My Heart of Hearts

Bittersweet Tears
Chapter 1: My Heart of Hearts

Tears flow gently a young high school girl's eyes. She's on her hands and knees. The wind blows through her long, copper hair. Her school uniform shirt is torn. Bright red hand marks cover her face. Around her, stood a circle of girls. Laughing at her.

"Please..." She whimpered through her tears. "Leave me alone." This made girls laugh even harder.

"Ya hear that," chuckled one of the girls. "The dyke wants us to leave her alone." The copper haired girl wanted to crawl away with what little strength she had lef. She knew she couldn't. The girl would only be forced back into the circle again. The only thing she could do at the moment was stay still and wait for everything to be over.

"Leave me alone," the crying girl almost demanded. "Or... Or... I'll tell a teacher." The crowd of girls laughed harder and harder.

"You really think idle threats are going to stop us?" asked one of the bullies. She kneeled down and grabbed the crying girl's cheeks with one hand. "The teachers aren't going to stop us either. Then again, why would they take the time out to listen to human garbage like you. You're nothing but a waste of space, Chiyemi Onahara." The bully squeezed the girl named Chiyemi's cheeks harder. It sent a dull, but nonetheless painful jolt to her jaws.

"You're president of the science club, yes?"

"Yes," Chiyemi managed to say through her tightly clenched jaws. The bully spread a sinister smile across her face.

"Perhaps we can do an experiment. Let's see how long the human body can take extreme amounts of pain."

"Or maybe we could throw her off the roof and see how fast she drops," chimed another girl. Chiyemi's leafy green eyes widen in horror as the crowd of girls began to advance onto her.

"What are you girls doing?!" shouted a mean, leadery kind of voice. A girl, a year older than all of the girls stood in front of the dark school stairwell. She was tall and fit. Her long princess-like blonde hair swayed lightly in the late afternoon wind.

"Oh crap," whispered one of the girls. "It's Hinako Amizuka." The regalish, Hinako walks over to the girls. She notices Chiyemi on the ground.

"Did I give you guys permission to mess with this... ragamuffin?"

"No Amizuka-senpai."

"Then why did you do so?" The bullies were silent. She glances over at Chiyemi again. "Stand up, you." Chiyemi complied.

"You girls are wasting your time again. Beating up on worthless trash when there is a lot more important stuff to be attended to." The bullies looked down in shame for disappointing their leader. Hinako cracked her knuckles. "Leave me be. I wish to speak with the lesbian. Alone." The bullies obeyed their leader's order.

"I wonder what she's going to do to Chiyemi," said one of the bullies.

"I hope Hinako breaks her freakin' spine," chuckled another. Hinako walked up to Chiyemi. They stared into each other's eyes. Fear in Chiyemi's, regal cruelty in Hinako's. Then without warning, Hinako pulled Chiyemi close to her. There were still fresh tears coming down her eyes. Hinako wiped them away.

"They didn't hurt you too bad did they, Chiyemi my sweet?" asked Hinako. "Are you okay?" Chiyemi managed a brave smile.

"I am now," she said. Her voice was quivering with relief. "Because you're here." The two leaned in close and kissed. It was a very long and passionate kiss. One that helped all the pain that Chiyemi just experienced dissipate. When they broke away, Hinako examined Chiyemi's face.

"Look at all these slap marks on you," she said with worry in her voice. Her worry turned into anger. "When I see them again, I'm going to..." Chiyemi calmed the enraged Hinako down.

"It's okay. They're just confused about who I really am. So they only respond to it in the only way they know how." Hinako clenched her fists.

"That's not an excuse. They could've hurt you a lot more than they already did."

"It would be worth it then... to protect your secret." Hinako sighed.

"I can't come out. At least... not yet." Hinako's face grew sad.

"I understand. You should come out whenever you are ready." Chiyemi grabbed Hinako's hands. She stared lovingly into Hinako's eyes. "When that time comes, I want to be right beside you." That brought a smile to Hinako's face. Then she remembered Chiyemi's current state.

"We need to get you home. Your bruises need to be treated. Chiyemi nodded.
Chiyemi's parents small Tokyo apartment was empty as usual. Hinako helped her injured love inside.

"They really did put a number on my leg, huh?" Chiyemi managed another brave smile.

"This is serious Chiyemi. I know you're trying to be brave, but you just can't smile your problems away all the time. Hinako laid Chiyemi down on the couch. "Now you just relax. I'll get the bath ready and help you get cleaned up."

"Okay." Chiyemi nodded.

The steam from the bath filled the bathroom. Hinako was helping Chiyemi wash her back.

"Ouch," yipped Chiyemi.

"What's the matter, are you still in pain."

"A little, but I'll be fine. Most of the pain is in my leg." Small little droplets of water hit Chiyemi's back. Chiyemi turned around and noticed Hinako crying.

"I'm sorry, Chiyemi. It's all my fault. My fear of being judged keeps getting you..." Suddenly, Chiyemi pulled Hinako into her chest.

"Didn't I tell you. I'm will take all the abuse possible, until you are ready to come out."

"Chiyemi," whispered Hinako, as the two girls held each other.

The bed and covers felt extra warm to the two girls. They kissed passionately and silently. They were alone in their own little world. They broke away.

"Hinako?"

"Yes, Chiyemi?"

"No matter what, you'll stay with me, right?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course I will."

"I know. I just like to hear you say it." The two went back to kissing. Early the next morning, Chiyemi awoke to find Hinako missing from the bed.

"There she goes disappearing again." Chiyemi looked at the salmon pink sky outside her window. "In my heart of hearts," she thought. "I know that Hinako can have any boy she wanted. So why did she choose me?"

Chapter 1 End