A/N: So welcome back sorry again for chapter twelve this chapter will be from Rin's perspective because I finally worked up the courage to try and write her.

So what few of you exist after chapter twelve enjoy.


Muse Section Chapter 13

July 15th 1944 Allied Army base 'Otonokizaka' North of Caen, Normandy.

Rin let the breeze tug at her short orange hair, surveying the array of green tents and vehicles sat peacefully beneath the grey sky before her, the calm of the early summer morning only broken by the occasional fighter bomber flying overhead, or a brief artillery barrage fired from the base's battery of 25 pounder guns. But despite it all, the calming summer breeze, the near silence, Rin wasn't calm, not calm at all.

For one there was nothing interesting to do in the rear areas, the fact that they were only there for two days didn't matter, it was still dull with nothing to climb, or no open spaces where she could run without having to go through the barriers surrounding the camp. It was like a prison.

But more than that, the air felt toxic, not literally of course, but Rin couldn't put her finger on it, the atmosphere felt off. Her friends weren't acting right, Kotori was more outspoken than usual, loudly declaring her affections for their sergeant at every opportunity, in ever more elaborate ways, currently she was stewing in the Redcaps' tent for forging the signature of the chief quartermaster. Rin still didn't get how exactly she'd moved all those shells secretly and then detonated them in a nearby so the craters formed the words 'I love you Honoka' she doubted that anyone did, suffice to say the resident Royal Artillery officer was not pleased.

Honoka meanwhile looked like she was trying her best to not die from the stress that had obviously built with every time she was called into Captain Minami's office over Kotori's latest stunt or she was mobbed by journalists and war correspondents seeking a story after every patrol. Rin noticed that the only times that she was truly relaxed was when Kotori simply held her in her tent in the evening cuddling her gently or when she was writing those letters to someone like she did all the time; a warm smile on her face whispering something incoherent. Letters that Rin saw Kotori tear up or burn at every opportunity she thought she wasn't being watched.

That wasn't the worst part. A cloud hung over the section ever since they had come back from leave, ever since Maki had run back to their room in London tears streaming down her face, and refused to talk about what had happened, she just kept calling herself 'stupid' and sobbing other words of self-hatred over and over again. The Medic had appeared to return to normal the next day but, Rin might've been slow, but she wasn't entirely stupid, she noticed something was up.

It's like a part of Maki-chan has died…she won't even talk to Umi-chan now…

Rin frowned at the thought. The redhead wouldn't even acknowledge their second in command by her first name, simply calling her 'Corporal Sonoda'. They were so close before… Rin could see Maki was suffering so she made it her and Hanayo's mission to cheer her up, playing games, hugging her when she appeared on the verge of randomly bursting out crying, despite her protests. It had almost become a routine, Maki weeping in her arms while the ginger stroked the back of her head whispering soothing things into her ear.

And Umi was just the same, almost dead inside. Rin had overheard Honoka and Kotori talking about how the usually stoic girl cried herself to sleep every night, mumbling incoherent words, apologising to Maki repeatedly. Rin didn't understand why she would do that, but she felt that if either of them were ready to talk about it to her they would, until then she would wait.

On top of all this her best friend had gone missing today, hence why Rin was sat on top of the Camp's flagpole. "Kayo-chin where are you?" Rin mumbled to herself, she had scanned the camp for any visible signs of the brunette, or places where she might be, places with large amounts of Rice, one of those shows by one of the starlets her and Nico-chan were obsessed with, but the camp had none of those so Rin was at a loss as to where she should look.

"Oi Get down from there."

"Nya!" Rin nearly fell off of the flagpole in shock. She'd been found out; Rin looked down to see a blustery fat Sergeant Major wagging his finger at her, and yelling about regulations again.

Rin never understood the adults' obsession with rules and restrictions, and the army had so many of them, it They're so boring nya. It's a good thing Honoka-chan doesn't pay attention to them.

Rin adjusted her webbing before jumping down from the top of the flagpole she was perched on, doing a somersault in mid-air before landing on her feet as she always did. Despite the acrobatic skill shown, the impact of the ground rushing up to meet her legs still sent a jarring pain through her legs, shaking her skeleton "Ow…that hurt nya."

