Chapter 1 - Encounter
"It must be done, Shizuru."
"It was an arrangement made before birth."
Those repetitive lines occupied the brunette's mind as her body moved leisurely yet elegantly under the night sky. To where, she doesn't know; even her life was a blur.
"What life?" she chucked silently to herself.
Life was full of choices, she once thought.
But she, Shizuru Fujino, sole heir of the Fujino Corp, never had any choices, for they were made and planned thoroughly by her loving father.
Even marriage.
She wanted to refuse and to talk some sense into that loving father of hers, but she couldn't. It wasn't in her nature to disobey her family.
There are many things she'd wanted to do and to try but was never given the opportunity to.
"Please understand Shizuru, it's not possible to breach it off."
She sighed. She'd wished she wouldn't understand so she can easily reject that absurd proposal placed upon her.
Stopping abruptly, she gazed aimlessly at the bright 24 hours convenient store. She can hear laughter and giggles from those around her. Life just wasn't fair.
She sighed again.
In a month, she must be prepared for an engagement party, to someone whom she'd never seen or heard of.
A month left...
A month left of freedom, yet it meant nothing.
Perhaps do something drastic...something exciting, she thought, only to laugh at the idea.
Maybe out of boredom or hidden anger, she forcefully kicked the empty can of soda into the air.
It felt good to release the tension, the stress and by doing something she'd never done before, even if momentarily.
"Yup that felt-" she was cut off by a loud 'ow' followed by a loud thud and a 'shit'.
"My baby...my baby..." she heard a soft horrible cried emitting from the direction where the can had flown.
Picking up her pace, she rapidly walked over to the source of the cry.
--
"My baby...." the girl cried, as her hand gently rubs the newly made scratch mark on her bike."YOU..." she hissed, pointing her index to the approaching girl. "You....you're..." beautiful. All anger vanished when her eyes captured the image of beauty, she'd never seen. Beautiful brown hair, swaying along with the wind as her body elegantly moved towards her. Body of a goddess and her red eyes; eyes filled with worries, fears, and sadness.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to." Shiruzu bowed her head slightly, eyes flicking apologetically.
Silence.
"Are you okay?" the brunette asked worriedly from the lack of respond.
Removing her hungrily gaze from the unknown girl, she'd shifted them down to her baby. "Yeah...yeah, I'm okay." she hardly managed. Her throat seems dried and her hands were shaky, for reason unknown to her. It was so out of character, she'd noticed.
"I didn't mean to hit you. Really. I'm sorry." she apologized again.
"Is okay. Nothing that can't be fixed."
Silence.
Shizuru used the opportunity to take note of the short girl in front of her. She was dressed in a tight blue jean, a blue hoodie, and a black leather jacket. Face was half-covered by the hoodie, only revealing the bottom half: white creamy skin and a moist pink lip.
"You're cold" the biker stated as she removed her jacket, draping it over the taller girl.
If she wasn't reminded, she wouldn't have noticed it; her mind was numbed, along with her body.
But now, it felt nice and warm. A warm that was emitting from within.
And she smiled. A real smile, for the first time.
A hypnotizing smile to say, at least to the girl on the receiving end.
"Thanks, but wouldn't you be cold?" Shizuru asked.
"No." the shorter one responded, still trying hard to look elsewhere. Those eyes were mesmerizing, those emotions are raw; she knew staring in them were lose her in a whirlpool of warmth. It makes her forget her problems, her anger, and her purpose even for a slight second. Her purpose....my mayo! Her only reason to be here in the first place.
"I need to get something. Please wait." with that, she ran towards the convenient store in a fastest speed her legs can take. Please wait? Why would I tell her to wait...?
--
RINGGGGGGGG!
Startled, Shizuru searched for her phone, only to realize that she'd left it in her purse at her friend's place. Her hand reached into the left jacket pocket, pulling out a vibrating phone. Her eyes shifted from the phone to the entrance of the convenient store repeatedly, debating whether or not to answer it.
"Hello." she voiced, after pressing the answer key.
"Natsuki?"
"I'm sorry, but she isn't here right now. Would you like to leave a message?"
"...."
"Hello?"
"Then may I ask who you are?"
Shizuru wasn't sure how to reply. A friend? Stranger? How should I reply...?
