A/N: Thanks again to my amazing beta, The_Big_Wee_Hag, for knocking this chapter into a better shape! Any remaining mistakes are my own.

Also a note in response to some recent guest reviews which I can't reply directly to - Firstly, thanks for leaving a review! Would love to respond to your comments in more detail, but the key thing is: I am actually updating this fic once every two weeks, not weekly, since I haven't finished writing the whole thing. Once I finish the whole thing, I'll definitely shift to weekly if possible!

On 'onee-san' vs 'nee-san': I've seen the latter used in more casual settings (mainly anime I watched), and I thought that Vania would be using the more casual version. I'll do more research later and change it if applicable - posting this now so I can still be on schedule with the updates. Thank you for pointing it out!

Chapter 8: Apologies

Vania placed her practice glaive back into the bin, half-heartedly rubbing the sore fingers on her right hand. She had been practising with Shinko earlier, and had somehow slipped, earning a sharp rap on her fingers. It had hurt, though she felt her pride was wounded more — it was a mistake that she had not made in years.

Still, that was nothing compared to how much her heart still hurt from Emmy's words two days ago. She couldn't stop thinking about it. She couldn't understand why Emmy, of all people, couldn't see things from her point of view. Kel's words had changed her mind, she knew she should have trusted Kel now, she understood that she had made a mistake. But she had expected Emmy to at least understand where she was coming from. Hadn't they known each other for half their lives now? Why couldn't she see it Vania's way? Did she really think that Vania would just betray everyone now?

"Vania," Shinko called, and Vania snapped out of her thoughts to see her coming over, one hand rubbing her back absent-mindedly. Her bump was starting to show, though she had glared at anyone who had tried to hold back on account of her being pregnant. "Why don't you join me for breakfast?" she said with a smile, "I've borrowed you from Kel for the morning."

Vania turned to glance at Kel, who nodded at her before walking away.

Vania wasn't really in the mood to talk, but she wasn't sure if this was supposed to be an assignment. She forced a smile. "Sure."

As they made their way back to Shinko and Roald's suite, Shinko told her about all the new things that Lianny was learning. When they got there, Lianny was wide awake, and they played with her through breakfast. Vania's heart felt lighter by the end of it, and her smile was real by the time Lianny was carted off by her nanny.

"Tea?" Shinko asked.

"Let me do it," Vania said, hurrying over to the cabinet where the tea set was stored, not wanting Shinko to do it herself.

Shinko sighed. "Thank you. I can still do it myself, but I admit, at this moment it is nice not having to do so."

Vania chuckled as she carried the tray over to set on the table between their armchairs. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to. I'm sure Roald has an army of servants ready to jump at your call."

"He does, but I'd like to remind him and everyone else that just because I'm pregnant, it doesn't mean I've suddenly become helpless," she said, rubbing her belly lightly, "this little one needs to know what work feels like too. I don't want a child who gets used to sitting around doing nothing all day."

Vania chuckled again. "I don't think any child of yours would sit around and do nothing, nee-san."

Shinko smiled. "Perhaps. Enough about me, I wanted to talk about you."

Vania froze, her heart beating quicker. She forced herself to continue preparing the tea.

"You look tired. And I don't recall you getting your fingers rapped in practice for years. Is everything alright?"

Vania kept her eyes down, pouring the tea for the both of them. Shinko waited. Finally, Vania sat back down, balling her fists at her lap.

"Emmy and I had a fight," she finally said.

"Ah."

"I don't understand why she's being like this!"

"Why don't you take a sip of tea, and start from the beginning."

Vania obeyed. Shinko sipped her own tea while Vania told her what happened. Knowing Shinko could be trusted, she didn't leave anything out — she told her about Adith, about Kel, and finally, about how Emmy refused to see things from her perspective.

"I mean, I know I made a mistake," she said, agitation making her itching to get out of her chair, "but couldn't she at least sympathise with what I was going through? After everything we've been through, does she really think I'm someone who… who can't be trusted?" She croaked, tears falling from her eyes.

Shinko handed her a handkerchief, sympathy in her eyes. "I understand why you're upset."

Vania dabbed the handkerchief at her eyes, slumping back on the armchair. Now that she let it all out, she felt spent. There was only one more thing left on her mind, something she had been afraid to confront herself.

"Maybe she's right," she whispered, "I betrayed Kel. I hurt her, even after all the kindness she'd shown me. Maybe I am just a spoiled princess."

