"As I imagine your smiling face a petal fell from up above
I know that we'll have something good
It's called beautiful endless love
I know someday we'll be together
Underneath the Cherry Blossom Tree
All I ever want is for you to forever want me…."
- Disha Doshi

Chapter 7

Ephemeral, Eternal

When Loke stepped through the Lion's gate, he saw it was dark and Lucy stood surrounded by trees. The mission earlier that week in the forest came to mind, and he arrived by her side with his hand raised, prepared to charge up the magic inside his ring. However, instead of a sinister forest with the shadowy aura of enemies around, he stood in the middle of Magnolia's famous rainbow cherry tree grove, now glowing in the moonlight. Sakura petals of every shade imaginable lightly fluttered down around him. The variegated foliage even changed the starlight that filtered through the trees, making it shine on the grass in kaleidoscopic splendor.

Amidst this prismatic paradise stood the one person in Loke's life who he thought was more beautiful than this natural evanescent wonder. Lucy's golden hair was in a new style, swept up into a rolled bun with only the edges hanging loose in spiraling lockets. It made her look more mature than her usual cute hair ribbon. Loke had to admit, Cancer had outdone himself with this hairdo. She also wore a new blouse with a deeply scooping neckline trimmed in soft pink lace. It added a cutely feminine touch to counterpoint the more mature ladylike hairstyle.

"If someone is attacking you when you're dressed like that, I might have to kill them," he said, unable to stop staring.

She gave a cute titter. "I was hoping we'd make it back in time for the rainbow sakura festival. The main festival isn't until tomorrow, but I wanted to see the flowers before the crowds arrive."

A sly smirk slowly rose on Loke's face. "And you needed me here … why?" he asked playfully.

"To thank you for saving my life on that last mission. I brought food," she offered, hoping to tempt him into staying. She waved over to a picnic blanket spread out under one of the mottled trees with a lantern to light the evening. "I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I made tuna sandwiches. I mean, you liked that salmon we got at the ryokan…"

"And you figured," he butted in, "that since I'm a cat, I'd like tuna."

She blushed slightly. She might have been drunk at the ryokan, but she remembered their conversation. Timidly, she asked, "Do lions like tuna?"

He chuckled and took the first steps toward the picnic blanket. "If it's made by Lucy, I'll eat even a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

She carefully sat down, mindful of her miniskirt. She wore such revealing clothes so often, tasks like how to crouch or sit without showing off anything had become second nature. She spread out the food packed in a wicker basket, pulled out two ceramic cups, and brought out a thermos of pre-made tea. Loke waited patiently, watching her face as she diligently set everything into place. He could see by the determination squinted in her brown eyes, this was something she did not want help with. She was doing all of this for a reason.

Was it merely to thank him for doing what was nothing more than his job?

Once she was done arranging everything perfectly, he took up the teacup and raised it in cheers. "To your beautiful eyes. Kanpai!" He liked how she blushed at that, and they both sipped the tea delicately.

Loke realized she must have made it recently, because it had none of the bitterness of tea that sits out for too long. It even had a faint sweetness of honey, perhaps added in fear that the tea would go bad. It was a crisp taste with a complex aroma. Loke considered himself well-versed in the art of tea, so he could tell this was no bargain brand, but a rare leaf, something she must have bought especially for this occasion.

"What's the reason for this exquisite dinner?" he asked again, really curious now.

"To thank you. And to apologize," she added quietly. She set her teacup down and lowered her head. "I said something harsh yesterday. I was…" She paused as she searched for the right word. Failing, she sighed and shook her head. "Shamed, scared, confused, nervous. Maybe a little angry. You told me all that and confessed your feelings for me at a time when I couldn't respond properly. Instead, I acted like a drunken whore. I'm mad at myself, mad at you for not telling me sooner, uncertain how I can reply now that I've dishonored myself like that, and scared what might happen with either route I could take." She glared down at her teacup. "I'm never drinking saké again!"

Loke chuckled softly at the wide range of emotions playing out on her flushed face. He picked up the sandwich and bit in. "Mmmm-hmm."

Lucy looked up, all dark worries instantly erased with a different sort of worry. "Is it bad? I hate mayonnaise, so I mixed it with ranch dressing instead, and I usually use spinach instead of lettuce, and cucumbers instead of tomatoes, and alfalfa spouts because that's how my mama always fixed it, but this is a different bread than what I usually buy and I wasn't sure if it'd be any good but it was recommended by the baker," she said all in a rush. "If … if it's no good…"

"No, no," he insisted and gulped the bite down. "It's really amazing. I'm used to Mira's tuna sandwiches, and they were never as good as this."

