" Megumi-san...? " Konoka asked, almost as a whisper.
The veiled princess jumped with surprise, and quickly wiped her face with her hands still marked from the earlier holding.
She stopped when she felt a soft tissu brushing her cheeks.
" Let me help you... " the brown-hair girl sat before her to wash her wet cheeks.
" Thank...you... " Megumi whispered. The compassion running through Konoka's gestures made her cry again, but this time, it was silent tears.
They kept quiet a long moment. Both girls knew no words would help right now. Only the presence was good enough to calm the sobs.
Nevertheless, Konoka thought it would be better to break the silence, if she didn't want the crying girl to keep everything for herself and be eaten by the pain.
" I guess...love never is simple. It takes out a lot of strength, and adds more pain. " she stopped her washing as the veiled girl's face was now dried.
" But I think, this may be how we get stronger. " Konoka smiled sadly.
" I recall Emiko-san told me once, that love kills- "
" -As much as it heals. " Megumi finished her sentence.
" I told this to her... " the blond-hair girl remembered the memory, smiling weakly.
Konoka took the special guest's hand, gently caressing it like someone did once for her.
It would be alright.
The door of the room opened, and a red-hair head popped out from the entrance wall.
" Oh! You're finally back Kono- " the voice stopped at the view of another girl following her friend.
" Ah, hello... " she either didn't know what to call the new princess.
" You can call me Megumi. " the veiled princess said, taking off her shoes.
" You must be hungry both of you, I'll go cook something. Please be at your ease here, I know it's a small room, but this is mine. " Konoka said to her new friend, leading her in the living room.
" Ah, it's okay don't bother to cook, and I don't mind how small the room is, it feels warm here. " Megumi sat on the couch.
" Please, just rest. You can stay as long as you want, really. " the brown-hair girl smiled at her and went to the kitchen.
Asuna was lost. She didn't understand why the special guest was here and already befriended with her roomate. She sat on the table, trying not to be impolite to directly leave her alone and gossip with Konoka.
She cleared her throat nervously, tapping her finger on the table.
" Um, excuse me for the intrusion, I didn't mean to bother you- "
" -No! It's fine! Like Konoka said, you can stay and even sleep here if you want haha " Asuna sweat-dropped. She was completely blabblering like a monkey.
The girl sitting on the couch smiled at her, nodding slowly at her invitation.
" K-konoka! Need some helps? " the nervous girl shouted to her roomate.
" Asuna! You don't even know how to cook eggs, you'd burn the kitchen before I could make something! " Konoka shouted back, making the red-hair girl blushed with shame.
Megumi giggled at their conversation. They both seemed really close. She somehow envied their friendship.
" Ah, right, I haven't introduce myself, how impolite I am! " Asuna got up to shake hands with the princess.
" You saw me before in kimono, when you talked to Konoka this afternoon. I'm her roomate but also bestfriend, Asuna Kagurazaka. Just call me Asuna. " she winked at her and sat next to her.
The guest smiled more, and nodded. She slowly started to feel calm.
" So, what brings you here to Mahora? Do you plan to attend this school too? " Asuna tried to make a conversation.
" No, I'm already graduated. I'm only here to make-up with your people. My father thought it would be best to send me, as he can't leave the kingdom. "
" Why? Is he sick? " the monkey started to be curious. But her question never got its answer as someone came in the room.
" Kono-chan? Are you there? " a samurai girl came in the living-room and saw the guest.
She smiled at her after she bowed.
" It's a honor to receive the princess of the Cloud's kingdom in our dorms. I hope this tiny place won't make you feel uncomfortable. " she understood her girlfriend was here, so she went to sit at the table to keep the guest company.
" Please don't be so formal, call me by my name...um- "
" -Setsuna. Setsuna Sakurazaki. " she bowed again.
" She loves this kind of things you know, being so mannered and polite. It took a long long time for Konoka to make her stop calling her ojou-sama. " Asuna laughed, remembering how Konoka did it. Setsuna blushed at the memory too.
" Well...my job requires to act properly, so I developed a habit now. " the dark-hair girl tried to justify herself.
Megumi couldn't stop staring at Setsuna's eyes. The fact that she was quiet started to bother the two other girls. When she noticed the dark-hair girl looked away from her, she understood she was being rude.
