A/N - Hey there, in case you missed it, Chapter 24 was posted last week. Enjoy, everyone, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I do not own these characters.

Chapter 25

Moans of pleasure filled the air in the officer suite. Frantic hands caressed tender flesh, trying in vain to push away the dangers of the world beyond their doorstep. Though the efforts might be in vain, neither young woman wished to stop in their attempts.

Somewhere along the way the rest of their clothing had been removed and tossed into unknown corners of the room. Their encounters in the shower and against the wall had been aggressive, fueled by passion and unbridled desire. This was different though. Yumi's hands that had been firm and unyielding against her skin were now light and tender as they caressed Sachiko's prone body.

Yumi was proving to Sachiko that she did, in fact, see her as the goddess Hecate and that she was willing to worship her body and soul. Sachiko's legs tightened around Yumi as she knelt in worship between her thighs. Sweat glistened on both of their bodies, slickening their caresses and somehow making the interaction even more erotic.

When Sachiko's cries from her most recent climax faded away, Yumi hummed in pleasure and licked her lips before kissing a trail back to Sachiko's neck. Laying her own naked body across Sachiko's on the couch, Yumi whispered praise for her goddess. "You taste so damn good. And smell even better. I could lose myself in you if I were not careful."

A gentle hand on her chin raised Yumi's head until their lips were nearly meeting. Sachiko's eyes, dark with lust and wanting, searched hers. Without a word, she leaned up and captured Yumi's lips with her own and moaned as she tasted herself there. As their lips moved in a slow dance, Sachiko's hand drifted low and without warning dipped between Yumi's dripping folds. The soldier gasped at the touch, her hands coming up to grip her lover's shoulders.

Sachiko's hand didn't stay there long though, as a moment later she pulled back from the kiss and Yumi watched as she brought her soaked fingers up between them. With a glint of mischief, Sachiko trailed her fingers against Yumi's lips. Understanding what she was wanting, Yumi opened and received the proffered fingers with a groan. Licking them clean, she sucked at Sachiko's fingers until the woman beneath her began to squirm with pleasure.

Extracting her fingers from Yumi's mouth, Sachiko leaned in for a deep kiss, turning the smaller girl until they were laying side by side on the couch. Pulling apart only far enough to speak, Sachiko gasped a confession that had Yumi's toes curling. "I love the taste of you and me on your lips."

Groaning, Yumi closed her eyes and laid her head against the back of the couch. "What are you doing to me?"

With a quirk of her brow, Sachiko grinned. "Uh, I think you have a better grasp on that than I do."

With a laugh, Yumi shook her head. "I'm not talking about that. I mean, in general. You've changed me. I don't know if I like it or not."

Still grinning, Sachiko drew a single finger along Yumi's exposed side, stopping to trace the lines of scars along a weaving path to her chest. "Oh, really?"

"Really." Despite her words, Yumi shivered under Sachiko's caress and did not pull away. "I have to be - ah!" Her breath caught in her throat when Sachiko's finger flicked across her nipple.

"You have to be?" Sachiko wasn't going to hide the fact that she enjoyed what she could do to Yumi now that the soldier was allowing her to touch her and more.

"I have to be hardened in the field." Yumi shivered under the continuous assault of her nipple but strained to make her voice steady. "Nothing can touch me out there."

"Oh, but I love touching you in here." Sachiko's voice was husky as she lowered her lips to capture Yumi's reddened nipple.

"Sa-Sachiko…mmm… I like this- hmm- way too much." Instead of pushing her away, Yumi's hand came to the nape of Sachiko's neck and pulled her closer.

Taking the move as the encouragement it was, Sachiko turned so that Yumi was pressed into the corner between the seat and the back of the couch, unable to move even an inch away from her. Lowering her hand back to Yumi's wet folds, Sachiko slowly circled the swollen bundle of nerves she found there.

Gasping at the touch, Yumi's grip on her neck tightened slightly as her hips jerked involuntarily. "Oh, love- Yes, there." As if to grant her unencumbered access, Yumi raised her leg, resting her knee against Sachiko's curvaceous hip.

