I: ADAGIO

Hikari was in the library, seated in a chair that she suspected was designed to be so uncomfortable that anyone seated in it could do nothing but focus on his or her own studies. She stared hard at the math homework in front of her. Algebra was definitely not her strong suit. I bet a princess doesn't have to know this. She laughed softly. She'd always wanted to be a princess since she was little, ever since she had that dream (was it a dream?) that a prince rescued her from...well, she didn't remember. It was a pleasant dream, Hikari recalled, even if she didn't remember all the details. She sighed, then went back to the math problem.

"That should be easy for you," purred a deep voice from behind her. Hikari jumped, startled by the sudden interruption of the complete silence the library offered, and turned around. Akio was standing right behind her. Hikari blushed. She had not expected the attractive older man to come to the library, and she had certainly not expected him to speak to her. How long was he watching me, anyway?

"To be honest, I'm having a little trouble with this one, Mr. Chairman..." Hikari said, slowly. Was this some kind of trap? Was he trying to catch her failing at math so he could send her home? He didn't seem the type to do that, but then, people weren't always what they seemed. She looked at Akio nervously, taking in his appearance. His lavender colored hair, pulled back into a neat ponytail, contrasted sharply with his dark skin and red button-down shirt. She noticed he had an ear pierced. That, and the long hair, would not have flown at her old school. Akio would never had gotten his position there. But, then, Ohtori Academy was fairly progressive...

"Let me see," Akio said quietly, leaning in over her. Hikari inhaled sharply as he easily bent over her and looked at the problem. He was very close, closer to her than he ought to have been. Hikari was aware that he smelled faintly of roses.

"This is a hard one," Akio said after a moment, "But...I think I know how to solve it. Watch me."

He casually took the pencil from Hikari's hand and showed her each step of the problem. After he finished, he handed her the pencil and stood up straight. Hikari finally exhaled.

"Try the next one."

Hikari put the pencil to the paper and followed the steps Akio showed her.

"Very good," Akio said, checking the work, "That's exactly right."

"Thank you for showing me, Mr. Chairman!"

"You're very welcome, Miss Hanamiya." Akio sounded pleased. "Now, you're doing very well in every class except this one, right?"

Hikari nodded.

"You know if you fail your math class, your GPA will be too low for you to stay here..." Akio paused and looked thoughtful. "You have a test in two weeks, don't you? For the half-term?"

Hikari nodded again.

"Study hard, Miss Hanamiya. I think you can pass that test, and if you pass the test, you'll pass the class." Then, without saying another word, Akio smiled, turned, and left the library, leaving Hikari alone.

He makes me so nervous...


If the chick does not break through its shell, it will die without ever being born...we are the chick, and the world is our shell...

Tomoyo Kurosawa ran her fingers through her long, curly blonde hair and looked at her fellow Student Council members. There was the secretary, Kaori Saito, seated across from her, casually filing her nails while she waited for Tomoyo to speak. Her turquoise hair was neatly pulled back into a bun.

To her right,Vice President Kazuaki Watanabe sat quietly, occasionally brushing some stray hairs out of his eyes. Sakura thought that while his hair was a lovely shade of mahogany, it was much too long.

To Sakura's left sat treasurer Seiya Kiryuu. This boy was a legacy. Apparently, his father had attended Ohtori over twenty years ago, making it very easy for the boy to both get into Ohtori and onto the Student Council. He looked very much like his father, with his chin-length red hair and clear blue eyes, Sakura thought, but he clearly got his personality from his mother, whoever that was. Seiya was very shy and introverted, a far cry from the outgoing playboy his father had been.

Standing behind Sakura was a quiet girl with very light grayish-pink hair that was done up in an elaborate braided bun. She wore glasses but they didn't detract from the intensity of her blue eyes. This girl was in the usual Ohtori uniform rather than the Student Council uniforms. Her uniform consisted of a gray plaid skirt, a brown cardigan, a white, long-sleeved button-down shirt with a red plaid bow tie in place of the old scarves, navy socks, and black shoes.

Both sets of uniforms had changed over the years. The Student Council all had uniforms that were based on what the French Aristocracy was wearing in the late 1600's. There were variations between the male and female uniforms, with the female uniforms consisting of high-collared shirts, jackets, breeches, knee-high heeled boots, and cravats held in place with jeweled brooches. The men's uniforms consisted of a high-collared shirt, a surcoat, breeches, and knee-high boots. Each member of the Student Council wore a different color, as they always had. Tomoyo's uniform, for instance, had a white shirt and cravat, while her coat and breeches were red brocade and accented with brown leather. Her boots were also brown leather.

Tomoyo finally spoke.

"You all have your letters?"

Kaori spoke up. "I received mine this morning."

Seiya nodded.

"I got mine this morning, too," said Kazuaki.

"As did I," Tomoyo said. "And your instructions?"

"I did not get any instructions this month," Kaori said, "But I did get the duel schedule."

"I received no instructions," Kazuaki said. He sounded...relieved.

"And, what of your instructions, Seiya?" Tomoyo asked.

"Carried out," the young man affirmed.

Tomoyo seemed satisfied, and turned to Kaori. "The schedule." It was not a request. Kaori reached into her uniform pocket and handed it to Tomoyo without saying a word. Tomoyo looked at it for a moment, and shook her head.

"It says that the next duel is due in two weeks. It will be between myself and..." Tomoyo paused for a moment, and laughed. "The End of the World has left this schedule blank. The next duel will be between myself...and no one!"

Still laughing, Tomoyo adjourned the meeting, and, taking the pink-haired girl's hand, she left the Student Council Chamber.

Clearly, the End of the World has decided that I am, and will continue to be, the Victor. After all, I've kept the Rose Bride since school began, haven't I?

She tightened her grip on the other girl's hand.

The Revolution will be mine.