Opheliac Chapter 1: Trouble in Paradise, a mai hime fanfic

The Mai series does not belong to us! We are merely borrowing these characters, locations, items etc.

Universe: Anime/Manga Inter-merged.

Hollowed-Words
Twisted Eternal Wolvetta
Ascoeur

~O~

Opheliac

'The abnormal obsession to an item or living being.'

It was, as usual, an ordinary day for Garderobe. As expected, the daily classes of the Corals and Pearls continued on as they had for the past 300 years. The tall, almost threatening walls of the academy barring the students inside, putting anyone, even its own students, off.

For Tomoe Marguerite, the day couldn't get any better, or any worse for that matter. She was, simply put, the Number I Pearl, leader of the Trias.

"Marguerite Tomoe," Miss Maria called from across the corridor, capturing Tomoe's attention as she headed towards the Trias Base.

"You're required in the Gakuenchou's office at this precise moment. The Gakuenchou wants to have a word with you." The menacing eyes of Miss Maria sparked.

The Pearl nodded politely, smiling innocently. "Of course, Miss Maria."

Waiting by the doors for a few moments, Tomoe sighed, steadily glancing down each direction of the Gakuenchou's corridor. Maybe Shizuru-Oneesama would be here this evening? There might be a chance she wasn't though, since Kruger normally sent her on missions. She knocked upon the door, swallowing the sensation of unease which was undeviatingly beginning to access the pit of her stomach.

Having been twirling a pen in her fingers as she waited for the knock, Natsuki stabbed her desk with the tip. "Enter." Her commanding voice echoed in the large office as she stared at the grand doors.

Opening the doors quietly, Tomoe paused, her eyes studying the Gakuenchou calmly.

"Come in, Marguerite." Natsuki waved the younger girl in, her hand idly running up and down the pen now lodged in her desk.

Tomoe did so, closing the doors after her she made her way over to the Column's desk, absent-mindedly looking about the room, for any sign of the missing Shizuru. "What is it you wished to speak with me about?" Tomoe asked, taking note of the older woman's persistent fingers trailing across the pen.

Smirking, Kruger stood to tower over the girl. "I'm sure, to your extreme disappointment, the Archmeister is not here." She spoke as she came around her desk to be behind Tomoe, sending a puff of air through the girl's teal hair before rounding back to her desk, slightly moving the chair away so she could stand comfortably.

Tomoe stiffened, barely enough for anyone to notice; however, the elder woman had. "Shizuru Oneesama isn't here?"

Grinning softly, the Gakuenchou returned her hand to trailing up and down the pen stuck in her desk. "No, she is away, on a mission. It seems whenever I return from one, she is sent. Maybe to distance us, maybe just coincidental," Natsuki replied, then looked into Tomoe's eyes sharply.

"I am sorry to hear that, Gakuenchou," Tomoe mumbled, gnawing on the inside of her cheek, the disturbing discomfort rising once again. What was wrong with her?

"Noted." Natsuki gave a small nod to the younger girl, then smiled softly at her. "Do you know why you're here?" the Gakuenchou then asked before loudly ripping her pen from her desk.

"No...?" Tomoe said slowly, eyeing the pen suspiciously. "I do not know why I am here."

"No?" Natsuki reiterated, tilting her head to the side as she came around to the front of her desk, sitting and looking down to Tomoe as she situated herself to make the girl stand between her legs. "Where's the fun in that?" she spoke as she began to twirl her pen again.

"If I was told the reason why I was here, I would understand." Unconsciously, Tomoe took a step back, her eyes slightly narrowing, regarding the woman carefully. Since when did the head Column behave in such a manner?

"Mm." Natsuki nodded slowly, then looked past Tomoe to the doors. "Be a good girl and lock the doors."

The Pearl hesitated, her suspicions rising tenfold. After a few seconds, though, she came to her senses, cautiously making her way over to the doors. A soft click echoed throughout the room, reacting with Tomoe's senses sharply.

"Good girl," Natsuki praised, a bit of a smirk on her lips. "Now, come back to me."

Oddly enough for her, Tomoe's heart gave a leap suddenly. With care, she glanced over her shoulder, studying the woman further.

"Come," Natsuki ordered again, patting her knee as she pierced Tomoe's stormy eyes with hers.

She couldn't understand the reason why precisely, but Tomoe followed the Column's order, one foot following the other. 'What is this... idiot doing?'

"Good girl," Natsuki murmured again as she leaned back on her hands, sitting comfortably on her desk. She lodged her pen back into the wooden structure with a thrust, her palm returning to the desk. "Wondering why you're here, right?"

Tomoe's attention was directed to the pen and then to Natsuki's eyes. Her hands tensed awkwardly, her brain overtaking her body. "...Yes."

"Throughout my prestigious academy, there have been rumors," the Gakuenchou began, continuing to lounge on her desk. "And not the petty kind." Her voice dipped into a bit of a croon as she watched Tomoe's eyes.

"... What rumors would they be?" Tomoe replied, images of the Number III Column sweeping through her mind, the voices of gossip taking hold of her conscious logic. Did the Gakuenchou know of her feelings? That wasn't possible, was it?

"Some are about you, and the Archmeister. A schoolgirl crush, perhaps." Natsuki gave a one shouldered shrug, and yawned, uncaring.

Tomoe's heart missed a beat. Body frozen, she clenched her jaw subtly. "Schoolgirl... crush?" she asked, frowning softly. "Whatever do you mean, Gakuenchou?"

"Archmeister Viola is beautiful. A goddess, some may say," the Gakuenchou began, waving a hand and sitting up straighter. "But it is forbidden for students and faculty members to become involved." Stretching a hand up, Natsuki cupped Tomoe's cheek. "That is...if someone finds out."

Tomoe's senses ran straight for the hand which delicately brushed her cheek, pausing as the fingertips met with her cheekbone lightly, a faint but tingling sensation hitting her. Cold... her hand was as cold as ice.

"Do you understand?" Natsuki asked, lightly trailing her fingertips over the young girl's cheek, piercing her eyes.

"...No..." Unconsciously, the student brought her own hand to clasp hold of Natsuki's arm, tugging slightly.

Turning her emerald gaze onto the hand on her arm, Natsuki spoke. "Do you not like my touch?"

"It isn't... allowed?" Tomoe remarked, her grip around the arm moving to the elder's wrist, clasping hold of it loosely.

"I don't see anyone finding out anytime soon," Natsuki said dismissively, sliding off the desk and towering over Tomoe.

"And yet you say it's against policy? What if somebody does find out?" Tomoe voiced, her volume debilitating.

Having come closer to the girl's face during the sentence, Natsuki smirked as she let a small puff of cold air dance across Tomoe's face.

The student swallowed nervously, her hand now tightening around the wrist firmly. "You... wouldn't dare." Natsuki let a slow grin come across her face, her eyes pinned to Tomoe's.

"Wouldn't dare to..." she spoke softly, coming closer before capturing Tomoe's lips.

Tomoe's eyes widened weakly, struggling against the firm hold around her as the Column merely pressed her against her taller frame.

Breaking away, Natsuki laughed softly at Tomoe's expression. "Struggling little girl, aren't you?"

"W-what do you... expect?" Tomoe countered sharply. The Gakuenchou didn't behave like this! Never!

"I suppose I should have expected a bit of resistance on your end. The Archmeister already in your sights," Natsuki noted, her lips moving against Tomoe's.

Tomoe didn't respond, mind and body caught in limbo as Natsuki tightened her hold on her even more, binding them together. This woman-the head Column, Kruger-she was supposed to be pathetic and oblivious, wasn't she? So why...?

Capturing Tomoe's lips again in a far more ferocious kiss, Natsuki lightly bit down on the girl's bottom lip, pulling away again to lap at it with her tongue. Eventually, Tomoe's eyes fluttered closed; stumbling slightly she caught hold of the desk behind the older woman, heart jumping into her throat.

"So what is your answer to the unspoken question?" Natsuki asked, leaning back into the desk and crossing her arms.

"N-no..." Tomoe breathed, body still slumped before the Column, lifting her head to regard the woman with caution. She didn't...Shizuru Oneesama was the only person...

"Well, that's disappointing," Natsuki responded, turning from Tomoe to sit at her desk again. "You're free to leave then."

"W-what?" That was it? How did she honestly expect her to...? "Gakuenchou."

Eyes drawn back to the younger girl, Natsuki ripped her pen from her desk once more. "Yes, Tomoe?"

"T-Tomoe?" the girl hissed. When had this occurred? Tightening her jaw firmly, Tomoe took a step back. "...We are not on first name terms."

"Another disappointment," Natsuki noted, nodding to Tomoe. "Then, what is it, Marguerite?"

What is it? Tomoe's mind mused idly. Yet again, her attention zoomed in on the twirling pen, watching it, studying it.

Long fingers twirling the pen flawlessly between them, Natsuki looked at the young girl in front of her. "Well, Marguerite, why are you still here?"

"..." Tomoe said nothing. Breaking her eyes away from the woman's display, Tomoe opened her mouth, about to say something. This wasn't allowed, obviously; she should tell someone! But... it wasn't like anyone would believe her, was it? She liked Shizuru but had never...

"If you're just going to stand there and waste my time, might as well shed some clothes," Natsuki remarked, idly relaxing back into her chair.

The student's gaze hovered over to the door, her brain slowly calculating over the barrier which stood in her way, a mere lock blocking her way to freedom. She wanted to escape... and yet she didn't.

She couldn't. Tomoe bit her lip harshly.

Giving a slight smirk, Natsuki continued to twirl her pen through her long dexterous fingers, leaning her chin onto her free palm and resting her elbow on the desk, looking at Tomoe still.

"...What's made you become like this?" Tomoe asked suddenly, facing Natsuki. "You have... never been like this."

"And how would you know what I have and haven't been like?" Natsuki asked, pen twirling away.

"I've seen you, with Shizuru-Oneesama...You have... always been so..."

Releasing a low hum, Natsuki nodded. "And what have you seen us do, Marguerite?"

"In public..." Tomoe said uneasily, her gut knotting with displeasure. "..."

"Did we kiss, like how I kissed you?" the Gakuenchou questioned.

"No."

"Then what happened?" Natsuki asked, leaning back more into her chair.

"... You never do anything." Nothing, anything, not even a mere hug. Tomoe stayed there, frozen in place.

Nodding lightly, Natsuki gently set her pen down onto her desk, letting it roll. It hit the edge and dropped onto the floor, but the Gakuenchou's emerald gaze stayed on Tomoe. "Seems awfully cold, yes?"

Stormy eyes stalked after the pen mindlessly, the pen landing with a faint thud against the carpeted floor.

"Mind picking that up for me, please?" Natsuki asked, a small grin staying on her lips.

Tomoe looked between them suspiciously, eyeing the Column for a few seconds before bringing her attention back down to the lifeless object. What was she up to?

She headed over to it, orbs locked onto Natsuki's at all times. Smiling kindly, Natsuki kept her relaxed disposition as she watched Tomoe lightly brushing against the carpeted texture of the floor, Tomoe reached for the pen, fingers looping around the smooth object. Keeping her eyes on Tomoe's stormy ones, Natsuki lightly drummed her desk. Rising from the floor, pen in hand, the student strode over silently, eyes keeping their position, locked securely with the feral emeralds.

Waiting until Tomoe had gotten close enough, Natsuki slammed her palms onto her desk and stood. "Boo!"

Startled, Tomoe's grasp of the pen was let go, the object rolling across the table, gently resting before Natsuki. Tomoe breathed in deeply, stormy orbs widened.

Shoulders shaking lightly in mirth, Natsuki gave a small laugh before regarding Tomoe.

"Such a jumpy little girl," she teased.

"D-" Tomoe closed her mouth, fists clenching together almost painfully. "Don't do that!"

"Don't do what? Scare your little skirt off?" Natsuki asked, taking her pen into her hand.

Tomoe narrowed her eyes, spinning on her heel she made the motion to the doors. She had to escape.

"I'll see you soon, Tomoe," Natsuki called after the girl, watching her as she came around her desk.

"Soon?" Tomoe stopped, hand around the handle of the door. "There won't be a soon," she hissed.

"What makes you say that?" the husky voice spoke, right in Tomoe's ear.

Freezing once more, Tomoe let out a shaky breath, slowly looking behind her shoulder just enough to gaze upon the taller woman grinning down on her darkly. "I-..."

"You forgot to unlock the door first," Natsuki murmured into Tomoe's ear, her hand looping around the younger girl to flick the lock.

The door opened, the two women silent, the lone corridor meeting them. Tomoe licked her lips, releasing another breath she made a wobbly descent through the door. Leaning against the door frame, Natsuki spoke after the girl. "See you soon."

Without another word, the student left, crushing the desire to turn back, eyes firmly set before her down the long corridor. Seeing Tomoe off, Natsuki darkly chuckled, closing the doors behind her.

The next day, the weather took a turn for the worst. De-materializing the standard element, Tomoe subtly sighed, hand flexing lightly to then curl outwards once more. The events from yesterday... she hadn't managed an hour of sleep last night.

A rumble of thunder struck abruptly, catching the students off guard, many of them yelping out in fright. Rain? It was raining?

"Inside now. Training has concluded." The voice that had no doubt haunted Tomoe all last night rang out-the Gakuenchou's. A storm is brewing."

The rain beginning to gain velocity, Tomoe hesitatingly followed the rest of the class, avoiding Natsuki who was some way off by the sidelines of the group, deviously smiling.

"Come on now." Natsuki ushered her students in, waving. She locked eyes with Tomoe and wore a slight smirk.

Tomoe regarded her quietly, eyes locked upon the elder at all times she passed by, body tense. She wasn't going to fall into this trap again. Besides, there were other students around!

"How was the training, Marguerite?" Natsuki asked as she fell into step with her young student.

"...Why would you care?" she replied nonchalantly, her insides screaming out to her to run, to find any form of refuge.

The Gakuenchou draped an arm around the younger girl's shoulders as they walked. "You are still one of my students, Tomoe."

Tomoe pulled away instantly, firing a glare over. "... A student which wants nothing to do with you, Gakuenchou," she hissed, venom seeping. She wasn't having any of it.

Something flashed through the older woman's eyes, a lightning bolt striking nearby. "Well then." She curtly nodded to Tomoe and tightened her grip on one of the girl's shoulders. "Let's get inside."

Teachers would see them! Kruger wouldn't be able to get away with this!

"Would you stop with the terrified face, you look like a little girl," Natsuki chided as they strode in from the rain.

"Why are you doing this?" Tomoe questioned, halting, forcing Natsuki to do so also. Not caring as the rain poured down on her, dampening her teal strands of uneven locks. "... You are..."

