"Hey Setsuna, aren't you going to come eat? Konoka's going to be there."

"You know there's this really great spot in the forest you can go. It's really nice, peaceful...perfect for two people to have fun. If you know what I mean."

"So what did she taste like?"

"Let me know when your wedding is. I'll bring the champagne!"

"I heard you guys were like, completely naked!"

That last one had been from Makie, who had been completely innocent when speaking to her. And curious, way too curious. It'd been three days since Haruna had blurted out to Setsuna about the kiss. Which meant, as usual, everyone knew about the kiss and rumours were piling up like the underwear that Setsuna was supposed to have cleaned up. They'd been destroyed along with the robots. Setsuna had no plans to tell Al or Nekane exactly what had happened when they came back which would probably be in a couple of days. Usually they came back before Setsuna opened the palace to the public. That meant the others would be too busy to make fun of her. Setsuna avoided Konoka at all costs. Haruna kept on trying to catch them in suspicious situations or match-make them. Now, two days later as Setsuna perched on top of one of the gargoyles on one of the ledges, over-looking the sprawling city that lay beyond the palace and gathering what little sanity she had left, she wondered if she would have been better off dying back at the tribe. Setsuna stretched her wings, feeling the moonlight bath it in an ethereal glow and sighed, reveling in the glow as it shone over her entire body. It was sensation that she loved. Not only did the moonlight feel cooling but it strengthened her. She had no idea why. Setsuna glanced down, catching a silver of movement in her eyes. The twins were moving across the lawn like quicksilver, giggling to themselves. As they moved, the moonlight dappled their forms in eerie white. Setsuna had learnt a long time ago to ignore them and let them have their fun. It was more trouble than it was worth getting involved.

A white figure strode out of the woods, arms folded back over its head. Setsuna tilted her head, gripping the statue with her feet and leaned forwards. It was Jack. He was whistling. Setsuna watched him like an eagle, wings arching inwards and outer feathers tipped. Setsuna held the eagle's head with her hands. He didn't seem like he was doing anything suspicious. Then again, with Jack she couldn't really tell half the time. Jack looked up at the sky as a massive shadow glided across it, highlighted against the backdrop of the moon. Icarus. He wheeled around, angling his wings and veered to the right making a smooth, effortless 180 degree turn and glided down to land on one of the ledges above Setsuna. Jack's eyes fell on Setsuna. Icarus settled down, beak clacking and twisted his head over his shoulder, preening his feathers in slow, precise motions.

Hey Setsuna. Icarus said in her head.

What happened to master?

Lady Konoka told me to stop calling you that because she said it made you feel bad. Icarus said.

Setsuna looked at him, surprised.

Icarus stopped moving his head, his eyes flicking to Setsuna. The angle of his head made it look like he was grinning even though griffons couldn't grin. Yeah, I was weirded out too but she's like that. Y'know, the caring type that's always sunshine and rainbows. She pays a lot of attention to other people's feelings.

"Oi Setsuna!" Jack boomed. "Come down here I got a message from your little missus!"

Setsuna snapped around, spluttering. Little missus?! Icarus let out a shrill caw, snickering in Setsuna's head. Setsuna shot him a death glare. He continued preening, oblivious. Mumbling to herself, Setsuna glided down from the eagle landing with the lightest of touches in front of Jack.

"She said she's going to do the show once every week," Jack said.

"What?" Setsuna said blankly. "But I just...the robots...really?"

Setsuna tried to stop the image of a pile of lingerie flashing in her mind. Then an image of the robots parading around with lingerie on their heads and flashing each other surfaced. Setsuna's eye twitched. She turned around, covering her mouth. Coughing she turned back around to face Jack who was watching her, amused.

"I'll talk to Ayaka about it," Setsuna said. "She's the one who's in charge of the opening."

Jack just grinned, showing razor sharp white teeth that gleamed deviously in the moonlight. "She said yes."

"What? When?" Setsuna said, suspicious.

"Dinner," Jack said. He shrugged, "You would've known if you'd been there but hey, you were all by yourself up in your lonesome the entire day so ya missed it."

Setsuna just snorted.

"So why don't you try to date her or something? Maybe you just like the way she looks."

"You know why Jack."

"The spell right? Listen just because you like her it doesn't mean you gotta be with her for the rest of your life!" Jack laughed.

"Well-"

"It's a little old tiny crush ain't it?" Jack chuckled. "Come on, you need some fun. Loosen up a little huh? Konoka's a fun girl."

