Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime/Otome…
A tawny haired young woman clad in a pale light purple hospital gown sat quietly on the windowsill and turned her head towards the window; nothing betrayed the signs of illness aside from the soft white cotton bandage wrapped around her head, covering her eyes.
A soft knock at her door made the brunette turn her head towards the direction of the noise. The woman simply faced the direction from which the noise had come, not bothering to give a reply.
Her ears twitched as she heard the door slide open, footsteps enter the room, and the door sliding shut once again.
The figure shifted slightly before speaking. She frowned.
"How are you doing today, Fujino-san?" The doctor asked warmly; smile unbeknownst to its frowning occupant.
Shizuru gave no reply, turning her head to face the window, remaining unmoved in her current position.
The doctor chuckled in resignation. "Ai kawarazu mukuchi ka..." [As usual, not speaking huh….]
Shizuru gave no reply.
"Well, how about I change your banda-"
"Kekko desu."
Shizuru interrupted flatly, turning to face the doctor's general direction, tight-lipped frown on her face. [Kekko desu = I'm fine (a polite way of refusing); that's Shizuru for you ]
A glare could almost be seen in her expression.
The doctor raised his hands in defeat. "I was just kidding alright?"
He walked over to Shizuru's bed, reaching over to examine a Braille book.
"I just wanted to check up on you, but it looks like you're doing just fine." He bent over to grab the book.
"Sensei," Shizuru sharply interjected a split second before the man picked up the book.
"I would appreciate you not carelessly touching your patients' personal belongings. Also," she continued voice betraying annoyance tinged with anger, "I don't believe you have a right to do that as you're not a doctor yet, are you, Kanzaki-san". She smirked, placing emphasis on the honorific.
The man's expression turned sour. He silently picked up the book, smirking to himself as he set the book on top of her dresser.
He made a rustling noise reaching into his coat pocket.
This is so stupid... Shizuru thought to herself as she dryly thought about whether to humor the man or not.
I don't feel like it after all...
The medical student smirked, thinking that he'd won. "Well, I'll be on my way then. See you later, Fujino-san." and the door slid open and closed once again.
The frown lingered on Shizuru's face as she reluctantly got up from her window perch.
She slipped her feet into her slippers, walking over to her dresser, standing on her tiptoes and retrieving her book from where the medical student had hidden it.
She sighed as she brushed the dust from the book's cover.
I strongly dislike that man…how does he think to ingratiate himself to me by playing such childish pranks on me…especially since this is a hospital for the blind…and he's not even that good-looking…
She placed the book next to her pillow with another sigh. It's just disgusting….
Shizuru reluctantly grabbed her cane and made her way to the common area, sweeping the floor with her cane as to not to rudely bump into anyone on her way, not that she really needed it.
She trailed one hand along the hand rail as she slowly walked down the hallway, letting go of the rail once she turned the corner. She made her way to a large windowsill, easing herself onto the ledge, leaning her cane against the frame of the window. She turned to face the window, relishing the warmth of the streaming afternoon sun.
There was no one else in the common area. Shizuru stared facing the window as the sounds of doctors and other patients whispered in her ears.
Her ear twitched in annoyance as she identified an approaching voice. "Why, isn't it Fujino-san? What are you doing here all by yourself?"
She turned to face the voice, face already in a frown. "If I recall, as a patient of this hospital I am entitled to use the common area, am I not, Kanzaki-san?"
The medical student's brow twitched slightly, yet he maintained a smile and friendly tone of voice. "Of course you are, Fujino-san. This is the second time we've run into each other today. You sure you weren't looking for me?"
If I recall correctly, you were the one that decided to enter my room earlier…
Shizuru smiled. "Ara yada na, Kanzaki-san. Watashi ga mieru yoni hanashiterun dewa nakutte?"
[Oh stop that, Kanzaki-san (playful). You're talking about it in such a fashion that makes it seem like I could I see?]
The man flushed, humiliated while the other medical students passing by whispered critically at his mistake.
He coughed, clearing his throat. "Well, aren't you a sharp one, Fujino-san?"
He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Boku no make desu." [It's my loss this time].
He carelessly kicked her slippers aside. "Let's see how you like walking back to your room barefoot. If you apologize I might be willing to help you find your slippers."
Shizuru simply smiled. "I don't have the slightest clue about what you might be referring to, but surely a medical student such as yourself has better things than to crush your time with such childish pranks."
