CHAPTER 29
MAIDEN'S CAPRICCIO
"Is everyone ready yet?"
"Just a minute! Now there, Hibiki. Why can't you ever agree for once and wear this?"
"But Illiya, it's embarrassing! I don't want to go out in this revealing dress!"
"Oh, you, it's just the armpit. Besides it's been the Magnolia maidens' attires for generations. You should get used to it after wearing it."
"There is time and place in doing it!"
"Hibiki, you still don't know the cultural environment of Magnolia Valley. You have to learn to live in it."
"But still-"
"Look at Henrietta. She may be an outsider, but she's adapting to this culture quicker than an eye can blink."
"That's because you compelled her!"
"Now, Hibiki, try to relax and be as comfortable as you can."
"I can only hope this will work…!"
The last two of the Magnolia temple dancers finally left the changing room and met up with their partners. Now that they were together they could now head to the field to initiate the ceremonial dance of the valley. Gracefully, amidst the crowd that reached hundreds, they took their position encircling a small statue and stayed still as the lead dancers approached them.
"Isn't she gorgeous?" Jackson cooed at the sight of Yumemi that night.
"She isn't the Magnolia shrine maiden for nothing," Azali said.
"I second this notion, although I must question their dress of choice," Marksman added. "Why are they showing off their armpits? Aren't they bothered by the cold?"
"That, my friend, is what people call service," Azali reminded with a nod of approval. "Nothing can beat the quality of Magnolia special treatment."
"You sound like you have a fetish or something," Marksman snorted.
Azali chuckled. "Admit it. Shrine maiden is better seen with her armpit revealed."
Marksman could only palm his face. "I can't believe I have a pervert as my team-mate…"
The crowd fell silent. The dancers lifted their arms, and with the cue of the Taiko drummer, they opened steps for what would be the most magnificent ritual dance citizens of the neutral province had seen in their life so far. Despite the tight security the masses seemed to be mesmerized, as the dancers rhythmically danced on the courtyard, spicing it up with ceremonial songs sung by Yumemi.
"Isn't it ironic?" Howard began as he and Red Baron were watching the dance from the comfort of the tent, "to have a dance of peace carried out when threat looms just over the horizon, while two of the war's most prominent figures sit down and talk like old friends?"
"I wouldn't consider taking it as a compliment, thank you," Red Baron answered. "But I can see your reasons." He looked back at the dancers, whose steps became more apparent with the passing time. "You and I have many things in common, but nothing drives us forward than our role to lead the wings, which has taken our entire life," he continued. "We both know it is time for the old timers to leave the sky to the new generations."
"My friend, my rival, as long as this old stallion can still run it will run," Howard added. "Let us be safe to assume we have one through the hard times and still live to tell the tale."
"I understand that sentiment, but alas there are some who still refuse to accept the wind of change," Red Baron said and refilled the empty glass with lemon juice. "Two more Guardians to overcome and the regime will reconsider their expansion plan."
"Unless, of course, your leader has something else in their mind," Howard said. "But again, what's use of discussing war plans when we have beautiful maidens dancing for us?"
Red Baron snickered. "True, my fellow ace, true."
The dance ended, thus marking the beginning of the Magnolia Night Festival. Everybody cheered for the dancing maidens with loud whistles and wild applauses before they dispersed to visit booths and venues set up around the town. The dancers, having bowed to the crowd in unified respect, were preparing to visit the venues and they could not help getting excited about the people they would come across.
"I know! Let's give Wolfie a very big surprise visit!" the overjoyed Illiya suggested. "He won't expect to see us wearing this, and he's going to love it!"
"D-do I have to meet Lone Wolf-san in this dress?" Hibiki moaned and covered her armpit. "Can't we first change to better outfit first?"
"Hibiki, we don't have time for that," Illiya said. "You won't be able to wear this dress until next year, you know."
"But it's too embarrassing!" Hibiki protested. "What will he say when he sees us like this?"
"Stop being too paranoid," Illiya sighed. "It's not that people here would stalk on us. Besides, we're travelling in group, so nobody's going to bother us."
"Then allow me to accompany Hibiki-sama," Yumemi offered.
"See? Even Yumemi likes wearing it," Illiya said.
"That's because she's a miko!" Hibiki barked.
The group began their journey and headed to the airfield as their first visit, walking past visitors who were more than enthusiastic to take pictures with the exotic dancers. Not just mere ceremonial dancers, they also had the duty of blessing the community, especially staffs at the airbase, as the Magnolia shrine maidens had been doing for many years. Their presence provided the morale support needed by the military personnel after hectic days at the battlefield, and what response they were getting from the people.
"Well, that concludes our tour," Illiya said as they finished their work. "Thanks for the cooperation, guys. I really appreciate it."
