A/N: Ok First off I'm soooo sorry that I haven't updated in like weeks, I was on holiday then I got writers block, then I started procrastinating.

Either way point is that I'm sorry and I'll try not to let this happen again

Well on with the show.

Amour et Rèvolution: The Blood of the People

Once blood is shed in a national quarrel reason and right are swept aside by the rage of angry men-David Lloyd George's memoirs 1936

23rd February 1848

Tsubasa blinked open her eyes, she yawned, her whole body ached from head to toe and resting on her shoulder there was something heavy and warm. The light of the morning was streaming in through the window next to her and the light forcing her to shield her eyes from its glare.

She looked around wearily, studying what she could see in the room, her shattered mind just registering the dirty wooden chair she was sat on, the cast iron stove in the corner, the dusty smattering of a carpet on the floor and the exposed wood of the walls and ceiling.

Where am I? Tsubasa asked herself. The events of yesterday were a blur, Anju crying in their house, Erena on the Place de la Madeline, Honoka…

Tsubasa woke herself with a start Honoka where is she? The warm thing on her shoulder shifted slightly, Tsubasa looked down to see Honoka sleeping, a musket by her side and her head peacefully resting on her shoulder. The brunette's breath hitched at the sight, the baker's hair shimmered in the early morning light like a crown of orange on her head. Her Honoka's wavy ginger locks were messy, sticking out all over her head in clumps and tufts, her yellow ribbon was dirtied by the dust and mud of the streets, but this only made her hair appear brighter.

Honoka shifted again on Tsubasa's shoulder a contented smile appearing on her face, the brunette smiled at that, noticing Honoka's arm resting on her bandage gently, as though she wanted to try and protect her and stop Tsubasa coming to any further harm in her sleep. Tsubasa looked as her skin glowed in the morning light, the gentle curve of her neck; the soft squishiness of her cheeks the ample view of her cleavage, that her dress gifted Tsubasa. It was all breath taking. The captivating baker-turned-revolutionary looked so strong in her sleep yet so vulnerable.

Just like her… Tsubasa giggled softly at the thought, remembering the time she'd spent with this fascinating girl yesterday. She glanced out of the window at the ad hoc pile of furniture, paving slabs and even a turned over wagons that was the barricade they'd built yesterday. Blocking off the street and providing defence, should the government decide to crackdown on them.

They'd run through the streets, even Honoka wasn't sure where they were, but all of a sudden she'd stopped, seeing some people starting to build a barricade in the street, Honoka had jumped up on a lamppost and given a speech, the residents applauded her and then both she and Tsubasa had started to help with the barricade.

It was surprisingly big for something that had felt like it took no time to build at all, but with the entire street helping perhaps that wasn't entirely surprising. Their day had been quiet musketry had crackled off in the distance and Tsubasa could feel the tension in the air as everyone expected a detachment of soldiers to sweep around the corner ready to arrest or kill everyone. But Honoka, she had stood firm, using a red table cloth she had tied to a pole as a flag she had watched over the street before them, ready to give advanced warning to the insurrectionaries below. Tsubasa remembered the awe inspiring sight, of Honoka atop the barricade, the wind and rain tugging at her hair pulling at the red fabric of her dress causing the flag to flutter like an enchanting red background.

The sun occasionally broke through the clouds, its rays bathing Honoka in brilliant light, making her look like an angel sent forth to deliver the revolution to the people of France. In that moment Tsubasa had known while this woman was on their side they couldn't fail, Guizot would fall and the Municipals would pay. It's like heaven itself is blessing her Tsubasa had thought the sun always seems to shine for her, on her, or maybe she is the one who is shining...

But now that same girl who looked so indomitable, so formidable standing on the barricade yesterday, was asleep on her shoulder, snoozing, like some dog by a fireplace. Tsubasa looked down at Honoka's lips, remembering those speeches she had given. They looked soft, those small pink petals that framed her mouth, they looked soft, moist, inviting. The brunette found herself leaning towards Honoka.

She looks so peaceful, so at ease, so resilient yet exposed. Tsubasa's mind raced, her heart pounded as she leaned in closer, closer, closer. She wasn't sure what she was doing, all she knew was she wanted to feel how soft those lips felt, to feel that strength Honoka had shown her yesterday on her lips.

"Mmmm Tsu-chan?" Honoka blinked open her disarming eyes, halting Tsubasa's progress her lips only millimetres away from Honoka's.

Tsubasa froze, her blood raging through her system now flooding her face, transforming it into a perfect crimson. "A-Ahh Honoka! You're awake."

"What're you doing Tsu-chan?" Tsubasa drew her head away, stuttering, she saw a slight blush on Honoka's cheeks. But the brunette's mind was too busy flailing around for an excuse, any excuse to save her from this embarrassment, to notice.