Lucky for her, the owner of the phone had returned with a shopping bag in hand. Without a word being exchanged, Shizuru once again, smile apologetically at the shorter girl while handing her the phone.
"Hello?"
"Natsuki!."
"What do you want Nao? If you're calling me to remind me not to be late, you can just forget it. I won't be."
"No. I'm just calling you to inform you that you're on your own tonight. I can't make it."
"Let me guess, stalking again?" the girl chuckled.
"No, just some personal business I need to rid of. But then at least I know I won't feel guilty since it seems like you have company. Who might that lady be, Natsuki?" Even though on phone, Natsuki can sense the mocking and teasing tone.
"None of your business."
"Fine! Be that way! But remember to use protection ne. You're too young to be a mother." followed by a long lengthy laugh.
Although she knew it was a joke yet she couldn't help the blush forming on her pale cheeks.
Of course that didn't go un-noticed to Shizuru. So cute...
"Hush it Nao."
"Okay, okay. I must go now. Just remembered what I said! And remember....be gentle ne" again, followed by a long lengthy laugh.
Shaking her head, she'd flipped her phone closed. Sometimes, she'd wondered how she can deal with Nao and yet still remained sane. Perhaps a miracle.
Phone placed away, her attention shifted to the taller woman in front of her. She looks vulnerable...and sad. Natsuki might not be an expert at reading expressions; on contrary, she's as dense as a piece of log but she can sense a strong sadness aura from this woman. A part of her wanted to leave this woman, for it was not her business yet another part of her wanted to pull her into a hug for comfort, which she'd found it extremely odd. She was never a clingy person per se.
"I'm Shizuru. Shizuru Fujino." she'd finally decided to break the silent, by introducing herself.
"Natsuki Kuga." the girl responded. She wanted to say more and ask more, but to say what and to ask what was the problem. Natsuki was not a person who was gifted with any type of talent in the field of conversing, aside from expressing her anger that is, especially towards a specific redhead. But how she wished she had, especially in front of this unknown woman. What to do...what to do. I can't stand here all night. Nao had stood me up, leaving me a night of boredom, though not that I mind. But I can't leave Shizuru here like this. "Do you have anywhere that you would like to go? I can take you there." Natsuki asked only to be responded with a slow shake of the head. "Then perhaps, you can join me for a destination-less ride?"
Sadness vanished, replaced with hopes and excitement in her glistering eyes. "Really? I can?"
"Of course." Natsuki replied cheerfully. "Do you know how to put it on?" she asked even though her hands had securely placed the helmet on the taller woman's head. By doing so, she had given Shizuru the opportunity to gaze deep into her emerald orbs that are now visible to the eyes.
Beautiful, was all Shizuru can described. Watching intensively as the girl remove her hoodie, exposing her long silky blue hair only to have it quickly covered again with a matching helmet. Natsuki excitedly hopped onto her bike, patting the empty space behind her, an indication for Shizuru get on.
Shizuru was momentarily paralyzed. Tonight was no ordinary night; her first time kicking a can, her first time hitting someone with a can, and now her first on a motorcycle with a stranger who happened to get hurt by that can. It was thrilling; she couldn't rid those rising adrenaline.
"You place your hands here." Natsuki said, guiding Shizuru's hand with her own.
She doesn't need to be told twice. Her arms were securely wrapped around the waist of the blunette as the bike started to pick up its speed. She saw street lights; one by one, it flashes passed her eyes. The wind was stronger now than it was before, but it doesn't seem to matter. The warmth from the jacket, the warmth emitting from the driver was overwhelming, not even the wind can altered.
On this bike, she'd felt free. Something that she'd never felt before. All her life was structured based upon duty. Yes, she was given whatever she wanted: expensive cars, brand name clothing, and even endless ass-kissing, but yet she still felt empty like a shell, only pretty to look at.
Closing her eyes, she rested her head on Natsuki's shoulder. All sadness and all worries emanated from hers to the blowing wind. At least she can be herself now. Free and relax. Happy.
Contrary to her joyous adventure, the driver had suffered. Lack of concentration and constant blushing.
A/N
First attempt at ShizNat fanfic so go easy on my now :)
First chapter is up. Feel free to express your thought however you want. Comments and criticisms are welcome.