｢Chapter 10｣
"I missed you." Fighter declared as she hugged Maker from behind when Maker had just returned back into her room from the library after dinner time, with a stack of books in her arms.
"Why are you here?" Maker asked, totally shocked by Fighter's hug from behind.
"I missed you."Fighter repeated again, resting her chin on Maker's shoulder from behind.
"Hmmm" Maker acknowledged silently while she placed the books she was holding on the nearest table.
Fighter frowned. "That's not the response you are supposed to have, Maker. " Fighter pouted.
"Alright, I missed you too." Maker coaxed as she turned around facing Fighter face to face, returning the hug Fighter had gave. "How's your day?"
"Tiring. We had outfield drills this morning. It had absolutely drain out my energy. We are going to have the part 2 tomorrow." Fighter replied, resting her head on Maker's chest. She can't be any happier than now. She finally can love someone.
"I see. You should sleep early. I do not want you to faint from tiredness in the middle of drills tomorrow." Maker advised with concern.
"I know. But before that, there's one thing I want to do." Fighter stated, looking up at Maker, and Making looking down at Fighter. "I'm hungry."
Maker frowned. "You just had your dinner, didn't you?"
"That's different. I want to eat the hamburger that you make." Fighter replied, breaking the hug and went sitting on the sofa.
"No. I'm not making it anymore." Maker took the stack of books again, sat down on the sofa beside Fighter and began reading them.
"Why?" Fighter whined.
"Because they taste awful" Maker stated bluntly before continuing softly, "And you did not tell me about it. I don't want to torture you with the food again."
Fighter's eyes shot open. "You knew? How?" Fighter questioned as she blinked confusingly at Maker.
Maker stared at Fighter. 'Oh the kiss!' Fighter realised how Maker knew about it. Her face ran red in embarrassment.
"Why didn't you informed me back then?" Maker asked, turning her attention to the Fighter beside her.
"That's - that's because - I . No. Eh - " Fighter started in a mess, trying to find the right words to explain.
"Hahaha. . . " Maker burst out laughing. She found the confused Fighter right in front of her so comical that she could not help but laugh. Then Maker continued, "It's alright Fighter, you don't have to explain. I know why."
Fighter smiled at Maker's understanding. "So, are you really not going to make it anymore?" Fighter pouted once again.
"Depends." Maker answered as she went back to her book.
Fighter, a little upset that Maker's attention is now on the book and not on her, questioned curiously. "What books are you reading?" Fighter picked up one of the book, stunned at the title. "Why are you reading this book?"
"I'm helping Ouhi to read them, do a summary out of them, so that she would not need to read those unnecessary parts." Maker replied.
"I see." Fighter sat there and watch Maker reading, making some notes every now and then. Unknowingly to her, hours had passed. And when she checked the time, she was shock.
"Ne Maker, what time are you intending to sleep?" Fighter asked.
"After I'm done with the books." Maker replied. She was already at her third book and left with one last book to read. "If you are tired, you can take your rest first."
"No, I'm waiting for you." Fighter said cheerfully. "I'll help you with your last book." Fighter suggested, picking up the last book and opened it up to the first page.
"You're sure? You don't have to do that."
"Yes!" Fighter replied energetically.
Ten minutes after Fighter had voiced her 'Yes' energetically, Maker felt a heavy weight on her shoulder. She turned her head and saw Fighter's eyes closed, lying on her shoulder, asleep. Maker smiled slightly. 'That's why I asked you are you sure Fighter. I knew this would happen. Books are never your cup of tea, my dear.'
Maker placed her book opened on the table in front of her, and took the one in Fighter's hand, closed it and placed it on the table as well. She then slid her arms under Fighter's shoulder and knees, and carried Fighter up from the sofa. Walking slowly, as she was trying to prevent large movements that would wake Fighter up from her sleep, Maker moved towards her bed.
