Author's notes:

Welcome to Fortified Blade!

After having getting hooked on shoujo-ai anime/manga lately, I wanted to try and write a shoujo-ai story myself. It will be featuring mainly OCs and it might take a few chapters before canon characters make their first appearance. Technically, you could consider this a side story that I plan to entangle with the canon story of the manga at some point, though I can really not promise in exactly what way that will happen, since the manga is slowly but steadily ongoing.

The M rating is there because, at least at some points, the story will get as graphic as the site allows it, so consider that when reading.

Also, this is the first time I am using first-person-narration, so if anything feels off or is unclear, be so kind to point it out. That being said,

Enjoy!

Edit: minor corrections in typing/tenses/wording

Fortified Blade – Chapter 1

1-1: My high school life could not have started any worse

I remember the day clearly when my life would suddenly take an 180 degree turn. It was the first day of my high school career. And, how it is always bound to happen to me when something as important as that was about to happen, after oversleeping, missing my bus, trying to run to the train station, being passed by another bus I could have taken and missing two trains and in addition to that getting lost on my way to my new school, I was running awfully late.

Really, I could as well have just gone back home to call in sick.

But that was not the kind of person I was. You see, my parents have always been rather strict with me. Especially because they were afraid that I would be distracted from my studies by going to a co-educational school. Hence, I had spent my three years of middle school in an all girls school. However, unlike most of the other girls there, I was interested. What were my parents trying to protect me from? I did read about it in magazines, manga (which I had to thoroughly hide), novels and TV dramas – about the thing called love. And from everything I knew it must have been something truly amazing.

I was a very diligent person. Not necessarily good at what I did, but I always saw it through to the best of my ability. And I wanted to know, know what romance, dating and love were like. So I had made a deal with my parents: would I constantly place in the top 100 of my school during my third year in middle school I could go to whatever school I wanted. At first they were against that idea, but after showing them how earnest I was about it they agreed.

And, what do you know, if you work hard enough you can do the thing.

So, after everything I had done in order to be finally able to go to a co-educational school I had to be late on my first day. Very late.

When I arrived on the school grounds the opening ceremony had already begun. Luckily, I had looked up what class I would be in beforehand, so I somehow managed to slip in and place somewhere between all the students and hoped that I would not stick out.

After the ceremony was over I went to the staff office to find my homeroom teacher and apologize for what had happened.

"Excuse me, please."

A teacher, likely in his 50s directed his gaze at me.

"How may I help you?"

"I am Shinsetsu Noriko from class 1-C. I apologize, but due to circumstances that are completely my fault I missed homeroom. May I talk to my homeroom teacher?"

I had bowed down very, very deeply before I said that. And I was embarrassed beyond good and evil. Hatsuoka was a very prestigious school and getting in there was a very difficult task. And yet, at my very first day, I had to go out of my way to make myself seem like a slacker.

"Matsuda-sensei has already headed for his next class. But I'm sure you will be able to talk to him during lunch break. Also, you should be heading to your next class now. Kyoka-san, the representative elected for your class, is here. You should go with her."

He pointed at a tall girl standing across the room, discussing something with another teacher. When I looked at her I was taken aback for a moment. I think, that, up to today, I have never seen a person as beautiful as her again. Her hair was so black that it seemed that even the brightest light would have been completely absorbed by it. Her ponytail that reached down below her hips seemed to leave a shadow when ever it moved around due to her elegant gestures. Her skin was spotless and so bright one could have said it was white. And then, when she moved around and began walking towards me, my heart skipped a beat as my gaze was met by that of her deep, black eyes.

The teacher I had talked to said something to her and as she answered, her deep, soothing voice cleared my mind of every last thought. Without being able to say anything I followed her out of the staff room and then just walked behind her, not daring to be next to her, because I was afraid of tainting her image by doing so.

I wonder what kind of face I had back then. But I am sure it was filled with amazement.

"Tardy on your first day. That's bold, Shinsetsu-san."

Unable to react in any other way I froze stiff, somehow managed to bow down and apologized all over again.

"Don't apologize to me. It is of no concern to me how you decide to go about your education."

"You are right… I'm sorry."

I stumbled over those words. She sighed.

"There you go apologizing to me again. Try to listen to what people tell you."

