Alas! A softly M-rated post-movie Mayakuro story for an anonymous friend!
Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.
Beneath A Veil Of Moonlight
At 19 years of age, Claudine has been applying herself and studying hard in the Theatre du Flamme troupe since her graduation from Seishou Academy.
In her first year alone, she had been involved with major productions, and had landed several lead roles in various performances that had ensured everyone in the theatre world across the country knew her name. She had worked tirelessly in order to establish herself and to gain the respect of her colleagues and the confidence of her superiors.
Her years of dedication and passion back in Japan had carried overseas and set her up for success, but that didn't mean she didn't continue to push herself to her limits every single day.
Since she'd arrived and settled back in France, Claudine had kept in touch with her old friends and classmates via texts and video calls during their free time, and there had been a few rare weekends when Claudine had been able to travel to visit some of them, or they had come to visit her.
It's only now, after she had recently finished what ended up being her biggest performance yet, that she allows herself a bit of relaxation time as a reward. Though, perhaps a younger version of herself might not have considered it "relaxing" if it meant she was spending time with this particular person.
It just so happened that Maya had been granted time off from work in her own trope, which had aligned perfectly with Claudine's performance. After making the flight to France and reuniting with her old partner the day before the show, Maya had stayed to watch her perform.
It had been months since they'd seen each other in-person, but that had actually been the first time since they'd graduated that Maya had gotten the privilege of seeing her perform in the flesh.
Needless to say, Claudine had been absolutely breathtaking - even more so than she'd ever been before. It had been easy to tell how much she'd improved and expanded her skills in just over a year. In Maya's humble opinion, Claudine had stolen the show, and the hearts of the entire audience with her striking beauty, her powerful voice, and her contagious love for the stage.
After a long evening of wrapping up at the theater, Maya had insisted on taking Claudine out for a lavish romantic dinner, before they had ultimately returned to Claudine's apartment.
Claudine had already retreated into the bathroom to enjoy a long, much-deserved shower, leaving Maya to finish unpacking her things, as she'd been too thrilled upon her arrival to do so. Only now that she had been separated from Claudine out of necessity does she accept her solitude task.
Maya was going to be here in France for another five days, which she intends to use to enjoy every last second with Claudine in any way possible. But judging by the fact that it is now nearly midnight, and Claudine is likely exhausted from her major performance, perhaps that could begin tomorrow.
Presently, Maya hears the shower water start up, telling her she'll have a bit of time to herself in Claudine's spacious apartment.
Before anything else, Maya goes to the largest window and admires the sight of France at night, and just how different and yet the same it is in comparison to Japan.
Wanting to immerse herself in the city lights as much as possible, she makes her way around the apartment and turns off all the lights, making a mental note to put them back on for when Claudine is finished with her shower. But for now, Maya returns to the window to enjoy just how brilliant the city below is, as well as the stars above. She breathes in deeply, savoring it for all it's worth.
When she's enjoyed the view enough, she draws the curtains to a close and retreats to her luggage. The moonlight casting through the curtains is enough for her to see by, so she leaves the lights off for the moment. Claudine had indicated which drawers she could use to put her clothes and things, so Maya gets to work unpacking and arranging everything neatly.
First and foremost, she changes into a long silk nightgown the color of sea foam to get comfortable for the night. She then kneels on the carpeted floor of the bedroom, humming to herself, a tune she barely remembers, but never forgot.
She pulls out another handful of clothes, and as she's re-folding them, a long piece of thin, lavender material spills out from one of her sweaters and into her lap. Maya puts the clothing aside to pick it up, recognizing the veil instantly. It was a fabric she'd used in one of her more recent numbers back in Japan, and she'd been permitted to keep it after the show had ended. It must have gotten caught up in the laundry when she'd been packing for her trip to come here.
Maya places the veil aside as she puts the rest of her things away. She's got half a mind to simply put the veil back into the pocket of her suitcase.
