Happy weekly update~ Okay, so I lied. I decided to break the chapter up since it was getting rather long. The M rating will come next time. Sorry all who were waiting to get hot in this chilly winter.

The whole basis for this chapter is set more in the manga in which Saeko is the ruler of Aries and Alyssa is Natsuki's half-sister. I based Aries more around Hawaii as a sort of paradise and anyone who has been to Hawaii knows that it is beautiful and rains randomly and a lot.

Warning, there is still slight hentai in this chapter. Other than that I appreciate all of the views and reviews this story is getting and hope that you all like it. ~ Happy reading! XD

Most people have a general idea about what rich is. It involves fast, expensive cars, huge mansion, hundreds of servants and of course piles and piles of money. However, a handful of people will have a different idea of the word "rich" and tell you that someone could be rich in health, family, or food, but Anberlin wasn't among either group. She would simply say a person was rich if they had a roof over their head and food to eat, in short standard living conditions seemed like a governor's mansion. Given the information, it was pretty fair to say that when Anberlin saw a large jet-black limo pulled up in front of the villa she was fairly excited.

"This is huge!" she cried as her eye ogled the shiny hood and reflective windows. "How many people can fit in here?" She walked around the back of it and noticed the license plate read in large bold letters "Kruger". She craned her head to peer at Natsuki and Shizuru, who stood nearby to watch her antics. "Ms. Natsuki is this yours? Man you're loaded!"

Natsuki sighed softly and hoisted her one travel bag higher upon her shoulder. "I don't understand why she send these flashy cars. It would be so much discreet if we had a simple car."

"I'm sure your mother has your interests at heart," Shizuru said in a gentle tone. "She only wants to make you comfortable." She softened and reached out to grip Natsuki's hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Just relax."

Natsuki nodded and rolled her shoulders some. "You're right. I just need a vacation." She blushed lightly as Shizuru drew in close to whisper in her ear.

"Don't think to get too much rest," she purred and Natsuki shivered. "I have plans for you tonight."

The blunette swallowed hard. She could already tell what Shizuru was planning, after all the couple hadn't had much free time together in a while. Embarrassment swept over her as a familiar feeling tingled in her lower stomach then gradually drifted to settle between her legs. Natsuki swallowed hard and took in a breath to regain her composure. "Can't wait."

"Man this is crazy!" Anberlin hollered as she came up by their sides again. She ran a hand through her hair as she scanned the length of the limo again. "I've never seen anything this huge. I'm stupefied."

It was too good to resist. "Well that's one way of describing you," Natsuki teased and was met with a gentle elbow in the ribs from Shizuru.

A woman with short, spiky brown hair and glasses approached them with a caring smile. "I'm glad you like it. We mostly get those kinds of compliments like this from people, but none so outright."

Natsuki returned the cheerful attitude and reached out to shake the woman's hand. "How are you doing, Yukino? It's been a while."

Yukino nodded in turn and shook Natsuki's hand. "Yes it has. A little too long, but you didn't seemed to have changed much. And Meister Viola, nice to see you again." They both shook hands.

"You too," Shizuru replied with a warm grin. "You look like you're doing okay. I hope your job isn't keeping you too stressed."

"That kind of comes with it," Yukino replied with a carefree chuckle. "Though, I do manage. Ms. Kruger normally handles the delicate stuff, but what can you do?" Her eyes flicked towards Anberlin, who had been standing next to Shizuru and taking glances at her on occasion. "Who's this?"

Shizuru placed hand on Anberlin's shoulder to relax her. She seemed to be a little anxious. "Anberlin. She's a new student at Garderobe as well as Natsuki's apprentice. She recently passed the survival race and earned a spot in the top five scores."

Anberlin looked up at her. She hadn't been told anything about her grades and she seemed surprised, even skeptical. "I did?"

Yukino was impressed. "Wow, then you certainly have a talented one. Though what happened to her eye?" She pointed to Anberlin's scarred left eye.

The girl shifted her weight from one foot to the other. They all had agreed that the less people who knew about her GEM the better and came up with a partially true excuse. "I was involved in a town fire not too long ago and the building I was in collapsed and took out my eye." She looked to Shizuru and Natsuki for approval and relaxed once she received a satisfied nod.

The woman with the glasses frowned somewhat, she almost looked sad. "I'm sorry to hear that. You're very lucky to be alive."

Anberlin nodded in agreement, she didn't know how true that was.

"Well then, shall we get going? Ms. Kruger is expecting you soon," Yukino asked as she looked from all three of them in turn.

"How soon does she expect us?" Natsuki asked.

"I think as soon as you can," Yukino replied. "She didn't give me too many details, but it seemed as if she had something planned."

Natsuki inwardly groaned. All she ever wanted to do on her birthday was relax, take a break from deskwork, and perhaps some alone time with Shizuru. Now that they were in Aries, there would be no time for any of those things, well, almost any of them. Natsuki had a distinct feeling that she would be alone with her lover at one point or another. Still, she didn't try to fight it and nodded. "Alright. I guess we might as well go an settle in."

Yukino nodded. "Great. You can put your things in the trunk, I know you don't like having things done for you, Natsuki." She was already heading for the front of the limo.

Natsuki nodded. "Thank you." Heaving her bag higher upon her shoulder and keeping Shizuru's hand in hers, they all followed towards the back of the car and lifted up the back to reveal the trunk. They placed in their bags and closed it again, but Shizuru caught Natsuki before she could get in the car. The blush returned when the tawny woman put her arms around Natsuki's neck and looked into her eyes.

"Can you try to relax when you see your mother?" she asked. "This is your day after all."

Natsuki held Shizuru around the waist and pressed their bodies together. "I'll try but no promises," she replied. She made a move to break away, but Shizuru held fast.

"Please, 'Suki?" She giggled. Natsuki wasn't too fond of the nicknames, especially if there were short versions of their names. The blunette pursed her lips before giving in and sighing.

"Alright," she grumbled, giving Shizuru's waist a squeeze. "Just for you."

"Thank you." With joined hands, they both got into the car, but were surprised to see Anberlin bouncing off the walls.

Her face was pulled back into a large grin and a new light shone in her lone right eye. She looked like she was in a candy store. "This is awesome! There's so much space in here and not as cramped as the cars we took to get here."