"It was really exciting," Henrietta said and examined the flamboyant dress that snug her petite body in perfection. "I never got any chance of wearing beautiful clothes. I have to thank the shrine after this."
"Hey, don't mind it," Illiya replied with a giggle. "It was Yumemi's request in the first place. She'd asked me to invite you and Hibiki to take part in the dance."
Yumemi bowed to them. "I must first and foremost apology if my request has been misunderstood," she spoke.
"N-no! We don't really mine," Hibiki said. "But I have to question the dresses you chose for the ceremony. Wouldn't it be better if we just wore the regular one?"
"Hibiki, why are you being so paranoid?" Illiya sighed and startled Hibiki when she seized her body from behind. "Just admit it. Deep inside your heart you really want to wear this, right?"
"Illiya, stop harassing me!" Hibiki pleaded and squealed when Illiya's hands reached up to grab her armpits. "What are you doing? Stop it! The people are watching at us!"
"Who cares of the people, as long as I get to teach you a thing or two?" Illiya murmured and went to tickle her. Hibiki yelped at the dangerously intimate touch and pleaded Illiya to stop, but it was ignored as Illiya continued her foreplay. "Oh, you do have sensitive spots, don't you?" she teased.
"Illiya! Stop it!" Hibiki moaned and gasped in distress when Illiya's fingers prodded deep into the crevasse of her skin. To make it worse, all personnel were gaping at the spontaneous, outrageous 'special' service in total shock; some of them started to silently cheer for the shrine maidens without having a second thought.
"Is she always like that?" Henrietta asked as she found herself blushing in embarrassment. Her question was answered by a light tap on the shoulder, and she turned around to see Yumemi smiling at her. "Umm… yes?"
"You have yet to see the most interesting part," Yumemi said, her smile turning childlike.
Henrietta blinked. "What was that about?"
"Okay, what's going on here?" Everybody turned to the direction of the voice. It was Lone Wolf, and he was leaving the hangar after talking with some of the crews. Illiya's reaction was to give him a very tight embrace as she pounced at him in a tackling manoeuvre that almost knocked him off his feet.
"Wolfie! Good to see you here," she giggled. "Where have you been? We were planning to look for you here."
Lone Wolf barely had the chance to let himself off the possessive hug. "I had stuffs with the crews. What was that about you asked?"
"You don't have to be that ignorant, Wolfie!" Illiya whined and tightened her arms.
Lone Wolf shrugged. "Ren."
"Yes?" Illiya replied, all childish and affectionate.
"You know," Lone Wolf said with a couple of coughs. "A shrine maiden is compelled to flash her armpit a lot. Didn't I teach you about it years ago?" Hibiki could not believe what he had heard, and hell hath no fury a woman scorned. So she approached Lone Wolf and gave him a very good smacking on the head, taking everybody around the vicinity by surprise. "What the hell was that for?"
"Lone Wolf-san! I can't believe how perverted your mind really is!" Hibiki barked.
"Perverted? What in the world did you just take?" Lone Wolf replied while rubbing his head. "It is not wrong for a shrine maiden to wear this garment, is it? It's just a part of the culture."
"You're the same- no, you're worse than Illiya!" Hibiki exclaimed.
Lone Wolf batted an eyebrow and pointed to the dress. "Then will you kindly volunteer to explain what are you doing in that instead?"
"That- that's because everybody's forced me!" she protested.
"How is it, Wolfie? She does look good in it, doesn't she?" Illiya asked.
Lone Wolf fell silent. He examined the very sight of his wingman, his Number 2, took some time comparing her to the rest of the shrine maidens and suddenly flicked a thumb's up. "Excellent!"
"Excellent? What in the name of heavens?" Hibiki demanded.
"It means you passed!" Illiya exclaimed with a smile. "See? I knew Wolfie's going to like it."
"W-w-w-w-w-what??" By now Hibiki's face turned red from embarrassment to absolute anger. In a move she never knew she could have done she seized Yumemi's prayer's staff and drove it onto his head with such force the man fell onto the asphalt face first. She later realized what she had done and quickly rushed to attend him, apologizing to her flight leader in frantic.
"He's bleeding! Somebody get me the medic kit!"
-x-x-x-x-x-
"Geez, you could've calmed down," Lone Wolf grumbled and twitched as Illiya applied the last piece of bandage onto his head. "Ouch! Easy there, Ren. Don't want the cut to open up again."
"I'm very sorry," Hibiki murmured. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard."
"You alright now?" Illiya asked and brushed her lips upon the bruise.
"I think so," Lone Wolf answered.
"I'm glad your head's still in one piece," Illiya said and poked his cheek. "Now that you're here, I think I'll go and meet the rest of people after this. Be nice while I'm not around, okay?"
