[Sakura Taisen] Kanna/Maria, theme set gamma
Title: Snippets
Author: Triste
Fandom: Sakura Taisen
Pairing: Kanna/Maria
Warnings: Shoujo ai, humour
Rating: G to PG-13
Theme set: Gamma
Disclaimer: Not mine
01: Ring
It takes a moment for Maria to relax at Kanna's sudden display of affection, but then her arms slowly rise, completing the circle of their embrace.
02: Hero
"All heroes have to wear capes, right?" says Kanna, indicating her new stage costume only to have Maria reply dryly, "Just be careful you don't trip on it during your dance routines."
03: Memory
Maria's first memory of Kanna is a sunny smile and a strong handshake, and now, years later, little has changed between them, except those same strong hands that had given Maria such a welcoming introductory greeting now offer her other things, too, from loving, bone-crushing hugs to teasing, barely-there caresses.
04: Box
Maria's last birthday had been memorable for all the wrong reasons, namely Kanna leaping out of a huge box in the dining hall wearing nothing but a large red ribbon tied around her neck, scarring all the spectators for life and even making Sumire faint from the horror of having to witness Maria's 'special surprise'.
05: Run
Kanna had a very good reason to run as though her life depended on it, especially after finding out Maria did not appreciate gifts of frilly, skimpy lingerie.
06: Hurricane
Kanna loves storms, has learned to respect and live alongside them, and it's because of this she sometimes likes to think of the relationship between her and Maria as a hurricane, in that Maria is the calm to her rage, the order to her chaos.
07: Wings
"So, whaddya reckon?" asks Kanna, showing off the flimsy little gauze wings on her back and adding, "think I could take over from Iris and get the part of the cute and loveable fairy for once?" but Maria can't even acknowledge that particular question without losing her poker face.
08: Cold
People think that Maria is cold, but Kanna knows better because Maria is gentle, so gentle, with her touch and with her words, but only to the people who are privileged enough to experience them.
09: Red
Red is Kanna's signature colour but also the one Maria turned one time when Kanna murmured, "Damn, you're gorgeous," her pale, pale skin flushing a shade darker at the unexpected compliment.
10: Drink
Kanna is weak against alcohol, something Maria finds herself remembering all too well during a post-performance celebration as Kanna latches onto her from behind, takes a deep sniff of her hair, and then booms out, "You smell terrific!" earning them strange looks from everyone present and making Maria wish for a hole in the ground to open up conveniently so that she can fall through it and escape the embarrassment of being groped by a too-happy drunkard in public.
11: Midnight
"Cinderella had to leave the ball at midnight," Maria points out as she tries to leave Kanna's bed, stopping when a tanned, possessive arm slides around her waist and a teasing voice murmurs into her ear, "Maybe Cinderella did, but there was nothing to stop the prince from staying behind and having a little more fun."
12: Temptation
Everything about Maria is temptation, from her slim waist to shapely curves of her hips and breasts, all of it calling out to be revered and worshipped, but then there are her eyes, remote and forbidding, cold but with the promise of burning whoever dares to get too close, and while everybody else heeds these silent warnings Kanna ignores them completely, looking underneath the surface and seeing a person who isn't quite as distant as she'd like to think.
13: View
"You're not in this scene, or the next," says Kouran, slightly curious as to why Kanna has chosen to stay behind and watch the rest of the rehearsals when she could be taking a break, but Kanna's eyes are glued to one figure in particular, tall, blonde and graceful, all supple twists and turns as she dances effortlessly across the stage, leaving Kanna to mutter absently, "Heh, I'm just enjoying the view."
14: Music
Although Kanna is an excellent singer (and has to be, due to her job requirements), she can't play an instrument to save her life, but it doesn't stop her from enjoying the music that Maria graciously shares on occasion, watching those slender, graceful fingers dancing over the piano keys with much the same precision as the way her body moves across the stage.
15: Silk
Kanna thinks Maria has one of the most erotic voices she's ever heard, deep for a woman and husky, like honey over gravel and smooth, like chocolate or silk, but even with a voice like that on her side, Maria isn't usually the one who initiates the seduction, at least not if Kanna has anything to say about it.
