So a really weird thought crossed my mind the other day.

What would happen if MEN (OMGWTFAPPLESAUCE) appeared in the Strawberry Panic world (presuming life as we knew it didn't suddenly cease to exist)? I think that a new kind of social order would be formed- more uke girls, like Hikari (who is SO straight), Nagisa, possibly Tsubomi and especially Miyuki would probably become attracted to them because they've never really been exposed to men and all their yummy masculinity (bisexual in the house xD), and would like the stability, while the more seme-type girls, namely Shizuma, Shion, Yaya and possibly Amane (I'm not even sure if she's actually gay) would take it as a threat and get all possessive around their respective lovers, asserting their dominance and what not. Especially Yaya. Oh my god, can you IMAGINE how she'd react if some guy tried anything with one of 'her' girls, namely Hikari or Tsubomi? With HER personality? I've always thought of Yaya, despite being super-sexy and one of the girliest looking girls in the series, to be the most dominantly-geered girl in the series, with the brain of a hormonal teen boy. Seriously, she acts just like a lovesick boy around Hikari (not so much around Tsubomi towards the end, but I figure once she comes out of her depression, she'd act pretty similarly), with her hugging and flirting- I've seen boys act JUST like that before. And hormonal teen boys don't generally react well when some other boy comes in and tries to steal 'their' girl.

Chikaru could really go either way, depending on who she's paired with. I could see her as being attracted to a man (or, more likely, pretending to be so) and having Shion get all protective and jealous, but I can also see her having a thing for one of the younger girls (namely Tamao). It'd be interesting to see how she'd react in that situation, given her calm nature. Same with Momomi, although her reactions would be a bit more extreme. Oh my god. I just got the most insane idea for a Chikaru/Tamao/Momomi love triangle xD I can't imagine either of the two older girls being the dominant partner with anyone else, and Tamao more than deserves somebody fighting over her after all she's gone through. But that shall remain in my imagination…as will this entire plotline xP

Again, can't stand Kaname. So she probably died. Or whatever.

Now that I think about it, that's not a completely puke-worthy storyline. Huh. The things I think of when listening to angsty teen music xD

So I got to see a private showing of the new Harry Potter movie in the iMax because my mom is awesome and gave me the tickets, and I am now about to say something I NEVER thought I was going to say, even after reading the books.

I fell in love with (and cried for) Severus Snape.

Also—take note of my new avatar xD

AND one last thing- there's a trope for the couple of Tsubomi/Yaya xD Apparently it's called a Takahashi couple, and I believe it describes them down to a tee. A Tsundere and a Jerk With A Heart of Gold, no?

How Can You See With Your Eyes Closed?

Chapter Six: Look For the Girl with the Broken Smile

Miyuki lay flat on her back, staring up at the speckled ceiling of her room. Well, her and Shizuma's, technically, but she couldn't remember the last time Shizuma slept there. Poor Tamao, she thought for a second, wincing for the younger girl. Her feelings for Nagisa were painfully obvious, and yet she sat there and watched Shizuma rub their relationship in her face with that sweet, broken smile.

A knock came at the door, and Miyuki sat up slowly, staring at it hesitantly until it giggled. Or rather, the girl on the other side giggled, and she sighed. "It's unlocked, Minamoto-san," she said dryly, her fears of Shion confronting her so quickly quelled.

The door creaked open and the small, dark-haired Le Rim president slipped in and made her way over to the bed, sitting down gingerly beside Miyuki. They sat in silence for the longest time, Miyuki in no rush to create a conversation- Chikaru obviously wanted to talk to her, but she knew the Le Rim president well enough to know that silence wouldn't deter her.

"Everyone thought Shion-koi would end up with me," Chikaru said out of the blue, tilting her head and smiling gently at Miyuki, who frowned slightly. Was this a challenge? But she had no claim to the Spican- wanted no claim to the Spican.

So why did Chikaru's words bother her so much?

"Hmm?" Miyuki murmured, signaling Chikaru to continue. Shion-koi?

Chikaru nodded with that same gentle smile, a giggle escaping her lips as she read Miyuki's expression. "We used to be best friends, once," Chikaru said in explanation. "When we both became involved in politics, we started drifting apart, and I didn't mind. It seemed like the way it should be. But she'll always be my flustered, blushing Shion-koi." She smiled. "Unless, of course, she's yours?"

Miyuki scoffed. "She's not and I have no desire for her to be," she stated bitterly. "Do whatever you like."

Chikaru sighed, obviously wanting a different reaction from the Miator president. "I don't want her- not like that, at least," she said. "I have my eyes set on someone else at the moment…" She trailed off, traces of a very real, sincere smile flickering across her face. And then she sighed. "Someone who is so hopelessly in love with another that I am utterly eclipsed in the shadow of that other."

