TITLE: Intents and Purposes

SERIES: My Otome

AUTHOR: Dreiser

EMAIL: dreiser7@yahoo.com

YAHOO ID: dreiser7

MY WEBSITE: http://www.dreiser.org/

CONTENT: F/F romance. F/F sex. Haruka/Yukino.

SUMMARY: Haruka Armitage and Yukino Chrysant have done everything in their lives for a common purpose with a shared intent. 

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but my habit of only watching anime a year or more after it's released and is highly recommended to me.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I like My Otome so much more than My HiME. Hands down, Haruka and Yukino are my favorite couple. I really prefer their characterizations in My Otome and I wanted to write a fanfic exploring the history of their relationship. I haven't heard any of the drama cds so if anyone has information from them that would be relevant to keeping this fanfic canon for their histories please let me know.

 

 

 

 

Intents and Purposes

 

By: Dreiser

 

 

Haruka Armitage was seven years old when her father, Daisuke, was promoted to the rank of General in the Republic of Aries army. Shortly after they celebrated this great personal victory, once again they were packing, moving from the distant southern lands of their country to the far north and the capital city of Caeles. Her father would be working in The Hexagon, where her mother often was assigned as a Captain in the Aries Rangers Special Forces. The Hexagon was the heart of the Aries democracy, where the President lived, the Senate had their sessions, and even as a little girl Haruka knew it was a great thing, both her parents working there. 

 

Just like she knew it was a great thing that one of the Senators who worked in The Hexagon was throwing her father a party to congratulate him on the promotion and welcome him to the capital city. Her mother told her that Senator Makoto Chrysant was an old friend and he had once served in the same army unit as her father. Although Haruka knew all these things it didn't stop her from being bored at this stuffy grown up party. Heaving a large sigh, Haruka gazed out the long windows of the crowded room and fixed on the sight of another girl who had managed to escape the gathering of adults. The girl was far in the distance, sitting on the green lawn of the yard, resting against an impressive tree that shaded her from the sun as she read a book. Looking up at her parents and seeing them busily chatting with the Chrysants, Haruka decided to try and make a break for it. Taking several slow steps backwards until she was at the door, she slowly pushed it open, and the moment she was outside she took off in a run, a large grin spreading across her features, glad to be free of the grown ups and their dull conversation.

 

She loved to run, she loved any physical activity really, running, jumping, biking, swimming, the sports of the world, Haruka loved them all. There was a happy sort of exhaustion granted in playing hard and this had been taught to her by her parents. Even if your muscles ached it was in such a strangely pleasant way and Haruka accepted this need to be active as a natural part of herself just like she accepted she would always find studying and school painfully dreary at the best of times. Her running came to an abrupt halt as she reached the girl she had seen in the distance. The girl looked to be slightly older than her with short brown hair and small glasses that slid down the bridge of her nose and she didn't notice Haruka's approach, she was so absorbed in reading her book.

 

"Oi," Haruka grunted, an unconscious mimic of her father as it was a noise he often made when curious about something. The girl looked up, bright green eyes wide with surprise. Shifting from foot to foot, Haruka asked, "What are you reading?"

 

"A book of fairy tales from Florince," the girl said softly.

 

Nodding her head as if she already knew this and ignoring the blatant fact she didn't, Haruka plopped down on the ground next to the girl and stuck out her hand. "Haruka Armitage," she said by way of greeting.

 

"The General's daughter," said the girl with recognition. She wore a gentle smile and accepted Haruka's hand, laughing a bit when Haruka instigated an enthusiastic handshake. "I'm Yukino Chrysant."

 

"This is your house," Haruka noted, eyes drifting around the massive grounds and large mansion.

 

"Yes," admitted Yukino with a light blush. "Father says it's been in the family for many years."

 

Nodding again as if she understood, Haruka stood up on her tip toes and pointed off into the distance. "We live there now. It's a house too, not so big as this one, but better than the place we were in before."

 

"Where were you before?" asked Yukino curiously.

 

"The southern lands," said Haruka with a grin, rocking back on her heels. "It's warmer there and it has beaches."

 

"Do you miss it?" Yukino questioned, feeling a bit embarrassed and wondering why she was asking so many questions but somehow not able to help herself. She wasn't a particularly shy or outgoing person, instead she tended to keep to herself, and she found herself rather perplexed at her sudden need to interact with the girl in front of her even if she knew her to be the daughter of a friend of her father's.

 

Releasing a noise of bored disagreement, a grunt of sorts, Haruka shook her head and put her hands behind her head, grinning at Yukino as she said, "Not really. I kinda like moving, you get to see everything that way. But Mother says we're staying here awhile." She fixed her gaze on the large book that was now in Yukino's lap and said, "What's it about anyway?"

 

"A lot of things," said Yukino slowly. "Knights, princesses, it even has monsters."

 

"Yeah?" Haruka's eyes shone brightly and she sat next to Yukino on the lawn, gazing at her curiously. "What kind? Scary ones?"

 

There was something about how the blonde girl's eyes had a sparkle to them, a friendly eagerness that charmed Yukino, and she found herself smiling. In school she was left to her own devices, testing having placed her several grades ahead of children her own age. She was young enough that the older students felt guilty if anyone was to tease her but at the same time she was too intimidating in her intelligence and family connections for anyone to begin a friendly interaction with her and so she was simply left alone. Solitary for most of the day until she returned home to her parents who were the only ones who treated her like a normal person, not someone to be quietly examined for their oddities and gossiped about behind their back. At least, until this girl, Haruka Armitage, who didn't seem to realize any of that.

 

"Some are scary," replied Yukino, smiling and opening the book to a picture of a massive creature that had the heads of several serpents and was descending to attack the Knight in the story. "This one is scary, I think."

 

"Ah, it's a separable!" Haruka exclaimed, excitement in her voice, and Yukino blinked.

 

"Did you mean serpent?" asked Yukino, a touch of humor in her voice as she looked at the younger girl.

 

"That's what I said," blustered Haruka and she noticed the humor in Yukino's eyes and she frowned. "Didn't I?" she asked, her forehead scrunching up, rubbing the back of her head in an act of confused consideration.

 

"You said it was a separable," said Yukino gently. "I could tell what you meant though."

 

"Oh," said Haruka and there was a flush of embarrassment to her cheeks. "I get words mixed up sometimes. I don't know why." She turned to Yukino and there was a honest curiosity in her eyes as she asked, "You ever do that? Think one thing but say something else?"

 

In response, Yukino shook her head no and Haruka looked disheartened at this and something about seeing that expression on the blonde's face, one that had been so open and friendly since the moment she first introduced herself bothered Yukino. She didn't like it looking that way. It didn't suit the other girl, not in the least. Perhaps that's why she found herself saying quickly, "Maybe it's just that your brain goes too fast for your mouth and it can't keep up? You could slow down before you talk and think and maybe the right word would come out."

 

"Maybe," said Haruka slowly. She flopped onto her back and stared up at the sky. "I don't like thinking much."

 

Laughing at this, Yukino responded, her tones lightly teasing, "But everyone thinks."

 

"Not me," said Haruka stubbornly, looking at Yukino and forming a wild and somewhat rakish grin. She made a fist and declared, "I'm a woman of action! Just like mother and father. Thinking should be for smart people."

 

Wondering how Haruka's father could possibly be called a woman of action when he wasn't female, Yukino smiled and was quietly amused at the statement. "I'm sure you're smart, Haruka-chan," Yukino said and she automatically placed the fond endearment onto the other girl's name, not quite able to help it, just like she couldn't help the strange affection she found herself forming for the blonde. "You'll be going to Caeles Academy, won't you? That's my school and it's a school for very smart people."

 

"What grade are you in?" asked Haruka, turning her attention to Yukino. "I'd like to be in your class."

 

Blushing at this statement, Yukino ducked her head and she wondered what it would be like, being in the same class with someone like Haruka, who wasn't intimidated by who her parents were and how high she placed in her testing. Someone who just spoke to her like another person and didn't have any artifice about them. She thought it would be a very wonderful thing indeed. "I'd like that too," Yukino murmured.

 

"So," said Haruka, prodding Yukino in the side, causing the girl to blush darker. "What grade?"

 

"Sixth year," Yukino replied and she swore her face never felt this hot when she heard Haruka whistle on hearing this.

 

"I thought you were my age," said Haruka. "Or are you just really smart?"

 

"I'm nine," said Yukino and she looked at the book in her lap, absently flipping through the pages. "When I took the entrance exams I placed higher than the other kids my age. Everyone else in my class is older."

 

Haruka released a sort of muttering noise then she scratched her cheek as she stared at Yukino. "You should be plod, you know," she remarked. "Being that smart. I'm seven and I got placed right where I should. Second year. Sorta boring that I'm only good at sports."

 

"Proud," Yukino found herself correcting automatically and when Haruka blinked she smiled sweetly. "You said I should be plod."

 

Rolling her eyes, Haruka gazed up at Yukino and said stubbornly, "You know what I mean."

 

"Yes," said Yukino quietly. "I do and I am, I guess. It just getsÉ" She trailed off, not sure if she wanted to say so much. It was true she felt an instantaneous bond with the other girl, a strange comfort in her presence, but she had never told anyone this. Not even her parents who were the closest people to her. She was afraid it would upset them too much.

 

"Gets what?" Haruka asked and Yukino turned to her, seeing the earnest look in violet eyes, Yukino felt compelled to answer truthfully.

 

"Lonely, I guess," admitted Yukino, her gaze steady with Haruka's. "I'm the only one my age in class and no one talks to me."

 

Frowning at this, Haruka's voice was fierce as she demanded, "They don't pick on you, do they? The older kids."

 

"No," said Yukino quickly, shaking her head. "They leave me alone. Everyone at school just leaves me alone."

 

The frown still firmly cemented on her features, Haruka scooted up into a sitting position and she placed her hands firmly on Yukino's shoulders, causing the older girl to look at her. "I won't," Haruka declared and when Yukino blinked, she continued, "I won't leave you alone."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino whispered her name and she could feel tears in her eyes and she didn't know why but she wanted to cry.

 

"After all," Haruka went on, a wide grin on her features. "We're friends, aren't we?"

 

"Yes," said Yukino, agreeing without even thinking about it. She never had a friend before, not a real one, she read about them in her books, she knew what they were and she saw the other kids at school, in her class with their friends but she never had one of her own. Still, she knew what one was and she thought she knew the feeling you should have around a real friend. A happy and content feeling and that was what she had from the very first moment she spent with Haruka. That made them friends, didn't it? "We are."

 

An hour later, Haruka's mother called for her and the blonde girl said her goodbyes, wrapping Yukino up in a hug and promising to see her soon, adding she wanted Yukino's help with her homework, her being so smart. Then she ran off to her parents, caught up in the arms of her father who laughed and swung Haruka in his arms before placing her on his shoulders and Yukino watched them with envious eyes. Her parents loved her, yes, she knew that, she felt that, but they were quiet, restrained, and formal in their affection. Nothing at all like the Armitages who were loud, open, and gregarious in their love for each other, not seeming to care in the least who witnessed it.

 

Though she was only nine, Yukino knew instinctively she wanted to have that for herself someday.

 

---

 

The next day at school was the same as always. Yukino was set apart from others. Left alone in class and at lunch except for that moment in the morning when Haruka greeted her enthusiastically before the bell rang, signaling they had to go to their classes. Watching Haruka go, taking her friendly smile with her, Yukino wished for the first time she wasn't quite as smart as she was, that she was normal. If she was she might have the same lunch period as Haruka and she would be able to spend some time with her at school. She wasn't normal though, she never had been and Yukino resigned herself to her usual existence, concentrating on her studies, and forcing herself to forget the loneliness.

 

She liked being outside when she was at home. Yukino wasn't particularly active, she didn't excel in sports or the physical, but she enjoyed the cool breeze and the soft grass. There was a comfort in it and being outside helped her forget how empty her home seemed without her parents who often worked late into the night in their respective jobs as Senator for the state of Sol and head of the Spirit of Aries, the largest charitable organization in their country. Yukino was reading another book, a large and dusty text she had found in her father's study, called The Heart Of An Otome. The book was an educational text from the Otome training academy, Garderobe, in Windbloom and she had only read a few pages when she heard her name called in the distance. Lifting her head, Yukino's green eyes widened as she observed Haruka flying down a large hill on a bicycle.

 

Fast, Yukino thought, she was going far too fast, and she watched in horror as the younger girl crashed the bike, tumbling off of it and landing face first in the grass. Dropping her book on the ground and taking off in a run, her breath coming in short bursts when she reached Haruka who was rubbing her head and wearing a sheepish grin by the time Yukino arrived.

 

"Haruka-chan!" Yukino said her name breathlessly, worry lacing her tones. "Are you all right?"

 

"I'm fine," Haruka grunted, brushing the grass off her clothing, and tilting her head from one side to another. "I do it all the time."

 

"Crash your bicycle?" asked Yukino in disbelief.

 

Releasing a noise of agreement, Haruka lifted up her bike, looking at the other girl with a serious gaze. "Happens when you go fat," she explained, kneeling down to fix the chain which had gotten tangled thanks to the crash.

 

"Fast," corrected Yukino automatically. Studying the younger girl, she continued, "Are you sure you're not hurt?"

 

"I'm sure," Haruka said, standing up after she fixed the chain. "I fall all the time. I get kicked and punched too, in training."

 

"Training?" questioned Yukino, walking alongside Haruka as they headed back towards the large tree where Yukino had been sitting.

 

Nodding her head firmly, Haruka said, "I train every day with mother and father. It's fun but I get hurt sometimes, especially when there's sparring. But I haven't done that in awhile. I have to find a new Sensei and class since we moved."

 

"They make you fight?" asked Yukino, a little horrified at the thought. She knew Daisuke and Kaoru Armitage were from military families, that they both were dedicated to the army, but the idea that they made her new friend fight and hurt herself, it seemed so very wrong.

 

"No," Haruka said, looking at Yukino as if she were a bit crazy. "I asked to learn. It's good to know how to fight, to protect yourself."

 

"Oh," said Yukino quietly, blushing heavily and feeling embarrassed to think badly of Haruka's parents.

 

"What were you doing? Reading again?" asked Haruka as they neared the large tree that served as Yukino's outdoor sanctuary.

 

"Yes, a different book though," said Yukino, leaning down to pick it up and hand it to Haruka who squinted at the cover.

 

"Otome," Haruka said in soft and reverent tones. "Does it say in here how you can become one?"

 

"Not so far," said Yukino, sitting on the ground and watching as Haruka followed.

 

"I want to be one," revealed Haruka, still staring at the cover of the book, a grave look on her features. "Meister Eva Blomquist saved my mother once. I saw footage, she was strong, and I want to be strong like that. To protect everyone in Aries like she does."

 

"We can read it together," suggested Yukino, blushing when Haruka fixed a determined gaze on her. "If you want."

 

"Please," said Haruka and the way she said it, with such solemn intent, made Yukino think it wasn't a word she uttered often.

 

---

 

Every day after school Haruka would come over to visit. Sometimes later than others, her parents had managed to find a new Sensei for her and she was back at her training, and more than once she'd come bearing bandages from some scuffle or another, but always waving off Yukino's concern. It had taken two weeks for them to complete The Heart Of An Otome and once they finished reading it, there was an increased fervor on Haruka's part to focus on her training and her ultimate goal to enter Garderobe Academy and become an Otome. In Aries the only people who could have Otomes were high ranking members of the military or important political figures such as the President. Yukino's father, as a long standing Senator, had an Otome for several years.

 

Due to this, it was the Aries government which sponsored Otome candidates for Garderobe, instead of private individuals. This meant girls who wished to become an Otome in Aries had to first pass the exam given by their own country before they could move onto the actual entrance exam at Garderobe. This wasn't something Yukino was even aware of until she met Haruka who was forever training for the sponsorship exam, her goal fixed and focused on her mind, enough that Yukino was envious of it.

 

"What does Yukino want to do?" Haruka asked, huffing and puffing as she went through her kata, grinning rakishly at Yukino as she punched at kicked at the air. "Something smart, I bet. Just like Yukino."

 

What did she want to do? She wasn't really sure. She wished she knew like Haruka did. Had that sort of steadfast knowledge of her future and what she wanted to do with it. They were young though, it wasn't like she had to know right away. She told Haruka this who grunted in reluctant agreement then she said something that unwittingly would change the rest of their lives.

 

"Yukino should be President of Aries, she's so smart," Haruka said resolutely, still going through her kata. "She should be President and I'll be her Otome and we'll be together forever."

 

It was such an innocent thing, such a small statement, but it put an idea in Yukino's head and the more time she spent with Haruka the more she knew she wanted to be with her. Haruka was her first real friend, after all, the first person who treated her normally, who didn't have the smallest hint of hesitation around her, who didn't think twice about who her parents were and how she skipped all those grades. Haruka just seemed to like her for who she was and Yukino couldn't imagine anything better than being with her forever and the idea, it kept permeating in her brain, rumbling around and she wondered, was she really smart enough to be President like Haruka said?

 

More and more, the scenario appealed to her, enough that she stood in front of the mirror before she went to bed, and found herself practicing her introduction as the President of Aries, Yukino Chrysant, much to the amusement of her silently observing parents.

 

---

 

It was funny how people could change each other's lives. Yukino hadn't been shy before she met Haruka but she wasn't particularly outgoing either. She didn't make any attempts to speak with the students in her class anymore than they did to her. Meeting Haruka had changed something in her though, maybe it was Haruka's friendliness, how she kept her promise and didn't ignore her at school but slowly Yukino found herself speaking to the other students. Soon they lost whatever intimidation they felt due to her intelligence and her parents influence and they simply spoke to her as one person would another.

 

That innocent remark of Haruka's, that she should become President of Aries and Haruka would be her Otome, it remained in Yukino's mind and when it was suggested in her tenth year that she should run for Student Council President, she thought it would be a good way to see if this sort of work was something suited to her. She could only glean so much from observing her father here and there and he had been a Senator for so very long that her mother often said politics had warped his opinion of public service. Though her father did love the good he did at his job he wasn't one to encourage his daughter to go into the same line of work due to the problems he had over the years.

 

Despite her much younger age, Yukino easily won the election and the one after that and the one after that. Her last three years at school were spent heading up the Student Council and though it was time consuming work that often left her frazzled Yukino found she enjoyed it. Much like her father she loved helping people and she loved the idea she had the power, the influence, to lend that help and for the first time she found her intelligence put to a good use, her mind challenged by the problems set before her as President.

 

If Yukino was busy with her duties at the Student Council President than Haruka was just as busy in her training for the sponsorship exam for Garderobe. Five years had passed since Yukino first met Haruka and in that time Haruka hadn't wavered in the slightest in her desire to be an Otome. In fact, at the end of this year the younger girl would be taking the sponsorship exam given by the Aries military and as that time grew nearer Haruka was able to spend less of her time with Yukino, much to the brunette's disappointment. She saw the blonde daily though, Haruka faithfully came over to her house after she finished her training, no matter how late the visits might come.

 

Rolling her neck in a circle and sighing at the familiar sound of a pop, Yukino removed her glasses and rubbed at her eyes. Her eyes were either getting worse or she becoming tired. Glancing at the clock at the wall, Yukino squinted and saw it was just past five o'clock. Deciding she had done as much work as she could without making any mistakes due to lack of sleep or just plain inattention, Yukino pushed herself away from the desk and started to gather up her things, preparing to finally head home.

 

Just as she went about doing this, the figure of her Vice President, Blanche Liang, walked through the door. "President," she greeted.

 

"Blanche," said Yukino with a smile. "Did you need something?"

 

Shaking her head no, Blanche hopped up to sit on top of one of the desks. There was an easy confidence the older girl had that reminded Yukino so much of Haruka. Perhaps that's how she came to depend so much on her in her role as Vice President. "Graduation is coming," Blanche remarked casually, a little too casually, and Yukino raised an eyebrow in a curious but silent demand. Laughing at this, Blanche leaned back on her hands and said, "I'm no good at fooling you, am I?"

 

"You tend to be obvious," said Yukino quietly, though her tone was fond.

 

"The dance," said Blanche in dramatic tones that came out in a large breath. "Don't you think you should go? It is our last one. I always accepted your reasons for never going before because you're younger than everyone else in our grade but this time--"

 

"My reason is the same," said Yukino firmly. "I don't want to go and no one has asked me."

 

"Quinton would if he wasn't sure you'd say no," Blanche informed eagerly and Yukino's eyes widened in surprise on hearing this.

 

"You're lying, and I told you, I don't want to go," Yukino enforced strongly, picking up her bag and quickly exiting the Student Council room before Blanche could follow after her. One step after another, faster and faster, Yukino rushed through the halls until she was at the front of the school and greeted by her family's driver who was always so very good and patient to wait until she was done with school business to take her home. Thanking him as was her automatic habit and feeling a genuine gratitude for his patience with her, Yukino sat in the back of the car and stared out the window, watching the scenery of Caeles as they slowly left school grounds.

