Chapter 9: Preparations

Hey guys. I'm pretty impressed with the amount of reviews I got for the last chapter (okay by the way...did I really hit 300 reviews? Do I love you? I think yes.), so I decided to update as soon as possible …unfortunately…that wasn't very soon. I apologize…this chapter was hard and something's come up in my schedule so the updates will be slower from now on (but don't worry, you might have to wait like one or two days longer than usual haha)

This chapter was a freakin' pain in my ass to be perfectly honest. You'll probably see why. There's also a lot of thinking in this chapter so…try not to get bored!

Also, please remember it is YOUR decision to read this story. You know by now what this story contains so if you're uncomfortable with the themes than please go read something else. I'll post this again in the next chapter since this one is pretty clean.

Yup, same warning as before. Okay here we go…


Natsuki plucked the bandage surrounding her head as she walked to the running track. She managed to cut the long back part of it so that she didn't look like she was a ninja warrior anymore, just ninja. She wasn't even sure when it could come off, probably soon. Running today was going to be serious business, Natsuki had a ton of thinking to do. Though, I really feel like collapsing and going to sleep. Maybe staying awake last night was not such a great idea. And then she remembered all the crap that happened yesterday. On second thought, my nightmares would've been way worse. Yes, staying up was a good idea, She concluded.

Natsuki stepped onto the track. She looked across the track to where that building was, the Teacher's Lounge (Offices). Her eyes stared deeply past the tinted windows…though she could see nothing beyond it. Natsuki sighed. She still had a few days before Parent's Day. Maybe she could figure out what to do during that time. She mentally shuddered as she thought of the upcoming torture. God likes screwing around with me, I know it.

Natsuki started off with a light jog, before switching into full-out run mode. Her sneakers smacked against the track, sweat glistened on her forehead and down her neck, and her eyes were focused as they stared straight ahead. Run Natsuki run, don't look behind you, it'll just slow you down.

The ice beauty began to pant lightly as she made her 6th lap around the track. She was exhausted beyond belief, but sleeping just seemed like a bad idea. Would she be able to handle what her subconscious threw at her? Probably not. She couldn't allow memories to throw her off focus. She had to be ready.

Okay. Let's see. I can have a talk to Chie and Aoi. They guard the front gates sometimes so maybe I can get them to prevent dad from getting in when he shows up. They'll ask questions…but I don't have to answer them completely right? Still, they can't keep someone out for no reason. Natsuki's eyebrow furrowed as she contemplated her other options. There were none. Okay dad is definitely coming. Slowing him down is a possibility with Chie and Aoi…and yet I don't want to involve them. Natsuki turned another curve. I...it was easier to…handle what was going on when Shizuru was with me. After I woke up in my room…I wasn't as afraid because I heard Shizuru's voice. I wonder if…Natsuki let out a nervous laugh, which would've made her look nuts if anyone was watching. No. I must've been too out of it to even care that he was also in the room.

Natsuki pondered that for a moment. When she had been alone with Akio her body had failed her. When Shizuru was also in the room…she was surprisingly more ready to take him on. She vaguely remembered staring him down without shaking as much as she had been before. Could it be because of Shizuru's presence that she somehow found the strength to…No. This isn't some cheesy Lifetime channel family drama. I must've just gotten over the shock or something.

Another curve. Natsuki continued running these thoughts through her mind. She'd been doing this all night of course, thinking about her situation and how to overcome it. Maybe I should just tell Shizuru…Natsuki contemplated. How would that go? Embarrassing that's for sure. Shizuru would tell someone else, who would tell someone else, eventually the whole school would know about it. Then again, they would underestimate Akio. He was just as clever, if not more so than the Council. He could escape, and if that happened Natsuki would never be able to get any sleep…not knowing where he was and if he was plotting revenge on her. Natsuki knew he found interest in Shizuru. Who wouldn't? That only made her more anxious about the whole thing. If he hurt Shizuru because of her…she'd never forgive herself. I have to handle this by myself. I can do this without running away this time. And what if he tries and takes her back home? He wouldn't right? That would look suspicious after how nice he was with Shizuru. Shizuru…Natsuki hadn't anticipated how much her teacher would come to mean to her. It was strange but every time she thought of her…

Natsuki rubbed her chest. What a weird feeling. Well it's only natural to like her teacher so much right? They were friends after all, and had been through quite a lot in the short time they've known each other. Shizuru was always helping her out, not to mention they had a lot of time to hang out together with the training sessions. Natsuki wondered briefly how much they could actually talk about. Should she mention the Nao thing? Ask for advice perhaps? Would that be awkward to bring up with a teacher?

The Nao thing. Natsuki frowned slightly as she rounded yet another curve. What had that been? Besides shocking and more than a little freaky. I had no idea Nao was gay. Or well, she probably doesn't really care whether it's a guy or a girl. Natsuki mentally kicked herself. Stop being mean, the closest friend you've had since living in Fuuka is crushing on you and probably pissed off at you. I really don't need this now, but maybe it's perfect timing. If people avoid me I can just deal with this dad thing and then make it up to them when he's gone. If he leaves. How do I make sure he leaves and never comes back?

Or will I have to leave? CRAP. I am not going to Fuuka Military Academy. Wait I wonder what happened to Anh and her investigation. I'll find out later, though it's strange that they invited me to enroll in their school. I'm pretty sure they do the whole apply-in-a-big-creepy-room thing like Garderobe. Unless…Alyssa had something to do with it. She remembered the flash of gold on the top of that building. She still had yet to find out about Alyssa, Shizuru, and Anh's past together.

Natsuki was panting now. She'd sigh if she could, her thoughts were getting all confusing and muddled again. She felt like drilling a hole in her head and pouring them all out into something that would automatically organize them all. Daddy problems, Fuuka problems, Shizuru, Nao problems, Shizuru, daddy problems…Natsuki slowed down to a walk.

Natsuki decided to change her train of thought completely. She instead tried to remember something that had happened to her this morning. When Natsuki had gone back inside from her all-nighter to change into her running gear, she remembered her bag. She had pulled Duran out…the gun, and then pulled out the other Duran, a stuffed animal dog her mother had given her right before she died, leaving Natsuki alone with Akio. Natsuki had smiled then, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. Thanks, Shizuru. She had felt stupid, but she made sure Nao was asleep before hugging the little dog from her past.


"Are you going to go out and greet Private Sexy-Pants or am I going to have to do it?" Anh asked, leaning over Shizuru's desk.

Shizuru looked up into Anh's blue eyes and frowned. "You should stop calling her that. And no I will not be greeting Private Kuga, today," Shizuru answered solemnly.

Anh's eyes slightly widened before she stood up straight, folding her arms and pouting at her colleague. "Okay, Lieutenant Grumpy. Tell Mama Anh everything," Anh said. They were good enough friends and knew each other well enough to know it was safe to refer to a student by her first name in front of each other. They went back, way back.

Shizuru rolled her eyes and ignored Anh. "Just let me get my work done, Anh, I'm not in the mood…" Shizuru picked up her pen, stole a glance outside the window towards a beautiful girl running on a track, and then started scribbling grades down with a ferocity that would break a pencil.

Anh sighed and ended up sitting on Shizuru's desk, much to the younger woman's annoyance. "Shiz…what's wrong?"

Shizuru pouted. That nickname had to stop. "Nothing is wrong. I'm tired, but thank you for your concern," Shizuru said quietly. She dropped the pen and placed her forehead in her hands, she couldn't get any work done anyways. Ara I don't feel very well…

Anh looked down at her clearly gloomy friend and then turned her head to stare out the window. Well, Private Kuga, are you the reason for Shizuru's crappy mood? Hmm. She tilted her head and watched as the girl slowed down to a walk.

