Akira Fan Fiction ❯ Tough Love ❯ Changes ( Chapter 2 )

Tough Love

Chapter 2: Yearnings

© Margarite Estella

 

As Crystal walked back to her new apartment, she couldn't help to be satisfied, filled in some strange way. Biking always gave her that kind of contentment. The sound of the motor, the feeling of the engine thrumming beneath her fingers in the throttle. And going fast helped for all her negative feelings for the day to slip away. It was as if, just for a moment in time, she could just run away from all that, and be herself, just by sitting there, on the bike seat. She could relax her muscles and release the tension of the day.

 

But tonight was somewhat different. She didn't know what it was, but she couldn't stop looking at Yamagata. She knew that she visited him every now-and-then, but today was … different. There was something about him. The way he'd talked to Kaneda about her, his kindness toward her … and some unspoken feeling that she couldn't place. It made her feel warm, as if she were wrapped up in a blanket, like she could close her eyes and just bask in that incredible feeling of warmth.

 

And there were other things, too. Yamagata was growing up, and so was she. They weren't kids anymore. In fact, both of them were about 15 years old, though Yamagata was a little older, and somehow, that changed everything. She couldn't help but notice his strong build. Sure, Yamagata had always been stalk-y, but she hadn't noticed that he had such a powerful body up until now. Somehow, this separated him from all the rest of the boys she knew. He seemed like more of a man than most that were his age. Sure, other boys were beginning to fill out a little more, but not as much as he was. While he didn't look like a body-builder, he was more muscular than most of his peers, and, yet, still, his body kept a nice lean look, rather than some over-sized “superman” character. His face still kept a boyish look, though, which made him somewhat … appealing.

 

Crystal felt shocked, as if she had just ran into a brick wall. Her? In love with Yamagata? No. That would only screw things up. And yet, there she was, with the answer to her own questions. All those lonely years of only going to “proper” schools, and it had finally dawned on her: she had never loved anyone like she loved Yamagata right now. Suddenly, it was like he was the center of her whole universe, and she would freeze to death without him there. He was her sun, moon, and stars. And there was no way she could run away from that, not even if she wanted to. But it was going to be impossible to tell him. They were childhood friends, and there was no way he could possibly love her like that.

 

“Great,” she muttered as she made her way to the door, “What am I going to do now?”

 

 

***

 

Yamagata sighed, confused. He didn't have any idea what was going on. Tonight, she looked so … so … beautiful. In all the time he'd known her he'd never seen her dressed like that, that biker-suit hugging her every curve. His hands ached to hold her, to memorize every ridge and dip of her body. He wanted to taste her mouth, her skin, everything. He wanted to touch parts of her that nobody else had touched before. In his mind, he could already feel her breasts on his fingertips, his lips brushing across her nipples …

 

“Damn!” he half-shouted. He felt like he was going crazy. And it wasn't just that either. Somehow, she looked more, well, more womanly than all these other girls. Besides that, he knew that he could share anything with her, even his deepest darkest secrets. Why was seeing her like this any different? But, then again, he'd never seen her like this before. It was almost as if she were two different people, all rolled together in one. The first one was the Crystal that he'd always known. The second was an incredibly sexy woman that he'd never seen before. And to make matters worse, Kaneda was after her. This thought sparked up a massive surge of jealousy. Kaneda usually got any girl he wanted. However, that wouldn't happen this time. This time, Yamagata was going to make sure he wasn't going to lay a hand on this girl.

 

A couple years back, Yamagata had decided that, if he were to ever settle down (which was highly unlikely), it would be with Crystal. It was the perfect plan, because Crystal never got in the way, and he wouldn't have to worry about cheating, because the two would remain friends anyway, instead of lovers, and they would get marriage benefits. Nobody would have to know that they were just friends, and he would be able to date any other woman he wanted. He'd discussed the matter with Crystal, and she had agreed. But now, now everything was different. Before, he hadn't been attracted to her. Now, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

 

Yamagata sighed. With these kinds of thoughts running through his mind, he knew he wasn't going to be able to get any sleep. One thing was for sure: it was going to be a long night.

