Tender Moments (ch3)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY HIGHER-PLEDGING PATRONS! THANK YOU!

Maya is determined to discover one of Claudine's secrets in return! Will she be so lucky...?

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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														Chapter 3.

When Maya had vowed to discover one of Claudine's secrets in exchange for Claudine rediscovering Maya's fear of ghosts and horror on Halloween night, Claudine had never for a second taken her all that seriously.

In retrospect, she supposes that was her own mistake.

Maya has, in fact, been keeping herself alert for any such potential secret indicators for the past week, but she fears there might not be anything left about Claudine Saijou that she doesn't already know. Which isn't a bad thing. Not at all.

But she still knows there has to be more. She just has to dig a little deeper.

Or so she'd thought.

Their dance lessons are their final class of the day today, so when their professor dismisses everyone for the afternoon, Maya and Claudine willingly stay behind to continue on their own time. They wave goodbye to the last of their classmates until they are the only two remaining. With that, Claudine turns to her partner with a contemplative look.

"I think I want to work on that number we did earlier. The footwork still confuses me a bit."

"Whatever you'd like. Shall we stretch again first?"

"Just a bit."

"After you."

Maya's offer may come across as polite to others, but Claudine is well-aware she's doing it to get a reaction. And Claudine will be damned if she gives it to her. With a flip of her hair she drops down into a full and easy split with practiced elegance.

Maya knows very well that she needn't waste her time pulling Claudine's wrists to help her reach forward, as Claudine will never look her in the face when she's no doubt blushing already anyway. Therefore Maya kneels down behind her partner and starts to push on Claudine's lower back, helping ease her down until her chest is against the floor.

"For how long?" she wonders.

"A minute will do," comes the response.

So Maya keeps her hands in place, holding her down firmly. The tightness of the leotards has always been rather intimate, particularly during their stretching routines, but she tries not to let that distract herself now.

Though of course it does take a great deal of self-control to help Claudine stretch rather than lean forward, wrap her in her arms and start messing around. Even if she did try it, Maya knows there's a 50-50 chance she'd be shot down anyway; Claudine is very serious about her practices, enough so that she'll often reject Maya's advances and postpone such antics for later.

Maya is getting that kind of aura from her today, so she behaves. Mostly.

She does, however, allow herself a bit of compensation for assisting. She presses her chest down against Claudine's back and rests nearly her full weight on top of her, pushing her down against the floor. There's a grunt from Claudine, but it's more from aggravation than pain.

"I swear, do you have any shame? Or self-control for that matter?"

"Sorry. But when it comes to you, I just can't help myself."

Claudine makes sure to hide her face against the floor with how red it probably is.

Maya counts down the moment in the breaths Claudine takes, not relenting the amount of force she's using until the minute is up. When she does finally let her up, Claudine lets out a huff and shakes herself off, making sure to send a glare her way.

"You are so infuriating."

"Now then, it's my turn." Maya offers her hand and waits for Claudine to begrudgingly accept before helping her back to her feet. Maya wastes no time in raising one leg, maintaining her balance perfectly on the other as she looks expectantly to her partner.

"May I?"

Claudine avoids eye contact, but opens her arms.

"Get on with it."

Maya happily wraps both arms around Claudine's waist and presses her head against her chest while Claudine grabs hold of her airborne leg and pulls gently.

This has always been one of Maya's favorites, because it's a legitimate stretching position as well as a very conveniently intimate one. And with Claudine, she is all about the intimacy. Two birds with one stone.

She doesn't actually need to do it, as her body is already as flexible as it can get at this point in the day, but she can't possibly pass up an opportunity to snuggle up to Claudine in a socially-acceptable manner.

She maintains her balance without even thinking about it, moving her head a little until she can find the best spot to listen to Claudine's heart. Of course that's what she's after.

And some small part of Claudine knows it too, but that part is also flattered enough to accept it. She just lets out another huff to let Maya know she's onto her.

"One minute."

Maya smiles and nuzzles closer, intent to live that minute to the fullest. And in spite of the fact that she's mostly indulging herself in her proximity to Claudine, she does try to focus on her stretch a bit as well. She can feel Claudine pulling slightly at her leg to assist.

