DISCLAIMER: Sunrise owns My-HiME and its characters.
A/N: This fan fiction takes place in an alternate universe and our usual cast of characters experience several "out of character" moments.
Deception
After yet another long night spent behind the desk of my home office, I slipped into bed, dressed in my nightshirt.
"Why did you come to bed dressed?" Mina whispered after reaching for me under the covers.
"I'm not dressed," I replied sleepily.
"Natsuki, go get ready for bed," she pushed me gently out of bed.
"I don't want to, it's cold," I pleaded with her.
"Go," she replied sternly.
"Fine," I grumbled and reluctantly left our warm bed.
Immediately, I felt the cold air in the bedroom hit me. I quickly stripped and jumped back into our warm bed.
"Better?" I asked.
"Better," Mina purred after she reached for me.
I snuggled close to Mina and wrapped my arm around her waist. She softly purred her comfort.
"I love you," Mina said softly.
"I love you too Shizuru," I responded, half asleep.
"NATSUKI!" Mina slapped my arm…hard.
"Huh?" I woke startled.
"You called me Shizuru AGAIN!" Mina said angrily, but I could hear the pain in her voice.
"I'm SO sorry Mina, but I spent fifteen years with Shizuru. You and I have been together for only two," I defended.
Mina moved away from me to pout. I turned away from her and waited for her to get over herself. We've played this game so many times before; I almost knew the exact duration of her pouting. After she got over herself, she snuggled against my back and wrapped her arm around my waist.
"Do you love me Natsuki?" she asked sheepishly.
"Of course," I said without turning around.
"Are you in love with me?" she asked.
I turned around to face her and stared into her face, illuminated by the bright glow of the digital clock beside our bed. I stared at her while contemplating her question. I must have been taking an unusually long time, because her expression changed from questioning to concern.
"I'm sorry for taking so long to answer you, but I wanted to give you an honest answer. I thought I knew what being in love was, but after Shizuru, I no longer know, so I can't answer your question. I CAN, however, honestly tell you I love you," I smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Mina smiled and said, "I can live with that. I love you too Natsuki."
I snuggled into Mina and painfully remembered how Shizuru callously announced, after fifteen years together, she was leaving me to marry the man her grandmother chose for her.
In all my years of living, I NEVER felt pain like that! It felt as if all the blood drained out of my body, because I felt ice cold. On that day, my heart froze and was shattered into a million pieces. I could barely speak. All I remember of our conversation that day was Shizuru telling me her grandmother felt it was time she stopped playing around, settled down, and started a family. She could NEVER deny her grandmother ANYTHING. Her grandmother told her she found a nice young man from a good family for her to marry and everything was 'arranged.'
Shizuru and her husband were married three months after she left me. She sent me an invitation to the wedding, either out of guilt or cruelty; I'm not sure which. I debated attending. ALL my friends warned me not to attend. I decided not to attend, but at the last minute, I changed my mind and attended. Yes, the pain was once again nearly unbearable, but strangely less this time. I made sure to make eye contact with Shizuru at the church and left soon afterwards. I met Mina six months after the wedding.
I know I'm being unfair to Mina, but I truly love her. I'm just not in love with her. I was 'head over heels' in love with Shizuru and what I feel for Mina is not what I felt for the Kyoto beauty.
Shizuru and I met when I was fifteen years old. I had just started my last year of junior high at an all-girls school.
I was chatting with my friends in the school cafeteria when the new transfer student entered with her lunch tray. As she scanned the room for somewhere to sit, she failed to notice the school bully stick her leg out and the new student tripped, sending her lunch tray flying. I quickly caught her lunch tray and managed to save most of her lunch.
After placing the tray securely on the table with my friends, I checked on the fallen student. I shot a look at the school bully, which caused her to quickly retreat from the cafeteria. Being the school's Karate champion REALLY helped in times like these. I helped the fallen student to her feet and asked her if she was okay.
"Ara, I am not hurt. My pride is a bit bruised, but I am fine," she responded.
"I'm Kuga Natsuki," I introduced myself.
