* * * * *
Kirika woke with a smile on her face, surfacing from the depths of a most pleasant dream only to find she wasn't dreaming. A contented sigh escaped her lips as she snuggled closer to her partner and breathed in deeply. The comforting weight of the hand tangled in her dark hair shifted lazily down to her cheek, fingers trailing past her half-open mouth.
She lifted her head slightly, guiltily eyeing the wet stain of saliva on the shoulder of Mireille's rumpled gown. "I ruined your dress."
A single blue eye opened, considered her gravely. "I never liked this dress much anyway. And it was probably my sleeping in it that ruined it." Mireille smiled lightly, stretching out on the bed before putting her arms around Kirika again. "I don't want to get up."
Emboldened, Kirika climbed up so that she was on top of the blonde, face to face. "Me neither."
Mireille pulled the girl to her, crushing the small frame against herself. Kirika thought she would pass out from the delicious contact. Hesitantly, her hands found their way to Mireille's sides, but as soon as she touched her, the blonde rolled them both over, pinning Kirika to the bed. "I'll have to point out, however, that I desperately need to shower and brush my teeth, seeing as I didn't do either last night."
A sad look crossed Kirika's face without her even realizing it, and Mireille's features immediately softened, the air of amusement giving way to seriousness. "Why don't you get breakfast started? I'll be right out." She suggested, placing a gentle kiss on the open lips below her.
Kirika closed her eyes reflexively as they connected, her voice catching in her throat as soft lips touched hers. And although the contact lasted less than a second, she lay there blissfully for many minutes, until the sound of running water disrupted her reverie. She'd been vaguely aware of Mireille disappearing into the bathroom at some point, but she'd been too lost in her own whirlwind of sensation to do anything more than note it.
Eventually, when her heart calmed and her mind began working again, Kirika pulled herself off the bed and surveyed the room. Hastily, she swept up the chocolates littering the floor, depositing them in the trashcan. Her hands lingered as she retrieved the slightly dented box. She couldn't make herself throw it away. Besides, one of the chocolate hearts had survived. It was still resting in the open box.
Carefully, she gathered up the ribbon and repackaged the almost empty box, tying a neat bow just below Mireille's name. She smiled lightly to herself as she set about making the bed. Then she left the box by the pillow and drifted into the kitchen.
When Mireille found her, she was standing in front of the stove. The dark-haired girl quickly put down the kettle as a pair of arms surrounded her and a warm chin rested on her shoulder. The smell of shampoo and chocolate teased her nose. She turned away, embarrassed, but unsure why.
"Thanks for the chocolates."
"There was only one."
"I saved you half." Mireille's fingers brushed Kirika's lips. She was indeed holding half a chocolate heart.
Kirika shook her head, disconcerted by the way the heart looked broken, with the red cherry center spilling out. "I don't want it. I tried one last night."
Mireille shrugged, ate it herself. "Were you angry at me? Yesterday?"
"Yes. I… I mean, no. I…"
Gently, the blonde turned her around. "Tell me." Their eyes met briefly, but Kirika looked away again. "Please?" Mireille prodded.
The younger girl adopted a thoughtful expression, chewed her lip, but just as quickly, her face steeled itself again. And when she finally spoke, it was in low hushed tones. "I wasn't angry. I just didn't know you were going out."
Gingerly, Mireille reached out and touched the other girl's face. "I didn't think you knew about Valentine's Day."
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
"If I'd known, I never would've gone."
"I was scared." She was always scared, afraid of doing the wrong thing, saying the wrong thing, afraid of… not being allowed to love.
"I was scared too."
Kirika finally looked up, her lips trembling. It was touching, knowing that Mireille felt the same way she did, knowing that her worldly partner was just as insecure. The hands on her cheeks moved abruptly, brushing the dark hair away from her face. She smiled timidly as Mireille pressed their foreheads together. Terrified, but unrelenting, Kirika leaned closer so that she could kiss the blonde.
She was met halfway, Mireille's mouth melting into hers. The kiss was dizzying to Kirika, even more so than the first, but she clung to it nevertheless. There was no hesitation this time as she locked her arms around her partner. And when she tried to move away, Mireille followed, unwilling to relinquish her advantage until, finally, the hands around her waist pushed outwards, and they broke apart panting.
"I love you." Mireille whispered, her hand skittering up the other girl's back to play in the tousled hair. "I love you." She repeated, wanting to hear herself say it just as much as Kirika.
The Japanese girl buried her face in Mireille's neck, hiding her face from the blonde. "I don't know how to love."
Long fingers drifted down from her hair to her chin, pulling her away so that Mireille could look at her. "Of course you do."
Kirika sniffled, blinking in an attempt to drive back the tears. It meant so much to her, the fact that Mireille trusted her, the fact that Mireille believed in her. She didn't want to cry, but the look of care and concern on Mireille's face coaxed the watery beads from her eyes.
Gentle fingers were there right away, tenderly smoothing away the tears. Her eyes closed as a kiss was placed on her forehead. She felt a hand trace its way down her cheek, chasing an elusive tear. A finger passed near the corner of her mouth, and as it paused there, Kirika touched her lips to it, tasting the salt of her tears and the remnants of chocolate. Of its own volition, her tongue swirled out and drew the finger into her mouth. Mireille pressed closer, shivering suddenly. Then, without warning, the finger was gone, replaced with the wet warmth of Mireille's tongue.
They played together for a long time, Kirika with her eyes held firmly shut for fear of waking from this wonderful dream.
* * * * *
When she finally did look around again, they had somehow managed to sit themselves on the floor. The kitchen tiles were cold and hard, not at all comfortable. And yet, Kirika didn't care. She was nestled in Mireille's lap, her thin sleepwear allowing her to be tantalizingly close to her partner, and she wanted only to stay right there for the rest of the day.
Mireille smiled at her knowingly, kissed her once more quickly, then lifted the both of them off the floor. "So how's breakfast coming along?"
"I… umm… just need to make the toast." Kirika stuttered, barely coherent and not yet fully back in her mind. As she turned to the toaster, a hand closed over hers, bringing her to face Mireille again.
"Let's pretend yesterday never happened. Let's pretend today is Valentine's Day."
"I don't have any more gifts for you."
"I don't mind." Mireille's hand feathered up Kirika's arm, caressing her bare shoulder. "We'll go shopping later, you need a dress anyway."
"Why?"
"So I can take you out tonight."
Kirika blushed, looked up shyly at her partner. And all of a sudden, all the doubts, all the fears she had hidden, were erased by the sight of those compelling blue depths. Was she even allowed to feel this way? She felt clumsy, inadequate, as though her muscles wouldn't obey properly, and yet despite that, there was an electric tingle in her limbs and a pleasant tightness in her chest. Her eyes fluttered closed as agile fingers skirted the strap of her top. She'd meant to ask something else, but could no longer remember the question. Instead, she pressed herself against the comforting warmth of Mireille's body. "I love you, Mireiyu." And somehow, saying it out loud made it seem possible.
* * * * *
END