ACT 26

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"Oh, my, why do I have to wear this?" Sakura struggled. She was still busy undressing. They had just ended their costume rehearsal and it was really late. She was only half-finished with the fan-laced corset while the others had already gone to get some rest. Sakura moaned in irritation as she tried to untie the laces at her back.

"Don't move," commanded a voice.

Sakura froze until she realized it was the Russian. "Maria-san, d-don't scare me like that." She thought that she had already gone, and it surprised her that Maria was still there.

The Russian's hands ran over the corset. Slowly, Maria carefully loosened the laces.

Sakura was quiet as Maria's hands touched her back. The scent that surrounded her made her feel at ease. Momentarily, she closed her eyes enjoying the peace.

"Done."

"Thank you, Maria-san." Sakura turned around and faced the Russian. She took her pink kimino, saying nothing more. Still, Maria didn't leave her. She sat down, as if waiting for her to finish.

The raven-haired girl then took a seat by her side after changing her clothes.

'Did she want to talk to me?' Sakura asked herself as she studied the quiet figure sitting next to her. Sakura hesitated to ask, for she didn't know what to say in the first place. So the young lady just bit her lip and lowered her eyes.

Hearing a brief sigh from Sakura, Maria finally broke the silence. "Are you tired?" she said, though warily looking at the clock.

Sakura shook her head, though by this time her body was craving for some rest. 'Strange. Why is she asking me that?'

"Good." Maria's face lit up with an unexpected smile. "Come with me."

Maria held her hand and led her to the stage.

"Maria-san, are we going to practice again?" Sakura gripped her hand tightly. 'Is my acting still bad?' she questioned herself.

'Is she nervous?' The Russian felt the pressure from her hands. "Stay here," the green-eyed woman said without answering her questions.

Her eyes followed the Russian as she disappeared backstage. She was bemused. 'What is she planning to do?'

Within a moment, Maria appeared with the turntable. She shoved her blond hair back and gave her a strange look. It sent a feeling of electricity to Sakura's bones. "Maria-san?"

"Let's dance." She tuned in the player and music started with slow orchestra music. Hearing the three fourth beat, Sakura knew it was waltz music.

"Dance?"

Moving forward, Maria held Sakura's hand and the other to her side.

After the intro music, a young woman's voice emanated the atmosphere from the gramophone.

If I should ever fall in love with someone

We would go rowing in a little boat through the galaxy.

The Russian smiled warmly as she glided and led Sakura to dance. It was a good thing that the younger girl could still remember the simple steps of a waltz without stepping on Maria's feet. As if by magic, Sakura's body obeyed with the rhythm.

If I should ever fall in love with someone,

We shall both dance the waltz amidst the stars.

I have always wondered if I would ever fall in love,

And when that time would come

I have always wondered if I would ever fall in love,

Now it looks like my hopes have finally come true

All these little prayers that I made appear to have reached God.

Now that I have finally found somebody that I truly love.

Her eyes shifted from every direction then back to Maria's face. She couldn't believe that they were doing this. Why were they dancing now? Sakura wondered as Maria held her tightly and closely.

The instrumental background led them to an imaginary ball. Sakura was a having a flashback of herself and Maria in their Cinderella play.

If I should ever fall in love with someone
The tears I cry shall turn into pearls.

If I should ever fall in love with someone
My sighs and bated breath will blossom into love.

I have always wondered if I would ever fall in love,

and when that time would come.

I have always wondered if I would ever fall in love,

now it looks like my hopes have finally come true.

All these little prayers that I made
Appeared to have reached you as well.

This is just a glimpse of the simple little feelings
That I have in here

--

"Eh?" Wearing a weird helmet, Kohran watched them from above where the lights are. She had heard the music playing and had come to investigate. "What are those two doing? Dancing a waltz... at this hour?"

She cautiously moved closer in their direction. 'Umm, maybe those two will do,' Kohran thought. She had been looking for a test subject for her latest invention, anyway. So, with some small adjustments, the device she wore on her head lit up and began its recordings.

"Let's see how their auras react."

--

As the waltz music ended, Sakura rested her head on Maria's bosom.

"That's very comforting," she whispered as her hands remained entangled around Maria's shoulder. Deep inside she wished they could repeat it again. Breathing slowly, she closed her eyes.

"Was it?" Maria looked at her again with those warm green eyes. "You looked very tired now."

Lifting her head up, Sakura nodded and closed her eyes as if inviting a kiss.

Maria stared at her innocently as Sakura waited for her.

"It's really a good therapy for my legs. Thank you very much Sakura," she said ignoring the motion.

Sakura opened up her eyes and blinked. "A therapy?"

---

Kohran fell over. "A---ya.. Maria-han…"

After recovering from the fall, the young scientist found something interesting from her visors. "Hmm…" She nodded and smiled with satisfaction.

---

"Sakura?" Maria called out when she noticed that the raven-haired girl was pouting.

"I thought you were-" She couldn't seem to finish. Sakura was feeling really embarrassed to have thought that Maria was initiating a romantic gesture with her.

Sakura quickly moved away from her. "Nevermind." Feeling the need to leave, she turned around but Maria didn't let her go. She didn't want to miss this opportunity alone with her. The Russian grabbed her back into her arms and without further warning, gave Sakura what she wanted: A kiss.

It ached.

It really ached.

Sakura wasn't sure what to think, what to feel. Their dance, this scene, these emotions ... they were all untrue. So full of lies.

Maria noticed that Sakura wasn't responding and released her. 'What? What did I do?' Sakura looked downcast. It almost broke the Russian's heart.

"You're teasing me again," she said in a low, shaky voice.

"Tease you?" Maria raised an eyebrow.

"Tell me, are you playing with my feelings?"

It struck Maria. 'Is this Sakura talking?'