"Doing what, bringing you in from the rain?" Natsuki asked, looking down at Tomoe with a teasing expression. "Excuse me, I did not know that was against my policy, perhaps next time I should just beat you with an umbrella." Beginning to laugh, more thunder rumbled.

"You do that..." Tomoe mumbled. Picking up her pace, she entered the building, attempting to catch up with the rest of the group.

"A word, Marguerite?" Natsuki asked as she strode in, hair dripping onto the smooth floors. She looked the younger girl over, watching the other students round a corner.

"No."

Eyes flashing again, Natsuki caught up with the young student and gripped her arm tightly.

"Pardon, that was an order," she clarified darkly.

Stiffening, Tomoe slightly winced as the Column's nails dug through her uniform and faintly into her arm. Breath held unconsciously, she looked over her shoulder, back to Natsuki.

Releasing her grip on Tomoe's arm, but only slightly, Natsuki turned the young girl to face her. "Have you thought about the proposal I made?"

She said nothing. Eyes narrowing, Tomoe bit down onto her lip sharply, exhaling a breath loosely. Of course she had...but it wasn't like she was going to say this! The Gakuenchou was evil.

"Well?" Natsuki urged, trailing her hand down the younger girl's arm and releasing her grip as she did so, staring down at Tomoe.

"Why should I?" Tomoe asked levelly, gazing up to the older woman coolly. Natsuki blinked, confused. "Why should you tell me? Why should you think about it?"

"You're not... normal," Tomoe uttered, looking away.

Cupping the younger girl's chin, Natsuki brought their gazes back together as she leaned in close. "How would you know if I was normal?"

Gritting her teeth, Tomoe hissed. "Harassing me?"

Natsuki chuckled, then pierced Tomoe's eyes with a look before capturing the girl's lips in a dominating kiss.

Tomoe whimpered, hands gripping against the taller woman's shoulders she pushed, eyes flickering over to each direction of the corridor, praying, hoping. This woman isn't sane!

Breaking the kiss after biting down on Tomoe's lower lip, Natsuki straightened out. "Off with you," she ordered, waving a hand.

Stumbling backwards, Tomoe only just managed to balance herself out, casting a quickened glare over to the Column as she made a speedy route back towards the group, jaw clenching, feeling the sensation of her back burning.

Beginning to chuckle as she watched Tomoe walk down the corridor, Natsuki gave a light shake of her head and went off.

Meanwhile, Tomoe made it to another lone corridor, glancing around quickly she leaned her back against the wall heavily, breathing quickly. This was definitely going to drive her insane eventually... if that...demon didn't stop it now, she dreaded what...

Idly, Tomoe lifted her fingertips to her lips, thoughtlessly touching them. This isn't right...

Twirling her pen once more, Natsuki regarded the sun as it went down, the curfew now instated. Standing, she made her way out of her office and onto the grounds, wanting to punish those who broke the rules if any girl tried to leave or broke their curfew.

Tomoe, who had just left the Trias base, glanced to the clock and breathed a curse, studying the area quickly she noticed she was the only person left in the darkening corridors. Taking this into consideration she locked the door and headed into the direction of the dorms, an uneasy dread filling her gut. The Gakuenchou's office was nearby to the dorms...if she could just bypass it she should be safe for the night!

Hearing the soft click of shoes, Natsuki smirked widely when she recognized the sound and silently swept up behind the person, watching and stalking. Finally, she grabbed Tomoe's arm and pulled the girl into her, pressing Tomoe's back against the wall. "Well, well, little Marguerite. Curfew have no meaning to you?"

Shocked by the treatment and the sudden loss of air, Tomoe gasped, alerting her further to the shadowy figure which was before her, leaning over her. No...

"Baby hit her head?" Natsuki quirked a brow, giving a small chuckle as she pressed herself flush against the younger girl. "Now, now, Tomoe, you should know better than to break the curfew."

"It wasn't... my fault," Tomoe remarked weakly, turning her head to the side, pushing at the Gakuenchou's shoulders. No one would see them here. "No... not here..."

"Is there someone to blame, or an excuse?" Natsuki asked, pressing even closer as she followed Tomoe's gaze to the side. Uncaring, the older woman slid a knee in between the younger girl's legs. "Not here? Somewhere else, then?"

Tomoe pushed, an anxious wave of determination setting loose, she pushed harder against Natsuki, her knees instantly going weak, silently gasping as another wave passed through her, a sensation too powerful.

"Hm, my office?" Natsuki asked as she slid her knee more in between Tomoe's legs.

But didn't Miss Maria usually patrol down there? Chest rising and falling, which merely continued but quickening, Tomoe shook her head, fingers clawing into the Column's shoulders.

"Then where, little Tomoe?" Natsuki asked, her mouth inches away from the younger girl's ear, blowing a small puff of air into it.

"No...where!" Tomoe hissed venomously.

"Don't lie to me, Tomoe," Natsuki whispered threateningly, digging her own nails into the girl's shoulders lightly. "I know you want this."

"If you were..." Tomoe gasped, wincing as the nails scraped along her covered shoulders, making her shudder a little. "If Shizuru-Oneesama knew of this..."

"Again with the Archmeister?" Natsuki asked, then pushed away from Tomoe as if the girl were garbage. "Into your dorm, now."

Shaking, Tomoe staggered, not bothering to look over to the more experienced woman this time. Her body tensed, forcing her on auto-drive. What was that? Her mind hissed, her ears twitching at every small sound which made its way around the corridor, her retreating footsteps ringing loudly.

Walking away, Natsuki was soon out of Tomoe's hearing range and growled to herself as she came back into her office.

"Tomoe Marguerite," she spoke as she stared out of her windows. "I will have you." Emerald eyes flashed ominously.

"Are you looking forward to the trip, Tomoe-san?" a student queried enthusiastically, tearing Tomoe from her train of thought. "We are apparently going to Aswad! Helene-sensei said it is a good place for researching on lost technology!"

"...I am," Tomoe replied, smiling, hiding the truth carefully.

Coming into the classroom, Natsuki glared at the classmates in the room.

"Settle down!" she barked, standing at the front of the room.

Her...their eyes locked, almost immediately. What is she doing here? Tomoe's nails dug into the flesh of her legs, jaw setting as her nerves began to rush.

Natsuki gave a ghost of a smirk at Tomoe before looking to them all. "As Gakuenchou of Garderobe, it is my duty to make sure you know of the dangers this trip holds."

Tomoe's nails dug deeper into her skin, unknowingly, feeling no pain as her senses brought their complete attention to Natsuki, searching for any signs of the Column making herself known to what she was really like. Did Shizuru-Oneesama seriously not know about the Gakuenchou? Tomoe doubted she would be able to knock sense into her.

"You're right." Natsuki gave a nod to one of the students, praising her. "This mission could be dangerous in ways that you might be killed." The haunting silence was broken by Natsuki herself, who laughed.

"But, of course, you won't be, because I will be accompanying you alongside another Column," the Gakuenchou explained.

Inwardly, Tomoe's mind raged. Her? The Gakuenchou was joining them? But who else?

Stormy grey and emerald met once more, for a long while. There was no escaping this, was there?

"The Archmeister will be joining us, as she has just gotten back from her previous mission. She needs to...relax," The raven haired woman smirked.

Shizuru-Oneesama? Curiosity brought itself in; however, this was also scented with caution. No, there was no telling what was about to happen. She wouldn't be rescued, would she? Tomoe pressed her back into the chair forcefully. 'Relax...you say?'

"Meet in the courtyard with your survival packs in fifteen minutes." Natsuki gave the final order and walked out. As the students craned their neck, they could see the Archmeister as the door began to close.

Before it closed completely, Natsuki met Tomoe's gaze as her hand stretched out to squeeze Shizuru's behind.

The students blinked, a surprised squeal coming from the one person they would never expect in their lives - the Archmeister. Lightly, the chestnut haired woman spun around as the door closed, an almost visible blush trailing down the woman's features.

Time, for Tomoe, stood still, the images of what had just occurred taking place in her mind continuously. The Gakuenchou...Shizuru Oneesama.'...What?'

"N-Natsuki?" wass faintly heard, the class straining their ears for more snippets. "Ara!"

Chuckling, Natsuki took her hand away and began to stride off, looking back to Shizuru. "What? I can't love my girl in public?" she asked, stopping with a smile.

Shizuru stood there, regarding Natsuki with continuous surprise. My... what has gotten into Natsuki? she questioned thoughtfully, catching up with the younger woman, she tilted her head slightly. "Rather interesting you are, Natsuki."

"Bring your beautiful self closer, and I'll show you something interesting," Natsuki smirked as she looped her arms around Shizuru's waist.

Studying the fellow Column, Shizuru mildly sensed that something was off; however, she obeyed anyway, curious to see what this new Natsuki was plotting.

Hugging Shizuru close to her, Natsuki smirked at the surprise in her crimson eyes as she dipped her, kissing the woman fiercely.

With her heart flinging itself to her throat, Shizuru uttered a soft yelp into the kiss, quickly wrapping her arms around the Gakuenchou for support, else she would fall, and in the process make somewhat of an embarrassment to herself.

Holding onto Shizuru securely, Natsuki quickly dipped her tongue into the older woman's mouth as she pressed the crimson-eyed Column flush against her.

Closing her eyes, a content groan escaped Shizuru's throat, reaching a hand to the surprisingly dominant woman's hair, clutching the back of her neck.This Natsuki...is indeed something. I like this side of her.

Thoroughly kissing Shizuru, Natsuki pulled back as a bit of saliva trailed between them, and she straightened them both up.

"A-ara..." Shizuru murmured, licking her lips, blinking she surveyed the woman before her. "...In public? I'm amazed Natsuki didn't collapse from embarrassment." She chuckled, amusement reigning.

Licking her lips as well, the raven haired woman smirked. "Public, private, woods." She winked at her lover, then came closer once more, turning Shizuru around. Grasping the woman's hips, she gave a bit of a rough grind into her rear.

"M-my..." Shizuru stuttered, a faint tint of crimson making its way across her cheeks, glancing over her shoulder to Natsuki quizzically. "...Public, private or the woods? Hm, I may have to think on that for a while."

Giving another grind into Shizuru, Natsuki released her and twirled the older woman around, idly dancing in the corridor. "Then I'll just have to make it so you can't think of anything for quite some time."

"I'll allow Natsuki to take the lead then!" Shizuru drawled, playing along, threading their fingers together. Yes, this Natsuki was definitely something.

Twirling Shizuru under her arm, Natsuki drew her back and flush against her once more. Leaning against a wall, Natsuki smirked as she took her hands from the older woman's to place them on the woman's rear, lifting her up with ease.

Shizuru squealed, giggling she wrapped her arms around Natsuki, binding them closer.

"Wrap your legs around me, baby," Natsuki said as her emeralds pierced Shizuru's rubies, smirking.

Crimsons clashed with emeralds silently. Tugging her legs slightly, the Archmeister hooked them around Natsuki's waist idly, chuckling, luring the Gakuenchou's lips closer to hers.

Kissing Shizuru deeply, Natsuki supported their weight as she leaned against the wall and gave a rock into the older woman's pelvis, growling lightly into the passionate kiss.

Shizuru gasped, idly brushing her fingertips across the back of the fellow Column's jacket. With the leverage Shizuru had, Natsuki easily rocked into her again as she held the older woman up, causing their hips to meet roughly as the raven haired woman thrust her tongue into Shizuru's mouth.

"Y-you haven't hit your head, have you, N-Natsuki?" Shizuru pondered, nails sharply digging into Natsuki's jacket this time, clawing as the rocking continued. "...Not that I am...complaining!"

"I've missed you since returning from the mission," Natsuki admitted against Shizuru's lips, repeating her actions roughly.

"But to think...you would"-their lips met once more, the process continuing for a while, lips meshing together roughly-"choose a location such... as this!"

Kissing again, Natsuki made Shizuru slide against her roughly as she thrust her hips. "This is convenient."

Shizuru acknowledged the situation with confusion, brushing herself down. Somewhat fazed, she glanced around, almost instantly students began spewing out, regarding them happily. "...Ara."

"See you girls soon." Natsuki waved happily to them, grinning as if nothing had happened. Wrapping an arm around Shizuru, her eyes met Tomoe's and her grin turned a bit lustful.

Tomoe merely gazed to them both, the strange look capturing Shizuru's attention, but barely for a second as Tomoe kept close to the other students, not listening to any of the fellow Pearls who attempted to speak with her.

Whispering to Shizuru, Natsuki regained her lover's attention and smirked.

Curiosity wiped away from the student, a fluttering feeling entered Shizuru's stomach from the Gakuenchou's words. She nodded quietly, a smile painting itself across her features.

Smirking, Natsuki leaned over and softly kissed Shizuru's cheek.

"And where, may I ask, would this location be, Natsuki?" Shizuru grinned subtly, idly clasping hold of the Column's sleeve. "Surely you cannot be thinking of 'there'?"

"Well..." Natsuki trailed a hand back down to Shizuru's behind, squeezing. "Yes."

"My, my. Then, we should go, before we have Miss Maria to deal with."

"Indeed." Natsuki smirked and clasped Shizuru's hand, bringing it to her lips to kiss softly and began to lead her away.

Shutting the door behind her securely, Tomoe went over to the window, opening it, she inhaled a large breath of fresh air, calming herself. Was this a dream? She seriously hoped so. Trailing her eyes along the environment of the grounds outside, she took note of two figures heading for the woods. Frowning, she narrowed her eyes, watching the pair jog towards the outdoors. 'No...'

Smiling happily at Shizuru, Natsuki paused for a moment to pick a wildflower, handing it to the older woman.

"Ara, such a romantic you are, Natsuki," Shizuru murmured with delight, delicately taking the flower between her fingers. She tugged on the Gakuenchou's jacket, pulling her closely for a kiss.

Kissing the older woman deeply, Natsuki pulled back and winked at Shizuru. Looking past her lover, she caught Tomoe's eyes in the window, smirking wide.

Tomoe stared, swapping her gaze between the two Column's, narrowing her eyes at Natsuki, even though the elder would obviously not be able to tell, she shut the window, sitting down upon her chair heavily.

Returning her gaze back to Shizuru, Natsuki grinned at her lover.

"Come on, we're wasting time," she spoke lowly, catching and holding her crimson gaze.

Agreeing, Shizuru took a hold of Natsuki's hand contently, pressing her side up to hers happily.

Smiling, Natsuki led the older woman over to their old cabin, glad to see that it was holding up quite nicely.

"Honestly, Natsuki, I do wonder why we've always been attracted to this place," Shizuru mused, linking their arms. "It is getting to the stage of falling down!"

"Ah, ah, but it won't fall down, mon cher," Natsuki spoke, speaking French with a wink. "It will always stand strong, as our love."

"Perhaps," Shizuru chuckled, rubbing her fingers into Natsuki's hand lovingly.

