It was with some deliberation that Maria decided to keep their new
relationship level a secret.
"Is it –that- bad?" Jason asked wryly.
Maria grinned. "Well..."
"Hey, come on!"
She chuckled at his dismayed look. "I think it is for the best right now... it –is- a little embarrassing," she said. Then her grin was replaced by a more serious look. "We need to concentrate on fighting the Kokkikai first."
Jason nodded. "I guess that's right. I know what you mean."
"I'm sure you do. Though I –do- have some questions..."
"About?"
"I'm just wondering if you had been in such situations before."
Jason's eyebrows went up, and then he laughed softly.
"No, I don't."
"I find that hard to believe, for a 400 year old man with such a distinctive lifestyle," Maria smirked, "I'd think you would have at least gotten married once and sired your own clan by now."
"Sowing wild oats?" Jason laughed. "Nah. I'd know some who are a little like Casanova, but most Exodusians have unbreakable pacts with their significant other."
"Really?"
Jason shrugged. "Immortality does that to a couple. I've friends who argued and fought but they always got back together. It might take years, decades even... but what's time to an Exodusian couple?"
"...I see."
Jason's eyes softened. "Maria, this is my second ever relationship," he answered her unvoiced question.
"What happened to the first?" Maria asked shyly.
Jason sighed. "She died before we became Exodusians, Maria. It was in the Tiberium War, 400 years ago on Earth."
Maria gently touched him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry..."
"When she had gone, I thought I would rather die. But with her dying words she told me to live on, and I did."
Jason took a deep breath and gently cupped Maria's face.
"And I'm glad, for now I have found you."
---
Still, it was pretty difficult for Jason to hide his elation. Of course, his attraction towards Maria was not a secret among the original Hanagumi. But the subject was never really discussed in the open. Each of the Hanagumi had their reasons, but it was suffice to say that they either respected (or feared) Maria too much or were just plain content to see how things go without interference.
"You look lively today, Jason," Saki remarked airily as the Hanagumi started their lunch. Jason found himself seated opposite Maria who maintained a poker face. Maria studiously ate her food slowly, ignoring the fact that Saki was sliding up to Jason in a more than friendly manner.
"Uh, really? Must be the weather."
"Well, summer is the season of love after all," Saki laughed, causing Jason to turn white.
"W-why do you say that?" Jason asked.
Saki smirked. "It's just a saying, why are you so nervous?"
"I'm not."
"You're a terrible liar," Saki mocked as she maintained a death grip around his arm.
"Ahh leave me alone," Jason grumbled, trying to wriggle free without much success.
The others couldn't help picking up their conversation.
"Haha Jason-han! Is that true, you're in looooooove?" Kohran teased, her round spectacles glinting.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Jason moaned.
"Kyahaha! Second brother's face is so red!" Iris laughed and pointed.
"So it's true!" Orihime jumped in, delighted to have chance to irritate the Exodusian.
"No it's NOT!" Jason roared, his nerves frayed by their teasing.
Abruptly, the entire table went silent.
Jason first wondered what was going through Maria's mind at that moment, because he himself was blank after unleashing his tirade.
"It's not?" Saki asked very softly, her eyes downcast.
Oblivious to her sudden change in mood, Jason responded before he could clearly think about it.
"Yeah it's not! You damn right I'm not in love!"
It took all Maria had not to glare at him. 'You didn't have to do it so realistically,' she thought with a twinge of annoyance.
Abruptly, Saki stood up, her head still bowed as she trembled. The bangs of her hair hid her eyes as she clenched her fists.
"...but... I am..." she whispered.
Jason could only manage a "Wha-?" as she turned and ran away.
There was a stunned silence around the table. Nobody tried to stop her, they were all too astonished. Ogami even had his mouth agape with shock.
"What the hell was that...?" Jason muttered.
Kanna blinked, and then she leapt to her feet and pounded the table with her fist. "You idiot! What are ya waitin' for!? Go after her!" she exclaimed.
"What? What? What?" Jason chanted, startled by her reaction. From the looks on the other Hanagumi, they too were puzzled.