Kissing her way from Yumi's breast to her neck, Sachiko hummed in appreciation and nipped her thanks. Feeling how wet Yumi was for her was still surreal for Sachiko. Never before had she had such an impact on another person. At least, not to her knowledge and not in a manner that was mutual. This was, in a word, incredible. No, incredible was too tame a word for what this was. Miraculous? Maybe there was no word that could appropriately describe what this was to Sachiko.

After she had circled Yumi's nub for a time, and the smaller girl was practically writhing in her arms, Sachiko dipped her fingers between her folds once more. Only this time she didn't stop at the tips of her fingers. This time, she used the advantage that her long slender fingers gave her and reached deep. At the same time, as she plunged her fingers deep, she let her thumb rub directly over her most sensitive spot.

Nails dug into Sachiko's neck and Yumi's head flew back. "Oh, fuck! Yes! Don't-Don't stop!"

Having no plans to stop, Sachiko pulled her fingers out to the tip and then drove back in. Again and again, she repeated the thrusting motion, and each time her fingers reached their hilt, her thumb flicked, sending Yumi into spasms of pleasure.

Feeling Yumi's body tighten around her, Sachiko knew her little shadow was almost at her end. So, with one last plunge, she flicked and curled her fingers as she sank her teeth into Yumi's exposed neck. The sensations proved Yumi's undoing as she shuddered against her, her mouth open in a silent cry of pleasure. Her small muscular body shook against Sachiko and her arms tightened around her neck.

Sachiko rubbed her through her release, only stopping when Yumi's hips stopped their jerking and her breathing sounded a tad pained rather than pleasured. Kissing the love bite she had given her soldier, Sachiko's lips traveled up until they met Yumi's.

Their kiss this time wasn't desperate, but it was just as wanting. If either of them had had any doubt of what this was between them, it was gone now. It felt so right to simply be in each other's arms. They wanted nothing more than to hide away in this room and pretend that the war beyond their four walls did not exist. However, they both knew it would be impossible. Neither wished to abandon their friends and comrades. Yet that desire was only barely enough to pull them out of their happy seclusion.

"I wish we could stay like this forever," Yumi mumbled in her post-orgasmic haze. To Sachiko's surprise, her tough little soldier curled herself into her arms and rested her head on Sachiko's shoulder.

Rolling to her back so that Yumi could rest comfortably against her shoulder, Sachiko ghosted fingers up and down Yumi's arm, drawing goosebumps up in the wake of her touch. "I know what you mean."

Glancing at the time, Sachiko groaned to find it was nearly midnight. The whole evening had gone by in one long, dizzying, and enjoyable frenzy with the girl at her side. "It's late, love. We should get some sleep."

The quiet note of acknowledgment from the smaller girl signaled that she was already well on her way to that destination. With a chuckle, Sachiko considered pulling the blanket down over their bodies and simply staying on the couch the rest of the night, but thoughts of Yumi's many injuries brought her to a different decision.

"Yumi, love? Let's go to the bedroom."

Groaning a bit in sleepy reluctance, Yumi tucked in closer. Could anyone be so deadly and yet so cute? Yes, Yumi could. Despite her reluctance, it only took Sachiko a few minutes to encourage her soldier into the bedroom. Drawing the sheet and blanket back, Sachiko instructed her to lay down on her stomach. Though Yumi had a puzzled look on her face, she did as she was instructed and laid down on her stomach.

Sachiko swallowed back a new wave of desire as she saw her lover's naked body in the pale light of the room. Then the angry scars and bruises caught her attention and reminded her of what her present goal was. Stepping into the bathroom she returned moments later to find a curious yet sleepy Yumi watching her approach, eyes once more darkened with lust at the sight of her naked Major.

With a giggle, Sachiko shook her head. "I think we've done enough for one night, don't you?"

Licking her lips, Yumi slowly shook her head. "I don't think there is such a thing as enough when it comes to you, Sachiko."

Blushing at her obvious desire and adoration, Sachiko walked to her side and gently pushed her back down into a prone position. "That is very sweet, but I'm not going anywhere. Now, let me care for your back."

"I'm fine. Just a bit sore." Yumi groused, her hand tickling at Sachiko's thigh clearly indicating what she would prefer to be doing.

With a smirk, Sachiko leaned down and pushed at the bruise that encompassed most of her back. If the stiffening of Yumi's body wasn't enough to signal how much pain she was in, then the stifled cry that came from her lips would have been. "Damn it, Sachiko!"

