She Loves to Laugh

"Clevebro, you sure smile and laugh a lot, huh?"

Her brows furrowed—at the seemingly odd statement and the nickname she ever so loathed.

But soon enough, Cleveland's vibrant laugh reached the Commander's ears, and for a time, he almost went along with it. He was able to rein it in before it came bursting out.

"Why? Because I can, of course!"

"That's Clevebro for you, huh? She's cool like that."

This time, Cleveland did not furrow her brows—though she did appear to briefly twitch—at that. She was still all smiles, albeit with a touch of rosiness.

"Honestly, teasing your subordinate like that...Guess I could tell you...but promise you won't laugh? It will sound really cheesy."

The Commander's assurance was prompt, but Cleveland stared outside the window instead of answering right away. The weather was cloudy.

"I like the feeling that whenever I smile or laugh..., I could do everything—like making those clouds disappear. Figuratively, of course. And then..."

"Hm?" Go on."

"I'd love to see others be like that too... y'know, like that song? 'When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you?' So that's why, for the sake of my sisters, my friends...and…awww, geez..."

At this point, she stopped again as the reddening of her cheeks seemed to have grown too intense for her. After a light slap to both sides, Cleveland seemed to have calmed down, however.

"And?"

"….and...you."

She was still red, but Cleveland clearly had regained herself. She was beaming.

"So, for your sake, I'll keep smiling."

Despite the earlier assurance, Cleveland braced for the Commander to tease her for that. It was—as she had admitted—cheesy, after all.

But there was only silence—when she finally turned to the Commander, she found him smiling back.

"Well, I appreciate the sentiment, Cleveland."

"Oh, that's sweet, Commander! Keep that up the whole day, would you?"

Her ever-spirited laughter soon filled the room again—this time, the Commander gladly laughed along.

She Loves to Sing

As he did his rounds, the Commander decided, out of the blue, to pay an unannounced visit to the makeshift studio they had set up to test the Muse system. He figured they could use some moral support; Akagi certainly appreciated it—sometimes too much.

But when he got there and quietly opened the door, he saw nobody save for Cleveland in the corner, and what she did gave him pause.

She wasn't practicing with her instrument-like rigging or fine-tuning it. Instead, she was singing.

No, not just singing, the Commander realized as he ended up watching from afar—she was clearly having the time of her life, and he didn't have the heart to put a stop to it.

The Commander stepped in only after she was done and got herself ready to practice. He coughed to gain her attention, and she let out a shriek as she nearly fell off her drum kit.

"Co—Commander! Don't sneak up on people like that!" she fumed, but it only took a simple apology to go back to her good side.

"So, what brings you here?" she inquired, making herself comfortable again on the drum stool, and hitting a few beats.

"I wanted to check on everyone…where are they, though?"

"Ah, they are going on a break. Poor timing, huh? Akagi was kinda moping because she wanted to see you," Cleveland laughed.

"I…I see. Well, are you not going to take a break, though?"

"Nah—I still have some fight in me. See?" she played a rather complicated, energetic beat as if to back up that claim.

"Okay, don't push yourself, though. Can't have my reliable secretary pass out from exhaustion, eh?" the Commander remarked, and her grin seemed to grow even bigger.

"Yeah, sure. Of course. Say, aren't you busy? I appreciate you worrying over us, but you have work to do, don't you?"

"Ah, not really…rather, I was thinking, did I disturb your practice? I could leave if I did?"

"Oh, no, not at all. You can stay here, but won't it be boring just watching?"

"As long as it's not paperwork, I'll take anything," the Commander shrugged and walked to a couch.

"Okay then. Maybe if you're here, I'll get more fired up like Akagi, heheh," Cleveland laughed and steadied herself as she got ready to practice.

She completed a round of drumming without much trouble, and though the Commander wasn't so musically-inclined, he'd still find it awe-inspiring. He could tell she was improving day by day.

Even though he knew she treated it as only a job.

"Well, I think I got better. Practice does make perfect, huh," Cleveland whistled, wiping the sweat off her forehead.

"Yes, it does. Good job, Cleveland."

