Strawberry Panic part 6

“Miyuki, you have to tell me what’s going on with her!”

“I do not, Shizuma.” Miyuki said.

Shizuma frowned, looking into her eyes. “Miyuki..”

“I.. should go to Mizuho.”

“Mizuho? Why?”

“Tereya asked me something.” ‘Well, perhaps.. Mizuho can come..’

“Miyuki-chan.. someone wants to speak with you..” Hitomi said.

“Oh?” Miyuki raised her eyebrow.  She went to Sister’s office and picked up the phone. “Tereya?” She asked.

” Miyuki..”

“Tereya, is everything alright?”

“Miyuki I.. want you to write a letter.. please? Write it to my home.. tell them my situation..”

“But, Tereya..” Miyuki whispered.

”I want to see Shizuma..” She cried.
>click<

Miyuki’s eyes widened. She wanted to see her. It had been days, since she was there, finally Shizuma could go see her.
“A letter..” She whispered to herself.

She wet back to Shizuma’s room.
“Shizuma.”

“Hmm?” Shizuma whispered as she stood there, reading a book.

“She wants to see you..”

Shizuma’s eyes widened. The moment that she looked up she dropped the book.

Miyuki smiled as she looked at Shizuma. She was happy for her, she probably would know after tonight.

Shizuma looked at Miyuki.

“Go, Shizuma.. she wants to see you.. now.. go to her..”

“H.. Hai..” Shizuma said. She walked passed Miyuki, not saying anything. She walked down the stairs and went outside, that’s when she started running.
She blinked away several tears when she thought of what Miyuki said. She wants to see me.

It didn’t take her long to get there, she was a fast runner and she took a short cut. Tereya stood outside, waiting for her.

“Tereya!” She shouted, nearly out of breath. She ran towards her, seeing Tereya come closer to her as well. When she got closer to her, she quickly wrapped her arms around Tereya. “Tereya..” She whispered.

Tereya sighed softly, wrapping her arms around Shizuma, going through her silver hair. “I’m sorry .. Shizuma.”

Shizuma shook her head. “Don’t be… Tereya.. I don’t want you to be..” Shizuma whispered. “I’ve missed you..”

“I’ve missed you as well..” Tereya whispered. “Shizuma.. we.. we need to talk..”

Shizuma nodded, looking into Tereya’s eyes.

“Inside..” Tereya said. She took Shizuma’s hand in her own and led her inside.  

Shizuma closed the door behind her and walked closely to Tereya, wrapping her arms around her waist and pulling her closer.

Tereya frowned, placing her hands on Shizuma’s arms. “Shizuma.. Do not freak when I tell you this..” Tereya whispered, turning around.

“I’ll.. I’ll try..” Shizuma said.

“I am sick, Shizuma..I’ve had worse days.. and it seems I’m already getting better..But if it gets worse.. I.. might die.”

Shizuma’s eyes widened. She looked into Tereya’s eyes. She had a frown up, she said nothing. “No..” She whispered.

“The reason, that I asked Miyuki to keep this is… I want you to be you.. no matter what might happen, Shizuma..”

A tear rolled down Shizuma’s cheek. “So.. al those days.. You weren’t tired? It wasn’t an itch?”

“I was tired.. but it wasn’t an itch..” Tereya said softly. “It were my lungs..” Tereya said. “I didn’t want you to freak out about it..”

“Can I now?”

“No.” Tereya said honestly. “My mother had it.. She was put in the hospital, before I was sent here.”

“And?”

“Haven’t heard from her since.” She said with a sigh. “But.. I won’t have to go to a hospital.. With you, now.. here.. I feel fine.” Tereya said laying her head upon Shizuma’s shoulder.

“How long will you be staying here?”

“A week? Perhaps even longer..”

“But.. the.. the play is over four days..”

“I won’t miss it.. I promise, Shizuma.” Tereya whispered, placing a soft kiss on her neck.


=============================================================================
“Tereya-sama?”

“Mizuho, what is it?” Tereya asked.

“Phone call.” Mizuho said. “It’s Miyuki.”

“Oh.. Miyuki?” She asked as she picked up the phone.

”How long till you get here?”

Tereya chuckled. “We just finished packing.”

”Good then.. Tereya, someone wants to talk to you..”

“Who?” Tereya asked, but no reply.

