Strawberry Blossom's
Written by
DarkShinji8003
Disclaimer: Own Strawberry Panic! Do I not. Sakurako Kimino does. Sue me will you, Gain nothing you will.
Chapter 4 - The Morning After
Part 1
The light of a new day dawns upon the snow covered grounds of Astraea Hill the warming rays shinning on Strawberry Hall. On the second floor a set of curtains are drawn open by a blue haired beauty as she finishes preparing for the day.
Tamao looks out the window at the snow covered outer walls that surround the hall, a sigh escapes from her lips heavily. 'I wonder what challenges this day will hold?' Are her thoughts as she makes her way over to her red haired partner and roommate to wake her for the day.
Said red head who was no longer pretending to be asleep heard her roommate's sigh, sat up in her bed to look at Tamao with concern clearly etched on her face. "Tamao-chan good morning." Nagisa stretches a bit to relieve some of the nights kinks from her body.
"Good morning Nagisa-chan." Tamao replies a bit surprised that her roommate was awake, and disappointed at the same time. "Did you sleep well last night?" She said standing next to Nagisa's bed and then she sat next to her careful not to wrinkle her uniform. Noticing the concern on Nagisa's face she offers a smile.
"I slept well Tamao-chan, the tea you made last night helped." Nagisa stretches once more before grabbing her roommate's hand and giving it a small squeeze. "Is there something wrong?" She grabs Tamao's chin with her other hand trying to get her roommate to look at her.
Hesitantly Tamao allows Nagisa to turn her head so she is facing her. "Everything is fine Nagisa-chan, I was just thinking about yesterday's events." She offers her the lie. 'God I don't like lying to her.'
Tamao looks away from Nagisa,"You should get cleaned up before we go down to breakfast." She gets off of the bed, and grabs a clean towel and hands it to Nagisa, along with her school uniform. 'I just wish I could have told her I loved her sooner, then things wouldn't be like they are now.'
As Nagisa get's off of her bed and accepts the offered towel, she starts to head towards the shower. She stops just before the door and turns to look at Tamao again. "Tamao-chan, if there is anything you want to talk about please tell me." She opens the door and steps in closing the door behind her. 'I wish I knew what's bothering Tamao-chan.'
In another part of the dorms Miyuki has just woken up still clad in her school uniform from yesterday. After spending all night trying to console a distraught Shizuma, she attempts to pry herself out of the grasp of her friend.
"Shizuma please let go of me it's time to get up." After a few nudges she is free and getting out of the bed. 'Guess it's a good thing I brought a fresh uniform and bathing supplies with me.'
After Miyuki makes her way in the bathroom to prepare for the day, a heavily withdrawn Shizuma begins to sit up on her bed. 'Nagisa-chan…why? Why must you do this to me?' Shizuma falls back down onto her bed crying heartfelt tears once again. She covers her face with both hands to quiet her sobs. "Nagisa-chan… Nagisa-chan..." Shizuma's sobs begin to get louder.
Miyuki attempting to get ready for the day hears Shizuma's crying, after a few moments she decides to skip her shower. After dressing in her clean uniform she exits the bathroom and makes her way to Shizuma's bed. "Shizuma I understand how much you are hurting.." She struggles to sit her friend up in the bed. "Let's get you cleaned up and get you something to eat."
"Mi-Miyuki?" Shizuma stutters looking up to the blue haired girl. "Wh-wh-why are you here?" Tears continue to course their way down her face. Shizuma attempts to look away only to have Miyuki grab her by the shoulder and force her to back look back at her.
Miyuki gives Shizuma a stern look, "I'm here because I care about you Shizuma." Her facial features soften up some at the look of bewilderment on Shizuma's face. "And I will be here for you, just like you were always there for me before." Shizuma reaches forward and engulfs Miyuki's waist in a tight hug crying even harder.
Several minutes later Miyuki finally convinced Shizuma to take a shower, hoping that it may help her friend relax some. When there is a knock at Shizuma's bedroom door, Miyuki gets up from the chair and opens the door. On the other side of the door stands a purple haired girl that is usually seen assisting Shizuma in the green house.
Mizuho Kanou a supporting member of the St. Miator student council, along with her green haired roommate Sakiko Minase. Both were appointed to assist the Etoile as needed, both girls were more then happy to assist Shizuma, and were often tasked with finding their wayward charge.
"Miyuki-sempai good morning." Mizuho greets her with a tense smile on her face. "How is Shizuma-sempai fairing today?" Genuine concern can be felt coming from the girl standing in the doorway.
