A/N: At long last, the second chapter is here! Enjoy!

Time Period: 1890s

Setup: Against her will, Cana is shipped off to some obscure finishing school in Chicago. Things look rather grim, but a student one year ahead of her named Mirajane Strauss may just make these days tolerable.

"Where is this school again? Asked Cana, annoyed at her father's gall, and taking some of it out on the coach driver.

"For the fiftieth and final time, downtown Chicago, we should be there in another hour." Reprimanded the driver. "Maybe they'll teach you an ounce of respect while you're there." He added, which further annoyed Cana.

Cana sighed, this seemed inevitable, sad as this may be. Here she was, an ambitious businesswoman-self taught, and her father had just decided to send her off to a school to teach her how to be a socialite. He knew she hated all of that, but her pleas amounted to nothing. There was simply no way to convince him of anything else. To him, Cana's only place was beside some other rich man, probably a disgusting old codger, and having a bunch of stupid kids she didn't want. The more Cana thought about it, she hated him; why did he get to call something like that. It was awful. Cana sighed to herself as she stared out the window and remembered the day she found out about this doomed trip...

Flashback: 3 months ago.

"Cana..." Began Gildarts, a disapproving look in his eyes.

"No." Cana said firmly. "You know I'm more than just a socialite!"

"I'm sorry, but as your father, I have decided that you will be the wife of a good businessman." Ordered Gildarts, impatient.

"Why!?" Demanded Cana.

"Go. Now." Barked Gildarts, in the angriest voice he could. "And you'll need more ladylike clothing, I'll have a maid take you to the city ahead of time."

That was one of the worst days of her life, even though she was more or less aware that that was to be her fate. She'd known since she was a little girl organizing the neighborhood boys into a battalion of soldiers that she wanted to lead people, not on the battlefield as she'd originally thought, but rather as a business magnate like her father. She'd spent hours upon hours and late nights training herself to run a company, in hopes that her father would see her prowess. No such luck. Cana was sent off to this damn finishing school. Miss Sherry's, was it called? She didn't care now. At this point, her life was shot, this damn dress itched like hell, and she would prefer not to think about the abominable device called the corset that was currently attempting to suffocate her. In any event, she sat complacent and for the time being defeated, thinking about her home in the suburbs and all of her friends there. It was sad, really. There was no chance for a woman like her, it seemed...

"Here we are, ma'am." Said the driver, as he halted the horses and opened the carriage door. Cana left the cab and directed her to the front door of the institution.

The school's main office was vibrantly decorated with ornate rugs, Cana guessed from Persia, and statues of gods and monsters that Cana knew as being from China and India. Seated at the desk was a middle-aged woman with pink hair tied back in a very proper fashion, a sign on her desk declared her to be "Sherry Vastia." She wore a proper white dress and a dour expression as she sized up the new student before her. "Hm, and you would be?" She asked.

"Cana Alberona."

"Hm, yes, here you are, 18 years old... Heir to Alberona hotels, and according to the letter sent by your father, a bit of a problem child..." Noted Sherry, looking through a file marked 'new arrivals.'

Cana tensed up at the mention of the last statement.

"Well I know we'll have you a proper lady in three years time." Announced Sherry, as she pulled out more papers, and handed them to Cana. "These are the school rules and schedule, your room-you'll be in the same room as a returning student, and finally a list of events for the coming school year, you'll do well to remember them."

"Thanks..." Cana muttered, sarcastically.

"Well, here's the room." Noted Cana, as she found herself before the door that her key fit. To be fair to this place, it was well equipped, electric lighting and running water both present was quite nice, even if this school was hell on earth...

"Hm, are you my roommate?" Asked a voice emanating from the room.

"No, I'm your prince charming." Said Cana, rolling her eyes.

"I can do without the sarcasm." Laughed the voice, as the door open revealing its owner, a prim looking woman with white hair and green eyes, wearing a light blue dress and a muted red corset. Cana would deny it if you asked her, but she was the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen. "I'm Mirajane Strauss, heiress of Strauss Meats." She said with a curtsy

"Cana Alberona, heiress of Alberona Hotels." Cana returned, as she clumsily attempted the same and promptly fell on the floor, gasping for air thanks to the damn corset again.