"I-I'm just, uhhh, You've got some dirt on your face, so I was going to clean it for you." Tsubasa brushed the imaginary dirt off of Honoka's face, taking the time to discreetly feel the warmth of her cheek beneath her fingers. "T-There, it's all gone now"

Honoka held her hand up to the cheek that Tsubasa had just caressed, a slightly reverential look on her face before she broke out into a huge grin. "Thanks Tsu-chan, I sure would've looked stupid going out there with dirt on my face." Honoka laughed, while Tsubasa forced a nervous giggle.

Honoka looked outside at the barricade; the brunette sat next to her could've sworn she detected a whiff of pride about her before she noticed the weather. "Tsu-chan look! It's sunny outside now! We need to get out there now it looks like a really nice day to rally more people to the cause, we might even cause the King to give real power to the chamber!" Honoka's eyes sparkled with a childlike wonder as she looked out of the window; like she'd just proposed an outing to the beach not an overthrow of a government. "Come on Tsu-chan let's go!" Honoka snatched up her pouch of cartridges and her musket and dashed for the door.

Tsubasa rose slowly from her chair, cradling her injured arm carefully making her way through the dim worker's house. That girl really is unique; sometimes she acts just like a dog, others like a child, and others like a leader. Tsubasa giggled she is cute though, no matter how she acts.

"Tsu-chan hurry uuuuup" Honoka poked her head through the doorway, her cartridge pouch slung over her body, like a dead animal.

"Coming, coming." No matter how she is though I'll still follow her until the end of time.

Tsubasa picked up the musket that Honoka had found her from a table near the door before walking out into the early morning sun. She watched the lively ginger bound up the one storey high barricade like a mountain goat.

Honoka stopped and waved at her from the top watching Tsubasa half stumble half crawl up the messy pile of wood and stone, the brunette occasionally using her musket as a walking stick. Tsubasa shivered, the shadows of the surrounding buildings adding to the brisk February air. "Oi Tsu-chan come on." The ginger yelled

"I'm trying Honoka-" Tsubasa's foot slipped on a paving stone that had been worn smooth, for a moment it looked like she'd fall. She banged her wounded arm against the barricade; a hiss of pain passed her lips at the incident. The injured brunette heard Honoka gasp, followed by scrambling as Honoka hovered over her.

"Are you Ok?" there was a hint of panic in her voice.

Tsubasa smiled at the ginger's concern. "I'm fine, I just banged it is all." she winced.

"I'm sorry, I forgot you were injured I should've stopped to help you…" Honoka's smile twisted into a melancholy frown, her eyebrows knitted together in concern.

"It's fine, really it's fine Honoka-chan-" Honoka silenced Tsubasa's protests, picking up her discarded musket and looping one arm under Tsubasa's, she dragged her to her feet, supporting her weight. She refused to let go until they had reached the top of the barricade.

The end of the street was in plain sight, the sound of distant musket fire echoed throughout the city, and mixed with the sounds of the rioting gangs that roamed the streets.

Honoka's flag was planted into the barricade, both girls, looked out over what remained of the smooth cobblestones, the rest now forming part of the barricade that they sat on. They sat in silence, but it was a comfortable silence, one where nothing needed to be said because each girl was simply content to be around the other.

"Tsu-chan you hear that?" Honoka's outburst made Tsubasa jump, she listened but could only hear the twittering of birds and those distant sounds of street fighting.

"No what is it you-" Honoka silenced Tsubasa once more, slowly the ginger girl picked up her musket and moved cautiously a little way down the barricade, taking cover.

"Honoka what are you-" Tsubasa was cut off again by another sharp 'shhh' from the gingers lips.

"If you listen you'll hear, I might be wrong, but I want you to listen and tell me what you hear." Tsubasa listened, at first nothing had change, but then she heard it.

Drums

The steady rattle of snares drummed out an unmistakeable sound. A marching tune, Tsubasa recognised it instantly, with its steady beat designed to keep even the most uncoordinated of soldiers in step with his comrades.

She turned to Honoka fear in her eyes. Honoka nodded before looking down into the street where some of the defenders who had helped build the barricade yesterday were milling around with their weapons, or getting breakfast after waking up.

The ginger let her musket rest on the barricade for a second while she cupped her hands to her mouth. "CITIZENS!" she yelled at the top of her voice. "The enemy approaches, we either fight here! And gain victory over those corrupt forces in power, who would direct our own countrymen to slaughter us. Or we may flee and be cut down like dogs. I have made my choice, Now to the barricade!"

The street below became a flurry of activity. The men in the street clambered up the barricade, dislodging a few loose paving stones, people rushed out into the street with ammunition and food was well as weapons to sustain the 'troops' in the fight to come, window shutters flung open as men and women alike took up firing positions and hung out flags and ribbons showing their support for the revolutionaries, the long dull grey snouts of their muskets and rifles glinting in the sunlight, alongside the red flags and, Tricolores of France.

The drums drew nearer and nearer, their roll reminiscent of the drum roll before the executioner dropped the axe, adding to the tension. Piccolos and other wind instruments became audible, but still the tension remained as thick as butter in the air.

