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Mika had been laying awake since before the sun had even crept over the horizon, or half awake anyway. More of a light doze, drifting in and out of sleep. She had just wanted to saviour this moment. They hadn't been able to share many moments like this recently. Mostly they were too tired of an evening to do more than crawl into bed already half asleep. And the next morning they had to be up early to get to work. Or to do things around the house. The option of spending a lazy morning together had not been one for months now.

Something she was planning on savouring, the black furred bunny lying snug with her vixen lover and friend in her arms. Not for the first time did the contrast of fur colours hit her as striking, Mina's pure white fur very much the opposite of hers. If she was to define her perfect moment, it would be is. To be just lying here with Mina safe in her arms. Almost as if feeling the sudden attention on her, Mina shifted in her sleep, snuggling closer to her side, her head resting on her shoulder. Almost without thinking Mika slipped her arms tighter around her, risking that despite the chance of waking her. Right now she needed to feel grounded to her, connected to her in a way she hadn't been able to recently.

Even if they hadn't been able to fully talk about how they felt about each other, about making things official. It was the question she wanted to ask but never seemed to be able to. Sure they liked each other, but could they take it further. She was afraid of ruining what they had.No, she enjoyed these moments they spent together far too much. Silly little things like sharing their favourite movie. Or finding a new favourite. Even with the heated debates that followed. Mostly about what to watch next. Or what not to watch.

'How long have you been up?' Mina had cracked an eye open and was watching her with a sleepy grin.

'Not long. I was just watching you sleep.' Mika replied.

Mina's other eye cracked open a second before her face broke into a slow laugh.

'What?'

'That has to be the sappiest thing I've ever heard.' Mika chuckled.

'I thought you liked sappy.' Mika teased.

'Didn't say it was a bad thing.' Mina amended. 'Neither would staying here all day I suppose.'

'Oh, no you don't.' Mika chided. 'A lie in is one thing, but I'm not going to waste the day slobbing around in just my pjays.'

'Are you sure I couldn't convince you?' Mina purred as softly as she rolled over to top her.

'Maybe I could convince you.' Mika replied, just as quickly flipping her back over so she now sag straddling her waist.

'How do you..noohohoho.' Mina shrieked as Mika's hands rested on her sides, lightly feathering her with her fingers. 'Stoooop.'

'Are you sure you don't want to get up? Or should I tickle you properly?' Mika half teased, half threatened.

'You think you can?' Mina said with all the bluster on can when still slightly breathless from having been tickled.

'Is that your answer?' Mika said, that statement punctuated by her fingers wiggling into her ribs.

'No..hehehe.. Okay. Okay. I'm up. I'm up.' Mina panted.

'Good girl.' Mika swung her legs out of bed.

'Meanie.' Mina said as she walked away, her head already dropped back to the pillow.

'We have got to teach you some better curses.' Mika laughed. 'What do you want to eat? I could get something sent up. The pancakes sound good.' She looked up from the menu to hear Mina groan, her paw pressed to her eyes while she made no effort to get out of bed.

'And lots of coffee.' Mika amended.

---

/

The phone cradled against her neck, Mika quickly punched in the short number to the reception desk, answered after barely one ring by a receptionist who sounded far too bubbly for so early in the morning. Or so late depending on if she had been on the night shift. Either way it reinforced her attitude of this place. Someone was going to be getting a very large tip when they left.

'Hmm?' Mika realised she was waiting for her to speak. 'Oh yes. Sorry. Could we get two English breakfasts, two plates of pancakes and two very large coffees. And could you send it to room 94. Thank you so much.'

Slapping the reciever down with a clack that echoed with the clap of her paws Mika walked back into the bedroom. 'Food is going to be here soon so you had better make yourself decent. Or at the very least get up. Or I'm likely to eat it all.'

Despite her threat, Mina had only just climbed out of bed by the time the food arrived and Mika had thanked the tall bison who had carried it up here, the vixen making a beeline straight for the closest cup of coffee.

'That's good stuff. Better than instant, that's for sure.' Mina perked up instantly as she breathed in the warm steam.

'You really should try instant. They have some good blends you know.' Mika said.

'Bleeh.' Mina mimed throwing up, sticking a finger in her mouth.

'I had a feeling you might say that.' Mika mock sighed. 'Philistine. Anyway, we'd better eat up or it will get cold.'

---

Mika pushed away her plate as Mina finished her coffee, grabbing the map which she quickly unfolded in the middle of the table.

'We have to and visit the Shrine. My father wouldn't hear the end of it if we didn't. And it would be very nice to see it again. After that we could take a walk up the mountains. The Fire Blooms are spectacular at this time of year."