Maya just makes sure to lock her arms around her tightly and listen well. She's listened to this rhythm every night for months on end now, but she'll still never get enough of it. Claudine is so warm, and so very soft. Maya can imagine the severity of her blush just by listening to the speed of her pulse, and pictures her expression accordingly even when she can't see it.

Her minute is almost up and Maya knows it. She just turns her face and repositions her arms a little differently, and for once doesn't mean to do anything by it. But when her nose brushes against Claudine's stomach, she hears a sudden skip in her heart. Claudine's back stiffens as she sucks in a breath and holds it for longer than usual. Maya lifts her face as much as she can.

"Claudine? Is something the matter?"

"N-Not at all. That's time." She lets go of Maya's leg and lets her stand for herself again, but quickly whirls around to hide her face. "Let's get started then, shall we?"

"Just a moment." Maya reaches for her hand and holds it gently, giving a small tug to turn her back around. Claudine's hair is hiding most of her face, so Maya tucks a few locks behind her ear. "What was that just now? Are you hurt?"

"I'm just fine. It was nothing."

"It didn't sound like nothing."

"I'm telling you it's not a big deal. You're not listening."

"Because you aren't telling the truth."

"Honestly, you are so thick-headed sometimes!"

"I'm worried, Claudine."

And that stops Claudine in her tracks. All of the defensive stubborn things she'd been preparing to say die on her tongue in face of Maya's genuine concern. It's all Claudine can see in her eyes, and the grip on her hand is tight. Claudine's fighting spirit is sapped away in a matter of seconds.

"I swear, you worry about every little thing. You're going to give yourself gray hairs." She heaves a sigh, flicking her gaze up at Maya before quickly glancing back at the floor. "It's just... that spot... I'm a bit ticklish. All right?"

It catches Maya off-guard in the best way possible. She'd been expecting to hear about a scar from an old surgery or something of that nature. But her spirits lift in relief when she discovers the truth.

And this of course includes her mischievous spirit.

"Ticklish, you say?"

The amusement must seep audibly into her voice because Claudine takes a step back.

"N-Now hold on just a moment-"

But Maya holds fast to her hand so she can't escape. She can't possibly fathom how they'd gone on this long without Maya having discovered this already. She'd touched and pressed up against Claudine countless times in the last few months and had never gotten that kind of reaction before. She must have lucked out today, must have applied just the right amount of pressure in just the right spot.

She'd been intent to dig up one of her secrets. Evidently she hadn't needed to dig very deeply at all. In fact, all she had to do was brush against the surface.

She can see it in Claudine's face and body language that she's dreading what she's just revealed to her. But she had to. She wouldn't have been able to live with herself if she'd let Maya believe she was hurt somehow.

Yet with this revelation, she knows she's started to dig her own grave.

When she does manage to look up into her eyes she can already see the gears turning in Maya's head as she considers when would be the best time to utilize this new information to her advantage. Claudine's face heats up another several notches.

"D-Don't you start getting any ideas!"

"I wouldn't dream of it, mademoiselle."

"Somehow I don't believe you. Not one bit."

Maya chuckles and pulls her wrist, bringing her close.

"I'm glad it was nothing serious." She curls her fingers beneath Claudine's chin and lifts her face for a kiss. Claudine relents and kisses back. When they part she sighs.

"We've wasted enough time. Let's get to practicing."

"Oui."

And practice they do, but Claudine can't help but feel Maya tries particularly hard to have her hand end up on Claudine's stomach every now and again. She's subtly not subtle about it.

Claudine doesn't give a reaction all the while throughout their practice, nor during dinnertime when Maya slyly wraps both arms around her from behind, nor later that evening when she tries it again while drying Claudine's hair for her.

Claudine has to give her some credit for effort, but she doesn't intend to break. She does indeed have a ticklish spot, but it is very well-guarded by years upon years of practice to conceal it. Claudine has faith in her ability to keep it that way.

But of course, now that Maya knows about it, she won't rest until she's figured it out. She's determined to crack her, while Claudine is determined not to break.

