Yet another over do One Shot, but one that I've finally managed to get to. Anastasia was definitely a favorite of mine on my third playthrough so I'm happy I can write this little piece for her. Hope you all enjoy it.
Shin Sakura Wars
Catch a Shooting Star
The sound of an alarm was all too familiar to Anastasia. A majority of people most people might have found them unpleasant, she tossed them more into the necessary bin. Thought it was irritating to be awoken from a pleasant dream, sometimes one needed an outside force to rouse them from the realm of dreams to reality. The better the dream, the more often one needed that outside force for the pull of the former was at times too strong to break. Anastasia could say without a doubt she was guilty of that. It was near impossible to recount how often she'd dreamed of being reunited with her parents, of the three of them being happy together, of times before the war that had cost them their lives, along with so many others. Waking up with tears running down her cheeks was something she was used to. Sometimes she'd let herself cry for a little while, at other times she'd wipe them from her face, sit up, and ready herself to face the new day. Helping her to do that was the ring of a preset set alarm clock. What usually came next was her head reaching out to silence the device, she was already awake, she didn't need the continued ringing in her ears.
As she reached out to do so, she felt another hand running up alongside hers. Uncoordinated, they reached out in unison; her hand came down atop the other hand, which silenced the alarm. A peacefully silence fell over the room. Anastasia still hadn't fully opened her eyes, but she didn't need to, her sense of touch told her all that she needed to. Sighing in content bliss, she gently curled her fingers atop the other hand; it was so soft and warm, much like the presence beside her.
"Anastasia," Came the muffled voice. She felt the body beside her shift. Without daring to open her eyes, she withdrew her hand, wrapping it around the man beside her. Heart beating at a steady rhythm, she leaned forward and connected her lips with his. The recuperation of the kiss was immediate, a pair of strong arms wrapping around her and holding her close. Anastasia purred as she slowly withdrew herself, her blue eyes fluttering open. She was greeted to the sight of a pair of warm light brown orbs that stared back at her. A smile formed upon the face they belonged to. "Good morning." He whispered.
Giggling, she whispered, "Good morning, Seijuro." A minute later and their lips were reconnected, passionate moans beginning to rise from the two of them as they playfully wrestled for control. It seemed it would be a repeat of last night, which had ended with no clear winner, not that either of them cared. There would be plenty more "contests" in the future, such as the one they were having now. The two bodies rolled across the bed, hitting the wall causing the pair to separate in modest shock, and a need for air. Anastasia looked up at the black-haired man atop of her. It seemed he was finally truly taking stock of his surroundings; naturally, a hot blush colored his face as the realization set in. Giggling at his reddening face, the actress reached up and caressed his cheek, "So, would you say this is a good way to start the morning?"
Seijuro remained silent as he slowly took stock of the situation. There was absolutely no escaping the sensual delight that raced through him as he felt Anastasia's naked legs grinding up against him. She was doing this on purpose, getting one hell of a morning show in the process. Sucking in a breath, he looked her right in the eye, and grinned. His ears buzzed with the sound of her shocked gasps as he rolled the two of them over. Thankfully, his bed was wide enough for such a fit; he'd spent dozens of mornings, evenings, and night spread-eagle atop it staring up at the ceiling. Instead of staring at the white-colored ceiling, he looked up into the startled blue eyes and blushing face of Anastasia Palmer. "I'd say it's a pretty good way to start the morning off, Anastasia." He finally answered.
Once she regained her wits, the Greek pilot laughed. She certainly hadn't been expecting such a move from her captain, but as she'd learned, Seijuro Kamiyama was a man seemingly full of surprises. For as much as she enjoyed leaving him speechless, he could do the same to her. Cradling his face, she leaned down and planted a kiss on his lips. Even before their lips connected they knew it wasn't just going to be a simple peck; her hands held the sides of his face while his caressed her naked back. His fingers bore down on her as he rose upward; Anastasia responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, her lips moving from his mouth to his cheeks. A feathery-soft whine escaped her as she felt Seijuro begin to gently massage her sides.
"S-So early in the morning for this, Seijuro." Whispered the sharpshooter.
"Well, last night was pretty…taxing on both of us, wasn't it?" He joked with a blush coloring his face. Seeing it nearly caused Anastasia to squee in childish delight. They were both acting what might have been considered a bit below their age, but it was warranted. "Do you want me to stop, Anastasia?" The swordsman quietly whispered as he leaned back down, his hold on her never slacking or tightening.
She felt like she was floating across the sea atop a great ark, the sun shining down solely on her. "No, keep on going. Just…stay here with me." What remained of her rational mind told her that they still had a few things to do today, but the tasks of their jobs as members of the New Imperial Combat Revue were a distant glimmer. Shining clear and brought was the desire to simply laze about and enjoy one another's company. That's exactly what she wanted to do, and Anastasia knew that Seijuro wanted to do so as well.
So that's what they did.
They laid in the captain's bed; their naked bodies practically glued together with the bed sheets covering them. Outside the window, birds chirped as they took flight into the clear skies, skies now illuminated by the bright sun. Its rays rolled through the glass and reached them. The couple sat up and turned their heads in unison toward it. Strangely, watching the sun shine and birds fly about seemed a tad more entertaining than turning on the TV and see what was playing on the news. Seijuro felt a small urge to get up and walk over and open it, allow the breeze to penetrate the room. Of course, to do that would mean untangling himself from Anastasia's embrace, something he was rather reluctant to do. Likewise, the Greek actress didn't feel like getting up and moving herself. Both pilots looked to one another, their gazes reflecting their internal thoughts. Smiles crossed their faces as the couple came to a mutual understanding.
Sheets were ruffled as the swordsman and gunwoman pounced on one another. Hungry lips smashed against one another, tongues darting out and colliding in a sloppy yet passionate embrace. It seemed to last for hours, long enough for the newly begun day to turn to night before the couple separated from a brief gulp of air on each of their parts. Then they were back at it, their naked bodies pressing together beneath the sheets. It didn't look like it would take long before a repeat of the night before took place, the only difference being that this time, the couple would likely have an…unwitting audience through the walls and the door, which mercifully remained sealed shut. Not one knock had come from it. Ordinarily, Seijuro would have found that a tad odd, but at the moment he only had one thing on his mind-the silvery-haired maiden atop of him, kissing him, loving him in the most tender and expressive way imaginable.
It cut both ways as continuously caressed the naked body of the Greek actress. Several times she pulled away, a hush escaping her. Panting, she looked down at Seijuro. The Japanese man laughed and smiled back, a little cheekily. It made Anastasia's heart swell with vigor, vigor which went into her next barrage of kisses which began shortly after. Seconds later to be exact. Admittedly, she couldn't get enough of the former Imperial Navy sailor.
