Hey hey hey! I've been lurking around this website for a few months now and finally decided to share my own attempt at a fan fiction story. I've totally enjoyed what I've read from several of you thus far and just hope that you might dig my own twist as well. This is my first actual 'story'. I'm a poet and not accustomed to the long, drawn out writing styles of creating a story. So...be gentle with me in your criticisms. I promise to get better...erm...well...at least to TRY to that is! OH..and of COURSE I do not own the rights to the Mai HIME characters or yada yada yada...you know the drill...

The Last Sacrifice

Chapter One

Nothing left to give.

The realization sometimes surfaced in the girl's mind so unexpectedly and with such force that it left her stunned...gasping for breath as if she'd been punched in the stomach without warning. Just as it did this morning.

Nothing left to give.

She drew in a ragged sob and let fall from suddenly boneless fingers the purple towel she had been using to dry her long, chestnut colored hair. It landed in a soft puddle by her feet. Reaching out, she placed one hand on the slick surface of the bathroom mirror, still steamy and warm from her morning ministrations, to steady herself...her lips whispering a silent prayer, "Not today. Please! I can't deal with this today. Let it pass. This pain. This emptiness."

Long delicate fingers curled inward as she formed a fist...as if preparing to fight the sudden pain off...anger warring inside her scarred mind with the broken feeling of emptiness. But this battle would not be won today...could NOT be won today. Not when she still had to...

Squeezing her eyes closed, refusing to think of what lay ahead for her today, she let her head fall forward...wet, dripping hair forming a sodden shroud around her face. Water slowly trickled down her cheeks as if mocking the tears she could no longer shed. She struggled impotently to push the pain deeper...wanting only to get through this day before facing the emptiness inside her. But she knew that was impossible. It wanted her attention, this pain did. It demanded it! And so for the thousandth time since Carnival Night, Shizuru Fujino reluctantly opened herself to the emptiness inside her soul.

Nothing left to give.

The words rang inside her mind and soul like the dying chimes of a funeral dirge. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. Nothing left to give.

Before...that night...she had been a normal teenage girl. Well, mostly normal anyway, considering she'd only recently discovered herself involved in a mysterious conspiracy centered around girls with special abilities, HIME powers, that set them all on a rollercoaster ride of emotional and physical battles which culminated in the events of Carnival Night. But other than that she'd been just another girl attending Fuka Academy. Normal in a way she was comfortable with. She was a senior with above average grades and President of the Student Council. A campus favorite; with plenty of fangirl adoration. She was a young woman who excelled at tea brewing and congeniality. She smiled easily and delighted at the sound of her own laughter. Her personality was wickedly playful and she took great pleasure in teasing those around her in that lilting, Kyoto-born accent. Especially did she love teasing...

THWACK!

The sound of her fist striking the mirror she was leaning against was loud and startling even to her own ears as she made a strangled noise in the back of her throat. 'Bakka!' she hissed at herself slamming her fist into the mirror again, fighting off the crazed urge to smash the mirror until it shattered. 'You poor broken IDIOT!' She swallowed down the scream that threatened to overwhelm her and slowly raised her head, staring back into her own reflection. Crimson eyes met their twins as the girl pushed herself away from the mirror, straightening her back and tossing her head determinedly. Shizuru Fujino was beautiful. Her body was lean and sculpted. Long chestnut colored hair fell in waves around her face. A face that was almost too perfect and flawless in it's pale beauty. But the most arrestingly breathtaking feature about the girl were here eyes. Twin pools of crimson that flared with an intensity of black dread when angered then cooled to the color of vermillion. Staring into those eyes now, Shizuru saw nothing but emptiness. Emptiness and dread for the path that lay ahead of her.

'I'm so sorry,' she said to no one...not even to her own reflection. 'I have nothing left to give.' Taking a deep breath she bent and picked up the towel laying beside her feet. With a despondent sigh, the girl walked into her bedroom, toweling her hair dry and trying not to think about a pair of emerald colored eyes...nor the girl they belonged to.

Chapter Two

Dropping the kickstand down with a practiced brush of her left foot...the girl unfolded her lanky frame from the motorcycle seat and stood up...hands reaching to grab the black crash helmet that was on her head. Lifting up, she pulled the helmet off releasing a cascade of deep blue hair which spilled out from beneath it..free...flowing down her back and falling into her eyes...eyes the color of polished emeralds...a green so rich as to be almost sinful. Hanging the helmet's strap around the hand grip on her bike, Natsuki Kuga turned her face up towards the morning sun which was filtering through the leaves of the tree she'd parked beneath in the student parking lot and allowed herself a small, nervous smile.

