First things first, people, let's cover the big warning: this series is going to contain all sorts of couplings. I mean not only boys crushing on girls and girls crushing on boys, but boys crushing on boys and girls crushing on girls. There's gonna be 'straight' couples (what's the Japanese term for that, anyway?) shonen-ai, and – like in the following section – shoujo-ai. You don't like, then please, please, please don't read. And if you don't like and do read anyway, then do us all a favor and don't flame. You'll just look silly for ignoring the warnings, and nobody wants that, do we?

Now that we've got that covered, here's the next disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Medabots. If I did own the rights to Medabots, then we'd have gotten all the episodes, in order, instead having some cut out then tagged on the end in some random order and the World Robattle Tournament pushed back as a shorter second season instead of the big season finale.

Again, I'm warning you that this will contain couplings of all sorts, and that this part happens to have a girl in love with a girl. This is your last chance to back out without risking damage to your precious closed mind with a coupling that's not so readily accepted. If you do choose to stay, feel free to make comments once you're finished using the review feature if you're so inclined. I've got a whole bunch of these in the planning stages.

~ * Mask of Innocence * ~

I'm forcing a smile again, not wanting – not daring – to disappoint my admirers. As always, my mere arrival on the scene has caused the brains of the majority of the young males in the immediate vicinity to shut down and devote all resources to one single, overriding activity.

[ALERT: KARIN HAS ENTERED THE AREA. IMPRESS. CHARM. WOO. WRAP AROUND LITTLE FINGER.]

It certainly seems that there is some silent command that is triggered every time I come within sight of any boy about my age. It doesn't take long for them to gravitate to my side, swarming like flies, jockeying for position.

As always, my trio of ardent admirers is present: Ikki, Koji and Rintaro. I can see that the first pair of those boys was on the verge of yet another robattle when I arrived: their medabots were facing each other, and now both are turning away, looking annoyed. Sumilidon is a lot better at hiding his emotions than his would-be opponent, yet I notice a certain frustration in his demeanor as he lets his clawed gauntlet fall against the ground, absently scratching tiny furrows in the concrete. Metabee is much more open about his displeasure: he narrows his verdant eyes at his medafighter, disgust practically radiating from his metal body. For once, he doesn't say a word, however.

It doesn't matter. I've heard his complaints over Ikki's behavior around me before.

I keep the pasted-on smile and greet them equally, in turn, then watch in smiling silence as they squabble over the order in which I named them. Believe me, if there was a way I could speak their names at the exact same moment so that they could not find another 'clue' as to who I 'love' more, I would. Anything to save the pain of another pointless argument.

Out of the corner of one bright, falsely shining eye, I glimpse your pained expression, as for an instant your heart and soul crumbles at the sight of your love vying for another's attentions. You quickly recover, as you always have, trading the expression of battered love for one of annoyance, and mutter a disparaging comment underneath your breath.

I feel myself die a little more at the muted whisper. Once again, it is about me, not really intended for anyone else's ears, but hurtful all the same. An insult, hissed wonderment that any girl could be so doted upon and remain so clueless and naïve about the feelings of her suitors.

I make the cheery smile remain, however. If I were to let it falter for even a second, I fear a minor riot would break out among my three most vocal admirers over who caused it to slip.

Yes, I am fully aware of their intentions. I am not as innocent and unknowledgeable as I pass myself off to be at times. I know that my dear friends Koji, Rintaro and Ikki have crushes on me and want nothing more than for me to choose one of them as my boyfriend.

And that is exactly why I feign ignorance.

I care about them, of course, but only as friends. There can be nothing more, as I feel nothing more for them. I have developed the sort of feelings they want me to have, but not for any of them. I doubt it would go over well with anyone if I revealed whom I have come to care for above all others to them.

What hurts the most is that the one I've come to love has the most reason to reject me, the most reason to recoil in disgust if she found out.

It's not considered natural for a girl to have these sorts of feelings for another girl. I know that all too well.

You're very observant. You have to be, for your chosen dream profession. So I'm certain that you've noticed how much time I spend with my uncle.

Dear, sweet Uncle Aki… He's one of the few people who both knows my secret and accepts it without question. While I'm certain he would much prefer it if I happened to take a fancy to one of his up-and-coming prodigies, he doesn't try to force some guy on me… I wish I could say the same about my parents.

Oh, if only you could have witnessed the frightful tizzy they worked themselves into when it dawned on them that their sweet, perfect daughter might possibly have… abhorrent desires. It just wasn't… right, wasn't… classy to have a child with any feelings other than the accepted norm.

I don't believe you would know this, but there used to be a charming young girl the same age as me who attended several of the same classes at our private school. She was peppy, outgoing, compassionate, and had the most beautiful raven ponytail that bounced whenever she giggled. Something about her drew me closer than any boy had ever had before, stirred feelings that were just beginning to form in my heart.

I made the mistake of inviting her to my tenth birthday party. Mother and Father didn't like what they saw between us. I suppose I glanced her way one too many times, smiled too genuinely while talking to her a bit too much. Something must have tipped them off that I was crushing a little on my classmate.

After all the guests left, they confronted me with their suspicions. Again, I made a horrible mistake: I confessed how I felt when she was around, the wonderful giddy feelings she stirred deep within my heart, how much I enjoyed her company.