"Yeah, you seem okay. Now, shut up, Lance Corporal. Stay still and let me work. That's an order." Though Yumi sighed, she didn't complain any further as Sachiko began to rub a healing balm into her sore and aching muscles. At times her touches caused pain, but Sachiko's gentle rubbing soon replaced that pain with a soothing that drew moans from the smaller girl.

The tingling sensation of menthol raced along her shoulders and spine. Yumi could feel the aches falling away and being soothed by the cool balm Sachiko had applied with skilled hands. Then, when the balm had long since been rubbed into her skin, Sachiko blew down across her back, her breath blending with the menthol and sending an arctic shudder across Yumi's back. "Gah!" Yumi cried out in surprise but didn't have time to so much as curl into a warm ball before Sachiko had drawn the warm covers up over her aching shoulders. Dropping a kiss to her cheek, Sachiko grinned against her cheek and whispered into her ear. "Now, off to sleep with you my little shadow. Tomorrow is a new day and we have so much yet to do."

Yumi's contented sighs brought warmth to Sachiko's heart that would have thawed the coldest of frosts. "Joining me?"

"Shortly, love. I need to make a few calls." Dropping one more kiss to Yumi's cheek, she grabbed her handset and made her way out of the room.

Without a thought to her current state of undress, Sachiko dialed Shimako's room. Moments later, a tired Shimako answered. "Hello?"

"Captain, I apologize for waking you. I need command shifts to be altered for the next few days." Plans had slowly been coming together in her mind and now they clicked into place as she spoke to her 2nd in command.

A soft voice that wasn't Shimako's spoke in the background, momentarily surprising Sachiko. She recognized that timid voice. She could hear Shimako encouraging whoever it was to go back to sleep before her nervous voice came back across the line clearly. "Sorry about that, Major. You were saying you need the command shifts altered? What exactly do we need to move around?"

Deciding to hold any commentary on the second voice in Shimako's bedroom, Sachiko chose instead to explain. "You, the Lieutenants, and myself - We'll be taking a break from the command center this week and possibly next."

"In favor of what, exactly, Major?" Shimako asked curiously.

Sachiko smirked into the line. "In favor of a greater chance at survival, Captain. We have work to do."

Yumi woke the next morning to find a note on Sachiko's pillow instead of Sachiko herself.

Little Shadow,

I had to leave for an early meeting this morning. Breakfast is in the oven, so help yourself. Know that I'm missing you already. It took all the control I have in me to crawl out of bed away from her comforting warmth this morning.

See you soon.

I love you,

Hecate

Grinning like a fool, Yumi nearly smothered herself with a pillow in her efforts to stifle her childish giggles. It took a full five minutes before Yumi had finally gathered herself and pushed her lovesick reactions back behind her emotional shield, a shield Sachiko was wasting no time in demolishing with her every look, touch, and kiss. And now with a note.

The next fifteen minutes went by quickly as Yumi showered, dressed, and ate. She hesitated only a moment as she was leaving Sachiko's room, wondering if she would run into anyone in the corridors. It only took her a moment though to remember that they were not going to be hiding their relationship. And just like that, she was grinning like a fool again.

Slapping herself lightly on the cheeks, Yumi schooled herself back into her soldier demeanor before exiting the room. She passed by a few curious officers in the corridor, but aside from the customary salutes, Yumi didn't explain or interact with them at all. She was late for training with her team and wanted to stop by the infirmary to check on Kaede before she went.

Only a few minutes later she was walking into the same ward she had frequented so often as of late. Her eyes were instantly drawn to a bed on the right side surrounded by three nurses, all smiling and laughing. It came as no shock that the young girl, adored by all, had already endeared herself to the nursing staff. Kaede-chan could charm the scales off a snake with that girlish, innocent grin of hers. What was not readily apparent to those only just meeting her was the intelligence beneath her charming exterior. Kaede had the makings to be diabolical if she put her mind to it, though Yumi was more than certain that the girl would never employ her innate skills in such a manner. She was too good.

Coming to the foot of her bed, Yumi smirked at Kaede and the surrounding nurses. "Kaede-chan, I thought I left you here to recover and now I find you flirting with every nurse in the ward. Impressive."