Just as Maker placed Fighter tenderly on her bed, Fighter opened one eye, took the chance and held her arms around Maker's neck. The next thing she did, she threw Maker gently to the other side of the bed and closed the distance between them. Fighter removed her arms from Maker's neck and encircled them around Maker's waist.
"You're not asleep." Maker stated, knowing that she had been fooled by the little antics of Fighter.
Fighter just smile brightly, closing her eyes at the same time.
"What's that for anyway?" Maker asked.
"To get you to sleep. Nothing else much. It's getting late. By the time you finish the last book, it's going to be daybreak already." Fighter answered thoughtfully before she continued jokingly. "And maybe it's also a good way to get you carry me to bed. How wonderful was that that I do not need to walk and still get onto the bed."
Maker just smiled. She surrounded her arms around Fighter and held her close and closed her eyes, enjoying the close contact that they are sharing.
Fighter stayed awake for some more moments, until she was sure that Maker was asleep through her breathing patterns.
'Thank you Maker, for making a dream of mine to come true. Nothing can compare to the past 2 weeks. I can never be as fortunate as I am right now. It's you who made it happen. I hoped this is what you dream of as well, my Dearest Maker.' Fighter thought as she closed her eyes, allowing the warm body beside her to warm her to sleep.
"Fighter! Where are you?" Maker burst into the training field, calling out Fighter.
"Yes?" Fighter stood in the middle of the field shouted back.
"Ouhi's in labour! Healer is with her right now. Let's go!" Maker said excitedly, which is pretty uncommon for others to see her in such a state. Maker always carried a serious and mature demure around her. The only person who saw her differently was Fighter, the only one who always managed to get the other side out of her when they were alone together.
"Really?" Fighter scream out, turning over to Ameno and said, "Ameno, onegai." Ameno nodded her head towards Fighter, indicating that she will take over the training for now. Fighter then ran towards Maker, whom which together, rushed towards Kakkyu's room.
"You are excited, dar." Fighter stated when she got beside her.
"Aren't you?" Maker counter asked and Fighter nodded her head to the question. "And didn't we agree that no 'dar' nor 'hun' when we are in public?" Maker whispered under her breath, afraid that there would be anyone around listening to their conversation.
Fighter pouted. 'Maker, why does it matters if anyone knew about our relationship? Am I not good enough for you to acknowledge the fact that we are together? Or were you afraid of the kind of comments that will come around if we announced it?' Fighter thought sadly in her mind before replying Maker. "Hai! I - I just thought it's alright, since it's just the two of us now. I pro-" Before Fighter could finished her sentence, Maker cut in.
"Don't say the word promise. I know Fighter what you want to say. Just don't say the word promise." Maker said softly, having afraid that Fighter will be hurt if she said it in her usual tone. 'I don't need any promise from you Fighter. I just want to love you, that's all.'
And the both of them stopped in front of Kakkyu's room, only to see Ryuuji standing outside. They paid their respect towards him and looked at him questionably.
"Healer ask me to get out, saying that it's inappropriate for me to stay inside." Ryuuji started.
Kinmoku is slightly primitive as compared to Earth, as the people still believed that men should not be present during childbirth, saying that it would bring forth disasters and bad luck. The two starlight just nodded their head, and entered the room.
"Ouhi!" Fighter called out, rushing towards Kakkyu, kneeling at the bed side beside where Kakkyu was lying. Maker followed behind, stopping at where Healer was positioned.
"Ouhi, how are you feeling?" Maker concerned.
"Not as bad - as what you prepared - me for." Kakkyu replied, stopping and continuing a few times as pain intensified causing her unable to speak.
"Is it really painful?" Fighter asked.
Kakkyu turned at looked at Fighter who was at her right side. "You will know - the pain when you - have the chance to be - in it.
Fighter was stunned for a moment before nodding her head. She then glanced at Maker who shared the same expression she had. 'I would probably never be able to experience it. Neither would she be able to.' Fighter thought deep inside.
"AH!" Kakkyu cried out, interrupting Fighter self sadness.
