I missed this.

Rae’s breath is heavy as I draw back, I need air.

Her lips are swollen from our connection, her eyes are dilated, she is in a daze.

The bruise on her neck bright.

Oh how I missed this.

I place my finger under the tip of her chin, raise it ever so slightly and our eyes connect.

She whimpers with need, and I am generous. I lift her chin and bring her face to mine. Her lips to mine once again. I savor the taste, her taste, and our lips move in tandem with each other. In a dance we have played many times, and will play many more.

But I long for more.

My other hand creeps as if it has an agenda of its own. I feel it trace against her stomach, running gently over the surface, but that is not enough. Fabric bars me from the skin and so the hand winds its way beneath the sweater and makes contact with the skin below. She gasps as my fingers trace over the familiar territory and I use the moment to deepen the kiss. She is very inexperienced, but oh so willing. I run my tongue over the lips seeking entry and she acquiesces. Slipping in, my tongue runs over hers. I can feel her pulse quicken and she moans as our tongues twine.

Knock Knock.

It comes from the door, and I pull away. That causes Rae to whimper again at the loss of contact, but she seems to have barely noticed the knock has even happened. She is extremely disheveled, her hair is a mess, her sweater has been pushed up high and left arm has nearly escaped from the sleeve.

And best of all… she is smeared in my lipstick.

Mine .

“Rae, that’s probably Misha.”

She whimpers again, “Buuut we just….”

Oh god she is adorable, I give her a quick peck on the cheek and then rise from the bed. I quickly pat myself down, I am far more composed than my partner and I turn to get the door.

I was correct, it is Misha, and she is very surprised to see me. She does a double take at first and then notices Rae still on her bed in a stupor.

“Well Fuck.”She mutters, does everyone swear here? “Guess she wasn’t exaggerating… didn’t think you would be the one to answer the door Francois-san.”

“It’s good to see you M- Jur-chan, Rae-chan said she told you about… well me .”

“Hmmhmm, yah I guess… seeing is believing….” She eyes me cautiously. “You know what, let’s have a talk while Rae… recovers from whatever you just did to her.”

I don’t particularly enjoy her tone or implication, Rae was very willing to accept everything I just did to her.

Right? I hazard one last glance at her, she certainly is in a stupor.

Calm down, right, right. I may have gone slightly overboard. Rae doesn’t even seem to realize I am talking to Misha. But she did enjoy it. 

“All right.”

We leave the dorm room and she closes the door. “So what’s your game?” She is trying to keep her tone even, but I can hear the slightest of edges still.

“Rae told you, didn't she?”

“And now I’m asking you.” This is fair I suppose, she should be skeptical.

Fine, “Yes, I woke up a week ago with not memories of this life, but a previous life. One where Rae and I were married. In a very different world”

“Francois-san, that sounds like a load of shit even if I wanted to believe you, prove it.”

Hrmmm, “How would you suggest I prove it? I knew you in our past lives too but I am unsure how much of that life is the same as the one. Would you just think I was making it up if I describe elements from then? Your family was part of the nobility, you had close ties with the royalty and grew up with prince.. Yu, but when you were still young your family was disgraced and lost their status as nobility. You were still close with Yu afterwards…” How much do I say?

She looks completely neutral. I’m not making any progress.

“What if I say something I shouldn’t.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“Fine, you and Yu became partners, romantically.”

Nothing.

I knew that wouldn’t get her to take me seriously, I suppose I will have to drop something more dramatic.

“Once things settled down the two of you became Nuns.”

Her eyes narrow, the first break in her mask. “What did you say?”

“I only said what happened in my previous life Misha, I don’t know what that means for this one.”

“You certainly are sounding like you are implying something there Francois-san.” Her ice is finally heating up.

“You wanted me to convince you, I don’t… know what is the same here but please believe me, I will be on your side whatever the case will be. Am I wrong? You know Yu here, sh- they, ughh, you knew then too!”

She finally looks unfooted, “Francois-san if you say anything about this to anyone-”

“Misha I know! God damn it I’m not an idiot! Yu is my friend as well! I helped Rae commit treason to keep her safe!” 

“Jesus Christ!” What? “Was… Yu… You know what trans is? Are you saying that Yu was trans?” She sighs.

“Yes, it was complicated, curse her mother for it, but yes. But she got to be herself, she got to be happy. She… got to live.”

Misha looks uncharacteristically rattled now, “God, you need to stop for a second. Look He… Yu… God damn it, look I don’t know for sure, I don’t even know if Yu knows.”