Her shoulders sank in relief. "Really? I'm so glad!" Then she suddenly glared at him. "Are you just saying that to flirt with me?"

He laughed at her skepticism. "Honestly, this is one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten."

"One of the best? Not the best?"

"My dear Lucy, I'm immortal. I had an owner four hundred years ago who made tuna sandwiches with ingredients you can't find in Fiore. However, it's not possible to create that recipe anymore. I believe the pepper she used went extinct a couple centuries ago. But this sandwich comes in at a close second. You should consider that quite an honor and compliment to your cooking."

Instead of cheering her up that her food was simply that good, Lucy looked sad. "Immortal, huh?" she muttered. "Eternally young, eternally living."

"Eternally loving," Loke said softly. "Love can be eternal, too, you know."

"And how many women have you loved in your eternal life?"

"Fewer than you think," he answered honestly, watching her so closely that she began to blush.

Lucy looked up at the rainbow petals and the stars beyond them. "I've been thinking about what you said that night, about being in love with me. This whole week, I couldn't even sleep, I was so bothered by it."

Loke gulped hard. Bothered? He felt depressed that she hated the thought of him being in love with her so deeply that it bothered her into sleepless nights. He prepared himself for the inevitable rejection. After all, he was as eternal as the stars themselves, whereas she was transient, destined to fade away with age, her life brief but beautiful … like the ephemeral sakura fluttering around them.

He thought about Capricorn. Had he confessed his feelings to Layla? Had he been rejected, too? Or had he kept silent and learned to transmute his emotions of love into ardent fidelity? Loke wondered, even if Lucy rejected him now, perhaps he could be patient. She might feel differently in a few years. He was immortal; he could wait.

Except, he didn't want to wait! He was being selfish again, but he didn't care. He wanted to be with her now!

"I decided," she said, looking down at her twisting hands, "maybe we could try dating a little."

Loke blinked. Had he heard her right? She was whispering, after all. His ears must have wanted to hear those words so badly, he transformed her rejection into acceptance. Yes, that must be it!

"I mean," she added lightly, although her hands still fidgeted nervously, "stuff like going out to dinner or taking walks together, we do those things now, so it won't be all that different."

"Except," he pointed out, "there would be no Natsu or Gray. It'll be just the two of us, and it'd be as sweethearts, not as Celestial Spirit and master."

He thought that explaining this little fact might make her back out. Instead, Lucy looked into his eyes and smiled gently.

"I don't mind doing things with just you... or as a couple."

Now he knew for certain, this was not his ears playing tricks on him. Not unless his eyes had decided to deceive him as well! He scooted across the blanket to her side. She swallowed hard, and he watched how she looked around the glowing cherry tree grove, likely plotting her escape routes. However, he had no intention of letting her go now.

"Can this be considered our first date?" he asked in warmth that made her skin tingle. Lucy's throat did not work, so she just nodded. "In that case," and Loke stretched forward two fingers to tilt up her chin, "I think it's a perfect time for this."

He wanted her to always remember her first kiss. Not just the first kiss with him, but he knew this was her first romantic kiss ever. He could not recall if he had ever given such an important kiss before. He wanted it to be special, not just for her, but for him as well.

His lips were soft against hers at first, letting her feel their plumpness and warmth. He breathed gently through his nostrils to tickle her upper lip. He felt her body jolt faintly at the air. With a slight increase in pressure, his lips took hold of her bottom lip and tugged on it slightly. This encouraged her to drag her moist upper lip across his.

His arms grabbed around her and pulled her in closer. She leaned into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. His hand caressed her cheek down to her throat. He felt her running her fingers up through his hair, and he hummed happily at the petting. That made her jolt again.

So cute! Such a kissing virgin! He opened his eyes briefly, just a small peek to see the ecstasy in her face. It made him smile, pleased that she was not repulsed or looking conflicted. Instead, she was enjoying every taste and sensation.

Yes, she would never forget this first kiss!

His mouth readjusted its position without breaking apart. He deepened the kiss, taking in both upper and lower lips and moistening them with a slithering lick of his tongue. He heard her gasp. Tentatively, as if trying to figure out if this was what he was hinting at, her lips parted. He could tell she was unsure what to do. She knew enough about kissing from reading shojo manga, but to actually act out a kiss was different than just reading about them and looking at pictures.