Check me, she mused to herself. Not even a legit school day and yet...here I am. And on time even. She nonchalantly tossed a handful of blueblack hair over one shoulder before confiding sarcastically to her bike. "Hell must have definitely frozen over."

Chuckling softly, Natsuki stood a moment, letting her eyes take in the familiar vista before her. Fuka Academy. Her high school. The grounds of the campus stretched out before her in a sweeping panorama of modern architecture and manicured lawns. To her left, the path to the head mistresses mansion snaked away from the parking lot enveloped in a veritable hodgepodge of flora and shrubbery. The blues and yellows of the hydrangeas flowing into the reds and oranges of the pansies gave the entire area a warm, welcoming look.

But it was towards the right that her eyes were finally drawn. To the pristine walls of the main building of Fuka Academy with its wide set of stairs leading up to the glass fronted entrances. Since her transfer to this place four years ago, she'd spent the better part of her school years doing everything in her power to avoid going to class. She realized she could continue to blame her tardiness and absences upon the struggles with District One and her mother's death, or use the excuse that she'd been too preoccupied with the HIMES and the culmination of that scenario if she needed to. But if she truly wanted to be honest with herself concerning the real reason she missed so much school, the fact was, Natsuki was simply not comfortable being around other people. Growing up skeptical and distrustful of others, she never allowed anyone to penetrate her shield of solitude and aloofness in order to get close enough to form any type of bond with her. Her past life experiences had hardened the girl too much, causing her to keep her true emotions locked away in the secret core of her soul. Impenetrable and untouchable. To most of the other students and faculty at Fuka Academy, Natsuki Kuga was a loner, a juvenile delinquent, a cold fish and consequently had been awarded the dubious title of The Ice Princess.

The sound of her gruff 'Hmmmph' cut through the silence of the morning. As if she'd ever cared what others thought of her anyway. She'd worn the titles her classmates had hung around her neck with a sense of obstinate pride. Ice Princess. Lone Wolf. Yeah...she'd been those things...once. But now...now things were different. She was different. For the first time in her life, someone had managed to evade all her defenses and slip inside her heart...had forced her to admit to herself that she was NOT dead emotionally. That person's belief in her had slowly opened the closed flower that was Natsuki's heart. And because of that she was finally able to allow herself to truly experience this plethora of new emotions thawing inside her. Emotions and feelings that had lain dormant in lonesome hibernation just waiting for that one spark...the light of that one special someone to melt the ice inside her soul.

After seventeen years, that defining moment had finally occurred. And whether she willed it or not her life had exploded into a tangle of new, frightening and sometimes uncomfortable sensations. And yet, they were all feelings that she hungered to experience. The ability to cherish another. The capacity to trust someone else. The need to love and be loved in return. The strength to show her vulnerability without the accompanying feeling of insecurity. And of course...desire. This strange, addictive HUNGER for...another person.

She was caught off guard when unbidden, the image of the one she desired most flashed into her mind. The chestnut colored hair. Those red smoldering eyes that caused her knees to grow weak if she stared into them too long. The feel of that first touch of physical contact when their lips had... Momentarily lost in thought over the memory of that kiss, Natsuki felt her cheeks flush in a wave of embarrassed heat.

'That damn girl!' she growled fondly. 'It's all HER fault!' Stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets she lowered her head and began walking towards the buildings, trying to erase the blush still evident on her face by sheer willpower. I never truly imagined that I would ever be able to trust or love anyone ever again. But now...now I've finally realized the depth of what I am able to feel, of what I am able to give ...to her.

As her mind gently played over the memory of the girl in question, Kuga's cell phone chimed out for attention. Pulling the blue cell from her pocket, she waited a moment before the Message Alert screen flashed. Scrolling to her in-box, she smiled as green eyes devoured the words splayed across the screen.

"I DO trust you haven't conveniently forgotten the MANDATORY school-wide cleaning assignment today. LOL! And stop frowning Natsuki! Just be there! Consider this the last wish of your soon to be former Student Council President. Don't make me come looking for you. You might not enjoy what I'd do to you once I found you...or...maybe you WOULD enjoy it. Wanna find out? :P"

After reading the teasing message again she slipped the phone back into her pocket and broke into a quick trot, leaping easily up three steps and following the sidewalk as it lead her ever closer to the main entrance. 'Cocky as ever. Aren't you Fujino?" she scoffed at the message. A wickedly loving grin lit up the girl's face and she couldn't help but laugh aloud, startling several other students making their way up the sidewalk. But we'll see how self assured and cocky you are tonight Shizuru.

