Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything

R A I O N
╜───────╓

She couldn't face Tori in this state, and so there she was, locked in her room, wearing just one of her button down men's shirts as it was so much larger than her own blouses. This was her normal room attire. She perched herself atop her window sill, hugging her knees tightly as she went over the text she had just sent in her head. She had only sent it to Tori - Kisumi didn't need the drama and June and Zephyra wouldn't understand. Something told her to send this just to Tori and she wasn't going to ignore her instinct. Her eyes held remnants of tears and her once proud smile was gone completely, replaced only with a melancholy expression.

The text read:

My parents have moved my wedding date up to the end of this year. I'll be married as soon as this term ends. I'd like to invite you to the wedding personally, but I'm not dressed for going outside right now.

This was hardly something she could argue. Tora had told her on Valentine's Day, and her parents were there too. Everything was official. She asked about legality, hoping to postpone it just a little longer, but there was nothing to be done. She did what an obedient and proper lady would do and nodded, politely sealing her own fate. This was real. She couldn't escape her future anymore, not if it had become her present. All she could do was hope that Tori wasn't angry. Maybe that she'd even come to the wedding. A friend would be nice to see when she vows her life into the hands of someone she didn't truly love.

╖───────╓
H O N O O

Victoria Miller was a great many things, often different things to different people.  Increasingly since her re-emergence from the funk of two rejections she'd been known as the Queen of Spica, a title which she had liberally given to herself.  Often she simply did things because she thought it would be fitting for her to do so, or just seemed like a good idea at the spur of the moment.  When she really cared about someone it was even more likely that she would take rash action which would confound onlookers and perhaps even the people she intended to aide.  Lately she'd found herself falling for someone else despite the concern she'd previously had about letting herself do that.  Somehow she'd gotten herself back into a spot where a girl had won her over to the point that Tori was hoping for dating to occur.  Slowly but surely she'd thought she'd get there with a certain redhead who had challenged her when they first met.  That said she had grown quite fond of Raion Honoo, the first girl who could really challenge her on equal footing in quite a few areas.  Try as she might she couldn't deny any longer that she truly liked this girl, maybe more thatn she'd liked the two girls who'd broken her heart before.

Then had come the text which threatened to tear her heart out once again.  Apparently the lioness' family had decided in its infinite wisdom to move her wedding day up to the end of the semester, which meant that time was incredibly short.  Short for Raion's freedom, short for Tori's chances of winning the girl over as she'd wanted.  There was no longer any time to waste waiting for her moment to come; Tori was going to have to seize the moment herself and march forward relentlessly.  Even before she finished reading the message she'd thrown her riding jacket on and rushed out of her dorm room in nothing else besides a nightgown.  She didn't have time!  Blonde locks fluttering behind her Tori all but sprinted to the dwelling of Lion d'Icendie, refusing to allow the universe to steal another girl from her.  Before she could make a move to save Raion from what fate had thrown in their way Tori needed the girl to know how she honestly and truly felt about her.  As soon as she arrived at the door she began pounding on it, determined to be let inside.  Her hair was a mess, her eyes red from tears that had started to fall, but she wasn't going to give up on this.

"Raion!  Raion!  Open this door!  I need to see you, and I don't care how you look right now.. please let me in," she called through the door, hoping against hope the girl was in her room and not elsewhere.  After a few more times repeating the girl's name she let herself go and began to speak openly.

"Look, there's something you must know.  It's something which Lion d'Icendie should be told.. should have been told a while ago, actually.  My dear... beautiful, courageous, fierce lioness.  What we did on our outing may as well have been considered a date, and there is good reason for that.  I have grown.. I am.. incredibly fond of you in a very deep way.  Though I don't know if you would share that interest, I am interested in you..." Tori called through the door, more emotional than she usually let herself get, "Simply put.. I.. I think I am.. in love.. with Lion d'Icendie. And I swear that regardless of whether you accept that or not, I will fight to the end to prevent this from happening.  All of my resources and talents will be tapped to save you!  Remember that motto I told you about when we first met?  'Who dares, wins.'   I intend to dare.. and I intend to win."

Then she started crying, something she didn't do very often, "So please.. let me in.. I desperately want to see you.."

Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything

R A I O N
╜───────╓

It was hard to focus right now, and so a large amount of her time was spent idling until she received a phone call. One from her mother.

"Hello?" her mother asked.

"Salutations, mother." she replied, her voice shaken.

"Rai, you sound sick. Is everything alright?"

"A-ah... Oui. Just a bit nervous." she swallowed hard. "If I may be honest, I don't think I'm ready for this. Not... Not yet anyway."

