A/N: And we're back, this time on the home front. So get your ration book ready and let's make do and mend! (home front jokes)

And of course this is an UmiMaki fluffy chapter yay. I can tell you their relationship is really going to have things happen to it over these next two chapters.


Muse Section Chapter 12:

25th June 1944, Mayfair, London.

Umi groaned as she fell out of bed. She felt awful, her head felt like it had been carpet bombed repeatedly, and the resulting rubble had been destroyed by very noisy workers wielding sledgehammers who had then subsequently fired machineguns into the air in celebration. She could remember quite a lot about last night, and if the way her head ached and the way she wanted to kill herself were any indication alone, it was clear the squad had gone overboard. Again.

I am never drinking that much again Umi grumbled internally, although it occurred to her that that had been her promise to herself the past six nights. Her hangover wasn't the only problem either. Sleep had been fitful and unpleasant; if she hadn't been so drunk she would've certainly decided to change out of her uniform because last night was very humid. She still felt sweaty and clammy, the long strands of her blue hair having stuck themselves to her face, the folds of her duvet and blanket strewn across the fairly soft mattress.

The room was pitch black and sweltering. Her khaki fatigues still stiff with dried sweat and an odd smell hung in the air. She groped her way through the darkness induced by the blackout curtains flinging them open. Umi blinked a few times at the blinding light before her eyes adjusted, revealing a scene of another hazy summer's day above the hustle and bustle of the London streets below it.

Workers shuffled back and forth along the wide streets, and soldiers in jeeps travelled along the road, petrol rationing had put most civilian cars out of action for the duration. A few flags hung from the posh facades of the hotels and clubs that made up most of London's exclusive district. Some people were obviously making their way back from a night out and suffering the consequences others were meeting in the cafes and tearooms of the capital to discuss business, politics and the war. "Another normal day in the capital then." Umi muttered to herself

The corporal turned away from the window looking back at the remnants of last night. Her hotel room was a mess. There was at least three half full bottles of champagne on the floor, one leaking into the lush red carpet, a few bottles of whiskey and bourbon that had been treated with only slightly more care and innumerable empty and semi-full pint glasses. Her bed covers adorned the headboard and spilled onto the floor like a cascading avalanche, and at least half of her clothes had been pulled from the wardrobe and thrown onto the floor. Umi sighed clutching her head afterwards, a sharp pain splitting through her skull.

How did I make this much mess?

She was torn between opening the window to dissipate the heat and suffering the intense noise of London on a weekend or turning on the fan which she knew would just circulate the hot air around. In the end she did neither and peeled off her uniform as she headed to the bathroom. A nice long shower was what she needed right now.

Unfortunately rationing meant that Umi wasn't allowed a nice long shower, she was lucky to have a shower at all to be honest the staff were only allowed to turn the water for the showers on twice a week. The bathroom was still as luxurious as it would have been pre-war with an elegant bath tub and a splendidly decorated shower head suspended above the bath. The only problem was the lack of water.

She knew it wouldn't last long but Umi was grateful however as the lukewarm water washed over body, washing away the grime and the sweat, bringing her the feeling of being clean again. The water cascading down her naked form brought back some of her senses, and eased the throbbing in her head slightly. She wondered where Kotori and Honoka had gone, the two girls had been sharing a room with her since HQ had only provided for three rooms at the hotel and they were absent. It did also explain how the room was so messy; the other two must've helped a considerable amount in trashing the place.

Umi slowly caressed the new round scar on her stomach. The remnant of the wound was a reminder of Normandy, a reminder of the treatment she had received, and who had given it to her. The corporal smiled, the stubborn face of that redhead flashing into her mind, along with the determination to find out what happened after her memory of that night. The wound had taken a while to heal of course and Maki had raised hell when she couldn't follow her patient to the nearest field hospital, she said that it was 'to keep an eye on the patient's recovery n-n-nothing more!' although Nico had coughed 'bullshit' loudly on hearing that.

In the end Maki had to remain at the front, albeit bitterly but still Umi was glad about how much her… Umi paused her reverie.

What is she to me? Calling her my friend isn't enough, she's more than that, so much more … I-I'm not sure what I feel l for her not sure how to describe it Frustration boiled inside of Umi at her inability to quantify what she felt for the redhead. I care for her as much as I do Honoka or Kotori or any of the others, but there is something else… Umi couldn't put her finger on it every time she was around the redhead she started having these thoughts, she noticed how soft her lips looked, how whenever Maki rested her head on her shoulder her hair looked so soft, and her heart raced. But when Maki was close, when she did one of a thousand things that made her cute or emphasised her human side beneath the ice that surrounded her, darker more insidious thoughts crept in too, the unmistakeable urge to simply devour the medic in her entirety rose so very, so dangerously, close to the surface, the things she wanted to do to the redhead, the things she wanted done to herself by the medic, sometimes shocked her in their graphicness. An animalistic side that she kept locked away so deep inside of herself, threatening to overpower her, thoughts she knew were evil, that her father had drilled into her were wrong.