"Well you were sharing room with about ten other students," Shizuru said, "but I have to agree that it feels nice to stretch out your legs." She leaned against Natsuki's shoulder, but was gently pushed off. The blunette wasn't too comfortable with public displays of affection, but the tawny woman had made it her personal mission to help rid her of that phobia.

The girl leaned back against the black leather seats and stretched out her legs. While exploring the limo, Yukino had told her of a small compartment in which she could find water and so naturally the girl helped herself. Though what she didn't expect was to find the water carbonated and it gave her a bubbly feeling in her stomach whenever she took a drink. She reached for her bottle and polished off the rest of it before reclining back against the seats again.

"So where are we going?" she asked as she looked out of the tinted windows.

"To the capital of the Republic of Aries," Natsuki said. "Or, in short, my home."

Anberlin blinked. "Wait, you lived here? For how long?"

"Since I was a child, but when I became of age I entered Garderobe and stayed in Windbloom since." She looked out of the window to the passing sea and trees of the landscape. "Even though I've been coming to this country annually for the survival finals, this will be the first time I've been home in a good while."

"Aw, too bad," the girl commented. She reached into the compartment to take out another water. "So why am I coming with you?"

"Natsuki thought it would be a way to keep an eye on you," Shizuru explained, "and also as a sort of reward for saving Tomoe. It takes something special to rescue an enemy."

A smile spread over Anberlin's face and she nodded. "Thanks! This is really awesome." She lied down on the seat and put her hands behind her head while crossing her ankles over one another. "I could get used to this."

Yukino happened to glance into the review mirror and caught Anberlin lying down on the seat. "Do you mind not putting your feet on the seat?" she asked kindly. "It'll ruin the leather."

"Oh, sure. Sorry," Anberlin replied as she sat upright again, placing her feet on the floor.

"Thank you," Yukino replied.

"No problem."

Natsuki watched the exchange in awe and bewilderment. Yukino had asked Anberlin to do something . . . and she did it, without even a complaint or groan! It was unthinkable.

"Wait a minute, why did you obey her but you never obey me?" she asked the relaxed kid.

Anberlin's reply was instant. "She's cuter than you." Shizuru chuckled, Natsuki gawked, and Yukino blushed.

The green-eyed woman thumbed towards her assistant. "And you obey Shizuru because . . .?"

"She's cuter than you too."

Shizuru broke out into a full on laugh and Natsuki growled to herself. If there was one thing she hated, it was being seen as either old or unattractive – and she wasn't even twenty-five! It made her feel . . . awful.

"Just remember who holds your grades and future in the palm of her hand," the blunette grumbled. She was in a sour mood now.

Shizuru smiled and wrapped both arms around one of Natsuki's in order to help her feel better. "I think Natsuki's always cute." She tried to steal a kiss, but Natsuki pushed her off with a blush and lot of mindless, embarrassed babbling. Anberlin and Yukino simply laughed, while blushing of course.

The girl leaned up against the seats and looked down the way towards Yukino. She seemed like a nice person and Anberlin was not shy in saying a few words. "Hey, Ms. Yukino, how do you know Ms. Natsuki and Ms. Shizuru?"

Yukino stole a glance into the back seat. "I've known Natsuki for a long while, I'm her mother's advisor."

"Oh really," Anberlin said, losing interest. "What does her mom do?"

"She's the current president for the Republic of Aries," Yukino added with a touch of pride. "And a good one she is."

At that moment, Anberlin's attention shot up and she glanced back at Natsuki then Yukino again. "What? The president? You're kidding me."

"No, Natsuki's mother, Saeko Kruger, is the president of Aries," Yukino confirmed. "She took over when her husband died and has been in the position for about . . . five years now."

Anberlin whistled. "Wow, long time to be in office. "If it's anything like being Headmistress of Garderobe, then she must really know how to handle stress."

"It's much more stressful than being a principal," the brown-haired woman said, "but just as important. Either way you're running a place and helping to make it better."

Anberlin nodded. "Cool, so what do you do? They said you are an advisor."

"I helped out Ms. Kruger if she has any exceptionally tough decisions she needs to make. We debate on it and reach an agreement, it helps to break down the issue into something that can be processed a little more simply."

"So you're kind of like Ms. Shizuru," Anberlin simplified. "You both help out the one in charge and make their lives a little easier."

Yukino smiled. "Exactly." She turned the wheel and pulled into a long driveway flanked on either side by a lush, green lawn. Many tropical looking trees and flowers were spread throughout the property. There was a marble water fountain flowing beautifully in a picturesque courtyard, but the real attraction was the mansion that stood behind it all. It was large, very large; in fact it was so large that it was impossible to look at the whole building from one viewpoint. There must have been at least a hundred windows accommodating for a hundred rooms. The grandeur was magnificent, like something only royalty would settle for. And while Natsuki, Shizuru and Yukino seemed to treat it like no big deal, Anberlin was head over heals. She was nearly in tears with how she went from nearly dying in a fire to being at the front steps of a mansion.

"I need a moment," she said, placing a hand over her beating heart. "This is too much right here, man. I don't believe this right here."

"Let me guess, first time being at a mansion?" Yukino asked.

"Oh yeah. Hey does it look as good on the inside as it does on the outside?" Anberlin asked. Her eye was still trailing over the walls and balconies lining the mansion.

"I should think it does," Yukino replied as she adjusted her glasses. "In any case, I think the valet should fetch your things while all of you relax for a bit before tonight's event. Ms. Kruger should be arriving soon from the office. Speaking of, I need to get back."

Natsuki nodded as servants and attendants began to come forth from the mansion towards the limo to unpack their things. "Alright then. Thank you picking us up, Yukino. It was nice seeing you again."

The woman with the glasses nodded and smiled as she stood by the limo after it was unloaded. A driver was already sitting behind the wheel. "No problem. It was nice seeing you again too, both of you. Nice meeting you, Anberlin."

"Same here," the girl waved.

They watched the limo pull out the driveway before turning back to the mansion. "Well, I guess we better go on in, I guess," Natsuki said. However, she wouldn't be able to take a step because at that moment, a small blonde haired girl launched herself upon her and held tightly to her torso. The force of the momentum was enough to make Natsuki stumble.

