Author's Note: Thanks to Smiggers for beta'ing this for me and I am sorry for the long delay in updating. I literally wrote this chapter out 3 times before posting it. I had to many ideas swarming in my head. Just a heads up, this chapter has some French words in it. Though I do not speak French, or know the words. The words posted in this chapter were ones I found on Google - English to French Translators. If you see anything wrong, please let me know through a PM.

Disclaimer: I'd like to own Shizuma, but I don't. I don't own anyone else in the Strawberry Panic! crew either. All I own is Antoinette Montague.

Together Again:
Chapter Three: Her Departure

Nagisa sighed heavily, as she leaned back against the outer wall of the Strawberry Dorms. Her mind was a jumbled mess, seemingly captivated by her previous encounter with her former lover. Even though it was not just her mind that was affected by Shizuma's presence; it was also her body, which was currently trembling with desire. Additionally, the redhead's heart was also influenced by the former-Etoile, resembling a small marionette by fluttering about fleetingly.

'Why did I allow that to happen?' Nagisa privately implored to herself, as she looked down at the crinkled folds of her white dress. 'I should've resisted her,' Nagisa chided herself inwardly, as her hands began to smooth out the visible wrinkles of her white sundress. The dress was her favorite and had been one of the gifts she had received from a friend during her last birthday. Sleeveless and made from cotton, the dress possessed a smock-like bodice which snugly encased the redhead's bust. Reaching to just above the knee, the dress was imprinted with two blue flowers which were located right on the skirting of the dress.

Another sigh soon came from Nagisa, albeit this one was of relief, as the russet haired woman lowered herself to sit onto the ground; finally granting her shaky knees a chance to rest. 'I wonder if I had any effect on her?' Nagisa pondered, as she intertwined her hands together over her abdomen. A grin soon found its way onto Nagisa's face and a light chuckle came from her lips, as she recalled the previous event to her mind. 'Oh she was affected, all right. Although, if that is the case... that would mean she is trying...'

The grin soon turned into a slight smile, as a single tear fell down the length of Nagisa's cheek. 'She's trying,' Nagisa stated inwardly and as she did so, a warm wave of hope fluttered throughout her heart. 'She must at least care some,' Nagisa then thought.

"I think someone is in love," An accented voice cooed out, drawing Nagisa's attention towards a blonde figure. "Oui, someone is in love! Hopefully my charms have been paying off!"

Rolling her rust colored eyes, Nagisa giggled softly and warmly smiled towards the taller woman, "I seriously doubt that Anty-chan."

"You are quite heartless, mon cheri," Antoinette remarked flirtatiously, whilst her expression feigned a wounded look. "However, I shall not fear. After all, I know it 'twas me that the beautiful Nagisa-chan was thinking about."

The redhead snorted back a laugh, as she regarded the tall blonde before her. Antoinette Montague was a beautiful woman to say the least. Graced with a boyish face, Antoinette's expression was always one of a rakish grin, which spoke volumes of her personality. With short, spiky blonde hair, and midnight colored eyes; the other woman was complimented with a towering muscular build. Despite her awkward height, and robust figure, Antoinette did not lack the feminine proportions that most hefty females did. Dressed in a white Spica uniform, which clung too tightly to her luscious curves, Antoinette looked as though she had every intention of staying on Astraea's Hill.

'I wouldn't doubt it,' Nagisa mused to herself. 'The only way they will be able to get rid of her is by sending every girl here off to another school.' A genuine laugh soon came from Nagisa's lips, as a mental image filled her mind.

"What?" Antoinette queried in a confused tone, although that tone was quickly replaced by one of mischief. "Are you excited, mon cheri? Excited that we shall finally be able to do this, and that?"

The redhead laughed in answer, as she watched the blonde's lips curve into a charming grin. 'My god, she is just like Shizuma,' Nagisa realized. 'Except she knows her limits and isn't so arrogant.'

"Anty-chan?" Nagisa finally queried, as her right hand patted the ground beside her, gesturing for the other girl to sit down beside her. "Would you sit down with me and talk to me for a few moments?"

"Oui, beautiful," Antoinette smiled and eased herself down into a sitting position beside the redhead. "It would be my honor to sit with such a beautiful fille such as yourself. Although I must warn you..."

"Warn me?" Nagisa echoed, whilst snorting back a laugh. "Against what? And don't you dare say that 'my-hands-have-minds-of-their-own' line again."

"But they do, Nagisa-koi!" Antoinette insisted, maintaining her rakish grin. "But it is not my hands that I fear... Non, I fear it is my lips this time."

"Oh so it's your lips this time, is it?" Nagisa chuckled out and then shook her head. "Antoinette, can you do me a favor?"

