Konoka was baking pancakes for breakfast. After she recovered from a great sleep, dreaming about her angel, she awoke with a blissful feeling, looking forward for the evening event. She went to the kitchen to cook breakfast, and felt the need to thank her bestfriend for the perfect night she had with her lover.

At the smell of food, Asuna woke up, still tired from her early job, but woke up anyway, feeling her stomach empty.

" Wow, why did I do to get my favorite pancakes in the morning ? " Asuna said purposely, coming in the kitchen.

" That...is for you being the best friend ever Asuna! " Konoka hummed happily.

Asuna blinked. So she wasn't told by her lover that her night was completely planned from her history teacher? Well, it wasn't as if she needed to tell her, or she would say goodbye to her favorite cakes.

So she went back to the living room, watching the TV.

Someone knocked on the door, and came in. She dropped off her shoes and put down her sword on the wall. She lifted her head up, only to face her princess.

Five inches away.
Lovers' distance kiss.

And this time, they did. Like a habit.
Quick, but sweet.

Konoka dragged her lover to the table already set. Her plate still full. This time, the knight prepared herself for she didn't eat much last night. She was now ready to enjoy her big plate full of eggs and pancakes and carrots and tomatoes and cucumbers and olives and honey and strawberries jam and-

Yes, she was prepared for this! She cracked her neck and fingers, as if she was about to fight, and sat down on the chair.

Asuna didn't even try to look at her, feeling enough stress from these past few days.
Konoka was about to kiss her lover one more time to wish her bon appétit, when a knock was heard, again.

" Excuse me to interrupt your meal Konoka-ojou-sama, but the Head-master is looking for you and Setsuna. He wanted me to bring you in his office right away. " the gunlish girl said.

The bodyguard froze.

' Oh no! He knows about us, about the hotel night, he wants to banish me. He will kill me before I could say 'sorry' ! ' Setsuna was losing her mind, her faced turned pale.

Konoka told Mana to join them because they would follow her after her Secchan would eat her breakfast. Whoever needs to see her, she would after she took care of her love.

Wife's duty call.

But Setsuna gulped her meal again, ready to leave in a second. She didn't want to make the man wait if she had to fight for her princess. She was trying to gather her mind to find strengh to convince him how good she would be for her grand-daughter.
And trying to find excuses for falling for her as a bodyguard. She felt like she betrayed her duty.

The chocolate-hair girl sighed, and started to get prep' for the appointment.
Mana remained calm, but now she may have understood why Setsuna was hurt last time.

' How fast she gulped her meal...she's going to regret it once more. ' Mana smirked, looking her friend already starting to feel sick as she put her hand on her stomach.

They left the room, leaving a happy Asuna who planned on eating everything on the table.

The three of them were walking in silent. Konoka was humming happily looking through the window to see birds flying around. Mana was in the middle, still as calm as ever, while Setsuna was closing her eyes nervously.

' Is he gonna replace me? What can I say? Sorry I fell in love with my defended? Sorry I took her virginity? ' the bodyguard smacked her face with her hand, feeling drown in hell.

Both Mana and Konoka looked at her. The latter went to her side to hold her smacking hand.

" You're okay Secchan? What's wrong? " Konoka held her hand as they kept walking.

" N-Nothing Kono-chan... " her knight sighed. She squeezed hand, smiling at her.

' Everything is a mess. '

They eventually reached the office. Mana told them goodbye and left, leaving a tortured Setsuna behind her. She let go of her lover's hand and swallowed hard.

The dark-hair girl knocked on the door before open it.

" Hi gramps! " the princess went to kiss him on his cheek.

Her girlfriend stood still, showing a determinated glare.

" Good-morning Konoka. How have you been? It's so rare for me to see you now. " he hugged his grand-child tight.

" I know. But this year is our last, so I have plenty things to do. " Konoka broke the hug to go back to her bodyguard's side.

" Is that so?... " the old man said looking at Setsuna.

She tried not to show any sweat. Anything that would make him notice she was stressed. She wanted to show him she was ready for everything he would say. Even yell.

" Ahem...I wanted to see you both because I heard about tonight's event. " the old Head-master walked closer to them.

' Do not hold your breathe! Breathe Setsuna!... ' she thought to herself, looking straight.

" And I heard about you two. " he said looking in Setsuna's eyes.

And she did not fail. She kept looking back at him.

' So it's true... ' the old Konoemon thought.

He looked at her right to see his grand-daughter. She was looking back with the same expression, nevertheless with a smile.

He closed his eyes, aware of their strong bond. After all this time, he tried to hook his princess up with so many gentlemen, but now he understood why he never succeeded.

He remembered a dark witch told him once a long time ago, that soulmates are the most powerful. If anyone would try to do them apart, he would be the first to die.

' Love is stronger than anything. '

He saw it in their eyes.

