Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: I know all of you want to beat me up for leaving this fic alone for SO long, and I'm sorry.. My life's been kind of complicated. I don't even think that this is how I was originally going to end this.. Sorry if I got off track being Osaka-centric.. But anyway, here's the last chapter, enjoy~

Ayumu gazed up at the night sky, once again lost in her thoughts. It has been about three weeks since the incident in the park with Tomo, and their relationship had steadily progressed. The pair had been walking home together, studying [unsuccessfully] together, and pondering unusual ponderings together.

Osaka smiled to herself, she wasn't a complicated girl. She understood her feelings and didn't mind one bit. She was glad she had opened up to the idea of friends.

She was glad she had met Tomo.

A wildcat who was really just a lost kitten.

She had even managed to coax the girl into only one cigarette daily. Tomo was a kind girl.. to the Osakan at least. For some reason, the brunette always seemed to act differently around Ayumu. Yomi, she noted, obviously noticed this too. The health fanatic had given Osaka a knowing glance a few days back. The pair had been amusing themselves with the crazy notion of alien/human marriage. The conversation had then slipped to how society would react to that kind of relationship, and Tomo had fallen oddly quiet; a strange look in her eyes.

The brunette sighed contently.

"Ah s'pose I'll wait for her to figure things out..", she mumbled to the stars.

"Ne, Ayumu?" Tomo piped up. The duo was taking a leisurely stroll through the park.

"Yeah?"

Tomo seemed to question herself for a moment.

"You wanna come to a party with me tonight?"

"Ah s'pose.. Where is it?", the Osakan inquired curiously.

"It's just a few blocks from here. A few of my old friends are going and they invited me last minute.", the brunette looked nervous for some reason Ayumu couldn't pinpoint.

"Sure", she replied with a soft smile. Takino seemed relieved.

"Ah.. Great. I wasn't sure if you were the party type or not. I've got to go get freshened up, so I'll meet you at your place around 8 o'clock?" the wildcat asked happily. She had finally decided to take Yomi's advice to get to know the girl better, and thought a party was a genius idea.

Ayumu nodded and the two parted.

Ayumu stared at the digital clock; it read 7:53pm. She had decided to spiffy herself up and was now wearing a dull pink, knee length skirt with a cream sweater. The Osakan was about to doze off when the doorbell rang.

"Hey" the brunette greeted her friend. Tomo wore a simple white t-shirt and form fitting black jeans. The wildcat scratched the back of her head.

"Ahah.. Shall we be going?"

'Oh well.. Not the party get-up I was hoping for.. but it suits her.'

"Mmh.", Ayumu smiled brightly causing her friends heart to skip a beat.

When the duo arrived at the site of the party, Ayumu stopped short of the walkway. Tomo could easily read the surprise written on the brunettes face. It didn't seem like a party at all. The shades were down, ambient lights floated out from the cracks, and the music was barely detectable from outside.

"Are ya sure this is the right place, Tomo?" the Osakan asked curiosity filling her voice.

"Yeah, come on." The wildcat responded and took Ayumu's hand in her own, talking towards the door.

After knocking twice, a thin flamboyant man opened the door.

"Tomo! Baby! Glad to see you could make it! Oh hon, who's the cutie?" he asked in an animated kind of way.

"She's with me, Shinji, lay off." Takino grinned as she led the brunette in.

The air was thick with the sweet smoke of marijuana, Ayumu noted, as she plopped herself down on a beanbag seat. Tomo had disappeared moments ago, mentioning something about drinks..

"Here ya go." Tomo smiled as the handed a can of beer to the Osakan. Ayumu looked at the can, to Tomo, and back to the can. Wordlessly, she opened the can and took a polite sip. Takino on the other hand, had taken a large swig.

The duo sat in silence, only soft music filling the background.

"So what's on your mind?" Takino asked suddenly, remembering her goal.

"Ayumu?", she asked again when no response came.

"Oh? Mah mind? Hm.. Not sure. Eheh.." the brunette giggled gently.

Ignoring the heat that rose to her cheeks from the sight of the adorable and slightly buzzed Osakan, Tomo raised a brow.

"Not sure?"

"Mmh.. I feel so.. ..Ah should be rememberin' something.. Oh well." Came the soft reply. Takino studied her friend's eyes for a moment. They were as dazed as usual but held a hint of anxiety.

"Ta-ki-no?", a flighty voice.

"Eh? Oh.. Shoudai, what's up?" Tomo asked the girl who was obviously under the influence of something. Ayumu tensed slightly, her grip on the can tightening. Something about the girl unnerved her.

"I found the best shit ever." She girl continued, kneeling in front of the pair and taking out a small pipe. "Shinji just started selling this stuff. Opi-something.."

"..What is it?" Tomo asked skeptically.

"Just take a hit! Nice and deep now."

"Fine fine, but I'm haunting your ass if I die." The wildcat growled and snatched the pipe as curiosity got the best of her. One hit couldn't hurt, right?

As soon as the aroma wafted past Ayumu, her grip on the can became crushing.

'Something..'