"Quit jabberin' and get her back!" Kanna insisted.
"Sheesh, alright alright," the Exodusian replied reluctantly. He grumbled wordlessly as he went.
As soon as he was out of earshot, everyone turned their attentions towards Maria, who calmly sipped her cup of coffee as if nothing happened.
"Er, Maria..." Ogami began.
The Russian blonde silenced him with a silent glare. Ogami visibly gulped and shut his mouth.
And that effectively ended anyone else's attempts to ask Maria how she was feeling. Frankly, she preferred it that way, having no answers to the cauldron of emotions running within her.
---
Jason found Saki sitting by herself underneath a tree near the forest. The tall, majestic mountains in the distance reminded Jason of Kanna's suggestion for a climb for the day. Meaning, he had to wrap this mess up quick before the others arrive. "Hey, Saki!" Jason called out when he caught sight of the dark-haired woman. She sat there sullenly with her arms encircling her knees, pointedly ignoring the Exodusian. "What... the heck was that all about?" Jason asked, more than a little annoyed.
When she kept stubbornly kept her silence, Jason sighed in defeat and plopped down to sit beside her, leaning on the tree's trunk.
"Look, I don't know what's wrong, but I hope you can tell me. We promised to be friends, didn't we?" Jason asked.
Saki made no reply. Instead, much to Jason's consternation, she began shaking in silent sobs.
"Hey hey, what's wrong?!" Jason asked frantically.
"You... big idiot!" Saki cried and gave him a straight punch to the side of his jaw. Jason's neck twisted with the momentum of the turn.
'What did I do?' was Jason's last thought as he fell over unconscious.
---
Jason awakened to find himself lying down on the grass, with his head on something soft. As his eyes cleared, he saw the face of Saki looking down on him, the bangs of her hair draping down.
It only took him a moment to realize that his head was lying on Saki's lap.
He immediately tried to scramble up but the black-haired woman kept him firmly down with surprising strength.
The crick in his neck also helped her somewhat, as he yelped in pain.
"Argh! Let me up!" he complained.
"You shouldn't move for a while," Saki said sternly.
"And whose fault was that?" Jason grumbled as he cautiously turned his head left and right on her lap, trying to ease away the pain.
Privately, Saki was a little annoyed to see him being so indifferent. She was hoping for a more subdued reaction from the Chinese man, perhaps like blushing and generally being embarrassed.
"Saki, what's wrong?" Jason asked.
'I wish I knew,' Saki thought wistfully to herself. Instead, she affected a sad, faraway look.
"Geez, if you're clamming up, how can I help you?" Jason persisted.
"I doubt that you want to help anyway," the black haired woman replied.
"Don't say that. Come on, we're friends."
That brought another pause.
"Well?"
"Well what?" Saki said defensively.
"Are you gonna say what's on your mind or not?" Jason.
"You baka," Saki replied softly. She absently twirled a lock of Jason's hair.
"I swear you're just trying to piss me off. And stop that," Jason said in annoyance.
"But your hair is so soft. Like a girl's," Saki giggled.
"Argh. Please don't say that ever again."
"Relax," Saki said soothingly. "Enjoy the scenery, what's the rush?"
"I guess you're right, but can't you let me up? Let's get back to the others," Jason grumbled.
The Exodusian couldn't see it, but Saki was grinning evilly.
"I'm sure they are busy at the moment," she said mysteriously.
---
"Boy, they are sure takin' their time huh?" Kanna asked loudly. Everybody around the table winced and risked a look at Maria, who seemingly did not hear the question.
The blonde Russian calmly flipped over a page of the book she was reading, as though she was thoroughly engrossed with the contents.
Kanna wasn't about to give up that easily though. The 28th successor of Kirishima-Ryu propped her chin on one hand and elbow on the table in a nonchalant manner.
"I bet they found a romantic spot somewhere in the mountains!" she said in an exaggerated manner.
Again, Maria paid no heed. But Kanna could see that the next page the Russian flipped was a little more forceful. Kanna knew all that she needed was one final push.
