Bitter Taste

AN: To avoid going blind, view in half screen width. Feedback appreciated.

Mai-HiME or its characters are not mine, obviously.

Much hate for the new formatting rules.


"Well, that's a good hour of my life I'll never get back," Nao grumbled irritably as they exited the school auditorium. "We should have just skipped the stupid ceremony."

Her companion shot her a pointed look as they dodged the stream of students filing out from the hall. "You know I had to be here today, Nao."

Nao rolled her eyes, quickly side-stepping as a young girl nearly careened into her. "Couldn't you have just congratulated Fujino after the snore-fest?" she asked, glaring daggers at the back of the girl's head before turning back to face Natsuki. "It's not like she could have spotted you among all those people anyway."

Natsuki sighed before gesturing to a blank spot of wall overlooking the auditorium's entrance. Nao nodded in quiet understanding as they made their way over to the clearing.

"Can I remind you that I didn't force you to come?" Natsuki countered testily. "And you obviously don't know Shizuru very well, if you think she wouldn't notice us missing."

Nao smirked humourlessly, and joined Natsuki against the warm bricks, her right hand holding the crook of her left elbow as she settled herself next to the older girl. "Us? I don't think Fujino gives a damn about what I do, Kuga." Her smirk became a little more feral. "Well, only if get within a five metre radius of you. And history has shown us that things get decidedly less civil when that happens."

Nao grimaced as soon as the words had left her mouth. It stung her pride to think that even four-months after the end of the festival, she was still scared of Shizuru. And she especially hated that she sounded so petty and childish to her own ears.

She picked a line of thread off her sleeve as she purposefully avoided the scowl Natsuki directed at her.

"Drop it, Nao," Natsuki reprimanded, lowering her voice so that passers-by couldn't overhear. "The festival made us all do things we're not proud of. You, of all people, should know that."

Nao raised a single fine eyebrow as she levelled her gaze on Natsuki. "You trying to guilt-trip me?"

Natsuki shook her head, her long, dark hair slipping over a shoulder with the movement. "No, I'm just trying to remind you that Shizuru's human."

"Fujino? Human?" Nao couldn't control the strangled laugh that escaped her throat. "Sure could've fooled me."

Natsuki frowned, crossing her arms across her chest. "You still hate her, don't you?" she asked quietly.

Nao met Natsuki's gaze unflinchingly. "What do you think?"

"But... why?"

She turned an incredulous stare on her companion at the quiet question; it was certainly not the response she was expecting.

"Do you really need to ask me that?"

Natsuki frowned. "Well, technically I was the one who started the festival by attacking you. I was also mostly responsible for you losing your eye, yet you forgave me." Her brows furrowed further. "Why not Shizuru?"

Nao averted her eyes from Natsuki's as she became more conscious of the fine white scar that intersected her left eyebrow and cheekbone.

"And who said I'd forgiven you?"

Natsuki's reply of a small smile infuriated Nao more than she would have thought possible. Mostly because she knew Natsuki had seen right through the lie.

"Anyway, if you recall, I got my revenge on you," Nao pointed out smugly, smiling inwardly as Natsuki's eyebrows lowered in annoyance. "Fujino wiped the floor with me, and would have done much more if she'd been given half a chance."

"Yeah," Natsuki agreed. "But she didn't."

"Only because you stopped her," she countered.

Natsuki shifted her weight, her uniform rustling as it caught against the rough bricks. "Yeah, well, consider it momentary insanity on my part."

Nao brought a hand to her heart as though mortally wounded. "Ouch! That was cold, Kuga. Even for you."

A small smile tugged at the older girl's lips as she shot Nao a curious glance. "So, how much longer are you planning on hanging around anyway? Surely you're not waiting to congratulate Shizuru on her graduation?"

Nao pulled a disgusted face. "Uh, no. I'll leave the fawning and squealing to her fan club and you, thanks."

Natsuki's smile morphed into an indignant frown. "I don't fawn!" she protested, tucking a few strands of hair behind an ear. "And I certainly don't squeal."

"Oh? That's not what I hear from Mikoto," she taunted, enjoying the look of horror slowly dawning on Natsuki's face. "She tells me that you squealed quite prettily after you flashed—"

"Shut up!" Natsuki cried desperately, clamping a hand across Nao's grinning mouth. "If you want to go on living you'll shut up right now!"

Nao froze and resisted the urge to recoil as Natsuki's hand locked down across her mouth and shoulder, effectively pinning her to the wall. Shooting Natsuki an icy glare, Nao tugged at her arm in an attempt to free herself. Taking the hint, Natsuki released her, taking a step back and leaning back against the wall.

