Thank you everyone. Very much. (For various reasons.)
Just to make some things clear, this fic is AU. So it has nothing to do with the series.

Not beta'd. Gah. Stupid email account doesn't let me send emails.
Meh. A technician guy should be coming around soon to rescue my laptop.


Go home, Natsuki

I fear no fate, for you are my fate, my sweet.

Day by day Natsuki found herself taking detours on her way to classes.

Why?

The answer was simple. Shizuru.
She would wander around the school just to catch a glimpse of the girl who made her heart beat crazily.

During her after-school-hours duties, cleaning the boardroom she'd hope that maybe one day, she'll walk into the room one day after school and find Shizuru sitting behind her desk elegantly, waiting for her.

Sigh.

Natsuki was daydreaming of Shizuru. Again.

With everything back in its normal state, Natsuki's job for the night was completed. Entirely exhausted, she plopped down onto a chair and rested her forehead down on the cool surface of the table.

Although it felt like a whole hour had passed, the night was still young. It was a Friday night, and the school was most definitely deserted apart from the odd cleaner or two.

Natsuki closed her eyes and let her mind relax. She felt sick. Not physically. Emotionally. There was something at the back of her head that was making her feel anxious. And she just couldn't put her finger on it. (1)

Sighing heavily, Natsuki stood up. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she walked to the door. As she reached out for the door handle, the handle on its own started to twist. Natsuki took a hesitant step backwards. The door slowly creaked open, Natsuki watched curiously.

Soon a very beautiful brunette came into her view. Natsuki felt bliss.

Shizuru was clearly not expecting someone to be on the other side of the door. A small "oh" escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Natsuki dropped her eyes down the floor. She felt awkward.

"Has Kuga-san seen my paper work?" Inquired Shizuru.

"Yeah, I left it on your desk." Replied Natsuki flatly.

"Thank you."

Natsuki nodded in acknowledgement. "Sure." She replied, lifting her eyes up to Shizuru's.

Shizuru looked away before Natsuki could hold her gaze.
There was something so intimidating about Natsuki's emerald eyes that made Shizuru break her gaze.

Natsuki caught Shizuru glance away before their eyes could meet. Her hands automatically clenched up into fists, as Shizuru turned her back on her. The blue haired teen cast Shizuru's back one last hurt look before making her way out her room.

Once she stepped out into the hallway, she marched forward.

Her footsteps grew faster.
Her heart thumped erratically within chest.

Soon her footsteps matched the rhythm of her beating heart as she sprinted down hallways.

She didn't know where she was running. She just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.

Natsuki's aching heart started to take its effect on her. Her eyes stung from trying to block tears from spilling out.
As she picked up her pace she sprinted across the school grounds to the exit gates. The image of Shizuru dismissing her presence like she was nobody made her legs move faster.

From the boardroom windows, Shizuru watched Natsuki run like a angered wolf.

Where are you running to... Natsuki?

--

Natsuki gasped in alarm as she entered the boardroom and found Shizuru sitting behind her desk. "I-uh-um..." She abruptly closed her mouth when she noticed Shizuru's eyes were closed. The young school council president had gracefully fallen asleep after a short meeting with her fellow peers.

All of a sudden, Natsuki found herself in a dilemma.
Should she wake up Shizuru? Classes had just ended. All students were leaving to go home.
Or leave her be? She did look exhausted...

Natsuki choose not to disturb Shizuru, the brunette looked like she needed some rest.

Hesitantly Natsuki took small steps closer to Shizuru, she watched the pretty crimson eyed girl sleep peacefully. There was something about that sight that made Natsuki's pulse quicken.
She was soon standing directly in front of the school council president. Crouching down, she brought her face closer to Shizuru's and brushed brown locks of hair out Shizuru's tempting face.

Out of the blue, Shizuru snapped her eyes open. She found herself directly face-to-face with the school's biggest delinquent, Natsuki Kuga. She didn't flinch nor move away from the darker haired girl. She's harmless...

Natsuki jumped away, her foot tripped up over a chair as she stumbled away. "S-sorry, I-I- there was something in your hair! I didn't mean to disturb you."

Shizuru dropped her eyes down to the floor and smiled softly, "It's fine. Has Kuga-san come to carry out her cleaning duties?"

"Yeah." Replied Natsuki curiously, wondering why on earth Shizuru wasn't making a big deal.

"Ara, then I'll be out of Kuga-san's way." Shizuru picked up her belongings and gracefully walked out of the room.

Natsuki's emerald eyes followed Shizuru's body until she was out of her sight. Letting out a heavy sigh, Natsuki pulled her out a chair and sunk down into it.

Why won't you even look at me Shizuru?
Do I repulse you?

--

Mai fumbled with the chop sticks in her hands, her head was temporarily in another world.

"Mai... MAI!" Yelled Natsuki, causing Mai to shatter out of her reverie.