'You know a lot about this place.' Mina said.

'Well, I did used to live here.' Mika reminded.

'Good point.' Mina said.

'Funny, isn't it.' Mika continued.

'What is?' Mina asked.

'Well, if the shipyards hadn't closed down and my parents hadn't moved to Crystal Dell, I could be living a very different life.' Mika replied.

'We could both have been. We might never have met.' Mina sighed.

'Hey, come on now.' Mika replied. 'Let's not think like that. We came here to relax remember?'

'You did, you mean.' Mina said quickly.

'What's that?' Mika raised her head, eyeing her curiously.

'Nothing.' Mina said just as quickly. 'Nothing. I'm sorry. I'm just tired.'

'I've seen you tired.' Mika said carefully. 'This isn't tired. You've been moping around since we got here.'

'I haven't been moping.' Mina almost snapped, her voice suddenly terse.

'But something is on your mind.' Mika said pointedly. She had been thinking about mentioning it later but this seemed like a good moment as any.

'Well, it's just...should we have done this?' Mina sighed. 'We've got so much to do at home. We haven't even unpacked, the house is barely started let alone finished. There is so much we haven't done and we are up here swanning around in the mountains.'

'That's exactly it.' Mika fought the urge to slap the map down on the table and settled for laying it down instead. 'We've been working so hard. Is it so wrong to want to take a break? We planned this ages ago, remember.'

'I know.' Mina sighed. 'I know. I just feel..I don't know what I feel. What with everything that happened..I just wanted some control over it. Something I could say I was making right. I just wanted things to get back to normal after all the craziness we went through, to do something normal and boring and safe. Something that doesn't involve..you know..all of that. Something that everyone else does. Does that make sense?'

'No. And yes.' Mika said softly.

'Knew I could count on you to clear things up.' Mina managed a smile.

'I know things have been crazy recently.' Mika took her paw in hers. 'New place, new home, new job. New life practically I guess. And with everything getting turned upside like it did. It's natural to want to cling to something solid in that. But that doesn't mean everything has to be about choosing paint for the walls, or fixing the squeaky window in the bathroom, or finding someone to patio the garden and lay the decking and put in the fountain, or..

'We are so not getting a fountain.' Mina chuckled. 'Not until all the other stuff is done anyway. But you are right, it can wait until we get back. It's not going to be going anywhere is it? I'm sorry for being a grump when we should have been enjoying our holiday.'

'Still plenty of time left.' Mika grinned. 'And I can hear the hot springs calling our names.'

---

Mika drew in a breath of fresh air as she stepped out into the hot springs, towel draped casually over her shoulders, unashamedly not hiding behind anything. It was with that same confidence she strode towards the inviting pool of water, taking card to avoid the slick stones around the edge. Her foot broke the surface and the steam rising from it alike, the rest of her quickly following until she was sitting with the water lapping at the bottom of her breasts.

'Aren't you coming in?' Mika called back as she twisted her head to glance back at Mina. Or where she thought Mina should have been. Her face twitched into a soft smile as she saw the Kitsune still standing in the out house that lead to the hot springs, peering nervously out of the door.

'Oh. Yes. In a minute.' Mina said, yet made no effort to move.

'They aren't going to come to you, you know.' Mika called back.

'I know. It's just..are you sure it's just us?' Mina asked with a cautious glance around her.

'Can you see anyone else here?' Mika teased before she took pity on her.

'Yes, it's just us.' Mika soothed. 'And it's not like it's the first time we've been naked together is it?'

She could see Mina blush at that even from this far away, her face breaking into a shy grin. 'I guess not. But this just feels different.'

'Do I have to come over there, strip you of that towel and drag you in here?' Mika said as one eyebrow rose suggestively.

Mina blanched a little, gripping her towel tighter before she swallowed and took a slow step forward, then another and another. Her hesitation still showed, especially as she reached the edge of the pool, paused and then let her towel drop before quickly slipping into the water.

'See, that wasn't so bad.' Mika inched a little closer, one arm snaked around her waist to rest on her paw. 'Doesn't the water feel great?'

'I guess. No, it does.' Mina amended hastily. 'Sorry. This just feels a little strange.'

'Good strange right?' Mika asked.

Mina nodded. 'I could certainly get used to this. A hot spring I mean. Not bathing with you. I've never had a problem doing that.'

'I've noticed.' Mika chuckled. 'But it's nice that we are that close that we can share stuff like that.'

Mika paused, toying with the phrase that had risen in her head, trying to ignore the regular doubts that rose with it. Doubts that she pushed away before she spoke slowly. 'You know, the guys at the office keep joking that we should get together as a couple we are so close.'