He'd sailed through a sea of darkness to find and rescue her, bringing her back to the light and allowing her to truly live once again. It was such a fairy tale-like comparison, but as she assailed him with kisses and he her, Anastasia realized that's what it had been like. As unbelievable as it sounded, Seijuro had indeed rescued her in more ways than one. Last night she repaid him for that, or at least she started to. She owed him so much, practically her whole life, but Seijuro had told her that all he wanted was for her to remain in the Combat Revue. Anastasia had laughed and told him she was definitely going to be staying with the Imperial Combat Revue. She was going to be staying with the newly reformed team right to the bitter end, and definitely alongside its chivalrous and tactically-capable captain. If anyone ever asked if he could live up to the mantle of the previous Captain Ogami, Anastasia would give a strong yes, he had lived up to his predecessor, as had Sakura in terms of hers.
They ended up bumping up against the wall, Anastasia was on the bottom with Seijuro on top. Not missing a beat, she reached up, grabbing him by the back of his head and bringing him down upon her lips again. Immediately, Seijuro melted into the kiss, cradling her against him. Her mind jumped back to the night before, how he held her so tenderly yet tightly, like she were an icy sculpture that would fall and shatter to the ground if he let go of her. While Anastasia could proudly say she wasn't that fragile, she deeply appreciated the sentiment. It further showed her how much she meant to her captain, and it made her more determined to stand up and meet each new day as best she could. More importantly, she wanted to do that at his side, again and again for as long as they could. Her hand reached up and her nails scrapped across his back. Those nails dug in just a little as he kissed the nap of her neck causing Anastasia to arch her back, pressing her chest against his. The oh so familiar sensation sent goosebumps racing down her body. She couldn't recall the last time she woke up to a morning as…pleasant as this.
Staring up into his warm brown eyes, Anastasia realized that there never had been a morning like this because she'd never loved anyone like she had Seijuro before. She'd never loved another man period. There'd been flings, with costars, fans, admirers, but nothing long-lasting, nothing that ever went into the realm of romance. Such a realm she entered on stage, but when off it, never once was she able to venture into it with anyone at her side; no one was there to take her into that splendid realm either.
Until Seijuro came along.
Just as he held her like she was going to slip away, she clawed at his back as if she were attempting to bind the two of them together-as if she were trying to lay claim to him. Anastasia was a very socially perspective person, it was one of the things she brought to the New Imperial Combat Revue. She wasn't blind to the way some looked at Seijuro, some looks went beyond admiration-they were looks of love and longing. Anastasia had begun to give Seijuro those looks herself, and he had begun to give her those same looks, small and hidden they might have been. All of it came together last night, continuing on into the morning, and as far as either of them were concerned, it was going to continue on into the foreseeable future. A future they had fought for along with the rest of their teammates.
That future was unfolding, second by second, minute by minute. It was a future that they were making the most out of.
Once upon a time for the both of them, the future seemed so uncertain, dark as the night sky, but now the stars had come out to light their way.
"You seem plenty nervous." Anastasia mused, humor evident in her voice.
Seijuro smiled at her. He wasn't the only one who was nervous, practically everyone was. Quite funny considering that they'd defeated a powerful psychotic demon and stopped him from destroying the capital city of Tokyo. Though the battle was less than a month old, it felt so distant as they prepared for the theater show about to take place. It was a transition that he realized was unique to the Combat Revue-jumping from life-or-death battles to performing on stage. Contrasting didn't even begin to describe it…but over time, it'd become a happy contrast. He could say he had more fun when the curtains went up than he did when he was fighting. That was, now that the Imperial Combat Revue had gotten its theater act together. A large portion of that was owed to the European woman standing in his doorway.
She'd died during that battle, just like Hatsuho, Claris, and Azami. She'd been, in every sense of the word, dead leaving just him and Sakura…before the power of his childhood friend's predecessor and blew through on the winds of life restoring them all. While he was happy to have them all back, internally, Anastasia's revival left him the happiest, something that he didn't feel it best to ever reveal. He'd already came close to losing her once, and to lose her again…Seijuro knew that he would have had rage, hatred in his heart for Yaksha and her master. Seijuro hadn't ever hated anyone with such vigor before…but battling the demonic duplicate of Sakura Shinguji who'd slain four of his six teammates had ignited a flame of white-hot anger in him. Of course, it'd already been burning before that, it burned when Yaksha absolutely broke Sakura's spirit sending her into a downward spiral even Seijuro feared he wouldn't be able to pull her out of. Then came Anastasia's betrayal and Yaksha's rewarding of that with a slash to her chest, a slash that would have bisected her. When they finally caught up to the masked swordswoman, she mused that she should have split her in half from head-to-toe…or decapitated her.
"You know, you won't be able to go out and perform on stage with such a grim face, Captain." The accented title caught his attention. Blinking, Seijuro realized that Anastasia had moved from the doorway to the seat directly in front of him. Her hand was on his cheek, a blush came not too long after the revelation. Seeing it from up close caused Anastasia to laugh, a sound that echoed through Seijuro's ears and caused his already redden cheeks to grow several shades darker; her soft hand on his cheek certainly wasn't helping things. "Hm, that's a bit of a better expression. It's one that I'm hoping will still be on your face after the applause sound."
"Applause, yeah, I'm sure there'll be a lot of that." Mused the former sailor, his logical mind attempting to figure out what to do next. Grasping at straws, he chose to do the best he could with what his mind could come up with. "You know, about a year ago, I don't think anyone thought we'd be here. I sure as hell didn't."
"Indeed, the Imperial Combat Revue had fallen quite far from its original glory. I grew up hearing stories of it, of the splendid performances of the previous Combat Revue. They were indeed amongst the best of their time." Mused the gunwoman, her face still gently caressing Seijuro's. Since he hadn't bated her hand away, she saw no reason to pull away. An invisible sigh of relief sounded within her as he seemed to be enjoying her touch. Anastasia didn't know what she'd do if he rejected her. In retrospect, a part of her shirked how just coming to visit him was a potentially dangerous idea. The importance of this night could not have been overstressed, but it was that same importance that had drawn her to him. She felt like she had to see him. Hope that she made the right choice was strengthened in how his hand fell over his. "I believe it's our time now." The words flowed so easily looking into his warm light brown eyes. "And we have you to think for it, Seijuro."
"And you, Anastasia. Really, it was a team effort, just like overcoming Sotetsu Genan was a team effort. Tonight…it's going to be all you girls." The Japanese man responded, his cheeks still blazing red.
"And you, Captain." Anastasia gently pushed back with a smile on her face. "Don't sell your acting abilities so short; in fact, you may be one of the most bombastic actors I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Heh, I must say, it is one of the best things about working with you, especially on a performing night like this."
"You sure you're not saying that just to make me feel better?"