"Eheheh. Just wait until I master this thing. It'll leave you floored."

"Heh, I can't wait."

Cleveland, who seemed to be a little fired up over the remark, returned to practice. That's when the Commander remembered what he saw earlier.

"Why don't you sing?"

There was a sound of drumsticks falling on the floor as he said that.

"…Wh—what's with the question?"

The Commander could see it—the suspicion—and at first, he had thought of dismissing his own question. But then he remembered how she was singing, so he took the plunge.

"I wonder why don't you try singing instead of drumming? Because I was watching you singing when I arrived; you looked like you were enjoying it."

"Gosh, you heard? That's… that's...gosh, that's so embarrassing…! It's almost like that clichéd 'someone you look up to walk in on you,' isn't it?" Cleveland shot up, hands on both cheeks—which were now bright red.

The Commander wisely said nothing out of guilt as she calmed herself by inhaling and exhaling.

"…Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, Cleveland. It's just that…"

"Yeah?"

"I mean, do you enjoy your role right now? Didn't you say it was basically a duty?"

Cleveland shook her head and sat down.

"It is, but I think you misunderstand. I don't hate it, of course. In fact, I'm starting to enjoy it."

"Okay, but…have you ever thought of trying the lead singer role?"

Cleveland turned red again, but she was still smiling.

"Are you crazy? I'm not that good at singing. I mean—keep this a secret, by the way—I've had my fair share of missed tunes, you know. I'm not a lead singer material."

"Hey, with practice, we can fix that. Don't you want to be good at it?"

Cleveland picked her drumsticks from the floor and gave them a whirl before answering.

"You know, Commander—I do love singing, but sometimes you don't have to be good at what you love, you know? We already have an awesome lead singer in Gascogne, so there's no need to change that or for me to be better than her. After all, this is not a competition."

The Commander looked at Cleveland, and he could tell she was earnest. And when she's earnest, he would always admire that—why would he argue?

"I understand. Oh well, I won't force you. Sorry, I've got to go," the Commander rose from his seat, realizing he needed to leave now.

"That's too bad. See you, Commander," she waved him goodbye, watching him walk towards the door.

"Oh, by the way," the Commander stopped by the door and looked over his shoulder, "keep doing what you enjoy, Cleveland. I'll be rooting for you."

"Thank you, Commander."

Now left alone in the studio, Cleveland stared at the drumsticks and set them aside.

Soon, she broke into another song.

She Does Everything

"You know what? I'm happy you're here," the Commander remarked as Cleveland's deft fingers continued to knead his muscles, the ministrations working the tensions and aches away.

"Oh you, Commander. Saying something like that just because I gave you a massage? You're not trying to woo me, are you?" Cleveland laughed as if it was nothing, though she did turn a little red.

"Well…What if I'm actually trying to woo you?"

Another laugh escaped Cleveland. The Commander noticed that this time it was louder but at the same time off-sounding. And for whatever reason, unlike her tender movements before, she had decided to apply more pressure on his shoulders than needed, enough to force a yowl out of him.

"Oops, sorry. I must've done that without thinking," Cleveland apologized. "But seriously, it's not nice to make a joke like that, Commander."

"Okay, my bad," the Commander replied. Peeking over his shoulder, he could see Cleveland getting flustered. "But I just want you to know that I really appreciate everything you've done."

He felt her fingers nearly slipping as he said that.

"Really now? I didn't do much, did I?"

"Don't be so modest. I've never seen anyone who…could and would do many things like you. Your combat ability is unquestionable, but that's not all. You excel at every little thing you do. Playing in a band, sports, planting trees, and, well, keeping up with me that one time we were riding together. Also, you are a very responsible secretary and have helped me with my job a lot."

Cleveland's movement gradually slowed until it came to a complete halt. Her hand suddenly became sweaty.

"Cleveland?"

"…Well, uh…I never knew you thought of me like that, Commander. Ah, um, I'm just surprised, that's all," she blurted out and saw the Commander's ears were just as red.

"…Yeah, you can say I admire that quality of yours. That's why I'm glad to have you here."

"I…I see. Thank you," she murmured.