"Oui, only if it involves me kissing your soft pink lips," Antoinette stated honestly. "Otherwise it would depend on what you will do for me in return."

Again, Nagisa giggled and rolled her auburn orbs, "Just don't ever change, please? You're quite a breath of fresh air, Anty-chan."

"Does that mean I get my kiss, mon cheri?" Antoinette murmured, as her brows furrowed in confusion. "Because I've been waiting patiently for it."

Nagisa smiled in return, although before she could respond to her blonde haired friend, another voice cut through their conversation, like a hot knife through butter: "I would appreciate it if you kept your lips off of my little Nagisa."

Startled, the redhead quickly turned to find the owner of the smooth and familiar voice. Her eyes widened slightly as Shizuma's figure came into view, while her heart flipped about within her chest. The former-Etoile looked as if she were going to attack, her eyes were narrowed, and her arms were folded just below her large bosom. 'Great... this is all I need now,' Nagisa groaned inwardly and glanced towards Antoinette's challenging expression.

"I do not think she is yours, mon ami," Antoinette stated evenly, whilst her dark blue orbs narrowed. "After all, what kind of person leaves a belle fille such as her alone for so long?"

The redhead flinched and quickly glanced over towards the platinum haired beauty who was quaking with visible anger. 'Oh god, this is just what I need,' Nagisa groaned mentally, as she gave an outward sigh. 'To separate these two from killing each other.'

Quickly, Nagisa reached forward and latched onto Antoinette's arm and with a gentle tug, the redhead soon gained the attention of the blonde beside her. A slight smile curved the edges of Nagisa's lips as she recognized the protective gleam lurking into blue eyes of her friend, "Relax, its okay."

"Are you sure, mon cheri?" Antoinette's inquired with a serious tone.

"Yes," Nagisa stated with a slight nod. "I'm sure. I just don't need to separate you two from fighting right now. Especially over me."

"You are worth it," Antoinette murmured, as she rose to her feet. "I will see you again, Nagisa-chan. Hopefully our conversation then will lack the rude interruption we've encountered this time."

"Take care of yourself, Antoinette," Nagisa responded. "And get packed already! They aren't going to let you stay around this place, no matter how many kisses you steal."

The blonde merely grinned, before turning her gaze towards Shizuma, "I do not know who you are, but you had better take care of her. If you don't, I will know and I will take her from you."

"I would like to see you try," Shizuma retorted evenly, whilst her olive colored eyes sized up the other woman. "She is mine and always has been."

Antoinette said nothing in return, but merely walked away with a slight smirk on her face, leaving Shizuma and Nagisa alone. 'Thank god that is over with,' Nagisa thought to herself whilst massaging her temples, as if easing a headache.

"Who is that?" Shizuma soon asked, as she made her way to tower above the sitting figure of Nagisa. "What does she mean to you? Was she your lover?"

"My lover?" Nagisa murmured, before she gave a soft laugh. "No, Antoinette is not my lover, nor has she ever been. She is a dear friend to me."

"I must be mistaken then," Shizuma quickly responded. "Because I thought friends do not wish to kiss other friends."

Nagisa sighed and didn't say anything. It was not worth fighting over and it was certainly not worth the stress. Although, there was no chance for her to say anything, as Shizuma's lips roughly descended upon hers. Shocked, the redhead didn't know what to do, or think. The only thing she could do was feel, and feel she did, as she felt Shizuma's tongue demanding entry to her mouth.

A gasp soon escaped the redhead's lips, as she felt herself being drawn up against the former-Etoile's luscious body. As soon as the gasp escaped her lips, Shizuma took the advantage of plunging her tongue into the redhead's mouth, quickly deepening the kiss that the two shared. 'Oh... how I have missed this!' Nagisa exclaimed inwardly, as she moaned softly deep within her throat. The sensation of having her former lover's tongue meshing against her own in a fight for dominance was almost too much for the redhead, although she was not the only one who was affected.

A soft growl tore itself from Shizuma's throat, as she pressed her body further against the spitfire within her arms. She needed Nagisa, and she needed to let the redhead know who she belonged to. She needed to erase the figure of Antoinette from Nagisa's mind and replace it with her own.

The moan which had escaped Nagisa's throat was like music to Shizuma's ears, as she finally gained dominance over Nagisa's tongue, although the victory was short-lived as the annoying sound of someone clearing their throat, drew Shizuma's attention away from the beautiful spitfire within her arms.

"God woman," Shizuma murmured in a husky voice, not bothering to release the flushed redhead from within her embrace. "Can't you get lost for a few moments?"

"No, I can't," Miyuki responded in an amused voice and then grinned when the sound of Shizuma's groan reached her ears. "It's time to leave, Shizuma."