"Now, have I ever lied to you?" The Greek woman purred. To her relief, all he did was laugh at her in good humor. The joke could have easily been turned around on her, but Seijuro chose not to do that. "You're an incredible pilot, captain, and actor, Kamiyama, you belong on stage with the rest of us. As you said, all that we've accomplished up to now has been a team effort, and all that we accomplish in the future shall be no different, right?"
The two held one another's gaze, a silent serenity have enveloped the two of them in the dressing room. It was unexpected, but very much welcome for the two of them. Truth be told, whenever they found time to be together, a sense of calmness always seemed to descend over them, and with it, especially on Anastasia's end, a sense of emotional security. That security had always been something she cherished; it was also something she deeply feared losing. When she made the decision to betray the Imperial Combat Revue, she quietly accepted in her heart that whatever bond that had existed between them had just been severed by her own hand. But it hadn't. Surprisingly, it had remained strong, perhaps even grown stronger.
"Heh, I'm just going to be on stage for maybe a couple of minutes at best." The swordsman offered.
"Even so, a few seconds on stage can perhaps be enough to launch one into stardom." Anastasia coyly responded. "It may just be me, but you seem a little reluctant to step out on stage. Kamiyama…there's nothing wrong with admitting you're afraid."
"I am." He openly admitted, his gaze still locked on hers. Somewhat fittingly, Anastasia gave off an icy aura, or at least she did from a distance. Once that distance was closed, she was full of warmth and life, something that Seijuro always found attractive about her. "You girls are much better performers than me, I don't…sometimes I still worry about those rare times I go on stage and perform. There are times I feel like I'm going to go out and burn the stage down before any of you can get a chance to steal the crowd's hearts."
There was a brief pause on Anastasia's part, then came sweet laughter. Without a coherent word, it was enough to put Seijuro at ease. He smiled at her and she smiled back at him, still gently caressing his cheeks in a further effort to sooth him. Or perhaps she just liked sharing such physical contact with him. "You know, you sound like Sakura, and even Hatsuho. It seems that nervousness still lingers around our team. Luckily, when the curtain rises it vanishes, just as the darkness of the night is banished by the light of morning sun." There was a soft squeeze on her hand. A jolt ran through Anastasia at the contact between the two of them. She loved the private moments that they were able to share, rather it was theater practice, combat practice, or just getting to know each other. Time spent with Seijuro Kamiyama was time that she relished. "Go up and stage and do as you've seen us do, do as we have practiced dozens of times."
"Well, after such great encouragement, how can I sit around in here scared out of my mind." Laughed the dual-wielder. "Anastasia, thank you."
Feeling her steady heartbeat suddenly spike, Anastasia gripped his hand and moved it between the two of them. They were quite different from one another, one of European descent and the other far east Asian. One who fought with firearms and the other a samurai right down to emulating some of the techniques used by Japan's most famous swordsman. One of them a bastion of upright loyalty…and the other stained with a sole mark of treachery. Such opposite identities and labels, yet here they were coming together. She knew that it was ultimately Seijuro who'd made that possible-he was the one who'd reached out, not just to her but to the rest of the team as well. He had done his job of reviving the Imperial Combat Revue, and then some a few would say. That was enough to take pride in.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you, in fact, all of us are indebted to you, Seijuro." The use of his name caught him by surprise. She was well aware how naming honorifics went, having brushed up on it weeks in advance before her transfer. Using one's first name was reserved for those with the most intimate relationships between each other. For a time, Sakura had been the only one to share such a bond with the captain, the two of them being childhood friends. Such a bond had been quite a thing to see, and Anastasia had been extremely happy to see it repaired after seemingly being broken. Anastasia felt a ping of sorrow in the realization that she'd bent the knee to one of the people responsible for breaking her in the first place.
"Anastasia," He responded in a surprisingly tender voice. "I…"
"Yes?"
No words came out of his lips, which seemed frozen. Instead, his eyes told the story. Likewise, Anastasia's blue eyes told a story of their own. The two of them continued the silent stare down that they'd begun when she'd entered the dressing room. Their respective heartbeats echoed in their ears. Those beats seemingly drove them to forward, almost literally. Both pilots were somewhat aware of how close their faces were drifting toward each other. Only when the tips of their noses touched did they stop, both still self-conscious of their respective positions. Their hands were still connected, still holding gripping each other's hands. All it would take was one last push for their lips to meet. Staring into one another's eyes, it was evident that they both wanted to. What was stopping them?
The answer blared through the microphone, announcing how much time was left until the curtain went up and the first act of the show began.
Anastasia was the professional actress-she knew that call all too well. Even the earliest call such as the one they just heard, wasn't to be taken for granted.
Both took a deep breath and separated, their hearts still beating fiercely within their chests.
"I-I'll help you out." Anastasia stated, her cheeks bearing a red tint that was mirrored on Seijuro's face. "I-I mean, I am the team acting coach, plus I know a thing or two about makeup."
"That's one reason I'll be glad that I'll just be up there on stage for a few minutes at best." The former navy captain whispered with a whimsical smile.
"Oh, do you think me or any of the girls look hideous when on stage in our make up?" Anastasia innocently probed.
The reaction was immediate and gratifying for the Greek actress. "No! No! You girls look good in all your costumes, you especially, Anastasia!" Seconds after speaking the words, he realized exactly what it was he'd just said. The outright jubilant expression on the actress' face helped. Seijuro sat in his seat, a defeated smile on his face. "You really love doing that, don't you?"
"What can I say? You're quite entertaining. Kamiyama, you really do sell your acting abilities short."
"That right there wasn't acting, that was all me." He shot back. "Okay, I think I've spent enough time…putting this off. I'm going to be going up on stage in front of a crowd of thousands of people-"
"With millions more watching." Anastasia politely chirped.
"Yep, all the better, and all the more pressure." In spite of the attempt to sound worried, Seijuro oddly wasn't. Or at least not as much as he might have been about a year ago when he first came to the Flower Division. He supposed that was proof that he had indeed changed; a gut feeling told him that the sentiment was the same amongst the rest of the team. Though unproven, it was a fact that Seijuro simply knew to be true. Looking into Anastasia's cobalt blue eyes strengthened that belief. "Anastasia…after the show…" Again, he stopped himself, common sense overriding his heart.
"We'll talk afterward…along with…everyone else." Th markswoman finished for him. She could understand the feelings running through him, and the battle of logic to suppress those feelings. It wasn't like they didn't have a place in her or him, they just weren't what she should have been focusing on at the moment.
What required their attention was the performance they were going to put on in celebration of defeating Sotetsu Genan and the Combat Revues coming together to save perhaps not just Tokyo, but perhaps even the world. Festive didn't even begin to come close to describing the mood. That said, they couldn't quite relax just yet. They still had a show to put on to celebrate those achievements, and the New Imperial Combat Revue was going to make it one to remember, just as they did with all of their other performances.
And that's exactly what they ended up doing.