Tsubasa hurriedly loaded her weapon, expecting the worst, ramming in the gunpowder and the lead ball into her musket.

Then she saw them; the unmistakeable blue jackets and black boots of La Garde Nationale. Tramping along slowly, deliberately up the street, their flag aflutter ahead of them bedecked in gold braid with their regimental number embroidered into it. Their officer was leading them and she was sat astride a red horse, whose hooves clipping echoed up the street. There were fewer of them than Tsubasa had expected, and something seemed familiar about this regiment. She looked at the regimental colours once more.

"Honoka, that Umi and Maki's regiment!" she hissed quietly.

The ginger nodded in agreement "I think Umi-chan is leading them as well." Tsubasa took another look at the officer on the horse, this time noticing her long blue hair that spilled out of her shako and the piercing Amber of her eyes and the confident air with which she carried herself. Tsubasa scanned the front row of guardsmen and women, most of whom were fiddling with their muskets nervously, it was clear they didn't want to be there. She spied a mop of red hair, standing near Umi, worried purple eyes constantly flicking towards the officer, concern written into her face.

Honoka frowned, the atmosphere was too tense, and one false step would be disastrous, too many people would die in the shooting that followed. Honoka looked back over her shoulder cupping her hand to her mouth again "Hold your fire, we aren't the aggressors here perhaps they will be reasonable!" Honoka yelled at the jittery crowd behind her before standing up, grabbing her flag and running halfway down the barricade on the other side. Tsubasa followed her a few seconds later discarding her musket too. She half climbed, half slid down the ad-hoc defences they'd built towards Umi, who was dismounting from her horse.

The blue haired officer fiddled with her pockets on her jacket finally removing a crumpled piece of paper, she opened it up and cleared her throat. "By royal proclamation of His Majesty the King Louis Phillipe of France and his First minister…" boos greeted the mention of Guizot's position, Honoka held up her hand hushing the crowd clustered behind the barricade, Umi shrugged not looking up suggesting she had received this treatment before. "I am empowered to negotiate with, you the citizens of Paris, to implore you to lay down your arms and remember your fealty to the crown, and the nation of France." Umi tucked away the piece of paper back into her Jacket, sighing at the daunting task that greeted her.

"Umi-chan!" Honoka yelled, the guardswoman jumped startled by her name being called down from the barricade.

"Honoka? What are you doing up there? Get down now you'll hurt yourself, and you're rebelling against the state! What have I told you about that?"

"Umi Join us, I know you, I know your regiment, you would all rather be on this side of the barricade with us fighting for what is right!" Honoka held out her hand calling her friend to join her.

Umi sighed again. "I want to Honoka but I have my orders, and those are a sacred duty Honoka you know that. It doesn't matter what's right I can only follow what I have been told to do."

"Come on, I know you have all seen the plight of the people, felt the injustices we have been subjected to!" Honoka called out again addressing the nervous and unenthusiastic guard regiment. "I know you would rather right those wrongs at the ballot box than the barricade but so would we, we don't take up arms against the Nation lightly! We do this because we have been forced here by that man, that aristo who sits in the foreign ministry right now ordering you to kill your friends, your sisters and brothers, your families all to preserve his corrupt regime!"

Tsubasa noted a few nods passing like a wave over the blue-coated militia in front of her. It was obvious which side of the barricade their hearts lay on, even if they were stood at the foot of it. She caught a glimpse of Maki who was twirling her hair with her free hand and fiddling with her sword in the other.

Umi walked to the foot of the barricade, the potholes ripped out of the street making her gait unsteady. "Honoka please you know that I would" she gestured to the neatly organised square of men and women behind her "That we would all rather join you, but we have our orders, stop this violence please."

"OH for god's sake! To HELL with orders Umi!" Maki strode forward and mounted the barricade, joining Honoka's side. "Come on men! We all know which side you'd rather be on!" Maki waved her arm at the red flag fluttering in the breeze at Honoka's side. A few guardsmen broke ranks running up the barricade, their ammunition pouches jangling as they ran; a few were stopped by their sergeants and shoved back into place.

Tsubasa opened her mouth realising how crucial this moment, this one point in time was. "If you join us victory is assured, we'll finally get the reform we want. What will you get by standing with the other side and putting down this revolution? Nothing! That's what!" her powerful singing voice belted her message across the street for all to hear.

More men and women started their journey towards the barricade, even some of the tough NCOs who had stopped men before joined the rapidly growing trickle of guardsmen flowing over the barricade.

"Come on Umi, you were at the banquet in Orleans just like me! Join us" Tsubasa continued, silence reigning as everyone held their breath.

"Umi-chan we don't want to fight you, please, pleeease join us." Honoka pleaded with her friend, the remaining soldiers of the regiment watching intently for their officer's reaction, for her wishes to be known.