"She's just a close friend." Umi whispered the phrase she repeated to herself when she was alone. It had to be true; it was the only possible explanation. But then why did that definition feel so inadequate? Love? Umi grimaced. That damned word again. It might seem like it at times, but love? Impossible there's no space for that on the battlefield. Well I mean I do love Honoka and Kotori but not in that way! I suppose I love the others like that too. But romantic love? That has no place in war it gets you killed, or hurt, it puts too much risk on the table, and it tempts fate too much. Plus thinking about her that way is just Shameless! Too shameless! We've had too many close calls recently. Umi thought back to the night when she and Maki had gotten lost, when without thinking she had just kissed her on impulse, it was like something possessed her at those times, and the times before then when she had kissed the redhead. Those times when she became so open, saying the forbidden thoughts that cluttered her head the ones that would make her father shudder. Umi blushed at the thought, her face now an unhealthy shade of red.

The abrupt end of the shower shocked Umi out of her train of thought. She blindly groped for a towel sighing, using the soft cotton to dry her skin. Umi muttered to herself "Besides even if we weren't at war, she's too good for me. I can't give her the love she needs" the love she gives me the blue haired paratrooper always felt guilty when she saw those immense violet orbs staring into her, laden with hopes and dreams, an image of a future they shared together. An image she knew she couldn't provide. She would probably be happier with someone like Rin or Nico anyway, someone prettier. It would be wrong of me to deprive her of the happiness that she needs, for me to take her and warp her like the evil person I am…

Umi shook her head. Ok maybe I'm not evil but even if we were together, I'm don't want her to grieve for too long if I die, or wait if I get injured. Umi had seen what the scars of war did to a couple, the tales of some of the veterans of The great war in her village told her that much, that if she lost her legs, she would tie Maki down caring for her, put a stop to the girl's dreams. She had seen the widows' still grieving years afterwards.

It's better if she hates me than if I drag her down. Although ever since Normandy that hasn't been tricky, she's been getting slightly more distant. Not much but it's happened. Which is good I suppose. But if that was the case then why did it hurt so much when Maki tried to avoid conversation about D-Day? Why did Umi feel unwanted when Maki excluded her?

Umi wrapped the towel around her body to preserve her modesty, before wandering out of the damp bathroom and over to the wardrobe. She silently thanked her lucky stars when she saw that hers was the only uniform not thrown on the floor and creased into oblivion, and it was her smart dress uniform.

Slipping on the long Khaki shirt and skirt and trying to clear her head Umi recalled the circumstances that led to them arriving here. HQ had awarded them all a week's leave thanks to the medal Honoka had been awarded outside Manneils. Honoka had insisted that the squad also be granted leave since they had also performed acts Honoka had thought worthy of decoration, 'and it wasn't fair if they weren't rewarded for it just because some officer wasn't there to witness it.' So she had managed to wrangle from HQ a week's leave for all of them and three rooms at the Ritz for the duration.

The section had responded to this chance for sleep and relaxation by promptly getting as drunk as they could. Every. Single. Night. The first night had been especially spectacular; Umi suspected that the clubs along The Strand wouldn't be the same again. Of course she'd tried to stop some of the more shameless acts in public but it was still very rowdy. They had all ended up sprawled in Nozomi Eli and Nico's room that night, the influence of the alcohol sending most of the squad to sleep right away.

Except that Umi couldn't sleep and apparently nor could Nozomi and Eli, the poor corporal turned red right now when she recalled the extremely lewd sounds that had been happening less than a metre from her. Seeing the slight twisting of their forms in the pitch black Umi's mind filled in the rest. Umi tried to shut out the perverted sounds and the thoughts they brought with them, but despite their best attempts to be quiet the two women were not very good at it, and were very drunk both on each other and on the alcohol, so they had kept Umi up for a further three hours before they finally finished.

Umi had not been pleased, and had given both girls a stern lecture the following morning, Eli had been more apologetic about the incident, but Nozomi was still Nozomi and had even tried flirting with Eli in a lecture about not flirting or doing perverted things with Eli. Sometimes the buxom machine gunner gave Umi as much of a headache as Honoka did.

Umi rubbed her temples the memory of the stress coming back to her. The other nights had followed a similar pattern to the first, go out get drunk and have fun and return for drinks in the hotel bar or head upstairs to bed, only the subsequent nights the girls had split up into their respective rooms.

Umi put on her Maroon beret and tied up her simple brown shoes before doing up the tie that hung around her neck. She opened the door and wrote a quick apology on the notepad to the poor cleaner who would have to clean this up.

Kotori and Honoka were obviously off somewhere together, ever since D-Day Kotori had been even more affectionate around Honoka and most likely she was dragging Honoka away to get breakfast. Umi glanced at her watch, and gasped her mouth hanging open in shock.