 

It was immature and a little childish, what she did to Blanche, running out on her but Yukino knew if she stayed in that room her Vice President would wheedle her down just like she always did and she might end up agreeing to accompany Quinton to the dance and while he was a very kind person that wasn't something she particularly wanted. At first she thought her reluctance to date and spend time with boys was due to the fact she was younger than everyone else in her class but the more time she spent with her friends the more she realized the way they spoke about the boys they liked was the way she felt about Haruka. That same preoccupation, her thoughts always drifting to the person, day dreaming about them, analyzing every little thing they did, she did that with Haruka, just like she wanted to spend all her time with her. Resting her forehead against the car window, she watched as they neared the grounds of her family estate and wondered how Haruka felt about her. Haruka readily said she was her best friend, that she cared for Yukino above all her other friends, but somehow she doubted that the blonde shared the same feelings that she was experiencing.

 

The car came to slow stop and Yukino was immediately greeted by the distant shout of her name when she exited the vehicle. Adjusting her bag over her shoulder, she smiled at the sight of Haruka hanging upside down on one of the large branches of the tree that had been their usual meeting place since they day they met. The blonde was dressed in her training clothes that consisted of a pair of loose black pants and a matching black tank top that was tucked in. When Yukino reached her, Haruka grinned down at her, placing her hand lightly on top of the brunette's always haphazard head of hair.

 

"Working late?" asked Haruka knowingly.

 

"Just a little," said Yukino, setting her bag on the ground. Staring up at her friend, she wore a rueful expression and chided, "You'll get dizzy if you hang upside down like that for too long, Haruka-chan. It can't be good for you."

 

Releasing a dismissive noise, Haruka swung back and forth, her body moving up for several abdomen crunches. "It only makes you dizzy until you get used to it. Trust me, it's good training," said Haruka wisely.

 

"If you say so," said Yukino skeptically. "I just don't think it's safe, you being up that high."

 

"Otomes fly right?" Haruka pointed out, doing several more crunches. "I can't be scared of heights if I want to be one. In fact, I can't be scared of anything. An Otome needs guts! That's what my parents say."

 

Having heard this argument several times from her friend, Yukino murmured her agreement and sat underneath the tree. Her bag in her lap, she rooted through it until she found the folder filled with Student Council work she had just abandoned. Flipping through the pages, Yukino tried to focus on the task at hand but once again found her focus drifting. Listening to the sounds of Haruka's quiet grunts and counting as she continued her exercise routine, Yukino once again found her thoughts focused on the other girl. Haruka was an anomaly to Yukino, everyone else in her life was easily figured out, even her own parents, but as simple as Haruka appeared on the outside she had a strength, an intense drive, and a focus that Yukino envied. She knew Haruka's reasons for wanting to become an Otome, how she admired the good they could do in the world, and how she felt that the life of an Otome was suited to her more than anything else but Yukino couldn't quite grasp the idea of Haruka, boisterous, outgoing, and thoroughly opinionated Haruka, deferring to someone for the rest of her life. Making them the center of their world, their choices the most important, forever following their lead, entwining her life totally with theirs to the point if they died, she died with them.

 

Sometimes Yukino thought maybe her desire to go into public service had less to do with helping people and more to do with the idea of keeping Haruka with her. Just the thought of Haruka devoting her life to someone else, protecting them, dying for them, it filled her with an inexplicable misery and Yukino just knew she couldn't let that happen. She did take comfort in the fact that she enjoyed her work as Student Council President and she was good at the job, well liked in the position, and this made her feel a little less selfish in her desires because at least she would be helping other people, even if they didn't know the driving force behind her ambitions.

 

At first, she thought she'd grow out of it. This attachment she had to Haruka, she thought it had to do with the fact Haruka was her first friend, and the person who brought her out of her shell, who helped her discover what she was truly good at in her work with the Student Council, but as she got older and that attachment only strengthened Yukino knew this wasn't something she would grow out of. It wasn't something caused from her immaturity and youth, it was something far deeper than that, and Haruka's world had become her world and Haruka's life her own life. The way she felt for the younger girl, it was something out of those old fairy tales she used to read, with the handsome knight and the beautiful princess but with Haruka and herself in their places. Haruka had saved her from a life of loneliness and isolation and Yukino loved her for that, she loved her desperately, and she knew that the blonde loved her as well.

 

Only it wasn't the same sort of love.

 

Yukino was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the soft thump of Haruka dropping from the tree to her feet with a slight stumble or hear the blonde grumble as she fell back on her hands. She did, however, notice when Haruka's concerned face appeared just underneath her own, worry floating in violet eyes as Haruka peered up at her.

 

"Yukino," Haruka said her name in that solemn way she often had, the tone that brooked no arguments, the one that told Yukino how very serious the blonde was taking the matter at hand. "What's wrong?"

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino breathed her name more than she said it. She wanted so very badly to tell Haruka what she had been thinking, to talk to her about all these feelings she had been bottling up over the past year, ever since she realized the reason she couldn't like any of the boys in her class was because she already liked Haruka. That was what she wanted but it wasn't what she was going to do, saying something like that to Haruka, it would be disastrous, and it wouldn't do any good. She loved her friend endlessly but Yukino wasn't a fool, she knew the differences between them. Haruka was brilliant in sports, anything physical, and when she studied she tested well in school though she hardly enjoyed it but she wasn't the most intuitive or clever person. Besides that, Haruka was younger than her, just twelve and if Yukino barely understood what she felt at fourteen and in her twelfth year of schooling how could Haruka when she was only in her sixth? It just wasn't possible to tell her the truth of things, no matter how much she might want it. "It's nothing."

 

"Are you sure?" asked Haruka earnestly, her eyes squinting as she studied the older girl.

 

Placing her work to one side and leaning back against the tree, Yukino's gaze was lidded and before she could help herself, she was reaching out to touch Haruka's cheek. The blonde's skin was soft to her touch, like the silk sheets her father brought from far off Zipang on a diplomatic mission, and Yukino wanted to sigh when she touched it, the feeling was that pleasing to her. "I'm sure," she said quietly, giving a smile of reassurance to Haruka whose brow furrowed when Yukino said this.

 

That frown remained on Haruka's face for what seemed like countless moments then she grumbled under her breath, flopping down on the ground and resting her head in Yukino's lap. Gazing up at the brunette, Haruka had something of a scowl on her features but it was softened by the fondness in her tones as she declared, "You'll have to tell me eventually." Haruka pointed a decisive finger up at Yukino, wagging it at her as if she were some sort of naughty puppy to be punished. "You know that's true."

 

"Yes, Haruka-chan," Yukino said in agreement because she knew it was the truth. That eventually she would have to tell Haruka these thoughts but not now, not anytime soon, not until she was sure that the blonde would understand what she needed to say. Brushing her fingers through thick blonde bangs, rubbing the fine hairs between her fingers, she murmured, "I can't keep secrets from you."

 

"But you do," said Haruka obstinately, staring at Yukino, her brow furrowed again. "You're so mystagogy! You've gotten that way the past year." Rolling over slightly, she examined the other girl under a close gaze and she said, "Is it because you're about to graduate?"

 

"Mysterious," corrected Yukino automatically, a smiling tugging on her lips. Fixing Haruka's verbal follies had become second nature to her and Yukino wondered if they were separated and Haruka became an Otome and she wasn't with her, would Haruka's Master do it for her? Or would they roll their eyes and make fun of her behind her back like so many did at their school?

 

"I said that!" Haruka huffed, cheeks puffing out and Yukino's smile grew larger and she had to hold herself back from kissing the blonde's head, she found the act that endearing. "Well?" Haruka demanded rather impatiently. "Is that it? You worried about graduating?" When Yukino didn't reply her frown deepened and Haruka looked off in the distance, her voice quiet as she said, "Lately I don't know what you're thinking. It bugs me because, before, I always did for the most part. Even with you being smarter than me." Yukino started to protest this and Haruka silenced her with a hard stare and continued, "I know I still mix up my words and I don't catch on so fast, even with people my age, but especially not with the older ones in your class but I still think I could help you if you'd let me."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino's voice cracked as she said her name and her vision blurred with tears. "I'm sorry."

 

Everything was a blur and it wasn't just from the tears because she felt Haruka's hands, warm and callused but so gentle as they removed her glasses, wiping away her tears with the pads of her thumbs. "Don't cry," Haruka's gruff instruction met her ears and it was terribly kind despite its tone and Yukino cried again. She loved the blonde so very much, she couldn't imagine her life without her, so why did it have to be so very confusing? Why did she have such fear for the first time in her life? Maybe because for the first time, she had something that she was actually afraid of losing. "Don't cry," Haruka said again and her breath was hot on Yukino's skin as she pulled the brunette into a hug. Yukino collapsed gratefully into the blonde's arms, wondering if it was her Otome training that made them so very strong yet comforting in their hold, but thinking it more had to with the fact it was simply Haruka. Hands moved in a slow steady circle on her back, rubbing it in a tentative movement, and she vaguely heard Haruka mutter, "Yukino never cries. Something must be wrong."

 

And it was true, she never cried before this, not anytime that she could remember at least. Yukino tended to think everything through logically, that was how problems were solved and that's how she lived her life. Then she met Haruka and she wasn't someone who did things logically, she operated on instinct, her heart, often asserting the validity of going with her guts. Something Yukino theorized was akin to guessing but without any fear of failure. Part of her wanted things to go back to how they used to be, before she realized what these feelings for Haruka meant, but she knew that was impossible, once a person moves forward in their life mentally or emotionally it's next to impossible to move backwards. Not that she really wanted to, it was good to move forward, and she hoped Haruka would move with her. The girl was certainly fixated on her future goals and Yukino seemed to be a large part of that. Whenever Haruka discussed her life as an Otome she immediately declared that Yukino would be her Master as if there was no other choice in the matter.

 

Maybe there wasn't, maybe they had a great guiding force that would keep them together, that was what Yukino was hoping because imagining life without Haruka at her side was too unbearably lonely. "Haruka-chan," she finally murmured, pulling away from the blonde's embrace and looking into concerned violet eyes that silently asked for the truth, that wanted to know why she had been crying, and she wanted to tell Haruka but she couldn't. "I'm sorry." Pulling away, she rubbed at her eyes, feeling utterly ridiculous and knowing she should be stronger than this, that she was stronger than this. "I didn't mean to cry all over you."

 

Rolling her eyes and giving a dismissive mumble, Haruka tilted her head and gazed at Yukino rather suspiciously. "You don't cry," she stated quite plainly. "Tell me what's wrong. It is graduating, isn't it? You don't know what university to go to? Or you're afraid you'll be left alone like you were before because I'll be at Garderobe?"

 

"No," Yukino shook her head, staring at the grass, picking at it absently. She wasn't scared of that anymore. These past years on the Student Council and her friendship with Haruka had brought her out of her shell. As much as she would miss Haruka if they were apart she knew she would be able to make friends at whatever university she attended despite being younger than the other students. It wasn't so much the temporary separation from the other girl while they were at their respective schools that frightened her so much as the possible permanent one if Haruka became an Otome and Yukino wasn't her Master. "It's not that. I think things are just changing too fast but I'm not worried about being alone." Hearing this, Haruka's face screwed up into an expression of utter confusion and Yukino couldn't help but laugh fondly and reach out to touch the small frown lines that appeared on the other girl's face which deepened upon hearing her laughter. "Haruka-chan will always be my most important person," she found herself confessing.

 

"Me too," Haruka muttered, giving a noise of agreement. "Yukino will always be mine too."

 

Forming a soft smile at this, a wave of happiness suffusing her on hearing these words, Yukino knew however much it hurt, however confusing things became, it was worth it to wait for Haruka because in the end, she was sure they would feel the same. It was just that she was a little bit quicker when it came to realizing things but she was sure Haruka would catch up in the end.

 

She always did.

 

---

 

As the sponsorship exam for Garderobe neared Yukino saw less and less of Haruka as she became focused on her training. They still met one another daily but the visits were shorter in length, sometimes just a few minutes, but Yukino was always grateful for them, to know as much as being an Otome meant to Haruka she was just as important to the blonde. Her own graduation was approaching and after having the required meeting with the academic advisor at Caeles Academy she applied to her chosen universities. While she had a good deal of confidence in her ability to be accepted to all of the schools one in particular mattered to her more than the others and it was this school which caused her mother to confront her on the application choices, a look of concern on her features.

 

There was a knock on her bedroom door and moments after she said come in, Yukino was greeted by her mother hovering in the doorway, hand against the wall and a worried frown tugging at her mouth. "Yukino," said Ume slowly, taking a step into the room. "I was just speaking with your advisor from school. She tells me you've applied to Windbloom University?"

 

"Yes," said Yukino, a matching frown forming as she sat on her bed, observing her mother as she approached. "I'd like to go there."

 

"May I ask why?" Ume inquired and she sounded genuinely perplexed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she neatly smoothed out her skirt and continued, "I realize that you probably want to leave the nest and see the world but you must realize because Aries is the only truly free and democratic nation that our universities are the finest. We allow our students to speak their minds and without the enforced class system created by nobles and royalty everyone who wishes it is granted the finest education our country can offer. Windbloom is a lovely country but in comparison to Aries, you must recognize how it is lacking."

 

She could be completely honest with her mother and tell her the reason she was considering Windbloom above all others was the fact it was strategically located next to Garderobe but she didn't want to do that. Yukino knew her mother would look down on such reasoning and she was sure that the older woman was partially aware this had to be part of her motivation anyway. In the end, Yukino decided that it was best to tell her mother the truth but in a more subdued and careful explanation.

 

"I love my work on the Student Council," said Yukino and there was a warmth, a happiness, in her voice as she said this because it was the truth. She did love her work and she wanted to continue it when she attended university. "I want to see if I would be suited to following in father's footsteps, becoming a public servant, an elected official as he is. I think a good way of finding out would be to attend a school that has a good foreign relations department and Windbloom University has the best in all of Earl."

 

"Your father is a Senator for Aries, not for the other countries in Earl," said Ume kindly but a bit pointedly.

 

"I know that but doesn't he work with the other countries? Doesn't everyone on the Senate?" Yukino pursued doggedly, not wanting to give up her choice for schooling so easily. It was true she wanted to be at Windbloom University to be closer to Haruka but she wasn't lying when she said they had the best foreign relations department out of all the schools she was applying to.

 

"Yukino," Ume said her name with a heavy sigh. "Are you sure this isn't about Haruka? She's been saying ever since she was a child that she wants to attend Garderobe and I know very well she's taking the sponsorship exam next month. I know you're attached to her but planning your entire future around another person at your age isn't the wisest decision--"

 

"It's not about Haruka," said Yukino, wincing inwardly because she knew that a portion of that was a lie. "This is about me and what I want to do. I'll admit that I'm glad she'll be close to me, that I'll be able to see more of her if I attend Windbloom but what I want to do, it can't be about just Haruka. I want her to be a part of it, just like I want her to always be in my life, but I'm the one who will be studying at the university, Mother, not Haruka, and I want to do that at Windbloom."

 

"Very well," said Ume, giving another sigh and rising to her feet. "Your father and I have always encouraged you to go as far as you could with your education, to be independent in your decision making, and if you truly believe that the next logical step in your advancement is to study at Windbloom University then we'll support that decision."

 

"Thank you, Mother," said Yukino gratefully, her eyes shining.

 

"Just be sure to tell those other students which country has the most brilliant and fair minded political system," Ume insisted, smiling when Yukino laughed at her words. "Yukino," she murmured her name soft and sweetly, the love she felt clearly evident as she said it. "Always know that we are proud of you and nothing you do could ever change that."

 

"I know," said Yukino and her cheeks were red with a blush.

 

Chuckling at this, Ume headed out the door only to poke her head back through and remark, "Your father and I are also quite fond of Haruka. He's planning on supporting the equal marriage act that is currently proposed in the Senate."

 

"Mother!" Yukino exclaimed, her entire face red and a mortified expression forming on her features.

 

"As I thought," said Ume, sounding altogether pleased, clucking her tongue. "It does have to do with her."

 

With that said, she was finally gone, the door clicking shut behind her to leave Yukino thoroughly embarrassed and wondering exactly how much her parents knew about her developing feelings for Haruka and not really wanting to discover the answer.

 

---

 

Spinning the long staff in her grip, Haruka narrowed her eyes and watched as her mother circled around her. The words of her father echoed in her mind, to always charge in, to have guts, to attack first but they warred with the advice of her Sensei and her mother that said to think about what path it is you wanted to take before you headed down it. In the end, Haruka blocked the thoughts from her mind and she moved on pure instinct. Whenever she fought she couldn't think, not too much, because if she did then the fear could set in, the fear of being hurt, of hurting others, of not being good enough but as long as she kept moving and pushed these thoughts from her mind, if she focused on feeling, instinct, and her guts she would find the courage deep down inside her and she'd always succeed.

 

And so she fell to the ground in a crouch, sweeping the long staff in her hand and connecting with her mother's shins, causing the other woman to fall onto her back. An expulsion of air and a grunt of pain passed Kaoru's lips and before she could respond, Haruka's weight was on her chest and she felt the steady press of the long staff against her throat. Looking up at her daughter and recognizing that triumphant look as the same one Daisuke always had whenever he was sure that he was the winner, Kaoru narrowed her eyes.

 

"Training is over," grumbled Kaoru, her hands gripping her daughter's long staff. "You win this session."

 

The grin that Haruka wore on her face only increased though it shifted with laughter as her mother leapt to her feet and gathered her up in a hug, her fingers moving insistently at her daughter's side, tickling her until she was red in the face. After Haruka gave a gasp of surrender, she ceased her attack and the girl gazed up at her mother, an admiring sheen in her eyes as she asked, "So? Was I good enough?"

 

Releasing a thoughtful noise and rotating her back, Kaoru studied her daughter's hopeful expression. Part of her wanted to tease just because it was terribly endearing in the way that Haruka would huff in indignation just like her father but she couldn't quite bring herself to do that, not with those eyes so bright and eager.

 

"You did very well," said Kaoru solemnly, placing her hand on top of Haruka's head and smiling at her. "I'm sure you'll pass the sponsorship exam." She paused to study Haruka for a long moment and not for the first time she wondered if perhaps her daughter wasn't somehow influenced by her parents careers, if they somehow made her feel as if this was the only path for her, going into the military to serve and protect their country. "Honey," she said slowly, her energetic tones unusually gentle. "Are you sure this is what you want? The life of an Otome isn't an easy one. It's even harder than the life your father and I have being in the army. We take orders, just like an Otome does but it isn't the same. Our lives are our own, we can get married, have personal lives, romantic relationships, and Otomes serve their Masters until retirement. There isn't time for anything else and your life would always be linked to your Master's."

 

"Meister Blomquist saved you, she saved everybody," Haruka said quietly. "I watched it on the television. You would have died fighting that slave but she showed up and she saved everybody and I want to be like her. I want to be able to save people in trouble too."

 

"Haruka," Kaoru said her name in a murmur. "You don't have to be an Otome to do that."

 

"I want to do it," said Haruka stubbornly, her jaw setting and her eyes getting an all too familiar determined gleam. "I'm the one who's got to take all the tests so I'm the one who should decide, shouldn't I? And I want to do it."

 

"She sounds convinced," Daisuke's voice floated into their small family training room and they turned to greet the General who stood in the doorway, pulling his tie loose from around his neck and rumpling his uniform in the process. Walking towards his wife and daughter, his gaze was steady with Haruka's and he said, "Your mother is right, you know. You don't have to be an Otome to protect people. She and I do that in our work for the army and so do the members of our national police force."

 

"I want to be an Otome," Haruka enforced, folding her arms over her chest for emphasis. Her eyes moved suspiciously from one parent to the other and she said, "Is this a erotological game? Are you trying to trick me into saying it's not what I want?"

 

Knowing that Haruka meant to say psychological, her parents exchanged an affectionate glance between them, and together they lay their hands on the top of her hand, ruffling her hair and wearing proud smiles. "Then be the best," said Daisuke, his tone warm but commanding.

 

Releasing a noise of strong affirmation, Haruka nodded her head and grinned widely.

 

"Why don't you take a shower?" Kaoru suggested, sliding her hand from Haruka's head to hold her husband's. "We'll have dinner ready by the time you're done. Maybe even have a second helping prepared since you've worked so hard at training today."

 

Offering her thanks to her mother, Haruka turned on her heel and ran out of the training room, her feet pounding a path on the stairs while she headed up to her room. She knew it all had to be some sort of mind game her parents were putting her through, asking her if she really wanted to be an Otome after she trained years for it, and with the sponsorship exam coming up just next month. Haruka supposed she understood their reasons though. It wouldn't be good for someone to take the sponsorship exam, pass, get into Garderobe, and spend the tax dollars of the Aries citizens only to drop out or never become an Otome at all because they weren't sure.

