Healing Kisses (ch3)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY $30+ PATRONS!

Okay, I admit, I might be recycling some already-super-overdone cliche tropes but like... oh well...

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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															Chapter 3.

During her time together with Claudine at Seishou Academy, Maya had come to learn and observe many things about her in particular.

In addition to her practicing schedule, (which Maya now knows by heart, for very selfish reasons), as well as her eating schedule and her study schedule, Maya has also come to notice certain habits Claudine has.

One such habit is her tendency to sometimes get immersed in her studies, particularly before an exam is given. Even though everyone in the Academy knows no one studies more than Claudine Saijou, she still makes it known that she is doing her utmost best to get top scores and try to beat Maya in any department she can.

This particular time around, Claudine is even more determined to study even more religiously to get the highest score, because Maya had recently won a small dance competition. It hadn't been much, just memorize and execute a particular number, but of course Maya had ended up on top, and Claudine had settled – very reluctantly – into second, as usual. Since then she's been stubbornly studious, and even a bit rueful towards Maya.

Maya has to admit she's been feeling a little restless without having gotten to hold or kiss her much within the past week, but she respects Claudine's space and her resoluteness.

What she doesn't like, however, is how her girlfriend tends to get so caught up in her perfection-seeking ways that she begins to neglect her personal health; eating less at mealtimes and staying up later to study and such. Maya's been noticing the signs all week, and it isn't yet to the point of great concern, but she would rather prevent things from getting that far.

She has to remind herself that Claudine isn't trying to be mean or flippant with her by ignoring or simply not noticing her romantic advances; she's merely trapped in her tunnel vision at the moment. Maya's plan is to guide her out for a moment and give her some fresh air, and a chance to relax.

She waits until Friday evening, once all of their classes have ended and suppertime is well underway. Now is when the students' real free time begins with the weekend, and she knows Claudine intends to use that time to study rather than rest.

Maya waits on the line to collect her supper, then heads to the usual table. Karen, Hikari, and all the others are already seated and chatting together about one thing or another. All except Claudine, who has her crinkled nose in a book and a scowl in her eyes.

As Maya nears the table, Junna and Nana look up at her with a silent plea. Maya smiles to reassure them, and they come to a mutual agreement; Maya will handle Claudine, and those two will steer any of the other girls' conversations away to give the couple a few moments alone.

Maya places her tray of food down beside Claudine's untouched one and sits beside her. The blonde flips a page in her textbook and mutters something under her breath, not even aware of her girlfriend's presence.

Maya takes a bite of her sandwich in nonchalance, then another, waiting a few moments to see what will happen. But Claudine just keeps reading and mumbling and not eating.

Maya lets the concern weave itself into her expression now as she reaches out to her, gently brushing the backs of her fingers through a lock of wavy blonde hair.

"Pardon me, Saijou-san."

"Eh-?" Claudine all but jumps as she's pulled from her trance and back into reality. She blinks a few times to adjust to seeing something other than words on a page, and her eyes tear up a little from the change. When she realizes it's Maya speaking to her, she narrows her gaze again a bit. "What do you need? Can't you see I'm busy at the moment?"

"I can see that perfectly well. Which is my concern. You haven't touched your dinner, Ma Claudine." To go from the teasing formal use of her last name to the intimacy of her pet name so quickly shows just how worried Maya is for her. Claudine must catch her drift, because she pouts and a blush comes across her cheeks.

"I was getting to it. Stop worrying so much."

"I do not think that's possible." Maya lets her hand glide down through Claudine's hair and onto the table, covering her hand on the book to prevent it from turning another page. "Eat something. There is somewhere I want to go with you tonight."

"Hah? What are you saying? We have an exam coming up next week. I can't simply be going off willy-nilly. I need to study."

"You have studied plenty, Ma Claudine. We will not be going far. You have my word. You needn't even change clothes."

Claudine gives her a hard stare for a moment, but as Maya strokes her fingers gently across her hand, Claudine's eyes soften, just a little.

"Fine. But you'd better not keep me all night."

"Oh, that is yet to be determined," she smirks.

Claudine rolls her eyes and pulls her hand away; she'd walked right into that one.

So after a few more urging comments, Maya succeeds in getting her to eat some of her dinner, and then announces to the others that she and Claudine have somewhere to be. Everyone smiles and wishes them a goodnight.

Maya never once lets go of Claudine's hand as she leads her out of the cafeteria and into the quiet hallways. She can hear her huffing and puffing behind her, and Maya turns back curiously.

"Whatever is the matter, Ma Claudine?"

A glare. "I just wish you didn't have to announce it to half the school that we're going off together..."