"Vania," Shinko said, and waited until Vania looked at her, "you are not a spoiled princess. You were trying to do the right thing, and you were trying to protect Kel, even if you went about it differently than Emmy might have." She petted Vania's hand. "In fact, you did well. You did something good, you set two lives free out of a complex situation, and it didn't cost much beyond a small amount of coin, which is a small price to pay for two innocent lives."

Vania looked back down at her lap. "It feels like it'd cost a lot more than that."

"I wouldn't put this on the account of those lives; whatever hurt or guilt you feel now should count towards what you learn from this," Shinko paused. "I agree with Kel that you underestimated her by trying to protect her from the decision, but you shouldn't feel bad about knowing your power and wielding it."

Vania looked up with a frown. "What do you mean?"

"You had assumed that your status would protect you from the worst of a fallout if you get caught, and I agree. Being royalty is something you cannot run away from. It is admirable that you refused to be coddled and spoiled by working hard and getting your hands dirty, but ignoring the good you can do with your status is unwise." Shinko held her gaze, "in this instance, you've wielded your power as a shield, and I think you did well."

"Kel said I think I'm above the rules because I'm a princess." Vania said quietly, even as Shinko's words made her rethink her actions.

"When did she say that?"

"The night I told her the truth."

Shinko sipped her tea in contemplation. "She had just found out, perhaps she was still angry. Either way, Kel is fair, but sometimes perhaps she likes fairness a little too much to see how things work in the world we live in. I suspect she knows that, but her dislike for unfairness makes her reluctant to see it." Shinko turned back to Vania, "Kel isn't royalty, it can be hard for her to fully understand the burdens and powers it comes with. Once you become a knight, you will not be just a knight, you will also be a royal knight. You need to be aware of your own power, and your duty to wield it."

Vania stared at the tea set on the table in front of them, thinking through Shinko's words. It was the first time it occurred to her that there might be things that Kel couldn't teach her about being the knight she wanted to be.

It was surprising, and a little scary.

Still, she couldn't shake the self-doubt in her mind. "Would you have done what I did?"

Shinko didn't answer immediately. Instead, she refilled both their cups. "I could not tell you, because I don't know what it feels like to be in that situation in that moment, and I don't know what it feels like to be a squire, or a honeylove who sees someone like herself on the edge of heartbreak. If you want reassurance that you did the right thing, I cannot give you one. It is something you have to find within yourself."

"But I don't feel like I know what the right decision was," Vania said miserably, shame warming her cheeks, "I was so convinced I was right the night I met Cateline. But after I realised how much I hurt Kel, I thought I chose wrong. But how can setting two lives free be wrong?"

"Firstly, there is the deed, and there is the method," Shinko reminded her. "I believe what you did is the right thing, but your method could have been different. Secondly, there isn't always clear right and wrong. In fact, you will find that the older you get and the more power you wield, the more complicated things will get."

Vania snorted softly. It had sure felt that way.

They sipped their tea in silence for a while.

"How can I make Emmy understand all that?" Vania finally asked.

Shinko hummed. "It is hard for me to say, I don't know Emmy as well as you do. I do have to ask, did you start by trying to understand her?"

"I did! I know her. She said she can't imagine doing the same to Aunt Alanna, and I get that. I know how much she means to her. Aunt Alanna sponsored her page training, then took her as a squire. She changed her life. Maybe she means more to her than Kel does to me, I don't know," Vania waved her hand in frustration, "I know why she wouldn't do this, but I don't get why she can't try to see things from my perspective!"

"Perhaps you have to be patient, and be prepared that she may never fully understand it. Being in love doesn't mean you agree on everything."

"Well, now she won't even talk to me. It's been two days." Truthfully, Vania did not sought her out either. That didn't stop her from being hopeful that Emmy would be the first to reach out.

Shinko hummed again. "I have to ask — did you exchange any hurtful words in the heat of the moment?"

Vania felt her cheeks warm, and turned away.

"Just because I don't stupidly sacrifice myself, it doesn't mean I'm not trying to do the right thing!"

"I know I'm not as smart as you. But at least I know enough to know that you don't betray the people you care about."