16: Cover
Maria likes to sleep naked but not when Kanna spends the night, preferring to keep her body covered rather than showing it off, even though the door is locked and there's no danger of anyone walking in, but Kanna is both stubborn and persuasive and usually succeeds in wearing away Maria's shyness.
17: Promise
Maria liked to train, even on days off, but Kanna reminded her that a promise was a promise as she knocked on Maria's door bright and early that morning with Iris in tow, carrying a picnic basket under her arm and stating, "Aw, come on, it's a family thing! Daddy and Mommy have to entertain their pretty little daughter!" as Maria's right eyebrow twitched and Iris gave a shy giggle.
18: Dream
"I had the weirdest dream last night," says Kanna over breakfast, waving a fork in emphasis and adding, "I dreamt I was a man and I got you knocked up, and that you gave birth on the stage while acting out the part of the Virgin Mary," her mind still pondering the strangeness of it all while Maria very deliberately blocks out Kanna's inane ramblings.
19: Candle
Maria forbid Kanna from using candles in order to create an 'atmosphere for romance' and will never allow her to use them again, not after what happened the first time when Kanna got clumsy and set fire to the bed while they were still lying naked on it.
20: Talent
Kanna always used to wonder if there was anything the multi-talented Maria couldn't do, at least until she learned about her inability and unwillingness to swim.
21: Silence
Kanna enjoys chatting with people but even she can realise the value of silence, particularly when it's such a nice day that she can't even find the energy to move from where she's lying comfortably on her back, just soaking in the warmth of the sun, but she eventually stirs when she notices not having registered the sound of pages turning for a while, squinting up at Maria who's still propped up against the tree she chose to rest against, eyes closed and breathing evenly, her grip on the book in her lap slackened, making Kanna smile fondly at the sight.
22: Journey
Kanna enjoys getting the opportunity to travel but she also likes the journey coming back just as much, because home is always at the end of the road and home is where Maria is.
23: Fire
"You'll do better next time," assures Kanna, trying not to laugh as Maria frantically tries to keep the rest of the kitchen from being caught on fire.
24: Strength
"Forget it," Kanna says bluntly, after their latest mission fails. "Nobody's perfect, not even you, and that's why I'll always be here to lend my strength whenever it's needed."
25: Mask
Like most actresses, Maria lived her life behind a carefully constructed front of reservation and routine, but the mask eventually cracked one day when Kanna heard a rapid set of gunshots coming from the kitchen, spurring her to charge inside and rush to Maria's aid, baffled upon seeing not a Kouma splattered against the wall, but a harmless little cockroach.
26: Ice
Maria doesn't understand Kanna's fascination of watching ice cubes melt, but then Maria comes from a country of ice and snow while Kanna comes from a sunny southern island, a perfect and natural contrast to how her warm, light-hearted nature has helped to thaw Maria's frozen heart.
27: Fall
"It's okay to let go sometimes," Kanna tells Maria firmly. "I'll be there to catch you when you fall."
28: Forgotten
Maria has grown so used to portraying male roles on the stage these days that she's almost forgotten what it's like to be feminine, making it come as a complete shock when she hears Kanna referring to her one day, not as handsome, but as beautiful.
29: Dance
It's strange for Maria not to take the lead when she's dancing with anyone else, but when she's waltzing together with Kanna she follows without even realising what she's doing.
30: Body
It's impossible for Kanna not to be touching some part of Maria's body, be it small, innocent gestures or sensual and more calculated caresses.
31: Sacred
"Festivals like this are sacred," Maria tried saying, as Kanna steered her away from the rest of the group and back in the direction of the theatre, only to have Kanna respond with a suggestive wink and a cheerful, "Yeah, I know, but I found something else to worship instead," leaving Maria unsure of whether to be flattered or irritated by those words.
32: Farewells
The final curtain had fallen long ago but Kanna had yet to bid farewell to the stage moustache she'd been wearing as part of her performance as the grand high duke, something that Maria found immensely irksome when Kanna attempted to kiss her with the ridiculous thing still taped on above her upper lip.
33: World
When Kanna kisses Maria it's like the rest of the world melts away, leaving just the two of them alone together.
