Seductive Smile
Part A: Coral Years
Chapter III: Rival

Grumbling, Natsuki parked herself beside Mai on the seat of the arena, some way off from the middle. "I'm never going near that Anh woman again!" She accused angrily, a light tinge still adorning her cheeks softly as she glared down to the rising pillows. 'That cursed An Namian is a freak!'

"I don't think she is that bad, Natsuki." Mai commented, "Although I can see where Shizuru Oneesama got her nature from."

"Well you would!" Grunting, Natsuki inhaled a breath of air hastily. Ears twitching as the commentary speakers spoke up.

"And so! As many of you have heard already, Miss Maria has issued a Mai Battle between the Number Two and One Pearls! Shizuru Viola and Haruka Armitage!"

Cheers and screams were heard throughout the arena as Coral and Pearl alike pushed their favourite Oneesama on, some of the fans arguing with one another between who would win.

"Viola, Viola, Viola!"

"Armitage, Armitage, Armitage!"

"Eh... the hell?" Natsuki mumbled, peering across the excited students' faces, her eyes soon dropping to the seat before her. Mousy-brown hair was the first thing to hit her as she then noticed she wasn't wearing a uniform.

"Go, Haruka!"

Lifting a brow, the Anazian was soon questioned by Mai. "What are you looking at?" She asked, glancing down at the girl also when Natsuki pointed. "... She doesn—oh! Chrysant?"

"Eh?" Looking over her shoulder, the girl who was also wearing glasses blinked up to the pair. "Oh... who—Tokiha-sama?-!"

Looking between the two, Natsuki was pulled into utter confusion as the redhead and mousy-girl began to rabbit on. 'They know each other...?' Err, obviously, isn't it a little bit of a giveaway they know each other's names and are having a conversation as if they were friends? Rolling her eyes she brought her attention back to the speakers.

"Ever since their first week during their first Coral year, Haruka and Shizuru Oneesama have sworn to be rivals! And now they are to perform Butou for the ownership of their Corals!"

Ownership?-! What is she? A dog?-! Grumbling under her breath, Natsuki released a curse. 'Shit, I knew something bad was going to happen today, it's just got a lot worse!'

And what made matters stranger... she could have swore she recognized that commentator's voice from somewhere... but where?

Brushing the ruffled piece of material which went down on top of the rim of her shorts at the sides, Shizuru sighed a happy breath as the column adjusted itself. Haruka a few yards away who was yelling at the crowd to shut up screaming. 'My... I wonder how long this will take? I hope Anh Oneesama enjoys the show!' She suspected Yukino Chrysant was somewhere in the crowd of screaming fan-girls as well; the mousy future President usually came to see Haruka during her important events, also visiting the Academy when she could. It was rumoured that the Chrysants' were Haruka's sponsors.

How Yukino could manage to get here and at such short notice she had no idea though. Even if the Aries-born went to Wind University, it was still a good hour away after all. Garderobe wasn't in Wind City, it wasn't even a part of the nation!

"Currently, Haruka Oneesama is to be the future Otome for Yukino Chrysant, the next President of Aries Republic! While Shizuru Oneesama is in placement for Column Number III!"

"Ara..."

Inspecting her Element carefully, she murmured a chuckle as surprised gasps rang out throughout the arena. The volume of cheers multiplied as the chants got even louder than before. 'It seems they're somewhat impressed,' glancing around the sandy environment of columns and walls she then peered back up to Haruka who was waving her arms around in a frenzy. Giving up, the blonde crossed her arms in a huff, Element then slung across her shoulder as she glared at Shizuru in boredom.

"The Holy Shinso-sama shall calculate today's battle! Both Otome shall have up to one hundred points of health! When or if their points are to reach fifty percent however they will both lose the ability to fly!"

Devilishly smiling over to the blonde, Shizuru got ready. The palm of her right hand clasping onto the end of her silver Element, legs tensing as she prepared for when the alarm would sound.

"Ten."

"Nine."

"Eight."

"Seven."

Grunting, Haruka took a hold of her own Element in both hands, glaring daggers over to Shizuru who merely chuckled. Though the only thing the elder saw was a quake of the shoulders. 'Bubuzuke-onna is laughing!' Curse that tea addict!