" Set...tsuna-san, are you related to Emi-chan- I meant, Emiko-san! " the veiled girl blushed when she spelt out the wrong calling.
Both Asuna and Setsuna looked at each other, wondering how she had guessed. Not that Emiko was totally different from Setsuna, since they have the same hair-color and the same cool attitude.
" Y-yes...we are. How did you figure it out? " Setsuna asked with curiousity.
" Your eyes. I spent a lot of time watching Emiko-san's when... " the blond-hair girl blushed again at what she was about to say. She shook her head to sweep away the memories.
It seemed that the earlier kissing session turned her upside down.
" I mean, you have the same look. It is too similar to not be a family trait. "
Asuna pondered for a while. She never noticed these two girls have the same look. She knew well Emiko's eyes since she watched it deeply for few times, and she knew Setsuna's since they were best-friend.
' Maybe I didn't pay enough attention... ' the red-hair girl thought, and turned her eyes into her master's.
Setsuna looked back, wondering why she was staring at her.
' Ah! ' she eventually saw it.
The dark eyes she was looking at were holding something bright, just like Emiko's.
' Is it the iris? It seemed to sparkle the same as in Emiko's eyes. But I'm sure she didn't have any before, her eyes were completely dark. ' Asuna looked deeper, which made Setsuna to feel uncomfortable.
" Is there a problem Asuna-san? "
" I think she's trying to understand the likeness. I'll make it easier for you Asuna-san. " Megumi stood to cup Setsuna's face in her hands, surprising the now blushing swordwoman.
" Come nearer so you could see. " Asuna did as ordered. Both girls were few inches away from Setsuna's face who seemed to be frozen.
" Loot at the iris. Normal dark eyes shouldn't be that bright, some can be when there is light. However can you see the color of the sparkle in it? It is bright gold. This is because of their original color. If Setsuna-san was to turn in her...original form, her eyes would turn in gold color. " Emiko said pointing every sparkle she saw so Asuna could also look at it.
" Woah...I never noticed you have pretty eyes Setsuna-san! It is exactly the same as Emi- " she stopped when she heard a sound of plates breaking on the ground in front of her.
The three girls turned to look at the sound's direction, Megumi's hand still holding Setsuna's face.
" W-Wha-what...are you doing to my Secchan! " Konoka cried out loud, blushing furiously in jealousy.
After Setsuna quickly cleaned the floor before both princesses could cut themselves with the broken pieces plates, they all sit at the table to eat.
" Geez...you didn't have to hit me this hard Konoka..." Asuna was rubbing her back where she got slapped by her roomate.
As the brown-hair girl couldn't hit her new friend -no matter what, Megumi was still a guest- she hit Asuna twice harder.
The cooker came in the living with the dinner, filling everyone's plate.
Setsuna looked at her so few filled plate, and then at her lover who was eating the reallly big full plate she always gave to her.
' I guess this time my stomach will hurt, but because of starving... ' the dark-hair girl sighed, trying to eat slowly.
" K-konoka-san, I'm really sorry for the misunderstanding. I was showing to Asuna-san why Setsuna-san eyes resemble with Emi...ko-san's. I didn't plan on um, kiss her or anything. " Megumi tried to break the cold atmosphere.
" Yeah! That was all! How could you think I was falling for this sick-mannered- " she received a hurtful nudged on her left rib.
She turned to look at her stupid master to open her mouth when she stopped mid-way.
' Tomorrow's training... ' she read through Setsuna's dark glare.
Then she quickly resumed her eating, giggling for nothing.
" Sorry...it's just that you were so closed to her face, I didn't think you were curious about her beautiful eyes... " Setsuna blushed at her compliment. She smiled widely to her girlfriend, letting her lover stare at those 'beautiful' eyes of her.
The two princesses smiled at each other. This seemed to be the beginning of a friendship.
' Luckily, you're not here to make fun of me Emiko... ' the swordwoman sighed in relieved, but she quickly felt wrapped by worries.
After the dinner, Megumi had to go to her host room before her main bodyguard started to worry and set the alarm. Setsuna offered to escort her. As she was a princess, it was her responsibility as a bodyguard, even though she's not her defended, to do it, since she was a special guest.
