Disclaimer: I do not own anything... not even this story... sad huh? This is a translation attempt of my favorite Chinese ShizNat fanfic. Details of the original work and author are included at the end of this chapter.
Summary: Story takes place after the carnival. Natsuki finally took the next step. Things couldn't have been better ... however, will it last? ShizNat.
Equilibrium
Prologue
Authored by Firerei
Translated by glowie
"Was my smile very weird just now?" Natsuki asked.
"Ara, did Natsuki smiled just now?" replied Shizuru with a sweet innocent smile.
"..."
10 minutes of silence later.
"Is my Natsuki angry?" said Shizuru as she notices a scowl being formed in the younger woman's face.
"No." Natsuki snapped.
"Ara, Natsuki surely is angry." insisted the brown haired woman.
"No, I am not!" Natsuki hissed, clearly losing her patience.
"If Natsuki says so, but I think Natsuki's face is saying another." Shizuru chimed playfully.
"NO! I AM NOT!!!" shouted the raven haired girl.
Seeing Natsuki's outburst, the brown haired woman, wearing a cunning smile, raised her hand and gently brushed the said girl's beet red cheek and concluded. "Ara, Natsuki is really angry now."
Speechless, the defeated Natsuki released a resigned sigh.
Natsuki enters her own apartment after sending Shizuru to her class, letting lengthy sigh, she dropped herself into the couch. Not long after, Natsuki releases yet another. "Sigh ..."
Although they stayed a good distance apart, they still tried to meet up daily. Natsuki will chauffeur Shizuru to and fro from school and if time permits, they would even have dinner together.
Even though "things" (mainly, their relationship) have somewhat returned to normal, Natsuki can't help but felt herself being subjected to more frequent teasing from the older girl. Not that she minded, since being teased by the other is a part of their relationship anyway.
"What??!! Being teased is a part of our relationship??!!" Natsuki groan inwardly with this sudden realization.
Natsuki finds the notion of her always being the ONE being constantly embarrassed, teased and then appeased hard to get used to. Being the "Ice Princess", she has always been able to make anyone turn-tail by just a cold stare, nobody dares to treat her lightly, let alone TEASE her! (Mai has been somewhat successful in this department but she is no way NEAR Shizuru's level of expertise)
"Sigh..." shoulders slumped, the resigned raven haired girl sighed in defeat, "Oh well... as long as she likes it..."
Truth be told, both of them worked hard for their relationship to work. Being exact opposites in more ways than one, they are constantly learning, adjusting and finding ways to achieve a common point of equilibrium.
As the raven haired girl, impatiently picks out every single green pea from her lunch box, her brown haired companion quietly and gracefully relocates them into hers.
If this was before, Natsuki would have bellowed, "Stop that! It's embarrassing!" whereas Shizuru would just eat the green peas while smiling softly.
Now, however, the raven haired beauty would blush and not say a word. Whereas the older girl would, in return, transfer her vegetables unto younger girl's lunchbox, urging gently. "Vegetables are good for you."
"You've given me your vegetables, what about yourself?" Natsuki stated plainly.
"I have your green peas." Shizuru said while amber and green eyes locked for a brief moment.
Realizing the underlying message in their exchange both can't help but giggled.
"Ara, we're acting like little kids." Shizuru pointed out mischievously.
Such an ordinary life... yet... happiness abounds. After the carnival, life has never been so peaceful. So much so that Natsuki finds it hard to believe that it is actually happening to her.
After spending most of her 19 years alone, without family or friends, Natsuki, now, not only does she have friends but most importantly ... she has found her most precious person.
As of this point in time, happiness filled her heart with the warmth and fragrance of a refreshing spring in the high mountains.
This bubbling feeling of happiness, as if left unchecked, threatens to burst forth the secrets of her heart.
How she wished she was standing, facing the vast ocean, shouting at the top of her lungs, for once, not being afraid to let the whole world know ... "I AM SO HAPPY!"
"Equilibrium"
"Huh?"
"Everything that exists needs to find its point of balance, Natsuki."
"Eh?"
Giving up, Mai pointed at Natsuki's cheek and explained. "... That was today's lesson in class."
"Natsuki? ... just what is wrong with you and your silly grins?"
"Terrifyingly stupid silly grins ... if I might add." a disgusted Nao, sitting on the other side of the lunch table, interjected.
"I guess it has to do with the Kaichou."
A blissfully grinning Natsuki, lost in her own peaceful world, ignores the two effortlessly.
"Sigh..." both girls sighed in unison.
"A gift."
"Huh?" Shizuru gently queried.
"I want to give you a gift." Natsuki repeated, with clarity and confidence this time.
"What for?"
