, a close-up of Kurumi’s forehead was in front of her. Yuuri stumbled backwards against the desk out of surprise, wincing as her kneecap crashed into the drawer handle.

“Uh, sorry!” Kurumi scratched her cheek in embarrassment. A light blush started to form and spread down her neck. “I just… um, please don’t say things like that now, okay? I’ll be the strength that carries you to the spring, just like you’ll be mine.”

Silent for a moment, Yuuri sucked in a deep breath. No… somehow the kiss made her happier; she only needed a moment to process it all before she could give Kurumi her answer. Kurumi did not rush her, so she focused the first thing she saw. Briefly, she picked up the snowglobe and tilted it in her hand. She rotated it, and rotated it, and watched the snowflakes dance one at a time and skim the wisteria petals. It hardly was real snow, but… her train of thought snapped as soon as Kurumi delicately took the snowglobe from her hand and safely dropped it back next to her hers.

“I’m sorry, I just… I’m happy you… Kurumi-chan…?” Yuuri wiped away the small tear. She had not meant to shed it, but now it was either happiness or amazement, and the whirlwind of emotion was something she had never quite had for anyone else.

A determined expression settled on Kurumi’s face. Yuuri was blown away, and she found her breath trapped in her throat.

“If Yuki-chan and Miki-san can pretend they’re on a camping trip,” Kurumi said, “why can’t we do the same? Or… at least something similar?”

“Eh?” Yuuri asked.

Yuuri had no idea how they would go about doing that. Normally, their distractions rode on Yuki’s disillusions; her creative mind formulated every next step of adventure and consequence, and it was a vicious cycle that left them with virtually little imagination.

Follow Yuuki. Make her happy. Believe whatever she said Megu-nee was talking about today. Oh, and today was always the dreaded math test Yuuri had scheduled.

So then…

All of that was an external grip on reality. Like a balloon that only wanted to fly away but was being held down by the flimsy grip of a child.

When alone, it just made no sense at all.

“W—We could try,” Yuuri said hesitantly Kurumi’s plans were a mystery. Okay maybe not so much, but… she trusted her regardless. Her head still spun as the lingering of the kiss, and her shiver was not just the cold outside. She blushed herself. “How do you… want to do that?”

Could… could a kiss evaporate all that was evil like those fairytales? Fairytales where kisses were pure love. Where all the evil in the world melted in fear of pure love.

Because Yuuri loved all the girls in the School Live Club. But Kurumi… Kurumi was always there for her, like now, and that alone made her tingle in delight.

Amazement welled up in Yuuri’s stomach. Could she have one of those fairytales for herself, too? And make Kurumi a part of a world far, far away reserved only for them?

“Kurumi-chan, can we… can we…” Yuuri licked her lips in anticipation. “Can we have our own fairytale? Even right here?”

“Yes…” A faint blush started to rush across Kurumi cheeks. It was obvious the hint was not lost on her. If she could make Yuuri envision someplace better, happier and less restricted… she wanted her to feel happy and that was the end of it, really.

“L—Lay on the bed, okay?” Kurumi shuffled her feet and glanced sideways at the open doorway. Saying it was so awkward, but… they wanted to do this, and she wanted to do it right if they were. “I’ll lock the door.”

Yuuri’s thoughts were a jumble of emotion, but she complied, and it was not too long for Kurumi to join her. The door clicked closed and the lock rattled into place; Yuuri’s stomach did a slight summersault. Out of reflex she glanced in Kurumi’s direction.

“Ah, no, wait!” Kurumi said. “I have an idea. Just wait a minute, okay?”

Yuuri nodded, and waited while Kurumi dug around in the desk drawer for something. She reappeared a moment later. Kurumi lightly lifted Yuuri’s head, fingers lightly combing through her brown hair to gather the stray strands of her hair together.

Darkness covered Yuuri’s eyes as Kurumi placed the long, blue handkerchief over her eyes and around the back of her head. Experimentally she blinked. Then, she closed her eyes thoughtfully despite it, content.

“Is it too tight?” Kurumi asked.