He scowled. "You'll regret making an enemy out of me." Kanzaki snickered as he tossed her slippers into the passing laundry bin.
Shizuru heard the hushed whispers as the few nurses and medical students that had witnessed it dispersed.
"I'd like to help her, but against that Kanzaki Reito…."
"I can't believe a man like him might be the successor to the hospital…"
"Shh! What if someone hears you!"
A woman in light blue-green scrubs stretched her body as she made her way to the common area. Her hair was hidden behind on hairnet and a pair of mahogany-colored rectangular-frame glasses rested on the bridge of her nose.
But what piqued the tawny-haired woman's interest the most was….
Ara? Shizuru's ears twitched, catching the light scuffling of the chair as someone pulled it from under the table. Shizuru turned her head towards the direction of the noise, tilting her head slightly in question.
There's…someone there…? A tired, husky sigh and the soft fwump! of the person's arms and head answered her query. Shizuru frowned. I can't…see her…? Her eyes flickered underneath the bandage wrapped around her head. She still saw the hospital staff passing by, the scenery outside, the hallway she had walked down earlier, but for some reason she couldn't see her company in the common area.
"Is there someone there?" Shizuru inquired softly as she turned to face where she supposed the person was.
The woman in scrubs sighed tiredly as she slowly made her way to one of the tables in the common area. She groaned slightly as she felt some joints shift places as she stretched her body. She stifled a yawn, pulling her pale yellow face mask loose as she pulled a chair out from one of the tables to sit.
She gently rested her head on her arms, relishing the support the table gave her. The woman sighed tiredly, the husky voice reaching the other occupant in the common room. Well, I still have some time before I'm shadowing Youko-sensei for that patient that I'll be looking after….
The woman pulled off the hairnet and mask, tossing them into the appropriate waste bin from where she sat before checking her cell phone. Hm, looks like it'll go off 15 minutes before I need to meet Youko-sensei, and I set it early too, so I think I can take a little nap…The woman's midnight-blue hair fell slightly into her face as she nodded off.
The soft sighs of breathing were the tawny-haired woman's only reply. They're…sleeping…? Shizuru craned her neck, trying to determine the gender of the person in her company much to no avail. She turned to face the window once again, finding some comfort in the slow and steady breathing of the dozing person.
The soft rumbling of a vibrating cell phone caused an abrupt pause in the person's steady breathing as the person waking up sleepily reached into their pocket to turn it off. The hints of a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of Shizuru's mouth as she turned to face
Maybe I can tease this one out…~
"Ohayou," Shizuru spoke softly. [Good Morning, somewhat informal]
"Ah…Ohayougozaimasu," The person stifled back a yawn as she replied, wiping the tears that had formed in her eyes. [Good Morning, formal].
Shizuru felt shivers travel up and down her spine. …That husky voice…. But she composed herself, though you couldn't really tell she had lost her composure in the first place.
"It sounded like you were having a nice nap," Shizuru smiled as she hugged her knee to her chest, her other leg dangling loosely from the ledge of the window.
The woman, noticing she was talking to a patient, let out a sheepish laugh.
"Ah, hai... Okagesama de…Suman na. Nette tsumori wa nakattan de..." [Ah, yeah. Thanks for asking (thank you for your concern, etc). Sorry about that. It wasn't my intention to fall asleep (disregard your presence)]
Though Shizuru couldn't tell, a light blush tinged the woman's cheeks.
A furrow of concern appeared in the woman's brow as she noticed something missing. "What…happened to your slippers… did you lose them on the way here?"
"Hm? Ah…I think I heard a certain medical student-kun toss them into the laundry bin earlier." [suffix "–kun" denotes a male/boy]
The woman let out a sigh. "Kanzaki again, huh…" She scratched the back of her head.
"…When I think about how he might succeed this hospital…." She paused for a moment before shrugging. "Well, I could really care less if he heard me…"
Shizuru suppressed a small laugh. "Rebellious, are we, gakusei-san?" [suffix "-san" can be used with male/female, a bit more formal than "-kun" or "-chan"; gakusei = student]
"Kuga. My name is Kuga." The woman shrugged her shoulders.
"That guy….It's a bunch of crap really." Shizuru heard a pause as the woman pushed the chair back in, padded footsteps growing closer to her.