Before leaving, Setsuna felt the need to apologize to her princess. She knew she was mad as she didn't look at her to say goodbye. So she approached the girl from behind, to Asuna's and Megumi's amazement, and spinned her so she could face her.
Konoka didn't have the time to stand still that she was given a baiser à lèvre unique. Her body didn't move as Setsuna held her around her waist. She kissed for long seconds, and pulled back.
" A make-up kiss. " Setsuna smiled to her, and let go of her to leave.
The door closed behind a speechless Konoka. She felt her cheeks redened, and turned to look at Asuna.
" Told you she changed. " her roomate grinned at her.
The samurai girl blushed slightly at her daring action as she walked quietly with the veiled princess.
" You must love her very much, don't you? " Megumi spoke.
" Yes...more than anything. " Setsuna smiled, feeling a thrilling warm in her chest.
" You both are very lucky...I wish I could do the same. " the princess lowered her head to watch her footsteps.
The dark-hair girl suddenly remembered what happened before. She wanted to say something, but nothing came to her mind.
They kept walking in silent, until they reached the host room.
" Well thank you for tonight Setsuna-san, I really hope we could do it another time. " the blond-hair princess bowed and turned to leave.
" Megumi-san!...I know she acted like she didn't want you but, Emiko still loves you. " Setsuna said, smiling friendly.
The princess kept quiet for a minute, then smiled back.
" Thank you... " and she turned back, entering her room.
Her duty was now done, the bodyguard walked the opposite way of Konoka's room.
' If you want to hide, I'll seek for you. '
Back in Konoka's room, the girl was looking for something in the books. She finally found her item, and went to the bathroom, locking the door.
She sat on the floor, resting a card on her head.
At the top of the World's Tree, a girl was sitting on a branch, looking at the moon.
Her black wings were keeping her warm from the cold. The dark-hair girl closed her eyes to take a deep breathe.
' Emiko-san? Can you hear me? ' and the girl choked hard. She looked around and down, coughing loud, to see where her friend could be.
' Ah, I'm talking with telepathy, in case you're looking for me. ' Konoka's voice was resoning in the girl's mind.
" Ahh...I didn't know you could Konoka-san, you really keep surprising me. " Emiko said, but she didn't know she had to think if she wanted to be heard by telepathia.
' Um, I guess you don't know how it works. Put your card against your forehead and think instead of speaking, so I could hear you. ' the demon executed, half-amused by the trick.
' Can you hear me now? ' the dark-hair girl thought.
' Yes! I'm so glad I can talk to you. ' exclaimed the girl back in her bathroom.
' So, since we made a pactio, we can now talk this way? That's funny. '
' You don't know anything about pactios? '
' No. I'm not a mage, and met few of them. My skills are more technical and realistic. '
' Then I hope you don't mind if I'm using telepathia with you? Secchan is looking for you now, but I thought this way would be easier to talk to you. And I wanted to before you see Secchan. '
' Why? ' the dark-hair girl looked back at the glooming moon.
' Well...first, I wanted to tell you we saw what happened between you and Megumi-san. '
The blak-winged demon frowned at the name. She calmed herself down rapidly, as she felt a stroke in her chest.
' So you were spying on me huh? ' Emiko thought with a slight angry tone.
' Sorry...we were worried about you since...we...knew about your feelings for this princess. '
Emiko almost fell from the branch.
' H-how! When did you hear about that? Who told you so? ' her tone changed into worry.
' Um, by you. When you're were unconscious. ' the girl outside remembered. She mistook Konoka with her when she did the pactio.
She stayed silent until Konoka asked her something.
' She's...the one you said she has the same look as mine, right? '
Emiko didn't replied, so Konoka took her silent as a yes.
' Why do you wish so much to get over her? Don't you love her? She's been looking and waiting for you all this time- '
' -Princess Konoka. I know you want to do well, but please, this isn't something I want to discuss. I thought I could hide it from you guys, but things just always turn out wrong. ' Emiko insisted, she was feeling at the edge of madness, and she knew she should never let herself go crazy.
There was a silent for a moment, and the demon thought Konoka had understood her demand, so she was about to put down the card but stopped when she heard her voice again.
' Do you think you can't love? ' and that surprised the girl with black wings. She closed her eyes, and smiled weakly.