"Six."

"Five."

Four."

Both students placed a foot forward atop their selected column.

"Three."

"...Two."

And so they waited, the arena completely silent as they urged the bell to sound.

"One!"

~S~

"... My. Haruka is rather irritated this afternoon!" Shizuru drawled gleefully, dodging a blow to the head as she hovered to the blonde's side. Element clashing onto Element as Haruka grunted. Both of them swerved out of the way of each other to then dive towards each other again.

"Because Viola is annoying!" Haruka exclaimed sharply, her weapon awkwardly scraping across Shizuru's own as they neared each other, both smirking openly. "I will beat Kruger, Bubuzuke!"

"Oh?" Quirking a brow, Shizuru allowed her robe to lose flight for a moment, causing Haruka to go off balance as she attempted to get a hit in again. "Kruger is mine, Haruka!"

"Don't get cocky with me Bubuzuke-onna!" Chasing after each other for a while, it was at this precise moment that the blonde halted suddenly. Eyes trailing after the graceful figure of her rival of two years as the chestnut turned to face her. Both gazed at each other for a long while as the cheering in the background continued to chant on. "You will have to live with Tokiha!"

"Ara..." Shaking her head, Shizuru quickly glanced over to the large board with a smaller version of the Shinso's statue there. One hundred points versus one hundred points...

Perhaps she should try her new move which she had been practising in secret? Although it was quite dangerous and time consuming, Shizuru was desperate to try out the move the ancient house-women of Zipang would have used to defend their family!

Flying up to the top of the arena, the Number One Pearl tilted her head as Haruka charged her again. Well... 'This is definitely a problem!' She needed range for her ultimate attack, so she couldn't have Haruka following! 'Ah, let's see about disarming her for a few seconds...'

Swooping up to the chestnut hastily, Haruka parried the younger student's attack with ease; succeeding in off-balancing Shizuru slightly. 'There!' Jaw clenching almost painfully, she swung the Element with all her might over to Shizuru's side. Until...

"Nani?"

Shizuru smirked dangerously, her hands slightly above her right shoulder, Element pointing towards the floor; having blocked the powerful attack with a single flick of her weapon.

"What kind of move is that?-!" Haruka screeched, eyes widening as she was forced back with a kick to the stomach. "Ga!-"

Watching the elder smash into the opposite wall of the arena, a smooth murmur uttered itself through Shizuru's lips. The whole of the school was placed into a shocked eerie silence. "... A-ara..." —'Oh my, maybe I hit her too hard...'

"Haruka Armitage; down fifty-five percent!"

Fifty-five?-! Mouth opening, Shizuru quickly closed it again and quickly headed over to a nearby column. Her flight instantly disconnected as she safely landed atop the white, sandstone surface.

'That was definitely surprising!' But no matter, she only needed to do her ultimate strike then Natsuki would be all hers!

Gripping hold of her Element more tightly, she jumped from her position, automatically aiming the weapon towards another block, the top latching itself to it firmly as she swung down to the sandy floor below. Taking a few steps back as the rubble from where the blonde had landed was thrown up into the air, causing a small wave of dusty sand to go everywhere, blinding both their sight momentarily.

"Kruger is mine!" Storming forth once more with a now bent Element, Haruka raged as she threw hits at random. The chest-nutty tea addict blinked as she dodged the blows. Biting her lip as the sharp, broken edge of Haruka's weapon almost sliced across her neck.

"A-ara! Haruka!"

"Shut it, Bubuzuke!"

Gaping, Mai and Natsuki stared in awe and a tinge of fear as they watched their Oneesama's fight on.

"E-Eh, Natsuki?"

Glancing over, Natsuki shook her head quietly. "... I had no idea they were... this deadly." She said meekly, "It is almost as if Haruka Oneesama is out for blood!"

"S-she doesn't normally get this out of control!" Yukino croaked, having moved to sit between the two Coral. "I used to help her during our childhood, but she would never..."

"Shizuru Viola; down twenty-five percent!"