"Kanzaki isn't here, just tell me what happened, trust me, I'm good at this stuff," Anh said with a dashing smile and a wink.

Shizuru sighed loudly, to show she had given up. "It's nothing, Anh, I just met Natsuki's dad yesterday," she said calmly, as if it was the most normal conversation ever. "You remember Natsuki's…condition? The first week she was here?" Shizuru asked, now looking up into Anh's eyes again.

Anh nodded, she had her game face on. "You mean the hickeys and bruises?"

Shizuru ran a hand through her chestnut hair. "Yes. Apparently Natsuki had an abusive boyfriend," she finished with a sigh. It was unspoken, but Anh knew Shizuru wasn't just upset over the fact that Natsuki had been abused, but by the fact that Natsuki had a boyfriend at one point.

Anh rubbed her chin before saying, "We can always go hunt him down and kill him." She got off Shizuru's desk. "I'll go get the machine guns—"

Shizuru's tortured eyes stopped Anh from moving or finishing her joke. Whoa, she really likes the girl. A familiar pang of sorrow went through Anh's heart. She could relate. She approached the desk again. "Shizuru…you know that doesn't mean anything…that she had a boyfriend," She said quietly.

Shizuru didn't want to have hope. She just wanted this to go away so she could go back to being a normal teacher with normal problems like worrying how to impress the student's parents on Parent's Day. Shizuru did something very uncharacteristic of her, she grumbled. "That's not it…" but the way she grumbled it was very unconvincing. It was rather cute to say the least.

Anh raised a brow at that. She's acting like Natsuki. "Sure sure," Anh said with a light smile. "So that's what's been bothering you?" She understood of course, but she wondered if there was more.

Shizuru took a deep breath, and began retelling the other day's events to her superior.

After Shizuru had finished, Anh stared at her wide-eyed. Holy crap!

"Kuga-sexy-pants held you at gunpoint? Wow that must've been hot! How did you not get a nosebleed? I would've pounced if I saw the girl in a leather rider suit…on a motorcycle," Anh mused. "That's hot. But I'd expect it from her. The motorcycle part. That girl is wild." Anh grinned when she saw Shizuru's slightly annoyed face. It was cute. Obviously she was kidding of course, otherwise she had a feeling Shizuru wouldn't be so friendly at the moment.

"Anh…" Shizuru said sadly.

"Aw, geez I'm kidding, Shiz. But I think the other part is weird. Her dad seems nice from your description, if not a bit…forward to hit on you so blatantly like that. It's also weird Natsuki was afraid to go home…especially if her dad is so nice."

"She seemed rather cold towards her father," Shizuru commented, happy to have someone to discuss this with. Her head needed a break after all her thinking. "It was a little disconcerting."

"Can't you just say 'fucking freaky' like a normal person?" Anh asked sadly. "You're so damn polite." Disconcerting, Anh mentally snorted.

Shizuru annoyance was a mere flicker in her eyes before she took a sip of tea, back to her calm demeanor. She placed her cup down. "Ara, I'm sorry that you have no manners," Shizuru offered a mischievous smile up to Anh.

Anh 'hmph'ed and looked outside the window again. "Hey, looks like your forbidden fruit is waiting for you."

Shizuru's crimson gaze followed Anh's sky-blue one. Natsuki was standing rather awkwardly by the side of the track. She wasn't looking anywhere in particular, just straight ahead, her arms folded and weight shifted to one leg. Suddenly it clicked in Shizuru's head what she was waiting for. A mix of excitement and disappointment washed through her. Natsuki was waiting for her. They had met up before class quite a lot by the track, then Natsuki would head for a shower and Shizuru would go to prepare for class.

Shizuru turned her attention away from the view outside and instead peered at her papers again, clearly ignoring the sight outside. Anh blinked back her surprise and lowered her head to Shizuru's. "Shizuru…if you don't get out there, I will jump on her, and I know you don't want that."

Shizuru glared upwards and, after a few seconds, promptly turned back to her work. "Anh, I'm not in the mood."

Anh stared. Not in the mood? "What kind of dumb excuse is that! Get your ass out there she's waiting for you!"

"How do you know? Maybe she's hoping Reito will come ou—"

Anh stopped her right there with a glare. "Don't even. You can't seriously think Private Sex—er," she got a counter-glare from Shizuru. "I mean Natsuki, can't have a crush on Reito. Last I checked she hated the prick as much as I did. Do."

Shizuru shrugged. "Ara, maybe that's just a way of hiding it. She is a teenage girl after all," Shizuru commented. Anh completely saw through the 'it doesn't matter to me' mask Shizuru was putting on.

"Shizuru," Anh said seriously. "You're just being stupid now."

Shizuru lifted an elegant brow.

"If that's your way of dealing with this whole situation—" Anh started.

"Ara, what situation?" Shizuru asked innocently, batting her long eyelashes.

Anh was frustrated now, there was no way Shizuru truly believed this Reito-crap. "You're just making up an excuse aren't you? If Natsuki has a thing for Reito, you can stop having hope right? And if you stop having hope, then there's no way you have to worry about how close you get to this girl, because she'd never love you anyway right?" Anh's voice was getting louder and louder.

Shizuru swallowed hard. Was that it? Was that really why she insisted on the not-so-obvious Reito crush? "A-Anh…" Shizuru started quietly.

This conversation had hit a sore spot on Anh, who had to more than fight for her girl. She ended up losing in the end, she wasn't going to let Shizuru go through the same thing.

"I'm sorry," Anh said. She sighed and walked back to her desk, falling backwards onto her chair. "I got all worked up. It's like I'm watching a horror movie and yelling at you to not go in the dark and creepy basement."

Shizuru giggled a little at that. "Ara, I thank you for the warning."

Anh gave her a sheepish grin. "Don't mention it. Now are you going to go out there and get your girl or not?"

Shizuru looked outside again. Just in time too, because Natsuki checked her watch, frowned, and began walking away. She sighed and almost stood up to chase after her. She looked back at Anh, a twinkle of sadness in her crimson eyes. "Not. It's not…I really have to be professional about this Anh. I'm her teacher so I should act like it." And her friend. I am still allowed to be her friend. "None of what we discussed today should've been discussed," Shizuru added. "It doesn't matter either way."

That's right. Even if Natsuki liked guys, or Reito, whatever, that still meant nothing. They were still teacher and student, and therefore a relationship was completely out of bounds.

Anh frowned. "Again with this teacher-student stuff…" She threw up her hands. "You're hopeless!"

"Exactly," Shizuru agreed quietly, bringing her cup to her lips again.


Natsuki's eyes kept closing on her. She growled and slapped herself. Wake up, Kuga, geezus! Maybe not sleeping hadn't been her brightest idea after all. Natsuki had dried her hair and was walking towards the Academics building for class. It was weird, but Shizuru hadn't made an appearance at the track. Natsuki had been predicting she would, since she usually does, but this morning Shizuru was nowhere to be seen. Well she is a teacher, she must be busy. Natsuki paused to analyze her thinking process. Why am I thinking about my teacher again? Natsuki sighed and continued walking.

"Natsuki!" yelled a cheery voice.

Natsuki sighed, and turned around. There were only a few people that could be this happy in the morning. "Mai," Natsuki said with a nod. "What's up?" She and Mai had had a few conversations. They all sat together at lunch so they were sort of friends by now, though Natsuki still felt like she didn't know Mai all too well. The girl was usually talking to Mikoto or Aoi about something, leaving Natsuki with Chie and Nao. Not like she minds but still. Ugh, Nao. I almost forgot all about that.

Mai blushed, Natsuki blinked. Mai turned around and began fishing around for something in her bag.

"That better not be another lunch," Natsuki said. She had actually enjoyed the other one Mai made her, but she hadn't done anything to warrant another one so it would be weird.