There were moments of silence

“Miyuki, who’d you give the phone t—“

“Hello, darling.”

Tereya’s eyes widened.

“M.. mother..” She whispered. “I.. I thought you..”

”Yes I know, darling but come to me now... I want to see you.”

“We were just about to leave, mother..” Tereya said with a smile. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Yes..”

Tereya smiled, laying down the phone. She turned and looked at Mizuho. “Ready to go?”

“Hai, Tereya-Sama.” Mizuho said with a smile.

“I’ll carry my bag.” She said with a smile. She took her bag up and she walked down the stairs.

“Tereya-sama? Who was that?”

“My mother..” Tereya said. “She came.. I didn’t even..” She sighed. “Never mind.” Tereya said with a smile. “Let’s just go back.”

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“Tereya!”

Tereya looked at a woman standing there, at the gate.
“Mizuho, can you take this inside?”

“Hai.” Mizuho said with a smile. She took Tereya’s bag and passed the woman.

“Tereya.” The woman whispered. She spread her arms and Tereya ran towards her.  She held her closely and smiled.

“Mother.. I didn’t know you were back home.. after your lung-disease.”

“It’s been a while.. but I’m all better now.”

“But.. it was so..”

“Serious?” She asked.

“Hmm..”  Tereya mused into her shoulder. “I had it as well, mother.. but it’s gone now..”

“That’s why you had your bag..”

“Yes.” Tereya said. “Mother.. can it come back?”

She sighed, looking straight in Tereya’s eyes. “I’m afraid it can, Tereya.”

Tereya sighed, lowering her gaze.

“Excuse me, Tereya?”

It was Shizuma, Tereya turned around and looked at her.
“Shizuma.” She said with a smile. “What’s wrong?”

“Wh.. what was your name?”

Tereya frowned looking at her mother. “Mother..”

“Hanazono, Shizuma.” Shizuma said, stretching out her hand.

“Ah..” She looked at Tereya. She took her hand and shook it. “Ganseki. Shizune.”

Tereya smiled gently, looking at her mother.

“Mother.. I .. I am Etoile together with Shizuma.” Tereya said with a smile.

“Together with Shizuma?” Shizune raised her eyebrow and looked at Shizuma. “Well then.” She said with a smile. “She must like you very much then.”

Tereya turned red when her mother said that. Shizuma smiled and looked at Tereya.

“Well.. I like her as much.” Shizuma said.

Tereya turned bright red as she looked at Shizuma.

“How long will you stay with us, Shizune?” Shizuma asked.

“Not too long.. since I came only to check upon Tereya.”

“I’m glad you came, mother.. I wasn’t sure..if..”

“I know, dear. You have now.” Shizune said with a smile.

“Well, I can’t let you go already.. Stay.. for a day or so..”

“Until the play.” Shizuma said. “I’ll talk to the sister.”

“A play? That sounds nice.”

“Let’s go inside.. It’s getting colder..” Tereya said.

“Etoile-sama! You’re back.” Nagisa said.

“.. Yes, Nagisa. I am back.” Tereya said with a gentle smile. “How have you been?”

“Good. Shizuma-sama has been helping me with my French, while you were away.” Nagisa said.

“Good.”


The play


Chikaru came up on stage and looked into the darkness. Shizuma finds a rose on stage.

“I’ve fallen in love with someone.” She takes a moment. “Carmen.”

She wields her sword and points it at Kaname, who was her sword out as well.

“The bells have sounded. I must go back. Don José! We will decide the victor next time.” Kaname said, putting the sword back in it’s hold. She turned around and walked away.

Chikaru comes up on stage and walks towards Shizuma who is putting her sword back.
“Are you not going back, José?”

“Why do I need to go back?” Shizuma asked. “I’ve betrayed the captain. All for you.” She takes Chikaru’s hands in her own. “I’ve decided from that day, to be with you forever.”

“Ah, José.” Chikaru said.

“Carmen.” Shizuma said.


“Heh.”

“What is that?” Chikaru said.

Amane was on the stage, followed by a bull. They’re in a battle. The bull passes Amane, then again. When the bull passes her the second time she stabs it. Taking the ribbon of it. She threw it up into the crowd, where Chikaru stood, catching it.

She walks back towards the stage.

“Ah, Carmen. I love you.” Amane said.