"Ookini Kuga-san. I am Fujino Shizuru. What did you say to that girl? She left here pretty quickly," Shizuru asked.
"Please call me Natsuki," I answered, dismissing the remainder of her question.
"Natsuki-san, what did you say to that girl?" Shizuru repeated ignoring the fact I dismissed that question.
"Come join me and my friends for lunch. I managed to save most of yours," I responded, once again dismissing her question.
She sat down and I introduced her to my friends. She began enjoying her lunch.
"I REALLY appreciate you saving my lunch," Shizuru smiled.
"You're welcome," I blushed.
"This is my first meal of the day and I do not function very well on an empty stomach," she volunteered.
"Didn't you eat breakfast?" I asked concerned.
"No. We just moved in and do not have any food in the house yet," she said between bites.
She continued to eat her lunch in silence, while she listened to my friends and me.
"Yumi-chan, I hear you and your senpai got pretty close at the movies the other day," I teased, referring to her Drama Club senpai, who is the same age, but has been a club member longer.
"Who told you that lie?" Yumi asked defensively.
"Who else?" I chuckled as I pointed to our friend Chie, the group's gossip queen.
"CHIE-CHAN!" Yumi yelled.
"What? Don't you get all uppity with me Yumi-chan. I saw you and your senpai cuddling at the movies the other day," Chie stated.
"Lay off Yumi-chan. Except for Natsuki, we're all stupid over our senpai," Nao stated in her usual sarcastic tone.
"Yeah Natsuki-chan, why aren't you interested in your senpai?" Yumi asked, referring to my Karate senpai.
"Two reasons. One, she's SO not my type. Two, she keeps telling me she's not into girls; it's not like I ask her either. But, if I were interested in her, then chasing after her would be like a dog chasing a car. Once you catch it, you can't do anything with it," I answered and laughed.
"What is your type?" Shizuru asked and startled all of us.
"I like intelligent, sarcastic, brunette girls with killer smiles and smoldering passionate eyes," I answered honestly and blushed at the realization I just described Shizuru.
"Well, that's NOT your senpai," Nao grumbled.
"Hey Natsuki, what's with her dyed blonde hair?" Chie asked.
"Ugly, huh?" I agreed.
"Natsuki-san, what did you say to that girl to make her run away like that?" Shizuru asked yet AGAIN.
"Natsuki-chan is the school's Karate champion. No one messes with her," Yumi answered proudly as I glared at her from across the table.
"This explains how you were able to save my flying lunch as well. Ookini," Shizuru said and kissed me on the cheek.
"Y-y-you're w-w-welcome," I managed to sputter and blushed deep red.
Unbeknownst to me, this entire interaction was NOT lost on my friends. After that day, they did EVERYTHING they could to get Shizuru and me together. Once Shizuru figured out what my friends were up to, she became a willing party to the conspiracy.
The five of us were inseparable throughout the entire summer vacation. Luckily, all five of us ended up at the same high school. Once again, this was an all-girls school. All but Yumi lost their senpai to other high schools after graduation. One day during lunch, we learned more about Yumi and her senpai.
"Guess what today is?" Chie asked everyone as she sat down with her food tray.
"The day 'Saving Face' comes out on DVD?" I replied sarcastically and bit into my sandwich.
"No smartass," Chie glared at me and added, "By the way, it's already out on DVD."
"Global Coming Out Day!" Chie announced excitedly.
"And Miss Gossip Queen, how do you know that?" I narrowed my eyes and bore into her.
"I AM the star reporter on the school paper, if you forgot" Chie bit back.
"Dang! High school is much hard than junior high," an exasperated Yumi complained, trying to diffuse yet another sparring match between me and Chie.
"How so, Yumi-chan?" Shizuru asked as she busily completed her homework assignment during lunch.
I watched in rapt fascination as Shizuru absently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. When she looked up, she caught me looking at her. She smiled shyly at me and I felt myself blush at least twenty shades of red before looking away.
"WAY more homework, which makes it difficult to see…," Yumi cut herself off, but not soon enough.
"See what?" I asked curiously.