She had been horrified by what she said almost as soon as she left Emmy's room. Vania had always been the more strategic and tactical-minded of the two of them, but she had never thought that Emmy was stupid, or implied as much. She didn't know why — maybe it was a combination of her frustration at the argument, and the lingering terror at how close Emmy had come to dying in saving someone else, again — but those words had tumbled out of her mouth, and now she couldn't take them back.

"It is hard to control what we say when we're emotional," Shinko said quietly, "and it is hard to think rationally when we feel hurt. You are both hurting."

"What do I do?" She whispered, looking at Shinko in desperation.

Shinko reached out to give her hand a squeeze. "Start by apologising for whatever hurtful words you've said. Then be patient, and talk through what you both feel. Be prepared to disagree. You both have a lifetime ahead of you. This won't be the last time you disagree on something."

Vania nodded, feeling more grounded now that she knew what to do. Looking at Shinko, she got out of her chair, and threw her arms around her. "Thank you, nee-san."

Shinko chuckled as she hugged her back. "You're always welcome."

The third time Emmy found herself reading the same paragraph in the book, she sighed and closed it, rubbing her eyes. She couldn't help wondering where Vania was now, and what she was doing. It seemed like the gods' idea of a joke for them to be finally at the same place after months apart, but unable to speak to each other.

She still didn't understand how they had stumbled into a fight like that. Things had been going so well. And even as Vania told the story of what she had done to Kel, she had looked like she was wracked by guilt. She had even said that Kel had been kinder to her than she deserved.

Why couldn't Emmy let it go? Why did she have to keep pressing the point? Vania had learned her lesson, hadn't she?

Sure, part of her was hurt by the way Vania kept saying she couldn't see the big picture — the flash of disdain she had seen in Vania's eyes made her feel more foolish than she had felt in a while, and it had hurt. She had hit back and implied that Vania was untrustworthy, as if her one-off betrayal of Kel's trust in trying to do the right thing had undone all the other good she did in her life.

Emmy regretted saying those words. But she couldn't bring herself to go to Vania to make things right. Part of her had agreed with Vania — she couldn't see the big picture as well as Vania did. Maybe she would never grasp all the intricacies of everything Vania had to juggle as a princess, no matter how many books she read or how hard she tried to listen.

Maybe Vania deserved someone better, someone who could really understand her.

Maybe they could just stop talking for a while, and in a few years they could be friends again, like how she was friends with Gerald now. Emmy could still be in her life, could still support her and protect her. She could be content with that, right?

She thought she could. But her whole chest ached at the prospect.

What would happen if Vania really found someone else? Could she be content watching someone else make Vania happy, someone else by Vania's side?

She rested her head on her desk, and squeezed her eyes shut.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but the a knock on her door snapped her out of her thoughts. She pushed herself up, dabbed her eyes with her sleeves, and straightened her tunic before making her way to the door.

She didn't expect to find Vania on the other side of it.

Vania looked tired, and her smile seemed forced. "Can I come in?"

Wordlessly, she stood aside and let her in. After locking the door, Emmy kept her head down.

"Emmy… I'm sorry," Vania said, and Emmy looked up. Vania's eyes were teary. "I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did. I didn't mean it."

Emmy felt tears pool in her own eyes, and she looked away. "But you're right. I don't see the big picture as well as you do. Maybe I never will. You deserve someone who can understand you."

Vania took Emmy's hands urgently. "No, please, that's not true! You do understand me — you know my joys, my pain, my heart. You understand me in the big things, the important things. Tactics and strategy — they are a just small part of us, of the life we can build. And I want to build that life with you. I love you."

The tears slipped from Emmy's eyes. "I love you too. But you were right earlier, I'm not as smart as you. Maybe I'll never catch-up—"

"No," Vania shook her head quickly, her tears falling all over her face and her voice broken, "that's not what I meant at all. I have never thought of you as stupid, and I hate myself for using that word. I wish I could take it back. I was still scared that you had another brush with death, and I was frustrated because I'd assumed that you'd take my side. I'd taken you for granted, and I said stupid things in anger. I'm the stupid one in this mess."

"No," Emmy muttered, Vania's devastation tugging harshly at her heart. She raised her hands to cup Vania's cheeks so she could thumb away her tears. Vania's hands hung on to Emmy's wrists. "Don't talk about yourself like that. You're not stupid."

"Don't talk about yourself like you're undeserving, either," Vania shot back through her tears. "You deserve all the good things in the world."

They locked eyes for a moment, and chuckled wetly at each other.