Mai laughed and instead pulled out a pink envelope. She held it out to Natsuki. "Of course not, silly." Natsuki blinked. Silly? "It's a letter….for…."

If she says me, I will run.

"Reito," Mai finished, yet again blushing.

Natsuki let out a relieved sigh. Thank God. "Sure sure whatever," She said grabbing the envelope and stuffing it into her own bag. Had she not been worried that Mai was about to confess her feelings, Natsuki would've snorted and left Mai to handle the lame love-letter…but she was so relieved she just took it. When she looked up again she paused. "Mai, why did you give me an envelope to give to that tool? And why is it pink?"

Mai pouted. "Please? I know you're friendly with Lt. Fujino and she knows him right? So maybe you can give it to her and she can give it to him…"

Natsuki rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you're a fangirl, Mai. I've lost a ton of respect."

Mai frowned. "Don't be mean, Natsuki. Just make sure he gets it for me, okay?"

"Sure sure, whatever." Natsuki looked at her hands in horror. "Oh god!" She yelled.

"What's wrong?!" Mai asked, alarmed and staring at Natsuki's shocked face and then her hands.

"My hands! They burn!" Natsuki's horrified expression morphed back into her annoyed one. "It must be the disgusting pink envelope you made me touch," she said bluntly as she spun on her heel and began striding away.

Mai frowned after her. "Wait will you also find out if he likes me?!"

Natsuki didn't bother turning around, she just gave the over-the-shoulder 'yeah yeah' wave.


I can't believe Mai is a fangirl. The guy is such a prick, and I'm pretty sure he is not interested in any students. Actually, I'm pretty sure he's interested in Shizuru. Natsuki scowled as she made her way down the hall. She approached her classroom door, sighed, and turned the door knob.

It was strange, but almost instantly crimson met emerald and they both stopped what they were doing. This was the first time they've seen each other since yesterday. The class continued chatting amongst themselves. Well, except for one girl. Her eyes were always on Lt. Fujino, so she knew where they were at that moment. She didn't like it, not at all.

Shizuru was the first to break eye contact and instead turn to the boring papers she had graded on her desk. Natsuki blinked and began walking to her desk. She paused again. Nao. Crap. Their green eyes met briefly, and then Nao averted hers to out the window. Natsuki finally sat down. She sat rigidly in her seat, afraid to look out the window incase their eyes might meet in the reflection.

God damn you, Nao. Look at how awkward we're being! Natsuki sighed and tried to lean back a little in her chair. It was pathetic, she was acting as if she were afraid of getting too close to her friend. Were they still even friends? Natsuki groaned…a little loud. Everyone looked up to stare at her.

Natsuki blushed and looked at Shizuru for help. Shizuru smirked, a familiar twinkle of amusement in her eyes as she cleared her throat loudly to get the class's attention. It worked, Natsuki was off the hook and no one asked why she had made such a strange noise.

Natsuki did notice, however, that Shizuru had looked a little different in some weird way. The usual charming and powerful aura was still there and yet…

Natsuki tilted her head. Her teacher wasn't looking at her. Not like that was odd or anything, but she wasn't looking at her at all. Natsuki waited. And waited. And waited some more. That crimson gaze she'd grown so used to never looked her way. Natsuki frowned, and gave up. She sighed and looked out the window, wondering if she was being ignored. She went rigid suddenly. Why am I so offended by this? What's wrong with me today…I need to get my head together. I'm so stressed out…her eyes wandered over to her teacher, who was sitting quietly, staring down at some papers. Look at me…Natsuki practically chanted in her head. Am I just being paranoid?

The rest of the class went by like this. Natsuki would occasionally look up from her work or from out the window to see if she'd meet crimson. She never did.

Shizuru could feel her student's eyes on her. The dazzling green eyes could be seen from her peripheral vision every so often. Not surprising really, the eyes were shockingly bright compared to such a dull background. Shizuru would have to fight herself from meeting that gaze, which was now sort of a habit. Break the habit, don't look. Distance. Teacher, student.

"Alright," Shizuru said suddenly. "Privates, please place your finished worksheets on my desk before heading over to combat training. We're starting a new unit."

Shizuru watched as each student came up, placed their paper on top of a pile, and exited the room. Tomoe was the last to come up to her. Tomoe smiled sweetly down at Shizuru, who politely smiled back.

"Lieutenant Fujino," Tomoe said, still smiling. "You look beautiful today," the star student exclaimed happily, a light blush forming on her cheeks and over her nose.

Shizuru blinked back her surprise and continued smiling. "Ara, only today?" She teased, rubies glowing with amusement.

Tomoe was in absolute awe of the sight. So pretty. Tomoe was at a loss for words at first but managed to stammer, "N-No! You're always beautiful! I just—"

"Man you really dug yourself a hole there, huh?" Called a husky voice from the back of the room.

Tomoe turned around, Shizuru looked past her, she knew that voice all too well. Natsuki hadn't left yet had she? Ara…how did I not notice that? Maybe I'm doing too good a job at not looking at her.

Natsuki was still sitting in her seat, but her legs were crossed and resting atop her desk. Classic bad ass. There was a small smirk on her face as she watched an embarrassed and pissed off Tomoe glare at her. If Natsuki had any doubt before, Tomoe was definitely into the Lieutenant. Gross images flashed through her mind briefly, causing her confident smirk to falter slightly.

Shizuru looked between the two girls, who seemed to be daring each other to make a move. Shizuru cleared her throat and scraped back her chair as she stood up. "Girls, we have combat training today. You should make your way over to the field. We'll be training outside," Shizuru finished. She smiled politely at both the girls, who were completely ignoring her. They kept giving each other death glares, though Natsuki had more of a mischievous look on her face, clearly glad that she could piss Tomoe off so bad.

"Is there something you need, Kuga-san?" Tomoe asked through gritted teeth. She thought she had Shizuru alone! Damn.

Natsuki shrugged and pulled her legs from her desk. She sat up from her reclined position and stood up. "Not really, why, are you offering something?" Natsuki asked, a new smile gracing her lips.

Tomoe's eyebrow twitched. She turned around to Shizuru, who had given up and was now staring full blast at Natsuki. You couldn't blame her, the girl had her bad-ass face on. Shizuru quickly tried to burn that face into her memory.

"Are you going to let her stay here?" Tomoe asked angrily. "Lieutenant, I need to speak with you…privately…" Tomoe trailed off. She frowned when it took too long for those crimson eyes to look back at her. Look at me.

Before Shizuru could order them both to get their asses to the field, Natsuki chimed in. "I need to speak to you too…Shizuru," Natsuki was in pure bliss when Tomoe snapped her head around to give Natsuki another death glare. God, using Shizuru's name really pisses her off. I love it.

Shizuru's eyes slightly widened. She'd never heard Natsuki say her name like that before. Ara that sounded good. Shizuru tried to pull herself together. It felt oddly like the two girls were fighting over her. Actually, they were, though they both were fighting for and with different things. One with infatuation and one with…love? No…friendship then? Whatever, two pretty girls were arguing in her presence so she was allowed to enjoy it for a few minutes.

"Ara…I think you both should listen to your superior and head to the next part of class," Shizuru said, trying to sound serious and in control. She was quite good at that in fact.

Both girls stopped their glaring to look at her.

"No, Shizuru," Natsuki said seriously. "I really need to—"

"That's Lieutenant Fujino," Shizuru said calmly. She held Natsuki's confused emerald gaze before turning to a grinning Tomoe. "And as for you, what exactly is so important?" She lifted an eyebrow in the star student's direction, eyes watching her with impatience.

Tomoe blinked, then began stammer, "W-Well, I just wanted to tell you my father has donated a large sum to Garderobe…and they're building a pool."