“A little,” Yuuri admitted. The handkerchief weighing down on her eyelids was a bit too much, but Kurumi adjusted it so it wasn’t so tight. Yuuri sighed. “Better.”

“I think… I think it might help you calm down and think,” Kurumi explained. She obviously fumbled for what she wanted to say. Still, she had to fall into her role properly to keep the illusion driving forward.

“So you’ll help transport me to somewhere far away?” Yuuri asked with a little smile.

Yuuri did not have to see to know Kurumi’s blush had greatly intensified.

“Well, yeah! That,” Kurumi said matter-of-factly. “And I just… want you to feel better after all the work you’ve done lately, so…”

Yuuri’s head shifted backwards as fingers slowly dropped on her shoulders just as Kurumi had down earlier. She could do this… she knew what had been implied the whole time, and she was not frightened by it now, but the reminder of what she could not accomplish was still a bitter and painful…

“Okay.” Kurumi took a calculating breath. “Imagine where you’d like to be right now?” Shakily at first, hands slowly trailed down to loosen the ribbon and buttons on Yuuri’s chest. Her movements were a combination of excited, yet slow but sweet to absorb the feeling of Yuuri’s reaction under her.

“Where I would like to be…” An eyebrow lifted in curiosity, critically exploring the possibilities open to her. Here with Kurumi, the entire world was open to Yuuri.

So it was hardly ridiculous to imagine for herself. Yuuri guessed she could step into Yuki’s footsteps for a moment and take her influence on in a healthier way. Seeing the colors of the world in black or white secured reality much like a wooden stake slammed into the soil. But, on the other hand, coloring outside the lines would help her break free above the clouds.

And then there was the purple of the plum blossom in Kurumi’s snowglobe. The plum blossom, a symbol which signaled the winter ending and protection from the harsh snowfall… everything out of this darkness would be averted. Purple, beautiful silken purple hair trapped in high pigtails came to mind, and she was shocked by the intensity.

“Didn’t we say a beach?” Yuuri shivered. A breathless pant came from her lips.

A beach. The white sand burned beneath her toes and the cool waves lapped against her ankles. She sips from a freshly squeezed lemonade held loosely in her hand. Kurumi runs up to her, yelling she wants to play a game on the court. This conversation had been had already, but she supposed it couldn’t be helped.

“What are you thinking about?” Kurumi asked her tentatively, letting Yuuri describe anything she wanted to without judgment.

By now, the buttons and ties had come undone. The ribbon was lightly tossed next to her on the bed; one by one, the buttons helped open the breathing room to take off the shirt. Kurumi paused as she seemed to see her friend’s face soften. Yuuri lifted herself off the bed as if she could read Kurumi’s mind; the winter jacket fell away from her, and Kurumi slid her beige blouse and green school uniform shirt over her head, all clothing falling in a pile at the side of the bed. She gave her a precious moment to stare before boldly reaching over to return the favor.

“You’re holding a volleyball out to me. You’re telling me we should play,” Yuuri said with as straight of a face as possible.

“That’s not… very romantic,” Kurumi blurted out. Her gaze followed Yuuri’s hand, and her fingers snagged on Yuuri’s bra strap on her shoulder. Kurumi’s had not meant to do that quite yet, but this time she blushed in anticipation rather than embarrassment.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m thinking about you wearing a really cute blue bathing suit,” Yuuri admitted. She pouted a bit, smirking a little playfully. “It’s almost not fair you can see me but I can’t see you right now.”

Kurumi pause for a moment. She stared down at Yuuri’s chest for a moment, then glanced down to her modest own. Her shirt rode over her head according to Yuuri’s hands and joined the growing pile of clothes stationed at her feet. She stared at the ground, flushed, disappointed herself that Yuuri could not see her.

“I always knew it, but you’re really a tease even at times like this,” Kurumi murmured.

“I can’t help it.” Suddenly, Yuuri just could not help herself. It was a cuter image than she had ever thought originally; all of this was so fresh, so new, exactly what she had needed all this time. She would have gladly embraced It. And, luckily, there was always a next time. And for a moment, she wished she could see Kurumi now like she could imagine her in bikini, the same way she was half-exposed to Kurumi now.