Fighter grabbed Kakkyu's hand in hers. "We are all here, Ouhi. We will all give you strength."
"Yes Ouhi, we have been through worst pains. This is not going to be the worst." Maker added on, giving her support for her Queen's labour pain.
Kakkyu smile a moment. That was until the next contraction came in and took the smile away.
"She's one little tough one." Healer commented after Kakkyu went into labour for her 12th hour. "Even tougher than Fighter." Healer added comically at the end. That earned her a deadly glare from Fighter and a short laughter from Kakkyu and Maker. Fighter narrowed her eyes at Healer.
"You shall wait till we are done here." Fighter responded, glaring intensively at Healer.
When the normal 'interactions' between Fighter and Healer started, a baby cry stopped them.
"Ouhi!" The three of them yell out excitedly.
"She's such a cutie pie." Healer commented as she tip toed, watching the little princess who was sleeping soundly in her mom's arms.
Kakkyu sat on her bed, in Ryuuji arm around her, curdling the little princess close to her body. Healer was on the other side of Kakkyu while Fighter and Maker were standing at opposite ends of the room.
"She's really pretty, Kakkyu. Thank you dear, for bringing such a beautiful angel to us." Ryuuji sweet talked and kissed Kakkyu briefly at her lips.
Kakkyu blushed at the little actions of her lover. "Not now, they are still here." Kakkyu whispered in Ryuuji ears.
"Can I carry her, Ouhi?" Healer asked, hiding the red shades that formed after the slight intimate actions of her King and Queen.
"Sure, why not? You three are going to her babysitters anyway" Kakkyu joked as she passed the little baby to Healer, whom Healer carried gingerly in an amateur way. Even though Healer was not confident in carrying the princess in a comfortable way, the little princess remained asleep, showing Healer that she was doing in the right way.
"Aw, you are really so sweet" Healer said sweetly.
Fighter made her way to Healer's position. "Eh Elfin, my turn."
Healer eyed a dangerous stare at Fighter. "Stop calling me Elfin, GIANT"
"Alright alright. Can I carry her, Healer?" Fighter re-asked the question again, faking a smile to Healer.
"Yes you can, provided you will return her later, in once piece." Healer answered and the eyes of the little princess parents shot big.
"Yes I will! It's not that difficult to carry a baby right?" Fighter said proudly as she held her arms out, waiting for Healer to place the baby on her arms.
And just as Healer placed the princess on Fighter's arm, the little princess was awoken and started crying.
"Ah. Oh! Hush hush!" Fighter coaxed frantically.
Maker left her position at the corner of the room and stood beside Fighter. "You should put your right hand her head. Try to relax a bit." Maker advised, but seemed useless as the little girl continued to cry loudly.
Fighter decided that walking around could probably stop the poor princess from crying and discomfort. Having her focus on the baby and not her surrounding, Fighter was walking straight towards the closed door without knowing it.
"CAREFUL!" Everyone in the room shout out.
Thankfully, Maker managed to pull back Fighter in time before any collision could occur.
"Thank You." Fighter whispered out.
In spite of the loud crying princess in her arms, Maker still heard the gratitude Fighter made. "You are welcome, Fighter." Maker returned, offering a warm smile to Fighter, which managed to calm Fighter's nervousness. "Come on, pass her to me. I will settle it." Maker finished as she took the princess expertly from Fighter's arm.
The little girl stopped crying once she was in Maker's arm. "Ah, that's really good little princess. You've stopped crying. Such a good girl. Why are you crying so badlu just now? aw. . . " Maker baby talked in an adult way to the little princess, smiling genuinely every time the little girl made a cute expression .
Fighter just looked at Maker, observing her every move and expression. She was surprise that Maker was very comfortable with the baby, handling the baby in such a correct way, making sure that the baby was comfortable. She could see joy in Maker's eye as she played with the little princess.
'Maker. . . Talking about things that I can give you. I think I can give you everything, except a family. It's so lonely. It's so sad and depressing."