Disclaimer - I don't own Mai Hime or its characters. They are owned by Sunrise~

Author's Note - I've been interested in the futa genre for a little while now, but as I know there are strong feelings involved with people either really loving it or really disliking it, I haven't ventured into this area of writing before. But I'm always interested in expanding my writing experience, so I've finally decided to venture into this genre. I really do hope that I don't turn off any of my regular readers, and I hope that those who do like this genre enjoy this story~ =3


~A Cowgirl's Heart~


The sun beat down mercilessly on the lone figure trudging slowly through the hot, arid desert. The figure reached for the canteen strapped to their waist, and slowly tipped it upwards...only to shake out a few, precious drops of liquid from the now-empty container.

Natsuki Kuga cursed under her breath and then cursed out loud, as there wasn't a soul for miles to hear her curse the heavens off, for getting her into the situation she currently found herself in. And that situation was walking for miles through a hot, dusty desert with a sun that was trying its damndest to bake her alive.

Natsuki cursed again and wiped at her sweat-covered brow with her dirty handkerchief, as she tried to focus on keeping her feet moving one unsteady step at a time. If she allowed herself to stop and rest for even a few minutes, she feared she may never start moving again.

Suddenly, the steady sound of hoofbeats came to her ringing ears, causing Natsuki to slow and look over her shoulder towards the noise.

A figure on horseback was rapidly approaching her, causing Natsuki to quickly reach for the gun she kept strapped to her waist...only to remember with a start of recollection, that it was no longer there. She cursed out loud as she remembered that Indians had made off with her horse and supplies, and they'd also taken her gun and favourite knife. She supposed she should probably count herself lucky they'd allowed her to walk away with her life, but Natsuki wasn't feeling particularly lucky right now. Not with a potentially dangerous stranger riding closer and closer to her on horseback, and her vision blurring as the severe heatstroke she was suffering from, decided to exact its toll on her body at this exact worst moment.

Isn't this always how my luck goes though? Natsuki wondered dizzingly to herself. I always seem to end up in the worst situations ever...was Natsuki's last thought as her vision fully darkened, and her body pitched forward onto the unforgiving desert floor.

The last thing Natsuki saw before all-encompassing darkness swallowed her whole, was a vision of flowing chestnut locks, and eyes that practically glowed with a colour that was unnatural...but still managed to be the most beautiful thing Natsuki had ever seen in her life.

Angel...was Natsuki's final thought, as she finally allowed her body to succumb to the heatstroke and exhaustion she could no longer stave off.

~o~o~o~

Natsuki's eyes slowly blinked open, and she stared upwards at the solid wood ceiling above her. She could see small dust motes floating slowly through the air by way of the fading sunlight, dimly shining through the closed slats of a window, placed in the wall above her head. She blinked her eyes slowly as she allowed her aching head to turn slightly, to take in the room that she now found herself inexplicably in. One minute she'd been trudging through an unforgiving desert...imminent death from heat stroke and dehydration a breath away...and now she found herself laying on what felt like a fairly comfy bed in someone's home.

If this is what the afterlife looks and feels like...I think I want my money back, Natsuki groaned to herself then groaned out loud, as she slowly pushed herself up from the bed she was laying on, while gripping her aching head. She spared a quick glance around the room for its occupant, but there didn't seem to be anyone else in the room with her. Though suddenly, a sound from another room behind a closed door far on the other side of the room she was in, immediately alerted her to the possible location of the home's owner.

Natsuki softly cursed under her breath, as she began to move off the bed to take her leave of the home, when she quickly realized she was missing a few key items. Namely her cowboy boots and hat...which she understood being missing as whomever had placed her on the bed, would have removed such articles of clothing before doing so.

However, the fact that she was also half naked from the waist up, made Natsuki's eyebrow twitch wildly. The bindings she'd placed over her chest to keep her breasts taped down, to help her pass as a man in whatever town she happened to be passing through, were thankfully still wrapped tightly around her chest. However the overly-used, damp, and dirty shirt she always wore was missing.