“Okay, okay, but where else?” Kurumi prompted. The edges of her voice showed she almost wanted to also laugh. Instead, she swallowed nervously, and drew one knee onto the bed next to Yuuri and joined her, too focused to think about laughing.

Something else was laced in her voice that Yuuri could not identify, but very much liked that was deeper and longing in nature. Her mind raced to catch up with her body.

“I—I was talking about the flowers earlier, wasn’t I?” Yuuri asked fuzzily. Flowers seemed so simple and easy to remember. “That snowglobe has an insignia that says Kawachi Fuji Garden. The snowglobe looks like it, but there are arches of wisteria that you can walk under. I’ve only seen pictures, but I’d like to visit there one day…”

A beautiful garden interweaved with the scenes of wild roses and fruits hanging off the trees. Yes, anywhere with so much life beyond the cold stone walls of this place would be lovely. It was not enough to simply see it, or pass by in fear that a zombie would pop out a bush at any given moment and attack. She wanted to stroll beneath a walk of flowers, and she wanted them to fall on her head; Yuuri wanted to be able to absorb their beauty first-hand and feel their slender, gentle petals in her palm.

And maybe…

Yuuri would not be alone. Her fingers were interlocked with a soft and gentle hand. The hand refused to let go of her grip, and the two girls walked further under the swirling petals and swift and warm sunlight peeking through the trees and blossoms.

“That’s a silly question, Kurumi-chan. You will be with me, right?” Yuuri asked.

Nodding slightly, Kurumi’s hands trailed to Yuuri’s back. Fingers grazed the bra’s back straps; the bra fell forwards, and Kurumi’s eyes darted to the new revealed skin, eyes glowing with suspense rather than the caution she had felt a moment ago. She took in the sight of two well-endowed, round breasts. The sound of the bra unsnapping barely registered as she watched the beige bra fell against her knees, soon knocked to the side. As her fingertips brushed Yuuri’s skin, her muscles quivered under her touch. She realized she had not spoken until an awkward silence settled between them.

“Of course I will,” Kurumi said.

Yuuri smirked slightly, but she could not help but smile inside. It was cold in the room—and, well, if she was going to be cold here, she needed more warmth than clothes would allow. Instead of going the last step to remove the light pink bra, however, she reached directly under and cupped her breast in her hand.

Kurumi squeaked, this time scooting slightly further away. Yuuri followed after her and kept her squeeze light but firm, leaning down over her friend. A halo of silky brown hair spilt over Kurumi’s shoulders.

“I thought I would be the one to…” Kurumi was about to continue until she snagged on her words. She trailed off as Yuuri leered down at her and easily shook her head.

“That’s not fair, you know? I want to almost touch you, too. But not yet, I’ll give you the first go,” Yuuri teased. She “And you like what you’re seeing, right? I want to like what I have to feel, imagine, and I want to imagine touching you. As nice as a colorful garden far away is, I also just want to share this moment with you.”

Kurumi and Yuuri exchanged a glance. Kurumi did not have to see Yuuri’s trusting golden eyes to know she had no intention of backing down. No, not when she had taken a step forward where Kurumi had hesitated. And she had been leading…

“I—I think that should be obvious… Well, you are beautiful,” Kurumi pointed out. “I’ve never told you that, but it’s true.”

Yuuri’s breath caught in her throat, and she squeezed back a little together, just to tell her that she thought the same of her. She could tell that Kurumi’s voice was strained as though she was trying to keep herself under control. The heat of Kurumi’s stare directly at her chest penetrated even her weakest defenses, and Yuuri knew that she, according to her, was all too engrossed by the beauty she had unleashed.

Yuuri licked her lips, imagining the matching pair of panties underneath her skirt. Was Kurumi thinking of that, too? Would they get that far one day, and touch each other so intimately? Right now… right now, she was okay showing her this much. One step at a time would be enough to bring them closer. To Yuuri, it was a cuter thought than a purely sexual one as it was because of the memory; it was a matching combo Kurumi had helped her pick out at one of the premier shops in the nearby mall the group had found Miki at so long ago,. Now, she never suspected it would come back to haunt her in one of best ways.

