Kawaii…..

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A comfortable hush had fallen over the room, the two of them more than just content to lie in each other's arms. They sat together in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the presence of the other, enjoying that they were finally free of secrets before Anne carefully ventured a question. "What are we going to do about Ace?"

"Nothing. I see no need to tell her about tonight."

Anne pushed off his chest and looked up at him. "You can't be serious."

"What do we gain by telling her that her game is over? She seems to be a little unhinged, and telling her that we have patched things up between us isn't likely to do her any good."

"So we're supposed to lie to her because it's better than telling her the truth?"

"Well… yes."

"Well… no," she echoed. "It might make things easier today, and tomorrow, but what about when she finds out? How much worse do you think it's going to be if she finds out that we've been lying to her?"

"It's for her own good."

"That only makes it worse."

"Then what do you propose we do?" he asked, asperity tingeing his voice. "Tell her, and have her go crazy on us?"

"Do you think she'll do that?"

"It's likely. Ace isn't very stable. Finding her plans thwarted might not be good for her mental health."

They've already been thwarted. It's the telling her the truth part that's the problem, and it shouldn't be." Anne shifted her weight on the bed, ending up closer to Knives. "The truth shouldn't be a problem."

"That's why you're such a paragon of disclosure."

She scowled. "I'm not a paragon of anything. But just because I've screwed up before doesn't mean I want to continue doing the worst thing possible in any given situation."

"And you think that protecting Ace from the truth is the worst possible thing we can do?"

"I-- No. It's not the worst possible thing. But it's not the best. She needs to learn that she can't just do whatever she pleases, especially when her only aim is to hurt someone."

"And you see her and I together as hurtful?"

She elbowed his ribcage lightly. "Stop trying to make me sound spiteful. She knows that I love you, and that you love me, and you know that she's as much using you as she loves you."

"And you aren't using me?"

"Other than making you my love slave? I wasn't intending to. Other then the basic ground rules of the relationship, I'm not going to try to keep you from doing what you like."

"Rules?"

"Um, yeah. Didn't I give you a copy?"

"Enlighten me."

"Hmm. Ok. One, you are mine, and I don't share with anyone else, male or female."

"That's rather… restrictive."

"You had better not mind. Oh, these rules apply to me, as well."

"Oh. That's much better. What's number two?"

"Two is no wanton killing of other people."

"You can't be serious."

"I don't want to be bedding a practicing mass murderer. You revert back to genocide, and there will be no bed games."

"Oh. Well, I had better try very hard to not do that, then."

She nodded emphatically. "Three… um. Three is you have to be honest."

"You just made that one up."

"No, not really. Honesty is very important in a relationship."

"In that case, I have a confession to make."

"What?" she asked, instantly wary.

"I love you."

She kissed him in response.

"Mmm. So is this positive reinforcement?" he purred as she pulled away.

"Yes," she replied before kissing him again.

After they had broken for air, he asked if there were any more rules.

"Not that I can think of right now."

"Then I have one. Four, no running away."

"Touché. I promise, no more dashing off and leaving you behind. From now on, you get to know at least a couple minutes in advance of my next departure."

"Which had better not be soon."

"I wasn't planning any trips in the near or far future." She paused, then changed the subject back to where it had been. "So, what are we going to do about Ace?"

"I guess we tell her. That seems to be what you want to do."

"It's the right thing to do. I'm just worried about how she's going to take the news."

"There's no point in worrying. Nothing we say or do now is going to change how she feels when we tell her, and her reaction to the news is entirely up to her. She can take the revelation with grace, or throw a fit, but that is entirely up to her."

"Do you think she will?"

"Will what?"

"Throw a fit."

"She might."

"Then what do we do?"

"What are we supposed to do? She wants to think she's an adult, she can begin to act like one."

"Oh, and like you're one to talk."

"I didn't say that it was all to likely to happen. Only that it should."

"Many things should happen, but they rarely do."

"We cannot dictate what she will do. Relax, and enjoy this night without worrying about what they day will bring."

Anne rested her head on his shoulder again and contented herself with that advice.