It still manages to surprise Maria a little, though, when one afternoon she’s snapped out of her maladaptive daydreaming as she stares at one of the many pieces in her latest exhibit— sunsets beside and above cities in different parts of the world—by a familiar, low-tow and serious voice—

“The picture in the middle is very well done. The colors it's emitting are very yellow.”

Maria swiftly turns around, eyes wide as she sees familiar white hair and inquisitive brown orbs.

“CANAAN!” she yells without thinking, the black-haired woman running to hug her friend before stopping herself and apologizing to confused gallery viewers who are still standing and walking around to observe her photos.

Laughing awkwardly, Ōsawa gives a few more remorseful words to the audience at the exhibit before softly grabbing at one of the synesthete’s wrists and dragging her out of the area, down the hallway, up the stairs a few floors, and another hallway before finally stopping at a door covered with photos of Maria and her twin sister Hitomi.

Quickly pulling her I.D. badge from behind the top of her dress, she unlocks the door and practically shoves Canaan inside before entering inside herself before the door automatically closes itself.

Not letting Canaan have the next word, Maria pushes her to the couch, pressing herself against the other woman as hard as possible as she begins to cry.

“Half a decade,” the photographer says between sobs, “it’s been half a decade. You had me so worried, Canaan. Daddy said there have been some reports of two women fighting near the slums of England, and when they said sightings of both stopped I got so scared…”

Maria moves herself a bit back to look at the assassin, who in the years since their last meeting has grown her once short hair to her upper back, the strands in a ponytail tied by a red string, her clothing style much more dark in color and masculine in style.

Her black pants are much more shapely than anything Maria ever can remember Canaan wearing before, and her belt buckle has a great shine that really drives Maria’s attention to how some of her abs are see-through on the middle and lower parts of her obsidian tank top.

To say Maria is enamored by her friend’s new appearance is an understatement.

“You’ve…changed, Canaan. In a good way, I mean,” she blurts out, placing a hand right at where Canaan’s belly button should be.

Finally, the Middle Eastern woman responds, in her own language.

“You have changed too, Maria.”

Ōsawa switches from excited Nihongo to formal Arabic, asking the synesthete, “Oh, you mean my hair? Well, I know I’ve always been blonde whenever I’m with you but that’s because of dye. My hair’s actually black, and I thought I’d look more professional if I stopped bleaching my hair for a while…”

Canaan shakes her head.

“No—I meant your breasts are bigger.”

Maria blinks once before pouting and picking up the pillow next to them to throw it at the hitman’s face.

“Canaan, you pervert!”

Canaan, meanwhile, looked confused.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“I am still mad at you, Canaan,” Maria says as she opens her refrigerator, sighing when she sees the meal of rice and chicken she was saving for herself is gone. Her roommate Shizuyo must’ve taken it for her flight back to her hometown in Okinawa while Maria was at the art exhibit.

Maria closes the refrigerator and walks to her living room, where Canaan is sitting on the sofa, playing with Maria’s cat Taiyō. She sits down next to the Iraqi woman, giving her male tabby a few head rubs of her own before looking right at Canaan for a response.

With a frown on her face, Canaan quickly replies, “If I could, I would’ve given you a proper fair well. However…it wasn’t safe. You’ve seen how my higher-ups operate, Maria. I didn’t want you to become a new experiment for them, devoid of a peaceful life.”

Maria looks down at Taiyō, softly feeling the swirly patterned fur on his back.

“That is sweet, Canaan. However, I’m already not living a normal life. The UA Virus mishap where I was confused for my sister, remember? My father isn’t just the head researcher anymore but owns Okoshi Pharmaceuticals. Every day of my life is under surveillance.”

“I noticed that when I was checking around for hidden cameras in the apartment.”

“Indeed. I’m happy that when Daddy got them installed I made him promise to configure it so nothing would be set off if you were in the house”—Maria goes back to staring at Canaan—“I always believed you’d eventually come back and find me. That’s how it always goes between us.”

The synesthete solemnly looks to the side. “It’s because of that habit that you always end up in danger, though, Maria. You shouldn’t be living in fear because of me. If you never met me, you never would’ve been in constant dang—”

Maria stops Canaan by hugging her tightly, just as she used to whenever Canaan would break out into murderous rages the first time they met in the Middle East, just like whenever her hazel eyes would turn crimson and she’d looked at everyone around her as an objective rather than other human beings in Shanghai.