Removing her hands from Yuuri’s hold, she Kurumi focused. She lightly placed her hands on each breast, the softness and firmness under her hands all too new but pleasant under her touch. Yuuri was so warm, her skin soft from the strawberry body lotion she had taken a liking to recently. Her palms seemed to burn above their weight, and she gulped, but lightly squeezed. Yuuri sighed, her chest heaving, obviously not prepared for anyone else touching her besides herself.

“You can be a little less gentle,” Yuuri urged her. Her voice cracked a bit. She could feel the moist breath against her nipple, the huffs of breath cascading close to her neck. “It’s alright. I know you won’t hurt me.”

Those words were all Kurumi really needed to hear. Yuuri wished she had told her so earlier. Heat skimmed over her bare skin as Kurumi leaned down and, gazing at the lovely light pink of her nipples, took one in her mouth. She flicked her tongue at it before sucking on it, eliciting a slight moan from Yuuri meanwhile.

“Kuru—“ Yuuri muttered, voice hoarse.

Enthusiasm building, Kurumi’s tongue curled around the nipple. Yuuri gasped and writhed under her touch, and Kurumi had to press her down against the blanket. Even though she could barely think straight anymore, she could tell Yuuri was thrilled.

This was… different, Yuuri decided. Briefly, in the interval Kurumi resorted to her own pace, it swam through her mind that she had finally relaxed from a minute ago. No longer did she care about the zombies—the provisions the group needed would come later, after she and Kurumi no longer were wound up in each other’s bodies, hearts. She forgot about the fact there was so much yet to do to prepare. Amazingly enough, she forgot about the winding path of wisteria she wanted to visit with her friend; such a place had been a catalyst for escape, and Kurumi’s touch brought her to a place she had never been in before.

This… this was a place far more enriching and comforting than a flower patch ever could imitate. With Kurumi’s hand, she could make it all the way until the end. Now, Yuuri did not want to leave. Not yet.

Kurumi gazed up at her. Yuuri’s face was hot and red under the blue cloth above her eyes. Yuuri’s mouth was half-open and dreamy. Perspiration dotted her forehead, and she breathed out harshly.

Yuuri clutched at the bedspread. No, no—she wanted to touch Kurumi, not the cover. The cover was one thing. Kurumi was another. Because she was touching her, she needed to keep her in place, tell her she did not want her to stop.

Reaching, Yuuri fumbled along the bed until she found the edge of Kurumi’s skirt. It was all she could do to keep leverage, not exactly knowing which way was up and down at this point. She raised her hand and made sure her hand was high enough to land in Kurumi’s hair for support. She lightly threaded her fingers through her purple hair, caressing it back and forth up to her ribbon down to her pigtail. Unfortunately, with one lick in the right spot, she yanked just a bit too hard without realizing it.

Kurumi yelped. She let go of Yuuri and instantly rubbed the sore spot. “Ow!”

Concerned, she sobered up quickly. She leaned up slightly and frowned. “Ah, I’m sorry!” She rested her hand on Kurumi’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“I know you didn’t, but seriously…” Kurumi winced. “I’m going to watch out for you from now on. And I thought I was the strong one.”

Yuuri colored again a bright shade of scarlet. She had always wondered what Kurumi’s hair would feel like between her fingers. She had always seen it blow in a breeze, or fall while fighting or working hard, and she had blown it with one wrong turn.

“What about you? You don’t have to be shy. I can tell you were holding back a little, Tou’re being extra gentle,” Yuuri told her.

“I’m not. Okay, maybe I was—“ Kurumi was interrupted.

“No, you are,” Yuuri insisted with a motherly, knowing sort of look. She sat up and, without waiting for permission, pushed up the fabric still covering Kurumi’s breasts out of the way, exposing the curve of dark pink nipples and a modest-sized chest.

Kurumi squeaked, almost on reflex throwing her arms over her chest. Relaxing a moment later, though, she grabbed Yuuri’s hand again not knowing what else to do.

