The sullen Prince was alone as usual these days, ruling from her throne above Spica. Things were going well, the ashed lands were no more, and Miator was being rebuilt, everything was looking up all thanks to her. Shoka was a hero of both Miator and Spica and she was even more popular than ever before. The crime she'd committed against a certain Miator girl never happened according to the faculty and the whole world was shining with a job well done. However there was a flaw to all this perfection. Her actions, though self righteous and extensively planned were damning. Of all the girls she'd toyed with, of all the fortunes borne from their misfortune, of all who loved her she only loved one in turn and that one was the only one she had been wholly honest with. The one was the only one to whom she would answer for her crimes, and that one was surely making her do so. Sentenced to silence, deprived of her scent, her touch, the very sight of her was off limits, this was her punishment. To be deprived of her, which was fine, Shoka could wait, but the real punishment was that she might never regain her trust. She might never again hold her, and for the first time ever, Shoka knew what it felt like to have a broken heart.

It was her own fault, she knew, as her cold violet eyes gazed down from her dorm room window at the young maidens traversing below. She didn't regret what she'd done, she'd done it the way she did everything, absolutely on purpose. There was no accident, even if there was severe fault in her actions, she wouldn't take it back. She was only sorry that her plans affected Peorth in this way. Shoka knew she was a monster, accepted it, but her shame came from making Peorth feel that way. But she knew, at least Peorth knew how she made ehr feel, and that would have to be enough. A lonely Prince with a shining kingdom, and ruin in her heart.

Just then there was a familiar sight in the cherry blossom courtyard below, one of Ubu's lackeys. A strange girl but one sworn to Ubu most fiercely, she was moving suspiciously with a wooden practice sword for kendo. Shoka decided she had no business in whatever strange things she was doing until she saw Peorth. The girl with the wooden sword looked to a few other Miator girls and pointed at the innocent Lulim and they all gathered around her, grabbing her.

Shoka was already gone, moving out of her dorm, leaving the door wide open, and sprinting down the stairs and flying out of the dorms before the girl could finish her sinister greeting. Shoka already knew what this was, this was Ubu getting her back, or maybe this girl was acting on her own, either way, this was Miator getting revenge for what she'd done to Cecilia. Harming someone she cared for, an eye for an eye. Even if Peorth hated her, even if she lived the rest of her life never feeling that love for another again, they would not hurt her. No one would ever hurt her.

The girl raised the wooden sword high and swung with all her might,

CRACK!

Shoka cried out, immediately falling to her knees in front of Peorth, having gotten in the way just in time. The blow to her back surely had broken skin but it was better than the alternative. A blow like this surely would have broken Peorth's ribs.

"You let her go," Shoka growled, getting up, speaking through her teeth, "You do what you want to me, but you let her go." She didn't look at Peorth, but as she turned around, standing between Peo and the assasin, the red began to show through her white uniform, she thought she heard Peorth gasp. Rage burned wildly and dangerously in her eyes, blazing with fury and she suddenly yelled, "Did Ubu put you up to this?!"

"No," spat the girl, "My Lady would never stoop to your level but sometimes it takes evil to smite evil."

Shoka clenched her fist and grit her teeth.

"Walk away. She would never approve of your actions here today. Get out of here and I won't tell her or the Sisters what you've done."

The girls shifted uneasily before the two holding Peorth seemed to think better of it and let go, urging the sword weilder to leave as well, though she spat at Shoka first.

With a snort they were gone and only when they were out of sight did Shoka fall once again, the stinging pain of her back making the world spin.

The Winter Ball had been a couple of months ago, and people were still talking about it. The strange girls who dressed like catgirls, and spoke about baking smackdowns. All the cute couples who danced together, had a good time. Including the girl with the goggles and the boxes. And the cute couple who kissed a fair number of times, right in the middle of the dancefloor! That caused quite a bit of gossip. But the biggest piece of gossip involved the Prince of Spica.

