Oops, a day late. Here it is though, I hope you enjoy!


The flight was effortless. A breeze, really. It was a relatively short domestic route, so there was no jet lag to speak of, no international waters to cross, and no passport drama. Luka and Lily went their separate ways upon arrival; the blonde had a friend nearby she planned to surprise with a visit. Luka, however, had to follow Miku's instructions if she was to be her date for her birthday party.

First, she was driven to the correct hotel: a massive, distastefully decorated building meant to give an impression of wealth but only coming across as ostentatious. But the room was large, the bathroom luxurious, and the pool and gym were extensive. There was even a sauna.

"So my birthday is in three nights," Miku told her. "Not tomorrow night, but the night after. Tomorrow, you'll be with my tailors. Don't worry, they'll come to you. If it takes a bit long, you'll still have the day after to make some final adjustments. If not, you'll have the day off until four o'clock. Someone will come get you then."

"Okay. I think I got all that."

Miku chuckled. "Don't worry. It'll all be taken care of. Just relax and have fun on your time off. It's all paid for by yours truly."

Luka couldn't help but oblige. She wasted no time visiting the pool and sauna, which occupied her for the rest of the day. The next morning, just after Luka had gotten dressed, there was a knock on her door.

That signaled the start of a whirlwind of activity. A large team of people came in with fabric, clothes, machines, measuring tapes, scissors, and more. An eagle-eyed woman then stood Luka on a small stool and looked at her from all angles.

"What exactly would you like to wear?" she asked Luka, who shrugged.

"Something comfortable, I guess."

"Comfort, of course. That's a given. But what would you like to wear?"

As Luka considered her options, the team showed her the clothes they had brought in. They had suits, dresses, and very little in between. It was going to be an upscale event—that much was clear. But while the designs were all undoubtedly stylish, Luka felt the color scheme—which favored bright, solid hues—left something to be desired. Everything was all red, all blue, all white, or all black.

Except for one dress that finally caught Luka's eye: it was black and white, but only barely. The white existed only on the underside of some frills and flaps, making the lines of the dress stand out with movement. There was a little accent of white here and there: inside the sleeves, along the seams, and bordering the décolleté.

"I like that one," Luka said, pointing.

"Hm, yes. But the white. You're so pale, darling," the woman said, holding the dress up. "Makes you look like a gothic vampire. A ghoul."

Luka frowned. "Oh."

"You have such a wonderful shade of hair. Beautiful pink. Sakura leaves, almost. Gorgeous. We shall work with that."

"Uhm, how so?"

"The white, we will replace it with the pink, yes? It'll make your hair stand out, and your cheeks will be rosier, yes. The pink will suit you. Stark contrast. Beautiful. Bold!"

Before Luka was questioned further, the dress was torn apart to replace every scrap of white material with pink, which they'd happened to bring. Luka watched them work like a frenzy, in obvious awe at the amount of skill displayed.

Whatever they were being paid, it probably wasn't enough.

Luka was dismissed for a few hours, the time it took to finish the dress. So she went to the gym, worked up a sweat, showered there, and returned dressed and energized back to her room. There, the dress was done, and she was invited to try it on.

It suited her perfectly.

"Only a few adjustments have to be made. A pinch here, a little extra fabric there..." the tailor muttered. "It'll be perfect."

"It's gorgeous," Luka said. "You all did such an amazing job."

The tailor and her team smiled at that. "We did, didn't we?" she said. "Now! Adjustments!"

It took another couple of hours to make the dress fit her form flawlessly, but then they were done, well before dinner. They even gave her a matching clutch to bring, so she would have something to keep her wallet and phone in.

Afterward, Luka went on a stroll, then had dinner in the hotel. After a restful night's sleep, she went to the pool in the morning, had lunch in the hotel, then another stroll, during which she picked up flowers for Miku.

It was the girl's birthday, after all.

True to her word, Luka was picked up at four o'clock on the dot. She nervously opened the door, flowers in her arms, clutch draped around her shoulders, but it wasn't Miku picking her up. Instead, it was Carl, there to drive her to the party.

