And ta-dah! You guys didn't think you'd say farewell to the LycoReco anime without seeing a yuri fic from me, did you? Epicsilver requested some ChisaTaki fluff and so I just let my yuri senses do the rest!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lycoris Recoil.


The Heartbeat Of Summer

After so many years working as a Lycoris - and especially one with a particularly finite amount of time left to live - Chisato had all but dramatically relinquished her pipe dreams of ever experiencing a normal high-school-girl summer.

Which is why the current moment is quite literally surreal to her now.

Presently, she is living almost every girl's dream, lying stretched out on a lounge chair on a beach on a deserted island. Though, perhaps the fact that she's sort of hiding away at the current moment isn't exactly a part of the dream, she's not really complaining. How could she, when she has the warm sun shining down on her, warming the skin that her light, casual clothes expose, with the rush of the ocean not far away, and the calling of sea birds drifting on the breeze overhead?

She'd positioned a large beach umbrella at the perfect angle to keep her face in the shade as she lounges, eyes comfortably closed in a lazy almost-nap at midday as the soundtrack of the shoreline continues to lull at her senses.

She's been here for about 2 weeks now. The scent of the sand and salt have started to become natural to her, and she realizes that's a very privileged and brag-able feat. But, all things considered, one she feels she deserves a bit - especially considering she's technically 2 weeks past her intended expiration date.

Now that she'd been gifted the rest of her life… she almost doesn't know what to do with it.

Almost.

But at least for right now, she intends to absorb every ray of the sunlight and enjoy every new second she shouldn't be having.

With a yawn, Chisato peeks her eyes open slowly, glancing up past the purple and white stripes of the umbrella and gazing higher up at the deep blue of the sky. Only a few wisps of stark white clouds brush the canvas here or there, allowing for maximum warmth from the sun to come through today.

Chisato looks upward for as long as her eyes can handle before slowly dropping her gaze down in front of her, to the distant crashing of the cool waves over the hot white sand. The water is glistening, and when she focuses really hard, she can make out the tiny shapes of leaping dolphins out in the distance.

It's a mesmerizing sight to say the very least. But there's still one she would choose over that any day.

And so she does, turning her head to the side to gaze upon what is - in her book - even more enjoyable to look at than the beauty and wonder of a deserted island.

Takina is propped up in the lounge chair beside her, sitting with a book in her lap, squinting and struggling to enjoy the text in spite of the brightness of the sunlight bouncing off the pages. Like Chisato, she's wearing a loose blouse and shorts, though Takina's clothes are tinted with blues while Chisato's own have warmer colors.

Takina is making a face, scrunching her nose up adorably as she tries to focus on her book rather than the annoyances of the blinding brightness and the wind constantly trying to turn her page prematurely.

Chisato can't help but smirk. Takina is one of those girls who had clearly never had an actual vacation once in her life, and now that she's been presented with the opportunity, she's awkwardly fumbling through trying to properly relax for the first time. Even during Chisato's brief nap time earlier, she'd heard Takina constantly shifting about, as if she couldn't get herself comfortable, or she had too much on her mind.

And even now, when she'd decided to try and lose herself in a story instead, she's failing to enjoy herself. And like the prideful girl she is, Takina takes this suffering in noble silence, clearly not wanting to impede on Chisato's relaxation by voicing her own frustrations. Little does she know that her struggles are providing Chisato with more entertainment than anything else.

Takina still hasn't noticed her staring, and she continues to press down on the book's pages to keep them from blowing in the wind. Her eyes scan the words, but she has to keep blinking to readjust her vision, then attempts to pull her knees to her chest and rest the book on them, hoping to get a different angle in the shade.

Chisato watches her in bemused silence for several more minutes, and all the while her prey is unsuspecting and innocent. Only when Takina's brow starts to furrow in genuine frustration does Chisato decide it's time to call it quits with this little game. Rolling over onto her side, Chisato grins as she calls out for her partner.

"Heeeey, Takina~ Are you doing all right over there?"

Chisato watches a small jolt goes through Takina's shoulders - clearly she's embarrassed that she'd been found out with her minor personal dilemma. As she lifts her gaze, Takina narrows her eyes, but the faint blush that dusts across her face gives her away beautifully.

