Milk and its Derivatives

JoeBagadonut, WhyMeiTalksWithPigeons


Chapter 8: The one where Mei is a space captain


Note:

Let's address the elephant in the room. As you no doubt will have heard, the Citrus manga is likely to be ending next month with chapter 41.

Needless to say, Team Pigeons is saddened and disappointed to hear that the story is ending, especially so abruptly. We still fully support Saburouta's decision and eagerly anticipate her next project.

Despite this sad news, our passion for the source material has not wavered and we still have many more stories to tell in the Milk universe. In addition to Milk and the "Derivatives" collection of side stories (both still ongoing), we also have a new series planned named "Baby Steps" that will be set in the Milk universe and will take place in the immediate aftermath of Mei's return.

Thank you for your continued support. This has been an incredible journey and we are truly privileged to share it with you.

- Why and Joe


Note:

I have been informed over the link I've posted not working.

If you wish to see the art, Galthmir has done for us, simply go there:

wwwDOTredditDOTcom/user/Galathmir

The piece inspired by Chapter 8 is titled: "The Moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

The piece inspired by Chapter 10 is titled: "Is is okay to love you, Yuzu?

There also is a family portrait, titled: "Family photo" which allows us to see Atsuko. Galathmir drew her, exactly as Joe and I had imagined her.

All the pieces are wonderful and Joe and I feel blessed for receiving such a precious gift.


Chapter 8: The one where Mei is a space captain


New Place, Same Faces

Upon returning to the correct road, the traffic remained heavy but far more manageable than before. Yuzu carefully navigated her way to Fujikawaguchiko without too much difficulty and there were no further bouts of car sickness for Atsuko.

Mei sat beside her sister in the back seat of the car and could not resist the temptation to take her tiny hand in her own. It was not clear which of them was seeking comfort more, but both were happy to enjoy the experience without looking too deeply into things. The pair had proven to be quite a distraction as Yuzu's eyes frequently flitted towards her central mirror to get a glimpse at the two of them, who seemed to be competing with their seatbelts to get even closer to one another.

The town of Fujikawaguchiko barely felt real. Each turn onto a new road brought a new view that could quite easily be put on a postcard or travel brochure. The mountain maintained its imposing presence in the background like a throne for the gods themselves. It rose far above the surrounding hills and only bowed to the sun, which was still blazing high in the cloudless late-afternoon sky.

There was an intimidating number of hotels and inns of varying shapes and sizes lining the streets. Yuzu was undeterred by the challenge and soon found her way to the ryokan that her stepfather had booked. Shou was not the most organised of people but his numerous years of travel had allowed him to pick out the perfect location for their short stay.

Yuzu clocked the bulky motorcycle out front, confirming that Shou and Ume had already arrived. She smiled to herself as she considered the image of her mother blazing through traffic while Shou clung on to her desperately. She slowly pulled into the next space and shut off the engine, bringing a satisfying end to its constant drone and low rumble.

"Alright!" Yuzu clenched her fist with delight. She turned around and smiled brightly at her two passengers. "Not a bad job, if I do say so myself!"

"You did an excellent job of finding this place, Yuzu." Mei said while nodding. Her voice had a slight tinge of relief. With how the journey had panned out, another instance of a wrong turn thwarting their progress felt like a very real possibility.

Mei felt the grip on her hand loosen and turned to face Atsuko, who was having difficulty with opening the passenger door from the inside. She gently took hold of Atsuko's wrist and guided her delicate hand towards the shiny chrome handle.

"Now pull." Mei purred the instruction quietly into her ear.

Atsuko did as instructed and the door swung open. She swivelled in her seat and hopped out. Mei took the opportunity as her sister was facing away from her to let out a particularly bright smile. She did not know for certain why the simple act of opening a car door had filled her with such pride. Even teaching such a small task to Atsuko brought her a sense of fulfilment that could not be replicated by other means. It was a bond that they alone shared.

Mei then climbed out of the car herself and felt an immense wave of relief when she got to stretch her legs at long last. She took in her surroundings and her eyes stopped to assess the ryokan that her father had booked for the family. Despite its humble size, it was supposedly one of the more luxurious establishments in town. It lay tucked away in one corner of Fujikawaguchiko and overlooked the fittingly named Lake Kawaguchi.

"You can take the view in later, Mei. Come and help me with the luggage." Yuzu teased as she started pulling bags from the back of the car.

Unlike Shou and Ume, Yuzu had seemingly packed for far longer than a three-night stay. Mei could only sigh at the visual reminder of her failed attempt to convince her lover to be more modest with her packing decisions as she effortlessly lifted the final piece of luggage from the car: a small purple rolling case.

"Nee-san, may I?" Atsuko was quick to volunteer to pull her own case behind her. She looked quite adamant and Mei felt the corner of lips raise slightly.

"Are you sure?" She inquired gently. Mei was more than willing to carry both the case and her sister if the need arose.

Atsuko emphatically nodded her head before sliding the handle up and grabbing on to it. Mei watched on quietly as her younger sister struggled to position the wheeled case behind herself, not wanting to intervene and risk triggering that legendary Aihara stubbornness. Eventually, Atsuko succeeded and smiled to herself with satisfaction.

Mei slung Atsuko's tiger and dragon-adorned bag over her shoulder before closing the trunk of the car. Atsuko's case was too small to contain all her clothes and necessities and Mei made a mental note to get her a bigger one, especially for an eventual European trip. The thought filled Mei with great anticipation, although a few years would have to pass before Atsuko would be ready to make such a travel. At the moment, it was time to focus on the present and the beauty of their own country.

Yuzu then locked the doors and crammed the keys into her purse. She took the handle of the excessively large suitcase and the three headed towards the entrance. Other than the sound of hard plastic wheels rolling along the floor, the only noise that could be heard belonged to the motor of a small fishing vessel trundling along the nearby lake.

Atsuko stopped at a sign outside the inn and leaned towards it. She challenged the sign with her most determined look, her brows angled in a combative expression.

"Fu-ji-ka..." She started reciting the furigana characters helpfully written above the complicated name of the town as it was written in kanji.

Yuzu and Mei turned to each other and smiled before looking back towards their younger sister. She had already been thwarted numerous times by the intimidating seven syllables that made up the name and had chosen the present moment to finally defeat her adversary.

"Now try saying it faster, Atsu-chan!" Yuzu urged her on with a wink and a proud smile.

"Fujiwa... Fujikawo..." Atsuko almost had it. She surely only needed one more push and looked expectantly towards her Nee-san.

"Just like I taught you, Atsuko." Mei's purple eyes were full of warmth. She wanted nothing more than for her sister's inquisitive mind to flourish. Atsuko smiled back at her and looked to the sign once again.

"Fujikawa... Fujikawaguchiko. Fujikawaguchiko! Fujikawaguchiko!" She almost shouted the word over and over again, holding it aloft like a victorious athlete would raise a trophy.

"Good job!" Yuzu cheered. She wished to hold the child in her arms but one of her hands was already being weighed down by the bulky suitcase. She instead settled for making a peace sign with her free hand, almost slinging her handbag through the air in the process.

"I knew you could do it, Atsuko." Mei put her bags on the ground, she was not in the same critical condition as Yuzu.

She bent over and delicately caressed her sister's head. Atsuko's smiling face was the best reward.

"I am very proud of you, Atsuko." Mei was careful to always let her sister know how she felt. She was prompted by memories of her own childhood spent wishing for her effort to be, if not praised, at least acknowledged. Atsuko should never know what longing for such approval felt like, even over an accomplishment as small as the current one.

"Hey!" Yuzu called plaintively to them while pouting playfully. She did not want to be left out.

Mei nodded at her and swiftly lifted Atsuko in her arms. She brought the giggling child by Yuzu's now smiling face and as her lover peppered Atsuko's cheek with small kisses, she allowed the glimpse of a smile to curl her lips.

"Well done, little samurai." Yuzu beamed at the child. It was Mei's cue to put her sister down and resume their walk toward the ryokan entry.

"Let's go inside!" Yuzu brought the proceedings back on track. "I'm sure Mama and Papa are dying to see you!"

The mention of her parents was all it took to refocus Atsuko and she almost ran towards the entryway with her suitcase bouncing behind her. Yuzu and Mei followed her closely, as though Atsuko would disappear into thin air if she strayed too far from their presence. They made their way through a rustic set of doors and were greeted by a lavish interior.

Immaculately-cleaned wood panelling covered the floors and a pleasant odour characterised by various spices filled the air, serving as a reminder to the weary travellers of just how hungry they were. Expertly-pruned plants could be found in every corner of the room while a thick mahogany desk sat in the centre, flanked by two lamps emitting a soft glow. Behind it, an elderly woman wearing a pale blue kimono stood waiting for them. Her light silver hair was pulled back into a perfect bun.

"Welcome!" She called out to them while bowing deeply.

The trio knelt in the entrance area to remove their shoes and placed them on a nearby shelf before stepping into the pairs of white slippers laid out on the raised floor of the interior. A smaller pair had been prepared for Atsuko, a minuscule detail that spoke wonders of the level of service that could be expected from the establishment.

"Hiya!" Yuzu stepped into the lobby and waved both her free hand enthusiastically at the woman, happy to have left her needlessly bulky case in the entryway.

Mei and Atsuko followed after her. Mei's face carried little emotion as she was already quite acquainted with staying in such opulent lodgings. If the Aihara family could be known for only two things, they would be known for stubbornness and luxury. She did not pay much heed to her surroundings and instead focused on her two companions.

Atsuko was like a child in a candy store with eyes frantically darting in every direction. She was particularly interested in the ornate byōbu screen that lined the wall to their right. The painting on the screen depicted Fujisan and the surrounding area in beautiful detail. Atsuko did not need to look to her sisters to confirm that she should not touch it and instead settled for intermittently admiring it from afar as she took in the other furnishings. The antiquated style made her feel like a samurai and she found herself wishing that she had brought her bokken. Nee-san would not have approved though.

Yuzu had approached the desk and began cheerily discussing her journey with the woman, laughing off the numerous incidents that had stymied their progress. Mei once again found herself in awe of the two most important people in her life. Atsuko's eyes twinkled with intrigue as memories that would last a lifetime burned themselves into her conscience. Yuzu's mannerisms and bright smile gave no hint of just how stressful an afternoon she had dealt with.

Mei felt almost guilty to have such wonderful people around her. Atsuko was enjoying the childhood that had been cruelly taken away from her Nee-san while Yuzu simply did not have the capacity to let a bad mood keep her down for long. Mei did not feel any jealousy towards them though. There was only gratitude that she too could now drink deeply from the well of life alongside them.

"Your parents arrived earlier this afternoon, Okogi-sama." The innkeeper finally shifted her conversation with Yuzu back towards the topic at hand. "Please, follow me. I will show you where their room is first."

She gestured towards a nearby corridor, the full length of her kimono sleeve hanging from her slender wrist. Despite being the guests, the trio could not help but feel especially gracious and humble in the presence of the wizened woman, who stood with a slight crook in her back. It was impossible to place a number on her advanced age, but she had likely been involved with running the inn as soon as she was old enough to work. Mei felt a sense of comradeship with the woman whom she had only just met.

Atsuko anxiously looked back towards their cases, still sat in the inn's entryway save for the two plastic bags that Yuzu was carrying.

"Do not worry about that, my dear. My grandson will see to that." She slowly turned her head towards the counter, where a teenage boy was now standing. "Akio-kun, if you would..."

He nodded wordlessly and headed for the bags. His kimono was much more simple in design and was a drab dark grey colour. His lank black hair was pulled back into a ponytail and his eyes were narrowed with weariness. Mei studied him closely as he lifted the largest of the bags with relative ease and headed for the stairs to the left of the desk.

They made their way down the narrow corridor in silence, their walk slowed by the shuffle of the elderly innkeep. As they drew towards the sliding screen door, murmuring voices could be word within. Atsuko's eyes lit up upon hearing them. Her Mama and Papa were close! She began bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet, causing the ancient wooden floor to squeak underneath her.