A sigh from the other end of the line.

"Tora is a promising young man and he cares a great deal about you, Rai--"

"I know!" she almost shouted, holding back only out of politeness. "But... I'm still young. I can't even tell you what I want to do with my life yet--"

"What better joy could you find outside being housewife to a millionaire?" her mother asked, obviously not understanding the seriousness. "Honoo Tennis gear merging with Tiger's Claws MMA. It's a great mix to further a great line, and you two will spearhead it. That seems like a promising future to me."

"Mother, I..." she hesitated, and was about to confront her mother about that when a loud bang came to her door. Her mother immediately asked what the noise was, and she didn't respond, listening to what was across the door. After Tori finished her first statement and in between pauses, she quietly told her mother that it was the Sister requesting her help. They hung up just in time for Raion to hear the other side of the door.

As Tori went on, Raion's face mixed emotions. There was despair molding into embarrassment. Confusion too. Was... She being confessed to by another woman? The pseudo date, too. She thought that felt like a date, but she couldn't call it one, not until she was bested. Even still, she had felt it held more emotion than dates with Tora. He was a nice fellow, and she trusted him a lot, but she never loved him. And all this time she thought love was something deep, intimate, and untouchable without years of proper buildup. It wasn't something someone could gain so quickly. So when the word came out of her friend's mouth, she held her breath. It wasn't until she heard Tori pleading with her to open the door that she had the courage to speak, and perhaps she, too, was daring to win when she said her next words.

"... It's unlocked."

╖───────╓
H O N O O

Tori remained at the girl's door, hoping against hope that Raion was in fact inside and hearing her pleas.  No arranged marriage could stop her from seeing the girl she'd come to love regardless of how traditional the families were or how many arrangements had been made.  The blonde was not about to allow yet another girl she'd fallen for leave her behind.  Not this time!  The Englishwoman had abandoned her stiff upper lip in order to freely express her feelings to someone she wasn't even sure would return them.  All of this meant that this was her moment - her time to risk everything in the name of pursuing her passion.  A challenge to fate itself, daring it to stop her ambitions and passions once again, ready to fight to the death in order to get what she desired.  And then.. the voice came from inside.  Two simple words telling her that the door was unlocked - an invitation to enter and have an audience with Lion d'Icendie.  A crucial audience which might yet win her that which she sought.

With alacrity she opened the door and swept inside, spotting Raion in her shirt at the other end of the room.  Quickly covering the floor space between herself and the lioness, Tori's sadness was replaced by confidence.  The confidence of a girl who had only begun to fight for her passions.  Without batting an eye she took a seat next to Raion and hugged her again, holding tight as if to make sure the girl was really there.  Convinced of it, she let go and pulled away so that she could look into the redhead's eyes.

"My dear Lion d'Icendie... I won't let you go.  I promise," Tori assured her, trying to remain brave looking as she sat with Raion, "This is merely another challenge that the Queen shall overcome, you'll see."

Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything

R A I O N
╜───────╓

It was impossible to understand her own emotions right now, and so she remained silent for the beginning. Tori had entered her room - her personal space that she had carefully crafted to suit her innermost feelings and thoughts. There was a cork board with notes all over it, listing things such as when to give rallies and what days to set aside for what was called 'Student Police Training' once each week. Decorating the wall around it were two hung photos of her family and Tora. It was the first time I felt like noting his appearance, so there you go. He had tone for sure, and he almost looked like a professional boxer - minus the ugly scars and strange facial structure. He was quite the handsome and built young chap. The photo was of he and Raion after her final Vincenness tennis match - which she won. The trophy for it was directly below the photograph in a trophy case, along with some other ribbons and medals. All for tennis except one, which was nothing more than a dainty red ribbon tied tightly around the largest trophy.

Around the rest of the room were the motivational proverb hung close to a mirror on the closet door, a spot near said closet door to hang her bow on the wall, and on the opposite side of that was her tennis racket, embroidered with Honoo Brand crest. Her bed was plain, and her dresser was the one the school provided. The biggest feature in the room was certainly that despite how organized it was and how neatly everything was placed, there was a mess near the bed. Apparently she had missed her waste basket when discarding a tissue or two earlier.

However, describing the room was more or less to give Raion time to compose herself after being embraced. She wasn't so far gone that she didn't understand what was happening. Someone was in love with her. And she, honestly, didn't fight that feeling. In truth, and as much as she felt like she would hate herself for admitting it... She couldn't deny a somewhat mutual affection. But she was not capable of processing her own feelings at this moment, and so she held them in. Well, mostly.