"I can't believe that little idiot told you of all people," she grumbled, tugging at the hem of her skirt self-consciously.

Nao shrugged, running a thumb lightly under her bottom lip to clear her smudged lip balm. "Mikoto's not exactly known for her tact, now is she?" She raised a sceptical eyebrow at the older girl. "Did you really think she wouldn't tell me?"

Natsuki grimaced. "I'd hoped she wouldn't tell anyone," she explained, before shrugging in resignation. "But I guess that's impossible for her." She paused for a moment, lost deep in thought, before glancing up furtively at Nao. "I don't suppose you'd consider keeping that to yourself?"

"The fact that you squeal like a little girl when embarrassed?"

Natsuki huffed, crossing her arms protectively across her chest. "I didn't squeal. I—"

"Yes, yes. We can't go tarnishing the reputation of Fuuka's ice princess by making her out to be a damsel in distress, now can we?" she drawled lazily. "Don't worry, Kuga; I won't hurt your manly pride."

Natsuki's left eyebrow twitched angrily, but she kept any retorts in check. "So, you'll keep what you know to yourself?" she growled.

Nao shrugged. "I suppose I could... but I would like something in return."

Natsuki's eyes narrowed and she eyed Nao suspiciously. "Are you planning on blackmailing me?"

Nao waved her off dismissively, but couldn't deny that the accusation had hurt—just a little. "Still so quick to cast me as the villain, eh Kuga?" Guilt flashed across the older girl's face, and Nao let the insult slide. "I was just going to ask to be taken out for a ride on that lovely little bike of yours sometime," she explained. "No need to get your panties in a twist." The evil grin returned as she fixed her gaze pointedly on Natsuki's skirt. "Oh, wait! You are wearing—?"

"Of course I am!" A faint tinge of red finally dusted across the older girl's cheeks as she interrupted Nao angrily. "So, are you going to keep your promise or not?"

"Depends. Are you going to keep your end of the bargain? A free ride, any time?"

The older girl paused for a moment, as though weighing up her options, before resigning herself to her fate and nodding once.

"Good girl," Nao purred, purposefully ignoring Natsuki's glower.

The older girl took a few calming breaths before resuming her original place next to Nao on the brick wall. "So, you never actually answered my question."

"Oh? About what?"

"About what you're doing still hanging around here," Natsuki supplied shortly. "I thought you would've been out of here after the ceremony."

Nao blinked. "Oh, that?" She turned back to study the scenery before her. "I have to meet up with someone in town later, so I thought I'd come bug you until the swarm clears from around Fujino."

A minor commotion started near the entrance of the auditorium as Shizuru made her way out into a sea of well-wishers. They both watched with mild interest for a few moments, before Natsuki turned a concerned frown Nao's way. "You don't have a date tonight, do you, Nao?"

A feline smirk crossed her features as she turned back to eye Natsuki suggestively. "Why, Kuga? You jealous?"

Natsuki said nothing as she held Nao's gaze unflinching.

When she finally realised Natsuki wasn't going to take the bait, Nao averted her gaze back to Shizuru and her adoring fans. Natsuki's concern for her welfare still made her uncomfortable.

She smirked. "I suppose you could call it a date if you really wanted to."

"Moron," Natsuki sighed, correctly interpreting Nao's allusion. "You know that getting revenge won't change anything, right?"

"So you keep telling me," she countered, not bothering to turn back to the older girl yet. They'd had this conversation, or variations of it, a handful of times before. And Nao was getting sick of hearing it.

"At least tell me that you've got some protection on you," Natsuki requested, causing Nao's eyebrows to raise in surprise as she turned to face the older girl.

When she realised Natsuki was happily oblivious to her unintended double entendre, Nao grinned slyly. "Well, that depends on what form of protection you mean, Kuga-san."

A moment passed before Natsuki caught on and blushed furiously, pushing herself off the wall to face Nao rigidly. "I-Idiot! Not that sort! I mean do you have any weapons, not—" She cut herself off, the blush still decorating her cheeks prettily, as she avoided meeting Nao's eyes.

Nao managed to keep a straight face for a whole three seconds before she burst out laughing, doubling over and clutching at her burning stomach. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she struggled to get her breathing under control.

A glance at Natsuki showed her the older girl was thoroughly unimpressed with the whole situation, a scowl decorating her features.

When she was finally sure she'd be able to talk without bursting into further fits of laughter, Nao straightened up, taking a few calming breaths and swiping at her eyes. "You kill me, Kuga! You really do." Taking note of the glower still directed her way, Nao felt the edges of her mouth lift up. "Don't worry, I've got all my bases covered."