"I don't care!" the Sergeant Major grabbed her roughly by the shoulder "You're coming with me to see the MPs."

Rin shook her head violently, pulling herself free from his surprisingly weak grip. "No! Rin has to find Kayo-chin!"

"Like hell you are!" The whale of a man dived after her tryin to tackle her to the ground.

"Nya!" Rin jumped out of the way and began running away through the various tents.

"Oi! Come back here you little shit!" Rin saw the fat blob get up and start sprinting after her, his face red with exertion after only a few paces.

Rin smirked as she slowed her pace to a jog, waiting until the her pursuer had nearly caught her again, then using her bursts of speed to keep herself just out of his reach.

"Wait…up…you…." He was so out of breath it was hilarious. The Sergeant Major slumped to his knees sweat pouring off of his forehead turning the green of his khaki uniform a dark black. he was panting heavily as though he'd run a marathon, not less than a mile.

Rin giggled at the sight, jogging on the spot just out of his reach. "What's wrong nya? Can't keep up with Rin?"

Rage filled the man's eyes "I'll…have…your hide…you-"he collapsed mid-sentence falling to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Causing Rin to stop jogging and laugh raucously.

Rin stopped when his form stirred, realising that she'd be in big trouble if he ever regained consciousness. She dashed away through the camp again, keeping a look out for Hanayo. She frowned looking at the endless rows of tents.

Green canvas, Green canvas, and more green canvas! Why can't the camp be more exciting colours nya? It's not like the enemy actually have an air force these days anyway so we can make it look pretty now.

Rin kept checking every tent when she passed it the tedium of looking seeping into her being, she yawned "Where is sh-"

"Someone Help Me!" the light and airy voice twisted into a cry of help, pierced through Rin's mind, only one person sounded like that.

"Kayo-chin?!" Where did that come from? Rin looked around her before running through the camp again at full speed She has to be nearby…

"Please some-" this time Hanayo's cry was muffled halfway through. Behind! Rin whirled around vaulting guy-ropes and stumbling around a corner.

"I told you to keep quiet! Now we're going to have to hurt you." Rin heard a gruff voice coming from around the corner. She stopped herself just short of skittering around the corner flattening herself against the tent, peering around it.

She saw three men surrounding Hanayo, One of them had his hand clamped over her mouth as he held the petite girl from behind his arm squeezing around her neck, an ugly scar marring his face, his nose looked like it had been smashed in repeatedly, greasy black hair poked out from beneath his helmet.

The other two men were standing there their fists clenched in anger. They both had their backs to Rin, one of them stood almost hunched over he was small and rubbed his hands together constantly, the epitome of the expression weaselly. The other stood taller, straighter, an air of superiority about him, unlike the other two he wore a peaked cap and kept his well-manicured hands behind his back, occasionally running them through the greying hair on the side of his head. On his lapels he wore two pips. An officer?! Rin was shocked that he'd let this sort of thing happen.

Rin couldn't see much else but she could see Hanayo struggling meekly against the much taller bigger with the squashed face, the beginnings of tears in Hanayo's purple eyes sparkled emphasising one thing.

Hanayo was terrified.

"Sir don't hit 'er in the face, I like the look at summit pretty when I'm havin' me fun." The weael one said rubbing his hands with glee.

"Now, Now, Greg I though we agreed that I get first go, after all this harlot insulted me! I think it only right that I get to have my fun first." The officer's posh voice fell on nearly deaf ears. Ears deafened by primal anger

Fun? FUN! They think this is Fun? They're hurting Kayo-chin! Rin had chosen her target, and planned out her attack long before this but that phrase sent rage coursing through her system.

The officer slugged Hanayo in the stomach, causing her to double up in pain, her cry stifled by the hand clamped over her mouth. Tears rained down on the grass beneath her.

Rin snapped "You leave Kayo-chin ALONE!" her voice broke from the volume of her yelling, the men all jumped at hearing the shout, Rin took her opportunity, and sprinted towards them as fast as she could, she pushed off of the ground launching herself into the air her leg extended in a flying kick.

Her foot connected with the squashed face of the man holding back Hanayo with a sickening crack of bone snapping, a second kick to his neck, sapped her momentum allowing her to land with cat-like grace on her feet.

