Chibi: I LIIIIIIIIVE! OMG IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I'VE UPDATED I'M SO FRICKIN SORRY! College is keeping me so busy I'm barely writing now! (I don't like it but I guess school is supposed to keep you occupied...) But once I started this I couldn't stop writing. Not only is this a critical point to Airi but a good point in the flashback sequence. You have NO IDEA how long I've wanted to write a scene like that for a couple.

On With The Show~!

...

She couldn't look him in the face.

Nope.

Couldn't.

Wouldn't.

Wako kept giving Airi and Takuto worried looks as the party went off without a hitch. Sugata just silently observed before approaching his red haired friend who was once again avoiding the violet haired girl's presence entirely."Takuto."

"WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING."

Sugata raised an eyebrow as Takuto blushed. A squeak was heard from behind him in what he assumed was Airi's direction and his hand shot out, gripping his friend's shoulder comfortingly.

"We should go talk in private then."

...

Airi was a mess.

How could she be so stupid as to kiss Takuto when he and Wako were in a lovey relationship?! Not only did it make her feel bad because it happened period, but the fact that she couldn't stop thinking about how much she liked it. She buried her face into her hands and let out a groan as her face got redder.

"Ms. Hatsusagi..." Airi looked up miserably at Kanako, who just smiled and offered her some bright pink drink. "Perhaps this will calm your nerves?"

"Thank you..." She took it and guided the straw to her lips absently, chewing on it before taking an actual drink. The green haired school-wife took a seat next to her at the bar.

"So... you kissed Mr. Tsunashi?"

Pink liquid sprayed through the air as Kanako laughed. Airi gave her a wide eyed look of panic.

"How did you know about that?!"

"I have my ways."

"KANAKO-"

"I don't believe I've ever seen you look this panicked. Or guilty. The panic is amusing, but guilt, my dear, doesn't suit you in the slightest. You should smile and chase after that pretty boy while you're still young."

"...But I'm older than you..."

"True. So tell me, what's it like kissing him without the glass between?" Her smile was calm, if not still amused, as Airi squirmed in her seat and blushed faintly. "Blushing doesn't answer inquiries."

"It was... sudden. I mean it didn't last long but..." She buried her face into her hands and the rest was muffled. Kanako leaned forward and grinned.

"What was that Miss Hatsusagi?"

"I said it was-"

...

"So it was an accident?"

"YES."

"She tripped?"

"Sugata.."

The blue haired boy was deep in thought before patting Takuto's head.

"You have my blessing."

"WHAT?!"

His friend's grin dimmed a bit as he changed the direction of his gaze towards the sun, which had barely touched the horizon. "You've been looking at her a lot more lately instead of Wako. Have your interests changed, Takuto? Do you like Hatsusagi better than Wako now?"

"Stop talking crazy." Takuto grumbled. "I promised to keep Wako safe from the Crux, and I'm going to keep it until every one of their Cybodies are destroyed."

"But that's just keeping Wako safe. I never said you weren't going to protect her, but you obviously don't feel as strongly for her as before. That warm gaze has dimmed a bit." Sugata countered, his brown eyes narrowed carefully as he met the Galactic Pretty Boy's hardened gaze. "Be careful. She's not dangerous but don't get distracted."

...

A few hours later as the party ended, Airi found herself on the forest path out of boredom. It was considerably well lit thanks to the light of the full moon, so she saw the steps leading off of the path easily as though they were waiting for her. She didn't give a second thought about following them deeper into the wilds. The path was very bushy and well preserved as she kept walking; eventually clearing out into the mouth of a cave.

'Isn't this the part in the movies where the girl explores the cave and finds something that will try to eat her?'

A hiss sounded from behind her and instead of turning Airi ran forward into the blackness shrieking. She stumbled and tripped along the way until the darkness cleared into a cavern filled with many pools reflecting the moonlight. There were many holes in the ceiling and wide columns, probably naturally made over time, giving this place the feeling of being ancient. The air tingled and the violet haired girl took a deep breath when her eyes adjusted and she noticed the statue.

It was giant and kneeling, hands cupped around a tiny pool with light shining off of it. The thing looked robotic, or more like an unmade puppet with many spell tags wrapped around its arms and legs. Its head bowed to the pool almost like it was praying, and in a trance Airi walked closer to it.

"This place... it must be really old..."

...

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"She's found it! The maiden has found the temple!"

"The goddess will arise!"

...

Airi looked up and around, the entire cavern filling with what sounded like carried whispers of excitement.

"This... this is-"

'You've finally come.'