"You… you're right. I'm sorry."

I had said it again.

"How long are you going to stand there? I will leave you behind."

I managed to snap out of it and caught up to her, just to walk behind her again. My gaze was glued to the ground and I knew that my face was bright red at that moment. Getting lectured by the class representative right on the first day, on top of that by a person as beautiful and intimidating as her – my high school life could not have started any worse.

1-2: I instantly realized that I had gotten myself worked up for nothing

I somehow managed to get through the rest of the day. I had been able to talk to Matsuda-sensei and to apologize to him. I had even managed to get to know some of my classmates. To be frank, I had been nervous going to a school like Hatsuoka. I had imagined that the students there would be a bit more stiff – but apparently Kyoka-san was an exception.

During the rest of the day I had often caught myself looking at her. Not that anybody could have blamed me. Not only was she utterly beautiful, she also had a fragility about her that made me think that she'd shatter to bits if I touched her – and yet had an aura so intimidating that not the hungriest pack of wolves could have begun to compare to her. And, though I had not thought about the meaning of that at all, our eyes had met several more times that day. Of course, whenever our gazes met, I instantly looked away. For some reason I had no means of knowing, I found it embarrassing to directly look at her face.

After the rest of the school day had ended rather peacefully despite me being scolded for not paying attention in class – as just stated, for some reason it had been elsewhere – I was about to head home with a classmate.

And when I opened my shoe locker my heart stood still for a moment. In there lay a letter in a pink envelope with a heart sticker keeping it closed. My inability to process what was going on had shown clearly on my face and the fact that I was not proceeding to change my shoes got my classmate's attention.

"What is it?"

Kitani-chan, who I had intended to head home with, had asked that question, leading to me slamming my locker shut. What was going on? What was that rose colored envelope doing in my locker? Wasn't that obviously a love letter? No, no, that couldn't be, not on my first day. Was it a prank? Punishment for me being tardy? Had I angered someone?

Hastily I opened the locker again, confirmed that there was indeed a letter, took it out and, while saying that I had forgotten something, rushed off.

After finding myself a spot where I thought I could read it without being found out I sat there. For quite a while, just staring at that letter in my hands. I felt like I was in a Manga. Things like that wouldn't happen in real life, of that I thought I was sure. But I had wanted to go to a co-educational school in order to find out what love and romance were. Still, at that very moment I was so nervous that I couldn't even read the letter. But, if it really was a genuine love letter, wouldn't I have hurt someones feelings by not at least reading it?

I had pondered about what to do for quite a while before I was finally able to open and read it.

"Please come to the north side of the school rooftop after school."

That was all the letter said. And still, the moment I had laid eyes on the girlish handwriting I instantly realized that I had gotten myself worked up for nothing. Of course a girl would not confess to me. I let out a long sigh. And then I realized something. Taking a look at my wristwatch I realized that it was almost past five. Without a second thought I rushed off, hoping that the sender would still be waiting.

1-3: In the end I didn't even get to say what I had intended to

Impatience. Was that how that feeling was called? Or anticipation? I had been standing up there, all alone, left to my thoughts and those feelings in my chest for what could have been hours. She read it, didn't she? Did I put it in the right one?

No, I wouldn't have screwed up like that, because, that day, I had fallen in love.

Have you ever felt how everyone around you is the same, dull person and they're all just wrapped in different skins? They listen to the same music, have the same, meaningless conversations, put on masks in order to fit their surroundings, aren't honest with themselves. And even when they ponder about whether to show their true feelings, they usually can't make up their mind or decide against it.

I have always been different. And that's why I would also be bold that day.

The moment I had seen her in the staff room, all flustered because she had been late on her first day, blushing and fidgeting with her fingers, I felt like I wanted to see much, much more of that. How long had it been like I met someone showing their feelings openly like that? I knew instantly that I had fallen for her.

My heart skipped a beat when I heard the door to the rooftop being opened in a hurry. I was facing away from it, my gaze directed to nowhere, when I could hear her heavy breathing as she tried to catch her breath. And that made me all the more nervous. But… with both of us being too nervous in that situation, nothing good would ever come out of it. So I took a deep breath, hoping she would not notice, in order to calm myself.

