The new couple entered their favorite coffee shop, arm in arm. They earned all kinds of frowns, smiles, and wistful sighs from the other customers. Another pair of girls sat in the corner, which frequented the café as well, shook their heads and smiled.

"About time." Asuna chuckled, her hair bells clinking.

"Indeed" the other girl, a blonde named Ayaka, replied with a smirk before sipping her tea.

They both smiled at the new couple across the room. They were aware all along that the two were into each other. The red head reached across the table to rest her hand on Ayaka's.

"Just like another couple I know" she said with a wink.

Back at their table, completely unaware of their observers, Chikaru and Shion were wrapped in their own little world, simply smiling at each other. Until the waitress politely interrupted them.

"The usual?" She asked with a grin, noting the obvious 'New Couple' glow about her two regulars.

"Yes." Shion beamed. For anyone who knew the spican, seeing her with such a smile would have been quite the shock. Chikaru, however, just smiled.

She had pretty much known for a while that her honey-blonde companion had been developing a crush on her. She was so happy that she could have done three back flips in a row. But knowing Shion's personality, the raven haired girl decided to let it alone so the stubborn girl could come to terms with her own feelings. She silently waited and prayed for the best.

That had been the right thing to do apparently, because here she sat with her beloved smiling the brightest smile at her.

Just as the waitress was about to walk away, Shion called her back.

"Ah! Hinako-san. My apologies but I um forgot something" Hinako smiled patiently and nodded.

"Could we get some cake?" The hardly-blonde-but-not-quite- ginger girl turned to her girlfriend and caressed her hand gently.

"To celebrate" She stated with a blush.

With Shion gazing at her like that, Chikaru couldn't help but blush and gaze back.

Both women felt their hearts pounding in their chests so hard that it almost hurt. But it wasn't an aching hurt like before. Now that they were together it was more of a pleasurable hurt. The kind that left one wanting more.

Both women knew that the kisses they shared earlier would be slightly inappropriate in their current setting so they made the PDA a bit more subtle.

Shion gently stroked Chikaru's hand while Chikaru nestled her foot against Shion's under the table.

While Hinako fetched the tea and cake, the new lovers continued their conversation, the semi-blonde being the first to speak,

"So Chikaru-chan?"

"Hm?"

"You still haven't told me. Why a bakery? I thought you were into theatre and costume."

The cheeky girl's eyes lit up immediately.

"Ah. Yes. Well I do like costumes and such but I also love trying new things. Being open-minded and spontaneously creative were practically unwritten rules at Lulim." She smirked.

"Plus, decorating cakes is fun. It's like dressing up a person in a costume except it's a cake with frosting for an outfit and it's also edible."

Shion regarded her girlfriend skeptically before letting loose her soft laughter. She was giggling so hard that Chikaru started to worry alittle.

After one last gasp for air, she looked up, slightly surprised that no one but Chikaru had witnessed her laughing fit.

"Sorry. Its just that you word things so curiously sometimes and its very cute"

The raven haired girl was very happy with that admission but took on a thoughtful expression.

"I've said stranger things before but you didn't laugh like you just did. I love your laugh of course" She savored the semi-blonde's blush

"…So please keep it up. But I'm just curious of what was different this time"

"Nothing really" She replied, "…Im just really happy"

Shion kissed Chikaru's hand before resting it on the table in both of hers. She smiled, eyes sparkling.

In turn, the raven haired woman squeezed her girlfriend's hand gently.

"Cake's here!"

Hinako set the slightly elaborate desert on the table last, right behind the tea.

The honey-blonde stared at it for a moment. She hadn't seen an extravagant piece of desert in a small while.

Even though, the Tomouri clan might still be classified as quite rich, they had lost a fair amount of wealth and esteem.

It still wasn't enough to where Shion getting a job was a necessity but she had gotten one anyway.

The feisty semi-blonde wasn't one to sit idly by. Being student council president at Spica was no easy task and she would have had it no other way.

