3 years later

Sipping her Martini from a champagne glass with a curly straw Konoka leaned against the railing of the luxurious cruise ship and sighed happily. It was warm, sunny with clear blue skies and the waters were smooth and gentle. She had a nice view of the ocean and sky from the back of the cruise liner. Scrolling down the screen on her I-Phone for messages and missed calls she found one from Mana and 10 from Asuna. As Konoka saw Asuna's name her face softened. She missed Asuna. She'd called her a grand total of three times and all three of those times it'd been to tell her that she wasn't dead and not to come find her because it'd just be a waste of time and that she would see Asuna in the future when things had settled down in Japan. The last time Konoka had called her she'd been in uni on a scholarship studying sports. She was going to be an athlete.

It'd been three years since she and Setsuna had fled Japan. They'd made a new life in Hawaii. Their CIA Agent had turned out to be an enigmatic, strange lady called Poyo Rainyday. That was the only thing that Setsuna and Konoka knew about her, even after three years. Poyo had two options open, both of which required going under-cover and scouting the more dangerous parts of Hawaii for heads of alleged prostitution rings and fighting skills, speed, athleticism and fearless heart of iron as well a certain type of ruthlessness when it came to killing. Since Konoka only had one out of those four things and Setsuna had all four, Konoka had taken up a job at the local bar as an ordinary waitress as Poyo's niece, Ruri Rainyday and stayed off the radar. During that time Mana had kept contact with them through Poyo. She still liked to use Setsuna to work for her because she was the only one that Mana could trust fully and without fail. After a year Setsuna had rented a small unit in a nearby apartment for them that was close to Poyo's using the money she'd gotten from her for doing a year's worth of undercover work (that'd been the one condition when Setsuna had brought it up one night when the three were playing blackjack). All in all it wasn't such a bad life.

Now they were finally going to go meet up with Mana and Kaede in Singapore. Mana had casually mentioned that it was because she'd wanted that laptop Setsuna had promised her but she'd only mentioned that as an afterthought. Konoka peered over the railing at the churning waters at her reflection. She looked different-her hair was much wavier for one thing, her bangs tousled and stopping just a little over her eyes making her look younger than she was and there was something she saw in her eyes that hadn't been there before. They looked so much wiser, buried with memories that were both painful and pleasant. She was wearing light blue contacts she'd bought just for this occasion so no one would recognize her. Then again after three years she didn't think anyone would. With her teased hair, her eyes, red polished nails and wrists adorned with beads threaded through with hemp string she looked like another person. Like her fake persona. Konoka had done one thing though and that was contact her grand-father. She'd done it last year from a fishing trawler that was making its rounds on the islands that she'd snuck on with the sole purpose of doing just that with a cheap phone Poyo had given her. Konoka hadn't wanted her grand-father to trace the call which she knew he would've done immediately. Once they were far away from Honolulu she'd called, told him she loved him and that he and her father didn't need to worry and that she was safe. Konoka had thrown the phone over-board as soon as she'd finished. It'd taken all her will-power not to tell him where she was.

Beep, the phone rang. Sucking on her straw Konoka answered it, "Hello?"

"Konoe?"

"Oh hey Mana what's up?" Konoka said brightly.

"Just checking to see if you and Setsuna haven't gotten yourselves arrested by the police or been killed on your way here," Mana's voice was as wry as ever.

Laughing Konoka twirled around, the bottom of the dress she was wearing spinning with her, "No. We've been using those disguises you know."

Mana chuckled. She said, "How long until you reach Singapore?"

"Two hours. Don't worry we'll be there soon," Konoka said after checking her watch. She added, teasingly, "And besides this is meant to be a social call too not just business."

That was another thing. They were meant to meet Mana and Kaede five days this week but Poyo had two spare vouchers to go on a cruise that were lying around that she'd given Setsuna as payment for hiding out in a run-down, termite-infested apartment for three months with minimal food and water. Setsuna was supposed to keep an eye on some leads Poyo had gotten. It was dangerous work because that part of the area was a beacon for thieves and murders as well as gang warfare run rampant there. There was also a red light district there and scarily, according to Setsuna, the prostitutes were a thousand times more dangerous than the crime bosses and gangs sometimes. Sometimes the prostitutes were part of the gangs. Since death was an imminent possibility, Poyo had thought it fair to give Setsuna a reward. Setsuna had coaxed Poyo into giving her the second one on the grounds that the latter deserved some time alone to herself after all. This cruise was a two week trip from Hawaii to Singapore as part of a three day stopover then returned back to Hawaii. Mana had called them in the first week and casually said that they should meet in Singapore in that case. Setsuna had promised her she'd buy a laptop for her in Singapore.

Swirling the Martini around in her hand Konoka sighed, leaning her arms on the railing and murmured in a passable Italian accent, "Alessandra Esperante…my name is Alessandra Esperante."