Another groan came from Shizuma's lips, as she felt the trembling redhead removing herself from the embrace in which she and Shizuma shared. Although Shizuma could not read Nagisa's mind, she could tell that another barrier between the two had been destroyed. She could tell by the way that Nagisa had been reluctant to leave her embrace.

"Fine, let's go," Shizuma grouched in obvious annoyance, as she grabbed hold of the redhead's hand, and interlaced their fingers together. "Come, my little Nagisa. We will talk about this later."

Nagisa could only nod, as she felt herself being guided away from the Strawberry Dorms. 'Why did I allow that to happen?' Nagisa wondered to herself, as she felt her flushed cheeks darken further. 'Why did I allow history to repeat itself? Oh god, I love her so much...'

Collecting herself, Nagisa soon felt the presence of eyes upon her and when she looked around, she couldn't help but feel a slight pang of worry. 'I hope I am ready for this,' she thought to herself, but her thoughts were quickly invaded by the presence of Shizuma's hand squeezing her own.

"You're quiet popular," Shizuma commented softly beside her. "It would seem that your fan-girls have come to see your departure."

"Please don't jinx me," Nagisa murmured under her breathe. "I don't need a hoard of gifts which I'll never use."

"Not even if it were cake?" Shizuma playfully inquired, as her olive eyes looked over the redhead's thoughtful expression.

"Well... there is always a few exceptions," Nagisa admitted, a genuine smile gracing her lips.

Taking her eyes from the redhead's face, Shizuma chuckled and glanced towards the main gate of Astraea's Hill. There at the front gate, the platinum haired woman was able to make out the distinguished figures of those who were Nagisa's friends. She could also make out the appearance of the moving truck in the background, along with the black stretch limousine in which she and Miyuki had came by.

"About time you got here, Nagisa-chan!" Yaya stated boldly. "We were getting worried that those damned fan-girls of yours had done kidnapped you."

"You know the sad part about that is the fact that it could very well happen," Tamao remarked in an amused voice. "Just simply give Nagisa some drugged cake and she's all yours."

"Is that so?" Antoinette piped in, while flashing a wink towards the now annoyed redhead. "Perhaps if I tried it... Oui, I'll make note of this for future references."

"For you, Antoinette, it would take more than drugged cake," Yaya snickered softly, as she embraced her girlfriend from behind.

"Oui, this is so," Antoinette nodded in agreement, whilst her rakish grin appeared in full bloom upon her face. "It would only take the tender touch of my hand."

"I think Anty-chan is dreaming again," the redhead finally spoke up, a grin plastered on her face. "After all, we've known each other for a year and she still hasn't managed to land a kiss upon my cheek."

"Details, details," Antoinette murmured, before glancing towards the silver haired beauty beside Nagisa. "Do not worry, I will not steal your Nagisa from you, yet!"

"I know you won't," Shizuma remarked coolly, as she leaned down to place a gentle kiss upon Nagisa's cheek. "After all, why should I be concerned about someone who hasn't even kissed her cheek?"

Antoinette flushed slightly in anger, while the noise level of the crowd died down. Everyone's eyes were focused upon the two tall figures. Although, surprisingly, it wasn't Nagisa who broke up the tension.

"You two can pound your chests like an ape some other time," Miyuki stated loudly. "Right now, though, we have to depart."

The soft growl that came from Shizuma was only heard by Nagisa, leaving the redhead to ponder if it was such a good idea to have Antoinette and Shizuma in close vicinity of each other. After a moment, Nagisa realized that in order to do so, she would need Miyuki to cool things down.

"Hey! Nagisa-chan!" Hikari's voice finally piped out over the crowd. "Remember the party next week. We need you there!"

"Party?" Nagisa asked, looking confused. "Oh... right. I'll be there, Hikari-chan! Just be sure to bring some of that stuff you made in cooking class, ne?"

"Hai!" Hikari agreed with a grin. "Just be sure to bring that thing I told you to hold for me."

"What thing?" Yaya and Amane asked then unison, although by the time they spoke the words, Nagisa was being ushered into the limousine by a very possessive Shizuma, leaving Hikari to grin mysteriously.

Author's Footnote: I had a long inner debate as to whether I would use a character of my own creation, or not. Eventually I gave into the urge, and I wonder how do you like Antoinette? Thank you for reading, and please keep reviewing. Again, I'm not rushing updates, or writing. This story is better left paced out, and given time to think it through. I think it'll be much better that way.

Short Omake:

Shizuma: I got a kiss.
Antoinette: I got nothing... why?
Rhythia: I would kiss you, but you're just a figment of my imagination.
Shizuma: -cackle- XD

/End of Omake.