I slightly turned my head and regarded her out of the corner of my eye. She had stemmed her hands onto her knees and her upper body was waving with the rhythm of her breaths. Despite it being April already it was still cold enough for me to see clouds of humidity coming out of her mouth, making me grip the fence I was standing at tighter.

"Letting me wait when I got something important to talk to you about. That's pretty bold."

Still not able to change her posture she raised her gaze to meet mine. And seeing that confused look on it, her steaming red cheeks and beads of sweat running down her forehead and temples – I swear I could have eaten her back then.

I turned around and slowly took some steps towards her until we were just a meter apart, not missing a single instant of the lively changes in that fir green eyes of hers.

She managed to stand up somewhat straight again.

"Kyoka-san, I'm..."

"… sorry?

Her already clearly visible blush intensified.

"I should be apologizing, surprising you like that right on our first day here."

Before she could react I took another big step towards her. At that moment I could almost hear her heart pound. And I knew exactly how she felt, because for me it was the same. Not a single shred of doubt was within me after having seen that adorable girl in the state she was as I spoke up.

"There is something important I need to tell you. Will you listen to what I have to say?"

She straightened up completely. Though not easing up in the slightest I could see that she had become significantly more honest. Did she know what was coming for her? I made it pretty obvious, did I not?

"Yes, I will."

Suddenly I became nervous again. But at this point there was no turning back, so I went for it.

"Is there someone you like at the moment?"

Her mouth opened slightly and a shimmer of utter beauty went through that lively eyes of hers. The letter she had still been holding in her right hand dropped to the ground as she released it. And at that moment I knew that I had hit the mark.

"Th-there's… not… r-really..."

That wouldn't happen. I wouldn't let her get away with that half-assery. Without warning I placed my hands on the sides of her neck and pulled her face so close to mine that a sheet of paper would have barely fit between or lips, almost making her trip. She was so short compared to me that I had to slightly bend down to keep the posture we had gotten in. Her hands slipped to the sides of my chest where they tightly grasped my uniform. Her eyes had opened widely and were sparkling with all kinds of emotions and her hot breath was tickling my face.

"If that is the case, why is you heart racing like that then?"

I had whispered that so faintly that I wasn't sure if she had actually heard me. But with our chests being pushed together like they were there was no way I could have been mistaken. This girl had fallen for me and I would make her admit it.

"I… I don't..."

I quieted her down as I closed the distance between our lips. She had started pinching the sides of my chest as her eyes slowly closed, pushing a few teardrops out. And then I closed my eyes, too.

As our tongues where gently fondling each other and I could hear our stifled moans, she kept pinching the sides of my chest. And even though it hurt really bad and would be sure to leave marks, I knew she didn't do it to make me stop. It was her way of clinging to me. And it made me the happiest person on earth.

But that bliss shouldn't last long. Without warning she suddenly ended our kiss forcefully by shoving me away, making me trip and fall onto my rear.

"I-I'm sorry!"

Before I knew it she had shouted that, turned around and ran away. I hadn't even been able to take another look at her face. I let my self fall onto my back and placed both of my hands atop my heart which was beating at a strength and speed I didn't think was even possible for a human without it bursting.

I sighed. Then a bright, probably utterly stupid looking grin of joy appeared on my face.

"Aw man, I screwed that one up."

In the end I didn't even get to say what I had intended to.

1-4: I had totally forgotten about that

"What do I do?"

That I had been mumbling the whole morning. And even though I had been walking unnaturally slowly I had somehow ended up in front of the school gates, on time at that.

I hadn't slept much the night before. No, that was an understatement. I had not slept at all. What had happened the day before on the rooftop between me and Kyoka-san hadn't left me alone for even a second. Even standing right there in front of the school gates I only could think about that. How would I be able to face her after what she did, what I did?

Kissing me suddenly like that I was unable to tell what she was thinking. What had she called me out for? Had she wanted to confess to me?

"No, no, no, no, no."

I was violently shaking my head while saying that. There was just no way that was possible. We were both girls after all.

Well, that was what I would have liked to think. But, those feelings that I've had during that time, when she kissed me, that huge wave of colorful emotions – no matter how I looked at it, could it have been anything besides love? But if so, why? Why now? If it was true… if I really liked girls, why would I, after spending my middle schools years with only girls, fall in love right on my first day in high school? It wasn't possible.