"Heck, they could be gone for hours! Who knows what they are doing right –now-?" the red-haired, muscular woman exclaimed.
Maria's brow crinkled. Ignoring Kanna, she slammed her hardcover book shut, stood up and briskly left the table.
Everyone exhaled loudly after making sure that she was gone.
"What on earth are you thinking, Miss Kanna!?" Sumire chided.
"That was awful of you, Kanna... you are just making fun of Miss Maria," Sakura added.
"Oi oi, I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of her and Jason playing hide and seek," Kanna said defensively.
"I see, you mean you're trying to make them come out and admit it?" Ogami asked, to which Kanna nodded.
"Oh yeah, I don't know what happened last night, but I think Maria slipped out while we were sleeping," Kohran shared.
"I heard some noise last night~!" Orihime chipped in.
"You're probably mistaken," Ogami chuckled, "Maria isn't a person who- "
"I saw her going out," Reni interrupted unexpectedly.
Everyone turned to stare at the German wunderkind, who looked back impassively.
"My, I didn't expect such behavior from Miss Maria," Sumire finally said, scandalized.
"Hey hey, let's not jump to conclusions here..." Ogami replied, trying to stop the increasingly rampant gossip. "Meh," Kanna snorted and grinned, "I'd say it's about time. I mean, they are still tryin' to hide the fact that they are already a couple. As if we're idiots."
"Well you are one, at least," Sumire smirked.
"What did you say, you cactus woman!?" Kanna demanded.
Ogami sighed as the infamous duo descended yet into another argument, with the usual racket. Shaking his head, he smiled at the scene. He quietly left the table, knowing the argument would be resolved on its own.
He was heading back to the inn when he saw Maria sitting on the veranda, staring off into the distance. The book she had been reading was on the floor, forgotten as the Russian gazed at something only she could see.
For Ogami, that thoughtful, wishful pose she held was one of the better sights he had seen this morning.
'It's plain obvious who she's thinking about. Time to do my job as the captain,' Ogami thought to himself, mentally smiling.
"Maria," he called out gently, feeling almost guilty for ruining her thinking mood.
"A-ah... taichou," Maria replied, startled from her daydream. A slight tint of blush appeared on her cheeks.
"I'm thinking of doing a group trip up the mountains. Why don't you go look for Jason so we can all go?" Ogami suggested.
"W-well..." Maria muttered, embarrassed.
"Go on, that's an order," Ogami said with a smile.
Maria gave him a smile of her own. "Yes sir, order received and understood," she said gratefully.
---
Maria had no idea where to search except to follow the dirt path. As she walked towards the forest, she thought of calling out Jason's name occasionally and hoping for a reply. Then she heard a rustle in the bushes. Maria immediately reached for her handgun, but stopped short of pulling it out. She remembered that the innkeeper had told them of the extremely shy animals in the forest. There were no predators, the innkeeper assured them.
"Jason?" she said uncertainly.
There was no answer. The blonde Russian decided to approach the bushes cautiously.
Just as she was going to push aside the bush, a dark shadow leapt out. Startled, Maria jumped back several steps, her gun at the ready.
'Bozhe moi!' Maria's mind exclaimed in Russian.
It was a fox.
Growing up in New Kiev with the Revolutionists meant Maria had known hardship, learning to shoot and to forage off the land and sleeping underneath the stars and above the grass. Thus she was used to seeing wild animals, sometimes even hunting them for food while she was in the Revolutionary Army.
But all her experiences came to naught with the creature before her.
It was a fox alright, but not unlike any she had seen. It did not sport the usual reddish-brown fur, and definitely not the white winter coat.
Instead its fur was a dark blue, with a streak of black running down its spine. The unusual fur seemingly absorbed the light around it, and yet shimmering like an ocean wave.
And it stood five times larger than a regular fox, much bigger than a wolf. In fact, it was the size of a small horse.
More importantly, its fangs were bared and its eyes glowering, staring at Maria with hunger. Its tongue hung and soaked with running drool from the long, sharp teeth.
'I might be eaten alive...' was Maria's morbid thought as the creature slowly began to move towards her.
