After the dance, Maria held Canaan's hand and led her out of the crowd.

"Over here!" Mino called out as he waved his hand.

They met Ayame and Mino by the refreshment stand.

"I guess you two are together now, eh?" he asked with a grin.

Canaan and Maria nodded with a smile.

"I have a question for you, Canaan. How long were you in Japan?"

The mercenary stared at him expressionlessly. "I don't want to be interviewed anymore."

"Fine," Mino sighed. "You win again."

Ayame chuckled. "I see that you met Mino before."

The full moon hovered in the night sky. The stars were barely visible, but some sparkled alone in secrecy.

Maria held the camera next to her eye and snapped a picture of Mino and Ayame holding hands in front of the ballroom building. She wanted to remember this special day.

"Mino, may you take a picture of Canaan and I?" the blonde asked.

"Sure."

Maria handed him her camera and went over to Canaan.

"Canaan! Let's pose."

Maria hugged Canaan's shoulder and the mercenary held her by her waist. They smiled at each other, and the lights flashed.

"Let's take another picture!" Maria said. "May you wear my mask, Canaan? I want to see how you'll look."

The mercenary nodded.

Maria brushed Canaan's silver strands of hair behind her ear and gently tied the mask's ribbon behind her head.

"You look so different," Mino remarked.

Ayame nodded her head in agreement.

"Do I really? It's just a mask," Canaan replied adjusting the silver mask on her face.

Maria giggled. "You still look kawaii!"

"Kawaii?" Canaan questioned making a funny face. "Maria is more kawaii than a girl like me."

"That's not true!"

Canaan wrapped her arm around Maria's shoulders, and the blonde leaned on her. The camera flashed.

"Thank you, Mino!" Maria exclaimed happily.

Mino handed her back the camera. "No problem."

When Ayame and Mino left together, Canaan and Maria sat down on the stairs. They gazed up at the shining moon.

"Where are you staying tonight?" Maria asked silently.

Canaan turned her eyes away from the moon toward her brown eyes, "In a hotel. Why do you ask?"

"Canaan, stay in my apartment tonight," the blonde replied searching for the stars in the sky. "I don't want to be away from you anymore. I don't want to lose you in my sight again...."

I don't want to lose you either.

The mercenary touched the blonde's face and held her chin with her hand. Canaan closed her eyes and kissed Maria gently. Maria lost herself in the kiss and drew herself closer to her light.

"Anything you wish, my love," Canaan whispered.

Maria's eyes lit up and cuddled beside her.

"My love," the blonde repeated as her voice drifted off.

Their lips met under the moonlight.