Finally, after all they've been through, the curses are broken and they can live the lives they always deserved.
Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.
Chapter 20. Epilogue
"Would you please just tell me what you're plotting?"
"Now, now. Then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"
Claudine rolls her eyes and crosses her arms with a pouting huff. Maya has fallen very deeply in love with this cute new side of her that has emerged over their weeks living together.
At the end of June, they had decided to leave behind their old apartment, which held too many memories of the past. After Maya had saved up a bit more money from her job at the grocery store, and Claudine had compiled the funds she'd acquired from her new job working at a bookstore, they had had enough to make the move.
It had been a bit of a process, of course, but they hadn't had much to take with them. They had found a beautiful apartment on the other side of town, with a view of the park and the lake from the balcony. It welcomed pets, so it was a bit lively with dogs and cats of the other residents, but the both of them enjoyed watching people playing with the animals out in the large field behind the complex.
For all of July they had lived there together and had started getting acquainted with their new neighbors. A lot of girls their age were living in the same complex, and they'd already gotten to first-name basis with most of them.
Presently, Maya is leading her girlfriend down the sidewalk in a bit of an unconventional manner. Keeping one hand around Claudine's back to guide her, Maya covers her eyes with the other. Claudine sighs again.
"You know I can just close my own eyes, right?"
"Perhaps. But I can't afford to risk the surprise being spoiled prematurely."
"Honestly… Is it really that big of a deal?"
"But of course. It's your birthday, Claudine."
Maya's own birthday had only been a week ago. Claudine had arranged a surprise party for her with all of their new friends, and Maya hadn't suspected a thing. Claudine smiles to remember the dumbfounded look on her face at the time.
Maya notices the curl on her lips, then leans in to kiss her.
"I presume you're remembering my birthday last week?"
"Your reaction was priceless. I'm glad Nana got a picture."
"It was very fun. Perhaps the most fun I've ever had. The games Aijou-san prepared for us were certainly entertaining."
"That makes me wonder," Claudine says as she continues along blindly. "Are any of them working behind the scenes with you on this? What about my parents?"
That was one other thing that had transpired since they'd moved.
A few weeks ago, Claudine had decided she'd mustered up enough courage to finally go home to her family.
Naturally, Maya had gone with her and been beside herself with emotion to watch Claudine run into her parents' waiting arms. Their shock and disbelief had been bested only by their sheer, unbridled joy to finally have their daughter back.
The story was that Maya and Claudine had been held captive for seven years, but had persevered together, and recently broken free when a fire had destroyed their captors and everything else. A bit of a harrowing tale, but one that encompassed a good amount of the suffering they'd truly endured without being supernatural. All Claudine's parents had cared about in the end was the demise of her tormentors, and her safe and healthy return.
They've been making regular visits to Claudine's parents' house ever since.
Maya refocuses on the present, humming softly.
"I should admit, I did consult with them on the matter. I wanted to have their approval, after all."
"Eh?" Claudine skids to a halt for a second, trying to move her head and free her eyes from Maya's hand. "J-Just a second. You're not planning on proposing right? I already told you my heart isn't ready-"
"Calm down," Maya chuckles. "As much as I wanted to do that, I can tell you honestly that a proposal shall be saved for another time. I want to make sure it is worthwhile."
Claudine relaxes just a tiny bit.
"And what if I propose first?"
"You wouldn't dare," Maya teases.
"Wanna bet?"
Maya uses the fact that Claudine can't see at the moment to steal another kiss from her. Claudine retaliates with a tiny bite to her lip.
Once they've reconciled with a brush of their noses, Maya continues guiding her to their destination.
Claudine lets out a few sighs along the way in hopes to conceal that she's actually rather excited and curious about all this. She keeps her eyes closed even beneath Maya's hand, though she does do her best to try and guess where they are in town based off the sounds and smells and the turns they're taking.
But before long she realizes she honestly has no clue where they're heading. A restaurant? A store? It's killing her to know, but she tries her best to contain herself. She can practically feel the mirth radiating off of Maya beside her.
It feels like half a day to her, but in reality it's probably only about five more minutes before Claudine senses they've walked into a building. Maya brings her to a stop, but doesn't remove her hand.
"We've arrived," she announces. "But please don't open your eyes just yet."
Claudine obeys, trying to judge the location based off her other sense. She can smell a bit of a peculiar scent, something like grass and rubber. But what's really confusing is when she hears a sudden loud squeak.
"What in the-"
"Just a moment." She can hear the smile in Maya's voice as her girlfriend addresses someone Claudine can't see. "Excuse me. We had a special arrangement for today."
"Oh!" says another voice, one Claudine doesn't recognize. It's a woman, likely a worker of some sorts. "Of course! Just one moment! I'll go get him."
"Him?" Claudine is beyond baffled now, and it's really becoming difficult to keep her eyes closed. She turns in Maya's direction, raising her eyebrows quizzically beneath her palm. "Maya, what is going on?"
"Just one more moment," Maya replies. She reaches her other hand down for Claudine's and laces their fingers together, giving her a warm and energetic squeeze. Claudine channels her excitement into the grip as well, and does her best to be patient. She hears a bit of scuffling movement in front of them, and then another squeak. She can't take it any longer.