"Earlier, you told me you had felt romantic feelings before. I need to know... What does it feel like?" She turned her gaze directly to Tori, who she had noted was here in a very out of character set of clothing. Had she run here from her own room? "Please, I need to verify something."

╖───────╓
H O N O O

The time was now.  Victoria Miller's time had come; time to see if her passionate dedication and affections might be returned by the most fascinating girl she'd met at Spica.  Fascinating in a good way at least.  Regardless she knew she would have to speak from the heart in response to Raion's question about romantic feelings.  From the sound of it the girl had never experienced them before and didn't really have context for it.  If she could help the girl understand what those feelings were like, then it was possible that Raion might very well figure out how she felt about Tori.  Should fate be against her and the girl wasn't interested in girls, Tori would at least try to stop the wedding.  Help her find a boy she liked.  But something told her there was a very good chance Raion might feel mutual affection for her.  Maybe it was stupid pigheaded hope.  Hope was still hope, though.

"I did have romantic feelings before, and I definitely have them again," Tori confirmed before sitting back and giving thought to the matter.  Resolving to tell the redhead what the feelings were like was a different thing than actually finding the words to describe them.  For all the flowery flirting she did Tori did not consider herself a poet of any sort.

After a few moments of anxious silence she continued, "Romantic feelings are hard to pin down and they're awfully confusing when you first have them.  But they center around a specific person, and they tug at your heart and mind as one.  They tempt you to do things you would never otherwise consider doing and dare you to do the most insane things.  You feel most comfortable and welcome around the person you develop feelings for, have a genuine affection for them and wish the very best for them.  But the feelings are more intense and stronger than simple friendship can offer.. sometimes you think about the person more often than anyone else.. they dominate your imagination.  Other times you just have this instinctive feeling they will understand your problems."

Tori sat back and shrugged, "That's the best I can describe it.. did that help at all?"

Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything

R A I O N
╜───────╓

Thankful that her question had been taken in and answered so readily, Raion went over the answer in her head, piece by piece.

Romantic feelings are hard to pin down and they're awfully confusing when you first have them

Yes, it was hard to pin down exactly what made her so uneasy about Tori during their time together. She tried many times to shrug it off, but it kept coming back. The confusion that was not unpleasant but still made her more aware of her friend than normal.

They tempt you to do things you would never otherwise consider doing and dare you to do the most insane things

She had agreed to a date with Tori almost entirely immediately. Of course, she hadn't considered this was really how things felt, but it was still a topic to bounce on. On top of that, she openly exposed her weakness to Tori and allowed herself to see a horror flick with her - something she still occasionally had silly nightmares about. Would she have done that if it weren't Tori? probably not.

sometimes you think about the person more often than anyone else.. they dominate your imagination

... That was what made her understand. The entire time she analyzed the facts in her head, she had only thought of the girl in the room with her. Tora had not come up, even in moments when she had made a point to note others for a line of comparison. The only one on her mind... Maybe it was the moment, but that was fine. In that moment, she understood. Romantic feelings, they sure were picky, and she was just now aware of what they truly felt like. What they truly meant.

"It did help." she spoke, still softly but with a bit more conviction. "And that makes this harder."

Harder, but not without her own time to shine.

"Because now I understand. I... Feel that way, the way you described. And it's about you, Victoria. Much as I threw the words in my mind, only you came up."

She closed her eyes, lowering her head and weakly muttered out:

"I think I love you too."

╖───────╓
H O N O O

The greatest obstacle in the mind of Victoria Miller had been whether the redhead would accept  and return her affection.  She had been fearful of losing another love to things outside of her control; failing this time would mean greater distress than either girl she'd nearly confessed to in the past had.  Raion was a special person.  Tori knew this, honored it and wished to have it be a daily reality in her life.  Rejection by Raion Honoo was something that terrified her and had kept the blonde very polite and reserved in her flirting.  All of her fears about that had been blown away by the quiet response which confirmed her hopes.  Her lioness had been helped by the meandering words which Tori spoke with and had come to the conclusion that she was in love as well.  Tori smiled and gently pulled the redhead back into a hug to hide the fact that she was crying in relief.  Her pent-up anxiety over whether this would work was released as she found herself to be loved back by the girl in her arms.

"It will be hard, of course.. you are correct about that.  Just as you are often correct about a multitude of things," Tori spoke quietly, still holding the lioness unless she signaled she wanted to be let go.