Tightening her grip on Shizuru's hand just the slightest, Natsuki brought her other up to grip the older woman's forearm. "Not perhaps. , I fixed it up." She smiled, loosening her grip.

"Then we should look," Shizuru suggested. Nodding, Natsuki dipped to kiss Shizuru's lips softly before kicking the cabin door open, taking the older woman bridal style into her arms.

Shizuru giggled, wrapping her arms around Natsuki's neck possessively. "Na-tsu-ki!"

Closing the door with her foot, Natsuki smirked at her lover. "Shi-zu-ru!" she copied, letting her lover take a look at the refurbished cabin.

"M-my..." The Archmeister trailed off, taking in the whole room with a deep curiosity. The cabin having the old appearance of a study, except it was instead-a bedroom. "What an... alteration." She mused in wonder, bringing her attention back to Natsuki. "Ara... ara."

"Like?" Natsuki asked as she brought her lover further inside.

"Yes." Shizuru whispered, brushing their lips together. "Good." Natsuki spoke and dropped Shizuru on the bed, smirking.

Leaning on her elbows, the elder Column watched Natsuki closely, smiling up leeringly to her, "So, my Natsuki, what have you been doing? To have so much time on your hands must have frustrated you somewhat." She idly motioned a lone finger around the cabin, shuffling up to the pillows. "... My."

"It did frustrate me," Natsuki said as she crawled onto the bed between Shizuru's legs. She pressed a furious kiss to her lover's lips as she towered over her.

"I'll have to help her with that then!" Shizuru responded, tugging the Gakuenchou over towards her.

"Yes," Natsuki agreed, getting to work on disrobing her lover as she moved her mouth to Shizuru's neck, biting.

Shizuru pressed her body up closer to Natsuki's, silently breathing a sigh as the nipping continued, her hands loosely pulling at Natsuki's jacket.

Worshipping the woman below her as she fervently tried not to rip Shizuru's clothes off, Natsuki smirked as she remembered the window's shades were left opened.

Cupping Natsuki's cheeks softly, the chestnut haired woman forced them closer together, lips clashing, her tongue playfully licking Natsuki's bottom lip, drawing it in.

Natsuki gave a small growl, rocking into Shizuru as she regained her lip, thrusting her tongue into Shizuru's mouth for the woman to suck.

Shizuru groaned contently, rounding her arms more tightly around the usually submissive woman, she pressed her own tongue along Natsuki's, shuddering.

Having gotten Shizuru down to her underwear, Natsuki smirked into the kiss as she ripped the woman's panties off.

"Not fair," Shizuru pouted. "Natsuki isn't naked yet!" Saying this, she pressed herself back up to Natsuki, enjoying the sensation of her skin upon Natsuki's clothes.

"Mm, but you love this, don't you, girl?" Natsuki asked as she trailed her hands up to Shizuru's bra-clad breasts, squeezing before ripping the bra off.

"Ah, it would seem." Grasping hold of the Column's hand, she gently nipped on Natsuki's finger, chuckling lowly. "Don't get too excited, Na-tsu-ki."

"No such thing," Natsuki murmured, staring down into Shizuru's eyes as she came closer to drag her teeth down the older woman's throat.

Squeezing Natsuki's hand firmly, Shizuru moaned, turning her head to the side for better access, her knees digging into the Gakuenchou's sides.

Biting onto her lover's throat, Natsuki swiftly entered Shizuru with two fingers, pumping in deep with a smirk.

Shizuru stiffened for a few moments, breath catching inside her throat she shifted under Natsuki, groaning silently she took a strong hold of Natsuki's shoulders, digging in.

Growling softly, Natsuki returned to her lover's lips to softly kiss as she began to slowly thrust in and out of Shizuru.

"Nn-" Unconsciously, the Archmeister brought her legs further up to the Gakuenchou's waist, nails merely digging in further as the sensations came flooding in, blinding her from anything else which was taking place in the world, her soul solely pointed to Natsuki.

Licking along Shizuru's lips, Natsuki sped her thrusts up slightly as she kissed her lover deeply.

Fazed by the sheer energy, Shizuru mindlessly clawed at Natsuki's chest, the nails lightly scrapping along the fellow Column's shirt, breathing taking a leap.

Breaking from her lover's lips, Natsuki placed softer ones all over Shizuru's face as she thrust into the older woman, rocking her hips to go deeper.

"Na-" Shizuru held onto Natsuki's head, keeping her close to her chest, orbs closed to feel the full impact of the sensations roughly surrounding her body mentally and physically.

Kissing down to Shizuru's breasts, Natsuki nibbled as her thrusts got a bit rougher.

"A-ah..." Winding her legs firmly around Natsuki's waist this time, the chestnut clenched her jaw, back pressing down further into the bed whilst her hips jolted without control.

Latching onto one of Shizuru's nipples, the Gakuenchou began to softly suckled as she accompanied her thrusts with rocks of her hips.

Gasping loudly, Shizuru took a fist-full of the younger woman's jacket and hair, teeth grinding together as she panted, swallowing the urge to yell out.

Growling as her hair was pulled, Natsuki sped up her thrusts and rocks, biting her lover's nipple.

"R-roug-gh..." Laughing unsteadily, Shizuru finally found her way under the Gakuenchou's jacket, sharply scratching her nails into her back, throwing her head back.

Another growl leaving her throat, Natsuki complied and roughly rocked into Shizuru, her fingers going deep as she bit again.

Almost uncaring, Shizuru racked her nails back up Natsuki's back, sewing stinging, sore red threads down the fellow Column's slender back.

Hissing, Natsuki licked the bite down along Shizuru's neck then bit onto her shoulder to break the skin, lapping at the blood.

Shizuru groaned in response, the pain quickly reforming into lustful energy, pleasure coursing through her veins, she followed along with Natsuki, rocking in a steady pace.

Inserting another finger inside of her lover, Natsuki rose her head to stare into Shizuru's crimson eyes as she roughly rocked her hips.

The Archmeister's ecstasy merely heightened, hugging the Gakuenchou down onto her body securely. Shizuru shamelessly threw her head back, fingers gripping onto anything they could find, be it undamaged skin or reddening, angry flesh.

Gritting her teeth, Natsuki gave soft growls to the pain as she nibbled along Shizuru's exposed throat, sharp teeth digging in as she thrust into her lover faster.

Freezing, Shizuru barely tore out another throaty moan before she felt her insides scream in protest, in a savage need she cupped Natsuki's cheeks, claiming her lips hungrily.

Kissing Shizuru back with an animalistic ferocity, Natsuki pumped deeper into her lover.

"I-I'm-..." Shizuru's body continued to vault up, the elder whimpered faintly, her mind vaguely taking note of her little slip up, not in that particular moment, simply not caring.

"Come for me, Shizuru," Natsuki whispered against her lips, thrusting in one last time with a deep, rough rock.

Shizuru cried out, her body unconsciously riding through the lengthy shocks which ran through her thoroughly, senses blinded with clear, clenching pleasure.

Letting the older woman ride out her orgasm, Natsuki moved her lips to Shizuru's pulse point and pressed hard to feel her heart pounding.

Collapsing against the bed in a daze, Shizuru gave one last shudder. Allowing her eyes to flutter shut, she panted heavily, attempting to regain control while silently regarding Natsuki atop her, feeling those moist lips pressing down onto her raging blood flow.

Kissing softly, Natsuki lay fully atop of the older woman, her still clothed body pushing against Shizuru's bare skin.

"N-Nat-suki..." Shizuru panted, cooing.

"Shizuru," Natsuki smirked against the older woman's neck before sitting back up. Slowly, she pulled her fingers from inside of her lover and cleaned them thoroughly, noticing a wetness on her pants. "Naughty girl."

"A-ara...yes," Shizuru breathed.

"Yes, you are a naughty girl," Natsuki smirked as she slid down Shizuru's body further, placing an intimate kiss to her lower lips before spinning off the bed, going over to the wardrobe to get a spare set of clothes for the both of them.

Leaning up slowly, the Archmeister casually watched Natsuki dance off from the bed, wincing ever so slightly she lightly covered her wounded shoulder, softly soothing it.

Placing the fresh clothes down on the desk near the bed, Natsuki sat by Shizuru, leaning in to kiss the bite she had left on her shoulder. "My apologies."

"Natsuki was rather rough," Shizuru murmured with amusement. Shuffling to the side to face the Gakuenchou better, she leaned in. Bringing her arms around Natsuki, she muttered into her neck softly. "I missed you..."

A hand going to Shizuru's naked and sweat-shining back, Natsuki cooed into the older woman's ear, "I missed you, too."

Shizuru stayed like that for a while, listening calmly to Natsuki's heartbeat silently, sighing, feeling rather tired all of a sudden.

Natsuki gently turned, and lay Shizuru back upon the pillows and silk bedspread. "Sleep, my love. I'll take the first watch." She pressed a soft kiss to the older woman's lips, standing and changing her outfit.

"Oh... you're leaving already?" Shizuru trailed off exhaustedly. Changed, Natsuki came back to the older woman's side. "I must, the students might stray and injure themselves." She spoke, giving Shizuru another kiss.

The Archmeister didn't respond, having already been tired in the first place during their rather...interesting activities. Mumbling something under her breath, Shizuru turned onto her side, slumber hitting her.

"Good girl," Natsuki said softly, then stood. Drawing the curtains on the windows, she softly left the cabin and looked down the trail, watching as some students played by their cabins. A swift smirk came across her face and she started towards the students.

Having been sat in her chair for all that time, Tomoe heaved a sigh, brushing her fingers thoughtlessly through her uneven hair. There was something... off with the Gakuenchou, and yet Shizuru- Oneesama didn't seem to notice!

"Which cabin has Marguerite Tomoe?" the Gakuenchou asked, looking to the few students outside. They all pointed to the one nearest the woods, and Natsuki nodded to them, walking off with a smirk.

Tomoe, who now stood from the chair, idly brushed her fingers against the edge of the chair, absent-mindedly thinking on various things to keep her mind away from the Gakuenchou.

"To your cabins, please." Natsuki smiled charmingly at the students, the girls obeying as she said as she stopped in front of Tomoe's cabin door. Knocking swiftly three times, she waited.

Hearing the soft knocks upon the door, dread almost instantly threaded up within Tomoe, glancing over her shoulder to the door, her eyes widened.

"Marguerite," Natsuki called, knocking again, her voice professional.

Tripping upon her own feet almost, the Pearl halted as she reached the door, heartbeat thundering along with her shaking hands.

Quirking an eyebrow, Natsuki contemplated opening the door before Tomoe could, but decided against it as she leaned against the door-frame.

She dared to try and come for her here? Clenching her hands together tightly, Tomoe wondered whether or not the Column would actually attempt to break in or not.

"I won't come in unless you let me in." Natsuki smirked as she spoke through the door. "I know you want to see me."

Tomoe grabbed hold of the handle, frozen as she listened to Natsuki's voice clearly sounding through the door to her. "I know you want to feel your body pressed against mine." Natsuki spoke softly through the door to Tomoe, grinning a bit wider. "Just open the door."

"Why do you keep pointlessly trying?" Tomoe remarked, stepping away from the door, eyes narrowing.

"Pointlessly?" Natsuki asked, bracing a palm on the door and drumming her fingers. "I do believe I have a point to all of this."

"Then...why me?" she asked silently, heading back over to the door.

Drumming softly, Natsuki looked around to make sure she was alone. "I think you're beautiful." She said as she turned her gaze back to the door, eyes piercing the wood.

"You have...Shizuru-Oneesama." The student replied awkwardly, eyes locked on the door, taking another step back.

"Shizuru is gorgeous, but she'll never have what you have," Natsuki revealed as she leaned more into the frame of the door.

"And what... is that?"

Natsuki grinned, turning from the door to lean her back against it. "You actually feel something for me, I can tell."

"But you have always"- The student drifted uneasily, unconsciously battling with her body, fighting with the desire to either run or leap-"loved Shizuru Oneesama...?"

"That does not mean she's loved me," Natsuki mumbled as she leaned heavily on the door.

"Then why would you...?"

"We're both grown women, with needs." Natsuki smirked as she leaned more against the door.

"Needs," Tomoe echoed.

"For example, I need someone who loves me, we both do," Natsuki explained.

"..." The Pearl said nothing, looking away from the door, she furrowed a brow, her attention being driven towards the older woman further. This wasn't right! She wasn't supposed...to feel for this...what?

At the silence, Natsuki nodded to herself. "Should I start walking away, back to Shizuru?" she asked, leaning her head back into the door.

"...N-" Furrowing her brows, Natsuki stopped leaning on the door and turned towards it. "What was that?" she pressed, voice a bit soft.

"No," Tomoe repeated, stepping closer to the door, her hand upon the handle once more, clenching it painfully.

"Will you open the door?" the Gakuenchou leaned against the door as she struggled to hear.

The lock on the door clicked open silently, bringing deja vu to Tomoe's ears, making her wince. Cautiously, she took a few steps back, avoiding the awaiting woman.

Coming into the cabin slowly, Natsuki kept her gaze on Tomoe as she shut the door behind her, leaning against it.

The Pearl continued to back away slowly, her nervous eyes trailing up and down the Gakuenchou's body quickly before reaching back to her face, a dread pulling at her gut.

"Why are you backing away with such a frightened face?" Natsuki questioned, taking only a small step towards the younger girl.

"B-because..." Her back softly hit the wall of the cabin, looking up to the Column.

Another step forward and Natsuki stopped. "Because...what?"

The younger woman glanced away awkwardly. "What is it?" Natsuki asked, keeping her distance from the young girl.

"I don't know..."-Tomoe looked back up to her-"what to think. Is this...a trick, or is it...?"

"Dear little Tomoe, why would I need to trick you?" the older woman queried as she walked closer, coming to a stop again as she sat on the small couch.

"You were mocking me yesterday and the day before that about Shizuru Oneesama. How else am I not to think you...are?"

"Mm, well, I was a little mean," Natsuki admitted as she relaxed into the couch, kicking her feet up onto the table. "But, you did let me in."

"Hm," the Pearl replied distantly, staring towards the wall firmly, fingers clenching around the arm of the chair before her. "Sit, enjoy my company." Natsuki gestured to either the chair in front of her to the couch beside her.

Tomoe eyed the seat beside the Gakuenchou slowly, studying it, and confirming the amount of danger the elder housed. Was she...alright?

"Are you going to sit, or should I stand?" The older woman asked, bracing her feet onto the floor again.

Moving forward cautiously, Tomoe bypassed the chair, halting before the older woman, looking down to her, breath held.

Smiling up to Tomoe with a soft emerald gaze, Natsuki stretched a hand up to the younger girl.