Miyuki gestures for the girl to enter the room. "Shizuma isn't fairing so well I'm afraid." Miyuki lets out a small sigh. "It's almost like when Kaori-chan passed away last year."
Mizuho who is now standing beside her sempai places a friendly hand on Miyuki's shoulder, "Why don't you take Shizuma-sempai away from here for a few days?" She asks Miyuki hoping that not being near Aoi-san for a few days will help. "I'm sure it will do her some good."
"That is a brilliant idea Kanou-san." Miyuki seems thoughtful for a moment then frowns. "But I'm not sure if I should be the one to take her." Miyuki sighs again. "There is the Student council, and with the new Etoile's there is much that will need to be done."
Mizuho taking her hand from Miyuki's shoulder and walks to stand in front of her, "There will not be an issue with your taking a leave." A smile graces her face. "Sakiko-san and I can see to the Etoile's, and I'm pretty sure the council can manage as well!" She says, 'maybe even finish a meeting without arguing with Tomori-san for a change.'
Back in the Etoile's room Nagisa is just now leaving the bathroom with a towel wrapped firmly around her body, she walks over to her bed setting the towel she was using to dry her hair down. She looks over to her roommate, who is sitting at her desk watching her intently and braiding together a red, and blue ribbon.
As she gets dressed she recalls her conversation with Tamao last night, and the decisions that she is doing the right thing; even though she feels a bit guilty about how her choices have hurt Shizuma.
Tamao noticing that Nagisa seems to be feeling some guilt about yesterday, opens her desk drawer and pulls out a hair brush sets it on her desk along side of the newly braided ribbon. "Nagisa-chan would you like me to do your hair for you?"
Nagisa turns to her roommate and gives her strained smile, "Sure Tamao-chan I would like that." She pulls her chair from her desk and sits down. Tamao gets up from her chair and stand behind Nagisa and brushes her red hair out.
After brushing all of the snarls and knots from Nagisa's hair, she starts to hand her the normal hair band with the emerald beads to Tamao. "I want to tie you hair differently today Nagisa-chan," Tamao says as she reaches for the ribbon to tie up Nagisa's hair with. "There all done now Nagisa-chan" she hands a mirror that was sitting on her desk to Nagisa, "What do you think?"
Nagisa takes a moment to admire the new ribbon that Tamao used to tied up her hair with, "Tamao-chan isn't this the red ribbon from last night?" She turns to look at her roommate, who has a slight blush on her face as she is nodding her head. "What about the blue ribbon?"
Tamao still blushing somewhat turns and put the mirror and brush back on her desk, "The blue ribbon is something that my older sister gave to me before I came to St. Miator." Turning back around to look Nagisa in the eyes, "I felt like braiding them together to signify our friendship." 'and my love for you as well.' Tamao pushes Nagisa's chair back to her desk.
Nagisa temporarily forgetting the guilt she felt before, gives Tamao a questioning look. "You have an older sister Tamao-chan?" Nagisa puts a hand on her chin trying to remember if Tamao even mentioned siblings before.
Tamao nods her head once again, "Yes I have one older sister Yumi." She closes her eyes remembering how her sister used to tie her hair with different color ribbons each day. "We really should get going Nagisa-chan," Tamao says as she starts to usher Nagisa towards the door. "It is expected of us to say grace each morning as the Etoile's."
Nagisa nods in agreement with her roommate and partner, "Your right Tamao-chan." They both stop at the door which Tamao opens up as they both head down to the cafeteria.
Inside the bathroom a rather sullen looking Shizuma is drying off after her shower, when she finally hears someone else in her room other then Miyuki. Not feeling much better after her shower Shizuma dresses for the day and opens the door seeing Miyuki standing there talking with Mizuho, one of the few people Shizuma considers as a friend.
"Miyuki-chan is there a problem?" Shizuma asks her voice still a little shaky, 'Maybe my Nagisa-chan sent a mess…' Tears trail down Shizuma's face,her own thoughts betraying her yet again. She starts to fall but catches the foot board of the bed to help balance herself.
Mizuho seeing the condition that her sempai is in decides that she should leave. "Miyuki-sempai, Shizuma-sempai I have to take my leave now." She bows to Shizuma and Miyuki before heading to the door. "I will speak with Sister Hamasaka about what we talked about for you." She bows again to them both then exits the room.