"Just tell me the truth. I can accept it even though it's painful. But please be true to yourself. " Sakura sobbed.

'Those tears again,' Maria thought grimly. 'Why do I always make her cry?' Her hands balled into fists. She was unable to say anything sensible. She was controlling herself from gritting her teeth. "Look, I--"

Sakura shook her head.

---

Kohran listened attentively as she captured every scene.

---

Maria narrowed her eyes.

"I noticed…" Sakura started. "…that you are forcing yourself to like me even though it's not what your heart tells you."

The Russian was quiet.

"Maria-san, I respect you but please don't lie to me. Please don't lie to your feelings."

With a sad face, Maria's eyebrows met as the Japanese girl walked away.

--

Kohran sighed. "So much for a test subject.

She switched off the device. Taking off her helmet, she looked at the tall woman with sincere sympathy.

--

The crying figure walked towards her room.

It had always been this way.

She was about to turn the knob of her door when she noticed a pink stuffed toy before her. Sakura knelt down and examined the cute pig. As she suspected, it had a note attached. "From K."

Sakura held the stuffed toy, replacing her sad face with a smile. "Tsubaki must have placed it here," she thought.

"Whaaa!" she yelled in surprise when she opened the door.

Sumire jumped up from her bed quickly when she heard the scream. Hastily, she went outside in her nightgown and was the first one to question Sakura. "What's that noise all about?"

With drooping eyes, Kanna emerged from her room as well and glanced first to Sumire. The taller woman scratched her head as she joined the brown-haired lady. 'What could the problem be?'

Kanna went to Sakura's direction. "Oi, Sakura what are you-"

The two peeked into the room and it was their turn to be surprised.

"Ore-yAA!" Kanna screamed while Sumire remained speechless.

Sakura's room was filled with stuff toys and dolls. It looked like an upgraded version of Iris' room.

Meanwhile, Maria quietly entered her own room to rest. Kohran was following her quietly from the back.

"Hmm, what could have been the problem?" the Chinese girl asked herself. Normally, Maria would automatically rush to Sakura's room whenever it seemed that the younger girl was in trouble. Now, though, it seemed that the Russian was just ignoring the commotion.

---

"What's going on here?" Ohgami asked when he finally came to the scene.

Tsubaki, Kasumi and Yuri's attention were also called upon to the place. Iris went out as well.

"Well, look at those." Kanna pointed into Sakura's room.

Ohgami was shocked at the sheer number of dolls and toys. "What is this, a doll factory?" Ohgami shrieked.

"So much money spent for all of these," Sumire critiqued as she held up one doll. "Made in America?"

"Iris thinks it's lovely."

"Sakura-san?" Sumire looked at her asking for an explanation.

"It came from him," Sakura said, handing the card to Ohgami.

"K?" Ohgami read.

"Was this the guy who-"

Sakura nodded.

"Tsubaki, are you the one who-"

Tsubaki looked up in surprise. "No-no, I didn't do anything." The young salesgirl was defensive. "Besides, I can't carry all of those stuff."

"Perhaps Yuri and Kasumi…" Ohgami turned to the two secretarial girls who in turn shook their heads.

Sakura's eyes widened. 'But who could have snuck in –'

"This is not good," Ohgami said with a serious face. 'Is it possible that the enemy could-'

"But Iris felt no threat from whoever who did this," Iris said as she studied the dolls.

"Iris?" Sumire's attention was caught. "What do you mean by that?"

"Why? Can you not see it? The one who did this wanted to surprise Sakura. It is so romantic."

Kanna sweatdropped. 'Since when did this child know about romance?'

"Can you not see the message he wanted to say?" Iris pouted at Kanna.

"She…" Yuri corrected in a whisper. Tsubaki quickly elbowed her on the side. Kasumi winced at the two.

Ohgami narrowed his eyes. "Whoever it is, it's not right to enter the theater, much less into someone's room. That's trespassing. We should report this to the Vice Commander." The young captain thought for a while. "Unless it happens to be Kayama. Hey, wait a minute." Ohgami held his chin. "Isn't it that his name also starts with a K?" His eyes widened as he read the note again. "It can't be!"

He looked back and forth the room. 'Could it be possible that Kayama is the one sending this stuff? And that Keith David is just a decoy?'

"Something wrong, Taichou?" Kanna asked while stifling a yawn. "Having heard from Iris that it has no evil threat whatsoever I think we should all rest now and call it a day."

The black-haired captain nodded at Kanna's suggestion as it seemed to him that everyone there was feeling very tired by now. "Okay, everyone, go to sleep now. We shall discuss this matter tomorrow."

Tsubaki, Kasumi and Yuri went out first, followed by Kanna yawning and moaning from exhaustion.

"Sakura-kun, please stay alert," Ohgami said before he left.

Sumire folded her arms for she was not ready yet to go. She was eyeing something very familiar. 'Hey…' Beneath the fluffy teddy bears, there was a strange set of dolls.

Sumire grabbed a redheaded doll and stared at it for a while. When she finally looked up, she was startled to see Iris standing there, watching.

The French girl giggled.

Sumire blushed, and to avoid further embarrassment, she swiftly dropped the doll and headed for her own room.

Iris looked at the set of dolls Sumire was staring at just now. She took the Cinderella doll and the Prince Charming one and showed it to Sakura. "Oneesan , look."

The raven-haired girl moved her attention to Iris, who held up two cute dolls. If she was not mistaken, both were miniature dolls of herself and Maria.

The blond girl placed them in Sakura's hand. "Isn't it a magical time?"

Iris then smiled and left Sakura.

Sakura held the two dolls as her eyes glimmered. "It is a dream for the two of us."

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A/N/Credits:

Song: Moshimo (Soletta Orihime's image song) translation

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