It was better than the first time she'd tried to talk like an Italian-Japanese teenage girl. Sucking on the straw Konoka glanced to the restaurant and bar located on top of the ship, built in the middle of the deck with an assortment of special suite rooms attached to either side and smiled. Through the glass windows she saw Setsuna making her way through the tables inside the restaurant from the bar past people dressed in casual clothes with sunglasses on and pretty dresses, talking idly and laughing with one another. As two girls approached the door on the other side Setsuna paused near the door, pulling it open and held it for them. They thanked her and Setsuna smiled slightly at them, walking outside.

Catching Konoka's eye she smiled across at her sleepily, closing the door behind her and made her way across the deck past the row of people lying out on fold-up beach chairs at this side of the ship and soaking up some sun towards her.

When she reached her she started to take the Martini but Konoka pulled it back and said, "I don't think you deserve this."
Setsuna raised her eyebrow at her then said, "Just because I was polite to those girls?"

"Yep."

Setsuna started to grin then moved closer, closing the gap between them and said softly, "You're worth two of those girls to me."

Konoka was so taken aback that she didn't realize that Setsuna took a sip of the Martini.

"Hey," Konoka said half-heartedly, already feeling the smile coming back to her face. Whenever Setsuna spoke like that it made her heart melt.

Setsuna pulled a face, letting go of the Martini.

"This tastes awful you know Ojou-sama," Setsuna pulled back, grimacing.

"Says you," Konoka pinched her playfully, covering the phone for a minute. "We'll get something for you later ok?"

Setsuna wrapped her arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck, "A full bottle?"

"Two bottles," Konoka said, leaning back into her. She turned her head a little so she could see Setsuna and teased, "You're being awfully affectionate this morning."

"Blame it on last night I can barely remember any of it but…have I ever mentioned…just how beautiful you really are?" Setsuna murmured against her ear.

"Mmm how beautiful am I?" Konoka asked with a soft smile.

Plucking the phone out of Konoka's hand she brought her closer to her and grinned at her, "Very."

As Konoka reached backwards, stroking her hair affectionately she said checking the phone, "You seem to have left Mana on hold. I think she hung up."

"Aw darn it I forgot about her see what you made me do?" Konoka cried out, snatching the phone back from her and frowning sheepish Setsuna rubbed the back of her neck. As she dialled the numbers and put the phone back up to her ear she said, "If you want something we should go buy them now and drink. We've only got two hours left."

Setsuna let go of her reluctantly then taking her hand, began to pull her along as well.

Setsuna had bought some beer from the bar to drink in their room that she'd mistakenly read was only 1% alcoholic when it'd really read 100%. The 00s had been scribbled out for some reason. By the time they'd finished they were both exhausted. Konoka had been the first one to wake up.

"So why didn't you pick up?"

Casting a fond look at Setsuna, Konoka said, "Just had some fun. I should get Secchan drunk more often. She's REALLY great in bed you know when she's that she isn't great normally but whoa-"

"Ok stop that's way too much information," Asuna said in a tone that Konoka imagined she was pulling a face. "Anyway when are you guys going to come back to Japan?"

"In another month, Mana's still got to stay undercover for a little while. She needs Secchan's help to generate more money and someone to help take care of some beach villa in Hawaii. Apparently it's a really big beach villa."

"Mana…you mean the woman with the guns who attacked us when we were at the bar?"

"Yeah, I told you about her. You'll get to meet her when we come over she's really very nice."

"Right sure. Guess what by the way?"

Opening the door to the bar and making her way through the crowd Setsuna guided them towards the counter, carefully making sure no one bumped into Konoka. Ordering two bottles she held them both in one hand and steered them back through the crowd out back out onto deck.

"What?" Konoka asked.

"Ayaka's the ambassador for uni," Asuna said proudly.

"That's great! You sound happy for her. You guys should totally come on a date with us when we go back," Konoka said, unable to keep the teasing out of her voice.

"It-It's not like that! We just kind of became good friends during this year that's all." Asuna protested.

"Sure, sure," Konoka giggled. "Listen I gotta go. See ya next time Asuna."

Shutting the phone off Konoka finished the rest of her Martini. Setsuna was looking at her in that way that made her feel like time was standing still. Konoka realized she was leaning back against the railing.

"Do you ever wish for your old life back?" Setsuna asked in a soft voice.

Konoka hesitated then said, not looking at her, "I do."

Setsuna's face fell.

"But I love you," Konoka continued. "I wouldn't have decided to follow you that night if I wasn't sure that I'd made the right choice."

"You don't deserve to be a waitress," Setsuna shook her head. "I'll find some other work for you. I don't like the way some of the customers treat you sometimes."

"What do you think would suit me Secchan?"

"Something in the medical profession," Setsuna said thoughtfully, "Wasn't that what you were studying for?"

"A speech therapist," Konoka nodded. "But it's too late now."

"We'll find a way," Setsuna said firmly, smiling and sliding her arms around her waist.

Reaching up to undo her hair-band, Konoka slid her arms around her shoulders and pulled her in for a kiss, "Have I ever told you how beautiful you really are?"

"I love you Kono-chan," Setsuna whispered against her lips.

"I love you too Secchan," Konoka whispered.