 

Haruka was sure though, she knew that she wanted to be an Otome ever since she watched Meister Blomquist save her mother and all those people. She wanted to have that power, that ability, to save many and all with her own hands. She knew it wasn't easy, living the life of an Otome, but there was that promise she made with Yukino, it helped her feel better about things. Taking orders wasn't something that Haruka really liked but she was used to it with her parents and dealing with the military, moving from place to place, and reading that book about the Otome with Yukino, learning of the devotion they had to have for their Master, the absolute obedience they had to grant them, and the fact that their lives were tied together, it was a little scary. What if her Master wasn't a good person? What if they made bad decisions? What if they weren't doing things that were best for Aries but instead for themselves? Haruka wasn't sure she could live with that even if she had the power of an Otome.

 

The idea that Yukino could be her Master though, that made her feel better, more confident, about the idea. She knew Yukino was the sort of Master she would want to serve, would want to protect with her own life, because Yukino was smart and kind and she always thought about others. Yukino would be the best sort of person an Otome could serve and Haruka wanted to be her Otome, she wanted the two of them to be together, to use Yukino's intelligence and her strength to make Aries a better country and protect it from its enemies.

 

Stepping into the shower and sighing at the feel of the cool water on her skin, Haruka thought about what it would be like to be away from Yukino. She had seen her nearly every day since they first met and when she got into Garderobe she would be in an entirely different country. It was true that Aries and Windbloom shared a border but it wasn't the easiest nor quickest of trips and Garderobe wasn't exactly known for having an easy training program. Otome trainees spent almost all of their time at the academy, barely having breaks, which meant that for all the years she would be attending Garderobe she wouldn't be seeing much of any other country but Windbloom.

 

Being away from Yukino would be hard, even harder than being away from her parents because Haruka was used to not seeing a lot of them. They were often away on missions and their work, and she had learned how to live without them, the tricks of not being lonely, forcing herself to not think about missing them but it would be different, not seeing Yukino. They had been together constantly for five years now and Yukino was the only person she would truly call a friend. Haruka wasn't stupid, she knew people sometimes mocked her for her habit of mixing words up and the way she barreled into situations without thinking first but Yukino never did. She would kindly correct and she would chide and she would suggest other methods of doing things but she never made Haruka feel stupid and she would miss that and her terribly if they were apart. Just like she'd miss Yukino's sweet voice that always seemed to have a quiet affection for her in every word she spoke.

 

Gentle wasn't something Haruka was used to. She grew up not having a lot of nice things, roughing it out, living in sometimes the most dismal of circumstances because of where her parents were stationed and Yukino was the first soft thing, the first gentle thing, Haruka ever encountered in her life. Her parents were never cruel but they never babied her, they taught Haruka it was best to be hard, rough, to form a barrier around yourself and to never take things personally, to take criticisms for what they were and Haruka did that. It never really bothered her, people making fun of her the way they sometimes did but she couldn't help but love Yukino for the fact that she was different, that she was gentle, that she was soft, that she was the first person to treat her with compassion. Haruka didn't want to be apart from that, not even for an instant, even if it was to fulfill the promise they made to one another.

 

Turning off the water and drying herself with a towel, Haruka wiped at the foggy surface of the mirror and studied her reflection. There would be people at Garderobe, people who shared her ambition, her dedication, but despite that she didn't think any of them could ever mean as much to her as Yukino did. There was only one of her in all of Earl and she would be far from Haruka's reach once she entered the Otome training academy. Sometimes she thought that being away from Yukino would be the hardest part of all and the true test of her will.

 

---

 

The night before the Garderobe sponsorship exam Haruka insisted her parents let her spend the night at Yukino's. She arrived at the brunette's house with a bag slung over shoulder and a crooked grin on her features. Yukino was surprised to see the younger girl, sure that she would be busy spending the day in nonstop training, but she greeted her with a happy cry, pulling her inside the house. Supper had long since passed and they hid themselves away in Yukino's room, where Haruka flopped down on the bed with a loud groan, crawling over to Yukino and resting her head in her lap when the older girl sat down.

 

They remained that way for a long time, content to be in one another's company, not feeling a pressing need for conversation. Yukino studied Haruka's features, normally so energetic and full of life, peaceful and at rest, the blonde's eyes fluttering shut. Sifting her fingers through the younger girl's golden hair, enjoying its silky texture, Yukino wondered if Haruka would let another girl do this when she was at Garderobe. She heard things about the Otome academy and she knew quite well romance with men was forbidden to the Otome as it took away their powers but it was supposedly common for them to find comfort in each other. She didn't want to think about that though, Haruka being with another girl, someone who wasn't her, resting her head in their lap as it was her habit to do with Yukino but it wasn't like she had the right to stop such a thing from happening. They weren't a couple and she wasn't even sure the extent of her feelings for the other girl. Yukino loved her, yes, but she didn't understand what that love really was and anytime she started to imagine the things she wanted to do with HarukaÉ

 

"Yukino's face is red," Haruka's lazy voice drifted up to her and Yukino blinked and her hand jerked up, touching her cheek which seemed to burn underneath her fingertips. Haruka lifted her hand, touching the same cheek Yukino just had, her touch tender and curious in its inspection. "What were you thinking about?"

 

"Nothing," said Yukino quickly.

 

Snorting at this, Haruka remarked, "You're always thinking about something, Yukino. You're an inspectoral."

 

"Intellectual," corrected Yukino, laughing when Haruka scowled at her.

 

"I know," Haruka huffed, her cheeks puffing out slightly. "You're not going to tell me are you?"

 

Shaking her head, Yukino played with Haruka's bangs, pushing them back on her forehead and smiling as Haruka rolled her eyes at this gesture. "Are you nervous about the exam?" she asked. "You've been training for so long. Ever since we first met."

 

"Even before that," said Haruka proudly. "I started when I was five."

 

"You knew you wanted to be an Otome when you were five?" asked Yukino, impressed that it was an ambition that had stayed with the blonde for so long. Most small children would forget a thing like that or just move onto another dream but the fact that Haruka steadfastly trained to achieve her goal since that age said something very important about her personality. She wasn't someone who lost interest in something easily nor was she type to give up or give in, once she was given a task, she did everything she could to achieve it. That was why Yukino had little doubt that Haruka would succeed tomorrow because, really, there wasn't any other option.

 

"That was when I saw Meister Blomquist save my mother," Haruka said, peering up at Yukino. "When I saw her defeat that slave I wanted to be like that, to have that same power to help people, and I've been trying my hardest so I could be that kind of person."

 

"I know you'll pass, Haruka-chan," murmured Yukino, a soft smile on her features.

 

Silence and Haruka kept her gaze steady with Yukino's and there was an earnest look on her features and that solemn light in her eyes, the one that always served to make the older girl's stomach have a nervous flutter in the very nicest sort of way. "I'll miss you," Haruka said and her voice was that gruff tone it always had when she was embarrassed but Haruka said the words anyway and Yukino was sure it was because the blonde felt it was something she needed to hear. "I'll miss Yukino more than anyone when I'm at Garderobe."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino whispered her name and there was a wealth of emotion in the way she said it. Her vision was blurry and she knew she had tears in her eyes but she refused to let them fall and worry the blonde with her outburst. Forming her best cheerful smile as she smoothed a lock of hair from Haruka's forehead, Yukino murmured, "You won't have to."

 

In response, Haruka blinked in confusion and Yukino scooted away from the blonde, causing Haruka to roll over on her stomach, observing as Yukino opened the drawer to the small bedside dresser. Removing a neatly folded letter, she handed it to the blonde whose brow was furrowed as she accepted the letter and carefully opened it. Her eyes moving down the page, getting wider with each word she read, a huge grin broke out on her features and she released an exuberant shout, tossing the letter aside and wrapping Yukino up in a hug. The brunette laughed in happy surprise at Haruka's embrace, her arms sliding around the other girl's waist and sinking into her touch, feeling utterly satisfied to be this close to Haruka, to know that she caused that happy reaction. 

 

"Yukino!" Haruka's boisterous accusation rang in her ears and Yukino smiled wider on hearing it. "Why didn't you tell me you were applying to Windbloom University? I've been debiting our separation."

 

"Dreading," said Yukino in a whisper. "And I have too. That's why I applied."

 

"We'll be able to see each other now," said Haruka, pulling away from Yukino, her hands firm on the older girl's shoulders, grinning and wearing an eager expression as she looked into the brunette's eyes. "We won't have to be apart."

 

"That's right," said Yukino and she tried to hold back the tears but they still rang through in her tones but they didn't have a chance to fall, not with Haruka wrapping her up in another hug. Losing herself to the overwhelming comfort that Haruka's embrace always granted her, Yukino closed her eyes and buried her face in the crook of the blonde's neck.

 

"I'll be sure to pass," Haruka declared confidently, her breath hot on Yukino's skin and her hands firm as they held her close. "I'll pass and we can keep the promise we made. You'll see, Yukino. One day I'll be your Otome."

 

---

 

Two minutes and thirty seven seconds was how long it took for Haruka Armitage to pass her sponsorship exam. When she was done and her ten opponents lay defeated on the ground, she faced the panel of officers from the Aries military and asked where were the others.

 

The reaction to her performance was a subdued one but she could recognize the look of satisfaction in the eyes of her parents colleagues and she knew she had tested well indeed. There wasn't any time to for her to celebrate or rest on her laurels. Now that the Aries military had decided to sponsor her application to Garderobe they were going to do everything in their power to make sure she gained entrance and since there was no feasible method of bribing your way into the Otome academy Haruka would have to earn it just like she earned her sponsorship. She would have to work day and night training for the entrance exam. Attending school was out of the question, something long forgotten and dismissed in the face of the magnitude of trying to get into Garderobe.

 

Otome were in limited numbers. There were only so many Meister gems available and the Council had long since decided there should only be a certain amount of Meister Otome in the world. Too many people with those powers, even under a Master's control, was not a good thing. That being so, there were only seventy five places at Garderobe and each year only a limited number of girls could get in, just enough to replace the few who would graduate to become Meisters, had been kicked out, or resigned from the academy.

 

This year they had a mere seven spots available and there would be well over a hundred applicants. In order for Haruka to get into Garderobe and serve Aries as an Otome she would have to defeat all of those other girls who wanted the same thing she did. The only way of making this happen was to be better than them, to train harder, to be smarter, stronger, and more dedicated to her task.

 

Her room at the Caeles military base was a small one. The only furnishings a small cot, a simple desk, and chair. She had stayed in countless places like this before with her parents whenever they were on assignment in some dreary part of their country and Haruka didn't mind it. Her surroundings hardly mattered much, she wasn't there to spend time in her room, she was there to train to become an Otome, to get into Garderobe, and by the time she came home from that training she was so exhausted it was all she could do to change out of her clothes before she collapsed onto the bed to sleep.

 

When she was awake, studying mentally instead of physically, going through the laws that governed the Otome with her tutor, Haruka's mind would wander to Yukino. How was she doing, was she happy, sad, did she miss her? Haruka had only gotten to say a brief goodbye and they'd allowed her a few short phone calls here and there but the closer the entrance exam for Garderobe approached the less free time she had. Haruka wondered if perhaps this wasn't a good sort of preparation for the Otome academy itself though. Certainly she wouldn't get a lot of chance to see Yukino while she was there, even if the brunette was right next door at Windbloom University.

 

Just as she predicted, Haruka found being apart from Yukino, not seeing her every day and being able to speak with her was the thing that was hardest. It was funny, all of the little things she found herself wanting to share with the other girl, to hear her reaction to them and gain her opinion, but most of all she missed hearing Yukino's voice, seeing her smile, and feeling her gentle touch.

 

A week before the exam, Haruka was in her tiny room, resting from her latest training session and trying to ignore the pain in her legs and arms when she heard a knock. Frowning because it was her instructors habit to simply announce themselves and enter the room, Haruka slowly scooted off the bed. Opening the door, she was immediately pushed back as she was embraced in a sudden hug. Breathing in the familiar clean scent and recognizing the haphazard brown hair, Haruka smiled softly and muttered, "Yukino."

 

"Second Lieutenant," one of her instructors murmured, shutting the door to leave the girls in privacy.

 

"You're a Lieutenant?" Yukino's voice was muffled but Haruka could still hear the surprise.

 

"They make everyone who passes the sponsorship exam a Lieutenant," Haruka explained. "You have to be part of the Aries military to become an Otome for our country. Even if I don't make it into Garderobe I'll be under contract for at least ten years."

 

"You'll make it," said Yukino strongly, pulling away from Haruka and smiling as the blonde rested their foreheads together and looked into Yukino's eyes. "I know you will. You've been training so hard, all this time."

 

"How did you get in here? My parents are barely able to visit and they're in the army," said Haruka, genuinely perplexed.

 

"My father is a Senator, remember?" Yukino said in teasing but gentle tones, allowing herself to be pulled over to the bed. She sat down on the small cot, smiling when Haruka went about her usual routine of lying her head in the brunette's lap. Sifting her fingers though Haruka's hair, enjoying the soft texture, Yukino murmured, "I wanted to see you before you took the exam. To wish you good luck, not that I think you'll actually need it. I can't imagine anyone who is more suited to being an Otome and you've been training for so long, I doubt any of the other girls going to take the exam have been working towards it since they were five."

 

Releasing a snort of skepticism, Haruka remarked, "Maybe the brats in Artai. They don't give them much choice."

 

"Yes, well, that's why we broke away from them two hundred and thirteen years ago," said Yukino fondly, pushing Haruka's bangs back from her forehead and rubbing the golden hairs between her fingers. "Our Founders wanted to form a country where the people choose its leaders and have a say in the decisions they make. I don't know about the situation in Artai but you and the other candidates from Aries decided to take the exam of your own free will and I think that will make you stronger than the rest."

 

"I'm going to get in," Haruka said firmly, her tones filled with determination, opening her violet eyes to look up into Yukino's green ones. "I'm going to keep the promise we made to each other, Yukino." She paused and looking off to one side of the tiny room, at the plain white walls, Haruka debated on whether or not to say the rest of it. Part of her wanted to keep silent just because it was so very embarrassing and she didnÕt talk about things like this, emotions, and how she felt. It wasn't who she was but she knew Yukino would want to hear it, that hearing it would make Yukino happy, and that was something Haruka always wanted to do. To make Yukino happy. "The more I studied and found out what it means to be an Otome, how I can't have my own right to choose, how everything has to be decided by my Master, the more scared I got because what if they aren't a good person? Then I remembered our promise," Haruka turned her gaze back to Yukino who was studying her with misty eyes and frowning slightly at the sight of possible tears, the blonde reached up to cup her cheek. "And I'm not scared because it's Yukino and I can trust you, I do trust you, more than anyone in the world. That's why I want to be your Otome."

 

"Haruka-chan," whispered Yukino, the name catching in her throat, and she dropped her head down, closing her eyes and sighing contentedly as she felt Haruka's fingertips caress her skin. "I trust you too. So very much."

 

"We'll make everybody realize Aries the best country in all of Earl," declared Haruka, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Maybe enough that they'll all want to form their own democracies. We could start a political revelation!"

 

"Revolution," Yukino corrected affectionately, chuckling and touching Haruka's cheek when the blonde scowled. "I'd like that."

 

"I want to protect you always," said Haruka, soft and serious. "I know you'll do what's best for Aries and I want to protect you because of that, because of who you are. There's only one Yukino and she should be kept safe."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino said her name again in just a hush, she was sure her face was bright red, her skin had never felt this hot but it was worth it to hear Haruka say those words, to see that earnest look in her eyes that told Yukino everything the blonde said was the truth. It was at times like these, when Haruka was being so guileless and sweet, Yukino thought her heart would burst with how much love she felt for the younger girl. "I want the same thing."

 

"What? To keep me safe?" asked Haruka doubtfully, her face scrunching up in a look of utter confusion.

 

"Yes," said Yukino warmly. "Or is a Master not allowed to want that for their Otome?"

 

Shifting her head in Yukino's lap, Haruka's brow furrowed in concentration and she muttered, "It's not against the rules but it's strange for sure, a Master saying that kind of thing. Though Yukino doesn't like to do things the normal way, does she? Gets boring."

 

"It does," Yukino concurred, giving a laugh. "And nothing great is ever accomplished by not taking chances."

 

Haruka released a soft grunt of agreement and they remained in silence until there was a knock at the door and the blonde recognized the voice of her one of her instructors saying it was time for Yukino to go. Reluctantly they both rose to their feet and started to walk to the door but Yukino paused before they got there, turning to face Haruka as she pulled out a small folded piece of cloth from her pocket.

 

"You know the history of my family," Yukino said this more as a statement than a question. There wasn't a citizen in Aries who didn't know the Chrysants and their legacy as the descendants of one of their nation's democratic founders, Anzai Chrysant, who had helped organize the great rebellion which freed them from Artai's cruel grip on their country. Haruka nevertheless nodded and Yukino smiled softly, pressing the cloth into Haruka's hands as she murmured, "That belonged to Anzai and we've kept in our family, giving it to each other when we thought the person needed it the most, to keep it over their heart to remind ourselves of how brave he was to start this country, and hope that his bravery would help us maintain our own. I wanted to give it to you, Haruka-chan. I want you to have it while you're at Garderobe and whenever things become hard, just look at it, and I hope it will help you to keep going and to have strength."

 

Unfolding the piece of cloth, Haruka saw it was a small hand sewn version of the Aries flag, and she couldn't help the sudden swell of emotion she felt on seeing it, knowing this belonged to one of their country's founders and Yukino was giving it to her to keep. It was such a rare and important thing and her friend wanted her to have it? Lifting her head, Haruka's voice was rough with emotion, "YukinoÉ"

 

"You'll pass," said Yukino, quiet and confident, holding Haruka's face tenderly in her hands. "And we'll keep our promise."

 

Nodding her head and giving a noise of affirmation, Haruka hugged Yukino to her in a fierce but loving embrace, and the brunette clung to Haruka, enjoying the warmth of the younger girl's body. Then they slowly separated, giving each other final smiles as Yukino left the base with one of Haruka's instructors and she was left alone in her tiny room to stare at the flag, the precious piece of history her friend had given her, and with it in her grasp she knew there was nothing that could stop her from achieving her goal.

 

---

 

The journey from Aries to Windbloom was a relatively short one by train. Haruka sat in the tiny train compartment with one of her instructors and three of the twenty girls that had managed to pass the sponsorship exam with her. No one spoke during the seven hour trip and it was a tense silence perpetuated by the fact all present could think of only one thing. The importance of the exam for which they were heading and how they had to pass, not just for themselves, but for their country. Aries was the only country with a democratic political system and because of that and their roots in rebellion from Artai they often found themselves under attack by those who would wish to bring them back to the old ways of having a ruling monarchy. Having a greater number of Otome would strengthen Aries military position in the world and help to ease these attacks but they could only accomplish this if they had more qualified Garderobe graduates.

 

Currently out of seventy five students at the Otome academy just nine were from Aries and out of those nine only one was a Pearl and she wasn't ranked anywhere near the top of her class which left little reassurance she could be chosen for a Meister GEM. This simply wasn't an acceptable situation, this had been made clear to the Otome candidates by their tutors time and time again in training. Aries needed to have strong Otome, powerful Otome, to help solidify its place in Earl and to ensure they remained a free and democratic nation. It was up to them to help make that happen by passing the entrance exam and working hard to place high in the ranks once they were accepted.

 

Her jaw clenching in determination, Haruka placed her hand over her heart, feeling the outline of the small flag folded into her pocket and turning her gaze to look out the window at the passing landscape. There was much more riding on her success than just fulfilling her promise to Yukino, her tutors had made that abundantly clear to Haruka. She was starting to realize the real power of an Otome, that they had the ability to change the fate of an entire nation with their strength and she wanted to do that for Aries.

 

Like all its citizens, Haruka was fiercely proud of her country's democratic status. Aries was the only nation that allowed the people to elect its leaders, to choose which laws were enacted, and everyone felt like they had a stake in the future of their country. She would pass this exam and get into Garderobe and she would do it not only for Yukino but for Aries and she would be a strong Otome, a brave Otome, someone who would help to lift her country up and protect it from its enemies. She swore this on the small flag that she kept folded over her heart, a piece of their nation's history Yukino had given her, which reminded her why she was taking this exam and why it was so important.

 

---

 

Eighty two was the point where Haruka decided to stop counting the amount of girls sitting in the large hall. There had to be over a hundred girls from countries all over Earl seeking entrance into Garderobe but only seven would be accepted. Haruka wasn't a particular fan of math and statistics but even she knew chances were slim she would be one of those seven but she didn't like to think about odds. Defeat wasn't something that she would allow to slip into her mind because once you considered that possibility the more it lurked with you, causing it to become that much closer to reality. Instead she would focus on her goal and how to go about achieving it with a singular determination.

 

A cough echoed throughout the hall and the Principal of Garderobe, Iruma Vandeveld, stood before them. The speech she gave was inspiring but had an underlining strictness to it, a hard sort of warning about what it meant to gain entrance into this school, and to become an Otome. Gazing at the older woman, Haruka wondered if she was always this way or if maybe her attitude had changed when she was chosen to replace Una Shamrock as the Principal, shifting her position from 4th Column to 2nd. The jobs were incredibly different and Haruka would have resented it, going from field operations to behind a stuffy desk, shuffling paperwork. Especially when the reason for the job change was because the former Principal had unjustly ordered the attack on a long lost member of the Windbloom royal family.