'Would that be such a silly idea?' Mina replied.

Now, Mika had no idea how to take those words but she couldn't stop her heart leaping into her throat. 'You mean that?'

Mina shrugged, a guesture that could have been taken as dismissive but one that Mika chose to read as casual. 'Why not? We are practically girlfriends already if you think about it. We live together, bathe together, sleep in the same bed. As well as...sleep together.'

Mina whispered those last words like she was afraid anyone would hear. Mika could understand her reticence. She likely felt the same way. Yes, they had a sexual relationship. One that was a lot of fun for both of them, a casual, relaxed and mutual attraction that came easily to both of them. They were that comfortable with each other. But to think that Mina had been feeling the same as her, had actually been thinking about taking things further.

Did she have the same doubts that she did? That that one decision could change everything they had, could ruin the friendship they had developed. A silly fear maybe but one that had held her back from making that decision. She loved the time they spent together and didn't want to lose it.

'I guess that's why not.' Mika took a second to work out Mina was answering her own question, having completely misread her silence.

'No..that's not what I meant.' Mika said quickly. 'I've been thinking about it but..well..you know..what if...'

'...things change.' Mina finished for her. 'That had been on my mind too. But why should it? Why should one word change how we feel about each other? Lots of people make the leap from friends to girlfriends. So why not us? Do you really think that would change anything?'

'No, but..I would hate to lose you.' Mika said slowly.

'Hon, I've heard you snoring. If that isn't going to push me away, nothing will.' Mina laughed.

'Watch it. I've still got enough strength to tickle you.' Mika mock warned, despite the joke somehow having drained the tension from her. 'So..girlfriends?'

'I like the sound of that.' Mina purred softly.

'Me too. Means I can do things properly. Don't blame me if I get a little protective now that you are mine.' Mika grinned.

'Unless I get there first.' Mina returned the gesture. 'Honestly, I've always felt a little protective of you. I guess I just never worked out what that meant. Until now.'

'Well, you can feel as protective as you like.' Mika said.

'Actually, I'd like to feel something else right now.' Mina whispered, her paw moving to rest on Mika's hip.

'Here?' Mika smirked. 'Not so shy any more are we?'

'I guess you are a bad influence on me.' Mina smirked. 'Besides, as you said, there is no one else here.'

'True enough.' Mika laughed, leaning to take a soft kiss that she lingered in just for a second. 'Course, if we do that I might not be able to resist dragging you up to our room and having you all to myself.'

'Promises, promises.' Mina said as she returned the kiss, quickly slipping into her girlfriends lap to straddle her legs. Soon moans as hot as the steam rising from the hot spring filled the air loud enough for anyone walking past to hear. But right now Mika didn't care. She was with her girlfriend and that was all that mattered.

---

The two girls again lay in each other's arms, a soft cuddle inspired by the warm afterglow they both shared, the soft evening sun falling across the entwined lovers through the open window. So content did they look that nothing could have disturbed them. Until the phone rang that is.

'Oh man. Who could that be?' Mina groaned, reaching to grab the reciever. 'Hello.'

'So..how is the vacation. Did you guys tie the knot yet?' The instantly familar voice on the other end said easily.

'Jenny.' Mina sighed, answering the silent question she could see in Mika's eyes as much as responding to the question. 'We didn't come here to get married you ditz.'

'I know. But you are at a romantic hot spring.' The feline laughed, Mina easily imagining her bright pink hair waving with that movement. 'If you guys haven't got together, then you should. I mean are you the only ones that don't think you are perfect for each other? Everyone else does.'

'Define everyone else.' Mika sat up and bringing her mouth to the reciever, her sharp hearing must have been following the conversation.

'Pretty much the whole office, if the pool is to be believed.' Jenny replied.

'Pool?' Mika and Mina said in unison.

'Yeah. We took bets on if you two would have finally hooked when you got back. Guess I'll find out if I'm going to make a killing when you get back.' Jenny said triumphantly.

'How? You said everyone thinks we make a perfect couple?' Mina asked.

'They do. Just not that you would admit it yet.' Jenny continued. 'Shows what they know huh? Anyway, I'd better get back to it. I'm sure you have a lot of things you want to do. Each other for a start.'

'You little..' Mina started before the line went dead. 'This is going to all over the office when we get back. You know that right?'

'Then at least we have done something for the rumour mill.' Mika shrugged. 'It's been too long since the office had some decent gossip.'

Mina fixed her with a stern stare for a few seconds before she broke down into uncontrollable laughter, Mika's chuckles joining with hers.

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