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Hikari sat under a tree near the riding track, giving her a good view of Amane riding Starbright (Starbride?) The blond had loved horses when she was little, but once being thrown off one, it caused her to fear the horses. Soon her love had faded away, but after seeing her Amane riding such a white beautiful creature, her love came back. Through much patient and help from the prince, she grew to trust the gentle creatures once more.

As she watched her handsome girlfriend jumping hurdles, she was studying her homework. There was a rewards system worked out, for every five minutes she watch her girlfriend, she would take fifteen minutes to study. The system worked out quite well. Being thus distracted, she nearly jumped out of her skin as she felt someone sit beside her. Looking to her right, her blue eyes caught hold of red.

"Nagisa-sempai, what brings you here?"

"I came to enjoy some clear air and talk to a beautiful girl."

The blond blushed, "Oh stop, what if Amane-sempai heard you?"

"Maybe I was talking about talking to Amane-san?"

A little fear shown in the kouhai's eyes, "You can't, she's…"

Laughter broke from the red head's mouth, "I was only kidding, a little. Actually, I wouldn't mind talking to the both of you."

"Why?"

"Um, with you it's about the benefit concert and with Amane-san it's more to do with personal advice. Don't worry, I'm not interested in Amane, so I won't flirt with her."

The blond looked happier, "Why do you flirt?"

"My agent told me, over a year ago, that I should start flirting with people. I didn't want to do it because it would meaningless, but I did for the sake of my image. Sadly, it's now a bad habit I can't break."

"Why is that?"

"For one, you can't stop the things coming out of your mouth and two; it's fun seeing the reactions of other people. It brings some a kind of sweet reward."

"If you do it jokingly most of the time, how would someone know if you're being sincere?"

"Ah, my flirting includes giving complements, all of which I mean, but if you asking about me flirting with someone I'm interested in, um, the feeling is different, like going to church. It's hard to explain. There's also times when I flirt to lighten the mood. I can't stand when there's too much tension."

"Does that include sexual?"

The eyes of the red head grew large to where they looked they would pop, "Hikari-chan, I'm amazed you could be so bold." (A/N: Hey, who is the anime had sex first?)

An awkward silence followed soon afterwards. Both girls looked at the prince for a moment to regain composure. Once the awkwardness went away, Hikari asked, "So, what about the concert did you want to talk about?"

"I'm just surprise you're willing to go through it. How come? Are you ready?"

Before answering, the blond looked at Amane for a second, "You know how we both started our careers at the same time?"

The red head nodded, "Of course, it was going great for you and Mugi, up until it became too much for you and stage fright set in."

"In the beginning, it was fun being Angelina with Mugi-sempai as my pianist, although I would have liked for you to have been it."

"Why's that?"

"You make me feel like I can do anything if I put my mind to it. You took me in as a little sister. With Mugi-sempai, she always teased me and made me feel awkward. Sometimes it was as if she was waiting for something."

"You do know that Mugi has a fixation with yuri, she probably wanted to see more of it from you. Was she the one that caused your stage fright?"

"Oh no, it's just everything just came at once. I had no room to breathe and so I panicked. It was just too much for me. Doing a concert here or there is okay for me, but to do recordings, tours, signings, commercials and whatever else, it was just too much. I started hating my voice and myself. Then I came here and Yaya came into my life. Singing in the choir was great because it provided me with back up support and I wasn't alone anymore. If I were to mess up, it wouldn't have mattered too much. Then there's Amane-sempai, I met her before I met Yaya. In the beginning, I felt uncomfortable being here and thought about going home, but she encouraged me to stay."

"I thought she met you here at this spot while you were singing?"

"Ah, she forgot our actual first meeting. Did you know that Amane-sempai likes classical music? When she heard me singing that time, she knew who I was, but she didn't let me know until karaoke night. Up until then she treated me as a person because she knew what it was like not to be. She may not be a world famous opera singer like me, but she is well known to the neighboring schools for her cool attitude and beautiful face. The girls all treat her as an idol. It's one of those things that make us so perfect together because we can understand what the other one is going through. She makes me feel complete.