 

The speech soon ended and they were shuffled out of the auditorium and Haruka had to grit her teeth as she was pushed along with the crowd. She had lived many places all over Aries but she preferred the empty ones, the ones without the hectic rush of people crushed into every last bit of space. There was something about having too many people around her that was infuriating. She couldn't react though, she had to remember her place and it would hardly look good for Aries to have one of their candidates scream out in frustration before they official exam had even begun so Haruka gritted her teeth and clenched her jaw, muttering in quiet relief once they were outside in the open air.

 

Stepping away from the crowd of candidates, Haruka noticed another girl doing the same thing. She was slightly taller than Haruka with light brown hair and she had a placid expression on her features, as if she was totally untouched and unconcerned about the events taking place. Haruka scowled on seeing this. This was an important exam, it determined all of their futures and the future of their respective countries, a person should feel something when they're about to take it. Her jaw tightening, Haruka was sure that someone like that, someone who didn't seem to care couldn't possibly make it into Garderobe, not with such an obvious lack of conviction.

 

They were small broken up into smaller groups of thirty and Haruka found herself in the same numbers as the brunette girl who wore that same bored look as they trailed after the stern instructor who had introduced herself as Miss Maria. Before they could begin the official exam they had to be tested to see if their bodies were physically compatible with the nanomachines that all Otomes had injected into their bloodstream. Not every girl could handle having the technology implanted and there were instances of extreme illness and even near death in some cases. Since nanomachines were vital in helping the Otome heal quickly and improved their speed, strength, reflexes, and other senses it was absolutely necessary all those who would enter Garderobe could physically handle having them injected.

 

Sitting on the stiff examination table, Haruka waited for her shot, watching with narrowed eyes as some girls fainted and others quickly became ill. The brunette who didn't make any expressions, her eyes grew lidded after receiving the shot but her face was as blank as ever and somehow, as if sensing Haruka's attention, she turned towards the other girl and offered a smile. Haruka found herself scowling instead of smiling back though because it wasn't a natural kind of smile, one that came from the heart and a real true place, like the kind that Yukino would give her, instead it was false, calculated in its polite charm and Haruka had little care for those types of things.

 

Quick and painless, that was how the actual injection felt, but her body seemed to burn from within after it was over. Another nurse came to her side, asking her how she felt and Haruka muttered she was fine, because she didn't want to reveal weakness, she didn't want to be sent home. She wasn't feeling ill though, nauseas or as if she was going to pass out, she simply felt hot, like there was a fire raging in her bloodstream and it was such a very strange feeling. Not altogether pleasant but not painful either, just terribly strange. Looking over at the brunette who was once again looking at peace with the world, Haruka wondered if she felt the same way and if she did how she did she manage not to show it, how she was able to keep that feeling behind such a calm outward mask. Part of Haruka was envious that she had such an ability even though she didn't think that sort of habit was a good thing to have, people who hid things could lie too well, too easily, and liars weren't to be trusted. Haruka preferred those who were open and honest, who said what they meant and didn't mince words.

 

Yukino was honest but somehow she was also so terribly kind.

 

By the time they were shuffled out of the medical wing, thirty candidates had been eliminated. Haruka gazed over their dwindling numbers, frowning when she realized that two of the girls had been from Aries. They were placed in a large lecture hall, two girls to every desk, where thick books lay on the table, one for each girl, and a pencil. Miss Maria stood at the front of the hall, her stern voice echoing off the walls as she told them they had an hour to complete chapters one through ten starting right now.

 

The history of the Otome was the first portion and Haruka grinned, knowing this subject inside and out thanks to Yukino. After they read through The Heart Of An Otome together the older girl managed to locate some other Otome educational texts for Haruka, two of which focused on the origins of the Otome and where their powers came from. Enthused by her recollection of that time spent with Yukino, remembering the comforting wash of her voice falling over her as she read aloud, Haruka flew through the section, confident in her knowledge as she answered the questions. When she reached the last question she was sure she finished first until she saw that girl, the one with the calm face and the perturbing smile that never changed, sitting perfectly still with her hands folded in her lap.

 

At the end of the hour, Miss Maria collected the exam books, handing them over to another instructor and ushering them out of the lecture hall into the bright sun of the afternoon. They trailed after her in a large group and Haruka lingered towards the back, her gaze drifting over the grounds and in the distance she could see a group of Coral students in the middle of a lesson. Watching as they flew through the air in the midst of combat, their staffs moving at a lightning quick pace, Haruka's eyes gleamed with excitement. That was what she wanted to do, who she wanted to be, and all she had to do to achieve it was to pass this exam.

 

Moving through the grounds, walking down a large sloping hill, they came to a stop at the bottom, looking at an immense obstacle course constructed of heavy wood and cement that was the length of half a field. Miss Maria stood before them, saying the object was to make it through the course as quickly as possible without being hit by any of the wooden planks which swung heavily from side to side or falling to the ground, and Haruka wondered how much it would hurt if you were hit with one of them. It was revealed they had duel courses, both built to the same specifications and as Miss Maria called out the order in which they would run the course, Haruka fixed her eyes forward, trying to determine the best way she could make it through. The only rule was to make it through unscathed, not getting hit with the heavy wooden planks that swung from side to side, not to fall on the ground as you leapt from the platforms, but that would be hard with the quick pace they moved back and forth and the gaps in the floor on which you had to run. You not only would have to dodge the planks but leap to the next safe platform, something that would take a great deal of speed and agility. Things that Haruka didn't have a lot of as she tended to rely far more on her physical strength.

 

She was number fifteen in her group and across from her she noticed the brunette with the unwavering smile shared her number. Her eyes narrowing at this, Haruka wondered how she would make it through the course. These thoughts were instantly diverted by a loud cry of pain and Haruka watched as the first girl in their group was hit with a large plank, sending her flying across the grounds to land face first with a loud thump. Medics quickly rushed to her side, treating her injuries, and Haruka turned her attention back to the obstacle course, watching the next girl who carefully made her way through although she nearly fell backwards and onto the ground as she avoided the wooden plank that swung just inches away from her face.

 

By the time Haruka had to run the course, only six girls had made it to the end. Miss Maria's instructions running through her mind, Haruka's jaw set in determination and she released a rallying cry as she leapt onto the first platform and grabbed hold of the swinging plank. Holding it in a firm grip, wincing at the sharp feeling of splinters digging into the palms of her hands, Haruka ripped the plank down, stopping its motion entirely, and holding it in front of her like a shield Haruka barreled forward, smashing through the obstacles, breaking some and sending others flying, jumping from platform to platform, a wild grin on her features as she realized not one of the planks had hit her. When she reached the end of the course, Haruka dropped the large plank that she held, which hit the ground and reverberated with a crash and couldn't help but feel a triumphant joy when she saw the look of utter astonishment on Miss Maria's face.

 

"You pass," Miss Maria said, her voice was still stern but the shock she felt from Haruka's was performance completely clear. "Though now we only have one obstacle course available for the rest of the candidates to use."

 

"Sorry," Haruka said the word but she didn't really feel sorry at all, not when she made it through the obstacle course in such a spectacular fashion that she was sure caught the eye of the Otome instructors.

 

Turning her attention to the other course, Haruka saw that the brown haired girl with that steady smile and calm face looked the same as she ever did, leaping from platform to platform, easily dodging the heavy wooden planks. When she reached the end of the course, the instructor called out her time and Haruka frowned as she realized it was several seconds faster than her own. Watching as the girl leapt to the ground with an effortless grace, Haruka considered what this meant, that the girl's performance which had beaten her own time, and a slow smile worked its way across her features as she realized something very significant.

 

Finally there was someone who presented her a real challenge.

 

---

 

The second day of the exam focused on a day long triathlon. Starting with a swim across half the bay of Windbloom, Haruka shivered in the cool water and simply focused on completing the task. This part of the exam was about endurance and concentration, between each physical test they were confronted with a mental one, the exam books placed in front of them with a minimum of ten chapters to complete in an hour, they had to shift their focus from their bodies to their minds and Haruka saw the difficulty in that.

 

One by one, after each task, more and more girls began dropping out. By the time they reached the final event of the triathlon, completing a run around Wind City and back to Garderobe, at least forty girls had retired their candidacies. Haruka looked around at their dwindling numbers and saw that just three of the other candidates from Aries remained. Her jaw set in a deep frown, she upped her pace in the run, ignoring the horrible pain in her legs and wiping the sweat from her eyes. She would finish this task, she would finish, and she would do it with an admirable time, something that would make her tutors proud, that would guarantee her entrance into Garderobe.

 

Haruka kept running until she was at the front of the pack and glancing to her side she saw the brown haired girl. Her face frozen in that calm facade and she scowled, wondering why the girl couldn't even manage to look tired at a time like this. Tucking her chin down, Haruka let loose a cry of determination and she increased her pace, moving past the other girl, the only one she considered to offer any sort of challenge in this competition to enter the Otome academy and rushing onto the grounds of Garderobe. When she reached Miss Maria who was waiting with that continuously stern expression, Haruka collapsed to the ground, groaning when she was presented with the thick exam book and told she had precisely one hour to finish yet another ten chapters.

 

Tired, she was so very tired, all she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep but she had to finish this exam, she had to complete these chapters. That was what this portion was focused on, the stamina of the candidates, the willpower, how they could keep their wits about them when they had no energy left and Haruka willed herself awake, slapping the sides of her face several times. A soft and melodic chuckle met her ears and she looked to her left and saw the brown haired girl smiling at her, those rusty brown eyes holding a sparkle of amusement and Haruka puffed her cheeks out in a scowl. She was making fun of her, she was sure of it! Well, the girl could make fun all she wanted but it wouldnÕt change a thing, Haruka vowed, she would pass this exam.

 

That thought a fixed goal, Haruka focused on the questions in front of her, reading them carefully and following Yukino's advice, reading the words aloud in her mind and she found herself becoming more focused. Soon the answers were coming to her easily and she pushed back the exhaustion until it was a distant memory, finishing the last chapter with a flourish, handing it over to Miss Maria who took the book and said well done. Haruka, somehow knowing this wasn't something the older woman said often, flashed a bright smile before succumbing to sleep the moment that she was back at her desk, unaware of the brown haired girl giving another amused chuckle at her expense as she took in the sight of Haruka snoring in her sleep.

 

---

 

Hand to hand fighting was always something that Haruka excelled at. Weapons were fun but for some reason Haruka felt more satisfaction in her own body serving as the weapon, her fists, her legs, and when she found out the final portion of the exam involved a test of their combat skills sans weapons she couldn't have been happier.

 

Twenty three candidates remained and only seven could be chosen to enter Garderobe. Haruka and just one other girl from Aries remained and she couldn't help but scowl on knowing this. More of them should have passed, more of them should have been ready, what if she was the only one from Aries to get in? They would to wait another year to send a new group of candidates and Haruka feared they wouldn't have any better luck with the results. Miss Maria called out their names one by one and for the first time, Haruka finally took notice of the brown haired girl's name, the one with that perpetual smile that spoke less of emotion and more of maintaining a mask.

 

She was Shizuru Viola and she was going to be Haruka's opponent.

 

Jumping on her toes, Haruka waited for Miss Maria to call the start of the match. Shizuru stood absolutely still, her rust colored eyes observant and that smile of hers, the one with no emotion, tugged at the corners of her lips as she observed the blonde while her brown hair blew in the wind. Seeing this, Haruka couldn't help but scowl in return. If the other girl thought she was funny, that she was a joke, she would show her otherwise and the moment that Miss Maria shouted for the match to begin Haruka ran at Shizuru as she gave a loud rallying cry. Shizuru deftly dodged the attack and Haruka went stumbling onto the ground, only to recover with a quick roll, and she saw Shizuru's leg moving towards her in a kick, a wild grin formed on her features as she grabbed the brunette's leg, sending her falling onto her back.

 

Moments after Shizuru fell, she pulled Haruka down with her and the match descended into something resembling wrestling until Shizuru managed to escape Haruka's grasp. From that point on it was a flurry of punch and kicks, each landing an equal amount but soon it seemed Shizuru had found a pattern in Haruka's attacks and was handily avoiding her every attempted blow. In the meantime, Haruka, never one for speed or agility, was being landed with blow after blow, which was putting her into a highly agitated state.

 

Dimly she recalled hearing Miss Maria shout out the time they had left remaining in the match and Haruka scowled deeply as Shizuru landed another blow. Releasing a yell of pure annoyance, Haruka grabbed hold of Shizuru's shoulders and brought her head down hard against the other girl's and she distantly heard the shouts of surprise from the other candidates but still, despite the pain she felt and the stars she saw, Haruka couldn't help but grin at the fact that now Shizuru was on the ground and she was still standing. Although, just seconds later, she joined Shizuru where she lay, slipping into unconsciousness after falling to the ground with a tremendous thud.

 

---

 

Horrible bright lights gleaming in her eyes, that was what Haruka woke to. Groaning quietly, she rolled over on her side and saw the girl, Shizuru Viola, was on the bed next to hers. Looking around, she realized they were back in the medical bay. Flopping back onto the small cot, she put her arm over her eyes and tried to block out the pounding sensation in her head.

 

"I will pass," Haruka muttered the words aloud, somehow thinking if she said it that would help to make it come true.

 

"Ara," a playful voice echoed in the air, though it had a twinge of exhaustion lacing it as well. "You sound so confident."

 

Moving her arm just slightly, Haruka turned her head and scowled as she saw Shizuru Viola staring back at her. "You're awake," Haruka grunted, unable to help feeling disappointed at this fact. She had hoped her head butt had done more damage to her opponent than herself which wasn't really the case if they both regained consciousness at the same time.

 

"And now you sound sad," Shizuru remarked lightly and her rusty eyes seemed to twinkle.

 

"I was hoping I knocked you out," revealed Haruka, stretching her arms over her head and cracking her knuckles.

 

"If it is any consolation, I believe you did, for quite some time," said Shizuru, watching as Haruka continued to stretch.

 

"Knocked myself out too," Haruka snorted. "Doesn't count as much. It's not a real win."

 

Slowly moving into a sitting position, Shizuru tilted her head and considered Haruka. "Winning is what matters?" she questioned.

 

"Are you crazy?" asked Haruka, looking at Shizuru as if she thought that might be a real possibility. "Of course it's what matters. Whoever wins the most in these tasks has the most chance of getting into Garderobe. That's what we're all here for."

 

"Haruka-san is correct," murmured Shizuru and she smiled winsomely when Haruka startled on hearing her name. "Miss Maria announced your name as well as my own for the combat match. I took notice. Just like I took notice when you smashed your way through the obstacle course and crashed your bicycle during the triathlon."

 

"So? " Haruka blustered, not knowing how else to respond, having the definite feeling the other girl was teasing her.

 

"Nothing," said Shizuru with a laugh, looking behind Haruka and the blonde turned to see Miss Maria approaching with the dreaded exam books in hand. "But I must say, Haruka-san is charming when she's angry. Even if she feels the need to head butt me to display such feeling."

 

A scowl permanently in place on her features, Haruka focused on Miss Maria and had to hold back a groan when she was told they had to finish the last ten chapters of the exam book. Taking the exam book and following after the Otome instructor, distinctly aware of Shizuru's presence behind her, Haruka repeated the same mantra from when she woke. I will pass.

 

---

 

Growing up, her parents had always been brutally honest with Haruka. They let her know her faults and her strong points, feeling if she knew them she could correct and she could maintain these things. Because of this Haruka was altogether aware that she wasn't at all perceptive, she knew that things most people would notice tended to fly right over her head and unless you were among a few special and select people Haruka wouldn't be able to read your reactions and emotions. She could tell what her parents thought and Yukino, especially Yukino whom she had watched and been with for so long and was always so very interested in knowing every little thing about, but when it was anyone else, Haruka was left without a clue.

 

Despite this clear handicap, Haruka was able to discern fairly quickly what it meant when she was one of seven girls being called into the Principal of Garderobe's office. It was the best moment of her life so far, the proudest, standing in that line and while she was irritated to have Shizuru standing next to her, even that couldn't take away the happiness she felt to know she had been accepted to the Otome academy. The Principal gave a speech, not long and droning, but enough that Haruka couldn't keep track of it until she announced what ranking they would have in the Coral class.

 

There were always fifty girls in the Coral class and they would be at the bottom as the newest trainees but at the top of was Shizuru Viola who entered Garderobe with the rank of Coral No. 43 and Haruka couldn't help but scowl when she heard she was just one rank behind at Coral No. 44 but that scowl, it wouldn't last for long, not when she thought about Yukino's face when she told her she passed. Seeing her smile, hearing her happy voice, that took away any bit of annoyance she felt not to be placed at the top ranking for the new students.

 

Not that it mattered anyway. Haruka was sure she would quickly surpass Shizuru once they started actual classes in a month. After all, this was what she had trained almost her entire life for and she had to keep her promise that was sealed with the small flag neatly folded over heart. Kept close to remind her who and what she was fighting for which was forever a source of strength.

 

---

 

Perched on one of five large pieces of luggage, Haruka frowned as she observed Yukino packing yet another suitcase for her move to Windbloom University. Kicking her legs absently against the luggage and grinning when Yukino turned her way and arched an eyebrow in a silent sort of demand, Haruka drawled, "You've got a lot of stuff, Yukino."

 

Instead of replying, Yukino's face reddened in a blush and she returned to packing her sixth and final piece of luggage. "I could be at university for four years, Haruka-chan. I should bring as much as I can. It isn't like Garderobe where they provide everything for you."

 

"Father says it's expensive," Haruka revealed, leaning back on her hands. "Much more than any universities."

 

"That makes sense," said Yukino, folding up a shirt and putting it neatly inside the suitcase. "Given all of the things they'll be teaching you there and how becoming an Otome is probably one of the hardest things for someone to achieve in Earl." Lifting her head, she offered Haruka a sweet smile and murmured, "Unless they are Haruka-chan."

 

"Right!" Haruka agreed with a vigorous nod. "Yukino," she said her name slowly, her brow furrowing in a frown. "What are you going to study at Windbloom again? You said it was two things, didn't you?"

 

"International Affairs and Earl Economics," said Yukino, turning back to her dresser and debating on which pair of black pants she really needed to pack, trying to recall which ones Haruka said had looked nice on her. "In politics the economy is almost always a pivotal point in the elections of our officials and I think understanding finance will be a great help if I'm to have any effect in the government. The same for international affairs because a country can't really stand alone, it must have allies if it is to grow."

 

Haruka made a soft grunt of agreement and Yukino smiled as she looked at the other girl. She knew most people would lump all of the little sounds Haruka made together but over the years she managed to differentiate what each one meant in terms of Haruka's mood. That was a noise that the blonde made whenever she thought what someone was saying was intelligent but she didn't quite understand the concept herself, so instead of making herself appear stupid in a reply, she simply made that noise instead. Part of Yukino found it incredibly endearing and another part hated it because she disliked the idea that Haruka thought she wasn't smart enough.

 

There were two Haruka's, that was what Yukino often thought, the one that she presented to the world as a whole and the one you got to see once you became close to her. The Haruka that most people saw was brash and loud, someone who acted first and considered the results later, but the other Haruka, the ones those closest to her saw was caring and considerate. Yukino sometimes had a hard time dealing with the first Haruka but the moment she felt annoyed or weary the second Haruka would emerge and Yukino was reminded why she loved the blonde so. Sometimes she thought it was a result of Haruka's rather rough childhood, growing up with parents who were kind but at the same time didn't coddle her and shelter her as most parents would do for their small child.

 

Whatever the reasons behind Haruka's personality, it didn't alter the fact that Yukino loved her just as she was. If she had the option to change the other girl somehow she wouldn't take it because then it wouldn't be the Haruka who had been with her for all these years, who stood by her side faithfully, and shared her dreams. Not having that person with her would be devastatingly lonely for Yukino.

 

Putting the last item of clothing in the suitcase, Yukino studied it thoughtfully before determining she had everything she could possibly need and closed with a quiet snap. Looking over to Haruka, she saw the blonde was staring at the small flag that she had given to her. Wearing a soft smile, Yukino questioned, "Did having it help?" When Haruka jerked her head up and looked at her in surprise, she elaborated, "The flag, did it help to have it with you when you took the exam?"

 

"A lot," said Haruka firmly, jumping down from the top of the large piece of luggage. She presented the flag oh so carefully to Yukino and grinned crookedly, "I kept it folded up over my heart. The whole time I never had any doubts I'd pass and it's because I knew it was there."

 

"Then keep it," said Yukino quietly, gently folding Haruka's fingers back over the flag to keep it in the younger girl's hands.

 

"But Yukino," Haruka protested, her eyes going wide. "It belongs to your family."

 

"Haruka-chan is part of my family," revealed Yukino, her cheeks hot in a blush, and despite her embarrassment she kept her green eyes steady with Haruka's violet ones. Allowing the other girl to see exactly how serious she was. "I want you to keep itÉ to remember me and to give you strength while you're at Garderobe. I trust you, Haruka-chan. I know you'll keep it safe."