According to the gossip, the Prince had been dancing with a small, mousy girl, seemingly ignoring all of her other admirers. The Prince then lead the mousy girl from the ball. That in and of itself is gossip material. But, apparently, Shoka and the mousy girl had talked and, now this is the juiciest part, the Prince fell to her knees before the mousy girl and was actually crying! That's right! The Prince of Spica was crying! The mousy girl turned and left her there! No on knows if this is actually true, mainly because it's Shoka, and Shoka doesn't cry. But also because the mousy girl hadn't been seen since the day of the Winter Ball.

Peorth curled up in the corner of her bed in her dorm, her quilt wrapped tightly around her, where she'd been for the couple of months, thinking. She'd been so ill since the end of the Winter Ball that she had been bed ridden. She had ran into the orchid and hidden amongst the trees, in the snow. Then, when night fell, she had sneaked into the church. She had hidden there, barely eating or drinking, with only her dress to keep her warm, for nearly a week. The message had gotten around that no one had seen her since the Ball, and, not wanting to panic the students, the staff had searched for her high and low. They found her, curlled up, shivering and unconscious under one of the pews. Why she was hiding in the church, she wasn't sure herself. Though it seemed like a good idea at the time.

She wanted somewhere where she could be alone, with her thoughts. She'd gone to her dorm at first, but her room mate kept pestering her, so she'd grabbed her coat and left. She'd walked aimlessly, until she found herself outside the church. She 'd pushed the doors open and entered. It had been empty, so she'd knelt before the alter and, despite not being religious, prayed. And cried. She'd spent a week there.

After she'd been discovered in the church, she'd been taken to the infirmary, where they had taken care of her. She had only woken up the day after they'd found her, though she could barely keep her eyes open. It was nearly a month before she was strong enough for her to even sit up, which wasn't helped by the fact she'd caught a fever. Another two weeks after that and she was strong enough to walk. A week after that, the fever broke and she was allowed to go to her dorm. And she'd been there since.

She didn't want to leave her dorm, but she knew that she'd eventually have to leave and... see Shoka. Even just thinking of the Prince of Spica made her heart beat hard in her chest, her cheeks flush. But she also felt... something else. She loved Shoka, and she always would. But, after Shoka had told her what she'd done, just to hurt Ubu, Peorth was beginning to doubt if Shoka loved her. Why would Shoka hurt someone, someone just like Peorth herself? Does that mean that Shoka would hurt her? Even now, Peorth felt, knew that Shoka wouldn't hurt her, that she loved her. But the doubt was there, and it wouldn't go. There was only one way for her to get rid of the doubt. And that was by seeing Shoka. With her mind made up, she climbed out of bed and walked to the bathroom. She stripped out of her pyjamas and had a quick wash, before she dressed in her uniform. She made sure her hair was combed and neat, then left her dorm.

She gathered up all her courage and headed straight towards the Spica dorms. As she walked across the campus, Peorth was shocked and surprised to see the trees in bloom. 'It's spring?' she wondered. 'Have I been out of it that long? I've missed so much school!' She shook her head, pushing those thoughts and focused on the problems at hand. Talking, seeing, Shoka.

Soon the Spica dorms came into view, the grounds around the building packed with students coming and going. Peorth felt a little out of place, seemingly being the only Lulim around. She swallowed, then began walking towards the dorms again. Suddenly she felt hands on her arms, squeezing her arms to her sides. She looked around at those holding her, and didn't recognise them. 'W-w-w-what...?' she stammered as panic gripped her heart, tightening her chest. She looked forwards as someone stepped over to her. She didn't recognise the other girl, but the look in her eyes, one of pure anger, and the wooden sword she carried filled Peorth with fear. She tried to escape from the hands holding her arms. 'W-w-w-what... d-d-do you w-w-want?' she managed to get out.
'Hold her arms out,' the one with the wooden sword said. The two holding Peorth's arms forced them out to the side, twisting them slightly. Peorth could feel the strain on her shoulders from the way her arms were being held.
'What have I done to you?' she cried, tears forming in her eyes, running down her cheeks.
'This is nothing personal,' the girl said. 'But, if you love evil,' she continued, raising her sword. 'Expect evil to befall you!' She swung the sword towards Peorth. Peorth squeezed her eyes shut. She heard the crack of the sword hitting flesh and bone. But it didn't hurt. She opened her eyes and gasp.