"Y-es?"

Natsuki's eyes softened instantly, her mouth slowly grew into warm smile.

"Are you ok? You seem to be really out of it today."

Mai nodded and smiled sweetly back at Natsuki, she felt her heart thump harder as the dreaded conversation she had planned out in her head replayed back in her mind.

Out of nowhere Natsuki's cold hands reached out for her forehead, cool thin fingers pressed themselves against her forehead. All her existing thoughts instantly flew out of her mind.

"No you're not." Natsuki said, picking up Mai's belongings.

"S-sorry?" Spluttered Mai.

"You're not well Mai. Come with me, we're going to the nurse's office." Before Mai could get another word out, Natsuki coiled one of Mai's arms around her neck and half carried her to the nurse's office.

As they slowly stumbled their way to the office, Mai's condition grew worse, she could no longer hold herself up.

Natsuki grunted in discomforted as she heaved her way down the hallway. Out of nowhere Shizuru walked out of a classroom and froze in her spot when her eyes fell onto the sight of Natsuki carrying Mai. Her face wore an expression of worry, before she could offer any help Natsuki tightened her grip on Mai and rushed into the nurse's office.

Upon reaching the office, Natsuki laid Mai's fragile body down on the small bed. "Midori sensei, it's Mai again." Panted Natsuki, as she wiped the sweat off her face with the back of her wrist.

"The usual?" Replied a bespectacled woman, appearing from behind the curtain nets in her office.

"Yeah..." Natsuki cast Mai's pale face a sad smile. "She's not dealing with Takumi's condition very well. I don't think she's eaten in the past few days."

"Probably hasn't a proper night's rest either. How is little Takumi?"

"Not well Sensei. He's been out for 3 whole days, the hospital nurse's don't tell us much." Before Midori could comfort the young teen, Natsuki spun around and ran away from her sight as if the devil was on her tail.

Stop running away Natsuki...

--

"Did you do it?" Shizuru asked softly. (2)

"Yes." Replied Natsuki quietly.

"You've been excluded for 3 days. Go home, Natsuki."

Natsuki bowed her head in sad defeat as she left the boardroom.

Take notice of me Shizuru.

--

"Natsuki...?" Whispered Mai into the darkness.

"Yeah?" Replied a gruff voice.

"What happened?"

"You fainted again..."

"T-takumi?"

"I check up on him a couple of hours ago. He is still in the same condition."

"What's the time?"

"3am. Go back to sleep. Or do you need to eat something."

Mai weakly reached out a hand for Natsuki, the darker haired girl held onto Mai's hand. "Natsuki, I can't have you looking out for me all the time."

"What are you talking about?" Natsuki's voice sounded pained. "You're always there for me, it's time I did a little for you. Don't worry, I'll look after you now."

A single tear rolled down Mai's cheeks, "Thank you so much."

"That's what best friends are for. And anyways, I'm watching over you because I can't get any sleep. I'd have been asleep a while ago if I hadn't been having all these sleepless nights for the past few weeks."

Mai patted the empty space beside her, "Come, have a lie down and tell me what's bothering you."

Mai watched Natsuki crawl onto the bed and lie down, her eyes looked tired. "I've been excluded... for 3 days."

Mai gasped. "Oh Natsuki, what have you done..."

I think... I'm falling in love...

--

Mai wrapped her arms around Natsuki's shoulders and rested her head down on Natsuki's torso. Her eyelids grew heavy with fatigue. "Mmmph... Natsuki... You're always getting into trouble..." (3)

Natsuki stared up at the ceiling, she exhaled uneasily, "I want her to notice me, Mai. I don't know what's making me act like this... I-I only just want her attention."

Mai's eyes snapped open, "Who?"

Natsuki chuckled, "Go to sleep. I'm not telling you."

Mai closed her eyes, a small smile graced her lips. "I think I know who it is. But I'm still going to get her name out of you..." Slowly the orange haired girl dozed off asleep.

"Shizuru... She's the one, Mai." Natsuki peeled Mai's arms off herself and carefully extracted herself from the bed. Gathering up her belongings, Natsuki walked out of Mai's apartment into the dark cold night.

Be gentle with me... I bruise easily.


(1) That feeling of falling in love for the very first time. Is anyone else able to relate to it? It's not all butterflies and singing birds, it's a real sickening feeling that leaves you feeling anxious most of the time. And... you feel like throwing up just to relieve that horrible feeling. Kinda explains why people loose their appetites when they've got a bad case of "Life's a bitch, and oh I'm in love."

(2) I didn't specify exactly what happened here. But basically Natsuki did something again to vent her anger and frustration.

(3) They didn't just have sex if that's what your thinking. XDDDD They are just lying in bed, and talking about random stuff - like what best friends do.


If you have any questions just pop me a question.

Until next time, farewell.