 

A frown tugging at her lips, Haruka said solemnly, "I'll keep it but I don't need something like this to remember Yukino. No matter what happens, I'd never forget you. And besides," she looked a little exasperated now. "You'll be right by me at Windbloom University."

 

"Yes," Yukino breathed, a happy laugh escaping her lips. "I will, won't I?"

 

"Yukino," huffed Haruka and her cheeks puffed out slightly, causing the brunette to laugh once again. She lightly rapped her knuckles on top of the older girl's head and remarked, "You'll always have me. That's an infusion fact!"

 

"Irrefutable," corrected Yukino, smiling fondly and reaching up to hold Haruka's hand in her own. "I know, Haruka-chan. And you know it's the same for me, don't you? That you'll always have me?"

 

That blonde head ducked down and Yukino heard a mumbled assent. Moving closer to Haruka, she slipped her hand away from the younger girl's and moved up to touch her cheek which was blazing underneath her fingertips, a sure sign that Haruka was blushing. Yukino suddenly felt overwhelmed to know this, to feel this, to have proof of Haruka's affection for her in such a very real and tangible way and she was swept up in a rush of affection for the blonde. Before she even realized what she was doing, Yukino had pulled Haruka into a hug, her arms wrapping around Haruka's waist, pulling her close until there wasn't a breath between them and it felt so very right.

 

It felt like this was where she belonged, especially when Haruka returned the hug, her hands gentle but firm as they pressed into Yukino's back, warming her skin through her shirt and causing the brunette to tremble. "You got new glasses," Haruka murmured.

 

"What?" Yukino questioned, a little confused at the change in conversation, moving back to look at the blonde.

 

"Your glasses," said Haruka, reaching up to touch the frames lightly. "They're different. You got new ones, right?"

 

"Yes," said Yukino and for some reason she felt altogether shy as she was pinned by Haruka's eyes which studied her thoughtfully. "My mother thought it was a good idea to visit the doctor and see if I needed a new prescription before I left for university."

 

"What happened to your old ones?" asked Haruka with a frown.

 

"They're on the table over there," revealed Yukino, looking at the small bedside dresser. "I got two pairs with the new prescription so I really don't need them anymore. I didn't want to throw them away though."

 

Haruka released a mutter of sorts then shifted her gaze back to Yukino, touching the frames to the new glasses again and smiling as she said, "I liked how you looked with the old glasses but these are good too. You look just as nice."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino said her name in a whisper, her face turning red. There was so much she wanted to say, so many things she wanted to tell Haruka, how it made her feel when she said things like that but it was terribly confusing and then she heard the rumble of the blonde's stomach and she chuckled, looking at Haruka fondly. "Should we have lunch?"

 

In response, Haruka nodded enthusiastically and Yukino smiled, walking out of the bedroom with Haruka on her heels. Never noticing until much later in the day, when she was alone in her bedroom, that her old pair of glasses were gone.

 

---

 

Much to her parents surprise, Yukino refused their offer to rent a small apartment for her off campus. Instead, she chose to place herself in the university dorms and opted for the choice of having a roommate. Part of Yukino was rather nervous at the idea of sharing space with another person, though she did allow her parents influence to help her get into the nicer complex which had dorms with two small separate bedrooms for the people sharing it as well as a modest bathroom, living room, and kitchen area.

 

Really it was altogether like living in an apartment except your roommate was chosen by the university based on the information you supplied on the housing application and the building was located in the middle of school grounds. Other than that, it was an like an apartment, and Yukino had a strangely grown up feeling when she stepped inside. Truth be told, the reason she wanted to live in the dorms was to have more chances to interact with the other students on campus in hopes of making new friends and distracting herself just a bit from the loneliness she knew she would experience from not being able to see and speak to Haruka every day even if their schools were so close to each other.

 

Sometimes she was grateful for her parents work because if they weren't busy people, constantly in meetings that weren't the type that could be cancelled and changed, she was sure they would have insisted on spending the entire day with her as she moved into her dorm room. Only due to their schedules they were just able to spend the first part of the day with Yukino and were long gone by the time she heard the front door open and she was greeted by her roommate. Rin Lake was a tall redhead with a bright smile and inquisitive nature. The moment that they first met, Rin squinted at Yukino, then asked how old she was and if she was in the right place.

 

"Fourteen and assuming this is Crandler Dorm, Room 15, then yes, I am in the right place," Yukino replied dryly.

 

"You're fourteen years old?" asked Rin, looking surprised. "You must have skipped three grades."

 

"Four actually," said Yukino, smiling softly.

 

"Hey," said Rin, nodding towards her luggage which still remained in the living room. "I want to start unpacking. Would you want to spend time with me while I do that? We can get to know each other better. I'm pretty curious about a fourteen year old student at university."

 

"All right," Yukino conceded, picking up one of the pieces of luggage, following after Rin as they moved down the hallway. "I don't think there's a lot to be curious about though. I'm at the university because I placed higher in my school's placement exams."

 

"What school?" asked Rin, setting the luggage on the small bed.

 

"Caeles Academy, it's a private school in Aries," said Yukino. "That's where I'm from."

 

"Aries?" repeated Rin curiously. "The country with the President instead of a King or Queen?"

 

"Yes, that country," said Yukino, chuckling. She was well used to the reactions of people from other countries who weren't used to Aries democratic political system. If they didn't disdain the process itself, they tended to be utterly confused by the idea of it. "My father is one of the elected Senators. He represents the state of Sol which is where our capital city, Caeles, is located. Before you ask," Yukino began with an amused smile. "A Senator is something like what a Duke or Dutchess would be except they're chosen by the people."

 

"A Duke or Dutchess that the people choose," said Rin thoughtfully. A laugh emerging from her lips, she remarked, "I can't even imagine who we would pick in Windbloom if we had that kind of ability."

 

"Probably someone popular or someone qualified or maybe a combination of both," suggested Yukino kindly. "That's how it is in Aries."

 

"Maybe," Rin replied, searching through her luggage. "So," she drew the word out slowly, lifting her head to reveal twinkling green eyes. "Risking sounding somewhat clichŽ, what's your major? Or have you even decided?"

 

"I'm majoring in International Affairs and Earl Economics," Yukino said, watching as Rin continued to unpack. "You?"

 

"Pre-law," said Rin, her tone was wry and her first suitcase empty, she placed it on the floor. "I have foolish dreams of helping the commoners in this country. Not that the law helps much when nobles or royalty is involved."

 

"In Aries," murmured Yukino seriously, holding Rin's gaze. "I suppose you would say everyone is common since its people are the ones who choose those who lead them and when they lead, they can only do so for a limited amount of time before we choose again."

 

"Sounds nice," said Rin wistfully. "You know," she turned to Yukino, lifting an eyebrow humorously. "When we first met I was a little worried about rooming with someone four years younger than me but I have a feeling you're more mature than ninety nine percent of the Freshman on this campus. I was afraid I was going to get stuck with a roommate who just parties and would constantly disrupt my studying time."

 

"I think that's the last thing I would be," Yukino admitted, laughing warmly. "And I was worried about the same thing."

 

"One less thing to worry about," said Rin, opening another suitcase and going through its contents. Looking up at Yukino curiously, she questioned, "Since you're from Aries, do you know anyone in Windbloom? Besides your charming new roommate, that is."

 

"Yes, I do," Yukino formed a far off expression, her cheeks blushing lightly as she thought of Haruka. "I have a good friend who is attending Garderobe. We've known each other since we were just children."

 

"The Otome academy?" said Rin and she paused to give an impressed whistle. "I heard that place is harder to get into than any university, that exam of theirs is legendary for its difficulty despite how secret they keep the details of it. You must be really proud of her."

 

"I am," Yukino breathed the words, more than said them, because she always felt so very overwhelmed and gratified when she thought about the results of Haruka's exam at Garderobe. She knew, more than most, what it took to get into that school because of watching Haruka and hearing from her everything she had to go through and that was the reason she admired Haruka so for her accomplishment. Something done not just for the blonde herself or their country but for Yukino as well. "I'm very proud."

 

---

 

A month after her thirteenth birthday, Haruka was on the grounds of Garderobe, her suitcase in hand and a wide grin on her features. She had been released from the medical bay and felt strangely invigorated with the Coral GEM in her ear and the permanent infusion of nanomachines in her system. Haruka wondered why she didn't feel that same horrible sensation from the entrance exam when injected but dismissed it as her body already adapting to the tiny invaders.

 

Whatever the reason, Haruka was glad for it and she was in good spirits as she moved into a run, making her way through the campus, taking in the sight of the Coral and Pearl students, greeting them as she passed and admiring the wide green spaces of the school. While Garderobe was in middle of Wind City it was like being in nature, giving it a separate feeling from the populated area which Haruka supposed had to do with the school being politically independent from Windbloom despite residing inside the country. Garderobe was a nation onto itself with the Principal as its ruler and the other Columns as her aides.

 

Finding the guidance office was a relatively easy matter but locating her room in the dorms for the Corals was a little harder. Winding through hallway after hallway, Haruka was ready to shout with frustration, ignoring the fact that she refused the offer from the guidance office worker to lead her there, when she finally came upon her room. Huffing with annoyance, Haruka flung the door open and found the room empty. She snorted loudly, wondering where her roommates were. She was supposed to have two of them but neither were in sight. In fact, the room was untouched, leaving Haruka with the impression she was the first one to arrive. With orientation starting in an hour, it was more than a bit irresponsible for them both to be wandering about the grounds.

 

Dropping her suitcase on the floor on the right side of the room, Haruka flopped down on the single bed that was there, effectively claiming it and that side of the dorm as her own. The last thing she wanted was to be on a bunk bed with someone sleeping below or above her, the only way that situation would come close to being acceptable would be if the person was Yukino and she was at Windbloom University right now, going through her second week of classes. Sighing quietly, Haruka pulled out the pair of glasses she had taken from Yukino's house just before the older girl left for university. She wasn't sure why she took them, she just knew she wanted to have them, to have some small part of Yukino with her while she was at Garderobe was comforting somehow. Unfolding the glasses, Haruka placed them on her face, grimacing as her vision immediately became blurry and she felt the beginnings of a headache form.

 

But however much the headache from the glasses hurt, it hurt more knowing she couldn't see Yukino every day, that she couldn't speak with her. The brunette suggested they write to each other, remarking the letters would arrive quickly because of how close they were to one another, but it wasn't the same. She couldn't hear the warmth of Yukino's voice or see her sweet smile and that made it nowhere as good.

 

"What am doing?" Haruka muttered after a few moments, a scowl forming on her features, she carefully removed the glasses and put them back into her pocket. Kicking her feet up, she sat on her bed, wearing a look of determination. "Sitting around feeling sorry for myself because I can't see Yukino. It's stupid, she'd make fun of me if she knew." She paused after saying this, shaking her head and laughing lightly. "No," she mumbled. "Yukino wouldn't do that, she's too nice. But it is stupid, I worked this hard to get in here and now I'm going to mope? No," Haruka said again, her eyes gleaming with confidence, her right hand clenching into a fist. "I've got to do my best. It's not like I can't ever see her. Right," she enforced, nodding her head eagerly.

 

Jumping to her feet, she flung her suitcase on the small bed and set about unpacking. Haruka had just changed into her Coral uniform, tugging absently at the collar, and inwardly grumbling that they had to wear something so frilly. Wearing skirts and dresses was something Haruka was sadly used to because even in Aries, it was standard for girls to dress in such a manner, including the military, but that didn't mean she particularly liked it. Heaving a sigh, she hung her other uniforms in the tiny closet, and just as she shut its door she heard the creek of another door opening and she looked to the front of the room, saying it was about time her roommates showed up.

 

"Ara," Shizuru Viola's light and melodic voice rang out in the air and Haruka instinctively scowled on hearing it. "Was Haruka-san so anxious to meet me again? I couldn't begin to say how happy I am to know that, it makes me sing inside."

 

"You," Haruka growled the word more than said it, pointing an accusing finger at Shizuru. "What are you doing here?"

 

"Moving in," said Shizuru simply, placing her luggage on the bottom bunk and turning to face Haruka in an elegant movement. When she moved, the skirt to her Coral uniform ruffled slightly, and something about that irritated the blonde further. Pushing her brown hair over one shoulder and tilting her head, Shizuru formed something of a pout as she said, "Haruka-san doesn't seem pleased to see me."

 

"Of course not," huffed Haruka, putting her hands on her hips and frowning. "You're like a diocese! I can't escape you."

 

"Does Haruka-san mean disease, perhaps?" Shizuru suggested, amusement gleaming in her rust colored eyes.

 

"That's what I said!" Haruka insisted, scowling heavily. Shaking her head and flopping down on her bed, she stared hard at Shizuru and remarked, "Where's our other roommate? You didn't do something to her, did you?"

 

"Our roommate," Shizuru said this distantly and for the first time since she encountered the other girl, Haruka saw her form a serious expression on her features. "It was discovered that Cardair used unethical means by which to increase her performance. The doctors here at Garderobe found this out shortly after she was accepted. Since none of the other candidates passed the exam, I'm afraid we will have no one to replace her. Alas," she murmured and the seriousness was gone, replaced with a fond twinkle as Shizuru drawled, "it is we alone."

 

"She cheated," muttered Haruka, her tones dark, her hands clenched into fists. "That's the lowest."

 

"Yes," said Shizuru lightly, turning back to her luggage to begin her unpacking. "It was most unseemly of Cardair. I don't think it will reflect well on them for whatever upcoming Otome candidates they intend to present. Although," Shizuru said this thoughtfully, looking over her shoulder to offer that strange smile, the one that should have been charming and winsome but Haruka found wholly irritating because she had a sense it came from a false place. "It didn't do her much good in the end since Haruka-san and I had the highest entrance scores."

 

"I got second," Haruka snorted, folding her arms across her chest and scowling. "It's not good enough."

 

"Oh?" Shizuru questioned, a curiosity lingering in her voice. "Why does Haruka-san say such a thing? It was good enough to gain entry into Garderobe and that was her purpose, was it not?"

 

"I have to be the best," said Haruka firmly, her jaw setting. "I made a promise."

 

"A promise?" echoed Shizuru, a smile curving on her lips. "To whom?"

 

Blinking and realizing she had just spoke aloud, Haruka glowered at Shizuru and said, "None of your business!"

 

Shizuru smiled again and she started to reply when there was a knock to the door and they found themselves greeted by the stern form of Miss Maria, informing them it was time for them to go to the annual Garderobe enrollment battles. Walking down the hall, they were joined by Coral after Coral student, and Miss Maria told them as they made their way through the dorm that watching the battles would help them get a good idea of what sort of skill it requires to graduate and become a Meister Otome.

 

The coliseum for Garderobe reminded Haruka of something out of the collection of fairy tales that Yukino used to read from Florince. It was round in shape with white stone walls and impressive balconies where Haruka could see three of the five Columns gathered. Walking out into the open, Haruka grimaced on seeing how crowded the coliseum was, gritting her teeth as she followed after Shizuru and sat next to her on the long stone bench which went around the structure with the other Corals. Placing her hands on either side of her body to make sure she maintained space between herself, Shizuru, and the nameless Coral on the other side of her, Haruka focused her attention on the center of the coliseum as the booming voice of the school Principal echoed in the air, announcing the battle between Pearl No. 1 Anh Lu and Pearl No. 2 Maya Blythe. Great pillars rose up from the floor of the coliseum and the Principal called out their names, and Pearl No. 1, Anh Lu, gave a graceful bow to the audience, causing many cheers among the Corals. By contrast, Pearl No. 2, Maya Blythe was a far more outrageous figure, bouncing on her toes and shouting for the crowd support, making the cheers for her much louder.

 

When the call for the battle to begin was sounded, both Pearls produced halberds into their grips and Maya flew across the coliseum, her halberd coming down for a massive blow, only to be blocked by Anh. The battle was one of furious motion, each Pearl flying at each other from different angles, exchanging blows in mid air combat. Haruka was captivated by the sight, she could see the power behind every attack and she wanted to have that same ability, that knowledge these two Pearls had, and as she followed the battle while it moved all across the coliseum, even as Anh sent Maya flying into the wall with a great crash, she took notice of Shizuru's expression.

 

For once, it wasn't something put upon or fake, something that the brunette had thought about placing there, instead it was one of natural born emotion and the emotion it revealed was admiration. Real and genuine admiration as Shizuru fixed her rust colored gaze on the figure of Anh Lu as she captured Maya Blythe underneath the blade of her halberd and the Principal declared her the winner of the battle.

 

Seeing this somehow reassured Haruka about her new roommate. She didn't like the falseness she could sense in Shizuru, that she was putting on an act of sorts, playing a game with her charm and her polite ways, but this look she had as she watched Anh Lu battle, this was something real and it made Haruka think that perhaps the other girl was capable of more than just artifice.

 

Now if only she could get Shizuru to admit that.

 

---

 

Out of all the classes Haruka had to take at Garderobe the one that she enjoyed the least was Otome Etiquette. It was a class which focused on the manners an Otome was meant to develop. How they should act with their Master and the proper rules of behavior for all of the known cultures of Earl. The class was much ado about putting on fake airs, pretending and preening, things Haruka didn't like in the slightest and wasn't the littlest bit good at. Fortunately, it was taught by Miss Yukariko, who was a far more understanding and gentle instructor than Miss Maria and she tended to have sympathy for people she could tell were trying but just not doing as well. This aided in Haruka's slow but steady progress in the course.

 

Currently they were sitting through an example of the elaborate tea ceremonies they had in Zipang and Haruka grimaced at the numb tingling sensation that was running through her feet and slowly up both her legs. They had been sitting in the same awkward position for the past forty five minutes as the ceremony went on and Haruka was ready to scream out in frustration. Instead she gritted her teeth and tried to wiggle her toes to wake them up again, sighing quietly when she felt some feeling return to her feet.

 

Subtly glancing over at Shizuru and seeing the brunette maintaining her perfect posture and a stoic expression, Haruka had to control the urge to scowl. Of course her roommate was good at this kind of thing. Where you had to hold back who you were and put on an air of quiet calm and repress practically all emotion. This was a class practically made for Shizuru and that's probably part of why Haruka did so very badly in it. They hadn't been together at Garderobe long, just over a month, but already Haruka knew her roommate was going to give her the greatest challenge out of all the other students at the academy.

 

What frustrated Haruka the most were the things she struggled at and had to work her hardest towards, such as Otome Etiquette, Shizuru breezed through as if it were nothing and the things that Haruka excelled at Shizuru never appeared to have difficulty with. Never appeared to but Haruka watched Shizuru closer than she did others because she considered her competition, a challenge, and she saw that her strengths were Shizuru's weaknesses and vice versa. They were opposites in almost every way and realizing this, Haruka came to the conclusion as much as the other girl might annoy her, it was a good thing to have her around, simply because competing against Shizuru forced Haruka to improve on the things she was poor at rather than just focusing on her strengths. This would only help to increase her abilities as an Otome and make her a more well rounded fighter.

 

Although she couldn't help the relief she felt when Otome Etiquette was dismissed and they moved onto the next class of the day. Fighting Tactics tended to be disliked by most of the Coral students simply because Miss Maria was its longtime instructor and she wasn't exactly the easiest person to learn from. It wasn't that she was unclear in her teaching but to say she was strict in her methods would be a vast understatement to say the least. Haruka enjoyed the class and Miss Maria as an instructor though. She appreciated the way Miss Maria got quickly to the point and didn't mince words, it reminded Haruka of her parents and how they taught her self defense and fighting skills.

 

They never failed to tell Haruka when she had done something wrong as much as when she did something right. Miss Maria was the same and Haruka hardly thought it was her fault that a good deal of her Coral students got things wrong more than right and therefore received less praise than they were probably used to. It made Haruka scowl to think of it, that was the another thing she despised, people feeling as if they were entitled to something. Haruka was taught everything in life had to be earned, you just weren't given things on a silver platter, you had to work for them first and it bothered her that some Corals disliked Miss Maria because she lived by that edict.

 

Having an attitude like that would never help them become an Otome, of that Haruka was certain. As much as time seemed to drag whenever she was in Otome Etiquette it passed at an enormously fast pace when she was in Fighting Tactics. Before Haruka knew it the hour was over and they were trudging off to the collective showers before those in charge of the evening meal had to start preparations. Haruka was shifting her neck from side to side and turning in a twist when Miss Maria called her name. Pausing in her warm down routine, the blonde ran over to her instructor and looked at her with expectant eyes, waiting for whatever compliment or criticism that would come.

 

"You excel in hand to hand combat," Miss Maria began and Haruka couldn't help but smile widely on hearing this.

 

"My parents trained me," informed Haruka proudly, threading her hands behind her back and rocking back on her heels. "Since I was small."

 

"Tell them they did a fine job of it," said Miss Maria, a hint of a smile pushing at her lips.

 

"I will!" Haruka said enthusiastically, nodding her head, and she turned to go but Miss Maria stopped her with what she said next.

 

"You're more advanced than the rest of your class in fighting skills, nearly at Pearl level," Miss Maria remarked. "You're more than ready to advance onto using weapons in your sparring. If you like, I could provide you with additional training."