"Well, Anyway, I'm feeling better now. And as thanks, you can go now. I can finish up my job by myself," the Commander said.

"Are you sure? I mean—"

"No, really. Go meet your sisters or tend to your bonsai. I'll be fine."

"If you say so, then…thank you, Commander; see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you."

The Commander sighed as he watched her back disappear through the door. If he had to be honest, he would like nothing more than to savor her tender caress longer. But he knew had she stayed longer, he might say something she might not be ready to hear. She might even realize his heart was starting to race, and then she would inquire about it, and he wouldn't be able to explain without lying.

Idly, he reached for his drawer to take a small velvet box out, cradling it afterward.

"Seriously, she really could do everything—including making me feel like this."

She Loves to Move

The Commander groaned as agonizing prickles were beginning to torment his feet, and he wondered just how many miles they had walked already. He was glad Cleveland was ahead, so he had plenty of headway to hide his discomfort. It was a little embarrassing to admit—even to himself—that he was probably not as fit as he would like, and indeed, as she was.

Even factoring in the fact that she was a KANSEN, Cleveland was unusually tireless in taking and relishing in the wonders big and small. It was perhaps unsurprising considering that they had never been there before—to the land down south, where there are winters in June and summers in December. In fact, he came to believe that's why many of his colleagues never seemed to complain about the long hours of those year-end meetings—not when they could escape the freezing winters of home and had a bit of vacation under the sun during the scant off-days. Even if those days were the dog days of summer.

So far, he had been able to keep up with Cleveland without getting himself separated from her, thankfully—because she would frequently stop to look around. Sometimes he'd get all wishful and would be convinced she did it on purpose to let him catch up. She had never said anything about it, either because she wanted to save his pride—or because she saw something and everything else was really just his wishful thinking. But given that she would often stop where there wasn't anything that would catch even the fancy of most non-discerning travelers, the idea seemed really plausible.

As the Commander noticed when he realized that thinking while walking wouldn't be a terribly sound thing to do, Cleveland had just stopped walking again, so he did, too—and promptly had a sense of déjà vu. They had undoubtedly come here some hours ago. Not that it mattered for Cleveland because she whipped out her cell phone anyway and snapped a picture of the Sydney Opera House, just like she did back then. She then had a once-over of the photo, cringed, and stuck her tongue out.

"Sorry, Commander, can we stay here a bit? I want to take pictures. This one didn't come out good."

As she said that, Cleveland tapped on the phone screen; the Commander was sure she was getting rid of the picture.

"Oh, sure. Though... didn't you snap some pictures of that building back then? And that your sisters said they love it?"

"Yeah, I did—but this time it's different, you know? It's looking much better. I'm sure they will like it more," Cleveland looked up. The Commander also had a glance, and even he had to admit that the orange sunset, burning brightly for just this moment, was indeed a superior backdrop compared to the clear sky of day.

"You're right," he chuckled and allowed her to go as she pleased. Cleveland wasted none of the little chance she had before the dusk settled, darting from one spot to another with gusto. It was almost infectious, and he had a mind to join her, even though the aches had not gone entirely—But he then decided against it. He would get in the way. He was content to let her have her moment and satisfied himself by stealing furtive glances as he rested against the railing overlooking the harbor—seeing her busily going about was just as soothing as the water below. The last time he did was right after he heard the distinct shutter of her phone camera—only to see her hastily putting the phone away and whipping her head the other way; the rest of her body followed after that, almost robotically.

Nearly a full minute passed before Cleveland finally turned around, exhaling and looking relieved. The Commander watched as she shuffled closer and studied his face as if looking for something before shaking her head.

"Hey, something bothering you?" asked the Commander. Cleveland was nervous, which was quite uncharacteristic of her—especially when he remembered the delight he had delighted in before.

Cleveland cleared her throat and then again. It took some time for her to answer.

"Oh, you know...just, um, wondering. Are you...um, tired of having to follow me around?"

"Me...? Ah, yeah, I can't say I'm not, but—" the Commander held up a hand when Cleveland was about to say something, "—I don't mind. Following you around, that is. It's...a nice change of pace."