But being where she is, high up over one of the world's most dazzling and romantic cities, at the stroke of midnight with only the most alluring of silver moonlight guiding her vision, feeling more inspired than ever after having watched her amazing and talented girlfriend's performance…
There's no way Maya can simply ignore the itch to move.
She picks up the lavender cloth and walks quietly to the center of the room, where there is ample space beside the bed. She remembers exactly what she'd been taught, holding one corner of the cloth in each hand before slowly extending her arms and bringing it above her head in the starting position…
After finishing her shower, Claudine wraps herself in a towel and dries off her hair for several minutes while singing softly to herself. Now that her big performance has finally come to an end, she can start to anticipate the time off she'll have with Maya for the next several days and nights. It had been so long since they'd had the opportunity to enjoy significant time together, and she's determined to make the most of it.
After switching her towel for a fluffy pink robe and stepping into her slippers, Claudine exits the restroom.
What surprises her is the fact that all the other lights in the apartment have been turned off. It isn't an issue, since there's still plenty of city lights leaking in through the kitchen and living room area, but she can't help but heave a sigh.
"What in the world is that woman up to…?"
Quietly, she makes her way back to the bedroom, where she stumbles upon an unexpected sight.
It appeared that Maya had decided to spend her alone time engaging in what she did best - dance.
But Claudine had never seen her do this particular kind before, at least not in-person. She lingers in the doorway without making a sound, and observes her partner as she swirls a long, flowing veil around herself.
Maya wraps the cloth around half of her body, draping it from her shoulder and letting it hang down to her hip. As she turns herself, she extends her free arm while letting the veil flutter out behind her with the movement of her rotation. It creates a fluid pattern, allowing the veil to ruffle in small, smooth waves, giving it a water-like appearance.
She steps out, lifting the fabric up behind her head like a backdrop to highlight her face, then gives another twirl. Again, the veil flows out behind her, catching the air just right, just enough to give it substance.
The precision and fluidity of her movements appear to be smoother than the veil itself. That, coupled with the silk of her nightgown and the waves of her long dark hair, make for a picture that draws the eyes to every part of her all at once.
With the room in darkness, only a pale beam of moonlight catches Maya here or there, allowing for a faint outline of her silhouette to dance across the opposite wall. Her white nightgown glows with a ghostly hue, though she appears more like a faery than anything else. She twirls again, covering her upper body and face almost entirely with the cloth in an impish sort of manner.
As if she wasn't already breathtaking enough dressed in theater clothes beneath a spotlight, Claudine is infinitely more amazed by her as she is now - surrounded by silk, bathed in silver moonlight, and all within the intimate privacy of Claudine's own bedroom. 'Alluring' would be a severe understatement.
For several minutes, Claudine doesn't move nor speak as she watches her dance. Had Maya kept her eyes open for the routine, she would've spotted her long ago during one of her spins. But naturally, she is confident enough in her movements that she challenges herself to keep her eyes closed throughout.
Claudine enjoys this performance thoroughly, noting how some of her steps and movements have improved over the years. Somehow, she's even more perfect than she'd been in the past, which both irks and impresses Claudine at the same time. She admires her grace, how her movements are somehow powerful and light at the same time, until at last Maya opens her eyes mid-twirl and notices she'd attracted an audience.
"Oh-" She cuts herself off mid-spin, and the veil flutters gently down onto her shoulder. "I must have gotten carried away. My apologies, Saijou-san. I didn't intend to keep the lights off for this long. I didn't realize you'd finished your shower."
Maya is clearly ready to put a stop to her practicing now. But Claudine holds up one of her hands, shaking her head dismissively.
"Nonsense. Don't mind me. Please continue, if you would."
Maya blinks and tilts her head curiously. Gradually, a knowing smile curls her lips.
"Oh? Are you quite certain?"
"I'm more than certain," Claudine assures. "I've been enjoying this private performance for my eyes only. Do go on. I would like to see the finale."
