An early christmas gift to everyone.. Happy Holidays! I'd probably be updating before the year ends. Hope you enjoy the chapter~.

Chapter II – Warnings of Time

During breakfast they got to know Shizuru better. They found out that both her parents were doctors. Her father was in the military while her mother worked in a hospital in Kyoto. She also plans on continuing her studies to become a doctor like her parents.

Natsuki, who was usually not mindful, listened in attentively as Shizuru talked. She was curious about the other woman. 'I wonder if she's still single. Considering her looks, I doubt it.' She shook her head as she tried to dismiss the thought. 'No thoughts on this Natsuki, you have to keep your head straight.'

"Is there something wrong Natsuki?" Setsuna, who was beside her, saw her shaking her head.

Natsuki shook her head. "Nothing, I was just thinking."

"What is it?" Being the best of friends Natsuki and Setsuna usually confide with each other. When one has a problem the other one is there to help.

"What do you think of Shizuru?"Whispered Natsuki in a hushed voice. Her question made Setsuna's face bore another frown.

"Do you like her or something Natsuki?" Setsuna answered with another question levelling Natsuki's almost inaudible voice. Getting no response from the other, she told her what happened earlier.

-

Setsuna was walking towards the infirmary to fetch Konoka for breakfast. Upon arrival she instantly saw a tawny haired nurse talking to Konoka. At first, she wasn't really paying attention to the two as she approached them but as soon as she caught a glimpse of the blush that came up her best friend's cheek as the light brown haired woman said something to the brown haired one. Her eyebrows scrunched together and her lips formed a frown.

"Ehem," Setsuna faked a cough.

"Oh, Secchan, you're here!" Konoka faced her best friend and tackled her in a hug. Setsuna glanced at the other girl.

"By the way, Secchan this is Shizuru, Shizuru this is Secchan," the brown haired woman introduced as she detatched herself from the soldier.

Shizuru held out a hand. "Pleasure to meet you Secchan," voice all flirty.

Setsuna took it. "It's Setsuna, Shizuru-san," her eyes meeting the latter.

"Setsuna-san it is," Shizuru said knowing the look that Setsuna gave her. 'I guess these two have something working out between them.'

-

"So basically, you don't like her," Natsuki started. "And judging from your story, Setsuna, I have a question."

"What?"

"Do you like Konoka in that way?" Setsuna blushed answering Natsuki's curiosity.

"Hey, I don't care if you like Viola, you can have her all you want." Setsuna tried to change the topic.

"Hey what're you saying?" Natsuki defended.

"Isn't that why you're asking me what I thought of her?" Now, Natsuki's silence answered the question.

"I have nothing against her Natsuki, I think she's a pretty good person despite her... flirtatious personality," Setsuna spoke once more in a more serious tone. "If you do plan to go after her, please see to it that she won't flirt with Konoka again." Now this made Natsuki smirk.

"So you do like her."

-----

"It was nice to know you Shizuru and as much as we want to get to know you better, we probably need to go back to our duties," Mai said mindful of the time. "We still need to go to the barracks." One by one the others started to stand up.

"I understand, we do have responsibilities to do," Shizuru said as she too stood up. "It was nice meeting all of you," she bowed.

"See you later guys," Nao waved a hand before leaving.

"We're leaving," Haruka announced as Yukino bowed towards them before leaving.

"Goodbye everyone, I still need to tour Shizuru around the base," Konoka said. "See you later Secchan." Konoka then approached the said girl and kissed her on the cheek.

Setsuna blushed.

Natsuki smirked.

Mikoto burped.

Mai smiled.

Shizuru 'Ara'd.

-----

After breakfast they Natsuki, Mai, Mikoto and Setsuna headed towards the barracks for training. They needed to get supplies for the bomb throwing lesson for the day. They were assigned to teach the platoon assigned to Natsuki.

"Shizuru's pretty nice don't you think," Mai spoke up planning to start a conversation while observing Natsuki's reaction. They were gathering up the needed amount of bombs for the training. The said person who was busy looking over the types suddenly lightened up obviously caught by Mai's statement.

"Yeah, I think she's nice too, and very beautiful," Mikoto who stacked the picked bombs into place suddenly added bringing more into the topic. Now this spiked up even Setsuna's attention who was helping Mikoto organize the stack.