"Maya-?"
"All right," Maya says at last, pulling her hand away. "Open your eyes."
Claudine holds out just one second longer, takes a breath, and finally lifts her eyelids.
She finds herself looking down into a pair of round brown eyes.
A peach-colored pit bull is smiling up at her with a squeaky red rubber bone in his jaws, tail wagging a mile a minute.
Claudine isn't sure what she'd been expecting, but it surely hadn't been this. With a cry of shock and delight, she drops to her knees immediately to reach out to pet the dog's head.
"Oh-!" she gasps. "This is-!"
The dog is so excited to be given attention, and he instantly scrambles up close to her, dropping his toy and giving a happy bark as he nudges his head against her. Claudine hugs him lightly, cooing softly.
Maya admires the beautiful sight and engraves the scene into her heart.
Claudine is completely surprised, and absolutely glowing. A successful birthday gift indeed.
Smiling until her face hurts, Maya kneels beside her girlfriend and their new companion.
"He is a very special dog," she explains. Maya reaches out to pat his head, then trails her hand softly down to his shoulder and back. Claudine follows her hand and notices several old scars along the dog's body. Only for a second, Claudine's smile falters. Her voice fades.
"Was he…?" She looks at Maya, who has a sad look in her eyes for a brief second. But she takes Claudine's hand gently and smiles.
"I'm told he was part of a fighting ring a few months back."
"That's right," the worker chimes in. "Dozens of dogs were rescued that night when authorities stormed the place. They arrested everyone there and saved the animals. It took some time, but we managed to get them all acclimated and used to people again. All the others have been adopted by now. This handsome guy was the last one."
Claudine looks at the woman, then back to the dog, and back to Maya. Her eyes fill with tears.
"Maya-"
Maya had hoped Claudine wouldn't cry for sadness, but she can't blame her at all. She opens her arms and pulls Claudine into a soft embrace. The pit bull wags his tail eagerly and nuzzles against them both, whining for attention. After a moment, Claudine recovers from the memories and lifts her face, putting an arm around the dog.
"What a strong boy you are. I'm glad you're safe now. Don't worry. We're going to take good care of you for the rest of your life. No one is ever going to hurt you again."
The dog barks softly and paws his front legs into her lap, pushing his nose against her cheek to lick her. Claudine giggles, wiping her eyes to put a smile back on her lips. Maya clears away tears of her own and does the same, wrapping one arm around each member of her new family. The dog turns to her next to lick her face, and Maya gives his back a few good pats.
At last she turns to Claudine and presents her with a blossoming smile.
"Happy birthday, Claudine."
Claudine hugs her again, then kisses her.
"Thank you… thank you, Maya. He's perfect."
Once they've gathered their bearings and gotten to their feet, the delighted worker provides them with a leash and harness to walk the dog home with.
"What about supplies?" Claudine asks, ever sure to be as practical as she is emotional. Maya dips her head.
"Don't worry. The paperwork and payment have already been taken care of. And I've already purchased everything ahead of time. A bed, food, bowls, and some toys for now. We can pick up whatever else we need in the coming days. For now, Isurugi-san and Hanayagi-san have been letting me hide everything at their apartment. So let's head there next, shall we? I'm sure everyone is already gathered there and eagerly waiting to meet this little one."
Claudine's eyes are so bright it somehow affects her ability to speak, because she can't find words. She just hugs Maya and kisses her again.
Claudine keeps the dog's leash on her wrist as they share a few more words with the worker, then thank her. They turn to the door and take their leave, and the dog trots along excitedly beside them with his red rubber bone in his mouth.
They walk out with more family members than they'd gone in with.
Claudine almost starts crying again, and just looking down at the pit bull makes her whimper with affection. And when she looks at Maya she makes a similar sound. Maya's face hurts from smiling, but she doesn't stop for a second.
"Happy birthday," she says again.
"Thank you, Maya. I love him, and I love you." Claudine rolls the leash on her wrist to keep the dog close for a moment, then cups Maya's face to kiss her deeply. Maya wraps both arms around her, chuckling softly, her heart soaring.
"I love you too, Claudine."
When they part, their hands come together, and they slowly begin down the sidewalk. The pit bull chews on and squeaks his toy softly as he struts along happily with them.
"Now then," Maya says. "We should think of a name."
"I've got a few in mind already," Claudine says, leaning in against her side. "Let's hold a vote with everyone and see what they think."
Maya nods, leaning her head sideways to brush against hers.
"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea."
Together they continue down the sidewalk on that warm summer day, with their new lifelong companion beside them.
Claudine begins humming, and Maya joins her, the song complimented by an occasional off-tune squeaking.
The sun shines down over them, warm and strong, as they start forward on the next chapter of their brand new story.
A/N: And finish. Good gosh it's been 2, maybe even 3 years now since I actually wrote this story and it's just been waiting in my backlog ever since. A lot of people have left the Starlight fandom so it kind of missed the hype of the series, but I'm grateful to whomever stuck around to read until the end. This is my longest Starlight story to date, and I put all the angst and suspense and fluff and love possible into it.
Thank you so much for reading until their well-deserved happy ending.
Please review!