The next day, I had to stay home from school. The official excuse was that I had become ill, and I suppose my parents did honestly believe that I had to be sick if I was feeling that way about another girl. Really, however, the only thing I was suffering from was the angry red welts on my cheeks and back, and the despair and confusion welling in my chest whenever I recalled their outraged screaming.

I didn't get to return to school until the next week. By then my parents had taken care of the situation completely and deemed it safe for my return.

Perhaps you do know something about what happened. After all, I'm certain you read the papers when the headlines screamed about the horrible scandal. A certain father was suddenly found guilty of embezzling money from his high-ranking company, his family railroaded despite all protests of innocence, until the despondent man committed suicide and his wife moved away to evade further media scrutiny.

It really is amazing what one can do with some connections and money nowadays, isn't it? Especially when one is driven by vengeance and the desire to protect one's precious only daughter from bad influences…

It was soon after that incident that I found myself increasingly handed over to my uncle's care. I was the secret shame of my parents, and until I was 'fixed', they wanted as little as possible to do with their wayward daughter.

My uncle is very kind for me. All I have to do is help keep the house clean and stocked with his favorite flavors of pudding – I do a lot of the shopping anymore, as it's about the only way I can keep the refrigerator stocked with anything else – and he takes very good care of me. Better than my now missing-in-action parents, in fact, though I wouldn't dare mention that to anybody.

It's just another secret I keep hidden from the world behind my smiling mask. Nobody expects the perfect, happy little girl to have any problems like the ones I deal with everyday.

It would almost be easier to just choose one of my admirers and be done with it. It's tempting, sometimes, to try and end the fights that way. Just pick a name, or a number: it would all amount to the same thing. Pick and choose, who cares, so long as they're a male so it's acceptable.

Eeny, meeny, miney, mo…

Rintaro? Such a wonderful bundle of energy. Sometimes it seems he's the only one of our little team that actually acts his own age, still the child we all are supposed to be. I know the others have labeled it immaturity, but really, since when did we all transform into adults? Let him continue to live the way I wish I could be: free to run and laugh and play and act on his feelings without fear of being repressed. The harsh realities of the adult world will come to crush his spirit all too soon, I fear.

Catch a tiger by the toe…

Koji? My own friend, rival and constant irritation to your own beloved childhood companion. One of the few friends that I've managed to keep over the years, especially in light of my parents discovering my orientation. He wants to expand on our relationship the way you want to develop your own, though the thought secretly terrifies me. If we did attempt to become closer, sooner or later, he would surely learn of my real feelings, and then what? Turn away in disgust? Shun me? Pity me for feeling this way? I couldn't take the pain of any of that…

If he hollers, let him go, eeny, meeny, miney, mo…

Ikki? A handsome, up-and-coming medafighter that seems destined for success no matter what fate throws his way. His determination is so charming, and so is his spirit. He's like the hero in so many tales that saves the day and gets the lovely princess despite all odds. I'm certain he believes that princess is supposed to be me, but I somehow doubt the storybook princess is supposed to have feelings this strong for another, one who doesn't play the part of the great hero.

My mother told me to choose the very best one, and you are not…

Not, not, not, not, not…

Not the one my parents would ever approve of, and yet the one I find my thoughts straying to time and again, the one I want more than anything else in the world to return my affections and love me despite all obstacles.

But I dare not breathe a word, for fear of what could happen. I know all too well the dangers of my position. A confession that resulted in the discovery that you did not feel the same about me would cost more than a broken heart.

I have seen how the media can and will blow a story completely out of proportion, with screaming headlines and outrageous exposes. I have witnessed reporters swarming like vultures, eager to pick any bleeding gashes they can discover and tear their victims apart with cutting words and condemnations. I know the sheer destructive force the 'next huge story' can have on those at its center, shattering lives and souls.

If I informed you of my feelings, and you chose not to return them, I know your next headline would shriek, "Perfect Little Karin in Love – With a GIRL!"

You would leap at the chance to destroy me, seeing it as glorious retribution for all the times I unwillingly shattered your dreams of a perfect future with your childhood friend, your crush, your beloved.

Even now, he shoves in front of his perceived rivals, offering me a token of his affection. I glance down at it – how quaint, a box of chocolates – then look back up. Smile. Blush faintly. Thank him while quietly accepting his offer, privately picturing another in his stead.

He beams with pride. His rivals protest loudly and scramble to secure gifts of their own, no doubt striving to outdo his. Off to the side, a yellow Hercules Beetle medabot rolls his bright green eyes and whispers a sarcastic comment to his companion, a sweatdropping Saber-tooth Tiger medabot who nods silent agreement. Another medabot, a Sailor Multi, winces visibly and turns sympathetic rose eyes to her medafighter, knowing her heart has just been dealt another terrible blow.

And a pair of deep, gorgeous chocolate brown eyes mist with tears of disbelief at another betrayal from a childhood friend and crush, before hardening into a fiery glare at the one responsible for her heartache.

Still the false smile remains, as natural an expression on my face as anything else. My own tears I must retain until reaching the safety and privacy of my room, where I can sob all I want over the deception I must practice and the dream I can never fulfil.

Just once, I'd like to kiss you, my dear, sweet crush…