Because tonight, this green eyed biker chick had a little surprise in store for the crimson eyed ego maniacal girl who'd just texted her with a tease. Tonight Natsuki felt she was finally emotionally prepared to confess her true feelings to Shizuru. She was anticipating with barely contained GLEE the surprise this confession would have on the recipient. Tonight it was Shizuru's turn to be left speechless with a kiss...and a confession.

Chapter Three

The red headed girl looked up from checking her watch for the umpteenth time this morning and was rewarded with the sight of Natsuki Kuga climbing the last few stairs up to where she stood. She smiled, more surprised than relieved that Kuga had even bothered showing up today. "Glad you could make it today Natsuki." Her greeting was open and genuine. A friend welcoming another.

Mai Tokiha tucked a strand of orange red hair back behind one ear and waited for her friend to catch her breath from the sprint up the steps. Her cornflower blue eyes were warm and full of sincere camaraderie as she gazed fondly at the girl in front of her. The two girls might never have met nor became friends if not for the trials and tribulations of the HIME Star Battle...or Carnival Night as the press dubbed it now, in a vain attempt to sanitize a nasty situation. Both girls had lost something during those emotionally charged, tragedy laced months...and yet...Mai sensed that both of them had also gained something far more valuable than anything either had lost.

To Mai, Natsuki seemed the most changed of all the ex HIMES. Before, the girl had seemed like a spectator in her own life, watching from some place deep inside. She was cold and closed off to everyone who tried to pull her out of her solitude. Now, that shell of ice was melting, revealing for the first time the true face of the girl beneath. Most would attribute this change in Natsuki to the fact that all the stress of the past few months was over. But Mai was sharper and more attuned to her friend than most others. She knew with a clairvoyance born of friendship that her change was due to a certain someone in Natsuki's life. And for that, Mai could never find fault with whatever feelings the two girls might or might not have for one another. The fact that her friend was finally happy and at peace with herself was all that mattered.

Natsuki raised her hand in greeting as she returned the red headed girl's smile. "You act surprised to see me today Tokiha." Hands on her hips she leaned her face closer to Mai's and asked, "Did you think I'd ditch out on you guys today or something?"

Mai's blue eyes widened as she waved her hands hurriedly. "Ha-ha! N-n-no! Not at all Natsuki. Mikoto and I were just worried that you might forget to set your alarm...or...er...something." She stuck her hands behind her back and countered her friend's glower with an innocent smile of her own.

Mikoto Minagi, a middle school student and one of Mai's closest friends, looked up from her crouched position beside Mai's legs. She had been idly scratching the ears of an orange tom cat that had wandered up to the girl, as cats were prone to do. They seemed to appear out of nowhere and follow the wild girl wherever she went. Continuing to shower affectionate rubs and scratches on the cat's head, she looked up at Mai, a frown puckering her mouth, innocent yellow gold eyes wide as she replied, "But Mai. I heard you tell Yuichi that Kuga would probably pull one of her infamous disappearing acts and we'd be the ones stuck picking up the slack." She nodded her head affirmatively, black braids swinging, as she pulled the memory up in her mind. "Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm. You said that we weren't counting on her help in the cleaning duties today." The orange tom suddenly decided there were more places on his furry body that could do with a little attention and flopped over onto his back, his paws lightly batting Mikoto's hand, demanding she put her attention back on him, which she did happily, rubbing his belly with a gentle hand. The cat rewarded his new friend with a rumbling purr.

"Wha..?" Natsuki grunted, amusement and irritation warring for dominance on her face as she stared at the red headed girl.

Mai made a strangled sound in the back of her throat, throwing her friend an embarrassed grin before turning narrowed blue eyes down to the girl still crouched on the sidewalk. "Mikoto!" She threatened between clenched teeth. "You really should stop listening in to other people's PRIVATE conversations!" She nudged the girl in the small of the back with her knee, just to drive home the importance of her point, and deepened the frown etched across her face.

Mikoto, attention still fixed on the orange tom was taken off guard when Mai's knee hit her in the back. Eyes wide, she flailed her arms uselessly before falling back on her bottom. Her startled grunt caused the cat to spring up hissing unhappily and dash hurriedly away, seeking the relative safety of the nearby shrubbery. Once there, he peered out from beneath the leaves, growling at the commotion which had sent him scampering.

"Hey!" Mikoto whined. "What'cha do that for Mai?"

"Because you shouldn't go around repeating everything you hear! Especially things that were said in a private conversation!"

