To keep these intro notes short, I'm just going to say this is something I decided to try a while back, but I just never got around to it. I guess I was just always afraid I wouldn't be able to do it justice. I do tend to write deeper stories than a lot of people, however this is something else entirely.

The timing for this story is set after the main Strawberry Panic story.(Edit April 13th - When I say after SP main story, I mean after all of the events of SP, and I am basing my story of the events at the end of the Light Novel Series as it was the original, but if you've only seen the anime its close enough.) It's set just before Junior High in the WS world. (Essentially everyone is around 15-17 or so)

Disclaimer: There are going to be Yuri Pairings in this story, if that's not your bag, just keep walking, it wont hurt my feelings any.

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Blossoms of Astraea Hill

Chapter 1 – To Start Again

I do not own (Hourou Musuko) Wandering Son or Strawberry Panic.

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Life's not always fair. Sometimes, however, it just waits for you make the first move. Sometimes, just sometimes, that bravery will be what unlocks your world to the wonders that you've always dreamed of. Understanding and acceptance are never the same. For Shuichi however, trying to understand exactly why her life had turned out the way it had was what had occupied her thoughts for so long that it slowly started burning its way into her soul.

One day however, all of that changed. Shuichi reached a tipping point in her young life. And as she teetered on that ledge of acceptance between what she was and what she was trying to be, the world seemed at once both empty and so full to bursting that she wanted to cry out from the sheer pain of it all.

For much of her life she had wanted to be a girl, but it wasn't until that summer day that she finally accepted the truth and with that acceptance came the understanding she had spent the last decade of her life searching for. She had always wanted to be a girl, but that was part of what had kept her from the truth. Its not that she wanted to be a girl, She was a girl. The problem was that she was a girl with the anatomy of a boy attempting to live a life that was innately at odds with who she really was. It was the day she finally accepted this that the winds of her life began to change forever.

Of course, realizing the truth, and being able to actually do anything about it were two different matters entirely. For one thing, her family was already uncomfortable knowing that she regularly left the house dressed as a girl, if they knew she actually believed that she was one, who knows how they would react. For another issue what of her friends? Yoshino would support her, she thought, but what of her other classmates? It was one thing to be OK with the idea of her dressing differently, and another entirely to support her with this.

Not knowing where to begin, and being terrified at the possible outcomes, but being completely unable to just let it all go away and try to keep pretending to be something she wasn't she sought out the one person she knew had both the experience and would be supportive enough to help.

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The events of the last year had caused about as much chaos on Astraea Hill as she could ever remember in all the time she had been there. Chikaru reflected as she sat in her family's car on her way back to that place most dear to her. Hearts had been joined. Hearts had been broken.

The entire concept of the Etoile had been run through so much mud that their had been many, particularly among the staff and some of the more prominent parents of current students, who wondered if the competition placed dangerous and unsafe ideas in the minds of the girls paired together to run for it. They were supposed to be going here for an education and to become dignified young women, not foster immoral relationships.

The fact that not only had the last competition not only produced two separate and very obvious examples of this, but that one of those two had actually eloped before it was over with, and the other had won only served to further these claims. Indeed the only saving grace at all was that the couple that had been crowned were undeniably perfect for the role, in grace, beauty, and as it turned out, the actual capability to lead the schools in an official capacity.

Nonetheless, it had been decided, by those previously mentioned prominent parents and the threat of a substantial loss in funding for the school should they withdraw their children all at once, that the coming years Etoile Election was to be the last for Astraea Hill. Chikaru was saddened by this, as much for the fact that if her school failed this year, she would never see a Lulim student as Etoile as it did for the passing of a very old tradition at Astraea.

Still, despite that, there was still plenty to look forward to, she was no longer a student at the school, she had graduated along with all but one of the seniors at the school the previous year. However, due to the nature of her previous position at St. Lulim as not just Student Council Representative but all but the mother of the whole school, she had been asked by the new student council Representatives, who thanks to Chikaru's own significant influence, and support, had won joint seats on the council.

Kizuna and Remon were totally ready for the responsibility; Chikaru herself had made sure of it. However, from the phone call she had received the week before, it was apparent both were still full of worry over it that she would have to settle it for them. Just this once she had decided. After all, she wasn't a student here any longer, so no matter how this went, it would be them who would have to take change soon enough. But she just couldn't resist one last chance to return to this special place of her memories.

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The walk over to Yuki-san's house was not a long one. To Shuichi however, even knowing that she was going to see the one person she knew absolutely wouldn't hate her, the butterflies in her stomach refused to go away. As she reached the door she hesitated. What if she doesn't want to have to be reminded of the situations in her own past? What if I'm just going to be bothering her when I don't even know what to say?

