Chapter 1

Italics – Thoughts

Flashback – Natsuki's POV

It was my second year of middle school. I had snuck away from the classrooms and found myself at the gardens, stopping by a row of flowers. I was frustrated that I had come to yet another dead end on my search for the First District. Yamada had only given me the name of the organization, nothing else. As much as I sifted through all of mother's files, I was unable to find anything of use. I scowled as the blossoms rustled gently in the wind, drawing my attention to them. I reached out, almost crushing one in my hand to vent my anger out on it.

"You shouldn't do that. Beautiful flowers are meant to be loved, since it's doing its best to bloom during its short life," an accented voice called out.

I stopped short, whirling around to come face to face with a girl in a high school uniform. I eyed her suspiciously, uncertain of her intentions. "What?" I growled rudely, sure that my brash demeanor would scare her off.

Instead, she replied, her eyes disappearing behind a most brilliant smile. "I'm Shizuru Fujino, please to meet you."

Her hair was billowing in the wind and she absently used her right hand to tuck the stray strands behind her ear. When she opened her eyes to look at me for my response, I noticed that her eyes were a stunning red. Not matter how much I looked; all I saw in them were curiosity and perhaps even a tinge of mischievousness, now that I think about it. I hesitated, but I replied, "Kuga, Kuga Natsuki."

She was the first person who bothered to approach me, after all this while.

That was when it all began.

XXX

Flashback – Shizuru's POV

My eyes widened as I spotted a dark vehicle pulling into the forest behind the school, the rider sporting a familiar shade of navy hair underneath the sleek, black helmet. It couldn't be, could it? I almost felt myself grinning at the thought of it.

Natsuki was truly inconceivable.

I glanced at the clock. It was midway through school. I quickly requested to be excused and hurried down the stairs, heading towards the back gate and into the forest. I spotted the rider clad in black dismounting the vehicle before the helmet was removed, revealing a familiar shade of blue.

Natsuki unzipped the tight leather suit, absently strolling over to the back of her bike to stash her helmet. She pulled out a slightly crumpled white and blue sailor's fuku and carelessly dumped it on the seat.

"Ara, ara. Is Natsuki late for class again?" I swore Natsuki leapt almost ten feet high when she heard my voice (Natsuki still refuses to admit to it though). I giggled, stifling it slightly with my hand.

She hastily grabbed onto her unzipped suit, in a bid to cover up, "Shizuru?!"

I stepped out from behind the trees, grinning like a Cheshire cat, "Hai! I believe you were going to change into your uniform?"

"Yeah! But not with you around!" she shot back, crossing her arms. Her face was an amazing shade of red and she looked like she was about to explode!

"Ikezu, Natsuki! I came all the way out to greet you," I pouted. "We're friends, aren't we? I wish to walk with Natsuki back to school."

She grumbled, "I don't want to change with you watching me. You have to turn around, at least. After that we can go."

I smirked – that was good enough. Now I would have time to ask her about her new motorbike. "Hai!" I spun around and faced a tree. "Ne, Natsuki?"

"Mmmfh?"

"Is this a new bike?"

"Yeah. I just got it yesterday." A pause – she must be still changing. "You like it?"

I smiled slyly, it was a golden opportunity. I spun around, "Yes! I think the color suits Natsuki very well."

Her reaction was instantaneous. She hurriedly ducked behind her bike and yanked her skirt up, spluttering angrily, a full-fledged blush on her cheeks, "I didn't say I was done!"

"But, Natsuki asked if I liked the bike. How can I give her an honest answer if don't look it properly again? Surely Natsuki does not want me to lie to her?"

Natsuki narrowed her forest greens, studying me intently for a second. I put on my most innocent smile for her. She huffed, rolling up her leathers and removed the key from the ignition. Tossing her school bag over her shoulder, she walked off toward the school gates. I knew I was in the clear.

I saw her pause as she heard me jogging up to her. I easily clung onto her arm, "So, when will Natsuki be bringing me on a ride?"

She tilted her head, her eyebrows raised. I looked at her expectantly and she gave me a rare grin, but said nothing.

XXX

Flashback – Natsuki's POV

Shizuru had recently won the high school's student council presidential election and she had been cooped in the council's office since then. Ever since she won the elections, she had been swarmed by flocks of admiring students, both male and female alike. Girls aspired to be her and guys wanted to be with her.