"Well, that was... Odd." muttered Mirajane as she helped Cana up and led her into the room.

"So, what's your story?" Asked Cana, sitting down on her bed and finally loosing the corset, and feeling breath return to her.

"My story?" Asked Mirajane, sitting on her own bed and giving Cana a bewildered look.

"Well yeah, what happened with you, why are you here, what's your big plan?" Continued Cana.

"I... guess I just went with my parents' wishes." Sighed Mirajane, downcast.

"Well, there's nothing wrong with that, but you have to have hopes and dreams of your own..." Pressed Cana.

"Not really, I just did what I was told. I guess I like those old legends about knights..." Mirajane continued, searching herself.

"Hey, it's a start!" Laughed Cana, winking at Mirajane with a big grin.

"What do you mean, start?" Asked Mirajane.

"I'm making it my mission to get you to have some fun!" Announced Cana, with a laugh.

"No, you need to be a lady, and I was placed as your roommate to ensure you followed the program." Reprimanded Mirajane.

"Fair enough, let's make a friendly competition out of it; let's see who wins this. Will I get you to lighten up and be your own person, or will you get me to conform to society?" Said Cana, smiling all the while.

"Well in that case... This won't be any trouble at all." Laughed Mirajane.

"Baby steps." Thought Cana, as she saw her roommate's tension fade after the previous comment.

"Now, to review the setup of the dining room." Instructed Bisca, one of the school's teachers, inspecting each student's work, and stopping immediately at Cana's. "Miss, the placement of silverware is not even close to the instructions. The knives are to be placed with forks, and the salad fork is nowhere to be found!" She reprimanded.

"I don't see why it matters..." Muttered Cana staring her teacher straight in the eye.

"Well it most certainly does, and I will not stand for your advocacy of deportment anarchy."

"Deportment anarchy?" Asked Cana, bewildered by the bizarreness of the statement.

"Yes, and unless you remain quiet while I finish, I will request to use corporal punishment on you." Fumed Bisca.

Cana stopped. Nothing was worth being paddled, no matter how entertaining the dialogue was becoming.

"I thought so, now do it again, and this time correctly." Ordered Bisca.

"You do know how bad you make me look, right?" Asked Mirajane, semi-jokingly, as the two entered their room after the day's classes were over.

"Yes, I do." Answered Cana, playing along.

"Well, I'm not done yet, not even close. You still haven't won." Announced Mirajane.

"Same to you." Agreed Cana, as she changed into her normal outfit of a much looser fitting frock (the school still would not allow her to wear pants).

"Hey, you know that there's a mock ball coming up pretty soon, right?" Asked Mirajane, with a smile.

"Right, I remember that, there was supposed to be a delegation from a men's college coming to join us for it." Noted Cana.

"Yeah, I wonder if we'll find anyone." Sighed Mirajane.

"You'll have better odds than me, I figure." Said Cana, primarily because she was more focused on wooing Mirajane than any member of the male sex.

"Hah, well thank you, but you're quite beautiful yourself..." Said Mirajane, sheepishly.

Cana Blushed at that. Her feelings for her roommate were only getting stronger it seemed...

"Now remember, you must be formally introduced to any man you meet at this ball before talking to him. Upon formal introduction, the two of you may converse, and the dance may begin if you both agree to it." Reminded Sherry, to the students as they made their way into the hotel's opulent ballroom that the two schools had rented.

"Right, ma'am." The collective voices of the students affirmed, as they entered the main room, an elegant space with a few tables off to the side, and a floor with little ornamentation. There was an orchestra on the balcony to provide music and a complex mural on the ceiling. The elegant space in vogue these days, it seemed.

"Now, you will be graded, but simply remember your training, and above all enjoy yourselves." Instructed Sherry, as she quietly walked off to the hotel's bar.

"Well, we have all night to do what our stupid society has told us to... Where do we start?" Cana asked Mirajane.

"You know I don't like hearing that out of you." Reprimanded Mirajane.

"Well you know I don't like hearing your ideas about tradition either." Countered Cana, as the two sat down at a small table near the floor.

"We can discuss women in modern society later, for now, let's see about the men." Offered Mirajane.

"Sure." Conceded Cana, still thoroughly indifferent to men as a whole.

