Hello everyone, author here. I apologize for the delay; I have been thinking about where to go with this story. Academics and shifting to a new operating system have been preventing me from proceeding with this story, but hopefully these next set of chapters will make up for the delay.

5 - Ante

Haruka didn't get drunk, or at least she tried her hardest not to. She always viewed drinking as an activity better suited for less morally-conscious individuals, and for people who didn't want to face their problems. But today was Christmas Eve or someone's birthday, some Winter occasion. She didn't care. The shot of vodka sat on the bar and she was already staring at it through half-lidded eyes. She knocked it back and winced at the burning taste, haphazardly placing the empty shot glass on the bar top before she heavily leaned back on her barstool. The butler stared at her warily but soon went back to wiping up his glasses. She had taken at least five shots before this one, but she seemed to be in pretty good control over herself. Haruka offered a watery smile towards the butler and motioned towards her empty shot glass. He wiped his hands on a dish rag and walked over, situating himself behind the bar.

"Are you sure you want another?" he asked politely.

"Yeah, give'm t'me."

Haruka thought she sounded wonderfully articulate and sober. The butler raised an eyebrow and reached behind his back for a bottle filled with clear liquor. He poured another shot and placed it on the bar's edge. She snatched it and knocked it back with more conviction than the last one, as if to challenge his belief that she was outstandingly drunk. There was no question that she was. He accepted the empty shot glass and went about his business cleaning up the rest of the bar situated in the sitting room of the Suzushiro mansion. Not too many people got uproariously drunk by themselves on Christmas Eve, but the butler knew that there would always be one.

He turned and glanced at his mistress. Blond hair with neatly trimmed bangs and violet eyes that looked rather intense even through the drunken sheen that filtered over them. His mistress had a rather well-toned body that was evident even underneath winter clothing and she looked as if she had done some sort of athletic training for most of her life. If not for the distinct sagging of her shoulders and the lost look on her face he would have considered talking to her. For now he was merely content with a chance to professionally take away the bottle without causing too much of a ruckus.

Haruka for the most part was feeling pretty good. The vodka was coursing through her blood and she felt wonderful just sitting on her stool. Somewhere in the back of her mind she was pretty sure she would fail spectacularly if she tried to stand up and march herself home, so she sat there and actually took a few minutes to herself. For someone who was always on the movie, sitting down was a rather awkward sensation. Inaction after all bred anxiety in her mind, and she hadn't felt this out-of-touch with herself since the events of the Carnival.

Truth be told she wasn't quite sure what all had gone on when Fuuka quite literally went through an "end of days" scenario. The school had been under attack, panty thieves had been thwarted, and strange things had been popping up all over campus. She almost relished the days when the Executive Committee she was once head of had all these jobs to pursue all over the Academy. Righteous justice and even more righteous punishments were being handed out and for the first time Haruka found that her influence mattered to the school. Then the time for those wacky shenanigans came to an end and the actual meat-and-potatoes of the conflict began to rear its ugly head. People had turned against each other, all for the expressed desire to protect the one they loved.

Haruka very much understood the concept of a "most important person." After all, she had placed great faith and trust in Yukino who in turn was her only real friend. Most people were highly turned off by her rather intense personality and too-loud voice, but Yukino had never been bothered by it. Kanzaki and Fujino played one too many games with each other and everyone else, but Yukino was the one quiet string that neatly tied everything together and get everything done despite the open animosity between Haruka and Shizuru. Yukino was her best friend, her comrade-in-arms, and Haruka could most assuredly call Yukino her "most important person." Haruka was perfectly fine with that title; she just never considered how deeply those feelings ran.

Could it be romantic... What I feel?

She absently palmed the area above her heart as she struggled through that thought.

How on earth would I know, I've never been in love.

Haruka paused and regarded the empty shot glass.

She was always under Fujino's shadow, and the most aggravating part was Fujino had never even tried to shove her under there. Fujino rarely chose to do something that abhorrent, and even if she did there was always the interest of someone else that caused her to go down that path. It was just an abnormally favorable spot of luck and an attractive accent that coasted Shizuru through the council elections and further into the hearts of the students. It wasn't too poor of an outcome, though. Haruka was no fool. She knew more than anyone else that Shizuru did in fact care about the status of the school and the welfare of the students. That was what had incensed her so much about the former Kaichou's erratic disappearance during the Carnival. Fujino's behavior with Natsuki was what fully broke Haruka's self-control down.