"That's why I want to do this concert. I want to prove to myself that I am a stronger person, and so I can stand as an equal to Amane-sempai. She gets bothered by all of the attention because she finds it ridiculous, but she copes with it far easier than I did. She helps me to improve myself in many ways, and I want to thank her."

"Then how come you're going to reveal who you really are?"

"In the music business, no one is really who they are. Look at Madonna, Sting, The Artist Formally Known as Prince, who is once again known as Prince, seriously what's his problem. I don't care if my life gets more complicated. It's better to go all the way then live a lie, and I have Amane-sempai's full support. I feel as if I don't have to be weighed down by it all anymore."

At this time the sound of rustling in the grass caught the attention of both girls. They glanced up and saw the Prince making her way next to her girlfriend. Once she had sat down, she had brought Hikari in between her legs and wrapped her in her arms. The older girl smiled at the red head, "Good afternoon, Nagisa-kun."

"Good afternoon, Amane-san."

"Did Hikari tell you she going to do that benefit concert?"

"Yes, are you scared for her?"

"A little, but it's okay to worry about someone you love, but I do have faith in her. I'll be there for her if she needs me." From behind Amane placed a kiss on the blonde's cheek causing the younger girl to blush.

Looking at Amane, the red head knew she didn't need to talk to her anymore. Nagisa looked on half sadly. There was a certain tall woman she wanted to cuddle up against, but she knew circumstances wouldn't allow it. She truly loved Shizuma and she understood what Hikari meant by being complete with the one she loves. Unfortunately, things weren't always easy for the red head. She had lived a hard life, and it keeps on getting harder. So far, she has never really had a happily ever after and she doubted she'll ever will. Behind her smiles lie a broken heart, but for most of her life, she's been playing the glad game (A/N: Pollyanna reference). She had tried to stay positive in the faces of those around her, but she was truly alone. She would cry out of sheer loneliness. And now she had someone she really wanted to be with, someone who could be her Amane; h0wever, her life choices wouldn't allow it to happen, at least not right away, but probably by the time she can do something about it, it would be too late.

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About a week after the picnic, Shizuma was started to worrying about her pupil. The red head seemed to have grown distance from her as if the red head had suffered from some sort heart break. What's worse, they stopped really talking to each other. Shizuma felt as if she had done something wrong, but at the same time she didn't remember doing anything terrible. For the first time of her life, she started to feel someone else's pain without knowing what the pain was. She had loved the bright smile on her secret beloved, but it pained her to see it missing.

The time they shared together was filled with much laughter and warmth, but now things have grown cold. It started roughly when Tamao had been too clingy to the girl. Shizuma wondered what exactly happened. For the most part, Shizuma is a very bright and intelligent woman, but from the moment she met a certain red head, it seemed like her mind was in some sort of haze, as if things have became unclear and she couldn't figure it out until Nagisa started reflecting something she knew all too well. It was despair and heartache. Seeing pain in the younger girl's eyes was troubled and alarmed her. The light bulb came come full force to where she now knew for certain that she was hopelessly in love with the red head. And whatever rift that had occurred between them was killing her.

Her mind was doing double time bringing up all the memories she had shared with the pop idol. They were all pretty pleasant. She grew with the knowledge of what the girl liked and disliked. They talked a lot about pop culture from books to movies to music. Shizuma had opened up to Nagisa, but what the silver fox failed to do was get to know the red head better. All in all, what did she really know of Nagisa? The Etoile knew the younger girl was kind to everyone, had great sense of humor, flirtatious to some point, athletic (she's a pop idol, dancing is a must), loyal, and so on. All these points equaled the pop idol's personality, but none of it equaled to her past, where she came from. As far as family was concern, she knew about the girl's grandmother, her parents were away somewhere and she was an only child. As far as schooling, she went to some special school. Other than these things, she had thought she knew the girl quite well, but she doubted she ever did. What scared her most was that she had noticed some sort understanding that settled between Nagisa and Tamao.