Miyuki's eyes widened. "Not…Shizuma?"

Chikaru turned to her, looking utterly lost for a moment before she laughed. "No, not Shizuma-san," she said, still chuckling faintly. "No," she continued, her voice fading and her posture curving in on itself just a little bit, "but it might as well be."

"Tamao-chan."

It wasn't a question, because Miyuki knew it to be true, and she didn't need Chikaru's blush or lovesick sigh to prove it to her. It was funny, how a simple, loveable girl like Nagisa-chan- a girl that Miyuki had once thought of as nothing more than a new student and a mild inconvenience- Nagisa-chan had been the one to rip it all away from her, and Chikaru too, as it seemed. "She casts such a large shadow for a girl so small," Chikaru said quietly, and Miyuki knew she was referring to the red-head, though her name had yet to be mentioned. "Don't you agree, Rokujou-san?"

"She took everything from me," Miyuki said quietly in response, "but I can't bring myself to hate her. I hate Shizuma…more and more every day, but…I don't…"

"The scariest part is that you know the reason you hate her is because you love her," Chikaru finished when she could not. "But you don't have to- not forever. There are people out there who would do anything for you- you just have to find them. But I get the feeling you already have, ne, Rokujou-san?"

Miyuki stiffened. "What is it you want, Minamoto-san?"

Chikaru smiled gently. "I want many things," she said, and Miyuki scowled at her. "But I came here because I want you to see that your situation is not as hopeless as you think."

"What, dare I ask, do you mean by that?"

"I mean," Chikaru began, turning to face Miyuki, her mocha eyes boring into the Miator president's, "you pity yourself for your situation, but at this point, even when everybody's trying to save you, still, you run. Shion-koi knows of the consequences that could be, Rokujou-san- she's not stupid- and she is begging you to let her save you. As she could, Rokujou-san." Chikaru reached up and ran her fingers through a strand of Miyuki's fine, shoulder-length hair. "But the prince can't save Rapunzel if she won't let down her hair." She smiled softly as she released a stunned Miyuki, allowing the hair to slip through her fingertips. "Let down your hair, Rokujou-san. What do you have to lose that you won't lose anyway if you allow your life to go as it was planned?"

PGBR

"Wake up, Yaya-sempai!"

Yaya groaned, raising a hand too late to prevent the pillow from colliding with her face. "Ohayo, Tsubomi-chaaaaaan," she slurred, rolling over and burying her face in the pillow beneath her. She heard an indignant huff behind her.

"You're going to make us late," Tsubomi snapped, hitting Yaya again, this time in the back of the head. "Again."

"You don't have to wait for me," Yaya murmured, a smirk slowly forming on her lips as she rolled over, blinking sleepily up at the pinkette, who blushed fiercely. The older girl pulled herself into a sitting position and leaned forward, stealing a quick kiss before the wide-eyed tsundere had a chance to react. "But I'm glad you do."

Tsubomi watched as the brunette jumped up and immediately began stripping off her clothes without a care in the world. "Yaya-sempai!" she cried, though to her horror it came out as more of a squeak. Yaya turned and shot her a sly grin.

"Who knew little Tsubomi-chan was such a hentai," she murmured, glancing at the pinkette with a faux-fearful expression, causing Tsubomi to turn red.

"Shut up, baka!" Tsubomi spat, folding her arms over her chest. Yaya grinned and tugged the pinkette's wrist so they were only a few centimeters away, ducking her head to allow her lips to rest in the nook between Tsubomi's shoulder and neck. A flicker of pride shot through her as Tsubomi shivered- Yaya was a master of seduction and the art of Sapphic lovemaking. It was one of the things she'd always prided herself on, especially when it had begun to come to the attention of many of her cuter fangirls. But they hardly crossed her mind anymore- her thoughts were completely taken over by a blushing, pink-haired tsundere who'd managed to worm her way into Yaya's heart at the time when it was most closed off. "Let go- we have to get to class," Tsubomi finally choked out, pushing Yaya away and racing out of the room.

Yaya smirked, following slowly behind her and admiring the view.

PGBR

Shion blinked up at her pacing teacher with weary eyes, her chin resting on the hard wood of her desk. Usually she'd be caught dead before being caught slacking, but she'd been up for the past few nights examining her parents' (hers, once she graduated) funds and looking up information on Miyuki's fiance. Shizuma hadn't been lying- Shion had more than enough money to satisfy Miyuki's parents, and the man was simply despicable just from his picture. A sleazy, yellow, crooked grin was accompanied by a dark beard and bloodshot eyes, and Shion wasn't so impressed. That took care of the literal aspect- Shion was more than capable of 'saving' Rokujou Miyuki.