"This is Laxus Dreyar, and the lady is Cana Alberona." Explained their host, a flamboyant but very much endearing fellow by the name of Bob, leading Cana by the hand to a man with a clean cut of blonde hair who was presently tugging at his suit; seemingly uncomfortable at the very least.

"Hello." Muttered Laxus, awkwardly, and staring off into space.

"Well, what's your story?" Asked Cana, putting on the bravest face she could.

"Well, I'm heir to a company that manufactures light bulbs, but I find it dreadfully boring. I wish to fight in a war myself, but my father insists on my taking his company over." Explained Laxus.

"Well, I may relate to that." Answered Cana.

"Oh?"

"I wish to run a company, but my father would have me married off to some dull man and give male heirs." Explained Cana, already hopeful that this Laxus would be willing to give her rein on the company.

"Hahahahahahaahahaha!" Laxus burst out laughing. No such luck, it seemed.

"Now what's so funny?" Demanded Cana, knowing full well the answer, and extremely angry.

"You're no one to run a company, you're well..."

"A woman?" Asked Cana, the last shred of her temper gone, as she walked over to Laxus, ready to punch him so hard he'd drop to the floor, but before then deciding not to, because she wished not trigger Sherry's ire.

"May I have this dance?" Asked Cana, clenching her teeth and holding back her anger.

"Of course." Answered Laxus, seemingly oblivious to Cana's displeasure, as he joined with her and they began an awkward waltz.

Mirajane sighed heavily as she looked on at Cana and Laxus dancing. That Laxus fellow looked so happy, but then Cana clearly didn't. Knowing her, Cana surely wasn't dancing with that man willingly, but she still had to... Was that really right? Mirajane found herself thinking. "You know, maybe Cana isn't far off..." Mirajane thought to herself. The more she thought about it, it did seem wrong for people to tell her every little aspect of her life, and what had her life been but a series of such events? Still, Mirajane settled herself in her seat and calmly looked on, feeling a bit for Cana, and finding her strangely beautiful, despite the quite obvious scowl on her face.

"Cana, that man there, did you think he might be a husband for you?" Asked Mirajane, later, in their room, even though she knew that the answer would be no.

"Not now, not ever." Confirmed Cana. "He was simply horrible, although I'm sure you're disappointed that you had no dances all night; I'd have gladly given him up."

'Not really, actually." Answered Mirajane with a wry smile. "I felt nothing for any such man there, I don't find it disappointing that they felt the same."

Cana and Mirajane sat in silence for a few seconds, and then burst out laughing.

"I can't believe men think that we need to be shown interest in for us to show interest!" Declared Cana, noting the oddity with the solidarity of her friend.

"It is truly ridiculous!" Agreed Mirajane, sharing the joy with her friend, and bursting ever more from her shell.

"Well, seeing as our evil lord protectors will be finding more busywork for us tomorrow, I'd advise sleep for now." Said Cana, with a yawn.

"Agreed." Sighed Mirajane, feeling more tired herself, though sleep was the last thing on her mind. Cana was all that was there now. It seemed that she was falling in love. Cana was seeming more wonderful with each passing day, and now she just had to know, how might they be happy together? If they didn't leave the school, there was no chance of that, but was there anything else they could do? Surely, their families wouldn't sit by while they ran off together, and the law might not appreciate them either; was the risk worth it? Needless to say, Mirajane caught little sleep that night, she lay awake for hours pondering her newfound feelings for her roommate.

"Well, now we return home for the Christmas holidays." Noted Mirajane, packing her bags and with a servant helping her carry them out.

"You know, coming into this, I thought that today couldn't come soon enough, but given that I can't talk with you, it may not be as great as I thought." Noted Cana.

"Well, we'll be back in a month." Said Mirajane, with an earnest smile. "And by the way, here's a little something for you." Mirajane said, holding out a medium-sized box wrapped in vibrant paper.

Cana tore the wrapping open, and opened the cardboard box to reveal a pocket knife of excellent construction, it was clad in a wood casing and the blade was just the right length and width. The device was perfect for Cana, given her love for the outdoors, and she could hardly contain her excitement. "This is incredible! Thank you so much!" She shouted, causing a few confused stares from the hall. "Oh, and I have something for you." Cana said as she regained her composure and handed Mirajane a similarly wrapped package.