Luka's leg bounced the entire solitary drive, her arms clutching the flowers as if they could somehow save her. Through the window, she watched the city pass by, followed by the smaller buildings of the suburbs, then finally the countryside. After what felt like an hour, they came to a hill, upon which sat one of the largest mansions Luka had ever seen. It covered practically the entire hilltop, with too many floors to count at a glance. The driveway was decorated with cut hedges and flower arrangements, and lights had already been installed for the evening.

Clearly, for Miku's birthday, the host had pulled out all the stops.

Luka exited the car awkwardly, looking around for Miku. She held onto the flowers tightly; they felt so out of place and inadequate.

Then Luka caught sight of Miku standing outside near the front door, apparently waiting for her. But Luka hadn't recognized her at first for two very obvious reasons.

First, Miku was wearing an extremely dapper, well-tailored suit. It was a handsome dark blue, with a baby blue pocket square and tie. But second? She had cut her hair.

It was still long, but not nearly as long as it had been just two days earlier. Instead, it only reached to the middle of her back, tied into a slick ponytail, only her bangs free to frame her face.

Luka stared for a moment, stunned. And it quickly sunk in that Miku was also staring, her jaw slack.

The younger woman snapped out of it first.

"Luka! There you are. I was getting impatient waiting for you."

"I would've been here sooner, but..." Luka shook her head. "Uhm. These are for you."

Miku blinked. "For me?"

"Sorry. I would've gotten a better present, but I didn't have a lot of time to plan."

"Nonsense. These are beautiful." Miku accepted them carefully, taking in the flowers. Luka watched her look at each one with a smile, gingerly reaching to touch a few, before she turned to another one of her employees.

"Carl, I want this in my room. Get them in water as soon as possible."

"Yes, Miss," he said, before hurrying off with the bouquet.

"Thank you, I love them," Miku said. "And I love this! What's this, a dress?"

"I wear dresses," Luka said with a smile. "You've only ever seen me in my pilot's suit, haven't you."

"You're right! It suits you."

"Thank you."

"And how about me? What do you think?"

"I can't believe you cut your hair!" Luka said, eyeing Miku's now-much-shorter ponytail.

"I sure did! New year, new me. I figured I might as well turn a new leaf. See if I can get my life sorted out somehow. While still having fun of course," she said with a wide grin.

"You have big plans?"

"Maybe. More on that later. First, my party! Come on, everyone is already there."

"You mean we're the last to arrive?"

"Fashionably late, darling. Let's go!"

Blush already painfully obvious on her features, Luka was rushed into the house. There they were greeted by a butler, then Miku hurried them down the hall toward what she called the main ballroom. Before they entered, Miku hooked her arm around Luka's.

"Since you're my date."

"Okay."

Miku's smile faltered. "Do you mind?"

"No. It's fine."

"Then let's go!"

They entered the house, which was as vast as it was on the inside as it appeared from the outside. It was decorated lavishly, with flowers and statues and paintings and streamers everywhere. It was almost overwhelming, though more tasteful than the hotel. The wealth displayed was obvious, but not obnoxious, and Luka could almost admit that she liked it. It was a bit like a luxurious resort, made to cater to expensive tastes, rather than a home, but it felt welcoming to a certain degree.

They entered the main room, a vast space that evoked every ballroom Luka had ever read about in fiction. Miku spent the first hour or so walking around, perched on Luka's arm. She went from friend to friend, none of whom seemed to recognize the pilot, introducing them by name. The exchanges were short for the most part, but there were so many of them that Luka could hardly believe that Miku had allegedly lost half her friends when she'd broken up with her boyfriend.

They took a break for refreshments, which were tucked away in a corner; the nondescript table holding drinks and snacks was almost an eyesore compared to the lavish interior of the ballroom.

"Are you having fun?" Miku asked Luka.

"It's fun enough. I finally get to put a name to all those faces."

The younger woman laughed. "You've all seen each other so many times. It's about time I introduced you all."

"Even if none of them seem to recognize me..."

"They will, in due time," Miku promised. "After all, I—"

"Miku!"

A third voice cut Miku off, and she whirled around in the direction from which it came. "Oh, Rin!"

A short blonde woman approached them. She wore a lovely black, white, and yellow dress, very similar to Luka's but more summery and somewhat shorter. There was also a huge bow perched on the top of her head, from which Luka recognized her instantly as one of Miku's regular co-passengers. More imposingly, though, she carried a massive box in her hands, and it looked like it weighed a ton.