"We're a mess, aren't we?" Emmy asked with a smile, as Vania reached up to wipe her tears for her.

Vania nodded, sharing a tremulous smile. "Such a big mess."

Almost as one, they closed the distance between them and kissed hungrily. Emmy poured her heart into it, needing to feel every part of Vania, as if she had really lost her and had just gotten her back. Vania seemed to feel the same, her hands moving down her neck, her chest, her everywhere.

Some time later, they held each other close in bed, almost every part of their skin touching each other but still not feeling as close as they needed to be. They continued like that in silence, though sleep was far from Emmy's mind. She wanted to savour this moment, and wanted to memorise every part of Vania.

"Do you have anything planned for Sunday?" Vania suddenly said, her hand tracing circles on Emmy's back.

"No. Why?"

"I was thinking we could watch 'By the Fireflies' Light' again," she said, referring to the play about the pair of samurai lovers, "it's been so long since we last saw it. Things have been hard lately. I think it would be nice to remind ourselves of how beautiful our lives could be."

Emmy smiled, leaning forward a little to kiss Vania on the shoulder. "That's a great idea. Let's do it. But you know, I don't think we'll ever have a firefly viewing party," she teased.

The samurai lovers had met over a firefly viewing party, which was apparently something that people did in the Yamani Islands. The play had ended where it began, at the same party two years later, with the only difference being that they went as husbands.

Vania laughed, and Emmy's heart sang along with it. "Not in Tortall, maybe. But maybe a few years after we are knighted, we can take some time to travel, and go to one in the Yamani Islands."

Left unspoken was the fact that they would have to wait because Emmy couldn't leave Tortall for the first four years after her knighthood. But the reminder of her sentence didn't sour her mood as it usually would. Instead, she felt a fluttering of excitement at the idea that one day they really could go to a firefly viewing party together. And in the Isles, they wouldn't have to hide their love.

"We could," Emmy said, awe in her voice.

Vania pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. Her eyes were serious and determined, and Emmy knew she would make it happen. "We will. I promise you."

Emmy smiled, and they shared another kiss, both giddy at the future that awaited them.

Vania was right about the play, Emmy thought, as the curtain closed and the audience clapped hard and cheered. Her heart was full of hope and warmth. She turned to her right, beaming as she caught Vania's eyes. In the relative darkness, they held hands as they exited the theatre.

As they snaked their way past rows of chairs, she wondered how many here were like her and Vania, watching the play not for the first time, and trying to believe in the hope and a future for themselves that they did not yet see around them. How many others were taking the chance to hold hands in the dark, like they were? How many lives would Vania change for the better, when she finally succeeds in changing the laws to allow same sex lovers to marry?

She was so deep in thought that she didn't catch whatever signal Vania must have given her, and felt a sudden tug on her hand.

"What—"

"I want to show you something," Vania winked, "follow me."

Emmy smiled back, and let Vania take the lead.

Instead of towards the exit, Vania led her down the opposite direction, and turned into a corner that ended in a stairwell. She turned back to flash a grin at her before climbing quickly up the narrow stairs that were lit by flickering torches on the wall.

How did she know her way around the theatre so well? Emmy shook her head as she followed, not really caring about the answer. She would follow Vania wherever she went anyway.

But there were a lot of stairs. After what must have been the fourth floor, Emmy paused, slightly out of breath. "Where are we going?"

Vania paused too, grinning as she panted a little. "Don't tell me you're tired already? Have you gotten soft?"

Emmy narrowed her eyes, even though she knew Vania was teasing. "I'll show you who's gotten soft!"

They raced the rest of the way upstairs. The stairs ended on the sixth floor — they must have been right at the top of the building. The theatre was a grand, ornate building that opened up to a cavernous stage area. Emmy had never thought about it having a floor so high up before, she thought it had all been empty space.

But as they burst into the open, Emmy realised belatedly that they were on the roof. They paused as they caught their breaths, with the evening summer breeze giving them a pleasant cool down.

It was a dark, flat expanse, lit only in the corners and the front side of the building by a series of lanterns. The night sky above them were interspersed with sparse clouds, with a sprinkling of stars visible above them. It was a beautiful night.

Without warning, Vania caught her waist and brought her close for a greedy kiss.

Emmy grinned as she pulled back, her arms still around Vania. "Did you make me climb up here just to do this? I saw a few closets that were much closer to the stage."