14:00! how can it be Two in the afternoon?! Damnit Honoka I told you to wake me up when you got up!

Umi realised that no one would be available at this time all of the others had plans for today, either important meetings with high ranking officers or sightseeing around the capital. All except three people.

Umi found herself out side Maki, Rin and Hanayo's door taking a deep breath so that she didn't blush if she saw the redhead, Umi knocked twice.

No answer.

Umi knocked again, hearing scuffling on the other side, the door flew open and she jumped slightly. A ball of orange energy flew through the door, nearly colliding with the corporal standing outside.

"Who is it nya? Oh Umi-chan what is it you wanted?" chartreuse eyes narrowed slightly questioning Umi, the light nightgown that Rin was wearing indication that she'd either spent the day in bed or just woken up, Umi could never tell with the amount of energy Rin always had.

"Hey Rin, I was wondering if you three wanted to do anything this afternoon? Honoka and Kotori have that meeting at Whitehall and Eli Nozomi and Nico are off talking to the press on Fleet Street."

"Hmmm well Rin doesn't think we have to do anything, but she'll check with Kayo-chin."

"Rin who is it?" Umi heard Maki's tired sounding voice from inside the room drawing the cat's attention away from her.

"It's Umi-chan she wants to know if we want to go out with her!" Rin yelled back through the open door.

Maki hummed thoughtfully, her head appearing over Rin's shoulder. "Sounds like it could be fun; we're heading back tomorrow as well so this is our last chance"

"But Rin's not sure if me and Kayo-chin have plans, so Rin needs to check with her first." Rin bounded back into the room leaving Umi and Maki standing alone together in the empty hallway.

Umi's eyes cruised down Maki's form, finally noticing that she was only wearing a long white dress shirt, her long silky legs stretching out the bottom of the tattered and creased shirt. The top few buttons were undone to, exposing a part of Maki's creamy, inviting cleavage to Umi's hungry gaze. Maki gave a small yawn and sleepily rubbed her eye with the back of her hand.

So cute. Was the only thought running through Umi's mind

The corporal shook her head slightly tearing her gaze from the radiant form in front of her. A blush covered her face, matching the hue of Maki's tousled hair. She looked at the floor quickly avoiding Maki's confused eyes and trying to hide the blush on her face. "M-M-M-Maki what are you wearing?"

"Hmmm? Oh this is what I wear to bed in the summer; it's more comforting than stuffy old pyjamas I just woke up after all."

"But how can you be out in public in something so…so…" Umi's eyes flashed up and down Maki's form once more, "S-S-Shameless?"

"Shameless?" Maki yawned again cocking her head to the side like a curious cat. The gesture sent Umi's mind into overdrive

So cute, so cute, so cute so, cute, so cute, so cute, so cute, so cute, so cute! Umi locked her eyes on the ground near Maki's feet screaming internally for what felt like an eternity. The only problem was that she then noticed how perfect, how adorable her bare feet were.

"Oi Umi, are you listening?" Maki's hand waved in front of her face brining Umi back to the world of the living.

Umi looked up at her face again shaken from her own internal madness. "Sorry I didn't quite hear that?"

Maki twirled her hair around her finger "God do you ever listen? I said what do you mean shameless? Plus we're not really in public either. I don't mind if it's you who sees me like this." Maki mumbled the last part, averting her gaze, her cheeks pinker than they were before.

"I-I-It's nothing.." Umi sighed defeated. Before her head throbbed again at the loud crash that came from inside Maki's room.

"Rin! Keep it down!" Maki shouted back, a quick apology was shot off by the cat-like girl. "Maki turned back to the uniformed girl in front of her. "Still hungover?"

"You're not?"

"I am a bit but not as bad as you are by the looks of things. Still I'd be surprised if any of us weren't hung over after last night."

Umi giggled "It was pretty crazy. Do you remember much about last night?"

"Surprisingly most of it. I remember that me and Nico got into a massive argument about…what was it again?" Maki asked slightly confused.

"I think it started about socks and then moved very rapidly onto the design details of heavy cruisers and before I knew you two were slinging insults at each other over the Ritz bar about god knows what."

"Yeah that was really fun." Maki giggled "Remember when Nico pushed me into that other officer, and he spilled his whiskey all over his dress uniform."

"And you told him to 'watch where he's going' and only then do you realise its Field Marshall Lord Alanbrooke."

"I'm still a little hazy on how exactly Honoka got us out of a court martial and discharge, I mean we pissed off the Chief of Imperial General Staff pretty badly!"

"I guess it's just her natural charisma, he did look like he was going to explode though didn't he?"

Maki giggled "I didn't actually know that Moustaches bristled that way!" Both girls laughed at the memory of the pure outrage on the Field Marshal's face until it was defused somehow by Honoka.

"And that wasn't even the end, Remember when Rin said she could climb Nelson's column?" Umi looked inside, hearing the murmur of conversation die down when Rin heard her name

"She got stuck at the top of one of the friezes. And was sat there shouting at us for fifteen minutes to get her down from up there."