Tomoe stared to the hand offered to her, reaching out, painstakingly slow. Waiting patiently until Tomoe's soft hand was in her larger one, Natsuki smiled wider as she lightly tugged.

With the light tug, Tomoe was pulled forward, whether or not she had been fighting against the woman's touch she couldn't be too sure, the hand of the Column wrapping around hers completely, ensuring no escape.

Grinning devilishly once Tomoe was splayed in her lap, Natsuki enveloped the girl in her arms. "Hello." She whispered softly to her.

"A-ah..."

Natsuki smiled as she adjusted her legs. "Comfy?" She asked.

With her face up close to Natsuki's neck, Tomoe inhaled a breath quickly, struggling to calm herself down somewhat.

"You don't have to be so nervous." Natsuki spoke as she leaned back onto the couch, loosening her hold on Tomoe so the girl could adjust her position.

Resting the side of her body lightly into the Column's, Tomoe glanced down to her hands, unsure of herself. This woman was so confusing!

Looping her arms around Tomoe more after the girl made herself more comfortable, Natsuki spoke softly. "I won't do anything you don't ask for."

Tomoe bit her lip, glancing up to the elder in wonder. Natsuki gave Tomoe a soft smile, just relaxing into the couch.

Maybe this was alright? The student concluded inwardly, bringing her gaze back in front of her she rested further into Natsuki, however she didn't relax fully.

Splaying her fingers over Tomoe's stomach as she held the younger girl, Natsuki lay back into the soft cushion of the couch.

Exhaling a breath, the teal Trias student shuddered as the fingers brushed across her stomach. Capturing the Gakuenchou's sleeve, she tugged loosely.

"What is it?" Natsuki asked, responding to the tug.

"It's... nothing." Releasing her grip, Tomoe shifted a little to the side, still at odds.

"If you say so." Natsuki held Tomoe gently as she relaxed further.

"Hm," the Pearl hummed. Humming back, Natsuki changed their positions as she slowly lay on her side, cuddling Tomoe from behind.

Immediately, Tomoe panicked, grasping hold of Natsuki's arm firmly. "Shh, calm down. We're just laying down," Natsuki reassured.

Tomoe relaxed, loosening her hold on the sleeve, taking in the Column's position behind her.

"You like this?" Natsuki asked as she held Tomoe around her waist, nuzzling the teal hair with her nose.

"I-I...think." Natsuki breathed in the younger girl's scent, nuzzling her hair again. "You smell good."

Shivering, Tomoe peered over her shoulder, watching the Gakuenchou who had closed her eyes and was inhaling deeply. "..."

"I like this," Natsuki commented, nuzzling Tomoe's neck.

Of course she would, Tomoe thought idly, resting her head back down onto the cushion.

"Haven't figured out if you like it or not yet?" Natsuki asked as she lay her chin onto Tomoe's neck.

"...How am I supposed to? This is all too...sudden," Tomoe explained. Natsuki nodded into Tomoe's hair. "My apologies for being so forward."

The Pearl nodded slowly. "Do you want me to stop cuddling you, get off the couch, or leave?" the older woman asked.

"Just...don't do anything...strange." Natsuki gave a soft chuckled as she held Tomoe to her chest gently. "I told you, I won't do anything you don't ask me to."

"Right..." the student murmured, shifting as she got more comfortable, gazing over to nothing in particular.

"Want to take a nap?" the Gakuenchou asked as she cuddled Tomoe closer.

"H-hm..."

"Was that a yes, or a no?" Natsuki asked, her eyes closed and her voice a bit sleepy.

"Yes." Cuddling further into the girl's back, Natsuki breathed deeply before pressing a soft kiss to the girl's hair.

Mumbling in response, Tomoe sighed, only stiffening when her back was pressed against the Column's front, but only for a few moments.

Relaxing, Natsuki began to breathe deep as she drifted off into sleep.

Tomoe, who was caught up in Natsuki's arms securely, sighed, the quiet and calming breaths merely luring her off to sleep as well.

Hours later, Natsuki had wrapped Tomoe up in her arms tighter, mouth open slightly as she slept.

Tomoe unconsciously fidgeted, the glare of the sunlight leering over her. Murmuring in her sleep, Natsuki pulled Tomoe closer to her as she moved the girl to face her, burying the younger girl's face into her neck.

The sunlight now not gleaming upon her features furiously, protected by the body in front of her, Tomoe murmured softly under her breath, nose pressed delicately near to the Column's neck.

Cuddling Tomoe close as she slept, the older woman nuzzled the girl's hair.

The various noises of the outside world began to make themselves known, the birds which belonged to the edge of the forest singing loudly, claiming any person's attention. Natsuki protested with a murmur as she pulled the younger girl closer to her. Sleepily, Tomoe obliged, the scent of the older woman soothing her further, along with the body heat which had been helping her to keep warm during the cool night. Inhaling deeply, Natsuki wrapped her arms tightly around Tomoe and tangled their legs.

"-anyone seen the Gakuenchou?"Vaguely heard by the pair still contently wrapped around each other.

"Last I saw her, she was heading for that cabin," Natsuki heard this and groaned reluctantly, not wanting to move.

"That one over there?"

A confirmation sounded, and Natsuki moved her legs against Tomoe's, tangling them more.

"I wanna sleep," she murmured.

Tomoe, who was far too absorbed into the mysterious Column, uttered thoughtlessly as their legs banded together, back facing the door. Hearing the door of the cabin open softly, Natsuki shifted to become underneath Tomoe.

Blankly, the Archmeister stared over to the pair, saying nothing, unmoving as her devil-crimson orbs narrowed, almost dangerously.

"Shizuru..." Natsuki breathed as she held Tomoe on top of her, opening an eye slightly to look at the Archmeister before closing it again.

What was...a student. No, Marguerite, of all girls, doing on top of Natsuki, of all people? Taking a few steps forward, Shizuru halted once more. Wasn't Tomoe supposed to like her?

Shifting again, Natsuki gave Tomoe's side a soft pinch, the action hidden by the their bodies moving slightly.

Tomoe mumbled vaguely, her body seeking Natsuki's again as her hands loosely grasped hold of the Column's jacket lightly, bringing it closer to herself.

Letting the Archmeister's name slip from her lips once more, Natsuki linked her hands into the small of Tomoe's back.

Jealously slowly erupting inside Shizuru's chest, her eyes continued to survey the two women frantically.

Natsuki shifted once more, sitting up and resting against the arm of the chair. Opening her eyes, she blinked slowly, then looked to the Archmeister. "Shizuru?" She acted surprised that her chestnut haired lover wasn't in arms, looked even more surprised when she looked down at Tomoe.

"N-Natsuki...why is..."-Shizuru took a calming breath steadily, voice soft, pleading-"...Marguerite-san with you, lying on you for that matter?"

Bringing a hand up to rub her head, Natsuki lied. "I have no idea...I came in here to sign a few documents, and I must have fallen asleep."

Shizuru opened her mouth, gazing down to the teal-haired student again. Taking her hands from Tomoe, Natsuki gently lay the girl onto the couch as she stood, coming over to Shizuru and brushing her clothes off. "Marguerite-san must have come in and snuggled up to me." Natsuki gave the Archmeister a strange look.

Trading an odd look back to Natsuki, the elder Column hummed, her attention heading over to Tomoe she watched the sleeping girl awkwardly. "..."

Coming back to the couch, Natsuki knelt down and lightly shook the young student. "Marguerite," she spoke, a smirk on her face as her back faced Shizuru.

Tomoe in response grumbled, but didn't awaken. Giving the appearance of coughing slightly, Natsuki bent down and placed a light kiss to Tomoe's lips, pulling back and clearing her throat. "Wake up, Marguerite."

Dazed, with a slight annoyance etching its way into her stomach, she however froze when she noticed the smirking Column above her, quickly she searched the room, Shizuru coming into her sights shortly after. 'Shizuru...Oneesama?'

"Good afternoon, Marguerite-san." Natsuki smirked wider before sobering her expression, standing and backing up to Shizuru's side.

"A-ah." Tomoe swallowed. Sitting up, she opened her mouth, as if to say something. However, she closed it almost instantly as she noticed something in the Gakuenchou's eye.

"Do you have a crush on me, Marguerite-san?" Natsuki asked, a small smirk still upon her lips as her eyes danced across Tomoe's.

"N-no."

Natsuki gave a small chuckle. "So, you just cuddled and slept with me to stay warm?"

"Y-" Tomoe changed her mind, tearing her gaze away, glaring over to the window. After a few moments, she then said silently. "No. I don't remember anything."

"Alright." Natsuki spoke softly, coming close again. Setting a hand on Tomoe's shoulder, she smiled softly. "No harm done, yes?" She peered over her shoulder at Shizuru.

Tearing her eyes away, the student ignored the hand upon her shoulder, feeling a little betrayed. The Gakuenchou is acting as if...!

"Shizuru, could you excuse us?" Natsuki stood and turned towards the older woman. "I want to have a little chat with Marguerite-san."

The Archmeister was suspicious, but she left, nodded over to the fellow Column carefully.

Nodding back, Natsuki turned to Tomoe and took the seat in front of the couch, looking at the young girl. "I apologize. She gets jealous, even if she doesn't love her playthings."

Tomoe blinked, regarding the woman with caution. "She might have done something irrational," Natsuki explained further, looking into the girl's stormy eyes.

This was just perfect, wasn't it? First, this woman tried to jump her, made her a confession after barely getting to know her and then this! Caught by Shizuru-Oneesama! "I don't know...what to say."

Standing, Natsuki moved away from Tomoe. "I'm sorry, I knew this was too fast. I shouldn't have burdened you with my feelings, I should go," the older woman said in low volumes.

Tomoe didn't say anything, merely allowing the woman to leave, watching her back curiously. Giving the younger girl a nod, Natsuki left and walked off.

With time, everything went back to normal for Garderobe and its oblivious students. The Corals and Pearls wandering down the aging halls, sometimes greeting each other, either dramatically or with angered frustration. Tomoe, meanwhile, had just finished up in the Trias room, waving off the other Trias students who made their own separate ways along the corridors.

The great academy shook, sending Natsuki onto her hands and knees as she stumbled in the corridor. Narrowing her eyes, she regained her balance and made her way to the window, watching as the red-headed leader of the Aswad stormed up the stairs of Garderobe. Sending a communication to send Garderobe into alert, Natsuki rushed outside.

Having collapsed from the powerful disturbance, Tomoe stayed still for a few seconds as the deafening noise continued for a few moments to then abruptly stop. Realizing something was amiss, she quickly picked herself up from the floor, brushing herself off hurriedly and making a speedy pace to the official location for 'emergencies.'

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Natsuki roared as she exited the academy's door, rushing down the stairs towards Midori.

"We're here to take your technology," Midori blatantly revealed, rushing and giving Natsuki no time to call on her robe, slashing at the woman with her twin swords.

"Shit!" The Gakuenchou held her arms up, forearms sliced by the swords.

Jumping up the stairs, she glared at the distance between herself and Midori. "Materialize!" Activating, her robe quickly healed her wounds, but not before her blood spilled upon Garderobe's steps.

Midori spun her swords, then crossed them against each other in a cross, the Gakuenchou's blood clashing off of them.

Gasping, Tomoe studied the body before her which was unmoving, a runt which she had somehow succeeded in defeating. 'Aswad?' What are they doing here?

Spinning to avoid the deadly accuracy of the Aswad leader, Natsuki cursed as she kept them out of the academy. "Where the hell is everyone?" She grit her teeth as she grumbled to herself, getting a clip on her arm as she flipped away.

Midori kept coming, spinning and slashing with her twin swords. Avoiding the hurricane of death, Natsuki felt a great pain in her ear, before shock as her robe was dismissed. "What!" She growled, placing a hand to her ear to find that it had been clipped, and her Gem had been knocked from it.

Ear bleeding, Natsuki looked up in time for Midori to slash down at her with both swords, and caught them just barely between her hands, being pushed back as her hands bled.

Hopping over the prone Aswad with ease, Tomoe searched the area, puzzled due to the fact there was no one else there. All except her and the groaning body on the floor. Where was everyone? Surely they should be here? This was a real invasion for Shinso's sake!

Midori finally pushed the great Gakuenchou back, slicing her hands even more. "Damn!" Natsuki barked as she fell backwards, hitting the grand doors of the academy and forcing them open, falling onto her back on the floors.

The Aswad members slowly walked into the academy, Midori leading them as she prowled to Natsuki. Placing her palms on the reflective marble floor, and wincing as her open wounds stung, Natsuki sat up to be met with Midori's blades.

Swallowing, the Gakuenchou glared. "You kill me, and all of Garderobe goes to war!"

"If they are as easy a kill as you, let them." Midori smirked, raising her blades above Natsuki's stretched neck.

Charging forth, with a grace unmatched, the Archmeister abruptly made her appearance. Seemingly out of the blue, her double naginata-swords slicing through the nearest Aswad to her, who had the misfortune of failing to protect themselves in time.

"Natsuki!" she called. She spun on her heel, her blade extending, chains whipping across the corridor. There was a dark look in her eyes.

"Shizuru!" Natsuki called back, relief in her eyes. Glare darkening, Midori smirked to the Archmeister. "I'll deal with you after I kill the runt of the litter." The red-headed leader then drew her swords back from Natsuki's neck, swinging down hard.

The Bewitching Smile froze, blood dripping from her own blades she watched as the Aswad's katanas made their deadly decent towards her long-term lover, almost as if she was stopped in time, taking no mind to the enemy warriors who were quickly surrounding her.

Natsuki winced as the swords came closer, closing her eyes tight. Midori began to laugh wickedly, her swords glinting in the light coming in from the opened doors.

However, the swords never came. Emeralds cautiously opened, revealing a Robed Pearl quivering slightly before her. Tomoe's Element was straining under the sheer force of Midori's own weapons.

"Tomoe?" Natsuki was a bit shocked to say the least, but made good on Midori's surprise by quickly standing and punching the woman in the face, her own blood marking the Aswad leader. Stumbling back from the hit, Midori grit her teeth as she was now faced with the Archmeister and an apparently powerful student.

Tomoe stumbled, having used most of her energy to block the mere attack. Keeping her guard up securely, she nervously eyed Shizuru who had a subtle edge to her, whether this was due to the heat of battle, or the fact of almost seeing the Gakuenchou die, she couldn't be too sure.

Natsuki's blood dripping from her swords and her face, Midori backed up with her fellow Aswads. Smirking, Midori threw an orb into the air, summoning... "Gakutenou!"

Crashing the floor open, Midori jumped on him and charged, caving the floor some more.

Backing up as the floor cracked, Natsuki looked up in time for a large piece of the ceiling to buckle down, striking her in the temple and sending her crumpling into the caved floor.