Yuzu calmly placed a hand on Atsuko's shoulder and the energetic movement was quickly halted. In truth, Yuzu was every bit as excited as her sister. She and Mei had been in desperate need of a break and both the inn and the surrounding area were truly beautiful. It was a fitting location for her to spend some quality time with those she loved most.

They came to a stop in front of the door. The innkeep lightly rapped her hand against the wooden frame and the talking inside abruptly stopped.

"Excuse me." She called out as a formality whilst beginning to pull the door open.

The room was brightly lit and well-furnished. Tatami mats covered the floors and lamps were dotted around the room, doubtless placed in accordance to the rules of feng shui. A stack of three white futons was placed to one side of the spacious room – Two large ones with a smaller third one on top. A large set of windowed doors looked out onto a patio area overlooking a garden and beyond that, the lake.

A large and low-lying table was placed in the middle of the room. It was so well-polished that it brightly reflected the light cast by the various lamps. Three zaisu-style floor seats were placed on each side of the rectangular table, with the middle seats on each side being occupied by some familiar faces.

"Ah, they're here!" Ume quickly put her mug of green tea down and rose from her seat. Shou followed soon after her.

The two had long since changed out of their biker leathers. Ume sported a pair of tight-fitting grey jeans and a faded black Ramones t-shirt – A common sight around the apartment. Shou wore his trademark necklace along with an off-white V-neck shirt and navy blue jogging bottoms. The pair had been quick to make themselves at home and their current appearance belied their substantial wealth.

"You finally made it, huh?" Shou asked while running his hands through his messy dark brown hair.

"Your father was so worried about you three!" Ume excitedly told them. "Where are they?... They should be here by now... Yuzu-chan isn't answering her phone..." Ume put on a comically deep voice as she impersonated her awkward husband.

Shou blushed uncontrollably but was quickly rescued by his youngest daughter running up to him, he lifted her in his arms effortlessly and chuckled when Atsuko wrapped her arms around his loose-fitting shirt.

"Papa!" She yelped enthusiastically while proceeding to grab even more handfuls of Shou's shirt.

Ume smiled at the sight, then looked expectantly across the room at Yuzu. She felt a slight pang of guilt for teasing her husband as she too had started to worry about where her daughters had gotten to, so much so that she had yet to touch the impressive array of beers available at the inn. There was certainly going to be a valid explanation for their lateness.

"Sorry, we're late, Mama." Yuzu began, eyebrows drew together in a most apologetic expression. "There was so much traffic, so we tried to find another route and got lost. And then, Atsu-chan…"

"I got carsick!" Atsuko chimed in from her father's arms, her tone surprisingly upbeat.

"Oh dear. Are you okay now, Atsu-chan?" Shou managed to prize his daughter from her tight hug and looked her in the eyes with genuine concern.

"Yeah! My shirt got all messy though and we had to stop the car…" She trailed off and looked towards her sisters for reassurance.

"We needed to stop anyway." Mei was quick to quell any implications of guilt towards Atsuko. "The heat had gotten quite severe and we needed to check the map."

Yuzu then raised the two plastic bags that she had carried into the inn.

"Speaking of which, we should probably get these cleaned up." She looked towards her mother with a wilful expression. Ume understood immediately and guided Yuzu and Atsuko towards the bathroom, leaving Mei and Shou alone in the room while the innkeeper waited patiently at the door.

"Please visit the lobby when you are ready to head to your own room." She bowed deeply before shuffling back down the corridor.

Shou then turned to Mei with an awkward smile on his face. It still felt discomforting for them to be alone together. The energy and noise provided by Atsuko, Yuzu and Ume felt even louder in its absence.

"I am sorry for the trouble you've been through today." Shou rubbed the back of his neck. Mei could tell that there was something else on his mind and he was just observing formalities while he gathered his thoughts. It was a dance that she was very familiar with.

"Do not worry, father." Mei's voice carried little emotion as she made no attempt to hide her tiredness. "We made it eventually."

Shou then moved to the pair of travel bags nestled in the corner of the room and retrieved a plastic bag that was hidden behind them.

"I thought that Atsuko might like this..." Shou moved back across the room and handed the bag to Mei. "...You know how she is."

Mei opened the bag to review its contents. Inside, there was a brightly coloured box that she had recognised from various shopping trips and conversations with her younger sister. Her eyes widened slightly. She should not have been surprised by her father's thoughtfulness. Atsuko's arrival had given him a new lease on life and he was undoubtedly a much happier and more caring man now.

"A telescope?" She knew that her sister would be ecstatic. She managed to maintain a neutral expression but it was not easy to stop her lips from curling up.

"Yeah, I picked it up the other day. I think she would enjoy it more if it came from you though…" Shou had consistently underestimated just how highly Atsuko thought of him, his mind still plagued with guilt at his many poor parenting decisions from the past. "...I know th-"

"I cannot accept this, father." Mei stated firmly and not without regret. She handed the bag back to Shou and the man took it while a blush colored the tips of his ears.

Mei would have loved nothing more that to share such a precious experience with her little sister. Showing Atsuko the wonders of the cosmos through a telescope for the first time, answering her questions and sharing everything that she knew with her. Teaching her sister filled her with unthinkable levels of pride and joy. It was the most fulfilling experience.

But it would not be fair to be selfish on such an occasion, especially because of Atsuko. She deserved to know that her father had been thinking of her so deeply. While Mei's relationship with her father was unlikely to ever fully overcome the damage caused by Shou's past decisions, he was truly trying to be there for Atsuko. Mei could not deny this fact; it actually pleased her a great deal and she wished for nothing more than for Atsuko to never doubt how much she was loved. Because of that, she could not accept Shou's offer.

"Mei." He started while rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "I am aware she might be a bit too young..." He was trying to fathom the reasons of Mei's refusal and kept coming back empty handed. "... with your guidance though..."

"It is not that, father." Mei bowed her head in silent apology for interrupting her father once again. His failure to decipher her reasoning did not surprise Mei.

"Atsuko is quite brilliant." New flowers of knowledge kept blooming in the fertile field of Atsuko's mind every day.

"It would be more appropriate for you to give the telescope to her, father." Shou winced at Mei's words but accepted the bag as Mei moved to hand it back to him.

"I don't know Mei..." He sighed while swinging the bag in his hand nervously. "I will leave for a month next Wednesday. I won't be able..."

"Then I will gladly step in." The tone in Mei's voice relented some of her formality as a note of joy danced within the sound. She could not help herself, the thought of stargazing with Atsuko made her quite happy.

"...I see." A somewhat confident grin conquered Shou's lips, perhaps he had finally understood. "If you think it's best, Mei. You know her so well, after all."

Once voices could be heard from the hall, he quickly moved to conceal the gift once more.

Atsuko, Yuzu and Ume reentered the room without the bags. Atsuko's face was slightly damp as her mother had washed it to remove any lingering traces of germs. Yuzu was beaming as the smell of cooking grew more enticing. She had eaten nothing but light snacks all day and was ready for what was supposed to be a superb multi-course meal.

"Mei…" She looked to her partner with hungry eyes. "...We really should head to our room. Dinner is soon."

"Yes." Mei turned back towards Shou and Ume. "We will be back here shortly."

"Nee-san…" Atsuko looked at Mei with hopeful eyes. She knew that she was to share a room with her parents, but still had to ask.

Yuzu and Mei looked at each other with troubled expressions, both unsure about how to best address the situation. Their love for their youngest sister was limitless, but they also had unfinished business to attend to from the morning. Ume stepped forward and put her arms around Atsuko's shoulders.

"Atsu-chan, don't you want to share with your Mama and Papa?" She asked in the sweetest of tones, resting her cheek against Atsuko's cheek as she knelt behind her to better hug her.

Atsuko pouted, but did not reply. An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Shou anxiously shifted his balance while Mei was filled with a sudden desire to look towards the ceiling. Yuzu tried to suppress her blushes but was quickly losing the battle as a rouge hue began to colour her cheeks. Ume once again moved to resolve things as delicately as possible.

"Atsu-chan, I think your sisters wanted to have a room to themselves…" Ume closed her eyes to maintain a straight face. "...You'll understand when you're older."

"Okay…" Atsuko made little attempt to hide her disappointment and did not comprehend why she could not sleep in the same room as her sisters, but knew not to press the issue further.

"Hey, Atsu-chan! I've got a surprise for you." Shou followed his wife's lead and attempted to cheer his youngest daughter up. He had not intended to give her the gift just yet, but the situation left no alternative.

Atsuko's expression immediately brightened and she dashed over to her father's side, her mouth was agape with excitement and there was a most enthusiastic bounce in her steps. Her Papa always brought back the coolest gifts from his travels!

"As I was saying, we will be back here shortly." Mei flipped her hair behind her shoulder and headed out of the room with Yuzu in tow.

As they made their way back down the corridor, they heard Atsuko's cheers of delight in the room behind them. Shou's gambit had worked to perfection. The pair found themselves smiling uncontrollably, sharing in the joy of their darling sister.

Apéritif

The elderly innkeeper guided Yuzu and Mei up the narrow staircase, the pair slowly following in single file as they made their way to their second floor room.

"Dinner will be ready in the downstairs room in twenty minutes." She explained in her timeless voice. "Now, if you'll just follow me…"

She led them into another corridor, which was almost identical to the one on the floor below. They reached another sliding door and the innkeeper led them inside. The room was as large as the one downstairs and contained a normal double bed rather than the futons in the room below. The odd blend of traditional and more contemporary styles was not what Mei was expecting, but she was silently thankful to have some of her home comforts. She had no time for futons, not any more.

"I'll leave you to get comfortable." Her tone did not shift an inch. If she was surprised by the relationship between Yuzu and Mei, then it was masterfully concealed. It was of little concern for the lovers, who were just glad to have finally made it to the inn.

"Wow, Mei. This is nicer than I was expecting!" Yuzu threw her arms out and twirled around the spacious room.

"Father is good at finding these places, Yuzu." Mei responded in an even tone, although she was delighted by the surprised sparkle animating Yuzu's beautiful green eyes.. "...But this is particularly pleasant."

Yuzu turned to face Mei and placed her right hand against her soft pale cheek. She drew in close to her face, not breaking eye contact as she did so. Mei's eyebrows raised with anticipation.

"Anywhere is fine as long as I'm with you, Mei." Yuzu did not give her the opportunity to respond with words and went in quickly for a kiss. Mei was more than happy to reciprocate, meeting Yuzu's lips with her own. The only sound that could be heard was the rustling of clothes as Mei shifted her arm to wrap it around Yuzu.

It had been a long and arduous day and the pair needed some time alone more than ever. Their lips remained locked as they stood in the centre of the room. All notion of time was completely disregarded. The embrace tightened. In that moment, the only thing that mattered to Mei and Yuzu was each other.

Finally, they broke apart and both exhaled deeply. Mei permitted a small smile to creep across her face and remained entirely focused on Yuzu's dazzling green eyes. To her, Yuzu was the embodiment of beauty itself.

"...We should prepare for dinner." Mei forced herself back to reality. The protests of her stomach had become difficult to ignore.

She headed towards the bathroom on the opposite side of the room and looked towards the balcony. Her eyes widened at what she saw.

"Yuzu, did you know about this?" Mei looked out onto the balcony and fixated her eyes on the large wooden bath that took up most of the balcony, it was sheltered from the outside by large wooden panels acting as walls. Even the panels were finely decorated.

Yuzu walked over and stood next to Mei. She could not stop herself from gasping and taking a step forward.

"It didn't look that big in the pictures." She pressed her face against the glass door and peered out. At the sight of the huge outdoor bathroom, her mind traveled to night time and she savored the enticing taste of anticipation. Her lips curled up in excitement. She was famished in more ways than one.

The sun's light was starting to fade and clouds had began creeping across the sky. It was a breathtaking view. Yuzu wanted nothing more than to sample the room's facilities with Mei as soon as possible, but she too knew that dinner should come first.