'Shoka!' she gasped, seeing the prince in front of her. She gasped again as she noticed the white of Shoka's uniform turning red. Peorth started struggling against the two girls holding her arms, despite the grinding of her shoulders. She listened to the exchange between Shoka and the girl even as she continued to struggle. So she's one of Ubu's friends? No wonder she called me evil. The two girls holding her arms released her, before they, and Ubu's friend, left.

She sighed, then gasped as Shoka collapsed to her knees. 'Shoka!' she cried, running over to the Prince. 'Are you okay?' she asked, looking at her back. 'You're hurt!' She wrapped her arms around Shoka, then frowned. 'Why did you do that?' she demanded. 'Why did you get in the way of that girl?' She punched Shoka in the shoulder. 'Why did you do it?' She punched her again. 'You're hurt!' Another punch, lighter this time as tears ran down her cheeks. 'You fool!' Another hit. 'You're hurt!' Another, lighter hit. 'You're hurt and it's my fault!' She was barely hitting Shoka now as her vision became blurred with tears. 'It's my fault.' She sniffed, before she cried into Shoka's shoulder.

She didn't answer, but felt each blow against her like a blow to her heart. She was crying again, Shoka would do anything to stop that. When her assualt dissolved into tears the Spican turned to her, taking her hand and pulling her into her chest if she would allow it.

"I love you."

That's all she said. She didn't argue with her, didn't talk about the pain in her back or who that person was. She didn't give some dramatic speech about how she deserved this or any other misfortune that may befall her. No. She simply said she loved her, she only loved her, that's all.

She sighed, something that sounded like relief and with hands on her shoulders held her back to look at her, she was so pale, thin. Shoka assumed it was her fault and gently touched her cheek, smoothing away tears, her own eyes narrowing as if she wanted something, to speak or move, but instead she could only gaze at her, this poor girl. She was sorry she made her feel this way, so very sorry. But there were no more words, she'd used them all up at the Ball. But she was so overwhelmed that she was still here, that she was alive, that she would still speak to her. She was happy, in a bittersweet sense. She wanted so much to kiss her, why, in this moment when that was one of the most inappropriate things she could do, she wanted to. To dhow her that magnitude of her emotions, but to do it with the very same body she had used to harm another, would Peorth ever allow such a thing ever again?

She looked into her eyes, such a pretty brown her own violet orbs shifted and sparkled slightly, showing her emotion with their glistening before she couldn't hold back anymore. Rather than kiss her she pulled her back in closely, putting her face in her neck and sighed again. It was a long moment before she finally could answwer her question,

"It's my fault Peo-chan," it hurt to say her name like that, she tucked her hair behind her ear, savoring the silken feel of the brown locks, looking at her once more, "I will never let anyone hurt you."

She continued to hit Shoka, even as her vision blurred due to the tears welling in her eyes, running down her cheeks. Her sobs shook her slight frame causing her hands to shake, her breath to catch in her throat, coming out as hiccups. When Shoka pulled her to her, Peorth melted into her arms, her head resting on Shoka's chest. Just being in Shoka's arm was calming her. But then Shoka spoke.

'I... I love you, too, S-Shoka,' she said into Shoka's chest. She suddenly found herself being pushed gently back. Her cheeks coloured as Shoka looked at her, her thumbs brushing her cheeks, wiping away her tears. Peorth found her own gaze drifting down from Shoka's purple eyes, down to her lips. The moment her gaze fell up on those lips, her own began tingling, as though they wanted to be reunited with those of the Spican Princes. She wanted to kiss Shoka so much, but she held herself back. Now was not the time for that. She didn't come here to kiss Shoka, at least that wasn't the only reason. She felt herself leaning forwards, drawn to those lips. She mentally shook herself and pulled her gaze away from those tempting lips, and looked Shoka in the eye.

