Cold Days With a Warm Heart

Author Note: This story is based off one of the prompts that I did in "We All Float Along" where Yui gives Azusa the key to her apartment. I was having troubles figuring out if I wanted to continue off the prompt or start a completely new story. I figured might as well continue from the prompt. ^_^ If you haven't done so go read the second chapter of "We All Float Along" to see where this story originated from and please enjoy where this story goes!

Chapter one: Jumbled Thoughts

"Azusa?...Hello? Earth to Azusa?"

"I don't think she's listening to you Jun-chan."

"Nah, really? Her vacant expression says that much…she's been like this since they left?"

"Yep…since yesterday."

"Mou, Azusa…"

The puffy haired girl pouted as she once again tried to shake Azusa out of her daze. It had been only a day since Yui had given her the key to the apartment, but ever since then Azusa couldn't seem to get her mind off it. Yui obviously wanted to further their relationship and this was just one of her ways of showing it. But now Azusa had to think hard and long on what she wanted. This was her first relationship with someone, and with a girl, she didn't really understand anything about the rules of dating yet, but couldn't help but think this was a bit fast…wasn't it?

"AZUSA!"

"J-Jun-chan, shh!"

"No, Ui, I'm going to get her out of it this time."

"Huh…Jun what the-ACK!" Finally Jun was able to pull Azusa from her thoughts after she unsuccessfully tried to shake her friend, but over estimated her strength and the result was both of them tumbling from their seats to the floor in a tangle of limps and one very upset Azusa.

"Jun, what the hell! Why can't you get my attention like a normal person?"

"Because, Azusa, normal people don't stare into space for the whole day then don't answer when their friends try to get their attention like one would a normal person!"

Azusa pushed her friend off, removing a rather painful elbow from her rib before pulling herself to her feet, but not before giving Jun a glare.

"What did you want?"

"Ui told me about what happened yesterday, do you really have the key?"

"W-What, Ui, why did you tell her that?" Azusa asked as she turned to her girlfriend's sister, more importantly her best friend.

"Well, I was just so excited for you and Onee-chan that I had to tell someone, and apparently Mugi-san already knew about the plan so…I told Jun-chan."

"…Fine…but don't go around telling anyone else okay? Last thing I need is for people to get more nosey about my relationship…"

"Oh right, cause you're obviously the biggest thing since Mio-senpai's panties…seriously I think that topic was pretty hot up till Mio-senpai graduated."

"Mou…Jun. You're not helping at all."

"Seriously, how come I didn't get to see that event-"

"Jun!"

"I'm joking, I'm joking…so have you decided on when you're going to see her?"

This question seemed to catch Azusa off guard and her cheeks began to turn a faint pink as she turned away from her friends.

"T-Today?...isn't that a bit early…? I mean…I don't know how these things work…do I wait a week then see her or…a few days…?"

Jun's sly grin seemed to get bigger and bigger with each nervous question Azusa asked before she put an arm around the pigtailed girl and chuckled.

"The great Nakano Azusa is having dating issues eh? That's right because this is your first relationship and it's already going further then even you anticipated!"

"W-Well…yeah…there really isn't a guide or how-to when it comes to things like this is there?"

"You can always ask me."

Azusa raised a skeptical eyebrow at Jun before snickering.

"Please, you know just as much or even less then I do about all this."

"Oi! I suppose you know someone else who has been dating longer then you?"

Azusa opened her mouth to retort when she instantly shut it and blushed deeply. Of course she knew someone else, but she didn't want to broadcast who, especially since only the members of the Light Music Club knew about the relationship other then Ui, and even she was sworn to secrecy.

"…You know someone who has been in a relationship longer then you, don't you?"

Azusa merely nodded.

"And you're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Gomen Jun, but I promised I wouldn't."

"…That's totally unfair, I'm your best friend!"

"And as such you should respect my secrets."

Ui sighed softly as the two started up with yet another banter before Jun finally gave up trying to get Azusa to tell her and decided to tell the girls about what they could do with their new member and what songs to practice before the next live performance. Azusa listened, mostly listened anyways, but while Jun and Ui chatted her mind returned once more to her air headed girlfriend. Maybe she should ask Mio for some advice.

"Ritsu, what are you making?" Mio asked as she walked into the kitchen, she was in her night clothing with her hair tied up in a ponytail and it looked like she had just finished her homework. The drummer looked up from the steaming food and grinned goofily as her girlfriend walked in before she opened up one of the pots to allow Mio to survey and smell before watching her curious face upturn into a grin. "It smells good…"

"Thank you, it's kiritanpo. I thought since it's cold outside that we could have something…warmer." Ritsu purred out as she began to fix the rice cooker.