The first portion of the performance featured roughly half of the Combat Revue pilots, including their male members such as Seijuro and Xiaolong. It wasn't like their female teammates were the only ones who did theater performances, albeit they were undoubtedly the main stars of such shows. Sometimes they could steal the spotlight for themselves. Xiaolong for his part was rather looking forward to being part of the opening act, a sentiment that Seijuro had gradually begun to share. They were captains after all, and at times they wanted to show that they could keep up with their teammates on stage just as well as they could on the battlefield.
To the stage they went, and to the roar of approval from the crowd they performed. Seijuro always felt his heart race whenever the curtain rose and the Combat Revue began a performance; it roared all the louder during those rare instances when he was a part of the performance. Theater had never been an interest of his, but joining the Combat Revue had made it one-he'd grown a healthy appreciation for it and the sense of relief and awe it could bring to audiences. Watching the girls and talking to them after every performance, he was able to truly get a feel of that. Then there was acting as the doorman after the show was over, seeing the often happy and giddy expressions on the faces of the audience as they trickled out.
Though it was practically impossible to make out any individual faces, he could tell that they were doing a damn good job in entertaining the audience. The near continuous, thunderous shouts from the crowd around them proved that the Combat Revues were doing as they always did when on stage-bringing joy to the people with song and dance. While those smiles were important, the one that Seijuro really focused on was that of his costar-Anastasia.
It was only natural she would be a part of her opening act alongside him. She was an international star, her name being enough to sell hundreds, arguably thousands of tickets alone. Seijuro could certainly understand why-every performance Anastasia gave was award worthy unto itself. He felt lucky when he was able to practice with her, and he felt blessed when he had a chance such as this-the chance to perform alongside her.
Just like in the dressing room, their eyes met, his warm brown and her cool blue. For those brief seconds, the entire stadium, the stage, their fellow pilots, practically everything else, it all fell away leaving the samurai and gunwoman as the sole occupants. An immediate pulse to reach out and physically connect surged through both of them. Such feelings grew stronger when their hands clapped for a twirl that left the crowd speechless. They were just as speechless, their hearts racing a million miles a minute and singing to them. If there was ever a time to improvise, now would be it. But they didn't. They had a script to follow, and follow it Seijuro and Anastasia did. All while shooting each other secretive looks that reached across the stage, that went blissfully unnoticed by the thousands watching them. In the midst of such a massive celebration, it was just the two of them, if only for a few seconds.
Those seconds passed and they were once more a part of a grand show, one that they put their heart into. Their work was rewarded with another round of thunderous applause from the audience all around them. Any doubts that the male captains and officers couldn't perform as good as their female counterparts evaporated into the festive night air with the roar of the crowd. Seijuro couldn't help but smile as he took a bow alongside Xiaolong and Arthur; the former was wearing an ear-to-ear smile on his face while the latter was more relaxed, still keeping in control of his emotions. Granted, Seijuro could see the near radiant twinkle in his eyes when they looked to one another. He'd certainly enjoyed himself, as had everyone. Especially Anastasia. Her smile nearly made his still racing heart explode in jubilation.
And so it seems a new star has been born. The Greek actress mused watching the sweat pour from his face. He'd done his part for the night, but for her and the rest of the girls, the performance had only just begun.
She made sure to catch him back stage, as he was drying himself off and prepared to find his place in the stands. He looked a little surprised to see her, which was somewhat to be expected.
"Guess I did pretty well, huh?" He laughed as the blue-eyed beauty walked toward him.
"That you did, incredibly well." Anastasia responded. "Hopefully this will be on par with the applause of the audience." Flashing him a smirk, she gently took hold of him by the chin and titled his head to the side. Spectators went slack-jawed as she planted her lips against Seijuro's left cheek. The kiss lasted for barely ten seconds at best, but it seemed to drag on for hours between the two pilots. As Anastasia pulled back, she looked deep into the swordsman's widened eyes. "Wish me luck, captain."
Though his mind was still spinning, his body was well aware of what was happening around him. His hand darted out catching Anastasia's. Her eyes briefly lit up as she wristed her wrist free, instead clasping her hand with his. Immediately, the two squeezed in comfort of each other. "Good luck, Anastasia. A-And pass that message onto the others." Seijuro said, his cheeks still ablaze from the kiss. For a woman who wielded the powers of ice in battle and carried herself with such a cool exterior, she sure was kept of lighting a fire in one's soul.
A warm smile spread along the tan-skinned woman's face. Briefly flickering her gaze downward, she gave his hand another squeeze before looking back up at him. "I will, captain. Just make sure that your eyes are on us." Wearing that kind yet somewhat seductive smirk, she departed from the backstage room. Needless to say, she had several eyes watching her as she did so. Some of those eyes turned to Seijuro.
"Woah, I gotta say, I'm impressed, and even a tad bit jealous!" Boomed Xiaolong, playfully slapping the former navy captain on the shoulder. It did the trick in snapping him out of the slight stupor he'd fallen into. Regaining his wits, he looked to the grinning Chinese pilot. "Here I was thinking Sakura was your girl…but it seems you prefer some more exotic, icy tastes, eh, Kamiyama!"
"I heard some rather nasty rumors that she'd betrayed the Imperial Combat Revue to the enemy…but I see that those rumors must have been slander, nothing more." Arthur chimed in looking the Japanese man in the eye. That look told Seijuro that he was half-lying. He knew the rumors were probably true…but whatever betrayal that had taken place had been forgiven and left in the past. Anastasia Palma was a member of the New Imperial Combat Revue and that was all there was to it. "It appears that you are perhaps a tad more skilled than I originally gave you credit for, Kamiyama-san." Or almost all there was to it. "Come along, gentlemen, I do believe we have some seat that need filling. In particular, I'm not sure either of your teammates would stand for it if when their big act came we were not there to witness it."
"Exactly when you did you get elected leader?" Xiaolong spat with a dry stare toward the back of the British pilot.
"I am of nobility unlike either of you, that is all the right I need to lead." Arthur plainly retorted not missing a beat. He'd already finished dressing back into his "casual" clothes, being the first one to do so in fact. Naturally, he'd felt he'd waited up for them long enough and was now making his way to the stands. Given how packed things were while they were performing, he probably had the right idea.
Not that that made it easier for Xiaolong to stomach. "You know, I think next year I'll be gunning for him instead of you guys. That uptight jerk could stand to be taken down a peg or two. Or three. Then I'll turn my attention to evening the score with you guys." The Chinese pilot mused. One could tell he was already envisioning the next Combat Revue World Games; there'd been quite a lot of talk about the next one, even though the man responsible for organizing the entire thing turned out to be a demon mastermind trying to disband all of the Combat Divisions to weaken humanity. Some good had come out of his insidious plot, or as some would say, a lot of good.
"Happy to hear that you'll still be keeping me on your radar, Xiaolong." Seijuro grinned causing his fellow captain to laugh. "Just so you know, next year we plan on doing a repeat of our previous performance."