Mei walked to their suitcase, which had been placed at the foot of the bed. She felt relieved to finally be able to change her clothes, which were still clinging uncomfortably to her skin after such a lengthy spell in the hot car. She grabbed the case and slung it onto the bed before unzipping it.

"Hey, Mei." Yuzu appeared behind her. "After dinner, do you want to go for a walk? I think we could really use the fresh air…" She delicately kissed Mei on the neck as she awaited her reply.

"...Yes." Mei replied and was surprised by feeling a rush of shyness at the simple request. "A walk would be nice."

The two each removed a change of clothes and placed their toiletries in the bathroom. Yuzu's large makeup bag dominated the bathroom counter. It was a familiar sight that Mei had long given up questioning; the results of Yuzu's various cosmetic choices spoke for themselves.

After a brief freshen up, the pair removed their clothes and changed into their new ones. Yuzu had opted for a sleeveless white knitted top with a yellow knee-length skirt. Mei chose a pair of cropped pants and a sleeveless shirt, both cream in colour, she added a very elegant thin blue belt to her pants - A suggestion from the more fashion-conscious Yuzu. The top button of Mei's shirt was undone, exposing her angular clavicle - a deliberate choice to entice her lover.

"Let's go, Mei." Yuzu's eyes traveled along the length of Mei's elegant figure, lingering on the inviting pale collarbone. "I'm starving." She grabbed Mei's hand and briskly led her from the room.

Any sign of Atsuko's frustration from earlier was gone, as was her nausea. She excitedly regaled her parents with the stories that she had read in her samurai books. Ume and Shou smiled and hung on to her every word, wisely choosing not to note that they had heard the same stories from her many times before.

"We're here!" Yuzu announced her arrival in typically bombastic fashion, enthusiastically strolling into the room whilst almost dragging Mei behind her by the hand.

"Good timing, you two." Shou remarked with a broad smile on his face. "Food will be here in a few minutes."

The family assumed their seats around the table. Atsuko sat in between her parents on one side while Mei and Yuzu occupied the other. Ume and Shou sat cross-legged, while their daughters took a more dignified approach and kneeled on the soft cushions provided by the inn.

"Yuzu-nee, Nee-san!" Atsuko excitedly slammed her hands down on the table and stood on her knees. "Papa got me a telescope!" She frantically swivelled her head towards the box, which was now sat with Atsuko's small suitcase.

"I saw." Mei looked her directly in the eye, she was as happy as her sister. Although, only Yuzu would have been able to tell. "We will have to do some stargazing, Atsuko."

Atsuko nodded her head many times in agreement, her smile so broad that it easily reached her eyes. Watching the night sky with her Nee-san would surely be an experience to treasure.

Yuzu looked between the two and smiled to herself. Her dark-haired beauties were like two peas in a pod and she could not have been happier about it. She was aware that Mei had not smiled much as a child. Her beautiful Mei saw in Atsuko all she could have been had she not been denied love. She was not morose over it, quite the opposite. Mei did everything in her power to ensure Atsuko's happiness.

It felt as though, through her love for their sister, Mei was able to rescue a small part of her younger self. Yuzu could only feel uncontrollably happy over it. Her stomach clenching cut through her thoughts and forced her back to the present. She did not mind as it was a wonderful present.

"Man, I'm starving!" She announced while stretching her nimble arms above her head.

"This meal has ten courses, so please try to pace yourself, Yuzu." Ume smiled at her, but her warning was to be heeded. Her oldest daughter had the tendency to eat faster than her stomach could keep up, a trait that Atsuko was also picking up as she grew older. Maybe if Yuzu slowed down, her sister would follow her example. Ume had little hope over that happening though.

Right on cue, the innkeeper's son arrived with the first course, placing the expensive-looking porcelain tray in the exact centre of the table before silently bowing as he left. On the tray were five expertly-arranged pieces of salmon wrapped around themselves in ornate fashion and topped off with some herbs. If they were less hungry, the family might have felt a pang of guilt over eating something so meticulously crafted.

"Itadakimasu!" They called in unison before digging in. The same singular thought of food taking center stage in all of their minds.

Very few words were shared as they briskly devoured one course after the other. Grilled meats, soups and pickled vegetables all fell before them. Even Mei let her usually refined motions slip now and then as she polished off her portions. Atsuko and Yuzu were still animalistic by comparison, their chopsticks almost a blur as they seemed to compete with one another to see who could finish their serving first.

The next course arrived, containing a broad selection of various seafoods. Seafood was one of only a few things that Mei and Atsuko did not have in common. Atsuko liked only particular varieties while completely reviling others. Her Nee-san, on the other hand, was something of a connoisseur and enjoyed all manner of seafood dishes.

Atsuko screwed her nose up, making a dramatic display of showing her offence towards one item on her plate.

"I don't like octopus" She declared with a delicate whisper, despite her body language screaming that very statement by itself.

"Atsu-chan, you don't have to eat it if you don't want to." Ume smiled gently at her youngest, always quick to relieve her daughter of any obligations.

Atsuko's expression grew dark and troubled as the dilemma dawned on her. Her mother had always told her not to be wasteful but here she was, faced with her greatest culinary enemy. Her salvation came from a common source. Mei was eyeing up the piece of octopus and Atsuko, receptive as ever to her behaviour, soon noticed.

"Nee-san…" Atsuko's tone became coy. She looked at Mei with wide eyes. "You can have it, if you want."

The slight raise of Mei's eyebrows was the show of agreement that Atsuko was expecting from her. Atsuko scooped up the piece with her child-sized porcelain chopsticks and stretched across the table. Mei swept her hair behind her shoulders and leaned forward, opening her mouth just wide enough for Atsuko to place the food in. Everyone else stopped what they were doing to observe the bold display.

Mei chewed the food for an unusually long time, savouring the taste before finally swallowing it. She lightly exhaled before turning to face her sister.

"Thank you, Atsuko. It was quite delicious." Mei bowed her head a fraction, which Atsuko knew to be a show of great gratitude.

Yuzu stared down at her own empty plate, begrudging the fact that she had not created a similar opportunity for herself. Atsuko surely must have learned the trick from her, a possibility that filled Yuzu with an odd sense of pride. She saw so much of Mei and herself in Atsuko, from the mannerisms, to the speech patterns and of the course the appearance.

The meal continued and after a few more delectable courses were served, the arrival of dessert heralded the conclusion of the feast. Atsuko half-heartedly prodded at her small piece of cake with a fork, willing her stomach to make room for one more bite. Being sick once was embarrassing enough for her. The prospect of a second instance within a few hours was simply unthinkable. She knew that her family would worry about her and she hated to see their concerned expressions.

Atsuko set her fork down next to the untouched piece of cake before resting her head on her mother's shoulder. Despite the move being entirely unprompted, Ume was very swift in drawing her precious daughter even closer to her, draping a free arm on her shoulder and resting her head on Atsuko's.

They wordlessly remained in the position, both spent from the day's exertions. The long silence was interrupted by the sound of cutlery rattling against dinnerware as Shou set his own fork down in rather slapdash fashion. He looked to Yuzu and Mei, who were both staring at their mother and sister with wide eyes. He could not resist the urge to join them as it was a wonderful sight.

"What am I going to do with you two?" Shou asked with a wry smile. "It's still light outside and both of you look out for the count."

"Shou-kuuuuunnnnnn…" Ume whined in melodramatic fashion. "We just need to let our food go down. Isn't that right, Atsu-chan."

"Hmm." Atsuko nodded. She and Mama would be right back to their usual tricks soon enough.

Sure enough, after the plates were collected and the post-dinner chatter began to fill the air, Ume and Atsuko returned to their usual levels of vim and vigor. Atsuko was excitedly reading the box containing her new telescope while Yuzu regaled her parents with a tale about a particularly odd client that she had worked with recently.

Atsuko held the box aloft, keen to examine every tiny facet of it. Her desperation to open it up as soon as possible was palpable, but she contained herself. It was a gift from her Papa and she knew that it was important to share the first viewing of the stars with him. She would tell him all the things that her Nee-san had taught her about the cosmos!

Shou, meanwhile, was already occupied with his oldest daughter. He rested his face in his palm as he sat with elbow against the table. Like her mother, Yuzu had a way of taking even the most mundane of happenings and turning them into an exciting tale. It was their unbridled enthusiasm perhaps, or their honest smiles, that could make anything seem exceptional through their green eyes.

Atsuko was the same and he was so very glad for that. He and Mei had no such gift. It did not matter though, as the energy of the three green-eyed beauties in their life was able to open their stoic purple eyes with little effort.

"...Anyway, Matsuri knew where to find one and we managed to pull it off!" Yuzu finished her story with trademark aplomb, placing one hand on her hip while fist pumping with the other.

"I see. And how is Matsuri-chan doing these days?" Ume inquired. She still worried about the daughter of her largely absent former neighbours. The precocious pink-haired pixie certainly had a capacity for excess when left unsupervised.

"She's fine…" Yuzu was reluctant to go into details about her friend and colleague's personal life. If even half of the rumours about her were true, then Ume would worry even more. "You know how she is, Mama."

Yuzu felt a modicum of remorse as she lied by omission. She knew that Matsuri was in good health but had developed a reputation as being something of a heartbreaker.

"You'll keep her on the straight and narrow, Yuzu-chan." Shou remarked. He had only met Matsuri on a handful of occasions and found himself thankful that his own daughters were easier to manage.

He then turned around to face the youngest of those daughters. While he loved all three of them, he felt particular pride in Atsuko. Shou knew in his heart that had not been a good father to Mei and the awkwardness that still afflicted their interactions was entirely justified. In Atsuko, he saw an opportunity for redemption. She was such a perfectly happy young girl and that fact went some way to alleviate the guilt that had constantly plagued him. He could not change the past but he could still influence the future.

"It's looking pretty cloudy out there, Atsu-chan…" Shou's eyes darted in the direction of the nearest window. Low-hanging clouds had rolled in as the Sun began to make its retreat in earnest.

"But Papa…" Atsuko clutched onto the telescope box tightly. Her face arranging itself into an adorable pout. It was surreal to see such a childish expression on a face that resembled Mei's in every detail but the eyes.

Mei had never pouted as a child; she had never allowed herself to. Her smiles too had been rare and carefully composed. Shou could only describe them as reluctant. It pained him to acknowledge how much he had hurt his first born but he had accepted acknowledgement to be the least he could offer Mei.

It was much more respectful and effective than any apology. Nonetheless, there was only one thing he could do for Mei at the moment and that was being a better father to her beloved sister. Upholding that value, he returned his attention to his youngest.

"Your sister might be able to change the weather, but I can't." He smiled in spite of the sombre tone of his voice. "We'll watch the stars as soon as we get a clear evening sky."

"...Promise?" Atsuko asked wilfully. Her wide green eyes were fixed on his face, the man felt himself held in place by them. It was such an intense stare.

"Yes. I promise." Shou raised his large hand and placed it on Atsuko's head before ruffling her hair.

Atsuko smiled in response. She loved her Papa so much! He was big and strong and he got her lots of cool things! Papa travelled all around the world helping children! Sometimes, she missed him when more than a month would pass between his homecomings. It was okay though as they talked at least four times a week. Besides, Atsuko knew how lucky she was and she did not mind sharing her Papa with less fortunate children.

She wrapped herself around him in a tight hug, prompting Shou to place one of his bulky arms around her back.

The display of affection finally caused Mei to stand up and rejoin the rest of her family. She walked towards Yuzu, who was still cheerily conversing with her mother. As silent as a cat, she drew in close behind her lover. Ume's gaze was immediately upon her and she let out the slightest of smiles, not wanting to alert Yuzu to her presence.

Mei reached out and gently grabbed a handful of Yuzu's top. Yuzu let out a small yelp and shuddered. Ume no longer had to maintain her straight face and burst out laughing at the behaviour of her two oldest daughters.

"Ahahaha, she got you!" Ume's mirth was contagious. "The look on your face was so funny, Yuzu!"

Yuzu became increasingly flustered and was still aware of Mei's hold on her clothes. She slowly placed a hand on Mei's flawless pale arm and carefully detached her. Setting upon her lover with her bright green eyes, Yuzu awaited an explanation.

