Disclaimer: I do not own Galilei Donna
A/N: That romantic meeting on the bridge in episode 8 swept me off my feel with all kinds of feels. So here's another one-shot for the Cicinho x Hazuki OTP. Please note that this one-shot has no affiliation with the plot or time of the first chapter. They are independent of one another.
Thank you very much everyone who reviewed! I write these one-shots to help sate your hunger!
~oOo~
Bella Donna
~oOo~
"Where do you think you're going?" Kazuki asked, watching grimly as her sister's back stiffened. Not a meter from the front door, but Hazuki still turned and forced a wide smile that was not convincing in the least. She shuddered under Kazuki's sharp gaze, and of course, her outfit did not help the situation by relieving any suspicion. She really should have waited to sneak out the house and changed in a nearby store or something. Ah, her eagerness had temporarily overridden her logic, but it was too late to do anything about it now.
There was only one thing left that she could do.
"Please, please, don't tell anyone!" Yes, begging. Even Hazuki knew when to swallow her pride and do it. She clasped her hands together and put on the puppy eyes, hoping that they would take effect in warming her heart.
Kazuki huffed, frowning prominently at the spectacle. "I honestly can't believe you, Ha-nee."
The elder sister winced. "Please…?"
"How can you think about partying again?" Her voice raised a pitch. "Meeting boys? Getting drunk? Wearing that?" She made a wild gesture at her clothes. "What happened to staying together and finding all the sketches? You're so selfish, Ha-nee!"
Dropping her fists to her sides, Hazuki began to think of ways to defend herself from the verbal bombardment (it seemed to run in the family, she realized) but Kazuki halted her before she could get a word out. The middle sister took to glaring at the floor. "Go. I don't care. I won't tell Grandpa or Anna, but don't assume I'll do this for you again!"
Well. What a change of heart. Overjoyed, she took Kazuki in an embrace, squeezing tightly even as she tried to squirm away. "Thank you. I really owe you for this!"
Kazuki awkwardly patted her back. "Yeah, well. I can't always be the kill-joy now, can I? Just… be safe." She bit her bottom lip, still not meeting her eyes. "And you look nice in that yukata, Ha-nee. He better like it, too."
She beamed back at her, stepping through the sliding doors. "Thank you."
Winter festivities in Kyoto were a special time for couples. Apparently. Hazuki did not count this as a date. Hell, aside from a couple rushed conversations, she barely knew the man that she was going to meet in secret. After that awkward encounter on the bridge, she returned to their grandfather's house and bathed. As she hurriedly scampered into her bedroom in a wet towel, her breath caught at the sight of the beautiful orange and yellow fabric that was lying on her futon. Alongside it, there was a note, written in messily Italian scrawled: Maruyama. She had been there just earlier that day with the other girls. Maruyama Park used to be a popular site in Kyoto for cherry blossom viewing. It had been a long time since there had last been a spring, though. She remembered seeing the banners that were advertising a "candle garden" scheduled for that evening. Hozaki's face had been so adorably disappointed when she found out that only couples were allowed to attend. Hazuki never thought anything of it after that. When she picked up the orange yukata, only two things went through her mind, and they were:
One: How the hell did he get in here?
And two: How the hell does he know my measurements?
The yukata fit snuggly. It was made of a thicker, warmer material than other ones she had seen, and it came with a pair of matching mittens and boots. She ran her fingers over the large yellow flower designs, blinking in wonderment. This was certainly an unexpected gift, but how did he come to get it? How likely was it that a wanted sky pirate would walk into a Mom and Pop shop to request a yukata? There was also the (very strong) possibility he had stolen it, which brought a wry smirk to Hazuki's lips. She would give him the benefit of the doubt, just this once.
This was definitely not a date. Hazuki only checked her hair ten times in the shop windows as she walked by. Instead of her usual braids she decided to go along with the theme and pinned her hair up as best she could. The same wisp of a curl kept breaking formation despite the number of times she slicked it back. Then she hurried along with a crowd dressed similarly, heading in the direction she hoped to be of the park.