“Don’t say that. Don’t. Nothing involving you and me meeting could ever be seen as a mistake on your part. You’re not a bad girl, Canaan…and if you keep thinking you are, then I’ll remind you every day how good you and meeting you is until you change your mind.”

When she moves away, she sees tears falling down Canaan’s face—

The first time she’s ever seen such a thing.

“M…Maria,” Canaan whispers, her mouth whimpering.

The Japanese woman in question smiles, lifting up the sleeves of her sweater to clean her friend’s face. She tries to hug her friend tighter but Taiyō meows a sound of discomfort, and his owner remembers then that the poor pet is still in Canaan’s lap and is thus close to being squished between Canaan and Maria.

Picking up her cat and placing him on the rug, Maria goes back to embracing Canaan, this time so much closer to the other woman that she begins to notice how…much more in direct contact their lips are. If Maria were to just move a few centimeters closer, why…

No! Maria mentally screams, shaking her head and then rising up and turning around so Canaan doesn’t see her red cheeks.

“I’ll g-go prepare d-dinner now,” she mumbles out with an unfortunate stutter. She’s almost robotic in the way she walks to the open kitchen area of her apartment, bending down to pull out a container of grains.

(She tries to pretend she doesn’t hear Canaan asking her what’s wrong as she turns on the rice cooker.)

III.

For several weeks, Maria decided to show Canaan around downtown Tokyo, buying her clothes and showing her entertainment hub spots and exhibits that even the urban areas of China didn’t possess when they were in Shanghai half a decade ago, many pictures being taken that Maria would keep personally just for her and Canaan’s eyes.

Maria introduced Canaan to Hitomi (whom Canaan got along with very well), their stepmother Ai (who was very intrigued by Canaan’s safer stories to tell about her time in Iraq), and her roommate Shizuyo when she came back (who was one of the many people Maria’s father hired to ensure her safety and thus wasn’t too shocked at Canaan’s occupation before coming to Japan).

Canaan met Maria’s father as well, but it was briefly and through video call since he was currently staying in America for a convention.

One day, when there is nothing really else for Maria to show Canaan until the cherry blossom sightings that wouldn’t be starting for another four weeks, the two women end up alone in Maria’s room, no one else besides a sleeping Taiyō in another room around, Shizuyo having to take another trip back to her original home.

So, Maria and Canaan end up sitting on Maria’s bed which also became Canaan’s bed, Maria makes a cat cradle with red string that Canaan manages to copy perfectly, a great improvement from her constant fumbling with attempting the shape when they were teenagers.

“You know, I used to sometimes get a little jealous when I saw you managed to make these even better than I did, when we were in Shanghai. I always felt like it was another example of you being a great light I could stare at, and bask in, but never be able to have my own.”

Canaan looks up, her natural expression quickly turning into a more guilty one, her lips in a front that Maria can’t help but stare at its shape and plumpness.

When Canaan cocks her head in confusion, Maria rubs at the back of her head, laughing gawkily.

“Of course, that was the past! You have always shined so much of your own, but now I do too,” Maria explains as she slowly places her hands on Canaan’s, “and even if it isn’t as bright as yours, it is luminous enough. After all, I wish to be beside you for the rest of our lives, Canaan, not just hiding behind you. I want to shine together with you”

Canaan nods in agreement, her tanned face with a tint of red, her expression no longer bothered but instead something more…shy, it seems?

“I see. Well, in terms of lights, I always thought there was a light for you, yellowish and very warm. Now, however, that light is no doubt much bigger and unstoppable. You’re even giving up a very new color now.”

“A new color? I hope not blue or green”—Ōsawa places her cat cradle on her nearby small dresser—“that would be awful after all we went through!”

“No, it’s pink.”

“Pink? Hmm, that doesn’t seem to be a color you’ve ever talked about seeing before. What does it mean.”

Canaan blushes, her eyes focused on the window. “Siam told me about it once, when he was explaining to me all the possible colors I could see to be more careful on the streets…it means lust.”

In one second Maria goes from calm, confident and mature to blushing and juvenile, covering her face.

“L-Lust?!? Oh no, Canaan, I’m not trying to say I want to be beside you because…because…”

Maria can’t finish her words, instead choosing to continue hiding behind her hands. Maria always felt like she had feelings for Canaan that weren’t just…friendship, but she was always scared to ask Canaan whether some of their really close moments were friendship on Canaan’s part or with sprinkles of that type of affection too.