With the deafening roar sounding from the crimson Slave, the floor also collapsed beneath Tomoe's feet. There was a rush of fear and determination for survival entering the pit of her stomach as she fell, with the darkness of the mysterious lower floors awaiting her.

Natsuki had rolled when she hit the floor, and stayed knocked out for quite some time, liying on her stomach.

Tomoe followed shortly after, her Pearl Robe disconnecting. Oddly enough, there wasn't any signal down here. Fazed, the teal-student lay on her back, the ceiling now covered by a thick layer of debris. Of course...during summoning, the ground beneath a Slave heals itself afterwards...

Groaning, Natsuki attempted to stand by bracing her palms on the floor, but winced when they gave out beneath her.

Hearing the struggling nearby, Tomoe gazed over, just barely making out the distinct form of the Gakuenchou collapsing back down onto the floor heavily, whimpering in pain.

Coughing from a bit of dust that rose when she collapsed, Natsuki gathered her strength to roll onto her back. Her hands still bleeding, she wrapped them up in her coat as her vision blurred.

Pulling herself up awkwardly, the younger woman took note that she wasn't injured, perhaps a few aches and scraps but above all else, she was perfectly fine compared to Natsuki. Cautiously, she neared the Gakuenchou.

"G-Gakuenchou?"

Running her fingertips lightly, Tomoe felt for Natsuki's pulse, sighing a breath of relief when having perceived a small throbbing. This woman bewildered her, but it wasn't as if she was about to allow her to die! The only other person who was properly trained to be the Gakuenchou was Miss Maria, after all...

Natsuki's throat pressed against Tomoe's fingers as the older woman coughed again, her temple bruised and cut open. "To...Tomoe?" Her eyes shut in pain.

"Hmm," Tomoe responded, frowning. She only knew a little first aid...and most of it was going to be useless in their current situation.

"Where are we?" Natsuki asked as she finally opened her eyes, blurred vision soon focusing on the young teal-haired girl.

"...I don't know," Tomoe murmured, glancing up to the ceiling. "...Some sort of abandoned tunnel, I think."

Sitting up, wincing as her ripped palm pressed against the ground, Natsuki took her coat off and tore it into strips, wrapping her palms and forehead with it.

Watching the Column carefully, a thought came to Tomoe's mind slowly as the information of their situation processed. Was this the rumored tunnel which lead to the Shinso's main chamber, where her body rested?

"This was not a good time for my Gem to be clipped," Natsuki commented, holding her head gently so as not to hurt it or her hands.

"...I think my GEM has cut out also," Tomoe remarked. Standing slowly, she glanced around again, searching for any hints of it really being the rumored tunnels. It was a little too dark.

Standing, Natsuki put her coat back on, having tore the sleeves off to make her bandages. "We should get back topside."

Tomoe gnawed her cheek, unsure whether or not to go near the injured Column. "Damn." Natsuki stumbled to the wall and leaned heavily against it, attempting to regain her balance as her head pounded.

Tomoe bit her lip sharply. Shaking her head slowly, Natsuki pushed from the wall and looked around. The deep tunnels wove and made her eyes unfocused. Closing them, she reopened her emeralds and spoke, "This way."

The teal-haired student trailed after her, leaving a bit of space between them, different scenes running through her mind. "Look, I don't know what you're thinking, but it's not like I'm going to rape you." Natsuki trudged forward, stumbling every few steps and walking along the wall.

"Of course...you wouldn't," the student said, holding her breath as she caught up, catching a hold of the taller woman to steady her.

Leaning against the wall, Natsuki gave the younger girl a short nod as she rested. "Shizuru should be handling the Aswad invasion quite well without me there, we just have to get topside and get help," she stated.

Tomoe nodded, clearing her throat uneasily. Pushing from the wall gently, Natsuki led Tomoe further down the tunnels.

Perhaps...the Gakuenchou was alright? The Pearl pondered, musing to herself thoughtfully, stopping every so often when Natsuki would lean against her further. She didn't seem...too bad.

Stopping once more, Natsuki leaned against the wall heavily. "Perhaps I should just sit here." She murmured, eyes closing.

Tomoe nodded, also leaning down with her. Slowly, Natsuki fell down the wall and landed with a small cloud of dust onto the tunnel's floor, giving a soft groan.

"Do you...want me to take a look at your head?" Tomoe asked.

"Would you, please?" Natsuki asked as she sat up, back against the wall and eyes closed.

Kneeling down to Natsuki's level, Tomoe gently hovered her fingers across Natsuki's temple, brushing the hair away. Hooking the strands around the Column's ear, Tomoe paused, studying the wound.

Resting against the wall, Natsuki hummed. "How does it look?" she asked softly.

"Bruised..." Tomoe silently confirmed. "Mm." Natsuki's head lolled a little.

"Gakuenchou?"

"Hm?" Natsuki asked, opening her eyes slightly.

"You're not...falling asleep, are you?"

"Don't let me fall asleep."

"But...how?"

"I don't know, talk or something," the headmaster suggested.

"You..." Tomoe began. "Why did you enroll to Garderobe?"

Shaking her head a bit as she sat up further against the wall, Natsuki replied, "My parents forced me, and soon after I enrolled, they were killed."

"O-oh... Sorry."

"Don't be, I got my revenge."

Tomoe sighed, sitting down beside the older woman.

"Then where did you come from?" she questioned. Tomoe had heard Natsuki was from the Garderobe State, but no one knew exactly where.

"I'm from Artai."

"Artai?" Tomoe replied, surprised. She wasn't expecting that!

"Quite a shocker, huh?" Natsuki grinned and chuckled faintly.

"But... your name isn't Artain at all," the student pointed out.

"I changed it after my parents were killed." Natsuki coughed a bit and saw the blood in the make-shift bandages.

Tomoe eyed the blood, hesitating for a split moment before she brought her attention back up to the Gakuenchou's emerald gaze.

"Any more questions?"

"I'm not...sure," the Pearl replied truthfully.

"Mm." Natsuki leaned closer to the younger girl.

Tomoe paused, but didn't pull away. "Tell me about you," Natsuki murmured tenderly.

"I'm...from Aries," Tomoe trailed quietly. Murmuring something under her breath she furrowed a brow, thinking. "... My mother died before I knew her properly, and my father is a part of the government, so I don't know him either all that much."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Natsuki spoke softly, bringing a hand up to touch Tomoe's arm.

"Hm, no, it's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Natsuki gently ran a finger down her arm.

"Yes."

"Alright." Natsuki returnedg her hand to her lap.

"Do you know where we are?"

"Under the school." Natsuki gave a light chuckle.

"I gathered," Tomoe muttered nonchalantly. "But, no, I don't know where we are."

Tomoe settled back, humming. Lolling her head, Natsuki swallowed as she gave a small shiver.

"Gakuenchou."

Natsuki gave a short cough. "What?"

"You don't...love Shizuru-Oneesama?"

"She doesn't love me," Natsuki replied impassively, wrapping her arms around herself.

"To be honest, I don't know why I blocked that Aswad..." Tomoe uttered quietly, watching the Column closely. "It's just so..."

"Just so what?" Natsuki asked as she rubbed her bare arms.

"Gakuenchou, your hands." She motioned to Natsuki's hands, the staining on the bandages making the material moist, horribly crimson. "Oh, damn." Natsuki murmured, her arms now drenched in wet streaks of blood. Untying the makeshift bandages from her hands, she examined the torn skin.

She didn't know what to do with the Gakuenchou. Was she...emotionally unstable?

Taking her coat off again, Natsuki bit into the bottom hem and tore, managing to make new bandages and wrapping them around her hands. Her coat now sleeveless and shorter, she slipped it on and paid no mind to the blood on her arms.

Tomoe stood, much to Natsuki's confusion, who glanced up to her. With this, the student made a stand still before her, fists tensing together, clenching.

"What's wrong?" Natsuki asked as she looked up to Tomoe, still puzzled.

Breathing in slowly, the teal Pearl lowered, taking no mind to the blood strains as she, hesitating at first, wound her arms around Natsuki, her heartbeat anything but its usual pace.

Blinking in surprise, Natsuki balled her hands into fists and lay them onto Tomoe's back, not wanting to get blood on the girl.

"You confuse the life out of me," Tomoe mused into her ear. "But, please, stop this, you idiot, I'm not wanting to be responsible for the Gakuenchou dying."

Chuckling softly, Natsuki spoke, "Stop what?"

"Killing yourself." Confused, Natsuki drew back to look into Tomoe's eyes. "I'm not killing myself."

"If you continue like this"-She gestured to the Column's hands-"then you will."

Taking her hands from Tomoe's back, Natsuki brought one up to rub her temple slowly as her other returned to her lap. "We have to get back to the academy."

Tomoe had already been over these thoughts a hundred times during the past hour. Who was this Gakuenchou? Was she really from Artai? Natsuki was having another rest, the long corridors now having a strange light coming from somewhere, but neither of them sure from where.

Natsuki looked around, wondering where the light was coming from. "Why is this corridor so long?"

"...I don't know," Tomoe replied in wonder.

"This is strange." Natsuki wrapped her arms around her tighter and resumed her amble.

Tomoe nodded in response, helping the older woman out further. Stopping, Natsuki swayed before she hit her knees, holding her head.

"My temples are pulsing," she hissed in discomfort.

The Pearl led a lone hand to the Gakuenchou's back, attempting to soothe as best she could, "Gakuenchou?"

"Just keep going and try to find someone," Natsuki ordered, laying onto her side as the bandages around her head started to be bled through.

Tomoe nodded firmly. Coughing a bit, Natsuki lay there in pain.

As the student ran off, deeper into the corridor, the scene strangely blackened, and with it, a lone wisp of tranquillity followed.

The steel of the table below her made the Gakuenchou shiver, and Natsuki's emerald eyes slowly opened.

Hearing the faint rustling of a blanket near her, Tomoe was set into confusion. Tiredly, she glanced about the room, her mind dazed as she failed to attempt to remember what her dream was about.

Sitting up slowly, Natsuki touched her forehead and her vision cleared.

Looking over to the disturbance, Tomoe blinked slowly. A mere two feet away, the Gakuenchou was still tending to her forehead, her clothes consisting of just a simple, loose shirt with a few buttons undone.

"What happened?" Natsuki groaned, placing her hand onto the metal table as she sat farther up. Groaning at the pain this caused her hand, she fell back down to lay.

Tomoe winced, gritting her teeth as she shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position against the cool, solid table. Her back was killing her!

Mumbling under her breath, Natsuki reached over and grasped at the console at the side of her table, rapidly hitting buttons.

In annoyance, Tomoe pulled her arm from out of the blanket. Idly rubbing her side, she froze, taking note of the sensation of bandages wrapping around her middle. She had been hurt during the fall? How had anyone managed to rescue them anyway?

Though...that wasn't really surprising, especially since the Gakuenchou was a part of it, so they were forced to find them no matter what.

A small alert went off once Natsuki took her hand from the console, a bright red light blaring through the room. Groaning at the pitching sound, the Gakuenchou covered her ears.

Removing her hand away from her back, the student curiously looked back over to Natsuki, frowning as she studied the woman's weakness shining through so clearly to her.

"You are such a spoiled baby," a voice echoed over the alert, and Youko walked over to the console, shutting the alarm off. Relaxing against the table, Natsuki kept a hand to her head as she groaned.

'A spoiled baby?' With interest, Tomoe continued to watch them silently, cringing slightly as the dull pain in her back returned. She honestly couldn't remember hurting her back, she could remember them ending up in a strange, pitch black room of some sort, but above that there was nothing else.

"The Archmeister managed to stop the attack, once you were out of the way." Youko gave a slight glance over to Natsuki as she input more codes into her console. Rolling her eyes, Natsuki glared softly as the doctor came over.

Of course Shizuru-Oneesama would, Tomoe concluded inwardly. It wasn't a surprise that someone such as Shizuru was able to do such a thing.

Taking a needle, Youko tapped it repeatedly as she hooked it up to a few wires. Without warning, she jammed it into Natsuki's arm, ignoring her cry of pain as she did so.

"Spoiled," she commented.

Cautiously, Tomoe watched the doctor. Don't tell me this Helene woman is like this to everyone...?

A few more codes inputted to the console, and a silver liquid medicine started to pump into Natsuki's veins. Groaning a bit in pain as it started, Natsuki slowly lost consciousness. "Don't mind this, you're not getting it." Youko waved to Tomoe, coming close after the Gakuenchou passed out.

With extra care, Tomoe sat up, glancing over to Natsuki once more, then bit her lip, saying afterwards. "I wouldn't count on it." She pointed a lone finger to the syringe still held in the doctors hand visibly.

"This is just in case." Youko spoke, coming to Tomoe's bedside. Placing a hand on the girl's back, she pressed and nodded when the girl winced. "Just a bit of soreness screwed your back up." The doctor spoke, placing the syringe down. "I want you to take hold of this steel railing."

Doing so, mostly in wonder, Tomoe's slowly clasped hold of the railings, giving Youko a suspicious look. Grasping a hold of the young girl's hips, Youko made sure she had a firm grip on the railing before pulling hard, twisting to the side and hearing a crack. "You should be good now," she said, letting go and standing straight.

Brow quivering, and with her teeth grinding together sharply, the teal Pearl sighed a breath, a little dazed.

"Are you in any pain?" Youko asked Tomoe as she sat by Natsuki's side, taking out a small needle and about to stitch the Gakuenchou's hands up.

"...No, not like before."

"Good." Youko nodded, then held the needle over a flame, stitching Natsuki's left hand carefully.

Tomoe was silent. Shuffling a little, she idly looked around the lab, taking in the detail of the different bits and pieces of technology which surrounded the area. Aswad...always wanted technology, didn't they? So perhaps they had come to try and take some of it?

Taking the bloody needle back over the flame, burning the blood off, Youko began to stitch Natsuki's other hand.

It wouldn't surprise her if it was correct, Aswad wanting Garderobe's technology. The academy wasn't exactly cheap either; it was probably worth just as much as Windbloom Palace, possibly more.

Finally done, Youko burned the blood from the needle once more and set it down. "Marguerite, you're free to leave at any time." She stood and went to look at the gash on Natsuki's temple.

Eying the unconscious Gakuenchou with one last look of wonder, Tomoe nodded, standing with care she lightly put pressure onto her back, pausing when no pain came.

Tutting at the wound, Youko picked her needle back up, burning it before roughly threading it through Natsuki's skin.

Taking one last glance to the two figures, Tomoe frowned, leaving.

Rubbing at her itchy stitches softly, Natsuki stopped once she caught the look Shizuru flashed at her, grumbling.

"Natsuki wouldn't want to have Helene-sensei replace them, would she?" Shizuru inquired, almost with a dark amusement as she cast the Gakuenchou a look of disapproval, handing a glass cup of tea over to her.

