Sitting next to the hospital bed, Shizuma buried her head into her hands, a wave of guilt washing over her making her stomach nauseous.
Concentrating on her breathing she tried to calm herself down. 'Count to 10, count to 10'

'1'

"Shizuma…" A husky male voice sounded from beside her.

'2'

"About what you said before…"

'3'

"About the company..."

'4'

"I've put my life and soul into that company…"

'5'

"Do you really think I'm going to hand it over to an immature brat like yourself?"

'6'

"You will NEVER get that company, never."

'7'

"Your father, my brother, should never have been placed in charge of it to begin with."

'8'

"He was always chasing after that commoner!"

'9'

"Look where that got him? A broken heart, a child he didn't want? I'm glad he's dead."

'10…'

Abruptly standing up, Shizuma turned her steely gaze upon him, her eyes bored into his hollow sockets, seething with anger.

"I cannot condone my father's actions, but you have my word that I will regain MY Company!"

Her anger rising, she was unaware of the figure stood in the doorway wiping her swollen eyes with her sleeve, eyeing the situation conspicuously.

Leaning closer, Shizuma went on the offensive. "I will also regain my Love! You can't stop me, you snivelling pathetic excuse for a man, I almost feel sorry for you. Almost, but not quite. You will regret the day you crossed me Iwao. You're going to die a lonely old man, and when that happens I will spit on your grave, as I'm sure many others would also willingly do."

With that, she stormed away bristling slightly with alarm as she locked eyes with the figure at the door. 'Did she hear what I just said?'
Her fears were confirmed as a flash of anger and betrayal marred the girl's features.

Hurrying on, she increased her pace, eyes downcast as she finally muttered; "I'm sorry Sophia, but I have to do this."

"Sophia…"

Nagisa's gaze flittered between the other two women in the room as she tried to place some form of connection that could exist between them.
She took in Shizuma's bewildered and shocked expression then compared it to Sophia's frosty, slightly withheld one.

It was obvious to the red head that something had happened between them some time in the past as Sophia's earlier words echoed through her mind. 'I know her, she isn't what you think, she's deceiving you, she's-'

Her hands began to twitch ever so slightly at the thought. 'Shizuma's deceived me? How? When? How does she know?'

As she stood there lost in a furious train of thought, she failed to notice the distance close between herself and Shizuma. Failed to notice that Shizuma had placed herself between the red head and Sophia, or the now protective gleam which flashed within her emerald eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

The cold tint to the silver haired woman's voice brought Nagisa from her thoughts quite quickly as confusion took a hold. She couldn't place their relationship at all, they were just so different.

Another uncomfortable silence began as Nagisa shifted her weight between her feet, fidgeting as she tried to build up the confidence to ask the most obvious question.
She could see the girl – Sophia – begin to open her mouth and quickly interjected, fearing the worst.

"Who are you?"

Two sets of eyes were suddenly upon the red head as she blushed under their similar, yet completely different intense gazes.

"She's no one Nagisa, don't pay attention to her… She'll be leaving soon…" Shizuma quickly spoke, glaring in the direction of the blonde.

'If looks could kill…'

Sophia scoffed, she'd had enough of the little game they'd begun playing.
"No one? I'm no one am I? Tut Tut Shizuma, I wouldn't have figured you to be the sort of person who would lie to someone they claimed to care about… but then again you've been doing quite a lot of lying lately haven't you?"

Sophia puffed her chest out defensively; crossing her arms at the death glares now shooting her way.

"To answer your question Nagisa, we're related. Cousins in fact."

She watched the red head's mouth drop open as she gaped, glancing between the two women, a flash of confusing gleamed her eyes. She was obviously contemplating asking a question, something that the blonde had already expected.

"I'm half European, that's why we don't look similar. My mother was French and my father Japanese." She stated matter of factly, watching the other blush with embarrassment at being caught in such an obvious contemplation.

"I- I'm sorry, I –I didn't mean to seem rude or anything, I just, just…"

"Nagisa… there's nothing to apologise for" Shizuma interjected her rambling sensing her lovers discomfort "Sophia will be leaving as soon as she tells me why she is here" she added quickly.

Sophia's lip curled back into a snarl at the dismissal, bracing herself as she stalked closer to the pair, internally flinching at the oncoming confrontation.

"And what makes you think I've come to see you? You think an awful lot of yourself now don't you? Oh, but I forgot, you've always been an obnoxious cow haven't you? If you don't mind I'd like to speak to Nagisa, whom I came to see. Alone." She practically spat out in defiance.

