Pairing: MihoxAnzu
Warning: Shoujo-ai.
Notes: The bombing incident referred to takes place during episode 14 of series 0.
Step by Step
Anzu's grip on the strap of her bag tightened as she gazed ahead of her. Past the colourful sign of welcome, beyond the ticket barriers and into the amusement park. Poking up from beyond a row of neatly-trimmed hedges was the ferris wheel. The place where she had nearly met her death at the hands of a mad bomber and his psychotic games.
She shook her head, allowing her hair to whip at her face in the hope that it might snap some sense into her mind. It could have been her death. But it hadn't. She was perfectly okay and now the culprit was locked away for a very long time. There was nothing to fear.
So why was there a small, tugging feeling of fear in her chest?
"Anzu!"
A high voice and something pulling her arm snapped Anzu out of her musings. Miho stood in front of her, her eyes wide and her lips pouting.
"Come on, Anzu," Miho said, tugging at her arm again. "Miho wants to swim in the pool. And I brought the cutest new swimming outfit and haven't worn it yet."
"Sorry, Miho," Anzu apologised. "I was just thinking about some things." She looked up at the ferris wheel again and a small shudder passed down her spine. "But it's okay," she said, speaking more to herself this time. "I mean, it's been a year now, right? It's okay now."
A look of confusion crossed Miho's face. Then she recalled the sleepover a week after the incident. How they had been flipping through the channels on Miho's television, looking for some music, and had come across some sort of action film. It had only flashed for a moment, but the exact scene they saw had been a terrorist blowing up a building. Then the events and what might have been finally hit Anzu. She had cried, whimpered in shame about how scared she had been, clung to Miho and buried her face in her silk nightdress.
Frowning in determination and tugging at Anzu's arm to gently coax her body forward, Miho managed to get her to walk one pace. Straight afterwards, she leaned forward and kissed her lips softly.
"Miho?" Anzu blinked.
"Miho wants to help," she told her. "For every step you take, you get a kiss." To illustrate her point, Miho gently pulled Anzu forward a pace more. When Anzu had taken that next step, Miho kissed her again.
"Miho," Anzu lowered her voice, glancing nervously around. "It's okay. People are watching."
Glancing around briefly in a much more uncaring way than Anzu had, Miho gave a tiny shrug. "Then let them see Anzu happy." Miho tugged again, feeling her heart lift as Anzu moved forward a lot more willingly this time. She kissed her again. Her hand ran down Anzu's arm to wrap her fingers around her palm. "More importantly, Miho wants to see Anzu happy."
Anzu felt her heart flutter up in her chest. Her worry lifted even higher, up off her shoulders and away. She walked forward one step at a time. With each step, each gentle pull at her hand and each rewarding kiss, it got easier.
END