"No," The raven haired woman grumbled again, accepting the cup and giving Shizuru a secret smile, sipping the tea.

"Now, hurry and get better. I doubt Natsuki would want to go through what she had to the last time I looked after her..." Shizuru replied, voice husky she spun on her heel, chuckling silently.

Glaring after her lover with a small blush, Natsuki drained her tea and crossed her arms.

Taking no notice of the younger woman, Shizuru mildly took note of the time. 3:26 p.m.? The moon students would be finishing their lessons for the day now, wouldn't they?

"I am better, I just have stitches. I need to get back to work," Natsuki grumbled, then attempted to pick her pen up. Hissing, she dropped it with a loud clatter back to her desk.

"That wouldn't do Natsuki any good." Shizuru remarked, lifting a skeptical brow in wonder. "She should be resting, not moaning about work."

"I'll give you something else to moan about then," Natsuki quipped back, grinning but not taking it seriously. Rubbing her fingers along her hand where the stitches were, she idly stared at them before pulling.

"Natsuki-" What in the world was Natsuki doing? Beginning to softly chuckle as she pulled at the stitches, a few documents getting droplets of blood on them, Natsuki looked up at Shizuru once she heard her name, an alarmed look on her face. "What?"

When she had found Natsuki, unconscious, there had definitely been an incredibly painful-looking cut across Natsuki's forehead...perhaps...

...Maybe it had screwed Natsuki's mind slightly?

Train of thought raging, Shizuru strode forward quickly, clasping hold of the fellow Column's wrist firmly, face deathly close to Natsuki's. "No, Natsuki."

Staring back into Shizuru's eyes, Natsuki blinked and looked down at her hand. "..." She remained silent and stared it her bleeding hand in wonder, then to her other hand, the fingers bloody. Looking back to Shizuru, she quirked an eyebrow.

"So, what's on the schedule for today?" she asked, nonchalantly.

The Archmeister watched Natsuki blankly, saying nothing. "..."

"What?" Natsuki asked, brows furrowing.

"As I told Natsuki-rest." Natsuki grounded her teeth before standing from her desk. "Fine." She reached into her desk and pulled out a cloth which she then used to stop the bleeding of her hand.

A knock sounded by the door, followed by the entrance of Miss Maria, who immediately caught sight of the Gakuenchou's hand. With her attention moving to Shizuru, she began, "The situation involving Marguerite. She should be questioned, she could give valuable information concerning what happened during the Aswad invasion."

"She could, and don't ignore me and talk to the Archmeister like I'm an invalid, you old bat," Natsuki spat, increasing pressure with the cloth.

Miss Maria scowled, regarding the woman with the same intensity. "Gakuenchou, your health is still under strain, I wouldn't put myself up front, if I was you."

Glaring the older woman down, Natsuki took the cloth from her hand, the stitches still out of place and bleeding.

"I would advise you to have Helene restitch that, Gakuenchou," Miss Maria said distastefully, bringing her attention back to Shizuru she spoke. "Queen Mashiro has been issuing orders from left to right. She is outraged that the Aswad have broken their promise for alliance."

"I could do it myself," Natsuki murmured, rummaging through her desk and finding a needle.

"Gakuenchou!" Miss Maria warned, hastily she nodded over to Shizuru who was, by no surprise, already behind Natsuki, keeping her in place firmly, interfering with the woman's actions.

"What?" Natsuki turned to the two, eyebrows furrowed in an angry glare as she held the needle up.

"Are you mad, Gakuenchou?" the elderly Otome responded, with a snarl in place she continued. "To think...you would try this of all things...an Otome is to never put others, and especially not themselves, in danger!"

"I'm not putting myself in danger, I'm just trying to stitch up my damned hand," Natsuki argued heatedly.

"Professionally treated, Gakuenchou," Maria stated firmly. Ushering Shizuru out the way, she snatched the needle away, pinching Natsuki's ear she dragged her along. "Why must I always do this?"

"Ugh, let go of my ear! I am not a little girl!" Natsuki growled, being forced to walk along.

"Nonsense." Continuing to pull the woman along, Miss Maria glared towards students who were curiously watching them in the hallway, detouring around them with ease she spun on her heel. "Quicken your pace, Gakuenchou, before I set the Shinso's guidebook onto your daily schedule."

Growling, the raven haired woman did as she was told, holding her bleeding hand in her other, snarling to the students.

Activating the labs intercom, Miss Maria stated. "Helene-sensei, the Gakuenchou is here to see you, it concerns the matters of her...health," she finished darkly, sharply tugging at the Column's ear.

Grumbling from the tug, Natsuki glared and crossed her arms.

Waiting for the doctor to greet them, Maria released her hold from Natsuki, only to grasp hold of her arm in the process, disallowing any form of escape. "Keep your health in check, Gakuenchou."

"Yes, Miss Maria," Natsuki sarcastically replied, her hand bleeding onto her coat.

"What was that?" Maria barked. Clearing her throat, the Gakuenchou replied with more seriosness, "Yes, Miss Maria."

Without her suspicion deceasing, Maria dragged Natsuki along into the lab as Irina, Youko's assistant opened the door for them, not at all surprised by the currently situation.

"Ah! Helene-sensei, the Gakuenchou and Miss Maria are here!" the student called, going back to her work.

Coming from the back room, Youko released an exasperated sigh. "I'll take it from here." She took Natsuki by the ear. "If you struggle, I will put you down."

Miss Maria nodded. Briskly leaving the room, she set her eyes upon the students by the door, a mere stare scaring them off. "On with you or I shall throw you in the detention tower!"

"Maybe I should have warned everyone what happened when you came back from your last mission," Youko idly said to herself, taking Natsuki into the back room and out of her assistant's earshot. Ruffling the midnight hair of the Gakuenchou, she found the large scar at the base of her skull.

"If you do, I'll kill you," Natsuki promised darkly.

"Well, just keep the payment coming." Youko gave a careless shrug and began to stitch the woman's hand.

"If I must keep quiet about this, you must stop causing harm to yourself. Find someone to spar with, or just find another way to vent," Youko said as she finished, cleaning the Gakuenchou's hand.

"Like, with you?" Natsuki smirked as she roughly grabbed Youko around the waist, bringing her into her lap.

Hearing a disturbance at the back, Irina idly glanced over her shoulder, pausing from her work for a few moments by the large computer, she eyed the area curiously. Detecting nothing else of interest, she shrugged, tearing her attention away and back to the machinery.

With a quick strike, Youko slapped Natsuki across the face coolly and stepped from her lap, spinning away. "No, not with me, and you know why." She pointed to the needle she had used on the Gakuenchou.

Pouting, Natsuki stood. "Fine," she grumbled, then walked from the back room.

The Gakuenchou stormed away in a huff and out of the lab. Irina gazed over to Youko in wonder, pushing her glasses back up to the bridge of her nose securely. "The Gakuenchou has already recovered?"

"As much as she can." Youko shrugged as she sterilized her needle. "Not much I can do, not until her Gem is fixed so she can heal."

"Oh, yeah, her Gem," Irina piped, realization hitting her. She had forgot the Gakuenchou's Gem had been damaged!

"Mm, so until it gets fixed, she's only human." Youko gave a bit of a sadistic smirk at that.

Grumbling, Natsuki trudged back to her office.

"I hope Natsuki won't do that again," Shizuru murmured as Natsuki sat back down in strop. "I cannot help but worry about her at times."

"I'm sorry, Shizuru." Natsuki smiled up at the older woman. Taking her hand gently with her fingers, Natsuki softly kissed it. "Youko gave me something for my head, and I feel much better."

"My...your head? I pray Natsuki isn't going insane," the Archmeister chuckled, entwining her fingers with Natsuki's carefully.

"Only with love for you." Natsuki smirked, pulling the older woman into her lap.

"Ara, Natsuki's so feisty!" Chuckling, Natsuki brought Shizuru's hand up and lightly nibbled her fingertips.

Shizuru gazed down to Natsuki lovingly. "What are you thinking?" Natsuki asked, lightly licking Shizuru's index finger.

"Natsuki has grown up."

"Grown up?" Natsuki questioned, placing small kisses to the finger she had licked.

"She doesn't get embarrassed. At least not how she used too," Shizuru replied, leaning her body into the Column's.

"Mm, guess I got over it," the Gakuenchou spoke, clasping her arms around Shizuru and moving up to kiss the older woman's neck.

"My...ah, it took Natsuki a good nine years to do so," the Archmeister shuddered, wrapping her own arms possessively around Natsuki, allowing the younger woman to meld her lips to her neck.

"Better late than never, yes?" Natsuki purred against the older woman's neck, moving her hand to Shizuru's legs to spread them, allowing the older woman to straddle her completely.

"...Perhaps you are correct." Shizuru mused, sighing contently.

"Indeed." Natsuki returned her hands to Shizuru's back, balling them up slightly and smoothing them down to the older woman's rear. Licking along the Archmeister's neck, she bit down lightly.

Shizuru held Natsuki close to her, eyes closed blissfully. "You know...I thought I lost you."

"Lost me?" Natsuki murmured, licking the small bite she made.

"When Aswad attacked...us."

"Mm."

The Gakuenchou nuzzled into the older woman's neck, kissing. "I'm here."

Hovering her fingers down the younger Column's back, Shizuru absentmindedly rubbed Natsuki's sides, nails lightly scratching over the material of Natsuki's trousers, to the side of her hips.

Nuzzling Shizuru's neck again, Natsuki sat up further and captured the Archmeister's lips with her own.

"Its been some time...since we did it here in the office," Shizuru remarked idly, her hands now moving to the small of Natsuki's back.

"True. Let's fix that." Natsuki smirked against Shizuru's lips, and sunk down into her chair, unbuttoning the first button of the Archmeister's dress.

Reassuringly, Shizuru smiled, placing a lone finger to the Gakuenchou's lips, her free hand delicately capturing both of Natsuki's hands with ease. Leaning in she whispered. "Let me."

Smirking at that, Natsuki gently squeezed Shizuru's hand, returning her own to her chair's arms. She quirked an eyebrow up at the Archmeister with a grin.

Settling down onto the Column's lap for more comfort, Shizuru situated herself to smiling down to Natsuki, almost giddy.

"So, what does my Natsuki want?" she asked playfully, trailing an idle fingertip down Natsuki's chest.

"Depends, what are you willing to give me?" the Gakuenchou stalled with a playful smirk, her hands itching to return to Shizuru's body.

"How about..." Crimsons darkening, the Archmeister leaned forward, hissing something into Natsuki's ear, she bit down onto it.

"Ooh..." Natsuki hissed back, grinning wide as she leaned into Shizuru. "I think I'd like that."

Gently pushing the other away, Shizuru chuckled, resting her elbows atop Natsuki's shoulders. She moved so their cheeks touched.

"Of course," she uttered huskily, pressing up firmly to her the Archmeister, who seductively swayed her hips.

Letting a low purr escape her throat, Natsuki's emeralds darkened as she smirked, taking a lick of Shizuru's ear.

"I locked the door earlier," Shizuru breathed, swaying some more, raising her arms a little.

"Good." Natsuki grinned wider, biting the lobe of the older woman's ear. Leaning back into her chair, she regarded Shizuru with dark forest eyes.

If the rumor of Shizuru being one of the true epitomes was true, it was indeed so, as the Archmeister firmly pressed her hips to the Gakuenchou's, a hand gracefully popping the buttons of her uniform open, clouded devil-orbs keeping emeralds in a dazed desire. "Hold me. Keep me. I'll make you scream."

"Promises, promises," Natsuki growled with desire, clutching onto her armrests, pressing her hips back to Shizuru's.

The uniform spilling down to her waist, the light curl painted across Shizuru's lips intensified. Breathing a slow breath, she exhaled it into the Column's ear, lapping her tongue around Natsuki's earlobe.

Shivering underneath her lover, Natsuki let out another low purr, her eyes locked onto the Archmeister's chest. Licking along her lips, she moved her hands slowly onto Shizuru's waist.

Planting a soft kiss to Natsuki's jawline, Shizuru cooed, hips rubbing along the fellow Column's. She pressed her knuckles along the small of Natsuki's back, knowingly searching for the desired pleasure spot.

Giving a soft moan as Shizuru's knuckles rubbed a certain spot, Natsuki gripped the Archmeister's hips with her fingers, rubbing her thumb along the dress still pooled at her waist, feeling her lover's warmth through the fabric.

Satisfied with her work, Shizuru lightly tilted Natsuki's head back, gently sucking on the pulse point as she lifted off of the Gakuenchou's lap, smirking as Natsuki groaned in disappointed. "Now, now, Natsuki."

Letting her hands fall to her vacated lap, Natsuki gave a soft growl as her eyes drifted down to Shizuru's exposed chest once more.

"I wouldn't want...the rest of Natsuki's body not to feel loved," the Archmeister purred lowly, nearing so she stood between the Gakuenchou's legs once more, teasingly clipping her fingers underneath her limply hanging uniform.

"Mm..." Natsuki smirked, taking her eyes from Shizuru's barely contained breasts within her red bra, and eyed the rest of the older woman, taking the time to delve into her lover's crimson eyes.

Pushing the Column back into the chair playfully, the Archmeister shook a finger from left to right, amused, but her eyes deadly hungry. "I'm not done yet, Nat-su-ki."

"I'd hope not." Natsuki's smirk widened, and she leaned back into her chair, hands bracing themselves onto her armrests as her eyes followed the wagging finger.

Watching the clouded emeralds eye her finger hungrily, Shizuru rasped a chuckle, straddling back onto her lap as she idly began to pull her uniform down her hips. Placing her fingers into her mouth, she then hovered them along Natsuki's bare stomach, grinning into those jade orbs once more.

Letting out a slow breath at the slightly wet fingers on her stomach, Natsuki swallowed and licked her lips. Looking Shizuru over intensely, she licked her lips again.

"Now, what should I do?" Shizuru pondered, pulling her uniform down enough to reveal a hint of crimson laced lingerie, smiling.

Swallowing, Natsuki let her eyes travel down to the lingerie, taking in the silky looking fabric as she shifted in her chair.

"Natsuki better not get anymore ideas," Shizuru whispered, nearing to the other woman she tickled her fingers lightly down the Gakuenchou's sides and stomach.

"My ideas are bad?" Natsuki asked as she slightly quivered underneath Shizuru's touch.

"Her ideas for what she may do might hinder my... progress," the Archmeister explained lowly, bringing her mouth over to Natsuki's shoulder. Smiling devilishly she sharply bit down. "...That's for last time.".

Hissing at the bite, Natsuki closed her eyes and leaned into Shizuru, trying hard to keep her hands away from the enticing older woman.