"Hey, don't be so sure of that, buddy. A lot can change in a year's time. Then again…a lot can change in a night's time." The implication in his voice was too clear to ignore. Mercifully, Xiaolong chose to stop there rather than heckle Seijuro for details. That could probably come later; one way or another, it'd probably happen before he and the rest of his team returned to their native homeland.
Home, Seijuro thought as he made his way out and through an audience of thousands to take his seat. It was incredibly surreal-pushing his way through a crowd that had been cheering for him so he could watch the rest of the show. He wasn't the only one aware of the change, several pointed and applauded him as he made his way through, along with Xiaolong, who was not subtle in basking in the attention. It didn't last long as attention quickly shifted back to the stage, where the stars of the show had once more revealed themselves. Seeing Sakura, Hatsuho, Azami, Claris, and Anastasia on stage once again had Seijuro's heart singing in glee. The first he'd seen as a lifelong friend, the rest following soon after…but Anastasia was different. She was more than just a friend to him, she was…more.
"I'm sorry, Captain. I'm leaving the Imperial Revue."
"You're…quitting?! So, you're just tossing me aside, huh?"
"Wait, what did you think you were to me?"
Though he'd partially been putting on a show, there was genuine pain in him when he spoke those words. He wondered if Anastasia had picked up on it. The way he'd phrased it made it clear that he was seeing himself losing her instead of the entire team losing her. In the aftermath, he'd chastised himself for how selfish he sounded, even if she'd ultimately laughed off his reaction and called him a trust-worthy leader. A ping of sorrow had raced through him while he felt some relief in hearing her laugh. Was that all she saw him as? Her leader? A fellow comrade? Those things should have been enough for him…but he wanted…more.
"There's somewhere I want to… No, somewhere I need to go."
He knew that look in her eyes, the look of determination…and longing. It was such a deep look of longing that Seijuro knew he couldn't talk her out of her chosen path. Any attempts at trying to do so would have blown up in his face, worst-case scenario like what happened when Sakura he'd make things worse, especially without fully understanding the situation. Nearly running his relationship with Sakura had been painful enough, but to go through the same with Anastasia would have been more than Seijuro could bear. That's why he decided to not stop her, but tell her that wherever she needed to go, she would always have a place at the Imperial Revue-that it would always be a home for her.
In the end, his words had broken through to her. She was home, fighting alongside them, performing on stage as she did now. Smiling, laughing, bringing joy to thousands.
Anastasia, Seijuro thought watching them all. Would it be safe to say that you've really found a place to call home?
I have.
Seijuro blinked, feeling like someone had just pricked him on the back of the neck. Rather than looking around him, he simply looked forward. Across hundreds of feet through hundreds of voices and the roar of the music, his brown eyes found the cobalt blue of Anastasia's. She sniped him with a smile.
Little more than an hour later and he would be face to face with her, his arms wrapped around her waist and hers around him, all in naked view of their teammates and fellow Combat Revue pilots. Cat calls and shouts of approval sounded off around them like an explosion of fireworks. Speaking of which, quite a few of those went up in the sky to celebrate the night, and victory it was in celebration of. Seijuro and Anastasia watched them all, side-by-side. Gathering his courage, he leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek, just as she'd planted one on his. She beamed at him, expressing her approval at his boldness. For the rest of the evening her hand wouldn't leave his, and neither his hers.
The next two days were a bit of a happy blur. Reconstruction of Tokyo went on, some optimistic chatter that by the end of the month it would be completed and life would be back to normal. Or as normal as life could get in a world where demons and monsters existed. Luckily, the people knew that heroes who could stand up to such horrors existed. That thought allowed thousands, perhaps millions of people around the world, to sleep safely at night and wake up and greet each new day with a bit more confidence. Such was one of the goals of the Combat Revues; the various teams were able to hold their heads up high and say that they'd succeeded in accomplishing that goal.
Especially the Imperial Combat Revue, well and truly brought back from the brink of oblivion. Seijuro at times found himself looking back and realizing that they'd come a long way.
"Captain," Came the familiar voice that caused his heart to stir.
Looking up, he saw Anastasia heading toward him, a slight twinkle in her eyes. "Anastasia? Something I can help you with?" A rush of heat swirled about within him; he was able to keep it repressed, preventing a blush from coloring his cheeks. Neither of them had spoken much regarding the exchange of kisses the night of the Combat Revue World Pageant two nights ago. In fairness, a there had been some events to keep them tied over-like helping out in restoring the city, Sakura sorting out and ultimately rejecting the offer to travel overseas to the Chinese Revue in favor of staying in Tokyo with the rest of them, paying final respects to her mother, and those who'd died in the battle against Sotetsu Genan, and of course planning future shows. And preparing for future challenges. It wasn't like the demons would take this latest defeat lying down. That was he'd been given orders to remain on standby, along with the rest of the team.
Though at the moment, beneath skies so blue and a sun shining so brightly, a demonic invasion felt such a long way off.
"Well, somewhat." She spoke. "I was wondering if you…would you possibly have any free time tonight?" To his surprise, he heard what sounded like a slight edge of nervousness in her voice, something that was quite unlike the normal Anastasia he knew.
Seijuro felt his heart beat in slight anxiety at the thought, but he held the anxiety in check. If it was something serious, he had a feeling he'd be able to pick up on it. "Free time tonight? Yeah, sure! Is there…something that you…" He trailed off, his heart beating now in personal anxiety. Memories of the cheek kiss two nights earlier flashed through his mind. In spite of everything, it and his interactions with Anastasia had taken up a considerable portion of his mind. Kamiyama, you're falling in love. In the midst of all that fighting, you've fallen in love with this woman from Greece. A woman probably far out of your league. The realization was surprisingly subtle, hitting him as he let his head hit the pillow that night after returning to his room from the ( ). He laid there in bed staring up at the ceiling thinking of the blue-eyed gunwoman. Was there any hope for a relationship between them? He'd hoped so; that hope had perhaps been given an empowering gust as he watched Anastasia seemingly shuffle her feet. Again, this time of nervousness was unlike her.
"I have…something that I wish to show you tonight." She finally responded, locking eyes with him and holding the resulting stare. Anastasia tended to make eye contact and hold it when she was being serious-it was something that Seijuro always admired about her, and found attractive since he found her cobalt blue eyes absolutely stunning.
"Then just tell me when and where." In spite of his racing heart, Seijuro was able to speak as plainly and openly as he always did. It was either his self-control was good or he spoke with his heart before his mind could full catch up with his mouth. "Like I said, if you ever have something on your mind, I'm always available."
"I remember…it's just…there are times that I wonder if I'm holding you all to myself. You're someone that I very much want to stay close to, come what may." Anastasia added with a slight smile on her face. Her statement finally caused a slight blush to form on Seijuro's cheeks. It was cause for vocal amusement as she walked forward and lightly caressed his cheek. "I promise, what I have to show you will be well worth your time, Captain."
