So…this is like my first fanfiction, ever. I'm a little surprised that I would be dedicating it to StoPan, but I always did want to see the Shizuma x Amane pairing. Since I have yet to come across one, I suppose inventing one myself wasn't too bad an alternative. Just gotta love the uncanon pairings. Since I've warning about the pairing in the summary, please no flame due to pairing. I'm writing this for my own amusement, in other words, too many flames and no review? Then I would probably lack the necessary motivation to continue.

Disclaimer: I don't own Strawberry Panic…otherwise Shizuma and Amane would definitely be the main stars.

The night was quiet save for the incessant chatters of critters. A sheet of summer heat hung over the Astraea Hills, remedied only by a light breeze caressing the treetops. Overhead, a full moon shone brilliantly, illuminating the hilltop in its pristine light. All seemed peaceful and innocuous as the students of Ichigo Dormitories rested in deep slumber.

But not all students were blessed with such inner tranquility this fateful night. On a hidden balcony of the dorms, a lone shadow slumped against the concrete wall, drinking herself to oblivion.

Wavy silver locks draped across the figure, shimmering magnificently under the soft moonlight. Downturned chin shielded the girl's visage from the world, as well as her dilated golden eyes. The only identifying mark was the person's summer Miator school uniform. To compromise with the heat and the burning liquid pumping through her veins, she had unbuttoned the first few buttons of the collar, offering a tantalizing view of silken flesh. A silver chain dangled around her neck, the pendant descending further, masked by her clothing, but its probably location was enough to lead many minds astray.

Long, elegant fingers grasped around a bottle of something, before lifting it up to meet ruby lips. The label was caught momentarily under the moonlight. Saké. The mysterious beauty took a few quick gulps of the remaining bottle, nearly emptying the whole liter. The fiery drink burned a trail down her throat, much like how her heart scorched with pain.

"Kaori…" The girl murmured, her silken voice made husky by the liquor. Molten gold eyes stared at seemingly nothing, unfocused and half-lidded. She reached forward suddenly, as if to grasp a fleeting figure only she could see, but curling fingers closed around nothing. "Kaori…" Another murmur, the heart-wrenching sorrow behind the words enough to move any observer to tears. But there was none. As always, Shizuma Hanazono, the respected and beloved Etoile of Astraea Hills shall bear her cross alone, divulging her agony only in the darkness of the night.

Swirling darkness…seductive darkness…beckoning darkness… Shizuma couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she were to push herself off the balcony, to become one with the night sky. But such thoughts were infrequent and fleeting, she must go on, if only if for her beloved's sake.

Tonight was slightly different. She had procured a bottle of smuggled saké from unnamed sources, leaving her to sink into true debauchery. Shizuma was no alcoholic, but what's the harm in drowning her sorrowed for just one night?

She would be safely hidden here, in the little haven that no sister would ever venture to. As long as she kept reasonably quiet, no one, absolutely no one, would find her. Or so she thought, until the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears. With a muffled curse, the Etoile struggled to pick herself up, hiding the sake bottle behind her. But it was too late. In her drunken state, she had detected the intruder far later than usual, leaving her no time to make her escape. The condemning evidence was all over her, that distinctive aroma of alcohol. She was to be caught, drunken, and leaving her dorm at night. Her blood ran cold.

x x x x x x x x x x

It was the same star-lit night, in the same Ichigo Dormitories. It seemed that Shizuma wasn't the only one unable to sleep.

A short-haired female tossed and turned in the spacious bed, making no efforts to conceal her movements as she had no roommates. No tragic love haunted this one, but her conscious simply would not leave her in peace.

She wasn't blind, and it certainly wasn't hard to see what Nanto-san felt for her precious angel. To see another suffer because of her…the kind-hearted Spican prince simply cannot bear it. What was worse was the fact that she had been the outsider, the one who tore Hikari from her devoted friend. She did love the pure and gentle blonde, but how could she bare the thought of haven stolen her?

With an aggravated sigh, Amane pushed her athletic frame up and out of her bed. It was clear that she wasn't going to get much sleep anyway. A hand went up to straighten her white button up shirt, the silk quickly sorting out all the creases, like ripples resettling on the surface of a lake. She wished her mind would settle so easily.

Amane strolled over to her study, pulled out the chair, turned on a flashlight, and sat in silence. Wine red eyes peered at the opened French book on her desk, the subject of her next examination. She already has the material down solid, but studying more never hurts anyone.

Minutes ticked by, and her vision remained glued to the same page, the same line. Another minute rolled past, and her tall frame shot up before she closed the book a little more forcibly than necessary. Nimble fingers ran through her blue mane, a clear indicator of her frustration. The even-tempered rider rarely lost her cool, but this quagmire of a situation, combined with sleep deprivation, was beginning to take its toll.

Fresh air. That's what she needed. But to get the precious breathe of life, it would have to involve her going outside. Amane hesitated. To turn on a flashlight was one thing, but to venture into the hallways was another. Whereas she was sure that she would never be caught doing the former, the later would involve her risking a perfect record. But the night was still young, and she could think of nothing worse than to sit here and toil through her glum.

With her mind made up, she edged quietly to the door, before opening it by just a fraction. Scarlets looked outside cautiously, making sure that no sisters patrolled the hallway, before the rider inched herself out of the ajar door. She took a deep breath and made sure that no one was indeed in sight, before pacing down the hallway vigilantly. Breaking the rules was not something the Prince of Spica was used to, and the novelty and danger of the situation left a strange exhilaration coursing within her. Now she just has to found a balcony somewhere.

She made her way to the edge of the hallway and up the stairs to the sixth floor. Scouting once more to make sure that she was not seen, Amane began her quest searching for a balcony. She passed by several flights of stairs, not entirely sure where they lead to. And then, a faint sound caught her attention. Red eyes searched around, before settling on a partially hidden stairway. She blinked, having never realized the stairs being there before.

Warily, she made her way up the steps, and then another stairway, leading her to somewhere she had never previously seen. Amane turned a corner, and her eyes widened.

"Eoile-sama…"

Ok, so I realize that Amane actually wears regular PJ...but white botton-up shirts, espeically silk ones, are just so much better! For those of you who doesn't have one yet, go get one pronto! Mm, also, suggestions as to where you want the plot to go from here would be nice, as I'm winging this story. Potential other pairings insofar include YayaxHikari, TomaoxNagisa. But I'm open to new ideas.