I haven't forgotten about 12LH+5, guys, but my computer's motherboard fried two Fridays ago, and I've been unable to access the work I've done on Chapter 11. So in the meantime, I thought I'd start another idea I've had for a while.

Reviews are most certainly appreciated. I'm trying to sort out how I want to go about this.

Again, My-HiME is property of Sunrise.

4/20/08

"Don't turn around
'Cause you're gonna see my heart breaking
Don't turn around
I don't want you seeing me cry
Just walk away
It's tearing me apart that you're-"

The sudden and loud sound of a cell phone ringing interrupted Mai's latest foray at center stage. Well, to be precise it interrupted the audience's listening of Mai's karaoke: Mai continued to sing without stopping as the others turned to find the guilty party. In this case, it was Natsuki who was looking at her phone's display, which was rather odd considering the occasion. The gang had gathered at Mai's place to celebrate the graduation from high school of her, Natsuki (by a hair), Mai's boyfriend Yuichi, Chie, Aoi, Akane and her boyfriend Kazuya, and Yukino. Besides the aforementioned graduates, Mikoto was there by necessity; Reito, Shizuru, and Haruka had come back from college to attend their graduation day; Takumi had dragged Akira along; and Nao was there for the free food (which Mai had insisted on making over the objections of Takumi and Reito: "Come on, it'll probably be the last time I get to do something like this!"). In short, everyone who would know Natsuki's cell phone number and would have a reason to use it was present in Mai's room.

"Ara, does Natsuki have someone she isn't sharing with me?" Shizuru teasingly pouted. "I knew this day would come, but it is still so heart-breaking to know…"

"I-idiot," a blushing Natsuki stuttered. "I don't know who this is either."

"Just ignore it, then," Nao suggested. When she hesitated, Nao grabbed the phone and before Natsuki could protest opened and hung up the phone in a single motion before tossing it back to her.

Actually, Natsuki probably didn't need Nao's antics in the first place; she was leaning towards ignoring the call anyway when the phone was stolen from her. The last two years of her life had been a welcome break from her previous several, running in the shadows feeding off of revenge. A return to civilian life, as it was. She didn't think it was possible, especially for someone like her who was steeped in the seedier parts of society for so long and from such a young age. But she had help. Shizuru was the first who extended a hand, which is always the hardest to accept. But accepted it she did, and soon Mai picked up her work when Shizuru had to leave to attend Kyoto University. If one asked Mai, she would deny doing anything special to Natsuki in their years as classmates and friends, but Natsuki would beg to differ. Really, just being a good friend was enough for her to avoid what Alyssa called a failure to adapt. To be sure, she still exuded this maverick lone-wolf aura among the school populace, but it was a manageable one that elicited more awe than fear.

It wasn't just her, either. Natsuki looked over at Nao, who was busy gulping down a bottle of soda, very likely in preparation for a timely belch during the next song. It was still a far cry from the Carnival when she truly had no one to turn to. Natsuki owed much to Shizuru in terms of coming in from the cold, but she would not regret coming to Nao's defense that rainy day at the hospital when Shizuru threatened to kill her. She could not. They were kindred spirits, a connection that was only strengthened the past two years as the two worked their way back into a normal social setting. Neither of them would ever be completely ingrained into society – it was something of a silent pact the two had made – but at least they would be able to function day to day even if they refused to partake in some of the more frivolousness aspects society entailed.

"OK, who's next?" Mai called out.

"Um, uh…"

"Oh, that's right! You and Kazu-kun wanted to do a duet, right?"

While most of those present were laughing at the blushing spectacle that was about to unfold, Natsuki's attention turned to the third classmate in "How to Have a Normal Social Life 101": Alyssa. In some ways, her adaptation to normal life was more remarkable, given how she had spent her entire life under the guise of Searrs. OK, yeah, she probably had a lot of instructors to teach her how to conduct herself in public without raising suspicions regarding Searrs's true intentions, but the shyness wasn't faked. She was a quiet one in Fuuka's grade school levels, so it wasn't that great a shock when Alyssa started jumping grades and was now in the same year as Nao and Mikoto. In some respects, it was probably better that way, as at least then Alyssa would be around people she knew. Chie and Aoi made no secret of how remarkable they found how easily Alyssa fit in with the high schoolers, especially given so many went all fangirl and squeed all over the cute genius the first day she entered the high school classes. It was unfortunate that her body hadn't caught up with her intellect: she was sick with, of all things, chicken pox, which is why neither she nor Miyu were present at Mai's place. Miyu, meanwhile, had "withdrawn" from Fuuka supposedly to look for employment, and technically that was true: as they had disassociated themselves from Searrs, they needed to find another way to sustain themselves, and the Sister could only provide so much.

Another ring of Natsuki's cell phone interrupted her thoughts and the embarrassingly cute duet going down up front. Natsuki looked at the display. It was the same number. She stood up. "Where are you going?" Mai asked.

"Going to figure out who the hell this guy is and tell him to stop bothering me," Natsuki replied, waving the phone in her hand.

"Just remember your manners," Mai reminded her. She considered it one of Natsuki's weaker points in dealing with others.