Shizuru's position had opened up a wondrous mine of information on the school. I had a plethora of information on hand; I could track potential incoming HiMEs and I was able to cross compare the information on students – allowing me to connect that the HiMES were drawn here with the receipt on the Kazahana Scholarship. I had been able to track down the identities of the directors, supplementing the information that Yamada had given to me.

However, it came with a price. It made it extremely difficult to meet my only friend now that the term was starting again. The doors to the student council room were always patrolled by Haruka Suzushiro's team – no one was allowed to enter without valid reason. My attendance was horrific as it was, I didn't need to aggravate the law-enforcing loudhailer. When Shizuru was out of the room, she was consistently approached by random people in the hallway. Her appearance in the forest where I parked my Ducati became less and less of an occurrence. I figured it was due to her new duties. I was under-aged to have a license and she must have been afraid that she would be followed, if she had went to our secret spot.

Moreover, orphans appearances were much more common now and I was busy hunting them down. By the end of the school day, I was thoroughly exhausted and there was a period of time where Shizuru and I had not spoken to one another for a long time.

One day, late in the evening, as I was about to head home, I heard the rustling of leaves behind the trees. I had just changed into my leather suit and I was perturbed that there was someone spying on me. "Show yourself!" I snarled, scanning the foliage for the first sign of movement, ready to sprint after the perpetrator.

"Ara, Natsuki.."

My anger immediately subsided as I watched the familiar chestnut head emerge from the trees. Her old uniform was replaced by a lighter vest, signifying her ascension into her new post. "Shizuru? Why are you here?"

"Kannin Na, Natsuki. I had been very busy handling the transition from the ex-council team. I was finishing up some work when I thought I heard your engine in the distance." She eyed me as I glanced around the area. "It's late, do not worry. There isn't anyone else but us." She pursed her lips, before adding sadly, "I don't see Natsuki at the flower gardens in the evenings anymore."

"Ah, Shizuru. I was tired and I really don't like having a lot of people around me, you know," I swallowed uneasily. Shizuru's expression fell and I felt my heart sink immediately. Despite what she had said about her reasons for running for presidency, I couldn't help but feel that a part of that decision was influenced to my wishes I had shared with her about wanting to investigate the school. I was slightly startled when she had beamed at me so brightly after that conversation. There was a strange fire in her eyes that I had never seen before. Before I knew it, I found myself staring at a noticeboard about the candidates running for presidency.

I came to a decision that fateful night. I wouldn't lose my friend to the gaggle of girls surrounding her, so I tried, "Uhm, if we could.. I mean, we could ride.. uhm, then send you back to the dorms," I shook my head at my stuttering, looking into her inquisitive rubies. I inhaled and blurted the whole sentence at once, ending it as a question, "What I'm saying is we could go on a ride and then I could send you back to the dorms? It'll be like old times, just you and me."

Shizuru hummed and I gulped nervously, "If you don't want to, then it's okay. Sorry for asking."

However, she shook her head, smiling brightly and I felt as though everything in the world was right again. "I would love to ride with Natsuki; however, my books are still in the council office. Would Natsuki accompany back?"

"Of course, Shizuru," I couldn't help but feel a faint tug on my lips. As we took a slow walk back, it felt as if we went back to the times when we first met. It was as if nothing had changed. It felt great to have Shizuru back again.

XXX

Flashback – Shizuru's POV

"Natsuki?" I called out at the dark haired girl seated on the green lawn, staring out at nothing.

"Oh, hey. Shizuru," Natsuki replied, turning her head around. She spied a group of girls hidden behind a tree and glared at them angrily, sending them scuttling off. I could always count on her to chase away the sticky fan girls – they wouldn't be around for the next two hours after receiving that icy glare that Natsuki had honed so well in the past year.

"Awww, Natsuki looks so cute with that angry pout!" I squealed happily as I tackled her onto the grass. It was my way of warming Natsuki up. I knew she had something on her mind once I spotted her from afar, with that quiet, pensive look on her solemn face. I knew that she wasn't one for conversation, but I would always be there for her when she needed me, even if it was just to have someone beside her. Right now, I felt like she did. Propping up my lunch box with both hands, I gleefully asked, "Would Natsuki like to share? I have something special today."

Her interest piqued, she leaned over, "Mayo sandwiches?"

I tittered lightly at her response. Her emeralds were as vivid as ever but coupled with the hopeful look, she looked absolutely adorable. I should make mayo sandwiches every day, I nodded silently to myself. "Say ahhh, Natsuki."

