Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime/Otome...

"You know, you totally look like a dude when you do that" The flame-haired girl teased. "Shut up" The woman huffed, though not seriously as she tied her midnight cobalt hair into a pony tail, tucking it into a hat so that all that was visible was her face.

"It's not like I'm trying to attract anyone," she grumbled as she tucked loose strands into the hat. The redhead shrugged. "You just don't see yourself as the attractive woman you are."

"Attractive? Ha. That's a good one, Mai. Besides, today's a hat day." She spoke as she absentmindedly finished the look.

"It's 'always a hat day' Natsuki." Mai rolled her eyes. "Your pretty hair is wasted by that hat," eyeing said article of clothing with disdain. "Because it always is," Natsuki replied nonchalantly, putting on her jacket. Mai rolled her eyes in reply."Who would think you're that Kuga Natsuki while you're out in public looking like a guy?" Mai sighed as she waited by the door. "Exactly why I do this. You should know by now, Mai. I don't like attention." She scuffed on her sneakers and went over to the door.

Mai opened the door as Natsuki made her way over. "After you, Natsuki-ojousama," she teased with a wink in her eye. Natsuki threw her a shrewd glare through the large rims of her fake glasses before stepping over the threshold to the apartment.

Mai simply chuckled as she closed the door behind her.

Natsuki flicked on a pair of sunglasses in exchange for her fake ones as they walked into the mid-day sun. "Uwah, mabu!" She mumbled, using her arm to shield her sunglassed eyes.

[It's too bright!; Natsuki chopped off part of the word though]

"Heeh, it really is…hey! You already have sunglasses on Natsuki!" Mai sighed as she pulled out her sunglasses. "I swear…sometimes I think you're a vampire or something…"

"Hmph! My eyes are just EXTRA-sensitive to light, that's all." Natsuki huffed, crossing her arms. "A-Anyways, let's get a move on, okay? I have a recording later at six and need to be back before then." Natsuki started walking in the direction of the shopping district.

"Hai~" Mai replied as she jogged to catch up with Natsuki. "What a waste though….Natsuki no me te, todemo kirei da mon."

[Natsuki's eyes are really pretty]

"Ah, are mite, Natsuki" Mai paused, poking Natsuki's arm. Natsuki stopped walking. "Huh?"

[Are mite = look at that]

"Isn't that for your new album that's coming out pretty soon?" Mai pointed at a huge blown-up poster on the digital screen of the shopping district.

"YOH New Album: Seraphic Torii, To Be Released 5/14/12" Mai read the moving letters as she scrutinized pictures of the band members. "Though technically I'm just the bassist…" Natsuki commented to herself as she glanced at the poster.

"Uwah, Natsuki looks sexy in that picture~!" Mai squealed as Natsuki's jade-green eyes glanced suggestively at the masses of people.

"Geh, I still can't believe they chose that shot…its embarrassing..." Natsuki grumbled as she walked on ahead.

"I like it!" Mai asserted with pride. "It has that 'don't-come-near-me-'cause-I-might-eat-you' appeal to it!"

"DARE GA 'I-MIGHT-EAT-YOU'?" Natsuki exploded as her best friend laughed and ran ahead.

[WHO HAS THE 'I-MIGHT-EAT-YOU' APPEAL?]

Natsuki sighed as she leaned against the outside wall of a shop Mai was currently in. "New album, huh…"

"Hai, Omatase, Natsuki." Mai smiled, offering her the green tea frappuccino.

[Here, sorry for the wait]

"Ah, Sumanai." Natsuki gratefully took the cold creamy beverage, taking a deep sip. "Where are we off to next?"

[Sumanai = sorry for the trouble; more fluidly just as 'thanks']

"Umm, why don't we stop by that curiosity shop? After that we can grab dinner and head back, how does that sound?" Mai checked her watch. "It's a little after three."

"Hmm…" Natsuki took another sip of the cold drink. "Sure, sounds good to me."

Natsuki lingered around the shop's selection of rings. Hmm…I really like the design of this silver bracelet….Natsuki picked up the bracelet, examining it closely. It had two thin silver loops intersected so that they formed a wide 'X' design with two parallel silver loops on either edge of the 'X' that gave it a delicate yet flashy appearance. But what really fascinated Natsuki was the wolf-head design on one of the 'X' intersections. It was delicate and flashy, yet fierce.

"Natsuki! Did you find anything?" Mai called out as she made her way over to where Natsuki had been standing ever since they'd entered the store.

"Huh? Ah, yeah, I think so," Natsuki said with a smile, holding the bracelet to show Mai.

"Woah! I think it's perfect for you Natsuki!" Mai gave her nodding approval to a grinning Natsuki. "Are you going to buy a ring too? The sign says 'ring and bracelet $3' and you might as well since it's cheaper that way."

"Hmm…well why not." Natsuki relented, slowly going through the vast tray of rings. Well, I'm not one for rings but maybe I'll wear it for a performance or something…

"Oh, hey! It looks like they have a matching ring to go with it!" Mai picked a ring out of the pile. Natsuki looked at the ring her friend picked up. It was a solid silver band with a wolf's head on it.

"Sounds good to me. Let me go get them rung up." Natsuki took the ring from her friend and, along with the bracelet, took it to the register. "Ano, kore kudasai"

[I'll take these, please]

Natsuki smiled to herself as the cashier ran up the items. "Arigatou gozaimashita" The attendant called out as they walked out.

[literally 'thank you very much' but fluidly 'thank you for your business']

"Should we head back then? It's getting kind of late. I still need to get dinner before I head off to the recording studio." Natsuki checked her cellphone for the time.

"Well, then let's go! I'll make some ramen for you, Natsuki!" Mai cheerfully stated as they made their way back the way they came. Natsuki simply smiled and walked after her friend, small paper bag secured in the pocket of her bag.

A/N: So in the spirit of summer…not really. This one, as you can probably tell from the lackluster titled is an older one; I just never really got inspired to/around to writing it. But now that it's summer, there's more time. I also just got some sudden inspiration to write more on this one. It started originally (according to my computer, in December 2011..wow…) because of a comment one of my roommates said to me when I put my hair in a winter hat before I made a trip to the laundry room (yes, my hair was bed hair…-_-''')and then recently inspired by my admiration of the bass guitar… I have a suuper general idea of where I want to take this, but I'll have to admit it's a bit hazier than the others. I like the idea of bass player Natsuki, do you? Well, as always, feel free to leave my muse or me a comment/review! Thanks for stopping by!

-YH