Seijuro had honestly lost count of how many times he'd watched her walk away, her hips swaying ever so slightly as she did so. Disciplined as he was, Anastasia's charms had gotten the better of him, something that she was somewhat aware of and actively took pleasure in. She'd told him that it'd been part of her mission to earn the Combat Revue's loyalty, but he didn't believe her. Anastasia had laughed and told him how sharp and perspective he was; it had also been a subtle reveal that she knew how he looked at her, and she was perfectly fine with it. She basked in it. Seijuro was going to continue giving her that attention, something that Anastasia was pleased about.
She stopped and turned to face him. She flashed him a flirty smirk that made his cheeks heat up. "Until then, Seijuro."
As he walked her walk away, the former navy ensign felt like a great weight had been taken off his shoulder, yet another had been added onto him in replacement of it. The first one had been the worry that she was going to suddenly vanish form his life. That fear was thankfully nowhere to be found. As for the second…it was the fear that he was told every man in love experience-was he worthy enough to give his love to such an extradentary woman? One way or another, he was going to find out, likely tonight.
Tokyo was a big city, one of the biggest and most densely populated cities in not just all of Japan, but all of eastern Asia. It was a steamy-powered metropolis of truly epic proportions; quite a turnaround from a city of wood and paper little more than half a century ago. When Anastasia had first laid eyes upon it, she'd admittedly felt her breath being taken away. Somewhere inside of her, she also felt what was undoubtedly a ping of sorrow at the possibility of the city and its inhabitants all being destroyed. She'd come so close to being an accessory to such a tragedy.
Instead, she'd put her all into preventing said tragedy, even giving her life. Miraculously, she'd had it returned to her thus allowing her to keep on living.
Mother, father…I truly do wonder…is this…is he the reason I was given a second chance at life? To protect of all of this with the rest of the Imperial Revue and Seijuro at my side? She asked the stars she so idolized. Anastasia had always asked them questions and they'd always answered her. Sometimes the answers weren't to her liking, those times were usually when she would be at her gloomiest as she knew her path was set. But not anymore. There were powers that could move the stars themselves, cut open a path through the deepest darkest and illuminate the way to a new future.
Those powers were love and hope, two things that Anastasia could say she'd somewhat lost sight of. She'd clung to a distant hope of being reunited with her slain parents, and what love she felt was stifled by the hole in her heart that refused to heal. No longer though.
Just as she'd come carrying a sliver of hope to the Combat Revue, she'd gained a considerable amount of it in interacting with its members, especially Seijuro and Sakura. The latter looked to her with such idolization that Anastasia felt her heart opening up bit by bit with every rehearsal. Anastasia believed that even in a world as chaotic and twisted as theirs, there was good to be found. Sakura was undoubtedly a bastion of good, and a defender of it; Seijuro was very much the same. It was he who reminded her that love could exist, love directed toward her. And that she could perhaps recuperate that love. Such thoughts blazed in her mind as she spotted the familiar tuff of black hair heading toward her. A smile immediately formed on her face as she waved the former navy ensign over.
"I didn't leave you waiting long, did I?" He asked. Always the gentleman, which was very much appreciated by the ladies he worked with, especially Anastasia.
"No, in fact I believe you made it just on time. Follow me." As she spoke the words, she took his hand in hers and began leading him away. Anastasia felt a childish thrill run through her as he gave her hand a tight squeeze through his gloves. She wanted to laugh, feeling like a little girl in spite of her years of age. Then again, she was carrying him along like an excited child with something to show; that's exactly what she was and was quite happy for it. In fact, it was thanks to the man she was currently pulling behind her she could even act like this.
His grip on her hand never wavered as she dragged him through crowds and streets, and eventually up a few stairs. Anastasia took comfort in that-that Seijuro was the type of person to never let go once he took hold of something, or someone. It was a trait of his that she found incredibly remarkable…attractive even. It was one of the many things she'd come to love about the dual-wielding warrior.
She was…hopefully that he would accept her love, and that he would be willing to give his love to her.
The lights of the city flew by in a blur. Anastasia knew their destination by heart and sped the two of them toward it with heart racing in excitement. Seijuro's was racing in excitement as well even though he had no idea where his friend was leading him to. Knowing Anastasia though, he was absolutely certain it was going to be someplace interesting and guaranteed to take his breath away. Anastasia always seemed to know how to do just that.
He wasn't proven wrong as they finally came to a stop upon a hill top seemingly overlooking the city. A field of enchanting morning glories lay before him, their ethereal splendor on full display for him to marvel at. The view was breathtaking, but it was nothing compared to what Anastasia had really brought him to see.
Seijuro felt his jaw literally drop as he looked skyward and saw hundreds of lights racing across the night sky, each one leaving a light-blue trail in its wake. Just as Anastasia had said, they were meteors, blazing their way across the night sky providing an amazing spectacle for those living on the Earth such as the two of them. Each one flew with the speed of light, appearing in a few seconds then vanishing into the darkness a second later. There were so many however that for every one that vanished, another two or three blazed into existence, and on and on it continued.
"This is…Anastasia….this is…beautiful." He whispered finding it in him to finally give voice to the wonder that had filled him. "That's right…I forgot that there was a meteor shower tonight."
"I just wanted to thank you…for helping me find myself." She explained while silently basking in his awe-struck expression. "It may seem a tad selfish of me, wanting to share this with only you, but…Seijuro, amongst all the members of our team…you are special to me. That's why I…wanted you to see this, you and me."
He could see the crimson tint on her face; it was actually impossible to ignore. It was also impossible to ignore what the root cause of it was, especially after hearing her short explanation as for why she'd chosen to bring him up to this hilltop to witness the meteor shower. He stuffed his gloves into his pockets as he laid back amongst the flowers, His head lined up with hers; their bodies lying opposite of each other with the continued meteor shower unfolding above them. Seijuro would have been content with watching it unfold until the sun rose and turned night to day. In that moment, Seijuro felt more at peace than he ever felt he had before.
It went both ways as Anastasia felt a similar calmness, and even relief. If she had to make a comparison, she would say that Seijuro was like the sun, bringing light and life to her, a once cold and barren planet. The heat grew more intense as she turned her head; it came as a bit of a surprise to her how close their faces were to each other. Seconds after the embarrassment came, it melted away into joy. She relished this closeness to the man she loved.
As the meteor shower continued, the two pilots sat beside each other. Anastasia leaned into Seijuro's shoulder, in response, the swordsman gently took hold of his admirer's hand.
Heart racing within her, the Greek woman stared at the now interconnected hands. She'd always noticed how Seijuro almost always kept his gloves on; according to him, it was something of a carryover from his time in the navy-to always be on active guard. When he joined the Flower Division, that arguably became truer than ever. Of course, that also meant those times he took them off could be seen as special. For example-this moment, which she deeply cherished.