"I'll pretend you didn't say that.." Setsuna frowned at him.

There was a whistling noise. Setsuna caught the arrow with a hand, crushing it into powder with a splintering crunch of wood. Jack glanced sideways as they both heard Haruna yelp in panic from all the way on the roof-top of the palace where she was hiding. Setsuna followed his gaze, spotting two green tips of antennae hair sticking up from the edges of the roof. A white wing was sticking up beside it along with the tip of a quiver.

"Go back to sleep Haruna!" Setsuna yelled.

The hair disappeared behind the edge of the roof. She heard Haruna whispering, "Next time Cupid. We gotta retreat...for now."

Setsuna glowered in the general direction of where she thought Haruna was sullenly. Her fingers twitched. Would it be so bad if Setsuna strangled her? They had all the props after all. And they could find another bard. There were plenty of bards in this world.

"Okay so why don't you just tell her?" Jack chuckled, eyes gleaming.

"There's no reason," Setsuna muttered. "She likes me as a friend."

"Really?"

"Yes and I..."

"So you do just love the way she looks?"

"...I do not."

"So you like the way she kisses?"

"I-that-that was...I was drunk!"

"Oh so it's her personality huh?"

"No I...don't twist my words. What were you doing out here anyway in the first place?"

"Nothing," Jack started to turn. "One more thing...I saw her walking into the forest not too long ago. You might want to make sure she doesn't hurt herself because of you know who."

As Setsuna whipped back to Jack, he disappeared his laughter echoing in her ear. Setsuna bolted into the woods, cursing in her head. Why had she not told Konoka not to go into the forest at night? Damn that Jack! Why hadn't he said anything to Konoka? He had been there!

"Konoka!" Setsuna called. "Konoka!"

Setsuna was going deeper and deeper. She could tell because the foliage was getting thicker and thicker. Setsuna had to tread carefully to avoid overhanging branches or upended tree roots. The canopy was thick, barely letting any moonlight through. It was good thing Setsuna could see in the dark. She wondered how far Konoka had gone. The forest stretched out all the way back out towards the edge of the territory where the wilderness was. Wilderness being mountains and rocky terrain where the river flowed, winding down the land through the forest and into the city that was further down from the palace. Setsuna didn't want to think about the mountains. That was where her former tribe was. She hadn't been back there for over a decade, not since exile. Just thinking about it brought back too many painful memories. Setsuna pushed aside some leaves, stepping through a clump of bushes and called again. Hoot hoot. An owl answered her this time. Setsuna looked at it darkly. It was a common barn owl with massive golden eyes ringed by tawny brown feathers. Its feathers seemed to stick out above its eyes, giving it a sleepy-eyed look. Smudges of darker brown around its beak gave it an impression that it was smiling idly. What a strange owl, Setsuna thought. Setsuna continued on her way, calling for Konoka.

Her feet brushed something smooth and papery. Setsuna looked down. Two paper lanterns were sitting on the ground, tied to the trunk of a nearby tree with white string. They both had lit candles inside them at the center, emitting a fiery glow. At first Setsuna didn't think anything of them but she then saw that they looked like her and Konoka. They were Setsuna and Konoka. And their names were written across the top in black ink with messy hand-writing. What the...? Setsuna felt an uneasy tingle skitter down her spine. This looked like the work of the twins. It'd explain why they were in the forest at this time of the night. Setsuna knelt down, untying the string and blew out the candles. She'd talk to them later. She noticed something near the lanterns, a small golden bell that was bent and dented. She bent down to pick it up. There was a whooshing noise. Leaves whirled around her in a tornado, startling her and obscuring her view. She stepped backwards on something hard and rough. Rope.

Setsuna was hoisted up into the air by a net. She struggled but the more she did the more the net closed in around her, pressing her limbs together so that she couldn't move. Pretty soon, the rope was literally flattening her face. She could still move her hand which meant rune. Setsuna began to draw the rune spell for teleportation. Glimmering symbols of blue appeared in the air. White light surrounded Setsuna then disappeared without her. The runes faded. Nothing. Fumika and Fuuka. It had to be those two. No one else would play a prank so childish and simple. It explained why they were out in the forest. Setsuna was going to kill those two. She heard rustling. Someone stumbled out of the foliage. Fumika? Fuuka? No one else was that short.