Mirajane unwrapped it, and found a well-preserved storybook within, which had a painting of a knight on the cover.

"I remembered that you loved that kind of thing, and seeing that at the book shop made me think of you." Explained Cana.

"I can't thank you enough..." Muttered Mirajane, tears of joy forming in her eyes as she pulled Cana into a strong embrace, which Cana reciprocated.

"See you in January." Cana said, as she began packing her own bags.

"Hm, that other woman you were talking with..." Muttered Mirajane's driver.

"Cana? She and I shared that room for the past several months." Said Mirajane, with a wistful smile.

"Well it seems like the two of you were great friends, you must really be happy to have her around."

"Well it didn't start that way, but yes, I must say she's been amazing." Answered Mirajane, slightly pained by the 'friend' comment; all in all, Mirajane was having trouble seeing Cana as only a friend anymore.

"So, how was your Christmas?" Asked Cana, rejoining Mirajane in the same room.

"Well, my parents were pleased with my efforts in helping my mother organize the dinner, and my talent at the harp was applauded." Said Mirajane. "Although the gifts I received paled in comparison to yours."

"Mine was a bit less enjoyable, my father insisted I show my progress in etiquette, and had me handle dinner proceedings. I failed miserably of course, and was promptly confined to my bedroom for the remainder of the holiday. At the very least, I had a good deal of time to read, mostly dime novels, but still." Explained Cana.

"That's awful." Sighed Mirajane.

"Yes, but I'm already working on a plan to get myself on my feet after I leave this atrocity of a place, so don't feel too bad for me." Said Cana.

"That's nice." Mirajane noted as she embraced Cana again, both of them feeling much better now.

"And hey, I want to do something special, just us two, after the weather gets warm." Said Cana. "Get a tennis racket, and I'll show you how to use it."

"Okay..." Muttered Mirajane; she'd wanted to try tennis for awhile, but never had. She'd made one offhanded mention of it months ago, but hadn't anticipated Cana remembering it.

"Hey, I remember you said something about it, and I happen to know a little bit about it." Explained Cana. "Seriously, get ready!"

"Okay, okay!" Laughed Mirajane, and finding it ever harder to say something. No one had ever been like this to her. Not her parents, not her friends back home. Cana simply got her, and it was beautiful. "You know what?" Thought Mirajane. "Maybe I ought to say something, soon as Cana takes me out to do this, at least she might understand..." Mirajane concluded, as she bid Cana goodbye and ran off to the public library, in search of advice in the reference books.

3 Months later.

Mirajane returned to her room and flopped down on her bed, tired but excited. Today was undoubtedly the day. Mirajane would tell Cana just how it was she felt or die gloriously trying. In the simultaneous excitement and stress, Mirajane chose a shorter frock to wear and grabbed the tennis racket Cana had instructed her to bring, as well as a bit of a favor, a bouquet of violets. Mirajane smiled with a sense of both nervousness and joy, as she left for the nearby park Cana told her to come to.

"There you are! I was getting worried I was stood up!" Quipped Cana, being sure to make it clear that she was joking.

"Nope, you can't be rid of me just like that!" Laughed Mirajane, setting aside the bouquet and joining Cana. "You're wearing shorts?"

"You aren't?" Countered Cana.

"Well... That isn't the most ladylike of clothing..."

"Have you known me to care? And you try tennis in a dress, which you will, though to be fair you did choose one that should work just fine." Responded Cana.

"Fair enough." Mirajane said, with a big smile.

"All right then, let's begin with basic stance..." Began Cana.

"Good, good, now you're getting it!" Exclaimed Cana, with a big grin as she threw tennis balls for Mirajane to hit, which the latter did with a great deal of accuracy and fervor.

"Great, but I'm a bit... Winded." Sighed Mirajane, as she walked off the court, a smile on her face, as she went to where she'd set the bouquet. "How did you even learn how to play tennis?"

"Well, my father was an enthusiast, had a court on our lawn even, and whenever he went out on some kind of trip, I was always bugging one servant or other to teach me. I managed to get a solid grounding in it from that. All of that said, what are your plans for the rest of today, Mira? Asked Cana."