Never before had she felt so bitterly angry with someone.

To be fair Shizuru had insulted Yukino first, even though Yukino had spied on her and Haruka never liked spying for any reason. A person's business is for that person to mind, her father would always tell her. But what happened, happened. Haruka got angry and she slapped the hell out of Fujino before she ended up disappearing in a shower of lights. Dying wasn't too bad, she mused. Of course she had no idea that was what was happening, but thinking back on it she wasn't as outraged as she thought she would be when faced with the prospect of death. Haruka knew she messed up her words from time to time, but she had the best word to describe her feelings about the Carnival: crazy. She could have spent months trying to come up with something better, but crazy was the absolute best term and Haruka did not bother with it anymore.

Haruka grabbed the bottle that had been left at the bar and poured out a shot of vodka as steadily as she could. She did not take it right away, however, and instead sat there, staring at the shot glass with an unreadable expression. She liked to think that desperate times call for desperate measures, but Yukino's voice slammed into her mind like a freight train. She gripped the edge of the bar but did not try to ignore it this time.

"Why do you care?"

Haruka sighed.

"She isn't doing anything wrong to you!"

Yukino was nothing if not honest.

Haruka scowled.

"Haruka."

She started and turned in her seat, draping an arm over the back. Her father entered the sitting room with a grim expression on his face, hooking a finger under his tie to loosen it. He stopped and let his hand hang around the collar of his shirt. Junpei gave his daughter an unreadable look before sighing and folding his arms over his barrel chest. His slightly-wrinkled business suit was fairly indicative of him having finished a business meeting over conference call.

"... Are you drunk, Haruka?"

Haruka managed a slow doubtful shake of her head but Junpei waved a dismissive hand in her general direction.

"No, it's fine, don't lie when you're already that far gone. At least you aren't out wrecking havoc while inebriated." He paused and sighed. "Although, I admit it's a little inconvenient that you have started drinking tonight."

"Something wrong?"

"Shigeru was on the phone with me earlier. He's back in Kyoto now and wanted to check in with me."

Only her father was able to call the Fujino patriarch by his given name. Haruka straightened in her seat and Junpei took the seat beside her. He reached for the bottle of vodka and a clean shot glass.

"It wasn't a pleasant call," he said as he poured himself a shot. His fingertips grazed the rim of the shot glass. "In fact he called because apparently his daughter's name has been subject to quite a few interested searches done by members of the yakuza."

Haruka raised an eyebrow.

"So the rumors are blue?" she asked without thinking.

Junpei blinked.

"Rumors? What rumors are true?" He narrowed his eyes. "Did someone say something at school about Shizuru?"

She shrugged and he didn't pursue. Instead he turned to regard the shot glass once more.

"It is true, Shizuru did have a run-in with the yakuza."

Haruka reared back in surprise.

"So it is blue!"

"True, Haruka," Junpei corrected without thinking. He paused to collect himself and a tiny smile wormed its way onto his lips. "Shizuru once destroyed a gang."

Haruka's eyes nearly bugged out of her skull.

"W-What?"

Junpei nodded.

"Oh yes. You see..." He smiled more widely now, ruefully. "... If there is one thing you never do to a Fujino, it is to do anything malicious to whoever they have a vested interest in."

Haruka found herself absently rubbing her cheek. Junpei began to stare off into the distance.

"How did it go? Oh, right. The gang in question terrorized a girl Shizuru had taken some interest in. It turns out the parents of the girl had gotten into a lot of trouble with a loan shark. The girl in question ended up getting hurt. Shizuru's response when she found out what had happened... was to raid their offices and raze them."

"Raze them?" Haruka stammered.

"To the ground," Junpei confirmed. He breathed in deeply before exhaling forcefully. "I can't imagine the yakuza was particularly happy about that. She was still in middle school when that happened."

Suddenly her cheek hurt a lot less.

"And that was why she left Kyoto?"

"Indeed."

Haruka returned to her solitary shot of vodka. She regarded it for a long moment before looking back at her father.