Tsubasa's heart fell when she saw Umi give an almost imperceptible shake of her head, it was obviously forced, but that didn't matter. They had failed. She heard Maki sigh next to her and Honoka before the stubborn redhead stalked her way down the barricade muttering to herself, the brunette watched Umi's gaze rooted to the ground instead of following her companion like it normally would, until Maki stood in front of Umi once more. The blue-haired noble looking shamefully at her feet

"Umi, look at me." Maki's voice was soft, but there was a force to it an undercurrent of authority that caused Umi to raise her head, her eyes still stubbornly refusing to look into Maki's face.

"W-What is it?" she asked "I told you I can't join them Maki." Maki nodded, then shrugged before she looped her arms around Umi's neck.

Umi blushed, a blush that only increased in intensity when Maki planted a kiss full on Umi's lips. Tsubasa saw Umi's eyes widen and her body stiffen before she closed her eyes and melted into Maki's embrace returning the kiss almost unconsciously, like she had done it a thousand times before.

Well knowing them she probably has done it a thousand times before, Tsubasa smiled at her own snarkiness, watching the two lovers break their kiss to a cheering crowd.

Umi was bright red and Maki had a healthy blush on her face too, Tsubasa could only just hear Umi stammering from where she stood, before she worked up the courage to actually form full words again.

"M-M-Maki what are you thinking? Doing something so shameless out here in public!" Umi tried sounding forceful but her stammering made it clear how flustered she was.

"If you don't get over the other side of the barricade right now I'll keep kissing you with all these people watching until you do." Maki delivered her ultimatum with cool composure that contrasted with the mess that she had reduced her lover too.

Umi blanched at the threat, although Tsubasa could see a portion of her thinking that it might not be so bad to refuse her girlfriend, Umi nodded her head and broke away from Maki's embrace. She motioned for her remaining soldiers to join the troops on the barricade to rapturous cheering.

Umi took her regimental colours from the colour bearer and marched with Honoka to the top of the barricade where she planted it alongside Honoka's red standard of revolution. The crowd erupted into cheering some embracing their new comrades from the Garde Nationale a few celebratory musket shots sent puffs of smoke into the air surrounding the barricade.

Tsubasa marvelled at the sight, noticing that Umi was subtly holding Maki's hand; at least it would have been subtle if she wasn't as red as Maki's hair. Tsubasa smiled before feeling someone clasp her own hand. She looked up to see Honoka beaming at her, musket in hand, her grin disarming and hopelessly beautiful.

"Come on Tsu-chan~ we need to go." Honoka gently started leading Tsubasa away from their barricade her melodious voice singing in Tsubasa's ears, the same feeling of calm descending as she had yesterday when Honoka had dragged her away from the Place de la Madeline

"Where are we going Honoka?" she asked

"Hmm, I've no idea; maybe we can find Rin and Hanayo." Honoka looked back at the barricade shouting to Umi "Umi-chan! Look after that place we'll see you soon!"

"Are you sure Hanayo and Rin will be at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France?" Tsubasa looked nervously around the streets, while a gang of armed workers sprinted past armed with Iron bars and makeshift clubs.

"I can't be certain, but if they will be anywhere it'll be there! It's big and safe and nobody would dream of attacking it on either side." Honoka skipped along jumping over a small pothole in the road, people from a barricade down a side street saluting her as the 'Héroïne de La Madeline' . She waved back, grinning with that infectious smile of hers.

The sound of fighting now dominated the streets of Paris, the fierce fire-like crackle of musketry increasing in intensity by the minute. What worried Tsubasa was that it appeared particularly violent up ahead. The unending buzz and noise sounded like a restless tempest of violence and was coming from just over the other side of the street.

Even though where she and Honoka were was calm, signs of the fighting were all around them. The smashed shop windows, the iron fences torn down to make clubs, the stones torn up to throw at the authorities and the bullet holes that marred the walls, a chilling reminder of the power that the muskets she and Honoka now clutched in their hands possessed, capable of tearing out chunks of masonry and human flesh with frightening ease. Tsubasa picked up the pace sticking as close to Honoka as possible basking in the girl's aura to calm her nerves.

Honoka stopped at the crossroads, gripping her musket tighter. Tsubasa didn't like it the streets leading off in all directions made her feel exposed; their gaping maws appeared to be signs pointing towards them inviting danger.

Tsubasa turned Honoka's perfect blue eyes to face hers; boring into them with an intensity the unlikely injured revolutionary hadn't been able to muster in this girl's presence yet. "Honoka, we should keep moving, this place feels wrong. Off."

Honoka nodded "I sort of understand what you mean Tsu-chan…Come on Rue de Montmorency the library is this way!"

Tsubasa followed the girl close behind, while she dashed down the even narrower street. Tsubasa squinted at another larger set of crossroads up ahead. The storm of musket fire was just up ahead now and Tsubasa could see gun smoke rising above the rooftops ahead of them, the acrid tang of gunpowder burning her nose.

"Maybe we should find another route Honoka…this one doesn't look safe!" Tsubasa had to shout now the noise of battle up ahead was so intense.