This inspired another round of laughter from the nurses while Kaede grinned and blushed as Yumi. "Yumi-Onee-Sama, it's not like that."

"Oh, really?" Yumi cast a devilish grin at the nurses. "So none of you are ready to take this young angel under your wing for some serious R&R?"

It was the nurses' turn to blush, though one who couldn't have been much older than Kaede herself was bold enough to wink at Kaede and reply, "I'm game if she is."

Sputtering in shock and embarrassment, Kaede tried to respond, but only unintelligible noises made it from between her lips. Giggling, the nurses retreated from the bedside, Kaede's admirer being the last to move away, but not without an affectionate squeeze to her arm and another wink.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Yumi clicked her tongue. "Well, looks like you've got plans for your recovery. Just be careful not to pull anything. Wouldn't want to have to explain that injury to Sarge."

"Onee-sama!" Kaede groaned, burying her scarlet face into her hands.

Laughing freely, Yumi sat at her side and patted her arm. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't tease. How are you feeling?"

Kaede smiled reservedly at Yumi and shrugged. "Having to move slowly yet. The room spins if I move too much or too fast.

"Nausea?"

"Not as bad as it was. I've been able to keep some broth down. Nurse Yui says she'll be bringing me something special for lunch though." Kaede's blush told Yumi exactly who Nurse Yui was and she had to grin down at her young friend.

"Well, good. Let them take care of you, okay? I don't want you leaving here until you are 100%, you hear me?" Yumi smiled but tried to speak forcefully enough that the young girl wouldn't question her.

Kaede merely nodded. "I will, Yumi-Onee-Sama." She hesitated a bit before continuing in a lower voice as if afraid the others present would hear her. "I - uh- I am kind of nervous to go back out there."

Yumi nodded in understanding. "That's normal. This is the first time you had a serious injury. You'll find you'll be a bit timid to go back out there the next few times, but the important thing is to take it slow, but continue moving forward, okay? The world we live in is not a compassionate one. If I would work my will on it, you'd never go back out there, but… War is a cruel thing. That doesn't mean how you feel doesn't matter though." She gripped her young friend's arm. "If you need to speak to someone about this, make sure you make an appointment with Doctor Corbin. She has listened to many of my own rants."

Kaede nodded, but Yumi didn't let it drop until she had promised to seek Doctor Corbin out should she need to talk it through. Glancing at the clock, Yumi cursed under her breath. She was late and Sei was going to give her hell over it. "Gotta go, kid." Yumi stood and without thinking planted a sisterly kiss to the top of Kaede's head. They both stood in shock a moment before smiles broke out on both of their faces. "Well, dang, guess you really are like my little sister now."

Beaming ear to ear, Kaede nodded. "I like that, Onee-s… Onee-chan."

Yumi's grin softened and she nodded. "Me too." Promising to return soon for another visit, Yumi turned and left the infirmary at a fast clip.

Not ten minutes later she hustled into the gym as she was tightening her utility belt into place at her hips. Without looking up and began to speak, "Hey Sarge, sorry for being late. Had to check on Kaede-chan this morning. Now, who's ready for a demonstration?"

"We are, Lance Corporal."

The voice that responded caught Yumi off guard and she nearly dropped her utility belt. Looking up she saw Shimako, Toko, and Eriko standing nearby each brandishing a weapon and wearing full gear. At their center stood Sachiko, smirking at having caught her little shadow off guard.

"Sach- Uh, Major?"

Sachiko nodded, taking a step forward and lifting her assault rifle to rest on her shoulder. "Yes, Fukuzawa. We're here for training and I'm specifically here to follow through on a promise I made." With a glint in her eyes, she added, "I need to be able to hold out until I'm rescued next time, right? So, teach us."

Her conversation with Sachiko those few nights past came rushing back to Yumi then. Sachiko had promised to learn to fight as long as Yumi was the one to teach her. A grin touched her lips, but Yumi quickly pulled it back and nodded her head seriously. "Alright then, Major, let's get to work."

A/N - Thanks for reading! I would love to hear what you think now that things are becoming a bit more complex. Still, enjoying it? I love to hear from you all! Blessed day to you all!