"Is it –that- bad?" Jason asked wryly.
Maria grinned. "Well..."
"Hey, come on!"
She chuckled at his dismayed look. "I think it is for the best right now... it –is- a little embarrassing," she said. Then her grin was replaced by a more serious look. "We need to concentrate on fighting the Kokkikai first."
Jason nodded. "I guess that's right. I know what you mean."
"I'm sure you do. Though I –do- have some questions..."
"About?"
"I'm just wondering if you had been in such situations before."
Jason's eyebrows went up, and then he laughed softly.
"No, I don't."
"I find that hard to believe, for a 400 year old man with such a distinctive lifestyle," Maria smirked, "I'd think you would have at least gotten married once and sired your own clan by now."
"Sowing wild oats?" Jason laughed. "Nah. I'd know some who are a little like Casanova, but most Exodusians have unbreakable pacts with their significant other."
"Really?"
Jason shrugged. "Immortality does that to a couple. I've friends who argued and fought but they always got back together. It might take years, decades even... but what's time to an Exodusian couple?"
"...I see."
Jason's eyes softened. "Maria, this is my second ever relationship," he answered her unvoiced question.
"What happened to the first?" Maria asked shyly.
Jason sighed. "She died before we became Exodusians, Maria. It was in the Tiberium War, 400 years ago on Earth."
Maria gently touched him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry..."
"When she had gone, I thought I would rather die. But with her dying words she told me to live on, and I did."
Jason took a deep breath and gently cupped Maria's face.
"And I'm glad, for now I have found you."
---
Still, it was pretty difficult for Jason to hide his elation. Of course, his attraction towards Maria was not a secret among the original Hanagumi. But the subject was never really discussed in the open. Each of the Hanagumi had their reasons, but it was suffice to say that they either respected (or feared) Maria too much or were just plain content to see how things go without interference.
"You look lively today, Jason," Saki remarked airily as the Hanagumi started their lunch. Jason found himself seated opposite Maria who maintained a poker face. Maria studiously ate her food slowly, ignoring the fact that Saki was sliding up to Jason in a more than friendly manner.
"Uh, really? Must be the weather."
"Well, summer is the season of love after all," Saki laughed, causing Jason to turn white.
"W-why do you say that?" Jason asked.
Saki smirked. "It's just a saying, why are you so nervous?"
"I'm not."
"You're a terrible liar," Saki mocked as she maintained a death grip around his arm.
"Ahh leave me alone," Jason grumbled, trying to wriggle free without much success.
The others couldn't help picking up their conversation.
"Haha Jason-han! Is that true, you're in looooooove?" Kohran teased, her round spectacles glinting.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Jason moaned.
"Kyahaha! Second brother's face is so red!" Iris laughed and pointed.
"So it's true!" Orihime jumped in, delighted to have chance to irritate the Exodusian.
"No it's NOT!" Jason roared, his nerves frayed by their teasing.
Abruptly, the entire table went silent.
Jason first wondered what was going through Maria's mind at that moment, because he himself was blank after unleashing his tirade.
"It's not?" Saki asked very softly, her eyes downcast.
Oblivious to her sudden change in mood, Jason responded before he could clearly think about it.
"Yeah it's not! You damn right I'm not in love!"
It took all Maria had not to glare at him. 'You didn't have to do it so realistically,' she thought with a twinge of annoyance.
Abruptly, Saki stood up, her head still bowed as she trembled. The bangs of her hair hid her eyes as she clenched her fists.
"...but... I am..." she whispered.
Jason could only manage a "Wha-?" as she turned and ran away.
There was a stunned silence around the table. Nobody tried to stop her, they were all too astonished. Ogami even had his mouth agape with shock.
"What the hell was that...?" Jason muttered.
Kanna blinked, and then she leapt to her feet and pounded the table with her fist. "You idiot! What are ya waitin' for!? Go after her!" she exclaimed.
"What? What? What?" Jason chanted, startled by her reaction. From the looks on the other Hanagumi, they too were puzzled.
