Journal 9: Initiations
Main Pairing: Lucia/Elincia

We were almost at the basement, only a few more steps. Truth be told, I was getting nervous. This would be the first time I would join a club as secretive as this.

Elincia seemed to feel my apprehension, and squeezed my hand. "Don't be nervous, Lucia," she smiled softly, "Remember I'm with you as well." Elincia seemed to be able to read the deepest recesses of my mind at the moment. I slowly exhaled and let my tensions out. Of course I wasn't alone, my beloved was with me.

"Thank you, Ellie," I beamed back.

Sephiran laid his fingers on the elaborately designed doorknob. "Are you girls ready?" he gave us a ghost of a smile.

Elincia and I tightened our grip on each other and nodded.

"Well then, let's proceed."

We then followed Sephiran to a bright, spacious room. The walls were colored crimson, and painted on the ceiling was a mural of a rose. Hanging from the ceiling was a large chandelier. Along the sides of the room were wall lamps shaped like candles.

Arranged at the center of the room were two crimson-cushioned chairs, and surrounding it was a large, circular sofa.

"Don't worry, it isn't always like this." Sephiran chuckled as if sharing some private joke. "It's just that, we take initiations seriously, you know?"

I nod dumbly. What was I supposed to know about things like this?

As I approached the sofa, I could see silhouetted forms. I didn't recognize who they were until we got closer. "Know anybody?" Sephiran asked.

I was surprised to see most of our friends here. "Mia? Marcia? Even you…Petrine?"

"Yeah," Petrine shrugged as if it was no big deal. "I'm sure you know that Marcia and Jill's part of this, but the people you're seeing right now is only the tip of the iceberg."

"'Tip of the iceberg'? What do you mean?" I asked her.

"I guess I haven't introduced my girlfriend to you properly yet." Petrine went on.

"GIRLFRIEND?! You, Petrine the Petrified, have a girlfriend?!" I thought I would faint from the news.

"Uh-huh," Petrine nodded, seemingly oblivious to my shock. "She was there when you…came to terms to your feelings with Elincia. But I guess you got caught up in the excitement you didn't see her."

"Who is she then?" I pressed on.

Petrine smiled devilishly, and wrapped her arm around the girl beside her. "Does she look familiar to you?"

I looked at Petrine's girlfriend, and if surprises could cause a heart attack, I'd be dead by now. "What? You have 'the' Titania for your girlfriend?"

Titania was one of the most well-known Seniors as well from fourth year, section C. She was smart, kind, and really athletic...she's the captain of the Women's Basketball team! I couldn't believe it…the school was more "accepting" than I thought.

"Good for you, Petrine." I smiled, "and you as well, Titania."

"I look forward to knowing more about you, Lucia." The crimson-haired senior smiled back.

As I turned around, I heard Petrine say, "But don't know more about her than you know about me!!"

"Don't be so surprised," Sephiran warned us as he led us to the center seats, "like Petrine said, the members you're seeing now is only the tip of the iceberg. But as many people support you, there will be equally those who will oppose you—our—sexual preference."

Elincia and I nod, and Sephiran cleared his throat. "Well then, let's begin."

Sephiran took a 6 o' clock position and began addressing those in attendance. "Once again, we, the Silent Rose, accept another pair into our midst. Remembering our vow to protect and accept the deviants of gender, Members of the Silent Rose, do you accept Elincia and Lucia?"

A unanimous cheer came up, and after a few seconds Sephiran put up his hands to silence them. "I take that as a yes. Very well, I am pleased to know that you accept them! However, before becoming official members of the Silent Rose…"

Sephiran turned to us once again, "…you have to pass the tests to prove you are worthy of us. First, you must kiss each other to prove that you are indeed committed to each other!"

Kiss huh? That's easy. I thought, we've done that like…lots of times.

With little effort but much passion, Elincia and I kissed. For added points, I tangled my fingers around her hair. Apparently, Elincia was feeling a bit naughty. She slipped her hands under my shirt!

Hoots, cheers and whistles came up. "That was indeed passionate," Sephiran commented. "Do you believe they are indeed comfortable with each other?"

"YEEESSS!" came the unanimous reply.

"Well then, since our judges approve," Sephiran continued, "we move on! Take off each other's shirt!"

Needless to say, I was shocked. I wasn't expecting that, seriously…would this even be worth my dignity? Or wasn't it that much big of a deal? Besides, it's like all-girls here, aside from Sephiran and Zelgius. Sephiran wouldn't make us do…"it" right here, right now?

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Sephiran teased.

Elincia and I looked at each other. Sure…I really wanted to see what was underneath Elincia's clothes…but still…in the privacy of a room, please!

"C'mon! It's no big deal!" Jill egged us.

"Yeah!" Marcia said, despite her blush.

"You can do it, shrimp!" Petrine roared.

My head began to swim in encouragement, and I was about to do it, sure…until I saw Ellie's downcast eyes. She was nervously chewing on her bottom lip, and her cheeks were so red. I knowthat she was a prude and all, but one part of me really wanted to see what was under ther now. But as I considered her feelings, as much as I want to see her and vice versa, we had to do this in our own time, and our own place.

What both of us would see in each other is only meant for us.

Standing up, I faced Sephiran and said, "We're not doing it."

"What's that?" he asked.

"We're not doing it. I am not following through with that errand, Sephiran. We are comfortable with each other, and if we take off our shirts right here right now, only what we as lovers are supposed to see will be seen by everyone else. And that takes away that special and private essence of seeing your lover's body." I explained, wrapping my arm around Elincia's shoulder.

The following silence was unbearable, and when I was certain we were about to be kicked out, everyone began clapping.

"I admire your fortitude," Sephiran smiled, "you passed the test. Ordinary lovers would rip their shirts off right there and then regardless of the other's feelings as a desperate move to join. I am pleased you stood your ground when you saw how uncomfortable Elincia, your lover, felt about it."

Elincia kissed me full on the lips, and that sensation alone was priceless. I believed right then and there that I would die without her.

Everyone cheered on us again, and Sephiran's last words made both of us smile.

"Welcome to the Silent Rose."


End notes: Sorry for the long time no update! I've been quite busy lately. I hope I've answered everyone's question when it came to Petrine's girlfriend! A hearty thanks to all readers and reviewers: The Darklight Angel, Rioku243, LegendarySilverX, FE Frog, Archsage Soren, Striche and Roxius! You guys rock!

P.S. It really made me laugh when I read that SR is an orgy!! That was really funny! XP Well, to clarify things, it's simply a place where yuri and yaoi couples can gather to talk, chill or relax. However, it is a key part in this story! :)