"Kaikua'ana!" cooed the girl as she nuzzled into the cleavage of the Headmistress's soft chest.

Natsuki blushed some and held the girl back, but uncertainly. "Alyssa. It's been a long time."

Alyssa nodded and beamed up at her half-sister with dazzling sea-green eyes. "You're here! I'm so happy to see you!" She grinned excitedly and nuzzled Natsuki some more. From the side, she caught Shizuru's figure and smiled up at her. "Hi, Ms. Shizuru. How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Shizuru smiled back. "It's nice to see you again, Alyssa. You've grown up very much."

Alyssa beamed. "Thank you! I'm a big kid now!" She looked to the other side and noticed Anberlin and her expression frowned. Never before had Natsuki brought another kid home and immediately the little girl felt threatened for her sister's affections. She clung close to Natsuki and eyed Anberlin warily. "Who's she?"

Anberlin tried to put on her best attitude towards Alyssa like she did with Yukino, but she could tell by the sour look she was given that she wasn't welcome. This little girl was definitely going to be trouble. "I'm Anberlin. Ms. Natsuki's apprentice."

Alyssa looked up at Natsuki, unfamiliar with the word. "Apprentice?"

"I'm training her to be the next Headmistress of Garderobe," Natsuki said. She stood straight and set Alyssa down off of her. "Wait, Alyssa, are you here alone? I know that Mother's at the office . . ."

"Uh-uh. Miyu's with me," the little girl said. She smiled as a young woman with short blue-gray hair and dressed in a maid uniform came up to join them. Alyssa rushed to the maid and brought her in closer to the trio. "Onee-chan, you remember Miyu don't you?"

Natsuki looked into the maid's face for a second before it finally clicked. "Oh yes, I remember. We've only met in passing though." She reached out a hand. "It's nice to see you again."

Miyu nodded. "As always, Lady Natsuki." They shook hands. Miyu then nodded her greeting to Shizuru. "A please as always, Meister Viola."

Shizuru nodded, often accustomed to formalities. "Likewise. You seem like you're doing well."

"I am, thank you for the concern," she replied. Her shining pink eyes fell upon Anberlin and regarded her coolly, with little emotion at all. "She is new." It wasn't a question.

Anberlin nodded. Miyu didn't seem has threatening as Alyssa, but the hint of potential danger was there. She was about sick to death with making enemies and so she decided to put in the extra effort and turn Miyu into a potential ally. "I'm Anberlin. Nice to meet you." She reached out a hand and was surprised to see Miyu take it, marveling at the firmness of the handshake. "You have a nice grip. I like that."

Miyu nodded her thanks and withdrew her hand. "Thank you. You seem a little strong for your stature as well."

Anberlin pulled a face. She didn't know if "strong for your stature" was a compliment or meant something else entirely. "Uh, thank you. I guess." The group should have continued talking and making more introductions because at that moment another limo pulled up and a woman stepped (more like rushed) right out and rushed towards them.

"Natsuki!" Saeko cried as she hugged her daughter from behind. Natsuki nearly had the wind knocked out of her as the woman squeezed her torso a little more. "I'm glad to see you!" She whirled her around and held her tightly, smiling.

Natsuki blushed softly and couldn't help but gave in and hugged her mother back. She even went so far as to close her eyes and melt into the embrace. "You too, Makuahine." However, she drew the line when Saeko took her head in hand and kissed her hairline, much like she did when she was child. Natsuki broke out into a mad blush and shied away from her side.

Saeko seemed a little disappointed. "When will you learn that hugs and kisses from your mother is normal?" Her carefree demeanor returned as she approached Shizuru. "Nice to see you again, Shizuru. You look well."

Shizuru nodded and smiled in return as the two embraced in greeting, as if they were old friends or even family. "It's nice to see you too. You seem to be doing well also."

"I try, but what're you going to do?" Her eyes drifted down to Shizuru's left hand and frowned as she noticed it was bare. "Hm, no proposal rings yet? You better hurry up, Natsuki, or someone else will snatch her up."

Natsuki fumbled for something to say, but all she could do was blush. Even Shizuru turned a little red. "What're you talking about? We haven't been together that long!"

"Long enough," Saeko countered. "She's a nice girl, why don't you propose already?" Before Natsuki could formulate some kind of half-hearted excuse, she spoke again. "Oh well, I guess you haven't found the right time yet, but you better hurry or else she'll become bored of you." They all shared in a laugh until Saeko noticed Anberlin, then her interest really piqued. "Who's this?"

Anberlin looked up at the Natsuki lookalike, marveling at how easy going she seemed to be. Oh yes, she would definitely be nice to her. "Anberlin." She reached out a hand to her and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Saeko."

Needless to say, Saeko was a bit impressed with how well-mannered Anberlin was despite her scruffy appearance. It added to her charm. "Likewise. You have a nice name. Anberlin . . . Annie for short, I like it." She glanced at Natsuki playfully. "Why didn't you tell me you adopted a child? I didn't know you were ready for parenthood."

"You're misunderstanding," Natsuki cried as she moved to stand beside Anberlin, almost protectively in a way. It wasn't lost on Anberlin how Alyssa glared at her when Natsuki moved close. "She's only my student and apprentice. I brought her with us because she is notorious for causing trouble and I wanted to keep an eye on her."

"I don't see what kind of trouble she can cause," Saeko replied. "She seems well-mannered, considerate and charming. You should be proud to be taking care of someone like her."

Anberlin couldn't help but smile and beam. "Oh I like her a lot!"

"Well, I'm glad you do. It'll make us get along a whole lot better." After a catch up with Alyssa and Miyu, Saeko then addressed what she had came home early to do. "I was thinking that before we prepare for tonight's festivities we all can go to the beach for a while. What do you think?"

"The beach?" Anberlin cried. Even though she had gotten out of the water from drowning the other day, it didn't change her attitude about being up close and personal with the water. "I want to go!"

"Sounds like fun," Shizuru agreed.

"Me and Miyu can make sandcastles!" Alyssa claimed as thoughts of the mighty structures Miyu could make filled her young mind.

Saeko nodded, smiling. "That's everyone. What about you, birthday girl? Are you going to come?"

