Disclaimer-I do not own or claim to own Mai Hime.
Always
Mai Tokiha rolled over on her side, sighing once again. She couldn't sleep no matter how hard she tried. She stood up from bed, throwing on her shoes and grabbed her jacket and keys. She went outside her dorm room, down the steps, and outside into the cold night. She breathed in the fresh air and tightened her arms around her torso. Her red jacket was light and she shivered as she walked down to the Fuuka Garden. The only sounds were the pitter patter of her feet, and the shrill sounds of crickets around her. Lately, she was going there more and more, to think. A lot was on her mind. Takumi, Tate, School, the Carnival... She was so confused as to what she truly wanted.
As she made her way to her destination, she sat on a bench in deep thought surrounded by the breathtaking flowers. Takumi was the first on her mind, and she hoped that he was and would continue to be okay. She whipped out her cellphone and almost called him, just to further confirm her thoughts but chose against it, as it was late and she knew deep down he was fine. Her thoughts soon found itself drawn to a teenage boy, one that confused her to no end- Tate. She had thought she loved him, but she just didn't know. Her heart was telling her other things... that she loved someone else. Love was a difficult thing. Her heart ached.
And then there was the Carnival to worry about, as she lifted her chin up to watch the bright red Hime star shine next to the moon. There were footsteps sounding behind her, and she turned to see a girl with blue hair walking towards her, only to sit beside her.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself." the unmistakable voice of Natsuki responded.
"What are you doing out so late?" Mai asked, continuing to look up at the sky.
"I could ask you the same thing. But I decided to take a walk, to clear my head."
"Oh. What's on your mind?"
The blue haired girl turned to face her companion.
"District One. My mother. The Carnival..." She laughed, a bitter laugh.
Mai laughed too. Natsuki raised her eyebrow.
"Funny, because I'm out here for the exact same reason...The Carnival, that is." Mai said, sighing softly.
"To think one day, our loved ones might die... and you and I might fight. I hate thinking about that stuff."
"Then don't think, Mai. Live in the moment. Yes, someday that all might happen, but for now we will always...Always be there for each other. Always care for and need one another."
Mai silently nodded, but questioned Natsuki's speech, as if there was something hidden behind her words. They sat in silence to their own thoughts for a few more minutes, before it was broken.
"Natsuki, what do you mean by care for and need one another?"
Natsuki blushed, looking away. "You.. you know what it means, Mai. You're important. You always will be. Don't forget that."
"Thank you." Mai pulled her into a short hug.
"Yeah yeah. It's late. We should head back to the dorms."
Mai agreed and they walked back together. A tear managed to slip down her cheek as she looked at Natsuki walking beside her.
'Always...' Mai thought.