"What are you talking about? I'm fine."

"Uhh-huuh."

Takina puffs out her cheeks slightly, and it takes all of Chisato's self-control not to let out a squeal. Then again, they're on a deserted island, so what's the harm?

"Ooooh~! Takina, you're adorable!"

"Shut up. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Hey~ Hey~" Chisato leans over the side of her lounge chair and extends her arm so she can lightly poke her partner's thigh. "Takina, you're so far awaaaay. Come sit closer to me."

But her wayward finger on Takina's bare skin breeds the exact opposite effect, as Takina curls her legs away immediately and huddles herself into a tighter ball to avoid her.

"No."

"Augh! Takina, so cruel! I don't know if my mechanical little heart can take it!" Chisato throws her arm across her eyes and tilts her head back with dramatic flare, then promptly goes limp. Takina snorts, stretching out her leg to push her toes into Chisato's cheek.

"Don't joke like that. Dummy."

Chisato half-sputters and half-chuckles as she playfully swats Takina's foot away from her face. Though the gesture was friendly and comical on Takina's part, when Chisato looks up at her face she can see there is a spark of genuine sadness in her partner's eyes. Chisato hadn't thought about the joking words before she'd said them, but she realizes she must've brought up some pretty unsavory memories for her.

Chisato softens, putting on a smile as she slowly sits herself up, then crawls off the chair to kneel in the sand directly beside Takina's instead.

"Sorry, sorry~ Are you okay, Takina?"

Takina had dropped her gaze blankly to the pages of her book, but clearly her mind had been elsewhere, remembering the bone-chilling panic of learning she was going to lose Chisato, the gripping, crushing fear of her harrowing time limit…

"Yeah…" Her voice is small now, distracted. She lets go of the book with her right hand to instead touch her left shoulder, something Chisato noticed she'd started doing recently whenever she thought about this topic. After all, that was the shoulder where the rope had dug into her flesh when she'd caught Chisato from falling off the tower.

Chisato is a bit annoyed with herself for having accidentally brought up these difficult memories for her again. She puts her hands on the edge of Takina's chair and gently bumps her head against her partner's side.

"Takinaaaa…"

Takina gives herself a shake, pushing the thoughts away.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. Don't be."

For a moment, only the sounds of the sea and the wind and the gulls wash past them. Takina quietly lets her book fall closed onto her chair, and while her right hand continues holding onto her shoulder, her left just so happens to come down to rest right around Chisato's head. Her fingers curl slightly and softly through Chisato's hair, cupping the back of her neck in a wordless request for her to stay close.

Chisato hears this request and gladly accepts. Giving a loud yawn, she stretches out her arms, one across Takina's lap and the other behind the small of her back, looping her arms around her partner in a loose hug. She hears Takina let out a small sigh of content.

For a few more minutes both girls are silent. Chisato closes her eyes as she rests her cheek against Takina's side, and Takina lets her fingers stroke down the length of Chisato's hair to the middle of her back.

They wait, until the rush of the waves and the warmth of the sun have chased away the darker thoughts.

When Chisato has read that the mood has improved, she lifts her head to peek up at her.

"How's your shoulder? Lemme see it."

Standing slowly, she brushes the sand off her knees and shins and makes sure her hands are clean of it before carefully reaching for Takina's injured shoulder. Takina reluctantly removes her own hand to let her investigate.

Chisato is extremely gentle in moving the sleeve of Takina's shirt aside, revealing the affected area. The pearly white skin blends into a faintly-bruised purple that still covers almost her entire shoulder. It looked a lot better than it had a week ago, but the fact that it was still visible just went to show how deeply that rope had cut into her - how desperately she had acted in order to save Chisato's life.

Chisato herself can only vaguely remember how that had all come to an end. All she recalls is the nauseating sense of vertigo and soreness from her battle with Majima as she'd dangled helplessly over the city, thousands of feet up before she'd lost consciousness altogether.