Natsuki thought for bit. She really just wanted to relax and the beach was an ideal place to do it, better still if everyone was going to be doing something else while she simply tanned. There really was no harm in going, she guessed. "Alright. I'll come."


A large smile was plastered on Anberlin's face as she rushed down the shoreline towards the waiting ocean. Never before had she actually seen the sea so up close – and not have to be rescued from it. It was a whole new experience. "Come on! What're you waiting for?" she called back to the coming party. She didn't wait for Natsuki, Saeko, Alyssa, Miyu and Shizuru to join her before charging headlong into the coming waves and diving in headfirst only to come up a moment later smothered in goose pimples. "It's cold!"

Shizuru chuckled to herself as she landed on the beach and walked more towards the water. "Did you think it would be warm?" she asked.

Saeko smiled too as she helped Shizuru place down their towels and chairs. "She certainly is charming," the woman said with another glance to Anberlin. The girl was dodging in and out of the waves unrhythmically, as giddy as the schoolgirl she was. "I've never seen someone with so much energy. Oh, if only my Natsuki was as cheerful like that," she mock swooned placing a hand on her cheek.

Natsuki wasn't amused and kept her arms folded tightly across her chest. "Mother . . .!" she whined, but Saeko only giggled.

"Oh come on, relax a little," the mother insisted. "It's your birthday, you don't have to work." She smirked. "And you have a little family of your own to enjoy." Her amusement only increased as Natsuki broke out into an incredulous blush.

"Family?" she gaped. "It's not like I'm married to Shizuru and Anberlin is our kid. She's just my assistant and Anberlin is just a student-slash-apprentice." She took a seat in a chair and stretched out her legs so just enough sun hit them.

Shizuru, catching on to Saeko's playfulness, decided to go along with it. "Oh if only that were true," she stated with an overly dramatic sigh and a hand to her forehead. "But alas it is a dream that will cease to exist."

Natsuki ground her teeth together and closed her eyes, doing her best to ignore the teasing. "That's enough!"

Both women giggled at the Headmistress's discomfort and decided it would be best to stop there, for Natsuki's sake. She was getting another year older and was entitled to enjoy one more day of youth while she still had it.

"With that said, I think I shall join your student in the water," Saeko said as she pulled off her shirt and knee-high pants to reveal a stunning bikini. Despite being older than Natsuki, she still had the body she had in her youth and was not ashamed to show it off. Natsuki had to hide her face from the shame, as the last thing she wanted to see was her mother in a bikini that looked like it would fit her perfectly. She removed her glasses, as they were easily lost in the water, and placed them on the towel next to her daughter's foot before grasping a large surfboard on the sand next to her. "You might have shown her a few things, but I should teach her how to truly be an Ariesan."

Natsuki shook her head as her mother departed towards the water. "She's so embarrassing sometimes, but she's family."

"Uh oh, I think someone's envious," Shizuru chided in a singsong tone. She ceased her teasing when Natsuki began to have a cow. "Come on, Natsuki, join us. It'd be a lot better than sitting her all alone," she pleaded with a gentle grin.

Natsuki gazed up at her friend with large green eyes. Shizuru wasn't called the Bewitching Smile Amethyst for nothing but Natsuki had long ago become immune to her charms. "Maybe later," she said. "For now I just want to sit here. You go on ahead and I'll watch."

Shizuru sighed gently. She knew how stubborn her associate could be but eventually she would come around. "Alright then. We'll all be waiting for you." With that, Shizuru walked out onto the warm sand and towards the water where Anberlin stood watching Saeko. The Natsuki-lookalike had remained in fairly deep water, gauging the waves with her eyes, picking the ones that would give her the best time. When one such wave appeared, she turned the board around and laid flat on her stomach and began to paddle with her arms until she was near the crest of the wave then jumped to her feet and let the water handle the rest. Her board, glistening with the shine of the sea, carried across the water smoothly and truly as the wave curled above Saeko's head and came crashing down in a second on top of her. Anberlin's first instinct was to rush to her aid, but relaxed when she saw the woman pop up from the water and grab onto her board again.

"Wow, that was so cool," Anberlin whistled before breaking out into a smile. "I wanna try!"

"You'll have to practice to be as good as her," Shizuru said as she drizzled water onto her arms and chest. She didn't seem to mind that her makeshift violet skirt was getting wet. "Surfing takes time to master you know."

"So?" the girl replied. "I don't want to master it, I just want to try it out. You know, see if it's something I want to do regularly."

"Well then why don't you ask Saeko or Natsuki, you do know that they are some of the best surfers around."

For a moment, Anberlin's jaw dropped. "Ms. Natsuki? She doesn't even like to do anything. How can she be one of the greatest surfers?"

Shizuru chuckled at the girl's shock. She certainly was amusing. "Oh you'd be surprised. There are many things you don't know about her." Their conversation ended as Saeko came up to them, drenched in midday surf and sad, but she didn't seem to mind at all.

"There's really good waves today, you all came at a good time," she said as she stuck the end of he surfboard into the sand, the water crashing around her ankles. Her green eyes flicked to Anberlin. "What did you think? Have you ever been surfing before?"

"No, but I want to now," she replied. "You make it look so easy."

"All things are difficult before they are easy, let me tell you," Saeko replied. "It took me a while to get at the level I am, but I'm sure you can do it too if you really want to." She smiled over at Shizuru. "How long has it been since you've gone for a ride, Viola?"

"Too long," the tawny-haired woman replied. "I've been so stuck in Windbloom with work that I haven't really had time to practice."

Anberlin looked from both women before settling on Shizuru. "Wait, you know how to surf?"

"A born natural if I ever saw one," the Aries monarch replied. She offered the surfboard out to her. "Do you still think you can do it?"

"I can try." Shizuru took the smoothed board in hand and glanced out to the water much like Saeko had done moments before walking forward into the tumbling waves.

Saeko drew up close to Anberlin's side. "Watch carefully. You'll get a chance to do it next."

The girl kept her good eye peeled as Shizuru mounted the board and laid flat on her stomach, her lean arms stroking through the crystalline water. A smile spread across her face as the woman moved to ride upon the crest of a wave and performing fancy zigzags that cut through the water like a knife. When the wave came crashing down, she leaped into the water and rose up a moment later to retrieve the board.

