A/N: And the story starts to progress!

(EDIT: Oh jeez guys, I'm so sorry! XD That was a complete accident...from a different fic...I've not been getting much sleep so I guess it finally got to me...here's the real chapter! And thank you for pointing out the fact that I posted the wrong fic here)

Yuri was happily sleeping when the door slammed open. Giving a groan, he rolled over, raising his head slightly and blinking blearily.

"Oh, mornin' Estelle..." he mumbled, his head sinking into the pillow again.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" she demanded.

"Tell ya what?"

Estelle walked over, gazing down at him with her hands on hips. He looked up at her sleepily.

"Why didn't you tell me your birthday was yesterday?" she re-iterated.

Yuri looked at her in confusion for a moment, then suddenly realised and groaned, face-planting into the pillow. "God damn you Flynn.." he muttered. Sighing, he rolled onto his back. "I didn't tell you because you didn't need to know," he explained.

"Why didn't I need to know? I'm your friend, Yuri, I'm supposed to know these things! I just can't believe we spent two years together and I didn't even find out.."

Yuri went back to staring at his pillow. Since Yuri couldn't remember his actual birthday, Flynn had decided that the two could share, and they'd been giving each other presents for as long as he could remember. There'd been no real need for anyone else to know; obviously, Flynn had ended up telling Estelle (who made a big deal out of everything) when his birthday was, but Yuri had never told anyone else.

And now Flynn had blabbed.

"I haven't even got you a present...I suppose I can host a small party too, but Rita's already left and we don't want everyone knowing.."

Yuri sat up, startling her.

"No. Nobody else needs to know. If we start going round telling everyone my birthday is the same as Flynn's, then they find out the real me also has a birthday on Flynn's, they'll figure it out." He smiled gently at her. "I don't need to celebrate it, Estelle, so don't worry about it," he soothed.

Estelle looked at him a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I won't tell anyone else," she said, and Yuri smiled in relief. "Yet," she added, before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

Yuri blinked, then groaned. "When did she become so sneaky? I'm rubbing off on her too much..." he muttered.

Lily was wandering the hallways, investigating the castle now that she was actually staying in it. As she was about to peek in another room, she heard someone call her name.

"Lily!" Estelle called, and she turned, smiling at the princess.

"Hey Estelle. What's up?" she asked.

"Do you remember my old teacher, Drake?" Estelle asked.

Lily nodded, remembering the grumpy and strict old man who used to teach Estelle.

"Well, he's back at the castle, and he's offered to teach you how to fight," Estelle explained.

Lily frowned. "I already know how to fight," she pointed out.

"As a boy, you do, but you've never been a girl before, have you? Please Lily, I'll feel better if I know you can protect yourself."

Lily gave a sigh. "Fine...But if he's just repeating what I've learnt before, I'll quit," she warned.

Estelle nodded, knowing that was the best she was going to get out of the purple-haired girl. She grabbed her wrist instead, pulling her back down the corridor.

They headed out into a private courtyard underneath Estelle's room, which was likely Estelle's personal garden. It was simple but beautiful, and Lily looked around in surprise.

"Do you like it? I planted all of them myself," Estelle said happily, looking around.

"It's pretty nice, actually. I never even knew this was here," Lily agreed.

Estelle giggled. "Actually, the only people who know about this are Drake, Flynn and a couple of maids. No one else is allowed here. And now you know too, obviously."

Lily knelt next to one of the flowers, gently reaching out and brushing her hand over the petals. They were soft, almost like velvet, and she smiled.

"You've looked after them well," she agreed.

"I see you've arrived."

The two girls looked up, turning. Drake stepped forward, arms crossed and eyebrow raised as he eyed Lily.

"So, this the young lady I'm meant to be teaching?"

"Yes...You already know the situation, don't you?" Estelle asked.

"That the lady is that Yuri boy? Yes, I do."

Estelle smiled. "Well, would you be able to teach Yuri how to fight as a girl?"

Drake considered, then turned to Yuri. "Draw your sword," he ordered.

Yuri shrugged, drawing his sword from his back.

"Now, your stance."

Yuri lowered himself into his usual fighting pose, allowing his body to gently rock as his sword dipped back and forth languidly.

Drake eyed him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I can work with this."

"Whaddya mean, 'work'?" Yuri demanded, raising an eyebrow.

"You're flexible enough that I can change your fighting style a little. If you were too stiff, I'd have a lot more trouble. Now.." He reached to his sword, drawing a sword and holding it in a ready stance similar to Estelle's own. "Attack me," he ordered.