The decision of whether to not or just go home however, was taken from her as Shiina; Yuki's Boyfriend came up the, carrying a grocery bag, and saw her.

"Hey Shu-chan, how are you doing today, Yuki was wondering where you've been we haven't seen you in a whi-." While she wasn't really trying to, the look on Shuichi's face stopped Shiina midsentence. "What's happened?" His face went from relaxed to serious in a flash. "Did someone hurt you or make fun of you again?" He asked.

What am I doing? If I'm going to doubt Yuki and Shiina I might as well just give up entirely. With that not really being an option she opened her mouth to respond.

"No, Shiina-san, it.. It's nothing like that. I just really need to talk to Yuki-san right now." She tried to force a smile, but it was weak. Shiina eyed her thoughtfully, but then just shrugged and smiled.

"Well, I can't say as I know what's bothering you, but Yuki's been wanting to see you anyways so lets just ahead in." He pulled out his keys and opened the door. "Yuki, I'm back! And I brought a friend home with me!"

"What do you mean 'a friend'?" Yuki asked coming around from the kitchen, looking slightly menacing, she stopped and laughed. "Nitorin! It's been forever. Its pretty late in the day to be seeing you though…" Getting a better look at the obviously nervous Shuichi, she said, "What's wrong?" She asked, immediately noting something in the way Shu was acting. It took her a minute before it came to her why it felt so familiar. Her face softened. Oh.. Well then.

"Come on, the living room is better than the hall anyways. I'll get us some drinks and we can talk. Shi, if you don't mind..." She trailed off looking at her lover. Between her voice and the look, it didn't take him more than a second however.

"Yeah, some of the guys from work were saying I don't hang out enough anyways, I think I can find something to do after all." Matching his words, he set the groceries on the counter and set out.

At the same time, Yuki had settled a still incredibly nervous Shuichi on the couch and made them both some hot chocolate.

"Now, what's up dear?" Yuki began gently, she was pretty sure she knew exactly where this was going, but rushing Shuichi would be both a terrible idea and just generally a cruel thing to do to an obviously struggling person.

Shuichi was thankful for the obvious support, not that it would make admitting out loud her own hearts long hidden desire any easier.

"Yuki-san.. I.." She paused.. This is Yuki-san, she's not going to hate you, just go ahead and say it. "I..I realized something today. I.." She stopped again. This was not going to be easy..

"Oh? And what would that be?" Yuki asked, trying to sound as supportive and non-threatening as possible. Shuichi swallowed hard and took a big sip of her drink. She summoned what little courage she felt like she had left.

"You know I've always said I wanted to be a girl?" Yuki nodded, "well… " She took a deep breath, " I was wrong, I didn't want to be one, I.. I am one.." She said finally, a weight lifting from her shoulders as she spoke it out loud. It had been one thing to say it to herself, it was quite another to say it to someone else, even if it was Yuki-san. She risked a glance at Yuki. She was smiling.

"Well now, isn't that something?" Yuki began," And how does that realization make you feel Shu?"

Shuichi just thought for a minute. When she finally spoke, Yuki was surprised to hear the energy she put into her words. "To be honest, A lot of things. It.. Its wonderful knowing how I really feel, but at the same time I.. I'm terrified. What am I going to do? How will my family treat me? They already thought it was weird I dressed like a girl, and now this? I.. I jus… I just don't know what to do Yuki-san.." She began to tear up. Yuki, seeing an all to familiar scene from her own past playing out before her once again, felt tears start to form in her own eyes. She took Shu in her arms.

"Shh.. It'll be all right. I can't say what will happen with your parents, I have never actually met them, but what I can say is no matter what happens, I promise you that me and Shiina will be here for you, that I promise." Shu seemed to ease a little at that. After a few more minutes she finally said, not really looking up at Yuki.

"Is it really possible? For me to be a girl?" She asked. Yuki thought for a minute."

"Shu, you are who you are, that's all you ever can be, and all you ever will be. No one, not even me, can change that. Only you know what lies in your heart. The road ahead of you will be difficult. I'm not going to lie, in time; it may cost you every part of the life you've come to know. " Shu looked terrified. "However Shu, My dear Shu, if you're willing to risk everything, in time you'll find your life will feel more full than it had before. Even in hardship and suffering, it's a lot easier to deal with them all when you're your true self. " And it opens so many doors you never even thought possible before.