The man staggered back Blood pouring from his nose; Hanayo took the opportunity to stamp on his foot, splaying her arms breaking free from his grip while she transformed the stagger into a fall.

Rin stared at the two men who looked stunned as their companion propped himself up, clearly in great pain his moans more than emphasising that fact.

"Rin said leave Kayo-chin alone!" the shout transformed into a low growl this time.

The officer blinked, before regaining his composure. "Or what? I'll have you know that whore smashed into me. She deserved some punishment. I mean she had the nerve to sign up in the first place. You too in fact. You should start running, because when I catch you I'll make sure you remember your place is in the home! I'll have you both on a charge for this!" the ranting didn't appear to stop, blending into one monotonous sound as foam appeared at the side of the man's mouth.

Rin clenched her hand around the knife on her belt. Her fringe hiding her eyes in shadow, the cool feel of metal in her hand making the other girl to stir from her slumber in Rin's head, the girl who relished in using cold steel, who adored the feel of blood on her hands, and the look of despair and fear when she drove the knife into flesh, the girl who loved the 'squelch' of organs whenever she disembowelled someone. The girl who had been driven insane by war and who could do what Rin could not. Take a human life.

"No." Rin said quietly, trying to restrain the other girl inside her "You are the ones who had better run." Her frigid voice sending shivers down the spine of

The weasel man, seeing the look intent roiling in her Chartreuse eyes gently tugged at the officer's sleeve. "Er Sir. I fink we'd better do what she says."

The officer looked down, as though the mere suggestion offended him. "What are you talking about man? They're just girls! What can they do? They shouldn't have been allowed to be soldiers in the first place! They should know their place! Subservient, designed to serve the superior sex!" he glared at the two girls standing in front of him, directing his last remarks at them.

Rin sighed. "Looks like Rin'll have to teach you two a lesson then nya~." She stopped holding back the other girl and whipped out the steel blade soundlessly from its sheath. She pushed her weight forward, sliding down into a fighting stance, coiling the energy in her front leg like a spring. The other girl smiled at being let free, before she propelled herself with a superhuman speed, the air rushed in her ears for a brief second, the wind singing over the blade's edge as the other girl brought it up and stabbed it forward.

She halted mere millimetres from the officer, her blade kept in her outstretched arm, held well past his face.

"What the-" the odious man felt warm blood cascade down his cheek from the deep cut that Rin's blade had left there.

"You'd better Run nya~" the other girl said sweetly. "She doesn't want me to kill you, but she can't control me forever." She whispered into his ear.

"What?" the man stepped back a look of shock on his face as he touched the fresh blood pouring out of the wound "How dare you! How dare y-" his screams were cut off quickly

The other girl brought her knee up into his stomach with immense force, she brought the pommel of her blade down onto the back of the head of the doubled over officer, turning it about she stabbed twice.

Blood sprang from two more cuts on his shoulders, his epaulets rank and all fell to the ground. Rin kicked the officer to the ground smiling one more time as she stabbed into his arm leaving the knife embedded there.

The other girl took a step back a smile on her face, like an artist admiring her work, relishing in the cries of pain watching the blood spurting everywhere out of his arm, coating everything in it's delicious red hue.

That's enough nya~. anymore will kill him. Rin ordered the other girl from the depths of her mind, pulling on her to return.

The other girl stepped back looking the officer in the face, licking the blood off of her hand like a cat. "You're lucky she's calling me back, and I want to go, you really aren't worth the trouble. But I trust we've learnt our lesson nya?"

The officer's face twisted in pain as the other girl ripped out the knife from his arm violently, desperately clutching at his wound trying to stem the bleeding. A scrabble of dirt heralding the fact that the other men had already run away

Rin returned, sheathing the knife and walking back to a grateful Hanayo. "Kayo-chin are you all right?"

Hanayo hugged Rin unexpectedly "Don't do that again please Rin." Hanayo begged her as she absorbed Rin in her embrace.

"Huh?"

"Don't let her out again, the others will find out. And you'll be sent home. I don't like her Rin I don't like the other girl, and you know it. She scares me Rin. She's not the Rin-Chan I know, she's not the Rin-Chan I love."