Cleveland laughed along with the Commander, something he was glad for—though he noted she was still sounding a little off, at least she didn't force it. He also caught a glimpse of red, almost hidden by the sunset glow.

"Really? I thought I've been too selfish...that I'm dragging you wherever I please. But... I'm glad you didn't mind," Cleveland breathed a sigh of relief. The redness stayed still, however.

"How could I? You seemed really thrilled by everything around you, and I could understand why. Even I...I couldn't help but be excited, though not to the same extent. That's why I... didn't mind going with you," the Commander smiled as he recalled how thrilled, how moved she was.

"Yeah...it seems I couldn't keep myself still when I'm in places I've never been before... I'd love to keep moving...see everything while my heart races. Even twice or three times—there's always something new when you did."

The Commander nodded. He certainly admired her reason, that she was straightforward and unpuzzling, and how it fostered his desire to see everything with her. He didn't even need to ask if she was alright with him being there because they had spent hours together, and she, at least, didn't seem to hate it. They were far from done, which would be his chance to edge closer to her world.

"Well, then. We still have places to go, don't you think? Let's go together," with a gleeful chuckle that he remembered he'd never give out for any other reason, the Commander turned to Cleveland. She was clenching the railings hard as she looked back, at first incredulous, but soon enough, he could see the lights on her dancing eyes.

"Really? You would come with me?"

"Hey, I was the one offering," the Commander laughed again, reaching his hand forward. Cleveland eyed it, then the corners of her mouth curled up—that smile was dazzlingly bright enough to have him wondering, for a moment, if somehow it was afternoon all over again. And it didn't take long for her to take hold of it. He felt pleasant tingling on his hand from that warmth of hers, and his feet suddenly hurt no more.

"Are you sure...um...of letting me lead you along like this? Is it alright? Since, like, I'm your subordinate," she asked—and while the Commander did think it was backward, he could care little for trivial formalities like that this time. They were on a well-earned vacation, after all.

"Sure. No problem. Go at your own pace; take me wherever. You love that, don't you?"

"Yeah...I love..." Cleveland paused, then shook her head, "...I love that."

The Commander barely had the time to ready himself when Cleveland took off in long, bouncy, almost weightless steps, almost like his mind. Her last words had him pondering, then wishful, again—but it didn't seem too far-fetched now.

She Loves to Groove

Even when he had to be holed up in his office, the festive atmosphere was palpable, and even the laughter of those preparing for the big event was audible to him, distant as it was. Glancing out the window, he could see the crowd, the stage, and the stalls all being set up. Somewhere out there was Cleveland—the reason why he was left to do most of his work alone over the past week. She had asked him before for permission, and he readily granted it despite knowing what the decision would entail. Now that he thought of it, the Commander realized that he didn't get to ask how she would be involved with the preparations for the summer festival, which he thought would strictly be Japanese affairs. Then again, she would've told him if she knew.

Work piling up was to be expected, and they did. Being that lonely, though, was not, and that was the worst.

A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts. He was hoping it would be Cleveland to poke her head in and perhaps cheer him up. It wasn't, but the fact that Columbia was there meant that whatever she wanted to tell him would likely involve her sister in some way.

"Hiya, Commander, workin' hard?" she grinned, leaning against the door. He noticed she was wearing a Japanese garment, which was too richly patterned and complicated to be just for simple frolicking.

"Can't you tell?" the Commander returned the smile and gestured at the stack of papers and his laptop. All hours worth of effort, yet the pile was not getting any smaller. "...Is that...for the festival? It looks great on you, by the way."

"Hah, thanks," Columbia laughed. "Save that compliment for Cleve, though. She's rocking the look better than me, and you'll know what I mean when you see her."

"Ah...I see. Anyway, what are you guys up to?"

"Don't you hear? We're gonna perform an odori! Even Denver and Monty, too! Birmingham and Biloxi didn't want to join, heh. Their loss."

"Odo—what?"

"Oh, I see, you're not familiar with it. Odori is a traditional dance where people, usually a lot, will join and move together," Columbia explained, adding, "We only learned about it recently, you know? Cleve thought it would be a good idea for us to learn something from our friends. So we are all gonna perform. 'Course, you're invited."

