Author's Note: I honestly have no idea where I will be going with this story.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride, I guess?

Warning: Extreme OoCness and AU setting.

Disclaimer: Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise.


Babysitter

Chapter 1


Kuga Natsuki didn't understand why this was happening to her. She just couldn't fathom how or why this happened.

Sure she would get into a few fights here and there. So what if she drove recklessly on her precious Ducati that she have acquired even though her mother was completely against the idea. So what if she usually live life on the edge? So what if her mother was supposedly a famous scientist that was on the verge of discovering some form of new atom that many others would do just about anything to get their hands on her research?

It's not that big of a problem.

She is seventeen years old. Pretty much an adult!

So why? Why was this happening to her?

Why was she sitting on the couch next to her mother and younger sister, listening to a bulky man drone on and on about his qualifications, trying her best not to burst out laughing?

"-and I also have a degree in judo." The bulky man boasted in a slight nasally voice, flexing his arm.

'That's probably the only degree you have, you meathead...' Natsuki thought trying her best not to snicker and taking her mind off the man by playing with her sister's golden locks of hair, much to the younger girl's dismay who repeatedly tried to swat her older sister's hand away from her hair.

The older woman that was a spitting image of Natsuki; Kuga Saeko, her mother, nodded as she scribbled something on her clipboard. "Thank you for your time, erm..." she glanced at the board, trying her best to keep a straight face, "M-Mr. Crushinator..."

"Of course! As you can see my qualification makes me perfect for the job. I even know how to cook and sew in case your child tear her stuff animal or anything."

The image of the big muscular bulky man in a frilly pink apron holding a sewing needle crossed Natsuki's mind and she had to stifle the erupting laughter.

Saeko's lip twitched. The sight informing Natsuki that her mother was barely able to hold in her laughter, possibly the image was also crossing her mind.

"Y-yes, thank you very much. We'll give you a call."

"Thank you so much for your time."

The moment the bulldozer like man exited, all three of the Kuga's seated on the couch burst out laughing.

"Ahahaha! Oh god, my sides! I-I can't breathe!" Natsuki inhaled a breathe before before puffing her cheeks and bursting out into laughter again.

Her younger sister, Alyssa was in no better condition as she was trying her best not to fall off her seat. "His voice! I almost laughed the moment he spoke!" She squeaked, tears welling in her eyes from laughter.

"Oh my...M-Mr. Crushinator does seem like an interesting candidate though, does he not?" Their mother hid her mouth behind her hand, trying to quell the laughter.

"..."

A moment of silence between the Kugas.

"Pffffft."

Another round of laughter erupted.

"Oh hell no. I wouldn't take him seriously, mom..." Natsuki took a deep breath, still snickering.

Saeko tapped on the clipboard with a thoughtful look. "So far you have declined every one of the interviewees, Natsuki."

Her laughter finally subsiding, the smile turning into a scowl. "How about we just don't get a babysitter for me then?" she grumbled, a look of irritation crossing her face.

"Think of it as a bodyguard, Natsuki." Her mother sighed, "They'll be there to watch over you, and possibly care for you while I am not there."

"AKA a babysitter..."

"How about we mix the word and call it a Bodysitter!" Alyssa giggled at the horror on Natsuki's face.

"That sounds even worse!"

"I just don't want a repeat of what happened last time..." With a sigh, Saeko pressed on the earpiece on her right ear, ignoring her daughters' banter "Send in the next one, Miyu-chan."

The door opened and a nervous looking teenage boy walked in, his hair messily combed; possibly last minute, a scar right under his left eye that was darting about nervously until it landed on Natsuki causing a terribly goofy grin to appear in his face.

"I-I'm Taked-"

"Next!" Natsuki yelled rejecting the boy.


"Don't you think that was a little bit cruel, Natsuki?" Her mother asked trying to calm her fuming daughter. "I mean...honestly...you didn't have to dropkick him when he didn't leave."

Natsuki gave her mother the special Kuga cold glare, a glare so chilling that it could even freeze hell itself. Her mother only ignored it, taking a sip of her cup of coffee. Being immune to it due to the fact that she herself created the glare. Her children copied it perfectly.

But it just wasn't quite...there.

"He's that stupid classmate of mine that won't leave me alone! You know that even though he thinks that this gig is to watch over Alyssa, he would try and take it to get close to me. So imagine just how creepily happy he would be when he finds out who he actually have to take care of. No way in hell!"

Alyssa tilted her head to the side. "What's wrong with him though, Natsuki? He doesn't seem that bad."

