Notes: A short piece on Shizuru's feelings during the HiME festival. This does not completely following the Mai-HiME chain of events.

It's these fantasies that keep me awake at night. The ones that keep me tossing and turning in bed, rapturously tugging at my blankets as I squirm in delight. Oh, these are the dreams I have that are my midnight sedative and my morning stimulant. In so many ways, this is what I long for.

That beautiful girl with dark black hair that in so many ways contrasts my very being, and in just as many ways , if not more, captures my fancy. This is the girl who's expression seems to impose a threat on any who look upon her with impure thoughts. Her eyes seem to demand fear from these foolish gossips. In turn, many a man cowers away in fear.

But I know better. Though those eyes seem icy and cruel on the outside, they conceal a sweet, innocent child on the inside. The child who was broken down by the early death of her mother, the abandonment of her father, the loss of heart... why should such horrendous things happen to such a delicate girl? But just as well... I could not imagine having the same enticed feeling if this girl were a giggly, pig-tailed, care free teenager.

Although, I must admit, it would be extremely adorable.

But this girl... no, she was so much more than that. Her body, not her body language, seemed to tell it all. A muscular, but not masculine, body that was tight in all the right places. Perfectly milky skin, as though some high powered being had carved her of moonlight and ivory. Silky blue-black hair that gently slips between my fingers and slowly drifts down onto her shoulder. Icy aqua green eyes that were like frozen ponds, cool and collected, but frozen by the melancholy of winter.

My icy princess was indeed the ice-element HiME. Her heart was encased by ice, shielding her from the cruel world around her and, in turn, numbing her to emotions. This freezer consumed her body, making her blood run cold. In turn, her body become cold. All of her was cold.

But oh, this girl was made to be a summer girl! How I longed to wrap my body around her and keep her warm. To become like a blanket for her, shielding her from chaos and agony, warming that lovely body and melting her frozen heart. That innocent, lazy summer heart, that could have been, would have been, SHOULD have been so careless and kind! I have to protect her! I have to melt this coldness that has enveloped this summer princess!

And so, I will. No matter how much my heart aches and breaks for her touch. No matter how much she shies away from me. I will melt this winter spell and free my summer princess. I will free and protect this girl, and break through everything that gets in my way.

Even if it is my sanity.

A/N: R&R is appreciated. Flames are... not so appreciated. This is my first Mai-Hime fic, so please go easy on me!