Honoka looked up at the crossroads and at the street sign picking out the words Rue Bourg l'abbé "Yeah you're right Tsu-chan! There's a gun shop up ahead and everyone will be fighting over-"

A musket cracked closer to home than before. The loud 'Bang' shaking Tsubasa to her core. The corner of a building overhead crumbled showering both girls with white stone fragments and dust. Both girls shrieked and Tsubasa ran for Honoka grabbing the ginger's hand and pulling her into the nearest building. Both of them landed on top of one another.

The dust settled and both girls stared at each other panting, they were shaken. Tsubasa saw the fear in those big expressive eyes Honoka had, she laced her fingers with Honoka's silently trying to comfort the trembling mass below her. Tsubasa pulled Honoka up, holding both her hands gently. She started laughing, almost hysterically, at the shocked look on Honoka's face earning her a dirty look.

"What's so funny?" Honoka demanded

Tsubasa wiped a tear from her eye "It's just…It's just you are too cute when you scream. I hadn't seen that side of you yet" she giggled even more at the pout that appeared on Honoka's lips

"God! Tsu-chan you the most embarrassing things." Honoka puffed out her cheeks a blush appearing on her face.

"Ohmygosh! Honoka-san?! Tsubasa-san?! I'm so sorry!" Tsubasa turned around to see a flustered Hanayo in the doorway, a red rosette pinned onto the breast of her plain dull green kimono that she would wear to work. It looked as though she had been crying.

"Hanayo-chan!" Honoka rushed to Hanayo's side hugging her friend, forcing Tsubasa to reluctantly let go of her hand. "Are you Ok? Were you crying? What happened?"

"It's fine Honoka-chan, it's just…"

"Just…" Tsubasa prompted her.

"I'm really, really sorry! I accidentally shot at you two!" Hanayo bowed prostrating herself before her friends, like Tsubasa had heard they did in the Far East.

"You what?!" the shock on Honoka's face was priceless.

"I thought you might be municipals and my glasses were broken earlier today, but by the time Rin-chan had let me know it wasn't them I'd already pulled the trigger…" Hanayo started tearing up at the memory. "I didn't hurt you two did I?" She pleaded "I could never forgive myself if I did…"

Tsubasa stepped forward lifting Hanayo up. "Of course you didn't, you just gave me and Honoka here a fright that's all, there's no harm done." Tsubasa could see Hanayo was unconvinced. She leaned in whispering into the younger girl's ear "You know you did make Honoka-chan here squeal in a really cute way~"

Hanayo smirked "Really?"

"Yep" both of them giggled softly.

"What are you two whispering about?" Honoka asked.

The two girls both laughed even louder. "We were just talking about you Honoka~"

"Eh? What were you saying about me?"

Tsubasa smiled a knowing smile "That's a secret…" she winked at the annoyed girl in front of her.

"God, Tsu-chan you're such a meanie you're like Nozomi-san"

Tsubasa ran her hand along Honoka's arm in a comforting gesture "Sorry Honoka-chan, we'll stop teasing you now…"

Honoka pouted again, but it slowly transformed into a trusting smile at Tsubasa's words. "So Hanayo-chan where's Rin?"

"Ah Rin-chan is across the street in the building near the cross-roads."

"Huh that place?" The older brunette looked down the street at the maelstrom of gunfire "What are you two doing there?"

"Well we heard from Erena-san that you and Honoka-san were hurt by the municipals and Rin-chan got really angry so when she heard that she could shoot at them here we came here from the library."

"That doesn't sound like the Rin-chan I know…"

Hanayo nodded "I think she would've just been angry if she hadn't listened to that rumour that you two were trapped in the shop des FrèresLepage she decided to try and save you two. "Hanayo clapped her hands together "Oh! Rin-chan will be so happy when she sees you are safe."

The three girls picked up their guns and stole across the street moving from cover to cover, doorway to doorway just in case another jittery shooter who was a better shot spotted them. Bullets and musket balls pinged off of the walls and roofs of the buildings surrounding the crossroads showering the streets in dust and tiles. One building looked like it had been eaten at by moths it had so many bullet holes in it. There wasn't a pane of glass that was left un-shattered by the amount of lead streaking its way through the air.

Hanayo ushered them in to the building through an old wooden door that worryingly had a few holes in it too.

Tsubasa bounded up the stairs which were filled with the smoke from insurrectionists firing out of loop holes all along the walls. Bullets from the other side occasionally replied shattering another window, or taking out a chunk of wall and furniture. Or hitting a person and passing through them in a flurry of bone splinters, blood and screaming.

"In here" Hanayo pushed them into a small room on the third floor occupied by a familiar figure with short ginger hair aiming a musket. Rin was wearing her usual clothes, her dark tattered tweed jacket and dirty trousers that used to be white were accompanied by sturdy boots, useful for running all over the city.