"Happy Birthday!" she exclaimed. "Here's your present!"

"All for me?" Miku asked, eyeing the box.

"Just for you. I'll add it to the pile, okay?"

"There's a pile, is there?" Miku asked with a laugh. "Can't wait to see it, darling."

Rin smiled, her eyes quickly drifting to Luka. "Who's your new friend?"

"That's right! This is my date, Luka," Miku said, leaning against Luka's torso, clutching her arm hard.

Rin blinked at that. "Oh? Interesting."

"I know. It's about time I became a little more honest with myself," Miku said, looking up at Luka.

"Oh! I know where I've seen her before!" Rin suddenly exclaimed. "She's your pilot, isn't she?"

"That's right!"

Rin rolled her eyes. "Why did you bring your pilot, of all people?"

"Because she's the best person I know," Miku shot back almost instantly.

"But she's—"

"She's someone I know I can trust, Rin," Miku went on, her tone growing softer, a little more pleading, but only a tad. Her eyes darted around the room. "Someone who I know cares for me. That's something I never had before."

Rin hesitated for a long moment, locking eyes with Miku, but then shrugged and looked away. "Well, if that's what you want," she said, "then I'm happy for you, I guess?"

"Thank you, Rin," Miku said, a victorious smile on her face. "I'm very happy myself."

Luka subtly squeezed her hand.

"Well, I won't interrupt you, then," Rin said. "Have fun."

"Thanks! You have fun, too. This party is glorious."

"Best party on this side of the country, I'll bet," the blonde agreed, her smile returning. "I'll add your present to the pile, yeah? Hopefully you get what you want!"

"Already have," Miku said, once again pressing against Luka. "See you!"

Rin grinned then walked away, the bow bobbing along on top of her head.

"Should I have said something?"

"No, darling. That was my fight," Miku said with a faux-noble air, as if she'd just made some grand sacrifice.

"That was hardly a fight, really," Luka muttered.

"Ha, you don't see it, then. My every interaction is political."

"Is that, uhm, fun?"

"It can be. But it was harder this time. I had to concede some ground."

Luka frowned. "You mean you had to be sincere for a change?"

"If that's how you want to put it, yes. Vulnerability...tch."

"There's nothing wrong with being vulnerable," Luka said.

"Why?"

"It's a way to make relationships, friendships, last. Sincerity comes with vulnerability and without it, things just fall apart."

Miku didn't reply right away. "It's awful, though."

"You've already been vulnerable with me," Luka went on. "You're being honest with me, at least I'd like to think so."

"Oh, please. That wasn't being vulnerable. That was honesty."

Luka grinned. "You like being honest, then?"

"Sometimes. With you."

"You know what the fine line is between vulnerability and honesty?"

Miku looked up to her. "No?"

"You're vulnerable when you care about what the person in front of you has to say. You care for Rin, she's your best friend. You cared about what she thought about you bringing me as your date."

"And that's awful."

"You went out on a limb just now, telling her that."

"Precisely. The politics."

"That's not politics. That's navigating friendships. And you had to plead for her to see things from your point of view. That's your 'conceding terrain'?"

"Yes, exactly."

"That's just a bid for understanding. You put in a request, and she approved it, if somewhat half-heartedly," Luka said with a chuckle.

Miku sighed. "I don't need a lesson. I know how to navigate my social circles, and all this 'navigating friendships' and 'bids for understanding' stuff doesn't fit into the dynamics of what I live through. It's politics for me."

Luka's expression hardened. "Can you be yourself at all around the people you call friends?"

"In a way, but not the way I am with you."

"The vulnerable way."

"Yes."

Luka hummed. "If you want, I'll get you some new friends. Some people you can be honest with."

"You don't have to get me anything. You've done plenty. Let's just enjoy the party, shall we?"