At first it was difficult to imagine—Yuuri had never seen Kurumi undressed in a manner like this besides the showers, after all—but that was what it would make it so enjoyable and intimate. With or without sight, she was entranced with Kurumi’s presence at her side and the size, shape or feel of her breasts would only made it the more enthralling. She grasped her friend’s hand in return. “Let me. This is the best way to imagine. I want to imagine you.”

Kurumi’s hand squeezed hers back. The tension between them burned in a sweet and pleasant sort of way. Kurumi’s hand started to sweat a little, but it was no longer nervousness, and Yuuri could tell she was just the slightest bit indignant underneath the surface. After all, Kurumi had gotten used to taking charge of her and the group when the time was necessary.

“Hey, I was supposed to help you. Not the other way around, Yuuri,” Kurumi protested weakly. But she very much did not mind. She fidgeted her other hand still cupping the upperside of Yuuri’s breasts still.

As good as it felt, Yuuri decided, she wanted to see how far she could go herself.

“But you are helping me more than you think you are, believe me,” Yuuri assured.

An idea zoomed to mind. Perfect! As if to rectify her mistake, she once again found Kurumi’s hair. Her scalp tensed under her hands, but this time she was exceeding careful, and the red ribbons in her hair fell in Yuuri’s hand. After, she over and grabbed either the ribbon on her school uniform off the bed. Then, she took Kurumi’s hand on her breast, and slowly started to wrap it around one of her wrists with one of the ribbons.

“What are you doing?” Kurumi asked, perplexed.

“I want to, um.” Yuuri gestured at the bedpost. She could feel Kurumi’s confusion make her waver. With a jolt, she realized it might seem strange. “Since I can’t trust you not to touch me,” she said teasingly to efface her worry, “I want to tie you just a little. Not so you can’t move… but just…”

“Oh… Oh!” Kurumi’s face lit up. That would be something she had never considered, but… if Yuuri was the one tying her, and if she would use her ribbons, she found nothing wrong with it. Deep down, it hurt a little bit that Yuuri would restrain her, but she knew that was not the whole point.

“I promise it’s not it’s a punishment, I just…” Yuuri scrambled to find the correct words. “I just want to know what it’s like when you’re… when I’m in control…”

A moment of contemplative silence dawned. Yuuri thought she had been all but shot down by her own perception, but Kurumi simply picked up her hand again. She laughed in utter amusement.

“I didn’t know you’d tie me up if I gave you the chance. That’s not the agreement,” Kurumi grumbled good-naturedly. Her gaze darkened even though Yuuri would never see it, but her voice communicated it just the same. “You really might be dangerous.”

Yuuri giggled. Sure, she was terrifying sometimes, but she really just wanted Kurumi to relax. “Well, you’re the one who wanted me to embrace my fantasy.”

“While that’s true, still…” Kurumi trailed off.

Yuuri simply wrapped the ribbons around her wrists again. Lightly, she urged Kurumi backwards on the bed as she had been earlier, and slowly wrapped the ribbons around the bedpost. She stuck her finger inbetween the ribbon and Kurumi’s wrists to make certain that the space was adequate under a three way tie. Even with this much touch, Kurumi shook.

“Too tight?” Yuuri asked. Kurumi had asked about the blindfold’s tightness, so it was only natural that she ask the same.

“No,” Kurumi admitted. She snapped her hands back and forth. The ribbon did not give, and she could still move freely. “I… would have trusted anything you wanted to do anyway, even if you hadn’t told me why you wanted to do this, you know…”

Yuuri had no words for this, because even she had known that also. Okay, that would have been true, but she still wanted to explain to Kurumi her actions. Despite everything, she wanted Kurumi to feel protected; hell’s gate had been broken onto this world, this city, and Kurumi was their guardian. But… if Yuuri could even plan that role for a short time she would be eternally grateful.

Yuuri shifted and leaned over Kurumi’s chest. She traced a path along her stomach before lifting her hand higher; she brushed against the bra still situated above her breasts, fingertips sliding between. The chest under her reacted in turn to her actions, and she could not help but feel a swell of amazement and astonishment.