Maya grins. "Oh, but that is the only way to elicit such a lovely shade of pink from you, Ma Claudine."

And that shade of pink only deepens further at that.

Claudine continues to mumble to herself in French as Maya leads her through the building. Before long the exit doors are in sight, and once Claudine realizes they're heading towards them, she gives a tug to Maya's wrist.

"Hold on just a moment. Where exactly are you taking me at this hour? There's a curfew, might I remind you."

"Indeed, I am aware." Maya pulls her forward another step. "Worry not. We will not be leaving the campus."

"I swear, just what are you plotting?"

"You'll just have to wait and see."

More groaning in French, but Claudine reluctantly follows her to the doors. Maya pushes through with her free hand and guides her outside into the evening.

The air is cool and fresh, a welcome change after spending the entire day indoors in classes. The songs of crickets drift by on the breeze, providing a calming, pleasant tune. The sun had set a while ago, but there's still a faint lightness about the sky. The campus lights have turned on and serve as guidance down the little pathway to the entrance and the town beyond.

But that is not their destination tonight. Tonight Maya leads her around the building, across the lush grass to the courtyard. Claudine hasn't said a word since they'd stepped outside. Rather, she's only followed along silently, and Maya hopes that means her plan is working.

She takes her over to a bench in the courtyard that's in the perfect spot to view various bushes and little gardens planted there. They sit, hands still together, and the sounds of the evening wash over them.

Maya had mainly done this for Claudine's sake, but she has to admit it's doing wonders for herself as well. She can't recall the last time she'd been able to enjoy a calm evening outdoors like this, and certainly never with a beautiful girl before. She feels Claudine slouch against her side a little, feels her breathe in and let out a sigh.

"So?" she murmurs. "What was the point of all this, exactly?"

Maya cautiously drapes an arm across her back, but Claudine has no qualms. Maya pulls her closer, resting their heads together.

"I merely believed that you'd do well with some fresh air. You've been cooped up in your room studying every night this week, or in the studio practicing."

"Study and practice are the only ways to improve. I've got to if I plan to take the top position from you."

"Indeed," Maya nods. "However, doing only those things can be detrimental in the long run. You need to take a break every now and again. Stop and smell the roses, as they say."

"I know that. Don't patronize me."

"It was never my intention." Maya runs a hand down through the soft silvery-blonde curls in apology. "But even the best of professionals take breaks every now and then. If that's what you plan to become, you must follow the same regime."

Claudine heaves another sigh.

"All right, I understand," she mumbles. "Just be quiet then and let me relax.."

"But of course." Maya happily brings her closer, until Claudine is leaning more against her than the bench. She kisses her hair softly, tracing patterns across her back with one hand while the other keeps Claudine's hands warm in her lap. She closes her eyes for the moment and nestles close to her, breathing in her scent of hard work and fruity shampoo, like summer itself.

She indulges for a while, softly pampering her partner and putting Claudine into a state of half-consciousness. More little sighs and whimpers escape from her lips, and Maya dips down to kiss them gently.

After only a few minutes, she feels Claudine's weight shift and sway. Maya quickly steadies her, but the movement is enough to rouse Claudine. She rubs her eyes tiredly and shakes her head.

"Sorry."

"No need to be." Maya pets through her hair and kisses her temple. "If you're tired then you should rest." But before she can suggest heading back inside, a different idea pops into Maya's head. "What say you to a little change in perspective?"

Claudine blinks up at her and tilts her head.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Maya carefully eases away and gets to her feet, offering her hand.

"Allow me."

Claudine regards her hand with a bit of wariness, but ultimately accepts. She sways on her feet, and Maya sticks close to support her.

The last thing she intends to do is make the poor girl travel much farther when she's already half-asleep, but she at least brings her away from the bench and the artificial lights of the building. They walk out into the field, rimmed by trees on the outskirts, but nothing but pure open sky above.

Maya gives her hand a tug and brings her down to kneel in the grass with her. Before Claudine can inquire, Maya lies herself down on her back and stretches out. Claudine makes a face that says she doesn't want to get her uniform dirty, but with no classes tomorrow she supposes there isn't much harm in it. So she eventually lies down beside her, and Maya smiles.

She lifts one arm up as an invitation, and Claudine bashfully accepts. She curls up into Maya's side, laying an arm across her stomach. Maya rests hers over Claudine's back in a soft partial embrace.

There's a small yawn on Claudine's part, a sound so cute that Maya can't help but inch closer. She picks up where she'd left off earlier and begins to rub her hand up and down her back, occasionally trailing over her side and across her shoulders. Claudine hugs her loosely in return, as if she doesn't want to seem too eager to be close. But eventually she caves and squeezes herself as close to Maya as possible.