I don't understand, I thought we had a firm relationship established and that she could trust me, but instead she trusted Tamao. She could tell me anything and I would gladly listen. The only thing she could possibly talk to Suzumi-san about is possibly her fear of confessing to me or something like that. Besides, what does Suzumi-san have that I don't? I would give my life for my little cherry. I wonder if she hates me after all and only puts up with me due to respect for my title.

She was watering the flowers in the green house, lost in her own thoughts. "Shizuma," called a voice which startled the Etoile in dropping her watering can.

After picking it, the silver fox turned towards the giggling of the president, "Miyuki, you gave me a fright."

"I can tell. It's not every day that someone can scare you."

"Ha ha, so what do you want from me?"

Miyuki walked over to the table and sat down, "I came to talk to you about Aoi-san."

There was silence from Shizuma, but she was trying to think about what she could possibly say on the topic.

Miyuki figured she either didn't wanted to talk about it, or she had a million of thoughts going through her head. She decided to encourage the Etoile to speak by asking, "Are you in love with the girl."

Setting the water can down, Shizuma took a sit near Miyuki and with a sigh said, "Against my better judgment I am."

"Did you intentionally quote Jane Austin's Mr. Darcy?"

"I wasn't thinking about it; it just seemed the most appropriate and correct thing to say."

Shaking her head, Miyuki waved it away, "Okay, I understand. You fell for someone when you vowed never to love another. What attracted you to her anyway?"

Showing a slight blush, the silver fox replied, "This is too cliché even for me, but it was love at first sight, one look at her took my breath away."

This came actually as a surprise to the president. Shizuma never really believed in love at first, but neither did the blunette. Of course, this belief was thrown out the window when she laid eyes on Tamao. If Shizuma felt the way she did when she found her poet, then the connection was blinding and the force was too powerful to fight. She had described the feeling to Shizuma to seek for confirmation. The silver fox didn't deny that was what she felt.

"If you feel this way, what are you planning to do?" asked Miyuki.

"You think I should tell her how I feel." It was a statement and not a question.

"Yes, what's keeping you? The Shizuma I know would never act like this. She's a take charge type of person."

"It's fear. Fear that she wouldn't feel the same. Fear that I will get my heart broken."

"Overcome it and move on. Tell her how you feel. I know she likes you, Tamao told me so."

"If so, why has she been avoiding me? What's she so afraid of?"

"Probably the same thing as you," replied Miyuki.

Shizuma looked at her friend as if she had lost her mind.

"It's understandable. You have been known to be with other girls, and Aoi-san did say she has never dated someone. Honestly, I find it unbelievable, since she's a flirt, but who am I to judge."

"Miyuki, you haven't been around Nagisa as much as I have, she holds a certain amount of innocence. Going away from my little cherry and back to me, you're right. I do have problems with staying with one girl, but since I've met my cherry, I found myself not wanting to be with anyone else."

Out of anything the silver fox had said thus far, the announcement of staying chaste for the red head blew Miyuki's brain out a cannon. "My Kami woman, what magical spell has this girl cast on you?"

"It's love."

"Shizuma, you know what you have to do, don't you?"

The Etoile studied her friend a bit, "Make a confession?"

"Indeed, but you have to do so much more, you have to fight for her and prove your love for her."

"How do I do that? Girls come and confess to me; it's not the other way around."

Miyuki couldn't believe how helpless her childhood friend was. She also couldn't help but be amused at the same time. She found herself trying to stifle her laughter, "You're Hanazono Shizuma; you should be able to come up with a plan."

"How did you confess to Suzumi-san?"

The president blushed as the memory; it was one of her happiest and nerve racking experiences she had ever had. "It wasn't a big production. I had asked an office worker to use the intercom message, asking for Tamao to come to the student council room."

"At that point, were you aware that she liked you?"

The blunette shook her head, "I didn't, nor did I research it out. I thought if I confessed being the president that maybe she would have said yes out of respect for my position. Now, I think about it, I probably should have thought and done things differently."

"Okay, go on with your tale."

"She came to the student council room like the serious student she was. Before though, I had arranged a tray of tea in the room, along with a vase of a dozen red roses."