"Rin could definitely do it nya! Rin was just a little too drunk to actually do it properly!" the exclamation from inside the room sounded slightly wounded.

"Come on Rin, don't go breaking your neck keeping promises you made when you were drunk. We'd all miss you. Right Umi?" Maki asked silently gesturing for her to follow her lead in comforting the prideful cat's feelings.

"Yeah Rin, you don't need to climb Nelson's column we know you are capable of much more impressive things than that!"

"Really?" Rin poked her head around the door frame sounding sceptical

"Of course." Both girls answered in unison and burst out laughing at the bemused reaction on Rin's face.

Rin's confusion quickly evaporated, turning instead into a mischievous smile "Well that's good because between you two and Rin; Rin doesn't think she could climb it either." Rin turned to face Umi, the mischievous smile on her face growing. "Sorry Umi-chan. Rin and Kayo-chin have plans after all so we can't go out with you. But we think that you and Maki-chan should have fun instead!"

"Huh?" it was Maki's turn to look confused. "But you said we weren't doing anything today?!"

"Well Rin and Kayo-chin were thinking and we came up with something to do. Besides doesn't Maki-chan like spending time with Umi-chan? You two were so lovey-dovey last night."

Maki blushed twirling her hair around her finger, muttering about 'it's not like she doesn't not like not spending time with Umi. But that's another thing!'

Umi blushed stammering before she narrowed her eyes at the comment while "W-W-What do you mean? I don't remember acting that shameless! And I'm pretty sure I can remember all of what happened last night."

Maki stopped her murmuring in infinite negatives. "Hmmm you're right I don't remember that either."

"Well it's true nya!" Rin looked offended at the questioning looks the two girls were giving her. "Rin remembers it clearly too! So does Kayo-chin. Umi-chan and Maki-chan were draped over one another all night whispering really loudly to each other about how cute you thought each other was. And when Rin got stu-…decided not to climb Nelson's column when Umi-chan and Maki-chan were worrying they were holding hands the entire time nya"!

The corporal and the medic stared, their faces perfect pictures of shock their jaws dropping to the floor. They remained motionless, silent for a few seconds while Rin glared at them defiantly.

Umi slowly closed her mouth. There was no point fighting the rising blush that now covered her face. She looked at the ground trying to hide the sheer embarrassment in her eyes. "Shameless." She whispered, to no one in particular.

"Now hang on a second!" Maki was on the verge of exploding with embarrassment and rage. "I want a second opinion! Hanayo is this true?" Maki shouted back into the room, the volume making the timid girl flinch slightly.

"Ummmm well…" the brunette paused carefully considering her next words. "I-I think it's true that You and Umi were behaving like a couple last night. From what I've seen you two have really good memories after you drink except when it involves you two being together, then you forget it completely, it's like the alcohol loosens you up."

The last sentence sparked a plan in Umi's mind, a plan to find out what Maki was keeping from her. Alcohol loosens us up, so if I stay sober… a little

Maki lost the will to be outraged. Instead her face morphing to an even deeper shade of red, almost as scarlet as the face of Lord Alanbrooke's the night before.

Rin cleared her throat loudly. "So that's why me and Kayo-chin think that you two should spend some time together. Umi-chan and Maki-chan obviously make each other happy."

Not enough, I can't give her enough. Umi banished the thought turning her attention back to the ginger tom-boy who was still talking.

"So Rin thinks they should spend time together. With that said…" Rin paused turning to Maki, coming out from her hiding spot behind the door, a khaki uniform in her arms. "Maki-chan Rin and Kayo-chin hereby banish you from our room until you've spent enough time with Umi-chan! Here is your uniform now have fun."

With that Rin shoved the clothes and shoes into Maki's arms and slammed the door with a loud bang that made both girls jump.

Maki blinked a few times "Huh?"

"What just happened?" Umi asked quietly

"I'm not sure…" Maki stared at the pile of clothing in her arms. "Hey Umi…" Maki tugged at Umi's sleeve grabbing her attention.

"What is it Maki?"

"Can I change in your room please? All I've got on now is this shirt…" Maki twirled her lock of hair furiously avoiding Umi's gaze.

"Sure it's this way. It might be a bit messy though, afterwards what do you want to do?" Umi smiled at the confused girl in front of her.

"Wait you're not going to lecture me about being shameless?"

"What do you mean? You're wearing your pyjamas and you got kicked out. It's not your fault." Umi grabbed Maki and started leading her by the wrist

"But Umi all I've got on is this shirt." Maki's mumbled confession was barely audible to Umi's ears

Wait what does she mean by all? The penny dropped in Umi's mind, flooding it with unsavoury thoughts. Umi opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Darkness swirled at the sides of her vision and she felt increasingly dizzy

"Umi?" Maki could swear that she heard a hiss of steam come from Umi, followed by a high pitched whining sound, like a kettle.