Maya is sure to cushion the girl's head with her own arm, fingers constantly stroking through her hair, gathering it neatly to keep it away from the grass.

She can feel the exact moment when Claudine drifts off with a sigh that takes at least half of her worries with it. Her breathing becomes much deeper, and her pulse becomes much slower.

Maya glances down at her, tucked partially into her side like a sleeping baby animal, which gets her to musing what kind of animal Claudine resembles most. She has the grace and beauty of a deer, as well as the feistiness of a lynx. But she can also be cunning like a fox and snap like a wolf. Many different possibilities run through her head, and with each one Maya imagines her with fuzzy ears and a tail. But ultimately, though many of those options fit, she decides on a raccoon; adorable yet formidable, soft yet sharp.

Maya has been smiling and staring at her for so long now that her neck begins to ache. She turns her head to look up at the night sky glittering with stars, the half-moon glowing off to one side. She only stares for as long as it takes for her neck to feel better, and then she's right back to watching Claudine.

Maya has entire galaxies above her, stars and planets and the beautifully terrifying unknown. But she doesn't spare any of it a second glance, for she has something much more beautiful, and sometimes terrifying, to look at.

The brightest star, in her book.

Maya watches at her as much as she possibly can, tracing the outline of her body with her eyes, committing every curve, rise, and fall to memory. She gazes at her otherworldly beauty until her eyes become tired. She closes them, but makes very certain not to let herself fall asleep, for if she does and the two of them end up staying out here all night long, she knows she'll never hear the end of it.

Of course her greatest fear is not the punishment of being reprimanded by the school for breaking curfew, but rather the risk of Claudine refusing to accompany her on anymore late-night dates for a while.

So Maya rests her eyes, but keeps her body awake by continuing her patterns along Claudine's back. She turns very slightly to plant kisses atop her head or wherever she can reach. She loses track of time and is glad for it; it's irrelevant when she's with Claudine anyway.

But she does want to make sure to bring her back inside before she can potentially catch cold. The only issue is she'd never forgive herself if she woke Claudine as she is now, huddled up and peacefully sleeping. Maya is faced with a difficult decision; to shatter that adorable image for the greater good, or not.

But being Claudine and herself had only recently recovered from a minor sickness, Maya knows what she has to choose.

She savors just a few more moments of this peace, this absolute bliss with her, carding through the curls of her hair. She counts a few more of Claudine's breaths, a few more of her heartbeats, telling herself she'll wake her after just one more...

But before she can commit to doing it, Maya accidentally discovers a different way to accomplish the feat.

It's not her intention, just a gliding brush of her nails across Claudine's side, but she feels her jolt suddenly, curling up tighter against Maya with a whimpering sound. Maya's eyes widen, and a prickle of concern squirms in her chest.

"Claudine?"

There's only a moan as a response, but she doesn't fully wake. Maya gently rests her hand on Claudine's side on the spot in question, just over her ribs. She waits, but gets no reaction this time. Puzzled, she reverts back to her nails, very gently. Once again, Claudine goes rigid and her grip on Maya's stomach tightens.

Maya is already smiling before she even fully comprehends it.

"Oh, Ma Claudine. That is simply too precious..."

She waits a moment for her to relax again, then cruelly repeats the process. This time Claudine yelps herself awake as a particularly strong tingle shoots up her spine. Her eyes fly open and she gasps as she registers where she is.

Maya reaches out with her free hand, curling her index finger beneath Claudine's chin.

"Why good evening, princess. I'm terribly sorry to have woken you." She can tell Claudine is trying to fight off the blush and retain some composure. She clears her throat and hardens her eyes as much as she can.

"It's for the best, I suppose. You'd probably fall asleep and let us stay out here all night."

"Of course not." Now that Claudine is awake, Maya will feel less guilty about confirming her theory. "But I must ask, are you all right? It seemed to bother you when I-" She does the motion again on the same spot, and Claudine shrieks softly.

"Wh-What are you-?"

"It doesn't hurt you, does it?"

"N-No, but that's not-"

"Then that is a relief. Thank you for letting me know." Maya gets a playfully dangerous look in her eye. She tightens her hold on Claudine just a bit, to prevent her from escaping. "Then I must admit, I never knew you were ticklish."

Claudine chokes, but she's in no position to pull away.

"Now listen here-"

"Oh, I'm listening. But I can't seem to hear anything but those adorable sounds you were making earlier." She spreads her fingers and presses her nails in lightly, earning another squeal. Claudine quickly slaps a hand over her mouth to stifle herself. Her eyes have narrowed half in warning and half in fear.

