Upon Our Fated Stage (ep)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY $10+ PATRONS!

An overall wrap-up for this to guide it into the series.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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											Epilogue. A Fated Conclusion

Two years have passed since that fateful day of Seisho Academy's entrance exams.

Ever since then, Maya had never stretched, eaten, or practiced alone ever again. She had continued to improve and strive for top student as well as Top Star.

Likewise, Claudine had spent these two years conditioning herself to beat her stage fright, with Maya's help. And with Maya keeping always just one step ahead of her, she had been driven to push herself to her limits and reach for the stars.

Last year, among many other lead roles, they had won the roles of Flora and Claire and given an unforgettable, emotional performance of Starlight.

They want to do it over and over again.

Even when the secret midnight revues had started and pit them against one another, it never severed their bond. There was sometimes strain, but it never came undone, for the red string of fate is far too sturdy.

And Maya, being the romantic at heart she is, had known from the very beginning that her meeting Claudine Saijou was nothing short of fate.

And of course Claudine knew as well. Though she tried to keep a more realistic, logical outlook on all of it, the coincidences were too numerous to write off. She'd never admit it, but she thought that perhaps her meeting Maya Tendo was the work of something greater, too.

Maya kept her on her toes, to the point where Claudine always knew what to expect, but not how to expect it.

The routine they'd forged in their first year together had persisted and expanded over time; along with being each other's stretching and dance partners, they would often study lecture material together, and were always next to one another when their group of friends did activities together.

That group of friends had expanded too, when Karen's childhood friend Hikari had transferred in.

And on top of all that, there were secret dates to town on the weekends when they'd both just so happen to leave campus around the same time.

There were quick, covert kisses stolen in the hallways between classes, or in the dance studio after classes.

There were sleepovers and warm nights cuddled together in the same bed, winding down after an exhausting day.

It soon became apparent they could not function at their best without each other.

Quite simply put, they were inseparable.

Without Claudine beside her, Maya would have been nothing more than a reclusive, intelligent romantic with no one to accompany her.

And without Maya, Claudine would have no one to have her keep straining to improve.

It's a mystery how they'd survived and progressed so far without each other before they'd properly met. But somehow they'd managed, and now here they were.

It had taken until just a few months ago, but Claudine had finally beaten her stage fright, thanks to Maya's constant support and assistance, as well as her own willpower. The time just came one evening when Claudine felt no need to rush to the restroom. Her hands didn't tremble anymore, her chest didn't tighten, and her heart didn't ache.

Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Maya was holding her and peppering kisses through her hair at the time, and had smothered all of the nervousness with joy.

That had always been her tactic, and though it had taken some time, the utter relief and joy in Claudine's eyes had been more than worth the wait.

Maya had kept her own promise of learning French, and would often quip phrases to Claudine under her breath during class, or when they were alone in one of their rooms sharing tender kisses. It always made Claudine blush, which was most of the reason why Maya did it.

She saved her reveal of fluency for when Claudine needed it the most, that night after the duo's revue when Karen and Hikari had bested them. The shock on Claudine's face then had been underlined with the slightest amount of flattery, not only that Maya had kept her promise, but that she'd chosen to show it at such a poignant moment.

After that, the two of them would sometimes hold entire conversations in French, simply because they could.

A lot had happened over those two years. The thrill and deceit of the giraffe's revues had come and gone, Nana had relinquished her hold on their progressing time, and Hikari had been brought back to them all safely. Their class gave the yearly performance of Starlight, with Claudine and Maya willingly taking on supporting goddess roles for a change of pace.

And so their time together continued...

. . .

"Tendo Maya!"

Claudine struts around backstage, calling irritatedly for her partner, eyes narrowed as she scours the place like a hawk. She's sporting a ruffly pink dress and a flower crown of roses; the anger in her gait and expression provide an almost humorous contrast to her innocent, ladylike appearance.

She's been waiting nearly ten minutes now for Maya to finish getting into her costume, but she's become too impatient to stand still any longer, so now she's on the hunt.

They are to perform a newer version of Romeo and Juliet tonight, and given their history with the play, Claudine and Maya had been given the same roles they'd received their first year here.

It would just be nice if her partner was ready to be on time to their entrance.

As Claudine searches, she spots her other friends, who are dressed as female warriors and knights. Futaba catches her eye and waves.

"Oy, Kuroko!" Futaba calls. "You lookin' for Tendo?"

Claudine stomps over to them.

"Yes! We're about to go on!"

"Now, now," Kaoruko smirks. "No need to get all flustered, Saijou-san."

"I'm sure there's a good reason," Mahiru murmurs.

"Of course there is!" Nana agrees.

"The last time I saw her, she was getting costume adjustments," Junna says.

"That would make sense," Hikari puts in. "Her costume is a bit elaborate."

"She'll be here!" Karen grins. "Don't worry, Kuro-chan!"

All of their reassurance calms Claudine's nerves a bit, but there's still one more person she needs to help calm that last portion.

The rest of them are soon called to get ready to go onstage as the band of female knights. Futaba leaves Claudine with a pat on the shoulder and a wink before heading out. Claudine waits in flustered silence now, gripping the ruffles of her dress, drawing in a deep breath-

"Je suis desole."

-and lets it out.

Claudine whirls around to face the girl who'd spoken in a sorry excuse for a French accent, fists clenched and cheeks pink.

"Enfin! What in the world took you so long, Tendo Maya?"

Maya is dressed in a princely sort of costume not unlike what they would wear to their revues. In fact, Claudine has an inkling that Maya had specifically requested to have the designs done a certain way. She makes her way to Claudine now wearing an apologetic smile.

"They couldn't decide if they wanted to tie my hair or leave it." She runs a hand through it now, showing they'd eventually decided on the latter. Claudine huffs.

"That's what kept you all this time? Unbelievable..."

"My apologies, mademoiselle. I never meant to keep you waiting."

"Whatever..." Claudine crosses her arms and turns her nose up, but the second Maya comes closer to embrace her, Claudine relents and hugs back.

"I truly am sorry," Maya says softly. "Are you feeling nervous?"

"Not anymore," Claudine admits with a bit of ruefulness. "Don't make me wait next time, Tendo Maya."

"Oui, Ma Claudine."

Maya guides her a few steps back into the excess ruffles of the unused stage curtains. They share a kiss, as has become tradition before they are to go onstage.

When it is their turn to make an entrance, they steal the show.

With flare, grace, and beauty they sing, dance, and act with everything they've got. They paint their feelings in a manifestation of ambition and conviction, projecting their love of theater and one another for all the audience to see.

They capture hearts, envelope emotions, incite that first spark of flame in the souls of their onlookers.

And they enrapture one another even more strongly than they had in the preceding performance, and the one before that.

Their voices rise as one, their hands reach for the stars, and their movements synchronize along with the profound beat of their hearts.

And when all is said and done, the newer, more inspiring version of the classic, tragic play comes to an end in which both protagonists and all of their fellows survive.

Maya and Claudine don't hold anything back.

Applause erupts and cheers ring out as they kiss – without thumbs, and without shame – for all the world to see, upon that fated stage.

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A/N: Alas, it the curtain has been drawn on this story, but not on theirs! I really hope they get an OVA or something.

I honestly had such a blast writing this, and if I could I'd keep continuing it forever, but I feel this is where it must end. I hope you enjoyed it!