"Yuzu… The walk…" Mei awkwardly blurted out. Mei cherished the moments that she got to share with her family and did not want to make a scene of trying to leave for the evening. The time for subtlety was over though.

Yuzu turned back around to face her mother, her expression apologetic.

"Don't mind us, Yuzu. We'll see you in the morning." Ume smiled warmly at the pair of them, prompting Mei to bow slightly.

On seeing both of her sisters heading for the exit, Atsuko decided to leave her telescope for a while and lowered the box on the tatami-covered floor with the utmost care. Once her new treasure was taken care of, she stood and dashed to her sisters and all but crashed into Yuzu, hugging her tightly about the waist.

"Easy there, little samurai." Yuzu chuckled and laid one hand on Atsuko's shoulder, hugging her back.

"Where are you going, Yuzu-nee?" Atsuko asked, bright green eyes fixed on her oldest sister.

"For a walk, sweetheart." Yuzu smiled sweetly at her sister and run her fingers through her sleek hair, it was all ruffled, but it took only an instant to smooth it back into place. Atsuko's hair was fine and silky like Mei's. It took little to keep it in order.

"Mmmhmmm" She felt Atsuko nod against her stomach. Yuzu thought that her sister's bangs needed a trim as she continued to run her fingers through its length absentmindedly.

Yuzu was torn. On one hand, she wished for nothing more than to spend some time with her Mei. Yet, leaving her sister like that and without asking her if she would like to join them did not settle well with her. She looked at Mei and was not surprised to notice that the same dilemma was taking place in her mind.

"Atsu-chan." Shou called from over the room. He was still sitting cross-legged by the table, but was now holding the telescope box. "We might not be able to stargaze, but we could still take the telescope out and set it up..."

"Yes, Papa!" Atsuko thundered while Yuzu looked at her stepfather with a most grateful expression.

"All right, then. Come here." Yuzu lifted Atsuko into a tight hug. She swayed gently from side to side, enjoying the feeling of holding her sister in her arms as Atsuko burrowed deeper into her shoulder. Apart from the doctors, Yuzu had been the first one to hold her just-born baby sister - A fact she took great pride in. She sighed and kissed Atsuko soundly on the cheek a couple of times before setting her down.

"I'll see you tomorrow, little samurai. We're gonna have some serious fun!"

"Yes!" Atsuko nodded enthusiastically and bumped fists with her Yuzu-nee. It was simply not possible to not have fun when her Yuzu-nee was around. She turned to her Nee-san with expectant green eyes. She had to wait only a few seconds. Mei knelt in front of her and drew her into a tight hug, as was her habit.

"I will see you tomorrow, Atsuko." She whispered by Atsuko's ear and felt the child nod energetically against her neck before saying, "Yes, Nee-san"

Mei released her and after kissing her lightly on the head, she stood up, ready to follow Yuzu.

They bid their final goodbyes to Ume and Shou, Ume laughed at them while making shooing gestures with her hands to have them go. Shou spoke his farewell to them while gathering a rather enthusiastic Atsuko in his arms as they got ready to set the telescope up.

Pas de Deux

The pair made quite a sight as they exited the inn. Mei had pulled on a blue leather jacket and a pair of moderately-heeled cream shoes to match the rest of her outfit. Yuzu had opted, as usual, for her favourite varsity jacket and a similarly matching pair of flat red shoes. Mei was already taller than her lover and her choices of footwear further accentuated their differences in height.

Yuzu grinned uncontrollably. Before her mother remarried and she moved to the Aihara Academy, she had always wished to be able to hold hands with a tall and gorgeous partner. Things had not panned out exactly as she had expected them to back then, but she could not have been happier in her current position.

Mei's grasp on Yuzu's hand was firm but not uncomfortable as she willed all of the affection and warmness that she could muster into it. Yuzu brought such unimaginable joy to her life every single day and Mei would not allow herself to pass up on an opportunity to remind her of that.

"Wow, it's pretty busy tonight!" Yuzu observed.

The streets were lined with a mixture of families, couples and salarymen, all looking to settle down for a nice meal or drink after a sweltering day under the Sun. Mei and Yuzu joined the fray, hoping to gain a feel for the town they would be calling home for the next few days.

"It is the climbing season, Yuzu." Mei remarked.

The town's location in the shadow of the great mountain made it a popular spot for tourists to stay during their summit attempts. Many of those currently lining the streets were likely to have been heading off on coaches and trains to make their ascent and watch the sunrise from the highest point in the country.

The prospect did not appeal much to either of them. Yuzu did not particularly care for the idea of wearing hiking boots while Mei saw little point in making the journey - She already got to see the most beautiful Sun in the world each and every morning.

They walked on, passing many bars and eateries as they did so. Yuzu found herself blushing as people stared at her and Mei.

The glances with disapproving eyes were something that Yuzu would never become completely accustomed to. They would never deter her from displaying her love for Mei in public, of course, but they were an unpleasant reminder that the relationship they had was not universally accepted by people.

"Yuzu." Mei had immediately noticed her lover's change in expression and the grip on her hand tightened a little more.

"I know, Mei… We shouldn't concern ourselves with what others think." Yuzu repeated the adage that Mei had shared with her numerous times in the past.

They rounded a corner and found themselves in a more secluded side street. Both were thankful for the temporary reprieve from the prying and judgemental eyes.

Mei abruptly stopped and balletically pivoted on one leg, turning to face Yuzu. Yuzu too stopped in her tracks, her face coloured with surprise and anticipation. Mei silently took Yuzu's other hand into her own so that both of their hands were connected.

What other people thought of Mei was of no consequence to her. She only cared about those she loved, and she loved Yuzu and Atsuko above all things. It hurt her to see Yuzu in pain as she could do little to change the world's disposition. She could only love Yuzu as fiercely as she could, as loudly as she could and hope for her love to draw away any sounds of discontent.

"Some people will never understand what we have." Mei stated nonchalantly while capturing Yuzu's green eyes with her own.

To Yuzu, Mei's word was the law itself and to hear the fact provided in such a casual tone filled her with confidence and belief. They could not change the hearts and minds of everyone and nor did they need to. To be with each other was more than satisfactory.

"Mei…" Yuzu whispered the name, enjoying the feeling of the word on her lips and tongue.

Mei closed her eyes and leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on Yuzu's cheek. Yuzu had moved to meet her lips with her own, but Mei was already pulling away from her.

"We should really head back now." Mei allowed her lips to curl into a tiny smirk as she knew that her lover would be able to read between the lines.

Yuzu exercised no self-restraint however and smiled brightly in response, silently ruing that it would take at least twenty minutes for them to return to the inn. They returned to the main street and doubled back on themselves, briskly heading back in the direction that they had initially came from.

In Bloom

Mei and Yuzu walked along the stony path of the inn's gardens, holding hands and laxly swinging them as they took measured steps. The garden was dimly lit by lanterns placed all about it. Although in some spots there were artificial lights, they were embedded into aptly shaped rocks in a wonderful display of modernity and tradition. It was a blend that the inn had elevated to an art form.

Both the lanterns and the artificial lights produced the same soft orange glow. It felt warm to the eyes and added to the garden otherworldly feeling. The vegetation around them was rich and vibrant but too orderly to be counted as wild, aiming instead to create a vision of serenity. Cicadas singing their summer song accompanied their slow steps and the wet thud of a sōzu bamboo hitting a musky rock could be heard now and then. It was its own world.

Yuzu tightened her hold around Mei's hand and tugged slightly, causing her lover to turn to her. Yuzu greeted Mei's eyes with the sweetest of smiles. It was a smile she knew that Mei could hardly leave alone and as it always happened, Mei raised a hand to her lover's shoulder, moved closer and tilting her head, met Yuzu in a kiss.

The peaceful atmosphere made their kiss a slow one, a languid dance, the steps so familiar and the feelings as powerful as ever. Yuzu ran her hands down her lover's back and rested them on the curvature of Mei's hips to pull her even closer. She felt Mei chuckle against her mouth before pulling back, leaving Yuzu stunned in the middle of a kiss. Mei bent her head to capture Yuzu's collarbone between her teeth and bit down hard enough to leave a mark but not hard enough to hurt. Yuzu gasped, hand raising to cup Mei's head.

She knew what the biting meant. She had figured it out a long time ago.

"Yours." She murmured against Mei's hair, and captured the top of her beloved's ear between her lips. She nibbled delicately, soft skin sliding under her teeth. Mei moaned quietly, stirring a fire inside Yuzu.

Yuzu trailed tantalizing kisses along the elegant angle of Mei's jaw, stopping to nibble often enough to further entice her. Yuzu's lips continued their journey to the exposed column of Mei's neck. Her hands slipped under Mei's shirt. Her fingernails gently grazing the smooth skin as they travelled along the length of Mei's back, leaving behind a tantalizing trail in their wake.

Mei lost herself to desire completely. She went for Yuzu's lips again in a kiss that was ferociously passionate. One hand sliding along Yuzu's nimble neck, thumb firmly running along the delicious curve of Yuzu's jaw. Her other hand running down Yuzu's back to firmly cup her shapely behind and bring her even closer.

They were aware of how ridiculous a situation they were in. They had the most perfect room waiting for them and here they were, unable to contain themselves in the corner of a garden where someone could see them at any moment.

It was then, when they had given up any rational thought and had resigned themselves to their weakness, that a giggle crept into their world. It was the faintest sound, like a kitten mewling into a storm and yet it brought them back to their senses on the spot and all at once. The giggle was a familiar one. A beloved one. No storm could ever drown it out. Not for them.

Mei took a step back while her hands remained draped about Yuzu's shoulders and she offered her lover an apologetic look. Yuzu's face was warm and flush with desire, they were breathing the same air. They stood still, shallow breaths still mingling together, unable to tell where one ended and the other started.

"Not our brightest moment." Yuzu quipped easily before releasing Mei with a sigh and taking a step back. She patted her cheeks energetically as though to dissipate the heat that had gathered there. Mei knew how she felt, every inch of her was tingling and yet they did not feel a single drop of sullenness at being interrupted.

Their hands entwined again and they resumed their slow walk through the garden. Once they passed the last bend, they found themselves in front of the porch of Shou and Ume's room. The sliding doors were slightly ajar and as they had predicted, the sight of a giggling Atsuko greeted them.

Atsuko wore the pale grey jinbei provided by the inn to every guest. It was a few sizes too big and looked akin to an outfit from antiquity - An aesthetic that Atsuko certainly will have been enjoying. She was swinging her spindly legs and appeared to be having a conversation with the sky. One could only imagine what wondrous tales her mind was conjuring. There was no sight of Shou or Ume, and Atsuko had failed to notice their arrival, enraptured as she was with the night sky.

"Little samurai." Yuzu called out, careful to keep the volume of her voice low to avoid disturbing any other guests. The relative silence of the garden made it easy to draw her attention. The child jumped and yelped at the sudden sound but as soon as her eyes settled on her sisters, her fright was replaced by joy. A bright smile exploded on her face.

"Yuzu-nee! Nee-san!" She squealed in delight before jumping to her feet and dashing toward the pair. Mei all but leapt forward to intercept the little blur. She lifted Atsuko in her arms with a fluid motion and settled her on her hip with practised ease.

"Nee-san!" Atsuko cheered gleefully and all but threw her arms around her sister's neck, hugging her as tight as she could. Mei's slim blue leather jacket, a present from Yuzu, had little fabric for Atsuko to grab on to, but she still enjoyed feeling the leather creases underneath her fingers.

"Atsuko." Mei spoke the name with affection and respect as she always did. This once though, a very long sigh followed.

"We talked about being barefoot. This very morning." Mei was surprised to feel a small degree of annoyance over her sister not heeding her words. She did not wish Atsuko to blindly follow orders though. Her advice was always accompanied by a logical explanation. Atsuko deserved nothing less.

"Running barefoot on the ground is dangerous. You never know what might be on it." Mei's voice played as graceful as ever, her elegant speech was delivered in the gentle tone she reserved for her loved ones.