Something struck Shizuma funny here, "A dozen roses? I remember you asking me for a dozen once, don't tell me you used…"

The other nodded her head vigorously, "Thank-you again. Aside from the tea and the flowers there were also lit candles. When she came into the room, she was at first confused, but quickly recovered. I had been sitting in the president seat at the time. As you know, the seat was directly in front of the door. She had looked at the set table first and then up to study me. I stood up walked over to the open door and shut it. Once I knew no one else could hear us, I walked back in front of her, breathed in to gather my courage and told her how I felt. I can't remember what I told her, but I remember her throwing her arms about my neck as tears fell out of her eyes. The rest as they say is history."

"Your story is sweet, but your way of doing things is different from me."

"Huh?"

"It's not something that Hanazono Shizuma would do. I'm more on the flashy side."

"What are you going to do, shower her with expensive gifts?"

After a moment of thoughts and considerations, Shizuma thought that plan was okay, but not quite right, "I don't think I will. If I have to shower her with expensive gifts to get her affections then it would be like buying her love. I don't want that." Just then a well known mischievous smile formed on her face.

The red head was sitting at her usual table with Tamao for breakfast the following morning. As the two ate and chattered away, they paid no attention to the looming presence of the three schools' Etoile standing right behind Nagisa. It wasn't until the pop idol felt a hand on her shoulder did she noticed that someone was there. She breathed in and caught the familiar floral scent of one Hanazono Shizuma. The scent was a mixture of lilac, roses, and surprisingly enough, nutmeg. She had stiffened up at first from the contact, but began to relax some. Bravely, she turned her head to looked up at the tall beauty.

"Etoile-sama?"

The older girl looked down at her hopefully-soon-to-be girlfriend and shot her head back up to face everyone, who was present. Clearing her voice loudly, she voiced, "Pardon my interruption of your breakfast." The silence in the room was deafening. It was really unusual for the silver fox to make any remark, but when she does, people tend to listen. Seeing as she now had the entire room listening to her, the Etoile continued, "But I, Hanazono Shizuma, have again fallen in love and proclaim that I will swear off all others for the purpose of staying true to my one and only love."

Silent whispers whipped through the dining hall as wind on a stormy day. As whispers spread, Shizuma slid her hand down the red head's arm until she found her hand. Once it was in her grasps, the silver fox brought Nagisa to her feet. Standing upright and secure, the pop idol watched as Shizuma knelt at her feet. Looking up at the girl, the temptress smiled, but still looked serious. "Nagisa-chan, no, Nagisa, I loved you the moment our eyes met. You bring me so much pleasure and all I ask is for you to be my girlfriend. Will you do me this favor?"

The crowds were hushed once again as they waited in slow motion for the red head's reply.

The girl in question was feeling all sort of conflicting emotions, for the most part only two of them felt strongly: sadness and anger. It took her all she had from slapping the silver fox, telling her she hated her, and running off. The thing is she didn't hate her, but she hated that she couldn't have Shizuma due to a bunch of small problems, and these only added up to the big main problem. She really disliked the Etoile would come on to her strongly and in a public announcement. In the end, she decided to pull a very bad trick, being naïve.

"Oh, Etoile-sama…" she began, but was then cut off by the woman.

"Nagisa, we have known each other far too long for you to keep calling me that. Please, call me Shizuma."

"Um, Shizuma-sama, I'm glad you want me to be your girlfriend, but wasn't I that before? I mean I'm a girl and your friend. You said you were in love with some girl, why don't you go and find her." After giving an innocent smile to the Etoile's way, the pop idol picked up her tray and left before anyone could stop her.

A storm of noise boomed out after the younger girl left. The students could not believe what just happened. Some jealous girls thought the pop idol was extremely stupid. Others were truly angry with her. Some didn't even think of the girl but pitied Shizuma, who was frozen on her knees with her hair covering her eyes.

Miyuki stood up from her table and rushed towards her friend to comfort her. As she placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and the silver fox stood up and slowly turned towards her friend. "Shizuma are you okay?"

After she asked, an unlikely sound abruptly ripped through the air. It was the sound of laughter. It wasn't insane; it was the sound laughter would make after someone told a really good joke. This caused everyone present to worry about the silver fox. The laughter went away and Shizuma wiped away a few tears. "Miyuki, I don't know if I want to strangle her or push her up against a wall and kiss her senselessly."