"Fumika!" Setsuna roared. "Fuuka! I swear if you two don't get me down from here I'll...!"

She trailed off as the figure let out a frightened eep and hid behind a thick, slightly deformed tree. The person peered out from behind the tree. Setsuna was shocked. That was definitely Konoka. She had the same loving brown eyes and dark brown hair and heart-stopping smile and clothes. Except Konoka seemed to have shrunk down to the size of a 10 year old. But that was her. It couldn't be anyone else unless Yuuna was playing a prank on her.

"You-You scared me." Konoka stifled a yawn, blinking up at Setsuna owlishly and leaned against the tree. She asked, "You're Secchan right?"

Setsuna stopped struggling and stared at her, speechless.

Konoka smiled up at Setsuna through a curtain of tangled hair, "So you can tell me where Konoka is."

At first Setsuna thought Konoka was joking then realization dawned on her. A clone, this had to be another clone.

"What...who are you?" Setsuna asked.

"Konoka" looked confused. Then she said, "Romi."

"You're one of her clones aren't you?"

Romi nodded. Setsuna mentally slapped herself. Out of all her luck...

"So can you help me get down from here? I can't help you find Konoka if you don't," Setsuna said, plastering a friendly smile over her face.

Romi's expression grew thoughtful. Then she asked, "How?"

Setsuna pointed to the bell. "See that? Break it anyway you can."

Romi bent down, picking up the bell slowly. Setsuna watched her, wondering if she even had enough strength. It turned out she did. She smashed it against the tree reducing it to fragments which dissolved into golden mist that dissapated into the air. The net suddenly vanished and Setsuna plummeted to the ground, crying out. Setsuna sat up, groaning. Her tail-bone hurt and she didn't even have a tail-bone. Romi was swaying on her feet.

"Can I sleep now?" Romi mumbled.

Setsuna glanced up at her, frowning slightly. Before she could say anything Romi toppled over falling into Setsuna's arms. Setsuna jerked, surprised.

"Hey," Setsuna shook her. "Hey what are you doing? Wake up this isn't the time to sleep!"

Romi just snuggled deeper, sighing contently. Setsuna tried to wake her but gave up immediately after Romi's grip tightened on her arm, threatening to cut off her blood circulation. She stood up, carrying the clone in her arms and poked a toe underneath the bottom of the paper lantern, throwing it up into the air expertly. Setsuna caught the string with her fingers, holding it tightly. She did the same with the other lantern.

"Why couldn't you have at least told me where you came from?" Setsuna mumbled as Romi sighed against her.

By the time Setsuna found Konoka the moon had waned, leaving very little moonlight shining through the gaps in the canopy. The foliage had also grown thicker. Konoka was in a patch of open space where the trees were sparse and more spread out. She was lying curled up against the base of a tree, face nestled in her arms and a peaceful, serene expression on her face. Patches of moonlight adorned her in an ethereal, silvery blanket. Setsuna faltered, breathing a sigh of relief. She was okay. Setsuna knelt down, putting Romi gently on the ground and touched Konoka's shoulder.

Konoka stirred, eyes opening sleepily and murmured, "Se...cchan? What are you doing here?"

"I came to get you," Setsuna said. "It's dangerous out here."

Konoka stretched, arching her back so much that her clothes rode up her upper body. How come Setsuna had never noticed how slim and curved her legs were? The way her hair streamed down the back of her neck in long, chocolate curls and the smooth curve of her back? Setsuna shook her head, dropping her eyes as Konoka glanced at her. When Setsuna dared to look again Konoka was smiling at her. She stood up, walking past Setsuna. Moonlight rippled over her and Setsuna thought just for a second that she'd seen an angel. Konoka bent down, picking a sleeping Romi up.

"Thank goodness she didn't get hurt," Konoka sighed. "You found her didn't you?"

Setsuna glanced at the paper lanterns and muttered, "She found me."

Konoka giggled. Seeing Setsuna's expression she laughed, "It wasn't that bad was it? Romi's easy to get along with."

Setsuna held up the lanterns and said, "Twins, trap and I had to carry her. What kind of clone is she anyway? She can't even stay awake."

Konoka made a sympathetic face. She said, "Uh...well she comes out when I feel really, really sleepy."

Konoka hugged Romi close to her. Romi buried her face into Konoka's chest, fingers gripping her sleeves tightly. There was a blinding flash of white light. When it was gone Romi was gone. Konoka turned to Setsuna.