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For some, the summer was a time to enjoy, to get away from school and enjoy time with friends and family. For Tamao on the other hand, summer was just another reminder of the pointlessness of everything. And it kept her in the constant presence of her own brooding thoughts.

She was easily the most recognizable and indeed admired girl left at Miator. As a result of this, when it came time to choose the Student Council for the next year, despite her own objections to the idea, she had become Miator's new Representative.

For her part, she'd rather have been left alone entirely. The previously year had been especially rough on her. While the talk of scandal and immortality surrounding the Etoile election had been the talk of not just Astraea Hill, but much of the surrounding city, for her it had been far more devastating.

The first real love of her life, Aoi Nagisa, had rejected her for the former Etoile Shizuma. The two had run off rather before the contest had even completed, leaving Tamao not just broken hearted, but all but alone, She hadn't been particularly close to anyone else but Nagisa.

Now she really just found it hard to care at all about the affairs of this school, where every hall was a reminder of loss and hurt. At first she had tried to remember the positive, to enjoy the memory of all the good times she and Nagisa had shared. This had worked for much of the remaining school year, and indeed helped lead her to be nominated, and win, the Council position quite handily. At the time, despite her own misgivings, it had seemed like a good idea for a distraction. All the control and responsibility of keeping a school as prestigious as Miator on track should have been perfect for keeping her mind of its darker corners.

Then the summer break had come and all but a mere handful of the students on Astraea Hill went home to be with family. Tamao really didn't have a family she cared to go home to, so she found herself alone with her thoughts and nothing to distract her.

Very quickly she had found herself brooding and her spirits darkening consistently. By the time students began to trickle back into the school as the beginning of the new school year approached, they found the person they had chosen as Miator's Representative had become a cold, quiet and totally unapproachable individual. Indeed in such stark contrast to the girl everyone had known just a few short weeks before that at first some thought Tamao had had a sister who started that year.

The New Year for her was just another series of days, life had such little purpose and meaning that it was an effort to even get up in the morning.

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"Absolutely NOT. There is no way I would even consider this, you are a boy and my son and that's the end of this conversation." Her father said, not yelling or angrily, but severely and with a look that brooked no rebuttal. Shuichi was sitting at her family's dining room table with her parents and her sister, Maho. This conversation had honestly not gone as bad as she had expected, even with her father's absolute denial of what was in front of him.

She had decided that this had to be her next step. It had been a week since her talk with Yuki-san. P, she felt a lot better, as she had really begun to think about it, she realized that there was no way she could continue living as she had before. It was one thing to do it not really understanding, but to try while knowing.. She wasn't sure she could handle it.

So here she was, taking the only step she had available to her, telling her parents the truth about everything. It wasn't exactly going well..

"Shuichi, I know you've had a hard time at school, and I get that you've dressed like a girl a lot over the last few years, but honey this is totally different, you can't expect your father and I to just act like its not a big deal. This can ruin your life." Her mother was the far more caring of the two. Not, she admitted, that her father didn't care because he did, but he just didn't know how to deal with what he was hearing. Her mother's feelings were often an open book on the other hand.

"I know that mom.. I.. I've known THAT for a very long time… but its not something I can just ignore, before it was an interest, even a desire, but now.. Now it's just me. If you had been born like this.. Could you have just hidden it away?" Her mother look looked at her differently for a minute but before she could speak.

"It doesn't matter you aren't going to be waltzing around my house dressing like a girl, you'll disgrace the entire family." Her father started again.

"Now see here," his mother started, but his father waved her to silence.

"She won't," he said, his wording stopping everyone's protests immediately, "Shu.. What I said holds for me, you are my son, and I love you." He looked at Shu with an expression Shu had never seen before on him "I.. I will try to come to terms with this change in my own way. However, right now it is true that we can't allow you to stay here."

Once again waving his wife to be quiet he continued, " She can't dear, you know that. Shu its not a matter of us caring about you, we both do dearly, but Japan right now is a dangerous place for people in your.. Unique situation. I want what's best for you, and staying here is not that. Everyone within miles of here, and everyone at school will know who you are, all of them will know, or at least think they know, what's going on with you. Its entirely possible with the way the climate is in this city, you could get mugged or stabbed on the street." His wife looked horrified, "Its true dear, you've seen the news lately." Shu's mother sighed and looked at her sadly, but said nothing.

"No, you cannot stay, but I will not just abandon my child either. I have a few connections left within the city, they should be able to bypass some of the laws and get your gender and named changed in the registry for me." He stopped looking at Shu thoughtfully, "I have an old friend who runs a school on the other side of the country should be willing to take you in. She's not the nicest lady, but if I talk to her she should understand. Its not ideal, I'd rather be able to keep you closer in case you needed help, but truthfully it may be best to give you this chance to start over."