"Quit jabberin' and get her back!" Kanna insisted.
"Sheesh, alright alright," the Exodusian replied reluctantly. He grumbled wordlessly as he went.
As soon as he was out of earshot, everyone turned their attentions towards Maria, who calmly sipped her cup of coffee as if nothing happened.
"Er, Maria..." Ogami began.
The Russian blonde silenced him with a silent glare. Ogami visibly gulped and shut his mouth.
And that effectively ended anyone else's attempts to ask Maria how she was feeling. Frankly, she preferred it that way, having no answers to the cauldron of emotions running within her.
---
Jason found Saki sitting by herself underneath a tree near the forest. The tall, majestic mountains in the distance reminded Jason of Kanna's suggestion for a climb for the day. Meaning, he had to wrap this mess up quick before the others arrive. "Hey, Saki!" Jason called out when he caught sight of the dark-haired woman. She sat there sullenly with her arms encircling her knees, pointedly ignoring the Exodusian. "What... the heck was that all about?" Jason asked, more than a little annoyed.
When she kept stubbornly kept her silence, Jason sighed in defeat and plopped down to sit beside her, leaning on the tree's trunk.
"Look, I don't know what's wrong, but I hope you can tell me. We promised to be friends, didn't we?" Jason asked.
Saki made no reply. Instead, much to Jason's consternation, she began shaking in silent sobs.
"Hey hey, what's wrong?!" Jason asked frantically.
"You... big idiot!" Saki cried and gave him a straight punch to the side of his jaw. Jason's neck twisted with the momentum of the turn.
'What did I do?' was Jason's last thought as he fell over unconscious.
---
Jason awakened to find himself lying down on the grass, with his head on something soft. As his eyes cleared, he saw the face of Saki looking down on him, the bangs of her hair draping down.
It only took him a moment to realize that his head was lying on Saki's lap.
He immediately tried to scramble up but the black-haired woman kept him firmly down with surprising strength.
The crick in his neck also helped her somewhat, as he yelped in pain.
"Argh! Let me up!" he complained.
"You shouldn't move for a while," Saki said sternly.
"And whose fault was that?" Jason grumbled as he cautiously turned his head left and right on her lap, trying to ease away the pain.
Privately, Saki was a little annoyed to see him being so indifferent. She was hoping for a more subdued reaction from the Chinese man, perhaps like blushing and generally being embarrassed.
"Saki, what's wrong?" Jason asked.
'I wish I knew,' Saki thought wistfully to herself. Instead, she affected a sad, faraway look.
"Geez, if you're clamming up, how can I help you?" Jason persisted.
"I doubt that you want to help anyway," the black haired woman replied.
"Don't say that. Come on, we're friends."
That brought another pause.
"Well?"
"Well what?" Saki said defensively.
"Are you gonna say what's on your mind or not?" Jason.
"You baka," Saki replied softly. She absently twirled a lock of Jason's hair.
"I swear you're just trying to piss me off. And stop that," Jason said in annoyance.
"But your hair is so soft. Like a girl's," Saki giggled.
"Argh. Please don't say that ever again."
"Relax," Saki said soothingly. "Enjoy the scenery, what's the rush?"
"I guess you're right, but can't you let me up? Let's get back to the others," Jason grumbled.
The Exodusian couldn't see it, but Saki was grinning evilly.
"I'm sure they are busy at the moment," she said mysteriously.
---
"Boy, they are sure takin' their time huh?" Kanna asked loudly. Everybody around the table winced and risked a look at Maria, who seemingly did not hear the question.
The blonde Russian calmly flipped over a page of the book she was reading, as though she was thoroughly engrossed with the contents.
Kanna wasn't about to give up that easily though. The 28th successor of Kirishima-Ryu propped her chin on one hand and elbow on the table in a nonchalant manner.
"I bet they found a romantic spot somewhere in the mountains!" she said in an exaggerated manner.
Again, Maria paid no heed. But Kanna could see that the next page the Russian flipped was a little more forceful. Kanna knew all that she needed was one final push.
