Chapter 10 - The Breakdown Of A Friendship, and the birth of something more
A/N: This chapter will only contain Shizuma and Miyuki, and one other unnamed character. We will find out whom the girl is in a future chapter. The rest of the cast of Strawberry Panic will return next chapter.
"I think we need to discuss this in another room," Shizuma said, and walked away.
Miyuki followed her silently, her temper boiling at her friend. How could she be this way, was all that Miyuki Rokujo could think. As she got into the room, Shizuma pointed towards a chair, seated opposite her.
"What is up with you Miyuki," Shizuma pounced on her friend. "You are not acting like you usually do.
"What is up with me, Shizuma," she said, "is that I am sick and tired of the games you have been playing.
"What do you mean," Shizuma asked wearily.
"You very well know what I mean. This with Nagisa-san, and threatening Tamao-san is really sinking low, even for you. Do you realize how many people you have hurt over the past three years Shizuma," Miyuki yelled. "Do I need to count them all?
"I haven't hurt anyone," Shizuma yelled back at Miyuki.
"That isn't true at all," Miyuki said. "There's me for one, Chikaru-san, Tamao-san, Kaori-san, all the numerous girls from all three schools you were together with, and Nagisa-san. You hurt all of us, Shizuma," Miyuki explained.
"If there has been any one that has been hurt, it's me," Shizuma said quietly, and for some reason Miyuki stood up.
"There you go again Shizuma," Miyuki raged. "It's all about you, as usual. After all this time, you still can't face up to the fact that the world doesn't revolve around you. Take a good look outside, and you will see that the world has moved on, with or without you in it. The world has kept moving, unlike you, who seems to have been stuck in a rut for the past several years. You feel better by hurting people close to you, and now that you are not Etoile anymore, there can be consequences to your actions. I am positive you will be punished for your actions earlier during the Etoile ceremony, and even if Tamao-san or Nagisa-san don't sanction you, I, or one of the other student council members, or staff member will do so.
"You are talking way too fast. It's making my head hurt," Shizuma complained.
"There you go again. Your problems, your issues... it seems everything has always been about you for you since you got to Miator," Miyuki explained, and Shizuma said, "That's not fair, Miyuki."
"Since when has life ever been fair," Miyuki raged, and Shizuma stepped back from her friend. She had never seen Miyuki in this much of a rage before, and it frightened her a bit.
"Life has never been fair Shizuma," Miyuki said, "and it is time you had a reality check. First off, you need to get over yourself. You are not all that, girl," Miyuki said. "Second off, do you remember how you were after Kaori-san was gone? Just shake your head, Shizuma," Miyuki said, and she saw Shizuma shake her head no. "How could you have forgotten something like that," Miyuki asked. "You were like a zombie. Dead to the world, and yet still living somehow. You didn't east or sleep for days, and when you finally deigned to rejoin the school, it was a month later, and we all acted as if it was only a day or two.
"Now that she's back, you don't even seem to care about her. Talk about being very selfish Shizuma," Miyuki said to her.
"I do care about her," Shizuma retorted. "About as much as you care for Nagisa," Shizuma shot at Miyuki. "Tell me something, Miyuki. If you do care for her so much, why aren't you fighting Tamao for her right now?
Miyuki felt as if she had just been punched in the stomach by Shizuma. That was a low blow, and Shizuma knew it very well, but she pressed the stray thought away, and tried to look for a chink in Shizuma's armor.
"I want her to be happy, Shizuma," Miyuki replied, and seeing how it shocked her, she knew she had scored. "Unlike some people who only know how to hurt the people closest to them, I want someone I care about so much to be happy, even if it's not with me.
"That's very generous of you Miyuki," Shizuma said, and then pressed her point. "And how would your family feel if they knew you had fallen in love while at school, and would never be faithful to the person they chose for you to marry.
"How dare you bring that up Shizuma," Miyuki yelled. "That has nothing to do with the situation we are in right now.
"Doesn't it," Shizuma asked softly. "You may not realize this, but the person you are supposed to marry is me," she said. "I received a letter in the first year, the first week, explaining the whole situation. Our parents had the school put us together for a reason, Miyuki," Shizuma said to her.
"I don't believe that for a minute. If you did get a letter like that, surely you would have kept it," Miyuki repleid, trying to be reasonable.
"I still have it," Shizuma said, "I will just need some time to find it. Give me until tomorrow morning, and then you will see for yourself.
"Fine, but I am warning you Shizuma," Miyuki said, "If you can not find it, our friendship is over.
"I will get it to you, Miyuki," Shizuma said, and with that she left the room, tears flowing down her face.
As she walked down the corridor hall to her room, she noticed a pretty girl walking towards her. "Do you mind spending the night with me," she asked the girl. "My life seems to be circling the drain right now, and I could really use the company.
The girl nodded, and with that they entered Shizuma's room together.