"Shizuma, Shizuma!" the young girl called as the sombre figure came into view. Rushing across the freshly cut grass she launched herself at the lone figure, wrapping her arms tightly around her neck.
"Sophia…" Shizuma gasped as she untangled the young girl from herself, half attempting a smile in response to her enthusiasm.
Noticing that the recently graduated girl wasn't in high spirits, Sophia lowered her voice; "It's done then? You've broken up with her?"
Wincing slightly at the girl's bluntness, Shizuma merely nodded in response before being pounced upon again.
"This is great news, father will be so pleased" Sophia beamed whilst dragging her closer to the sturdy oak doors and entrance of her home.
They walked for what seemed like an age to Shizuma, down dimly lit corridors and old, empty hall ways.
Despite her current situation Shizuma couldn't help but scoff at the décor in comparison to the owners, Sophia was bubbly and overly energetic so the gloom didn't suit her, yet it was perfect for the 'master' of the house. Frowning slightly at the thought of him, she finally came to her destination.
"Father said that until everything else is prepared, you'll stay here." Sophia once again beamed, staring at the older girl with admiration and care. "Can I get you anything else?"
"No… thank you, but if you don't mind I'd like to be alone for a while" Shizuma whispered softly, opening the door to her temporary accommodation. Giving the frowning girl a slight smile she continued; "I'll see you at dinner, thank you for all your help Sophia." Briskly turning, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it.
She could hear Sophia skipping away down the hall, as she welcomed the cool, sturdy door frame she now rested against, not daring to move. Everything had been so hectic, everything was such a mess. 'All I want is to curl up and cuddle Nagisa...' she sighed.
Memories flooded back to the silver haired teen of the day's events, as she finally allowed the tears she'd held back to flow freely before whispering in a barely audible voice; "Nagisa…"
As she collapsed to the floor, her body gave way to heart wrenching sobs.
"But where to begin…"
Shizuma stared into the distance, her eyes clouded over whilst a concerned red head watched intently from across the room.
Unsure of what to do, Nagisa was about to break the silence before Shizuma started to speak once more, almost in a whisper.
"Nagisa, I've never told you anything about my family, have I?" she inquired more to herself than the younger woman, who merely shuck her head in response.
"I never knew my mother. My father told me stories of her whilst I was a child; romantic fairy tales of how they'd fallen into a forbidden love. However, she wasn't of a high enough status for my grandparents liking and so they tried to force them apart. Despite that they defied his parents, meeting in secret on more than one occasion, and before long my mother fell pregnant with me." Pausing slightly, Shizuma lifted her head to stare into Nagisa's eyes before continuing.
"Not long after that my mother disappeared, leaving my father clueless as to where she was or how to find her. Then 10 months later my father opened the door to a 1 month old baby me asleep in a basket, with nothing but a small letter of apology and a name. He never heard from her again after that." Shizuma grimaced at this, her determination faltering slightly whilst Nagisa fought the urge to rush over and comfort the elder woman, opting instead to remain silent and allow her the opportunity to continue.
"My father raised me the best he could but being the eldest son meant he had responsibilities to the family, he was forced to take over the business and hence I was sent to Astraea Hill out of the way. He met with me occasionally to discuss my studies, but apart from that I rarely saw him."
Tears began to slowly creep down Shizuma's face as she attempted to recompose herself somewhat, shuffling her position within the seat.
"Just before I graduated St Miator my father was involved in a car accident, and sadly didn't make it. He passed away the next day." Upon noticing the confused look in Nagisa's eyes she quickly added; "There was no point in worrying you about it, I barely knew the man… I mourned for him, but more for the father I wish I'd had than the one I lost."
"You should have told me Shizuma; I could have been there for you and helped you through it!" Nagisa stated whilst turning her head away from the elder woman, before muttering; "So, was that why you left me?" her eyes beginning to sting with the first wave of tears that threatened to spill over. "Did you not trust me? Had I done something to make you hate me? I just don't understand Shizuma!"
The emerald orbs emanated the obvious pain their owner was experiencing at Nagisa's distress.
"Nagisa, I… I have never hated you, nor was it anything to do with a lack of trust, I've always loved you. However that's not the end of the story, if you will allow me I'd like to continue my explanation?"
Unable to trust her ability to speak for fear of crying, Nagisa meekly nodded her approval all the while staring at her hands, the wall, the floor anywhere but Shizuma.