Magic doesn’t exist here, was Yu born… “But you had a feeling?”

“It doesn’t matter what I feel, Francois-san.”

“Of course it does, Yu trusts you, I don't think there is anyone who knew her-them as well as you did. They need your help.”

“Stop, I…. fuck I need to think.”

I just nod and Misha paces for a minute.

“You can’t say anything… to anyone. Not Rae, Not Yu.”

“And definitely not her mother.”

That catches her off guard, “His, and your right, his mother would lose her shit, christ. Fuuuck, this is getting too real.” She covers her face and throws her head back, a slow groan escaping in the process. 

“So Yu is…?.”

She snaps back to me. “I don’t know Francois-san and don’t you dare go poking around into it. Please.” She gnaws at her lip.

“Should I tell you more about… the last time?”

She groans… “I don’t know, I don’t think so. I’m not supposed to know.”

“But you had a feeling.”

She groans again, “There was… look it was just a feeling but it’s not up to me to figure that out for him… them.”

“I know, I just want you to know I will be there for both of you, you both deserve to be happy and I want to help if I can. But that will always be on your terms.”

She’s really looking at me now, really trying to figure me out, “I… you're like a completely different person.”

“I suppose, I never met the old me.” What would that be like?

“This is honestly the first real conversation we had, but Yu and I kept an eye on you, since you were kinda trying to get in Thane-san pants.”

“Misha!” ughh, “God I can’t even imagine that anymore, please never mention that again. It’s been a long time since I felt anything remotely like that for Thane-san.”

“Yah well I guess your work on Rae speaks for itself doesn’t it. Jeez, Rae? Like she is my friend but really ?”

“Yes. Do you really want me to say what I find so enticing about her?”

I will.

“I suppose not.”

“I do care for her, deeply. I’m not lying when I said we were wives, she is the love of my life, in every sense. I… may have lost a small amount of control before you arrived.”

“Pfft!, Small? Well I don’t think she is going to complain anytime soon, but don’t rush her too much either. Pretty sure you were her first kiss.”

Oh

Ohhhh

That’s a delightful idea, isn’t it .

“Really?”

“Don’t you sound pleased, and yes. Middle school… wasn’t great for her and it took her a lot of work before she was comfortable to come out to me. I don’t think anyone else here knows. So don't hurt her, okay?”

Hrmm, she always glossed over this part of her life before, which considering Rae, does make sense. She said it was fine, but I suppose it must have only felt fine after enough time. I can’t help but feel angry at Kosaki again, but that’s hardly what Rae wanted. “I understand, I just want what’s best for her.”

“And that would be sucking out her tonsils?” I do not need her sass.

“I don’t need to hear this from you, I'll have you know, You and Yu were incorrigible once you got together.”

“Okay I don’t need to hear that, and we aren’t… look… I don’t need to explain anything but we aren’t together right now.” She sounds tired.

“Ohh, I’m sorry did-” Dear gods I am always putting my foot in my mouth.

“Please stop, we… nothing happened between us, I don’t know what’s going on between us right now. It’s complicated and you just made it ten times more complicated.“

“Apologies, you're right. I will mind my own affairs, Misha.” I offer her a short bow.

“Don't do that please.” She sighs and pinches her nose.

“Have you had dinner yet?”

“No?”

“I wanted to treat Rae, I can treat you as well?”

She mulls it over, “Fine, if you're paying. I was going to see if Rae wanted to get something to eat anyways. Let's go get your toy.”

Misha opens the door, and Rae is still sitting on her bed, her sweater is still incredibly askew and she is very lost in her head.

I did go overboard, didn't I?

“Hey loser! Let's get food.” She smirks as Rae snaps out the stupor. 

“Misha? Misha! Shit!” She tries to right her sweater but just ends up tumbling in place and falling out of her bed, god she is cute.

“God you're such a fucking cliche, you should wipe your face of and clean up a bit.”

Rae finally rights herself and pouts at Misha, “Why do I gotta wipe my face off, I don’t have anything on it?”

“Well you do now.”

“Huh?” She still doesn’t follow.

She spots me to the side, her brow is furrowed. I point to my lips, “Oops”

She tests her face with her fingers and feels the tact, she gives it a rub and red lipstick sticks to her finger, a quick inspection causes her to turn bright red. “I’llberightback!” She quickly hops up and makes for what I assume is a washroom.

“How did you manage to make so much a fucking mess out of her, and not yourself?”

“Years of practice.”  I can't even fight my prideful smirk.