Yuzu snorted softly behind her, causing a brief moment of alarm in her lover's eyes.

"If you were to hurt your feet..." Mei continued, never breaking eye contact with the child. Atsuko was looking at her intensely as she always did, and Mei knew that she would pay attention to her every word.

"...You would have to miss your next race." Atsuko's vibrant green eyes widened at that, the thought terrified her.

"It's just grass, Nee-san. It's not like at home." The child explained simply. She was at ease and felt completely safe. She had no doubt over the fact that her account would be taken in consideration. "I thought-"

She had made an honest mistake and there had been no malice on her part. She fell silent, lost in her own mind for a few instants until a resolute expression settled on her delicate features. She pulled slightly back to look Mei straight in the eye, her countenance incredibly solemn. She searched her brain to find the right words, big words even. In the end, she favored simplicity. They were on holiday after all and Nee-san valued honesty above all things.

"I'm sorry, Nee-san. I know now and I won't do it again." Atsuko's voice carried no disappointment or embarrassment. She had simply misjudged the situation and was glad to be led in the correct direction by her beloved sisters.

"It is quite alright, as now you do know, Atsuko." Mei gave her a small nod, purple eyes as sincere as Atsuko's green ones. Mei's tone was firm yet laced with endless warmth. A combination she had learned to weave around her sister once she had gathered such a tone to provide Atsuko with a great level of security.

"I do, Nee-san." Atsuko gave Mei a nod, identical to the one she had just received. Curt and small. Perfect understanding was achieved between the two.

"Very well." Mei concluded and leaned in to rest her lips on Atsuko's forehead for a few moments in a silent kiss. As she did, a slow smile spread over Atsuko's face. It was a smile that spoke of tenderness and upon seeing it, Mei allowed a small smile to curve her own lips.

In spite of the solemnity of it, the moment had not been a quiet one. Yuzu had been giggling throughout and now Mei could finally investigate the source of Yuzu's amusement.

"Yuzu…?" Her elegant features relaxed into an adorably curious expression that gave her face a childlike quality. Yuzu could only shake her head, unable as she was to contain her merriment.

"Just looking at the two of you." Yuzu explained eventually as a laugh bubbled to her lips and stretched her words. On spotting Mei and Atsuko's identically confused faces, her mirth all but doubled. She tried to straighten up but found herself rolling on her heels and leaning back to laugh at the starless sky. Slowly but steadily, she managed to collect herself. Her dark-haired beauties were still waiting for an explanation and looking adorable in the process.

"You two, right now." Yuzu continued with less difficulty. "You were trying to out-Aihara each other... So badly." Upon hearing that comment, Mei arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow while Atsuko tilted her head. Yuzu just shrugged her shoulders while showing both her palm to the pair, a gesture meant to convey helplessness. "I can't really explain it, Mei."

"You just explained it, Yuzu." A clear note of amusement played in Mei's voice. It was no mystery that she took a lot of pride over Atsuko having inherited the best traits that her father's side of the family had to offer: The clear determination, a very focused mind and a penchant for the dramatic. Fortunately, having Ume as a mother had stopped the less excellent Aihara traits from manifesting themselves. Her beloved sister could enjoy the best of both worlds.

"Being barefoot on sand is okay, isn't it, Yuzu-nee?" Atsuko was currently reconsidering all she knew about the matter. It felt more logical asking Yuzu-nee.

Nee-san spent most of her time reading in the shade at the beach while Yuzu-nee would play with her, in the sand and in the water. Although after a day at the beach, resting in Nee-san's arms while she read to her made for a perfect day.

"Well, it can get hot… and you have to watch out for jellyfish if you're by the sea." Yuzu's response was surprisingly mature and measured. She glanced over at the slightly ajar door to Ume, Shou and Atsuko's room.

It was not hard to guess what had happened. The parents and their daughter must have fallen asleep. It was not unexpected considering the eventful day they had. Then the youngest member of the family woke up, found herself alone and decided to take some fresh air.

Regardless, at the moment Atsuko was as happy as could be and wide awake. Although when she snuggled deeper into Mei's arms, Yuzu could not help but tease her sister a little.

"Look at you, little samurai." Yuzu said while gently rubbing Atsuko's back for comfort. "You are so very sleepy."

"I'm not, Yuzu-nee." As expected, Atsuko straightened herself up immediately and if Mei had not had the sharpest of reflexes, Atsuko's head would have collided with her chin.

"I'm not sleepy." She reiterated, opening her green eyes as wide as she could to further prove her point.

"Well—" Yuzu crossed her arms over her chest, tilted her head and scrunched up her face, pretending to give the matter some serious consideration. "— it is past your bedtime, Atsu-chan."

"We aren't at home, Yuzu-nee…" Atsuko replied swiftly. She must have already given the situation some thought when deciding if leaving her futon would be okay. Nevertheless, she searched Mei's eyes, silently asking for support.

"You make a fair point, Atsuko." Mei lost no time in offering it, she could not take the teasing any further.

"Mama and Papa are sleeping, so..." Atsuko spoke slowly, stretching the last word to last longer than it should. She looked at her sisters while a needful expression settled on her adorable face.

Yuzu and Mei shared a glance. They would have to postpone their romantic bath a while longer and It was not an imposition in the least. It was their privilege.

Bear with me

The three took a seat on the porch, with Mei and Yuzu sitting so closely that there was no space between them. Their romantic encounter would have to wait, but the need to feel each other was still potent. Once they had reached their planned sitting spot, Atsuko had hugged Mei even tighter, sending her sister a clear message. She did not want to leave her embrace and Mei had no problem obliging her. Besides, the evening had proved to be a bit on the chilly side once the Sun had finally taken its leave.

Mei took in the sight of her sister. Atsuko could not be happier, all bundled up in her arms, head resting on her shoulder, hands playing with her jacket. Sometimes, she wondered if there had really been a time before Atsuko. She knew that was the case and yet somehow it all happened at once: Stopping the marriage, mother announcing her pregnancy, getting back together with Yuzu. As if in the midst of chaos, everything suddenly aligned itself, drawing the first lines of the wonderful picture her life was meant to become. It was most incredible to think how much her life had changed over the years.

And it all happened because of the incredible woman that was currently smiling at her. Yuzu was looking at her with dream-filled eyes as though to her, Mei was the most precious thing to exist in the whole universe. Mei was not completely sure if she was deserving of such love, but she eventually decided that it did not matter. For as long as Yuzu would love her, Mei would feel blessed. She would always return her love just as intensely.

While still smiling to Mei, Yuzu guided Atsuko's bare feet into her lap and started to rub them between her hands, causing the child to giggle in delight. Those small feet were quite chilly and Yuzu had no intention to let a cold ruin their small vacation.

"Atsuko, darling, as annoying as socks can be, they beat getting sick." Yuzu's voice held no recrimination, just an amused exasperation. Mei met her eyes as that mystical word left her mouth. They shrugged simultaneously for it had no effect on the child. It never did. The mystery of the socks persisted.

"I will be more mindful, Yuzu-nee." Atsuko was quick to reply, making Yuzu chuckle.

Atsuko's vocabulary was quite wide for a child of her age and was growing with every passing day. Mei had a lot to do with it. Besides reading together, the two Aiharas loved to play word games, like finding synonyms or antonyms. They could go at it for hours to no end and there was no winner, as it was not a competition with each other. They were competing with the language itself, challenging the dictionary. Two samurai against an army of millions.

"I appreciate it, sweetheart." Yuzu warmly replied and smiled sweetly to Atsuko.

Still, if they were to sit outside, Atsuko had to wear something warmer than just her jinbei. Yuzu took her shoes off with practiced ease and placed them on the porch neatly. She reached for a nearby pair of slippers and put them on. She jolted into a standing position and offered her hand to Atsuko.

"Come with. Let's get you into something warmer." Atsuko was reluctant to leave the comfort of Nee-san's arms, but she was aware that Yuzu-nee was right.

Still . . .

"Your sister will be here when we get back, Atsu-chan." Yuzu could not help herself as a knowing smile settled on her lips. She could not blame Atsuko for being unwilling to leave the warmth of Mei's arms. Yuzu knew firsthand what a wonderful place that was. Her mind was running other plans though and the night had truly grown chilly. The earlier heat was but a faint memory.

Atsuko felt her face fire up at Yuzu-nee's words. A healthy blush spread about her cheeks with little mercy. Her sisters could always tell was she was thinking and yet, there was something more. Yuzu-nee was smiling at her and slowly raising and lowering her eyebrows as if trying to tell her something.

But of course! She realized. A smile mirroring Yuzu's spread over Atsuko's face as she nodded several times in quick succession. She took her sister's hand and yelped cheerfully when she was all but hauled onto her feet. The pair pushed the sliding door just enough to pass through, and disappeared into Ume and Shou's room. They relied on Yuzu's smartphone torch to find their way around. After all, Ume and Shou were both heavy sleepers but switching on the main lights in the room would still surely wake them.

Those two were up to something. Mei had little doubt over it. Reading Yuzu was rather easy as her love wore her heart on her sleeve. Even further than that, Mei had spent countless hours thinking about her beautiful Yuzu from the very first time they had met.

Over the years, she realized she had several misconceptions regarding her beloved. She used to think Yuzu did not use logic to make her own decisions and blindly followed her impulses. She had been terribly wrong in that regard. Yuzu employed logic just as much as she did, but Yuzu's logic answered to different tenets. Fairness in place of duty, for instance. Mei had grown to know her Yuzu so well that she could realize what the blonde was feeling even before the woman herself had the chance to decipher her emotions.

Regardless, even though she knew that troublesome duo of hers to be plotting something, she was not inclined to further investigate. She was secretly looking forward to whatever they were planning. In the meantime, Mei savored the silence and took the chance to truly study her surroundings without the great distraction represented by Yuzu's lips.

The porch overlooked a garden that, like everything else in the inn, was immaculately maintained. A winding path comprising of pale stepping stones cut through a sea of pale sun-bleached grass in the centre of the courtyard. Serpentine Japanese black pine trees twisted and turned up from the ground in each corner of the yard, with ice-white gardenias growing around their base.

The distant sound of running water could be heard, the source of which was a small rocky fountain which fed into a two-tiered stream that eventually spilled out into a larger pond surrounded by spotted laurel shrubs. Several stone tōrō lamps were dotted around the garden, each one weathered and encroached upon by moss. They cast a faint orange glow as the candles inside burned.

Despite the spaciousness of the garden, the lack of sound gave it a distinctly intimate feeling. It was a place for quiet contemplation and reflection. A glimpse of the Moon could be spotted, now and then through the occasional break in the wispy clouds that rolled in, casting the town in a cosy embrace.

A profound sense of tranquillity enveloped Mei until...

Something fell on her from behind and seized her around the shoulders. She gasped, her stupor lasting but a second as she recognized her assailant immediately. Mei was way too familiar with her weight and the general feel of her. What she was not familiar with, were the supposedly terrifying growls that were being roared straight into her ear.

She had never been tackled like this before, as this manner of greeting was reserved for the other members of her family. It was not unpleasant as much as it was unexpected and she was not sure how to react to it. The wisest choice seemed to be to mimic what Yuzu always did in this situation. Swift and graceful as a cat, Mei shifted sideways and turned before wrapping her arms around Atsuko. She then pulled her back towards her lap.

And just like that, she found herself with a bear in her arms.

She took in the sight of Atsuko and all but froze while her pupils grew larger than ever before. Her little sister was sporting an adorable oversized purple hoodie. It was unlike any hoodie Mei had ever seen. It was made of the same fuzzy fabric plushies were made of - soft and rich to the touch, just like Kumagorou and Selene. On top of the hood sat two magnificent teddy bear ears, also the same shade of purple.

"Nee-san!" Atusko's voice partially freed her from the freezing spell that was holding her. Mei focused her eyes on her little sister. Atsuko's green eyes were sparkling with joy and the biggest of smiles was on her cherub-like face.

