Disclaimer: this is a expansion of Sasameki Koto chapter fifteen, with thoughts inserted by myself. You are welcome to disagree with my take on those events, in fact I'd like to hear from you. I own none of these characters and profit in no way from this story.
Sasameki Koto: Karate Baka
As soon as she heard that Sumika Murasame had returned to karate, Takemi Yabase hurried over to the Murasame dojo to see for herself. Talking to the members and the master Takemi smiled, her brown hair falling into her eyes. Apparently Sumika's love of karate had been rekindled by training a young foreign girl, and she had been working with the child exclusively.
Takemi felt a surge of jealousy, but tramped it down firmly. A true master of martial arts wouldn't let such petty emotions distract her. Besides, Takemi smiled to herself slightly, she could whoop any student that dared get between her and Murasame.
Sumika and the blonde girl walked into to the North Pole Karate dojo together, and almost immediately Takemi was struck by the differences between them. Sumika was tall and black haired, while Lotte was tiny and blonde. But both looked good in karate gi's, Lotte positively shimmering with excitement.
"Sumika! Long time no see!" Takemi grinned, giving Sumika a casual seeming wave.
"Yabase-san," Sumika answered with her usual formality, "It has been awhile. Have you come here to train with us today?"
"Ya don' gotta be so stuffy," Takemi teased, amused at how cute Sumika could be. "I heard ya were makin' a comeback, so I hurried right on over." She leaned in so close their heads bumped, "A year's break must've softened you up. Ya can cry on my shoulder when ya get stomped."
"No," Sumika shook her head mildly, "I've only returned in that I'm this child's teacher." She gestured to the little blonde who was nearly trembling with excitement.
"Yer teachin' her?" Takemi noted, muttering softly, "She's a cute one..."
"Yabase!" Lotte squealed excitedly, "Are you really Takemi Yabase, last year's Junior Champion?"
"Whoa," Takemi noted with surprise, "the shrimp really knows her stuff."
Sumika looked sheepish, "She's a fangirl."
Takemi looked away from Lotte, letting her sincerity shine through as she said, "I may have won, but what's a victory in a tournament without the genius Sumika Murasame?" She looked a bit sad, "It was a big letdown, to be honest with ya... what with you being three years younger, that was my last chance in the juniors." She sighed, "Then you go and vanish without a word."
Takemi took in the faintly stunned look in Sumika's face and didn't go into how hurt she had been. Sumika was more than just a competitor, she was her rival, damn it! There was barely anyone else around worth fighting, and she never experienced the kind of rush she got fighting Sumika. It was almost like dancing, not fighting at all.
A bit more gently Takemi added as she squeezed Sumika's shoulder, "Good thing I'm so forgiving, huh?" She took a step away as she added, "Only two more years 'til you join us in the big leagues, right?"
Takemi threw herself into the practice bouts, silently cursing her nearly losing control. She had nearly begged Sumika to join her in karate in two years time! Not that part of her wanted to beg, but she was determined to hold on to part of her dignity. From the sidelines she could hear Lotte and Sumika talk, and had to smile.
"Wow!" Lotte said excitedly, "Takemi is really amazing! Even the men don't stand a chance."
Takemi felt a flash of pride until Sumika murmured, "There's also the fact all the men here are worthless..."
'Oooh, mean!' Takemi winced as she kiched another one down.
"Still, she's gotten stronger," Sumika narrated to Lotte, "she always had power, but she's way faster than she used to be."
"Yaah!" Takemi cried as she finished her opponent off, punching then kicking swiftly.
"Hit!" the sensei called, "It's over!"
"Awesome," Lotte breathed out.
Sumika nodded as she told Lotte, "A right straight punch into a reverse high kick, yet there wasn't a singe opening..."
Takemi turned as she met Sumika's eyes, seeing the woman wondering how she would have done. Takemi grinned as she challenged her, "Bring it on!"
Sumika hesitated, then a kind of fire seemed to light up in her eyes. Gracefully she removed her glasses and passed them to Lotte as she took up a fighting stance, fists clenched. Like dancers who knew their partners like themselves they moved, fists and feet flying. At first Takemi seemed to have the advantage but a pair of kicks dispelled that notion, and soon it was anyone's guess who'd win!
Both women were panting as they separated, tied on points with the next exchange of blows deciding the match. The men and women were watching eagerly, almost as excited as the two fighters. Takemi's breasts rose and fell as she breathed, her heart racing pleasantly as she felt her grin nearly splitting her face. This was what she had missed! Even the pain of Sumika's blows was bearable, worth it to see her foe's smile...
'I've got it bad,' Takemi had to admit, 'a year away and she still does this to me.' Clearing her throat she smiled, "Ready?"
"Yes," Sumika agreed as they raced at each other once more.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Man," Takemi admitted as they sat in Sumika's bedroom, both young women dressed in casual t-shirts and shorts, "Didn' expect ya could still move like that, ya sure ya weren't practicing like crazy all this time?"
"I'm sure," Sumika answered firmly.
"Hey, what's with that attitude!" Takemi tacked her, tickling the taller girl and coping a discrete feel, "That's it! Take this! And that!"
"Hey, stop!' Sumika laughed, giggling helplessly.
Takemi lay half over Sumika, struck by the sudden urge to smooch that red cheeked face, but squelched the urge firmly. She didn't even know if Sumika was so inclined that way...
Sumika blinked questioningly, "Takemi?"
"Practice hard," Takemi ordered as she half rolled off Sumika, sitting up beside her, "it ain't easy at the top."
"Heh," Sumika smiled back.
Somewhat shyer Takemi added, "Thanks for lettin' me stay overnight."
"You're welcome," Sumi answered with a little shrug, "it was fun having a match with you. Besides, I think you made Lotte very happy."
Takemi had to ask, "You an' Lotte good friends?"
"I barely know her," Sumika admitted, "my father asked me to train her, is all."
"Ah," Takemi felt relieved. Not that hearing that meant there were no rivals out there, but at least there were no other karate rivals. She lay there, looking up at the ceiling as she listened to Sumika breath evenly, then blurted out, I like you!"
"Snnrk," the soft rumble answered.
Takemi turned to look at Sumi and realized she had fallen fast asleep while she had worked up her courage. "Well, damn," she muttered, studying Sumika's sleeping face. 'She really is cute,' she mused as the girl slept.
"Mrrgh," Sumika added intelligently as she rolled on her side.
"Better luck next time," Takemi murmured, pulling the sheets over Sumika. "Sleep well," she sighed before going to bed herself.
End
Notes: to be honest I'm not entirely sure if it's Takemi Yabase or Yabase Takemi. Sumika is a fairly formal girl so I assumed she was calling "Yabase" as her last name, but Lotte calls her "Yabase Takemi" which might be last name first... but as Lotte is a westerner, I'm not sure if that's what is intended.