"Nothing," Yumi replied sheepishly, realizing she was busted.
"Really?" I flashed her an evil grin.
"Drop it Natsuki-chan!" Yumi threatened.
"Chie?" I asked as I nudged Chie.
"Yumi-chan and her senpai are now dating," Chie stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
"CHIE-CHAN!" Yumi yelled.
"Don't sweat it Yumi-chan. You have a hot senpai and I envy you," I reassured her.
"She is pretty cute, ne?" Yumi blushed.
"Yep! I think her long flowing dark hair is her best feature. It's the kind that makes you want to run your hands through it. Full lips, smoldering grey eyes, long smooth neck…," I trailed off deep in thought.
Nao was the only one who caught the dirty look Shizuru shot at me.
"NATSUKI-CHAN!" Yumi yelled bringing me back abruptly.
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. Don't sweat it Yumi-chan, she's all yours. I've seen the way she looks at you. It makes even my hard heart desire someone looking at me that way," I rambled.
"Really?" Yumi asked.
"Yes Yumi-chan. Your senpai definitely loves you. She might even be in love with you," I reassured Yumi and placed my hand on hers.
"Natsuki, isn't it about time for your ice cold heart to thaw?" Nao teased.
"Hey, I don't see you, Chie, or Shizuru dating," I countered.
"Wrong! I've started dating a classmate from one of my classes," Nao gloated.
"What class? Detention?" I teased.
"Screw off, dog breath," Nao hissed.
"Wonderful, delinquent love," I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the bench.
While Nao and I were teasing each other, I happened to notice Chie was being awfully quiet and silenced Nao by holding my hand up. She was just about to protest being silenced, when she caught my look and turned her attention to Chie as well.
"Chie, you're being awfully quiet," I teased.
"Fess up," Nao followed.
"What?" Chie feigned innocence.
"Chie-chan?" Yumi chimed in.
"What?" Chie feigned innocence again, but this time she was unable to hide the stress in her voice.
"Okay Miss Gossip Queen, spill," I demanded.
"Natsuki…," Chie pouted.
"Spill it," I repeated.
Chie sighed in resignation, "Fine. I've been going out with another reporter on the school newspaper."
"What's she like?" I asked.
"Aoi's really nice and loves news as much as I do!" Chie said excitedly.
"Ummm…news or gossip?" I teased and started laughing again.
"Natsuki, you are just jealous, so stop teasing them," Shizuru said softly.
"Oi! Another country heard from," I grumbled.
Shizuru glared at me, "This is wonderful news for all of you. It must be nice having someone special."
"What about you Shizuru?" I countered.
"What about me?" she asked as she raised one eyebrow.
"Are you secretly dating someone as well?" I asked.
Shizuru gave my question a lot of thought before answering, "There is someone special in my life right now, but it has not progressed to dating yet."
"Why? That person has to be blind or an idiot not to notice you," I said as I blush a deep red.
"Ara, I am beginning to think it is the latter," Shizuru laughed and shot the rest of the group a knowing look, which resulted in a chorus of laughter.
"What the hell is SO funny?" I demanded.
"Dog breath, you really are an idiot," Nao teased as she slapped me on the back.
I glared at Nao and was about to reply when it dawned on me. My mouth fell open and as I was about to say something, the bell rang. Everyone said goodbye, leaving me standing in the cafeteria with my mouth open.
Instead of hanging out with my friends after school as usual, I went directly home. I sat on my bed and stared at the floor, thinking about Shizuru. I've been well aware of my feelings for her since the middle of summer vacation, but I wasn't sure how she felt, so remained silent.
Now that I know she feels the same way about me, I feel scared, not relieved. It was easier when I thought the feelings were one-sided. The prospect of dating a transfer student scares me, because most transfer students come from families that move around A LOT. I don't want to give my heart to someone who might be gone tomorrow.
As dysfunctional as my parents are as parents, as a couple, they aren't. After twenty years of marriage, they STILL look at each other the way Yumi's senpai looks at Yumi. I promised myself I would not settle for anything less than what my parents have. I was lost deep in my thoughts when my mobile phone rang, scaring me.