"But they were hurting you Kayo-chin!" Rin pouted

"Please Rin…do it for me...please."

Ron looked into her friend's pleading eyes. "Rin doesn't really understand, but Rin won't let her out as often." Rin felt the petite brunette smile as she held her closer stroking her soft fluffy hair. Just like Kayo-chin Rin giggled at the thought.

"You're the only Rin-chan I need." she mumbled into her friend.

"There you two are!" the two girls broke their embrace whirling on the balls of their feet to see a pair of angry looking pigtails poked around the corner.

"Nico-chan!" Rin ran out catching the petite soldier in her tackle hug.

"What the hell are you two doing? We're supposed to be out on the front-lines now! Everyone's looking for you."

"We're really really sorry" Hanayo bowed apologising profusely.

"We were teaching some people a lesson weren't we Kayo-chin." Hanayo nodded in response.

Nico studied the face of the ginger girl, noticing the flecks of blood on it. "Remind me never to take up classes with you guys then."


Three hours later, Allied front-line 5 miles west of Manneils, Normandy.

"Booored!" Rin groaned resting her face on the cool soil of the parapet. Her Sten rested next to her head, pointing out at where the enemy lines supposedly were, although Rin could only see a field and another goddamned hedge at the end of it.

"Rin's sick of looking at the same piece of farmland! There aren't even any Germans out there nya~ Why are we even here?" Rin shifted her feet, kicking at the loose soil at the bottom of their slit trench.

The section was keeping watch over the same bit of territory they had been before they went to the camp in the rear areas, Rin had stood for hours in the same slit-trench, camping out at night in the same barn that she had beforehand. She missed the days when the high command would pick them for exciting dangerous missions. Now because they were 'reliable' they were stuck here doing boring defensive work on an 'exposed sector of the line'.

Nico stirred beside her, rubbing the bridge of her nose slowly. "I told you a thousand times you stupid cat! There could be no-one or an entire division behind there" Nico pointed furiously at the hedge at the end of their field; "just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there! That's why we're here!"

"Nico-chan's mean!" Rin pouted again.

"Come on Rin just stick it out." Hanayo patted her shoulder softly. "You can Do your best for us…" she gestured to Nico and Maki, who both sighed in exasperation. Rin didn't exactly feel over the moon, but there was a little more motivation than before.

"Ok Kayo-chin" Rin said "but Nico-Chan why are we here again?"

Nico headbutted the parapet before turning on Rin "Oh for God's sake! You stupid-"

"Lay off of her Nico!" Maki yelled in their direction.

"Oh like you can talk…I know you pick on her just as much as I do!"

"Really?! I happen to have heard of such a thing as moderation. Plus I don't think I've ever needlessly yelled at her as much as you do!"

Nico snorted "Needless? And the entire way here you were having a go at her even the truck driver asked you to stop."

"I was worried about her, and since when have you ever passed up on the opportunity to yell at people?"

"I hardly ever do that! Name three people I yell at regularly!"

"Me, Rin, Nozomi." Maki fired off the names as soon as the question exited Nico's mouth.

"That woman deserves it! Using me to satisfy her perverted sexual desires…" Nico shivered at the thought of Nozomi's creeping hands.

"You know she doesn't mean it." Maki sighed. "Honestly you can be so bitter at times."

The black haired girl scoffed. "Me bitter, who's the one that is so bitter she got dropped at the side of the road by her precious Umi?"

Rin and Hanayo winced; no reply could be heard from Maki's end of the trench Rin saw the redhead's helmet slowly disappear beneath the parapet, as though she was sinking to the floor.

Nico started backpedalling "O-O-Of course what I meant was-" Rin shook her head lightly.

"Let Rin and Kayo-chin do this…" she whispered.

Rin stumbled over the broken earth to where Maki was curled up, her face buried into her knees tears streaming down her creamy skin, cutting through the dirt and grime that covered her face.

"Maki-chan" she said softly.

"Rin?" Maki looked up

Rin crouched down in front of her friend. "Nico-chan didn't mean it…"

Maki snivelled "I know that doesn't mean she didn't say anything true though…" Maki's voice was unsteady, on the verge of breaking, just like Maki was.

