Title: Princes of Astrea

Written by: Gyrobot

Summary: Astrea Hill, a school where no man had treaded on before, a mysterious sanctuary, but what are the consequences to be held when this sacred law is broken?

Disclaimer: This story takes place after episode 26 and is accepted as non-canon

Chapter 1: Masquerade

Was I really sure about this?

To be in love is one thing, but to me I only fell in one type of love. One that I shared with Nagisa in my final year in Miator, but I failed to fufill the wish of my parents when I came to St Miator, I had fell in love with the same sex, went through tragedy and triumph, heck I even became Etoile, albeit with a cost of my first true love's love. But the real reason why I didn't feel I have done anything meaningful is this…

Somewhere in Paris...

Shizuma was attending a masquerade ball, wearing a silver dress to accompany her hair along with a mask to cover her eyes. The only people she knew with her is Miyuki and her husband, who she sees acting rather foolishly around the drinks... "God, only 2 more hours and you and I could leave this dreaded place..." Miyuki agreed with Shizuma, after Shizuma's graduation, she was rather aimless in life, even to her own family her future as a bride was rather foggy, without clear aims for a lover in life, and mind you Nagisa and Kaori do not count as a partner in her parents' eyes. She had decided that being single was the best strategy...

"Excuse me, but I was wondering what are you two doing sitting here waiting for the night to pass." A man spoke in French.

Shizuma noticed a man attempting to flirt with her. His mask was a simple white one with a black satin suit with a navy blue tie; she didn't see him before, but from the looks of his outfit, he would appeared to be here on a once in a blue moon event, his suit looks rather plain and it looks like the man was hard pressed to make a good impression on her.

"Are you flirting with me and my friend, my friend here is off limits as her husband is drinking with his friends and me, how should I say this..."

Shizuma however was quickly interrupted, no actually swayed by his silver tongue:

"By your preferences, my lady? Is it because I lack romantic charm? The fact that I am not very wealthy by your standards? Or perhaps I lacked the attraction you wanted in me? Or maybe because you are a lesbian?"

How the heck did one of her most noticeable traits, the mysterious aura be broken so easily, she stood firm and stood up at him:

"Listen, if you are hitting on me, forget about it because I generally dislike men like you who are explicitly rude and act like he knows everything."

"Who asked if I was sent to break you down to you to love me? All I asked for was a simple dance."

She nods out of reflex as to hide her spite towards him, maybe a dance won't hurt...at least for her. She was escorted to the floor and danced with him. Shizuma was seen to be rather aggressive on her moves, trying to give the man a run for his money with her skill with the piano, it allowed her to be almost in total synchronization with the beat. She was completely sure he wouldn't be able to keep up with her. As she dances, her body sways to motion of the orchestra playing the music, it felt like it would be the best thing that will happen in the ball... But, the problem is, he kept moving to her steps, he like a girl like Shizuma to lead the dance... She then whispered in the man's ear:

"So why are you still here? I didn't expect you would hang on so gracefully?"

He didn't spoke, instead did a graceful move with her at the end of the song and just bowed and walked off.

Shizuma was rather miffed, from the ordeal of the dance, the man was a mystery just like her...two shadow like auras confronted each other or rather being in bond with one another. She then followed him and he was looking from a balcony.

"So, miss. Thank for the dance earlier, I wanted to dance with the other girls but most of them were already dancing with another companion of theirs so I had little opportunity to find someone to dance with. And unlike where I am from, dancing alone in a ballroom is but a dreadful bore..."

Shizuma soon retorted:

"Your clothing, it seems the suit isn't of the highest quality brand, you generally save this for special occasions."

The man chuckled:

"Yes, I am just visiting Paris for as part of a seminar and then I will be returning to London."

Shizuma thought, is the man British? She then popped another question to him:

"So, do you live in London?"

The man chuckles:

"No, I am American, I studied French during night school so I have good understanding of the French language, so miss, what country are you from?"

Shizuma considered that thought for a moment, it was mere conversation, not a date so she told him:

"Japan is my home country, I came here with my parents and friend for a wedding…"

The man just laughed, apparently he met what he thought: "So who's wedding is this you are going to or are you going to walk down the aisle?"

Shizuma then told him: "Its my friend's, you know the bobbed hair girl accompanying me? She is arranged to marry someone..."

The man made a gesture that shows approval; it seems that to him Shizuma could be in his grasp:

"So are you engaged?"

Shizuma then shakes her head gently: "No, I am still single, but I already kind of have an couple, a girl actually."

The man was rather serious: "You saying you are a lesbian? Well that answered one of my questions" Shizuma: "Well, it was more out of circumstance then choice, the school I went to forbids men from entering, if you really are Catholic, I bet you the church could excommunicate you for that. The school I went to was Astraea Hill...huh?"

The man showed a bit of bravado. He reached softly for Shizuma's face and slowly removed her mask "Wow, you look so mysterious and hypnotising even without the mask on you...so what is your name?" Shizuma then noticed Miyuki beckoning her to come over... "Forgive me, but I have to go...maybe our fates will cross again, farewell."

And Shizuma quickly ran to Miyuki...a thought raced through her, why was she so entranced by that mysterious man? What made it that she was able to reveal a bit about her to the young mysterious phantom? She then met up with Miyuki: "So tell me, how was the dance with him?" She giggles: "It wasn't anything special, we just danced and talked." Miyuki then made a slight gesture; she was like her mother of course at times: "Well just be careful who you fall in love with because remember, for the last 6 years, we didn't exactly have real contact with the male population." But Shizuma thought it over, would it be the last time she ever meet the guy as she walked out into the Parisian streets...