A short chapter just to set things up...

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

Chapter 4. Preparations

The next morning, Claudine wakes to a slight soreness in her back. Maya had clung to her all night, rendering Claudine unable to move or shift about, and her claws had naturally sunken in a bit as the hours had elapsed.

Claudine lies still for a moment, able to discern that Maya is still deeply asleep, and thankfully she seems to be unperturbed. The tails are unmoving and limp behind her, and the ears twitch slightly to even the tiniest ruffle of sound.

Claudine takes great caution in touching her, letting her hands run slowly down Maya's back and through her hair while simultaneously easing herself up a little. She would rather not wake her so early on, because then Maya would likely be up all day and all night when Karen would bring her on their little adventure this evening. And then Maya would be depleted of energy after spending so much time awake and while sharing her body with the fox spirit. The longer she sleeps during the day, the better.

But before Claudine can push herself even halfway up, she feels the claws tighten behind her. Maya makes a soft, unsatisfied grunt, clearly not willing to let her go so soon.

Claudine stops moving, unsure of whether it is Maya or Tamamo-no-Mae who is acting right now; there's only one of those two she would be willing to challenge. Since she can't be certain, she plays it safe and relents, sinking back down into bed and allowing Maya to pull her close once more.

And it's not as though it's the worst thing in the world to be made to stay in bed longer on a cloudy Sunday morning with her partner. She just isn't sure if Maya is all there...

Regardless, she isn't willing to try and refute Tamamo-no-Mae's wishes, so Claudine settles back down and closes her eyes once again.

It's more than a little nerve-wracking, not knowing who she is waking up to. Since they haven't started to give Tamamo-no-Mae what she wanted yet, it's possible she may have taken hold of Maya's consciousness a bit more strongly.

Claudine has to admit it's a bit frightening to think that Maya may not be entirely herself. Especially if Maya isn't fully aware of it, she imagines it must be even scarier for Maya herself to be trapped within her own body without full control of it.

It makes Claudine upset to consider it. With a small huff, she folds her arms a bit more firmly around Maya's shoulders.

This is all your fault. Because you're so perfect and played the role so well, you went and got yourself possessed. Seriously, how is it possible you're that perfect? Now you're in danger because of it…

Claudine huffs again, continuing to stroke her fingers through Maya's hair softly.

She lazes around and dozes off for the rest of the morning as Maya continues to sleep. She hears her phone vibrating on the night stand, assuming it's their friends asking her if everything is all right, but Claudine doesn't want to answer it yet and risk waking her charge.

But before much longer, Claudine's stomach starts to rumble with hunger, which sounds very loud in the quiet room, so she can only assume how much louder it is to a girl with keen fox ears who has them pressed flush-up against Claudine's chest.

Maya responds to the sound unconsciously, by once again pulling Claudine closer with surprising strength. She feels something crack in her back as the claws sink in once again.

Claudine wheezes out a breath. She can't bear it any longer.

Trying to still sound calm and casual, she clears her throat and pats Maya's shoulders gently.

"Hey… Tendo Maya…"

Maya had been running through the forest again. She wasn't sure if she'd been on two legs or four, but she'd been moving swiftly and nimbly, with the speed and grace of any top-star dancer. Or perhaps just the speed and grace of a fox.

But the sound of her name breaks through the facade of the dream. She pauses just as she glances to the sky to see a bird drop from the clouds. But before it hits the stone below, she opens her eyes with a start.

"Ah-"

When Maya comes to, there's a pleasant warmth surrounding her, and a familiar scent. It calms her down for a moment until she realizes just how quickly Claudine's heart is pounding, and just how hard Maya is crushing her. With a start, Maya releases her and puts some space between them.

Claudine can't help but gasp the moment she's free as relief trickles across her aching back.

Maya pushes herself up promptly. Her eyes are wide with shock and dismay.

"Claudine… I'm sorry-"

"Don't you mean 'good morning'?" Claudine replies with a bit of spunk. She sits herself up as well, running a hand back through her hair and giving herself a little shake. "There's nothing to apologize for."

Maya lowers her head a little. She can feel a slight ache in her fingers, which attested to just how tightly she must have been holding onto her, and for how long. Not to mention the fact that she'd heard the distress in Claudine's heartbeat indisputably. Tonight, Maya really will sleep on the floor separately from her if she has to.