"Yeah, yeah." She stepped outside, with Shizuru sneaking behind her to listen in from behind the door. That turned out to be unnecessary as the first words Natsuki said from the hallway, loud enough for all to hear, was "Who the hell are you and why are you calling me?!" "Cue sweatdrop," Yuichi thought, looking over at Mai's face.

"Um…" Takumi started, looking around at the nervous atmosphere that had suddenly settled upon the party by Natsuki's outburst. "Why don't I go next," he said, trying to distract attention away from Natsuki's lapse.

"Oh, you're going to do one, Takumi?" Mai asked enthusiastically, her mind suddenly not on Natsuki's outburst. "I can't wait! Do your best!" The song started with, much to Akira's consternation, a piano solo with some guitar acoustics that could only be described as romantic. It was when the English lyrics began that Mai and Akira realized just what song her little brother had picked, to the former's pleasant surprise and the latter's downright dismay:

"Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine
I'm leaving my life in your hands
People say I'm crazy and that I am blind
Risking it all in a glance…"

The crowd was clearly enjoying it, if the multitude of pictures Chie was taking with her cell phone and the rhythmic clapping by everyone watching were any indication. Akira tried to look away from perhaps her single greatest source of embarrassment, but failed quite miserably. The fun level only went north when Yuichi and Reito joined Takumi for the chorus:

"I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me…"

Shizuru was not exempt from the allure of the show, and was about to return to the group when she thought it unfortunate that Natsuki wasn't up there. That led her to the realization that Natsuki was on the phone an awfully long time for someone on the other end that she didn't know. While everyone else was focused on the spectacle up front, Shizuru snuck closer and pressed an ear against the door, her hand covering the other one to block out the impromptu boy band performance.

"…you sure that's the only way?...Fine. When can you get there?...Alright." Shizuru thought she heard Natsuki sigh before walking back towards the door. She quickly backed away from it and sat down in the chair she had occupied previously just as Natsuki returned. "What took so long, Natsuki?" Shizuru asked innocently.

"Oh, um…I just hung up when I thought I heard a crash outside."

"Oh! Was anyone hurt?"

"Nothing serious. Just someone on a bicycle running into a sign."

"I see. I was beginning to think you were taking a very long time."

"R-right, well…" Natsuki quickly looked away and sat down in her seat. Even if Shizuru hadn't eavesdropped in on the conversation, she would have known Natsuki was lying and was hiding something. Ordinarily Shizuru would not intrude on Natsuki's dealings with her other contacts. Frankly it wasn't really her business. But when Shizuru looked over at Natsuki's seriously sullen face, concern took over. It was a face she normally associated with Natsuki and her contacts only in the early days of their relationship, before the Carnival. Something was up, and she was hiding it.

Mai didn't fail to notice it either. While Haruka lost a coin flip and was preparing to be next in line, Mai quietly shifted next to Shizuru. "Is something wrong?" she whispered.

"Natsuki's behavior is unusual, don't you think?"

"Kinda, I guess. I mean, it looked like she was actually getting used to normalcy." Both of them paused briefly over how unlikely that statement would have seemed two years ago. "Are you worried about something?"

"I am. Do you see the look on Natsuki's face?"

"Yeah?"

"I have seen that face once before. It preceded a three week absence from school the year before you arrived."

"Three weeks? I can't remember a time Natsuki was ever missing for more than one." Natsuki's

"Precisely. It was an unusually long absence, even for Natsuki."

"I see." Mai's eyes wandered to the front and looked at Haruka straining to belt out a song. "And you believe Natsuki will disappear this time as well?"

"If memory serves, Natsuki disappeared two days after I saw that expression."

"Where did she go?"

Shizuru looked at the floor. "I'm sorry, Mai, but I do not think it proper to divulge that sort of information."

"I understand, Shizuru," Mai responded. "Is it a touchy subject?"

'Yes. When I asked her about it, she only gave me a vague idea about it, and I could tell it was a sensitive matter, one that I felt was best left alone at the time."

Mai sighed. "So, what do you want to do about it?"

"May I make a request, Mai?"

"Of course."

"Natsuki comes over here often, yes? Can you watch over Natsuki for me over the next two days? I want to know what is going on."

"But didn't you say that you thought it best to ignore the matter?"

"I thought that was best at the time, and that was because Natsuki had been particularly difficult in the days after I brought up the subject. I had no recourse since I was by myself. But now I can use your help, that is, if you are willing."

Mai looked at Shizuru. Mai herself wasn't completely convinced that it was appropriate to infringe on Natsuki's privacy like that, but the look of worry on both Natsuki's and Shizuru's faces indicated that something was quite wrong. "Alright," Mai said finally. "I'll keep an eye on her."

"I am indebted to you, Mai," Shizuru said. "Please let me know if something happens."

"What are you going to do?" Mai asked.

"Natsuki is not the only one who knows how to gather information," Shizuru replied with a small smile. "I hope, though, that I will find out enough to put my mind to ease.

Songs are property of Ace of Base and Backstreet Boys, respectively.