"I just don't like him. He's creepy." the older Kuga sister scowled, a look of disgust crossing her face just thinking about the love-struck boy. "That idiot doesn't know how to take a hint no matter how many times I tell him I ain't interested..."

Sometimes Alyssa had to wonder...her older sister...

Was she perhaps...

"Does Natsuki swing for the same team?"

That comment caused Saeko to spew out her coffee and Natsuki to sputter.

"T-the hell, Alyssa?! Where'd you learn that saying?"

Her mother sat down the cup on the table in front of her, pressing her palm on her cheek while looking at Natsuki with a motherly caring look. "Oh, Natsuki. I-I knew this was going to happen sooner or later...you coming out of the closet. But I'm sorry. I wasn't fully mentally prepared for the shock just ye-"

Natsuki's eyes widen in horror.

"I'M NOT GAY!"

"Are you certain, Natsuki. Because I am very accepting since these day and age girls ar-"

"Oh god, just shut up and bring the next one in!" She slumped onto the couch, covering her face with her hands. It's not like she had a problem with being gay or anything...not that she was gay, of course! She just wasn't interested in romance at all. Boy, girl, whatever. She didn't care much for that.

But still...it's pretty embarrassing for her mother to say she knew this was going to happen sooner or later...

Did she really seemed like that?!

She decided that she'll just accept the next person who walked in. Just to shut her mother up. She'll just have that babysitter...bodyguard...bodysitter (She cringed at the thought of that word, dammit Alyssa.), quitting next week or something.


Here lie Fujino Shizuru. A young beautiful eighteen year old girl who had to regrettably move from her hometown Kyoto to Tokyo, meeting her terrible demise at a local park bench, a newspaper covering her face, just like when one covers the decease's face with a white cloth. Her slow breat-

...

Wait a minute...

She's not dead yet.

Hoisting herself up from the bench she was lying on and letting the newspaper she had covered her face to fall off. She stretched and murmur incoherent words, letting out a contented sigh when she felt her shoulders cracked and pop.

That catnap certainly felt nice.

Ruby red eyes blinked as she properly sat herself on the bench, fixing her golden chestnut hair and allowing an elderly woman walking by to take a seat next to her.

"Aren't you a little too young to be living off the street, young'un?" The elderly woman asked with concern, pulling out a bag full of seeds and scattering them on the ground for the birds to flock about to have their meal.

Again, the red eyes blinked some more, as if trying to process the sentence. "Ara...Ookini for your concern, but I was just taking a little nap. I am not a homeless." She spoke in a slight drowsy and melodic Kyoto accent.

"Is that so..."

A few minutes of silence, save for the old woman still scattering seeds for the cooing birds.

"..."

"Okay...I perhaps do not really have a home."

It wasn't because Shizuru was actually homeless or anything! It was only because she decided on transferring to her the prestigious school, Fuuka Academy. Although she was already in her third year, it was the best school to go to if one wanted to get into Fuuka University. Just who would have thought that she have gotten such bad luck, her luggage and all her belongings she have brought with her to be stolen right under her nose!

This is the last time she trust a stranger to watch her stuff.

Shizuru let out a sigh. She couldn't just go back to her parents and bother them about such a thing. She was already an adult! There was no need to cry back home to mommy and daddy.

...Although crying back home to them did sound appealing.

No!

No she couldn't do that! She will never hear the end of it from her father about how this brought shame to the family name and such of how she should have just stayed studying in Kyoto. Besides...she had no money for the train fare back home...

Who would have thought being independent was so difficult? Or perhaps it was being unlucky that was making being independent difficult.

What worse is that...boarding for Fuuka Academy was...well...to say the least...

Not free.

The elderly woman next to her was humming, apparently without a care in the world while still scattering the seeds for the birds.

"Ara..." Shizuru licked her lips, she haven't really eaten anything just yet...but just maybe...

"Obaa-han, may I bother you as to take a handful of seeds? It looks quite enjoyable feeding the birds."

The old lady nodded, passing the bag to Shizuru.

"Ookin-Ara! What is that?!" She pointed at the other direction, the old woman's gaze following.

"Eh, what?"

As the old woman was distracted, Shizuru grabbed a fistful of the seeds and shoved it in her mouth.

"I don't see anything." The old lady looked back, a little surprised and confused as to why the young woman was suddenly gagging with disgust as she passed the bag back to the old lady.

"M-My mistake...I must be going now." She quickly stood up, gathering the newspapers that was laid scattered on the bench and stalked off.

