"Nagisa, are you here?" the curious girl called as she poked her head around the door of her previous dorm partners room.
After a quick glance she noticed that the red head wasn't there, and neither were her possessions.
"Damn, she must have moved her things out already, I really wanted to talk to her about meeting up soon, and maybe… sharing an apartment" the girl giggled at the thought as she wandered towards her own room.
Picking up a photo, she sighed. Graduation had come and gone. Now it was time to move on and start a new chapter in her life, one she whole heartedly hoped to spend with her dearest friend.
Collapsing onto her bed, she felt a rustle beneath her. Jumping up she curiously peered towards the source of the noise.
A small, slightly crushed envelope lay upon her bed with her name written across it.
"OH" She gasped "That's Nagisa's handwriting, I wonder why she left me a letter, ohh, I'm so happy!" with a squeal of joy she threw herself upon the envelope, ripping it open to reveal the contents within.
A small piece of paper fluttered out as Tamao desperately made a grasp for it, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Oi, Tamao I've brought you the two friends you asked for; I call them Mop and Bucke- HEY! Tamao, what's wrong? You don't look so good; do you want to see the nurse?" The dark haired girl rushed across the room in a frantic panic towards Tamao who limply leaned against the wall, her face a sickly pale colour with a blank expression, only the tears running down her face betrayed the inner turmoil she was going through.
"Yaya-Chan? What am I going to do" Tamao spluttered as tears spilt over her cheeks, dropping the small note she had previously grasped onto.
Intrigued, Yaya picked it up only to gasp as the words written across it pricked at her heart. Glancing at the older girl she now understood her distress, as the words on the paper echoed through her thoughts. 'I need to go, don't come looking for me.'

Shutting the door behind her, Tamao sighed as she began to pace around the hotel room she was currently residing in.
'Why did I have to suggest she stay here tonight? Of course she wouldn't! Why was I so careless? Gosh, we only just reunited and I'm already on the brink of ruining things' she inwardly chided before stopping at her suitcase.

Shuffling through her belongings she came across a solitary photo, gently smiling as she lifted it up to her face.
"Oh Nagisa, how I've missed you!" she whispered gently to the photo, tears slipping off her nose and onto the smiling figures she held within her hands.

'If only Shizuma hadn't ruined things, I wonder how things would have turned out… Nagisa looked so unhappy… I don't know what to do to help her.
She no longer has a job so she won't be able to stay around here for long.
I don't think she'd follow Shizuma again. Though I'm sure that woman thinks otherwise.
What should I do?'

Sighing again, Tamao tried to calm herself down. "I don't know what happened between them, all I know is how Nagisa reacted afterwards" she whispered aloud to herself gazing upwards towards the ceiling as memories began to flutter through her mind.

"I wonder how Shizuma plans to ensnare her now" she scoffed, before letting her eyes shut and falling into a world where dreams, desires and inner thoughts mixed creating an obscure scenario of lust and heart break, as she fell into an uneasy sleep.

Meanwhile, a lone figure approached a train station at a stealthy pace frowning in disdain at the slow pace of the people around her.
"Sheesh, do these people not understand the concept of being in a rush" She muttered under her breath, glaring at one especially slow man who kept wavering in front of her, blocking her path.

Spotting an opening she quickly weaved through the crowd approaching the ever waiting platform.
"I won't let her do this, she can't do this. So long as I have a beating heart, I will stop her." She demanded, mustering up as much courage as she could. She'd need it if she hoped to succeed in sabotaging Shizuma's plans.

Quickening her pace she began to run towards the platform, intently aware that time was running out, for every second she wasted was another second towards Shizuma succeeding.
Diving through the closing train doors, she sighed in relief.

"You'll regret the day you ever crossed me Shizuma, I'll make sure of that" the woman cursed, her eyes gleaming with the concept of revenge as a sinister smile crept across her lips.

"Excuse me ma'am, but could you speak quieter, you're disturbing the other passengers" an elderly man stated, whilst offering an apologetic smile.

It was then that she finally realised the swarm of eyes all focused upon her, and with a flustered apology she hurried towards a seat as her cheeks flushed a startling red.
Sitting down she bowed her head remaining quiet as those around her gradually lost interest, returning to their previous endeavours.

'Can I really do this, after all?' she grimaced, pulling out a tattered photo album from her bag, flicking through all her old memories as she lost herself amongst them.

"I have to do this."

Tentatively lowering herself into the chair, Nagisa glanced across towards Shizuma; the silver haired woman had already settled herself down, staring intently at Nagisa from the other side of the room.
"You don't have to sit all the way over there, I won't bite… yet'' the elder woman smirked, earning herself an emphatic glare as Nagisa shuffled in her seat.

"I'd prefer to keep a good distance from you during this; I need to keep my head clear. Your jibes and constant touching don't help with that!" she retorted, mustering all her courage for the oncoming discussion.

"My, my. Would I do that?" she gasped, her silver locks bouncing around her shoulders as she feigned shock, her eyes gleaming playfully.
Watching the tell-tale blush forming on Nagisa's cheeks, she sighed contentedly; "Oh, I've missed you so much Nagisa, I really have." Her smile softening as she intently watched Nagisa's eyes for some form of emotion.

'Ah there it is' she thought grinning like a Cheshire cat, 'She still cares for me! I still have a chance.'

Averting eye contact, Nagisa lowered her head; her hair falling across her face, which she hoped would hide her inner feelings from the ever watching emerald eyes.
"I don't know why you're smiling so much; you've yet to tell me why you left me." Nagisa uttered under her breath coldly. Shizuma's obvious happiness was starting to irritate her, pricking at her nerves.

Instantly, Shizuma's eyes turned blank, unreadable. "Yes, that's true; I owe you that at least…" she trailed off, gazing into space.

"But where to begin…"

Note.

I'm sorry it's taken me awhile to actually update, but I've had exams. x_x
I know this chapter is a tad on the short side, but I wanted to update at least something? xD
I guess this chapter doesn't really answer any questions what so ever, but the 'discussion' between Shizuma and Nagisa will be in the next chapter, I promise. (I wanted to spend more time writing that, sorry.)
Hmm. What else. Oh, I deliberately didn't say who the stranger on the train is, so I'll leave that for you to guess. ;) That character will be back though. :P

I can't think of anything else right now, so thank you for reading and any feedback would be great. (:

Becky. xx

Ps. I don't own Strawberry Panic, or any of the characters.