[@sassy1085] [@Bryn]
Tohru laughed at the mention.  She could have pictured how Rin's dorm was flooded with several love notes, bouquets of roses and other trinkets of admiration and affection from her [i]fan-club[/i].  A very familiar sight it was for her.  [color=6ecff6]"Just wait.  It gets worse."[/color]  A sly wink she gave to Rin.  In truth, Tohru didn't mind the attention, but sometimes a girl needed her breathing room.  [color=6ecff6]"Ah, arigato everyone!"[/color]  Happily and gallantly she waved to the crowd, her biggest smile she could muster despite her fatigue.  [color=6ecff6]"I couldn't have done it without your love and your support, but now...I'm rather tired, so I'll be turning in for the night.  Thank you once more and I will see you bright and early in the morning!"[/color]

[i]"Awww!  Don't leave, Tohru-senpai!"[/i]

[i]"Yeah, don't go!"[/i]

[i]"We can't wait to see your next duel, Prince Tohru!"[/i]

My how persistent they were, but nevertheless, Tohru was indeed tired, barely able to stand on her feet after such a taxing and bizarre day of school.  What a way to cap off her second year.  Casually, she slipped her arm around Rin, mostly for support, but also...something about the girl struck Tohru.  She felt as if she wanted to be Rin's companion for the school year.  [color=6ecff6]"Well...shall we?"[/color]  She said with an exasperated sigh.  It was going to be a long walk to the dorms after all.

She was just about to leave, but then another girl had entered the scene, short cropped hair, similar to that of a boy's cut, and tan skin.  She was also a slight taller than Tohru, and...she too had her gaggle of starried eyed schoolgirls behind her.  [color=6ecff6]"Oh, hi there.  A duel earlier, but rest assured, no harm done."[/color]

[@Otaku95]

Meanwhile after leaving the duel defeated, Asuka did not return to her dorm, even though the sun had sank behind the hills taking her light with her and the cold dark of the night had set in so soon causing her to shiver amidst her recent battle wounds.  A demure violet sky bespeckled with several shimmering stars stretched before her lingering eyes, but it wasn't of much concern to her.  Beside the river nearby the school she sulked, her back still aching from where Tohru's sword had made contact, a pain that would remain with her...just as the others when she faced the honorable prince in battle....and lost.  [color=ed145b]~Why...?"~[/color]  To herself she muttered, lying on her back and staring empty gaze towards the stars.  [color=ed145b]~"Am I...not good enough?  I've trained for so long for this day, constant preparation and exercise.  I worked my fingers down to the bone for goddess sake....but still...she defeated me.  My father...I can only think of what he will say when he learns of my failure, the shame that will roll from his lips and mark me forever.  Asuka, [i]Akuma no Hime[/i], a princess...in exile."~[/color]

She had thought she was alone, as always, nothing but her thoughts to accompany her in the dismal, broken silence, but...what was this?  Music?  But where?  Asuka lifted herself from the ground, dusting the grass and dead leaves from her uniform.  Where was she hearing this quaint melody?  Faint it sounded, yet so close.  She decided to investigate, first skimming about the riverside.  Nothing out of the ordinary, just the typical flowers, cat-tails and other plant life that grew beside the crystal clear waters.  So, she turned towards the forest behind her, stumbling a bit as it was becoming too dark to see, but then...she found it...or rather...her.

[i][color=ed145b]Hmm?  Who is she?[/color][/i]  She was a girl, a cute one at that.  Her almond colored hair, it was a perfect match for her amber eyes, and such an adorable round face christened with a pair of thick rimmed glasses.  Such a peculiar but intriguing sight she was to Asuka, and what made her all the more entranced...was the light of the moon piercing through the thick forest canopy...bathing her pale skin in its soothing, cream light.  [color=ed145b][i]I've never seen her before...and yet...I can't help but feel drawn to her.  I wonder, is her name just as precious as she?[/i][/color]

For a moment or so she leaned against a tree close by, observing quietly this girl with a soft, tender expression upon her face.  But then, she managed to speak, [color=ed145b]~"Excuse me.  What do you think you are doing out here, girl?  It's late."~[/color]  Perhaps she couldn't hear Asuka over her music.