Everyone in the room was at a loss for words, Shu's father had never been the most understanding of men, particularly with Shu, but something about the way Shu had described her situation, seemed to at least let him relent on some things, even if his plan was a bit extreme.

"I do not like the idea of shipping Shu off to some remote part of the country in shame! Its no better than saying we hate him." His mother was starting to cry.

"Dear, the school I'm talking about is neither some backwoods nothing school nor a disciplinary school, its one of the finest private schools in Japan, run by a group of caring but ornery nuns actually." He paused, "It's also an all-girls school."

"It's a WHAT?" Shu's sister had been silent until now, mostly just issuing looks of disgust as often as she could, but at that she had to interrupt, " HE gets to go to a fancy all girl's school while I am stuck in a shitty public school here? That's not even remotely fair!"

"Watch your mouth young lady, and this is different and you know it."

"You're rewarding Shu for being a pervert is what it is, AND you're going to expose a school full of girls to him? Are you kidding me?" His sister was getting worked up fast, but suddenly.

SLAP

Shu's mother slapped her across the face hard enough to make everyone in the room jump,

"Maho, go to you're room, this conversation no longer involves you."

"But,-"

"NOW, or you can kiss all of your after school activities goodbye for the next month." Maho all but ran out the door then.

"I'm sorry Shu, your sister just needs time to get over this is all. We all do really." Her mother gave her a slight smile. "You know, I don't suppose this really should be that surprising actually. It's not like you ever acted like any of the other boys anyways." She was starting to tear up again however, " I will miss you though.. Your father may be right, but I don't have to like it.."

"Ok, I'm going to make some calls, hopefully we can get this sorted out before school starts next month, that will help avoid drawing any attention." With that the hardest conversation of Shuichi's life had come to a close. Her mother went back to making dinner, occasionally giving her looks over the counter, kind ones, but concerned.

Inside Shu was elated, terrified and saddened. She had always known this was a possibility. Now that it was actually happening though, and with her father's blessing, of sorts, she was truly happy.

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It was two weeks before the start of the new term when Tamao and the other Council heads met to discuss the incoming arrivals, as well as make the first initial plans for the years up coming Etoile Competition. If she could have at all avoided it, Tamao would have skipped it entirely, but no one else was available, and even if they were, this was the very first meeting of the year, she couldn't find an excuse to miss it.

"So, still feeling broody I see?" Yaya Nanto had been elected as the Head Spica Representative mostly due to the fact the only other two viable candidates were the current Etoiles and were suppose to represent the entire school, as such she had been nominated, and due to situations similar to Tamao's own, chosen to accept the honors.

"And I hear you're just as flirty with the new arrivals as ever Yaya." Tamao shot back. She liked Yaya; they had been allies in love for a time the previous year. Though in the end, neither had gotten their wish.

"So where are the two Lulim girls who are suppose to be joining us for this occasion?" Yaya asked as she took her seat.

"They should be here by now actually-"

"Yeah, I understand mother, yes I will make sure to handle it carefully." To both Yaya and Tamao's surprise, the two Lulim representatives were led into the room by the previous years legendary Rep Chikaru Minamoto.

"Chikaru-san!" both said standing up, Tamao continued, "Why are you here?"

"Well dear, these two asked for my help, and its just as well, seeing as how it has come to my attention that not only will this be the last year for the Etoile, but also Lulim's last chance to win it!"

"That as may, only council members are allowed in here during a meeting,"

"Oh dear, well I guess it's a good thing I head the headwomen's permission to help these two for the first couple of weeks of school then." Chikaru smiled happily, though everyone in the room knew just how powerful her presence was, for all of its innocent appearance. "OH! We brought the list of the last minute admissions to the school this year."

Tamao winced slightly, the previous year had had only one late admission, and that one had nearly destroyed Tamao from the inside. Still, what were the odds of that ever happening again?

"It seems we have 3, so we can split them between the schools without fuss to be fair. Lets see: We have Saori Chiba, Yoshino Takasuki, and Seiko Nitori. All are 6th grade and all are.. Well that's curious," She looked thoughtful.

"What is it?" Yaya asked.

"All three of these girls are from the same school. It seems that one of them had to relocate here due to family troubles and the other two chose to come with her. Well, it will be nice to have girls form different schools interacting more on Astraea anyways."

In short order it had been decided, rather arbitrarily since Yaya just grabbed a file at random and Chikaru and Tamao just took the other two. Saori would be in Lulim; Yoshino in Spica and Seiko would be in Miator. Tamao decided to take a closer look at the new student, as much out of boredom as of anything else.