~S~

Gasping, Shizuru leaned her back against a broken pillow, her hand covering the place where Haruka had succeeded in hitting her, just above her hip but below her rips. 'H-hah... really now, that was mean.'

Removing her hand hesitatingly, she stared as the cream-coloured material chipped away, disappearing into silvery sparkles as a painful-looking bruise appeared. Ow... 'I wonder...' Tapping it lightly she cringed, ah... yes. That would certainly be putting her off for a while!

"You sure you don't want to keep going, Viola?" Haruka asked seriously, breaking her Element in two halves, stance at a ready once more as she inched herself closer towards the shocked Pearl. "You and Tokiha suit each other better than you and Kruger!"

"N-no." She had this good feeling around Natsuki, she felt as if she could get to know the girl very well in the future. Extremely well. "I will not, we shall continue." She uttered firmly, raising her weapon into the classic pose in which her right hand was a few metres to the bottom of the Element while her left was near to the top; the weapon almost resting against the back of her head and right arm. "Would Haruka like to see a new move I have been working on?" She uttered in a deadly voice. Lip curling visibly as she stepped forward, ignoring the dull ache which was screaming at her, "I think she would find it rather fascinating!"

"E-eh? Bubuzuke?" With caution, Haruka lifted the two halves of the polearm-like weapon/s to her chest protectively. Quirking an eyebrow as Shizuru let loose a low laugh; '... She is being weird.'

"I call it... Fujino."

"Haruka Armitage; down one-hundred percent!"

Debris surrounded the area where Haruka had smashed through the wall, a pile of rubble inside the chamber where Mai and Natsuki had waited barely an hour ago as Shizuru released a soft sigh. Her grip on the Element loosening so she could inspect the damage she had sustained more clearly. 'My... that hurt. I think I may need an ice-pack.'

"And the winner is!; Shizuru Viola! Twenty-five points of damage sustained!"

If the screaming had been loud, it was a hell of a lot worse now as Shizuru headed over to Haruka's position without another thought. Scrambling the dazed blonde out of the debris who grumbled a vague curse, coughing and spluttering as Shizuru hoisted the elder's arm around her neck securely. "Is Haruka alright?"

"Alright?" Haruka mumbled faintly, sneezing as the sandy-air surrounded the area. "Do I look byline to you?-!"

Shizuru smiled gently, ah; Haruka is perfectly fine, she's back to her old self. "Perchance Haruka would like a rest?" She suggested, pulling the other girl along who huffed a small 'whatever'.

"Haruka!" Appearing by the side door, Yukino rushed over to their side. Nodding to Shizuru and instantly helping, wrapping the blonde's arm around her neck also. "Are you alright?"

"..."

Having been closely following Yukino, Mai and Natsuki appeared by the door also. Watching in curiosity as the ever-graceful Viola and Aries heir helped to drag the busty Armitage towards the nurses who were running towards them.

"Ugh... I suppose we know who our Oneesama's are now don't we?" Natsuki said, scratching her chin as Mai merely glanced at her oddly.

"We all knew Shizuru Oneesama would win anyway."

"Whatever."

~S~

"So will Haruka be alright?" Yukino piped anxiously, eyeing the injured fellow Ariesian who groaned. A damp cloth gracing her sweating forehead as she was covered in gashes and scratches all across her body, currently lying in the medical bed.

"I assure you Chrysant," Miss Maria said in monotone, her hands clasped before her awkwardly as she stood before her and Shizuru. "She shall be fine, her nanomachines shall be threading her wounds back together at this precise moment." It wouldn't surprise the ageing Otome if the blonde was almost fully healed already. You couldn't actually be too sure how healed Haruka was at the moment since she still had a layer of sand over her.

"I am sorry for the trouble, Miss Maria," Shizuru uttered softly, "I'm not sure what came over me."

"You won the battle fairly, that is what you must believe in." The Headmistress replied, not even moving her head as she glanced over to the chestnut. "It has been the same since Shinso-sama's time; we must follow the examples set before us from our upperclasswomen."

"Yes, Miss Maria."

Slumped against the chair outside, Natsuki rested her chin against her fist in a bored manner. Eyes focused on the door in-quizzically as Mai stood; saying something about needing some air for a while.

