The next few days were busy indeed for Nagisa, it wasn't just the schoolwork she had to contend with, with the exams coming up she needed to pass them. Her summer fun in the sun depended on it. The only thing baring her way was, of course, French. The ultimate horror lesson Nagisa had at Miator, so to get help she went to the number one, Shizuma. Who in the evenings gave her tutoring lessons to pass, of course it was filled with laughing, teasing. Don't get the wrong idea Shizuma was tutoring her hard, just the French sometimes didn't correspond with the syllabus at all, hence the deep blushes of the younger girl and the full out smirk of the other.
The night watches also were making it harder for the young phoenix to concentrate, with all of them now patrolling together, wanting to be a more reckoning force, it was late to bed each night. The stress was piling on the young Mythical's, so a plan was devised, with Shizuma in tow, for them to have a relaxing evening to chill out. Chikaru, Tamao and Kagome put extra sensors on alert, with Chikaru's familiar, white owl keeping watch. Shion and Miyuki had weapons to hand, away from prying eyes, kind of hard to explain away the darts and Nagisa and Yaya doubled checked the dorms making sure no one could get out that night without them knowing about it. When all was done they had a lovely evening relaxing in the main room, sitting around a table and having fun, whilst Shizuma graciously served them tea.
It was certainly a sight to see, all the Presidents, étoile and younger girls all sitting down together. Hikari with Tsubomi joined them, along with the double trouble, Kizuna and Remon together easily fitting in and talking merrily. 'This certainly is fun. I can't believe I have so many people I can call friends, and most who know me for me. Well mostly me for the moment. I want this exam week over with as soon as possible its stressful! Shizuma has been great teaching me French, though her teasing knows no bounds. I like it, just wish I wouldn't blush so heavily, it's embarrassing' Heaving a little sigh Nagisa attracted her partner's attention.
"Everything ok Nagisa?" Shizuma whispered
"Yes Shizuma, everything's fine. I just want exams over and done with; it's so not helping my blood pressure" smiling a little "I want to go to summer school with everyone, leaving my bad case of French for another year."
"Nagisa-chan certainly is terrible in that, I thought learning it was fun now because of Shizuma-sama. You look like you're floating on air when you get back" making the said girl blush slightly
"Shizuma's no better Tamao; she looks like a cat that just got the cream. Haven't seen her happy in such a long time." Teased Miyuki making the two girls blush more.
"So the rumors are true. You and Etoile-sama are dating?" Kizuna screeched loudly, the noise in the room dropped low. Stares were been sent their way. The girls around the table looked amused and a few were giggling softly. Miyuki was trying to hold her laugh in with not much success, nice to see Shizuma knocked off her game. Nagisa's face was such a red that it matched her hair with deep pink eyes, dropped her head whilst Shizuma just looked shocked with only a touch of a blush, she did have a reputation to hold. 'Way to go Kizuna-chan. Scream it louder next time. I really hate being the center of attention. Besides we haven't exactly said anything regarding that. We haven't really discussed it ourselves much. Guess we have to now'
Nagisa pulled herself together, still blushing heavily, carried on as if nothing was said. Of course, she forgot to take into account a certain flair for the dramatic, etoile. In a flash an arm snaked round Nagisa, pulling her very close, Shizuma quickly and effectively silenced any outburst with a long soft kiss. Pulling back after a while smiling wide at the blushing redhead, who stared transfixed by the other girls gaze. Laughter and cheers echoed around the table let them know they weren't alone.
"That answer your question Kizuna-chan?" still holding Nagisa close. They continued chatting away and having fun, late thru the evening until the few and Shizuma were all that was left. Giving them all a bit of freedom to speak about events.
"I think we needed this break, after all that's happened it looks like we won't get another chance for a while." Shion sighed slouching slightly.
"Isn't that the truth, I don't know how many night patrols I can keep doing if it ends up the same way each time." Yaya said rolling her shoulders to work out the kinks.