Maya dips her head.
"But of course, mademoiselle." She retreats back a few steps toward the center of the room and positions herself to continue the turn she'd left off on.
After letting the veil spiral itself around her head, Maya pivots on one heel, angling her body and reaching out once again to let the cloth fan out behind her back, and her long, flowing hair follows suit. Unlike before when she had kept her eyes closed in order to focus, now Maya will hardly take her eyes off Claudine for a second.
Likewise, Claudine barely dares to blink and risk missing a single second of this.
There is a noticeable change in Maya's performance now that she knows her girlfriend is watching. She allows the veil to fall and wrap against her body in a way that accents her impeccable form, sculpting her figure with ruffled silk. The sea foam moonlight frames her and highlights the whiteness of her skin in contrast to her dark hair. The shadows follow along with her in perfect sync, her solid shadow wrapped in the see-through shadow of the veil.
More than once, Maya hides herself behind the cloth with a coy, tantalizing sheepishness - a blatant tease that both irks and excites her audience of one. But Claudine knows her manners; she won't interfere until the performance is over.
For a few moments longer, Maya dances for her, a captivating ritual that makes it more and more difficult by the second for Claudine to stay put.
Finally, Maya breaks out into several consecutive spins, allowing the veil to flutter out and around her in a whirlwind of silver-speckled lavender. At last, she comes to a halt and lets the veil fall across her shoulders. She holds her pose for several seconds, until the applause reaches her ears.
"Bravo, bravo," Claudine hums, finally vacating her spot in the doorway to approach her. "That was quite the show, and quite the finale." She reaches Maya and loops both arms around her neck, leaning close up against her until their lips are almost brushing. "Now if you wouldn't mind, I'd very much like an encore."
Maya curls both of her arms around Claudine's sides, crossing them over her back and preventing her from escaping - not that she tries to.
"Oh?" Maya purrs. "Is that so?"
"Bien sur. After all that effort you put into entertaining me with that elaborate mating ritual? You deserve a reward."
Maya chuckles in the back of her throat, pushing herself a bit closer and tucking into the side of her neck.
"Mating ritual, you say… That is quite the way of wording it." She nuzzles against Claudine's skin, playfully working her lips at the junction of her shoulder. "In that sense, would you say it was successful?"
In response, Claudine pushes her a few steps back, until the backs of Maya's knees hit the edge of the bed. She topples backward and lands on the mattress with a bounce as Claudine straddles herself on top of her. The thin canopy hanging over all sides of the bed envelope the two and conceal them from the rest of the world.
"You tell me."
She says as much, but she doesn't give Maya the chance to speak anymore. Claudine dives in for her lips, kissing her with a tender passion that reminds them both of just how long they've been apart.
Gradually, without pausing the kissing for very long at all, Maya moves herself entirely up on the bed, and Claudine adjusts one of the pillows to let her rest her head on it. The veil is still pooling around Maya's shoulders along with her hair, but Claudine deems it fitting for this situation.
After lifting herself up from a heated kiss to her lips, Claudine plucks one end of the veil and lifts it up before letting it flutter down to cover Maya's eyes. A smile curls Maya's lips as she reaches blindly up to loop her arms around Claudine's neck.
"My, this is quite exciting."
"Just behave and be quiet. Though, maybe not too quiet."
"Oh. I understand."
Claudine huffs a little as she dives back in for another kiss, fiercer and hungrier this time. Bracing her weight on the bed with one arm, she allows her other hand to begin traveling downward across Maya's chest.
It's been so long, not even the infamous Tendo Maya can keep her composure. Little tingles of electricity shoot through her as Claudine presses down on her with a light, teasing pressure. Maya lets out a small moan. Claudine smirks.
"Now that's my favorite kind of sound from you."
"Claudine…"
Claudine kisses her lips again, then trails kisses down her chin and neck to the hollow of her throat before biting gently at her collarbone.