' Is that what Setsuna made you think when she tried to push you away? '
Konoka nodded silently, but a silent usually meant yes.
' You know, the difference between she and me is that she is a half-demon. The reason why I feel sometimes I am too, is because the way I was raised showed me how emotions are important to admit. However... ' she watched the beautiful stars reflected her dark scars in her eyes.
' I don't have that much. And love...is absolutely not something I inherite. I experienced this feeling, through all the state of mind it can leads, and when it came to jealousy, to anger...a demon blinded by hatred, is nothing but a kamikaze. '
' Then why are you so caring towards Secchan? To care requieres love, so I assume you can love, Emiko-san. '
The demon thought nothing. She saw a shooting star.
' What is love anyway? Does it have to be that simple? To finally understand that love is situated between all the hurting and happy feelings? Anger, hatred, sadness, forgiveness, and comfort, joy, happiness? It is so simple to understand this but to live it... '
Emiko clenched her fists.
' Is this theory is supposed to ease the pain? '
And she punched the trunk, feeling her anger growing.
' Life is such a mess. What good can come from all of these emotions? How miserable humans can be...to be a slave of their own feelings. '
Konoka could felt the lack of regard towards herself. She felt so bad for her friend, trapped between her demon side and the wish to be a simple human.
' They say the choices you undertake reflect who you are, but sometimes, do we even have this privilege to decide what we really wish? ' the dark-hair girl closed her eyes when she saw another shooting star.
' All these nonsenses...just show how love...is maddening. '
The girl hidden in the bathroom was speechless at the deep talk. She looked through the window of the room, and had a chance to glimpse at the shooting star.
' I think you're one of the most wise person I ever met. When I looked into your eyes the first time we met, I told you I saw how painful your life must have been. And today, I was so shocked to realize how Secchan has changed. I know it's all thanks to you. '
Konoka breathed deeply. She just also realized how grateful she was to meet this girl.
' You have as much emotions as I have. And I can tell you one thing. You're not the only one who feel lost. I sometimes do, like everybody. You may have an anger issue, but that's not the real problem. It is the after. Not the present, not when you feel so messed up with your feelings. Being mad is a normal reaction, the question is, how will you prevail this madness? '
Konoka waited for Emiko to say something, but she heard nothing.
' As for Megumi-san...do you think she's worthy to fight for? Or do you prefer staying this way, tortured for ever? '
Emiko finally smiled, though Konoka didn't see it, she heard the small breathe when one smirked.
It was a risk, but there was always a risk.
' Will I have enough strength? If I take a step, I can't turn back anymore. ' the girl with gold eyes thought to herself naturally.
' Love is powerful. I'm sure Megumi-san will give you more than you believe. ' Konoka answered her question, as she guessed she was talking to her.
' Ah, right, you can even hear my inside voice... ' Emiko giggled, flapping her wings to disappear.
' Oh, did I? Sorry, I think I'm more intrusive than I should be. ' Konoka laughed.
' Thanks Konoka. I'm truly happy to know you'll be her wife. Please remind me to offer you the honeymoon. ' and Emiko put away the card before Konoka could react at her words. She smiled at the card.
' This sure is a dangerous weapon! ' she thought, this time, to herself only.
She stood up on the branch, and let herself fall from the tree.
" There you are! I knew you'd hide here! But darn, how can you hide your presence so well! " Setsuna shouted at her. She had been waiting for almost an hour.
" Because I'm a rosted crow. " Emiko teased as she approached her.
" Still in the mood I see. So...what are you gonna do? Fighting like crazy with me or- "
Emiko stood on guard in a second, not letting her friend to finish her sentence because she already made up her mind. But playing with her could be fun.
Setsuna took note from her behavior, and was about to run towards her when she suddenly fell on her knees.
" What's wrong Setsuna? " the taller girl came closer to her but stopped when she heard a rumbling sound.
" I think I'm...starving...hehe... " Setsuna sweat-dropped.
Emiko rolled her eyes.
Back with the blushing Konoka, she eventually stood up and stretched her legs. When she opened the door, she was face to face with a dancing monkey.
" K-konoka! What took you so long! I almost pee on me! " Asuna said before dashing in the bathroom.