"I'm a bear, Nee-san!" She made claws with her hands and raised them up, the oversized sleeves fell back to reveal her thin forearms. "Rooooooooar!" She growled, looking all the more adorable for it.

Mei felt a laugh start in her stomach. She let it go and soon it parted her lips where an incredulous small smile had settled. She took hold of one of the purple bear ears and squeezed gently at it with the tips of her fingers. Again and again… and then again for good measure.

"Yuzu-nee got it for me, Nee-san." Atsuko piped up enthusiastically, smile bright as ever, beautiful green eyes laughing.

Of course she did. The thought was a warm one. It brought her a feeling of contentment that she had become familiar with. It centered around Yuzu. Her beautiful love was constantly thinking about her. It was the attention Yuzu paid to details and apparently small matters that made Mei feel like the most precious of treasures. Like getting a bear-themed hoodie for their little sister, and just because she knew Mei to be fond of teddy bears. Actions such as this one filled Mei with unthinkable levels of joy.

When Yuzu walked back onto the porch, Mei was still laughing.

Yuzu had just helped her little sister with zipping up the bear hoodie they had purchased in Harajuku just four days ago when Atsuko all but vanished out of thin air. She had rushed outside without a second thought.

Yuzu was left crouching on the tatami covered floor, a pair of child sized socks by her side. She huffed in mild annoyance, gathered the socks and jumped up, careful to be light on her feet since Ume and Shou were asleep behind a thin paper door.

"Seriously, Atsuko-" She started after her, walking through the wooden sliding door and onto the porch. She had half a mind to reprimand her sister for taking off like that when the sight of Mei and Atsuko filled her eyes. Her reproach died on her lips, her face softened into a tender expression and soon she started smiling uncontrollably.

Yuzu wished Mei could see herself right now. No trace of the heartbroken lonely girl that Yuzu had met almost eight years ago could be spotted. She was aware that Mei would always feel the echoes of that pain as her years of solitude and abandonment could not be erased. Yet, looking at her now, Yuzu had no trouble believing that her beloved had found enough happiness to forever keep her pain at arm's length.

It was a simple scene. Mei was laughing, elegantly and delicately as always. She was absolutely delighted by the sight of Atsuko's hoodie as Yuzu had predicted she would be. She held their precious sister in her lap with ease. After Ume finally resorted to tricking her into holding a baby Atsuko for the first time, Mei had rapidly blossomed into her mentoring role.

Mei once again experienced what being loved unconditionally felt like, being shown for a second time how precious she was, how deserving of adoration and how inspiring of devotion. It had fortified her sense of self-worth in unexpected ways. She might never fully realize what an incredible woman she was, perhaps peeking into the eyes of loved ones would offer her a glimpse though.

Yuzu crouched and rested her elbows on her knees, careful not to make a sound. Atsuko was telling her sister about a school project she had been working on with Mayu-chan. Mei would nod slightly now and then while Atsuko's expressive voice rose and fell animatedly. Yuzu was not surprised by the fact that Mei could not leave Atsuko's bear ears alone. While one arm was wrapped firmly around Atsuko's small frame, the other was up, allowing her hand to gently squeeze the fluffy ear repeatedly.

By then, Mei must have felt Yuzu's eyes on her as she tilted her head ever so slightly and darted a gaze toward her love. Atsuko's vibrant green eyes followed Mei's shift predictably. She too was completely attuned to her sisters.

"Looks like you found yourself a bear, love." A smile dawned on Yuzu's face. It started small and spread slowly as she savored the look of absolute love Mei was giving her. Once the smile reached her green eyes, it could have challenged the Sun itself with its radiance.

"Yuzu-nee!" Atsuko called out excitedly bouncing slightly on Mei's lap. "Nee-san loves it! Just like you said!"

"Do you, Mei?" Yuzu teased gently while sliding over to sit beside Mei. She draped one arm around Mei's shoulder, feeling her beloved lean into her when she squeezed gently. Mei did not need to answer. The smile she gifted Yuzu with was more than enough confirmation.

"And you!" Yuzu released Mei and shifted about to take hold of Atsuko's small foot.

"Still sockless!" She pulled a rather menacing face and tickled the sole of Atsuko's foot, causing her to squirm and giggle out wildly. "Weren't you supposed to be more mindful?" She teased recalling the words Atsuko had spoken a few minutes ago.

Her words silenced her sister's giggle and brought an apologetic expression on her face. Not the effect Yuzu was aiming for, she could not fault her sister's enthusiasm after all. She had to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"How fast are you anyway?" Yuzu wondered honestly as she finally managed to put a sock over Atsuko's foot. "One moment you were standing in front of me and the next— " Yuzu fixed curious green eyes on her sister smiling face. "POOOF! Gone!"

"I'm fast like this, Yuzu-nee!" Atsuko quickly swiped her index through the air in a serious bid to describe her speed.

"Like this!" Yuzu mimicked her gesture, although her index moved at a slower rate.

Yuzu caught sight of Mei's bemused face as she did so and raised an eyebrow. The two exchanged a whole conversation with a few gestures and facial expressions. If Yuzu had been aiming to get Atsuko to feel sleepy, she was making quite a poor job of it.

"No!" Atsuko protested as expected and ran her finger through the air again. Narrowly missing Mei's eye as the hoodie was limiting her peripheral vision quite a bit.

"Mmmm. That's quite fast, little samurai" Yuzu scrunched up her face to convey a dubious expression as she put the spare sock on Atsuko's other foot.

"I think you're exaggerating." She all but challenged, looking at her sister from under her golden bangs.

"I'm not." A rather serious look had appeared on Atsuko's cute face and her voice had taken on a note of severity. She fixed determined green eyes on Yuzu, a gaze far too intense for a child so young.

"I am going to win every race, Yuzu-nee." She declared with a steady voice that played a rather grave note.

Her speed was a serious matter, after all. She was rather clumsy when it came to sports and her kendo ability remained poor, no matter how much work she put into it. But when it came to running, she was electric. She would even catch a pigeon one day.

"Atsuko." Mei's voice was playing the same note as she slightly tipped Atsuko back in her arms. She needed to look directly into her beautiful green eyes and the hood was in the way. "You have nothing to prove to anyone."

Mei could not stand the thought of her sister putting herself through the same mental torture she had gone through as a child. Drive was something wonderful that should be nurtured and praised but obsession was a different matter. Obsession could easily poison one's mind and dry up one's heart.

Yuzu witnessed the exchange with a spot of guilt. The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, gaining a dimension of seriousness she had not aimed or accounted for. She should have predicted it though.

As different as their upbringings were, Atsuko still had a relentless focus on self-betterment. Mei had a similar mentality when she was the same age, but had little choice in the matter when under the watchful eye of her grandfather. Yuzu took it upon herself to bring the conversation's tone back to a light one.

"Well…" She started, stretching the word playfully while draping one arm around Mei's shoulder. Her green eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Aiharas are a stubborn bunch." She shrugged her shoulders and sighed, hoping to convey a sense of inevitability. As expected, a rather displeased expression appeared on her beloved's face.

"...We are not..." Mei pronounced the three words with a severe tone that left no room for discussion. It was so blatant that even Atsuko could not keep a little teasing smile off her face. Mei would not be swayed though, not even by evidence.

Yuzu could only chuckle and lean her head on her beloved's shoulder while thinking how appropriate kissing that stern look off her face would be.

Space Lion

Yuzu wandered about the garden, taking in is vivid beauty. It was quite the spectacle during the day, but at nighttime it morphed into a most magical place. She knew every inch of it had been shaped in accordance to ancient rules. She was not quite familiar with the traditional ways of landscaping and the meaning behind them, yet she deeply appreciated the harmony it created. It was like a beautiful outfit.

She knelt by a black pine to take a better look at the gardenias planted under it. She loved sending flowers to Mei and she always had. Mei had no idea how much she loved to receive flowers until she found the biggest bunch of roses she had ever seen in her office on her first day of working as the Chairwoman. Mei returned the favour on the first day that Yuzu started running her own business. She started crying like a child at the sight of them and that note…

"Do your best. I love you, Yuzu"

Very simple and to the point. From then on, she would receive an identical bunch of roses together with the same note on each anniversary day of the beginning of her company.

Those white gardenias were truly beautiful. She wondered how they would fare on her balcony in Tokyo. Yuzu feared they would not look so enchanting as they did at the base of those black pines, and that was on the brave assumption that she would even be able to successfully cultivate them to begin with.

Yuzu turned around to look at the loves of her life. It should not have taken Mei more than five minutes to get Atsuko to fall asleep. There was a spell in her embrace that Yuzu knew all too well. Mei's hugs were like no other. There was a fierceness to them, a will to protect, a strong intent of love and the faintest note of sadness and worry.

Yuzu was honest enough to admit that her beloved still had some healing to do. Mei still feared abandonment, but Yuzu remained steadfast in her belief that Mei would eventually learn that this was a dream she never had to wake up from. She would not allow it.

She raised her gaze toward the room she shared with Mei and sighed dreamily. The balcony was, of course, enclosed by wooden panels and concealed from the eyes as it held that fabulous bathtub she could not wait to try out. "Soon" was not soon enough.

The sound of Atsuko's giggling caught her attention, Yuzu turned around to see that her little sister was far from being asleep. She was animatedly explaining something to Mei. Yuzu could not feel any disappointment though as her Mei looked so happy. The bathtub was not going anywhere.

With a sigh and a smile on her face, she skipped back to the pair.

Yuzu halted in front of them with a bounce. Atsuko's beautiful green eyes were wide. She was not even tired. Perhaps their misadventures during the journey had left her restless.

"Hey, shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?" Yuzu queried loudly, paying little heed to her sleeping parents. "...Both of you." She turned a knowing eye towards Mei.

"Atsuko is telling me a story, Yuzu." Mei gave Yuzu an apologetic look, even though she knew it to be unnecessary. She simply could not desert this child, not even if something as small as a tale was concerned. It was not because her own past could not permit it. It was her own will. Her own decision.

"Isn't it the other way around, usually?" Yuzu's beautiful green eyes spoke only of love. Her smile carried so much warmth that Mei could feel it like a kiss. Not a line of frustration could be spotted on her beautiful face.

Atsuko shrugged her small shoulders at her oldest sister, looking so adorable. Yuzu could not resist poking her nose. The child giggled and rubbed at it with her palm.

"Not quite. The stories I tell are never my own." Mei looked fondly at her sister. Mei's tales were always someone else's tales. Unlike Atsuko, she could not fashion something up straight of her mind. She always resorted to the great tales of antiquity, which had accumulated in her memory over the course of many evenings spent alone as a child. Back then, the only thing that Mei knew would not abandon her was her book collection.

Mei had no memory of anyone ever reading a story to her. Perhaps a maid had done so out of pity or even father himself during a spare two minutes. All Mei knew was that she had no recollection of such things occurring.

"All right." Yuzu added, bouncing on her feet for good measure. "Let's hear it, little samurai."

Atsuko smiled bashfully and looked at her lap. The oversized bear hoodie she was wearing made her look absurdly adorable. It took a lot of restraint to not just snatch her up and cuddle her tightly. Yuzu knew better than to try and pry a little bear from Mei's arms. She waited patiently and gave her little sister the sweetest of smiles, she knew Atsuko would overcome her bout of shyness on her own.

"… I think the Moon had to hide the sky." She mumbled, green eyes stealing looks at her sisters from under her hood. Yuzu-nee was smiling ever so sweetly at her while Nee-san nodded solemnly. That was all the encouragement she needed, her shyness was replaced by a marvelous feeling of acknowledgement.

"Because the stars were stolen by -" Her green eyes widened as her voice took on a slightly alarmed tone. Atsuko revealed the mystery with great satisfaction. "A Space Octopus!"

"I see." Mei's purple eyes were full of intrigue and respect as she met Atsuko's green gaze with her own. Mei gave her sister another serious nod, encouraging her to continue.

"He was jealous of Orihime and Hikoboshi's love and wanted to steal their stars! Vega and Altair!" Mei could only feel the greatest of pride as her sister managed to effortlessly weave the legend of Tanabata into her own tale. She caught Yuzu's eyes with her own and the two shared a knowing look full of nothing but affection.

