Interlude: Sakaki

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"If your back is sore, I can give you a massage," Kagura offered. She took a sip of her green tea and set the bowl down on the hardwood table. Smoothening out a wrinkle in her silver kimono, she continued. "One of the things you learn in athletics is about the muscle groups and how to release stress and stiffness from your body, and massage is one of the simplest ways to do it. Outside of exercise, of course."

Sakaki took a sip of her own tea and politely listened as Kagura explained the benefits, but her focus was elsewhere. Specifically on Maya, who was lounging atop Kagura's head, his front paws lazily hanging down over her forehead. Regardless of how her friend moved her head, the wildcat didn't seem to need to shift his weight or dig his claws in to Kagura's skin to maintain his position.

They look so adorable, Sakaki thought, smiling. I wonder why I've never tried that. She took a final drink and picked up a linen cloth and carefully swabbed the bowl until it was dry. She then ceremoniously arranged both on the table. Sitting up straight, Sakaki subtly arched her back and rolled her shoulders to assuage the aching. Her kimono's obi wasn't helping either; its knot was positioned so, regardless of how she knelt, it dug into her back and only added to her discomfort. Ignoring a small spike of pain, she reached over and took a raspberry from a bowl of fruit.

I shouldn't have tied it so tight, she contemplated as she chewed. But an improperly tied obi comes loose. Trying to take her mind off of the pain, Sakaki glanced to the wood-paneled wall at her right. An open shoji revealed the landscape beyond; rolling green hills covered in flowers of various species with jagged blue mountains rising in the distance beneath a lightly clouded sky. Other than the building she and Kagura sat in, there was no evidence of civilization to be seen in the beautiful landscape. Sakaki inhaled deeply, taking in the summer scents that drifted on a warm breeze into the room. For a moment, she felt at peace with herself.

"So what do you say?"

"Hm?" Sakaki looked back at Kagura. The breeze ruffled her friend's windswept hair. "Um…"

"What reason do you have for refusing? You two are the only ones here."

"See?" Kagura said with a smile, "Even your subconscious agrees that it'd be good for you." She gently plucked Maya from the top of her head and sat him on the floor. She then edged back from the table and crawled over to a futon that sat a couple meters from the table before resuming a kneeling position. "Come on…it's a beautiful day, we've just had tea and fruit…what better way to end it than with a massage? Besides, we can watch Maya chase dragonflies for a little bit," she said, pointing. Sakaki followed her gesture and saw the wildcat sitting at the entrance, indolently swatting at the insects as they flew by.

Sakaki turned her focus back to her friend. Momentarily glancing at the table to ensure everything was in its proper place, she left the table and crawled to the futon. She smoothed out the front of her green kimono before laying facedown so she could face the open shoji. "Very well, I'll accept."

"Alright then," Kagura said with a smile as she repositioned herself. Leaning over Sakaki, she lightly pushed down on her upper back. "Just relax. Let go of yourself."

Sakaki did as she was told, taking a few deep breaths and allowing herself to settle into the futon. Within moments, she could feel Kagura's fingers gliding over her, starting at her neck before moving down her back. Sakaki momentarily tensed when her friend loosened her obi's knot, but soon forgot about it as Kagura continued to knead the muscles on her back.

She wasn't exaggerating, Sakaki thought. Each part of her that Kagura touched tingled like electricity. She seemed to know exactly where every ache and knot was without Sakaki having to guide her, and her friend deftly massaged each one with precise care. Within minutes, she felt nothing but the fluid movements of each stroke; the harder Kagura pressed, the heightened the sensation. Almost feeling weightless, Sakaki allowed her vision to drift out of focus as an audible sigh escaped her lips.

"I'm guessing you're feeling better already," she heard Kagura say. Sakaki, closing her eyes, nodded once. Her friend's probing hands moved to her sides, tracing each of her ribs in a synchronized motion as they moved up her body. She moved her arms to allow more room as Kagura continued up. Gradually, Sakaki allowed herself to slowly roll over onto her back as her friend continued to run her hands over her torso and abdomen. Sakaki breathed deeply, arching her back as her nerve endings responded to Kagura's touch. She felt her kimono being gently tugged open and the massage continued under the silk.

Sakaki moaned softly as she opened her eyes. A second later, pleasure turned to shock at what she saw.

Kagura was gone. As was the building they were in. It was replaced by a room she recognized and a bed she was all too familiar with. Where Kagura had originally been, Hayate knelt over her, leering at Sakaki.

"Told you you'd be back," he said.

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No!

Sakaki stared up at the ceiling with wide eyes. Her chest heaved as she breathed in rapidly, the last vestiges of the dream fading. She was in her apartment and in her own bed, and clutching her comforter in a white-knuckle grip. With some effort, she forced herself to release the thick blanket after a few seconds.

A dream. It was just a dream, Sakaki told herself as she brought her breathing under control. Groaning, she sat up and pushed the comforter aside. As she did, she suddenly noticed that the bottom of her pajama top had ridden up. Too far up for natural sleep movements to have caused. Turning a bright shade of red, she quickly rearranged it so she was properly covered.