Natsuki, still a little shocked from the sudden request for formality, snorted in the background. What the hell? A pool? Who gives a crap?

Tomoe glared back at Natsuki then returned her adoring gaze to the glorious lieutenant. "And father asked me whose name we should put on the dedication block. I told them your name…because you're so spectacular and deserve to have something here named after you." Tomoe was now in full on blush. She looked at the ground.

Shizuru blinked. Ara…well that's rather…new. She put on a polite smile. "Ara, Tomoe how sweet of you!" She exclaimed, false happiness to hide the pure and utter confusion on her face. This girl took infatuation to a whole new level.

A whole new level of stupid…Natsuki thought as she watched in awe as Tomoe practically launched herself onto Shizuru, grabbing her around the waist in a full on hug. Natsuki folded her arms, this wasn't funny or amusing anymore it was just annoying. She waited, tapping her foot for a surprised Shizuru to be released. To Natsuki's surprise, Shizuru gave Tomoe a squeeze back, causing possibly all the blood to rush to Tomoe's face. Natsuki lifted a brow then averted her gaze, deciding to glare at her desk instead.

Shizuru, of course, enjoyed making people blush. Especially those she knew were particularly smitten with her. It was rather cruel but she never actually led them on…well, much. Besides, she needed a distraction from Natsuki. "Thank you very much, Tomoe," Shizuru said in her sexy Kyoto-ben, causing the star student to practically faint at the sound of her name. Natsuki was still looking away, though Shizuru saying Tomoe's name like that made her feel like doing the finger-in-mouth gag thing. Gross.

Tomoe was giddy-like a school girl. It was nauseating in Natsuki's opinion but she stayed silent, watching the two with a glint of something in her striking emerald eyes. Tomoe saluted Shizuru and, without even glancing at Natsuki, practically skipped out of the room.

There was an awkward silence for a minute as Shizuru's attention moved away from the door and towards her lone student standing at her desk by the window. Their gaze held. Ara…why is she looking at me like that?

"Private—" Shizuru paused. She wanted to distance herself from Natsuki, but calling her Private Kuga again was going too far. "Natsuki," she fixed, smiling. "What do you need?" She asked quietly.

Are you ignoring me? Natsuki wanted to ask. She hadn't missed the strange way Shizuru almost called her Private Kuga. She hadn't called her Private Kuga for some time now. Well, not when anyone else was in the room. Natsuki swallowed hard, before walking over to Shizuru's desk. She stopped where Tomoe had been seconds before.

"Shiz—am I still allowed to call you that?" Natsuki asked, a hint of a challenge in her voice, a slight flicker of ice in her eyes.

Shizuru's smile never faltered. So fake. "Of course…"

Natsuki sighed and reached into her bag, pulling out that pink envelope Mai had given her. Shizuru eyed the envelope with deep curiosity. Natsuki held it out. "Hey can you give this to Kanzaki?" Natsuki asked.

Shizuru blinked. There was a trace of hurt on her face…but only for a split second. The next second she was back to her mischievous looks. "Ara, Natsuki has a crush on Reito?" She asked cheerfully, though she was really screaming on the inside.

Natsuki blinked then scowled. "Ew, no, it's for a friend," Natsuki replied, clearly disgusted at the thought.

Shizuru wasn't sure whether to believe her or not. "Sure sure," Shizuru teased. It did make her feel slightly better though. The way Natsuki had scowled and acted disgusted so easily was a nice sight, as weird as that sounds.

Natsuki rolled her eyes and continued, "Is he interested in any students?" She highly doubted it, but Mai would nag her later if she didn't at least ask.

Shizuru's eyes slightly widened. Natsuki caught the flicker of something in the crimson eyes. What was that? The Kyoto woman let out a forced laugh. It came out sounding nervous. What sort of sick love triangle is this? Natsuki was in love with Reito and Reito was in love with Shizuru and Shizuru was in love with…Ara wait a second. There is no love here! I…do I…no. It's just a crush. She tried to convince herself of that. Shizuru hesitantly reached for the letter. Her fingers shaking slightly as she took it and placed it in her own bag. She frowned for a fraction of a second as her head was turned away from her student.

"Ara I didn't know you liked pink," Shizuru teased, turning around again to face her student, confident her mask was in place. She was surprised to see Natsuki's face in what looked to be deep thought. She looked torn, like she was considering saying something but not sure if she wanted to. "Natsuki?" Shizuru asked warily.

Natsuki's eyes focused again, but they were serious, no longer annoyed at the constant teasing. "Shizuru I…," Natsuki paused. "I should tell you…" she struggled with it for a second. Should I tell her about dad? I should thank her for taking Duran from home…

Shizuru's heart beat picked up. Was Shizuru making it too obvious with the constant teasing? Was Natsuki going to tell her she knew about Shizuru's inappropriate feelings? Shizuru quickly picked up her bag and headed towards the door. "Ara I'm going to be late! Natsuki we should get to combat training."

Natsuki stared at the door Shizuru just exited from. Never mind then I guess. What the hell is the damn rush woman? Natsuki growled and followed her teacher out.


Shizuru watched from the sidelines quite alarmed. Why oh God why did the computer partner Tomoe and Natsuki together for their first day of basic combat blade training? Shizuru watched them carefully. She had shouted the rules to them about 50 times. No stabbing. Cutting and slicing sure, the blades had been dulled significantly. Stabbing however was not allowed.

Shizuru felt her anxiety increase as Natsuki just nearly dodged a stab to the abdomen. The girl's body was scarred enough already, let's not add to it, Tomoe. Shizuru was surprised to see Natsuki smiling. In fact, the raven-haired student damn-near beamed when Shizuru announced that their next unit would be combat knives. Natsuki had a great body and fast reflexes, it was quite easy for her to dodge Tomoe's strikes. Natsuki's hands were also quick, it looked like she was giving Tomoe a run for her money. Shizuru decided to relax, Natsuki looked like she could handle herself.

Crimson eyes scanned the rest of the field. A few students were too afraid to even get near each other, some were fascinated with the knives and just stared at them, some were trying to murder each other, and some were gawking at tiny cuts and growling at their opponents. Shizuru shook her head. Teenagers. Shizuru's mind drifted back to the pink envelope Natsuki had given her…for Reito. Ara, envelopes are not her style, especially pink ones…maybe Natsuki really was delivering it for a friend…either way, I should probably give it to him once I see him.

Shizuru's eyes widened slightly when she saw a fiery redhead staring sadly at…Shizuru followed the gaze…Natsuki. Shizuru blinked. If Nao didn't pay attention, Miya was going to gut her. "Private Yuuki!" Shizuru yelled. "Pay attention!" And stop staring at Natsuki. She got a Nao-death-glare briefly before Nao turned her attention back to Miya.

Natsuki had turned her head at the mention of Nao's name…or the sound of Shizuru's voice? Either way, she turned her head and just nearly got stabbed in the chest by Tomoe.

"Hey! Watch it!" Natsuki yelled angrily, jumping backwards. The chest was off-limits.

Tomoe grinned. "No you watch it."

Natsuki rolled her eyes. "Good one, idiot," she said as she lifted her knife again. Knives were definitely her thing. She used to own a pocket knife, not to mention her dad used to carry around his army knife all the time. Back before her mom passed anyways.

Shizuru, after calming her heart down from almost seeing Natsuki get stabbed, silently noted that Natsuki was quite good with weapons. She seemed to have natural talent for pistols and knives. Her hand-to-hand was also improving greatly. I shouldn't be surprised, Natsuki is in magnificent shape.

Shizuru drifted into daydreaming. Often she would remember how that great dream she had weeks ago started. It ended badly, yes, but that part could easily be erased and replaced with a better ending. Shizuru had quite the imagination. She saw Natsuki's perfect lips, her green eyes glinting with mischief, dark raven hair cascading down her perfectly shaped back. Shizuru let out a small 'humm' sound, a dreamy look coming across her face.