"You aren't staying?" Lone Wolf asked.
Illiya, instead, gave a wink. "It's an opportunity you shouldn't miss. Besides, we still have forever to spend, right?" she said and bent down to blow gently into Hibiki's ear. "Now's your chance. Go get it." She left the swordswoman reeling in embarrassment as she met up with Henrietta and Yumemi, the latter engaged in a conversation with Jackson and Azali.
"You'll have to excuse Ren for her free spirit," Lone Wolf apologized. "She can sometimes be unpredictable."
"N-no! I'm alright with it," Hibiki answered. "I'm sorry again for hitting you."
"Don't mind me."
Hibiki was not satisfied with the answer. "What? After what I just did, you don't want to think of it? At least… yelling or anything?"
Lone Wolf glanced at her. "What's really wrong with you tonight? I thought you're supposed to enjoy the festival."
Hibiki frowned. "I… I'm so sorry…"
He shrugged. "I can never understand you." He threw his sight to the congregation across the hangar where various activities were seen; Illiya and her antics, Henrietta's timidity, Jackson's music appreciation session, Yumemi's ever-needed morale-boosting prayers; the party that had already started. "How about we go outside?" he suggested. "The plane's pretty much unattended; we could use it as a shelter."
Hibiki blinked. "But we're in the middle of the night. It's cold outside, and-" She yelped when Lone Wolf took her hand and brought her out of the bustling hangar, directly heading towards the Ritter Su-37. "Lone Wolf-san!"
"You're just making up excuses," Lone Wolf told her. "Stop it."
"But I'm not!" She frowned. "At least… not when you're around…"
The pair arrived. Lone Wolf looked around to make sure the people were occupied with the shrine maidens' presence. "The situation's favouring to us now." He let go off Hibiki's hand and looked for a spot around the plane's nose landing gear, all while she watched in uncertainty.
"Lone Wolf-san, at least we could look for something to cover the asphalt," she reminded.
"It's not that dirty," Lone Wolf replied and finally settled down. "Come here. I believe we have lots to talk about tonight."
Reluctantly Hibiki approached him and was hesitant for a few seconds before she sat next to him. "So, umm… what is it that you want to talk of?" she asked.
"First, it's about Ren." He paused; there was a slight tension coming from his eyes, as if what he was going to say about Illiya had some degree of importance. "She may be committed to Belka's independence, and she may be compassionate to her underlings' welfare, but…" He paused again.
"But what?"
Lone Wolf sighed. "I… I guess you'll be the first person other than me… to know the truth."
-x-x-
/ two years ago… /
"Congratulations on the marriage."
Illiya smiled widely. "Thank you so much, Wolfie," she said. "Maybe I should repay your deeds after this."
"Hey, you deserved it," he said and gestured to her Bohemian Air Force husband. "I just played my role as the matchmaker, right?"
The young officer laughed sheepishly. "I… I don't know what to say, sir," he replied. "I mean… to be married to my own senior? What will my buddies say about this, I don't know."
Illiya's response was to give the young officer a very tight hug about his waist. "But we're in love for each other. Age doesn't count as far as our feeling is concerned," she told him and proceeded to rub her face against his. "Right, Wolfie?"
"Just don't scare him, and everything will be fine," Lone Wolf answered.
"Wolfie! You aren't even helping, you know?" she protested.
"Helping? Aw, yeah right," he snorted. "Being a matchmaker doesn't mean I get the chance to look for my ideal one."
Illiya beamed at him. "I doubt you wouldn't find anyone in the nearest future," she said.
"Don't try me, Ren," he warned.
Illiya let go off the young officer. "As if I would," she said and turned to the recipients. "Everybody! I will heartily announce that I have placed my bet on not seeing our matchmaker meeting his first girlfriend in the next six months!"
"Nice try, Illiya, but you know he's one hungry wolf!" one of her colleagues joked.
"Then I'll make sure he won't even form a pack," Illiya replied with an even louder voice.
"Go for it, wolf man!" a recipient cheered.
"Show her you aren't a push-over!" another recipient added.
He could only sigh. "Just give me a break…"
-
-
"Shortly after the marriage… which I believe was three days later, they were attacked during their honey moon," Lone Wolf continued. "Ren survived but her husband didn't make it; he died on the way to hospital."
Hibiki covered her mouth in shock. "That… that was horrible!" she gasped.
"I know." Lone Wolf let out an exasperated sigh before he continued. "At first we thought the rebels were responsible- go figure, Ren was a top officer in the air force, and everybody had their reason in disliking her. But when rumours of the regime's involvement in the attack started circulating… well, that's when Ren finally lost her temper. It was the first time I ever saw her that angry. She could destroy Hell with only the look of her eyes alone."