Maya hasn't managed the feat all evening, and even now as they stand side by side in the bathroom brushing their teeth, she reaches out to rest her hand on Claudine's hip, but still can't get the reaction she's hoping for. Claudine spits her mouthful as daintily as possible and throws back her hair.

"Nice try, I'll give you that."

"Oh, I'm not finished yet, mademoiselle."

"Do your worst."

"I absolutely shall."

And she does. But Maya just can't seem to get it right, and it's driving her mad, which is music to Claudine's ears. She's enjoying this a lot more than she thought she would; it's nice to have Maya be the one frustrated for a change.

As the evening draws to a close they eventually make their way back to Claudine's room for the night. She turns off the main light in favor of a dimmer lamp and makes her way over to the bed.

"Well, you gave it your best shot," she says, having a seat. "But the victory is mine."

Maya joins her with a sigh.

"I suppose you're right."

She actually seems genuinely disappointed to some degree. Claudine rolls her eyes, wrapping both arms around her and leaning up against her side.

"Fine, how about this then? Since you did figure it out, we'll call it a draw."

Maya sighs again, but drapes an arm across her back.

"I can probably live with that."

"You're just going to have to." Claudine kisses her as if to say 'it's not that bad' and initiates their usual evening antics. Maya puts her losses aside for the time being and finally does her part in kissing back.

In an unusual change of pace, Claudine seems more lively tonight, while Maya seems to be lacking the usual energy. After only a few moments of kissing, Claudine is ready for more. But Maya lets slip a small yawn against her lips. Claudine pauses the current kiss and draws back for a breath.

"Are you tired?"

"I'm afraid so," Maya admits with regret.

"Well then we should sleep." Claudine leans over to flick off the bedside lamp, then lies herself down onto her back. Maya lies down on her side next to her and nestles into her shoulder.

"Bonne nuit, Ma Claudine."

Claudine knows she must be exhausted if she doesn't even offer one last kiss. She shifts her arm a little and lies it down over Maya's back, petting through her hair in gentle strokes.

"Bonne nuit. Je t'aime."

"Je t'aime..."

She must be very exhausted. Claudine is almost inclined to worry, but she assumes Maya simply wore herself out today with trying to figure out a way to tickle her. Maybe she's learned her lesson on the matter.

Claudine closes her eyes as Maya cuddles up to her side, providing the perfect amount of warmth for her. She looks forward to a good night's rest.

She'll soon realize what a fool she is for that.

As soon as Claudine has closed her eyes, Maya opens hers. She's still for a moment, listening to the beat of her heart, waiting until it slows down, and until the fingers in her hair stop moving.

Slowly, Maya sits herself up, and there's a fire in her eyes. She looks over her foolish princess, already wreathed in unsuspecting slumber.

She really should have known better. Maya had told her before that she hates to lose, and that isn't limited to acting and dancing.

Maya Tendo does not lose. She will emerge victorious every time, no matter what.

Even if it means playing dirty.

She doesn't pounce right away, however. She watches over her princess, her prey, enjoying the sight of her resting peacefully, none the wiser about what is about to happen.

Maya is well-aware she'll be betraying her trust. She's already thought long and hard on it.

But it needs to be done. For better or for worse.

She gives Claudine one more moment of peace before leaning fondly over her and pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.

"Je suis desole. Forgive me, Ma Claudine."

She commences her ambush and goes in for the kill.

Maya rests her hand over Claudine's stomach and begins curling her fingers in, brushing with the backs of her knuckles and the tips of her nails. She moves slowly and then more quickly, uses a bit of force and then a bit more.

And in this very cruel and very unfair manner, Maya finally gets what she wants.

Claudine wakes with a sharp gasp and a soft shriek.

"H-Heh-?!" Her voice is already trembling with laughter before she's even consciously aware of what's going on. Her eyes fly open to find Maya there, grinning smugly down at her.

She should have known.

"W-Why you-"

"Do forgive me-" Maya spreads her fingers out across Claudine's stomach. "For I am about to commit a grave sin."

"T-Tendo May-aah!"

Claudine shrieks again as Maya continues her attack – without mercy. Both hands flash out across Claudine's body now, one to tickle at her stomach and the other to hold her down. Maya positions herself to straddle her thighs so Claudine can't thrash around or knock her off.