Then some yelling pulled her out of her fantasy. Shizuru looked back down at her students (for she had been staring at the sky.) And saw all the other students were gathering around…

Shizuru sighed. Tomoe and Natsuki. She made her way over, her army boots crunching leaves and twigs below as she approached the two girls. The girls were circling each other, but this time they looked like they were ready to kill. Shizuru wondered how that had happened in such a short time and then her eyes were drawn to Tomoe's uniform. Natsuki must've sliced part of it open, leaving a long hole in the cloth near Tomoe's ribcage.

Shizuru sighed and stepped into the circle. "Enough of this," Shizuru declared, causing the two girls to stop circling each other like wild animals and to look at her instead.

Tomoe pointed to the rip in her uniform. "Kuga should be punished!"

Natsuki rolled her eyes and gave Shizuru a sheepish grin. "It's not my fault she was too slow to dodg—HEY!" The two girls fell to the floor kicking and punching. They were moving too fast for Shizuru to even see who was winning. One green blob and one dark blue one.

"Natsuki! Tomoe!" Shizuru yelled, jumping in to pull one of the girls off the other. Shizuru found herself with a growling wolf Natsuki in her arms. The lieutenant was having a hell of a time keeping Natsuki back from lunging. Natsuki finally settled down, allowing Shizuru to loosen her grip on the girl. Shizuru shoved Natsuki behind her and eyed them both. Tomoe was still on the ground and glaring at Natsuki, who was glaring back, a bit of blood trickling down her chin from her lip.

Shizuru sighed. How many times were people going to bust those beautiful lips of yours, Natsuki? The Kyoto beauty turned her attention to Tomoe, who was now dusting herself off. Then it hit her. Natsuki was on top of Tomoe? Sure Natsuki was, as usual, the one bloody from their usual fights, but she had been on top. Meaning even though Tomoe was the one that attacked first, Natsuki had somehow turned the tables. Shizuru found herself beaming at a confused Natsuki. Ara she's improving! There might me a chance for her in the competition after all…

Natsuki's deep pools of green eyed Shizuru warily. What is she so happy about? She is very pretty when she smiles…er…what? She found her gaze passing over the ecstatic looking Shizuru over to Tomoe again, who was clearly murdering her over and over again in her mind. Natsuki sighed and wiped the blood away from her lip. She and Tomoe often got into scuffles if they were ever unfortunate enough to be paired together during training lessons. Natsuki almost always came out either bloody or bruised but the more they fought the quicker Natsuki picked up Tomoe's moves. Tomoe you are getting kind of predictable, Natsuki mused as she zoomed in on Tomoe's cheek, the one she slugged just seconds ago and would be completely confused if it wasn't black and blue by tomorrow.

Shizuru blinked as her star student rubbed at her jaw. Natsuki must've landed a pretty nasty punch for Tomoe to rub at it like that. Tomoe is not one to show weakness. Gathering her thoughts, Shizuru finally managed to calm the class down. "Alright I think that's enough for today. Have a nice lunch," Shizuru said. The kids all dispersed. Except for one.

"Shizuru," Natsuki said to get her teacher's attention.

Shizuru turned her head to see an impatient looking Natsuki, arms folded, deep green eyes waiting. "Ara, yes Natsuki?"

"There's something I sort of wanted to…" Natsuki frowned at her inability to get this off her chest. She should warn Shizuru about Akio right? But then she'd just get involved.

Shizuru watched pain streak across Natsuki's face, though she couldn't possibly imagine the kind of war going on inside the young student's mind. "Nats—"

"HEY NATSUKI!" Yelled Chie. "Are you coming to lunch?"

Natsuki looked over to see Chie, Aoi, and a distant looking Nao waiting for her. Nao was actually looked away, arms folded, bored expression on her face. The ice beauty froze, her eyes locking on Nao's face, averted it may be. A flash back of last night played through her mind.

"I have to go…," Natsuki said quickly. "Just…where do you live?"

Shizuru blinked back her surprise at the sudden question. "By the Teacher's Residence Halls," Shizuru answered. "Why?" She lifted a slender brow.

Natsuki shrugged. "Just wondering."

"Ara, Natsuki has such strange thoughts about me…" Shizuru commented playfully. She couldn't suppress a smile at the color that appeared on the girl's cheeks.

"Shi-Shizuru! I'm leaving," Natsuki grumbled as she began walking away. "Oh wait," she turned around again. "I think Tomoe has a thing for you," Natsuki informed. "Just to give you a heads up."

"Ara…," Shizuru pretended to be surprised. "Really? I would've never guessed…"

Natsuki blinked. "Are you mocking me? You knew?"

"Ara of course," Shizuru replied. "Why?" Jealous? Shizuru snorted at her own stupid thought, yeah right.

Natsuki blinked again. "Then…why did you hug her…before?" Unless you like her too, which would be weird. In fact I probably would be super weirded out. But yeah that's not likely at all. You're just cruel aren't you? Leading her on like that. Or did you hug her just because you knew it would make her day? Which is not entirely cruel at all.

Shizuru went into her classic thinking pose. A finger pressed to her chin, eyes twinkling with faux-deep thought. "Why not?" Shizuru smiled. "She dedicated a pool to me after all," Shizuru finished, now smirking at Natsuki's confused expression. "Ara maybe if Natsuki dedicated something to me she could get a hug as well…"

Natsuki's eyes slightly widened as blood rushed to the skin on her cheeks. She pouted at Shizuru's glimmering ruby eyes, her porcelain face clearly amused. "I'll dedicate my fist to your cheek," Natsuki mumbled out lamely.

Shizuru giggled. "You're cruel, Natsuki." Shizuru eyed Natsuki, who was chewing on her bottom lip. Every so often a slip of her pink tongue would lick at the wound there Tomoe had given her. Shizuru couldn't not stare at it. That tongue looked so soft, so cute. "Ara…you really shouldn't do that," Shizuru said quietly, eyes still on Natsuki's lips.

Natsuki cocked a brow. "Do what?"

"Bite your lips, it's a shame to tear at something so cute…" Shizuru said with a smile and a twinkle of…something in her ruby eyes. Natsuki found her eyes widening slightly, her cheeks turning a shade of pink.

There was a silence for a second. Natsuki wasn't exactly sure what type of counter-attack she could do to eliminate her damn blushing cheeks.

"Natsuki," Shizuru said, trying to take Natsuki's mind from analyzing what she had just said.

"Mm?" Natsuki asked, face still confused.

"I've been informed you haven't taken the Medicine course…all students in your year have taken it earlier this year before you came. I've been ordered to set aside extra time for you so we can catch you up," Shizuru explained.

Natsuki frowned. Great, just what she needed, another class. "I'm not good at the first-aid crap," Natsuki said with a shrug. "But sure, whatever, just let me know when."

Shizuru nodded and looked like she was about to say something before…

"DAMN IT, KUGA! ARE YOU COMING?" Nao yelled from where she Chie and Aoi were still standing.

Natsuki tore her eyes away from the ruby-eyed lieutenant and watched Nao scowling at her. Nao must've been really impatient to have actually yelled at her. They hadn't said a word to each other all day. "I'm coming!" She called. When she turned back to Shizuru, the lieutenant was already walking away, chestnut hair flowing behind her. Natsuki frowned, tilted her head, and then turned again and ran over to her friends. Shizuru seemed to be slightly avoiding her today. And was strangely more…playful? Hm. There's something a little off with her today…


Natsuki sat on one end of the wooden table from the day before. Nao sat on the opposite end. Both were staring at each other. Forest eyes stared sadly and innocently at the pair of lime green angry ones. Chie and Aoi exchanged looks, they were sitting next to each other at the middle of the table.

