Love's Blessing

"Ron, 12,000 all," Mihoko declared; a triumphant glimmer shining in her eyes that briefly revealed her competitive spirit beneath.

It took her a few more seconds to realise just what that declaration meant. If she'd been outside the room she'd have heard her fans cheering, reporters typing furiously and seen her team ecstatic. As it was she simply felt a sense of peace and contentment within that she had fought well and she had won.

In the end Nodoka had pushed her closest, matching her right until the end. Saki and her sister, Teru, had engaged and ultimately destroyed each other in a personal vendetta following the outcome of the team nationals, where Saki had won with the final hand to defeat Shiraitodai.

Mihoko smiled as she responded automatically to the congratulations passed to her by Saki, Nodoka and Teru beneath the glaring spotlight.

I guess I'll have to endure an evenings press and attention, it suddenly occurred to her; inner Mihoko giving a small sigh at the thought. I wonder how long it will take to sink in that I've actually won...A month ago this was the thing foremost in my mind, now I'm so glad it's not. Not that its not a great achievement or anything but I'd feel so flat afterwards if there was nothing else. I wonder what Hisa's thinking...

She knew as Captain of Kiyosumi Hisa's duty was to her teammates first and that she'd been cheering for Saki and Nodoka. But it hadn't stopped a text arriving before each round wishing her good luck. With just that she'd been able to move on forward and upwards a little stronger each time.

But our time together has been limited since the day we...

It was always that day now in her mind; soft light spilling onto rusty red hair and warm arms encasing her. The number of nights she had lain awake feeling those same arms wrap around her and hold her safe and secure.

"Mihoko?" Nodoka asked with a look which was at first confused but quickly dawned with comprehension.

Their secret had lasted all of one match until the night after Kiyosumi had progressed to the next round. That night they'd all gone out to celebrate and Hisa had been in an exceptionally cheerful mood, at one point even feeding her some sushi from chopsticks causing Nodoka to gasp out,

"So are you two really...?"

Hisa had glanced at Mihoko's red face, grinned and kissed her on the cheek.

"Yeah, sorry I didn't mention it before but we only worked things out a few days ago."

"That's great isn't it Saki?" Nodoka said happily and it didn't escape Hisa's eye that Nodoka's arm shifted so that her hand could encase Saki's or the happy blush that coloured Saki's quietly watchful face.

"Mmm," Saki murmured, "so how did you two come to be together?"

There followed a short recap by Hisa with murmured ascensions from a shy Mihoko and a toast proposed by Mako and then they'd all headed to bed.

Mihoko was returned from her reminiscing to reality by Nodoka tugging on her arm with an amused look on her face.

"Come on lets go," Nodoka said with a friendly smile and Mihoko nodded and stood,

"Um!"

The rest of the day passed in a rush of snapshots, flashes, babble of interviews, offers for further commercial spin offs and a stream of congratulations. Finally Mihoko and her team had gone to their room where a celebratory tea was sent up courtesy of the hotel to avoid the scrum outside.

By the time they'd finished celebrating and talking it was 2am; Mihoko had collapsed horizontally across her hotel bed completely drained, allowing energy to flow up through her from the soft duvet sheets.

Somehow today has felt like a lifetime...and the closing of a Chapter. The last real action with my team, be it they didn't play. They didn't catch onto the fact Hisa and I are together but I think that's for the best. It would probably only antagonise them and I don't want to cause them trouble. I didn't hear or see anything from Hisa either afterwards...Oh!

It suddenly struck Mihoko that she'd given up hope of receiving any messages from Hisa at 9pm and as she didn't want the hassle of being disturbed by any more random congratulatory calls had turned it off. She reached down to her skirt pocket and slipped the pink mobile out into her hand; it was smooth and cold as if plucked from a river bed. Easing the cover up and open she pressed hard on the larger, slightly worn button at the top right to turn it on. Feeling it vibrate she started bringing it up to her face but as the vibrating continued she sighed and waited till it had finished before bringing the screen in front of her face.

Quickly she scanned the missed calls list looking for Hisa's number, but it wasn't there. She double checked but there was nothing. She dismissed that window and looked at the text messages. There were twelve. She began scrolling down them, two congratulations from classmates back at school, a free top up contract offer, a message from Hisa, a...

Mihoko's thumb froze over the phone. She caught the words 'Hey' and 'done!' before clicking open; the days weariness replenished by the second.

Hey - Well done Champ ;) Hope you're not too worn out from today as I was hoping we could meet up tomorrow morning before we head back home. Shall we say 8am outside the front of the hotel? Or 9am if that's too early? – Lots of Love – Hisa x

Mihoko's hands responded automatically, typing out her response and sending it within a couple of minutes.