But her heart ached just thinking about it- telling Miyuki she knew a way out, watching the girl's eyes light up, then dim as she heard the conditions, and light up again when Shion told her she was going to let her go.

But that was the problem, wasn't it? Shion didn't trust herself to add in that minor technicality- she'd been in love with the Miator council president ever since she could remember, whether she'd chosen to display those feelings in a healthy manner or not. And even noble, moral Shion wasn't sure she would be able to stand having Miyuki all to herself one minute only for her to be gone forever the next.

She sighed and went back to doodling on her paper.

Chikaru caught her eye meaningfully at dinner, and Shion's eyes flickered to Miyuki immediately- the Miator president raised one eyebrow before turning back to her meal, which, Shion noticed, was untouched, and remained so until Miyuki left the dining hall. Reflexively she stood up to follow her, but paused, watching a certain blonde carefully to make sure she wasn't going to try anything. When she was satisfied that Sei wasn't going to try and follow after Miyuki, Shion stalked out of the dining hall just as Miyuki had done only moments before.

PGBR

"You know, starving yourself isn't going to help anyone."

Miyuki glanced up from the cold grass to find a pair of large violet eyes staring at her as Shion approached, hands clasped behind her back. Rolling her eyes, she turned to face her fully. "I don't see how it's going to hurt anyone either," she said, groaning when Shion's eyes widened. "I'm not starving myself, Toumori-san! I just…lost my appetite."

"Why?"

Carefully Shion took a step closer to Miyuki- they were right by a wooden fence she remembered from when Kaori was still with them. They'd sat on that fence for hours, just smiling, laughing…and when had she stopped laughing? Miyuki raised her head to meet the violet gaze and stepped back so she was leaning against the fence, arms folded over her chest. "He's going to visit."

Shion frowned. "Who…"

"My fiancé," Miyuki spat, the word rolling past her lips like poison. "We've never met in person, and he wants to meet me now, before the wedding- not that he'd reconsider. He knows full well what I look like- I think he wants to try and 'bond'."

Shion's brow dropped, and she found herself clenching her jaw without quite realizing it. Sei was bad enough, but she seemed to have backed down, at least.

"Shion."

Miyuki's use of her first name jerked her from her jealousy for the moment, and Shion looked up to meet a pair of stern brown eyes. "Behave."

"Behave?" the Spican asked, baffled for a moment. "What do you mean?"

Miyuki sighed. "What happened with Sei- Satou-san was bad enough," she said, correcting herself when Shion's eyes flashed dangerously. She wanted Shion to focus on the conversation, not on her jealousy, rational or otherwise. "It would be inappropriate for you to speak to Hideshi-san as you did to her; in fact, some of the looks I've caught you giving her are off limits too. And please," she said, running a hand through the blonde locks for a second before pulling her hand away, "please just…stay out of the way."

Shion frowned, both her feelings as well as her pride wounded. "Stay out of the way?" she asked, grabbing Miyuki's hand and kissing her knuckles briefly before placing it on her shoulder. She drew the Miator president closer, leaning back against an old tree for support. "What do you mean?"

Miyuki sighed wearily, wishing Shion wouldn't be so charming when she was trying to break bad news. "I mean…well, you don't seem to have as much of a problem as Nanto-san does, but…if he touches me…I need you to…to…"

"To watch?" Shion asked, incredulous. "To not do anything?"

"Yes," Miyuki said, exasperated. "Yes, that's exactly what I need you to do, and I shouldn't even have to ask you. Your...physical possessiveness would be irrational even in an actual relationship. In what we have it's just ridiculous." She spoke harshly, hoping some of the words would make it past Shion's stubbornness.

"Then be mine."

Miyuki's eyes widened comically as her eyes flickered back up to a deathly serious Shion. "What?" she asked, though she'd heard perfectly well. "I tell you that you're irrationally jealous and possessive, and your solution is to cement our relationship so that it's okay to do so? The day before my fiancé arrives?"

"Well I hadn't thought about it like that but…yeah," Shion replied simply, shrugging. Then her face sobered and she leaned against the fence beside Miyuki, her arm just barely brushing the Miator president's side. If the situation hadn't been so awful, Miyuki might've laughed at the change in the Spican's demeanor. Shion was so small in her Spica uniform, but it was easy to forget with the way she spoke. However, in times like this…Miyuki sighed, remembering exactly why she couldn't allow herself to fall for Shion. She wasn't Miyuki's knight in shining armor- she was only another fragile schoolgirl who thought she could change the world. "I'm not sure I'll be able to control myself."

Miyuki scoffed. "That's a cop out," she stated dryly. "Everyone's able to control themselves- even Nanto-san…I think. It's just hard for you because you're used to speaking my mind."

Shion raised her head slightly. "I have to be," she said, "since I'll be taking over my father's law firm after I graduate."

