Strawberry Soul Chapter 2

   "So, that's why you were gone for so long?" Tamao asked with interest.

   "Yeah," Nagisa said. The two were eating lunch together, along with Hikari, Chiyo, Yaya, and Tsubomi. All of her friends showed considerable interest in the "mystery boy" Nagisa found, and were curious at the letter he supposedly sent her.

   "Maybe he's an angel!" Chiyo exclaimed.

   "Shh!" They hushed. Fortunately, no one else was paying them much attention.

   "Don't be silly, Chiyo," Tsubomi said, "Most likely, that boy is some sort of renegade or criminal. That'd explain how he knows Nagisa-san and Shizuma-sama."

   "But, that doesn't explain how his eyes and hands glowed," Hikari pointed out.

   "Or how he was able to send a large hunk of wood flying," Tamao added.

   "Or how he pulled a sharp pillar of rock out of the ground," Nagisa persisted.

   Tsubomi was unimpressed. "I bet he used some special gadgets or something to make some illusions, and thats what Nagisa saw: A bunch of convincing illusions."

   Nagisa refused to back down. "I didn't see anything that looked remotely fake," she argued, "AND I bet that pillar is still there."

   Tamao's eyes lit up. "Then why don't we go see?" she said excitedly, "If it wasn't an illusion, then maybe he left that pillar there!"

   "Yeah!" The others agreed.



   Two hours later, the girls made their way through the forest close to the greenhouse. Nagisa led the way, determined to prove her claim.

   They reached the clearing, and Nagisa's spirits soared: The pillar was indeed still there, as was...

   "Hey!" she whispered to the others, "He's back again!"

   The girls all hid behind trees, watching him.

   The boy was standing with his back resting on the pillar. He still had a somber look, and his eyes were closed. They saw him mutter something, something that would've been inaudible had the wind not blown their way.

   "To think...that two mortal humans - young women, no less - had the potential to form a soulbond. The first bond to be achieved in a thousand years..." His eyes opened, and he looked skyward. "That resonance I felt...those crystals wouldn't have acted that way if it wasn't true. And that echoing resonance...for it to be so strong...they must have a powerful lovebond already."

   Nagisa was vaguely aware of her friends eyes on her, but didn't pay heed. That boy had distinctly said "mortal", "soulbond", and "crystals": that meant he WAS the one who sent that letter, and it also means that he holds some sort of magic, after all.

   Unnoticed, Chiyo was standing on a particular branch. She intended to shift her footing, only to break the branch with a small *chik!*

   The boy gave a start, turning their way. His eyes narrowed, and his hands had balled into fists. "Who's there?" he called. To their alarm, his eyes and hands began to glow a faint lavender. Each girl felt a slight pressure in their head, as though they were being poked.

   "Uh-oh." Chiyo said.

   "RUN!!" Nagisa cried, and they all ran as fast as they could through the trees, trying their best to put some distance between themselves and the boy. They didn't stop running until they skidded to a halt in front of the greenhouse.

   Directly in front of Rokujo-sama and Shizuma.

   "Nagisa?!" Shizuma darted to her immediately, scooping her in a tight hug, then pulled back to look at her, eyes scanning her for a hint to her distress. "What happened?"

   "What were you six doing in the forest near the greenhouse?" Rokujo didn't show any outward emotion except genuine surprise.

   "We...we..." Nagisa stammered, stalling just enough to catch her breath, "We saw...something."

   "Something?" Rokujo echoed, "What something? What did you see?"

   "We saw a..." Nagisa hesitated, eyeing her friends. How much trouble would they be in if the Student Council president of Miator learned that they were watching a boy - directly on school grounds? "We saw...a rock."

   Shizuma glanced at Rokujo, then back at her love. "What sort of rock did you see? And why were you running?"

   Nagisa thought rapidly. Tamao, however, spoke first. "Nagisa told us that she saw a strange rock around here," she said quickly, silencing the others with swift glares, "It looked like a stalagmite, only it wasn't in a cave; it was in a clearing not too far from here. And we were running because we thought we heard something close."

   "Yeah," Hikari chipped in, "It sounded scary, like a bear."

   Rokujo looked confused. "There aren't supposed to be bears in these woods," she said flatly, "But I am curious about this rock. Could you take us there?"

   "Uh..." Nagisa looked at Shizuma. Her face was blank, but her eyes held the usual amount of love, reserved only for Nagisa, who touched her heart. She hesitated a bit longer, until Shizuma said, "Please?" and kissed her.

   The kiss was brief, but it left Nagisa breathless. She blushed furiously, and stammered, "O-of course, I'll show you the way."



   Back at the clearing, Nagisa didn't find any trace of the boy, nor did she see the rock pillar he had summoned.

   "So, where is it?" Rokujo asked impatiently, "Where is this rock?"

   "It was right here." Nagisa stood directly on the spot, "Right here, I know it!"

   "This better not be some cover story, Aoi Nagisa. What were you really doing here?" Rokujo's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

   Shizuma gave her friend a hard look. "I'm sure Nagisa was imagining it," she said, "And her friends supported her story to keep her from getting in trouble."

   Rokujo still looked unconvinced, but let the matter slide. "All right." She turned and left, arms crossed.

   The others stared after her. "Hmph," Yaya said, putting her arms on her hips, "What's her problem?"

   "The attitudes of our fellow students are getting worse," Tsubomi noted, "I bet the Student Council is starting to feel pressured."

   Nagisa opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Shizuma said suddenly, "Could you all leave, please? I wish to be here alone with Nagisa." The others stared in surprise, but didn't move until Shizuma said, "Now." Reluctantly, they heeded her.

   Once she made sure they were well out of earshot, Shizuma turned to Nagisa, arms folded, eyes curious but firm. "Rokujo-san was right, Nagisa," she said, "Bears do NOT exist in these woods. What was the real reason you were out here, this far from school?"

   Nagisa's head drooped. "Uh...well, there was a rock..." And she launched into the story of meeting the boy yesterday, and then again today, and their sudden departure after Chiyo alerted him to their presence.

   Shizuma's eyes went from firm to surprise, and wonder. "So, this boy thinks that we are able to make a...soulbond?"

   "Exactly." The voice - definitely not female - made the both of them give a start. Nagisa and Shizuma turned to the newcomer: A handsome boy of about seventeen, the same boy Nagisa saw earlier. "The two of you have the potential to forge the first soulbond in a thousand years." He grinned. "And I am indeed an angel."