Mai looked at her best friend, who had a permanent pout etched onto to her face while doing homework. Mai sighed. For someone who liked to appear tough and stoic, Natsuki couldn't hide her emotions from displaying across her face.
"Hey, Natsuki why don't we go do something fun?" Natsuki answered without turning. "I'm not in the mood." Mai pouted, Natsuki could be such a sourpuss sometimes. "Come on Natsuki, Carla's aristocrat friend is throwing a party." Natsuki shook her head "Mai, I told you-," Mai quickly interjected, "There'll be booze, lots of it."
Natsuki stopped at that. She could definitely use a drink, it might even take her mind off of- "Natsuki, I know you've been moping since Shizuru-san left but it's time to snap out of it!" It's been a month since Shizuru left on a mission. The acting Gakuenchou, Miss Maria, specifically chose Shizuru for this task.
Natsuki was happy for her but she missed her girlfriend. No they weren't really girlfriends yet were they? Even though the whole school seemed to think so. They flirted, or more like Shizuru teased her mercilessly and there may have been a few stolen kisses here and there. But Natsuki knew that Shizuru flirted with every girl she met. Natsuki may have been Shizuru's oheya-gakkari but that didn't mean that she won Shizuru's heart.
Natsuki sighed, "Okay I'll go but you have to be the designated driver." Mai smirked "Oh of course, but if you start moping and crying then I can't be responsible if a video of you shows up for the whole school to see." Natsuki gaped at her, "Mai! You promised you wouldn't!" Mai laughed at Natsuki's expense. Her best friend may be tough on the outside but once you get one bottle to many of alcohol down her throat then she becomes an emotional wreck. Drunk Natsuki had three stages.
Stage Number 1, the Flirtatious Happy stage: Normally Natsuki wouldn't let her fangirls get close to her but at this stage Natsuki loved the attention and would actually smile at them! A few lucky fangirls were even able to get a kiss out her and some flirtatious words thrown their way. Even Mai got a kiss one time…But anyway! Stage 1 was the best stage. Stage 2 however…
Stage Number 2, The Depressed stage: Usually by Natsuki's second drink, she goes into this stage. As the name implies, Natsuki becomes a total downer at this point. Lucky for her, her fangirls comfort her "Natsuki onee-sama, don't be sad we're here for you!" or "Natsuki onee-sama cry on my shoulder!" "No cry on mine!" At that point Mai steps in and gives Natsuki another drink, which leads to stage 3.
Stage Number 3, the Emotional Wreck: This stage usually consists of crying, hugging, confessing her deepest darkest desires and even declarations of love! "I love Mayo!" screamed Natsuki at the top of her lungs! "I love Duran! I miss Duran! Why can't we bring our puppies to school?! He's the cutest puppy ever and I love him!"
What usually follows is, "Natsuki onee-sama, you're so right! Miss Maria is so cruel for not letting our beloved onee-sama, bring Duran! We'll go to Miss Maria and start a petition!" One fan was even bold enough to scream "I'll be Duran, onee-sama! Woof, woof, I'm Duran! I'll lick you everywhere and play with you and lay flat on my back!"
Then in an exceedingly sultry tone "You can do whatever you want with me onee-sama, I'll be your obedient and willing pup. Please onee-sama, take me!" Natsuki in her drunk yet naïve state, bless her heart, said with tears welling up in her eyes "You will? You really will? I… I'd love that."
Before that lucky coral could have her way, Mai thankfully stepped in. But not before recording that whole fiasco. It was way too fun teasing Natsuki about it the day after. Her face was tomato red the whole day but she made Mai promise not to show it to anyone, especially not Shizuru.
"Did you have a flashback to Drunk Natsuki, because I totally did." Mai was clutching her stomach laughing at that memory while Natsuki looked away with a large blush on her cheeks. She didn't remember that night but the video was very telling… "Mai!" Mai with tears in her eyes finally managed to calm down "Okay, okay. I promise to keep you at stage 1 of Drunk Natsuki if you come with us." Natsuki scowled at her "And no video." "Okay, okay no video." Mimicked Mai.
Natsuki let out a smile at that "Good." Even though Mai loved to tease her, she was a good friend and wouldn't actually leak that video.
Meister Shizuru Viola, Column Number III, A charming and elegant beauty, and one of the most powerful Otome in all of Earl, was standing still as a board, staring at a door. Not just any door, the door of the raven haired beauty, heiress to Kruger County, pearl number 2, her oheya-gekkari, the girl she was madly in love with, who's burning emerald eyes made her heart ache with burning desire and love!- Okay, maybe she got a little carried away there but this was Natsuki we're talking about!
It's been a whole month since she last saw her. Shizuru had just finished her debriefing with the Gakuenchou and practically ran to Natsuki's room. She hadn't even thought it through until she was standing outside the door thinking about what to say. Did Natsuki even miss her? What if she felt too emotional and couldn't keep her calm and playful demeanor?
