Disclaimer: I only own my Natsuki badge (which I'm very proud of)

Saigo no toshi

"The Amethyst of Beauty?"

Those words sounded strange in the silence that had reigned between them, lightly seconded by the soft touch of the wet cloth against the shelf. Shizuru stopped packing the tea pots to lay her glance on Natsuki's back, who kept with the final cleaning Garderobe demanded to all the students before the holydays.

"Ara, is something wrong with my robe?" Shizuru slipped trough the bed until she was supporting herself with her elbows, while watching Natsuki shrug (she was looking also at other parts of her back anatomy).

"I would have chosen something like The Heavy Rock of the Endless Teasing. But anyway, it suits you. Beauty suits you."

Shizuru smiled against her arm's skin. "Ara, Natsuki flatters…"

"Thanks" the younger girl interrupted abruptly, knowing if she didn't say it now, she never would. "Thank you for staying in Garderobe. I'm glad of spending my last year here with you."

Anyone, as Shizuru herself, could have seen the blush on Natsuki's cheeks, even looking from behind. But the crimson eyed girl was too surprised to tease.

"I've finished. I must clean my room too, before Mai cleans it by herself simply to say later I never help her." She crossed the room in a pair of strides without looking at her friend, and stopped at the door. "You know? During the holydays, I might even miss that bitter stuff you're always sipping."

Once the sound of closing the door was lost to her ears, Shizuru rolled on her back, looking up to a ceiling she didn't really see. Refusing to free the sight caged in her heart, the young woman let her mind wander to that next year, a last year she had worked so hard for, a very last year after which she didn't dare to think.

Omake

Shizuru: So, Natsuki is speaking to me again?

Natsuki: (under her breath) That doesn't mean I'm not angry with you.

Shizuru: (faked pout) Ara, why does Natsuki hate me so much?

Natsuki¡Stop faking! It's your fault! Who in the hell would do something like that?!

Shizuru: It wasn't the first time. You have never complained about being handcuffed to the bed before.

Natsuki: (blushed) I don't mind that, what I don't understand is why did you do it if you had LOST THE FUCKING KEYS!!

Shizuru: It wasn't that bad. Miss Maria herself admitted she will never forget the moment she entered in my room and saw you in that… ''position''.

Natsuki: (…) … I suspect nor will I.

Authoress' note:

I know this wasn't good, but it came to me and I couldn't help but write it. It just that while watching Mai Otome, when Midori asks Shizuru why does she fight, and Shizuru responds she does it for her most precious person, I thought, 'so she decided to fight against that fated Otome destiny'. And…

Well, don't mind me. I'm rambling. Expect you guys liked it though. Feel free to flame and report mistakes (I haven't reread the text).