Miyuki raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Really?" she asked. "Well…congratulations, then, Toumori-san. I'm sure you're perfect for the job."

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," Shion muttered, her gaze once again turned to her shoes.

"What should I call you then?" Miyuki asked, then, without quite intending to say it, "not Shion-koi?" Instantly she scolded herself- why did she care what Shion and Chikaru had, anyway. The Spican, to her surprise, groaned.

"She's been calling me that again?" she asked, ducking her head as she looked up at Miyuki with a pained expression. Miyuki smiled slightly, though it didn't reach her eyes. Shion sighed. "I swear she's not as innocent as she looks," she said. "Every time we'd get into trouble as kids, she'd find some way to weasel out of it and watch while I did whatever punishment I got. She just calls me that because she knows it bothers me."

"Why do you think I'd care what Minamoto-san calls you?" Miyuki asked, but in saying so, gave herself away by the tone of bitterness in her voice. "I don't know how many times I have to explain it before you understand that we…that this can't happen."

Instead of looking downtrodden as usual, Shion's features formed a tentative smile. "Well, from what I can tell," she said nonchalantly, looking out at Miator off to the left, "you do, and this is." At Miyuki's blush, Shion smiled and continued in a serious tone. "I really don't think I can stand back and watch, Miyuki," she murmured. "It's not in my nature, as you well know."

"Then don't watch."

This offhand comment ignited the spark that had been burning within Shion since the moment Miyuki mentioned her fiancé. She turned to Miyuki with a fierce, grim expression and shifted so that she could feel Miyuki's small body pressing against hers. "Do you have any idea how hard that is?" she asked quietly. "To know it's happening and turn the other way? I've tried to do it with Satou-san and I can't- what makes you think it'll be any easier with a man who's going to have his hands all over you with every intention of…of having you," she spat out the word, "not just doing it to mess with my mind?"

Groaning, Miyuki pulled further away from Shion, not trusting herself to keep her head around the Spican. "You'll survive, I'm sure," she said unsympathetically. "Everyone has to learn to bite their tongue eventually, even you, Toumori-san." Though the more she thought about it, the more she found Shion's brash, honest personality endearing.

Shion's stance didn't waver as it usually did when Miyuki snapped at her; the Miator president hadn't realized how much she actually did that until only a moment ago, and her heart ached with guilt. All the Spican wanted was to help her- to love her like no one else did. But she couldn't help that now- one problem at a time. And right now, she needed Shion to stand down.

Swallowing what was left of her pride, she turned to Shion with pleading eyes. If her parents knew…she would have nothing, not even the wealth that she had been promised. "Please," she whispered, hating herself for how her voice cracked. Vaguely, she recalled Shizuma's words back in their second year.

"You've always been such a crybaby, Miyuki."

And it was true- even the most innocent of criticisms could be enough to bring Miyuki to tears if she didn't clench her jaw and stare straight through the mocking eyes. "Please, Shion," she continued, using the informal speech as a last result. The Spican's eyes flashed with hurt- Miyuki knew Shion well enough to know that she had an inflated sense of pride, and that this situation would most likely be a huge toll on her ego. But Shion's posture was wavering, and that's what she needed.

The Spican nodded sharply, turning on her heel, likely so that Miyuki couldn't see how upset she was. The Miator president sighed as she leaned back against the tree. "You may come out now, Minamoto-san," she said tiredly. She didn't know how Chikaru always managed to be in the right place at the right time, but she wasn't going to question it now. Chikaru emerged from behind a tree a few meters away and came to stand hesitantly before Miyuki.

"That's going to take a huge toll on her," Chikaru said softly, looking in the direction that Shion had left.

Miyuki folded her arms tightly over her chest. "I know," she said sharply, "but I need you to make sure she keeps her word." Chikaru raised an eyebrow. "Not that I don't trust her- I just think that…if she got upset enough…"

Chikaru nodded slowly. "I understand," she said, "and you're right. She would very likely overreact and blow the whole thing. And I will help to the best of my abilities." Miyuki sighed in relief, but Chikaru shot her a glare that would have scared the feathers off of an eagle. It sent a shiver down Miyuki's spine- she'd never seen the Le Rim president do much more than smile serenely. "But know this, Rokujou-san- Shion is not the type to give up, and I will not encourage her to do so. You need to make a decision instead of stringing her along like this."

"She knows the consequences!" Miyuki replied indignantly, but Chikaru just shook her head.

"She knows of them, yes," Chikaru said, "but have you ever told her no? Directly? You like it, Miyuki- you like the attention she gives you and the way she puts you on her pedestal. But you're going to break that girl's heart if you continue this." Without waiting for the Miator president to reply, she left, leaving a speechless Miyuki behind.