Author's Note: This starts off right before Shizuma and Nagisa enter the vacation home in episode 18. Also this is more of a prologue. I need reviews to inspire me so I can write the next chapters *hint* *hint*

I DON'T OWN ANY PART OF STRAWBERRY PANIC

"Could you open open the door for me?" Shizuma held the key out for Nagisa.

"Huh...Sure." She set the Tamao's basket down and noticed Shizuma was staring at her.

"Its been two years," she said. Nagisa opened the lock with a small click. The heavy wooden door creaked open and revealed the interior of the vacation home. The sounds of thunder competed with the loud patter of rain coating the windows.

"Please wait here. I'll go prepare the shower." When Shizuma left, Nagisa took a moment to glance around the room. Dust coated furniture and an eerie darkness punctuated by the storm set a gloomy tone to the room.

"Use this," Shizuma handed her a towel.

"Um, what about you Shizuma-sama? The shower..."

"Thank you for worrying about me, Nagisa," Shizuma began walking out the door. "Don't worry about it. I'll use the shower on the second floor. You can take your time here, then, we'll talk."

After her shower Shizuma noticed a picture of her and Kaori. "Its been a very long time... I'm sorry." She set the picture down as she could no longer stand the flood of memories it brought back.

The downpour intensified, the rain came down in sheets and the sound of thunder encapsulated the building. Colossal waves smashed into the wall of rock below the vacation home.

"Nagisa, you drink coffee right?"

"Yes." Nagisa glanced over at Shizuma. She's beautiful

A fire crackled inside the fireplace, giving the once ghostly room a homely atmosphere.

"Shizuma-sama, its strange. Why me?"

"Because your you, Nagisa." Shizuma smiled warmly at her.

"Shizuma-sama..."

Shizuma walked over to the window, assessing the dreary scene.

"This is some storm. It doesn't seem like we'll be returning. Looks like we'll be staying here tonight."

"Stay here?"

"We can go back tomorrow, most likely the storm will pass by morning."

"I see. Tamao-chan will be worried and I didn't get permission to stay over night..."

"I'll call Miyuki"

All alone... With Shizuma-sama.

Shizuma lead Nagisa up the stairs and into one of the rooms.

"This room..."

"No one is using it now. This was her room."

"Her... The other Etoile..."

Her name was... Kaori."

"Kaori-san...?"

"That's right Sakuragi Kaori."

"Sakuragi Kaori..."

"If she were still alive, she would be the same age as you, Nagisa." Shizuma took a seat on the small bed. "This was Kaori's room. Yes it was."

"Kaori-san's room..."

"I've chosen the best place to tell you my story." Shizuma got up again, she looked out the window.

"That time... It was also a stormy night."

"That time?"

"When we made love." She turned towards Nagisa. "No, love isn't the right way to put it. Even until now, I still don't know the difference between true love and friendship. I just don't know. But unquestionably... We needed each other."

Shizuma-sama... I must keep on listening. Shizuma-sama is serious about this...

"But Kaori, she... From that time... My world lost it's color. The one who helped me retrieve it... Was you, Nagisa. Because you're here, I was able to stand up again." She caressed a lock of soft, pink hair. "Because you're here I can finally..."

For the first time since they arrived a smile formed on Shizuma's face

"Me too. Ever since I met Shizuma-sama..."

She sighed a long melancholic sigh.

"Go change your clothes."

"Eh?"

"I still have a lot to tell you, you can't keep on wearing that," Shizuma gestured to the robe Nagisa was wearing. "I'll help you bring your clothes here."

Nagisa put her hands on her chest and enjoyed the warm feeling it gave off when she was around Shizuma.

"Don't be so worried, I'm fine now," Shizuma was talking to the picture of her and Kaori again. "If its her... If its Nagisa, it'll defiantly... I'm fine."

Lightening illuminated the entire building, the power went out. The door opened and Shizuma entered.

"Nagisa."

"Shizuma-sama."

"The lights will come back on soon."

Her hand gently caressed Nagisa's soft cheeks and then fell down to the key between her breasts. The necklace became the one Kaori wore. Shizuma looked up at Nagisa as lightening flashed once more. Instead of Nagisa, she saw the girl she first came with two years ago.

Shizuma. She dropped the dress she was carrying. Tears ran down the older girl's face as she collapsed into Nagisa's arms.

"Shizuma-sama?!"

"Kaori..."

"Shizuma-sama," Nagisa repeated, tears beginning to for in her own eyes.

"Kaori...Kaori..." Shizuma repeated her name over and over again.

Shizuma looked at the crying face of Nagisa, she tightened her hold on Nagisa.

"Please don't leave me," Shizuma cried into Nagisa.

Nagisa cried with her. I'll be whoever you need me to be Shizuma-sama.