Hi! Thanks 8am is good – see you then! Love Mihoko x

Then she closed the phone, changed into her white pajama dress and dived beneath the warm covers; setting her alarm for 7am.

The sun had only just begun to strike the sky aflame with the colour of a new day and a fresh, chill wind stirred through the streets causing Hisa to tighten her grip on her dark red cardigan; she was standing outside the hotel taking in the early morning air, be it the air was tainted with the subtle pollution of the city. About her papers and food wrappers that had escaped the cleaning teams from last night scurried and rolled like tumbleweed about the front parking entrance.

It's amazing how quiet everything feels here now. Like a lid on proceedings that will all begin for a new group next year. An ever turning system; one that even if you achieve your goal you'll simply become a statistic. But that's not why Mihoko and myself ever tried so hard or played so well. Not for the five minutes of fame or the prestige but to challenge ourselves, which is perhaps why we achieved so much.

"Ah!" Hisa gasped in surprise as a pair of warm arms wrapped round Hisa's waist and pulled her back into a soft embrace.

"Morning," Mihoko mumbled sleepily, resting her head on Hisa's right shoulder before somewhat ruining the moment by emitting a loud yawn.

Hisa chuckled and turned her head to give Mihoko a quick kiss to her forehead.

"Morning. Was someone up late partying?"

Mihoko nodded, still snuggled up against Hisa.

"Not enough sleep?"

Mihoko nodded again.

"Too much alcohol and playing strip poker?"

Mihoko nodded again and then straightened up as though shot.

"Hisa I...!"

The sight of Hisa's failed attempt to stifle her laughter and her own growing sense of awareness of Hisa's idea of amusement brought her up short.

"Oh...Pfft...that's not fair to take advantage of me so early you know Hisa..."

Hisa nodded and her breath caught in her throat as she looked round at the woman who was starting to shape her life little by little, day by day. Mihoko was wearing a warm pink coat, pink mittens and a blue woollen hat. Her breath steamed from pouting lips and her cheeks were flushed from hurrying out of bed and downstairs; both her eyes were open as had become the norm around Hisa now. And as ever Hisa's gaze was drawn and captivated by the blue orb that spoke the clearest of the intensity of Mihoko's love that was as depthless as the eye itself seemed.

"Hisa?"

"Mmm, I'm sorry but you're so adorable to tease," Hisa said with a small smile and drew closer, "but may I take advantage of you in a different way right now?"

Mihoko barely had time to whisper "yes" before their lips met and the city streets and buildings melted away about them. The rush, the tingling running fire over lips, the warm wetness of saliva and the sensual movement of tongues enveloped them both in a timeless moment. Then time re-started and they were back on the city street with the wind whipping by and faces bright red.

"Sorry for being so sudden," Hisa said; blushing more than Mihoko for once. "You just looked too cute..."

"Baka," Mihoko chided softly, "You don't need to apologise for something like that..."

"Heh!" Hisa chortled happily and the blush faded as she entwined her right arm through Mihoko's left and linked hands. Mihoko sighed happily and leaned against Hisa.

"So where are we going?"

Hisa debated whether to invent a destination like a strip...well there wouldn't be any open this early; maybe a mine shaft or eloping to France...But deciding she'd already teased Mihoko enough for the morning she simply said,

"It's a surprise."

"Ah, okay..."

"Oh, what time do you have to be back by?"

"Well my plane leaves at 4 so I need to be back for 1 really, I left a note to my team saying I'd be out for the morning."

"Okay that's good, I'm catching a slightly earlier flight so have to be back for 12. It'll take us about an hour each way so we'll have plenty of time."

They trekked onwards for nearly an hour idly chatting about the tournament, the work they had to do before the end of the year and various other things as they passed through the early morning streets; slowly climbing upwards until Hisa turned in under a red archway heralding the entrance to a Temple. Before them ran a cobbled path with trees bunched on both sides giving the feeling that one was leaving the city altogether.

"Oh..." Mihoko said as they advanced down the entrance-way, "it feels very peaceful and surreal somehow."

"Mmm," Hisa murmured as they strolled down the pathway – the dark red and black coloured square temple building peering down and over the walkway in the distance. They continued along with arms still entwined for a short while until they reached the end of the path; the noise of cars and the smells of noodle bars and greengrocers replaced by birdsong and the smell of damp earth.

At the end of the cobbled path a small humpbacked bridge crossed a small stream running about the Temple. The stream lay between shallow mint green grass banks and flowed merrily among smooth stones.

They crossed over in silence enjoying the tranquility and entered a courtyard before the Temple where a large square structure containing a golden bell occupied the centre; dragons' faces protruding from the four corners of a sloping red roof covering the bell. About the courtyard ran a wall split with low wooden gates; between the gates and the black beams crossing the top of the wall one could see the trees that covered either side of the temple and shielding it from the city beyond.