"No, give me that, I can eat on my own," she grumbled, reaching out to snatch the sandwich in my hands.

I let her snatch it, but I feigned a sad expression on my face as she took a large bite. Oblivious as she was, she didn't notice it until she swallowed the first mouthful. "What? What happened, Shizuru?!" She asked in panic, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Natsuki doesn't even count me as a friend, she doesn't even let me feed her," I bowing my head so that she couldn't see my face.

"No! It's just that people are watching," she muttered, trailing off at the last part.

I frowned, "Is Natsuki embarrassed by me, then?" I practically collapsed in laughter when she looked at me incredulously, as if I had grown horns on my head.

"NO!" She looked at me boggle-eyed. "Don't you know you are the most popular girl in school? I would think you would be more embarrassed by having me as a friend," she shook her head in disbelief.

"Natsuki," I said sternly, "Don't ever say that. I would never be embarrassed by having you as a friend, do you understand?"

Natsuki paused for a moment, before she replied, "Arigato, Shizuru."

I had never felt happier when she smiled.

XXX

Flashback – Natsuki's POV

I smirked as I watched the diligent tawny haired student council president seated at her desk, her pen flowing elegantly over the notepad, translating her thoughts into words. I tapped the glass, "Shizuru!" I called, hoping she would hear me.

She looked up, surprised. I guess she heard my voice. "Natsuki?" I saw her mouth my name as she looked around the room, confused.

"Here!" I called, waving my hands to catch her attention.

Shizuru's face lit up when she spotted me hanging overhead and she quickly unlatched the windows, peering up at me. "Natsuki!" she exclaimed, "That's dangerous, how did you get up there?"

"Shhhh! Suzushiro has been looking for me, but I needed to give you something. I just received it today."

"What could be so important that Natsuki has to dangle outside a window to pass it to me?"

I grinned, producing a new bike helmet that I hid on top of the window ledge. "Here, I had this made. I mean, it's for your safety, you know, when you go on rides with me." Shizuru didn't reply, merely taking the headpiece from me and examined it carefully. I grew nervous, did she not like it? "Uhm, Shizuru?"

"Natsuki is so sweet!" She cried, stunning me slightly with her sudden outburst. "Is this an inscription at the side? I have never seen this color anywhere before!"

"Yeah, it's your initials," I mumbled. "I imported this from the States. It's the same as mine, just that I had it brushed in matt lilac."

Shizuru beamed, "Does that mean we would be going for a ride today?"

"I could wait for you after you're done. Same time, same place?" Shizuru gazed at me and I caught sight of a side she never shown in public. No one would ever believe that their kaichou-sama had a mischievous side to her – all they saw was the prim and proper Shizuru.

An impish smile curled at her lips and a playful glimmer shone in her eyes, "I would prefer it if Natsuki were to take me for a ride now."

I raised my eyebrows in amusement. Who was I to deny my best friend's request? "Hang on, I'll think of something. Just wait here, Shizuru."

XXX

Flashback – Shizuru's POV

I watched as the setting sun disappearing beyond the shimmering horizon. I knew that Natsuki had a particular penchant for this spot – a small outlying cliff that was almost an hour's drive up the winding mountain roads. She had brought me here multiple times throughout the entire school term. I loved having the winds caressing my locks and I loved taking in the sunset with my Natsuki. I watched her as she habitually flicked her hair backwards with one hand, the other resting on the railings.

I thoroughly enjoyed these small adventures I had with Natsuki. I felt like I could be myself whenever I was with her. There were no pressing deadlines and no pressurizing demands that came with being the president of the student council. These long bike rides were something that I could enjoy only with her. I felt at ease when I watched her close her eyes, breathing in the salty sea breeze with a look of serenity on her face.

I stepped beside her, picking up her hand and lacing her fingers between mine. She opened her one eye, watching me lazily, before she smiled and pulled me closer. We didn't need words to express to one another that 'I'll be here for you.'

I, myself, was uncertain if that was the day I fell for my best friend.

End Flashback

XXX

A/N: Hi all, just a random story that I had in my mind. As the title suggests, it was actually supposed to be a story on my take on the prequel/sequel to Mai HiME, crossed with Mai Otome. However, I'm rather uncertain if there should be continuity to this seemingly one-shot. I left it open; will decide on expanding it only after the New Year but I decided to share it first.

Here's the first chapter that elaborates more on Shizuru and Natsuki's yesterdays. Cheers!