It really wasn't possible.

I let out the biggest sigh of my life so far.

"What's with that big sigh, Noricchi?"

Gasping in surprise I turned around to spot Kitani-chan.

"Ah… I… it's… good morning, Kitani-chan."

My voice had become fainter with each word, earning me merely puzzled looks from her. I tried to pull myself together – and tell a little lie.

"Ah, I'm really sorry. I just thought about facing everyone after screwing up so much yesterday."

Well, not all of that was a lie, though. Actually, it was pretty much the truth.

Before I knew it, Kitani-chan had grabbed my hand and was dragging me towards the lockers.

"We need to hurry!"

"Wh-why? We've still got twenty minutes."

"But you need to let me copy the English assignment, Noricchi!"

Shit. Shit! I had totally forgotten about that.

1-5: And I could just sit there

Fifteen minutes before classes would start, Kitani-chan and I were desperately trying to do our English homework. Because of my thoughts circling around the rooftop incident, I had totally forgotten to do it. Well, even if I had remembered, I doubt I would have been able to do it. Even then I was still too nervous to get any work done.

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder and noticed a face right next to mine. The moment I realized whose it was my heart almost stopped.

"Being grandiosely late on your first they and doing homework right before classes start on your second day. There is a limit to being bold. What are you, a delinquent?"

My heart was pounding heavily and my face felt hot, was likely bright red. Her hand was touching my shoulder and her face was so close to mine, that I had felt her breath when she was scolding me just then. And to top it off her gaze was so enchanting, that I was unable to take my eyes off it.

"I… you… I mean."

There I went, unable to say a straight line to that person again. All the memories of the day before suddenly poured into my mind yet again, as if it had happened just moments before.

And what was with her, approaching me as if nothing had happened? Had she only been playing with me, after all? And why did she only scold me, but not Kitani-chan?

A notebook being slapped onto my head brought me back into reality.

"I asked you if you want to copy mine. Listen when people are talking."

"Oh… I… is it okay?"

"If it wasn't I wouldn't offer it."

"Thank you!"

"Oh, so you can answer a question properly?"

She had said that under her breath, letting out a sigh. Before I could say anything she told us to make it quick since time was running out. A look on my wristwatch told me that she was right and both Kitani-chan and I began to copy the assignment.

Right before the bell would ring, we were done and I handed the notebook back to Kyoka-san, who had been standing next to me all the time. And just when I thought that, if it was a normal situation like that, I could probably act normally around her, she had to go and make me feel all fuzzy again.

"Meet me at the rooftop after school."

And before I had a chance to react she had already went back to her seat.

"Oh, Noricchi, are you having a date?"

"D-don't say nonsense like that! S-she's probably j-just going to lecture me again!"

Then the teacher walked in and everyone rushed back to their respective seats. And I could just sit there, heart pounding, involuntarily staring at Kyoka-san.

1-6: It was too late – I had broken her heart

The day had been gone in a flash. After our encounter right before the first lesson had started, I hadn't talked to Kyoka-san again. And I have felt awkward the whole day. Just like the day before I found myself staring at her all the time – but not once she looked back at me. And then, after classes had ended, when she was about to leave the classroom, she had looked at me, even though for but a moment, with that endlessly deep gaze of hers.

With the situation as it was I had to muster all my courage to even get out of my seat. When I took a look around I realized that I was the only one left in the classroom. Even Kitani-chan had left, probably trying to say "bye" to me, but I had just not noticed.

Just what had that Kyoka-san done to me to make me feel like this? I was pondering about it while slowly walking through the hallways to my destination, the rooftop. Never before in my life had I been this confused, this nervous, this anxious like that – and yet I was strangely looking forward to seeing her.

When I finally arrived at the door that would lead to the rooftop my heart was pounding like crazy again. Yet again I was unable to move a single muscle for minutes. What would happen if I now stepped out there? Memories of our kiss were filling my mind again at a rate that made me dizzy. Would she kiss me again? That was all I could think about.

"What should I do?"

"How about you come out here already?"