"Don't you dare-"

"Oh, I do dare, in fact."

"I'll have your head-!"

"If that's the price I must pay for this crime, then it is all yours, my queen."

"T-Tendo May-aah-!" Claudine cuts of in another shriek as Maya launches her attack, digging her nails into her sides and across her stomach. She knows it isn't fair of her to use her weakness against her, especially when the poor girl's only half-awake, but she just can't resist.

Claudine thrashes and struggles with all her strength, but one touch from Maya has her squealing. Shrill giggles erupt past French-muttered curses as Maya turns them over and pins Claudine beneath her. She manages to restrain both of Claudine's wrists above her head with one hand, then uses the other to do as she pleases with tickling her. Claudine shrieks again and her legs convulse.

"How dare you?! I-If I end up kicking you, it isn't my fault! In fact, I should just do it anyw- eep!" Another brush of Maya's expert fingers, and Claudine's threat falls flat. "T-Tendo Maya! I'm serious! S-Stop this at once!"

Maya straddles her and sits on her hips to prevent being kicked or kneed, be it by accident or not. She leans down over Claudine with a haughty grin.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to make me."

She strokes her hand all up along Claudine's stomach as if she were a piano, wiggling her fingers in just the right ways to elicit the tunes of her laughter.

Of course that laughter is interspersed with screams of, "I'll kill you! I'll kill you-!" but with the giggles all around them, the threats are quite hollow.

Maya has her fun for a few minutes, tussling with Claudine in the grass – and winning, as always. She tickles and tickles, and Claudine struggles and squirms and tries her very best to push her off, to no avail.

This is Maya's plan, and it's working perfectly. She tickles her more, makes her squeal more, makes her thrash harder and makes her heart pound faster, makes everything happen all at once-

And then she ends it all with a single kiss.

Maya stops her attack without warning, laying over Claudine gently, pressing her lips deeply against hers. All the movement and chaos is brought to a sudden stop in a split second.

Little by little, everything starts to slow down. Claudine can only gasp beneath her, too weak and exhausted to retaliate beyond a disgruntled nip of her teeth.

Maya holds the kiss and her position, slipping one hand into Claudine's to interlock their fingers, and the other goes to cradle her head. She eases back, lets her breathe, but before Claudine can try to speak Maya kisses her again.

She repeats the process again and again, calming her down after the relentless attack, working her body down off the high. The pounding heartbeat beneath Maya's chest eventually slows to a duller rhythm, lulled into a pacified drumming. She eases back again, lets Claudine breathe again, then kisses her again.

Claudine's face is so red that Maya can feel the heat wafting off her cheeks. She draws back again, giving her a bit more time to inhale this time by means of apology. Claudine's eyelids flutter open, annoyed and exhausted and enamored all at the same time.

"Tendo Maya... you..."

"Hush." Maya quiets her with another kiss, softer this time. "I know my crime, and I'll pay the price. My head is all yours."

Claudine bites her again.

"Honestly... you insufferable woman. Learn some self-control."

"Perhaps one day."

She just kisses her again, and now that Claudine is far too tired to be angry, she just relents and accepts it. She yanks her hand away from Maya's only to loop both arms around her neck and pull her down into a crushing kiss, one Claudine hardly has the breath or energy for, but she's trying to prove a point; she won't be bested.

Maya smiles and willingly lets her have this one. She lies down fully over her now, bracing her arms on the ground to alleviate some weight off Claudine. When Maya tries to kiss back, Claudine nips her again in disapproval, then continues at her own pace. Maya accepts the punishment, horrible as it is.

Slender fingers ball into fists through her hair, firm but not painful, eager but not desperate. Though Claudine is already significantly shorter on breath than Maya is, she leaves her fairly breathless by the end of it all. When at last they part, Claudine is panting for air and her face is deeply pink, but there's still a competitive, smug spark in her eyes.

"That'll teach you..."

Maya draws in a few breaths as well to regain her composure and nods.

"Yes. I've learned a great deal. Thank you, Saijou-san."

"Shut up."

Maya happily does as she's told, easing back just a little to stroke her fingers through Claudine's ruffled hair. She dips down and leaves a small kiss behind on her forehead, then trails down along to her temple, peppering them tenderly across her cheeks, then down her neck. She leaves her lips alone this time, letting her breathe, and instead trails her lips over the pulse in her throat down to her collar. Maya leaves a longer kiss over her heartbeat, nuzzling the soft skin briefly before returning to kiss the bridge of her nose.