Thinking her friend cracked, the president asked, "What do mean? She just rejected you."

"No, she didn't reject me; she was just playing an idiot."

This left the blunette clueless, "Huh?"

"Miyuki, Nagisa knew what she was doing. She's a smart one to evade me, but her words were a declaration."

"I agree; it was. The declaration stated she just wanted to be friends with you and you should find someone else."

"No, my friend, it was a declaration of war, a war on her heart. Everyone, I will stop at nothing to have Nagisa be mine. Mark my words, she will be and as soon as she graduates, she will be my wife. I, Hanazono Shizuma, have made my vow and my vow is law. Anyone who dares lay a hand on my future wife, you will not be forgiven by me."

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The last week and a half have been troublesome for the pop idol. Around school people were whispering behind her back every time they would see her in the halls or coming into the classroom. When she had left the dining hall after Shizuma's confession, she thought she had ended it once and for all, but sadly it wasn't that way. She only realized her problems were just beginning when Tamao had informed her on Shizuma's vow. Emotions kept getting mixed up. At the time, she didn't know if she should be happy to be pursued by Shizuma or be sad, knowing the girl's advances would come to nothing. If the older girl continued, then maybe… no. For the pop idol, it was just too much to hope for. She didn't want to give herself hope of being with the woman, who felt like home to her.

The big dilemma was trying to evade the older girl's every move for the sake of keeping an already fragile heart from shattering into dust particles to where they end up cast throughout the world without any way of gathering and then later hydrating them to bring about once again a perfect heart ready for love again.

Extended metaphor aside, the war on Nagisa's heart had begun with Shizuma writing poetry and sending them Nagisa's way during classes. The poems included all of Shizuma's feelings and stating how much she loved the girl. As for what Nagisa did with them, well, she balled them up and threw them in the garbage can after reading them. Her classmate found her cruel; little did they know Nagisa had a photographic memory. This skill was instilled by countless of hours of memorizing chords and songs. She could still bring back to memory every song.

When the silver fox found that poems were not good enough, she decided to play stalker. The Etoile would sit next to Nagisa when she ate. She would also approached the younger girl's classroom and wait for her to come out to walk her to where ever. She also walked the girl to class, but that's a given. Although it might have sounded like an easy thing to accomplish, it wasn't. The red head would find ways of dodging her. Little did Shizuma know, the pop idol was used to attacks from crazy fans and such, so sneaking away was an easy task.

However, Nagisa snuck away for more than just avoiding her stalker, she had to practice in secret. The evening after her phone call, she found herself at a loss as to what to do. She needed to practice her music for the upcoming concert. Playing the piano wasn't the problem; she had the piano pieces of all the songs prerecorded, so they could be played during a preformance. Her biggest worry was the guitar. Due to her wanting to get away from her pop idol image, she hadn't brought one with her. She might have used a school's guitar, but that would be tricky as it might have revealed her secret identity. Somehow, she had to borrow a private guitar. It was that evening when she consulted her roommate about it. Tamao suggested that the red head should wander over to Lilium and find one Chikaru, who might have a private guitar on hand.

She did just that. To her surprise, the Student Body President of Lilium had such an instrument, but it only stand to reason that she would, considering how many flippin' clubs she makes dailey. When Nagisa had been presented with the solution, she was not sure that Tamao had led her on a wild goose chase, but as soon as she met the older girl she understood why. After the meeting, Nagisa couldn't help but compare Chikaru to a Swiss Army Knife and wondered if Chikaru would be interested in becoming her costume designer later. Upon thinking these thoughts, she recalled a certain four-eyed woman with the same interests. They would either love each other at once or hate each other as rivals. Of course, these thoughts she kept to herself.

With an acoustic guitar on hand, she practiced when she wasn't studying. To Shizuma's horror, the pop idol had ended her tutoring sessions, although she didn't know if it would be indefinitely or not. Her heart still wanted to spend as much time with Shizuma as possible, but her more logical half believed it was best not to as the eventual saying good-bye would come. It would be far less painless to end it early than later. Even though she knew this, she still couldn't tell the girl she loved why she couldn't be with her, she couldn't really tell Tamao.