 

***

 

It was Friday, and everyone seemed to be pretty relaxed. Well, everyone, with the exception Yamagata and Crystal. Crystal looked up at Yamagata, who was sitting next to her, and then turned her head away. Yamagata stole a glimpse at her out of the corner of his eye. Why was she acting so strange? She'd been acting like this all day, and it was starting to irritate him. It wasn't so much as the way she stared, but the fact that she never looked him in the eyes. He wanted to see those beautiful blues, to look upon that face, but she didn't seem to want to let him.

 

“Will you quit that?” he whispered over to her.

 

“Quit what?” she asked.

 

“That!”

 

“What do you mean `that'?”

 

“The way you look at me!” he said, “You stare and then you turn your head away! Why do you do that? If you're going to stare, then just stare! I don't care, though, why you find me interesting, I don't know. Just knock it off, okay?” To Yamagata's surprise, Crystal blushed.

 

She looked down at the desk in front of her, suddenly interested in the grain of the wood. “I'm sorry, Yama.”

 

That sent a jolt through Yamagata's veins. Only his girlfriends ever called him Yama. Then again, Crystal had called him that when they were kids.

 

“It's okay,” said Yamagata, somewhat gruffly, “Just don't do that anymore, okay?”

 

“Okay,” she was still staring at the wood.

 

Suddenly, much to Crystal's surprise, Yamagata grabbed her arm and dragged her into the hall. Yamagata was not known for his patience and thoughts of Crystal had kept him up all night. If this matter were to be dealt with, it was going to be dealt with here and now.

 

Walking further down the hall, he found an empty conference room, hauled Crystal inside, and locked the door.

 

“You are driving me crazy!” he said with a quiet, agitated intensity.

 

“I could say the same for you!” she hissed back. She looked into his eyes. They burned like embers. She felt her body heat up. “Why … why are you looking at me like that, Yamagata?”

 

Yamagata put his lips to her ear, his hot breath tickling her skin, “Why do you think I'm looking at you like that?”

 

Crystal felt her skin ripple with an anticipation and Yamagata pulled her body closer to his as she shivered. Gently, but with a certain firm persistence, he put his lips to hers. Crystal gave a small moan as she opened her mouth, welcoming his. Gently, he slipped his tongue in, licking the wet smoothness of her own tongue. Enjoying the sensation, Crystal allowed him to explore, timidly exploring his own mouth at the same time. Nobody had ever kissed her like this, and Yamagata did that so well!

 

Softly, he pulled his hands away from the small of her back. Crystal moaned in complaint until she felt them opening her coat and pulling up her shirt. Smoothly, Yamagata rubbed his hands against her smooth, creamy white skin. Slowly, they moved upward, cupping her breasts, until …

 

BANG! The door slammed open!

 

“YAMAGATA!” yelled Kaneda, “What the hell are you …” Kaneda stopped right then and there. Yamagata looked at him, the look in his eyes bordering on homicidal, and Crystal's eyes popped wide open, as she struggled to hide behind Yamagata. “Oh,” said Kaneda nervously, “Well, uh, I'll … see you later.” With that, Kaneda slipped out the door.

 

Angry, Yamagata pulled away, and suddenly, Crystal was cold. She looked at him as he walked away, upset that he was leaving.

 

“Yamagata, where are you going?” she asked, her feelings betraying her in her voice.

 

“Out,” he said simply.

 

“Yamaga-“

 

“Later.” The word was spoken with a cold firmness that left Crystal standing by herself. Was that all he thought she was now? Just another girl? Angry, she yanked her shirt down, put on her coat and stormed out of the conference room, past an inquiring teacher and out the school doors.

 

“Just who the hell does he think he is, walking out on me like that?” she muttered to herself. Striding past her would-be lover, she walked down the hall, through the double doors, and out of the building.

 

Yamagata watched as she walked out the door. “Shit,” he muttered, angry with himself. With that, he, himself, walked out of the school.

 

Kaneda quickly followed after him, “Yamagata.”

 

Yamagata turned around, “What do you want?”

 

“Look, I'm sorry about what happened, okay?” apologized Kaneda, “I didn't mean to just burst in on you like that.”

 

“I know,” he said angrily, “but Crystal has just walked out the door, and she's pissed.”

 

“Ah, she'll cool down,” said Kaneda, “Girls always do.”

 

“That's the problem,” said Yamagata, “She's a woman. Women are different.”

 

“Take it easy, Yamagata! Don't worry, she'll be back.”

 

“I'm not so sure,” said Yamagata quietly, more to himself than any other person.