Claudine's arms have come to settle as a warm weight on her back, and Maya is sure to support her head in turn. She cradles her face, running her thumb over Claudine's cheek and coaxing her to close her eyes.

Given what she's been through, it doesn't take much more than that for Claudine to do so.

Maya leaves more kisses all over her face, holding them to the backs of her eyelids, then her nose, and finally leaving off on a tiny chaste one at her lips. By now Claudine's pulse has slowed again to match hers, and her breath has been restored.

Maya smiles against her mouth for a moment longer, but realizes they should be heading back inside now. Claudine's eyelids flutter open with a slight grunt, and she can't maintain direct eye contact with her. Maya coos.

"What is it, Ma Claudine? Too comfortable now? Don't want to move?"

Claudine's lips curve into the beginnings of a snarl, but never fully make it there. It becomes a pout instead.

"It isn't that I don't want to... but rather..." She trails off and mutters something. Maya tilts her head.

"I beg your pardon?"

"...I can't."

"Eh?"

Claudine glares up at her, blushing furiously now.

"I said I can't! I can't get up, you insufferable woman!"

"Oh," Maya dips her head. "But of course." She lifts herself up off of Claudine, already missing the arms around her back, and sits off to the side. But Claudine still doesn't move.

"That... wasn't the issue..." she mumbles. "I can't feel my legs..."

Finally it clicks for Maya.

"Oh. I see."

After all, their romantic tussle just now would have been more than enough to make any onlooker weak in the knees, but she can only imagine how excessively overwhelming it must have been for Claudine herself as a direct participant.

And on top of it all, she'd already been severely weakened from her nap and the tickling. It's no wonder she quite literally hasn't got a drop of strength left in her after such a passionate session.

As Claudine's blush only deepens, Maya's smile only widens.

"Then being as it was my doing, I shall take full responsibility."

"You'd damn-well better."

"Cross my heart." With this vow, Maya carefully slips her arms beneath Claudine, supporting her shoulders and the crook of her knees. She slides Claudine into her lap, feeling for herself just how limp she is, entirely enervated and still flushed all over. Maya dips down to kiss her forehead sweetly. Claudine huffs.

"You won't get off the hook that easily."

"Of course not. What would be the fun in that?"

Maya stands slowly, balancing Claudine safely in her arms and pulling her close to hr chest. She blows a blade of grass out of her hair and begins making her way back to the building. She relishes the last bit of cool air and the final notes of the crickets before they reach the doors, at which point Claudine has a change of heart.

"I'm fine now. You can let me down."

"Now, now. No need to be bashful, Ma Claudine. There won't be anyone up at this hour to see us like this."

"That's a risk I'm not willing to take."

Claudine struggles enough that Maya has no choice but to put her down. But her losing her balance is a risk Maya isn't willing to take, so she wraps an arm around her and keeps her close.

They push through the door together and tiptoe their way down the hallways toward the dorms. Maya is saddened by the thought of having to leave her now, but there's one last miracle on her side.

Due partially to her exhausted state and partially to habit, Claudine turns to knob to Maya's door instead of her own and stumbles in. By the time she realizes her mistake, it's far too late.

"H-Hold on-"

"No going back now, I'm afraid," Maya shrugs. "What if someone were to see you coming out of my room at this hour, hm? I wouldn't be surprised if someone heard us just now outside. Who knew I could make you scream like that-"

"Silence! Have you no shame?!" Blushing madly, Claudine curses again under her breath. But ultimately she has no choice but to accept her fate.

Maya brings her over to the bed, pushing her down lightly by her shoulders before climbing up with her. Without classes to worry about tomorrow, all thoughts of showering and changing clothes are vacant from their minds by this point.

This time they switch positions. Claudine lies on her back, and Maya curls up into her side, resting an arm across her stomach while she feels Claudine's hand on her back. Maya settles her head onto Claudine's collar and lets out a long sigh. Claudine's sigh is more of a huff than anything, but she still pulls Maya in closer.

"You're lucky I'm too tired to be angry, or else you'd be sleeping on the floor."

"In my own room?"

"Yes."

Maya chuckles. More than anything she's glad her plan to distract Claudine from her excessive studying and relax instead had seemed to work. She fully intends to sleep in with her tomorrow morning and take it easy.

There's a petite yawn from above her, and Maya ends up doing the same. She hums as the gentle beat of Claudine's heart thrums beneath her ear.

"Bonne nuit, Ma Claudine."

"...Bonne nuit, Ma Maya..."

And as always, her grumbling tone says one thing, but her honest heart says quite another.

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A/N: I know I've done tickling and carrying to bed and sleeping together for these two before but... shh...

Again, any other standalone ideas I might get for these two I'll throw in here.