Shizuru had missed Natsuki too much in their time apart. It may have been a month but it felt like ages to Shizuru. She shouldn't have even felt like this. Natsuki was her dearest friend not her lover! She couldn't just run into her arms and proclaim her love for her with a passionate kiss. Shizuru sighed, what was it about Natsuki that made her feel like this?
The one girl she wanted, didn't feel the same about her. Natsuki had made that clear in the coral year when she slapped Shizuru for getting to touchy. But then again, looking back at it, Shizuru can admit that she was wrong for assuming that Natsuki was just like any other fangirl, who just wanted their beloved onee-sama in every way. Their relationship evolved after that incident though. Once Natsuki became her oheya-gekkari, she made a promise to herself to never cross that boundary again.
Uncharacteristically lost in her thoughts, Shizuru didn't notice an adorable coral walk behind her. "Um, Shizuru onee-sama." Shizuru turned around, slightly surprised at being snuck up on. She really should stop mulling over Natsuki. Shizuru turned on the charm "Ara, aren't you adorable?" The girl blushed and looked down "Welcome back Shizuru onee-sama. Did you just get back from your mission?" Shizuru smiled at the girl, "I did but shouldn't the corals be in bed by now? I wonder, are you sneaking off to meet a pretty girl?" At that in girl blushed bright red and sputtered "Ahh, n-no, my onee-sama asked me to come see her." Shizuru gave the girl a knowing smile and said in a teasing tone "Ara, don't let me stop you then."
The girl walked in front on Shizuru and knocked on the door. Shizuru was a little surprised at that action. She didn't expect Natsuki or Mai to invite their oheya-gekkari over so late. Nevertheless she said "It seems as though we are going to the same place."
Natsuki was continuing to work on her homework while Mai was getting her outfit ready for the party. They heard a knock at the door. "Come in." said Natsuki without turning around. At the sight of Rosalie, Natsuki's oheya-gekkari, Mai said "Hey Duran! Did you bring the stuff?" Natsuki groaned at that. Mai just had to give Rosalie that nickname after that fiasco.
Rosalie held up the bag she had been holding "Yep it's all right here." Then she looked at Natsuki with a slight blush "I made sure to get your favorite shade of lipstick, Natsuki onee-sama." Natsuki gave her a smile "Thank you Rosalie. Sorry to bother so late with this but the party was very last minute."
At that, Shizuru decided to make her entrance "Ara, Natsuki's going to a party. How rebellious of her." Natsuki, with the speed of a cheetah, jumped out of her seat and turned around "Shizuru!" she couldn't hide the wide smile on her face at finally seeing Shizuru again.
Shizuru stared at Natsuki, taking in every detail of her face and body. Natsuki had grown taller, now only an inch shorter than Shizuru. Her hair was longer too, her dark tresses perfectly framing her beautiful face.
Her eyes couldn't help but wander over Natsuki's lithe frame, 'perfect proportions indeed' thought Shizuru. A slight blush reached her face at that thought but in a teasing tone she said "You know as a Meister Otome, I could report Natsuki to Miss Maria for planning to sneak out."
Mai and Rosalie blanched at that "Hey, Natsuki, we're gonna go. Um, we have a lot of homework to do. See you tomorrow!" They practically ran out of the room and shut the door. Shizuru giggled "I made Natsuki's friends disappear."
Natsuki took a few tentative steps towards Shizuru and replied "Mai was just leaving anyways. But I'm glad to see you Shizuru." Shizuru felt the same pit of nervousness that she felt while standing outside Natsuki's door. With a slight blush on her cheeks she said "I missed you Shizuru." Shizuru smiled and took a few steps forward then wrapped her arms around Natsuki in a hug "I missed you too, Natsuki." Natsuki lifted her arms around Shizuru.
Shizuru with a slight apprehension in her voice teased "But I see that Natsuki has replaced me but her cute new oheya-gekkari." Natsuki sputtered "Shizuru no way!" Continuing to tease her with a slight edge in her voice Shizuru said, "Natsuki's so mean. Inviting her oheya-gekkari to sneak out and party with her." Natsuki felt flustered "Shizuru! It's not like that. Mai invited me to go since I've been moping around." Shizuru felt relieved and released Natsuki "Natsuki's so fun to tease," she ran her finger across Natsuki's cheek and gave a small smile "I better go. I don't want you to miss out on having fun." She added," Don't worry I won't tell Miss Maria."
Natsuki stared into her crimson eyes. She wanted to be with Shizuru. "Stay-"A second of bravery gone away, Natsuki just said "Stay safe Shizuru." She added lamely "on your missions." For a second Natsuki thought she saw a glimmer of sadness but Shizuru just smiled and said "I'll see you later Natsuki." And with that she left.