-
-
"Damn the Bohemians!" Illiya shivered in a mixture of anger and frustration. "If they really wanted me dead then why didn't they just face me head-on?" she barked. "Coward! How could they use booby traps to attack us?!"
"Ren, calm down."
"How am I supposed to calm down after my life's gone in the explosion?" Illiya continued.
Nothing needed to be said. He extended his arms and pulled the woman into his arms, gathering her weakening body into a secured embrace. "That's enough, Ren. That's just enough."
Her body trembled, and she slowly broke into tears before she burst out in a loud wail. "I don't want to lose him! I don't want to!" Crying bitterly in his arms, she clung onto him and started pounding her fists against his chest. "Why would they do this, Wolfie? Why!?"
"I don't know, Ren…"
-x-x-x-x-x-
"Since then Ren decided she would channel her efforts into the liberation," Lone Wolf wrapped up the narration. "I decided I could help her in some other way but not by joining the rebels. I had already been enlisted, so…"
He paused, noticing that Hibiki was shivering due to the cold air. "You okay? I think you need to warm up a bit."
"I'm fine…" she said whilst holding onto her. "I should've gone back to my room and change…" She was startled when Lone Wolf pulled her into his arms and put her on his lap as he securely held her in a comforting embrace. "Lone Wolf-san?"
"There, happy now?" he asked. "Now don't get the wrong idea. I was just helping."
She remained speechless; her face started burning furiously as she felt her heart thumping against her cheek, and her breaths raced wildly when she felt his arms encircling her waist. "Do you think Illiya's going to jump at us anytime? I mean… she isn't the kind of person who'd leave her childhood friend unattended, is it?"
"While still in her 'party hard' mood? I doubt it," he answered. "We'll be fine, as long as it doesn't rain."
She smiled. With a happy sigh, she closed her eyes and rested her chin on his shoulder. "Thank you so much, Lone Wolf-san…"
He took his time examining the 'shrine maiden' as she went to cling onto him. She felt extremely good. Smelled nice, too. Fresh and clean would be the words of choice to describe it, but with something delicious just under that. If a person could make his mouth water like the smell of baking bread, then Hibiki would be doing that right now. He knew the temptation of wanting to rove his hands over her delicate figure was overwhelming, and he knew he could not deny the sheer plump softness against his body.
Calm down, wolf boy. He told himself. Just freaking calm down. She's not your little red riding hood.
"Lone Wolf-san."
He looked down at her and could not help noticing the blush on her cheeks. "Hmm?"
"Do you mind if I settle myself against you? It makes me more comfortable," she said.
"Of course I don't mind. Go ahead."
Hibiki relaxed onto him, leaning forward lightly with her hands on his stoic shoulders. Whether it was deliberate or accidental, he could not tell, but right now he had something to tell her, so he settled down and let her finish adjusting up.
"I have a mission tomorrow." It was blunt. Sharp, and direct to the point. His voice tone suggested it was of vital level.
She sighed. "Again?"
He nodded. "Can't do anything about it."
She grumbled. She was protesting it, he knew, and the way she clenched his jacket only seemed to enforce it. "When I thought I could spend more quality time with you…" Then she giggled. "But then, it's your duty, right?"
"…sorry…"
"What are you being sorry at? I understand the responsibility, that should be enough," she answered. "Besides, nobody else I know have the chance to admire the knight of silver moon this close."
"How close, if I may ask?"
She giggled again. Somehow, she acted really different this time. It was unlike the usual Kawasumi Hibiki he knew. Not the overprotective, aggressive swordswoman pilot who knew no fear; just a regular woman with the needs to care and be cared. It might be her experience as a POW that triggered the change, he thought. "Not too close to make him uncomfortable," she murmured. "I know. Someone as heroic like you may have more enemies than he can make friends. Who am I to question the fact?"
"Sorry…"
"Lone Wolf-san…" She took her time making herself secure in his arms, occasionally moving a bit to make sure she wouldn't slip. "What are you going to do after the war ends?"
He shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I just don't know."
"As long as I can be with you, it doesn't really matter," she said. "Right?"
It would be a very long pause before he said "…I hope so…" When he did not hear any answer, he looked back at Hibiki and realized she had fallen asleep. She was so pure in the sleeping face, he pondered. Too pure, in fact, that he felt like he needed to admire the sheer beauty that was lying before him. He felt he wanted to touch the supple cheeks, taste the vibrant lips, feel her warm breaths, and…
He shook his head.
Something was telling him to resist the urge. Not of adamant warning, but more of a gentle reminder. He stared at her face for the second time, and with a very deep sigh of defeat he held her closer and rolled his eyes to the heavens.
"I'm sorry, Hibiki, but it does matter…"