Swaying back into the Gakuenchou, Shizuru resisted rasping a moan, a cold sweat tickling at her spine as she abruptly ground her hips downwards and then carefully stood, uniform all but forgotten as it sailed down her lean, but perfectly smooth legs.

Following Shizuru's uniform as it fell, Natsuki gave a hard swallow as her emerald eyes stayed glued to the Archmeister's creamy and strong legs, trailing up to her amazing hips and belly.

Kneeling down before Natsuki, between her legs, Shizuru let out a hearty chuckle, reaching up to lightly poke Natsuki's reddening cheek. "Ara...she is so cute. She may have grown up somewhat, however..." Trailing, the Archmeister leaned up, catching Natsuki's shirt zip between her teeth casually.

"H-however?" Natsuki questioned, her hands itching to bury themselves into the honey-brown mane of her older lover as she subconsciously spread her legs.

"She deserves to be punished," Shizuru replied, teeth still gripping the zip. Forcing the small piece of metal down, Shizuru almost felt like gigging as her nose brushed past the younger Column's breasts gently.

Feeling Shizuru's nose brushing against her, Natsuki leaned back and arched, a small moan escaping past her lips.

"That won't do," Shizuru muttered against her skin, kissing her flesh, only just underneath a dark azure bra.

"That won't do at all," she repeated, more firmly this time, hands pressing against the Gakuenchou's legs.

"W-what?" Natsuki questioned again, leaning her head back against her chair and biting her bottom lip.

"Natsuki requires more restraint." Sliding her hands up the Meister's legs, Shizuru wound her arms around Natsuki, keeping her in place she clipped the bra undone, deviously smirking up into emeralds.

Giving a small squirm, Natsuki looked down into Shizuru's eyes, taking her teeth from her lip and licking along it.

"Do I make the Gakuenchou giddy?" Shizuru mused, mostly to herself, rubbing Natsuki's hips, her thumbs then making their way lazily underneath her breasts. "...Possibly."

"Shizuru," The raven haired woman breathed, her hands slightly shaking from their position on the armrests, her eyes a darkened jade.

Hoisting herself back up into the chair, atop Natsuki's lap, Shizuru rubbed at her shoulders and neck. "As I said...restraint, or I may have to use the handcuffs...again."

Releasing a small growl, Natsuki looked up into Shizuru's eyes, then let her own trail over the Archmeister's curvy form, the lingerie being very much appreciated.

"I wonder if Natsuki still has that certain pleasure point down below." Shizuru hissed huskily, hands moving down to the small of Natsuki's back, rubbing.

Beginning to squirm again, the Gakuenchou looped her arms under her armrests to keep them from grasping Shizuru's waist.

Almost as if she was careless, Shizuru wrapped her fingers underneath the rim of the Gakuenchou's leather trousers, resting her chin against Natsuki's shoulder. "It's a nice day, isn't it?" She asked randomly.

"W-what?" Natsuki asked confused, dazed as she gave a soft growl into Shizuru's ear, rubbing herself against the fingers just barely touching her flesh.

"The weather." The chestnut haired woman repeated, the curl of her lip widening as she continued to gaze out the window. "It's summer, Natsuki's season."

"Uh..." Mind blank, Natsuki fidgeted a little uncomfortably. "Y-yeah, it is." She screwed her eyebrows together as if trying to find the relevance in this.

"So this day belongs to Natsuki." Looping her fingers around the trousers so her fingers lay flat against Natsuki's back, Shizuru leaned back, regarding the stunned woman silently. "...So that means...it isn't her duty to do the work today."

"Mm, is it your duty, then?" Natsuki asked, leaning back fully against her chair and pinning Shizuru's gaze.

"By pleasing Natsuki, of course..." Slowly, Shizuru captured Natsuki's lips, biting down on the bottom lip gently.

Natsuki gave an impatient moan into the kiss, as she had been waiting to touch Shizuru's body. Pressing up into the older woman, she closed her eyes.

Slipping her fingers into the back of the Gakuenchou's trousers fully this time, Shizuru smiled into the kiss mischievously, pressing down onto her favourite pleasure point her lover owned.

Breaking the kiss as a high and girly moan escaped her throat, Natsuki's eyes clenched shut as she bit her lip, a rosy blush painting her cheeks before she bit onto Shizuru's lip instead.

Shizuru groaned, her lip suffering the other Otome's misfortune for having such a 'pleasure booster' in the first time. 'M-mean...' Her mind complained. Teasingly, Shizuru swayed her body back to Natsuki's with more force this time, a hand tearing at the azure bra, throwing it away absent-mindedly.

Nibbling along Shizuru's lip, Natsuki licked it in apology and kissed the older woman, moaning softly as the warm summer air in her office met her bare chest.

Hissing, the Archmeister sluggishly searched for Natsuki's arms. Finding them, she clasped hold of Natsuki's wrists, pulling them to her own body for Natsuki to finally wrap them around her body.

Gently, so that her stitches would not touch the older woman, Natsuki wrapped Shizuru into her long arms, pulling her further into her lap and breathing a soft moan into the kiss.

Pulling away from the kiss, Shizuru leaned back to Natsuki, hugging her closely, resting for a moment. "...Ara, and father always thought we wouldn't last a second."

"Last?" Natsuki asked, dazed resting her cheek against Shizuru's.

"With our relationship, you know how he is...with Otome."

"Mm..." Natsuki closed her eyes as she nuzzled against Shizuru's cheek.

"I wonder why we don't just kill him."

The Gakuenchou gave an evil smirk.

"Ruining the mood, are we?" Shizuru chuckled, hooking two fingers around Natsuki's collar as she began to drag her from the seat. "A more comfortable location is in order I believe."

Standing and letting Shizuru lead her around by her choker, Natsuki smirked. "I accelerate the mood."

"My..." Shizuru trailed, glancing around the room for a few moments, she then tilted her head at Natsuki. "Aren't you the amusing one." With this, she pushed the Gakuenchou against the edge of the table, taking no mind to the other items on its smooth surface.

Hitting her desk, Natsuki raked her eyes over her lover's almost naked body. How she longed to take the crimson bow at Shizuru's hip into her teeth and rip it. She reached an arm behind her and pushed most of the items from her desk, eyes coming back to the Archmeister's.

"And the impatient one..." Shizuru breathed, hands either side of the Column's sides, forcing the younger woman to move back further.

"Mm." Natsuki smirked into her lover's face, moving her neck forward to lightly nibble Shizuru's bottom lip before hoisting herself up to sit on the desk.

"Now be a good lower-classman and lie against the table." Shizuru commanded, trailing her fingertips down Natsuki's neck.

Lightly chuckling, Natsuki's eyes darkened. "Mm, yes, Shizuru-onee-sama," she said, obediently falling to lie against the desk.

Taking this into consideration, the Archmeister hummed, her fingers lightly pressing against her lips as she studied Natsuki. "And to think, during our first time you fell out of bed."

"Well, you did rock my world." Natsuki teased the older woman, reclining and shifting to become comfortable on the desk.

"Ara, perhaps." Idly, Shizuru peered down to her feet.

"Hm..."

"Keep your boots on, and ride me." Natsuki smirked wide, sitting up slightly.

"Oh? Your suggestion entices me." Shizuru smirked also, heading back to the table, she loomed her form over the Gakuenchou's. "But...if that is to happen, you're keeping that choker of yours on, my pet."

"Ooh." Natsuki's lips twitched up into an eager grin. "Yes, mistress."

Planting her knees firmly on the table, she grabbed hold of Natsuki's jacket.

"Off," Shizuru cooed.

Sitting up further, yet still remaining in Shizuru's shadow, Natsuki pulled her arms from her jacket and tossed it to the floor. Bare porcelain arms coming back down to the desk, Natsuki's hands had another itch and she lightly brushed her fingers along Shizuru's thighs.

Resting down onto the Gakuenchou, Shizuru traced gently into her arms, motioning circles as she lowered her face down to Natsuki's, shivering as she pressed their lips together.

Lifting up into Shizuru the slightest, Natsuki purred and licked the older woman's lips, her fingers brushing up her sides.

Thoroughly continuing to kiss the woman below her, Shizuru's hands reached down to the trousers still adorning Natsuki's legs, her fingers tickling the edge of the skin where the rim was.

"Mm, Shizuru-onee-sama," Natsuki breathed against Shizuru's lips, her own fingers brushing the bows against the older woman's hips.

"In due time, my Coral," Shizuru scolded lightly, patting the hands away from her hips she started to kiss along the Column's jawline.

Giving a little puppy growl, Natsuki placed her hands in the small of Shizuru's back, pressing the older woman closer to her.

"There's a good Natsuki," Shizuru cooed, rubbing her nose against hers. This under progress, however, she sneakily slipped her fingers under the leather trousers, waiting for her reaction.

A purr rolled from Natsuki's throat at Shizuru's action, and she lay fully back against the desk, her cobalt hair fanning beneath her.

"I want to devour you," Shizuru whispered into her ear, fingers clamping ever so slightly.

A slight blush gracing her face at that, Natsuki leaned her cheek into Shizuru's lips.

Happy with the reaction, Shizuru propped her arms against the table, lowering enough so she was between Natsuki's legs as she slowly kissed her stomach.

Lifting a shaky hand to ruffle her hair, Natsuki blushed with embarrassment when she realized her hair was stuck between her stitches. "This is a way to kill the mood." She grumbled.

"Hm?" Shizuru uttered in confusion, lifting her head up to gaze up to her.

"I, uh, I'm s-stuck." Natsuki mumbled, embarrassed.

"Stuck?" Whatever was Natsuki talking about? Sitting back up, Shizuru brought her full attention to Natsuki, eyes filled with concern. "What is it, Natsuki?"

"My hair is stuck in my stitches." Natsuki spoke, her eyes all puppy and looking up at Shizuru.

"Stitches? Caught up in your hair." Cautiously Shizuru quickly eyed at the stitches jutting from Natsuki's temple, furrowing a brow with confusion. "Natsuki, is there something you're not telling me?"

"Uh...yes, Shizuru." Natsuki braced her hands against the desk and lightly sat up. "Check my head." She mumbled.

Shizuru frowned, brushing past the Gakuenchou she sat behind her, carefully moving the dark azure strands away from a particularly messy area. Staring at the area for some time, her eyes slowly widened. "N-...Natsuki."

"Does this mean we have to stop?" Natsuki asked, already mad at herself.

"Wh...what did you do to get such a wound as this?" Shizuru asked, softly strangely enough. "My last mission didn't go too smoothly, so I had Youko stitch me up." Natsuki spoke as if it wasn't a big deal.

"And you didn't tell me about this?" Shizuru accused. "N-Natsuki, we promised to tell each other everything, didn't we? Is this the reason...why you've been acting strangely recently?" Forcing the Column to turn around to face her, she brought a hand to her cheek delicately. "... Natsuki?"

"Strangely?" Natsuki questioned, turning to Shizuru more.

"Relax, little Shizuru,"she cooed, bringing her own hand to cup the older woman's cheek. "It's just a little head wound." Natsuki gave a soft chuckle, her eyes soft.

"No, this isn't alright at all." Shizuru, although dejected, leaned into the hand. "... A little head wound, Natsuki? It looks as if it could have..."

"Could have what?" Natsuki gave a bit of an edge to her voice, yet her thumb caressed Shizuru's cheek softly. "You think a little scratch can kill me, Shizuru?"

"The human body is so fragile; I worry for Natsuki," Shizuru concluded silently, hugging the fellow Otome close to her. "What would happen if I was to lose Natsuki... how would Garderobe rebuild itself? Miss Maria cannot become the Gakuenchou again, Natsuki."

"You know I won't die," Natsuki chuckled, pulling back and bringing her other hand up to fully cup Shizuru's face, not pressing her hands to her cheeks completely, not wanting her stitches to hurt the older woman. "Not without you by my side."

"A-Ah..." Shizuru uttered, lips quivering.

"No, no." Natsuki murmured to her older lover, bringing her into her lap. "Don't cry."

"That is...the most romantic thing Natsuki has ever told me," Shizuru whispered, winding her arms around the Gakuenchou tightly, cheek pressing into Natsuki's.

"It...it is?" Natsuki's eyebrows came together, a bit of a blush painting across her nose as she wound her own arms around Shizuru.

"Yes," Shizuru murmured, planting a small kiss to the nape of Natsuki's neck. "...Yes, it was."

"That makes me feel like I should be more romantic towards you," Natsuki whispered, returning the kiss with a soft one of her own.

"I want to treasure Natsuki even further than before..." Shizuru whispered, arms winding around Natsuki's neck.

"Treasure me..." Natsuki murmured, her own arms wrapping around Shizuru tight. She kept her hands from touching the older woman, instead the pads of her fingers gently lay onto Shizuru's skin.

Pushing the Column back down against the desk gently, Shizuru kissed her softly. Kissing back, Natsuki accidentally scratched at Shizuru's back with her stitches.

Shizuru twitched, but said nothing, continuing with their activity.

"Sorry," Natsuki murmured into the kiss, laying back onto the desk and turning her hands so the back of them pressed against the scratches.

"It was nothing," the Archmeister murmured onto her lips, trailing a batch of soft kisses down Natsuki's cheeks. "Mm..." Natsuki purred softly, leaning into the kisses and pressing down onto Shizuru, wanting the older woman flush against her.

"Tell me if your wounds hurt you, alright?" Shizuru asked, eyeing the woman below her.

"I'll tell you anything," Natsuki promised, smiling up at Shizuru.

Satisfied with this, Shizuru took the matter into her own hands, her lips silently loving Natsuki as she rubbed her fingers into Natsuki's skin, taking extra care to not allow Natsuki to hit her head.

Tilting her head back the slightest, Natsuki let out a slow breath and dug her fingers into Shizuru's back, careful not to let her stitches touch.

Scrapping her teeth across the Gakuenchou's flesh, just barely above a breast, Shizuru hummed at the sensation of Natsuki's nails dug lightly into her back.

Breath hitching at the teeth dragging across her chest, Natsuki gave a soft moan. Lightly, she brought her nails up and down the older woman's back.

Supporting herself securely, Shizuru placed her hands either side of Natsuki's chest, re-organizing herself as she sat down onto Natsuki's hips. "Are you sure you can keep up with me, Natsuki, you seem rather flustered." She grinned.

Eyebrows twitching, Natsuki placed her own hands down on the desk and pushed herself up, not caring about the pain. "I thought you were going to treasure me." She smirked, face close to Shizuru's.

"Oh, but of course," Shizuru stated, pushing the Gakuenchou back down she also brought herself down, bringing her mouth back to its original location, above the breast.

Giving an excited growl, Natsuki's fingers found themselves back to the ribbon at each of her lover's hips.

