Ten Years Chasing A Dream (ep)

A final wrap-up.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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						Epilogue. Ten Years

For the year and a half after Maya had revealed the truth to Claudine, the two of them had lived their lives as promised. They'd lived in the moment, taking their time, enjoying their lives and one another to the fullest.

Maya had eventually forgotten all about her past self, and all the guilt and sorrow that came with it. Because Claudine loved her so much, and Maya loved her so much in return that she'd gladly been able to get lost in the present and live her current life at long last. The nightmare was long gone, and instead Maya lived every day like a dream.

She and Claudine enjoyed their school years with their friends - all of the struggles and all of the fun times too. And since they were not-so-secretly involved with one another, they had gained quite a bit of attention, and not at all in a bad way. Two young and highly-talented Stage Girls who were not only perfectly matched as rivals but also as lovers was news that had certainly taken the country by surprise.

Instead of hiding their love, Maya and Claudine allowed it to be known. And as such, the world became that much more of a better place.

Maya had proposed at their graduation. She'd told Junna and the staff in advance, so only a small and necessary percentage of people had known. Both she and Claudine had been called up to receive their diplomas together, and as the crowds had applauded and wept, Maya had dropped down onto one knee.

In that moment, the sun had shone a little warmer all across the universe.

The audience and all their classmates had cheered and wept, but no one had cried more than Claudine. She'd thrown herself at Maya so hard she'd knocked them both clean over in front of everyone, and the whole ceremony had burst to life with people tossing flowers.

Everyone had left the campus that day with their faces aching with smiles.

And, as it would turn out, Claudine's parents were not the only ones who supported the girls' relationship.

The Tendos hadn't made any public statement on the matter other than the fact that their daughter was the most exceptional actress of her generation, and that little else mattered. As such, there was no animosity directed at the new young affianced couple.

Like Claudine's parents, Maya's had granted them a bit of money as a gift. And after a brief while working in a troupe together in Japan, Maya and Claudine made their dream come true.

They moved to France about half a year later, got the most adorable apartment with the most beautiful view of the city, and fell ever more deeply in love.

Every morning began with a kiss, every lunch break was paused for more romantic words, and every night ended with the warmest touches and whispers of "I love you."

They would cook breakfast together while singing warm-ups for the day, reminding each other of any errands that needed to be ran.

They took turns driving to work, since they were part of the same prestigious troupe there in France, where everyone knew and admired them.

They spent their work days dancing and practicing and singing and acting together, in all the same shows and plays, co-starring or leading or performing whatever roles they'd landed that time around.

And at the end of every afternoon, they held hands and walked to their car together, chatted as they went home, and then held hands again on their way ip to their apartment.

They would dance around their room, and occasionally push each other down onto the couch in a surprise tickle fight, or huddle up together to watch their favorite shows, or fall asleep slumped together after staying up too late.

Or they'd eat supper and get ready for bed before one would ultimately pick up the other and carry her into the bedroom, where they would then spend the night lost in each other's warmth, loving and being loved in every way possible.

Sometimes they would wake early in the mornings and simply lie there, holding each other and being close.

Every day was precious, and every day they both made it known that they loved each other more than they had the day before.

Every single day, Maya and Claudine lived their dream.

Because they had each other. Always and forever.

And so, ten years have passed…

. . .

"Maya? Are you almost finished?"

Maya hears Claudine's softly-impatient call coming from the bedroom.

"Yes. Just another moment." Maya is just finishing up looking over things in the kitchen for the night. She just wanted to make certain they have enough plates and utensils…

"Maya..." Claudine's voice comes again. It's quite rare for her to whine, but Maya can't blame her. After all- "This is our first night in our brand new house!" Claudine reminds her. "And I'd like to fall asleep with my wife, thank you very much!"

Maya can't possibly make her wait a second longer. She abandons her task, turns off the kitchen light, and hurries up the stairs. Claudine is sitting up in bed waiting for her with a pout.

"I already told you we have enough supplies for everyone," she pouts. "And even if we're a plate short, Karen will just eat off of Hikari's and Mahiru's anyway."

"You're absolutely right." Maya smiles bemusedly at the thought.

All of their old friends had made the arrangements to come visit for the next few days in order to celebrate Maya and Claudine's purchase of their new house. They would all be staying at a hotel at night, but in the daytimes would be coming over to help the couple set up, paint, and rearrange furniture. And of course they'd all settle down in the afternoons to watch movies and hang out like old times.

Maya can already envision it happening now, until another grunt from her wife brings her back into the present.

"Fine, then," Claudine yawns. "I guess I'll just go to sleep by myself…"

Maya drops into a crouch and smirks.

"You wouldn't dare."

Claudine freezes.

"Now hold on just a-"

But she cuts off with a shriek when Maya makes a short dash across the room and dives onto the bed, right on top of her. Claudine is knocked back onto the bouncy mattress and into a pile of pillows with Maya on top of her.

"Je jure devant Dieu- This woman is unbelievable!"

Maya laughs and pushes herself up off of her, then gets to apologizing by showering Claudine with kisses. She kisses her until Claudine's cheeks turn the color of her eyes.

"A-All right, I get it!"

"Do you, now?" Maya coos. "If you understand my message, then could you please repeat it back to me?"

"You are so annoying." Claudine reaches up and grabs her around the back of her neck, flips her over, and starts a kissing attack of her own. She kisses her until Maya has been reduced to a giddy, bubbly mess. Claudine finally flops down beside her, just as breathless.

"There… Got it?"

"Mmm…" Maya turns to face her and begins pulling the blankets up over them. "Perhaps. Though you may need to spell it out for me."

Claudine rolls her eyes as she heaves a sigh.

"Mechante va. You first."

"Very well." Maya opens her arms and pulls Claudine in to her. "Claudine, I-"

"Wait, I changed my mind! I'm saying it first-"

"Oh, really now?"

"Yes. I lo-"

Maya silences her with a kiss. Claudine wriggles in protest and tries tickling her to make her back off, but Maya holds firmly. Eventually, Claudine relents and just kisses her back. When they finally part, it's not without a hazy spark of challenge still in their eyes.

"I love you."

They say it at the same time. Maya smirks, and Claudine huffs.

"I suppose it's a draw tonight."

"Whatever. I'll say it first in the morning."

"We shall see about that."

They share a smile, and kiss again.

"Well…?" Maya offers. "Shall we break in our new mattress tonight…?"

Claudine considers for a moment.

"I would say yes… But I don't think I'll be able to enjoy it as much knowing the lot of them will be here tomorrow."

"I can understand that very well."

"Let's give it a few days until we've settled," Claudine decides.

"Very well," Maya agrees smugly. "You can use that time to prepare yourself for all the things I'm going to do to you~"

"You wish."

Maya chuckles and kisses her again sweetly.

They wrap their arms more comfortably around each other as they finally begin to settle down into the plush softness of their new bed. They share a few more kisses, until both of them have fallen into a sleepy state.

"Je t'aime, Ma Maya."

"Je t'aime, Ma Claudine."

After one more kiss for tonight, they close their eyes and cuddle close, until their heartbeats have synched and joined together in a rhythmic melody.

The moonlight slips into the room and catches faintly on matching diamond rings.

Maya and Claudine fall asleep together, cradled by the softest, warmest, most precious feeling.

And tomorrow, and every day after that, they get to live this dream all over again.

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A/N: I decided to have the Tendos accept them this time around as a sort of hint that this was the 'correct' life. Everyone accepts it, and so Maya and Claudine can celebrate it even more.

I just had to throw in a final "where are we now?" scene at the end here. Their first house together! Wives! Happy end!

Thank you all for reading till the end!