Meanwhile her hand continues to travel southbound, tracing the outline of Maya's hip before brushing up and across her thigh. She keeps one knee between hers, then slowly nudges Maya's legs apart, pushing the nightgown up and out of her way. Maya exhales a bit shakily and pulls her down more fully on top of her.
"Heavens… it's been so long…"
"It has, hasn't it?" Claudine agrees, leaving another kiss on her chest. "We can do this for the rest of our nights together if you want, but tonight I hope you don't mind if we cut to the chase."
"On the contrary, I'm certain I've never minded anything less."
"Good." Claudine quiets her with another kiss. "Because I'm finding it a bit difficult to hold myself back."
She's a little glad she'd covered Maya's eyes, because she knew if she could see them she'd surely falter and get lost in their beauty, and no doubt their smugness, too.
But as things are now, Claudine continues unhindered. She nibbles at her neck while her hand dips down Maya's thigh, finding an impressive heat. Claudine hums with interest as she brushes her fingers teasingly across the band on her waistline.
Maya swallows back another whimper that still makes a perfect sound anyway. Claudine kisses her throat and trails her fingers across her navel before slowly slipping them beneath the garment.
Maya flinches, wiggling her hips a bit as Claudine touches her directly. She lets out a breathy sigh, which Claudine drinks in. She rotates her fingers, exploring the softness. But even though it's been a while since they've done this, she remembers exactly where to go and how.
Pushing herself up slightly, she leans over Maya to hold a soft kiss over the veil to her forehead, then down her nose, and eventually back to her mouth, which has remained open and eager. Maya tightens her embrace on Claudine's shoulders in anticipation.
Claudine almost considers giving in to her mean streak and demanding that Maya ask for it. But given that it's been such a long time, she lets her have it without the teasing. Just this once.
She dives in for a kiss at the same time she pushes in. Maya lets out a delectable sound against her mouth.
"Mmn-"
Claudine chuckles, accepting that as a victory in and of itself.
She knows exactly what Maya needs, and so she keeps her movements light and playful, moving in circles to touch every part of her.
Maya rolls her head to one side of the pillow, and though the cloth still covers her eyes, Claudine is satisfied in knowing she's driving her crazy. She moves in to kiss the side of her neck that Maya had so generously presented to her, biting softly as her fingers continue to work their magic.
Maya begins to move her body with the rhythm, and soon her arms begin to lock up around Claudine as she tenses. Claudine focuses, working toward the place where Maya needs her the most.
"Maya…" She whispers heavily against the shell of her ear, kissing her cheek. "I've missed you so much… Ma Maya…"
Maya loses herself with a small yelp, clutching Claudine against her so hard it knocks the wind out of them both. Claudine holds still, soaking in the satisfaction as she feels the waves of pleasure roll through Maya's body. She waits, letting her feel it until the very end.
Eventually, when Maya loses her strength, Claudine bites the corner of the veil and tosses it aside, revealing Maya's flushed face, teary eyes, and ruffled bangs. Claudine smiles and kisses her softly.
"Je t'aime."
She brings both arms around Maya and rests her weight on top of her.
Maya coils her fingers lightly through Claudine's still-damp hair. She has to admit, having the veil across her eyes had been quite thrilling. But she would much rather be able to see the beauty of this angel before her.
The pale moonlight casting in through the canopy makes Claudine's curly hair glow softly golden, and her skin shines with a subtle shimmer, especially with the residual wetness from her shower. Maya inhales deeply, taking in the scent of her cherry-blossom shampoo and the sweet smell of her breath.
In all the movement, Claudine's bath robe had loosened, and now reveals a gorgeous line of exposed skin from the base of her throat, down the center of her chest to her navel, where only a small pink material shields her.
Maya can't take her eyes off of her.
Claudine must start getting bashful, because she blushes and sits back on Maya's hips.
"Quit gawking, you insufferable woman." She grabs the ends of her bath robe and pulls them back together to cover herself.