"Want to make a wish before we go on?" Hisa suddenly asked, waking Mihoko from her dreamy gazing.

"Yes..."

They approached the bell as Mihoko's mind raced with what she wanted to wish for; well she already had a good idea as to what, but it was exactly how to phrase that wish.

Hisa released her arm from Mihoko's, grabbing the sturdy bell rope with both hands and pulling. The bell sounded out with a deep peal, loud and clear across the courtyard, making Mihoko flinch despite expecting it. Hisa turned, a gust whipping her hair over her face as she said,

"Your turn Mihoko." Mihoko giggled

"Um, okay!"

Then she grasped the rope and felt the rough fibers press through her mittens to her hands as she gripped its bumpy surface. Putting the wish firmly to the front of her mind she took a deep breath and pulled, sending the same deep peal resounding out about the courtyard.

"You have such an incredibly serious look on your face," Hisa said in amusement as Mihoko turned to her.

"Well it was an incredibly important wish," Mihoko responded defensively, unsure if Hisa was teasing her. She expected Hisa to press her on what that wish was but instead Hisa had turned and was now walking towards the temple.

"Come," she called out. "There's still something I want to show you up here."

"Ah, kay," Mihoko responded and picked up her pace so that she drew level with Hisa just before the stone steps leading up to the wooden balcony running about the temple. They climbed upwards over the light grey stone with streams of cracks and flourishes of moss scarring their surface; strong gusts whipping and tugging at their skirts and sending Hisa's hair dancing. Then they were up and Hisa was striding quickly ahead and about the balcony so that Mihoko had to put all her effort into keeping up rather than looking about, following the beat of Hisa's red shoes on the historic flooring.

Then, as Hisa reached the rear of the Temple her footsteps slowed and Mihoko caught up. As she reached the corner of the left and back part of the balcony stretching she looked out over the back balcony and gasped for the World seemed to have fallen away and all she could see was a bright blue sky streaked with clouds. She joined Hisa walking along the balcony, then Hisa turned into one of the boxed extensions and leaned on the wooden railings there. Mihoko came to rest beside her and let out a small gasp of amazement.

Before them the full expanse of the city spread, a beautiful shimmering expanse of greys and green and in the distance the blue sea. And at the back, spotlighting it all, sat the sun; a burning pearl at the bottom of an azure sea of sky.

They stood in silence for a while before Mihoko murmured,

"It's beautiful...is this what you wanted me to see?"

Hisa nodded,

"This has always been a favourite spot of mine. When I needed to think or escape things I'd always come up here and relax. It was somehow calming."

"Ah..."

Mihoko wanted to say that now Hisa didn't need to do that. That she would be that support, but she couldn't find the words. So she simply removed her right mitten and covered Hisa's left hand with her right, feeling warmth flood her right palm.

Hisa glanced at her in surprise and then those red eye warmed with comprehension.

"Thanks," Hisa said softly; her tone saying so much more than the simple word.

"Just don't leave me alone this time, okay," Mihoko said, squeezing her hand tighter.

"Silly, you're far too precious for me to let go of ever again."

"Really?"

"Absolutely! You want to know my wish?

Mihoko nodded,

"I wished that the Gods would bless me with your presence and entrust me with your happiness from now on. For all time to come."

Mihoko trembled with a deep sense of joy as she gazed, no was drawn into the red orbs sparkling and shining in the morning light.

"And I wished that the Gods would allow me the happiness of making you the happiest person alive."

Whether it was the wishes being blessed, the place, the freshness of the wind and warmth of the sun or all of those the kiss they shared that morning felt like a sealing of their bond, marking their journey beyond friendship to lovers. A journey no doubt filled with countless difficulties and problems, but as their eyes locked they knew they had the power to overcome anything between them and make the most of the fortune that had drawn their souls together.

And that completes the end of this tale, although I will keep re-editing/improving over time and at some point will try and write a one-shot/series of one-shots set later on. I'll also going to return to writing oneshots for some other series as well such as NanoxFate, G/friends or whichever other pairing takes my imagination ;)

A big thanks to all who have been following the story, and apologies for the longer waits at the end. In particular thanks to Spikesagitta, waterxeno, fyee, Greenerin, teh 321 stars, Sir Ivaldi, crazyhorse08, cowpoo 84, Honulicious and No Mutant for all your support and reviews as well as everyone else who reviewed and/or read the story :)

Finally if you're a fan of Yuri I really recommend joining the Yuri-Garden forum, which is the friendliest forum I've ever joined (I have the same username there as on here) & is yurilicious & last but not least has amazingly cute smilies too XD