'Trail-mixed seeds...and I'm certain I tasted a Lima bean mixed in it...ick.'

At least it filled her belly.

'Grrrrrroooowwwwwllllll...'

...For a few seconds.

"If only I could find an easy job that will also provide some sort of housing of sorts." She fanned herself with the newspaper, "But where would I find such a job?" She stopped when a certain ad caught her eyes. "Ara?"

"Hiring 24/7 Babysitter. High pay and will provide housing. Please contact this number..."

"Oh...well now. That was lucky of me." She scanned the newspaper. "Kuga residence? The famous scientist?"

Of course. A scientist who would be much to busy to care for her young daughter. Alyssa, was it? It was very strange how they looked nothing alike. Perhaps she have inherited most of her traits from her father.

Hm...it mattered not to Shizuru. This was definitely a sign!

Take the job!

All you have to do is take care of the young Alyssa child which shouldn't be all that difficult.

Although Shizuru never really took care of a child before. A hamster counted though, right? Should be the same...

She took very good care of her hamster! Course it did ran away...at least that was what her mother informed her when she had came back from her school camping trip. Oh...how she misses those chubby furry cheeks and how it would always try and wiggle free from her gentle grip...

Ahem.

Shizuru glanced at the newspaper once again to look up the location.

The address was nearby where she was at too! Oh this certainly was a sign! A very good sign!

Time to put on that Fujino charm and get the job!

First off to get clean up though!

Her eyes glanced away from the ad towards where many kids were playing around near a sprinkler.

Tempting as it looked...she'll need a dryer.

Her eyes glanced towards a man who was hoisting a leaf-blower, blowing away leaves.

"..."

Perhaps...not.

Deciding that doing something like that would only establish the fact she was indeed a homeless, and it may possibly ruin her hair...she made her way down the road, following the directions given to her by any nearby pedestrians finally reaching her destination and standing before a large iron gate locking out any intruders from the three-story house that stood behind it. A large German Shepherd padding forward, pushing his muzzle through the gate and licking the air before Shizuru, as if asking to be pet.

"Arara...aren't you a...cute little puppy." She said in a soft voice, petting the dog and hoping her hand would stay intact.

The dog licked her hand, tail wagging.

Either he was a very gentle dog...or he was merely tasting her...Shizuru was getting a tad afraid.

He's still licking.

And licking...

...And licking...

He's licking the skin off of her! The dog is going to lick her to the bone!

He's probably thinking what a tasty stupid woman this is, letting him taste her. If she pulls her hand back would that aggravate the dog? Would he be angry and bulldoze through the iron gate and sink his fangs into her flesh?

Okay...that probably wouldn't happen...would it?

"State your business, please."

Shizuru jumped, pulling her hand back. The dog only stood there, wagging his tail and looking at her happily.

"I repeat, please state your business."

Is the dog talking to her?

"Ara...um...what a smart doggy you are!"

"...Please speak into the speaker by the wall."

Shizuru glanced at the speaker that was imbedded in the wall next to the gate. "Oh..." She blushed before coughing and clearing her throat.

"I'm here to apply for the position of the job of...um..." She looked at the paper "24/7 babysitter."

"Understood. Proceed. Duran-chan will lead you." The voice ended with a static and the gate swung open. The dog happily trotting up to Shizuru and circling around her, as if inspecting her. He then walked off, glancing over his shoulder as if waiting for Shizuru to follow. The chestnut girl blinked, her eyebrow raised as she took a step forward; watching as the dog started walking off again, looking back as if making sure she was following.

"...Okay then...lead the way, Duran-san..." She said as she followed the dog down the garden towards the house that hopefully, if she gets the job, would be her home.


Author's Blabbering: Another AU story. Woot woot.

I was just laying on my bed, minding my own business, when my brain decided to whisper to me...

"Let's make a Mai-Hime AU slice of life story with Shizuru as a babysitter!"

So yeahhhhh... *cough*

I noticed a lot of AU stories where Natsuki is all rainbows and everyone is a-okay with that...Pfft. Decided to try and take a more realistic and direct approach with her personality. AKA, Natsuki is so far deep in the closet she reached Narnia and found her Christmas gifts. She just doesn't know it herself.

Not sure just how far this will go, but hopefully you'll enjoy it.

Criticisms are nice. Reviews too. One worded reviews are well...

Let's just say I appreciate your effort in taking the time to review, but please at least put a bit more effort in writing a review that has more than 5 words. It makes me feel as though you didn't bother to even read the story and you're just giving me a pity review.


RRWhitey signing out!