Umi fainted less than a second later.


6 Hours Later

Umi sighed, walking into a pub just off of Piccadilly, the light outside was fading and a blackout would soon be in force. Maki followed behind her, slumping into one of the sumptuous leather chairs that occupied the gloomy smoke filled room. Low wooden rafters jutted down from the ceiling and posters and bric-a-brac that didn't look like they'd been changed since Victoria's reign festooned the whitewashed walls.

The afternoon had not gone well. Umi had planned to take Maki shopping for some new clothes, but it was an hour before she came to again, coming face to face with a concerned Redhead fretting over her.

When they had both gotten out of the hotel at last, the quickly discovered that going clothes shopping was impossible. Rationing was in effect, and neither Umi nor Maki had enough coupons to buy what they wanted. Even when Umi tried pooling her coupons with Maki's they still couldn't afford the dress that the medic had her eyes on, much to Umi's dismay.

The streets of London were hot too; both girls became quite uncomfortably hot quickly, walking along the bomb-damaged streets. Eventually both girls had given up on trying for a successful trip and decided to head for a walk in Kensington common.

Even this was to prove to be a hard task. The Underground wasn't running and debris or closed streets due to unexploded bombs had blocked their path on more than one occasion, forcing them to take lengthy detours.

Twice they had both had to take cover due to air raid warning from Doodlebugs. The low buzzing of the flying bombs that the Nazis were now deploying on a helpless civilian populace causing fear and anxiety in all the civilians who heard it until it flew overhead indicating that they were safe. Even Umi felt apprehensive at times, and looking at Maki, she could tell that she felt the same way.

The common had been mildly relaxing, but it had been spoiled when a group of sailors on shore leave tried hitting on Maki, and wouldn't take no for an answer. Umi had been forced to step in yelling at the men to back off, and more embarrassingly she may have told them to 'keep their filthy paws away from my woman!'

Umi flushed red at the memory and at the looks she'd got from people also spending their Sunday in the park. Thankfully the populace had been on her side, and some well-placed jeers combined with the menacing aura the growing crowd gave off caused the sailors to beat a hasty retreat, without any violence, Umi wanted to die, although the look she got from Maki, made her heart do somersaults.

It had not been their finest afternoon together.

Dinner had been ok but nothing stellar, just a lot of awkward silence, the two girls kept interrupting each other when trying to start a conversation, a few stolen glances here and there. It had been a nice gesture on Rin's part but really it wasn't romantic day out she knew the lively ginger runner had in mind when she and Hanayo had pushed them into this. Although what she said about Maki making her happy, had been true…being around the cute redhead certainly made Umi feel so unbelievably happy.

The only problem was while she was happy right now Umi was not relaxed. How can being around one person be so stressful? She asked herself.

"Hey Umi." Maki murmured settling into the chair she had chosen for the night. "If you're going to the bar can you get me a drink to please?"

Umi smiled back with the redhead yawning lethargically, the room had that effect on her when she was sober. "Sure what do you want?..." she replied before a thought struck her.

Wait this is the perfect time to get her drunk and then if what Hanayo and Rin said is true I might…just might…be able to find out what happened on D-Day. The blank in her memory had haunted Umi for nearly a month now, and it was even more annoying when her friend wouldn't tell her what had happened, and had even run away to avoid talking to her.

"Anything is fine Umi." Maki closed her eyes resting her head back on the armchair.

Umi deftly weaved her way through the thickening crowd in the dim smoke filled room, avoiding revellers and casual drinkers alike, a few close calls almost resulted in a repeat of last night's accident.

Umi arrived at the crowded piece of blackened wood, aged by the time I had spent, by the weight of history and age on its shoulders, men and women of all stripes, officers and bank clerks, enlisted men and workers. Umi felt a lot more at home here than she would've at the bar at the Ritz, she had glanced in there earlier, and for one of the first times ever, felt pitifully small because of her rank, with only two chevrons on her arm. She would've felt out of place if she dragged Maki back there; in fact she didn't see anyone below the rank of colonel in there, and this time she didn't have Honoka urging her forward.

The buzz of conversation filled the air, with everything from the war to 'what Jeanine was wearing'. Umi subtly raised her hand at one of the bartenders, who nodded politely and continued to serve his current patron. Umi killed the short wait by analysing the spirits and lagers arrayed on the back wall, advertising the pubs wears to the world.

"What'll it be Gorgeous?" Umi glanced up to see a wiry young man, with a mess of brown hair and dull green eyes wiping a glass, asking her for her order.

Umi narrowed her eyes, unamused at the obvious attempt to flirt with her. "Shouldn't you be at the front? Not courting women who are spoken for."

The bartender blinked a few times surprised. "Wait what? Who? Huh?"

Umi leant on the bar, subtly gesturing at Maki. "That girl there and I are here together, so no thanks not tonight."