She shrieked and looked up at the statue. "What?"

'You've finally made it here... after all this time...'

The voice was definitely male, and it soothed her slightly, even though she was pretty sure she should have been freaking out. No, it definitely soothed her. Her thoughts drifted to Tsunashi again and Airi sighed as she looked at the statue's face again.

'Ive waited a long time to meet you again. But first...'

"First what?" She asked softly, reaching out to touch one of the giant hands. The material of it was supposed to be rough, but instead smooth stone met Airi's fingertips, feeling almost glassy like obsidian.

'The Trials of Astarte.'

The light from the tiny pool grew in intensity, filling the cave.

Then it dimmed, and Airi was gone.

...

Tau watched as Astarte poked the fire with a stick, her expression calm as the storm raged outside the cave. They had been caught in a storm on the way back to the palace from another trip to the queen's mother's grave. This time, much to his chagrin, Tau introduced himself to the candle flame that always seemed to be lit and Astarte had given him another smile that made his heart skip a beat. She went on about her adopted daughter and Memna who had taken her and the others to the palace gardens for an interesting prayer group on Wawna's birthday. Apparently flower crowns had been made and Wawna was announced as the Spring Princess, in which the child had made crowns of flowers for the maidens and gave them the other seasons. Hethna was Autumn, Nunna was Winter and Memna was Summer.

Astarte laughed throughout the story telling.

The rain came down harder and the queen looked out of the mouth of the cave. "How much longer will the storm last?"

"There's no telling. It is Spring, and the rains are unpredictable this time of year Your Grac-"Aquamarine eyes glared at him and he swallowed. "Astarte."

She nodded and a small smile lit up her features. "So, since we're here, let's talk! Why did you join the Royal Guard?"

"Ah." His expression was surprised and she pursed her lips with a meek smile. This woman would end him. "I joined because it seemed like the best thing to do. I was used to fighting in the streets for pay, until my last employer suggested a better position as a guard. I'm personally glad to be a guard period, but I never expected the king to assign me to guard you."

"Does your family miss you?"

"I don't have a family out in the city." Her curiously happy expression fell and shattered to pieces, along with his heart. Why did he have to be so stupid and say something like that. Unable to control himself, he kept going, despite her pain. "My parents died after I was born and my grandfather who raised me passed away when I was young from illness. I don't have anyone."

'Except you.' He added silently.

A hiccuping sob made him look at her in awe as tears rolled down her cheeks. That expression of pain- "I'm so sorry Tau... so sorry..."

"Yo- Astar- Asta. Please. Don't cry." Tears flowed faster and she buried her face against her knees as she sobbed. The red haired knight moved closer from his place across the fire as the sounds filled the otherwise silent air. Not even the rain outside was loud enough to fill it. His arm wrapped around Astarte's shoulder and Tau pulled her close, running his hand comfortingly up and down her back like he had seen her do with Wawna. Eventually the shaking and heart wrenching sobs died down, but he still stroked her back and laid his head on hers. "Why do you weep Asta?"

"I had no idea... and to think I made you introduce yourself to my mother's grave and-"

"It's fine." He tilted up her chin and began wiping the bothersome tears from her face far gentler than he'd ever imagined doing, ruby eyes set against her watery blues. "It happened long ago and I've had time to heal. You don't need to cry for me."

"But-" Tau pressed a finger against her lips- and innerly memorized the soft feel of them- before starting again.

"Wawna."

Her eyes displayed confusion. "What?"

"Wawna was like me when you adopted her right? Her family was all dead and she was alone right?"

"Yes." Astarte nodded.

"I'd like to think of her a sibling of hardship, but to see you show such care and compassion for that child makes me happy that she won't ever know the lonliness I have. You've shown me the same concern and I'm thankful for that Asta. Because of you and your stubborn nature," She giggled softly against his finger and he smiled a bit. "I don't have to be alone anymore. So-"

Her arms wrapping around his neck tightly cut him off mid sentence and ruby colored eyes widenedbefore he crushed her against him and buried his face against her pale neck. She was shivering again.

"Thank you." He mumured as Astarte -his Asta-, held him tighter.

"Why did you call me Asta?" She asked quietly, not letting go of him. His grip tightened again and he mumbled against her neck.

"Because."

"That's not an answer."

"Astarte is too long. Asta is shorter. It suits you better."

She didn't tell him that was what her mother had called her.

He didn't say another word, but eventually their grips loosened and Astarte didn't pull away. Instead she lay in the warmth of his arms and listened to the falling rain.