"Well, after my father's death it was decided that I would take over his position in the company being his only child, yet I was to go through a period of training. It was requested in his will that if anything were to happen to him before I turned 21 then I was to stay with his younger brother. My Uncle." At this she frowned. "My Uncle… has always been jealous of my father, so naturally he wasn't happy to hear that the business was to go to me, rather than him. Nor was he happy that my father had placed me in his care and expected him to train me."
Sighing she continued; "So, before I graduated I was sent on frequent occasions to go and speak with my Uncle, who decided to start the training after my graduation. Yet he had one condition; that I completely cut ties with everyone I knew, who he hadn't approved of.
Of course I didn't want to comply but I had no other option, he held complete power over me and my future. I pleaded so much with him, especially where you were concerned, but his answer remained the same. No." Glaring she spat out the last words, her narrowed eyes seething with anger.
"My plan was to undergo the training, and then as soon as I turned 21 I'd come back and find you. I didn't want you to have to wait for me that's why I set you free, gave you back your freedom to enjoy life without me until I could once again be by your side. However there was something I didn't expect, and that was my Uncle again, he-"
Before she could continue, Nagisa sharply cut in; "Set me free? Is that what you think you did? Do you even know what I've been through? Or the things I've tried in order to attempt the inevitable – forgetting you. I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't forget you!" Giving way to the tears which had been building up, Nagisa pulled her knees up to her chin, hugging them in a hopeful attempt of gaining some form of comfort.
At the sight of this Shizuma jumped up from her seat, rushing forward towards the distraught woman in front of her, only to slow her pace upon seeing the red head flinch backwards.
Sitting down next to her she wrapped her arms around the distressed figure only to be pushed further away.
Refusing to be rejected, Shizuma wasn't fazed by the apparent act of hostility and continued to pull the red head closer.
Trying her hardest to resist the silver haired devil Nagisa continued to push against her, but despite all her exerted effort she was gradually becoming tired of Shizuma's persistence as her resolve began to melt away.
Giving one last shove she growled in defiance only to feel arms lock around her waist.
"I don't want this Shizuma, I don't want you. Get off me!" Nagisa yelled in a final attempt to escape Shizuma's clutches. It appeared to work, if only briefly, as the red head felt the arms constricting her loosen and pull away slightly.
"Look me in the eye and say that" Shizuma retorted, pain emanating from her in waves as she locked eyes with the chestnut pools belonging to her beloved, who was desperately trying to obscure them with the red locks that limply fell across her face.
"I said look at me Nagi-"
Suddenly raising her head mere centimetres from Shizuma's face, Nagisa glared into her eyes.
"Is this what you wanted? Because I can't do it! Are you happy now?" she snapped.
"I love you, I still love you, I never stopped loving you, but that doesn't give you the right to do this to me again!"
Abruptly standing up, Nagisa stalked through to her bedroom in an attempt to put some distance between herself and the shell-shocked Shizuma who remained still and unreadable.
'How long have I been sat like this?' the silver haired woman pondered, stretching out her arms and grimacing at how stiff they'd become.
Glancing towards the clock on the wall she tried to calculate the time she'd sat there in a daze, only to give up. 'It was around an hour, but I don't really care. Nagisa still loves me!' she beamed to herself.
'I don't think she'll forgive me just yet though… maybe I should hold off my plan for a while.' Frowning slightly she hurried over to her bag, thrusting both hands inside as she quickly searched for the small parcel she had been hiding.
Sighing in relief she felt her hands grasp it, as she pulled it out, turning it over whilst debating what to do next.
'Yes, I'll definitely hold off for a while, for now I need to earn my forgiveness, which may be easier said than done.'
Placing the parcel back into her bag, she began to wander towards Nagisa's bedroom readying herself for another confrontation.
Rushing off the train, the lone figure stretched out in the early morning sunshine yawning as she did so.
'Now I just need to find Shizuma' peering around at her surroundings she began to grimace. 'So… I wonder which direction this apartment is.'
Running onto the street, she began her desperate attempt to find any clue as to where Nagisa's apartment may be. Yet to no avail, glancing at the scrawled address she held upon a scrap of paper, she soon noticed that the surrounding signs gave no indication as to where the apartment was.
Dramatically pointing at a sign she began to yell; "YOU! YES YOU! I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO FOIL MY PLANS! BUT NOT TODAY! NO, NOT TODAY! I WILL PREVAIL, THEN WE'LL SEE WHO'S LAUGHING WONT WE? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA".