Rin shook her head violently. "Rin doesn't really understand what went on between you two, but Maki-chan should know this…" Rin took a deep breath. "Rin loves the way Maki-chan was before, you were so cool and beautiful, and you'd always help Rin with problems that Rin didn't get…And Maki-chan is still all of those things right now. What happened between you and Umi-chan doesn't change who you are Maki-chan." Rin placed a comforting hand on Maki's shoulder, her eyes softening as the redhead's tears stopped flowing, she wiped away some of the dirt and tears on her face with her thumb, her hand lingering after the caress for a few seconds.

Maki stared into Rin's eyes, her gaze possessing an edge which Rin couldn't quite place. "Rin…" she said quietly. The ginger haired girl appeared to exude light, warmth, all the things Maki was craving. "Maybe Umi was right…" her voice became soft like feathers in Ron's ears "Maybe I'd be better off with you. You've been there for me throughout this..." Maki closed her eyes, blushing, she leant forwards slightly.

Ron stared at her friend's eyes, have was a rabbit caught in the headlights of Maki's seductive stare frozen to the sport until her face was millimetres from Maki's before she realised what was happening.

"Maki-mmphh" Maki's lips smashed into Rin's own, Rin squirmed trying to push the redhead away from her, her lungs screaming, her very being telling her that this was wrong. "NYA!" She yelled, finally managing to dislodge the bewildered medic.

Maki's back collided with the dirt wall of their trench with a 'thud'. A few particles of soil rained down on them from the impact. A melancholy smile spread across Maki's face. "of course…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Maki-chan what was that?!" Rin yelled a fierce blush on her face, her body tense and bristling.

"I-I-I'm not sure…I don't know anything now" Maki looked down at her feet the earlier depression returning.

Rin softened, "Rin still doesn't know what happened with Umi-chan." She lowered her voice. "Rin can't really help you or Umi-chan if she doesn't know what happened."

"Help…Umi? " Maki raised her head confusion, sadness rejection band a thousand other emotions swimming in her eyes .

Rin nodded "Rin heard from, Honoka and Kotori that Umi-chan has spent the past few weeks like you, crying herself to sleep at night, hardly eating, Kotori-chan even said it was as though she had lost the will to live…" Rin saw Maki's eyes widen in fear. "…Rin thinks so too. She heard Umi-chan apologising to you over and over and over, when she thought that no one was listening, like a prayer."

Multiple emotions flashed past Maki's eyes, fear, hope, dread, pain and happiness. "But she said she didn't love me! She said that we shouldn't be together! So why would she cry over this? I don't understand any of this" Maki ripped off her helmet, scrunching her scarlet hair up in her fists in frustration.

"Maki-chan…" Rin paused looking at the conflicted girl. "What happened?"

"…"

"Oh just tell her you stubborn Tsundere!"

"Nico-chan!" Hanayo hissed.

"What?" Nico looked at Hanayo rapidly drawing her hand over her throat telling her to stop talking.

"We need to-"

"It's fine…" Maki sighed, pulling her legs in closer to her face, "…You'll all find out eventually, you'll all find out what an idiot I am."

Nico nodded grimly, hearing the self loathing practically dripping from every syllable of Maki's speech.

Maki sighed again. "I-I-I got drunk, on leave, the last night, me and Umi had spent the day out together, it wasn't much but just being around her made me feel happy." The melancholy smile appeared on Maki's face again as she recalled the events of that night. A blush dusted her cheeks like a cherry blossom petals scattered across a sheet, "I ki-ki" the word stuck in Maki's throat the blush on her face deepened further from a light pink to become the same colour as their berets.. "I kissed Umi, then I told her what I feel…I mean what I felt for her. And she shot me down…badly." Silent tears poured down Maki's face.

The trio looked on silent, at the broken wreck of emotions before them.

Maki wiped away a few of her tears "Look at me. How pathetic am I? You all know what I felt and I can't stop being embarrassed, I know that she dosesn't love me but I can't stop loving her so much. It just hurts so, so much. All I want is for it to stop."

Rin drew Maki in for a hug warily, wrapping her arms around her as though the girl was made of glass. "Rin doesn't think that's true Maki-chan, she thinks that Umi-chan still loves you…"

"But how? She told me we shouldn't be together, she told me she didn't feel the same way."