Once all the introductions were done, Miku abandoned Luka to go mingle with her peers. She spent the time sampling the numerous alcohol-free drinks that were available. Then, for lack of anything better to do, she stood on the margins, people-watching and cultivating an air of mystery, as Miku had suggested the other day. From time to time, someone would approach her and start a conversation; sometimes it was easy to talk than others, but eventually it always became clear that she and whomever she was talking to lived in very different circles. Luka even began to suspect that Rin had done some gossiping; most seemed to know that she was Miku's personal pilot. For some, this was a curiosity. For others, it was clearly repulsive. So Luka spent a third of her time under scrutiny, a third of her time as an oddity, and the last third of her time totally on her own, her eyes seeking Miku through the crowds.

Miku was having a blast, that much was obvious. She laughed with her friends loud and often, flitting between groups and holding hands and hugging.

Luka sighed and left the room. After wandering down a long hallway, she found a nook behind a large pillar. It was the kind of space usually filled with a plant, or a statue, but either that had been overlooked, or all the plants and statues had been moved for the party. So she retreated into this secluded corner and pulled out her phone. It would be later where Meiko was, but not so late that she wouldn't still be awake.

I'm at the party and having a swell time.

Seconds later, the reply came in. I don't know how you manage to make your texts bleed sarcasm. What's it like?

You know how it is: rich place, rich people, Luka replied. Totally different lives. I've been by myself most of the time.

Aww. Your date not with you?

She's with her friends.

Lousy date.

I know. Luka's fingers hovered over the keypad, but then she glanced around the empty hallway. It was deserted, and clearly guests weren't meant to go that far. But she stared for a moment, before returning to her phone. It's weird.

What is?

Long story short: I'm her date cause it'll get the attention of potential boyfriends for her.

I'm so sorry.

The point is that there are hardly any guys here.

Oh. That is weird. After a moment, Meiko followed with another text. If that's why she wanted you as her date, and you knew that, why the hell did you agree?

She said she'd show me respect no matter who was around. Sounded like a good deal at the time.

OMG. How can you not see that this is a hopeless crush?

Luka sighed. I think you might have a point. It sucks that she's not here. I feel awful.

My poor Luka.

She looks great, too. She's in a suit. She cut her hair. She's more princely than ever. She's so handsome.

Woah, a suit. Luka, you gay. Then, It's almost like you're in love with her already.

Don't get too carried away.

Luka was in the middle of replying when she heard footsteps echo down the hallway. She quickly erased what she'd been typing and replaced it with a quick Brb, gtg.

Just in time. Miku emerged from around the corner, looking around, and spotted her.

"There you are!"

Luka pocketed her phone, deftly storing it away in the clutch. "Oh, hi."

Miku grinned and approached. "What are you doing over here? The party is way over there!"

"I'll be honest, I'm not having the best time," Luka admitted. "I'm either a curiosity or an 'underling.' Or I'm alone. Word has gotten out that I'm merely your pilot."

Miku looked genuinely crestfallen. "I'm sorry. I'd hoped..."

Luka shrugged. "I should have expected as much. It's how you considered me, after all. And these are the people you spend time with."

"I know, I know." Miku sighed. "I'm sorry."

"I was wondering if it would be asking too much to leave? Or—"

"Oh, no, you have to stay!" Miku pleaded, drawing closer.

Luka shrugged. "What for?"

"You could meet someone here? Remember?"

"Is that a fact? Well, I don't really see whose attention we're supposed to be attracting. Sure, a bunch of your friends are here, but there aren't many bachelors standing around flirting. At least not with me."

Before Luka could continue, Miku grinned.

"What?"

"You caught me," Miku said. "Fine. I'll do what you said and be vulnerable, I guess. There are no real suitors here. I mean, sure, there's always a few, but this isn't that kind of party."

"Oh?"

"Can I tell you a secret?" Miku whispered, leaning close. "I lied about that."

"Clearly."

"I lied a lot, that day," she confessed. "I lied about everything."

Luka frowned. "Everything? What about you respecting me?"

Miku shrugged. "I didn't lie about doing that. I lied about making that a reward for you coming. I was going to do that anyway; I felt so bad for treating you that way. There was no sacrifice to my reputation I hadn't already decided to make."

"Then why..."

"I was just saying whatever I felt I needed to say in order to get you to come," she said simply, with a somewhat impish smile.

"So, the eligible bachelors…" Luka deadpanned.

"Precisely."

Luka sighed, and pinched her nose. "That wasn't the lure you thought it was."

