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Victoria took her time with her drawings before closing up the book and put everything away. Then she took out a small notebook she always kept with her. Unlike most things found on the school campus, this notebook didn't have the infamous stylized rose emblem. Instead it was of a blue-green color with a blank cover. The black binding made it seem stylish to her, which was the reason she had chosen it.

Her notebook was one of the few things in her possesion that she considered invaluable, as it contained information and written instuctions in it that was for her eyes only. Once you passed the pages of hand written script on chess strategies and class schedules, the rest of the notebook was devoted to her findings.

Ever since she had first came to Ohtori, she had made it her business to be as unobtrusive as possible. And while this kept her out of trouble and most awkward situations, it also had another use. Her time spent with her father had taught her that knowledge and information was power...especially when it concerned those around her. So she had learned early on how to listen and learn. The things of import she overheard, be it about a teacher or perhaps a student that tended to be a bully in class, were recorded diligently. Such information was dangerous, as it made blackmail all too easy. Yet she tended to never even consider that path, using what she learned about those around her to help her understand the great picture as a whole. Once she knew the pieces, she could understand the game. That had always been her philosophy.

And so, when she had become a member of the Order of the Rose, she continued such practices in order to keep update to date on the common knowledge known by her classmates, and to learn their secrets. A very useful thing indeed. It helped her to become aware of unknown agendas, and let her plan accordingly. Not to mention, it become a tomb of the information her chess club brought her.

Here was another useful thing she had gained. The chess club ws composed of some of the best and brightest of the school, from all walks of life. Some were merely average, but even that was valuable. Through subtle probings and listening to their small talk and complaints, she was able to listen in on a network of gossip. Most was irrelevant, but some...some was worth hearing...

Such as that the fencing captain and her assistant were becoming suspicious of the Order's members. This she was able to put together from her own observations and one lad's complaints about the captain's attention being directed at only a handful of the members for some of the practice, and not himself. (Such jealousy was mildly baffling to Tori.)
But from what she had overheard and seen during the practices, their presence as a whole was mostly ignored and/or considered to be unimportant. From there, Victoria was able to make the hypothesis that the Student Concil did not see the Order of the Rose as a threat. And that only made her smile. However, Victoria was having a difficult time gauging the Black Rose duelists as a whole. They were far more secretive, and warranted more observation...

"Chu...Chu....Chu..." Chuchu snored soundly on the table top. His straw was next to him, and his belly was yet again full. Anshii on the other hand, poked at him lightly as she finished what was left of the Milkshake..never really wanting it in the first place, but finishing it out of common curtosy.

With her slender legs crossed infront of her, and her elbows upon the table, she sat by herself, looking down at her resting companion as he ignored her proding.

(( Apologies for the delay/lack of posting. End of the semester is coming up and parental units are freaking. ))

Worried, Alexander-Christian let Shiori's arm drop slightly as he stepped in front of her and pivoted to face her. As he did so he noticed someone gesturing in their direction but paid it no mind. People tended to notice him simply because he was different and liked to point him out to others, so he had learned to deal with it.

"Are you alright, Shiori-san?" He asked in a concerned tone, leaning down slightly to put his eyes on the same level as hers.

It was as he asked the question that he remembered seeing a flash of the distinctive orange that he associated with his captain, Arisugawa Juri. Moments later he remembered that Shiori said she had been friends with Juri until they had some sort of falling out or something. Perhaps it had something to do with that.

Excusing herself quietly, Anshii pushed her chair back from the table. Slowly, she rose to her feet, holding the cup carefully in her right hand, and supporting it's bottom with her left, She made her way back to the counter.

"Hey, watch it, dork!!" a student shouted. Before Anshii could stop, and properly bow, another student had bumped into her, purposely one could say. Tipping untill finally slipping from her fingers, the glass mug fell from Anshii's hands, instantly cracking into millions of pieces upon the marble floor of Ohtori's Lunch Cafe.