"Chotto shitsureshimasu ne." Natsuki hummed as she scooped Shizuru up in her arms and retrieved her walking cane with her free arm. [Please excuse me for a little bit/excuse my rudeness].
Shizuru was startled slightly when a pair of arms found their way behind her neck and underneath her legs and lifted her up off of the ledge; in a panic she grabbed on to the woman's neck, soft midnight-blue strands of hair tickling the brunette's fingers, the woman's scent tickling her nose.
…Ee kaori dosu na… [It's a pleasant/nice scent]
"Ah, sorry, did I startle you?" Shizuru shivered as the husky voice made the air around her tremble and vibrate slightly at the close proximity.
"Slightly, but I'm alright, Kuga-san." Shizuru smiled as she rested her head on the woman's shoulder. Ara, this is quite comfortable…
"I'll carry you back to your room and see if I can't find you another pair of slippers, if that sounds okay with you. Which room are you in?"
"I'm in Room 119." Shizuru commented softly, feeling unusually calm and at ease in the woman's arms.
"Room 119…huh…" Natsuki murmured as she started towards the hallway. Shizuru attempted to glance at the woman's face, having detected a moment of hesitation, much to no avail once again.
I wonder why her face seems to be the only one I can't see…
The pair quietly made their way down the hallway, Shizuru detecting softly exchanged greetings between Kuga and the passing nurses, doctors, and medical students.
"Konnichiwa, Kuga-san." [Konnichiwa= good afternoon]
"Konnichiwa."
"I look forward to having you around tomorrow, Kuga-kun."
[the honorific system "–kun" for boys "–chan" for girls isn't necessarily set in stone]
"Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegaishimasu"
[The same, I look forward to working with you/please treat me with your favor]
"Kuga-san!"
The blue-haired medical student simply smiled, politely replying to the various greetings.
"You seem to be popular, Kuga-kun." Shizuru teased as they continued down the hallway. A low hum rumbled through the student's body, the brunette feeling the vibrations as the woman laughed softly.
"…Not really." The footsteps slowed as the pair reached their destination.
"Here we are, Fujino Shizuru-san." Natsuki casually stated as she read the name plate underneath the room number.
She stepped into the threshold, gently setting Shizuru onto the bed, placing the walking cane in the brunette's grasp. "Here you go, Fujino-san."
"Ookini," Shizuru replied warmly while giving the medical student a smile. [Thank you in Kyoto-ben]
The medical student smiled back. A small beeping caused the woman to stand up. "I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me here; I have to get to a meeting. I'll send for the nurse to have another pair brought to you later."
The woman placed the pager back into the pocket of her scrubs.
"Ara, what a pity~" Shizuru said a bit playfully. "I suppose I can't hold up your meeting though can I. Thank you for escorting me back to my room, Kuga-san."
Under her bandages Shizuru raised an eyebrow on hearing a bitten-back cough come from the woman. Ara ara~….what I would give to see her expression at this moment…but I guess I'll be patient. It can't be helped, afterall…
"It's been my pleasure, Fujino-san." The medical student politely said before excusing herself from the room.
Shizuru heard the soft click of the door sliding closed, listening attentively for the sound of retreating footsteps.
My glasses have slipped down my face again….the bluenette thought resignedly as she pushed them up the bridge of her nose, other hand still resting on the slightly opened door. …Well, never mind that; I need to get to Youko's office pretty soon. Though…the bluenette glanced at the name plate and room number. Looks like I'll be coming back here soon.
Shizuru froze.
In the moment that the medical student had adjusted her glasses as she closed the door, Shizuru saw dark midnight-blue strands flutter across the receding crack of the hallway.
The brunette simply stared towards the direction of the door.
. . . Ara...
A/N: Konbanwa, YH desu *bows politely before running behind the door*. This was the new ShizNat work mentioned on my profile yesterday (7/1812). So yeah..basically as I was stumbling through life, it dropped this idea on my muse, who in turn proposed the idea to me, who madly typed it on my iPod on the way home from working at life…yeah. I had the basic idea before and just had to polish it a bit. So…what do you think? Is Shizuru blind or not blind? That is the question…ah ha ha ha…some fictional elements coming into play for this fic, just with Natsuki and Shizuru for now though…hmmm…we'll have to see. Please feel free to leave a review and/or comment! I'll try my best to update my other ShizNat fanfics, but life seems to enjoy making me work work and work…
Hope you enjoyed your stay!
Matta ne~
-YH