34: Formal
It took a long time for Maria to stop being so formal with Kanna, and even now she still takes great pains to maintain her calm, just like Kanna takes great pleasure in getting that careful composure to crumble.
35: Fever
There was definitely an upside to being sick with fever, thought Kanna, and that was getting to see Maria playing the role of nurse for her, complete with sexy uniform.
36: Laugh
Kanna's laughter is loud, raucous and heart-felt, while Maria's is quiet and reserved, but in spite of these differences, their smiles are still the same.
37: Lies
Kanna has to think fast in order to cobble together a decent story when she's caught sneaking out of Maria's room late one night, but somehow, she doesn't think Sumire really believes her when she claims to have been on a spider-killing mission.
38: Forever
"There's no such thing as forever," Maria insists, but Kanna disagrees, wanting to keep what they have close to her heart, for all eternity, if she's ever granted that wish.
39: Overwhelmed
Overwhelmed, Maria surrenders, allowing Kanna to take whatever she will.
40: Whisper
"You're soft here," whispers Kanna, touching a fingertip to the hollow of Maria's throat, "and here," she continues, conforming her palm to the curve of Maria's left breast, "and here," she adds, her voice dropping almost an octave as she slides a hand down between Maria's legs and reaches the softest part of all.
41: Wait
Kanna always enjoyed training sessions and working out, and usually found herself baffled why the other members of the group couldn't match pace with her, even with lead weights tied around her ankles to increase stamina and muscle strength, but even Maria had begun to slow down after a full hour and a half of non-stop running, making Kanna decide to give her an incentive by saying, "Keep at it and I promise I'll make it worth your while," whispering the rest in Maria's ear and earning a pale pink blush that soon gave way to a determined expression as Maria bolted off into the distance, leaving Kanna to blink after her in confusion before yelling loudly, "Hey, wait for me!"
42: Talk
"I've warned you a hundred times about the unsavoury noises coming from your room at night when Maria pays a visit," snaps Sumire, fuming, and adding, "all that swearing! All that grunting! You're worse than a farmyard animal - no, a man! How Maria manages to put up with it, I have no idea," but then Kanna says innocently, "Maybe 'cause the sex is really great?" and Sumire is left speechless for one of the first times in her life.
43: Search
They argue sometimes about who would make the better man, both on-stage and off, but Kanna likes Maria more when she's showing her womanly attributes, mainly because she looks good in a dress but also because Kanna is still searching for, and has yet to discover, this thing they call femininity.
44: Hope
Iris mentioned that Sakura was warm one time and Kanna claimed that Maria was too, causing Iris to stare up at her in hopeful hesitancy when Kanna wrapped her arms around Maria's waist as proof, squeezing hard and ignoring Maria's disgruntled expression as she said cheerfully, "See? Nice and toasty!"
45: Eclipse
"It's like the end of the world!" breathes Kanna as the sun disappears from the sky, but Maria is decidedly unimpressed and turns a deaf ear when Kanna teasingly asks how she expects to keep reading during the temporary total darkness.
46: Gravity
"Why," says Maria, very slowly and very irritably, "did you have to trip and fall in such a way that put us both into such a compromising position right in front of the entire audience?" and Kanna replies sheepishly, "Because there's just no fighting gravity?"
47: Highway
Kanna thinks she makes the sexiest highway bandit to ever grace the stage of Tokyo theatres, but Maria thinks it would be far less embarrassing for them both if Kanna would just take off the pirate eye patch.
48: Unknown
Maria's fans have always been of the opinion that if their idol were a real man, she'd make the perfect prince; charming, handsome, with a quiet masculinity capable of making any girl swoon - in other words, the epitome of the ideal male - but Kanna prefers the side of Maria her admirers known nothing about, the one that only she has ever been given the chance to witness, and the one that she gets to keep all for herself.
49: Lock
Kanna is all innocence when Maria accuses her of locking them in the fitting room on purpose, but when Kanna moves closer and makes her worries go away with just a kiss, Maria finds it difficult to remember why she even protested in the first place.
50: Breathe
It's hard for Maria to breathe when Kanna falls asleep on top of her one night, sprawled out heavily and treating Maria like a substitute mattress, but even with the discomfort of Kanna's weight, coupled with her rhythmic snoring, Maria doesn't really mind it all that much.