Canaan didn’t even look at her when she told her what the color meant—what if she’s grossed out by the thought of another woman having a crush on her? Canaan was always creeped out by Liang Qi’s weird affection for Alphard, but was it not just because it was unhealthy but because it was a homosexual attraction? Will Canaan see Maria as manipulative for having romantic reasons as well as platonic reasons for wanting to see her again?

Did she perhaps make a connection between using red strings as a symbol of their relationship?

Maria jolts when she feels a hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she moves her own hands down her face enough to see the face of the other young adult.

Canaan is still blushing, but with a warm smile, and she’s looking directly at her this time.

Canaan placed a hand on Maria’s shoulder, making her move her hands down enough to see her friend’s face.

“I’m glad, Maria. I can’t see my own colors, but those feelings you have…I think they’re very similar to the feelings I have for you. Knowing it is mutual makes me very happy.”

Staring without a response for several seconds, Maria lets out a sigh of relief before smiling.

“I…am very happy too, Canaan.”

IV.

The first time they have sex, it’s right after going to a summer festival event together, neither deciding to drink any sake but instead feeling jittery enough to head straight to Maria’s room and start making out.

Since the fourth day they’ve been dating they have been kissing, but it is this night that it is different—rather than separate and then go watch TV or look through Maria’s photos, this time Maria holds the helm of the red and black yukata her lover is in, embracing the rare moment of the Middle Eastern beauty either in makeup or a dress.

“Canaan. I want to go further with you, beyond just kissing…are you ready for this? If not, I understand.”

Canaan smiles with all teeth showing, some caramel apple sauce still on her lips like a purposeful lip gloss.

“Of course, Maria,” the synesthete replies as she starts to move her hands to untie the knot in Maria’s yukata, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

With a sound of triumph, Maria undoes not Canaan’s but her own yukata’s tie knots and then maneuvers herself out of her undergarments until she’s naked. Canaan takes off her underwear first but hesitates with her bra.

“They’re still small,” she says in an apologetic tone.

Maria glares at her before bending down to kiss her upper chest. “As if that’s an issue! Tiny breasts are equal in merit to normal, big, large, and gigantic boobs, and do not let anyone tell you otherwise! Canaan’s figure is immaculate no matter what’s next to it.”

Canaan looks down, a sheepish look to her.

“Thank you, Maria…”

Slowly but calmly, Canaan takes off her bra, moaning when Maria presses her own against them, the tip of light brown nipples lightly touching the darker brown of the Iraqi woman.

“Canaan’s breasts, face, legs…all parts of you are beautiful.”

Slowly, Maria lays Canaan down on the bed, her fingers traveling cautiously down, kissing lower and lower until she reaches the beautiful pink orb above the precious and gorgeous folds of the other female.

“Canaan, you are so magnificent to look at. If I was an artist instead of a photographer, I’d paint still-lifes of every part of you.”

Canaan blushes. “Maria, that’s embarrassing…”

“It’s just the truth,” Maria replies getting on the bed and laying down next to Canaan and then continuing, “just the truth. Now…as I am yours, you can touch me everywhere.”

Canaan lets out a shaky breath as she does just that, cupping Maria’s breasts into her hands as softly as possible before bending down to lick around her areola. Maria moans, traveling her pale fingers unto the brown thighs of her girlfriend and gently spreading her lips before rubbing them delicately up and down the curved flesh, her thumb making circling patterns on her clit.

Canaan suppresses a moan by biting lightly down on Maria’s shoulder and cupping Maria’s rear with one hand, while

Eventually, Maria moves away and turns around, getting on top of Canaan and lightly lowering her head and butt down so that her face is directly right at Canaan’s lovely jewel, and her lower lips and her own are almost touching Canaan’s no doubt red face.

Maria lets her tongue out but turns to look back at her partner to ensure her consent.

Canaan bites her lips.

“Is it alright if…for now, I receive no finger or tongue penetration? I, uh, kinda thought about it a bit, and I don’t believe I’m comfortable with it yet. Licking is fine, though, and I’m alright if you want to receive those types of penetration. Apologies if that ruins the move…”

Maria places her tongue back, nodding.

“Don’t ever apologize for setting boundaries, Canaan. I will never do anything in bed with you that you’re not ready for.”

Turning back to Canaan’s clit, Maria takes one lick of it and then a few licks at her lips, delighted at how quickly they get wet and at how euphoric Canaan’s moans are.

