Close Quarters

Disclaimer: I do not own Hana Kimi.


Chapter 5 - Falling Apart

Mizuki sat down on the locker room bench with a whuff of air from her lungs. After the stress and uncertainty of the last couple days, it felt good to get in some practice in the dojo. Karate was a good workout, and a great way to focus her mind. She stretched out her arms and legs, almost touching both sets of lockers on either side of the bench.

It was a great feeling to wake up in Izumi’s arms and not feel like she had to jump away to keep her secret. Something had relaxed between them, a band of tension that she didn’t know was there.

Of course, there were a few different tensions now. Mizuki blushed a little, remembering the previous afternoon’s activities. Izumi had been so sweet, so attentive.

She could still feel this morning’s kisses as they’d parted to take care of their own workouts. Sano was currently running at the track, even with the winter chill. Mizuki couldn’t quite handle the cold like he could, so she opted for the dojo.

Mizuki rose from the bench, pulled her bag from one of the lockers and placed it on the bench. She needed to get changed and head back to the room for a shower. Even thought it was break, she didn’t want to shower in the locker room. It would make her too vulnerable for too long.

‘Vulnerable. . .’

Her mind flashed to thoughts of Nakatsu. She hadn’t seen him technically since yesterday morning, but really since their. . . intimate . . . encounter. She really wanted to see him, to talk about things. Or, at least to return to some kind of normalcy in their friendship. If that was possible.

Mizuki sighed and placed her hand on her forehead. She grimaced at the slimy feeling of her post-workout skin. She couldn’t take a shower, but a quick wash of the face was in order.

She shrugged out of her training gi, letting it hang from the belt at her waist as she walked down the row of lockers to the sinks at the end. She pulled her damp t-shirt away from her skin slightly. It was starting to get clammy in the cool locker room.

She turned on the sink and dipped her hands into the warm water. The rushing water was a soothing din to her sensitive nerves. After scrubbing vigorously, she fumbled for the handles as she turned off the water. She reached around for a towel, only to realize that it was on the bench with her things. An attempt to peek through the drops was rewarded with the stinging of some missed soap.

‘Crap.’

Not wanting to get her face dirty again by wiping with her filthy gi and shirt, she turned around and felt for the lockers. She tried wiping her eyes as she went, but that just hurt more. Finally, she made it to her bag, grabbed the towel from the top, and sighed in relief as the soft cotton removed the offending soapy moisture.

“I could have handed that to you ya know.”

Mizuki jumped and peeked over the edge of the towel. Nakatsu stood smirking in front of her, dressed in an Osaka running suit.

“It was funny to watch though,” he finished, casually leaning against the lockers.

Mizuki looked away a little and lowered the towel from her face. She wasn’t quite sure what to say.

She settled for “Hi Nakatsu,” and busied herself with putting the towel back in her bag.

“Hi yourself. I didn’t see you yesterday morning.” He gauged her face carefully. “You’d think you were avoiding me.”

Mizuki’s head shot up and she looked at him, startled. His normally warm eyes held an almost fierce light that belied his joking tone. A little ball of guilt settled in her stomach.

“I needed to think things over.”

“And did you come to any conclusions?” He straightened and stood over her, reaching a hand out to tenderly brush some damp hair away from her brow.

Mizuki paused momentarily, inhaling his clean, sweet scent. He was so powerful, athletic, sexy; it would be easy to give in to the sensual attraction. His touches had felt so good the other night, heady and forbidden.

An image of Izumi flashed into her mind, and she remembered her words to him the other day. She may lust after Nakatsu, but she didn’t love him. She stepped back from Nakatsu, looking down.

“Yes.”

Nakatsu’s hand hung in the air between them, clenching from the form of a caress to a tight fist as it lowered to his side.

“I see.”

The quiet was punctuated only by the dripping of the locker room sink. Mizuki looked up to take in his tense form. He reminded her of his nickname at that moment, full of barely leashed fire, looking like a lion ready to pounce. Even his tawny locks falling over his bent head brought the image to life.

She didn’t expect him to move so fast.

One minute she was taking him in, the next she was pressed between his athletic body and a set of lockers, his mouth devouring hers. His hands moved from her shoulders to her breasts, dragging a moan from her. Her mind almost spun away completely as his tongue dominated hers in a passionate kiss. He tasted just as good as that night, even better without the sake haze. His fire and passion were overwhelming, and desire blazed through her.

The tug of a hand on her gi belt brought her to her senses. She placed both hands on his chest and pushed. She pulled her lips from his.

“Stop!” she gasped, eyes locking with his. She almost cried at the desperation she saw there. He leaned over her, hands moving to either side of her body.

“Don’t tell me you can’t feel something between us,” he panted, gaze boring into her.

Mizuki blushed, body still hot from his touches.

“I do feel something,” she said, “but it’s not what you feel.”

“How do you know that? How can you tell? Have you given it a chance?” He banged the locker lightly next to her body, causing Mizuki to jump a little. She had to go straight for the heart, no matter how painful. He deserved the truth.

“I’ve been . . . attracted to you for a while, I mean, who wouldn’t.” She almost winced at the look of hope in his eyes. “But, I love Sano. I always have. It wouldn’t be fair to give into my lust when you want something I can’t give you.”

Nakatsu blinked, her words cutting deep. His bangs shaded his eyes and he started shaking lightly. Mizuki didn’t know what to do. A low, harsh laugh rumbled from his chest.

“Do you want to know what’s not fair Mizuki?” he started quietly. “Being attracted to your friend, and questioning your self image because of it. Wanting to be with him, despite that, and watching him pine after your best friend like some obsessed fan.”

His voice raised in intensity. “Then coming clean, baring yourself, only to be laughed at by your classmates, and not getting any response!” He was leaning in close now, almost shouting, eyes on fire.

“I told you I loved you, and you said nothing! The least you could have done was told me you were a girl! Now you tell me being together wouldn’t be fair?!”

Mizuki cringed and her eyes spilled over as he unloaded his anger.

“Nakatsu, I didn’t want to hurt you, please understand-“

“Understand? You wanted me the other night, and now you’re rejecting me! How can I understand?”

It was too much. Mizuki pushed him away from her with all her strength. He stumbled back against the bench and fell back, banging against the opposite lockers before he hit the cold floor.

“How could I tell you? What would you have done? I was so afraid of being forced to leave Osaka when someone found out my secret. I didn’t even tell Sano.

“I’m living my dream by being in Japan, knowing Sano, watching him jump. I’m all the more honored to help him succeed.

“But if I’d told you, and someone found out, that dream would be over. As would my chances to be with all my new friends, especially you. I’m still in danger of losing everything, and you’re a part of that.”

The tears welled into her eyes again, and she choked back a sob.

“You and Sano are my best friends, but I can’t love you both,” she cried tearfully. “My heart has chosen for me, please don’t make me lose anything else.”

Mizuki grabbed her bag and sprinted from the room, tears running from her eyes. Nakatsu struggled to his feet, but she was long gone.

Her words and his misery fell on him like a weight. He slumped onto the bench and dropped his head into his hands. Boy, he’d sure fucked up now.

Things weren’t supposed to get this complicated.