Sounds of wooden blades were heard near the World's Tree. Two shadows were moving fast into each other.

" Is that all you have? Come on, try to hit my face at least! " shouted one.

The two of them collided blade against blade. It was a battle of strenght now.

" What is so wrong now, Asuna-san? Don't have enough stamina? I'm sure that, you're starving again! " she yelled as she put more energy in her push. She was about to crush her opponent.

" Damn it!...Aren't you going too hard on me, Setsuna-san! " Asuna yelled back, as she kneeled down on her left leg.

" This is what you get for insulting your master in front of the girl she loves! " Setsuna smiled. One more push and she was about to win.

" M-master...hah! Don't you dare ask me to call you like that, Secchan! " Asuna said, feeling Setsuna losing her grip.

' Chance! ' Asuna thought, grinning.

Suddenly, she fell a strong pression against her whole body, and before she realized what was happening, she flew about ten meters away to land on the fountain.

" How can you used that against me, Asuna-san? Were you that desperate to beat me? " Setsuna asked, crossing her arms on her chest.

" You disappoint me. " Setsuna said flatly.

Asuna was trying to get on her feet, breathing heavily.
" Yeah...sorry about that. You know...hff...when you're caught in the moment...you..hff...just wanna win...hehe" Asuna said getting out of the water. She walked towards Setsuna, and bowed as an apology.

" Never mind, I guess I was too hard too. " Setsuna said calmly, bowing as well.

" Oh oh...that was interesting! Why don't you let me join you? " Emiko asked, out of no where.

" Who is it?! " Setsuna turned to the voice, her sword in her hand, ready to fight. Asuna as well.

" Oh, right, I didn't introduce myself. " Emiko got down from the World's Tree, making her way to them.

' How is that I didn't sense her presence? Just who is she! ' Setsuna thought nervously.

" My, my, please calm down. I'm not an enemy. My name is Emiko Aki, Princess Konoka's new bodyguard. " Emiko said smiling. She was now standing in front of them.

" What?! " both Setsuna and Asuna exclaimed.

Setsuna was getting more irritated.
' Where the hell this girl is coming from, saying nonsense like this- '

Then she remembered.

She had a meeting yesterday with the Head-master.
She was supposed to greet a girl at 9 pm yesterday night. But she couldn't because she was sick.
So Mana must has welcomed her instead of her.
She will be joining our team.
As Kono-chan's new bodyguard.
...

' What the hell ! '

After processing...

" Okay so you're from the Sora School -what's this school? Never heard of it- and you've been chosen to be Konoka's bodyguard -even though she already has one- because the Head-master thinks her daughter will need more protection in the future? " Asuna said in one breathe.

Emiko was a bit surprised at this girl's speaking ability, but held her smile anyway and nodded.

Setsuna kept staring at her. The peaceful joy she was feeling yesterday was now crushed by anger and...

" Have you met Konoka yet? " Asuna asked.
" Yep. " Emiko smiled widened.

" When! " Setsuna asked loudly, looking into Emiko eyes.

' What a challenging glare...' Emiko giggle softly to herself.

" When you were sick. " she simply answered.

" You were sick Setsuna-san? Why didn't you tell me? " Asuna asked in concern, facing now her 'master'.

" I'll explain you later Asuna-san." Setsuna told her, her eyes still looking on her new partner face.

" So you were there the whole night. Why didn't you introduce to me then? I wasn't sick that long- "

" -I was there, but I think you forgot. I saw you kissed the Princess- "

Setsuna was now turning into red, red tomato, mashed tomatoes. But still, kept her glaring. She was a warrior, she knew how to stay put no matter what happens.

" -and when you were about to make-out."

That was however enough. Setsuna dropped her eyes and raised her hands to cover her totally red face. She was about to run away because she knew someone would...

" Say WHAT! " Asuna shouted out loud making the birds fly away from the tree.

' Peace...where are you...'