"I was hoping to stick with you, but what comes next is kind of private..." Explained Mirajane.

"Well, wherever you were hoping to take me, lead the way." Agreed Cana, a little bit excited to hear exactly what this secretive matter was.

"Sure, I was planning to go to that strange little secluded beach by the lake I mentioned finding last year." Said Mirajane, an ever more hopeful look in her eyes.

"Well lead the way!" Agreed Cana.

The beach itself proved nice enough, it was far from the clamor of the city and gave a good look at the less-than-welcoming yet beautiful lake that stood before them. It may have lacked amenities such as places to sit, but that seemed trivial as both women had little to think about apart from their growing feelings for each other.

"So Cana..." Began Mirajane, clutching the flowers tightly.

"Yes, what were you hoping to talk about?" Asked Cana.

"Well, I kind of realized something important about me-you-us..." Mirajane continued, struggling for the words.

"Go on..." Muttered Cana, hopeful but hardly believing that the target of her affections was confessing her own feelings.

"Well I really wanted to give these to you, because-" Mirajane stuttered as she offered Cana the violets.

"Because?" Asked Cana, expectant.

"Becasue I like you much more than a friend!" Declared Mirajane, who then awkwardly hid her head, and wishing herself far away from that beach.

"Well, you aren't alone." Promised Cana, as she tugged on Mirajane's frock, coaxing her closer, and planting a passionate kiss on the other woman's lips.

"You-you feel the same way?" Asked Mirajane.

"No, I'm just investigating this mysterious feeling called love for my home planet-of course I feel the same way!" Laughed Cana.

"There's the sarcasm I know and love..." Sighed Mirajane, giving Cana a kiss back.

"Oh, by the way, I wanted to ask you something." Said Cana, with an earnest smile.

"Shoot."

"Well given that the Columbian exposition opens in a month, and I thought to ask someone to see it with me, would you go with me?"

"Of course!" Said Mirajane, pulling Cana into another kiss.

One month later...

Mirajane walked into her room to find it empty, which was odd, because Cana was usually present there around the same time, and doubly so given that this was the night of their date. Searching Cana's side of the room, she found a note with Cana's handwriting. It read 'meet me 3 blocks west of here, I have a plan.' Mirajane broke out into a huge smile; loving the eccentricity that was embodied in Cana Alberona.

"So, what's the big plan?" Asked Mirajane, noting Cana leaning on a building. She was wearing a darker green shirt and jeans, and was smoking a cigarette.

"What, no comment on how 'unladylike' I look?" Asked Cana, with a big grin.

"Well, I've learned a thing or two over time, but shouldn't you be dressed nicer?" Asked Mirajane.

"Except that the plan is kind of to sneak in... I should have told you that..." Muttered Cana.

"We have allowances, why can't we just pay admission?" Asked Mirajane, bewildered at Cana's suggestion.

"Ah, but which will you remember more?"

Mirajane thought for a second; She guessed Cana had a point; it'd be infinitely more of a story to say they sneaked into the fair than just to say that they attended... "All right, fair enough, but can I at least get some clothes I'm not worried about damaging first?"

"Sure, I'll still be here." Agreed Cana, finishing the cigarette and stamping the ashes out underfoot.

"Now, how do we get in again?" Asked Mirajane, as Cana steered her away from the gates of the fair.

"Well, we need to climb over the fence into the white city, that'll be that.

"But there are people all over the place, unless we can find a raft and come in from the lake, we'd be noticed..." Sighed Mirajane.

"Well one of us can spot for the other or something..." Mused Cana.

"Because that won't be suspicious at all..." Laughed Mirajane.

"Hey! Rampant sarcasm is my job." Countered Cana, kissing Mirajane's cheek.

"Well, it's either a raft or we pay admission." Sighed Mirajane.

"Fine, admission it is." Agreed Cana, as she produced two quarters from her pocket.

"I'll pay mine." Said Mirajane, prompting Cana to put one of the quarters back in her pocket.

"Look at this Mira!" Declared Cana, motioning her lover to the massive mammoth on display compared to the size of an octopus. "These furry lunks used to roam North America it says here."

"I know that!" Declared Mirajane, slightly annoyed by Cana's condescension.