Natsuki growled, but nodded once. "Well, if you do need anything—any weapons," she clarified hurriedly, "just let me know. I've still got Yamada's number and he can get me whatever you need." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Just saying."

She returned the small nod; the closest she would come to thanking the older girl for her consideration.

Natsuki smiled as she met Nao's eyes, and Nao marvelled again at how similar, and yet so completely unalike, their eye colour was. Natsuki had been right, when she'd saved her from Shizuru: they had more in common than she'd care to admit.

Nao averted her gaze and the moment was over. With nothing better to occupy her, she turned back to the thinning group around the former Student Council president. "So, how long do you think it's going to be until the sea of adoring fans ebbs?"

She heard Natsuki sigh heavily, followed by the sound of ruffling clothes. When she turned her attention back to the other girl, she noticed Natsuki had resumed her position against the wall, arms crossed across her chest, and legs crossed at the ankles. "Too long," she grumbled. "Although I suppose that's to be expected."

"You know, I never really got why Fujino was so popular," Nao admitted, eyeing the throng of students clamouring around Shizuru. "She has quite the little brainwashed cult there, doesn't she?"

Natsuki took her eyes off the crowd as she turned to look at Nao and shrugged. "Shizuru can be dangerously charismatic when she wants to be. And cunning." She shot Nao a pointed smirk. "Not unlike someone else I know."

Nao responded with a disbelieving huff. "While you," she purred as Natsuki's attention rounded on her, "have all the charisma of a wet sponge."

Natsuki's eyes shut. "Why thank you," she muttered sarcastically.

"Any time," Nao returned, eyeing Natsuki as she turned back toward Shizuru's crowd.

"And, anyway, why would I need charisma?" Natsuki countered. "It's not like I'm going to nominate for Student Council or anything."

Nao scoffed. "I think Suzushiro would pop a vessel if the school's most famous truant got voted in for president." She paused and a sly grin crossed her face as she imagined the blonde's reaction to Natsuki's presidency. "Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing that." She turned a wide grin on Natsuki. "Sure you wouldn't consider? It could be fun."

Natsuki snorted. "As tempting as that sounds, I really wouldn't want to get lumped with all that work. And it's not like anyone would actually vote me in, anyway."

Nao rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure you'd get the male vote, Kuga." She smirked. "And, from what I hear in the corridors, a decent portion of the female vote too."

Natsuki looked down uncomfortably, but interestingly chose not to protest. Apparently, she was aware of her popularity, if not completely comfortable with it.

Nao's eyes slid past Natsuki and a dangerous smirk lit her face. "Speaking of popularity—"

Natsuki followed Nao's gaze and her shoulders tensed when she caught on to Nao's meaning. Walking rather stiffly toward them was Takeda Masashi.

Nao snickered quietly to herself as she saw the uncomfortable flush spread across Natsuki's cheeks. Judging by that reaction, Natsuki had figured out why the former kendo captain was approaching her today of all days.

This was going to be fun.

Looking like it was taking all his concentration to simply put one foot in front of the other, Takeda stopped a short distance from them; his posture uncomfortably straight. "K-Kuga," he stuttered, his voice breaking nervously as his eyes focussed everywhere but on Natsuki. "Could I have—uh, can I talk to you?" His eyes settled on Nao pointedly. "Alone?"

Nao held back the short bark of laughter she felt rising in her throat as she eyed the uncomfortable pair, and put on her best demure smile. "Of course, Takeda-san!" She turned to Natsuki, making sure Takeda couldn't see the delighted grin crossing her face. "If you'll excuse me, Natsuki-senpai," she murmured, emphasising the term of address pointedly, as she strode easily past Natsuki, toward the now thinning mass of people gathered on the auditorium steps.

A quick glance back revealed Natsuki glaring desperately after her as Takeda fidgeted nervously in front of her. Nao chuckled under her breath and sat herself down on the auditorium steps, making sure she had an unobstructed view of the two upperclassmen.

To her surprise, while Natsuki looked clearly uncomfortable, she didn't seem to be reacting quite as badly Nao had expected her to. Takeda seemed to be trying his best to convey his thoughts, although he still seemed very nervous, while Natsuki was mostly looking down, quietly listening.

At least, that's what it looked like.

Being so far away made it difficult to see properly...

"Ara, now what could have captured Nao-han's interest so keenly, I wonder?" came an amused voice to the left of Nao.

Nao schooled her features as she glanced up into crimson eyes. "Not much," she replied lazily. "Only Takeda finally growing some balls and confessing to Kuga."