"Tell me, Seijuro…what do you see me as?" She'd done this dozens of times, but this time, it was genuine.
He quickly recognized that while Anastasia caught his implications, she wanted to hear him say it. His already high respect and love for her grew. "I see you…as someone who's been handed a very tough lot in life, but you've kept on going. Even if you've stumbled and lost your way for a little bit, you've found your way again."
"Thanks to you, and the rest of the team." Quietly interrupted the grayish-white-haired woman. "I told myself that my time with all of you…was just another performance, but I was wrong. You proved to me that I was wrong. You proved that I…I still had, no, I still do, have much to live for."
Gently squeezing her hands, the swordsman sucked in a breath. If he didn't, he felt his heart was going to implode. Even in the heat of battle, he couldn't say he'd ever felt his heart racing this much, doubt and unease dancing alongside certainty and resolve. "When Yaksha cut you down and your life was hanging in the balance…I was so scared, more scared than I think I'd ever been in my whole life. I was scared that I was going to lose you. In addition to that…I don't think I'd ever felt so much hatred towards one person; heh, or demon to be precise. Even Oboro never got that much of a rise out of me."
Without a word, Anastasia threw herself into Seijuro's arms. With equal silence, he wrapped them around her, holding her in a tender embrace beneath the meteor shower. So close to her, he could hear the faint sobs that began to rock the actress. Seijuro reached up and gently patted her back. One of the things he'd learned in being a part of the Imperial Combat Revue was that having a friend to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, those things could make all the difference between salvation and damnation. From the bottom of his heart, he wanted to be Anastasia's salvation as much as he could.
"To feel such things on my behalf after all I'd done…" Her betrayal of the Flower Division wasn't something Anastasia was ever going to forget, she couldn't forget it. She'd come so close to dooming not just her teammates, but all of Tokyo and even the world…all for a wish that would be fulfilled in the most heinous way imaginable. Looking back on it, Anastasia felt like she'd been walking a tightrope-were it not for Seijuro, she would have plummeted into the pits of hell, and likely dragged thousands, millions, with her. After such foolishness, it was hard to believe that anyone would have found themselves capable of accepting her. But there were people who'd done just that. That acceptance made the Flower Division more than just her team, it made them her family, just as Seijuro had said. "You know…I never expected to fall in love when I came to Tokyo."
"Truth be told…I never expected to fall in love either. Heh, in fact, I…never really gave much thought to romance before joining the Imperial Combat Revue." Responded the black-haired male.
"Really? Not even with Sakura?" She proposed, slightly curious as to what his response would be.
"I've always seen her as a sister more than anything. A sister that I've…neglected for far too long, but I've been able to reconnect with. A sister that I've been proud to see grow and come into her own." Came the dual-wielder's reply. Seijuro wasn't blind to the subtle sigh of relief that seemingly left Anastasia's lips as he gave his response. "The woman that I've fallen for is someone else…someone who took me up a hill and showed me the coolest meteor shower that I've ever seen. Heh, really, the only one that I've ever seen."
"Hmm, I would like to show you more. The stars are full of infinite wonder." Purred the European beauty. "Of course, as wonderous as they are…they are not the dedicators of our fates, that power rests with us. To damn ourselves, or to shine as bright as the stars above…those decisions rest with us. It's thanks to you that I've decided to do the latter instead of the former, Seijuro."
"Anastasia, I'm…pretty sure you were already shining, well before you met me or the rest of the team. In fact, it's thanks to you that I'd say we were able to shine on stage." Replied the former naval ensign. She reached up and cradled his face. Like the stars overhead, there was no going back what she started. Staring into his hazel brown eyes, Anastasia was assured that this next step was one that they were both going to be taking together. Seijuro tightened his hold on her waist seconds before he began to lean forward. Anastasia met him half-way resulting in a soft and tender kiss that lit a fire within the both of them. Barely a second after the kiss had begun and it grew more heated. Seijuro nervously pressed his tongue forward; to his surprise, he yet again met Anastasia half-way. Their tongues lightly pushed against one another, the sweet friction rolling through the both of them.
Separating from each other, both pilots felt like they were floating atop the clouds.
"It's only thanks to you that I've been able to shine at my brightest." Whispered the Greek actress. "That's why I…don't think I could bear to be away from you."
Holding her against his body, Seijuro whispered back, "So, is that definitive proof that you won't be leaving?"
Giggling, she gently kissed his cheeks, which were red as tomatoes. "Indeed you may. I've never met such an amazing group of costars…nor have I ever met a man worth giving my heart to before you. On top of those, I did make a promise to protect the Flower Division with my life as its Deputy Captain."
"You're the person that I'll always trust to have my back…and be by my side." The Japanese pilot responded. "Anastasia, I want you at my side, not just as my Deputy Captain or as a teammate, but as my-" There it was, the direct confession that he'd been tip-toing around. Apparently, he'd waited a little too long to give it as Anastasia had decided to give hers, or rather, give a repeat of it. Seijuro's brain buzzed as for the second time, he felt Anastasia's lips pressing against his. There wasn't a wit of hesitation as he returned the kiss, cradling the blue-eyed woman against him. He could feel himself being pushed back, eventually hitting the flower-covered ground. For such a usually reserved woman, she came upon him with a near fiery fervor, something that Seijuro silently admired. He had a feeling that his admiration no longer had to be silent. They separated for a brief break for air. "I love you, Anastasia." The modern-day samurai whispered looking directly into the gunwoman's eyes. Those blue eyes significantly widened, filling up with joy, then he initiated the next kiss.
The meteor shower became the only marker that time was passing as the two Combat Revue pilots completely lost track of it. With stars above them and a field of flowers around them, they felt like they were in paradise. Even when they separated, it seemed the meteor shower continued. The paired looked up at the continued celestial shower and laughed.
"Do meteor showers usually last this long?" Seijuro mused, his right arm tenderly wrapped around his beloved.
"It all depends, this one is rather long since some of those meteors are pieces of a larger asteroid that broke up several hundred miles from the Earth. I suppose one could say that we were lucky. Such an asteroid could have just as easily doomed the planet as easily as it could have split apart giving us this spectacular show. I'd say things turned out for the best, wouldn't you, Seijuro?"
"Definitely." There was a pause on his part as he looked up to the sky with a thoughtful gaze. "Then again…if a giant rock were barreling toward the Earth…I like to think we'd have the power to stop it before it could make impact. Heh, probably just wishful thinking on my part though."