"I had thought you might reject me.. that might be foolish but I was incredibly worried because of what had happened to be twice before.  But now that you feel this way too... there is only one thing for me to do as Queen," Tori continued, her confidence riding high as always, "I will fight.  Even if forces outside of this room try to make you marry someone you don't love, I will fight them.  I will fight them on the ground, I will fight them in the air and at sea.. I will fight them on the beaches.  I will never surrender."

She nodded at her paraphrasing before resting her head on the redhead's shoulder, "So don't give up.. we can win.  We will win.. and I don't want to let you go."

Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything

R A I O N
╜───────╓

There wasn't much more to be said, but Raion wasn't capable of understanding such things as 'the mood' so she kept right on being dumb.

"I don't understand this at all." she spoke firmly. "I shouldn't be attracted to girls, and yet I am. I shouldn't want to defy my parents, and yet I do. I shouldn't be having this conversation, and yet I am. There's nothing about this that makes sense."

She concluded her statement by returning the embrace - a bit more softly than she probably thought she was doing it. She had been holding back tears in front of Tori, but she allowed them to fall when she was not visible. And if she had allowed them to fall before that, she would hope it never came up or she would need to toughen up even more. For now, she just thought. There had to be a way around this.

"My father always said that the only people worthy of my hand would be those who pick it up off the floor after defeating me." she laughed a bit. "Mother always liked to add to that - If that person can defeat me AND father, then they would go unquestioned."

There wasn't much beyond that, but she did have to keep ruining the mood.

"I... I promise I won't betray you. I won't be like them. I don't want to let go now that I understand..."

╖───────╓
H O N O O

"There are many things in the world that we don't understand.  It's part of what makes us humans is it not?  You are simply realizing things about yourself which you did not realize would be the case.  I understand it must be a fairly big surprise to realize all of this but I will stand with you regardless of what happens from here," Tori promised, letting the girl take whatever time she needed in order to compose herself.

She didn't know that Raion was crying, but since she was doing so herself it wasn't as if she'd pull back and notice.  Both girls actually needed the time to compose themselves all over again, recovering from the release of many emotions that had been hidden beneath the surface.  There was at least one route to victory which Raion was aware of, and it involved defeating someone besides Lion d'Icendie.  A path that involved direct confrontation with the redhead's parents.  Since they were the people who'd thrust Raion into the unenviable position which she found herself in, it was only fitting that the two sides should come into conflict with one another.  Tori welcomed the challenge - it might be the best way to win the freedom of the lioness, and she would have the extra motivation of defeating an adult!  Of course there were other ways which Tori could accomplish her goals, which she would just keep to herself for now.

"They didn't betray me.. they just fell for each other and left me behind.  It pained me at the time.. and made me frightened afterward, but it's all right now.  As long as I have you, I won't let myself be defeated by anyone," Tori added after some quiet moments, "So we must plan another date, shouldn't we?  It would help us both feel better I'm certain.. for now we can just sit here if you like.."

Trying to lighten things she added, "Please excuse my state of dress.. I know it's not becoming of a lady, but it was the fastest thing to put on."

Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything

R A I O N
╜───────╓

It was easy to think about things in an A to B kind of way. All it took was to confront her parents. But then the details came in - Her mother was more stubborn than she was, and her father was a hulk of a man. He valued power over everything, and Raion reflected that to a degree. Then came letting Tora down - she didn't want to hurt him, but she knew she had to. There was only one clear cut way out of this, and it was to be direct. Perhaps she could win her freedom from this through contest? It was certainly the only life she knew.

Tori seemed understanding of her current discovery of self- because she confirmed such and allowed Raion the luxury of another date to discover herself more.

"I would like that very much." she stated, repressing a sniffle. "A date. But... I think that means our Triad of competition needs another prize. Unless you're declaring yourself the winner with that comment."

Ah, there was some lightheartedness. And then more, when her attire was mentioned.

"Tori, I'm in a men's dress shirt that's only buttoned because someone came to visit, and I don't even remember if I have anything else on at all. You're completely forgiven." she allowed herself a muffled laugh before pulling back to lock eyes with the woman.

╖───────╓
H O N O O

There came times in a woman's life when she just didn't think things through at all.  For Victoria Miller the time for that had come a few times before, and now had come once again.  She knew virtually nothing about the man who was Raion's father yet she was perfectly willing to take him on directly.  Should that prove to be impossible for whatever reason she was perfectly willing to work with more underhanded techniques to win the redhead's freedom.  That would take some planning but she already had a vague idea of what form it could take in order to fulfill family desires while buying more time for her to find other ways to make the freedom permanent.  An Englishwoman would do anything for love - or at least the Queen of Spica wasn't going to let herself fall short of doing anything for Raion.  Thankfully the topic of conversation shifted from more serious issues to things that could make them both smile again.