For something like this… she could do this at any time if it made Kurumi feel as good as she wanted her to feel. She wanted to talk to Kurumi about things like this, too.

Dipping her head, Yuuri inhaled her scent. She could smell a metallic scent—a smell that perpetually seemed to follow Kurumi everywhere she went nowadays. She hated the smell of it, but it was a lingering stench from her clothes after fighting off one of the zombies near the bars the other day. It was a sore reminder that those things existed… and even if sweet peace was granted to them through death at winter’s bitter glove, she still could not help but grit her teeth.

“Yuuri…?” Kurumi asked hesitatingly.

But Yuuri did not wait long. She lowered her tongue and traced a path from the bottom of Kurumi’s breast, following the curve of her breast around. She did this both ways with both breasts, kissing and licking with gentle but firm strokes of her tongue. A little moan escaped Kurumi’s lips from above her.

“It feels nice, doesn’t it?” Yuuri asked. “This is how you made me feel, and I want you to feel like someone cares about you, too.”

Yuuri curled her fingers around Kurumi’s left breast. Leaving a trail of her tongue behind, she made her way upwards along the areola to the small but pert nipple already raised. Her whole mouth descended and brought it into her mouth and sucked wholeheartedly, unlike Kurumi’s tentative licks from earlier. Kurumi writhed under her weight, panting, calling out her name.

She did it before she even realized it; Yuuri bit down on the soft skin just off to the side of the areola. Kurumi, totally caught off guard, snapped at her binds. Neither ribbon broke, but she still waved her hands, throwing her head back against the pillow.

“So that’s why… you wanted…”

“Maybe a little. But you’re enjoying it,” Yuuri admitted, smirking just a little bit.

Yuuri rested on top of her after a while. She rested her head on Kurumi’s stomach, lying out next to her. For now… this would be enough for the both of them to explore.

“We’ll visit there one day, okay?” Kurumi asked for a silence. She was breathless, eyes glazed. But she still wanted to say that, to remind Yuuri of the reason they had started this entire thing in the first place.

Yuuri nodded. She lifted her head, and kissed Kurumi on the cheek. Her skin, even here, was as sweet and tender as her chest was. Under her, the chest she had attended to rose and fell in pleasure. “Okay.”

“How about this.” Kurumi closed her eyes. “I’ll leave my snowglobe out, and we’ll put yours away until the spring. That way the plum blossoms will be out by then.”

A question mark danced above Yuuri’s head. “But why would we do that?”

“That way, when we know the plum blossoms will be blooming, we’ll be able to know that spring is really coming. We won’t have to worry about surviving, because we already made it,” Kurumi explained.

Yuuri hummed. She thought about it, but she smiled sadly before shaking her head. “No. Without one, we can’t have the other. We should keep them together; the end of spring, the longevity of the spring season. You’ll lead me out of the cold, and I’ll continue to keep you and the others safe.”

Kurumi paused as if she still had another question, then grinned. She snuggled up to Yuuri’s side and sighed. “I’ll accept that.”

Yuuri laid down next to her. She wrapped her arms around Kurumi’s waist, and nuzzled her face in her hair, that long and beautiful hair she admired. “As long as you and I are side-by-side, and we can bring Miki and Yuki along behind us, I’d like that.”

Notes:

Yuuri makes a comment that the girls will have to prepare for the winter. Since we didn't really see that happen, I started to wonder how that would play out and the spring imagery blossomed from that. It goes with the girls simply wanting to go anywhere away from the school, but I wanted them to find peace when the worst of times were fast approaching.

Originally, I wanted to make Yuuri’s flower sakura. After playing with the idea a while, it didn’t sit well—I didn’t think that quite fit her needs. Sakura, despite that they’re easily the most symbolic Japanese flower of the spring, are fleeting and die after blooming rather quickly. On the other hand, qualities of wisteria are endurance, longevity, and releasing burdens; all of these describe Yuuri. I make Kurumi’s relation to the plum blossom self-explanatory in the story.

The Kawachi Fuji Garden is a real place a few hours outside Tokyo.