"I see. Sounds like a fun idea. Will Cleveland be leading the group, then?"

"Nope. It's yours truly," Columbia, usually never given to bragging, was puffing her chest. "I'm the best dancer among us—According to Cleve, anyway. Girls from other countries are joining in, too. It will be a hell of a show. You are invited to watch! The front-row seat is for you."

"Thank you, I'm honored but—"

"Cleve would be really bummed if you don't come, though."

The Commander, who just before was about to express regret of possibly not coming, now was having second thoughts.

"Okay, I'll come. Thanks for inviting me," the Commander nodded. Columbia's grin had him wondering if that was her plan all along.

"Great! Cleve's gonna be stoked! See ya, then!"

The girl turned and skipped down the hallway, leaving him alone again.

The Commander turned back to his work. He wouldn't lie, the thought of seeing her made him feel much better. Invigorating, if he had to choose a word. So he rolled his sleeves up and went back to work.

It wasn't long before the clock ticked the time for the event, and he was the first person out of his office. The roads around the base were teeming with service members, their families, and visitors milling about, many with refreshments or food in hand. The sound of Taiko and flute and other instruments being rehearsed, as well as chatter, filled the air.

It didn't take long for him to find Cleveland and her sisters among the sea of people. At least, for him, it was easy.

They were practicing for the last time, with Columbia taking the lead. Cleveland was ever animated, and the smile never left her face as she swayed along. She was not as graceful or polished as her younger sister but no less exuberant. Denver and Montpelier were not half bad, either, though the latter was more occupied with watching her eldest sister.

At one point, Cleveland's eyes met his, and the widening grin felt like a reward in itself, more so than the red-blue, ornate outfit that she indeed did look great in. They had no chance to talk, but it was fine. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but maybe his presence was a reward for her, too. Her movements became more pronounced, the sway more prominent and energetic—he was sure it wasn't his imagination.

He didn't get to see it for long, as the show was starting, but the Commander didn't mind. The real deal was yet to come, anyway.

The front-row seat was more of a metaphor, but he did have a spot where he could see the girls up close without a crowd obstructing his view.

The Japanese girls were the first to start the dance, moving to the beat of the taiko and flute with practiced ease from years' worth of experience. The people behind and beside him cheered and whistled and laughed. Soon after, the other foreign girls joined in, including Cleveland and her sisters, dancing in line and in sync with one another.

The steps were a perfect balance of energy and grace, simple and elaborate—and despite some hiccups, the coordination was there. He was, of course, mostly fixating on her—on the rhythm of her feet, on the swing of her arms, on the bounce of her hair. The smile didn't leave her face and the lantern lights made her shine even more.

They danced past him to circle the festival ground, and the Commander followed them with his eyes until Cleveland was out of sight and waited until she was in his view again. He was glad to realize she did the same thing to him, her eyes occasionally meeting his. It was probably nothing special, but he still appreciated it.

The performance was soon over, but not the dancing—and the Commander found himself being whisked away by Cleveland, her laughter ringing in his ears and her hand firmly gripping his. He decided to ignore the seething Montpelier for the moment and let himself be pulled into the fray, not knowing what was going to happen.

Her palms were sweaty and warm, he noted as he tightened his hold, but then he wondered, was that hers or his?

"Glad you came, Commander! You liked it?" she shouted, almost drowned by the cacophony of sounds around him.

"I loved it. It was great!" he yelled back. "You were amazing, Cleveland."

"Eheheh, thank you!"

"I didn't know you could dance."

"Yeah, me neither. Columbia taught me, so I have her to thank for," Cleveland glanced to her left, where her younger sister was showing off her moves. "But I'm starting to enjoy it now—hopefully, you're up for one!"

The Commander didn't have time to say anything, not that he had much choice before the dance resumed. So he simply loosened his tie and got into it.

Just like Columbia guiding her sisters, Cleveland was leading the Commander. Not by hand, but he knew. Every step was her pace, and every motion was her cue. He willingly followed her lead, and the more he did, the more he understood.