Those violet eyes were looking at her, directly into her own brown and green ones. Shoka's eyes were sparkling, and Peorth could see the emotion, the conflict in them. Shoka loved her, loved little old Peorth so much that she wanted to kiss her. Peorth could see that the feeling was almost overwhelming Shoka. Peorth swallowed when she felt herself being pulled towards Shoka again, she went with her, closed her eyes and awaited the moment when their lips would meet. But the kiss never came, instead she found herself being held tightly to Shoka, felt her princes face in her neck, her breath raising goosebumps on her flesh.

The words Shoka spoke next, plush the touch of her fingers as they brush her hair behind her ear, sent a tingle through Peorth's body. Peo-chan. It sounded so right to her when Shoka said it. Peorth sighed and closed her eyes, letting the words echo through her mind, in Shoka's beautiful voice. 'I know, Shoka,' she whispered with a brief nod. 'You're my prince.' She reached out and stroked Shoka's cheek. 'And I'm your princess.' She smiled and leaned in, planting her lips on Shoka's. It wasn't long nor deep, but it was filled with the love that Peorth felt for her prince. 'I love you.'

Cool relief washed over the Prince and her breath caught, such a vulnerable sound from one such as she. Then something amazing happened, Peorth kissed her. This felt, at least to Shoka, like the ultimate show of forgiveness, though short and quick, she was relieved to feel those lips again, though they left her hungry. She was loved, even though she was a beast. She was loved.

A familiar spark rose in her eyes from somewhere in the pit of her stomach and with great passion she held Peorth's face tenderly and kissed her again, letting her heart pour into it, deepening until they were both gasping. Then she winced slightly, pulling back. Her back was still bleeding, but she hardly cared. This was her entire world, this girl. This moment. But Shoka soon became aware that they were being watched.

Not taking her eyes off Peorth, she took her hand, "Come," she laced their fingers together, she had a medical kit in her room and not only that, they would be away from all these prying eyes.


In her dorm, she securely shut the door and locked it. Immediately wanting to take Peorth to the bed, however instead, she removed her blood stained jacket and began to loosen her tie. She removed that too, stealing a glance at Peorth's reaction. Next came the buttons of her shirt, "There's a medical kit under my bed, would you get it?" She said, eyes teasing with a funny playfulness that was intended to make the other blush. Then she sat beside her helix pillows and turned her back to Pep, dropping the shirt to her elbows and pulling her pony tail over her shoulder exposing the wound. It wasn't that bad, but it would probably scar anyway, "would you mind?" The curious question was spoken softly. As soon as she was patched up, her full attention would focus on her beloved.

Hearing the breath catch in her princess throat made her blush for some reason. She didn't know why it had provoked such a reaction, but it had. The brief touch of Shoka's lips again hers had sent tingling sensations through her. She wanted to kiss her prince more, wanted to feel those lips again, lips that she had dreamed about while hiding in the church, while she had laid in bed in the infirmary, ill with fever. Lips she still hungered for now. For she held herself back, waited for her prince to kiss her.

She didn't have to wait long. Those hand tenderly took hold of her face, those lips touched hers, and they were kissing again. It was deeper than the first one, more... hungry, passion fuelled. It was lasting longer as well, Peorth was already becoming light headed, a heat building in her belly, beginning to spread through her. But then Shoka sat back, and Peorth noticed her wince. It was then she remembered that her prince had been injured! Defending her! She was about to ask Shoka if she was okay, but Shoka stood, took her hand. Peorth's blush grew as their fingers lace together. She stood, nodded mutely as her prince said a single word, then lead her away, somewhere. Peorth didn't know where they were going, but she didn't care. She was with her prince, and that was all that mattered.