Author: Triste
Fandom: Sakura Taisen
Pairing: Kanna/Maria
Warnings: Shoujo ai, humour
Rating: G to PG-13
Theme set: Gamma
Disclaimer: Not mine
01: Ring
It takes a moment for Maria to relax at Kanna's sudden display of affection, but then her arms slowly rise, completing the circle of their embrace.
02: Hero
"All heroes have to wear capes, right?" says Kanna, indicating her new stage costume only to have Maria reply dryly, "Just be careful you don't trip on it during your dance routines."
03: Memory
Maria's first memory of Kanna is a sunny smile and a strong handshake, and now, years later, little has changed between them, except those same strong hands that had given Maria such a welcoming introductory greeting now offer her other things, too, from loving, bone-crushing hugs to teasing, barely-there caresses.
04: Box
Maria's last birthday had been memorable for all the wrong reasons, namely Kanna leaping out of a huge box in the dining hall wearing nothing but a large red ribbon tied around her neck, scarring all the spectators for life and even making Sumire faint from the horror of having to witness Maria's 'special surprise'.
05: Run
Kanna had a very good reason to run as though her life depended on it, especially after finding out Maria did not appreciate gifts of frilly, skimpy lingerie.
06: Hurricane
Kanna loves storms, has learned to respect and live alongside them, and it's because of this she sometimes likes to think of the relationship between her and Maria as a hurricane, in that Maria is the calm to her rage, the order to her chaos.
07: Wings
"So, whaddya reckon?" asks Kanna, showing off the flimsy little gauze wings on her back and adding, "think I could take over from Iris and get the part of the cute and loveable fairy for once?" but Maria can't even acknowledge that particular question without losing her poker face.
08: Cold
People think that Maria is cold, but Kanna knows better because Maria is gentle, so gentle, with her touch and with her words, but only to the people who are privileged enough to experience them.
09: Red
Red is Kanna's signature colour but also the one Maria turned one time when Kanna murmured, "Damn, you're gorgeous," her pale, pale skin flushing a shade darker at the unexpected compliment.
10: Drink
Kanna is weak against alcohol, something Maria finds herself remembering all too well during a post-performance celebration as Kanna latches onto her from behind, takes a deep sniff of her hair, and then booms out, "You smell terrific!" earning them strange looks from everyone present and making Maria wish for a hole in the ground to open up conveniently so that she can fall through it and escape the embarrassment of being groped by a too-happy drunkard in public.
11: Midnight
"Cinderella had to leave the ball at midnight," Maria points out as she tries to leave Kanna's bed, stopping when a tanned, possessive arm slides around her waist and a teasing voice murmurs into her ear, "Maybe Cinderella did, but there was nothing to stop the prince from staying behind and having a little more fun."
12: Temptation
Everything about Maria is temptation, from her slim waist to shapely curves of her hips and breasts, all of it calling out to be revered and worshipped, but then there are her eyes, remote and forbidding, cold but with the promise of burning whoever dares to get too close, and while everybody else heeds these silent warnings Kanna ignores them completely, looking underneath the surface and seeing a person who isn't quite as distant as she'd like to think.
13: View
"You're not in this scene, or the next," says Kouran, slightly curious as to why Kanna has chosen to stay behind and watch the rest of the rehearsals when she could be taking a break, but Kanna's eyes are glued to one figure in particular, tall, blonde and graceful, all supple twists and turns as she dances effortlessly across the stage, leaving Kanna to mutter absently, "Heh, I'm just enjoying the view."
14: Music
Although Kanna is an excellent singer (and has to be, due to her job requirements), she can't play an instrument to save her life, but it doesn't stop her from enjoying the music that Maria graciously shares on occasion, watching those slender, graceful fingers dancing over the piano keys with much the same precision as the way her body moves across the stage.
15: Silk
Kanna thinks Maria has one of the most erotic voices she's ever heard, deep for a woman and husky, like honey over gravel and smooth, like chocolate or silk, but even with a voice like that on her side, Maria isn't usually the one who initiates the seduction, at least not if Kanna has anything to say about it.
