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Marble
by: P.D. Pirl 12/05/05

"I hate your strength."

Youko knew, despite the playful tone, that Sei wasn't joking, but she ignored that familiar pain in her chest and responded with a smile that perfectly mirrored Sei's. "I hate it, too, sometimes."

Like now, Youko was tempted to add.

Sei stared at her, and never had Youko seen the contempt in her eyes as clearly as she did now. "Don't you get tired of watching over me?" And only when Youko broke and looked away was Sei satisfied enough to leave. "You're like that statue."

Youko hated that she wasn't strong enough to be numb.

Seal
by: P.D. Pirl 12/08/05

Sei felt that she just had to echo Youko's words, "Pinky swear?" Yet, Youko continued to regard her expectantly, her pinky held up in the air. "It's a little childish," she scoffed, "especially for you, Rosa Chinensis." She hoped to get a rise out of Youko with that quip, but to no avail.

"And children break promises all the time," Youko smiled, "it's perfect."

Now, Sei understood.

Sei raised her hand, and as their fingers linked, she suddenly kissed Youko's pinky. "There," she said, satisfied with the look on Youko's face, "just to make it a little harder to break."

Billow
by: P.D. Pirl 12/08/05

Youko's arm ached: numbed by the weight of the sleeping Sei she held in a warm embrace. Youko treasured moments like this with Sei; it wasn't often that Sei
sought for anything this intimate, and for Sei to choose her to run to - Youko couldn't explain the thrill of it.

But sometimes, she envied how Sei could sleep for hours as though she was in the safest place in the world.

Often, Youko wished to run to Sei as she does to her.

Always, Youko wondered how it would feel to be in Sei's arms.

Like a dream, she imagined.