"Could you see her face when she did?"

"W-Well no, it was dark and the blackout was in effect, so I couldn't see it that clearly".

"Rin thinks it doesn't matter what she said. Umi-chan is hurting too, if she didn't love Maki-chan would she be apologising to you still?"

"But she said that she didn't love me!"

Rin lifted Maki's chin so that her gaze met those smashed violet orbs "What did you feel?"

"Huh?"

"You always told Rin that actions speak louder than words, when you kissed Umi-chan what did it feel to you like she felt?"

Maki averted her gaze, avoiding Rin's penetrating eyes, her blush deepening fuller than Rin had ever seen it. "It felt like she was just as desperate as I was, like she wanted me just as much as I wanted her, like she was just as scared as I was…" Maki reminisced her voice trailing off into the past "…In those few minutes I was so happy, I thought all my feelings had been returned…"

"Rin thinks you both love each other, that you always will, but you two just need to accept it, to tell the other what you feel. Right now what's stopping you from talking to her?"

Maki opened her mouth to answer before Nico interrupted her "The cat has a point Maki, you so clearly still love each other, but you're both too stubborn to admit it, Umi more so for whatever reason. I don't think you need to get back together with her like Rin does, but you should at least talk to her about this. I mean you haven't spoken a word to her outside of responding to orders in three weeks you stupid Tsundere Tomato!"

Maki remained silent, the tears having stopped.

Hanayo stepped forward her hand clasped over her heart "Whatever you do Maki-chan we'll support you, but you and Umi need to talk this out, if only to get some closure."

"You guys…" Maki breathed.

"Now go on, go to her she's in the barn, I'll keep watch over this field it's a dead sector anyway. Go on! Shoo shoo!" Nico waved her hands at the still stationary redhead.

"But I…"

"Come oooon nya~ let's go Maki-chan! Kayo-chin too!" Rin lifted her up half pulling half dragging her out of the trench.

Hanayo pointed at herself slightly confused "Huh Me?" her confusion dying with Rin's enthusiastic nodding. "Nico-chan will you be ok?" she asked, stepping out of the trench.

"I know the drill. Just come running if you hear any shooting. Now why are you all still here? Shoo! Get going!" She waved her hands again shooing them away.


The barn was a short trek away; the group mostly travelled in silence, each girl stewing in her own thoughts. The only noise being the rustle of the wind in the trees and the twittering of birds.

"There it is nya~" Rin pointed at the grey slate roof that had been partially caved in by the elements, or artillery, no one really knew. The rest of the building rapidly came into view; the yellowish-grey granite that made up the walls was crumbling in areas, but sturdy in others. Still the weathered old doors were still standing, and slightly ajar.

"I'm not sure about this…" Maki whispered to Rin, the three girls crouching down near just next to the greying door.

"It'll be fine nya~ but Maki-chan needs to do this alone." Rin smiled, giving her a friendly push in the direction of the barn.

"I-I-I guess…" Maki took a deep breath before standing up. "Wish me luck."

"You won't need it, Rin's positive that Umi-chan will respond."

"You're a good friend Rin…" Maki looked at the lively girl, who had pushed her here her gaze softened, a warmth returning that Rin hadn't seen in weeks.

Maki pushed open the barn door, Rin and Hanayo poking their heads around it, Rin crouching over the smaller brunette.

The blue haired corporal was studying something laid out on a hay bale that was turned on its side. She responded to the door opening without even looking up "For the last time Kotori, I really think that Honoka will respond badly to being called 'your wom-"

So Umi-chan has had visitors before?

"Umi…" Maki stood in the door her fists clenched, her hair hiding her eyes beneath its shadow.

Umi looked up, stunned at the new presence in her barn, she took a step back like Maki had physically pushed her. "M-Maki?"

Maki strode into the barn, Rin could see her confidence waver with ever step, but the stubborn redhead kept walking forward. "Umi I need to talk to you."

Umi looked away from Maki's gaze. Rin couldn't see her eyes but she could easily picture them, burning with passion and desire, like the sun.