"He wanted them to never meet again!" Atsuko continued and on that sentence, she cuddled into Mei even more.

Mei knew that Atsuko was absolutely troubled by Orihime and Hikoboshi's story. The unfortunate lovers had been separated by Orihime's father and could only meet once a year. On more than an occasion, she had worded her sorrow over their destiny. It was not enough. She would be distraught if she could see her beloved family only once a year.

The first time that Atsuko had heard the tale, she had been three years old and tears had quickly formed into her eyes. But once Yuzu assured her that nothing would ever keep them apart, she had soon recovered her good disposition. Her trust in her sisters was absolute.

"But the Moon figured it out." A confident smile melted away all tension from Atsuko's face as she started moving her arms about to illustrate her next line. "She started moving Vega and Altair around the sky, so that the Space Octopus would never find them-." Her smile turned into the cutest frown. "He got very mad and tried to steal all the stars!"

"The Moon could not go after him, so she had to call the space ninjas to help her." Atsuko shifted gears then, taking inspiration from her favorite Lego set as she swiftly prepared for the grand finale. Her voice raising and falling to highlight the pace, her face chasing the words tumbling from her mouth with ever changing expressions.

"What did the Space Octopus do with the stars, Atsu-chan?" Yuzu could not help herself and urged her sister on, she had grown to be genuinely curious and wanted the tale be revealed.

"He put them in a magic oyster. Bigger on the inside! And hid it on a planet that wasn't on any maps!" Atsuko's left hand shot out to grab a handful of Yuzu's shirt in excitement. Mei saw her love wince ever so slightly when the delicate fabric of her shirt was pulled. Her wince gave way to a bright smile as she immediately leaned forward, following Atsuko's tug and reducing the strain on her shirt.

"The space ninja ship found the planet. Of course! They knew all the galaxy!" By the way her voice sounded, Mei knew the climax of the tale was fast approaching.

"And then Kaichou-sama just—" The excitement in Atsuko's voice finally reached its apex.

"Kaichou-sama?!" Yuzu had leaned in, her face was inches away from Atsuko's, her exhilaration had driven her to imitate Atsuko and to grab a handful of her sister's large hoodie.

"Yes!" Atsuko's conviction was unshakeable. The adoration that played within her words was limitless. "Kaichou-sama is the captain of the ship!"

At that, Yuzu all but snatched Atsuko in her arms and started twirling her around, making sure to be gentler than usual as Atsuko had consumed quite the amount of food. On her part, Atsuko laughed wildly and held onto her Yuzu-nee tightly. She was used to Yuzu's explosive brand of affection and was absolutely in love with it.

Yuzu could not contain her happiness as her own laughs mixed up with Atsuko's. Their different tones creating a somewhat harmonious blend. Perhaps her love alone could not fully heal her beloved's wounds. Her love, combined with Atsuko's love though? That might just do the trick.

Of course Atsuko would fashion Mei as the hero of her story. It made perfect sense. Mei was Yuzu's own hero after all and she wished that Mei could see herself through their eyes. It would take a solitary second for her to realise just how much she meant to them.

"… Mei?"

"… Nee-san?"

Yuzu and Atsuko's beautiful green eyes settled on Mei, a combination of concern and confusion agitating them. Mei's face was hidden as she sat still as a statue. She was looking at the ground and the curtain of her dark hair concealed her face. It was not hard for Yuzu to guess what her love was going through.

Mei's grasp of emotions had improved incredibly over the past decade, yet when an emotional shock happened too suddenly and was too powerful, she would find herself unable to react. On such occasions, she still struggled to understand and articulate her own feelings. Yuzu was more than happy to stand by her side though, so that whatever trouble Mei faced, they would go through it together and form an even stronger bond because of it.

"Mei…" Yuzu called gently. Her voice a soft caress through the night. She walked back to her, lowered Atsuko on the porch and waited patiently. Atsuko had fallen silent and was watching the exchange with wide green eyes. Maybe she should not have put Nee-san in her story.

The concern in the voice of her loved ones had Mei raise her head at once. She was met with Yuzu's understanding and patient verdant eyes while Atsuko's identically pigmented irises were confused with worry. Mei would hate nothing more than for her sister to misunderstand her reaction. She collected herself at once and relaxed her face while a shy sideways smile softened the rigid set of her lips.

When Mei raised her head and looked directly at them, Yuzu's concern dissolved and a touching smile took its place. The look on Mei's face was one of gratefulness and acknowledgment. It lacked the surprise her beloved would feel whenever love was declared to her. It was the rarest of looks to spot on such a face.

Mei stood and gathered Yuzu and Atsuko in her arms. She hugged them as tightly as she could. She may not have deserved any of this, but tonight she had decided to set her doubts apart, at least for a while.

They held onto each other for a few instants until Yuzu broke the silence. She had to know how it ended. "…and so what did Kaichou-sama do, little samurai?"

"She told the Space Octopus…" Atsuko stood on the porch, tilted her head back and chewed the inside of her cheek for a few second. She was racking her brain for a moment, searching for the right words. Once she found some that satisfied her enough, she spoke them in a voice reminiscent of her dark-haired sister whenever she spoke at the Academy.

"Enough with your meanness! Stop being so troublesome and give the stars back." She nodded in satisfaction, quite pleased with her words and delivery.

"And he did!" Atsuko ended her tale. Yuzu smiled brightly at her. It made perfect sense. It was Kaichou-sama, after all. She started giggling and was quite pleased to hear that Mei was chuckling along with her.

Cosmonaut

"The Moon must be putting them back right now then…" Yuzu wondered while sitting down and raising her green eyes toward the fluffy darkness of the cloudy night sky.

"Yes!" Atsuko knelt behind Yuzu and wrapped her arms around her neck from behind as she eagerly agreed with her. Yuzu turned her head and peppered Atsuko's cheek with rough kisses. Atsuko giggled against her shoulder.

"She has to be very careful and put them all in the same spot." A wave of sadness slackened her face "Otherwise Orihime and Hikoboshi won't be able to find each other."

Mei and Yuzu shared knowing looks. They carried affection and pride in equal measure. Atsuko had dealt with the disappointment that the cloudy sky had provided her with by crafting quite the tale. It was a most blissful experience for them to share such precious moments. The mind of a happy child was an ever-growing field of wonder.

Atsuko tightened her hold of Yuzu and started rocking. Yuzu placed her hands on Atsuko's arms and stood, taking Atsuko with her. The child immediately wrapped her legs around her sister's waist.

Yuzu started twirling around gently and Atsuko raised her eyes to the sky. She sighed in worry. "...I hope it won't rain on Tanabata."

As the legend said: If it rained, the magpies would not come and the two lovers would have to wait another year to meet each other.

"Even if it rains by us." Mei looked at her sister. Atsuko's chin was testing on Yuzu's shoulder. Mei's words had painted a look anticipation on her face. "Other places in the world would have a clear sky, Atsuko." She decided to leave it at that, allowing Atsuko's agile mind to draw her own conclusion. By the smile that slowly spread over Atsuko's face, Mei knew that her sister had drawn the correct picture.

"Although." Mei sat back on the porch, her posture was straight yet she was quite relaxed. She was still feeling so full of gratitude and she had the imperative need to give something back, even if it was a simple legend. "Each culture has a different story in regard to the Milky Way's purpose or creation."

Mei felt Yuzu's eyes on her. She did not need to look for she knew those beautiful green eyes were looking dreamily at her.. In the same vein, she knew that an adoring look of wonder had just conquered Atsuko's face and so, Mei kept her eyes to the sky.

"The Navajo thinks the Milky Way to have been created by a trickster coyote." Mei's elegant voice rose to fill the air and somehow bestowed a further dimension of magic on the beautiful garden.

"...As one day, the Black God had set himself the task to create the constellations, and so he was taking great care in ordering the stars above. But the Coyote grew impatient and he threw the sack with the remaining stars into the sky." Mei paused to look at her audience. Atsuko and Yuzu wore twin expressions of curiosity on their beautiful faces. Mei allowed a small smile on her lips before continuing.

"The Black God was not happy and decided to not light the stars thrown by Coyote on fire." Mei then shifted her purple eyes solely to Atsuko's face. "The Navajo think that to be the reason why some stars are brighter than others." Mei relaxed her face into a neutral expression and waited.

"That isn't why, Nee-san." Atsuko did not make her wait for long and her cheerful voice held a firm note of pride, blessing Mei with the deepest sense of fulfilment.

Yuzu never missed anything when it came to Mei. She let her sister down on the porch and sat beside her beloved, crossing her legs and leaning back on her hands. She turned to look at Atsuko, who was now standing between them.

"And what is the reason then, little samurai?" Yuzu asked as a warm smile spread across her delicate face. She was well aware of the answer but she knew how much Mei treasured the workings of Atsuko's mind. She was more than eager to oblige her love.

"Because some are further away than others!" Atsuko had earned herself a set of different yet equally preciously adoring looks from her sisters. She blushed, not thinking herself deserving of such praise. She was only relating what Nee-san had read to her, after all.

After an moment, she grew pensive, though not in a morose way It was entirely an expression of curiosity.

"What is a trickster, Nee-san?" Her voice sounded most enthusiastic, as it always did when she came upon something new. She was once again slumped over Yuzu's shoulders, still rocking and putting her weight on her. She trusted her oldest sister to not mind such antics. Yuzu-nee was her playmate after all. She could not have wished for a better one.

"In folklore - traditional tales - a trickster is a character that possesses a keen mind and would use it to break the rules or just to play pranks for their own amusement"

Atsuko absorbed every word while chewing the inside of her cheek, until a sudden revelation flashed through her mind and put a smile on her face.

"Matsuri-sama is a trickster, Nee-san!" She said triumphantly while turning toward Mei for confirmation.

"That is-" Mei sighed as she often did when the pink haired woman was mentioned. Then she took in the sight of her sister's expectant face.

"...Quite accurate, actually. Well done, Atsuko." She had to concede and the delighted look that set over Atsuko's features mighty lessened her annoyance.

The pink devil was quite the trickster indeed. Atsuko's mind had been spot-on, as often was the case. Mei was truly tempted to go into a lecture over how the "sama" honorific was not quite appropriate for Matsuri. She had often been tempted to address the matter but never did. Mei had too much respect for Atsuko and wished not to influence her perception of the world because of her own personal feelings.

Mei sighed once again, resolving to leave it alone. She heard Yuzu giggle out and shifted her eyes to the older girl, raising a questioning eyebrow at her. It did not have the effect she had intended as Yuzu kept giggling unperturbed.

"Did the Coyote have pink hair...fur, Nee-san?" Atsuko wondered, eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Absolutely not!" Yuzu stepped in dramatically, she turned around swiftly and gave Atsuko the most serious of looks, of course it only served to make her giggle. "Matsuri is the only one to have pink hair in the whole wide world."

"That's not true." Atsuko flashed an adorable and impish grin toward her oldest sister, finally releasing her. "I could have pink hair too!"

On hearing her sister make such a declaration, Mei had to call upon every inch of her steely resolve to stop herself from issuing a lifelong ban on such nonsense. Fortunately, Atsuko did not sound as if she was truly considering the idea and was already moving on.

"I know she dyes it, Yuzu-nee." Atsuko smiled victoriously. "Just like you!"

Atsuko's remark had Yuzu fluster up. It was no secret that she dyed her hair, but talking about it was quite the hardship for her as the reason behind it was a very personal one. It was an idea born from the mind of a child that had wished for nothing more than to have her Papa back and to see her Mama smile again.

"Yuzu." Mei's voice soothed Yuzu's agitated mind, offering her a safe harbor. "I think that it suits you much better this way." Yuzu's eyes chased the voice and found Mei's beautiful purple eyes. They held nothing but warmth and understanding.

"I see." Atsuko whispered, using a line her Nee-san was quite fond of.