' Above revenge and will. '

There was nothing he could do but be happy for them. Even though it meat blending dark and light.

" But also because I believe we should show mercy and take this chance to show the other kingdoms that only friendship is the key to bring peace. "

Negi's word echoed in his mind. He couldn't help but smiled.

' But when you lose it... '

The old Konoemon approached them, pulling his hands up. Setsuna was startled at his movement. She closed her eyes, ready to take a strong slap on her face, but she quickly opened her eyes when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder.

" You have my blessings. " he smiled at them with affection.

' What is left to hang on ? "

After the meeting, the couple went to class. Setsuna felt so relieved all morning, that she even joked around a little. But she was rapidly caught up by worry when she heard Aki-sensei was absent for today lesson. Her worries started to grow now.

She went to ask Negi-sensei if he saw her, but he didn't. She turned back to ask Mana who waved a 'no' from the head.

' Where on earth are you Emiko! ' she thought with anger as she returned to her seat. Everyone noticed she was concerned about Aki-sensei. They wondered why, so to cheer the mood up, Asakura tried to say something.

" Hey Sakurazaki-san seems to have fallen for Aki-sensei's blue eyes! Konoka! You have a rival now ! " although the contrary would have sounded more right, and although everyone laughed to the joke -even Konoka since she knew about their relationship- Setsuna's mood darkened from what she heard, and sent a cold glare at the journalist girl.

" Don't ever say that again. " the samurai girl told her.

Everyone stopped laughing. It seemed now that tonight's party won't be that fun. As guessed, the dark-hair girl stood up, pissed off at her classmates and left the room without saying anything to Konoka.

All the girls looked down.

" Secchan! " Konoka followed her lover.

Setsuna stopped at the sound of the voice. But she didn't want to talk to her right now.
So she resumed her walk, quick, until she was out of the school.

" Secchan! Wait for me! " however how angry she was, Setsuna couldn't deny her orders as a bodyguard.

She turned to face her, hands in her pockets.

" Why were you so mad at Asakura-san? She was just joking! You seemed so sad when you heard Emiko-san was absent. She was just trying to make you laugh. " Konoka raised her hand to reach her lover's shoulder but the latter shrugged, avoiding the contact.

" Was it just a joke? I remember how shy you were when you looked at her in your room, how obsessed you were about her eyes and how you always blushed at her sight. Tell me, how's that supposed to be a joke if not, truth ? " Setsuna looked straight into her eyes.

He said 'I am the devil, girl, come with me and we'll make many storms'

Konoka was taken back from her knight's coldness. Such harsh tone and unreachable touch. She felt so hurt because her lover never was this cold.

He offered me the universe, but inside my heart there's a picture of a girl

Setsuna could see pain in her eyes. She also was surprised by her behaviour towards her ojou-sama, her princess.

Some call love a 'curse' , some call love a 'thief'

She suddenly felt the old stomach-ache, but her anger was stronger to feel.

But she's my home

She wanted to wipe away the tears falling down her Kono-chan's cheeks, but her body wouldn't move.

And she's as much apart from this broken heart

The dark-hair girl saw her girlfriend's lips moving, but she couldn't hear anything.

But see broken bones always seem to mend

The feeling inside her was growing into hatred.

I'll taste the devil's tears, drink from his soul, but I'll

Setsuna closed her eyes, trying to fight the pain away, trying to listen to her heartbeats.

Never give up you

Konoka was talking between tears, she stepped forward as she shouted " I love you! "

He said ' I am the devil, girl, come with me and we'll break many laws'

Setsuna somehow could hear those words, and opened her eyes. She was lost into pulses. Pulses to kill, to destroy all the love inside her...

He offered me eternal life, but inside my heart there's a picture of a girl

...and pulses to crush, to take the girl before her down and eat her til she'd beg her to stop.

Some call love a 'worth' , some call love a 'thief'

Konoka held her angry lover's shoulders, trying to shake her off from her mind.

But she's my home

" Please! Don't be mad Secchan, I only love you! " the brown-hair girl cried, her hands was shaking.

And she's as much apart from this broken heart

She managed to lean closer to her dark angel, and pressed her lips against hers.

But see broken bones always seem to mend

And that took Setsuna back from her inner fight.

I'll taste the devil's tears, drink from his soul, but I'll

She finally could move her arms slowly around her crying princess' waist, and held her like never.

Never give up you

Setsuna felt the pain eased from the kiss, and so she kissed her deeper, trying to feel her down her heart.

I'll taste the devil's tears, drink from his soul, but I'll

Konoka broke the kiss after seconds, looking into the half-demon's dark eyes. Tears were rolling like a river down her own cheeks.
Setsuna looked intensely into her. She smiled weakly as she wiped the tears away from her princess' beautiful face.

" I'll never give up you. "

Song fic: Devil's tears, from Angus and Julia Stone.