During one practice session, Nagisa sat crossed legged with the borrowed guitar under a lone tree in a small clearing surrounded by other trees. (A/N: too many prep phrases) Even though the day was bright and beautiful, the girl wasn't, bright that is, not her being not beautiful. She had practiced the songs that were going to be performed by a set list Mio had faxed her. On the list were two songs she didn't know. Mio had also faxed over the sheet music for them, but without lyrics. The plan was that at the concert a new and upcoming vocalist/guitarist was going to be presented. The two songs were to be performed by the new girl. In the last couple of weeks, Nagisa and her band mates were discussing their future as Blue Water. They couldn't deny that over the last few months they had drifted apart. Some of what was being discussed was Nagisa's separating from the band to go on to do a solo career, where Mio and Ristu would move on with the new girl and (to Nagisa's amazement) Mugi, the pianist for Angelina. This also caused many questions as to what would happen to Hikari's career.

The red head was still contemplating many things as she played a very new and angry piece she was toying with.

Trapped, trapped, trapped

And confused

There's just too many things

To choose.

There's just too many things

To loose.

If I should die, let me die,

It's better than seeing love

And not having it.

I was lost when I was seven.

I was lost when I was eleven.

I'll continue being in lost,

But I'll never ever be found.

After she had sang out those words, Nagisa for the first time in her music career and finally written lyrics to a song. Taking the back of one of her fax sheet music, she wrote the words down along with the score she created. As she continued to compose, she thought of everything which Shizuma had done for her in the last couple of weeks outside of being stalked and the poetry.

Trapped, trapped, trapped

And confused,

There's just too many things

To choose.

There's just too many things

Too loose.

My love is like a goddess,

But she hardly ever modest.

She has pride and wants me for her bride.

She gives me origami flowers,

And her lemon bars are completely sour.

I love her every day,

But our love can never stay.

(Chorus)

I'm tortured within my holding cell.

I, myself, am my prison hell.

There's no escape from my contract.

I didn't know I had sold my soul,

Until I found my mate of silver gold.

I hate her, but I need her.

I'm so alone with her love cure,

But it's like poison to me.

(Chorus 2X)

After writing down all of her thoughts and feelings, she entitled the new song "Love Poison." I wonder if I can play this at the concert. Probably not, but I can show the lyrics to Tamao-chan, she would find my writing words exciting, even if they're depressing. If I don't play the song at the concert, I could always do it in my solo career. I wonder if Hikari would like to join me. She could always play the tambourine.

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Shizuma was pacing back and forth in the Student council room, causing her friend to become irritated as hell. "Shizuma, calm down and talk to me."

The silver fox looked at her friend, "I'm sorry, but I've never found that chasing someone can be both tiring and fun at the same time, I thought it would be simple, but no, she's tough. I like it, but it's also wearing me thin."

"How so?" asked one amused president. The sight of Shizuma working for something without being totally lazy was quite refreshing.

"I'm dying to have my way with her over and over again, but not only am I sexually frustrated, I'm frustrated at coming up with ideas in wooing my red headed maiden."

"Tell me what you have done so far?"

"I've done poetry, stalking, making flowers, baking because I know she likes sweet things. I've given an invite to a private concert for just her and me."

"Were you the pianist?"

"Of course, she told me once that she could sense my emotions when I played. I was hoping to share my feelings with her. However, she threw my invite, flowers and poems away, but she did eat what I had baked for, which is a good sign. I know stalking is creepy, but I wanted to be near her as much as possible, but somehow she sneaks off. If it wasn't so frustrating, I would be completely in awe."

"That I can image, since you're Astraea Hill's number one escape artist."

"If I'm not careful, she could beat me out my ranking."

Miyuki rolled her eyes, "Great, just what we need another Shizuma running around." Thinking for a moment she continued, "Okay, what about finding the girl and giving her good kiss."

"Ooo, I've never thought of that one."

"Oh come on, you're Shizuma and you never thought of grabbing hold of Aoi-san and kissing her?"