Taking note of the fingers hooking themselves loosely around the ribbons of her lingerie, Shizuru chuckled as she took a mouthful of flesh, kissing wetly.

Gasping softly, Natsuki stayed focused. "Fear not, my mistress, I'll get you out of these." She pulled loose one of the ribbons.

"Ara, ara!" Shizuru slapped her playfully against the arm, but not enough to cause any movement, fearing she would somehow hurt Natsuki's stitched hand. "Aren't we naughty, Natsuki?"

"Yes, and I want mistress naked," Natsuki said truthfully.

"My..." the Archmeister mused, leaned up she cupped her cheek, thoughtfully. "Now wouldn't that be interesting?"

"Indeed, it would," Natsuki replied, pulling on the other ribbon.

Shizuru smirked deviously, grasping hold of Natsuki's wrists she forced them down onto the table, kissing her roughly. Kissing back, and growling a bit into it as her wants were denied, Natsuki quickly moved a knee in between Shizuru's legs.

The elder Column groaned, releasing her grip ever so slightly. Smirking, Natsuki took her hands from Shizuru's grasp and quickly untied the ribbons.

Idly, Shizuru glanced down to the departed lingerie, lifting a brow up to Natsuki. "My, now, isn't that humorous? Na-tsu-ki?"

"Humorous, maybe. Sexy, oh yes." Natsuki took the time to eye Shizuru, the woman's boots still on and making her bite her lip softly.

"Perhaps," the Archmeister agreed, planting a light kiss upon the Gakuenchou's lips.

"Mm." Kissing back, Natsuki lay again. "Well, come on, I thought you were going to ride me in your cute little boots." Her eyes twinkled.

"Cute, you say?" Shizuru pondered, firmly pressing onto Natsuki's leg as she smiled devilishly, sliding back down she captured the younger woman's lips hungrily.

Kissing back fiercely, Natsuki moved her leg along Shizuru's core, her hands pulling at her shoulders.

Shizuru twitched, groaning loudly into the other Otome's mouth. Taking the opportunity, Natsuki delved her tongue into the older woman's mouth as their lips clashed hungrily.

With the firm tug on her shoulders once more, Shizuru came tumbling forward a little, arms supporting her weight above Natsuki. Oh, now wasn't this something?

Forcing her knee up higher, Natsuki kissed Shizuru deeply, taking her breath away as she clutched her closer.

Shifting slightly, in order to get more comfortable, a hiss merely forced its way through Shizuru's throat, her breath catching Natsuki's lips as that mischievous leg pressed into her sensitivity.

Sitting up slightly, Natsuki forced Shizuru more onto her leg and gave a small grind, then pulled back to grin evilly at her. "With all the talk of riding...why don't we use this?" She smirked, taking the device from her desk drawer.

"A-ara..." Shizuru rasped with surprise.

"I'll take that as a yes." Natsuki smirked.

"You seem...to have things planned out...don't you, Natsuki?" Shizuru mused, breathing heavily.

"I like to be prepared." Natsuki chuckled, buckling the device around her waist as she smirked at Shizuru.

"Natsuki wouldn't be Natsuki...without intellect." Shizuru chuckled. Pressing a wet kiss to Shizuru's lips, Natsuki smirked. "You're damn right, now, ride." Her smirk widened.

"I wonder...who is the feisty one now?" Pressing her body into the Gakuenchou's, Shizuru securely wound her arms around her neck, binding them further together, shivering as the device brushed past her.

"You," Natsuki teased, coaxing Shizuru into her lap and to take the device into her.

"Oh...is that...so?" Shizuru paused, stiffening as the device entered. "...Mean."

"If I was mean, I wouldn't move." Natsuki smirked, sitting up further and placing her hands on Shizuru's thighs, trailing them down to her long boots.

"Not surprising..." Shizuru trailed, unconsciously swaying her hips slightly. "...S-since last time...I slapped you."

"Oh, yeah, you did slap me." Natsuki eyed Shizuru with a teasing anger, stilling the woman's hips. "But I, for one, am not a tease." She grinned, thrusting her hips up.

"A-" The Archmeister clutched hold of Natsuki's shoulders, nails sharply scratching at sensitive flesh. Hissing at the nails, Natsuki growled at Shizuru. She grabbed onto Shizuru's bent thighs, and made the older woman give a bit of a grind onto the device.

Moaning softly, the chestnut planted her hips closely back to the younger Column's, gently soothing the small cuts she had made with her fingertips. "Ka-kan..."

"Apology accepted." Natsuki smiled, licking the tip of Shizuru's chin as she gave another thrust up.

Clenching her jaw, Shizuru forced her forehead to Natsuki's shoulder, a hand grasping around the Gakuenchou's arm, seeking further attachment.

Wrapping her arms around Shizuru's waist, careful not to scratch her with the stitches, Natsuki bent her knees to placed her feet flat on the desk, thrusting slowly into Shizuru.

"T-take...me, hard." Shizuru groaned into her ear, deathly silent.

"Mm, kinky."

Natsuki replied by thrusting faster into the older woman and pulling Shizuru's hips down.

"A-ah!" With a rush, the Archmeister squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating on the pleasure which was embedding into the bottom of her stomach, quickly plunging down south.

Gripping Shizuru's hips, nails digging in, Natsuki made her lover move her hips in a tight circle as she thrust harder.

Shizuru clawed at Natsuki's back, an almost feverish moan escaping from deep inside her throat.

"Someone likes this," Natsuki hissed out, a bit of sweat on her forehead as she repeated the action, harder.

"O-of cour-seee," Shizuru gasped, hips bucking. Coming closer, Natsuki nibbled at Shizuru's jawline as she moved the Archmeister's hips faster, the circle she had set becoming smaller.

Tearing at the Gakuenchou's back still, Shizuru began to feel dizzy, actions and thoughts crumbling, centering themselves narrowly to Natsuki.

Hissing at the scratches, Natsuki moved her lips to Shizuru's ear, heatedly whispering dark promises and even darker desires.

"I-is...s-so?" the elder barely replied, releasing a vigorous moan which sailed through the office.

"Mm, it is." Natsuki thrust hard and fast up into Shizuru.

Hastily, the chestnut haired woman breathed in sharply, ravenously forcing their mouths together, sliding her tongue across Natsuki's own.

Kissing Shizuru hungrily back, Natsuki's tongue captured hers and swirled around, thrusting.

Abruptly, Shizuru froze, pulling her mouth away from Natsuki's, gasping a breath of air as her world shook.

"Mm..." Natsuki watched with satisfaction as Shizuru gasped.

"Ia..." Clutching hold of the Gakuenchou tightly, Shizuru cried out. "At-Naaa-t."

"Forget how to say my name?" she teased.

"M-e-an..." Chuckling, Natsuki shook her head. "You're the one who can't say my name."

"Suk...i-Na-t-suki..." Shizuru smirked weakly, shuddering.

"Mm, that's my girl." Natsuki gave a soft smile.

Shizuru smiled faintly. Shivering again, she collapsed against the fellow Column.

"Tire you out?" Natsuki asked, lifting Shizuru off of the strap-on.

"..." Shizuru said nothing, merely shuddering as she was lifted from the device gently.

Setting Shizuru down on her lower legs, Natsuki took the device off and shoved it to the floor, sitting up and pulling the older woman into her lap.

"M-my..." The Archmeister murmured, eyes closed, loosely hooking her arms around the Gakuenchou.

"What is it, little Shizuru?" Natsuki whispered into her ear.

"Natsuki...always sits on that cute arse of hers...and yet she is so strong..." Shizuru replied tiredly, heartbeat soundly beating, but calming steadily.

Laughing softly, Natsuki nuzzled into Shizuru's neck. "I don't just sit here, I also deal with military matters."

"But Natsuki falling asleep at her desk...always comes to mind first," Shizuru pointed out.

"Well, paperwork is boring." Natsuki pouted. "Hmm...hmm..."

"Trias mission...?" Tomoe asked, unsure as she regarded Miss Maria before her. "...Wouldn't that be a little...dangerous?"

"Not unless you do it wrong," Natsuki quipped, slamming her palm onto the wooden surface before her, laughing.

"You're experienced..." Tomoe muttered over to the Gakuenchou. "It doesn't mean I can survive."

Sobering up quickly at the thought of Tomoe dying, Natsuki cleared her throat. "You won't die, you've been trained."

"Without a Meister GEM," Tomoe pointed out. "And I don't even know where I am supposed to be going."

"Mm." Natsuki looked over her paperwork, then sent a glance to Miss Maria.

"Confidential," Miss Maria said levelly, eyeing the Gakuenchou and student harshly.

"Garderobe, where we blindly send you on missions and hope you make it back alright," Natsuki sarcastically narrated, then turned to the elder Otome. "Right?"

The epitome scowled roughly. "Gakuenchou! Hold your tongue!"

"Mm, thought so." Natsuki murmured, bringing a hand to rub the scar at the base of her skull.

"The Shinso shall be directing the appointed location," Miss Maria said, her back straightening by the mere mention of their Founder. "It is a Trias' duty to undergo this tradition."

"Tradition, yes, right." Natsuki rubbed her scar a bit more, eyebrows furrowed.

"Although you, of all people, wouldn't understand," Miss Maria said snidely, ushering Tomoe through the door. Glaring at that, Natsuki crossed her arms.

Entering the Shiho's chamber, Tomoe sighed as the spotlights flashed, directing over to the back of the chamber where the Shinso's statue was. Wasn't this going over the top a little?

Walking along, Natsuki sighed heavily, idly picking a loose hair from her stitches.

"Marguerite-san," the statue stated, almost kindly to her. "Your first official mission is about to be chosen."

"Ah...yes?" Tomoe replied, uncertainly kneeling before the weeping statue.

"This still kind of creeps me out..." Natsuki muttered, crossing her arms.

"Gakuenchou," Miss Maria warned evenly. Staying silent, Natsuki looked up to the grand statue, arms uncrossed.

"Your suited location has been stated," Fumi reported. "It is somewhat dangerous, but under the right mindset and intelligence, a Trias at your ability could pass through with ease."

Pleased with this, Natsuki gave a nod to Tomoe, as if telling the girl that she was right.

"That location is..." Dread began to shift awkwardly through Tomoe's gut as she continued to stare at the odd statue's feet. Unconsciously, she clenched her hands together sharply.

"...Galleria."

Giving out a small breath from the anticipation, Natsuki rubbed her head.

"It isn't like you to react over a student," Miss Maria commented thickly, eying the younger woman suspiciously.

"Reacting?" Natsuki asked, quirking a brow. "Your old eyes must be tricking you."

"My eyes are perfectly fine, thank you very much!" the epitome raged. "The nanomachines have been keeping my sight in perfect condition ever since I enrolled to Garderobe!"

"Sure, sure." Natsuki waved a hand dismissively, looking away with an evil grin.

"Silence is required at all times during this event," the statue of Fumi acknowledged. Smiling, she lifted her Element upwards, her head turning stiffly towards the Gakuenchou. "So, please, refine your speech for later, yes?" Miss Maria smirked sadistically.

Blushing darkly, from shame and embarrassment, Natsuki stayed quiet.

Bringing her attention back to Tomoe, who was still blankly staring at her feet, Fumi continued. "In recent databanks, it is confirmed that the nation of Galleria has no technology, your first mission, to officially gain your rank as Meister, is to study their culture, education and lifestyle."

"Doesn't sound too hard," Natsuki whispered to herself, not wanting the statue's wrath.

"This location, however, is in their main city, which has suffered years of climate change, during the times of the Great Fire, and the death of the King and Queen. Galleria is located between the mountains of Cardair Empire and the desert of the Black Valley."

"Black Valley..." Natsuki murmured under her breath, giving her chin a few strokes as she thought.

"Due to the rate of technology quickly declining in Galleria, however, it is unknown how feral the people of the nation may be. The nation of Galleria does not have Otome, but they do have REM warriors."

Furrowing her brows, Natsuki bit the tip of her thumb in nervous thought.

"Unlike Aswad connected with the Schwartz, this means a warrior who owns a REM can only use it for a mere sixty seconds," Fumi finished. Finally lowering her Element, she spoke. "Marguerite-san, your mission has been issued. The research project on the life, culture and people of the nation of Galleria, the amount of time you're allowed away from Garderobe equals two months."

"Two months," Natsuki echoed, a bit louder than her other inquiries. Turning away, she coughed nonchalantly, not wanting the statue's words directed at her.

Miss Maria tore her nails into her hands stiffly, eyeing Natsuki, thunder in her eyes. Straightening up with a bit of a blush on her face, Natsuki shifted her glance to Miss Maria, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Fool," the elder Otome hissed.

Listening to the Shinso's words carefully, Tomoe nodded silently, glancing up at the large statue. So...this was her mission?

She wasn't entirely sure if she liked it or not.

"Old woman." Natsuki hissed back.

"The Column's shall receive my orders from my personal databank, your mission shall begin tomorrow morning." Fumi finished, at last, seemingly going on standby as her features darkened, Element dropping so it rested against the surface of her platform.

Walking a few steps, Natsuki gestured Tomoe over. Tomoe looked over to Natsuki cautiously.

"Well, come on unless you wish to freeze down here," Natsuki called.

Glancing between Miss Maria and the Gakuenchou for a few moments, Tomoe did so, her attention still hanging upon her first mission.

"Overthink it, but don't think too much" came Natsuki's confusing advice once the older woman turned her back on them and began to lead them out.

"Over...think?" Tomoe mused. But don't think too much.

How did that make sense?

"It makes sense," Natsuki replied to her unspoken thought, looking back at her. "If you don't think about it."

She winked.

"A-ah..." Nodding, Natsuki pivoted forward again and continued to guide herself and her student towards the exit.

Character Key

Hollowed-Words:

Natsuki, Youko, Midori.

Twisted Eternal Wolvetta:

Tomoe, Shizuru, Miss Maria, Irina, Fumi.

Opheliac: Emilie Autumn

I'm your Opheliac
I've been so disillusioned
I know you'd take me back
But still I feign confusion
I couldn't be your friend
My world was too unstable
You might have seen the end

But you were never able
To keep me breathing
As the water rises up again
Before I slip away

You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
It's the Opheliac in me

I'm your Opheliac
My stockings prove my virtues
I'm open to attack
But I don't want to hurt you
Whether I swim or sink
That's no concern of yours now
How could you possibly think
You had the power to know how
To keep me breathing
As the water rises up again
Before I slip away

Studies show:
Intelligent girls are more depressed
Because they know
What the world is really like
Don't think for a beat it makes it better
When you sit her down and tell her
Everything gonna be all right
She knows in society she either is
A devil or an angel with no in between
She speaks in the third person
So she can forget that she's me

Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt thou the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt
Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt thou the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love

Edited by: Ascoeur

ASCOEUR APPROVED (● ω ●)b