Strawberry Duel!

*I own neither Strawberry Panic nor Yu-Gi-Oh, in any of its forms. Otherwise the series would probably go almost exactly like this and we'd have more Dueling chicks.

Chapter Ten:

"Chikaru-oneesama!"

Kizuna Hyuga voiced her unease as she fiddled once again with the skirt of her costume. The bluish-white single piece affair traced with dark blue lines seemed quite out of place for a simple garden party. And the long icicles hanging down from the crown bumped together noisily right next to her ears. Chikaru, however, was greatly enjoying seeing her Kizuna-chan dressed as the Blizzard Princess monster card.

"Are you sure dressing up as Blizzard Princess wasn't just a little bit of overkill?"

Remon Natsume, looking almost exactly as out of place dressed as Hysteric Angel, hastily shushed her.

"Kizuna-chan, no! You really shouldn't say things like that to your oneesama!"

Chikaru chuckled mirthfully, keeping her perpetual good humor even while dressed as Vampire Lady.

"Oh, Remon-chan. It really can't be helped. I mean, it's more or less our duty for our Cosplay Society to go a little overboard at parties like these."

To her side, Kagome Byakudan merely nodded and made adorable little noises, dressed perhaps the most strangely as Dark Magician Girl. All around the four famous Lulim Pink girls, people gasped and lauded them considerably.

"Wow! Chikaru-sama! You look so regal, yet beautifully feminine, too! Oh, if only I could see Amane-sama getting all dressed up, standing right there next to you!"

Kizuna followed the girl's line of logic.

"Hey, that's right! Maybe Chikaru-oneesama and the Prince should team up!"

Chikaru allowed her mind to drift away as Remon lectured Kizuna as to how her proposed "team-up" simply wasn't feasible.

No, Kizuna-chan. I think I would actually prefer a princess, rather than a prince. Someone like one of you. Whenever I sit and watch you girls, I can't help but think…about how maybe, if the rivalry between Spica White and Miator Green continues to heat up…that it may yet be only a matter of time between we of Lulim Pink can sneak in and steal the victory right from under their noses.

We have our fair share of pretty girls at Lulim Pink as well. Who's to say what will happen? Oh, there I go again, calculating all the angles. Bide your time, think it out and then only charge when victory seems nigh. That's what makes Dueling, or any competition, so interesting. Heh heh heh.

"Ah! Kagome-chan fell asleep while you were talking!"

Chikaru shook herself out of her contemplative days. In a manner most unbecoming of Dark Magician Girl, Kagome had laid herself down on a grassy bed and fallen into a deep sleep. But she looked so cute when she was sleeping that nobody really minded.

"Well, would you look at that? And we didn't even have to use the Mesmeric Control card."

The next day, and not for the first time, two people found themselves alone together in the great bathing hall. Suzumi Tamao lowered herself up to her neck in the warm bath water.

"A morning bath is so relaxing, isn't it, Nagisa-chan?"

But Nagisa didn't respond from where she sat, washing her hair.

(The Etoile Tournament is finally starting. I was so happy when I saw Shizuma-oneesama last night that it didn't really sink in what I was agreeing to. How can someone like me possibly stand up as Shizuma-oneesama's partner and represent Miator Green?)

"Are you nervous, Nagisa-chan?"

Tamao came up from behind and placed her hand on Nagisa's shoulders. The other girl turned slightly at her touch.

"You must be nervous, as today is the cadette round of the Etoile tournament, the round that tests the abilities of the pair's "younger sister".

"I may not be too fond of you Tag Team Dueling alongside Shizuma-oneesama, but, as a fellow student of Miator Green, I know you'll make us proud. You just go out there and do your best, Nagisa-chan."

As she spoke, her hands moved themselves into prime position for some very naughty things.

"Do you want me to help you relax?"

What followed was a slippery, shiny and downright exciting bathtub fight the likes of which most porn writers could only dream of. As soon as Nagisa managed to get herself free, she ran for the locker rooms to dry off and get dressed again.

(That was a close one. But thank you, Tamao-chan.)

As she reached into her clothing locker, her fingers came into contact with something that felt an awful lot like a letter.

"What's this?"

Aoi Nagisa-sama,

There is something you should see before you appear in the Etoile tournament's first round today. I will wait for you in the library and you will see the truth about Shizuma-sama.

Students from all three schools crowded around Astraea Hill's main plaza. At long last, the long-awaited Etoile tournament was about to begin. Tomori Shion from Spica White had been chosen to act as the event's M.C.

"My fellow students, thank you all for attending this, the first opening Cadette round of this year's Etoile tournament, L'ouverture Brilliante. We ask at this time that all contestants please step forward."

Shizuma and a still-battle-scarred Chiyo were present, but Nagisa was still nowhere to be seen.

"Where is that girl? The event's gonna be starting in a minute."

Chiyo could only make little worried noises. Something like "ohh".

"Then again, I guess something like this is probably just to be expected. She still has yet to familiarize herself with this school. Maybe my choosing to work with her was a mistake."

Shizuma's words caused Chiyo to work through her nervousness and find her tongue.

"But, Shizuma-oneesama…even with Nagisa-oneesama, you always make a great Etoile. When I saw that picture of your victory last year in the library, you looked so regal and divine that it moved me to tears. But you said then that that win was your first and last time wearing the crown, so why are you…doing…it…now…"

Chiyo's voice trailed off and she squeaked with embarrassment as she suddenly realized just what she was saying.

"Oh! I-I mean, I know that you're competing again because of your feelings for Nagisa-oneesama! Do excuse me!"

Shizuma's eyes were far away as she answered.

"Don't worry. I'm fine."

But from where she stood watching the two of them from behind a tree, Hitomi Togi wasn't entirely sure that was the case.

To be continued…

*Be here for the first chapter of the New Year, when the Etoile Tournament finally gets underway!