"I have, but I wanted it to be spontaneous and romantic. I had imagine on how our first would be. The image was of us dancing to music under a starry night. We both lean in and… What are you snickering about?"

Miyuki tried to stifle her laughter, "Sorry, but I would have imagined that you would wanted to kiss her in the school's swimming pool. If the kiss didn't make both of you wet, the pool surely would have."

The silver fox looked at her friend as if she were dirt, "Miyuki, I might be erotic at times, but I'm not idiotic enough to kiss someone under the water."

Once the perverted president calmed down, she sincerely apologized for her behavior. "I'm sorry, but I honestly think you should kiss her. It would give her food for thought."

"I'll do it."

The silver haired fox was on a deadline. She knew that Nagisa would be leaving school tomorrow for whatever charity she was going to help out with. Shizuma had decided that she wanted to kiss her red head before she left. As she walked around the grounds and search everywhere including the library, the forest, the church, the school, and so on, but she couldn't find the girl anywhere. It was getting close to the six o'clock curfew, so she made her way back to the dorms. Once inside, she still had about an hour until she had to say grace on the food. Using this time, she searched the dorms, knowing Nagisa had to be there. Her first stop was Nagisa's room.

She knocked on the door and waited for the door to open. It took a moment, but when it finally opened, Tamao poked her head out, "Shizuma-sama, what brings you here?"

Shizuma sized the poet up and down trying to figure if the girl would be truthful, "I'm here to see Nagisa."

"Um, I'm sorry, but she's not here."

"Do you know where she went?"

"I don't, last time I knew she was with Hikari-chan."

The news wasn't all that surprising considering the blonde's past with her red head, so she didn't make a big deal out of it. "Thank-you." As she turned to go, she noticed a piece of sheet music in Tamao's hand. "Suzumi-san, do you play an instrument?" She pointed at the paper.

Tamao looked to where the delicate finger was pointed and lifted her hand up some, "Oh no, it's just some scrape paper Nagisa-chan had lying around." She flipped to the other side where there was hand writing on it, "See."

"Ah," Shizuma knew from the looks of the hand writing it was her love's, "Oh, are you reading something Nagisa wrote?"

"Not really, it's just a bunch of one-liners, she wanted to know if the words were worthy enough of Blue Water quality. For her first time writing, it's not bad. I would let you read it, but I don't want to tick off my roommate."

Although she was curious, she wanted to protect her love's privacy, "It's fine. Good-day."

So, the red head's room was a bust, she didn't let it get her hopes down at finding her beloved. Time was growing short until she had to go to the dining hall, but before she had to do that, she heard the sound of a familiar singing voice. She followed to voice, until she found herself located at the lone piano in a room. She peered in the door and saw her Nagisa playing the piano perfectly and beautifully. Nagisa? She's excellent, if she's this good, how come she had played terribly the few times we played together. I wonder why she's been holding out on me.

As these thoughts were going through her head, she also spotted Hikari standing next to the piano singing away like a nightingale. That song is one of Angelina's from two years ago. Dang, she sounds just like her but a little more mature, if I didn't know any better…

As she finished off her thought, the song ended. The silver fox saw Nagisa looking up from the piano to face Hikari. "Your voice is as beautiful as always."

"Thank-you for practicing with me for the last few weeks," said the blond, talking a seat next to the red head.

Oh that's why she ran from me.

"It's no problem. Besides I'm the only one who can help you. So, you are you ready for tomorrow?"

I wonder what's tomorrow. I know Nagisa is leaving, could Hikari-chan also be?

"Yes, but I'm nervous. Amane-sempai is not going to be there."

"I know, but I will be," as she spoke she placed a gentle arm around her kouhai's shoulder. "If you feel nervous just come to me."

"Thank-you Nagisa-sempai," Hikari placed her head onto the red head. They had often done this in the past. It was mostly out of sisterly love then anyone.

Oh, if I were that blond, but they're going together. I wonder if it the charity event involves their old school. Should I research? No, I want Nagisa to come to me.

"Hikari-chan, do you still plan on singing after you're done with school?"

"I'm think I would like to."