A quick, desperate look around the modestly-furnished room didn't reveal the location of her shirt, and it also didn't reveal the location of her boots and trusty hat either. Whoever had given her refuge in their home, had obviously anticipated her trying to leave as soon as she woke up, and had removed from her immediate view her needed items of clothing.

Natsuki cursed under her breath again, then stiffened as the door to the room across from her slowly opened...allowing what was surely a vision from the heavens to fill her view.

I take it all back...if this is indeed the afterlife...I never want to leave...Natsuki thought to herself in slightly-breathless awe, as the vision entered wearing a lovely, flowing, white dress that showed off delicate curves. Chestnut-coloured locks cascaded freely down a back, and piercing rose-red eyes left Natsuki feeling short of breath, as they captured and held her full attention.

"Ara, I see that you're finally awake. You had me worried for a little while there. When you passed out in the desert so suddenly, I thought that you had perhaps already succumbed to the desert's deadly grip. I'm pleased to see that you're feeling better," the most beautiful, lilting voice Natsuki had ever heard in her life filled her hearing, as the stranger before her moved closer to her, and took a seat in a chair placed near the foot of the bed.

Natsuki's mouth suddenly felt like it was full of cotton, as she attempted to moisten it enough to speak.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Where are my manners? I anticipated that you may be feeling quite a bit parched when you woke up. Here, have a glass of water. It's still cool, as I still have a bit of ice left over from the block I keep stored in my small cooler. Isn't it fascinating the things they invent these days? I hear that indoor plumbing will be made available to even regular townsfolk soon," the young woman sitting before Natsuki spoke conversationally, as she poured a bit of water from a wide pitcher into a tall glass, that was sitting on a small table near the end of the bed, that Natsuki was only just now noticing.

Natsuki nodded her head in thanks, as she carefully took the glass of water from the young woman...her fingers gently brushing against the soft ones wrapped around the glass, that passed it to her more calloused and rough hands. Natsuki quickly gulped the indeed still-cool water, but then paid for her haste as she almost choked on the much-needed water.

A soft, lilting laugh reached Natsuki's ears and she looked up to see the young woman with a hand to her lips, as she tried...unsuccessfully...to cover up her laugh and an amused smile.

"I dare say, I don't even know your name or who you are, but I can already tell that being in your company would be most amusing," the young woman said with a twinkle in her garnet-red eyes, as she continued to look at Natsuki with gentle amusement.

Natsuki let out a loud huff before slowly...and carefully this time...drinking the cool, refreshing water from the glass.

"Somehow, I get the feeling that you'd manage to torment me nearly every minute, if I was to be in your presence for any longer than a single second," Natsuki answered with a slight scowl, as she looked back into the still-smiling face of the young woman before her. "And it's Natsuki the way...Natsuki Kuga," Natsuki continued, as she looked down at the glass in her hand, and lightly traced a finger down the slight condensation that had formed on its side.

The chestnut-haired young woman sitting before her hummed lightly under her breath, as she continued to look at the girl seated on the bed before her.

"Shizuru...Shizuru Fujino...and I'm most pleased to make your acquaintance, Na..tsu...ki..." Shizuru replied with a light, teasing grin that had Natsuki groaning out loud, before she dropped her face down into the palm of her free hand.

"Somehow...I just knew that when I saw someone riding towards me in that hot, scorching desert that all my troubles would be just starting," Natsuki mumbled into her hand, as a gentle and lovely peal of laughter filled the air, and wrapped itself warmly around her body.

Yeah...if this was indeed the afterlife...then Natsuki decided right there and then...that she never wanted to leave...


To be continued?


AN - As you guys can see the main focus of this story isn't on the futa...at least not quite yet. Just some good 'ol ShizNat first, as our fave ladies get to know each other a bit better first =3

So, even though the futa isn't prevalent yet, are you guys still interested in seeing where this story goes? Please review and let me know what you all thought of this first chap~ =3