Instantly, as following a command, I slammed open the door and rushed out – running right into Kyoka-san who instantly grabbed me by my upper arms and pulled me what felt to be even closer to her than the day before. As our gazes met my knees seemed to turn into jelly and I felt like I could melt away at any second. Yet again our chests were so close that I could feel her heartbeat and her gentle gaze seemed to draw me in.

"Close your eyes."

When she said that with the gentlest of voices, I felt, that whatever resistance was left in my body was collapsing like a house of cards. So I obeyed.

Then, suddenly, she let her arms slide around my head and pushed my face against her chest tightly. Intensely I could take in the faintly sweet smell of her body while her hands were sliding through my hair, making a mess of it. But for a reason I could not explain even today, it all felt so good that I could not bring myself to complain, let alone resist. So I embraced her back, letting my hands gently glide up her back, having them rest on her shoulders and pulling her even closer.

"I apologize for startling you yesterday."

I buried my face even deeper into her warm chest as if to stop her heart, which was pounding as if it wanted to jump right out of it, from doing so.

"I'm sorry, too. I didn't know what to do and then went and attacked you like that."

She opened our embrace up a little so she could look at my face. And I could see hers. It had become slightly red and there was the faintest of smiles on it. And if I really hadn't fallen in love with her until then, that was the exact moment I did.

"Yesterday I asked you a question. Do you still remember?"

My hearth began to throb even more than it already was.

"You… asked me… whether there is someone I like, right?"

"Yes. Will you answer that question today?"

"I think, there is someone I like."

She closed her eyes and sighed.

"Still not giving me a proper answer, I see."

She then opened the embrace completely, letting her hands slide down my arms and then gently took my hands, placing her fingers between mine. Her face had become honest, the smile had vanished. And even though I was certain what was about to come, though I had somehow been able to convince myself I'd be prepared, my mind was almost blank.

"There is something I need to tell you, so please listen carefully."

"Yes."

"Yesterday I fell in love with you."

My heart almost stopped and I suddenly felt as light as a feather.

"The moment I saw you, I was convinced: I want to be with you. And I was convinced that you feel the same for me. I know, I might seem pushy. No, I probably am. But I am not going to leave you alone until you admit it."

Then she let go of my hands, making a step back. I could just stand there and look into her eyes, unable to say or do anything. All I felt were the raging beats of my heart pulsating throughout my body.

"Will you please… answer my feelings?"

That question caused a maelstrom of emotions and thoughts within me. I could tell that Ryoka-san was absolutely serious and I hated myself for having doubted her before. How should I, who had absolutely no experience with love, who just came to a co-educational school in order to just find out what it even is, answer an upright person like her? No, rather, how could I even answer her? What right did I have? I had only been thinking about the pettiest things, how everything went on so fast and how we were both girls, while she had mustered all her courage to tell me how she feels. There was no way I was worthy of her, regardless of what I felt.

Distress took over. I had lost what little confidence I had and my gaze dropped right to the ground. I was shaking and wildly fidgeting with my fingers as I stumbled the greatest amount of nonsense I could possibly have in that situation.

"I… You see… I'm… really grateful for your feelings. Nobody… has ever looked at me like that. I'm so… overwhelmed… that someone like you… would say that you fell in love with me. I'm… really… truly…. happy. But… someone like me couldn't possible…"

A resounding slap tore me out of my stammering.

"A person like me? A person like you?"

She was yelling.

"How dare you say such nonsense? Why would you even care who we are as long as we hold such feelings for each other? Are you really that shallow of a person? Have I been that wrong?"

"I… don't really…"

"Fine, I got it! If I couldn't see that much then it is me who is to blame!"

While hearing those words I had risen my gaze again. Unconsciously it was following her as she rushed past me. And I would never forget how her face looked: overrun with tears and snot and painted in utter desperation it was ugly – and it was all my fault. It felt like time had slowed down to almost standing still as I twirled around, trying to reach out my hand to her, as she slammed the rooftop door behind her.

It was too late.

I had broken her heart.

Chapter 1: I wanted to know what love was like

- END -

Author's notes:

I am not going to say anything about an update schedule, because I know from experience that that can be a real motivation killer.

I hope all of you liked what I have done so far, and if you want to, please share your thoughts. See you around,

kstefan88