 

There was a moment of disbelief and then Haruka's confidence, almost always ever present, reemerged and she grinned largely, looking thrilled with this development, nodding her head as she said, "I'd like that."

 

"Good," said Miss Maria and she paused for a second, appearing to contemplate. "Miss Viola is almost at your level. Invite her if you like. Our sessions will begin tomorrow morning, an hour before the first class of the day, on the south lawn."

 

With that, Miss Maria was gone, and Haruka was left blinking in confusion. The extra training was meant for her, wasn't it? Why should she have to invite Shizuru? Shaking her head and scowling, Haruka ignored the need to shower and wandered about the grounds, lost in thought and wondering what she should do. She was convinced out of everyone in Garderobe her biggest competition came from her roommate and that being so, it hardly made sense to aid Shizuru in getting better, did it? Then again, it wasn't fair, her taking the extra training solely for herself when Miss Maria extended the invitation to Shizuru as well and what sort of victory would it be if Haruka beat Shizuru when she wasn't at her best? A hollow one for sure that would say nothing about her own skills.

 

Tromping back to the dorm, Haruka flung the door open and shut it with a bang, greeted by Shizuru turning in her chair from where she sat at her desk and raising a fine brown eyebrow. Immediately Haruka was struck with the desire to shut her mouth and not say anything about the extra training but she'd already made up her mind that it wouldn't be right to do that and when Haruka made up her mind on something she never swayed from the decision. Unless Yukino was involved, of course.

 

"Miss Maria offered to give us extra combat training," Haruka stated, flopping down on the bed, and tugging off her shoes. She tossed them behind her bed, concentrating on not looking at Shizuru. "It starts tomorrow on the south lawn an hour before classes begin."

 

Silence except for the small squeak of a chair being pushed back then Haruka felt the light touch of fingertips on her jaw and she peered up at Shizuru who was looking at her with smiling eyes. The expression she wore wasn't that false one she often had, the one that Haruka so despised, instead it was something genuine and while there was that infernal teasing there was gratitude too.

 

"Haruka-san means to say Miss Maria offered it to her first, did she not?" asked Shizuru gently.

 

Her cheeks hot with embarrassment, Haruka's jaw clenched and she purposefully looked away from Shizuru. "Maybe," Haruka grunted, shaking her head and causing Shizuru's fingertips to fall from her face. "She still invited both of us."

 

"But Haruka-san didn't have to tell me this," Shizuru pointed out logically and Haruka scowled, turning her attention to the other girl. Raising an eyebrow at Haruka's fierce expression, Shizuru explained, "It does grant a great advantage and Haruka-san wants to be the best."

 

"Not that way," Haruka growled the words more than said them. "That's no way to win. It's got no honor and I wouldn't want it. Doing that sorta thing, that's what someone who doesn't have guts would do, someone afraid to fight against real competition. I do want to be the best, the No. 1 Coral, but I'm going to do it square and fair."

 

"Fair and square," corrected Shizuru, her tones lightly teasing but also fond, a smile playing on her lips.

 

"That's what I said!" insisted Haruka, scowling deeply, and turning to look at Shizuru who was suddenly very close to her. "What?" she grumbled, instinctively scooting away from her roommate. She never got this close to anyone unless it was in a fight or the person was Yukino. Of course, when it was Yukino, she never had the urge to scoot away. Haruka liked being close to her. "What do you want?"

 

"Haruka-san is a very kind person, isn't she?" Shizuru murmured, taking a lock of Haruka's hair in between her index finger and thumb and rubbing it thoughtfully. Tilting her head to one side, she observed her quietly then said, "I think I'm lucky to have her for a roommate."

 

"You talk too much," Haruka accused and she shoved herself away from Shizuru, not liking her being so close, and stood up to stare at the brunette who remained sitting on her bed. "An Otome should be about action!" Haruka declared, pointing at Shizuru.

 

"Oh?" inquired Shizuru softly. "What if actions can't fix things, what then? Shouldn't one think things through?"

 

"The right actions always can and thinking just makes complications," said Haruka confidently, puffing her cheeks out, folding her arms over her chest. Her eyes narrowed as she studied Shizuru then an idea occurred to her, a smile spreading across her features as she considered it. "We'll have a contest," she announced, sounding very pleased with herself, placing her hands on her hips. "You and me, until we graduate and become Meisters, to see who's got the best fighting style. Me with my action and you with your thinking."

 

"How do we determine who wins?" asked Shizuru curiously.

 

"Ranking, individual battles, grades," Haruka offered with a shrug. "Why?" she formed a boastful sort of grin. "You're not scared to compete against me, are you? I'm a lot stronger than you, I did punch you halfway across the field today in class."

 

Rust colored eyes became lidded and Haruka swore she saw a spark in them, something dangerous, and rather than being scared of it, she found herself incredibly pleased because it was yet another real emotion from her roommate and not her perfect facade she liked to keep up. "I am nothing of the sort," said Shizuru coolly. "If a competition is what Haruka-san wants than a competition is what she shall get."

 

"Great!" Haruka beamed and she thrust her hand at Shizuru. "Let's shake on it."

 

Shizuru paused, seeming perplexed by this offer, but then she slowly smiled and took Haruka's hand, shaking it gently and instead of releasing her grip, she tugged the blonde to her in a smooth movement and looked up into violet eyes. "Haruka-san," she breathed but her gaze held a hard glint to it that caused Haruka to offer a reckless and wild grin in return. "I will win."

 

"You wish," drawled Haruka, squeezing Shizuru's hand hard, and meeting her challenge head on.

 

---

 

Training with Miss Maria progressed quickly, moving from the basic staffs onto naginatas, halberds, and even a mace and chain, something that Haruka was terribly excited about as it was similar to the weapon used by Meister Blomquist. Whenever an Otome inherited a GEM they had little changes to the robe and weaponry it came with but they did shift, the look of the robe and sometimes even the style of the weapon was slightly altered due to the new Meister gaining control. Haruka wondered when Meister Blomquist retired, what would the new user of the Continental Orb Topaz be like. Meister Blomquist was a legend in Aries, having served three Presidents for thirty two years, currently serving her fourth. It was almost impossible to see someone other than her possessing that GEM but Haruka knew it would one day it would happen.

 

It had nothing to do with her goals though, Haruka wanted to serve Yukino, to be her Otome. Though she wasn't nearly as clever as Yukino, particularly in the realm of politics, she knew it would be impossible for the brunette to graduate Windbloom University and be able to become a candidate for President. First she would have to earn her way through the ranks, working for the Mayor of Caeles perhaps, or in the Senate. That was where Haruka imagined her assignment as an Otome at the start, not within the depths of The Hexagon, working for the President. She saw that happening far into the future, once Yukino established herself.

 

The challenge that Haruka had made to Shizuru seemed to somehow light a fire in the other girl, Haruka had never seen her roommate so determined and focused, and Haruka wondered if making the bet was really the smartest thing for her. Especially when she faced so many defeats from Shizuru. Though for every defeat she learned something new and she came back the next instance stronger than ever and knocking Shizuru down, causing real emotion to form on the brunette's face when she admitted a loss to Haruka.

 

Though she teased and got far too close for Haruka's comfort, Shizuru was assisting Haruka with her more troublesome classes such as Otome Etiquette, helping her learn how to hold a tea cup in just the right way and how to sit in the perfect position for this and that ceremony. Of course, there were countless times where their neighbors in the dorm heard the blonde's loud cursing and the inevitable smash of china against the wall from these tutoring sessions but in the end, Haruka managed to improve in the class. Although Haruka often considered that Shizuru's help was something akin to torture than anything actually quite useful.

 

All too quickly they advanced through the Coral ranks with Shizuru at No. 10 and Haruka following close behind at No. 11. They shifted throughout the weeks, one advancing over the other, and right now Shizuru was winning. Haruka vowed that she would beat her again though and advance to a rank higher than Shizuru. She had yet to discover the brunette's reason for wanting to become an Otome but somehow she thought it wouldn't be as good as her own and she had a promise to keep, a promise made to Yukino, which made it the most important kind and that meant she had to do her very best and rank as high as she could.

 

Haruka doubted anything Shizuru came up with could be as important as Yukino.

 

On the weekends, their training time shifted to the early afternoon with Miss Maria, and as soon as they returned to the dorms, Haruka flung open the closet to change into a fresh uniform. She hopped around the dorm, pulling off her stockings and shoes to replace them with a clean pair. Shizuru observed her roommate with quiet amusement, perched on Haruka's bed, something that relentlessly annoyed the blonde so it was something that Shizuru was sure to do often. Resting her chin in the palm of her hand and a smile curving on her lips as she observed Haruka's harried changing, Shizuru murmured, "Ara, is it just me or is Haruka-san in a rush? Does she have an important date perhaps?"

 

"Shut up!" Haruka ordered, still hopping on one foot as she tugged off her stocking and flung it in Shizuru's direction. Once she had the new pair on, she dashed back over to the closet and put on her new uniform. Tugging it into place, she muttered, "It's none of your business."

 

"Haruka-san does have a date then," Shizuru said, sounding most intrigued. "With who? Not an oneesama? It's unusual for a Coral to have permission to leave the Garderobe grounds, even if they are as dedicated as Haruka-san. Perhaps she has a date with an influential Pearl?"

 

Slamming the closet shut and giving Shizuru a hard glare, Haruka declared, "I don't and the Principal said I could leave campus."

 

"Oh?" questioned Shizuru, lifting an eyebrow. "For what?"

 

"I told you, it's none of your business," Haruka muttered, gathering up her wallet, shoving it into the pocket of her skirt and smoothing out her uniform one last time before ruining this work by dashing out the door. "I got somewhere important to be, unlike you!"

 

With that, the door slammed shut, and Shizuru sighed, sinking back onto Haruka's bed and staring up at the ceiling. "So it seems," she said in soft whisper to herself, rust colored eyes reflecting a touch of sadness.

 

---

 

Taking away the time she first arrived at Garderobe for the entrance exam and then her return to the school for admission, Haruka hadn't spent any time in Wind City. It was true, what Shizuru said, a Coral student being allowed to leave the Garderobe campus wasn't the easiest thing to accomplish but with the help of Miss Maria and a very impassioned plea to the Principal, Haruka had managed it, and just in time to celebrate Yukino's fifteenth birthday. Wind City was bustling and full of people, crowds, and noises. They were all things that Haruka disliked with a certain passion but she would put up with all of that and more if it meant she could see Yukino again.

 

Dashing through the city, darting in between the people, Haruka ran towards the small cafŽ she arranged as a meeting place, standing in front of it and raising herself up on her toes, searching for Yukino in the sea of people. Eventually she spotted the familiar sight of a messy brown head of hair and lowering herself onto her feet, Haruka pushed her way through the people, biting back the annoyance she felt and wearing a wide grin when she saw Yukino. The moment she spotted the older girl, Haruka felt a great swell of happiness and calling out her name, she swept Yukino up in her arms for a hug, laughing when the brunette clung to her, saying her name with shy affection.

 

"Happy birthday," Haruka said breathlessly, lowering Yukino to the ground, smiling eagerly.

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino said her name in a happy murmur, returning the smile. Her eyes ran the length of the younger girl's body, marveling at the changes that occurred in the five months they hadn't seen each other. Haruka was nearly a head taller than her and while she had always been in stupendous shape thanks to her training there was a sharp sort of look to her that she didn't have before. Something almost dangerous in the tone of muscles, something further setting her apart, telling those who saw her she was a student of Garderobe. "You've gotten so tall," said Yukino softly, touching the planes of Haruka's face tenderly. "How have your classes been going?"

 

"Good," said Haruka with a grunt. She wore a grin and wagged a finger at Yukino as she said, "But no more stuff about me. It's Yukino's birthday, today should be about her. I made sure I could spend the entire afternoon with you in Wind City so we have to celebrate."

 

"Being with Haruka-chan is celebration enough," Yukino insisted, truly feeling that was the truth of the matter. Though they had written one another daily and had conversations on the phone it wasn't the same as being together in person. Just knowing she would be able to spend the entire day with Haruka was enough of a present for Yukino. She didn't need anything else to make her happy.

 

Screwing up her face in disbelief, Haruka shook her head and grabbed Yukino's hand, tugging her into the cafŽ. "This place has got really good cakes, that's what my bubuzuke of a roommate says, we should try them," Haruka said. "I'll get strawberry and you can have the chocolate, we'll share and that way Yukino can have both her favorites. I'm paying too, Yukino can't pay for anything on her birthday."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino said her name in a happy sigh, following after the younger girl and blushing when the blonde pulled her chair out for her when they were led to the small window table by the hostess. After ordering their drinks and two slices of cake, there was a moment of silence where Yukino took the chance to study Haruka more closely. It seemed like so very long since she had seen her and she couldn't take in all the changes at first, the increase in height, the skin that was tanned, the blonde hair that was longer and had somehow become more wavy. There were changes, yes, but so many things remained the same, the eager smile, the bright violet eyes, the warm voice and that feeling of comfort which Haruka always leant with her presence. Those things hadn't changed in the least. "I've missed you," Yukino confessed quietly, reaching across the table to lace her fingers with Haruka's, smiling gently when the blonde blushed. "So much."

 

"I missed Yukino too," said Haruka gruffly, her eyes fixed on the table, poking at the lace cloth with her finger. "Writing isn't the same as seeing you every day. It's nowhere near as good but I know it's all we can do for now." Lifting her head, she puffed out her cheeks, shaking the brunette's hand lightly in her grip while said, "This is supposed to be a happy day! Tell me about your classes. Are you learning a lot?"

 

"I am," Yukino smiled, thinking about her schooling. "My favorite is International Economic Analysis, I enjoy how it focuses on the global economics of Earl rather than just Windbloom as a singular country. It helps to understand the fact that, whether we like it or not, all of the countries are linked together in their successes and failures."

 

"What about Grand Strategies of the Great Powers?" asked Haruka, her face screwing up slightly, looking uncertain if she had gotten the name of the class correctly. "How about that one? You got into an argument with your one professor, didn't you?"

 

"Professor Theissen," said Yukino, frowning. "I haven't gotten into a discussion quite as heated as the last one. I did speak to my academic advisor about what he said. He was obviously trying to influence the other students in the class with his own opinions about Aries."

 

"Told you we were pretty much traitors for breaking away from Artai, didn't he?" Haruka snorted, an obstinate look on her features. "And what did he say when you asked him if he'd bothered to read any of the historical texts from the Aries scholars about the wars?"

 

"No great mind ever comes from Aries," said Yukino and her frown deepened. A slight smile tugged on her features and she murmured, "I think it was right about then that I became very upset with him. It's one thing to dislike our democracy, it's another to insult our intelligence."

 

"Jackass doesn't know a thing about people from Aries," said Haruka bitterly. She tilted her head and offered a jaunty grin. "Yukino will teach him though, won't she? There's no way he'll think no great minds come from Aries after having her for a student."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino said her name, tones echoing with a quiet pleasure, her cheeks red with a blush. Moving her thumb tenderly across the tanned skin of Haruka's hand, she murmured, "I want to hear about your training at Garderobe though. Won't you tell me? And about your roommate." A humorous look formed on Yukino's features and she said, "Her name can't really be bubuzuke, can it?"

 

"No," said Haruka with a scowl. "It's Shizuru Viola. I call her bubuzuke because of that damnable tea she's always drinking. I don't want to talk about her though. She's a thong in my side, always bothering me when I'm trying to study with her jokes and the teasing." Haruka's face turned darker and the scowl deeper as she muttered, "I'm going to win our bet though. Just you wait."

 

"Bet?" asked Yukino, her eyes going wide. "What bet, Haruka-chan? And I think you meant to say she's a thorn in your side."

 

"I know, I said that," said Haruka absently. Keeping her hold on Yukino, she lifted their joined hands in a dismissive wave. "Bubuzuke was driving me crazy with how perfect she acts, like she's better than everyone, so I challenged her, that's all."

 

"To what?" asked Yukino who was unable to hide the worry she suddenly felt. Rivalries were nothing new to Haruka, she had seen the blonde challenge countless people but that was before she entered the Otome academy and very dangerous powers were involved.

 

"A contest," Haruka grinned and looked altogether proud of herself. "To see who is better between the two of us." Her head turned as the waitress arrived and she beamed, thanking her as she laid down their cake and drinks in front of them. Cutting into her slice of strawberry cake with pink icing, something normally Yukino could never imagine Haruka ordering, the blonde offered it to the older girl. "Yukino," she said her name warmly, moving the fork towards the brunette. "Have a taste. I ordered it for you."

 

"Haruka-chan, you didn't have to do that," Yukino chided, trying her best to ignore the tempting cake being offered to her and the charming smile that Haruka wore, making her heart beat that much faster. "What will you eat?"

 

"I'll eat some of Yukino's chocolate cake," said Haruka easily. She formed something of a scowl and a pout, pushing her fork forward again, almost pressing it against the older girl's lips. "Come on," she wheedled. "Have a taste. I know you'll like it."

 

A blush tingeing her cheeks, Yukino ducked her head to take the piece of cake into her mouth, shivering when the fork slid from her lips and she met Haruka's smiling eyes. Chewing it slowly, she smiled when she finished eating and murmured, "Delicious."

 

"I'm glad," said Haruka quietly and Yukino froze as the other girl reached out, her touch light and fleeting on Yukino's skin as she brushed away a few stray crumbs from the cake that remained on her face. Yukino's head fell, unable to take the earnest power behind that gaze and she focused on her own slice of chocolate cake, cutting into it and lifting her fork to Haruka, offering it to her in a similar gesture. Forming a slow smile, Haruka chuckled and took a bite of the cake, wiping her own mouth with the back of her hand as she muttered, "It's good."

 

"Yes," said Yukino, her voice a bare whisper. "It is."

 

Once their cake was long gone and eaten, they made their way out of the cafŽ, arms hooked together and they set about exploring Wind City, Haruka relying on Yukino's knowledge since the brunette had spent more time in the city. They walked through the shopping district that had street vendors and small shops lining the streets and when they paused near a small florist Haruka recalled the longing look Yukino wore as she lightly touched the petals of one of the large sunflowers on display. Darting her eyes over to the brunette and seeing her busy inspecting the collection of books on display at a nearby shop, Haruka quickly purchased the flower before she quite knew why she was doing it. Maybe it was that smile Yukino wore or maybe it was just an impulse, she didn't know, but she bought the sunflower and she hid behind her back, walking over to the older girl and standing patiently behind her until Yukino turned to face her. The moment that the brunette did, Haruka produced the sunflower from behind her back, her cheeks hot and her jaw clenched. She didn't know quite what to say so she didn't say anything at all, Haruka was horrible with words, she knew that, actions were what she excelled at and that's why she simply thrust her offering of the flower at Yukino, trusting that somehow the older girl would understand the meaning.

 

"Thank you," Yukino murmured, taking the sunflower, wondering if Haruka knew the reason she loved this flower above all others was because it reminded her of the blonde. With its large and bright petals, there was something strangely proud and outgoing about it, and it was just like Haruka in its simple and honest beauty. Taking in the redness on the younger girl's cheeks, Yukino felt a great wave of affection overcome her and she chuckled, curling a lock of wavy blonde hair around her finger as she said, "Haruka-chan is terribly sweet."

 

At this remark, Haruka blustered and protested and Yukino allowed it because she knew it was Haruka's way, how she acted when she was embarrassed and didn't know how to act and just like the gift of the sunflower it was terribly sweet and just like her Haruka-chan. Taking Haruka's hand in her own, Yukino gently tugged her through the crowd, and they continued to inspect the small shops, one hand holding her gift of a flower and the other keeping a firm hold on the girl who had presented it to her with such loving intent.

 

Their wandering through Wind City brought them to the large and impressive park where they settled underneath a tree similar to the one which had been their usual meeting place at Yukino's house. In a strange reversal, Yukino found herself lying with her head in Haruka's lap, brought there by Haruka's crooked smile and her statement that she wanted to know what it felt like, having Yukino lie there. Green eyes fluttered shut as she felt callused fingertips brush their way through her short hair, running along her scalp, and Yukino thought there had never been a birthday as good as this. None of the expensive presents her parents got her could match up to spending this precious time with Haruka.

 

"I can see your school from my window," Haruka said and Yukino opened her eyes, peering up at the younger girl whose gaze was fixed in the distance, staring at the large west tower for Windbloom University. "I don't understand how you can be so close but seem so far away." She moved her violet eyes to Yukino, a self-deprecating smile tugging at her lips as she said, "I'm not smart enough to understand it."

 

"Don't say such things," said Yukino fiercely, pushing herself up, holding Haruka's face in her hands, looking firmly into her eyes. "You're smart, Haruka-chan. Smarter than people ever give you credit for and anyone who doesn't know it, they're the stupid ones."