She giggled at the date comment, "It will be my honor to take you on another date, then, so long as I am allowed to buy you a gift this time.  It's hardly fair that only I received such a pretty emblem of love the last time.  Our Triad competition prize will be something different, though.. not much point in having it be something we would do anyhow.  Perhaps we could leave it vague until the moment of victory, then reveal something we've come up with in the interim?"

When Raion pulled back and locked eyes with her, Tori blushed visibly.  Her desire to take another risk rose, but she didn't want to shock Raion too much.  Instead she placed her hands on the girl's shoulders and smiled, "That's quite the admission Raion.  However it seems neither of us has dressed comprehensively, so it is acceptable that we should forgive each other's.. lack of dress.."

Her blush grew as she quietly concluded, "You're more beautiful every time I see you... Raion.."

Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything

R A I O N
╜───────╓

She had to keep herself stable for a moment. Somehow, just saying those words to Tori had made it feel different when she looked at her. But she didn't want to stop either. And for a brief moment, all the troubles of the afternoon felt so far gone. It was as if she were already free. She could allow herself to regain composure now, if not for the fact that the woman currently holding her by the shoulders was in fact someone she loved. Just thinking the word even had her blushing more. She couldn't keep being submissive or she would defeat herself in the long run. Time to take charge.

"Vague hm?" she pretend pouted. "I guess that's fine. But you can't expect me to let you win now just because of this!"

She half expected a sarcastic reply back, but decided to respond to the comment of her looks first. She... Was finding it hard to look away from Tori for much the same reason. She had known the girl was beautiful before, sure. But she didn't find herself desiring her like she did now. The way Tori had this control over her emotions, it both scared and pleased her. She wouldn't have it if it were anyone else.

"I-it's not like I try to look good for anyone in particular." she crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and turned her head away in a 'hmph' kind of way. Yes, I did just write that. "But I suppose if it's coming from someone as beautiful as Tori, it can't be wrong."

╖───────╓
H O N O O

Being able to see the softer side of Raion had been quite an intriguing and pleasant experience for Tori.  It had allowed her to touch a side of the redhead that responded quite favorably to Tori's typical affectionate advances.  There was no disputing that in such a state the girl was quite adorable.  However the Englishwoman found herself wanting to see more of the girl whom had caught her attention in the first place.  Not the softer, vulnerable maiden who had just confessed to her but the proud competitor who'd challenged her in the Rose Garden.  Both were aspects of the same girl of course.  It was even typical for Tori to be the one taking the lead in romantic situations so this recent conversation and interaction was nothing out of the ordinary.  Something made her want to give up that lead for a while, or at least have it challenged.  Of the girls she'd romanced, Raion was the first and best capable of doing just that.  Soon enough the girl began to find that part of herself once again.

"Of course not.  If you were to simply allow me to win just because we are going to go on further dates, I would not accept the gesture.  When we're competing I'd expect nothing less than both parties challenging one another to the best of their abilities.  I believe that love should include both people pushing each other's boundaries enough that each are able to grow noticeably," Tori responded to Raion's false pout, daring to pat the girl on the head.

Then she shrugged at the response to her compliment, "Any compliment from the Queen of Spica is guaranteed to be accurate.  They are not simply words which I  throw out in the hopes that some will merely be relevant to whom I am speaking.  Though in my opinion you would not need to look good for any particular  person - you simply are beautiful.  Just as I am.  That, my dear Lion d'Icendie, is a fact." 

Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything

R A I O N
╜───────╓

Raion couldn't lose her ground now that she was finding it again. She had been too soft in the past few weeks. one one hand she blamed Tori for softening her, and on the other she thought that it was okay now that she was aware of her true feelings. It was a beautiful thing, really. She felt such passion in everything she did, so it was no wonder she was so conflicted before she understood it all. She desperately needed to figure it out or she couldn't be herself. The sheer lack of information about herself sent her into a submissive role slightly, and she was not having any more of that. Raion Honoo was a burning lioness, a proud warrior, and would one day be the fire that ignited Spica's golden age. Raion Honoo doesn't back down.

"Then I hope you're aware that I'm changing my prize when I win." she stated plainly, a certain fire in her eyes that hadn't been present in some few days. "When I defeat you, I will claim you as my own in front of the entire student body. There will be no disputes as to who you belong with after that."

She closed her eyes and held a proud smirk.

"And if my cubs argue with me, they will be punished. If any suitors come for you I'll deal with them myself. You'd best be prepared to take responsibility - to deal with what you've just signed yourself up for."

╖───────╓
H O N O O