"I cant believe you!! You're such a clutz!!" the girl behind the counter yelled.

"Way to go four eyes!" a male student shouted.

"Gomen nasai..." Anshii said quietly as she got down on her hands and knees. She slowly began picking up the pieces, carefully as if she were mending a broken heart.

"Yeah, well sorry just doesnt cut it around here! you're going to have to pay for that glass!!"

"Hai...gomen nasai..." She repeated again, in her usual inaudible tone. Cupping her hand, she began placing the bigger shards of glass into it, the jaged edges, slowly piercing her skin, while the smaller ones, shot into her, drawing more pain. Student's snickered, as well as murmered about how clumsy Anshii was. Further more, those who didnt care, simply began walking by her, most bumping her on purpose, making her drop the pieces which forced her to pick them up again.

With a straight face, Anshii remained on her hands and knees, picking up what she could, another ruthless shove, "Oh..." was her only reply as her glasses fell to the ground as well. Blinking a little, she now began to feel across the floor, pitffuly as she searched for them, while indirectly picking up more pieces of glass.

"Chu...Chu....Chu..."Chu Chu remained on the table, unaware that his mistress was being picked on. Though, if he had noticed, why would it matter to him? I guess you could say, she brought this all upon herself.

When Miki heard the sound of glass shattering, he clicked his stopwatch and quickly spun around to see what had caused it. Noticing Anshii and the swarm of students that were picking on her, Miki got up and excused himself from the table. "Excuse me Juri-san, I'll be right back." He pushed his way through the crowd, "What are you doing!? Don't just stand there making fun of her, help out or leave!" He spoke to the students who surrounded Anshii like a pack of cackling hyenas. Their snickering dulled down into a whisper as the group slowly dispersed back to their seats. Miki crouched down and placed a comforting hand on Anshii's shoulder. He picked up Anshii's glasses, "I'm really sorry about that, let me help you." He smiled and placed them over her eyes. "Here you go." He blushed lightly and started to help gather the broken pieces of scattered glass off the ground. When Miki noticed that Anshii had cut herself and was starting to bleed, his expression shifted to one of deep concern. "Oh, miss Himemiya!" he placed the broken shards down into a small pile on the floor and gently took Anshii's hands into his "Look you're bleeding!" he dug through his pockets and pulled out a white handkerchief. He handed it to her, "Go to the nurses office and don't worry about the mess here, I'll take care of it."

"Ano..How is Kozue-san? Have Miki-san to Kozue-san played the piano much lately?"

Miki frowned, "No... Kozue and I dont play the piano together anymore." Not since I destroyed it with my own hands... I was happiest then, and I ruined it... He stood up and walked over to the garbage can, cautiously throwing out the shards he had collected. He crouched back down beside Anshii and carefully took the glass she had gathered from her, throwing that out as well. He dusted his hands off against the side of his pants Unlike my sister, Anshii is such a sweet girl... she really doesn't deserve the way people treat her. He thought as he made his way back. After all the glass had been cleaned up he extended his hand out to her, to help her up. "Anshii, you play piano, dont you? Um... maybe....." Calm down, Miki...just ask her "Himemiya-san, if it's all right with you, would you like to play the piano with me sometime?" He managed to sputter out, his cheeks were faintly flushed.

Miki smiled and took his neatly folded handkerchief back and placed it in his pocket.

"Ano, if Saionji sama is okay with it. I will be okay with it. I do what he tells me, as I am his bride."

Miki looked slightly stunned at Anshii's comment, "You really have to ask Saionji if you can play the piano? Just because you're his bride?" He said, gently guiding Anshii back toward the table where her sleeping companion Chu Chu lay. That isn't right! Anshii should be able to play the piano if she wants to. "But you like playing the piano, dont you? So if Saionji asked you to stop playing, would you?" Miki knew how jealous and protective Saionji got over Anshii and figured he probably wouldn't allow her to spend time with him playing the piano.