It made perfect sense. Yuzu-nee dyed her hair because Nee-san loved it. Of course Yuzu-nee would wish to make Nee-san happy and yet, something was off. It was not a missing piece; it was more like a piece that would not fit the puzzle. Even though the reason she had figured out was quite fitting.

Then it hit her.

"But Yuzu-nee…" Atsuko's confused frown was absolutely adorable, but Yuzu felt a foreboding sense of dread as her sister's inquisitive eyes fell on her.

"You were blonde even before meeting Nee-san. The pictures..." Atsuko's voice trailed off into a whisper. The expression of her Yuzu-nee's face was one of sadness and even though Yuzu was quick to shake it off, Atsuko's keen eyes had not missed it.

She wished she that had never asked and quickly began to formulate an apology in her mind.

"Atsuko…" Yuzu started, not without difficulty. It worried Atsuko a great deal that she had addressed her in such fashion. It meant it was a serious matter.

"Yuzu." Atsuko grew even more worried when Nee-san reached over to take Yuzu-nee's hand into hers. The act itself was a common occurrence, but Nee-san's face was soft with concern.

"Well... It's..." In a rare reversal, it was now Yuzu looking to Mei for support and assurance. Mei squeezed Yuzu's hand a little more tightly and gave her the slightest of nods. Yuzu took a deep breath and took the leap. "Atsu-chan, you know how my Papa isn't the same as your Papa?"

"Mhmm." Atsuko nodded sweetly, she could tell Yuzu-nee felt very delicate at the moment. "Mama told me, Yuzu-nee."

"My papa had to go away, so I wanted to be able to remember him." Yuzu searched her purse and pulled out a crumpled photograph. She hesitated for a moment then nodded to herself and showed the picture to her little sister.

The blonde-haired man stood next to Ume, who hadn't aged a day since the photo was taken, with a baby in his arms. Atsuko smiled brightly at the sight but when Yuzu-nee started talking again, a somber look settled on her face and she looked much wiser than her young age should have allowed.

"I thought that..." Yuzu felt a familiar lump form in her throat. Mei's grip on Yuzu's hand tightened even further, but did not cause discomfort. Quite the contrary.

"I thought that if my hair looked like his, then it be like there was always a part of him with me." Yuzu managed a small smile, it was a difficult smile, still it was an absolutely honest one. "Do you understand, Atsu-chan?"

"I think so." Atsuko nodded before falling deep in thought. "Yuzu-nee, Nee-san..." She asked in a small voice. "Will you have to go away too?" The thought was unbearable to her and it took great effort to vocalise it.

Mei had to intervene then. She gathered Atsuko back into her arms, wishing for nothing more than to reassure her sister about the two of them never leaving her side. Mei could not bring herself to lie to her though. She loved her too deeply to ever do that.

"Everyone has to go away eventually, Atsuko." She found Atsuko's beautiful green eyes and smiled kindly at her, willing all her love into a look, an action that had become surprisingly easy. "But we will not be going anywhere any time soon."

"That's right, Atsu-chan!" Yuzu took her cue and broke in with unbridled enthusiasm. She pointed dramatically to the sky. "Sometimes when I look up there, it feels like he's still watching over me!"

Mei nodded and tightened her hold around her sister. She felt Atsuko cuddling deeper into her embrace. It was time to lead the conversation elsewhere …

"In another version of the Milky Way story, the Navajo believe the galaxy to be a pathway for spirits to go to the afterlife and that the stars are their footprints." The little factoid provided by Mei caused Atsuko's eyes to widen with delight and look at the sky.

Atsuko wished the Moon would hurry up and put all the stars back already, maybe she could ask the Sun for help. The Sun and The Moon made the best team, despite their many differences.

Maybe tomorrow. Maybe.

She released a huge yawn, a soundless roar that made her look like a lion cub and caused her sisters to share knowing looks. Privately, the two were relieved that Atsuko had not interrogated them further as they knew that they would never lie to the child.

Atsuko yawned once again. She turned about in Mei's lap and burrowed into her embrace, instinctively hiding her face into the hollow of Mei's neck. Her favorite sleeping spot by far. Mei rested her cheek on Atsuko's head, enjoying the softness of the plush ears against her skin. She started rocking her sister ever so gently and in less than a minute, Atsuko had fallen into a deep slumber.

Mei asked Yuzu to remove her shoes with her eyes and Yuzu obliged, ever so willingly. Now shoeless, Mei got to her feet, her athletic grace making the movement quite fluid. Atsuko did not even stir. She walked into the slippers and smiled delicately at Yuzu. She was going to tuck Atsuko in. Yuzu did not need to be told. She smiled back at Mei before whispering:

"Be quick, love. I'll wait for you in our room." Her eyes held a promise and Mei could not wait to see it fulfilled.

Satellite

When Mei stepped into the room she shared with Yuzu, she gasped gently. The room was dimly lit by orange lanterns and the scented smoke of incense rose lazily through the air.

The atmosphere was one of anticipation.

Her beautiful Yuzu was knelt on the floor in a perfect seiza position, her back to the door and her hair pulled up in simple top knot. She wore nothing but a white and red silk robe. It depicted branches of sakura trees and petals floating through the air. It made for a most exotic sight as the soft light of the room danced on it, accentuating the color and the design. What most captivated Mei's attention was the back of Yuzu's neck, she knew it to be one of Yuzu's most sensitive spot and it felt so soft against her lips. One of Mei's favorite playgrounds.

Mei's breathing pattern quickened. She felt her heart thud loudly in her chest and could not help licking her lips - Not once, but twice. Yuzu was irresistible, so delicate and so beautiful, ready to be lavished with love. Mei was quite generous and persevering when it came to revering Yuzu's many delicacies.

But she had to quell her instincts. As before anything else, Mei felt the imperative need to let Yuzu know just how much in love with her strong heart she was.

She fell behind Yuzu on her knees in a rare graceless way and wrapped her arms around the older girl's slender frame. Emotions too profound to be spoken overcame her. She had to center herself by burying her face against Yuzu's neck, inhaling deeply, savoring Yuzu's scent as it spread through her senses.

Yuzu chuckled as Mei endeavoured to take in the very essence of her being. Her chuckle was a gentle vibration within Mei's embrace. Mei shifted her head and rested her chin against Yuzu's shoulder. Yuzu must have gauged the solemnity of her mood because she fell into silence, covered Mei's hands with her own and waited.

"You kept the photograph, Yuzu. After all this time..." Mei struggled to articulate just how in awe she was of her lover's emotional strength. She dropped a reverent kiss on Yuzu's shoulder. The silk felt nice against her lips but she longed for her beloved's skin. She turned to kiss Yuzu's cheek, the familiar smoothness of the skin was way more enticing than even the finest of fabrics could ever hope to be.

"I am very lucky to know you, Yuzu." She all but whispered upon Yuzu's cheek.

"Mei." Yuzu had never sounded so deep, so wise and so very patient as if she were talking to a child.

"We're both lucky, Mei." Mei could hear Yuzu smiling though her voice. She knew all the lifts of Yuzu's beautiful tone, from her many happy ones right through to the sad ones. She knew the ones that carried tears and the ones that did not understand. Even at her most desperate though, Yuzu's voice never failed to carry hope. For Yuzu, even the faintest of hopes was as powerful as the brightest one.

"At least I like to think so." Yuzu shook her head as soon as those words passed her lips and resolved to correct her comment.

"No, I don't just think so. I know it, Mei." Yuzu's conviction was unshakeable. She nodded to herself and tightened her hold on Mei's hands. The feeling of Mei against her back was rather distracting, but she had more to say and it was important that she said it.

"Having you by my side makes me stronger. Braver." Yuzu sighed deeply, chest falling and raising as she did. The sigh ended in a smile that immediately reached her eyes as it always did when she thought about her Mei.

"I do not deserve such praise." A severe note was embedded in Mei's voice. Yuzu knew that a part of Mei still truly felt undeserving of her love.

"Sometimes." Yuzu's voice was melancholic, a tremulous undertone of sorrow run through it. It was not devoid of hope though, as Yuzu's voice never was. "I wish you could look at yourself through my eyes..."

"...And then you'll know..." Yuzu rose on her knee and turned around to catch Mei's purple eyes in her own. An eternity passed between them.

"...just how lucky I am, Mei ." Yuzu's voice was no longer melancholic. It was firm and absolutely definitive. Mei's eyes widened as the might of Yuzu's love was given to her through the most honest and resilient gaze she had ever looked into. She could see herself through Yuzu's eyes after all.

Yuzu shook her head, mesmerized by Mei's beauty as it was offered to her, so completely and in absolute trust. She tangled her hands in Mei's hair and all but melted into her as their lips came together. When they came up for air, all Yuzu had to do was to gaze at the bathtub. Mei's smile was all the answer she needed.

Yuzu stood up, untied the belt holding her robe in place and simply let it slide from her body, revealing all of her at once. She lost herself in the sight of Mei's eyes. They were all but feasting on her.

Yuzu shot a teasing smile and slowly took a step back, offering Mei a full view of her body. Mei's eyes widened ever so slightly, following Yuzu's every move, unwilling to miss even the smallest of details.

Yuzu stepped outside and into the bath's warm water. Vapor was rising from it, curling up into the air and around her. She let herself fall on her knee with little grace, agitating the water enough to create small waves. She turned her beautiful green eyes toward Mei invitingly.

Mei got to her feet, elegant as ever and yet quite in a hurry. She had not the will to undress herself slowly and was quick to remove her clothes. They piled at her feet and were immediately forgotten. She offered herself to Yuzu's eyes and was pleased when the most needful of look was given to her.

The Moon must have finished putting the stars back into the sky by then as it peeked from behind the clouds, the pale glow streaming in and wrapping itself around Mei's bare body. Yuzu's breath caught in her throat at the sight. Of course Atsuko had feared the Moonfolk would claim Mei back at some point as she was simply not of this world. She could not be. She was perfection in every detail, almost glowing under the Moon's pale kiss.

"Mei." Yuzu managed to kept her voice steady, even though she was trembling with unabashed desire. Her eyes were fixed on Mei. She was unable and unwilling to let her out of her sight. Mei was all there was at the moment.

Yuzu shivered in anticipation as Mei's dipped her toe into the water. She did not hesitate and elegantly stepped into the bathtub. The water did not even stir as she immersed herself, but the same could not be said for Yuzu.

Yuzu scooted forward with a splash, water rippling warmly around her motion. She pressed her body firmly against Mei, enjoying the solid feeling against her wet skin. The sudden contact had Mei gasp. Such a sweet sound caused Yuzu to chuckle throatily. Her emerald eyes took hold of Mei's purple ones. She would never tire of staring into such beautiful depths.

"... the Moon sure is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" Yuzu wondered, eyes full of nothing but Mei. She held her breath when Mei's hand rose and grazed her tanned cheek with the faintest of caresses, fingertips barely touching the smooth skin. Mei's hand travelled down to Yuzu's neck and then about her collarbone. Yuzu remained still under such sweet torture. Mei leaned closer to lean her cheek against Yuzu's.

Warm water danced about them, bringing them even closer. Vapor lazily curling around them, they were living a dream.

"It certainly is, Yuzu." Mei whispered by Yuzu's ear. "And so are you." Her voice like silk and a low moan parted Yuzu's lips. Mei pulled slightly back and took Yuzu's face between her hands, her touch firm yet gentle, a sweet combination of devotion and possessiveness.

She drew the older girl into the most passionate of kisses. Yuzu answered in kind, hands diving under the warm water to take hold of Mei's hips and bring her even closer. It was not enough, but they finally had all the time in the world.

End of Chapter Eight

AKA: The one where Mei is a space captain.

Notes:

"Tsuki ga Kirei Desu ne." (月が綺麗ですね。The Moon is Beautiful, Isn't it?") is a phrase used by the Meiji-era novelist Natsume Sōseki to translate the English "I love you" in Japanese. He believed such phrase to better convey what two people in love might be feeling and to better suit Japanese sensibility, since invoking a poetic image is more powerful and less direct than a literal translation. It is still used today to declare to one another.