Miyuki steps over to Shizuma and helps her around to sit on the bed. "Shizuma, I think it would be a good idea if we take a leave for a few days." She looks to her friend in hopes that she will not disagree with the idea. 'Please Shizuma don't close your heart again, let me help you through this.'
"N-No... I want to st-stay here." Shizuma stutters out trying her best not to cry again. "I-I can't fix th-thi-things with Na-Nagisa-chan that w-way." Her emotions prove to much for her and she bursts into tears and she clutches onto Miyuki.
"Shizuma…" Is all Miyuki says out of concern for her friend whom is crying heavily into her chest, she slowly strokes Shizuma's back before she speaks up again. "Shizuma please take a leave and get yourself together." She pleads with her friend hoping that she won't fight her to much.
Shizuma takes several deep breaths to get her sobbing under some sense of control, after moment she is able to look up at Miyuki. "I-I just can't l-leave Miyuki, I ha-ve to be with Nag-isa." A few sobs force her to stop and try to regain control, "I l-love her to m-much too just leave and not try to f-fix our relationship."
Miyuki getting a bit frustrated with Shizuma's unwillingness to see that leaving is the best choice, she lets out a small sigh and gets up from sitting with Shizuma and places her hands on her hips. "Shizuma I truly understand that you love her, but it would still be best if you let things settle down."
After what seems like several minuets of discussion Shizuma rises from the bed, grabbing Miyuki by the hand she drags her friend out of the room and down the hall. 'Why is Miyuki pushing this so hard' Shizuma thinks to herself as they continue down the hall.
"Shizuma where are you taking me?" Miyuki asks while being half dragged down the hallway, she nearly runs right into Shizuma as she stops dead in her tracks at the corner juncture of the hallway. "What's wrong? Why did you stop so suddenly?"
Shizuma with wide eyes see Tamao & Nagisa leaving their bedroom heading towards the stairs leading to the first floor. She starts to take a step forward when she notices that Nagisa's hair doesn't have the usual emerald hair band, but in its place there is a red and blue Ribbon holding her hair up in its normal pony tail.
Miyuki begins to step around Shizuma to see what made her stop, she sees the new Etoile's walking down the hall. She turns just in time as Shizuma collapses to the floor, "Shizuma!" Is all she can say before she has the silver haired girl latching on to her again.
Shizuma now on the verge of tears once again manages to say, "I've lost her haven't I?" The tears now streaming down her face as she looks up to Miyuki.
Holding on to her best friend and former roommate, Miyuki just nods her head not wanting to actually say what her friends fears the most. She help Shizuma to her feet and begins the walk back to Shizuma's room, "Shizuma please, for your own good take a few days leave." Miyuki pleads once again to her friend.
Shizuma reluctantly nods her head in agreement, 'Damn it all why does this have to be like this?' Are Miyuki's thoughts as she leads her friend back to her bedroom to help her gather up the things they will need for the next few days.
DarkShinji: Well there you have it folks the newly redone chapter 4
Tsubomi: Hey why the hell don't you have Yaya-chan, and I in your story?
DarkShinji: *sweat drop* Well if you really must know, you and Yaya don't really have important parts.
Tsubomi: *getting pissed* yet you mentions Hikari-sama, and Amane-sama in chapter 1
DarkShinji: Well Duhhhh! Chapter 1 takes place during the election so they had to be there.
Tsubomi: *stomps on DarkShinji's foot* your such a Baka, Yaya and I were both in that episode.
DarkShinji: *hoping around on one foot* Why you little #$%^ I should $#%$^%$ kick your #$
Tsubomi: *really pissed now* Bring it on
*the sounds of things being smashed in the background are heard*
Tamao & Nagisa: Stay Tuned for the next chapter. The Morning After part 2
AN: Mizuho Kanou, and Sakiko Minase are both in the series, they don't have many parts , but they are the ones helping Shizuma in the Green house when Nagisa wonders in there. Also there also the ones always sent to find Shizuma. I know I mention in last chapter a OC, well it will happen just not this chapter.
AN#2: Well after talking to my friends about this chapter, I decided that it needed something more. And after taking a closer look at it I had to agree, so now I've gone and added more content to this chapter! Hopefully you all like the additions that I've put in.
And for those who I know will ask me about Yumi, she's not from Maria-sama ga Miteru
I just happen to be listening to Maria-sama no Kokoro when I was working on that part!
And as always thank you TruePrime and Grumpo for taking the time to go over my Story, Please leave your reviews rather you like or hate it.