Hanayo coughed to draw Rin's attention. Rin pulled the trigger, dropping the spring-loaded flint into the flash pan on her musket in a flurry of sparks igniting the flammable black powder within, in a bright white flash that followed milliseconds later by the loud bang and kick of a donkey from the weapon itself. Rin laid down the fired gun, smoke still coming from the barrel peering through the now smoky room to see Hanayo and the others.

"Kayo-chin is that you?" the street girl was wearing her one piece of extravagant clothing, her yellow silk scarf that Hanayo bought her for her birthday three years ago.

"Yeah it's me Rin-chan and look who I found." Hanayo pushed Tsubasa and Honoka forward into the light from the gloom of the hallway.

Rin jumped forward when she realised who it was "Nya~ Tsu-chan, Honoka-chan, I'm so glad you're safe!" Rin grabbed the two of them pulling them into a crushing hug. Tsubasa was taken aback for a bit by the hug, but she soon followed Honoka's lead and embraced the former street urchin.

"So what now?" Honoka asked gently, peeling Rin away from herself and her suffering companion.

Rin looked out the window at the carnage outside. "Rin thinks we should stay put, something has to give soon right?"

Honoka and Tsubasa walked to the window seeing a scene of utter devastation. The crossroads outside were streaked with the blue stripes left behind by ricocheting bullets, the same was true of the walls. Pieces were missing from every building but one appeared to be taking the brunt of the murderous crossfire out there. Clouds of smoke drifted lazily across the streets and sparks glittered across the cobbles when bullets skipped across them like stones on a pond.

"Hmmm it seems like a better idea than being out there…" Tsubasa mused to herself.

Honoka slapped the window sill, "Then it's settled we're staying here until all this dies down." The girls all nodded and slumped on the few pieces of furniture that dotted the room. The noise was deafening but at least none of them were in any immediate danger.

"I heard from a journalist that the king had summoned Guizot to the palace…" Hanayo began filling the girls in on the details of what had happened that day, apparently the Municipals and the few guard detachments loyal to the king had been cut off and disarmed by gangs of revolutionaries, the King's position was weaker than it had been before and his hated first minister had been summoned to the palace. Apparently she was on his way to the chamber now and he did not look happy. Tsubasa and Honoka smiled at the news, Guizot's fall would make reform inevitable and all that they had fought for would be accomplished.

Suddenly a bullet pierced the window again shattering the mirror on the other side of the wall, a fragment of glass hitting Rin in the face.

"Rin-chan!" Hanayo jumped up rushing to her friend's side. She pulled Rin's hand away from the wound looking at the blood dripping down the street rat's forehead. Hanayo paled "there's so much blood" she whispered to herself. Hanayo ripped off part of her Kimono sleeve wrapping it, with shaking hands around Rin's head as a bandage.

"Hanayo get Rin downstairs away from the windows she'll be safer down there" Honoka was already by the window grabbing a paper cartridge from her pouch ripping it open with her teeth "We'll pay back the bastards who did this." She said ominously ramming down the powder and ball into her gun.

Tsubasa grabbed her own musket from the floor and poured her powder into the muzzle and the flash pan, she rammed the lead ball down the barrel, hearing it rattle while it fell.

"Honoka-" Tsubasa began looking at the girl for reassurance.

Honoka met her gaze, Tsubasa's heart jumped into her mouth when she looked at Honoka's sublime beauty "I know Tsu-chan I'm scared too I've never fired a gun at a person either…"

Tsubasa opened and closed her mouth, in awe of Honoka's honesty. "Together?"

Her ginger companion nodded "Together."

Tsubasa raised the musket, the gun was a lot heavier on her arms than she had first thought, and her hands were trembling with fear or fatigue or both she didn't know. "On three…" she began counting down, at three she pulled the trigger with her entire hand because it was so difficult and stiff to budge. There was a deafening bang and Tsubasa closed her eyes at the flash that went off right by her face. Her shoulder felt like it had been punched by a prize fighter. Her ears were ringing and her heart was pounding.

She opened her eyes tasting the sharp gun smoke in the room, Tsubasa looked at the weapon in her hands with a sense of awe at its power, Umi and Maki had told her what to do and what it was like but still... She looked at Honoka who was standing mouth agape at her weapon too.

Two bullets crashed through their window sending both girls scrabbling for cover. Tsubasa Hurriedly reloaded shoving the ramrod down after another bullet. She fired again, seeing a red jacketed Municipal poke his head above a window sill in the gun shop, looking for targets. She reloaded again and was amazed at the man's bravery still exposing himself to the buzzing storm of metal. She fired at him and she saw him go down after that, but she couldn't tell whether or not she had been the one to hit him or whether it was one of the other apparently hundreds of guns that had picked him as their target either way he only appeared to be wounded.

The next moments of her life passed in a blur of reloading and firing, reloading and firing. Hours passed or it might have been minutes or seconds, all sense of time faded away all that mattered to her was the girl at her side, and the nest shot, each time she prayed that this one would be the one to scare away the guards or cause them to surrender. Honoka's fumbling hands passing her ammunition occasionally, and her barrel grew hot radiating its heat into the room making it stuffy even in February.

