Disclaimer: I don't own MaiHime.
A/N: This is an experiment story. Reviews may/may not affect the next chapter. And no, this is not a NatsukixMai fic. I'm a NatShiz fan... well, a Shizuru fan most of the time...
Warning: The title and chapter titles may not make sense for the simple reason that I don't want them to make sense. Make sense? Oh, and YES, Shiho-sama visited me in my dream so the title MUST be as it is, less I wanna be spiraled. T.T
--
MAKI MAKI
--
--
Chapter 1: Hilt and Bind
--
Cooking was never really what she wanted to do but she knew her young companion would love it. It also took her mind off on things—a lot of things. Mai quickly shook her head and resumed her work with added eagerness. Nothing should be getting her attention now except for what is at hand. She needed to open their store anytime soon now.
The clatter of the bowl breaking sent Mikoto running towards her direction. The younger girl's face showed concern yet flashed the necessary dangerous look, ready to fight and protect her.
"Mai! What is it?"
Mai's face resembled that seeing a ghost, far worst than her dazed look when her brother shuddered into green nothingness. Mikoto followed the orange-head's eyes and gasped at the sight before her. One word ran around Mai's head and poured slowly out her mouth, leaving it dry and fevered.
"Natsuki…"
--
"It's great Mai… I have missed your ramen." Her eyes betrayed the smile and yet Mai accepted it. She settled watching her old dear friend enjoy what she prepared. Mikoto, getting over the shock quicker than she did, now lounged close to Mai, the latter's affectionate gaze not escaping Natsuki.
"I… I'm glad… Mikoto and you seemed to have become a lot closer, neh?" The blue-haired quipped, still sporting the empty smile she brought in.
Mai held herself. She doesn't want to—can't afford to—betray what she feels right now. Her gaze never left her hand as it fidgeted to control what's inside. The questions were there—just there. And Mai wanted to hit something, feel something, to make her flinch. It was all too numbing. She hates it.
Natsuki felt the uneasiness, yet let the thing go. She understands. And can never blame the other.
It had been too long… And everybody must have felt that this day will never visit them.
--
"How are you, Natsuki?" the voice brought her back from her reverie. She managed to smile. That's the gift she decided to give herself before coming here. That's the gift that pushed her to reclaim herself.
"I'm good, Mai. And you? You look content!" Beaming at her friend, she gently lifted her hand to land on top of the other. Mai acknowledged and gently smiled back.
"The years had been good to you, hasn't it?" Natsuki continued.
"Yes, it has." After the dread.
The blue-haired thought for awhile. "That is just wonderful."
"And of you?" Reluctance never did ring a bell to Mai after everything. She nudged the question and squeezed the cold hands tangled with hers.
"It… It smiled at me… most of the time…" Forlorn groped the smaller girl's chest. She had hardened herself for this, and this should be the easiest part!
"Natsuki…" Mai knew her friend wasn't a one for comforting hugs but her arms had a mind of its own and wrapped the girl in a tight cocoon.
Mikoto's eyes glinted but chose to just be Mikoto and not mind things as – serious- as this. She glanced at Mai who met hers eagerly and gave her a warm look.
It would be okay… Mai will be okay... Mikoto felt it soothe her as she continued her endless meal.
--
She can't help but compare the lone wolf of before to the defeated husk of now. Natsuki may still exude the coldness but she knows that the ice had long melted and what's left is just an empty shell.
It's as if she really died that day.
The girl's emerald eyes dulled a thousand fold but she knows it only needed one spark- just one! And Natsuki will be Natsuki.
If only things were as they were before.
Though Natsuki never asked, she knows it should come in any time now. It should! It better be.
"Natsuki… you okay? Do you want me to get you anything?"
Mai's voice quivered yet did not waver. It somehow managed to sound like a snap yet it help lay out Natsuki's timeframe in front of her. Natsuki's head shot up, her eyes shone a bit, shoulders squaring.
Mai smiled, weary of Natsuki's weakness and gratefully missing the opposite. She watched as the girl heaved a sigh, gently shrugging her invisible chains, decisively going back to reality.
"Shizuru…" the words made Mai smile evenmore. She knew it! She was really expecting this! Somehow she wanted Natsuki to venture slowly but it was inevitable.
Natsuki's gaze hardened. The lack of reply from her friend made her anxious yet she knows she had to be leisurely than this.
"I need… Shizuru…"
Wanting to answer yet still incapable, Mai just nodded her head, her eyes warning of tears. The blue-haired wanted to smile. But somehow, she felt something is off. Mai still hasn't answered her. Her growing impatience made her tremble.
"O-Oi, Mai... Please, I need to know… Anything…I need something to lead me to her… please…"
"Go-Gomen, Natsuki… I.. Somehow I knew… You would ask for her… But…" the mumbling never made sense and suddenly her fears materialized.
"Wha—Why? What happened? Is that wh- Is that why her family's house…?" Natsuki was too oblivious to see Mai's trembling shoulder. The tilt on the other girl's voice was too inaudible for her empty shell of a heart.
"Natsuki… It had been so long… And… Well, I cannot tell you… Much as I would want to… I just---" Mikoto quickly hugged Mai protectively. The trembling and all of it had been long forgotten, and now—this?
Natsuki wasn't expecting this at all. She knows it was never easy, but as long as she sees her, she had a chance! Mai suddenly shook, her hands clasped on her ears barring imaginary words from coming in. Slamming her fist wasn't wise and intended. But hearing the name was enough to make her lose it!
Mikoto's eyes gloomed. She quickly turned to look at the other.
"Natsuki, Mai will not – can not- help you… "
It was incredulous! Why not? The biker's mind reeled and she wanted to scream! She saw her friend- trembling and so out of it. It dawned on her.
"Wh-Mai? Why is she like that? O-Oii, Mai?!" She tried to come close only to be restricted by Mikoto's stare. It wasn't of hate, it was of nothingness. She froze. What had happened? Somehow Mikoto grew a tad older than the rest of them as she cradled Mai.
"We thought you're dead. She believes you're dead." The simple words stabbed her. She? Natsuki was about to speak, to counter every thing- to apologize-, but the voice of another stopped her.
"And you should have stayed that way…"
Turning behind her, finding foulness in her breath, Natsuki managed to compose herself. Mikoto could only lower her head in rank distress. She doesn't want to see Mai plunge into depression –again. Not that again. But it seemed he will push the wheel to move everything as it should.
"I came here to visit and knew there was something odd. How was hell, Kuga?"
--
--A/N: The next chapter will be posted... as long as the reviews tell me so... +.+ I'm sorry if I'm not good at third person story telling...+.+ This IS an experiment... +.+ Please do not hate me.. I am just a free loader.. +.+ teehee...