Sighing, Miyuki stared at the blank sheet of paper in front of her. She had been trying to write a letter to her parents concerning her arranged marriage for the past two hours. The wastebasket, full of crumpled paper, gave testimony of her failures to express what she wanted to say.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I received your letter with the Engagement- and Wedding-dates and the ring.

I refuse to wear this ring. I will not marry a man I don't even know. And I'm not interested in meeting the man you have picked for me. I met someone, a young woman here at school, and I'm very much in love with her. After graduation, I want to go to college and continue studying and I want a career in business. I'm not interested in being a housewife and I don't want to waste my potential. Ever since starting at Miator, I've been one of the top students in my classes, the only one better than me was and is Shizuma.

I hope very much that you will respect my decisions and wishes.

Sincerely, Miyuki

Miyuki silently read the letter again. Deciding that it wouldn't get better, she slipped it into the waiting envelope, stamped the letter and went to the campus-mailbox so she wouldn't loose her confidence. She walked right on to her physics class, trying not to think about the letter any more.

Three days later, Miyuki, Tamao, Shizuma and Nagisa were sitting in one of the lounges around a low table, playing a silly card game and laughing their heads off. It took them a few moments to notice Chiyo, standing shyly next to their couches.

"Konbanwa Chiyo-chan!" Tamao greeted the young girl.

"Konbanwa Tamao-sama, Shizuma-sama, Miyuki-sama, Nagisa-oneesama." Chiyo almost stumbled over the words, turning slightly red.

"What can we do for you, Chiyo-san?" Shizuma asked.

"The Sister wants to see Miyuki-sama. There is a phone call for her in the Sister's office."

Miyuki's face turned several shades whiter than it normally was as she got up.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Tamao asked quietly.

"No, honey. I have to face this on my own." She turned and left the room.

"Arrigato, Chiyo-san."

When Chiyo and Miyuki had left the room, the three remaining girls looked at one another.

"That must be her parents on the phone," Shizuma voiced the other's thoughts.

"Poor Miyuki-sama." Nagisa sighed.

"I'm really worried about her." Tamao said quietly, concern filling her blue eyes. Nagisa moved to sit next to her best friend, putting her arm around Tamao's shoulders. The girls waited silently for Miyuki's return, each lost in her own thoughts.

After what felt like an eternity, Miyuki returned, her face tear-stained. Tamao jumped up and threw her arms around her girlfriend.

"What happened?" she asked worriedly.

Sighing, Miyuki dropped onto the couch, Tamao firmly in her arms.

"My parents expect me to come home this weekend. They are picking me up on Friday after class. Of course, they refuse to accept what I wrote in the letter." She wiped her eyes. "I really dread this weekend," she whispered.

Tamao hugged her tightly. "I'll think about you the whole time, honey," she murmured.

"We all will be thinking of you." Shizuma added quietly. She took Miyuki's hand.

"Miyuki, you knew it wouldn't be easy," she said.

"I know. And I'll get through it, but now, it's like going through hell." She looked at Tamao. "But you're worth every step of the way, sweetie."

Friday afternoon, Tamao sat on Miyuki's bed, watching the older girl packing her bag. She felt slightly ill. Judging by Miyuki's green-tinged complexion, she felt similar.

"Are you ready to face your parents?" she asked.

"No. But I'll never be, I guess." Miyuki threw a last glance into her bag.

"I think I have packed everything I need." She looked at her watch. "And just in time, too. The car should be here any moment." The student council president sighed.

"I wish I could be there with you."

Miyuki smiled. "You're so sweet. It would be great to have you with me. But it's only two nights, I'll be back Sunday evening."

She walked over to Tamao and kissed her. A knock sounded at the door.

"Miyuki?" Shizuma called.

Miyuki sighed deeply and opened the door.

"The car is here." Shizuma's voice sounded grave.

"That's it, then. Sayonara, Tamao."

"I'll see you Sunday." Tamao answered.

"I'll walk you to the car," Shizuma said quietly.

The two friends moved silently through the building. Only a few feet away from the door, Miyuki stopped.

"I don't want to go, Shizuma." She stated flatly.

"I know. But you'll have to. And I know you can do it," her best friend whispered as she hugged the student council president.