Right before taking the little nub into her mouth, Maria informs Canaan, “I’m not feeling finger penetration tonight either. I’m fine with tongue penetration, though.”

Ōsawa sucks on the other woman’s clit, her tongue swirling at the warm tiny muscle before separating from it and then navigating her tongue up and down the soft folds. She waits for Canaan to make a move and soon enough she does, Canaan’s tongue driving around Maria’s folds for a minute before eventually pressing inside the Japanese photographer, haltingly to presumably make sure Maria won’t change her mind before eventually grabbing Maria’s rear end and pulling her down until her entire muscle is inside her.

Canaan is getting wetter by the second, and Maria as well.

Maria swallows Canaan’s juices and feels like she’s eaten the sweetest apple ever, using her fingers to spread Canaan’s lower lips a little wider as she starts to then suck on the upper parts of them, letting them go only to let out a long whine as Canaan’s tongue explores her leaking hole more.

Looking back, she sees Canaan deeply invested in pleasuring her, and it motivates her to go back to licking the Middle Eastern woman’s clit, and then go back to lapping at her folds. Canaan’s tongue momentarily leaves Maria’s insides to make zig-zag movements around her folds before reentering her damp tunnel, this time more agile in ingressing it in and out.

Canaan's folds are sugary and her juices are even more blood-rushing. Maria is fine if Canaan never ends up wanting to be penetrated, already satisfied with being allowed to have such a luscious set of lips and a nub to kiss and fondle with her mouth.

Maria brushes her upper and bottom lips against Canaan’s outer passage, kissing them softly before wandering her tongue from the tip of the tanned woman’s clit to the end of her folds, small strands of natural nectar mixed with spit attached to the bottom and tip of her tongue.

The black-haired woman puts her left middle and pointer finger between Canaan’s clit and strokes it with the side of her extremities, once more engulfing Canaan’s folds into her wet mouth, just as Canaan pulls her pink muscle all the way out of Maria and then thrusts it all the way inside, her fingers on Maria’s heated, slippery nub.

One second the two are pleasuring each other with pure passion.

The next moment they’re both climaxing, Canaan’s more intense but Maria’s much more loud.

Ōsawa shutters as she feels Canaan trying her best to swallow her release, the pale woman struggling as well to not spill any of her lover’s juices out of her mouth but managing to gulp down everything.

“Ready for another round?” she asks, giggling at how swiftly and eagerly Canaan nods her head.

“Yes…I am.”

Maria grins, giving a thumbs up.

“Awesome!”

Turning back around cheerfully, Maria kisses Canaan’s clitoris.

V.

Taking the red scrunchie out of a sleeping Canaan’s hair, Maria smiles at the familiar shape the accessory’s been twisted and turned to emulate.

For the first time since they’ve met, Canaan’s actually sleeping well peacefully and with a smile on her face, rather than staying up like a hawk to make sure nothing will harm either of them until either passing out from sleep deprivation or Maria forcing her to take a rest.

It’s…strange, but comforting. It’s a great example of their relationship changing for the better.

Of course, holding things back from each other still seemed to be a bad habit the two lovers shared.

Canaan did inform Maria that Alphard had nonchalantly told her Liang Qi had a fatal reaction to untested pills (which despite all her wrongdoings the lack of care Alphard had for someone so devoted to her did make Maria very much pity the Chinese woman) and the American man who always followed them had, somehow, become a monk, but Canaan always seemed to think her words very carefully when it came to discussing her final interactions with the killer of their former master.

She also never did say what exactly she saw poor Hakko doing before she told Canaan to let her die in the building, and shut down any hopes from Maria that the mute older woman survived, almost in the exact way Minorikawa does (but without the depressed tone he’s seemed to always be with lately).

Canaan did at least tell her however that Yunyun is doing great, and that the second appendix as well as the need for medicine was completely removed from her system. In any case, Maria still hid her sometimes till there were feelings of envy of Canaan’s capabilities and disappointment in her own tendency to sometimes have to rely on her partner.

However, in a relationship, it is expected that sometimes one will have to lean on their partner and that not everything will be perfect like her father always tells Hitomi and her whenever Hitomi talks about her own issues with her boyfriend with their parent.

So, for now, Maria will just rest in bed with Canaan, and slowly work their way up in any remaining issues or setbacks they might have in the morning or the next few months, even years if they have to. They’ve been through rougher situations before, and no matter what one thing will never change—

Canaan and Maria will always find a way to be together, no matter what life brings them.

[FIN.]

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