She pointed to the spot she had just been, in time to see Takeda bow deeply. Shizuru's smile dropped for the briefest of seconds, and Nao watched her grip on her diploma tighten just a fraction before the easy smile returned.

"So it would seem," she returned. "Poor Takeda-kun."

Nao frowned. "Poor Takeda? You seem sure Kuga will turn him down. What if she says yes?"

Shizuru finally broke her study of the conversing couple as she trained her gaze intently back on Nao. "Unfortunately for Takeda-kun, I can't imagine Natsuki returning his feelings," Shizuru replied evenly. "I've never gotten the impression that she feels similarly for him."

"Hmm? And I suppose you'd be an expert on who Kuga likes?" Nao shot back, taking perverse enjoyment in the pained look that flashed across Shizuru's face. "Oh, wait..."

Shizuru broke eye contact, her head inclined slightly. "As Nao-han very well knows, I am certainly no authority on the matter. Natsuki is free to like whomever she chooses; as is her right." Crimson eyes flicked back to meet Nao's own, and her voice softened. "Nao-han would do well to remember that."

Nao frowned as fear prickled along her skin. On instinct she stood up, closing the distance between them, and eliminating some of the height advantage Shizuru had over her.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" she growled, not liking the insinuation lacing Shizuru's words.

"Whatever you wish to make of it, Nao-han," Shizuru explained patiently, maintaining eye contact.

"I'm not like you, Fujino," Nao snarled quietly, becoming aware of mounting interest from nearby spectators. She took a deep breath and tried to relax her posture, so it at least didn't look like a confrontation to outsiders.

"Really? I think we're more alike than you may believe, Nao-han," Shizuru replied, and Nao felt her nails bite into her palm as she struggled to keep her anger in check.

Nao's acidic retort died in her throat as Natsuki pulled up alongside them, the older girl's ears and cheeks containing traces of what must have been a magnificent blush.

"So, how'd it go? You going out with Takeda?" Nao queried, studying Shizuru out of the corner of her eye. The former Council president turned her gaze to Natsuki, and Nao could almost feel the tension radiating from the older girl.

"How'd you know that's what he wanted?" Natsuki grumbled as the blush reignited on her cheeks.

Nao rolled her eyes, and heard Shizuru stifle a giggle. "Oh, I dunno! Maybe because Takeda's been panting after you all year? And since he's graduating he's got nothing to lose if you turn him down?" Nao conjectured. "You're such a naive idiot sometimes, Kuga."

Natsuki's brows lowered in embarrassed annoyance, as she levelled her gaze at Nao. "Well, sorry I'm not as experienced as some," she growled testily.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Nao shot back dryly. She made a show of studying her nails. "So, you and Takeda, huh? I actually thought you'd be off somewhere sucking face with him right now."

The embarrassed flush returned at full force; for a big bad biker chick with an attitude, Natsuki was far too easily embarrassed.

"I turned him down."

Nao's attention piqued at the quiet admission. "Oh?"

"Poor Takeda-kun," Shizuru offered, as Natsuki turned to face her with a frown.

"You're going to side with him?"

Their light-hearted banter continued as Natsuki threatened the destruction of their friendship and Shizuru did her best to placate the dark-haired girl. With each passing second, Nao felt something bitter bubbling away in her stomach and throat, as she watched on quietly.

"Well, since you two love birds are so obviously wrapped up in one another, I think I might go," she interrupted, pleased when both girls turned their attention back to her.

She turned to Shizuru and bowed slightly. "Congratulations on your graduation, Kaichou-sama." When she raised her head she noticed that Shizuru was eyeing her with suspicion.

She dropped her voice to just above a whisper as she walked past Shizuru on the stairs, "Here's to hoping you can reign in your murderous impulses at your new university," she snarled quietly, not bothering to turn around to see what sort of effect she'd had as she walked away.

Natsuki angrily yelling her name told her all she needed.


"Nao!"

"Leave her be, Natsuki." Shizuru pleaded, resting her free hand gently on the shorter girl's shoulder to stop her going after the young redhead. "Nao-han has every right to dislike me; I did kill her mother, after all."

Natsuki looked panicked as she glanced around furtively before turning back to face Shizuru. "Not so loud, idiot!" she whispered fiercely. "What are you doing, mentioning that here? Are you insane?"

Shizuru withdrew her hand. "Perhaps," she replied with a small smile. "Natsuki would be the best judge of that, I think."

Natsuki said nothing, as she stared back into Shizuru's eyes.

Shizuru made a move to lighten the mood by changing the topic, but was interrupted when Natsuki muttered a simple "come on", grabbed her by the wrist and started tugging her toward the woods surrounding the campus.