Anberlin nodded, every aspect of the ride engrained in her mind. She was certain she could do it, but the apprehension was still there as well as excitement. She felt the board in her hands when Shizuru returned and looked out at the ocean. She swallowed. "Alright, nothing to it. Though if I happen to be taken underwater, one of you will come get me right?"

"Do you know how to swim?" Saeko asked. She was wringing leftover water from her long blue-black hair.

"Well, kind of," Anberlin confessed. Though she hardly thought wading in a stream in a forest or sinking to the bottom of the ocean counted as swimming. "But you know just in case."

Shizuru nodded. "Yes. If anything happens, we'll make sure you're okay."

The girl smiled. "Great. Well, wish me luck." With another breath she strode out into the water and set upon her first surfing task.

From the beach, Natsuki was watching her family play around, but paid very little attention to them. Her mind was elsewhere while the sun gently baked her slender legs. She had to admit that it was nice to be somewhere besides the office for a change, especially in a paradise like Aries. The air always so fresh smelling and everyone seemed cheerful. It truly reminded her of her simple days spent as a child. Leaning back into her seat, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, completely and fully relaxing. This was more like it.

"Kaikua'ana!" Alyssa called as she approached her older sister. The little girl held out her hands and showed her prize, a collection of colorfully decorated seashells. "Aren't they pretty?" She held up a rounded, rough-ridged shell the color of the sunset. "This one's my favorite."

Natsuki examined the collection of shells and nodded. "Yeah, they are pretty." She peered a little bit closer and picked up a small clamshell, gently prying it open with her fingernails. She blinked upon finding something extra within the shell and drew it out. "What in the world?"

Alyssa peered into Natsuki's palm and grinned. "A pearl! You found a pearl! Lucky."

"A mother of pearl, huh?" Natsuki said as she examined the jewel up close. It caught in the sun and glinted white. "This is a nice birthday present." She looked to Alyssa. "Though I think you should have it." She dropped it into the little girl's hands and she blushed.

"Really? Can I?" Alyssa asked as she stared up with her glimmering sea-green eyes. "Is it okay if you give it to me?"

Natsuki nodded. "Of course. You're the one who found the shell."

Alyssa smiled and held the pearl close to her chest. "thank you! Now whenever I look at it, I'll think about my Kaikua'ana." She drew in close and stood upon her tiptoes to give Natsuki a thank you kiss on the cheek. She older woman blushed, but found it very sweet. "Do you want to help me and Miyu build sandcastles? We can put the rest of the shells on to make it look nice."

Natsuki hesitated. She had done it in the past, but now that she was older and a bit more reserved, she found it to be a little childish. "I don't know. It's not really my thing."

However, Alyssa wasn't going to give up. "Please? I never get to play with you when you're away. Can't you do it just this once?" She looked up at her pleadingly, sticking out her bottom lip for added effect.

Natsuki groaned and turned her face away. "Not the puppy eyes . . .!" everyone faltered to Alyssa's puppy eyes.

The blonde edged in a bit closer, almost to the point where she was right in her face. "Pretty please with a cherry on top and whipped cream and sprinkles and candy and licorice and gummy bears and chocolate syrup and . . ."

"Alright," Natsuki agreed. It wasn't that she fell victim to the puppy eyes, but she didn't want to listen to Alyssa's long list of sweets. "I'll build sandcastles with you."

"Yay!" Alyssa grasped Natsuki's hand in hers and pulled her from the chair, dragging her further down the beach to where Miyu sat adding finishing touches on a grand sandcastle that truly was a castle. "Miyu, is it okay if only Kaikua'ana helps me with the next one?"

Miyu looked up into Natsuki's face and nodded. "Whatever you want." Though she made a point to keep close, as her programming required.

Alyssa immediately plopped down in the warm white sand and filled a bucket with it, motioning for Natsuki to sit too. "We're going to make it really big and put on lots and lots of shells."

Natsuki couldn't help but sigh in relaxed defeat. Alyssa's carefree attitude always reminded her that she needn't be so serious all the time; that it was okay to relax and enjoy life. "How big?" she asked, helping to shovel sand into the bucket.

"Really, really big! Even bigger than Miyu's!" She pointed to the towering castle behind them.

Natsuki blinked, but didn't bother to quell Alyssa's enthusiasm with her pessimism. "Then we better work hard then." She stopped the little girl before she dumped the sand out. "Wait you have to make sure it's wet or else it won't hold together when you pour it."

"Okay." The little girl struggled to lift the heavy bucket by herself, the muscles in her arms straining. Natsuki and Miyu offered to lend her a hand, but she insisted that she could do it by herself. "I'm almost grown up. I can do it myself."

Natsuki smiled fondly as she watched her sister trudge towards the water, weighed down by the sand bucket. "She certainly has grown. The last time I saw her she was a toddler."

"When you went off to Garderobe to become Headmistress, she asked for you constantly," Miyu said, striding forward to join the conversation. "All she ever wanted was you."

Natsuki frowned and looked down at the sand. "I had to go. When they offered me the position, I couldn't turn it down."

"Why did you go back?" Miyu asked calmly, staring out at the shoreline watching Alyssa scoop water into the bucket. "You could very well have stayed here and succeeded your mother, not to mention made your little sister happy."

That was a touchy subject for Natsuki. When Miyu said it like that, it made her feel a little guilty, especially the part about Alyssa. "I found Garderobe to be a little easier to run than an entire country." Her eyes softened. "And I also wanted to give back to it I guess . . . I mean, I met all of my friends there and Shizuru. Not to mention it's where I learned how to be the person I am. I holds special memories for me."

Miyu hummed in thought, seemingly satisfied with her answer. "You have good intentions. You're not one of those people who do it because of the high position or attention given by the students or even the political influence. You are much like your mother in that respect."

Natsuki nodded. "Yeah, I guess. Though if I still had my choice I would still work at Garderobe. Aries will always come second."

"The sand is all wet!" Alyssa came charging up to the pair with the bucket in hand. Her legs were damp and sand was stubbornly clinging to them like a second skin. She set it down beside Natsuki, out of breath from the effort. "Can you help me? It's kind of heavy."