Vania laughed. "No, you dolt! I—" Suddenly she froze, her eyes uncertain. "I mean, I didn't mean—"

Finally realising that Vania was concerned about using the word 'dolt' with her, she smiled, and kissed her gently. "It's all right. I don't mind you calling me that. In fact, I quite like it," she admitted, knowing that every time Vania called her a 'dolt', it was done with affection. "I know I can be silly sometimes."

Vania smiled gratefully, caressing her cheek. "Yes, you can be silly sometimes. But you're amazing most of the time."

They kissed again, slowly, both grateful and a little tentative with the memory of their argument still so fresh on their minds.

When they pulled back, they rested their foreheads against each other, just enjoying each other's presence and the gentle summer breeze around them.

Vania gave her another quick kiss, and pulled back. "Come on, I want to show you something."

She dragged Emmy over to the front edge. The wall was higher on this side on account of some of the decorations, and it came up to Emmy's chest, and she couldn't see beyond it before they got there. But when she did, she gasped.

The whole of the Unicorn district and much of Corus spread out in front of her, like a dark field with a bed of little lights for flowers, all blanketed under a carpet of night sky. In the distance, the river Olorun glittered in the moonlight, with the watchtowers shining more brightly with mage-powered light.

She had never seen Corus like this before.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Vania said, resting her elbows on the wall and leaning forward.

"It is," Emmy beamed, and leaned forward to give Vania a quick peck on the cheek before mimicking her. She leaned forward a little, watching the people walking around the theatre district. They were so small from up here, like insects. The view of Corus and the Olorun under the night sky was more interesting, she decided, and turned her gaze back up.

Vania moved closer, and linked their arms together, leaning a little on her.

"How did you know about this place?"

"When I was six, hurroks and centaurs attacked the palace."

Emmy sobered up, pulling Vania closer. "I remember. You said you, Lianne, and Jasson were trapped, and Lord Wyldon of Cavall saved you."

Vania nodded. "After that, I was scared of horses for a while."

"Really?"

Vania smiled a little. "Kally helped me overcome it. But it took months. Everyone tried something. Mother took me and my siblings here to watch a play. It was supposed to be something humorous, something to cheer us up. But all I remember was that there were horses, and I got so upset that I started screaming and crying — and they weren't even real horses! They were just big puppets stuck on sticks."

Vania chuckled at her silliness of her childhood, but Emmy's heart went out to six-year-old Vania. She placed a soft kiss on Vania's temple.

Vania gave her a smile before turning back to the view of the city. "Mother, Kally — no one could calm me down, and everyone around me was talking and pointing. I think mother asked the owner of the theatre if there was a quiet place, and he suggested the roof, saying that the view might distract me. And it did. I've been meaning to show you this, but we got a little carried away the last time we were here."

Emmy smiled. They had both been so moved and lifted by the beautiful story that they left for the palace immediately afterwards, not wanting to wait one moment longer to share their love for each other.

"Thank you for sharing this with me."

Vania took her hand, caressing it. "I want to share everything with you."

Emmy brought Vania's knuckles close, and kissed them. "Me too."

They stayed up there for a while, just holding hands and leaning on each other. It felt a little surreal, to be so high up and looking at such a broad view of the city. It felt like their problems were far away, and it was just them, the summer breeze, and the carpet of stars above them.

Emmy didn't know how much time had passed, but eventually, she saw Vania yawn, and chuckled.

"We should head back. We both have to get up early for training tomorrow."

Vania looked a little sheepish. "You're right."

"I'm really glad you brought me here. Let's come back when we can, shall we?"

Vania nodded eagerly. "Yes! I asked the owner about this earlier, and he agreed that whenever I come for a play, I can come up here and stay as long as I like."

Emmy hadn't even thought about why no one had stopped them from coming up, or asked them to leave, distracted as she was by the view. She shook her head with a smile. "You know, sometimes I am very glad that you are a princess."

Vania laughed a little as they started heading back towards the stairs. "It's funny, Shinko and I had a conversation about that this morning."

"You did?"

Vania nodded. "I'll tell you another time. Tonight, I want to just focus on us."

Emmy could only smile.

At the edge of the stairs, Vania took Emmy's hands in her own, and looked like she was about to say something.

"Race you to the bottom!"