 

"It's not bad, Yukino," said Haruka with an easy smile, placing her hands on top of the brunette's. "My parents taught me it's best to know what you're good at and what you're not and I know I'm not as smart as other people but I'm a lot stronger than them too and tougher. Those smarter people, they're going to need me to protect them someday and it makes me happy to know that. It gives me a purpose."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino said her name in a kind of awe. The younger girl could be unexpectedly wise in the strangest ways and it never failed to shake the older girl to her core when Haruka had moments like this.

 

"Of course," Haruka declared strongly, though her hands were gentle as she pushed Yukino back into her lap, returning the brunette to her previous position, her fingertips sweeping tenderly though messy brown hair. "I work hard so I'll be Yukino's Otome. That's my goal, after all, and why I'm trying my best to become the highest ranked Coral in our class."

 

"What is your current rank?" asked Yukino, recalling the last time she had received a letter from Haruka it was No. 17 and she was ahead of her roommate who was at No. 18. A fact which pleased Haruka a great deal because she mentioned it frequently in the correspondence.

 

"No. 11, bubuzuke is No. 10," said Haruka, scowling heavily. Her hand squeezed into a fist, she lifted it in the air and her face was filled with certain determination as she declared, "I'll beat her though! I won't let her take the top prohibition forever."

 

"Top position," corrected Yukino affectionately, smiling up at Haruka. "I know you will, Haruka-chan. You always work so hard."

 

"She never seems to work," Haruka grumbled and she studied Yukino for a moment. "I don't like it," she admitted gruffly, though her hands were careful and soft as they played with the edge of the brunette's shirt. "She acts like everything comes so easy to her, has this perfect act she puts on, and it drives me crazy because I just know that's not who she really is. I don't get it, why somebody would act like something they're not. It seems like a huge waste of time. How can anyone know you when you're like that? Always pretending?"

 

"Maybe she's scared," offered Yukino and Haruka's eyebrows rose comically at this and Yukino giggled at the sight. "I know it seems like a ridiculous thought given the way you've told me she acts around you but it could be the truth. It would explain why she's reluctant to be herself."

 

"Maybe," muttered Haruka and she twisted Yukino's shirt in her hands before moving her gaze to lock with the brunette's. "I like how Yukino is best. She never pretends about anything. Everyone should be like that instead of how the stupid bubuzuke is."

 

"I like how Haruka-chan is best too," Yukino revealed, blushing darkly but meeting Haruka's gaze steadily.

 

It seemed to Yukino as if the sweetest, most tender, smile in the entire world passed over Haruka's features in that moment and her throat was suddenly dry and her heart was beating so fast, enough that she thought her chest might explode from it, then she felt those fingertips, rough from hard work and training that were always so very gentle on her, sweep across her cheek. "We're best for each other," Haruka said this with the utmost confidence and Yukino felt the urge to cry because she knew the blonde didn't realize what those words would mean to her. Those words, they were the truth though, that was all that Haruka knew how to speak and for that she was grateful.

 

The afternoon was shifting into the evening when they had to part company, Haruka insisting on walking Yukino to Windbloom University, inspecting the grounds with curious and gleaming eyes. She pulled Yukino to her for one last hug, her voice warm and husky in Yukino's ear as she wished her birthday again before turning on her heel and running off, pausing at the gate to shout happy birthday one more time before she disappeared into the crowd and while she was surrounded by hundreds of her fellow students Yukino suddenly felt horribly alone without Haruka at her side. Although that feeling didn't last long as she took in the sight of her roommate, Rin, who had apparently witnessed the entire exchange with Haruka along with other members of their dorm study group.

 

Something that caused Yukino to heave a small sigh of exasperation.

 

---

 

From the instant that Yukino knew Rin had seen her goodbye with Haruka, she resigned herself to the fact that her roommate would hound her about the details of their relationship. Rin knew vaguely of Haruka, that she was a student at Garderobe and they had been friends since they were small children but that was it. Those few stolen moments she witnessed told the inquisitive redhead far more about their relationship than the younger girl would have liked, especially since she wasn't entirely comfortable with admitting such things to herself much less others.

 

Still, her roommate wouldn't let up, and one night, when they had been up particularly late studying and Yukino was entirely weary and didn't have the energy to maintain her usual endless excuses, she simply gave in and replied honestly, "I think I'm in love with her."

 

Yukino didn't know what she really expected Rin to do but she hadn't expected the sympathetic and knowing look in her eyes. The redhead stretched her legs out on the couch, lying down to peer at Yukino who remained sitting on the floor. "Have you told her?" asked Rin.

 

"No," Yukino shook her head and looked vaguely horrified at the thought. "I said, I think, Rin. I can't tell Haruka-chan until I know." Her cheeks turned red at the thought of confessing to Haruka, imagining the blonde's response, and she added, "Maybe not even then. I know she doesn't think of me that way and I couldn't bear to lose her friendship. We've been together so long and our promiseÉ"

 

"What promise?" asked Rin, gazing at Yukino in concern.

 

"It's silly," insisted Yukino, shaking her head, not wanting to divulge something so private, something between only her and Haruka.

 

"Somehow I doubt it's silly if it's a promise you made, Yukino," said Rin dryly. "You're not the silly type."

 

Chuckling quietly at this, Yukino gave a murmur of assent then said, "You know how Haruka-chan is studying to become an Otome? This was something she's wanted since she was five years old, it became her dream after she saw her mother saved by Meister Blomquist. We became friends when she was seven and together we read The Heart Of An Otome and after that, Haruka-chan thought up the idea that when she became an Otome I would be her Master. We were just children but we made a promise and even now, we're working towards it." Rin kept her eyes on Yukino and somehow, under their inspection, Yukino felt entirely vulnerable, as if she was easily seen through. "Most people would think it's foolish, the two of us working for something we promised as children without knowing any better but it feels so right. I can't imagine things being any different and I want to have Haruka-chan with me always, strange as that might sound."

 

"Yukino," Rin said her name in a caring sort of reprimand. "You don't need to think about anything. Trust me, you're in love with her."

 

Her blush returning, Yukino picked at their carpeted floor and murmured, "I can't tell Haruka-chan though. She wouldn't understand."

 

"Why do you say that?" asked Rin, honestly perplexed. "I only saw a little bit of how she was with you but it's obvious she adores you, Yukino. The girl didn't even try to hide how she felt, it was right out there for everyone to see."

 

"That's just how Haruka-chan is," Yukino replied, shaking her head sadly. "She'd deny it but she's the sweetest person you could know."

 

"It seems to me that if she wants to devote her life to protecting and serving you then she cares a hell of a lot about you," Rin reasoned, pushing herself up into a sitting position. "You said she wanted to be an Otome before she met you, that it was her dream, but after she met you, she changed that dream, didn't she? Suddenly you became a huge part of it and that tells me you're obviously important to her."

 

"I know that," said Yukino softly. "But it isn't the same thing as being in love with me, Rin. Besides," she said with more than a little exasperation. "Haruka-chan just turned thirteen and sweet as she is, she isn't the fastest person when it comes to understanding emotions. It would just complicate things needlessly if I said anything to her now. Trust me," Yukino sighed. "It's not the right time."

 

"When exactly would the right time be?" pursued Rin skeptically.

 

"I don't know," murmured Yukino, looking away from Rin and rising to her feet. "It isn't now though."

 

Heading to her room, Yukino ignored her roommate's protest to this statement, quietly closing her door behind her and her eyes fixing on the sunflower Haruka had given her, walking over to and lightly stroking the soft petals of the flower. It didn't matter what Rin said, she knew she was right, Haruka wasn't old enough to grasp things like being in love. She might understand the basic concept but the feelings behind it, the things that Yukino experienced when she was with the blonde, the slow burning desire and need, she knew that they weren't reciprocated.

 

Trying to explain them would only frighten Haruka away and she didn't want that. Besides, whatever sort of pain this brought her, these feelings she had for Haruka, she would never rid herself of them because somewhere deep in her heart she knew one day they would be returned. That time just hadn't reached them yet but it someday it would and Yukino could only wish that it would arrive soon.

 

---

 

The end of the year battle Haruka Armitage had during her first year at Garderobe was something that would be spoken about for years to come. Her opponent was Beatrice Gidian, the No. 25 Pearl, and their battle lasted precisely three minutes and fifteen seconds. The second that Principal Vandeveld announced the start, Haruka flew from the pillar that she was standing on, and saw the attack from Beatrice coming almost immediately, her violet eyes going wide as she watched the glaive being at aimed at her.

 

Flexing her fingers and feeling the joints crack, Haruka clenched her jaw and stopped the glaive with her hands, wincing as she felt it cut into her gloves, piercing her skin. Wearing a reckless smile as she witnessed the look of shock on Beatrice's features, she swung the glaive with her opponent still holding onto it into the air, sending it and the older girl flying into the far wall of the coliseum. The structure shook and bricks dropped onto Beatrice's fallen figure from where she lay in the large hole in the wall that Haruka had created. Slowly, she pushed herself out of the rubble and wearing an expression of rage, she launched herself at Haruka who smirked, biting back the pain in her hands. The exact moment when Beatrice would have reached her, she kicked at one of the large pillars, sending it crashing down onto the other girl and another section of the coliseum, causing students to scramble as more bricks started falling.

 

Seeing Beatrice struggle under the weight of the pillar, Haruka lifted it off the ground, though it slipped in her grasp because of the blood from her injuries and as she did, the Principal's voice echoed in the air, announcing Haruka as the winner. Something that caused the blonde to jump in celebration, flinging the pillar through the air, and sending it crashing into the wall of the coliseum, creating a bigger hole than before.

 

While it took Haruka just over three minutes to create the massive damage to the coliseum, two weeks passed before it could be repaired. Mostly because the repairs were a duty given to Haruka alone with Miss Yukariko supervising her as Haruka was the one who caused all of the structural problems in the first place. The battle did what it should though, it placed Haruka as the No. 1 Coral, with Shizuru following behind at No. 2. Though she wasn't able to gloat over her superior ranking in anything close to a satisfying manner because Shizuru quickly got over this defeat when just a week after the battle, she was approached by Anh Lu to be her heya-gakkari.

 

For Haruka it was entirely strange to see Shizuru with Anh because that mask of perfection, it didn't so much lift as it transformed into an absolute and real kind of happiness and admiration for the Pearl who doted on Shizuru almost constantly. She would never admit it but Haruka found herself missing the brunette as Shizuru began spending all of her time with Anh. Somehow she had gotten used to having Shizuru hovering around and Haruka was nearly immune to her teasing, though she still was uncomfortable with Shizuru's habit of hanging onto her. Their tiny dorm room just seemed incredibly empty without the brunette's presence. To distract herself, Haruka increased her strength and combat training and instead of writing once a day to Yukino, she began writing the older girl both in the morning and again in evening.

 

Haruka also took to exploring the massive library on campus, going through the historical texts of the Otome, reading all the various myths and legends, eagerly taking in as much information as she could. She had been at Garderobe over a year and two birthdays had passed, placing her at the age of fourteen, there was still so much Haruka knew she had to learn about being an Otome. While she felt learning was best done by experience, she liked being in the library with the books, there was something about the place that made her feel close to Yukino. Perhaps because the brunette loved reading so much that her room back home in Aries could pass for a library itself.

 

Whatever the reason, Haruka had taken to spending her free time there and that was where she was when she heard Shizuru's winsome voice echoing lightly in her ear, blowing back her hair as she said, "Haruka-san studies very hard, doesn't she? I admire her dedication."

 

"Bubuzuke," Haruka muttered, turning to her roommate who was resting her chin on the blonde's shoulder. She had long since learned any sort of loud outburst would remove her from the library so she grimaced and shrugged her shoulders in an attempt to get the other girl to move. Unfortunately all it succeeded in doing was cause Shizuru to wrap her arms around the chair and Haruka's waist. Making a frustrated noise at her current predicament, Haruka remarked, "Shouldn't you be with Anh-oneesama? You might die from the reiteration."

 

"Ara," said Shizuru with a warm chuckle, placing her cheek next to Haruka's. "I think Haruka-san means we might die from our separation. I'm pleased that you're concerned for my health but you needn't fret, I can survive away from my oneesama."

 

"Could've fooled me," mumbled Haruka, frowning deeply when she noticed they were attracting curious onlookers thanks to Shizuru's position. Shrugging her shoulders again and moving her chair side to side, she tried, quietly as she could since she had some more reading she wanted to finish, to dislodge herself from Shizuru's embrace. Sadly, she failed, and Haruka turned to her roommate with a scowl, putting their faces just a breath apart and her eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" she demanded.

 

"Why must I want something to spend time with the kind and lovely Haruka-san?" asked Shizuru playfully, tapping Haruka on the nose. She followed Haruka's gaze to the crowd of Coral students and a few Pearls and a slow smile curved on her lips. "I see," she murmured with a sort of delight that caused certain dread to form in the pit of Haruka's stomach. "You don't appreciate the admirers we've attracted, do you?"

 

"And you do?" asked Haruka gruffly, displaying a certain clear disbelief.

 

Although she wasn't spending nearly as much time with her roommate since Shizuru became Anh's heya-gakkari Haruka still felt that she and Anh herself were the only ones who managed to see past the perfect air Shizuru created around her. That meant no matter what Shizuru might like to pretend, Haruka didn't believe she enjoyed having a constant stream of gawkers accompanying her every day activities. For her own part, Haruka ignored them the best she could, until eventually it got to the point she didn't notice they were even there. Unless they got too close, of course, then she was reduced to yelling in outrage to get some space for herself. The fact that other students wasted their time with such things baffled Haruka, she was an Otome in training, just like them, and being Coral No. 1 didn't make her anything special, it certainly didn't make her anything to stare at. Besides, shouldn't they be concentrating on their own studies? It irritated the hell out of her that because of their rank, fighting skills, and the scores they achieved she and Shizuru were placed on a pedestal of sorts. Haruka thought it served no purpose.

 

"If they want to stare, then let them stare, it isn't like it will teach them anything," said Shizuru dismissively though she did release her hold on the blonde and smoothly moved to sit next to her at the table. Resting her chin in the palm of her hand, she smiled at Haruka and said, "I haven't seen much of Haruka-san lately. It depresses me when I think of it, my heart might break into little pieces from the loneliness."

 

"Right," Haruka said, looking at Shizuru with a supremely skeptical expression. Leaning back in her chair, the front two legs lifted off the ground and Haruka arched an eyebrow at the brunette. "You always want something," she stated plainly, folding her arms over her chest. "I won't be tricked by you again. Not like when we had the wilderness survival exam."

 

"I never tricked Haruka-san," said Shizuru, looking wounded at the suggestion. "I truly was injured."

 

"You stubbed your toe, you didn't break your ankle!" roared Haruka suddenly and her chair went crashing down on all fours as she pointed an accusing finger at Shizuru. Though she was well aware this was going to get her kicked out the library, she couldn't help herself, she got so angry when she thought of all the things she did for the brunette on that outdoor exam because she thought Shizuru was injured when it was really about Haruka being teased and seeing how far she would go to pass. Rising to her feet and standing over Shizuru, she said, "You tricked me, pretending you were injured, so I did everything. I cooked, I carried your pack, I hauled you up that damn mountain!"

 

Looking over her shoulder at the librarian heading their way with a severe frown on her features, Shizuru took Haruka's hand in her own, pulling the blonde after her as she gracefully moved through the building and the crowd of their onlookers. "Haruka-san might have a very valid argument indeed but I think it best to not tarnish her standing as the No. 1 Coral by getting scolded yet again for being noisy in the library," Shizuru remarked as they snuck out the little used side entrance to the building.

 

"I'm noisy because you tricked me," Haruka groused, yanking her hand away from Shizuru's once they were a good distance away from the library. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her skirt, she marched away from her roommate and muttered under her breath, "Unforgivable, doing that, and on an exam too. Never trying to work, and I have my promise to keep to Yukino, could've made me flunk if I wasn't strong."

 

"Haruka-san," Shizuru said her name and there was actual remorse in her voice, causing the blonde to pause in her walk and focus on the other girl. Walking over to Haruka, she lightly touched her face, frowning when Haruka flinched then moved backwards slightly, leaving her fingers touching the empty air. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you, not when I know how seriously you take your studies."

 

"Why did you do it anyway?" asked Haruka irritably.

 

A wry smile tugged at Shizuru's lips and she murmured, "I suppose I wanted to see if Haruka-san really would carry me up a mountain. You seem to dislike me quite a bit but you do care about your grades and I found myself curious to see which would win out in the end. Ultimately I found that Haruka-san's focus cannot be undone by her distaste for me. It was useful information to have, in its own way."

 

"I don't," Haruka mumbled and the rest of her words seemed to disappear with the wind.

 

"What did Haruka-san say?" asked Shizuru, honestly curious as she didn't catch the rest of the blonde's sentence.

 

"I donÕt dislike you," said Haruka firmly, staring Shizuru down, before a blush covered her features. Averting her eyes, she looked into the distance, fixing her gaze on the west tower to Windbloom University, and somehow finding comfort in looking at a building on the campus to Yukino's school. "Maybe I dislike how you pretend, how you tease me, and how you act perfect but I don't dislike you." Haruka fixed her gaze back on Shizuru and said in earnest and forthright tones, "Because that isn't you, is it?"

 

Blinking at this, Shizuru seemed to consider it for a moment, then she looked to Haruka with a faint smile. "I think the teasing is me," she revealed with a hint of humor. "The restÉ I believe Haruka-san is more clever than people give her credit for. Perhaps if she stopped using raw power and mass destruction as a means for advancement then this would finally be recognized?"

 

Releasing a humorous snort, Haruka shook her head and started to walk back to the dorm. "The teasing is definitely you," she remarked. "And why should I hold back on my strength anyway? Everybody here should be able to take it if they have any guts at all." Looking over at Shizuru, a smirk played on her lips and she drawled, "You're not scared of me and I've pushed you around plenty."

 

"Ara," Shizuru exclaimed, skipping after Haruka and linking their arms, smiling when the blonde rolled her eyes and grumbled at this gesture. "But my ears, they still sometimes ring, remembering the tremendous crash of that much metal landing on me."

 

"Sure," Haruka scoffed. They continued to walk across the campus in silence and Haruka did her best to ignore the stares from their fellow students but when she felt the tell tale pressure of Shizuru resting her head on her shoulder, she focused on the other girl and questioned, "Won't Anh-oneesama get upset? You hanging on me like this?"

 

"Why would she?" responded Shizuru who formed what was meant to be a look of innocence.

 

Though she knew better than to fall for Shizuru's expression, convincing as it might be, Haruka still found herself turning red as she tried to work out exactly what she wanted to say in a way that her roommate couldn't mock her for it. In the end she couldn't think of anything so she clenched her jaw and scowled as she grumbled, "Never mind. Forget about it."

 

"I don't want to forget about it, not when it sounds so very intriguing," Shizuru remarked, leaning into Haruka, and smiling up at her. "What does Haruka-san think Anh-oneesama could possibly get upset over?"

 

"You know the answer," Haruka said, gritting her teeth and glowering at her roommate. "That's why I'm not saying."

 

Shizuru pouted cutely at this and Haruka blew a frustrated puff of air from her lips, allowing the other girl to continue to hang onto her as she had accepted that trying to shake Shizuru off caused more problems than it was worth. The episode in the library was proof that reacting to her roommate's various attempts to poke at her never led to anything good. They stayed this way until they were back at their dorm room where, much to Haruka's displeasure, Shizuru placed herself on the blonde's bed. All of this was enough to make Haruka wonder why she had been crazy enough to miss Shizuru in the first place.

 

---

 

Midterm exams were always taken with a great deal of excitement simply because they weren't as difficult as the end of the year exams and they still allowed for Coral students to advance to the Pearl class if they did well enough in their written and battle portions. The battles were eagerly anticipated since they focused on fighting in pairs. This meant instead of being alone in your battle with just yourself and your opponent the students had at least one other person to fight with which led to far more exciting matches. Particularly since the weapon you would be fighting with wasn't announced until you were in the coliseum facing your opponents. This was a training method devised several years ago by the first Galactic Aquamarine as a way to try and ensure students were comfortable using any sort of weapon.

 

When the listing for battle partners came out, Haruka, despite all the issues she sometimes had, was reluctantly pleased to see Shizuru's name next to her own. Although the pleasure she felt was soon replaced with a measure of worry when she saw that their opponents were Anh Lu and Maya Blythe the No. 1 and No. 2 Pearls. It wasn't that Haruka was afraid of the challenge, no, quite the opposite, she looked forward to facing people who possessed real strength in the coliseum. She was more worried over the fact that Shizuru was Anh's heya-gakkari and the close relationship Shizuru had with the older girl. Though Shizuru never confirmed it, Haruka heard the rumors and she saw enough with her own eyes to know that they were more than just friends.

 

That being so, Haruka wondered if Shizuru could bring herself to fight all out against her oneesama in the midterm battle. She said as much to Shizuru who looked at the blonde in surprise and her eyes were lidded, a wisp of a smile on her lips as she murmured that Anh would never forgive her if she didn't try her very hardest in a battle they would fight together. Then she latched onto Haruka's arm and announced that this type of concern was why she could see herself falling in love with Haruka, something which caused the other girl's face to turn bright red and a loud outburst to come from her lips, one that could be heard across the entire Garderobe campus.