Tsubasa heard Honoka yelp suddenly. She looked at her companion her face blackened by the residue of the gun smoke, a small cut on her head caused by chipped masonry had a dried up dribble of blood streaking down one side of her face "Honoka-chan you alright?" she asked a touch of panic rising into her voice.

The other girl looked up cradling her hand still held in a claw shape "I'm fine Tsu-chan" she smiled, but it was a smile twisted with hidden pain. "I just scalded myself, is all."

"You should go and get some butter on that."

"I think this place has an ice house I remember something about it serving that new Iced Fruit dessert I'll have a look."

"Be careful-" Tsubasa caught herself before she finished the entire embarrassing sentence because you mean too much for me to let you get hurt…

Honoka flashed back a smile "I will, don't worry."

Tsubasa waited a few tense minutes, worrying that every bullet she heard hit downstairs might have hit Honoka, finally Honoka reappeared clutching a lump of clear ice in her hand meltwater was already dripping onto the floor steadily.

"See I told you I'd be careful. There's no need to be so worried Tsu-chan~" Honoka teased a rumbling outside caught their attention, the gunfire that had melted away into the background stopped abruptly as everyone looked at the building that had taken most of the bullets on the opposite side of the crossroads start to collapse.

The lower walls simply gave in and the whole structure came tumbling down filling the road with debris, and sending dust into the atmosphere.

Honoka gave a low whistle "I didn't expect that to happen…is that even possible, to demolish a building by shooting at it too much?"

"I'm not sure Honoka, maybe now they'll quieten down a bit before they cause any more damage-" A musket shot interrupted her sentence and the whole hornet's nest was kicked up again. Tsubasa sighed.

She slumped against a now bullet-ridden sofa with Honoka at her side, "How long do you reckon this will go on for Honoka?"

"Until someone comes and stops us I suppose, we're violent by our nature."

Tsubasa rested her head on Honoka's shoulder. "That doesn't mean it's right though."

Honoka smoothed her hair gently, "No, no it doesn't Tsu-chan, but at the very least you and I know that…"

She smiled at that, at the feeling of Honoka smoothing her hair and comforting her, she wished that the bloody shooting would stop just so she could have some time in silence like this with this wonderful girl. Tsubasa blushed Wait what am I thinking?! Is this even right I've barely known her for more than a day. And yet why won't my heart calm down? Tsubasa wanted to scrunch up her hair and scream.

"Hey, Tsu-chan?" Honoka asked

Oh god she can feel my heartbeat, she can tell how nervous I am…. Tsubasa took a deep shaky breath in a futile attempt to calm herself down "W-What is it Honoka-chan?"

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Tsubasa squeaked.

"Outside it sounds like…marching?! Come on let's take a look." Honoka rushed to the window while Tsubasa breathed a sigh of relief.

She got up and joined her ginger companion at the window. Looking down into the square she noticed the shooting stop leaving only the sound of boots against the cobblestones and a slight ringing in her ears. Down in the square she saw the reason, resplendent in blue coats and red trousers. "La Garde… What are they doing here?"

Honoka shrugged "I'm not sure but maybe they've come to mediate…look that's Étienne Arago, he help found La Reforme and Le Figaro!" Tsubasa squinted at a man with a receding hairline walking out under the white flag of truce towards the municipal positions.

Footsteps thundered up the stairs and both girls turned to see a flustered and panting Hanayo burst through the doorway.

"Hanayo-chan! Is there something wrong?"

"Rin-chan is fine. Have you heard the news?" the petite librarian said between breaths

"About La Garde yes we can see them…"

Hanayo shook her head "No. Not that, I just heard from one of the guardsmen, they say Guizot has been dismissed by the king, a reformist ministry has been set up!"

Both girls looked at Hanayo stunned, "Really?" Asked Honoka.

Hanayo nodded.

Tsubasa couldn't believe the elation she felt. The Fall of Guizot was staggering, It meant the revolution was over! They had won, the violence could stop now!

"Tsu-chan…we won!" Honoka cheered enveloping Tsubasa in a crushing embrace, which the brunette returned as they danced around the room cheering. Hanayo joined in

They had won it was finally over.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, heading back to Honoka's shop to clean themselves up, the celebrations that erupted onto the streets, the wine that flowed from looted cellars, the entire city was gearing up for one big, if tense party.

The barricades had yet to be dismantled, republicans still harangued and demanded more concessions (even the fall of the king himself) and troops were still deployed in the street, but now it couldn't be long before everything settled down, Could it?

But Tsubasa tried putting these thoughts at the back of her mind and just enjoy the brisk evening air; the coloured lights hung from street lamps illuminated the wide Boulevard des Capucines

"Hey Tsu-chan isn't this great? We won right, and now I get to celebrate with a pretty thing like you~" Honoka slurred next to her, a bottle of red wine was clutched in the ginger girls hand and her face was coloured by the alcohol.