Beginning to laugh hysterically she once again began to draw attention towards herself, as the lack of sleep and ever increasing frustration began to take a hold over her.
"Excuse me ma'am, are you okay?" a friendly police officer enquired as he apprehensively approached the girl, his eyes stoic with concern.
Turning around with alarm she realised once again the swarm of eyes upon her, mumbling an "I'm fine" she ran off as quickly as her legs would take her. She ran quicker than she'd ever run before, anything to get away from the situation she'd found herself in whilst hoping beyond all hope that the police man wouldn't follow her.
Her blonde hair billowing behind her she took a sharp turn and quickly jumped over a wall, diving into a hoard of bushes.
Panting for breath she watched in fear, waiting for the police officer to run past.
5 minutes. 10 minutes. 15, 20. She waited silently as time ticked on, yet no police officer came.
Her eye lids growing heavy, she sighed and fell into a dreary sleep concealed from the world's ever watching gaze.
As she dreamt; a pair of striking emerald eyes and long flowing silver hair flittered through her thoughts and dreams, causing the girl to stir before gradually falling into a deep slumber.
Quietly pushing the door open, Shizuma sneaked into the bedroom whilst keeping her breathing shallow. Waiting at the entrance she tried to adjust her eyes to the considerably darker room. She could just about make out the bed, before she realised there was a small curled up figure upon it who's body shuck with sobs.
Her eyes softening, Shizuma quietly crept towards her crying beloved as guilt built up within her chest.
As she slowly crawled onto the bed, the gentle creak of bed springs alerted the red head to the others presence.
Turning swiftly she came face to face with the elder woman as their eyes locked once again, Shizuma acutely aware of Nagisa's swollen eyes even in the dimly lit room.
Shuffling slowly closer, Shizuma was both glad and relieved when she noticed that the younger woman hadn't moved away or tried to prevent the interaction.
Getting gradually closer, she was finally able to pull Nagisa into her arms again with no resistance.
Startled, Shizuma felt a pair of arms wrap around her own waist as the red head began to search for any form of comfort to stop the aching pain within her chest.
Their faces gently touching, the elder woman noticed the strain and effort Nagisa was exercising to try and prevent the forthcoming sobs, gently lowering her lips to the red heads cheek and placing a small kiss.
"Shizuma, don't leave me again please don't leave me again." Nagisa uttered before nuzzling her head into the nape of the elder woman's neck, unable to control herself as her body shuck violently with sobs.
Tightly embracing her, Shizuma cooed softly into her ear; "I'm not going anywhere my love, I promise you that." Gently rocking the sobbing woman she finished her statement; "It is however morning, so you should get some rest we can continue our conversation after some sleep."
Feeling the arms around her tighten she added; "But I will stay here with you until you wake." Her words instantly soothed the red head as her grip loosened and breathing slowed.
Running her fingers through the auburn locks, Shizuma smiled softly as she watched over her beloved who quickly drifted off to sleep.
Unable to fall asleep herself, Shizuma settled for gazing at the girl within her arms. This was all she'd ever wanted, yet she still felt uncomfortable. A niggling sensation pricked away at her nerves, making her anxious and on edge.
"I feel like something bad is about to happen" she muttered dismally under her breath. "I've just gotten past one obstacle but I'm sure there will be many more to come".
Feeling the girl she encompassed stir, a thought crossed her mind as a smile began to pull at the corner of her mouth. "Oh my soul's joy: If after every tempest, come such calms, May the winds blow, till they have waken'd death." She cooed gently into the younger woman's ear, watching with amused content as she shuffled closer.
Pushing the pessimistic thoughts from mind she decided to focus on the present and the overwhelming happiness she felt. "I won't ruin this again Nagisa, I promise" she whispered, before drifting off to sleep.
Note:
Okay, so there's part 1 of Shizuma and Nagisa's 'talk'.
I hope it wasn't too boring? xD Sorry if it was. x_x
There will be a second 'discussion' however.
Also, if you can guess where the quote Shizuma recited; ''Oh my souls joy: If after every tempest...'
is from, then you are officially awesome. :P
(If you don't then I'll put where I got the quote from in chapter 5. :P)
Oh, and I don't own Strawberry Panic or the characters. Except maybe the 'lone figure', and by now
I'm pretty sure most people have worked out who that is. :P
Thank you for reading. (:
Also, thank you so much for the reviews I've had so far for the previous chapters, they are really appreciated. :)
Becky. xx