Mio kissed Ritsu's cheek before hugging her around the waist while she busied herself with cooking, this was the only time Ritsu ever really showed maturity was in her skills as a cook, and Mio found it very attractive.

"Maybe if your good for the rest of the night…and that means finishing your homework…I might do a little something for you." Mio whispered seductively into the drummer's ear, feeling her tense up and turn red. Soon though the flirting had to stop as Mio's phone began to go off.

"Who's calling you this time of the day?" Ritsu asked looking slightly agitated that the warm hug had to stop as Mio picked up the phone.

"Oh…it's Azusa."

"Eh?"

"Hello, Azusa? What's up?"

"Mio-senpai, I have…a bit of a situation…well…no not even that…I need advice."

"Advice? Is everything okay?"

"H-Hai! I just need someone who's been in a relationship longer then me to talk to about this…can I please come over tonight? Or are you and Ritsu-senpai busy?"

"Eh, what does she want? Come on Mio tell meeee~"

"Shut up, baka!"

"What?"

"Not you Azusa…I was talking to Ritsu, but sure you can come over, we weren't planning anything."

"Oi!"

"Really? Thank you Mio-senpai, I'll be over in a little bit."

"Okay, bye." Mio turned her phone off and instantly turned to Ritsu who shrunk back under the glare. "You can not just do that Ritsu, Azusa had something important to say."

"I just wanted to know what it was."

"Mou…look let's eat and we'll talk for a bit after, but Azusa is coming over soon and I promised I'd help her with…whatever it was. Can you behave yourself while she is here?"

"Hmm…I dunno what do I get in return?" Ritsu purred while grinning slyly at her girlfriend. Mio rolled her eyes then smirked a little.

"If you behave…" She began to trail her fingertips up and down Ritsu's bare neck to her shoulder while leaning in, lips inches away from each other, "I'll do that thing you like…you know…with my tongue."

This caused Ritsu to shiver uncontrollably before swallowing hard.

"R-Really?"

"Mmhm…really."

"O-okay I'll behave, but you also have to throw in something else as well for it to be a done deal."

Mio raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"Like what?"

Ritsu blushed a deep scarlet before she leaned in and whispered softly into Mio's ear. Mio's face also turned red but she nodded slowly before tilting her head to catch Ritsu's lips in a gentle and passionate kiss.

"Deal."

"Thank you, Mio. I promise I'll leave you two alone for the time being…but I can't wait for tonight."

"Hai hai, pervert."

"Excuse me?" Azusa said as she rang the doorbell to her senpai's apartment. She was bundled up in a warm long tan jacket with her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. It was a very chilly night and she wished the cold season would pass so she wouldn't have to keep dressing like this for long. Soon the door opened though and Azusa smiled bashfully as Mio stepped aside to allow the kouhai in.

"Welcome Azusa, here let me take your jacket and scarf."

"A-Ah…thank you." Azusa said as she handed her things to Mio before bending down to take off her shoes.

"Yo, Azusa! Nice to see ya kid!" Ritsu greeted from the other room, she was busy working on her own homework, which surprised Azusa, but she figured Mio had bribed her with something.

"Come on Azusa, we can go into the bedroom and talk, Ritsu has things to work on so she won't be bothering us."

"You hurt me, Mio-chuan~"

"Ritsu."

"Hai hai, being good." Ritsu quickly said before going back to her homework.

Azusa chuckled softly before being ushered into the bedroom where she looked around curiously. She noticed the stack of magazines on the floor that were all torn up on top, realizing they were the same magazines she had seen when visiting Ritsu's house that one time they all went to help her with a home ed assignment.

"Ritsu practices her drumming on those, if that's what your wondering Azusa." Mio said, snapping Azusa out of her thoughts and the kouhai began fidgeting all over the place before Mio patted the bed.

"Sit down, you look…nervous about something. What's on your mind?" Mio asked as she sat down as well once Azusa took a seat. The pigtailed girl's eyes shifted from the door to her senpai before she inhaled deeply and calmed herself down so she could talk.

"It's…about your relationship…well no it's about mine, but I want to talk about yours so…I can figure out if I'm…moving too fast."

Mio blinked a couple of times in confusion before nodding understandingly.