But no one else had been there to recognize the terror Takina had undergone in order to save her, rushing into the heart of the fight, racing across shattering glass while still trying to aim shots at their opponent and keep track of Chisato at the same time, all while fearing the inevitable explosions of bombs…

Chisato is now the one to shake herself off - that's all well and done with. Right now, she's supposed to be living it up with her best friend on a secret getaway island.

After blinking herself back into the present, Chisato is satisfied to see that Takina's injury looks better than it had the last time she'd checked it.

"Good, good!" she nods. "But just to be sure…" Chisato leans forward, and with featherlight contact, presses a soft kiss to Takina's shoulder. Instantly, Takina jolts, but from shock rather than pain.

"Chisato!"

"Sorry! I couldn't help myself! Pain, pain, go away~!"

Takina simply pouts, blushes, and mumbles something unintelligible. Chisato smirks.

"Huuuuuh~? What was that, Takina-chan? Tell meeee~"

"Nothing."

"Teeeeell meeeee~"

"It was nothiiiiiiing!"

Sensing the shift in energy, Takina lets out a whine in an effort to keep Chisato off of her, but it's to no avail. Chisato is already bending down to lock both her arms around Takina's waist in her favorite antic ever, hoisting her right up out of her comfy lounge spot and into the air.

"Taa~kiii~naa~"

"C-Chisato!" Having no choice but to hold onto Chisato's shoulders, Takina is lifted up once again and at her mercy. "Be careful! You're still recovering too!"

"Aww, that's cute that you're concerned about me! But I'm already at 110%! I won't drop you, I promise!"

"Chisato…" Takina makes another criminally-cute expression as Chisato wanders out away from the shade of their lounge chairs and carries her into the sunlight, giggling all the while.

Takina is getting oddly used to the sensation of being held up this high in this manner. It doesn't even make her dizzy anymore.

Chisato takes her out into the middle of the beach, still humming proudly to herself, like a young lion who had successfully made her first kill and was now showing off her prize to the world. Takina gives a snort from above her, but has no choice but to be still and let Chisato boast to the ocean.

And boast she does.

Chisato parades Takina along the sand for several minutes, never once feeling even a slight ache in her arms from the weight. She can tell that even Takina is getting comfortable up there, especially when she wraps her arms around Chisato's head. Chisato responds by sliding one arm up to support the small of her back while still keeping her perched on the other.

The shift in position requires the two of them to become physically closer. Takina hunches over a little to rest her chin on top of Chisato's head. In turn, Chisato nuzzles her head into Takina's side, just beneath her bad shoulder. She pauses with whatever random tune she was humming in order to close her eyes for a second. And past the rush of the waves, she can faintly hear something else, something soft and familiar…

But before she gets the chance to focus too much on it, she feels Takina moving a bit. Chisato lifts her head and smiles up at her, but she hadn't expected to actually catch her partner's pretty violet eyes.

And with the wind blowing around them, causing Takina's long black hair to swirl across the deep blue sky, her sweet breath just faintly fanning over Chisato's forehead…

Chisato can't help herself. The words just come.

"Takina, you're so pretty."

"Huh…?" Takina blinks as if she's uncertain of whether or not she'd heard her correctly. But before she can get a chance to start asking questions, Chisato gives them both a twirl.

"Timbeeeer!"

"Wh-? H-Hey, Chisato!"

Chisato allows herself to start falling backward, making sure to take the brunt of the sandy impact and letting Takina land a bit more comfortably on top. Grains of sand go flying everywhere as they softly crash down, with a mutual "oof!" between them.

Takina pushes herself up immediately, shaking the hair and sand out of her face.

"Chisato!"

"Maaaan that was fun! Not as good as a leaf pile though." Chisato gives her a cheeky grin. Takina heaves a long, deep sigh before blowing the sand out of her partner's bangs.

"Dummy."

"It's your fault for distracting me since you're so pretty!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Aw, don't be shy!"

"Hey! Chisato-!"

But the energetic blonde has already made her next move, once again finding her hold on Takina's lower back to prevent her from breaking free. Chisato maneuvers herself in a calculated shift of weight, heaving herself up and giving Takina a gentle flip to put her on the bottom instead. More sand sprays up, instantly re-coating Takina's pretty black hair right after she'd shaken it out. Even when Takina opens her eyes to glare up at her, Chisato can't help but think how cute she is.