Natsuki nodded and grasped the bucket in her hands along with Alyssa's. "On count of three, ready?"

Alyssa nodded, her face cutely tensed in concentration.

"Okay. One . . . two . . . three . . ." As one they both dumped out the sand close to the ground and patted down the sides to get every last grain out. Natsuki then proceeded to carefully pull away the bucket and nodded when it remained perfectly in place.

Alyssa was giddy. "It stayed! I'm going to fill another bucket. Put some shells on it until I get back." She raced off towards the water again, eager to make another block.

Natsuki nodded and picked up one of the shells Alyssa had left on the ground and dug small niches in the sides of the sand to fit them in. Once that was done, she busied herself by making ridges along the length of the top.

Another person joined them and hid a chuckle. "Why is it that I can never get you to do things like this with me?" Shizuru teased. She sat down next to Natsuki, who had taken on a slight blush. Shizuru swooned. "You look so cute you when you blush!"

"I'm only doing this because Alyssa asked me to," Natsuki defended as she drew away from the mediocre castle to examine her work. Some of the shells weren't lined up correctly and the ridges seemed a little lopsided, but it was the best she could do given that the last time she actually made a sandcastle was during childhood.

Shizuru smiled at her. "You're a good big sister. I'm proud of you." She leaned in to place a kiss on her shoulder, but stopped when she felt how hot it had become. "Natsuki, you didn't put on any sunscreen did you?"

"No, I guess not," the other admitted. She was still flushed from the last kiss. Shizuru's lips, cool from the ocean, felt so good on her burning shoulder that she wanted more.

"If you don't put it on you'll get sunburned," the tawny woman continued. "Wait here, I'll go get it." Just as she left, Alyssa came back up with another bucket. She observed Natsuki's work with the first block of the castle.

I like it," she praised. "You did a good job." Just as she was about to dump the bucket a second time, she noticed something about Natsuki. "Hey, your face is all red. Are you hot? Is the sun too hot for you?"

Natsuki swallowed and blushed a little bit deeper. She was hot, but it had nothing to do with the sun. "Yeah, you could say that . . . I'm sure a dip in the water will help cool me down." As there are no cold showers nearby . . .

"Okay, well, can you help me pour this one before you go?" Alyssa asked as she held up the bucket.

Natsuki nodded. "Sure." On another count of three, they both poured out the sand and bridged it with the already existing mound.

Shizuru came up again with a bottle of suntan lotion in hand. She sat down on her knees next to Natsuki and squirted some lotion onto her hand and rubbed it gently along her red shoulders and back.

Natsuki froze at the cool touch of the lotion on her burning skin but relaxed as Shizuru worked it into the pores, gently massaging the muscles beneath. It felt good and helped to relieve the sting of the burns. "Mm."

That one little moan was all that Shizuru needed to keep going. Her hands wandered from around Natsuki's back and shoulders to her upper arms and chest, right below her neck. Though it was heavily indicated that her hand intended to travel further south. She put her lips right against Natsuki's ear, her breath ghosting over it. "You're starting to loosen up." She went to extra mile and nibbled Natsuki's ear gently in her teeth, setting a blush upon both their faces.

Alyssa looked at the two in wonder and not quiet understanding what was going on. She frowned and tilted her head. "What're you doing?"

Miyu was the first one to answer, though she had been embedded with a programming that would dull down explanations for Alyssa's benefit. "They're doing something that people in love do, but you're not allowed to do it until you're forty-nine."

Alyssa pouted and looked back at her sister. "Kaikua'ana likes it. She's all red and happy."

Shizuru giggled and kissed Natsuki's ear before letting go, the suntan lotion spread out evenly all across her body. "That means it's working." She added another kiss to Natsuki's cheek before simply holding her close.

Their peace was interrupted by the sound of yelling and the crash of the waves and all attention turned towards the ocean. Anberlin had popped up from the water and was scrambling to get back on the board for another try. She had succeeded in getting on top of the wave and standing, but lost her balance two seconds into the ride before falling. She did the same thing again and again and again with no success on any of them. By the time she had fallen off a fourth time, Natsuki had just about had enough.

"Darn it, girl. Get your balance!" She jumped to her feet and strode towards the water with a purpose. The waves hit her burned skin like a tone of bricks and it was instant relief that only grew deeper the more she waded in. However, her stern look remained as she reached Anberlin and the surfboard.

"Get your balance," she said as the girl straddled the board. Natsuki swung up right along with her and glanced over her shoulder to see a new set of waves coming. "Move in front of me."

Anberlin blinked, wiping water out of her face. "What?"

"I'm going to teach you how to surf, now sit in front of me," Natsuki repeated.

Anberlin nodded and got into the water but jumped up again as she sat in front of her caretaker. She felt Natsuki move to stand and attempted to do the same, but was held down.

"Stay there until I say otherwise," Natsuki ordered. She looked over her shoulder to see a new set of waves approaching. Natsuki kneeled down and began to paddle with her hands, keeping perfect balance on the board. "Move towards the middle of the board a bit." She nodded when Anberlin complied. "Good." The water rose up from beneath them and Natsuki acted. "Stand up."

Anberlin did as she was told, jumping up onto her feet quickly, but a little too quickly. She tried to stick her arms out to act as a counterbalance, but her body continued to flail helplessly. She thought she was going to fall for sure when a pair of hands reached out and grasped her wrists, calming and steadying her all in one movement. She glanced over her shoulder and looked up at Natsuki.

"Stand there, keep your balance, and let me take care of the rest," she instructed as she shifted her feet. The board cut through the water like a hot knife through butter. Cool spray misted against their bodies in a refreshing shower and Anberlin grew excited as they went along.

"This is awesome!" she whooped.

Natsuki smiled. "I'm just getting started." With another shift of her feet, they dipped down a little to be in the middle of the cresting wave. The water acted on its own and curled around them like a mighty fist. Natsuki reached out a hand to stroke the water much like a lover or an old friend. She missed this feeling, of being on the ocean. It truly brought back memories. "Look straight ahead."

