Title:Kindling
Fandom: Magic Knight Rayearth
Rating: General
Length: 500 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Hikaru/Presea post-canon first kisses
Summary: Cephiro didn’t often get this cold, but Hikaru assured her that this wasn’t even winter in Tokyo yet.

oOo

Presea pulled on the gloves that Hikaru had given her as she waited in the garden. Cephiro didn’t often get this cold, but Hikaru assured her that this wasn’t even winter in Tokyo yet – and it wasn’t unpleasant to be out in this weather. The sky was a thinner kind of blue to the colour she was used to, and the sunlight still pleasant but a lot less warm as she stood in it in the warm layers of clothing Hikaru had bought for her.

She’d enjoyed her visit a lot so far – it had only been a few days, but it was good to meet Hikaru’s brothers in their own space, rather than attempting to not be bewildered by Cephiro at the same time as meeting so many new people.

It should probably have been just as startling for her to be here, in a world so different to her own. But it was impossible to feel worried when Hikaru was with her, smiling so brightly.

Nice as it was to spend time with Hikaru’s family, however, she was looking forward to a little more time just the two of them. It was hard to get time together in Cephiro without being interrupted, between her work and the questions that the Priests kept needing Hikaru to help find answers for.

The door slid open behind her, and she turned to see Hikaru closing it behind herself with one hand, the other holding a closed basket that she waved proudly at Presea.

“I thought we could maybe go have lunch in a park today. The autumn colours don’t happen quite like this in Cephiro.”

“Not yet, anyway,” Presea said, with a grin. “With the adjustments we’re making to the seasons… perhaps it will, one day.” She reached out to take the basket and Hikaru handed it over to turn and lock the door behind her.

“You’ll need gloves in Cephiro, if that happens.”

“Fortunately I already have a pair,” Presea waved her free hand, and Hikaru smiled up at her. “I’ll be fine – but we might need to import a lot of them for everyone else.”

“I’m glad those fit. It’s the first time I knit anything more complicated than a scarf.”

Presea paused, looking at the gloves again. Her job made her very aware of what it could mean, to make something with your own hands. “You made these?”

“Ah.” Hikaru looked down, flushing. “…Yes. I’m not that good at it-“

Leaning forward, over the basket, Presea gave in to impulse and pressed a kiss to Hikaru’s cheek, warm under her lips in spite of the cold air. “They’re perfect,” she said, her own cheeks heating as she blushed. “Thank you.”

Hikaru bit her lip for a second, then took the basket from Presea so she could hold it to one side, step in closer, and stand on tip-toes so she could touch her lips to Presea’s.

The kiss was soft, fleeting – Presea took one deep breath of the cool air and leaned down for another, lingering a little longer, a warmth bubbling up inside her. Hikaru’s lips curved into a smile under her own, and another couple of kisses followed on from the first, before Hikaru stepped back.

“Shall we?” Hikaru asked, holding the basket up with one hand – and holding the other out to Presea.

Presea wrapped her gloved fingers about Hikaru’s, unable to stop smiling. “Let’s,” she said, and let Hikaru lead her out of the garden and anywhere she wanted to.