Shizuru swallowed painfully, but hid it with an amused smile. "If Natsuki wanted me all to herself, she merely had to ask."

The presence of Natsuki's hand on hers made her voice sound a little shaky, even to her own ears. The lingering touch was comforting and yet so completely disconcerting that Shizuru was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with herself. And it didn't help that Natsuki hadn't said a word, or even looked at her, since she'd started dragging her through the woods.

"Natsuki?"

Finally she got a response. Natsuki looked back at her with a small smile as she pulled her through one last line of trees. When they exited the woods, Shizuru's eyes widened fractionally, and she stopped dead in her tracks.

Natsuki had taken her to the school gardens where they had first met.

"Natsuki, what—?"

The younger girl turned to face Shizuru, tugging her forward. When Shizuru had come to a stop before her, she let their entwined hands fall loosely in between them. Shizuru studied their interlaced fingers with fascination. "I want you to stop beating yourself up over what happened during the festival," Natsuki ordered. When Shizuru didn't respond, Natsuki gave her hand a quick squeeze, and Shizuru raised her head to lock eyes with the younger girl's. "Nao will take a bit more time to come around, but the others have already forgiven you, Shizuru. You need to let it go now, before it does you more damage."

Shizuru sighed and brushed a thumb across the back of Natsuki's knuckles. "Thank you for your concern, Natsuki, but I don't think I can do as you've asked."

Natsuki frowned, her eyebrows pinching together tightly in displeasure. "Why not?"

Shizuru smiled gently, touched by the depths of Natsuki's feelings. "Because I need more time to come to terms with what happened to me during the festival," she explained, watching as Natsuki's frown started to lift. "Because I need to understand why I was so easily manipulated into killing hundreds of people for you." She paused as Natsuki winced, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "And because I need to know whether my feelings for you are healthy or not."

Natsuki frowned and gripped Shizuru's hand almost painfully hard. "Just because you love another girl, doesn't mean that what you're feeling isn't—"

"No, Natsuki, that's not what I meant." Natsuki's grip slackened and deep green eyes studied her in confusion. Shizuru tried again, "What I mean to say is that I need to know if loving you will just keep hurting me." The guilty look on Natsuki's face spurred her onward. "And before you start: it's not your fault. Even if you could return my feelings, I'm still not certain the resulting relationship would be good for me."

Natsuki frowned in frustration. "I don't understand, Shizuru. I—"

Shizuru smiled indulgently, although she could feel an awful pressure building up in her throat. "It means that I need time to sort out what I am feeling for you, Natsuki, so that I don't end up hurting myself, or you, any more than I already have." Her voice wavered toward the end of the sentence, and she swallowed the painful lump building in her throat. "So I have a request," she said, forcing the smile onto her face. "A graduation present, if you will. Since that is the purpose of today, and Natsuki has still not congratulated me," she said, winking.

Natsuki looked a little bewildered for the briefest of moments, as if only remembering why they were at school in the first place. She shifted her weight onto one foot, unintentionally dragging Shizuru's hand forward. "Ah, that's right. Sorry, Shizuru." Natsuki tugged Shizuru toward her. "Congratulations."

Much to Shizuru's surprise, Natsuki slipped her arms around her waist, pulling Shizuru against her body in a gentle hug. When it became apparent Natsuki wasn't about to let go in a hurry, Shizuru raised her arms tentatively around Natsuki's shoulders, pulling the younger girl closer to her. Natsuki tucked her head into Shizuru's neck, and she shivered at the sensation of the girl's breath against her neck.

If she didn't know Natsuki better, she would have thought the younger girl was teasing her cruelly.

When she finally decided it had gone on long enough, Shizuru grasped Natsuki by the shoulders, and gently pushed her back; not caring that Natsuki could now see the red flush that was sure to have overtaken her cheeks.

"Natsuki is trying to distract me from asking for my favour," Shizuru pouted, enjoying the mild look of panic on Natsuki's face. "The hug was a very nice present in its own right, but I am wondering if Natsuki would promise me something? And it would mean a lot to me if you would agree to it before I ask."

Natsuki blushed and averted her gaze as Shizuru laughed. "Ara! What sort of things are going through Natsuki's mind at the moment, I wonder." She smiled fondly. "Don't worry, you will be able to fulfil this promise with all your clothes firmly in place," she supplied.

Natsuki eyed her suspiciously, although the blush had darkened a shade. "Okay then, Shizuru, what would you like me to do?"

Shizuru took a steadying breath and smiled shakily, mustering up the willpower to get through the next conversation without faltering. "When I start university I want you to promise not to contact me until the end of the semester."