The bartender switched his gaze between the two, before a look of understanding snapped him out of his shock, tapping his nose in a knowing motion. "Ahhh I see so you and her…" the bartender whistled as though calling a horse, giving Umi a wink "no wonder you're not interested. And my sister fulfilled the national service quota; I work days at the factory"

Umi blushed. "N-N-No it's not like that. It's nothing t-t-that s-s-shameless." Umi spat the words out uncertainly "Anyway I'll have a whiskey on the rocks, and I know this will sound bizarre but do you have any grape juice?"

"Grape juice?" the bartender thought for a second. "Well with all the shortages we've got now I'm not sure, then again dad did mention that the government had issued alternative drinks to many pubs in London to try to get people to cut down on excess alcohol consumption."

"Why's that?"

"Well drunk workers aren't the most productive. Although I heard a rumour that they rushed this through parliament after some minister had his peaceful night at the club interrupted by some loud and drunk paratroopers, it was only about five days ago as well. Anyway I'll take a look down below." The bartender walked off out of sight.

Umi remained silent at the obvious implication of her and her friend's actions on the first night of leave. Nervously fiddling with her insignia that marked her as a member of the Airborne forces.

The bartender returned after a bit with a pint glass filled with a dark red liquid. "You're in luck we actually do have some grape juice, came in this morning you see."

"Ummm I hate to be a bother but I need it to be in a wine glass, but thanks for looking." The bartender looked disarmed by the apologetic smile that Umi gave, retrieving a wine glass while muttering to himself about someone called 'Les Dian' he poured the juice into the wine glass.

While he prepared a glass for Maki's whiskey Umi studied the glass in front of her. The illusion was complete. Perfect it looks exactly like wine.

"Here…" the bartender lid a half full glass of whiskey over to Umi "that'll be three shillings and ten pence please."

"Here…" Umi rummaged in her pocket pulling out two, two shilling coins, the dull clink as the exchange occurred and Umi got back her change was barely audible in the crowded bar. "…Oh and before I forget…If me or my companion asks for wine, can you give me grape juice again." The bartender narrowed his eyes sceptically before agreeing.

Umi grabbed the two glasses and headed back to the two seats that Maki had reserved.

"Here I got you whiskey is that ok?" Umi handed Maki the glass of golden liquid over the top of her head, dangling it in front of her face

"It's fine. I thought you didn't like wine?" a look of confusion passing across her face.

Crap! Umi smiled trying to cover up her mistake. "I thought I'd give it a try you know?" Umi sat down in the chair next to Maki and watched anxiously, the girl took a sip of her whiskey.

"It's good, thanks Umi for getting this for me, next round's on me ok?"

Umi nodded sipping the sweet grape juice/wine.

The two girls passed the time drinking slowly and chatting about everything gossiping about people they knew, telling stories from their past. With each sip and each drink Umi noticed Maki, getting a little less coordinated, a little more open, a little less inhibited and that she'd slur her words more often.

"Hey Umi?" the blue haired corporal looked over to see Maki looking into her half full drink, an air of melancholy shyness and vulnerability surrounding her.

"What is it?" Umi leant forward seeing if Maki was actually sad or just shy.

"Have I ever told you that you're really pretty?" Maki hid her face in Umi's chest immediately after saying those words.

Umi's heartrate skyrocketed. "U-U-Uuuhh Maybe, I'm not sure?"

Is this what Hanayo means by Lovey-dovey?

Maki sat up after she heard Umi's response and downed the rest of her drink. I'm going to get some more want some?"

Umi shook her head gesturing to wine glass in front of her "I-I-I-I'm g-good thanks Maki." It was all she could do to stop the internal screaming becoming external.

The redhead returned shortly afterwards with four whiskey glasses each full of the amber liquor. From the way she was swaying Maki was already very drunk. She downed three of the four glasses in front of her and sat staring at the wall in front of her for a good few minutes, her face as red as her hair, too red for it to be just from the alcohol.

Umi was becoming worried, she saw that Maki's eyes were blinking more obviously and it looked like she was muttering something to herself. "Maki are you-"

The redhead cut her off by turning to face her. Her violet eyes burned with sheer determination, slowly a goofy smile spread over Maki's face, and it almost sounded like she was laughing.

Maki reached her hand out to Umi's face caressing it clumsily. "M-M-Maki!" Umi screeched her voice jumping several octaves.

"Umi-chan's ssoooo pretty." Maki closed the distance between the two of them her drunken gaze peering into the bowels of Umi's soul

"M-Maki! What are you doing?!" Umi's face flushed bright red, Maki got closer and closer, Umi's breathing became shallower and shallower, and Maki brought her free hand up and around Umi's neck.