"Are you going to have Mugi-chan play piano for you?"

The blond shook her head, "She has found a place where she belongs."

"Who knew it would be with them?"

"Nagisa-sempai, what are you going to be doing?"

"I haven't decided yet, but if you want I could play piano for you."

Hikari jumped back away from Nagisa for a bit. The red head dropped her arm and the blond looked into her sempai's eyes excitedly, "Are you serious?"

"Of course, but you have to do one little thing."

"What's that?"

"You'll have to learn to play the tambourine." Hikari chuckled at this and hugged the other girl around the neck.

Hikari is a singer, perhaps she is Angelina. I wonder why I did catch that a karaoke. Oh, that's right I was paying too much attention to Nagisa. I know they have a past together, but it seems as if they also having been sharing secrets with each other. Interesting, Nagisa wants to be a performer. If this pianist Mugi went to some band, it would make sense why Nagisa would be performing with Hikari, and the charity event must be a concert.

"I'm so happy, I can be together with Nagisa-sempai it's like a dream come true."

"Hikari-chan, I'm happy to fulfill any of your dreams."

Hiraki pushed away from Nagisa and looked her in the eyes, "What about your dreams?"

The red head sighed, "My dreams are always doomed, the best I can do is help others to achieve theirs."

"Oh, what about Shizuma?" the kouhai asked. "I know you like her."

"You do know who Shizuma is, don't you?"

"Yes, she is the most valued girl in all three schools."

"And her family?"

"Oh, I see that would be a problem."

This time Nagisa threw her arms around the younger girl. "Thank-you, Hikari-chan," emotion was evident in her voice. "You're the only one I know who can understand what I'm going through."

At seeing her beloved near to tears and hugging some other girl, Shizuma couldn't stand by any longer. She didn't understand how her family could keep her away from her love, but if she had to she would throw her family out the window. No one was more important to her than her red head. Straightening up, Shizuma glided into the room. As she neared the piano, the red head shot her head up with a look of horror in her eyes.

"Shizuma-sama!"

Hikari turned to see the silver fox, "Etoile-sama!"

Shizuma ignored the little blond and walked over the other side of Nagisa, unblocked by Hikari. "Shizuma-sama, what do you want?"

"I want you and only you."

Nagisa stood up and slid in front of Hikari to avoid the Etoile. As soon as she was free, Shizuma cried out, "Nagisa, wait! I heard what you say about my family. Although I don't know why it would pose a problem, I assure you it doesn't matter to me. If they reject our love, I'll reject them. I love you."

Shizuma had found her way towards her love, while the other girl thought of what to say, "Shizuma, it's not that simple. Nothing in life is simple."

"You're wrong; there are plenty of simple things in life."

The red head looked at her with questioning eyes which said, prove it.

Feeling encouraged, Shizuma grapped the other girl's hand, "Holding hands is simple." She pulled the red head into an embraced, such action caused the red head to gulped, knowing what was going to happen, but couldn't do anything about it. "Holding each other in our arms is simple and kissing," Shizuma tilted the pop idol's head up and brought their lips together. For the both of them the kiss felt so good and so delicious. Where Shizuma felt such accelerants, Nagisa felt heartbroken more as tears fell from her eyes. The older girl felt a drop hit her hand. Pulling away, she saw her beloved eyes watering out streams of grief.

"Why?" came a very soft voice from the red head. "Why did you kiss me?"

"To show how much I love you."

"If you love me so much, you should have left me alone when you knew I wasn't interested."

"You were interested or you wouldn't have even read my poetry or eaten my bake goods."

"You're right; I shouldn't have done either, but still I showed no real interest. I gave no thanks for being pursued by you. You should have stopped and backed away, but now you've ruin everything. We can never be friends again."

"Is that what you really want, to be only friends?"

"It was enough for me, but now I don't want to see you or be near you ever again. I hate you." With those final words, Nagisa left, leaving behind a now-crying-heartbroken woman and a blond, who was too shocked to think.


A/N: The song Nagisa wrote is an original. You can't hear it in stores. I hope by the next chapter, the story will end. I also plan on doing an epilogue.