Arcane Sequence: 1987 (WLW)

November 25th, 1987: Absolutely Not

This novella contains mature language.

Yua was horrified. "Absolutely not."

"Oh, come on, Doc." Jaime patted the helmet in her hands and gave her a wink. "Live a little."

Yua didn't budge. The idea that Jaime wanted her to take a ride with her was not something she would ever entertain. A ride on an organ donor? No, thank you. There was entirely too much statistical evidence to support her unwillingness to get on Jaime's motorcycle and images of all the terrible scenarios that could take place racked Yua's brain.

If this was meant to help Yua's situation, she worried about what other bold ideas Jaime may introduce later down the line.

"It'll take your mind off of things."

"Yes, by splattering it all over the concrete." Yua shook her head and backed away. "I also don't have a death wish, Jaime. And it is an organ donor."

Jaime shot her a crooked grin. "Organ donor, huh? Neither do I. Just an adventurous side. And after a day like today," Jaime stepped closer as she sized Yua up and she was paralyzed under those hazy eyes. "You just gotta fuckin' relax, Yua. Take a load off and trust me enough to let yourself go for a bit."

Yua stared at her. Jaime was such a peculiar person and she felt she may learn something new every day she spent with her, but she also wasn't sure that what she felt for her was indeed trust. Definitely lust, and most likely intrigue, but did she trust her?

She thought of all the ways Jaime had been toward her. Her protector. Her friend. An ally, and now, something more. Jaime had never crossed a line and always let Yua take the lead. Even more, earlier in the elevator, if Yua hadn't demanded she kiss her, she hypothesized that Jaime would have just helped in keeping her grounded. She would have been content to just hold her close. Yua, however, hadn't been ready to settle for just an embrace in that instance.

Although, since then she felt anything but grounded. She felt her whole world was spinning, losing that control she held so dearly. Yet, with every breath she took in this new world, Jaime was there to guide her along.

Yua hadn't expected to kiss her, but she had and even invited it, letting Jaime show her what to do. Letting her body allow Jaime full and complete access. She hadn't expected her argument with her brother to end so civilly, so easily, but Jaime swooped in and changed that outcome for the better.

When Ryan attacked her in her office, she hadn't expected anyone to help. Jaime did. When her daily antics had been made known for others to see, Jaime hadn't batted an eyelash and in fact, she'd shown genuine interest in knowing just how Yua ticked. Lastly, when Jaime had been injured, even if it was for the briefest of moments, she let Yua in. Let her help her for a change.

If it hadn't been for Jaime, Yua wasn't sure she could have made it through seeing her family again and that conclusion sealed the facts in play. Yua did trust her. That was why this was all becoming so easy, so light, like a weight off of her shoulders. Each moment she spent with Jaime, more and more grams of grief, fear and loneliness were taken from her shoulders, replaced with good, gentle and rather stimulating things as light as a feather.

Yua glanced between the helmet in Jaime's hands and the motorcycle several times. Trust me enough to let yourself go for a bit. The words rang true in her ears. Yua could trust Jaime enough for something like this. She did. For this, and more.

She reached out for the helmet and noticed Jaime was holding her breath, then quirked an eyebrow. Jaime exhaled and looked her in the eyes, pulling her into them. Those gentle eyes were trustworthy, still, always constant in their endearing light.

Yua wanted to see more of that. Jaime, in her own element. She relaxed her hand on the top of the helmet and rubbed her fingers along it, enjoying the coolness of the plastic and the safety it represented. Then, she glanced back up at Jaime and her eyes had grown dark, just as they had in the elevator and the restaurant.

That shift in them did something to Yua's libido. Something that warranted further examination, but could be addressed at a later date. For now, Jaime's motorcycle somehow held a new kind of appeal and induced images of Yua riding with her to play like a slideshow across her mind. Perhaps, it wouldn't be so bad if--

"Have you lost your mind?"

A shrill voice echoed from Yua's side and she and Jaime peered around at it. Mother...

* * *

Jaime watched as Yua's face went from elation to utter terror. Yua's mother was quickly approaching and fussing in rapid Japanese. She began shaking her finger at Yua once she arrived and grabbed her wrist, not caring when Yua cringed at the sudden contact.

So, she can't even touch her mother...?

Jaime felt like a member of a captive audience who could only watch, not interfere. It was a putrescent feeling, something she never had before, and wrong. So very wrong when she only wanted to make Yua feel safe and warm despite her family's constant intervening.

Yua deserved better. It was no surprise she was such a mousy person with the family she had and Jaime couldn't take it much longer. She couldn't take them, the other Watanabe's, much longer. How could they not see how amazing and gifted Yua was? How thrilling she was? Jaime couldn't ignore it, the growing need to steal Yua away from her family, but what would Yua do if she acted on these feelings? They'd progressed quite well, but she couldn't just stand there and...

Yua's mother began to pull her away from Jamie's bike and before she knew it, that impulse to act had taken over again.

Yua stopped walking and turned her head, peering down toward her arm. Jaime did the same and realized she was holding it, not as fiercely as her mother's grip, but enough for her point to get across. Enough to gather Yua's attention. She ran her hand down her forearm and took hold of her hand. That tiny hand that felt so soft and delicate in her own.

Jaime flitted her eyes to Mrs. Watanabe and the words just came out. "It may not be my place to say, but Jesus Christ do you people need to chill. Yua is an adult. A genius. Beautiful. You should be proud. Think of her accomplishments. She's stunning in every way possible and you all don't even see it. The fuck is wrong with you?"

Mrs. Watanabe stared at her in complete shock and even blinked a few times just as Yua did when stressed. So, they did have a few things in common. Well, one thing. Other than that, Yua was nothing like her family and while Jaime was appalled at how they behaved, how they treated her, she was in awe that Yua had become such a vibrant, lovely woman.

"Instead of putting her down, you should show her the respect she deserves. Yua is awesome. No contest about it. So, I say this as respectfully as possible, you all need to chill the hell out."

Mrs. Watanabe gasped and let go of Yua's arm for a moment, cupping her mouth. Jaime glanced over at Yua and found her staring blankly at her. Shit. She'd fucked up.

Shit, shit, shit...

Then, Yua's face softened and she held onto the last two fingers of Jaime's hand. Just like before in her office. What the hell did that mean exactly? That she was okay with what Jaime had said? That she wouldn't be running for the hills as soon as Jaime let go and turned away?

"Yua get over here." Her mother interrupted their stare and Yua finally gazed back at her. Her body stiffened and she looked her mother up and down in the same way she had Jaime, but this time was different. Yua's eyes narrowed. "Do you hear me, young lady?"

"Loud and clear, mother. However, I will not be joining you. I'm going for my first ride with Jaime." She sent Jaime a sidelong glance, then peered back at her mother and held on tighter to Jaime's fingers. "In fact, once I'm back I expect you, father and Aki to be gone. Go home mother. To your real home." Yua gazed up at Jaime with a soft smile. "I know exactly where I belong."

Her mother quite literally stomped her foot like a fucking child, then marched off toward the elevator doors. Jaime peered back at Yua to catch tears in her eyes. She wanted to comfort her, reach out with more than just a hand, but something told her Yua needed this. To let it out, and let it go.

Jaime steered them back towards her bike and let go of Yua's hand long enough to place the helmet in it. It was time to show her some real fun.