"W-What about? I-I-If it's about your next assignment I really think Honoka's the one you should go to, or maybe-"

"Umi!" Maki yelled, slamming her hands down on the hay in front of Umi. "I need to talk to you…"

Rin saw the fear in Umi's amber eyes the hurt, the way that her expression of shock concealed one of pain.

Maki wiped her eyes "Umi, I know how you've been feeling the past few weeks, I heard from the others…Umi I still love you." Maki walked around the hay bale so she was standing only centimetres from the blue haired girl.

Those last words caused a jolt in Umi, she turned away, trying to distance herself from the girl in front of her, from her confession. But then why for Rin did it look like her every step hurt.

"Maki…we we can't be together, I told you this already…" Tears began falling down Umi's face, her voice cracking with every word. "…I-I don't love you."

The words shocked Maki, her eyes widening, for a moment Rin worried that she would accept the words at face value, that she wouldn't see how much pain Umi was in. but the redhead balled up her fists, closing the distance between her and the other girl again. "Stop lying to me…" Maki turned Umi around, she leant down ever so slightly, gripping Umi by her lapels so that she couldn't turn away again.

"Maki I-I-I'm not…" Umi's shaky voice, her body language everything about her screamed that she was being dishonest about her feelings. The bluenette took a deep breath trying to steady herself, her hands unconsciously, looping themselves around Maki's body. "I'm not ly-"

Maki silenced her with a kiss, Umi's eyes widened her face flared scarlet. Her shock quickly fading with each caress from Maki's gentle fingers and she relaxed into her arms. Their lips were locked in an embrace so tight, so hungry that Rin knew in that moment she was right about Umi; they kissed again and again, their mouths craving each-other's taste over and over, barely stopping for breath. Their hands wandering, pulling each other closer

Rin looked away, embarrassed, even the squelching sounds of their kiss were audible from here, "Hey Kayo-chin…" she whispered before seeing that Hanayo was utterly engrossed in the sight before her. Rin sat back waiting for the sounds to stop. It wasn't too long before the sounds subsided.

She poked her head back around the barn door, the two lovers staring into each other's eyes, panting uncontrollably, each face as red as the other, their grips on each other was white-knuckled tight as though they were afraid to let go, that they would lose the other if they did.

"Umi…" Maki breathed "…I know you still love me."

Umi shook her head, her resolve shaken but not yet broken. "I don-" Maki pressed her lips to hers once again. This time Rin could see Umi's resolve break, it was a crack that Rin could swear that she heard. Umi began crying, the tears gushing down her face.

"Do you love me?" Maki asked her eyes searching for an answer; tears rolling down her cheeks, tears that flowed unstoppable like a torrent. She stroked the side of Umi's face, Her hand wet from the tears flowing down her lover's cheek.

Umi opened her mouth to speak. She hesitated briefly before whispering something that Rin couldn't hear.

"What was that?" Maki asked, apparently she couldn't hear it as well.

"Of course I do." Umi repeated louder. "Of course I love you."

"Then why were you still lying to me?"

Umi looked away, ashamed, averting her gaze, she broke free from Maki's hold, gentle sobs rocking her body"Because all I do is hurt you! You are too good for me, I can't give you the happiness you deserve." Umi sobbed "All I have ever brought you is pain. I thought in these past few weeks that if I could make you hate me then you could be free to find someone you deserve, someone who can tell you that they love you without having to break up with you and cry themselves to sleep at night for three weeks first. Who can give you the affection you want without screaming that it's 'shamess' someone who you can treasure without always questioning her feelings." Umi turned back to face Maki. "If I am sad for my entire life, then it's fine as long as you get the happiness that you deserve Maki, the happiness I can never give you." Umi hid her head in her arms.

"Umi…" Maki covered her hand with her mouth, looking over the weeping girl in front of her, tears running down her own face. both girls were now emotional wrecks. "You have no idea…" Maki gripped Umi's shoulder, bringing up her hand. She slapped Umi hard across the cheek. Even the sound alone made Rin jolt.

Umi looked up shocked at the sudden pain on her cheek.

"Don't you dare think about yourself that way again!" Maki yelled at her. "You are worth so much more than that. Can't you see that the only way you can make me happy is by staying with me?"