Shizuma braced herself to her full height, trying her best to intimidate the other. Taking a deep breath she readied herself, about to move forward before a gentle touch stopped her.
Nagisa's hand was gently wrapped around her wrist, faltering her movement as the red head moved closer, leaning into the others ear.

"It's okay let her talk to me. I'll be fine" She whispered.

Shizuma looked at her incredulously, about to disobey until she glanced upon the determined look on her lovers face.
Giving one last exasperated sigh and glare in Sophia's direction, she stalked from the room; glancing back every so often until the door was closed.

"Well, now that we're alone I suggest we finish that little conversation we started" Sophia smirked, moving closer and backing the red head into a corner.

Nagisa visibly gulped as a mixture of adrenaline and fear began to pump through her veins. She did not like where this was going.

Tamao looked up as she heard the door slam shut, her sight grazing over a clearly irritated Shizuma who began to quickly pace around the living room.

"Where's Nagisa?" She asked tentatively, concern creeping into her voice.

Shizuma whirled around on the spot, eyes narrowed and nostrils flaring in anger at the simple question. She pursed her lips, wondering how much to tell the bluenette without compromising herself. Deciding to play it safe she quickly spoke.

"She's with the girl from earlier, the one at the park. They're talking."

Tamao's brow furrowed in confusion whilst she tried to work out why 'talking' would cause the Silver haired woman so much mirth. She racked her brains but couldn't come up with a good enough explanation, and she didn't dare to ask Shizuma herself.

Instead she opted for staring at the door to the kitchen, waiting for Nagisa to return as Shizuma went back to pacing around the room.

"Tsubomi- Chaaaaaaaaaan!" A high pitched whine echoed throughout the room until the pinkette finally gave up her endeavours and placed her book on the table. Standing up she stalked in the direction of the commotion.

"What now Yaya-Chan?" She sighed exasperatedly; this had been occurring for the past couple of weeks and was beginning to get on her nerves.
She loved the elder girl dearly, but she was far too excitable at times, rivalling a playful puppy.

A pair of slender arms encircled her waist from behind, pulling her closer whilst something began nuzzling her neck.
'Scratch that, she's worse than a puppy' the pinkette smirked.

"When are they coming back?" she whined into the younger girls ear before kissing her pulse point.

"They'll come back, when they come back. You can't rush them they need to work this out themsel- YAYA-CHAN!" The Pinkette yelped as a cold pair of hands snaked under her top, resting against her stomach.

"Harassing me will not make them come back any quicker Yaya!" She huffed pulling away as she felt the others body shake with silent laughter.

"Oh, but it's so much fun Tsubomi-Chaaaaaan" She whispered in her sing song voice, adding a pout for emphasis.
Tsubomi continued to grumble under her breath, which only furthered Yaya's amusement.

Suddenly the dark haired girl grasped the others waist and lifted her over her shoulder. She smirked at the expected yelp and huffy retaliation she could hear, before sitting down and cradling the pinkette in her lap.

"Much better, now I can see my huffy Tsundere" she winked.

"You aren't serious at all about Nagisa returning home, are you? You just like to tease me!" Tsubomi huffed, instantly regretting her words as the elder girls gaze became downcast.

"No… You know that's not true Tsubomi. Everything changed after Nagisa just disappeared. We didn't know if she was dead or alive, something could have happened…"

Her gaze softened as she placed a tender kiss to the dark haired girls' forehead, rubbing circles into her back as an attempt to sooth her.

"I know, Yaya-Chan. I know."

Note:

Okay, so I FINALLY finished chapter 7. I know it's a bit short, but I've been so busy lately with assignments and placement that I wanted to at least put something up?
I tried to leave it on a bit of a cliff-hanger with the discussion between Sophia and Nagisa, so that'll be the main focus of the next chapter? :P I'm rambling now, sorry.
Oh, as for Sophia's Mum being French, I was trying to 'brush up' on my French, and so it was sort of on my mind whilst I was writing. Hence this is the result. :P

As always, I don't own Strawberry Panic - I just enjoy writing (:
Thank you for the reviews of my previous chapters, they really do make me day. (: Also thank you for reading, etc. etc. etc.

Ohh and I don't do this often but I'd just like to say a quick thank you to 'Chrissy the lovelorn stranger' you're awesome. (: If anyone hasn't read 'Inescapable' then you should. It's really good.

Thanks once again to everyone, I'll end this ramble now.

Becky. xx