"You're a werewolf Yaya-chan, aren't you supposed to like nights?" Shizuma asked with a small grin. Yaya looked directly at her then smirked.
"Just because I'm a werewolf, don't mean squat. You don't see snakes on Miyuki-san do you? Or boils and wrinkles dotting Chikaru-sans face. To look as good as me you need beauty sleep, they didn't hear me when I told them and now look at them." Giggling softly Shizuma shook her head.
"Sleeping Yaya-san? Surely not. Apparently you don't sleep much anyway when you get the chance, due to a certain pink-haired girl" implied Miyuki getting a little of her own back. Yaya didn't back down, even blushing a little she struck back.
"I get it when I can. The same goes for you too, a little harder now since Nagisa has come, no?" Everyone was swiveling their heads back and forth, like watching a tennis match only more fun. Deciding the teasing was getting nowhere, and not wanting to become a part of it when it does Shion decided to get right back on track.
"Enough you two, you can tease each other another day. When I'm in the mood to watch would be appreciated" with a small smile "We do have to discuss what we're going to do, like Yaya said these night watches aren't doing us any good."
"Why? Wraith hasn't attacked you as far as Miyuki and Nagisa have told me." Shizuma asked
"That's the point Shizuma, they haven't. They come; we find them and they leave before we can do anything. It's been that way for a while now and it's really strange. What are they waiting for?" Miyuki pointed out.
"Can we capture one?" the calm voice of Chikaru put in "If we could then maybe learn something from it"
"That's hard to do Chikaru-sama. Remember it broke your cage of light easily not to mention, the fact that wraith don't talk." Tamao described
"What about this Master everyone alludes to?" Shizuma asked "Can we not trick them to coming here?" Everyone was thinking on that, it didn't occur to them to lay a trap for the main person, the Council was supposed to. 'The fact there that powerful than nearly all of us put together is another thing. Summoning the wraiths put them dangerously on top. Not to mention other skills he could possess. Trust Shizuma to think of that. A fresh eye is what we needed. Yet how?'
"The fact is Shizuma we don't know what they're looking for to be considered bait."
"Or if they too are waiting for something. Or someone." Tamao whispered looking at Nagisa slightly. Nagisa caught the look, so did Shizuma who let it slide for now.
Finally after a long fun evening the girls had retired, receiving a loving kiss from Shizuma before she entered her room. Tamao had changed into her nightgown and sat on her bed, staring at her lap. Nagisa thought it strange, for her friend acting this way, so she quickly got changed herself and sat down beside her.
"What's wrong Tamao-chan?"
"Nagisa-chan why are lying to us?" whispering quietly
"What do you mean?" Nagisa asked as Tamao faced her
"Who are you truly? You are my friend and I care about you, but I don't know anything about you. You have exceptional gifts in fire control. Not to mention the fact that you heal like Yaya-san only much faster, that's impressive since her class is known for it. And then there's your singing. It's beautiful Nagisa-chan I've never heard anything like it. Why don't you trust me?" Tamao loudly berated her friend. Nagisa looked on in silence and a little hurt. 'All this time she has the facts yet hasn't put them together fully, I'm impressed. But I am who I am and there are deeper rules for me to follow. No matter how much I want to share with them. I just can't. It's for her safety to.'
Rising from the bed not looking at her friend, she crossed over to her own. Without turning around she spoke.
"I trust you Tamao never doubt that. You're my best friend. But there are rules that even I must follow outside of the Council you keep. Please have a little faith in me. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me, now or in the future." With that she got into bed and settled down. Tamao was even more confused than before. 'You're certainly a mystery Nagisa, I will find out. And when I do it won't change a thing' Tamao thought to herselfas she got into bed and dreamed dark dreams.
A/N: I'm no good at fluffy material so forgive me if some of it sounds weird. Thanks for the reviews by the way :) Story will move along a bit now, wraiths get a little more attention.