"Don't blame me~"

"Who else can I blame?"

"I dunno, but not meee~"

Chisato leans down triumphantly and nuzzles her nose with Takina's, all while gingerly pinning her down with her own weight. Takina could very easily push her off and escape, but the fact that she chooses not to lets Chisato know that she's permitted to continue with her antics.

"Actually," she says, her voice softening just a little. "I want my turn now." Chisato pulls back a bit, getting the full view of Takina lying there all disheveled and cute. Takina tilts her head just a bit.

"Your turn for what?"

Chisato responds with a leisurely hum, gradually shifting herself down a little. Takina remains still, watching her, half-suspicious and half-curious.

Chisato positions herself accordingly before carefully lowering herself, balancing her weight comfortably over Takina's legs and abdomen before allowing her head to rest sideways at the center of her chest.

Immediately, several sensations bloom beneath her cheek.

Firstly, the impossible softness.

Secondly, the beautiful warmth.

And lastly… that tiny fluttering sensation she'd caught moments earlier.

Only now, it's much, much stronger.

Chisato can feel the slight reverberations of Takina's heartbeat as easily as she can hear the pattern of its pulses. It rouses something profound and inexplainable within Chisato.

As a human, she should've known and been familiar with this rhythm more so than anything else in the world. But given her artificial organ, she hadn't known or felt a heartbeat in over a decade. When she was alone and still in her bed at night, she felt nothing moving beneath her skin, nothing lulling her to sleep.

So now… to hear Takina's… to be close enough pressed against her to feel the pulses as if they were her own…

Chisato shudders just a little as a rush of tears rises in behind her eyes. They aren't sad tears, but rather ones of relief. Hugging Takina just a bit tighter around her sides, she nestles her head just a bit more fully over her chest.

And by now, Takina understands what her partner had been doing, and she isn't particularly opposed. She even returns the embrace, cradling Chisato close. Only when she feels her jolt slightly does Takina lift her head from the sand to look her over.

"Chisato…?"

Chisato can feel the worry in the vibration her name makes in Takina's chest when she speaks it, and she can hear it in the hesitantly of her tone. Chisato lifts her head enough just for a second to turn her face and meet Takina's eyes.

"I'm good!" She smiles, with just a bit of moisture in her gaze. "I promise. Just… can I stay like this for a minute?"

Takina reads her eyes and her expression seriously, and only when she determines that Chisato is genuinely fine does she let herself relax again.

"Of course."

"Thanks."

Chisato returns to her prior position, resting her ear at the center of Takina's torso. The pulse of her heartbeat is even fuller and deeper there, consistent and beautiful. When she breathes, Chisato can hear the rush of air filling her lungs before it flows back out. Within just a minute or so, she notes how Takina's breathing has slowed to match the rush of the waves behind them.

Chisato stays where she is until the side of her face starts getting numb, at which point she turns it to the other side to listen.

"Am I too heavy?"

"You're fine, Chisato."

With this reassurance, Chisato settles back down and closes her eyes.

She loves this. She loves it so much.

She loves being able to both feel and hear Takina's life softly beating beneath her. She can feel the tiny flickers of her pulse not only in her chest, but throughout the rest of her body as well - in her stomach, in her neck, all the way to the tips of Takina's fingers brushing against the back of her neck.

Chisato can feel something pushing the blood through her own veins somehow, but it's not nearly as comforting. There's just something about the persistent rhythm of a regular pulse that Chisato can never have again. Which is fine. But she really, really loves listening to Takina's.

Chisato soaks in the warmth of the sun at her back and relishes Takina's body heat from beneath her. She enjoys the rise and fall of Takina's chest beneath her head as she breathes, and the cautious curling of her fingers through her hair.

Chisato lets out a long sigh, clinging a little closer. Takina's heartbeat continues steadily, comfortably. Chisato can only imagine how hard it must have been gushing when she'd been frightened for Chisato's life, how badly it must've hurt Takina as she was trying to make it to her in time...