"No?"

"I'm... I'm kind of gay."

After a second of silence, Miku burst out laughing. "You're kidding!"

"I'm not."

"Then why did you come at all?" Miku asked, incredulous.

Luka blushed, eyes averted. She opened her mouth to reply, but no answer came out. The silence wrapped around them, uncomfortable, and the truth steeped in it like tea leaves in a kettle. Subtle, at least at first, but the longer the silence lasted, the more obvious it became.

Miku stood closer. She stood almost uncomfortably close, leaning slightly towards Luka's ear.

"Remember when you saved me the second time?" she asked, her voice hushed; it barely traveled down the halls. "And we cuddled for warmth?"

"Yeah."

"I was so tense. I was so anxious thinking about how I now owe you so much. I struggled thinking how I would repay it. When I would. If I would find the time to."

Luka nodded. "I remember. You were so stiff in my arms."

Miku chuckled. "You know what else?" she said, barely a whisper.

"What?"

"I was looking forward to it."

"What?!"

"Which was a funny thing," Miku went on, calmly, whispering as if her confession hadn't weighed anything at all. "I never looked forward to repaying favors for my boyfriend. But for you? I got so excited imagining it."

Luka felt the blush conquer her neck, face, and ears. "What are you saying—"

"I lied on all fronts, Luka. I wanted you here because I wanted to spend time with you. I wanted you to be my date. And I couldn't bear the thought that we'd barely exchange a few words every few weeks. You're so hard to get a hold of, you know? You never text. I needed this reason to get closer to you, somehow, by any means. And then you showed up, here, in this dress...?"

Luka almost jumped when Miku's hand found her waist. The touch was light, but betrayed a hidden strength, a veiled eagerness.

Luka's hand found Miku's, keeping it still. "What was all that talk about finding a rich husband, then?"

"Heh. I was trying to get a reaction from you. See if you'd get jealous. I could never get a reading on you. Until just now..." She leaned closer now, their bodies almost pressing together. "Do you hate this?" she asked.

"It depends on what 'this' is," Luka said, and she felt the need to fight tears. "Is this another one of your personas? Is this a trick? To get attention from me, from someone?"

"This is all honest. I swear." Luka heard Miku swallow hard. "You were the first one to get me to be honest, you know. Out on that raft, I almost had no choice, but you made it so easy."

"How?"

"Remember those drawings you made of me?"

Luka felt her heart drop. "Yes."

"When I realized that's how you saw me... That's when I realized I needed to be with you. I couldn't bear the thought that you'd slip through my fingers, somehow. I wanted, needed to be with someone who sees me that way. And of all the people out there in the world, only you do. So I hoped against hope that if I was myself, if I was honest, then just maybe I could catch your eye. And now you're telling me that you're here, because...?"

"You're right," Luka managed to force out. "I'm here because I like you."

Miku embraced her then, suddenly, almost brusquely, wrapping her arms around Luka's frame. Luka hesitated, holding her in return after a few heartbeats' worth of pondering.

Miku held her so tightly, as if she were a lifeline. As if Luka might disappear if she let go.

"So..." Miku breathed against her shoulder. "Do you hate this? Do you hate me?"

"I don't," Luka admitted. "I..."

"Did you like it when I kissed you?"

"I did."

"Can I...?"

"Yes."

Miku let just enough space come between them so she could kiss her, this time fiercely, and she tasted of caviar and alcohol-free Moët. The kiss was demanding, desperate, relieved, and passionate all at once. Luka reciprocated, clutching at the material of Miku's suit jacket, reveling in the feeling of the other woman's arms winding around her waist, pulling her in, drinking deeply from her lips. Luka mewled when Miku's hands then ran through her hair, almost grasping the hair at the nape of her neck.

The kiss was frantic, desperate. Miku's hands roamed while Luka's pulled, and they swallowed each other's pleas and moans wholeheartedly, biting lips and clashing teeth. Miku tore her mouth from Luka's to plant kisses up and down her neck, along her healed collarbone, before slowly going back up, making sure not to bruise.

"Ever since I first drew you," Luka said, breathless, craning her neck. She leaned back against the wall, her knees weak. "I always thought you were so handsome."

