Journey Of Fate ~ mayakuro

•A Chance? Maybe?•

Blinding. That's the first word that came to Claudine as she opened her eyes. The light from outside was shining through the windows and into the small hotel room. She frowned. She had thought that they had closed the blinds. Besides, wasn't Maya's bed the one closest to the windows? On further inspection, this room wasn't even their hotel room. It instead reminded her of a very particular room she had only been in a couple times in her entire life - Maya's bedroom from Seisho. Her brow twitched. Why the fuck was she in Maya's room, presumably in Maya's bed? Claudine attempted to move, but was locked in place.

What?? She looked down. A pair of arms were wrapped securely around her waist. It was only then that she realized that there was a warm weight pressed against her back and a head resting on her shoulder. She glanced to her right and caught a glimpse of brown hair.

Holy Shit. Not only was she in Maya's bed, but she was also being kept there by Maya. This was not the same Maya who refused to even be in the same bed as her. Now distinctly aware of what was going on, Claudine also noted that their legs were tangled together underneath the blankets. Maya was definitely cuddling her. Despite the strange situation, Claudine relaxed back against her. She had never felt so warm in her entire life, and it wasn't unpleasant at all. Rather, she wouldn't mind falling asleep and waking up like this every day of her life.

She felt the soft fan of Maya's breath ghost across her neck. She shuddered slightly in response, which caused the other woman behind her to stir. She held her breath, wondering what'd happen next. The heat against her back disappeared and she heard the rustling of fabric behind her. She felt ice cold now and turned onto her side to face the annoying woman who had pulled away from her and left her freezing. Her throat closed at the sight before her.

Maya's hair was messy, much unlike her usual pristine hairstyle that somehow never got thrown into disarray, even when they were battling during their Revues. The light that was streaming in through the windows that had rudely awoken her lit up the various loose strands, coloring them soft brown. Maya was wearing a pale blue nightgown that was just translucent enough for Claudine to see hints of her soft skin underneath. The most striking feature were her eyes. Maya's typical stern expression was exchanged for a gentle adoring one. She looked at her as though she was the only person in the world. Even when they were acting as Claire and Flora on stage, she had never seen such an enamored expression. It was somewhat similar to that strange gaze Maya gave her every now and then, but it was a lot less guarded. The serene smile Maya had plastered across her face quirked upwards slightly.

"You should take a picture. It'll last longer," she tittered. Claudine scowled at her. Why she! Claudine was about to snap at her, but then Maya leaned closer. Claudine's eyes widened. Maya was impossibly close. She could feel her breath skim across her lips. She instinctively closed her eyes. A light, plush weigh pressed against her. It felt better than she could've imagined. She was finally kissing-

Claudine shot up. Her breath came out in short pants and her entire body was scorching hot. She glanced wildly around the room. The hotel room. She was still in Chicago. Her heart dropped. That meant that what had just happened to her had been a dream. She buried her face in her hands. She wanted to scream. Internally, she had been hoping that maybe Futaba had been wrong. Sure, what the other woman had described her feelings as sounded eerily accurate, but it was always possible. If she was wrong, her life would be infinitely easier. She wouldn't have to confess. She could just keep dancing with Maya as if nothing had happened. As though that conversation had never occurred. But no. Her mind must've sensed her disbelief and forced that horrible dream on her as punishment. What a horrible dream it was... How could she think of Maya in such a way? Maya, of all people! She was supposed to be her rival! She couldn't just cuddle with her rival, or kiss her rival! They were supposed to fight each other! Yet, she was loathe to admit that she didn't want to be just rivals anymore... That dream had made that crystal clear. She had enjoyed the dream far more than she had liked to admit. If she truly didn't feel that way about Maya, the dream would've played at far different. She would've escaped Maya's warm embrace and would've challenged her to fight, which she certainly would've won. That didn't happen though... Instead she stayed. She stayed. Even if she could repeat the dream right now, she knew she wouldn't change it. It was horribly comfortable. It made her current bed feel empty.