Maya takes offense. She reaches up to grasp Claudine's hands firmly and pull them back apart, exposing more than before. Claudine shrieks.
"Hey-!"
"Saijou-san," Maya says levelly. "Please refrain from doing such a thing in my presence ever again."
"You are so full of- eep!" Claudine shrieks again as Maya surges upward, locking both arms around her back and tangling her legs with hers. With one fluid motion she flips them over, pinning Claudine beneath her, and deliberately positioning one knee flush up against the heat between her thighs. Claudine makes a withering sound at the contact and tries to squirm away, but Maya holds her wrists down to stop her.
"Now then," she murmurs, leaning closer with a hungry, threatening air about her. "You've had your fun, Saijou-san. Please don't prevent me from having mine."
Claudine huffs and glares up at her.
"Always so greedy."
"Indeed."
Maya crouches over her and kisses her lips fully to begin. At the same time she runs her hands slowly up and down Claudine's sides, over the plush of her robe. Claudine loops both arms around her shoulders and trails her nails through Maya's hair and gently down her back.
Maya shudders with delight, intent on making her do the same. She leaves a trail of heated kisses along Claudine's neck while gradually letting her hands pull the robe apart to slip underneath. Her body is wonderfully warm and slightly damp, more now from sweat than the shower.
All the while she shifts her knee just a little here or there, and whenever she does she feels Claudine react cutely. Maya pecks her ear, then purrs heavily into it.
"You gave such a wonderful performance tonight," she murmurs. "But please forgive me for working you even more."
Claudine struggles in vain beneath her.
"Why you- ah-"
She whimpers as Maya begins to massage her chest, pressing down firmly yet gently. Not only is it exciting in a romantic sense, but on the contrary it's also relaxing, being her muscles have been a bit sore from all of her practicing and performing lately. Claudine can't help but arch into her touch more than a few times. Maya takes each and every one as a win.
"You are so beautiful, Claudine."
"Shut up…"
Maya continues pampering her while gradually making her way down. At one point she uses her nails very lightly, which earns a lively reaction. Claudine yelps and clings to her tightly, so tightly Maya can't move for a moment. She laughs.
"Oh? Duly noted."
"Enough!" Claudine snaps. "Just-" She cuts herself off, realizing her blunder too late. Maya perks up with interest and nuzzles against her neck.
"Oh? Do go on. What were you about to say~?"
"Nothing."
"I don't believe it was 'nothing'." Maya can feel a significant heat at her knee by now. She raises it up just an inch, causing Claudine to moan outright. Maya bites her neck. "Very good. Now please finish what it was you'd wanted to say."
Claudine pants heavily beneath her, frustrated she'd slipped up like that.
"You… I didn't make you ask…"
"Indeed, that was quite kind of you," Maya agrees. "But as you know, I am far less merciful."
She waits, rocking her knee lightly against Claudine, who continues to try and escape. But Maya gets a firm hold on her hips and keeps her in place. Claudine tosses her head from side to side in a fruitless effort, which only messes her hair up and makes her look all the more beautiful.
Maya waits, smug and patient, until she loses what little fight and pride she has left in her. At last Claudine relents, but not without a tearful, aggravated glare.
"Please…"
Maya drinks in her victory.
"With pleasure, ma princesse."
She holds Claudine in place with one hand while allowing the other to slip beneath the pink waistband. Maya moves her knee down to spread her girlfriend's legs a bit more, giving her more space to move.
She brushes the pads of her fingertips across the soft heat. Claudine whines outright. Maya can't wipe the smirk off her face. It really has been too long.
Claudine is a mess beneath her, but she still tries to pull Maya down.
"Come here- you-"
"Very well," Maya agrees.
She lies down over her partially, but makes absolutely certain she can still see her face. She kisses Claudine's cheek before curling her fingers a bit, watching how her expression changes.