Shion knew she was proud. She had graduated in high esteem from a five star girl's academy. She was and always would be a Spican.

So when she and Chikaru had left the coffee shop that evening and collided with a rather sophisticated looking man, she had trouble apologizing.

If he had been older than her, the words "I'm sorry" would have come much, much easier.

But no, this young little snot had crashed recklessly into her and her girlfriend and he thought he was high and mighty enough to get upset afterwards! There was also the stare he was giving her, looking as if she had regurgitated her lunch all over his expensive leather shoes.

"We're so sorry" Chikaru nearly stammered, feeling slightly ill. She was nearly famous at Astraea for reading people or situations near effortlessly. She could tell right away that this man meant trouble. Instinct was screaming at her to run as far from him as she could. Well, she would have if Shion wasn't standing there glowering.

It was even worse when he turned his attention to her, ignoring the glare almost completely. His eyes lit up upon seeing the raven haired beauty that was Chikaru.

"Oh. Pardon me. It was my blunder" he said instantly, giving a shallow bow.

"I did not mean to interrupt your evening, pretty little miss" The man took on the flirty tone flawlessly, his voice like liquid silk. No doubt he had charmed many a girl before.

Shion growled.

"No problem." The raven haired girl twittered nervously. She had to get out of there. She felt like vomiting all over his shoes and Shion might actually get physical if they didn't leave. Before she could turn to go the man spoke again, completely ignoring the Spican altogther

"No. No. I feel a genuine apology is in order. Why don't I treat you to dinner?"

Another low rumble rippled from Shion's throat. First, he had the audacity to nearly knock them over by crashing into them. Then he didn't apologize. And now he was hitting on her girlfriend. HER girlfriend!

Shion decided she finally had enough.

With as much professional disdain as she could, she cleared her throat before glaring daggers at him.

"Excuse me sir." Her voice had an obvious angry tone but it didn't tremble. "If you would, me and my friend here would like to get back to our walk."

Turning away before he could even reply, Shion strode off with an upset Chikaru in tow.

The man merely smiled to himself as he stared after the honey-blonde, people streaming past him in all directions.

"Just you wait, Tomouri Shion." He chucked softly, if manically.

XXXXXX

Once again Chikaru found herself being lead by hand by Shion away from such a situation. A similar event had happened not so long ago but had been no where near as stressful for either woman.

When they finally reached the Shion's apartment, both had calmed down considerably. Chikar no longer felt sick and was sure that the man was far away now.

Shion was no longer clenching her jaw so hard or walking nearly as fast.

They sat huddled on the bland couch that sat in the Spican's austere living room, both not speaking.

As usual, the honey-blonde was the one who broke the silence.

"Im sorry Chikaru-chan. I wish you didn't have to see that."

The raven haired woman thought for a moment.

"Me too, actually. I don't like that man at all. Just something about him made me extremely uneasy."

The Shion nodded and pulled her closer. Enveloped in the fair haired woman's warmth, Chikaru smiled.

"There was one upside though"

When the Spican had spoken in that cross tone of voice earlier it had sent pleasurable shivers up her spine. The anger bled into her voice in just the right amount and, truthfully, it had turned her on quite a bit.

Shion raised an eyebrow.

"What?" She sounded slightly dumbfounded. Just enough to make the raven haired girl giggle.

"You're really sexy when you get angry" She admitted coyly.

A bright blush appeared on the Spican's pale skin, and spread at what she thought of next.

One good turn deserves another after all.

"Hmm." Shion purred, leaning in.

Whispering against Chikaru's lips, the semi-blonde gave an invitation,

"And I think Chikaru-chan would look sexy all tangled in my sheets"

The words had practically come from nowhere but she said them all the same. She was starting to think that the courageous Lulim graduate was rubbing off on her.

All thought stopped, however, when Chikaru ran her hand under Shion's shirt.

"Challenge accepted" She murmured before kissing her fiercely.

They barely made it to the bedroom.