Emmy had barely blinked before Vania started running down the stairs. She huffed out a breath in exasperation and amusement, before running to catch up. "That's cheating!"

They giggled and laughed the whole way down, egging each other on. Emmy lost — Vania did have a headstart — but she didn't mind at all as once again, they were standing a little bent, panting and out of breath at the bottom of the stairs.

"Who's old now?" Vania smirked when she caught her breath.

They were still bantering and shoving each other playfully as they made their way out the theatre, with Vania waving cheerfully at an old man near the door, who had simply bowed with a grin.

The street was mostly empty by now, with only a few people still walking around. Most of them seemed to be the shop owners just closing for the night, or people heading home. Emmy wished she could hold Vania's hand as they walked down the street, but that felt like a small inconvenience tonight.

They had barely walked past a few buildings when someone yelled in pain.

They exchanged an alarmed glance.

The person yelled again. Her voice was coming from a darkened alley about twenty feet ahead of them.

"— That will teach you!" A gruff voice said, "Go back to your filthy island and bring all your fellow freaks back with you!"

A few more grunts and yells of agreement.

Emmy and Vania started running towards the alley.

"Halt! In the name of the King!" Vania called out when they got near. The dark figures in the alley froze over a hunched figure on the ground. There were four of them. Two of them carried swords, and were better dressed. If Emmy had to guess, the two were nobles or rich merchants' sons, and the other two their servants.

The biggest among them, one of the two with swords, stepped forward with a frown. "In the name of the King? Who do you lasses think you are? You're no Provost Guards!"

"This is Her Royal Highness and Squire Vania of Conté," Emmy said, stepping forward, "I am Emmeline of Tirragen, squire to the King's Champion."

"Is that good enough for you?" Vania said icily.

The four twitched in panic. The figure on the ground whimpered, and Emmy saw Vania frown. They had to tend to her quickly, but there were four of them.

Luckily, the four came to their senses collectively, and turned tail and ran down the other way.

Vania huffed. "Well, that works too."

They hurried over, and crouched down next to the woman. She was clearly of Yamani ancestry, though her hair was cut boyishly short, and she was dressed in Tortallan tunic and hose instead of a dress. One of her cheeks was bruised, and she had a split lip. But more worrying was the way she held her middle.

"Hey, can you tell me your name?" Vania said, "I'm a healer-in-training. I can help you."

"Airi," she croaked, coughing.

"I'm going to use my Gift to check how bad your injuries are, don't be afraid," Vania said, her hand glowing blue.

Emmy watched them, but turned to the alley every now and then to keep an eye out in case the bullies return. Something was nagging at her about Airi's face. She looked familiar somehow. Where had Emmy seen her?

Airi relaxed and slumped forward a little, but Emmy caught her. Vania tore up a strip from her tunic and wrapped it around a leg wound that Emmy hadn't noticed earlier. But now, looking at Airi's more closely, something struck Emmy.

"Tannosuke!" Emmy said in shock.

Vania frowned at her. "What?"

"She's — well, she played Tannosuke in the play!" Emmy gestured, "I mean, imagine her with her hair neat and her face made up!"

Airi grinned a little, though it turned into a grimace quickly. "Yes, I play Tannosuke."

Vania blinked, and exchanged a look for surprise with Emmy. They didn't realise that it was a girl who played one of the main samurai in the play, and a girl around Vania's age, too.

"I didn't —" Vania shook her head, "never mind. You need to rest, and get proper bandages for your leg. Where do you live?"

"The Lower City."

Emmy exchanged a frown with Vania. That was all the way across the city. Airi didn't seem like she could walk that far, and it would be difficult to find a carriage or even a wagon they could borrow this time of the night. Was there any place nearby that they could —

"Amicia!" Emmy suddenly said, "Amicia lives a few streets from here, near the shop. We can bring her there, she would have some supplies. Maybe Airi can spend the night, and we can send for her friends tomorrow to help bring her back?"

Airi's eyes were drooping closed.

"That will have to do," Vania said, slinging one of Airi's arms over her shoulder, "come on, help me get her up, and lead the way."

A/N: The name of the play here, "By the Fireflies' light", was inspired by a story mentioned in this article: /love-sex/how-same-sex-samurai-stories-made-gay-love-beautiful-in-japan-72783. The story mentioned is actually quite tragic, so I heavily adapted it to get a happy ending, but kept the pretty cool and romantic idea of a firefly viewing party.