Anberlin did look and at first all she could see was a view of the beach and sky, but her jaw slowly dropped as the water curled even tighter and formed a tunnel around them. The water blocked out the sun and cast them in shade, but small rays of light filtered through and illuminated the barrel. It was such a rich aquamarine color that it put even the most beautiful gemstones to shame. Small colorful fish darted in and out of view before slipping into deeper water and all Anberlin could do was hold her breath at the beauty around her. "Wow."

Natsuki nodded and shifted her weight more to the side as the barrel began to collapse. She grasped Anberlin's wrist and they both jumped into the water just as it crashed around them. The rolling force of the wave sent them tumbling together in the surf until it settled against the shoreline and both women were able to poke their heads above water. Natsuki glanced over at Anberlin as they were carried towards shallow water and smiled. "Now that is how you surf."

The rest of the day was filled with other playful antics, with surfing the main event. Natsuki had made quite a spectacle and encouraged others along the beach to race her, but it was clearly no competition for the champion. Alyssa and Miyu spent their time gathering shells, playing in the sand, and dashing out in the waves while Shizuru, Saeko and Anberlin did much the same. It was a good time, a time for all of them to be together and bond like the family they were supposed to be and it felt good. The filial love was so palpable that one could sense it simply by passing by and it was because of this invisible love that Anberlin truly felt like she belonged somewhere. They were so caught up in their fun that they hardly noticed how fast the time had gone by.

Saeko walked up to their staked out spot and looked at a wristwatch she had left on the towels. "Is it that late already? We better get going." She looked over at Miyu, who was sitting beneath the shade of the beach umbrella with Alyssa asleep on her lap, and smiled fondly. "Miyu, can you take Alyssa back to the house please? We'll meet you there shortly."

The robot maid nodded, scooping the little girl up in her arms so that she rested upon her shoulder. "Of course."

"Thank you." Saeko looked over to see Natsuki, Shizuru and Anberlin strolling up to the towel. Natsuki was on one side with Anberlin in the middle and Shizuru on the other. They were all smiling and seemed to be enjoying each other simply by being in one another's company. Saeko had come to know that sense before and couldn't help but smile and feel a little proud of her oldest daughter. The perfect family . . . "Well, you all seem to have had a good time."

Anberlin nodded and reached for a towel to wrap around herself. "Oh yeah. This was the best day ever! Thanks for letting me come with you, Ms. Saeko."

Natsuki cleared her throat. "Excuse me, but who exactly do you think allowed you to come?"

Anberlin smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. Thank you Ms. Natsuki for letting me come with you."

"That's better and it was my pleasure. You've been really good today."

The trio helped Saeko clean up the rest of the supplies from the beach and began to trudge back towards the house. They were exhausted from the day and drained from the sun, but there was much more in store for them later in the evening. The only relief they received was that the walk back to the mansion wasn't that long.

When they arrived, Miyu was on the front porch waiting for them. Alyssa wasn't with her, as she was put down for a small nap before the evening. She would be staying up late that night. "Most of your guests have already arrived and are resting from their journeys here," she informed Saeko. "They are awaiting your company."

Saeko nodded. "Very well. Will you please tell them that we will meet them once we all have had a chance to clean up into something more presentable?"

Miyu nodded. "Of course, my lady."

"Thank you." She turned back to the trio behind her and smiled. "It seems that we've spent too long at the ocean. Everyone's wondering where we've been. Luckily I bought us some time to freshen up. I'm pretty sure we could all use a bath and then refreshments afterwards to bring up our energy. We have a very busy night after all."

Shizuru and Natsuki exchanged a glance. You have no idea . . .

Anberlin was having less sinful thoughts and focused on what Saeko had proposed. "A bath in the mansion and gourmet food? This day just keeps getting better and better!"


Anberlin took in a deep gasp, but was unable to catch her breath. It was hot in the room, but a moist hotness. She could taste her sweat in the air as it beaded and evaporated off her naked skin. Her body was twitching with each movement, and each twitch made her gasp. A burning blush had taken place upon her face long ago and her bare chest rose and fell deeply and heavily. This was torture, all of it, and she could only cope by placing her hands against the wall and calling out the name of her tormentor. "Shi . . . zuru . . ."

The tawny woman smiled in her ear, her voice dripping with honeyed nectar. "Just relax. You're tense. It'll be over faster if you only relax." Her fingertips slid gently over Anberlin's shoulders all the way down to her lower back, causing the girl to gasp.

"It . . . it hurts . . ." she groaned as a pearl of sweat rolled down her forehead. "It hurts . . ."

"Relax your muscles," Shizuru order gently, the words ghosting over her flaming ear. "Leave everything to me." She set her hands on Anberlin's back again and smoothed over her sides firmly.

The girl squeaked as the heat increased tenfold. She could barely breathe and was ever so slowly suffocating. She needed help, someone who could rescue her from this unbearable heat. "Nat . . . suki . . ."

Natsuki looked up at her from the ground, a bead of sweat on her forehead. "Do as Shizuru says. We'll all be done faster." She went back to her business and ran her slender hands across Anberlin's abdomen and up to just below her breasts, taking part in the excruciating heat.

She was at her breaking point now. Anberlin could no longer stand it. She was at her limit and her body trembled violently as the two women held her in their hands. "I'm . . . going to . . ." She threw her head back in a shower of sweat drops along with a deep moan before crashing her forehead against the wall again . . . with a deep and frustrated growl. "I'm telling you I'm going to suffocate!" she hissed as the mesh of silk and wire was pulled even tighter across her midsection.

Natsuki looked up at her again with an annoyed look and stood up, placing her hands upon her chare's shoulders. "Stop being so dramatic. No one has suffocated from being in a corset before."

The girl glared and frowned. "I'm not being dramatic! Have you been in one of these things? It feels like my ribs are being crushed. Ow!" She winced as Shizuru pulled the strings a little bit tighter.

"You're being presented formally in front of very distinguished guests and I don't want you looking like a vagabond when you meet them," Natsuki explained as she straightened out her own evening wear which was much like the regular garb Shizuru wore only in blue. She also seemed to be wearing a zip-up turtleneck collar underneath. "Not to mention your body lacks any curves whatsoever."

"Well sorry if I'm not curvy," Anberlin hissed. She leaned her back against the wall once Shizuru was done and gazed ahead into a mirror. A scowl contorted her face. "I look ridiculous. Can't I just wear nice pants and a shirt?"