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"First…did you know Yui was going to give me a key to her apartment?"

"Ah, she finally did that eh?"

"You knew!"

"Of course, she was so worried about it…actually she was worried about the same thing you are now…if it was moving too fast."

Azusa's eye went wide.

"I was surprised too, apparently she thinks about these things pretty thoroughly." Mio replied as she crossed her arms. Azusa's eyes suddenly softened and she looked to the side as her mind began to work on this new problem.

"No, I don't think she does. But things concerning me…seem to make her think more."

Mio looked over at the garnet-eyed kouhai before smiling knowingly at her.

"Why do you think that is?"

Azusa's mouth opened then closed as she began to think harder on why her girlfriend would go through as much trouble has she had in the past month all for her.

"I don't know…because her priorities are all…messed up. I don't know."

"I think you do know Azusa…but why are you afraid of admitting that?"

"Because…it's going so fast. I didn't expect her to offer me a place to stay out of the blue like that."

"It wasn't out of the blue though, at least not for those who watch you two from the outside. In my opinion Azusa, you two were pretty much made for each other. I can see why Yui wants to live with you and be with you…You know this is actually Ritsu's apartment. I just help pay for it."

Azusa looked up once again wide-eyed at this new information.

"Really?"

"Yes, she was the one who went looking for it, made the down payments on it and offered the key to me."

"H-How long did you wait before…you know moving in with her?"

"Well, right after we graduated I moved in with her. But I guess that's one thing we have better compared to you and Yui…we have known each other longer so it was more natural…and we are in the same grade…there was no waiting that extra year to move in."

"…Yeah."

"But, I don't think you should hold that against Yui."

"No no, you're right I shouldn't but…" Azusa began to fiddle with her pants as she nibbled on her lower lip nervously. "I still feel like we are moving too fast and I don't know…when a good time to go over to her apartment is…if I go too soon what if she thinks I'm too desperate?"

"What? That's silly Azusa, even for you…you're over thinking this way too much." Mio moved a little closer to her distraught kouhai and put a comforting arm around her. "You know…I'm pretty sure Yui's just as confused, or even more confused, about all this then you are…you both need to talk…got out on another date…things like that."

"…y-you're right. Even though we've been together for a month we haven't had time to really do anything except talk each night on the phone. And we got together once yesterday…I'm so sorry Mio-senpai, I must have sounded crazy."

"Nah, trust me, you're the most sane person out of our little band." Mio said as she gave Azusa a pat on the head. "Now, I think you should go home, rest up and maybe visit Yui sometime tomorrow. I'm sure you two need some time together…alone." Mio ended that sentence with a wink before getting up. Azusa just sat there blushing deeply before standing up as well.

"Thank you again…I really appreciate it."

"No problem Azusa. Feel free to call or come over anytime you want…erm actually you better call." Mio said while blushing as well. "No telling what that baka might be doing if you come over unannounced."

Or what she's doing to you…gah I'm a pervert! Damn it Yui! Azusa thought as she began to hide her face in the palms of her hands before following Mio out into the living room to the door. Azusa faintly noticed Ritsu was now watching television, as she got ready to make her way home once more.

"Remember what I said, communication is the key to a relationship…any relationship…so talk with her." Mio said as she handed Azusa her coat and watched her put it on before arms wrapped around her middle and Ritsu rested her chin on Mio's shoulder.

"Don't be afraid to come back either Nakano, we really miss you."

This caused Azusa to smile kindly at her senpai before she bowed to them.

"Thank you, I'll talk to you later. Good luck with school." With that said she turned the doorknob and walked out into the blistering cold night.

Mio locked the door after Azusa and groaned inwardly as she felt a mischievous tongue circle her ear.

"Miiiiooo~ Time for my present."

"R-Rits-mph…"

There would obviously be time for words later, but right now all Ritsu wanted to do was get Mio out of those pesky clothing and run her hands all over her body. And thankfully, Mio tolerated the advances, just this once…

Author Notes: Hehe, I had fun writing this chapter. It's been a long time since I felt this spark in anything for a very long time. Next chapter should be more Yui/Azusa, but I was building up to…more things. :D

Oh the random member in the Light Music Club with Jun, Ui, and Azusa is nameless for right now. Not sure I'm ready to bring in a OC for fear I might mess things up…so for now she will just be the nameless drummer till I talk out ideas with my friend to see what she thinks. Tell me what you guys think, it's always nice to see reviews. ^_^