“Me too, I love you.” Chikaru said.

“Today’s contest. I‘ll win it. For you!” Amane said, taking Chikaru’s hand and twirled her around.

When Amane pulled Chikaru towards her she spoke. “Escamillo.”

The heel of Amane’s shoes broke, both of them now falling on the stage. Yet Chikaru attempting to stop the fall with her heels. The attempt failed, she twisted her ankle, still falling to the ground.

“I twisted my ankle.” Chikaru said, looking t Amane. “From the pain, I will never be able to dance again.”

“Ah, what a waste.” Amane got up and took Chikaru up in her arms. “My Carmen.” Amane said, carrying her offstage.

“She twisted her ankle to save me from the fall.” Amane said, looking at Chikaru. “Etoile-sama.” She said, looking at Shizuma. “Let’s skip ahead and go straight to the final battle.”

“I understand. You want to stall for a time?” Shizuma said, going on stage with Amane.

“Escamillo! Let’s have our deciding battle!” Shizuma shouted, pulling out her sword. They start the battle.

After minutes passed a sweet voice came up.

“Please stop it!” Shizuma’s eyes widened a bit. She turned her head and saw her there. Nagisa, as Carmen.

“I beg you, please stop it.” Nagisa said.

“Escamillo!” Nagisa shouted. “You are the hero of Sevilla! A star of the festivals. Go!” She turned to Shizuma. “José. I will remember this.”

“Ah, Carmen.” Shizuma reached out her hand. “I love you. Leaving the troops and deserting, it was all for you.” She looked at her. “You should know that!” She shouted.

“Hmph! So? I’ll be a free woman forever.” She lifted her hands, like a pose. “I will not lie to myself.”

Shizuma sighed, it was going well. She slowly walked to Nagisa. “Hey, Carmen.” She took her hand in her own. “I beg you. Let us go to a new place, and start anew.”

Nagisa pulled her hands loose. “I don’t want it! I don’t want it!” She pulled of her ring. “I don’t want your ring.” She shouted, throwing it in the crowd.
Suddenly a spot shows up in the painted building and they turn to look at it.
“He won! I want to be at his side!” She said and started running.

“W-Wait!” Shizuma reached out for her. She grew angry. She started grumbling as she looked at her run away. “Carmen!”

She turned around and looked at Shizuma. Shizuma came running to her and she pulled out her sword. She stabbed Nagisa in her belly.
Nagisa slowly fell to the ground. Shizuma looking down upon her, sad.

She drops the sword and falls to her knees. “Carmen..” She whispered, taking her in her arms. “Carmen..” She said again, now shivering. She whispered her name again two times and then..
“CARMEN!” She shouted.

Everyone started clapping.

Tereya smiled, getting up so she could clap in her hands. She looked up at Shizuma and smiled. She was great.

“Tereya-sama?” Mizuho asked.

“You can stay here, Mizuho, I will go back to my room now.”

“And what of Shizuma-sama?”

“Oh, leave her be.. She’s old enough to take care of herself for one night.”

“Alright.” Mizuho said with a smile.

“Good night, Mizuho.” Tereya placed a kiss on her cheek and then she turned around, walking away.

“Tereya.”

“Hmm?”

“Tell Shizuma that the performance was great, will you? I must leave now..”

“All right, mother..” Tereya said with a smile. “It was great seeing you again..”

“Yes..” Shizune said.

“I will miss you.” Tereya whispered, wrapping her arms around her mother.

“I will miss you as well, Tereya.. but I must leave now.” Shizune said, letting go of Tereya. She turned around and walked away.

“Tereya?”

“Eh?” Tereya looked over her shoulder and looked at Shizuma who was standing there before her.

“Shizuma?”

“Tereya, Nagisa..”

“Oh.. no.. don’t explain, Shizuma.” Tereya said with a smile. “It was a great play.. and you may celebrate it in your own way.. with anyone you wa-”

Shizuma smiled and kissed Tereya.

Tereya blushed when Shizuma kissed her.
“Go on.. celebrate..” Tereya whispered when she broke the kiss.

Shizuma smiled gently as she looked into Tereya’s eyes. Tereya smiled and nodded, closing her eyes. When she re-opened her eyes Shizuma was gone. She looked over her shoulder when she heard Miyuki call out to her.

“Tereya? Can we talk?”