"Sorry…" Chisato mumbles absently.

Though Takina had also been dozing, she gives a relaxed response.

"What are you apologizing for?"

Chisato turns her head back to the other side and lets Takina's heartbeat fill that ear once again.

"I've put your heart through a loooot of stress, haven't I?"

Takina gives a small huff, letting one hand slip down to Chisato's back to hug her softly.

"It's part of the job."

Chisato smiles. Even so, she knows she much prefers to feel Takina's heart beating comfortably and slowly like this.

Chisato is content to perhaps succumb to the urge to nap with her like this, as she can tell by Takina's slowed breathing that she's also welcoming a bit of lazy rest.

But just before Chisato lets her mind drift off to the rhythm of her pulse, she feels Takina move a little, followed by a very light contact on top of her head.

Chisato remains still for a second, trying to register what she'd just felt. Then, she lifts her head, blinking her eyes open hazily at her partner.

"Did you just kiss me?"

Takina immediately closes her eyes.

"You're imagining things. You were half-asleep."

"Oh I don't think so, Inoue-san." With this teasing jab, Chisato pushes herself up a bit more, until she's hovering over Takina just enough to let herself think she's intimidating. But in reality, Takina isn't phased at all.

"So what if I did kiss you?" she challenges.

Chisato blinks, surprised by her bluntness, but quickly welcoming it as well.

"Well then I'd want my turn!" she whines. But as she lowers herself back down again, this time with her face level with Takina's, Chisato lowers her tone as well. "Is that okay…?"

Takina cracks one eye open, and her cheeks turn pink.

"I guess that's fair."

Chisato might not have a real heart in her chest, but she certainly feels something give a trill in that instant.

She doesn't waste any time, doesn't draw it out or build it up. She simply leans forward and presses her lips to Takina's, holding the kiss for several seconds. She can feel Takina push back softly, and a tiny, tiny sound bubbles from her lips to Chisato's.

And before either of them can get too carried away or think too much of it right now, Chisato pulls away - for now. But the look in Takina's eyes when she opens them again tells her that she's invited to kiss her again at any time, so long as they're securely alone.

Chisato beams, but is sure to stay quiet, lest bragging about this achievement sour the experience for either of them in any way. So she keeps her bursting energy to herself for now and simply lays back down.

Takina seems eager to hug her close again, likely to prevent Chisato from seeing her blushing expression just as much as it is to enjoy her closeness. But as Chisato cuddles back up to her, she just can't help one tiny little tease.

"Takinaaa~ Your heart's beating a lot faster now."

There's a clipped inhale, followed by a snort.

Chisato immediately repents.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry~! Let's go back to sleep for now, okay? Take it easy~ Breeeeathe, Takina. Isn't the sun so nice and warm~? So niiiice, right~?"

By some miracle, Chisato's pacifying blabber seems to work. Or maybe it's just that Takina is too exhausted to deal with her further. Or maybe - just maybe - it's because she's enjoying this too.

But either way, Takina lets out a long, deep sigh and lets herself go limp again, though she still keeps her arms around Chisato.

"We're going to need to wash all this sand off later…" she mutters.

"Of course, of course~" Chisato purrs. "But for now, a nice nap on the beach will hit the spot~"

At last, Takina closes her eyes and relaxes again. Chisato is grateful for how lucky she'd gotten, and is sure to remain quiet as she relishes her victory now.

She closes her eyes again too, once again letting the familiar rhythm of Takina's heartbeat flutter up to meet her. Chisato happily loses herself in its lullaby, recognizing the change as its pace slows little by little, until she can tell that Takina is fast asleep. Her breathing still matches the rush of the tide, and Chisato willingly lets her own breath sync up as well.

Before long, both girls taper off into a warm and cozy nap beneath the sunlight, with a beautiful heartbeat alive and well between them.


A/N: Listen... heartbeat stuff is my jam, and when they did it in the canon anime I just about died. So then I made more ahah. Plus their dynamic is one of my favorites to write - calm cool collected (but secretly a mess) idiot, and idiot-idiot.

Please review!