"Is Shizuru Oneesama really that powerful?' The way she had... disposed of Haruka was so... well. She wasn't quite sure how to place it. It was... terrifying.

"Natsuki Kruger?"

Peering up, she instantly stood from the bench, entering the room shortly after Miss Maria as she instantly spotted Shizuru. Their gaze locked together for a few moments before the greying Headmistress stated. "Shizuru Viola, you are now in charge of Natsuki Kruger. Please take care of her." —'I pray better than Anh Lu, please; anything but that again!' She inwardly begged as the pair bowed, leaving the room afterwards.

Anh Lu was dangerous enough for her flirting and sexual harassment; and it was certainly a known fact Shizuru Viola was a mini version of the An Namian.

~S~

"What is Kruger thinking?" Shizuru asked as they left the building.

"... Oneesama... I—"

"Yes?" Halting their stride to the Coral domes, the Pearl tilted her head, intrigued. "What is it Kruger wishes to say?"

"How are you so powerful!" Natsuki blurted out, eyes widening as she tore her gaze away from molten-crimson. "Y-" —'I want to become that strong one day... to actually be able to protect my nation like that would-'

"Ara, there is no need to be embarrassed." Shizuru chuckled, resting the palm of her hand atop a tense shoulder. "If Kruger works hard enough, I shall teach her eventually."

"Natsuki."

"Ara?"

"Call me... Natsuki."

Shizuru smiled down to her warmly, nodding down to the blushing girl. "Alright, Natsuki."

Eventually the Coral gave a lopsided smile, relaxing as the slender hand simply stayed there. Both content as they began to head back to Natsuki's dome area once more.

"Oneesama... are you sure you're fine? I saw the hit Haruka Oneesama did to you."

"My... Natsuki is so sweet."

"E-eh!"

Sitting alone by one of the trees which was near to the gardens that was quickly becoming one of her favourite places. Natsuki sighed a breath as she peered up to the moon, the eerie blue dot beside it gleaming brighter than the yellow stars. 'Tck, and Mai says I only break curfew to spot wolves...' Like hell she would do that! Eiif... but if she was to say what she really did, she wouldn't stop hearing about it for the rest of Garderobe. Probably well after her graduation actually!

Yellow... yellow... 'Don't tell me there isn't one again.' A brow furrowing delicately, Natsuki shifted her weight against the soft grass; shivering as the cool breeze brushed past the skin which it could reach. Maybe there wasn't any point coming out tonight...?

Glancing across the sky once more however, she blinked in surprise as she spotted the one thing she had risked her neck to see in the first place. 'A-ah... there's one!'

Orbs of emerald firmly pasted onto the dying star contently, Natsuki never took notice of a shadow which hovered on the branch above her. A dying star of red... crimson; Natsuki had always believed that if she kept watching closely, she would one day see the exact star which supported her ancestors' all those centuries ago during the time of Earth. A sacred planet which would always be embedded into the systems of the Human Race.

"Nice night, huh Natsuki-sama?" A voice purred, causing the Number Two's eyes to widen, gaze shifting across the place as she attempted to detect the unknown person.

"Who's there?-!"

"Oh! I feel hurt, so Natsuki-sama doesn't remember me!" The voice mocked, a form jumping down from the branch to land perfectly on its feet before her. "Does Natsuki-sama want to play?"

"W-who are-" An azure eyebrow twitching, Natsuki couldn't help but think, where the hell had she heard this voice from...

"..."

"YOU!" Cheeks flaring, she pointed accusingly over to the smirking redhead, she stood. "You're the commentator! Y-you ar-"

"Me? Oh, I'm sure you should remember me, Natsuki-sama. I am Kazuki Kaiser." Strutting over, the icy-eyed Coral licked her lips. "And I shall make you love me."

"W-"

Leaning forward, closer to the slightly shorter student, Kazuki grinned as she latched hold of a slim wrist. Smiling as blue met green. "Hello, dearest sweet enemy; Princess Natsuki Kruger of Anazia..." Leaning in further, the Alayas noble tilted her head gently...

'No...'