A/N: This is a short chapter, but I hope you enjoy it.

11.

Shizuru was sitting in the Fuuka University cafeteria, trying to enjoy a cup of tea. Her efforts were thwarted, however, by the fact that it was cafeteria quality tea. Still, she tried to make due.

There was a sudden presence near her that informed her that her lunch break was about to get even more uncomfortable.

"Fujino, we need to talk," Haruka stood by the table Shizuru was seated at.

"By all means, have a seat, Suzushiro-san," Shizuru motioned to a free chair.

"Not here. Somewhere private."

Shizuru looked her in the eye, "Haruka, this is my lunch break. Besides, if you lower the volume of your voice, I think you'll find that the people around us are paying little to no attention to what it is we're discussing."

"Fine," Haruka sat down, "I…need to talk to you about Yukino."

Shizuru raised an eyebrow, her usual smile on her face.

"Go on."

Haruka sighed, "I love Yukino…"

"Haruka, congratulation! I…"

Haruka held up a hand, "Not like that! I'm not like you and Kuga, Fujino!"

"If you're going to be insulting, I see no reason I should participate in this conversation," Shizuru dropped her smile.

Haruka took a deep breath, then sighed, "I love her as a friend. Not as a romantic partner."

"Very well. But why tell me?"

"Because I need advice!" Haruka pleaded, "I think we both know, and have since the events of that crazy business with the monsters and stuff, that Yukino likes me…that way."

"Frankly, I'd known since before then," Shizuru said, "But I could hardly fault her for not coming forward. At the time, I, too, was concealing the feelings I held for Natsuki."

"She's my friend. I don't want to hurt her feelings. But I simply am not capable of being what she wants me to be."

"The irony being, the words I think your looking for were given to me at that time by Natsuki."

"By Kuga?" Haruka furrowed her brow.

"You really do have to get over the image you have of her as an uncouth delinquent. Natsuki was skipping classes because she was trying to learn the facts about the people who killed her mother, not because she was trying to flout the rules."

"I understand that, now. And in a way, I admire her commitment. But what was it that she said to you that you think would be helpful?"

"It was during the time that we died. 'You were looking for love, and I wasn't able to feel the way you wanted me to. Still, Shzuru, I am flattered that you fell in love with me. I truly love you Shizuru. I really do.' It was at that point that she ordered her Duran to destroy my Kiyohime, ending our conflict."

"A lover's suicide is your answer?!"

Shizuru blinked, then chuckled, "I think, actually, that the words are the important part, here.

"Tell Kikukawa-san how you truly feel. That you love her as a friend, and only as a friend. That whatever her feelings are for you, you appreciate them, but cannot return them."

"But what if it ends our friendship?"

Shizuru smiled, "Don't sell her short. I think that she's strong enough to accept that your friendship is enough to sustain her, even if it can never be anything more than that."

"Thank you, Fujino," Haruka rose and bowed, "I appreciate it."

I wonder, Shizuru smiled, if she'd noticed that she didn't engage in any of her usual malapropers. Her focus for her friend's sake kept her on track.