"Your birthday gift." Natsuki explained.
"Ara, I forgot about it." A rarely surprised Shizuru exclaimed.
The raven haired girl responded with her rare gentle smile.
It's that calming smile again. Without knowing why, whenever Shizuru sees this smile, her wits will fail her, leaving the ever so composed Kaichou, unsure how to react. Feeling warmth crept up her cheeks, she shyly diverts her gaze.
"I will be looking forward to it... Natsuki's gift..." Shizuru added softly.
Nervously, Natsuki reaches out her hand and held on to the older girl's shoulder. Moving closer, placing her lips inches from her ear, with her low yet slightly trembling voice, softly, gently,
she breathes. "I love you."
Weird, I am definitely smiling, but why? Why do I feel this warm dampness on my cheeks?
Silly Natsuki, don't cry, your tears are making my face wet.
Ignoring my weak attempt to disguise my uneasiness, Natsuki smiles gently and wraps her arms around me and held me tightly ... Whatever that she said afterwards fell on deaf ears for I am lost... lost in the warmness of her body... Natsuki's body...
Gently she reaches out and tries to wipe away the tears in my face. But mysteriously, the more she tries, the wetter it becomes.
Desperately, trying to regain control, I glowered at Natsuki, more out of embarrassment than anger and stammered. "I.I..I can do it myself."
Just when I wanted to brush her hand away, a shadow obscures my sight and I froze ...
Natsuki's kiss...
warm...
salty... unsure and I care not whether its mingled with her tears or mine.
Never in her life, has Shizuru been any happier than this very moment. There is no doubt in her mind that this is a birthday she will never forget.
Although her actual present (a romantic candlelight dinner) has nothing to do with the confession, Shizuru knows that it is the best she can ever get from her articulately challenged and hopelessly shy Natsuki.
Although ever secretly hoping, the brown haired woman had never dared to indulge in the thought that her feelings would ever be reciprocated.
She loves everything about her raven haired beauty. Her gentle kindness, awkward naivety, fierce honesty... everything, everything about her.
The Natsuki that I love... says she loves me...
Natsuki loves me...
I am so happy.
I am so happy.
Shizuru lies on her bed, lifts up her hand and peer through it up at the ceiling. Ignoring the fact, that even though only the ceiling light is in her line of sight, all that she sees is her Natsuki's face.
"Natsuki, I will be going back to Kyoto for awhile. Some family business I have to attend to." Shizuru mentioned during dinner.
"Kyoto? What about your studies?" Natsuki questioned as she cut out a piece of cake with her fork.
"Don't worry Natsuki, it will only be for a few days. I'll be back before you know it." Shizuru smiled reassuringly.
"Ca..ca... can.. I come with you?" stammered Natsuki. Unwilling to part with her brown haired lover, now that they are finally together.
"Ara, I am glad Natsuki misses me, but Natsuki has classes also no? I will only be but a few days away." Although outwardly she declines Natsuki's offer, Shizuru finds it hard to suppress a heart-warming smile. An arched eyebrow, followed by a slight lift at the corner of her lips betrayed her calm demeanor.
As if contemplating her chances of convincing the older girl otherwise, Natsuki eventually whined. "Fine! But hurry back ok?" Knowing fully well she'll never win the battle of reasons with her brown haired goddess.
"I will." Shizuru answered contently. Looking at Natsuki endearingly, she reached for and took the fork from her hand, picked up a piece of cake and held it in front of her raven haired beauty.
Ignoring her reddening cheeks, Natsuki obediently opens her mouth...
Unbeknownst to her, Natsuki later regretted her decision of not making the Kyoto trip with Shizuru. "Baka! If only I insisted and went with her!" she repeatedly scolded herself. "If ONLY I followed her, I would have noticed it! And things! Things might be different!"
Equilibrium.
Yes, all things need to find its point of balance.
Alas, being blissfully submerged in the sea of happiness, she didn't notice it.
No... She didn't notice it at all.
Notes: ok... firstly, I want to thank Firerei for allowing me at a pathetic attempt to translate her work. I hope she doesn't regret it. I hope you people would bear with me. The story itself is good. Pardon the rigid and awkward translation. If you concentrate on the story... you should be fine. (errm... IMAGINATION is your friend) hehehe...
Firerei's blog can be found at http://axonxrei.blog97 dot fc2 dot com (sorry, i am noob... how do we put hyperlink properly? also... cant we use asteriks? sorry... )
Oh ya... wears helmet, hides in bunker,closes door... ok... you guys can start throwing the rotten tomatoes now...
#splat!# 1st tomato: Gah! TENSE MISTAKE! 1st WORD!!! ackkkkk... thanks for pointing that out... corrected it.