"What happened?" Chie asked suddenly. "You guys have been giving each other dagger eyes all day…"

Nao huffed and looked away. Natsuki grumbled under her breath and looked the other way as well.

"Hey Mai," Aoi called. Mai and Mikoto made their way over. They sat down and instantly realized there was some tension in the air.

"What happened?" Mai asked, looking between the ice princess and the redheaded demon.

The whole table sighed.

Chie stood up. "Okay, I'll talk to Nao for a change. Mai, you can take Natsuki."

Natsuki shot her head up. "I will not be taken anywhere—Hey!Mai!" Natsuki found herself being dragged away by the busty redhead. She caught a glimpse of an annoyed Nao being tugged away but a handsome Chie. "Don't touch don't touch!" Natsuki growled.

Eventually Natsuki gave in after Mai let go, and she walked alongside Mai. It was a little awkward. Natsuki had known Mai the shortest of all her friends.

"Are you hungry?" Mai asked.

Natsuki glanced at Mai, eyebrow lifted. "Uh, no, why?"

Mai shrugged. "I'm so used to Mikoto always being hungry…, anyways, what's up with you and Nao?" Mai asked.

Natsuki really didn't want to get into this. She shrugged. "Nothing. We woke up realizing we hated each other's guts. These things happen," Natsuki said monotone.

Mai frowned at her friend but they continued walking. "I can't believe I'm telling you this but will you get serious? Nao is your friend!"

Natsuki sighed and looked up at the sky. "I delivered your letter by the way," she said, clearly trying to change the subject. "The obnoxiously pink one?"

Mai almost fell for it too. "To Reito or Lieutenant Shiz—NATSUKI! Pay attention damn you! I'm trying to help you and Nao out…but thanks!"


Nearby, Shizuru , Anh, and Haruka were all standing near a tree, that just so happened to be right behind where Mai and Natsuki decided to stop and talk.

Anh was leaning up against the tree, she sighed at her two friends. Haruka was looking at Anh, and Shizuru was looking at Haruka. "What are you too looking at?"

Shizuru, who had been giving Haruka a concerned look now turned to give Anh an annoyed one. That girl really knew how to ruin moments. Haruka hadn't come out of her office for days now. The disappearance of Yukino was really getting to her.

"This is a load of bullshit," Haruka finally grumbled out.

Shizuru raised a slender brow in the blonde's direction. "Ara, what is?"

"This whole damned thing!" Haruka bellowed, throwing her hands up in the air much to Anh's amusement. "The rebels at Fort Rust haven't even sent me some sort of ransom for Yukino or the other captains. And we still haven't found a replacement for her…not like she could be replaced…"

"Of course not," Shizuru reassured her. "Just a temporary captain to take over until Yukino safely returns."

Anh rubbed at her temples. "The competition will come soon enough, Haruka. You just have to be patient. Shizuru will get Yukino and the others back…," Anh looked at Shizuru. "Right, Shiz?"

Shizuru nodded. "Ara, I will try my best."

"Even so, maybe you should start training one on one with that Tomoe girl," Haruka said. She gestured for Anh to move, which she did. Haruka then stole the newly vacated position up against the tree and exhaled. "She's going to win anyways, but we should also at least make sure she's really good. I want the best to go after Yukino."

Shizuru wasn't fond of the idea. Not at all. A tease here and there for Tomoe was fine, but she didn't think she could handle being locked in a room and getting all sweaty with Tomoe. "I think she's talented enough as it is…extra training would be too much for me anyways, I'm training Natsuki at the moment."

"Natsuk—oh you mean the Kuga girl?" Haruka asked, raising a brow.

Shizuru mentally cursed. "Yes…" Private Kuga. Private Kuga. Private Kuga. KUGA, not Natsuki. Not in front of other people!

"How is she doing? I was majorly impressed with the way she handled the Fuuka students a few weeks ago. If she somehow manages to beat Tomoe I'd be surprised though," Haruka said as she looked up into the branches of the tree she was leaning against.

"Na—Private Kuga is doing well. She's extremely talented in combat, more so than Tomoe was when she first arrived, but Tomoe has obviously had more training so…"

"She's better? Than Tomoe?" Haruka's eyes slightly widened in surprise.

"I didn't say that," Shizuru quickly said. "She still has a long way to go, but she improves quickly and she has talents the other students…don't."

"I bet," Anh said with a wink. Shizuru narrowed her eyes at Anh.

Haruka eyed Anh suspiciously before turning back to a frowning Shizuru. "Like what?"

"Her speed," Shizuru said easily. "She's fast with everything she does. Her hand-to-hand is hard to keep up with, even for me. I actually have to try now. Her aim was always very good, along with her combat knife abilities. She can still use some work on her techniques and defense, she's not very good at defense," Shizuru explained. She made it quite obvious to her superiors that she had clearly done a lot of thinking and, er, observations, on the subject.

"Interesting," Haruka remarked after a while. "Are her parents coming to Parent's Day?"

Shizuru nodded. "Her parent, yes. Her father," Shizuru answered, her mind wandering back to that strange day.

"Offer him a place to stay," Haruka said suddenly. "We should go over some things with him, if Natsuki is indeed so talented…and Anh, you said you have reasons to believe Natsuki was invited to Fuuka Military Academy?"

Anh nodded. "Yes, I went to investigate the sniper situation. It was probably Alyssa…but the envelope she delivered was definitely an invitation."

"Did Natsuki mention the letter's contents to either of you?" Haruka asked.

Anh and Shizuru exchanged glances then slowly shook their heads. "Well, no," Shizuru said frowning slightly. "But it was Alyssa. She clearly thinks Natsuki is interesting enough to send an invitation too. Alyssa and Natsuki spent some 'time' together during the Survival Hike…I think I told you about it. If we know Alyssa…and we do, she doesn't take interest in just any student. It would be best to…keep Natsuki here, and away from Fuuka," Shizuru explained. She wasn't worried about Natsuki leaving, she was worried about Natsuki getting abducted and forced to attend Fuuka. It's happened before. The Councils do what they want. Even some Garderobe students were kidnapped from Fuuka.

If Shizuru had been impressed with, say, Takeda, she could've taken the case to her Council and they vote on it. If they all agree they want him in their school, they plan a kidnapping, send their students, and bring over Takeda to Garderobe, forcing him to attend Garderobe classes. Of course, he gets to choose at the end. But only if he can get away.

Fuuka wouldn't have the nerve to steal her…would they? Shizuru pondered this for a while, thinking about Natsuki and smiling slightly. She'd get away. She'd come back. Alyssa definitely would try and pull something like this. Shizuru sighed, her friend had a weird sense of humor. Though I'd bring her back if Natsuki couldn't escape. That was allowed too of course, students or teachers could break out the kidnapped student, and if successful, can bring the kidnapped student back to their original school.

Haruka watched Shizuru carefully. She knew that Kuga kid was somewhat of a hot topic amongst the teachers…and even the higher-ups for some reason. She showed promise. "Very well, we should keep an eye on her. But yes, invite her father to spend the three nights here…if we truly feel Natsuki is that much of an asset to Garderobe we should have a talk with her father. Besides," Haruka said pushing herself off of the tree. "If his daughter may have a chance in the competition…he has a right to know its dangers."

Shizuru's expression darkened and she looked away. She didn't want Natsuki to enter the competition and yet…she'd rather Natsuki was with her. Am I being selfish? It would mean death for the both of them. There was no way Shizuru could truly…the rebels must be strong to have captured the last 3 captains. But they never heard anything from them so maybe they were using them for something and they were still alive. Either way, Shizuru knew what she was getting herself into when she decided to join the Council.