"All of these female artists; it's nice to see women getting a voice in this exposition." Noted Mirajane, admiring the paintings on the wall.

"I like this painting, kind of reminds me of the crazy dresses you like." Laughed Cana, pointing to a painting that fit that description.

"Hey!" Shouted Mirajane, but with a contented smile on her face.

"Well I didn't say crazy was bad..." Cana jokingly amended as Mirajane pulled her to a quiet corner for a kiss.

"Well, that was quite a display." Noted Cana, admiring the cannons on display, hoping that she'd get to see one fire.

"How about we find something to eat?" Suggested Mirajane, suddenly finding herself quite hungry.

"Oh, sure." Agreed Cana as they found a stand and a table.

"Damn..." Muttered Cana.

"What?" Asked Mirajane, suddenly worried about Cana's sudden drop in mood.

"We only have 50 cents left, and I wanted to close out tonight with a ride on that big ol' wheel, a Ferris Wheel I think they're calling it..." Explained Cana. "It'd be a dollar for both of us; that's why I tried to sneak in."

"Well, let me see here, I have... 25 cents..." Sighed Mirajane.

"Well, we could sneak onto the wheel." Joked Cana.

"I think that'll be even harder to accomplish..." Laughed Mirajane.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help but overhear..." Muttered a voice belonging to a middle aged woman with red hair, who was accompanied by another woman of around the same age with blonde hair. "The two of you want to ride the Ferris Wheel?"

"Um-yes." Said Mirajane.

"Well then, here's that dollar you need." Offered the woman, giving them a dollar bill.

"Actually, we only needed 25 cents." Explained Mirajane.

"Oh, don't worry, spend the extra on something to remember this day by, and the two of you are a fantastic couple, I can tell."

"We're not-" Began Cana.

"Oh don't be shy, my wife and I can tell when women like you are in love." Insisted the redhead's companion.

"Thank you..." Began Cana.

"Erza Scarlet." Said the redhead, as she and her wife walked off.

"Well, that was nice of them." Noted Mirajane as she and Cana cleared off their table and left for that massive wheel.

The ride on the ferris wheel was a rousing success, Cana and Mirajane talked endlessly of the fair and of life, enjoyed the view from that high loft, and shared kiss after kiss, as they were now in private. It was the most wonderful part of that fair, and both were sad when the wheel descended and they disembarked.

"Well, I suppose we ought to leave now, it's closing up for the day." Noted Mirajane.

"What choice do we have?" Cana agreed, wistfully, as the two walked out of the square and toward the gate.

"Now, where does this leave us?" Asked Mirajane, as she and Cana huddled together in the latter's bed, as they had started doing about two weeks ago as they had grown closer together. It was fortunate that no one woke the students up in the morning and thus none saw them.

"Well, if we want any chance together, we need to leave here, probably soon." Mused Cana.

"All right, but what of the public, and what of money?" Asked Mirajane.

"Well, I think I have an idea for money; I know how to run a business, and I'm utterly positive that rubber will be worth millions as time goes on. I can sell rubber supplies to clothing companies, but also the military and to carriage manufacturers; I'm certain that rubber will be incorporated into wheels for the last two, the elasticity of rubber when mixed with sulfur would be ideal." Explained Cana.

"Well then what shall I do? I found out long ago that housewife was not my profession." Continued Mirajane.

"Well there's nothing stopping you from learning the ropes and taking a role in the business." Offered Cana. "Try that for awhile, see where it leads."

"That all sounds wonderful, but what of our relationship?" Asked Mirajane. "Surely we can't openly declare ourselves in love."

"Well we may not be able to go that far, but I know that there is a method to declare yourself living with another woman, so long as we push the details to the side." Noted Cana.

"Really, I had no idea..." Muttered Mirajane.

"You really were sheltered growing up." Laughed Cana, kissing Mirajane good night, and switching off the room's lamp.

A/N: I do hope this was worth the entirely too long wait. I'm sorry that I couldn't work Gray in this chapter, but I promise to figure him out in the next one... I also hope that this chapter wasn't too similar to the last. It had a similar arc to it, but the development and events were hopefully different enough to set this apart. If indeed it was too similar, say so and I'll try to avoid this pitfall in the future. In any event, I hope you enjoyed.