 

Once again, they returned to the library, devising strategies and tactics for the midterm battle, trying to think up ways they could last in the battle against two much stronger students in hopes they would advance to the Pearl class themselves. Once their strategy was in place, they found an area of the campus, deep in the woods, that was isolated and brought their plans to life, practicing well into the night, sometimes past curfew. This lasted up to the day before the midterm exams when they trained until they heard the tell tale sound of Garderobe instructors and Pearl students roaming the campus, looking for people breaking curfew. Moving through the woods on their usual path which kept them far from the intrusive and punishing eyes of those patrolling the campus, they headed back to the dorm, and just a minute into the walk, Haruka felt the familiar weight of Shizuru leaning on her, hooking their arms together.

 

"Bubuzuke," Haruka said her chosen nickname for her roommate in almost affectionate tones, smiling when Shizuru looked up at her in surprise upon hearing it said that way. "Why do you want to be an Otome?"

 

Silence and for a moment, Haruka thought that Shizuru might not reply, then the brunette fixed her gaze into the distance and said in far off tones, as if she was lost in another place and time, "My father is Archduke Shigeru Viola. When I was young, much too young to remember, my mother died so it has always been my father and I. We're terribly close and I will admit, he spoils me, he can't seem to help himself." Haruka snorted at this, understanding why a parent and a father in particular would have that impulse with Shizuru. "I grew up surrounded by all the noble girls of Windbloom and there hasn't been a moment when I wasn't utterly bored with them and their witless chattering and I began to dread the idea of becoming like them. Now, I'm sure Haruka-san will think me quite foolish, but one day I saw Meister Lena Sayers single handedly save half of Windbloom. She did it in seconds and watching her, I wanted to be like that, to have the same power and purpose I saw in her. That," Shizuru drew the word out slowly, tilting her head as she looked to Haruka, "is why I want to be an Otome."

 

"It's not foolish," said Haruka quietly. "I think it's a good reason."

 

"Kind as always," Shizuru murmured fondly. Her hand stretched out, fingers lightly prodding Haruka's side as if in a tickle but they were seized in the blonde's strong grip, causing Shizuru to pout. "Well?" she prompted. "Can't I hear Haruka-san's reply?"

 

Instead of replying, Haruka held Shizuru's hand in her own and moved into a quick run. They were soon inside the dorm, making their way through the hallways, avoiding the Pearl who was patrolling, and it wasn't until they were safely in their room that Haruka spoke. "I made a promise," she began in solemn tones, walking over to her desk and looking at Yukino's old pair of glasses she kept as a source of comfort during the more difficult times.

 

"So Haruka-san has said," Shizuru responded playfully and she sat at the edge of Haruka's bed, crossing her legs and studying the other girl with a curious gaze. "Might she finally tell me what that promise is?"

 

"I have someone important," Haruka said and her voice was a whisper, causing the brunette to strain to hear it. Her gaze fixed on Yukino's glasses, Haruka reached out to hold them in her hands. "I want to be an Otome that way I can protect and be with them always."

 

"Haruka-san must love this person very much to want such a thing," Shizuru's voice was friendly in its reply and when Haruka turned to her, she smiled gently on seeing the look of surprise on the blonde's features. "Am I wrong?"

 

"No," murmured Haruka, shaking her head. "You're not. I do love her. Probably more than anybody. More than my parents even."

 

"I think," Shizuru drew the words out slowly as she rose to her feet and walked over to Haruka. Easily taking Yukino's glasses in her hands, her lips quirked up in a smile as she unfolded them and perched them on Haruka's nose. "They are a very lucky person to have one like Haruka-san care for them in that way. I'm certain if you asked they would agree."

 

"Shizuru," Haruka said her name quietly, squinting to see the other girl through the blur of Yukino's prescription lenses.

 

A look of delight crossing her features, Shizuru exclaimed, "This is the first time Haruka-san has called me by my name! I must remember to mark the occasion down on my calendar as this is a date that surely deserves recognition. I think it a miracle of sorts."

 

"Stop joking," muttered Haruka, forming a scowl and blinking her eyes.

 

"Ara," Shizuru released a great sigh, "if I must. What was Haruka-san going to say?"

 

"I can't see anything with these glasses on," Haruka revealed as a smile formed on her lips and she chuckled quietly, soon joined by her roommate who removed the glasses from her face and looked at her with a questioning expression. Taking them back in her hand, Haruka folded the glasses carefully and put them on her desk. "They're not mine, bubuzuke. I took them from a friend. It's stupid but I wanted to have something of theirs with me while I was at school. Makes me feel like they're with me somehow." Sitting on her bed, she peered up at Shizuru and said, "We're going to win tomorrow. I just know it. There's no way we won't, not with how hard we've trained."

 

"Haruka-san does realize I'm not as delicate as people think, doesn't she?" asked Shizuru with a quiet concern that caused the blonde to furrow her brow as she looked at the other girl. "Our plan," Shizuru continued, moving to sit next to Haruka on the bed. "I think it is a good one but you could be hurt very badly in the process. We needn't take it that far, I can withstand some attacks myself."

 

"Our plan is fine like it is," said Haruka firmly, her face set in determination. "You've got the speed and I've got the strength and stamina. There's no way I'd be able to dodge all their attacks so I'm best off drawing their fire. If we do it the way we worked out it doesn't matter how much stronger they are because in the end, we're going to outlast them in the battle and that's what'll count most in points."

 

"Very well," said Shizuru almost reluctantly and a moment passed before a glint formed in her eyes, causing Haruka to groan before she heard what the brunette said next. "Just make sure not to be hurt too badly. Your important person might never forgive me."

 

For this, Haruka didn't have a reply.

 

---

 

Obtaining admission to the Garderobe exam battles was perhaps one of the most difficult things to accomplish. Tickets were hard to come by and expensive on top of that. A limited number were available to the Pearl students to give to their friends or family but they were in short supply. Yukino had been trying, without Haruka's knowledge, for weeks on end to get a ticket to the midterm exam battle since she knew it was going to be an important event for the blonde. How she placed determined if she advanced to the Pearl class and though Haruka was very reluctant to admit it, Yukino knew she was anxious about the exam. Since tickets were almost impossible to find, Yukino kept her attempts from the other girl out of fear of disappointing her if she wasn't able to find any for the event.

 

Yukino had just about given up when the day before the exam she was approached by another student from her dorm study group, Eugene Notara, who asked if it was true that she was trying to get a ticket to the Garderobe midterm exam. Apparently Eugene knew a friend of a friend who had a pair of tickets he was willing to part with for a fairly hefty price. She only needed one but it was either buy them as a pair or not at all and that's how Yukino found herself with an empty wallet but a satisfied smile as she sat in the Garderobe coliseum with her roommate, Rin, on the day of the midterm exams. They had witnessed three battles thus far when the Coral students sitting in front of them began to chatter in anticipation and she heard them mention Haruka's name along with Shizuru then Anh and Maya-oneesama.

 

Just moments later, the voice of the Garderobe Principal echoed in the air yet again, announcing Anh Lu and Maya Blythe, the No. 1 and No. 2 Pearls. Upon hearing their names and watching them emerge from the coliseum floor as their pillars rose into the air, the crowd erupted into cheers and the Coral students in front of Yukino released ear piercing shrieks of their names. This had barely started to die down when Haruka's name was announced along with her rank as the No. 1 Coral and this time, rather than finding herself bemused at the manic cheering Yukino couldn't help but take a certain amount of joy and pride in it. She didn't cheer herself though, simply because she found herself mesmerized by the sight of Haruka on the pillar, rising out of the ground, clad in her Otome robe and wearing an utterly solemn look on her features.

 

Throughout their years together Yukino didn't see much of Haruka's sparring. She tended to avoid it for her own peace of mind because there was little that she imagined could hurt her more than watching the person she cared for more than anyone else getting hurt. That being so, she hadn't really seen Haruka look like this before. Naturally she had seen her serious and determined, those things were a huge part of Haruka's nature, but the look she had now it was something else. It reminded Yukino of the soldiers in Aries, of the blonde's own parents, in the sort of innate confidence and clarity Haruka was carrying with her as she kept her gaze level with her opponents. There was a stoic beauty to how she looked standing there, prepared for battle, and it made Yukino's heart race to see her that way.

 

Despite the fact Haruka was ranked higher, Yukino couldn't help but notice the cheers were much louder for her roommate, Shizuru Viola, who gave a graceful bow to the crowd before turning to face the Pearls and doing the same thing. The Coral students took great delight in the brunette's gestures, remarking on how wonderful Shizuru was and Yukino couldn't help but feel a little put out that Haruka hadn't received the same kind of praise. Shaking her head, she kept her gaze fixed on her friend, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose and watching with concern as Haruka flexed her right hand in what she thought to be a nervous gesture.

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino said her name softly but with a strength in her tone. "You can do it."

 

"She'll be fine," reassured Rin, nudging the younger girl who looked at her gratefully. "I don't even know her and I think she looks tough to take down. IÕm sure she'll give those upperclassmen a run for their money."

 

Her reply was cut off by the Principal announcing the chosen weapon for this battle would be broadswords and the length of the battle was five minutes. Whoever was left standing or had the least amount of damage at the end would be declared the winner. With that, the call to begin reverberated in the air and Yukino watched with wide eyes and a good amount of amazement as Haruka materialized a large sword in one hand and flew across the coliseum faster than Yukino could properly track at the older students. The Pearl that Yukino recalled was named Maya easily dodged Haruka's attack and swung her own sword at the blonde only to be blocked by Haruka whose attention soon turned to her roommate who was being targeted by the other Pearl, Anh, and it was then that Yukino gave her first cry of the evening.

 

In a hard swing, Anh was bringing her broadsword down and Yukino was strangely certain that Shizuru could have avoided it but she remained where she was and then, out of nowhere, Haruka appeared taking the blow, holding the sword in her left hand while her right had her own sword firmly extended, blocking another attack from Maya. While this went on, Shizuru disappeared from the midst of the confrontation and flew at Anh once more, landing an attack to the older girl's side, and Anh started to pursue Shizuru but Haruka was there again, taking the fight for herself, splitting her attention from Anh to Maya and back again while Shizuru avoided all possible conflict herself.

 

To Yukino it seemed like Haruka was doing most of the work, she was blocking the attacks from the Pearls, she was taking their blows herself, she was constantly protecting Shizuru from harm while the brunette flitted about the coliseum attacking in spurts. Anytime Maya or Anh would fix their attention on Shizuru there was Haruka, taking the attack head on, and the longer this went on the more upset Yukino was becoming until eventually she let out an cry of frustration, "Mou! Why isn't she doing anything? Haruka-chan is the only one getting hurt."

 

"I don't know," said Rin, honestly perplexed about what she was seeing. This battle was far different than any of the others they encountered where the pairs seemed to take on equal amounts of damage. In this fight, however, it was just Haruka who seemed to get attacked.

 

When it seemed as if her anger couldn't possibly get any worse, Yukino took notice of the Coral students in front of them, who were once again analyzing the battle excitedly. Hearing them speak Haruka's name, her attention was drawn to their conversation.

 

"You see? She did it again. Each time Anh or Maya-oneesama try to attack Shizuru, that's when she moves into action," the first one pointed out, watching as Haruka flew across the stadium to intercept Maya.

 

"Strength is her thing, right? I mean, she's the only Coral to wreck half the coliseum," the second remarked.

 

"Right," the first agreed. "Since Haruka can absorb greater damage without getting hurt she's taking the attacks, distracting both oneesamas that way Shizuru can land more blows. Haruka is strong but not fast so I guess they figured there wasn't any way she could avoid getting hurt with how fast Anh and Maya-oneesama can be. But," she paused to say this worriedly, "she is taking a lot of hits. Sort of worries me."

 

"Oh! She just sliced at the pillar, you don't think she's going to kick it again?" the second exclaimed eagerly and Yukino quickly moved her attention back to the battle where Haruka was indeed kicking the large pillar she had just sliced at the bottom, sending it crashing down onto Maya who was immediately announced to be removed from the battle.

 

Shifting her sword over her shoulders, Haruka fixed her gaze on Anh, and soon went flying across the coliseum with Shizuru at her side and both girls launched a combined attack on the remaining Pearl. It was so fast and fierce and Yukino couldn't see the swords, just the sharp glare of metal with sparks flying, and she heard the thunderous noise of the weapons crashing together. Haruka swung her broadsword in a massive circle and at the last moment Anh dodged its blow, causing it to slice into a good portion of the coliseum creating a large and gaping hole. Moments after she did this, Anh reappeared behind Haruka and Yukino released a shriek of terror when the older girl swung her sword down onto the blonde, causing Haruka to go flying across the coliseum, crashing through the wall, and landing in a pile of rubble.

 

Principal Vandeveld announced Haruka's removal from the battle along with the time remaining which was just forty five seconds and although the battle between Anh and Shizuru was still going on, Yukino kept her eyes fixed on where Haruka had landed, only breathing easy when she saw the blonde emerge from the coliseum debris. Haruka's Coral robe was in tatters, her body bruised and bleeding, and she was covered head to toe in a thick layer of dust but to Yukino she had never looked so beautiful. She was safe, she was alive, and for Yukino that was the only thing that mattered. Not the fact Shizuru had managed to stay in the battle with sixty five stamina points still in place while Anh was leading her with only a five point difference, the best score any Coral other than Lena Sayers had managed to produce.

 

Shizuru might have made it to the end of the battle but to Yukino the real winner was Haruka.

 

---

 

Becoming a Pearl had its advantages. Duties such as the daily cleaning and maintenance of Garderobe grounds and the preparation of meals were left entirely up to the Coral students. You were also allowed to take on a heya-gakkari which was a Coral who would serve as a room attendant and little sister of sorts. Despite all of the wonderful things that came along with being a Pearl the only thing that mattered to Haruka, besides it being proof of her hard work and dedication, was the fact that it meant she could leave the campus far more often.

 

That was why becoming the No. 23 Pearl after the midterm exams made Haruka so happy because it meant, even with Shizuru ahead of her in ranking at No. 22, she would be able to leave the Garderobe campus and see Yukino. The instant that classes were over at the start of the weekend, Haruka took off in a run, ignoring the teasing remarks from Shizuru and dashing into the crowded streets of Wind City on a path towards Windbloom University. She knew if she hurried she could make it in time to greet Yukino as she exited her final lecture for the day.

 

Winding through the citizens of Windbloom, Haruka pushed her way onto the university campus, and continued her run through the school, not aware of the stares a Pearl student from Garderobe was attracting. For the people of Windbloom, and most others in the world, an Otome was a combination celebrity and soldier, someone to be admired, and Haruka garnered quite a lot of attention as she made her mad dash through the university grounds in search of Iversen Hall where Haruka knew Yukino had her course on Defense Policy.

 

The class ended ten minutes ago but Haruka was hoping to find Yukino in the general area and her gaze soon landed upon the older girl's figure. She was standing on the lawn with a group of five other students including a tall girl with dark red hair, laughing and smiling brightly and Haruka was suddenly unable to move. Seeing Yukino laugh and smile, that wasn't unusual for Haruka, but there was something different about how the brunette looked. There was an ease, a self confidence, she had in her body language and expression that Haruka wasn't used to and looking at her, she wondered if maybe her friend had somehow passed her by. Yukino was always more mature than she was, she was smarter, and sometimes Haruka wondered what it was about her that the other girl liked because Yukino was so much further ahead of her in so many ways. She was strong, yes, and she was brave and she did work hard but she didn't understand things like Yukino did and there were times when Haruka felt as if Yukino was holding herself back for her sake and it was almost enough to depress her.

 

Watching Yukino with her university friends, Haruka had a moment where she contemplated leaving, seeing her some other time but the presence of a Garderobe student had created a crowd and Yukino was drawn to the noise. Haruka was frowning and trying to avoid all the attention when Yukino came pushing through the university students, a great smile on her features, happily calling Haruka's name and wrapping her arms around the taller girl in a hug. It was like time slowed down and everyone else disappeared because for Haruka it was only the two of them, no one else mattered. Her arms slipped around Yukino's waist, pulling the other girl closer to her,  and she dropped her head, nuzzling her face into the crook of Yukino's neck and breathing in the clean scent the brunette always carried, Haruka felt at home.

 

This was why she worked hard, this was why she fought to become a Pearl, this was why she wanted to be an Otome. All of it was to keep Yukino safe, to share the dream they had together, to be with her always. Maybe she wasn't smart like the other people at university and maybe she didn't catch on as quickly as Shizuru but she knew where her place was in the world and it was at Yukino's side. That one thing Haruka could remain certain, no matter what else happened that would never change.

 

---

 

Hand in hand, they walked through the Windbloom University campus, and for the first time Haruka was able to see Yukino's dorm. Inspecting every detail with curious eyes, remarking on the furniture and knick knacks with a smile, while Yukino subtly took in Haruka's figure which filled out her Pearl uniform quite nicely. Finally, Haruka asked to see Yukino's room, and her smile got that much larger when she took in shelf after shelf of books. Sitting on the small bed, she reached for the brunette's hands, pulling her forward until Yukino stood in between her legs and Haruka wrapped her arms around the older girl's waist, resting her head against Yukino's stomach.

 

"I still can't believe you came to the battle without telling me," Haruka marveled. "I wish I'd known. I would've tried harder."

 

"Haruka-chan," Yukino breathed her name, sifting her fingers through thick blonde hair, an affectionate look on her features. "Don't say things like that. You did so wellÉ I can't say how proud I was of you. Although, I was scared for you too. I was afraid you'd be hurt."

 

"If you fight, you get hurt," said Haruka simply, lifting her head to look at Yukino with an earnest gaze. "Yukino shouldn't worry." Her right hand slipped from behind the brunette's back, moving up to cup Yukino's cheek, and Haruka smiled when the other girl leaned into her touch. "I'll always come back to you. It's a promise."

 

"And you always keep your promises, don't you?" said Yukino tenderly, laughing and holding Haruka's face in her hands. Haruka gave an enthusiastic nod of agreement and an affirming noise, causing Yukino to smile sweetly. "I was so angry watching that battle. It seemed to me like your roommate was letting you get hurt and not doing a thing to help you. Then I overheard some Coral students talking about the strategy you were using and it helped calm me down. Still," Yukino confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, "I didn't like it. Seeing Haruka-chan getting hurt like that."

 

Haruka didn't know what to say to that and so she didn't say anything at all, she simply dropped her head and wrapped her arms more firmly around Yukino's waist, hiding her face against the older girl's stomach, losing herself in their embrace. Smiling at this, Yukino sighed, her fingers running through Haruka's hair, enjoying this quiet time with the younger girl. It was one of the things that Yukino loved about their relationship, how they didn't have the need to constantly talk, to fill the air with jabber and conversation, Yukino was weary of her classmates who couldn't seem to take the concept of silence, the very idea making them uneasy. It was different with Haruka though, she wasn't afraid to be herself and when she didn't know what to say, she didn't speak at all, and Yukino loved that about her. She loved that Haruka felt comfortable enough with her that she didn't have to spend her time on meaningless chatter like the some students at Windbloom University.

 

Her gaze drifted through her room, fixing on the calendar on the wall, and Yukino was astounded by how much time had passed. It had been a month since the midterm exams at Garderobe. In five months a new school year would begin for them and Haruka would be fifteen. Looking down at the blonde whose eyes were shut and her expression peaceful, as if on the precipice of sleep, Yukino wondered when she should reveal her feelings. It didn't feel right yet, the timing, it was off and Yukino suspected Haruka still wouldn't understand and while she knew she couldn't do anything about the love she felt for the younger girl sometimes it made her feel guilty because Haruka had no idea.

 

Was she taking advantage in times like these? When she held Haruka so close? But Haruka was the one who initiated this contact and that made it all right, didn't it? Yukino found it all so very confusing and it tore her up at times as she debated on what was right and what was fair in her treatment of Haruka because she was tempted all the time, tempted to be close, to touch, to hug, to take Haruka in and Haruka accepted everything she did so easily because she cared for her and that made it so much harder setting her limits.

 

"Yukino," Haruka said her name in a low murmur and Yukino jumped slightly, startled at the sound, though she quickly relaxed as she looked into warm violet eyes peering up at her with an open and honest affection. "I want to stay like this forever."

 

Blinking back tears and trying her best to control the immense feeling of love she felt on hearing this, Yukino cupped Haruka's cheek with a trembling hand, resting their foreheads together as she replied softly, "Me too."

 

---

 

Once the midterm battles passed, time seemed to fly for Haruka. Suddenly she was halfway through a new school year and quickly moving up the Pearl ranks. After each battle, Shizuru's popularity grew and she soon had the makings of a fairly large fanclub on campus. If Haruka had the same sort of following she wasn't aware of it and from her perspective she only drew a crowd when her roommate was around. Since Shizuru was now a Pearl herself she wasn't able to remain Anh's heya-gakkari but that didn't stop the two girls from spending almost all of their time together. Despite the relationship Shizuru had with Anh it didn't stop her from flirting with the Corals that admired her.