Flushing red faces, racing hearts, and the heat of summer—it all added up. He knew where they would go.

"I love...dancing with you."

"Me too. I love dancing with you, too."

Her eyes shone brighter than the fireworks overhead.

She Loves the Lovin' Things

"Geez, Commander...aren't you tired? Spoiling me like th—ahhhn~"

"Not too tired to spoil my wife, for sure," the Commander chuckled as his hands continued to roam, rub, and knead. The maidenly moan she let out as she seemed to melt under his touch was worth the effort, even more so with the blush.

Cleveland had been blushing more ever since they exchanged vows hours before, and throughout the reception, she seemed to slip into a daze at times. And why wouldn't she? The dress she wore, the ring she had, the promise she received—all of them, in her own words, were too good to be true. She wasn't the only one feeling so. He knew it himself, and the more time passed, the more it became real.

The only touch of reality was the fatigue catching up to them, especially Cleveland. She had spent the better part of the day being the center of attention, which she didn't hate, but it was too much. She couldn't have a moment for herself.

Just as she had done before for him, he decided that his first job as her husband was to return the favor.

"Ahooww...well, can't say I hate it..." She purred, pushing her back more against his hands, and he obliged the silent request by kneading harder. Her body, lithe and slender, was no stranger to burdens, but tonight, she shouldn't be a KANSEN, a knight, a warrior. She could be the woman she always was.

"I know you love this, and I do, too. I can do it forever if I could," the Commander let his hand linger on the small of her back, drawing a sigh from her.

"Oh, Commander, you're making me feel like a...a...what's the word?"

"Princess?"

"Hmm...yeah, princess," Cleveland laughed. It was a delightful sound. "Not a prince. Princess. You're the prince."

She had a talent for sappiness, but the Commander knew he was just the same. The fact that he wanted to spoil her wasn't only because they had a wedding, after all.

"Uh-huh, and it's a prince's duty to please his princess. Consider it...my thanks. For everything you've done for me," the Commander's hands, which had wandered away from her back, now were on her shoulders, working their magic.

"Really? I haven't done much, have I? Ngh..." She was moaning again. "I did what I needed to do...Mmh..."

"And it meant a lot. Even the small things. All that, slowly but surely, led me here...with you."

"Oh, you...time sure flies, doesn't it? I...could never imagine that opening up to you little by little would end up like this. But hey, it's not so bad. No regrets, right?"

"Not a single one," the Commander paused and drew her in, leaning to kiss her forehead. "I'll be in your care from now on...Princess."

Her ruby eyes shimmered in the dim light of the room they would share from now on, a tender, warm glow. The smile, though, was brighter than any star.

"And I'll be in yours...my prince."

"That goes without saying," the Commander smiled back, noticing that her eyes had become half-lidded, her lips parting, and her cheeks even more flushed. He had a good guess of what she wanted.

"Can we...go further...? If...if you don't mind..."

In the past, it would be unthinkable to even imagine her asking that, let alone actually doing it. But he had no reservations now. If she wanted it, then so would he.

"Yeah. I was hoping you would say that," he walked over to her and took her in his arms, her giggles echoing in his ears, then lowered her to the bed.

Seeing her hair undone and spread on the white, silky sheets, the lazy, almost innocent smile that betrayed the want in her eyes—it was too much. Suddenly, he wasn't all that tired anymore.

"I...um...I might not be good at this, so..." Cleveland giggled and scratched her cheek, looking away.

"Hey, you love me, right?" He replied, getting her to face him again, "Then I'm sure we'll do just fine."

"Y...yeah, I love you. And that's all that matters, right?"

"Yes, yes, it is. And I love you, and I would show it."

"I...I'll do the same," she reached out and put a hand on his cheek, stroking it. "And I will. With all that I've got. For the rest of my life."

"I'll hold you to that."

And so they did, baring themselves, sharing everything.

Laughter. Trailing, lingering kisses. Sweet nothings and promises. Playful teasing. Fiery passion. Moans and cries of ecstasy. Sweat. Tangled limbs. Heartbeat.

Love, at its finest.

The kind they both had been yearning for.