She was standing in Shoka's dorm room! She was in her beloved princes room! Her entire was was burning with blush. She heard the rustling of fabric, and turned in time to see Shoka remove her jacket, the blood clearly visible on the back. Her blush deepened as she watched Shoka remove her tie, then slowly unbutton her shirt. Peorth was almost on the verge of fainting; at the sound of the buttons coming undone, the sight of more and more of the shirt coming undone, more of Shoka's body coming into view. It took a couple of seconds for Shoka's words to get through to her, but when they did, Peorth nodded. She knelt down, reached under the bed and pulled out the medical kit. She waited for Shoka to sit on the bed, the sat behind her, the medical kit besides her. When she saw the wound she gasped.

It wasn't that bad a wound, not really, but where it was meant it looked worse than it actually was. Though Peorth was sure it would leave a scar. With another silent nod, Peorth opened the medical kit and pulled out an antiseptic wipe. 'T-this might s-sting a l-little,' she said, before she began patting lightly at the wound. She went through four antiseptic wipes before the blood had been cleaned away, another two before she was sure the wound was clean. She used another to clean her hands, before she began applying the antiseptic cream to the wound. Again, she cleaned her hands before she covered the wound with gauze, holding it in place with medical tape. Finally was a bandage, not because the wound needed it, persay, but because it would keep the gauze in place, and protect it from dirt getting in. As she wrapped the bandage around her beloved, her hands accidentally brushed against Shoka's chest, though she didn't realise it as she was so focused on tending to the wound that should have been dealt to her.

When the bandage was pinned in place, she sighed, placed her hands on Shoka's shoulders, pressed her lips to the back of her neck. 'I'm sorry,' she breathed, leaning her head on Shoka's shoulder. 'I'm sorry.'

She enjoyed the gaze of her beloved upon her, happy to show off, even if this circumstance. She hissed as the antiseptic stung her, but she sat through it, enjoying Peroth's handiwork even through the pain that eased the longer she worked. The accidental brush against her bare chest made her smile softly (Shoka doesn't wear anything under her shirt as she has a very modest cup size). Then, another unexpected but welcome advance. Lips on her neck, she responded to this with a slightly wider smile. Peorth hid in her shoulder, whispering. She then turned smoothly, hands on the bed, shirt still down at her elbows, but now her hair blocking the view of her chest, though nude shoulders and her collar bones seemed to go in in flawless white.

She leaned over Peorth, capturing her whispers with her lips. One kiss gently pressed upon her lips and then pulled back like a wave, their lips had hardly separated before Shoka kissed her again, urging her to lay back. She tilted her head slightly to advance the kiss, transforming it into something more, tongue gently parting her lover's petal-like lips, asking for entry.

This continued a moment before she let Peorth breath and she gentley touched her cheek, marveling at her beauty, her eyes, her emotions so evident on her face, her scents making the Spican's mind buzz with a mixture of desire and relief. She sighed and leaned down, putting her head against Peorth's chest, noting the softness and listening to the quickened rhythm of her heart. Shoka made her heart do this, and just then, she realized her own heart was doing the same. After a moment, she pushed herself up slightly, so she could look directly at her lover. She kept that gaze gentle and moved one hand to tug at the bow strings of the lulim corset. She kept eye contact, this was her way of asking permission, without saying a word. The ribbon slipped, the bow came undone and with slow and careful hand motions, she started on the hidden buttons that held the sailor collar closed.

She wanted to apologize too, but her words failed under her gaze. Instead, Shoka set a steady expression that somehow, looked as vulnerable as it did predatory. As if she were slightly afraid she'd be hurt again, even now, her aching heart yearned to show her they'd never have to hurt again. Shoka would prove this, with her entire heart and body alike.

She just leant against her beloved prince, enjoying feeling her beneath her, the mere presence of the prince soothing to her. She hadn't liked hearing the hissing of pain as she tended to Shoka's wounds, but that soon ended and she was glad. She applied as little pressure as she could to Shoka's still wounded back, though she was content with just staying there, pressed lightly against her prince. But then Shoka moved, forcing Peorth to sit back. Then Shoka turned, and Peorth's cheeks coloured.

Her eyes moved down from Shoka's face, down her neck to her open shirt. An audible gasp came from her parted lips at the sight of her beloved, sitting in front of her, her shirt open, exposing her chest. Try as she might, Peorth couldn't lift her gaze up from the sight before her. She swallowed, licked her suddenly dry lips.

