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Mei inhaled deeply before stepping into the empty apartment. A thousand memories rumbled like a distant storm in her mind, many of them beautiful, some bad. Her heart weighed painfully in her chest as she thought about the blow-back from the canceled wedding that surely awaited her in the near future. Kicking her shoes off in the genkan, she faced them outwards, leaned against the door and took a moment to compose herself. For a while, the worried girl stood cloaked in the burden of the heavy, poignant silence that hung about her, wandering through the myriad thoughts that swelled and ebbed in the back of her mind. Such a drastic turn of events; and all because her grandfather's family honor centered motivations had swallowed her weak will, and she'd had neither the strength nor courage to nay say him. Now, all of those years of hopeful planning had come to naught! For a brief moment, she doubted again whether the whole ending of this was the wisest move, before thoughts of the one who she was here for pushed the foolish, baseless fear away. It was only a ground in gut reaction of shame and obedience attempting to dominate her own desires, and the therapist was helping her slowly get over that.
This was about love, and she was only now getting an inkling of its power and wonders, having been after much hardship, finally liberated by truth. And the truth was her desire to spend the rest of her life with Yuzu! She might have ruined her name and social standing, her grandfather's plans - she might have embarrassed her entire family for all she knew...
"And they can get over it! Just like I have to!"
She nearly started laughing at the thought, but was still afraid it could be difficult to stop once it got going. There had been a couple episodes recently, requiring ongoing therapy.
She centered her tumbling thoughts, walked toward the sliding door leading to the balcony and stepped outside, taking in the cool breeze that usually proceeded a rainstorm. Staring out into the sky, the dark clouds gathering above were a perfect reflection of her thoughts earlier, but pushing through it, she felt a mysterious sense of wonder wash over her troubled soul. Mostly, she guessed, because of her fancy having drifted over to the subject of Yuzu.
She was going to be with the girl she'd sworn her heart to, certainly sometime this very day!
And it filled her with exhilaration, delight, warm, fuzzy feelings of love and contentment... a thousand things, including, lurking somewhere beneath, unabashed mortal terror at the prospect that suddenly put her stomach in a knot! She took several deep breaths until it passed, her thoughts returning to her fiance with a calmer focus. The problem was these unwarranted speculations! Hadn't Yuzu risked everything, including her sanity, too? Hadn't she been the one that freed Mei from an aweful fate? Hadn't she sworn to love Mei more than anyone on Earth? That amazing girl had never given her cause to doubt! This was real! This was a future both had chosen and both would build. Their happiness together was the whole point of her unaccustomed disobedience of her grandfather's wishes; of this whole episode, in fact.
"This is no good! This is the old me, the persona I'm going to delete if I'm able!"
Soon a sense of greater calm permeated her rattled composure. Imaginings of Yuzu, the marvel of her touch, the warmth and perfume of her skin and the intoxication of her lips. She'd been daydreaming about those lips since she'd awakened that morning, after a tempestuous night of indifferent sleep.
"I wonder what she's doing... and if she might be thinking of me this moment?" she mused, having mentioned to Ume only that she'd be home some time today. Was her beloved in a similar state? And what would their first moments together be like?
Despite all the drama, in spite of her stubborn pride, Mei couldn't deny the months of pain she had endured as she wept nightly over the prospect of never seeing Yuzu again. Her eyes closed in weariness again, trying to shake off the heavy burden of six months of pure hell that had swallowed the happiness of both girls. But, Yuzu had told her, she understood Mei better than anyone else. And understanding, she'd always heard, was another name for love, the soul of forgiveness...
A movement. Was it the air stirring a curtain, or...
" What was that? "
Before she could react to a small, almost infinitesimal intake of breath behind her, a pair of warm, strong arms wrapped around her waist as a familiar, luscious scent filled her pretty little nose, which drew it in like holy incense. She fell back against those arms, knowing the bearer of that heavenly essence without having to turn around...
"Mm... Oh, Yuzu!" she sighed.
The churning of her broken heart began to strengthen, and she knew despite her earlier trepidation, soon it would throb in time to the other's. As it had since they had joined in bond. As it would always. The surprise hug thief leaned into Mei's back, boldly throwing hesitation to the winds, unable to stop herself from brushing her silky black locks aside and kissing the slim graceful neck as she always had, tightening the embrace when the other's legs became unsteady from the long suppressed rush of exuberant emotion.
"You looked like you needed a hug! Welcome home, lover!" she whispered, rubbing her face against Mei's hair and drinking its love potion in.
" I didn't hear you come in..."
The warmth of Yuzu's breath was like incense!
"I've been here all day, waiting for you!"
"I didn't see or hear you! And your shoes weren't in the genkan..."
The blonde laughed, the most wonderful thing Mei had heard in months. "Oh... I've learned how to disguise my presense. That's because I'm a ninja now!" She said in an offhanded manner.
"Oh you are, are you? You sneak!"
Yuzu's perfect smile as she craned her neck around to wink at her made Mei dizzy!
" I've concealed myself in the apartment all morning, my sweet captive! I can move silently with the mystic art of ninjutsu, stalking my target until I've captured them. After you fell into my trap, it was just a matter of getting you in my unbreakable love-lock! "
Mei felt tears of joy gather in the corners of her eyes as she turned, throwing herself against her gentle captor with pent up passion before surrendering deliriously to her desire. Yuzu beamed at her, holding her face for the long dreamed of, deep, soul-satisfying kiss that followed. Her eyes closed in bliss. How could anything on earth taste so wonderful? Those lips! The blessed safety of such tender, forgiving arms! She luxuriated in the intimacy, opening her mouth and pressing close and wet, before releasing in a lusty smack that left her gasping, she having forgotten to breathe, an unconscious habit that was retained in muscle-memory. It was as though the long, dark months had never been. The two rested in the softer embrace that followed, nearly panting with the heat of the moment. Yuzu sweetly kissed the tears from her lover's eyes, who sighed gratefully under her loving attentions.
Mei was home again, at last. In so many ways, that home was the faithful girl before her, who would not give up, for whom "no" was never an option. All that remained were bothersome details, and with Yuzu beside her, the couple would arrive at their own place of peace and content. All because of the ceaseless, bold efforts of one young girl. To whom she owed her very happiness...
"Thank you, my green-eyed ninja!"
"For what?"
Mei's lips trembled as she answered. She had never sounded more serious as her answer finally came:
"Understanding me."
Yuzu's beautiful green eyes glowed with love and devotion, a perfect emerald mirror of Mei's own. "Always." she vowed.
Wishing to finish clearing the solemn atmosphere, a mood of impish humor seemed to settle in her expression. "Do you know what? In addition to our amazing kissing abilities, we ninjas can also read minds."
Mei suddenly felt much more relaxed, even playful after all that seriousness. "Alright... what am I thinking? " She looked to her amour with comic expectation.
Yuzu stared deeply into the violet eyes, holding the girl's perfect face in her hands. After a moment, her smile got larger, and more suggestive, her face reddening. Mei became suddenly flustered as her smug composure broke, along with her focus. Her gaze traveled downwards as an embarrassed blush began to spread across her cheeks, followed by a naughty grin she couldn't keep away.
"Busted!" she giggled, throwing her hands to her face.
It was too irresistible for Yuzu to ignore for another minute. "We've so much to discuss... later!" she laughed in return, planting a tiny kiss on Mei's cheek that spoke volumes...
Without another word, the sensual ninja took up her princess's graceful hands and meaningfully led her toward the big bed the two now would joyfully share once again.