Claudine can't fight back all of the giggles, but she tries her damnedest to swallow back most of them.

"Wh-Why you-! Cheater! How d-dare you!"

"I told you before, did I not? Tendo Maya will not lose to anyone!"

With this proud declaration, she unleashes her full attack, running her hands up and down Claudine's sides, over her chest, under her arms – wherever she can manage to get them.

She wants to make her squeal like a little kid. She wants to hear her laugh her heart out.

Of course Claudine won't go down so easily. Even though she'd been ambushed and caught off-guard, she fights. She bites back all but a few stray laughs and thrashes with all her might, pawing at the air and hoping to smack Maya's hands away in the process. She's already severely weakened, but she puts up a damn good fight.

In the end, though, it just isn't enough.

Maya settles her weight on Claudine's lap and pins her hips down with her knees. She grabs one of her wrists and holds it above her head, then uses her other hand to continue tickling.

Now that she's found the initial sweet spot and activated it, everything else seems to come rushing out. Touching Claudine just about anywhere and everywhere else now is making her ticklish too. Her entire body is tingling with playful fire set ablaze by Maya's fingertips.

But still Claudine resists, twisting herself as much as possible, swallowing back the laughter out of sheer stubbornness and defiance. She knows the second she lets loose, she's lost. There's a small sliver of hope that she'll be able to hold out-

"Come now," Maya muses, gliding the backs of her nails over Claudine's ribs. "It's a shame to hold it back. Let me hear that cute voice of yours, Ma Claudine."

Damn her.

Claudine finally breaks. A loud, almost childish bout of laughter bursts from her lips and fills the entire bedroom.

Maya relishes in her victory only for a second before she starts to enjoy the sounds of Claudine's laughter instead.

It's the most beautiful sound she's ever heard. It's even more beautiful than her singing.

This is the kind of laughter Claudine probably didn't even realize she could produce anymore. It's the kind that bubbles up from her stomach, rises up through her chest, dances around her heart, and finally pops at her lips.

These are the childish squeals of a liberated soul, the impish giggles of a woman reverted back to her schoolgirl days.

To Maya, this is the purest form of beauty and joy.

Claudine laughs her heart out, cheeks flushed a rosy pink and lips curled into an ever-present smile. She twists and rolls about more out of enjoyment than resistance, playfully trying to grab Maya and tickle her back, with little success.

Though Maya does have to admit the laughter is contagious. She doesn't laugh quite as much or quite as loudly as Claudine does, but enough chuckles slip through to eventually work their way up to a full-fledged chortle.

But the best part of it all is when Claudine squeals her name between giggles.

"Maya! M-Mayaaaa!"

It warms her heart and makes it full.

Maya doesn't let up for a while. She wants Claudine to let loose, to laugh like she hasn't done in years. She continues brushing her hands over her stomach and her chest, wiggling her fingers up along her sides. She starts kissing her too, planting feather-light pecks across her sensitive skin to further add to the enjoyment.

And for a good solid minute or two, Claudine is truly liberated. Her heart feels light and free, and she can't recall the last time she'd heard her own voice so high-pitched in merriment like this. It truly does feel good.

Maya wishes it could last forever. She wants to keep watching her smile, hearing her laugh, feeling her body quivering with delight.

But all things, even the best, must come to an end.

She begins to slow down when she realizes Claudine is struggling to catch her breath now. She hasn't opened her eyes all the while, but there are small tears clinging to the corners of them. Her voice tumbles out between choppy remnants of air.

"Mah... Maya..."

Maya has gotten carried away again. She hadn't meant to tickle her quite this much, to the point of exhaustion.

So she finally withdraws, releasing her grip on Claudine and carefully moving off of her to sit beside her instead. She drinks in the beautiful sight of her - nightgown ruffled, hair splayed out around her, skin flushed, and her entire body still trembling with the last few giggles.

Rather than tickle her now, Maya rubs her hand over Claudine's stomach in mild apology. She lies down beside her, slipping her free arm beneath the back of Claudine's neck to support her head, which rolls limply to one side. She kisses her cheek tenderly, feeling her panting breath fanning out against her neck. Maya slowly moves her other hand up from her stomach to trace over Claudine's heaving chest, easily feeling tremors of the pounding heartbeat beneath.