"Arrigato, Shizuma. I'll see you on Sunday." Miyuki sighed, shouldered her bag and walked out the door.

Sunday afternoon found Shizuma, Nagisa and Tamao huddled in Tamao's and Nagisa's room. They had been in this room for most of the weekend, neither Shizuma nor Nagisa wanting to leave Tamao alone with her worries concerning Miyuki and their relationship. They all jumped when a knock sounded.

"Come in!" Nagisa called.

Tsubomi opened the door.

"Konnichiwa," she said, indicating the three girls. "The Sister has a phone call for Tamao-senpai in her office."
"Arrigato, I'll go right away!" Tamao jumped up and hurried out of the room.

After Tsubomi had also left, Nagisa and Shizuma looked at each other.

"Is this good or bad?" Nagisa finally asked.

"I really don't know. If that's Miyuki on the phone, I would say it's bad. Why would Miyuki call if she's coming back tonight? But it could be anybody calling, I guess."

Both girls lapsed into silence until Tamao finally entered the room.

"Tamao-chan! Is everything okay?" Nagisa called.

Tamao slowly walked over to her bed and sat down.

"My parents were on the phone. It seems Miyuki's parents called them. They are not exactly thrilled that I am the cause for Miyuki's refusal to get married to that man. My father yelled at me for about 10 minutes, wondering how in the world I could dare to cross someone as important and influential as Rokujou-shi."

"You know, Romeo and Juliet had it easy, compared to you and Miyuki," Shizuma murmured as she looked out of the window.

That got a laugh out of Tamao.

"Well, after I explained my side of the story to them, they calmed down, but not much. Even if they don't mind me loving another woman and strongly oppose arranged marriages, it was still Miyuki's father calling them and when it comes to business, it's Rokujou-shi's point of view that matters. And he could cause trouble for my family. I don't want to be the cause of that." Her voice trailed off.

"Tamao! Look at me!" At Tamao's words, Shizuma had whipped around and rushed over to the younger girl. Perplexed, Tamao obeyed.

"When Miyuki comes back today and you tell her that you don't want to be with her, for whatever reason you give, then it's quite possible that her resolve will crumble and she'll get married to that complete stranger. But," Shizuma paused, making sure that she had Tamao's complete attention,

"but she will not be happy. She will marry him, be a housewife, have his children and she will be unhappy and she will regret her decision. Miyuki has potential, she wants a career. And she loves you, Tamao. She loves you so very deeply. And she used to love me and I know that she also loved Kaori.

Do you honestly think that you are the reason she doesn't want to marry that man?" Shizuma paused, waiting for Tamao to shake her head, which she did, dumbfounded.

"Good, because you're not. You are a reason, but only part of the entire picture.

One: Miyuki wants to go to college, wants a career in business.

Two: she wants to be with someone she loves, not with someone she doesn't even know.

Three: Miyuki is definitely into girls. You're not the first. So why should she marry a man? If you break up with her, chances are that she still won't go through with the wedding. You would only hurt yourself and Miyuki." Shizuma breathed deeply. "God, I needed to get that out of my system."

Tamao sat on her bed, deep in thought.

"You're right, Shizuma-sama. I may be the reason that gives Miyuki the final shove to revolt against her parents, but it's more than just our relationship. I'll stand by Miyuki, no matter what she decides to do. If she wants to get married, then I'll support her, if she doesn't, I'll also be there."

"Oh, I bet she'll want to get married at some point in time. Just not to some man she never met." Shizuma grinned. "Come on, let's find something to pass the time until Miyuki shows up."

The three found a card game and managed to stay occupied until, in the evening, a soft knock sounded. Tamao leaped up and opened the door.

"Miyuki!" she called happily, pulling the older girl into the room.

"Tamao, I'm so glad to be back!" Miyuki embraced her girlfriend, burying her face in the younger woman's hair. "If I could just stay like this forever, holding you…" she whispered into Tamao's hair. After a moment, she let go and greeted Shizuma and Nagisa before sitting down on Tamao's bed.

"So, how was it?" Shizuma asked, sounding worried.

"Well, much like I expected. They yelled, I yelled, my younger brother even yelled. I tried to explain my point of view, they refused to see anything but their business.