Umi couldn't take her eyes off of the girl in front of her, Her gentle soft skin unmarred by the dirt and grime of the battlefield looked like a sculptor had carved what he thought and angel should be with her soft cheek bones and her button nose. Her lips were tainted a rose pink by the blood flushing her face; their smooth curve appeared to be calling to Umi beckoning her in tempting her like some forbidden fruit tainted pink by the alcohol . The intense imperial purple of her eyes burned like a potassium flame that Umi remembered as a child; one that had enraptured her, and that she knew was too dangerous to keep a hold of for any length of time, that would explode and kill her with only the slightest provocation. Maki's hair was slightly dishevelled from being under a beret all day, and strands of it poked out from all over her head, making her even cuter. How is it that she is this attractive?

Umi felt Maki take a hold of her hand lacing their fingers together, causing some stammering sounds to come out of her mouth.

Maki silenced her further protests with a clumsy finger pressed against her lips. "Shhhhh Umi-chan is so cute when she's flustered, but right now just let it happen, like we did in Normandy." Her voice was laced with a sultry depth that made her even more irresistible.

That last phrase brought Umi's mind back to her objective. "What do you mean? What did we do in Normandy?"

Maki backed up a quizzical look on her face, which was no longer millimetres from Umi's "You don't remember?"

Umi shook her head.

Maki giggled, draping her arm over Umi's shoulder, she pulled the blue haired girl in close. Umi could feel her hot breath tickling her ear. "We had sex." She slurred giggling afterwards with that sonorous laugh of hers.

Umi tensed up, her heart pounded like a machinegun in her chest, all the blood in her body rushed to her head. "W-W-We had se-se-" Umi couldn't say it.

Maki purred, "Do you want me to spell it out for you? We had S-E-X. We made love together Umi. Although it would be more accurate to say that you made love to me…"

Umi jolted. What? Her insides were torn between the elation she felt and the crushing shame. All sorts of images flashed through Umi's mind, of Maki's voice calling for her, of her naked body writhing beneath her, are these memories or fantasies?

It didn't matter now. Umi could feel the urges she repressed around the girl in front of her rising to the surface, Maki's body suddenly felt a lot hotter, or was it Umi who was overheating? The redhead's body suddenly became a magnet for Umi's eyes, her gaze wandering all over her form imagining what lay beneath the dull khaki, that was designed to be unflattering, but somehow clung to Maki's form, emphasising every delectable curve.

Maki giggled again, her peals of laughter heavenly in Umi's ear "The things you could do with that mouth of yours were absolutely…shameless." Maki's voice dripped with lust as she breathed the last word into her companion's ear.

Umi shuddered with pleasure, feeling the heat spread in her core, she let out a tortured sigh. No this is wrong, we can't do this! She kept it a secret for a reason! She has to feel that we can't work either, that this is just… Umi's mind kept wandering back to that damned word as she tried to come up with an alternative. This is just…lust that's all it isn't love at all. Why did it hurt to think that?

Umi gently pushed the drunken medic off of herself earning a hurt mewl in response. Umi placed both of her hands on Maki's shoulders forcing the younger girl to look her in the eye. "Maki, why didn't you tell me this? You had known for a month, so why?"

Maki averted her gaze, a sullen look replacing the, overpowering lust of a minute before. "I was scared…" she replied meekly.

"Scared?"

"I was scared that if you found out, you think that I was too 'shameless', that I was some kind of whore. I took advantage of you Umi! You were drunk! Hurt! I should've stopped you but I couldn't help myself…I was too weak, I was scared that if you found out it'd change the way you saw me, I thought you see a weak, shameless harlot. That you'd leave me…" Maki lowered her voice tears pricking the corners of her eyes.

Umi stared at the girl shocked at the revelation, Maki was scared that I'd leave her…guilt washed over Umi when she realised that for most of the day she'd been thinking of doing exactly that. The blue haired girl repeated her outburst over and over in her head, each time she realised that Maki was none of the things she thought that Umi would see her as, she was strong, faithful, beautiful. Umi's heart twisted into knots when she realised. "Shameless." She whispered under her breath absentmindedly.

Maki sat up straighter, her face contorted into a frown. "I see" she said softly.

Did she hear me? Umi kicked herself internally for her faux-pas but before she could apologise. "Umi I-I-I… I need to go outside for a bit…" Maki got up and snatched up her headdress, before dashing out into the darkness of the blacked-out street, her eyes pregnant with tears, her voice heavy with emotion, cracking under the strain when she spoke.

"What have I done?" she muttered to herself. I need to talk to her, this can't go on like this. One of us could get hurt or even worse killed if we take this into action. Even if we were…together…it wouldn't stop. The logical side of Umi's brain had made up its mind. Her heart hadn't though, and was still screaming like it had been stabbed repeatedly.

Umi walked to into the darkness expecting to see Maki crouched over the pavement, ill or depressed or maybe both. "Maki?" she asked to the darkness moving away from the noise of the pub. "Maki? Where are yo-Mmphh!"

Something soft and panting pressed themselves against Umi's lips two hands grabbing her by her lapels and shoving her against the wall of the pub. Her amber eyes widened in shock at what happened.