"You look fine," Natsuki said. "Wait until you get in a dress." She smirked. "That'll be good."

"Dress? Oh no, heck no. I'm tolerating the bone crusher I'm wearing, but I draw the line at a dress."

"Can you not fight everything and just do something for someone else? You told me that you would be someone to be proud of, but I'm not proud of selfish people."

Anberlin grumbled. She hated it when someone used guilt trips on her. It made her feel horrible and rotten inside. It was then that she realized that Natsuki's will was much stronger than her own. "Fine, I wear the stupid dress, but as long as it's not pink and I get to wear pants underneath."

"Shorts," Natsuki negotiated, "and the dress is royal blue."

"Deal. Though can you please loosen this! I can't breathe!" She grasped the strings in the back as her diaphragm strained.

"No, and you'll be fine. There has not been one suffocation from wearing a corset, you're just not used to it." The blunette made her way over to a vanity mirror where a row of cosmetics stood while Shizuru gathered up the dress. "You will wear some make up as well. You have an image to uphold."

"Whose image? Yours or mine?" she grumbled upon crossing her arms.

"Garderobe's, if you must know. As a student invited to such an event, you should be an example of the prestige that the school holds."

"I thought we were celebrating your birthday, not going to a political party," Anberlin replied.

She sighed, fed up. "I'll go and entertain everyone while you help her get ready, Shizuru. Okay?" She was already walking towards the door.

Shizuru nodded. "Alright, we'll try to join you as soon as we can." Once Natsuki left, she looked back at Anberlin and walked up behind her, loosening the strings just enough to give her some slack. The result was a huge breath of relief. "Better?"

"Much, thanks." The girl then turned to look at the dress and tilted her head. It was pretty with a low-cut collar and colored in deep blues and rich golds. If she would allow herself to do so, she would have said it was pretty, but doubted that it would look good on her. "Can I wear something else, please?"

"Sorry," Shizuru replied.

Anberlin groaned. She flopped down on the only bed in the room and turned over to look up at the ceiling. "Why do I have to dress up for something like this anyways? Ms. Saeko didn't seem to mind how I looked."

"It's a little different when you need to make an impression." Shizuru folded up the dress in her hands and sat beside her.

"But it's not really making an impression if I'm dressed like something else," she explained. "I mean, I want to meet other people as me, not what Natsuki wants me to be."

"I can understand that," Shizuru replied with a nod. "But would it be changing you if you wore something you like? Understand that neither of us are trying to change you, we're just trying to give you options." She smiled. "And I have a feeling you'll look okay in this."

Anberlin snorted. "Yeah right. Easy for you to say, you actually look pretty."

Shizuru laughed. "Thank you, but you would too if you'd give it a chance. Your hair color with this blue, now that's pretty." When Anberlin didn't budge, she tried a different approach. "I'll tell you what, as soon as things start getting underway you can change into something more comfortable."

Anberlin perked up immediately. "Really?"

"We'll all change into something else anyways once formalities are settled. It is a birthday party after all and we won't be accomplishing much dressed formally." She winked.

Anberlin matched her charming smile. "You know, you're really good at the talk thing. No wonder everyone likes you." She stood up from the bed and blushed slightly before giving Shizuru a quick hug. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

The woman nodded and held her back briefly. "You're almost fifteen, you might as well begin to know how to negotiate. It also comes with the job of being Headmistress. Now, what do you say we try this on, hm?"

Anberlin glanced at the dress rather skeptically, but remember Shizuru's conditions. It probably wouldn't be that long until she changed and in any case she could be able to wear shorts underneath. And the dress was a kind of nice . . . "Alright."

Shizuru was right, the dress did look good on Anberlin. It clung to the curves of her waist (only enhanced by the corset as Anberlin had no hips at all) and framed her slender legs rather well. The neckline was perfect and showed off just the right amount of cleavage (also enhanced by the corset as Anberlin was also small chested). A beautiful gold necklace was placed around her neck and her hair was brushed rather beautifully. Shizuru made sure to apply just the right touch of make up. She was going to bring out Anberlin's natural beauty, not hide it. This whole venture was made all the more fun because beforehand Shizuru had asked Anberlin to close her eye so that her final image would be kept as a surprise until her work was done.

"Alright," the woman said as she replaced the cap on the small tube of pink lipstick. She moved so that she stood behind the girl and smiled at the beautiful image that greeted her in the mirror. Everyone was going to be impressed. "Open your eyes, well . . . eye."

"Ha, ha, very funny." She took in a small breath and opened her eye to gasp at the image before in the mirror. The girl that sat there was indeed beautiful and looked absolutely stunning in the blue dress. Her skin looked flawless and slight artificial blush helped to bring out her complexion. Her hair was combed in a way that it hid her scarred eye, but in a rather elegant way and not as if she were trying to hide something. In short, she was impressed. "Is that . . . me?" she reached out to touch the image and blinked when said image reached out back at her.

Shizuru nodded, smiling. "Yes. I told you, you'd look beautiful and you do."

"This is so weird. I don't think I could ever look . . . pretty," Anberlin said softly. Her voice held a mix of awe and denial, an interesting combination. "I don't think I've ever looked this nice before."

"Well now you have. Do you like it?" Shizuru had a feeling that she already knew the answer.

Anberlin smiled and it was a gorgeous smile, much better than her tomboy grins could ever be. It suited her very well. "Yes. Thank you so much. I appreciate it." She rose up from where she sat in front of the mirror and took in her whole image. She certainly looked ready for this meeting. "I think we should go. Natsuki'll wonder where we are."

Shizuru nodded and began to walk with her towards the door helping whenever Anberlin would stumble over the quart-inch heels she was wearing. "And remember, it'll only be temporary. You won't have to wear that very long."

Anberlin nodded, but thought more about what Shizuru had said. She felt so good in the dress and she certainly looked good too. Was it a good idea to change all of that for the sake of comfort? If everyone else liked how she looked then that would definitely be a no. It was as if Anberlin had stepped into her body for the first time and she very much liked what she saw. Perhaps being a girl every once in a while wasn't so bad.


Useful words (Hawaiian)

1. Kaikua'ana: older sister

2. Makuahine: mother