16: Cover
Maria likes to sleep naked but not when Kanna spends the night, preferring to keep her body covered rather than showing it off, even though the door is locked and there's no danger of anyone walking in, but Kanna is both stubborn and persuasive and usually succeeds in wearing away Maria's shyness.
17: Promise
Maria liked to train, even on days off, but Kanna reminded her that a promise was a promise as she knocked on Maria's door bright and early that morning with Iris in tow, carrying a picnic basket under her arm and stating, "Aw, come on, it's a family thing! Daddy and Mommy have to entertain their pretty little daughter!" as Maria's right eyebrow twitched and Iris gave a shy giggle.
18: Dream
"I had the weirdest dream last night," says Kanna over breakfast, waving a fork in emphasis and adding, "I dreamt I was a man and I got you knocked up, and that you gave birth on the stage while acting out the part of the Virgin Mary," her mind still pondering the strangeness of it all while Maria very deliberately blocks out Kanna's inane ramblings.
19: Candle
Maria forbid Kanna from using candles in order to create an 'atmosphere for romance' and will never allow her to use them again, not after what happened the first time when Kanna got clumsy and set fire to the bed while they were still lying naked on it.
20: Talent
Kanna always used to wonder if there was anything the multi-talented Maria couldn't do, at least until she learned about her inability and unwillingness to swim.
21: Silence
Kanna enjoys chatting with people but even she can realise the value of silence, particularly when it's such a nice day that she can't even find the energy to move from where she's lying comfortably on her back, just soaking in the warmth of the sun, but she eventually stirs when she notices not having registered the sound of pages turning for a while, squinting up at Maria who's still propped up against the tree she chose to rest against, eyes closed and breathing evenly, her grip on the book in her lap slackened, making Kanna smile fondly at the sight.
22: Journey
Kanna enjoys getting the opportunity to travel but she also likes the journey coming back just as much, because home is always at the end of the road and home is where Maria is.
23: Fire
"You'll do better next time," assures Kanna, trying not to laugh as Maria frantically tries to keep the rest of the kitchen from being caught on fire.
24: Strength
"Forget it," Kanna says bluntly, after their latest mission fails. "Nobody's perfect, not even you, and that's why I'll always be here to lend my strength whenever it's needed."
25: Mask
Like most actresses, Maria lived her life behind a carefully constructed front of reservation and routine, but the mask eventually cracked one day when Kanna heard a rapid set of gunshots coming from the kitchen, spurring her to charge inside and rush to Maria's aid, baffled upon seeing not a Kouma splattered against the wall, but a harmless little cockroach.
26: Ice
Maria doesn't understand Kanna's fascination of watching ice cubes melt, but then Maria comes from a country of ice and snow while Kanna comes from a sunny southern island, a perfect and natural contrast to how her warm, light-hearted nature has helped to thaw Maria's frozen heart.
27: Fall
"It's okay to let go sometimes," Kanna tells Maria firmly. "I'll be there to catch you when you fall."
28: Forgotten
Maria has grown so used to portraying male roles on the stage these days that she's almost forgotten what it's like to be feminine, making it come as a complete shock when she hears Kanna referring to her one day, not as handsome, but as beautiful.
29: Dance
It's strange for Maria not to take the lead when she's dancing with anyone else, but when she's waltzing together with Kanna she follows without even realising what she's doing.
30: Body
It's impossible for Kanna not to be touching some part of Maria's body, be it small, innocent gestures or sensual and more calculated caresses.
31: Sacred
"Festivals like this are sacred," Maria tried saying, as Kanna steered her away from the rest of the group and back in the direction of the theatre, only to have Kanna respond with a suggestive wink and a cheerful, "Yeah, I know, but I found something else to worship instead," leaving Maria unsure of whether to be flattered or irritated by those words.
32: Farewells
The final curtain had fallen long ago but Kanna had yet to bid farewell to the stage moustache she'd been wearing as part of her performance as the grand high duke, something that Maria found immensely irksome when Kanna attempted to kiss her with the ridiculous thing still taped on above her upper lip.
33: World
When Kanna kisses Maria it's like the rest of the world melts away, leaving just the two of them alone together.
34: Formal
It took a long time for Maria to stop being so formal with Kanna, and even now she still takes great pains to maintain her calm, just like Kanna takes great pleasure in getting that careful composure to crumble.