"Hm…I would say you're not alone in your optimism." Responded the gunwoman. Feeling whimsical, she raised her arm and made a finger gun with the tip aimed at the myriad of meteors still streaking across the blacken sky. Seijuro wouldn't have put it past her in being able to pinpoint and shoot out some of them-Anastasia was by far the best markswoman he'd ever seen, beating out some of his peers back in the military. "Perhaps there are some barriers humans cannot pass, but when fighting in the name of the people and things we love…we can draw forth a power strong enough to bring forth miracles, and those miracles can beat back disaster. I learned that fighting alongside the Flower Division, being a part of it."
"A miracle, Seijuro silently mused. He felt the temptation gnawing at him. "A miracle such as…the two of us meeting and falling in love?"
Sweet laughter rung from the Greek woman's lips as she listened to his dramatic yet relatively subdued remark. Truth be told, she'd been expecting one at some point throughout the night, and Seijuro didn't disappoint her. "Yes, I believe that our meeting and union would count as one…yet I would say that the latter isn't quite completely yet, Captain."
A jolt ran through the swordsman at the last bit of Anastasia's statement. Tearing his eyes from the sky, he looked directly into her eyes. One look and he knew exactly what she was implying. His heart which had formerly been beating at a lax pace suddenly began to accelerate. "Anastasia,' he began. "You…are you…"
"I am sure about this, Seijuro." She whispered, her left hand rising and falling upon his cheek. "I've met hundreds of admirers, but only one who I feel has truly seen me for me…and chose to accept me for all of my faults. To walk away from the love of such a man, especially one I made a promise to would be foolish beyond words." His heart wasn't the only one that was beating fiercely. With every word Anastasia spoke, she could feel her own heartbeat quickening. "Seijuro…I want you and no other man, and I would want you to-"
Finally, he was the one to interrupt her. His kiss was passionate yet tender, Anastasia immediately melted into it. The warmth from his love melted away the last vestiges of doubt and unease that might have dwelled within her. Thinking on it, Anastasia realized that in a way there might have always been a wall around her heart, a wall of ice. She believed it would only melt when she could once more feel the embrace of her parents, but she'd been wrong. It had been melted by the warmth of friendship, and the warmth of love. The latter completely swept her up making her feel like she was standing beneath the sun itself.
"I'm happy to hear that…because you're the woman that I love and want to call my own, Anastasia." Spoke the swordsman when he finally pulled away.
They looked into each other's eyes and instantly knew how the night would end.
Together, they watched the meteor shower carry on for several more minutes before reaching its conclusion. Even after that, they remained atop the hill, surrounded by the azure flowers overlooking the lights of Tokyo. Neither of them knew how long they sat there, they wouldn't know until they rose and made way down into the city for dinner. Seijuro paid for it of course, Anastasia promised that on their next date, she would be the one to foot the bill. Though she certainly enjoyed his gentlemanly behavior, she still wanted to be clear that she could pull her own wait. On top of that, there were times when Anastasia liked it when she was the one treating him, something she'd done before, but never with the two of them as lovers.
Lovers, that was the label that they wore for the rest of the night, and would into the coming day and all that lay afterward.
It was reinforced as they returned home, stealthily avoiding the theater staff along the way. Seijuro had joked that he'd spent some time with Azami and picked up a few tricks, something that Anastasia found amusing and actually believable. The young ninja truly looked up to their Captain and thought the world of him, just like they all did and he thought of them.
Never had another woman been in his room, alone with him. Anastasia was the first, and the reasons why became obvious as mere seconds after the door was closed and locked, she locked lips with him. Their hands grabbed at one another, gripping at the contours of one another's bodies. The Greek actress purred in sweet delight as her rather loose style of clothing allowed for Seijuro to explore her body as he liked; even better, since taking them off he'd yet to put his gloves back on. Through the darkness, her eyes shined like polished diamonds, the shine sent a lustful thrill racing through Seijuro.
Falling atop his bed, the two pilots were down to their undergarments. Locking eyes with one another, they silently questioned if the other was truly ready to go through with this. Lips met in a hungry kiss where the answer was delivered. From that moment onward, everything else seemingly fell into place as the pair lost themselves in each other.
"Say, Anastasia, some time in the spring or summer…do you think I can…go visit your parents?"
The statement didn't quite surprise her. Looking to her lover, Anastasia saw the patience he had for her, and willingness to accept whatever answer she gave.
"Of course, you can go visit them, I…have to go visit them. After all…I have…quite a lot to tell them, and a lot to apologize for." She made an effort to visit her parents' grave every year, no matter how busy her schedule could have been. Not once had she ever taken another person during those trips for she had never let anyone close enough to her heart to take on the journey. This time, she would be having Seijuro with her. Speaking of which, his question opened another door for them to pass through. "Seijuro…your…parents, would they be…accepting of me?"
"Absolutely." He grinned back. She couldn't help but laugh at his optimism. "You don't have to worry about them heckling you because you're from Europe. To be honest, when I told them that I would be joining the Imperial Combat Revue, I think they might have quietly accepted that odds were I would end up falling for a woman who wasn't Japanese."
"They knew some of the stories of the old Combat Revue?"
"It was a tad embarrassing when I called them and told them, they said they were proud of me though."
"They had every right to be…and I'm quite proud of you too. Proud and happy to call you my man." She purred running her fingers along his naked chest.
"And I'm happy to call you my woman." A hot blush colored the swordsman's face as he spoke the words. It took hold of him in naked view of Anastasia, who giggled in response to it. Being dramatic was a well-documented trait of his, being seductive on the other hand? He still had some things to learn, and Anastasia was more than happy to teach him.
After breakfast of course.
She once again leaned on Seijuro's shoulder as she'd one the night before, this time lacking clothes, just like him. His arm was wrapped around her waist as it had been the night before. He used their positions to bring her in for one more kiss, one that Anastasia happily accepted.
"Think we should do this in front of the others?" The gunwoman asked. It was a known fact that their relationship was going to become common knowledge to the rest of the team. Sakura and the others already knew the day of the Pageant when he'd practically confessed his feelings to her in an indirect way.
"Let's keep it limited, I mean I…don't want anyone to start saying we're too…ya' know." Again, she laughed at his attempt to explain things. He leaned over and planted a light kiss on her cheek. "But I want everyone to know that my heart belongs to you, Anastasia."
"And mine yours, Seijuro." Echoed the European beauty.
She hadn't come to Japan expecting the walls around her heart to melt, and he hadn't joined the Imperial Combat Revue expecting to fall in love, but such things had happened, much to their joy. It was a happy surprise that had changed both of their lives for the better. They would go on to live those lives together, making them shine as bright as possible.
And finally, after many setbacks, I've posted my second Sakura Wars One-Shot, and my piece for Anastasia. Admittedly, I do like women like her that have a seductive yet also mature charm to them, complete with a rather dark backstory that makes for some good angst and comfort writing as I did here. Hopefully you liked this one. I'll be posting another Shin Sakura Wars featuring another member of the team in a few weeks so be on the lookout! Until next time, stay safe and healthy, everyone!