"Honoka! Give me that" she made a swipe for the wine bottle "And don't say those sorts of things!" Tsubasa scolded, at least not here.

"Eh but I want to have some fun~ all we've done is listen to that boring man outside his office on Rue Lepeltier can't you have some fun with me?" Honoka pouted.

Tsubasa smirked "who do you think I am Umi-chan?" she took several gulps from the wine bottle feeling the bitter alcohol slide down her throat morphing into a warm fuzzy sensation. "You know Honoka, I kind of had fun these past few days, even if we did get caught up in a revolution." The two girls laughed as though Tsubasa had just said the funniest thing in the world. Tsubasa sighed happily and linked her arm with Honoka's

"Where are we going next?"

"I guess we just follow the crowd…"

"Hmmm, that boring…" Honoka took a deep breath before shouting over the murmur of the crowd. "Hey Citizens, Why don't we head to the foreign ministry? It's on this street right, that way we can show that Bastard Guizot what we really think of him!"

The crowd cheered raucously echoing Honoka's call, with cries of "Vive La Reforme!" and "A Bas Guizot." But now they added "Vive l'héroïne de la Madeline!" Tsubasa and Honoka giggled at that little addition and rushed down the wide street with the crowd before it halted abruptly.

In the torch light the two girls couldn't see what was going on; Honoka tapped the burly worker in front of her on the back asking what the trouble was

"Some soldiers are blocking the road, but we should be able to reason with them."

Tsubasa nodded dumbly, hearing a distant cry of an officer. "Préparez vos Baïonnettes"

A shot burst through the night air, Tsubasa felt time slow down as though this was a turning point in History. A volley of muskets cracked in front of them, spitting flame and sending people around her sprawling, those that were still standing, ran.

The tide of people pushed against her and Honoka racing them up the boulevard.

"This is it; they're going to kill us all!" Someone shouted.

"They shot at unarmed civilians!" cried another.

Tsubasa felt her arm slip loose from Honoka's she made a violent grab for her companion's hand but people pushed into the gap pulling them apart, the screaming was deafening. Everyone was running from the inevitable second volley, somewhere she heard Honoka call her name. "Tsu-chan!" "Tsu-chan!" each time getting more and more panicked. Tsubasa wanted to reply but the weight of bodies pushing her along was crushing and she couldn't say a word,

Her feet were lifted off of the ground until she was thrown to the floor, people kept running, trampling on her with their huge feet, Tsubasa screamed and tried to cover her head but the feet just kept stamping. Stamping. Stamping! She closed her eyes and waited to die.

Tsubasa nursed her bruised head behind the shuttered windows of Honoka's bakery, she was shaking, her hands weakly clasped themselves around a cup of tea, but she hadn't drunk a drop and by now it had gone cold.

Honoka said nothing merely keeping an eye out of the window expecting the government crackdown. But Tsubasa knew the fear in her eyes wasn't because of soldiers, it was because she had let Tsubasa go.

She had let her go, and Tsubasa had nearly been trampled to death.

In the end there had been no second Volley, but Tsubasa had kept her hands over her head long after the crowds had gone, silently crying in fear and pain. Honoka had found her like this, and now she was ashamed because she had no idea that Tsubasa had been hurt this badly while she cowered in her hole. Tsubasa had told her that it didn't matter, that she was Ok, but that hadn't done much to help.

They made their way back to Honoka's bakery, both of them shaken and in shock. Honoka had made tea but neither of them touched it. Honoka had apologised endlessly for letting go, for not having a stronger grip, for not going to her side sooner. Each time Tsubasa had forgiven her, but Honoka had yet to forgive herself.

The sound of hooves and cart wheels on the cobbles drew her attention, Tsubasa got up, slightly nursing her bruises walking to the window. Honoka opened up the shutters and they both leaned out to see a horse and cart drawn by a bare-armed muscular worker, on the cart were five bodies, those that had been killed earlier that night. One was a young girl her white dress half stained red by her blood. A worker walked behind the wagon, furiously shaking his torch crying out "Vengeance! Vengeance! Ils massacrent les peuples !"

A crowd had gathered on the street in awe of the surreal spectacle that seemed to be from the end of days itself. A child on the cart looked ahead almost as though his eyes were unseeing; it was like the spirit of vengeance possessed the child.

"The King must fall." Honoka said quietly.

"Huh?

"The King must fall! He spilled the blood of his own people! There is no pretending now that we can control this. The only way this ends is if we as the people exact our vengeance." Honoka looked Tsubasa in the eyes her brilliant blue orbs smouldering with an intense anger "I swear to you Tsu-chan I'll make them pay for what they did to you!"

A/N: So looks like even those of you who don't know french history will be able to guess what comes next :p

How did you like a taste of revolutionary street fighting? I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.

not much to add to the glossary this week

Glossary:

Flash pan: the part of a musket for priming powder, found next to the touch hole ( a hole connecting it to the main powder charge in the barrel)