35: Fever
There was definitely an upside to being sick with fever, thought Kanna, and that was getting to see Maria playing the role of nurse for her, complete with sexy uniform.
36: Laugh
Kanna's laughter is loud, raucous and heart-felt, while Maria's is quiet and reserved, but in spite of these differences, their smiles are still the same.
37: Lies
Kanna has to think fast in order to cobble together a decent story when she's caught sneaking out of Maria's room late one night, but somehow, she doesn't think Sumire really believes her when she claims to have been on a spider-killing mission.
38: Forever
"There's no such thing as forever," Maria insists, but Kanna disagrees, wanting to keep what they have close to her heart, for all eternity, if she's ever granted that wish.
39: Overwhelmed
Overwhelmed, Maria surrenders, allowing Kanna to take whatever she will.
40: Whisper
"You're soft here," whispers Kanna, touching a fingertip to the hollow of Maria's throat, "and here," she continues, conforming her palm to the curve of Maria's left breast, "and here," she adds, her voice dropping almost an octave as she slides a hand down between Maria's legs and reaches the softest part of all.
41: Wait
Kanna always enjoyed training sessions and working out, and usually found herself baffled why the other members of the group couldn't match pace with her, even with lead weights tied around her ankles to increase stamina and muscle strength, but even Maria had begun to slow down after a full hour and a half of non-stop running, making Kanna decide to give her an incentive by saying, "Keep at it and I promise I'll make it worth your while," whispering the rest in Maria's ear and earning a pale pink blush that soon gave way to a determined expression as Maria bolted off into the distance, leaving Kanna to blink after her in confusion before yelling loudly, "Hey, wait for me!"
42: Talk
"I've warned you a hundred times about the unsavoury noises coming from your room at night when Maria pays a visit," snaps Sumire, fuming, and adding, "all that swearing! All that grunting! You're worse than a farmyard animal - no, a man! How Maria manages to put up with it, I have no idea," but then Kanna says innocently, "Maybe 'cause the sex is really great?" and Sumire is left speechless for one of the first times in her life.
43: Search
They argue sometimes about who would make the better man, both on-stage and off, but Kanna likes Maria more when she's showing her womanly attributes, mainly because she looks good in a dress but also because Kanna is still searching for, and has yet to discover, this thing they call femininity.
44: Hope
Iris mentioned that Sakura was warm one time and Kanna claimed that Maria was too, causing Iris to stare up at her in hopeful hesitancy when Kanna wrapped her arms around Maria's waist as proof, squeezing hard and ignoring Maria's disgruntled expression as she said cheerfully, "See? Nice and toasty!"
45: Eclipse
"It's like the end of the world!" breathes Kanna as the sun disappears from the sky, but Maria is decidedly unimpressed and turns a deaf ear when Kanna teasingly asks how she expects to keep reading during the temporary total darkness.
46: Gravity
"Why," says Maria, very slowly and very irritably, "did you have to trip and fall in such a way that put us both into such a compromising position right in front of the entire audience?" and Kanna replies sheepishly, "Because there's just no fighting gravity?"
47: Highway
Kanna thinks she makes the sexiest highway bandit to ever grace the stage of Tokyo theatres, but Maria thinks it would be far less embarrassing for them both if Kanna would just take off the pirate eye patch.
48: Unknown
Maria's fans have always been of the opinion that if their idol were a real man, she'd make the perfect prince; charming, handsome, with a quiet masculinity capable of making any girl swoon - in other words, the epitome of the ideal male - but Kanna prefers the side of Maria her admirers known nothing about, the one that only she has ever been given the chance to witness, and the one that she gets to keep all for herself.
49: Lock
Kanna is all innocence when Maria accuses her of locking them in the fitting room on purpose, but when Kanna moves closer and makes her worries go away with just a kiss, Maria finds it difficult to remember why she even protested in the first place.
50: Breathe
It's hard for Maria to breathe when Kanna falls asleep on top of her one night, sprawled out heavily and treating Maria like a substitute mattress, but even with the discomfort of Kanna's weight, coupled with her rhythmic snoring, Maria doesn't really mind it all that much.