Then Shoka move towards her and all thoughts vanished from her mind. The kiss sent waves of electricity and heat through her body. Before she could recover, she was kissed again. Then again. Peorth closed her eyes as she leaned back, helpless under the onslaught of heat coursing through her body. Her lips parted, and she moaned as Shoka's tongue entered her mouth, her body warming up again. The heat was almost unbearable as she writhed beneath her beloved, her mouth filled with her tongue. But before she could get used to the sensation, the tongue was gone, the kiss broken. She slowly opened her eyes, panting, her mouth open. She could still feel Shoka's tongue filling her mouth. Before she could gather her thoughts enough to remember how to speak, Shoka leant down, her head on her chest. Peorth gasped at the pressure on her budding, sensitive bust, her hands instantly coming to rest on Shoka's head. She felt her own heartbeat throbbing hard and fast in her chest, her ears. Her eyes drifted closed again as she began to calm down again, becoming more comfortable with her beloveds head on one of her sensitive, private areas. But then Shoka moved, sitting up. Peorth opened her eyes and blushed again. She was about to say something, when she felt a tugging on her clothing.

Her cheeks coloured deeply as she realised Shoka was tugging on the corset of her uniform. She swallowed, her mind rushing, her body heating up. The ties came undone, the corset loosening, a gasp escaped Peorth's lips. Her legs began to rub together, her breathing coming shorter and gasping as, one by one, the buttons on her shirt were undone. Before too long, her shirt lay open, exposing a simple white bra(which was beginning to become too small for her). The expression on Shoka's face sent a shiver through her body as she lay under her love, eyes half lidded, smoky, face bright red, lips parted, panting, partly exposed chest rising and falling, skirt dangerously scrunched up on her upper thighs. She radiated want, nervousness, need.

(Some implied powerplay because I assume they go all the way....oh my, do enjoy my dear.)


The way Peorth moved under her touch was mystifying, regardless of how many others had felt it, this was special, new, and so precious. The heat, the softness, it was too wonderful.

"Peorth," she said softly, hand smoothing over the skin of her ribs, "Shall I break my promise?" She purred, "May I touch you?" Her eyes showed such a caring that promised nothing but safety in the coming moments.

Once she received her permission, her hands would begin near the white fabric above. The moment of being able to finally make her feel these sensations lit passionate fires in the Prince that grew more wild each moment. Her lips distracting Peorth's while she set to massaging the delicate area of her chest. When she felt Peorth was ready, she'd discard the fabric, setting her lips to explore the same area. Around this time, she worried her lover would faint, so she backed off, back to deep kisses on her lips, and teasing kisses along her neck and collar bone. She waited for a moan, or some sign she was ready to go farther before her hand would skillfully find a sacred place under her skirt.

She held her, massaging, moving, touching, kissing. How advanced this became would be judged by Shoka, determined Peorth's breathing, the sounds she made. It was heaven. Long, sweet moments melted like their bodies as more clothing was discarded. Shoka marveled at the sight of her, they had seen each other nude at the bathhouse at their first meeting, but this was so much more beautiful. Peorth was more beautiful. Not just because she was older, but because Shoka loved her.

She watched very carefully for signs of fear or pain, ready to stop the moment things seemed wrong. She'd do anything as long as she was happy. Hips rolling, bodies moving. Eventually she pulled Peorth on top of her, just to feel the gravity of her pressed against her skin and finally would come the moment of release. The very idea that Shoka could bring her to that moment was enough to satisfy her as well and she couldn't help the sounds that came from her and she drove them both toward that beautiful end.

She pulled Peorth close, tightly holding her as they came down from the moment and kissed her hotly, tenderly, "I love you Peo...I love you," she said softly.

Discarded pink and white clothes with blood stains on the floor, sunlight streaming in on a forgotten box of medical supplies, and two figures laying so close, so happy on a bed of helix. This was the joy of falling in love.