The brunette's eyes narrowed in concentration and the put the cool can against her forehead.

'Mother?'

"..Mother.", it was barely above a whisper.

Suddenly, a sharp pain seared through her mind as memories came rushing back.

'Bakayarou!'

'Yumie, eat it up, ok?'

'I want to fly..'

'Yumie! Yumi! Tell them I'm a good mama!'

'You want another beatin'?! Clean it up right!'

'..Kasuga.'

Tears began to burn her eyes.

"Holy shit." A giggle reached her ears. She looked up meekly, still shaken from the episode.

"Didn't I tell you? I told you~ I told you~", Shoudai grinned and took the pipe back.

"Ahah.. I'll definitely have to try this again sometime, thanks.." the wildcat chimed. Tomo giggled lightly and leaned against Ayumu.

"What're friends for? I'll leave you two alone now, see you later." She winked and sauntered off into another room. The brunette sighed contently, cuddling on her.

"Sorry about that Ayumie~"

The Osakan tensed, tears threatening to fall.

"Ayumie?.. Yumieee?" Tomo poked the girl who was oddly still.

"Stop it.." she whispered hoarsely, but the wildcat didn't seem to hear. A few moments passed while Takino continued to entertain herself her poking the girl. She was proud of the clever nickname she had made on the spot.

"Ah said stop it!" she screamed this time, standing and dropping the drink she had been nursing.

"Ayumu?", Tomo sobered up slightly. Tears streamed down the Osakan's face as she shook her head violently.

"I-I'm sorry... What's wrong-"

She had to get out of that house.

She had to get away.

She couldn't stand it.

Without paying mind to her friend's confused pleas, Ayumu turned and ran straight through the door.

"..Did you say Ayumu?", Shoudai popped her head around the corner.

"Yes?"

"Ayumu Kasuga?"

"Yes.. You know her?" Tomo asked, a quizzical look setting on her face. Shoudai brought a hand to her mouth.

"Ahh.. I thought she looked familiar.."

"Damn it, tell me!" the wildcat's eyes blazed.

"Chill, chill.. We used to be neighbors until her mom got busted for drugs and shit.. She got shipped off to some foster clinic. I never thought I'd see- Tomo?" The older girls' explanation was cut short when the brunette bolted from the house in search of Osaka.

'Smooth Takino.. Real fucking smooth!'

Dashing through the park, weight built steadily on her chest.

-hic

The small noise startled Tomo, and she followed the hiccups to a rundown play set.

"..Ayumu?" she whispered sweetly.

No response.

The hiccups stopped.

A shadow cast on a rusty slide clearly showed the Osakan's position. Takino slowly approached.

Her heart sunk..

She had caused this.

She was the reason her friend was in such a distraught state.

'I'm the worst..'

Resting her hand on the brunettes shoulder, Tomo could feel the muscles tense considerably.

Sliding down next to the haunted girl, Takino sighed.

"I'm so sorry.."

A deafening pause.

Then:

"Ah remembered.. Everything." Ayumu muttered without raising her head.

"Mama.. She'd always share her opium with me for dinner.. Always told me thing'd work out.. 'N she'd just sit by the window all day.. Ah don't know how I survived.. I s'pose school lunch was good enough.." Ayumu whispered, propping her head on her arms.

"The other kids didn't like me very much.. Ah never could figure out why. One day they took my mum away.. I heard it was my teacher who did it.. Maybe I should thank him.. 'Cept the old home I went to..", the brunette was shivering despite the heavy sweater she wore.

The wildcat waited for her to continue, but only silence followed. For a long moment, the duo simply stared into the darkness of the night.

"..Ayumu."

"Please." The native Osakan murmured finally, turning to her friend. Her face was solemn; pleading.

"Don't.. Don't do that again."

"I would never, I'm so sorry.. Ayu.." Tomo bit her lip and drew the brunette into a fierce hug.

"Tomo." Ayumu whispered, clutching her friends' shirt tightly. It was evident the girl was crying, but Takino couldn't hear a sound.

"I'm so.. so sorry.."

The pair embraced each other, Tomo slowly stroking the Osakan's back. It was then when it hit her.. Much like a truck hitting Frogger on the freeway.

She did like the girl. In fact, the wildcat had fallen in love with her.

Unable to control her new discovery, Takino softly kissed the crown of Ayumu's head. Anxiety filled the wildcats heart as the brunettes crying had immediately ceased. It was the longest four minutes of her life until the Osakan lifted her head. A small smile tugged at Ayumu's lips as she looked into Tomo's eyes.

What she saw there was genuine.

Without another thought, she gingerly pressed her lips against Tomo's. The kiss lingered for a moment before Ayumu pulled back.

"Ayumu?"

"Thank you." The brunette smiled and hugged the slightly confused girl.

As if mentally hearing Tomo's inquiry, Osaka continued.

"For being."

AN: I know it was spacebar raep. Sorry, but it's become a habit as of late. Again, sorry if this wasnt the ending you were hoping for.. But I told myself I wouldnt start any new fanfics if I didnt at least finish this one first. I hope it was a decent.. o_o