Seiko Nitori, age 15. Brown hair, 5'4". Measurements. Those seem way off. Well let's just see how she looks. She turned the page, but where the image was suppose to be there was a note, "Photo not available for record, and needs to be taken upon students arrival." Well, that's unfortunate. Well, lets see where she'll be staying.

Tamao opened the housing guide for the Miator section of the on campus dorms. Scrolling through the rooms she was shocked to find only one was open at all. There has to be another room. She thought, desperately hoping to have missed one. Alas, it seemed her days of being alone were at an end. The bed vacated by Nagisa was the only one they had left, indeed it seemed the previous year had attracted quite a few new students over the break, so many that nearly everyone in all of the sections of the dorms were near to capacity. Well, I guess its not all bad. She smiled, rare for her; At least I'll have someone to talk to at night. Her introspective look was lost on the others, Chikaru discussing and explaining the books to her two replacements, and Yaya all but drooling over the new arrival to Spica. Tamao shook herself back to the moment however.

"So now that is settled we should really discuss the plans for the Etoile." Everyone stopped to look at her, "It is our last, and so it should fittingly be as incredible and splendid as we can possibly make it." And since last year's event was so enormous and significant, that's a tall order to beat. "So, does anyone have any ideas?"

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The last month of her life had been a dream. But Shuichi, or rather Seiko, had discovered so much about what she had been missing in her life. Her father had indeed managed to bypass much of what was usually necessary to accomplish what they had in such a short time.

By all records, she had always been a girl and by all effort of her friends and family, she had a wardrobe and appearance to match. Not that the latter was hard, seeing as how she already looked much more feminine than most.

Far more surprising to her however, was how her two closest friends had reacted when she had explained to them what was happening and what she was going to be doing. She had been unsure of their support, but as it turned out, both did farm ore than she had ever expected.

- Two weeks Prior-

"What do you mean your leaving?" Saori said, " You can't leave us, not over something like this, neither of us care, and if anyone else does, we'll they'll have to deal with us too."

"Saori is right Shu," Yoshino said, not quite as confident as Saori, but still determined, "You don't have to leave, the two of us aren't exactly strangers to being ridiculed, and we have Yuki-san if we really need her."

"Yoshino-san, Saori-chan, I.. I can't. I can't risk you two getting hurt for me. Where I'm going I'll be fine." I think.

"Shu, you're not even ok alone HERE, let alone miles away without any help at all." Saori responded. She Hesitated. "If you're so dead set on this, I'm going with you!"

"WHAT," both Shu and Yoshino said at the same time, "Saori-chan, you CAN'T come with me, your parent's wont just let you up and move across the country for no reason, and its not like you can tell them why, or they CERTIANLY won't let you."

"My parents barely know where I am most of the time anyways," She replied, "Besides, We have the money, all I have to do is say I want to get a better education away from boys and they'll jump at the offer." She Smiled, "I m NOT letting someone like you face this on your own."

Yoshino looked troubled. "I.. I'll go too." They both stared at him.

"Yoshino-san, you don't have to force yourself to do something like this for me, we both know you're not that different from me, and this is an all girls school, there wouldn't be any boys clothes to wear, even if you really wanted to." Shu didn't want to leave Yoshino, the two of them were so very close, but at the same time she knew Yoshino's heart, and how he felt, asking him to do this would be beyond cruel.

"You.. Your right.. Its not something I would ever want to do.. But …but.." He began to tear up, "With you and Saori both leaving, I wont have anyone left.. Everyone else at school looks at me differently. None of them want to know me, just the image I give off." He sighed. "I am going, I.. I'll find a way to be myself even there. Besides, Saori's right, we can't just let you run off on your own Shu.

"You guys…"

-End Flashback-

So it was the three of them found themselves at the gates of Astraea Hill, the three school in one all-girls school. I can't believe this is really happening. Seiko thought to herself, Its real.. this really is.. I'm finally going to be free to be who I've always dreamed of.

Her two friends in tow, Seiko Nitori began the slow climb up the hill towards her future. Towards hardship and love, pain and indescribable happiness. So Seiko began her climb up Astrea Hill.

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I really hope everyone enjoyed this chapter/story. I plan to continue it, but whether or not I do really depends a lot on how it's received. I always enjoy feedback, good or bad, and I do try to actually respond to reviews when they aren't just a single sentence or word.

Beyond that, I enjoyed writing this story. It's not an easy topic to write about for anyone really, but I feel like I did a good job of it.