Claudine's voice half-giggles, half-whimpers against her neck.

"M... Maya..."

"Easy now." Maya kisses her temple and continues rubbing her chest. "I got carried away. I'm sorry."

Claudine's breath trembles a little as she draws back slightly. Her eye lashes flutter open to reveal watery pools of rosy pink.

Maya sees a lot in her eyes right now. Of course there's exhaustion, irritation, disbelief that she'd done this to her...

But even more strongly than those is a gratefulness that shines three times as brightly.

She would never thank her out loud for something like this though, so she wants to make sure Maya understands it this way.

Maya affirms her understanding with a kiss. She keeps it light and quick, drawing away to let Claudine get her breath and her bearings back.

She moves her hand back down to Claudine's stomach and rests her head on her chest instead. Right away that familiar heartbeat fills her ears much more loudly than usual. It's fast and it's hard, but not in a bad way - not like the night she'd been scared half to death that Maya was having an episode.

This is a happier heartbeat. This kind of pulse is more akin to the kind that comes after a refreshing and fulfilling dance session, or completing an exhilarating scene onstage. It's exhausted but content, tired but strong.

Maya listens for a long time, even after Claudine's pulse has slowed back to its normal pace and her breathing has evened out. She listens to the vibrations in her chest as Claudine begins muttering in French, words like "unbelievable" and "infuriating" and things of that nature. Her hands have begrudgingly found their way to Maya's shoulders, and her nails are digging in a little bit. Maya chuckles and lifts herself up a bit, bracing her weight on her forearms.

"Have you recovered, mademoiselle?"

Claudine shoots her a warning glare.

"Tendo Maya, you've really done it this time."

"Done what? Made you giggle like a toddler?"

"I mean it! How dare you trick me like that?" Her words sound sharp, but her eyes confirm there is no real anger in her heart. Maya rests their foreheads together.

"I'm sorry."

"Oh, you will be."

Maya knows she should probably be repenting a little more than she actually is. But she tries to suck up rather than atone.

"You know," she murmurs, twirling a finger through a lock of silver curls. "You're absolutely stunning when you laugh. Dazzling, in fact."

"Don't try to change the subject."

"But I mean it." She runs her hand affectionately through Claudine's hair. "I don't think I've ever seen you look quite so beautiful, Ma Claudine."

She feels Claudine exhale, long and slow.

"And I don't think you've ever been quite so infuriating."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You really shouldn't."

"But I will."

A huff.

"Do as you like. But starting tomorrow I'm expecting compensation for this heinous betrayal of trust."

"Anything you wish, mademoiselle."

"However-" Claudine goes on, fidgeting ever so slightly beneath her. "I shall... reduce the punishment slightly."

"Oh? And why is that?" Maya bumps her nose with hers curiously. When Claudine next finds her eyes, she's irresistibly coy about it.

"Because... it was rather nice..."

The smile spreads across Maya's face as quickly as the blush spreads across Claudine's.

"I'm very glad to hear it, mademoiselle." Maya kisses her gently, keeping things light and sweet now after the exhausting battle. Claudine is in a good enough mood to return the contact.

"You still owe me, though."

"I shall pay it back with interest. You have my word."

Claudine seems to accept her words. She locks both arms more firmly around Maya's neck and pulls her down.

"Good. Now go to sleep. For real this time."

"Oui, mademoiselle."

"I mean it."

"Oui, mademoiselle."

"Tu es très agaçant," she huffs. "The most infuriating woman I've ever known."

"But you still love me, yes?"

"Of course I do, you idiot."

Maya chuckles softly into her hair, running her hand up across Claudine's chest once again. Claudine sighs, but allows a small laugh to make its way out as well.

"Je t'aime, Ma Maya. Bonne nuit."

"Bonne nuit, Ma Claudine. Je t'aime."

And this time they really do go to sleep, with the echoes of sweet laughter ringing in their heads.

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A/N: So is every chapter of this fic just going to end with them cuddling in bed and saying "I love you" in French? Uh...

Claudine intends to punish Maya for this crime! What will she come up with to make her atone?