"I'll be taking my leave now," Haruka said as she stretched. The blonde nodded to Anh. "Colonel," she turned to Shizuru. "Lieutenant." They all saluted and Haruka walked off. There was a lack of power in her step. She always had a powerful aura but it was significantly weakened, Shizuru realized. Probably due to the disappearance of Yukino.

"You know that Alyssa sending that letter to Natsuki was a Fuuka victory and a Garderobe loss right?" Anh said, watching as Shizuru turned her head to return her gaze.

Shizuru nodded slowly. "Yes…Tokiha got shot and we didn't catch Alyssa so…"

"YOU KISSED HER?" Shrieked a nearby girl. The sound seemed to come from behind the tree Haruka was previously leaning on.

Shizuru and Anh exchanged confused glances. Well, Shizuru's was confused. Anh had more of an impish glint in her eyes as they both snuck a peek behind the tree.

Shizuru blinked. Natsuki's hand was clamped over Mai's mouth and she was darting her eyes around, cheeks flushing bright red.

"Shut up, Mai! Someone might hear you!" Natsuki growled. "And no I kissed no one!"

Anh glanced at the horrified expression on Shizuru's face and couldn't suppress a giggle. "Oh god, Shiz," Anh said through a giggle. "Your face…so priceless…" she snorted a little.

Shizuru gave her a death glare, which shut her up real quick. They both continued eavesdropping. There was a faint voice in their ears, eavesdropping is wrong, my children. But a voice coming from their other shoulder said, The hell with it! Listen on in!

"Wait wait," Mai chortled. "You and…and…kissed?" She burst into heartier laughter.

Natsuki clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. She glared at the redhead. "AGAIN, NOT EXACTLY!" The raven haired girl was like a snarling wolf.

"That is so wrong," Mai snorted. "I mean, don't get me wrong. You're both to do what you want but…I feel like that should be illegal." Nao is not allowed to like anything other than guys. Mai thought. There's no way…Nao and another girl is just too….NO WAY. Mai burst into laughter again, much to Natsuki's annoyance.

Shizuru blinked. Ara, what are they talking about? Natsuki's been kissed?

Anh tilted her head slightly, before turning to Shizuru. "They're gonna see us. Let's go," she whispered, gesturing for Shizuru to follow her. Shizuru hesitated, hoping to find out more so that the whole thing can turn out to be a joke and she can calm down her enraged soul.

Shizuru and Anh walked away. Anh kept sending worrying glances to her friend, who was practically fuming. She could feel the heat radiating off of her friend. "You know, if it was a little colder out we may be able to see the steam coming out of your ears," Anh commented.

Shizuru didn't respond. She glared straight ahead, taking long strong strides.

Anh frowned. "Natsuki said Mai was wrong. We don't even know what they were talking about so we shouldn't jump to conclu—"

Shizuru shook her head. "Ara, you are wrong, Anh. Natsuki's exact words were, 'Again, not exactly,' meaning that something similar happened. It just wasn't exactly what Mai was talking about. Not like this matters at all…we should focus on Parent's Day since that is rather soon, it's more important than my student's love life," Shizuru said as calmly as possible. She managed to hide all her emotions behind her pleasantly smiling face again. It enraged her however, that Natsuki could bring out such feelings from her without even trying. Shizuru nodded to a group of giggling girls, offering them a warm and bewitching smile.

Anh remained silent beside Shizuru. She didn't like it when her friend bottled herself up like that. It was strange and didn't feel right.

"I suppose you're right," Anh said after a while. Private Sexy-Pants has been causing some ruckus hasn't she?


Natsuki grumbled. Why was Mai so mother-like? Natsuki had let her guard down and felt like she could share anything with the redhead for a good few minutes. What a great idea that had been.

Stupid stupid stupid, Natsuki chanted as she glared at Mai from across the wooden table. Mai and Chie were talking about what they had learned from the two girls. Apparently Chie hadn't gotten anything out of Nao. Natsuki wasn't surprised. Damn Nao and her ability to not fall for Chie's charms.

If Mai tells Chie anything I swear…

"So," Chie said, turning around. Natsuki didn't see even a flicker of amusement in Chie's eyes, so Mai had stayed quiet. Good girl, Natsuki thought. Now I won't have to Duran your busty ass.

"So…what?" Natsuki asked.

"Whose parents are coming for Parent's Day?" The handsome girl asked.

Mai raised her hand. "My dad is coming," she proclaimed.

Aoi shook her head. "I'm actually going home for Parent's Day. Why do they call it Parent's Day anyways? The whole event lasts a good three days," Aoi mused.

Natsuki blinked. "What?" She asked incredulously. Three days?

Aoi and Chie looked up. Nao's light green eyes flickered in Natsuki's direction. Mai was pushing Mikoto out of her cleavage.

"Parent's 'day' is more like Parent's Days. Days. There are multiple 'fun activities' the parents and students have assigned. It's really boring crap unless you're into that stuff," Chie explained. "I couldn't really care less if my parents came, though it won't be bad to show off to my mom. She thinks a girl in military school is ridiculous, I can't wait to show her my skills," Chie said, giving a victory arm pump.

"Hold on a damn second!" Natsuki yelled, standing up from the table. "Parent's Day cannot last more than one day!"

Chie and Aoi exchanged glances, before Aoi decided to speak. "Yes it can, and it does. You didn't know that?"

Natsuki's heart picked up speed. Oh God, nobreathe Kuga breathe. Natsuki cleared her throat and attempted to control her voice. "T-Tell me all about it…seriously, I need to know everything…"

So Chie and Aoi, happy to comply, told Natsuki all about Parent's Day. Parent Days.

Every year, the Council sets aside three days for the student's parents to come to Garderobe. The students get a break from classes, for them it's like a long weekend with a few activities that involve their parents. Garderobe likes to hold demonstrations for the parents to show off the student's abilities. Once they've kidnapped some parents and had the students save them, sometimes they let the students teach their parents some combat moves, and sometimes they just let the parents and students do whatever they want. The activities and schedules were switched up every year, to keep it interesting.

The parents are who fund the school (besides the government), which is why Garderobe caters to them. The parent's of the most talented students or those student's with the most money usually get offered a place to stay on Campus, usually in the Teacher's Residence Halls since there are always empty rooms (being that there are very few teachers). Apparently Garderobe is all for the schmoozing of its patrons. Especially the Margurite's, Tomoe's parents.

All this news hit Natsuki like a brick. She'd have to go to…family activities? Maybe one day she could handle, he'd be gone before she knew it. But three days?! What? That was too much, he'd definitely have something planned by then, if he doesn't already now. This threw Natsuki off balance. Shit!

"Chie, Aoi," Natsuki said, staring at them seriously. Mai and Mikoto had since wandered off. Nao was still sitting there bored, leaning her head on her folded arms and looking away.

"Yeah?" Chie asked, interested in why Natsuki was acting so strange.

"Will you be guarding the main entrance on Parent's Day? Er, each Parent's Day?" Natsuki asked, now more likely to use everything in her power to fight her father. Garderobe was her home now. It was her home turf, she had to defend it. For three effing days.

Chie looked at Aoi who nodded back. Chie nodded to Natsuki, giving her an uneasy look. "Well, yeah…just me though, not Aoi. Aoi is going home as she said."

Natsuki smiled. "Do me a favor, if you see a guy…that looks like, well, me, do everything in your power to cause him hell, okay?"

Chie chuckled before giving Natsuki a sloppy salute. "Aye aye, ma'am."

"Can I ask why you don't want your father coming?" Aoi asked. She liked her family, and used the Parent's Day three day period to go to them instead.

Natsuki frowned and averted her gaze. "Listen, just…please do what you can to keep him away."