By now Claudine's eyes are hazy, and she squeezes them shut so she won't have to deal with Maya's goading smile. Maya kisses her furrowed brow and moves her fingers again. Claudine nearly chokes with how desperately she tries to keep her voice down. Maya strokes her fingers slowly, building the anticipation.
"Now that simply won't do, Claudine. Please let out your voice."
Claudine cracks one eye open with a shaky huff of breath.
"I hate you…"
Maya smiles.
"I love you, too."
She presses inside, and Claudine lets out a loud, throaty moan. Maya nods with approval and kisses her.
She moves slowly at first, letting her adjust, but Claudine soon makes it known that she should stop teasing if she knows what's good for her. Maya increases her speed and her force, and Claudine moves her body in time to meet her. Across the room, their shadows dance tenderly, projected onto the far wall, cloaked in the thin shadowy veil of the canopy.
Maya curls her free arm behind Claudine's neck, angling her head up a little to make it easier for Maya to kiss her. She takes in the beautiful, tormented expressions she makes, and commits the irresistible sounds to memory.
Maya maintains her rhythm for several minutes, kissing Claudine all the while, wherever she can. Claudine clings to her shoulders, and Maya can feel when her nails begin to dig in.
Some part of her wants to slow down, just to see what Claudine would do. But Maya decides she'd teased her enough for one night, and that such a cruel antic can be saved for another time.
She gives Claudine exactly what she needs, until she can feel her body locking up. Claudine whimpers out one last plea.
"M-Maya…"
Maya kisses her cheek again.
"Ma Claudine… Je t'aime."
Claudine cries out as the shockwaves crash through her in a rush. Maya comes to a halt and holds perfectly still for her, staying where Claudine needs her most.
Maya can feel the pleasure pulsing through her, racing to the tune of Claudine's heartbeat. She kisses her neck, and then as the tension gradually fades, Maya sweetens her kisses and brings them back up to Claudine's cheeks and forehead.
Claudine collapses, gasping and quivering, just how Maya prefers her.
Maya lies down beside her now and pulls Claudine into her arms, petting through her hair and down her back as she tries to remember how to breathe properly. Maya weaves kisses in her hair and rubs up and down her sides.
"You're beautiful," she murmurs. "You're beautiful. I love you, Claudine."
After a few moments of recovery, Claudine manages to hug her in return. She exhales, thoroughly and happily exhausted.
"I love you, Maya… Ma Maya…" She lifts her head then just to glare at her a little. "But you're in trouble for tomorrow night."
Maya gets a trill of excitement, but feigns dismay.
"Oh, whatever shall I do?"
"You can worry about that all day tomorrow," Claudine huffs. "For now, we're going to sleep."
Maya nuzzles their noses together.
"But of course."
They ease together for one more kiss, soft and tender now. When they part, they pull each other in for a warm, comfortable embrace.
"Bonne nuit, Ma Maya."
"Sweetest dreams, Ma Claudine."
A calming silence soon fills the apartment, where twinkling lights and splashes of moonlight still slip through the curtains every now and then, as if celebrating the reunion that was several long months in the making.
Maya and Claudine rest together, warmly and soundly, with their hearts beating as one.
Their vacation awaits them in the days and nights to come, and even if they must separate again afterward, they'll always find their way back to one another before long.
Such is the fate of soulmates so deeply, hopelessly, and wonderfully in love.
A/N: Other than "On This Night, Which Is Ours," this is the only other story I've written for them exclusively making love, even though I have had them do so in others as well. But I really do love trying to capture that balance of rivalry and love, pride and tenderness, especially when they're doing something so intimate. Yes, there is plenty of power play and teasing, and yes it's all very hot and sexy. But I will always portray what's most important more prominently - the love and the care and the warmth between them. I absolutely love coming up with their dialogues too.
This was a very fun one, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have written them intimately once again. I hope it wasn't too similar to the other times.
Hope you enjoyed!
Please review!