My father actually listened when I told him about my college plans and a business career. He said he would have been happy for me to study, but as my future husband is graduating from college this year, he needs a woman in the house. My father also said that sending me to college was now entirely out of the question, after my antics with Tamao.

I have no idea how they found out Tamao's name, I didn't mention it. He said I couldn't be trusted, unmarried and free, at university with a bunch of reckless girls.

Then my mother gave me some bullshit about affection growing in an arranged marriage and husband and wife getting along fine. I dared to mention that I wasn't going to be content with getting along, I want love. She said love is way overrated and I should be happy that my match was made by people who love me and choose what's best for me, guided by reason and not by passion, which fades. What's best for me, yeah, right. What's best for my dad's partnerships in business is more like it."

Miyuki shook her head.

"And then, they told me that they'd called Tamao's parents." She turned to face her girlfriend.

"I'm sorry, honey. I never mentioned your name. I guess you'll get a call from your family some time soon."

"I already did this afternoon. My parents don't mind me loving a woman, they just aren't too happy that I seem to be the reason why you don't want to marry that stranger and that your parents have a problem with that."

Tears sprang to Miyuki's eyes. "I'm so sorry, Tamao!"

"It's okay, really. Everything will work out somehow. I love you, Miyuki. I'll always be there for you, no matter what you decide to do." Tamao drew her girlfriend close to her.

"And I'll always be there, too. I know I haven't exactly been the model friend, but I really want to make it up to you, Miyuki." Shizuma said softly, kneeling in front of Miyuki.

"WE will be there. Me, too, Miyuki-sama." Nagisa sat down on Miyuki's side.

"I'm so glad you are part of my life." Miyuki drew Nagisa and Tamao into a hug and leaned her forehead on Shizuma's.

Dear Miyuki—sama,

I have never met you and you have never met me. Even though, we are supposed to get married in a few months, after you have graduated from Miator and I have graduated from Tokyo University.

I know you received a ring, supposedly from me. It was not, my parents picked and sent it without me knowing about it.

Miyuki-sama, I'll just say what I mean to say: I don't want to marry you. I hope you don't take this personally. I have plans to work abroad soon, I have fallen in love with another student at Tokyo University and when the time is right, I would love to marry her.

I hate arranged marriages and I don't want to support our parents' crazy plan, just so their businesses are combined by marriage. Hell, if they really want their firms to become intertwined, then I could start working for your father and if it's in your interest, you could someday maybe work for my father, in a high position. Or maybe your younger brother could. I have written a similar letter to both your parents and mine.

I'm sorry if I'm crossing your plans, Miyuki-sama. I would really like to meet you someday, because I am quite curious who you are.

I wish you the best for your final exams and hope you become happy in life.

Sincerely, Toyotomi Yoshio

Open-mouthed, Miyuki stared at the letter.

"Miyuki, do you have…?" Shizuma's voice trailed off when she saw her best friend standing motionless in her room, holding a piece of paper.

"This is great! Absolutely great!" Miyuki turned to Shizuma, a huge smile on her face.

"What's absolutely great?" The silver-haired woman asked.

"Here, read this, I've got to find Tamao." Miyuki shoved the paper at Shizuma, then ran out of the door.

"Things seem to be getting better," Shizuma murmured to herself when she had read the letter.

Sighing, Miyuki rubbed her eyes. Life was very stressful lately, with the exams coming up, the end of her arranged marriage, endless discussions with her parents. But finally, she seemed to be getting somewhere. Her parents were now willing to allow her to got to college and had given up on the subject of arranged marriages, claiming that Miyuki was now too old and any potential interesting candidates were already taken.

They had, however, taken up Yoshio's idea of working for them. Yoshio's parents were very happy about this arrangement, too, and had already asked if Miyuki might be interested in working for them after university.

Now, her parents only had to learn to cope with her and Tamao. But that would come in time. At least if Shizuma's prediction came true.

Tomorrow, her final exams would start. And then there would be a week of freedom before the results were given. Well, freedom…they had to plan the graduation ceremony in that week, she, as student council president, had to hold a speech, which she hadn't even thought about.

Graduation…her family would be there. They would meet Tamao. And then…well, she would just wait and see.