"Ever since we first met," Miku confessed in return between kisses, now planting them at the corner of Luka's jaw, "I've always thought you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen."

Luka let out a breathless laugh, brief, because then Miku kissed her again, stealing whatever air she had left in her lungs. Luka had to break away quickly, just to gasp for air, but Miku swallowed that too, taking in everything she had. And Luka let her have it all, because Miku offered the same in return, giving her all for Luka to taste, to feel, to experience.

It seemed ages later that they both broke away from the kiss, panting, out of breath.

"Best. Birthday. Ever," Miku immediately declared with a grin, prompting a laugh from the other woman.

"I'm glad I don't disappoint. I was afraid that the flowers—"

"The flowers are lovely. I promise. But you're..." Miku trailed off, leaning against Luka's body, nestling her head under her chin. "You're magnificent."

"So are you," Luka whispered, holding her in return, kissing the top of her head.

"Wanna go out with me?" Miku asked. "Be my girlfriend?"

Luka blinked. "So soon. Don't you want to—"

"Oh, hush. We survived on a raft together for four days. I think we can skip the formalities and go straight to dating."

"Is that wise? Your friends..."

"They'll learn. If they don't, I'll make them, or they're not my friends anymore." Miku sighed contentedly. "You come first. My hero."

Luka chuckled. "You can drop that, by the way. I don't want to stay on a pedestal."

"I'll elevate you if I want to. You deserve everything the world can give you."

"Even you?"

"Especially me," Miku said, squeezing her slightly.

Luka rolled her eyes and made sure to hold the younger woman tighter for a bit, too. "We'll have a serious conversation about that later, then. What about your parents? They won't mind?"

"No, they won't care. They don't care who I'm dating at all, really." Miku chuckled. "And if they start caring now, they're idiots. You're the best one so far. I do wish you were a little richer, but hey, we can't all be perfect."

Luka laughed. "We haven't been going out for five minutes and I'm the best?"

"So we are dating?"

She rolled her eyes and brushed the bangs from Miku's eyes. "Fine. We are."

"Yes!" Miku stood on her tiptoes to kiss her again, slowly this time, briefly, just to taste each other again. "You're the best."

"How come?"

"Because I actually like you," the younger woman said with a smug smile.

"Hm, that does tend to make a difference."

"Ugh, I don't know why I bothered with my past boyfriends. I should've just asked you out the first time I saw you."

"I would've turned you down with extreme prejudice."

"I wouldn't have listened. I would've launched a crusade for your heart."

"Pff. It wouldn't have worked," Luka said with a sly grin.

"So the raft and everything was necessary?"

"In a twisted way, yes. I think it might have been."

Miku giggled. "I'm thankful we crashed then. It sucks, still, for obvious reasons. But I'm thankful."

Luka's smile waned. "I think I'm still a bit far from sharing the same sentiment."

"Don't worry. I understand." Miku kissed her again. "You want to go home?"

"I do."

"Okay. I'll miss you, but if you're not having fun, then it's time to leave the party. I'll get Carl."

"Thank you."

Miku stepped away from her, and a chill took hold of Luka's body, sending a shiver down her spine. Then the younger woman vanished down the halls. Luka followed hesitantly, her heart racing, her lips feeling almost bruised. She touched them with a hand, a blush rising to her features.

Once back in the ballroom, she stuck to a corner, hoping to be visible but not visitable. It worked; only Miku approached her, minutes later, to tell her that the car was outside.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning," Miku said, holding both her hands.

"Very well. Not too early, I hope."

"No, not early at all. I need my beauty sleep," she said, batting her eyelashes. "Get home safe, Luka. Sleep well."

Then, right there in the ballroom, Miku kissed her one more time, before slowly stepping away again, her touch lingering.

Luka left, her heart heavy. Mere moments later, she was in the car on her way back to her hotel, the landscapes making way for houses which made way in turn for skyscrapers.

Soon, the car pulled up to the entrance to the kitschy building, and Carl escorted her inside. She eventually returned to her room, and after carefully changing out of her new dress, she collapsed into bed. Once settled, she pulled out her phone again and shot a single text to Meiko.

You won't believe what happened tonight.

Then she promptly fell asleep, and for once, she didn't have a single nightmare.