"Heck, they could be gone for hours! Who knows what they are doing right –now-?" the red-haired, muscular woman exclaimed.
Maria's brow crinkled. Ignoring Kanna, she slammed her hardcover book shut, stood up and briskly left the table.
Everyone exhaled loudly after making sure that she was gone.
"What on earth are you thinking, Miss Kanna!?" Sumire chided.
"That was awful of you, Kanna... you are just making fun of Miss Maria," Sakura added.
"Oi oi, I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of her and Jason playing hide and seek," Kanna said defensively.
"I see, you mean you're trying to make them come out and admit it?" Ogami asked, to which Kanna nodded.
"Oh yeah, I don't know what happened last night, but I think Maria slipped out while we were sleeping," Kohran shared.
"I heard some noise last night~!" Orihime chipped in.
"You're probably mistaken," Ogami chuckled, "Maria isn't a person who- "
"I saw her going out," Reni interrupted unexpectedly.
Everyone turned to stare at the German wunderkind, who looked back impassively.
"My, I didn't expect such behavior from Miss Maria," Sumire finally said, scandalized.
"Hey hey, let's not jump to conclusions here..." Ogami replied, trying to stop the increasingly rampant gossip. "Meh," Kanna snorted and grinned, "I'd say it's about time. I mean, they are still tryin' to hide the fact that they are already a couple. As if we're idiots."
"Well you are one, at least," Sumire smirked.
"What did you say, you cactus woman!?" Kanna demanded.
Ogami sighed as the infamous duo descended yet into another argument, with the usual racket. Shaking his head, he smiled at the scene. He quietly left the table, knowing the argument would be resolved on its own.
He was heading back to the inn when he saw Maria sitting on the veranda, staring off into the distance. The book she had been reading was on the floor, forgotten as the Russian gazed at something only she could see.
For Ogami, that thoughtful, wishful pose she held was one of the better sights he had seen this morning.
'It's plain obvious who she's thinking about. Time to do my job as the captain,' Ogami thought to himself, mentally smiling.
"Maria," he called out gently, feeling almost guilty for ruining her thinking mood.
"A-ah... taichou," Maria replied, startled from her daydream. A slight tint of blush appeared on her cheeks.
"I'm thinking of doing a group trip up the mountains. Why don't you go look for Jason so we can all go?" Ogami suggested.
"W-well..." Maria muttered, embarrassed.
"Go on, that's an order," Ogami said with a smile.
Maria gave him a smile of her own. "Yes sir, order received and understood," she said gratefully.
---
Maria had no idea where to search except to follow the dirt path. As she walked towards the forest, she thought of calling out Jason's name occasionally and hoping for a reply. Then she heard a rustle in the bushes. Maria immediately reached for her handgun, but stopped short of pulling it out. She remembered that the innkeeper had told them of the extremely shy animals in the forest. There were no predators, the innkeeper assured them.
"Jason?" she said uncertainly.
There was no answer. The blonde Russian decided to approach the bushes cautiously.
Just as she was going to push aside the bush, a dark shadow leapt out. Startled, Maria jumped back several steps, her gun at the ready.
'Bozhe moi!' Maria's mind exclaimed in Russian.
It was a fox.
Growing up in New Kiev with the Revolutionists meant Maria had known hardship, learning to shoot and to forage off the land and sleeping underneath the stars and above the grass. Thus she was used to seeing wild animals, sometimes even hunting them for food while she was in the Revolutionary Army.
But all her experiences came to naught with the creature before her.
It was a fox alright, but not unlike any she had seen. It did not sport the usual reddish-brown fur, and definitely not the white winter coat.
Instead its fur was a dark blue, with a streak of black running down its spine. The unusual fur seemingly absorbed the light around it, and yet shimmering like an ocean wave.
And it stood five times larger than a regular fox, much bigger than a wolf. In fact, it was the size of a small horse.
More importantly, its fangs were bared and its eyes glowering, staring at Maria with hunger. Its tongue hung and soaked with running drool from the long, sharp teeth.
'I might be eaten alive...' was Maria's morbid thought as the creature slowly began to move towards her.