The lips moved against her own slowly sensually, coaxing her into the embrace of the mystery person. Umi closed her eyes savouring the sweet slightly tangy taste of tomatoes that she knew anywhere. Only one word was on her mind; Maki. Umi kissed back her lips crashing against those of her lover's in a chaotic embrace. A thousand suns exploded in Umi's mind, their intense heat melting away the outside world until it was just her and the redhead in front of her. Umi caressed her tear stained cheek before she buried her hand in Maki's unruly red tresses, her beret falling to the ground with a soft 'flop' that neither girl cared enough to register.

Maki grabbed more and more of Umi's shirt balling up the fabric into her fists, like she could try to close their emotional distance if only she was close enough to her body in the real world. It was as though literal sparks flew between their lips with every little touch it sent off a thousand nerves to the brain, garbling what they felt, it was a sensation that they shouldn't have been able to experience, but they were, every touch was euphoric.

Umi mover her hand stroking the side of Maki's waist gently, curling up and around pulling her closer by the small of her back.

The sounds of her desperate kissing were all that Umi could hear, the soft whimpers that came from her mouth, the soft cries of an emotional Maki across from her, all echoed around in her head, a glorious orchestra of her lover and her locked in an embrace.

Umi wished that the moment could continue forever, no war, no complicated emotions, and no responsibility. Just her and Maki together.

But alas humans are fragile creatures that need air to breath, the two girls panting heavily, gulping down the precious air into their lungs.

Umi relaxed her grip on Maki, her arms falling by her sides, while Maki kept her shirt clenched in her fists. Blood rushed to Umi's face when she realised what they had done in public, she was suddenly very glad of the blackout that was in effect.

Maki kept her gaze fixed on Umi's chest, hiding her face from Umi. "Umi I need to tell you this." Maki whispered softly.

"W-What is it?"

"I can't keep putting this off anymore!" Maki said more to herself apparently than to Umi. Maki looked up, an infinite fire of determination burning in her penetrating Violet eyes. She opened her mouth her voice failing her for a second "Umi I-I'm in love with you!" Maki shook her head. "No love isn't a strong enough word. I-I can't live without you Umi, you brought so much to me, so much colour into my life that it's like before I met you I lived in a world of grey. The kiss was a way to get you to understand my feelings."

Maki took a deep breath preparing herself for what came next "You complete me Sonoda Umi! Do you feel the same way?" her tear stained eyes burned with hope, a hope of a future where she and Umi were together.

Umi blinked. No this can't be happening; we're not going to work! We're too emotional we argue a lot too! Umi kept listing off reasons why they couldn't be together in her head, the internal argument raged, yet for every reason that she could come up with for not being with Maki she always came up with the perfect counter-argument. But's it's Maki. Umi exhaled slowly steadying herself trying to calm her heart rate. Only one thought ran through her mind.

I love her.

Umi met Maki's gaze. The redhead was still looking at her, despite her usual determination she looked like she had been stripped bare, her heart exposed and on a plate for Umi to receive. Umi gently took Maki's hands by the wrists lowering them by her side in a caring gesture, the tension flowing out of Maki's body I love her.

"M-Maki we're not going to work out." Wait what?!

Umi watched the hope in the eyes of the girl she loved die, replaced by a brief moment of shock, then the tension returning to her body, accompanied by a cold look of resignation in her eyes.

What happened I didn't mean to say that! "I mean we're just too different you and I." I don't care about that! "And you and I argue too much." That's what makes being around her fun! Tears began streaming down Umi's eyes as she tried in vain, screaming internally at herself to stop talking, helpless to stop herself destroying the dreams of the girl in front of her, causing the silent weeping, the tears thudding the floor, adding impact to each terrible word that came from Umi's mouth. "Plus its wartime, we'd be tempting fate."

"But I don't care about that!" Maki shouted.

"But I do! I can't make you wait, or put your dreams on hold if I got crippled!" She wouldn't care you idiot! "You'd be better off with someone who can make you happy, who fits you better like Nico or Rin someone who loves you like I don't" Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! LIAR! "I can't return your feelings Maki. I'm sorry." Maki don't believe her! Please see that she's lying! I love you please understand, this isn't what I wanted! I don't know why I'm saying this…

Maki broke out of Umi's grip. Her face and clothes stained by tears "What is this? I don't understand you!" Maki yelled at her before she ran away into the darkness. Leaving a broken Umi behind her.

Umi stared at the figure of the girl she loved faded into the blackness of her surroundings "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so so so sorry Maki." She mumbled her apology over and over again into the frigid night air. She shook her head. "I really am an evil person." She said realising that her one chance to be honest with the girl had been shattered by the real dark thoughts that she held, by the real evil inside of her planted there years ago. By the months of denial, by the superficial excuses that she had used to hide her true feelings, and now as Sonoda Umi slumped against the wall onto the cold, damp pavement, she looked up at the night sky, knowing that there was no way that she could fix this, that their relationship was shattered beyond repair.

And she wept.


A/N: Don't hate me