Yuri leapt forward without hesitation, bringing his sword down on the older man. Drake raised his sword to block, and Yuri hit it, wincing at how much weaker it felt. Drake frowned then easily threw him back.

"Strike!" Drake ordered, and Yuri gritted his teeth before lunging. Even as it bounced off Drake's sword, he growled, trying to force more strength behind it.

However, Drake easily threw him back a second time, then lowered his sword. "Yes...I can tell you're not used to fighting as a girl," he noted.

Yuri looked away, irritated by himself. Drake rubbed his chin a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. We'll start off simple. Get into your stance."

Yuri did so, eyeing Drake. The larger man, raised his sword.

"Now, I want you to strike again. However, this time, don't just use your arm. Put your shoulder and side behind it to give it more force."

Yuri considered this. It seemed to make sense at least...He raised his sword, waiting.

"Strike!"

Yuri stabbed again, forcing the rest of his body behind it so that he was sideways on to Drake. His sword crashed against Drake's, and the older man blinked in surprise at the sudden force behind it before thrusting him back.

"Much better than I expected, but you were mostly turning sideways. You don't need to do that, just put your side into it. Now..strike!"

Yuri attacked again, this time focusing on just the force instead of trying to turn. He managed to get Drake's sword to fall back slightly, leaving his guard open.

Drake nodded, batting Yuri back then lowering his sword.

"Excellent. Depending on how you use it will depend on whether it is a killer shot, or breaks the opponents guard. Either way, you are guaranteed to win the battle. Now, onto the next part."

"Yuri? Can I...talk to you for a moment?"

Yuri looked up, smiling at the pink-haired princess. "Sure. What's the matter?" he asked.

Estelle sat down beside him, frowning. "There've been some...disturbing reports from in Zaphias. A group of people have been going round causing havoc for the citizens and knights, but no one has been able to catch them..."

"That doesn't sound that bad," Yuri pointed out, looking confused.

Estelle hesitated. "It's just that...they usually kill at least one person each time, and...brutally. In public areas. People are getting scared. And they're thinking of sending Flynn out soon, so I'm really worried..."

Yuri nodded understanding. "You want me to check it out?"

"Not if you don't want to! I know it's really dangerous and I'd prefer if I didn't have to, but...you're the only person I can turn to in this situation who would understand why I don't want Flynn going out there."

Yuri considered. "Well...I'm better at fighting now, after all. A month practising with Drake really has payed off, so I think I can do it."

Estelle nodded, though she didn't look completely happy. "Still...If you think you're in danger, please don't hesitate to leave."

Yuri grinned. "Hey, you know me!" he replied, standing up and heading to the door. As he went round the corner, Estelle sighed.

"Yes...That's what I'm worried about," she murmured.

Lily wandered through the streets, hands behind her head. She appeared casual on the outside, but her eyes drifting sharply across the street, taking in everything about people.

She'd been able to get a few descriptions of the perpetrators from the knights, and so was keeping her eyes out for their individual characteristics. She wasn't sure how successful it would be, but it was only a start until she actually bumped into them.

"Boss, when are we gonna get the stupid Commandant?"

Lily paused for a moment before she bent down, examining some armour at a nearby shop while continuing to listen in on the conversation.

"Keep your voice down, you idiot! D'ya want us to get arrested?" snapped another voice, this time much quieter.

"Right..sorry Boss."

"He has a point though. We've been doing this for weeks now, isn't it time we attacked Scifo head on?"

"Look, you guys know the plan, don't you?"

"Uhh..."

"Nah, he slept through it."

"Numbskull."

"Hey! I-I couldn't help it!"

There was a sigh, then the rustle of movement, the voices growing quieter. Lily walked slightly closer, glancing quickly at the men.

"Listen, okay? The way we and the other group have been going, that idiot will have to come down and investigate sooner or later. When he does, whoever is doing the job at the time has to attack him. If that ends up going up in smoke, we're gonna attack him at that big party, right?"

"But if we miss during the missions, then there'll probably be higher security, so we have to try not to mess up."

"I don't get why we're doing this," a new voice drawled.

"Why'd you even sign up then?" snapped the first.

"Because I like killing. Got a problem with that?"

"Oi, stop squabbling. Look, we're doing this because we want a new Commandant. Don't like, then leave."

The new person raised their hands in surrender. "Hey, you don't need to get snappy at me. As long as I got a shot as this guy, I'll keep fighting."

Lily straightened, having heard enough. She casually walked away, humming to herself.

So...they wanted to kill Flynn, huh? Well, guess she'd just have to put a stop to that.

A/N: Dun dun dunnnn! Lily's decided to protect Flynn! YAY!

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