I've never had a dream that vivid before, Sakaki thought, her embarrassment growing as certain details came back to her. Why would I dream of Kagura like that? And…and…why did he show up? She shook her head and looked at her alarm clock.

07:14

She reached over and deactivated the alarm; she was already wide awake and it would have gone off within a minute anyway. Pulling herself from the covers, she started making her bed, but paused. Frowning, she picked up a seal plushie that had somehow gotten into the blankets while she was asleep. Vivid dream, Sakaki wryly mused as she noticed where it had been laying. She placed it on the headboard and rubbed the small of her back as she continued her task.

Finishing a couple minutes later, she went to the bathroom and started water running for a shower. As she undressed, Sakaki paused and stared at herself in the mirror. She contemplated her reflection for a few moments as she ran a hand through her thick hair. The hand fell to her abdomen and she lightly ran her fingertips over her skin. She felt the same electric feeling she'd felt in the dream as she traced back and forth a few times.

"It was just a dream," she said aloud. Still…

Setting her thoughts aside, Sakaki stepped into the stream of hot water and quickly lathered up. She would've preferred to stay in the shower's warmth for a while longer, but she knew she'd have to leave early enough to make it to campus in time. She briefly considered skipping the exam as she knotted her bathrobe a few minutes later; she was doing well in the class and one missed quiz wouldn't sink her grade, but struck the thought seconds later, knowing she'd eventually have to explain herself. Sighing, Sakaki unwrapped the towel holding up her hair and reached for her hairdryer.

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Some time later, Sakaki emerged from her room, dressed simply in jeans and a white t-shirt. She stopped as she passed her couch and looked down at Kagura's sleeping form. I'd almost forgotten she stayed the night, Sakaki thought. She reflected on their conversation from a few hours ago and for a moment, felt silly for having asked her to stay. It made sense at the time…I think. I don't really know why I asked her to; it just kind of…slipped out. Sakaki shook her head and tightened her jaw. I was scared. I can rationalize it however I want…but in the end, I was scared. Of what, though? That something was going to happen? She looked at the ground and exhaled. Mercifully, her subconscious remained silent.

Sakaki toed the carpet as she thought of her dream again. By now, it had nearly faded from memory, the only things she could recall being Kagura's voice and her touch. Sakaki's cheeks turned pink as she thought of those few scenes, especially near the end, and she looked away from her friend. Despite her creeping blush, she was surprised to realize that she didn't feel as uncomfortable about it as she did earlier. The final few seconds though… She shuddered.

Sakaki knelt and rested her elbows on the back of the couch, and rested her chin on her wrist as she watched her friend sleep. She noticed Kagura's eyelids flutter, but her breathing indicated that she was still fast asleep. Dreaming, Sakaki deduced. She reached down and gently pulled Kagura's blanket up and rearranged it so it wouldn't fall off. And what is it you dream of, Kagura? she found herself asking.

She contemplated waking Kagura, but decided against it, choosing to let her friend dream for awhile longer. Hopefully it ends better than mine, she mused pensively. Feeling a soft poke at her leg, Sakaki glanced down and saw Maya staring up at her, an expectant look in his eyes. "Where've you been all morning?" she whispered as she scratched his head. Leaving her friend to sleep, she stood and wandered into the kitchen and refilled Maya's food and water bowls. She noted that his bag of food was almost empty, and after a cursory glance around the kitchen, saw she was low on food as well. I'll have to make a quick stop for groceries after the exam, she thought as she took the last orange from a bowl.

Sakaki happened to glance at a wall clock as she started to peel the orange, and did a double-take.

08:44

Late! Sakaki started. I'm going to be late! She quietly ran to her bedroom and grabbed her backpack, slipping the unpeeled fruit into a side pouch. She slung the pack over her shoulders as she scampered back to the front door and grabbed her shoes. Maya, having eaten his fill sat off to one side, watching his owner with a seemingly amused look.

Sakaki ran a mental checklist to ensure she had everything she needed. As she finished, she threw a quick glance back in Kagura's direction, remembering that her friend was still asleep, and would wake up to an empty apartment. Momentarily forgetting her rush, Sakaki went back to the counter and found a notepad and pen. She scribbled out a quick note and, thinking for a few seconds, added one final line before signing it and leaving it easily visible on the countertop.

Her sense of urgency returning, Sakaki turned and reached down and scratched Maya's head again. "See you later, Maya," she said as she went for the door. She looked back at her friend again as she reached for the doorknob, and found a small part of her hoping Kagura would still be around later on when she came back.

"I really do feel better," Sakaki said to herself after a moment.

Faintly smiling at the thought, Sakaki quietly slipped out and closed the door behind her.

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A/N: If you haven't guessed, this sub-chapter takes place a little before Kagura wakes up in the previous chapter. A little shorter than normal, but the next chapter is proving a real pain in the ass to write, on top of real life coming at me (to include moving 3,000 miles across the country). The opening dream was originally supposed to appear later in the story, but a slight retooling provided the building blocks for this short interlude piece. Next full chapter to be posted on…whenever it's finished.