"Oi, Bambina."
"Is that the standard greeting now?" she sighed, slowing her pace. A part of her was thankful that she had correctly interpreted the message and he showed up so soon, rather than leaving her to mingle among strangers. She felt a warm hand take her left one. Hazuki glanced down at the arm that was attached to it with a moment's hesitation, and then smiled up at the face of its owner. "Hello there, Criminal."
He stood impressively tall next to her, and outside his usual attire she could still easily recognize him by that long mane of red hair. Cicinho wore a men's kimono that matched hers in color, and a white hakama. He seemed comfortable, enough so that he released her hand in favor of wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Then, perhaps I should call you Bella?" His eager blue eyes promised mischief. Hazuki's smile broadened in kind. That bad boy persona had a degree of charm. If he were a normal man, hell, if she were a normal woman, maybe she would consider him…
No, no, no, no, no! she reminded herself with a mental slap. This is a onetime thing. Just for fun. "'Hazuki' would work fine, thank you," she said, without noticing that she was leaning into the warmth of his side as they continued to walk. "So… do I want to know where you got this yukata from? It seems rather… extravagant."
Cicinho shrugged with an air of carelessness. "I have connections. The members of my crew come from all countries and walks of life. Don't worry about the details, as long as you like it."
"I do," Hazuki said, feeling a little better about the situation after hearing that. "I love it." That surprised the both of them. He kindly nodded, drawing her closer to him as they approached the booth to purchase their passes into the park. Realization dawned. She hadn't even thought that currency was going to be an issue, in which case she would have had to ask Anna for it. Great, how am I going to tell him? Cicinho was already reaching for the pocket inside his kimono. He dropped a few coins into a Japanese woman's hands and then graciously accepted the slips of paper she gave him. They disappeared inside his kimono, too.
She glanced up at him thoughtfully, a growing sense of appreciation swelling in her chest. "Did your 'connection' get you the money as well?"
He blinked, throwing her a sideways look. "Oh… no. I stole that." Then he laughed like a maniac and Hazuki facepalmed.
Leaving the booth, he turned them to the right. The serpentine stone walkway weaved by the bare sakura trees, and on both sides, rows of the lighted candle orbs twinkled, fighting against the gentle bite of a cold wind. Other people were snuggled closely together, gazing out at the sea of calm fire. As they continued on in silence, Hazuki noted all the couples who were adding candles to the collection. She watched, intrigued, as they wrote Japanese characters across the glass orbs with black marker.
"Bambina, would you like to do one?" Cicinho's voice startled her. The peace between them had stretched on for so long and had not bothered her in the slightest since she didn't exactly know how to carry on a casual conversation with someone you considered your enemy. He was still after Galileo's inheritance, and this was strange, him wanting to be here with her. For a moment, she was going to ask him why, but then reconsidered. Whatever his answer would be, she truly did not want to hear it because tonight he was not a sky pirate, and she was not an aspiring-lawyer-turned-fugitive. Just a man and a woman, making harmony in each other's company. She quickly shook her head, clasping her hands tightly to her bosom. "No, thank you." Hazuki knew what it meant, writing her name connected with his, as if they were truly lovers. Something about the sight of all those candles and names gave her a feeling of sorrow. At the edge of the path they stood, and she pensively pressed her cold nose into his kimono. The garden was more beautiful than she anticipated. It was a lot like looking out onto water and seeing a reflection of the stars.
"Bambina."
"Hm…?" she said, and when Hazuki lifted her magenta eyes to meet his blue ones, suddenly, she never wanted to ever look away again. Hesitantly, as if he were experiencing conflicting emotions within himself, Cicinho reached out to cup her cheek in one gloved hand, pressing his forehead to hers. Each of their breaths visibly mingled together in the air. She could feel herself becoming lightheaded from his closeness, studying the few centimeters left between their lips. Then he smiled brilliantly, drawing her into his chest for an embrace, and they stayed like that for a long time.