"But-"

"No buts when I said I love you, that doesn't describe it!" Maki pulled Umi in close again into her embrace. "I already told you didn't I? That you complete me, that without you Umi I am nothing! Haven't you felt it these past few weeks? I know you love me, and I love you too Umi, so much it hurts. It hurts to see you like this!"

Maki kissed away the tears pouring down in torrents on her lover's cheeks. "It hurts when I'm not around you! It hurts Umi it hurts so much…and the only thing that stops me hurting is you…you Umi...are my everything, my cure."

"But all I'll do is hurt you Maki! You have to leave me behind." Umi weakly tried to protest, but Rin could see she was on the verge of giving in.

Maki stared down the sobbing wreck in front of her, she placed her lips gently on Umi's soaked skin once more "I don't care, I won't ever leave you, no matter how Manny Times thou hurt me. Because nothing hurts more than a world where you aren't by my side. The only way you can hurt me is by not being with me. I love you Umi." Maki stared her lover in the face, her dazzling smile framed by shining rivers of tears.

Umi looked surprised, confused, scared all at once, and finally, finally she smiled, a smile so wide it looked like her face would split. "I love you too Maki."

Rin felt a tear fall to the ground, an uncontrollable smile on her face as well. She watched as Umi closed her eyes, leaning forward she captured Maki's lips in a kiss again.

"Come on Kayo-chin, Rin thinks we should give them some privacy."

"Awww but, but." Rin tapped her friend's shoulder silencing her protests. "Alright Rin-chan lets go.


July 18th Unnamed Barn serving as, Muse section billet, 5 miles west of Manneils Normandy.

"Hey Rin" Rin turned around catching sight of a flustered Honoka running up to her

"What is it nya?" Rin looked puzzled

"Have you seen Umi and Maki I haven't seen them in three days."

"Uhhhh" Rin probably shouldn't mention those noises she hears and the strands of red and blue hair she found on the upper levels of the barn. "Nope haven't seen them." Rin smiled innocently

"Are you sure? Because I'm pretty sure I've heard them calling out each-other's names on the upper level of the barn."

Bollocks "Nope Rin hasn't seen them nya."

"Okay, well I believe you Rin." Honoka picked up her Sten and began walking away, "Oh one other thing, can you tell them when they're finished 'making up' up there, that three days is way too long for anyone, and that I've let it slide for now." She smiled a knowing smirk. "They've got one extra day and that's all."

Rin smiled "Rin'll let them know Honoka-chan."

"Good to know. see you around."

"Did you two hear that nya?"

A topless Maki appeared over the top of the makeshift balcony, using hay to cover her modesty, flushed red either from her recent exertion or the embarrassment she felt. "Yeah we heard, now if you don't mind you're interrupting something."

"MAKI!" Rin heard a screech from an out of sight Umi and Maki flung her head around "I thought you said they couldn't hear us!" Umi's squeals reached fever pitch and Rin could only assume from the half-guilty half-terrified expression on Maki's face that Umi was quite angry.

Maki began twirling a lock of her hair like her life depended it. "A-A-H well you see Umi I said it might be more private up here b-but I did-"

"You promised! To think that they heard us doing those things together it's just, just. Shameless!"

"Now calm down Umi..." Maki held up her hands trying to fend off a very angry Umi. "...Ron a little help here please."

"Rin'll see you tomorrow then nya~"

"No wait Rin-Chan! Ah Umi!" Maki's voice jumped several octaves and small giggle slipped out of Rin's mouth.

The ginger girl smiled listening while Maki's protests were drowned out once more by a now familiar chorus of squelching kisses and clipped moans. Rin walked out of the barn, happy that those two had finally made up and gotten together.


A/N: So it finally happened. Umi and Maki are together and its about bloody time too I was originally going to have them broken up over several chapters. Maybe even until the battle of the bulge but I couldn't do it so they kind of hijacked Rin's chapter instead

By the way I am on holiday now so updates will depend on my access to technology and WiFi sorry about that.

Don't forget to leave a review.

Glossary

MP: Military police designed to keep troops in line known in the British Army as Redcaps due to their uniforms

The other girl: (not really a military term but oh well) Rin and Hanayo's name for Rin's other personality.