"She's back inside me now," Konoka said. "Just like with Rose."

Setsuna looked around apprehensively. A paranoid part of her thought what if Rose was out as well? When she saw that it was clear she asked, "What were you doing out here anyway? I thought you were asleep. And what's this about performing every week?"

"Oh well the crowd liked what I was doing and I thought it would help you guys earn more money," Konoka said. "You should have seen how much we got Secchan. Hharuna was saying she could buy five cruise ships. As for what I was doing...uh, well I wanted to give you something. As a sign of our friendship."

Setsuna had forgotten about the money. Konoka's words made her heart jump. How could she trust Haruna with the money? Usually Nekane took care of that. Setsuna took Konoka's hand and tugged her, then stopped as the former planted her feet in the ground pulling Setsuna back firmly but gently.

"It's okay. Nodoka and Yue kept the money away from Haruna," Konoka said.

Setsuna looked at her, surprised. "How did you what I was thinking?"

"Nodoka told me about how much Haruna likes to spend," Konoka smiled at her.

"...Oh."

"Now stay still," Konoka said. "I told you I wanted to give you something."

Konoka bent over, picking up what looked like a three threads made out of white silk. Konoka wrote some runes into the outermost thread. Runes for making an inanimate object into metal. The runes glowed red then sank into the threads. They all melded together, making a white metal bracelet. Konoka slipped it onto Setsuna's wrist affectionately. A rose petal formed on the centre, locking the bands together. Setsuna felt something clench around her heart as her fingers brushed against Setsuna's skin. That was weird.

"It's a sign of our friendship. I..." Konoka paused, wringing her hands together. "I wanted to thank you properly for saving me when we first met."

"You kind of already have," Setsuna said.

Konoka looked happy. Her eyes were smiling. As she hugged Setsuna, she caught the scent of her hair. It smelt like chocolate and freshly picked strawberries. Setsuna sighed contently. Konoka's hair felt so smooth. It was like silk.

"Let's stay here for the night," Konoka said brightly. "This place is full of magic. It's beautiful."

You're beautiful. Setsuna wanted to say but caught herself just in time. She hesitated but when Konoka looked at her with those eyes she found herself saying okay and the next minute she was sitting down with Konoka at the base of the tree, fingers entwined with Konoka's head resting on her shoulder. Setsuna could feel her heartbeat. It was going a little faster than normal. Probably what Setsuna's was doing too. She remembered what Konoka had said. That she was attracted to her but that was it. Friends? Yes, Setsuna could do that but right now, doused in a column of moonlight that peeked through the canopy of the forest she was so beautiful especially with the way she looked now. It took all of Setsuna's self-control not to do anything. Setsuna's hair was snow white. Her eyes were blue. She knew because that only happened when the moonlight was shining on her making her feel stronger and energized in a kind of peaceful, serene way.

"So why were you hesitating?" Konoka asked.

Setsuna looked into Konoka's dark brown eyes. They were gazing at her curiously, innocently.

"There's a...person that's trapped deep in the heart of the forest in a theatre mask. She lived here with us decades ago when the palace was a mental asylum. Her name is Evangeline A.K McDowell. She's a sorceress...and a vampire."

A.N: Breather chapter. Big reveal coming in...well, soon. Why can't Setsuna love? You'll know soon enough ;0. And keep a lookout for our favourite vampire because she's coming and boy, is she going to make it hell for Setsuna.

KeeperAki: Full demon in this story remember ;D.

Lance: Setsuna is attracted to Konoka. She has an infatuation but she cannot love because of one reason that will be revealed later. She can lust but she cannot love. Konoka can love anyone she wishes to love but she doesn't love Setsuna right now. She is attracted to Setsuna as well but is not willing to go any further because it's not in her best interests and will compromise her safety. She flirts with people she likes and right now it's Setsuna but that's all it is, a game. Lust/Infatuation and love are two different things. Lust=physical attraction. Love=loving a person for not just how they look but for the person they are. Right now Setsuna and Konoka are infatuated with one another. Maybe they'll fall in love later on :P. That's all I'm going to say ;].

lugubriouslytumultuous: Welcome! Hope you enjoy the ride. And thank you so much for your compliments. Hopefully I can continue to immerse you in this world and flesh out these characters as the story demands :D.

NegimaFan: Correct on all accounts but the fates may have a different plan in mind for our dear Setsuna heh.