"Hmmm." Mikoto put a finger to the corner of her mouth and seemed to momentarily lose herself in an uncharacteristically quiet contemplation before replying sagely. "But...it wasn't a private conversation Mai. When you were on the phone last night with Tate you even told him "Mikoto is sitting right here beside me Yuuichi. She can hear everything I say". And then you got kinda quiet and made a 'kissey' noise before telling him goodnight." She smiled triumphantly.

Natsuki couldn't contain the bark of laughter that burst forth at the way Mikoto's words caused Mai's face and neck to flame up into a furious red blush.

"Oh my God Mikoto! JEEZ!" wailed Mai, hands on hips. "What did I JUST tell you about repeating everything you hear?"

"But how was that conversation private if you said it in FRONT of me?" Mikoto watched Mai's mouth moving with no sound coming out for a few moments before spying the orange cat still crouched beneath the bush. Losing interest in the thread of conversation, she crab crawled over to the cat's hiding place, her back to her still silently seething friend...making soothing noises at the now mewling cat, enticing him back out with wiggling fingers. The cat, apparently deciding it was safe to return to the girl, padded over to her again and arched it's back in greeting as Mikoto's hand brushed against it.

Mai felt a hand slap against her back in good natured compassion. "Give it up Mai! The kid's got you on that point." But before Mai could recover her composure enough to protest, Kuga added fuel to the fire in her friend's already blushing cheeks. "Admit it. You're just pissed off cuz Mikoto heard you being all lovey-dovey with Tate. HA-HA-HA!"

"Grrrrr! I guess you're right Natsuki," Mai reluctantly acquiesced. "But...to avoid any future misunderstandings like this one...!" As she spoke she reached over and grabbed one of Mikoto's long black braids and pulled, causing the younger girl to screech loudly, scaring the orange tom she'd just managed to pacify, sending him scurrying back to his hiding place with a spitting yowl...not unlike the sound Mikoto was making as Mai tugged unmercifully on her braid.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Mikoto pipped, looking pleadingly at Mai while clambering to her feet.

"Okay Mikoto. Repeat after me..." instructed Mai, ignoring the girl's yelps.

"But...but you told me NOT to repeat everything I hear! Right?" pointed out the confused girl, yellow-gold eyes darting from Mai's frowning face to that of Kuga's look of growing amusement.

"Argh!" Mai groaned. "Are you being obstinate on purpose?" She tugged the braid harder, lifting up as she did so causing Mikoto to rise up on her tiptoes in order to avoid having her hair pulled out by the roots.

"Obstinate? Wha..what's that mean?" whined the bewildered girl. "Is it something bad?"

Natsuki couldn't take any more...no matter how funny this scene between her two friends seemed to be going. Laughing, she reached out and put a hand on Mai's arm and gently pushed it back down, relaxing the tension on Mikoto's braid.

Feeling the tension ease up on her hair, Mikoto wasted no time in snatching her braid away from Mai..her face a mask of confused anger...the resulting look one which caused even Mai to add her own amused giggle to that of Natsuki's deeper chuckle.

Surprising the perplexed girl even more, Mai suddenly reached out and pulled her into an affectionate embrace, kissing the top of her head lovingly. "Alright Mikoto. You're off the hook...this time! Just TRY and watch what you repeat in front of others. As a favor to me." She was rewarded by a fierce hug from the young girl. "Now. How about we get this day out of the way. The quicker we get the cleaning completed, the quicker we can say sayonara to classes until next semester!"

Mai's comment elicited a contemptuous snort from the bluehaired girl who had abruptly dropped her shoulders into a slouch, head hanging dejectedly. "Speak for yourself Tokiha. Some of us will be seeing these damn classes even after today. Stupid summer makeup courses," she pouted.

Keeping one arm around Mikoto's neck Mai threw her other around Natsuki's shoulders pulling her into a one armed hug, eliciting a startled grunt from her friend. "Well Natsuki, some of us actually attended class more than once a week and made passing marks." Before her friend could muster a reply in her defense, Mai started walking...dragging her two friends along with her. "Now c'mon. Let's see about getting you a mop and a bucket Kuga. Just because you weren't in the classroom much this past year, doesn't give you an excuse not to clean them. Besides...we need to get them spotless for the juvenile delinquent's who still have the summer term to look forward to."

First three chapters. Just getting the hang of this, but...of course I welcome all comments. I think my ego's big enough to take a lil criticism. -lol- I have two more chapters to upolad this weekend. Yall come back now...ya hear! :P