In her room, Konoka was happily humming like the day before, enjoying herself cooking.

' This is for my Secchan, she loves french toast breakfast so much! '
She was waiting for her knight to come and eat her food.

' I feel like her wife...' Konoka thought shyly. A blush grew on her sweet cheeks. She smiled the stupid happy new lovers' smile when hit by Cupidon's arrows.

" Konoka! Are you there? " Asuna shouted as she busted in the room. Her sudden and noisy entrance took Konoka out of her dream.

" Y-yes, I'm in the kitchen! " Konoka replied calmly as she went to see her crazy friend.

" What's wron- " she then stopped talking at the view of Emiko at the entrance of the room.

The latter looked at her, smiling lovely. Konoka blushed.

' I have to get used to her eyes! ' she thought as she suppressed her blush and walked to greet her.

However before she could do it, Asuna held her back with questions.

" How is that you knew about your new bodyguard but didn't tell us anything? " Asuna was about to keep asking questions when she felt a pair of eyes looking at her.
She quickly understood that she wasn't the right person to ask the Princess questions.

" Um...sorry Konoka, I meant that, I was just surprised you have another bodyguard besides Setsuna-san..." Asuna tried to say some more but as she felt Setsuna's eyes darkened, she just nodded nervously, and got out of the room, taking Emiko by the way.

There was a silence. Konoka was completely lost. She turned to her dear love to ask what was all of that but Setsuna talked first.

" Why didn't you tell me that you'd have a new bodyguard? " Setsuna asked. Not moving from her spot. Not looking at her.

Konoka wondered why this made her Secchan feel down.
" Secchan, it's true that I learned about Aki-san's duty. " Konoka moved forward her lover.

" But the most important thing yesterday wasn't my new bodyguard, but you." she said softly, taking Setsuna's hands into hers.

" You were so in pain...I didn't care about anything else, but you and only you Secchan. " Konoka tried to look for her eyes, but Setsuna kept looking at the ground.

" But you could have told me afterwards..." Setsuna finally spoke.

" And what would that matter to you? It's not that important, what's important is that- "

" -of course it is important! " Setsuna said louder, raising her head to meet Konoka's eyes.

' I felt anger and...'

Konoka was startled by Setsuna's reaction. She tightened her hold in her hands.

" It is. Because it means that I'm not good enough now, and the Head-master needs to replace me. " Setsuna said lowly, breaking the eye-contact.

" What are you saying Secchan! Gramps will never do that! He knows how much I'm attached to you, and how strong you are to protect me. " Konoka tried to reassure her.

" That's why he got a new bodyguard, yeah..." Setsuna smiled sarcastically.

" Secchan " Konoka moved her hands to hold her pretty knight's face.

" I told you yesterday, you don't have to be afraid. You will never lose me because..." Konoka captured Setsuna's lips, surprising her.

It was soft, sweet. And she stayed a little bit longer, caressing her beloved one's lips against hers.
Like a habit, Setsuna wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

"...I love you Secchan. " Konoka breathed those words as she drew back from the kiss.

" And nothing will stop me from loving you. " she continued as she looked into her eyes.

Setsuna smiled, resting her forehead against hers.

' I felt anger. And now...'

" You're unbelievable Kono-chan...you know exactly, what to say to ease my pain. " Setsuna whispered to her. She was leaning again to steal her another kiss...

Knock knock

' Not again! ' Setsuna thought, sighing.

" Excuse me Princess Konoka, but I was told to stay next to you during the day. I will have to ask you to let me in please. " Emiko's voice was heard.

Slowly, Konoka broke their embrace to open the door.
Setsuna's smile drop at what she saw.

' and now my heart...'

Konoka couldn't prevent herself from the small blush on her face.
Emiko smiled friendly, looking at her.

Setsuna clinched her hands into fists.

Konoka let her enter and led her to the living-room.

' is breaking into jealousy. '