His tongue dipped into her mouth, just a little at first, enough to give her that thrill of electric connection. Then he slid in again, found her tongue, and circled it. Her breathing went erratic with excitement. She moaned faintly, and that sound almost overwhelmed him. The only thing restraining Loke from completely devouring her was a chanting reminder in the back of his mind: this was still only her first kiss. He could not spoil her too much the first time.

When he broke off the kiss, he still rested his forehead against hers with their noses touching. He felt her chest moving rapidly, as if she could not get enough oxygen to catch up with her racing heart.

"So, how was it?" he asked playfully.

She looked up and pulled back a little to see his face fully. "Unforgettable!" she sighed breathlessly.

"Good," he chuckled, brushing his fingers over her inflamed cheeks. "So, can I call you my girlfriend now?"

She tittered softly and looked aside in embarrassment. "I think it'd be best to hide this. It's not legal, right?"

"True," he admitted. "A Celestial Spirit isn't supposed to fall in love with his master. It threatens the bonds they have together. It strengthens them perhaps a little too much." He laughed off the warning and caressed her cheek. "But I'm fine with that. The stronger the bond, the better I can sense when you're in need of my help. I can always be by your side." He gave her another kiss, just a peck this time. "That's all I want, to be by you, care for you, and love you."

"Then let's keep it as our little secret," she winked.

"If that's what my Leonita wants."

"Eh?" She pulled back in surprise. "Leonita?"

Loke was momentarily shocked he had called her that. "Well, see, you're the girlfriend of Leo the Lion now, so you're my little lioness, my Leonita." He worried for a moment if that sounded plain stupid, or maybe she was not into pet names.

"It's cute," she giggled. "And you'll always be my silly Lion."

"I'm fine with that," he grinned.

She leaned into his chest, and Loke happily hugged her. He felt a sense of pride and possessiveness. She was his now! Maybe it was selfishness again, but he did not want to let her go! He wanted to hold onto her and keep her forever. He could not recall how many years, decades, centuries it had been since he felt this happy.

"Oh, but one thing," she said suddenly. "That attack you did against the perverted dark wizard."

"Regulus Supernova?"

"Yeah. Don't ever do something like that again. It was scary."

He kissed the top of her head, but she raised her face eagerly. He obligingly gave her another gentle, lingering kiss on the lips. "If that sort of power scared you, I won't use it again. But if anyone dares to touch you like that, I might not be able to control myself. You're my Leonita now." He held her tightly to show he would protect her. "I love you, Lucy."

She rubbed her cheek against his chest and sighed in such happiness as she had never felt before in her life. "I love you, too … silly Lion."

Loke chuckled at her teasing tone. The tea would probably go bitter from sitting too long, but for now he was too wrapped up in the sweetness of the moment: Lucy humming contentedly in his arms, the warmth of her body through the thin material of her blouse, the smell of her hair wafting up to his nose, the gentle petting she was giving him just behind the ear, so much like a cat. Despite himself, her soft scratching made him purr. She giggled at the rumbling sound and kept petting.

"I'll love you eternally," he whispered, not caring if she could hear him or not. It was a promise he was making to himself. Loke knew, no matter how long he existed or how briefly she lived, he would never forget these tender kisses beneath the ephemeral sakura.

The End

A/N: This concludes the prelude to Lion's Pride. I received permission to use Disha's poem as my epigraph. It perfectly fits the mood, "beautiful endless love," the love of an eternal Spirit expressed under the ephemeral sakura. You can read her stuff at disha-doshi =dot= blogspot =dot= com. A big thanks to all my reviewers. Your comments, criticisms, and cheers keep me wanting to improve as a writer. If you've not responded yet, or if you just now found this story, please tell me what you thought, even just "I liked it." ^_^

Now that you know how Lucy and Loke got together, Lion's Pride will hopefully make more sense, and you'll catch things that were only mentioned in passing. For instance, during the fight scene in Chapter 10 of Lion's Pride, Loke mentions that he promised never to use Regulus Supernova again, and here we see when he made that promise. There are frequent references to Lucy and Loke's first kiss being under the sakura, and now we see it.

Lucy's way of making tuna sandwiches is how I do it. I'm allergic to mayonnaise so I use ranch dressing, sweet relish, green onions, fresh ground black pepper, and paprika. I prefer spinach to lettuce. Not much of a fan for tomatoes, so I use cucumbers, and I'm always buying weird bread or baking my own. Yummm … now I'm hungry! I'm sure my cat would love some tuna juice.

I'll see you guys back over at Lion's Pride. ~ Rhov