By Michiru

Maria looked out onto the busy New York street. She felt she had been here too long, but every time she started to leave, Harold somehow found a way to keep her.
He had written her months ago, saying her friend from Russia, Illyana was sick. He had married her when Maria was living in New York, before she became part of the Hanagumi. She didn't like him then. She didn't like him now.
Illyana had been sick. She was dying slowly, eaten away from the inside. The doctor had said cancer, but Maria didn't think so. Maria didn't know what to think.
But at least she was able to say goodbye. She had lasted a month. But now, three weeks after the funeral, she felt it was over. She wanted to leave.
"Kanna," she murured to her reflection. "I miss you so."
"Did you say something, Maria?" Harold looked over from his desk.
"I said," she sighed, "I have to leave. I need to get back to my group."
"But, Maria, I really need you here," he whined.
Maria hated whiners. "My people need me more," she said firmly.
"Maria, marry me!" He blurted.
She turned sharply, staring. "Kakoj?" (What?)
"You are the most-"
"Your wife, my friend, has not been in her grave a month!"
"But it has always been you that I loved. How could I not? You are the most beutiful, and fascinating woman I have ever met."
"You are insane. How could you marry someone that you do not love? I certainly would never. I do not love you. I do not like you!" Maria exclaimed, allowing her anger to take over. "You are a detestable human being, and I wouldn't marry you even if I wasn't in love with someone else!"
She fell silent, having startled herself. In love? With... Kanna? Yes. Yes, that was the feeling. That was why her heart was aching and her soul lonley. She missed Kanna, and not just for the sex or friendship.
"In... love with someone..." Harold's shoulders slumped slightly. "Yes, of course. A woman like you would have someone. He's a lucky man."
"He is a she," she said coldly.
"She? But how? How can you love-- a friend?"
"A lover. So, now you understand. I am going back to Japan," she turned to go into the hotel room's bedroom.
"No," he shook his head, moving in front of the door. "Not to sound clich�, but if I can't have you, no one will." With that statement, he pulled a knife.
Maria felt a touch of diquiet. She had left her gun in the very bedroom he was blocking. She was a good hand-to-hand combatant, however he was more muscular and taller.
"Yes," he stood taller, and looked straight into her eyes. "I will kill you. After I've played, of course."
"You're insane," she said, still sounding cold. 'Ice Princess Maria' is what she heard Soletta and Sumire snickering about her once. Kanna told her not to be bothered by them, as she believed Maria was warm, caring and very, very hot.
"Maybe," he looked cheerful. "However, I am very much alive, much more wealthy from the passing of my wife, and am about to get my just desserts."
He rushed Maria faster than she thought possible. A hot pain seared through her arm, the knife connecting with her flesh. Better than the heart, where he had been aiming for, she thought, twinsting from him. She ignored the pain, and the flowing blood. Gun, her mind fixed on.
He twined his fingered into the mass of her blonde hair, and pushed her down. "Fine with me, wench. I'll have your body before I kill you, then. Shall I tell you of how I killed her?"
She started. He had killed Illyana?
He put his legs on either side of her, pinning her arms. He was even heavier than Kanna!
She struggled in vain. All she could hope is that he would kill her quickly.
She felt her shirt ripped away, his sweaty hands on her breasts. She tried to struggle out of his grasp, but it just wasn't working.
"Yes, I killed her slowly. A small amount of arsenic in her food from time to time. I increased it to every day. Then I increased the dosage. Her body became used to it, so the increses would kill her outright, yet she was slowly being poisoned. I wrote you before it got too bad, knowing you would take a bit of time to get here. And then when you were here, I increased the dosage, so she would decline rapidly. I am so brilliant," he laughed.
"You are evil," she spat. Her phychic energy began to rise, her hair fluttering in an unfelt wind.
"Maybe, but I'm happy, and rich," he leered at her. "You could have been my wife, but no. Not even if you beg. I'm going to take my pleasure on your body, and then I am going to cut out your heart."
Maria closed her eyes. "Kanna," she whispered her good-bye.
With a loud crash, the door broke in.
Harold looked over, his face registering shock.
"Maria!" A familiar voice bellowed.
"Kanna!" Maria cried in answer.
The weight lifted, as Kanna picked up Harold by the throat. "You want I should do something with this trash?"
Maria gazed up at Kanna. Her muscles rippled, eyes gleamed murder. She was a wonderful sight. "How--"
"Aw, shucks. I ws just in the neighborhood," she grinned. "I've been checkin' hotels for a week now. Got to this one, and got a bad feeling. Didn't even have to ask at the desk whether you were here or not. We're on the fifth floor. Think he'd survive a fall?"
"I would hope not," Maria got to her feet, glaring at Harold. "You are an evil man. You killed a very good friend of mine. Who knows how many others you have killed. Justice will prevail."

Maria looked over the side of the ship and watched the sea froth.
Kanna slipped up behind her, and slid powerful arms around her. Maria melted back into the embrace with a sigh.
"I can not wait to reach Japan. New York will forever be tainted by that experience."
"I'm just glad I got to you in time. Maria..." Kanna hesitated.
"Yes, Kanna?"
"I. Well, I just..."
"Is something wrong, Kanna?" Maria asked, turning to face her. Fear again. A different kind of fear. Kanna was a beautiful woman. Strong and so kind-hearted. A fighter who would tickle a baby under the chin with the biggest grin. Who would cuddle a kitten with child-like joy.
Why would someone like that want someone like her? Cold, unfeeling, a soldier masquerading as human.
"When I found you were gone, I thought at first you left cause of me. I had been away so long," Kanna looked up at the stars, running her fingers through her hair. "I'm not good at this stuff," she grinned wryly. "Anyway, the chief told me you went to New York. I had to go after you. I know now it wasn't cause of me."
"No, Kanna, it wasn't you," Maria hugged herself.
"So, well, I just had to find you."
"I'm glad you did."
"I missed you, Maria! And I had a lot of time to think. And, well, I don't care how you react at this point, if I don't tell you, I'll explode! Maria, I love you!"
Maria stood, looking down at the deck, mind blank for a moment. Slowly, she looked up at Kanna, who's face betrayed that she did, indeed, care very much what Maria thought. "You..."
"Yeah. Crazy, huh? But, hell, I can't help it."
Maria relaxed. "I also must confess. When I was in that hotel room, and he was jabbering away, I relized that I, too, am in love with you."
Kanna's jaw dropped. "Really?" Her eyes lit up like a child given a big piece of candy, and a squirmy puppy.
"Really," Maria smiled warmly, happy at last.
As Kanna scooped her up in a big hug, whooping away, Maria realized that everything was going to be fine.
Forever.

~The End~

by Michiru

Note: the word Navsegda (�������� pronounced na-ve-ess-e-ge-de-a) means Forever in Russian.