"But that isn't the point of this conversation. The point is there has been a lot of interest in Shizuru. And a few other girls who all are involved with Fuuka Academy." He paused to think of something. "Thirteen of them, in fact."

Haruka felt her mouth go curiously dry. That number was too exact to be a coincidence.

"Is something wrong, Haruka?"

It took her a moment to realize that she was now standing and gripping the edge of the bar. She stared at her white knuckles before looking back towards her father.

"What were the names?" she asked. She licked her lips nervously. "If you don't mind me asking, that is."

Junpei studied his daughter with a concerned glance.

"Haruka, what—"

"The names, Father."

Her tense voice highly encouraged cooperation. Junpei shifted in his seat so he could turn and face his daughter.

"Shizuru, you know that one already. Off the top of my head I can't remember all of them, but Kuga Natsuki was one name on that list as well. As was Yukino." He frowned. "Haruka, did something happen at the Academy?"

She was sobering up very quickly as the question was asked. What on earth could she say in response? That a star unseen by everyone save for thirteen maidens had once threatened to crash into the Earth and destroy everything unless the maidens participated in a battle where the collateral was their loved ones? It was utter nonsense. No one would believe that. If she wasn't careful she'd be committed to an institution if she even entertained the thought of talking about what happened. The school's accidents had been written off almost completely as was the sudden demise of First District. Her father welcomed the work that his company was given in reconstructing the school, but Haruka was pretty sure the headmistress had to pull some impressive amount of bullshitting to get it all done without too much suspicion. Haruka often marveled at the relative normalcy that had revisited the area in such record time, but now that amazement was quickly fading away. This clandestine nonsense was something better suited for Fujino, she mused.

What I wouldn't give right now to have Yukino here...

She started.

Yukino! She was on that list!

"Haruka?"

"I'm sorry, Father. I don't really know how to answer that question. But I must go." She gave a stiff nod. "If you will excuse me."

Junpei didn't have much a choice when Haruka turned on her heel and purposefully marched out of the sitting room. He thought about going after her, but instead he sighed and rested his arm on the edge of the bar. He stared at the pair of filled shot glasses with a frustrated frown.

Yukino figured it would be best to meet in a neutral area, but many businesses were closed around Christmas Eve. She had to settle for going to Shizuru's apartment, but Shizuru assured her that when Natsuki was in the middle of playing a video game there wasn't much that would distract her from it. They would, for the most part, be left alone to do what they needed to do. Natsuki was already sitting in front of the television with a headset on and her eyes glued to the screen when Yukino timidly knocked on the door. She looked up and considered calling Shizuru to the door but the older woman was still in the middle of taking a shower. She heaved herself off of the couch after pausing her game wand walked over to the door to let in their guest.

"O-Oh, hello Kaicho—" Yukino coughed when Natsuki gave her a soft glare. "I mean, Natsuki-san."

"You don't have to be so polite, Yukino," Natsuki said with a small smile. "Come in."

Yukino obliged and looked around the apartment with quite curiosity. Natsuki took her seat on the couch again and fitted the headset around her neck, letting it rest there for the moment.

"Shizuru is finishing up her shower so she'll be out soon." At Yukino's nod she continued. "Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you."

As if on cue the shower stopped in the bathroom. Yukino calculated that it would probably take a few minutes before Shizuru was ready.

"Sounds good." Natsuki looked at the time with a bored look on her face. "So how have you been?"

Yukino wasn't quite sure how to answer a question like that, but even with Natsuki's bored facial expression she knew that the dark-haired beauty considered her a very good friend and was in fact rather concerned over her well-being. She decided the best course of action was to be honest.

The door nearly shook as a short series of knocks echoed in the silence. Yukino jumped at the sharp noise and Natsuki furrowed her brow. Yukino suddenly felt a strange foreboding sensation that caused the hairs on the back of her neck to lift. She recognized this particular feeling and realized with some alarm that the last time she felt this particular feeling was during the Carnival. She immediately tensed.

"Odd, I didn't think we'd have any more visitors tonight..."

Natsuki walked over to the door and paused for a second to peer through the peep hole. Her brow furrowed even further.

"Who the-"

The door burst open as a heavy foot kicked it down below the door knob. Yukino heard herself scream through the thundering crack of the door.

A/N

The next round is now beginning.

Cheers.