Disclaimer - I do not own the characters of Mai Hime. They are owned by Sunrise.

~Scarlet Eyes~

Her fingers played deftly and beautifully across the piano keys. Natsuki Kuga was enthralled. The chestnut-haired beauty and accomplished pianist, had the entire concert audience enthralled. Her fingers seemed to flow like water across the piano keys.

Natsuki closed her eyes as she allowed the beautiful, majestic sound to carry her away to another place. One where she floated on clouds of the softest touch, and felt the sun shine down on her face, warming her from the inside out.

There was a rise and swell of sound...the notes reached a stunning crescendo...and then silence as the spell-binding notes faded into quiet.

Natsuki lay suspended in that world of pure peace and beauty for a few precious seconds more, before a new sound reached her ear. It was the sound of thunderous applause. Natsuki opened her emerald-green eyes, and saw that the entire large audience was on their feet, applauding and crying out their praises.

Natsuki also rose to her feet, and applauded long and hard with the rest of the audience. Her heart was thundering in her chest for a completely different reason, than the fact she had just enjoyed the most amazing piano concert she had ever been to.

No, what was causing her heart to beat triple time was the fact that she was about to go backstage, to meet the accomplished pianist in person.

Natsuki Kuga was about to meet Shizuru Fujino.

~o~o~o~

"Make way, make way for my daughter and I," the gruff voice of Natsuki's father practically boomed backstage, as he led Natsuki through the corridors filled with backstage crew.

Hiro Kuga was a very important man, and he had easily been able to procure not only the highly-coveted concert tickets, but also private and exclusive backstage access for his daughter to meet the famed pianist, Shizuru Fujino.

Hiro was feeling pretty proud of himself, as he enjoyed giving his one and only precious daughter anything that her heart desired. And right now she wanted to meet this young pianist that Hiro himself, had been hearing so much about in his elite social circles.

Shizuru Fujino was only 18 years old, a mere year older than his daughter, but she was already considered a musical genius. Her parents were from 'common stock', though they had apparently nurtured their daughter's talent from an early age. She apparently had a certain 'ear' or 'knack' for hearing and playing music. Hiro admitted to himself he was fairly interested in meeting this young, musical prodigy himself. She sounded quite fascinating. And he was about to find out just how fascinating and special this young lady truly was, as he knocked on the dressing room door of Shizuru Fujino, and waited for the door to open.

Natsuki was beside herself with excitement. She moved nervously from foot to foot, as her father knocked lightly on the dressing room door, and then waited for someone to open the door for them. Their wait wasn't long as a soft, melodic voice called out "coming" before the door was opened to reveal a vision in baby-blue and light, pastel-white.

Shizuru Fujino smiled softly at the persons waiting outside her dressing room door. She knew that she was to expect two visitors after her concert. A young girl and her father, who she was told were part of the 'elite' society, that she was playing to in the concert hall tonight. Her parents, who were also her managers, had made it very clear to her that she should be very polite to this man and his daughter. They were part of the society of people who would spread further word of her piano playing skills, and encourage more of the people they knew to come to her concerts. Even though Shizuru could draw audiences on her skill alone, her parents noted that it never hurt to impress the wealthy as well.

So Shizuru made sure to smile softly and kindly to the two people at her door, as the pale blue and white dress she wore swayed lightly around her body, as she moved back for her two guests to enter. Her eyes were in their customary closed position, and she gently shut the door behind her before leaning lightly against it, facing her two guests.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kuga and Miss Kuga. I hope you both enjoyed my concert tonight," Shizuru said with a soft, sweet smile as she held her hand out before her.

Hiro immediately stepped forward so that he could take the enchanting young woman's hand before him, and place a customary kiss against the back of her hand. Natsuki shyly stepped forward and gently shook the slightly-older girl's hand, after her father had let it go and stepped back.

"Your concert was amazing! You played so beautifully...so splendidly. I was so moved and amazed," Natsuki exclaimed softly, as she placed a hand over her heart while blushing lightly at the girl before her.

A genuine and beautiful smile grace Shizuru's lips, and Natsuki felt her breath leave her lungs at the sight.

"Thank you so much for your kind words. It does my heart good to know that I entertained and pleased my audience," Shizuru replied with a soft, pleased smile as she made her way slowly back over to where she knew her dressing room chair was. On her way she accidentally bumped into something near the ground, that she hadn't remembered was in her path.

"Why don't you open your eyes, dear? I'm sure you'd be able to navigate your way much better that way," Hiro said with a light, amused grin.

Shizuru smiled back in the direction of his voice as she did as he suggested, and both Kugas had their breaths taken away as the most amazing and beautiful eyes they had ever seen, were revealed to them.

Shizuru's eyes were a mesmerizing, stunning shade of ruby-red that immediately made one pause and stare in wonder and amazement. Natsuki felt her throat parch and she licked her suddenly dry lips, as she looked back into Shizuru's captivating eyes.

"I apologize if it seemed silly or impolite to have my eyes closed, Mr. Kuga. But you see I really wouldn't have noticed whatever I just bumped into, with or without my eyes closed," Shizuru responded with a light smile, as she finally reached her dressing room chair and gracefully sat down.

"For you see Mr. Kuga, I can't actually see...I'm blind."

~Fin~

Author's Note - Hope you all enjoyed, and please review ^^