"What do you want?" I answered.
"Hey dog, where are you?" Nao asked.
"Home," I growled.
"I know you're brain damaged, so you probably forgot you're supposed to be at The Café right now," Nao teased.
"I had some stuff to do here," I lied.
"Well, Yumi-chan brought her senpai to meet everyone and you're missing it," Nao teased.
"WHAT?" I exclaimed.
"You're missing it," Nao taunted me.
"Keep them there! I'm on my way," I said hurriedly.
I made record time to our usual meeting place after school, The Café. After bursting through the front door, I headed directly for our usual table, but Yumi was not present.
"You just missed them," Nao stated.
"WHAT! I asked you to keep them here Nao," I said defeated.
"Did you finish what you had to do at home?" Shizuru asked.
"Not all of it," I responded and felt myself blush.
"Hi Natsuki-chan. You're late!" Yumi said as she placed her hand on my shoulder from behind.
I quickly spun around, "Yumi-chan?" I immediately recognized Yumi's senpai.
"Natsuki-chan, this is my senpai, Sachiko-senpai," Yumi beamed.
"Hello Sachiko-san," I stood and bowed. Sachiko was even more stunning up close and I couldn't help staring.
"Let's sit," Yumi said.
"We thought we'd teach you a lesson and asked them to hide in the bathroom," Nao teased.
"Funny. Real funny Nao," I said sarcastically and glared at Nao.
Chie leaned over and whispered in my ear, "You might want to stop staring at Sachiko-san. You're making her uncomfortable and pissing off two of your friends."
A glance around the table confirmed it. Sachiko-san was indeed shifting in her seat, Yumi was glaring at me, and Shizuru was boring holes into me with her eyes. When my eyes met Shizuru's, I could feel the blush rushing to my cheeks and the painful throbbing in my ears. She flashed me a brilliant smile and I panicked.
"It was VERY nice to finally meet you Sachiko-san," I said as I stood and bowed. "However, I must be going," I waved to everyone, turned, and left.
Once outside in the fresh air, I took a deep breath and walked around to the side of the building. I leaned against the wall and tried to get myself together. I was walking away when I heard a familiar lilting voice.
"Ano, Natsuki."
I turned to see Shizuru running to catch up with me. I wanted to run away as fast as I could, but my feet refused to cooperate.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"I was going to ask you that very question," Shizuru joked trying to catch her breath.
My head felt as if it was full of cotton balls and my heart felt like it was trying to escape from my chest. All I could do was stare at Shizuru, which was definitely NOT helping my current situation.
Her crimson eyes sparkled in the sunlight. With her this close to me, I could smell her perfume and it made me light-headed. It took all my energy to suppress the desire to take her in my arms, run my hands through her brunette hair, and kiss her full sensuous lips. I knew I was staring at her lips, but I couldn't stop myself.
She smiled, took my face in her hands, and kissed me full on the lips. Her lips were SO soft and I swear they tasted sweet. I blinked and stared incredulously at her while she kissed me. After she broke the kiss, I continued to stare at her. Her eyes seemed to be asking me something I didn't understand.
Instinctively, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her into me. I drew her in close and returned her kiss, conveying all my passion for her in that one kiss. After several minutes, I broke the kiss.
"Well, it looks like Natsuki's SCUBA lessons paid off," Nao announced teasingly.
Everyone applauded wildly and I blush a deep red. Shizuru FINALLY opened her eyes and saw everyone outside watching us. She blush a lovely shade of pink.
"ABOUT TIME!" all our friends announced in the parking lot.
Chie came over and put her arm around my shoulders and started to lead me back into The Café.
"Come on. You two have plenty of time for that later," Nao teased.
I slipped out of Chie's grasp and returned to Shizuru's side, wrapping my arm around her waist.
"Shall we? Shizuru?" I smiled.
We sat in The Café for the remainder of the day, talking and getting to know Sachiko better. Each time I unwittingly flirted with Sachiko, she blushed, Yumi shot me death glances, and Shizuru dug the nails of the hand she rested on my thigh, into it.