Chie nodded. She could sense the seriousness coming from the girl's request. "Sure thing, Natsuki, leave it to me." As far as Chie was concerned, Natsuki didn't owe them an explanation, they'd do what she asked because they were friends.

Nao eyed Natsuki uneasily though. The ice princesse's face, though happy at the moment, had always struck her as tragic. There was always some type of underlying pain beneath the girl's icy magnificence. The fiery redhead met those endless green pools before averting her gaze away again. She always knew Natsuki was hiding something. The girl was always hiding something, Nao knew that much. She had also thought about that first week. Natsuki's sensitivity to the marks on her necks (which Nao knew all too well to be hickeys), the scars on her body when she would change, the sometimes sad and dazed looks she would get. There was something up, and yet Nao only just realized it might have something to do with the girl's father. Look at the way she's acting. There's something there…


Akio stepped out of the taxi on the first day of Parent's Day. He straightened out his suit, he was looking rather dashing. Akio's green gaze scanned the large gate in front of him. Such a tall obstacle he'd have to get through to get to Natsuki. It shouldn't be a problem.

"Natsuki, honey," He whispered. "I'm here for you."


Er….

Please. Don't kill me. I'm really really really really sorry. Not only is this a day (or two…) late, but it was all over the place. I wanted to really establish what the characters were feeling in relation to one another before heading into Parent's Day, which, as you can see, will be starting next chapter.

If you want to kill me, I'm begging you, don't. I need to get to parent's day since that's where all the fun parts are. Well, er, maybe not exactly FUN. Hm. Whatever. I don't know what I mean. But look at it this way, if you kill me…YOU'LL NEVER GET THE END OF THE STORY! (which no, is not anytime soon). So for that reason there….yeah.

Just a heads up. Chapters will be a little slower for the next week…I'm doing this thing after school and it's eating up all my writing time (it'll be over by next…Saturday I believe, yes my birthday weekend which means, yet again, the update might be a little longer…If you don't get it Saturday, you will definitely get it by Sunday! I promise!)

My birthday is also next Thursday! Woo! That means you can't flame me and tell me how disappointed you are with this chapter. This chapter was freakin' hell to be perfectly honest.

And just to show you how sorry I am! A bonus scene: (Takes place before this story)


Garderobe students Shizuru, Anh, and Haruka were all sitting around a wooden table. This wooden table was pretty crappy, and right next to a tree. Shizuru was busily writing a paper in elegant handwriting, which Anh scowled at over her shoulder.

Shizuru's ruby eyes lifted from her paper and gave Anh a sidelong glance. "Ara, Anh, what is it?"

Anh pointed to Shizuru's paper. "You have the damn nicest handwriting I've ever seen in my life. What are you, a princess?"

Rubies twinkled with amusement before she shook her head, chestnut tresses following the movement. "Princess? I'm afraid not," She tilted her head, eyes meeting those blue pools. "But my parents had me privately tutored for some time in the…" she seemed to search for the right words. "more…sophisticated arts I suppose."

Anh sighed. "You never fail to impress me, Shiz," she said as she folded her arms on the table, resting her head on top of them. Her eyes glanced at Shizuru again, who was back to her writing. Pen moving quickly yet gracefully.

Haruka huffed and paced back and forth in front of them. She was muttering something under her breath, blonde hair flowing behind her as she spun on her heel every five seconds. She gave the appearance of a tiger stuck in a cage.

Shizuru and Anh exchanged confused looks. Shizuru was the first to speak, "Ara…Haruka?" she asked in her sweet Kyoto-ben.

Haruka paused, turned, and watched Shizuru, clearly waiting for her to state her business. "Yes?"

"What are you waiting for?" Anh finished. Anh's eyes twinkled, a smirk dancing on her lips. "Or should I ask…who?"

Haruka blinked then sent Anh a death glare. "What's that supposed to me, Anh? When I'm ruling this place you better pray I still like you by then—"

"Ara…look who it is," Shizuru said quietly in her honey-coated voice. The way she said things really made people forget she was interrupting them. Anh and Haruka's eyes followed the crimson ones of their friend. Now Haruka was smirking, and Anh was blinking.

"Well girls," Anh said, lifting herself from the table. "I believe I have somewhere to be," she gave Shizuru a wink, waved at Haruka, and made her way over to the girl standing awkwardly by a nearby bench.

Shizuru watched Anh's lips move as she spoke, her blue eyes lighting up. The younger girl she was talking to erupted into a full on blush. It was cute, but she was sure there were better blushers out there. Somewhere.

"She's going to get in trouble with that one day," Haruka commented, leaning up against the tree by the table as she too watched Anh and the younger girl.

Shizuru turned her attention away from Anh and the younger girl to Haruka. She lifted a slender brow in the blonde's direction. "Ara, what do you mean?"

Haruka gave Shizuru an annoyed glance. "Don't tell me you don't know!"

Shizuru gave her a blank stare.

Haruka sighed and pushed herself off the tree. She leaned over the table towards Shizuru. "One day, I'll be running this joint, and you and Anh are coming with me. That means Anh will be on the Council too, and by then her little," she looked back towards Anh. "her little…friend will still be a student. She'll get in trouble if she continues their relationship."

Shizuru's beautiful lips turned into a smirk, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Ara, Haruka! How kind of you. I have to decline your offer though, I do not plan on staying at Garderobe after I graduate." Shizuru had no intention of ever joining the Council. She wanted to live not die. "Besides," she added, "What makes you so sure you will be Sergeant? Last I heard Jin was the current top of the class…"

Haruka growled. "I will deal with Jin later!" She would beat Jin!

Shizuru, who had been enjoying Haruka little tirade, turned her attention back to Anh and the younger girl, who were now kissing. Shizuru smiled slightly, the younger student was two years younger than Haruka and Anh, and one year younger than Shizuru. She was pretty, definitely Anh's type. Long dark brown hair, bright blue eyes to mirror Anh's own…they were very cute together.

Shizuru sighed once she saw the probable next Sergeant Council member. There was talk around the school that Jin would run to be on the Council once she graduated. She would make it too; Shizuru had no doubt about that. Jin was talented and handpicked by the government. She also went on a government mission a year back…and survived. Haruka didn't stand a chance. Though, if Jin didn't exist, Haruka would certainly be up next in line to replace her.

Shizuru's crimson orbs followed Jin as the star student walked by Anh and the younger student, scowling at them as she passed. The Kyoto beauty was glad to see Anh was too busy kissing to notice the dirty look they had gotten.

Everyone deserves to be happy, Shizuru thought before turning back to her paper on Romeo and Juliet.


So yeah. Hope that bonus scene made it up to you guys sort of. It's a little glimpse into the past of Anh, Haruka, and Shizuru. Also the famed Jin, who was basically the destroyer of Anh's love life :( *sigh*

So just to clear something up, the above scene is the PAST. It takes place way before the first chapter of this story, basically Shizuru's time as a Garderobe student. I might do these more if you guys liked it. It might be fun, slowly showing a bit of Anh's love life in comparison to Shizuru's new situation. Whatever. I never know what I'm talking about. Oh and don't necessarily assume the girl Anh is kissing is THEE girl that she had issues with later on.

There ya go. No chapter song for this chapter, totally not in the mood.

Well okay. Falling On By Finger Eleven.

When you feel that way again
You have to stop your thinking
And think of what you're here for
And let the rest of your feelings go

You've got to find your balance
You've got to realize
You've got to try to find what's right before your eyes
And if you find you've fallen
And all your grace is gone
Just scream for me and I'll be what you're falling on

When you feel so close to some resolve
And you say the things that you're standing for
Don't let your courage get dissolved
Cause it's then that the fear grows

Just give me the word and I'll be there for you

Hahah okay. Now I'm done.