"I agree, so what do you think Natsuki?" Obviously Setsuna caught up with Mai's intention of squeezing out information from Natsuki.

Natsuki obviously blushed.

'Suspicions confirmed.' Mai thought grinning.

"W-well, she's nice," said Natsuki obviously caught unaware by the question.

'Well this is a first, Natsuki's stuttering!' Well if Mai's grin couldn't be even more mischievous this did the trick.

"Don't you think she's hot too?" now Mai was pulling the strings.

"She's cute," was all Natsuki could say.

"Come on, it's totally obvious that she's more than that, I mean, that's all you can say?" Setsuna butted in.

"Okay okay, she's hot," this time Natsuki gained more confidence. "Hey! I thought you didn't like her!" Natsuki accused Setsuna realizing what the latter said.

"I said I have nothing against her, besides you're stalling from the topic," Setsuna defended herself.

"Natsuki," Mikoto surprisingly joined in the conversation getting the trio's attention.

"You like Shizuru, don't you?" asked Mikoto.

"Well –" before Natsuki could speak, Mikoto cut her.

"It's just a yes or no, Natsuki," Mikoto seemed serious this time.

"Yes," Natsuki said after a moment somewhat threatened by Mikoto's tone. " Somehow, yes."

"Then I think that resolves the issue," Mikoto said finally returning to her happy-go-lucky self. "Right Mai?"

Mai smiled at Mikoto. "Right."

Natsuki looked at Setsuna who was smirking at her. "What do –" she was again cut off but Mai who placed the last box of bombs in the stack.

"Let's go, the soldiers are waiting."

-----

"So, this is the main building," Konoka said as they walked through the halls of the said building. "This is where all the paper works are done."

Shizuru listened in tentatively as Konoka spoke and pointed to the various structures and buildings that they passed. Her mind was drifting off to the blue haired soldier she met earlier.

-

"Nice to meet you, and as Konoka-chan said, my name is Shizuru Viola," she introduced herself.

"Hi I'm Mai," the orange haired soldier waved.

"I'm Mikoto," the black haired girl beside Mai said.

"And I'm Nao," being the nearest to Shizuru she extended out a hand which the nurse took.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Shizuru said.

"As you already know, I'm Yukino," said the dark brown haired woman who was on the other side of the table. "And this is Haruka." The blonde snorted.

Shizuru then looked at the blue haired soldier who was sitting the farthest from her. Apparently the said soldier was too preoccupied staring at her to notice that everyone was expecting her to introduce herself to the new comer. A quick eye contact and a raise of a brow from Shizuru, Natsuki was brought back to reality.

"Oh!" Said a now blushing girl. "I'm Natsuki."

'Ara, she's cute.'

-

There really weren't many places in the base since it's the training grounds too. The buildings and infrastructures were just about 20 percent of the whole area. The rest were just plain land for training.

"And lastly, the barracks," Konoka said as they reached many one floored house-like infrastructures that were lined up. "This is where the artillery is kept." They walked in between the barracks passing each barrack that held signs that told the people what was inside it.

'I wonder if she's here.' Shizuru looked around seeing soldiers passing by. She usually wasn't this aggravated to see someone every moment of the day. Heck, she didn't even bother to know the people she flirted with. She usually flirts with them then leaves them without a care. Well, except for those whom she become friends with.

"Shizuru!" A soldier shouted from a distance. He had short black hair and was currently walking towards the nurses.

"Itai!!!!" A shout was head from the distance. They turned their attention towards the noise and saw Mai, Mikoto, Natsuki and Setsuna. One of them, namely Natsuki, was on the ground clutching her foot a couple of boxes scattered around her. The other three were still carrying their load and was frantically asking if the former girl was alright. They quickly went towards the four.

-----

And that's the second chapter. Reviews are appreciated .

-127

A short Omake:

Natsuki clutching her foot in pain: Shizuru!! Shizuru!! My Foot!! My Foot!!

Shizuru running towards Natsuki in slow motion: Dooonn'tt woorryy mmyy Naaatsssuuukkii Iii wiiiillll tttaaakkke cccaaarrree oooofff yyooouu.

By the time Shizuru got there Natsuki already fainted from the pain.

Shizuru: Ara...