However, Claudine doesn't like the repenting look in her eyes. Certain that she is more Maya than Tamamo at the moment, Claudine reaches out to curl her fingers beneath Maya's chin and has her look up. Claudine puts on a small smirk, showing that she isn't bothered at all.

"Bonjour, Tendo Maya."

Maya slowly draws in a breath, then smiles back.

"Good morning, Saijou Claudine."

"That's more like it. Now then, I'll go get dressed and get us some breakfast. You can stay here and tidy up. Do you think you'll be all right on your own for a few minutes?"

Maya closes her eyes for a second to sense for the fox, then nods.

"Yes. She is awake, but I feel she's still quite dormant now that I'm conscious."

"Good," Claudine says. "I'll be quick. Call if you need anything."

"Thank you."

With that, Claudine hurries out of the room to head back to her own to get changed and freshen up for the day. Maya does the same, though she won't be leaving her room until nightfall.

At the dorm cafeteria, Claudine meets up with her friends and updates them about Maya's condition as they're ordering their food. Junna reveals that she had abused her power as Class Representative and snuck into the main office to leave the forged papers for Maya's temporary absence there.

The first step of their plan was now in action.

The eight girls briefly reconvene on tonight's plan, which will involve Karen taking Tamamo-no-Mae on an adventure. Junna, Mahiru, and Nana give her strict advice on what to do in order to not get caught, to which Karen flippantly reassures them she's a pro at this sort of thing.

"But remember," Mahiru says. "It's not like you'll just be reprimanded if you get caught…"

"That's right," Nana says. "No one can find out about Maya-chan."

"We'd have no explanation," Junna says. "It'll put her at risk. If anyone found out those ears and tails were real, I don't know if we'd be able to help her…"

Claudine's stomach twists at the thought. They're right, though. Something as unexplainable as Seishou's top student sprouting animal ears and tails would be a huge fiasco, unexplainable by science, and it would surely ruin Maya's reputation and the Tendos' as well. She could be kicked out of the school, disowned from her family, pursued by authorities or exotic collectors…

"Karen-" Claudine firmly lands her hand on her classmate's shoulder and gives her a stern look. "You can't let anyone find out."

Karen's more carefree smile fades into something more genuine and serious.

"I won't! I swear it on the name of Aijou Karen! I'll protect Tendo-san and Tamamo-no-Mae!"

No one can be as worried having heard this declaration.

Claudine returns to the dorms with hers and Maya's food, tactfully greeting her passing classmates and acquaintances who have no suspicions that the extra tray is for Maya specifically. She waits until the hallway is empty before swiftly entering Maya's room to present her with breakfast. As they eat, Claudine makes a proposal.

"You should probably move to my room for the time being."

Maya's ears perk up in surprise.

"Oh?"

"Don't get any weird ideas," Claudine mumbles. "It'll just be easier if I don't have to sneak into your room when you aren't supposed to be here. No one will ask questions if I'm just going back to my own room. Plus, if there's a surprise room inspection they'll expect your room to be empty. If we're both in mine, at least I can hide you properly. It'll be easier for me to hide you there rather than both of us needing to hide in here somehow."

"Indeed, you make very fair points," Maya agrees. "Then let us head to your room."

Claudine leads the way, ensuring the coast is clear before they sneak over to her bedroom.

For the remainder of the afternoon, they busy themselves for the restless fox's sake, mostly in the form of more dancing, until Maya gets a bit drowsy. At that point, Claudine crawls into bed with her for an afternoon nap.

A few hours later, their friends join them for dinner, which also looks much more natural to have them going to Claudine's room for right now rather than Maya's.

As the sun sinks, Maya feels the fox stirring more and more. Until at last the pain in her head returns, and she feels her mind being shared by Tamamo-no-Mae's presence. Her friends all share cautious glances before taking their leave one by one. Only Claudine, Maya, and Karen remain.

Claudine and Karen content Maya with idle chatter as she tries to suppress the fox for as long as possible, until curfew has passed.

Finally, Karen jumps to her feet with a declaration.

"All right! Tamamo-no-Mae, Tendo-san! Let's go on an adventure!"

A/N: What could Karen possibly have in store...?

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