Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime..I wish..but I don't..
The next, nearing the time they had later set for the date, drew close. Mai stepped out of the bathroom, with a towel wrapped around her, as she walked to her closet. Mikoto sat silently on the bed and watched as Mai searched for the right thing to wear. "Are we going somewhere?" Mikoto tilted her head to the side.
Mai looked back, holding a shirt she had picked out. "Uh..well..I'm going somewhere. I need you to stay here and watch the place alright?"
"I want to go with Mai!" She hopped off the bed, throwing her arms around her waist.
Mai gently pried Mikoto's arms away from her. "I'm sorry Mikoto, I have to go, by myself today."
"Mai have to work?" Mikoto asked, standing an arm's length away.
Mai thought about it, but in the end she couldn't lie to her. "No, I'm just going to see Tate for a little bit. That's all, I'll be back for in time to make you supper okay?" She rubbed Mikoto's head. "I'll make you anything you want."
Mikoto broke into a big grin and jumped at Mai, taking her down. "Mi..Mikoto.." Mikoto sat on top of her for a moment, then buried her face in Mai's busty chest. Mai being use to it, just rested her hand on top of the wild girl's head. "I have to get up Mikoto."
Mikoto rolled off to the side, laying down beside Mai, before she started getting up. Once Mai got up, she dropped her towel and pulled on her shirt. She began looking for a skirt. When she heard someone knocking. "Mikoto, go get that please."
Mikoto rushed off to the door, and pulled it open. There stood a bashful coworker of Mai. "Ah..he..hello Mikoto. Is Mai around?"
Mai looked back. "Oh, hey Akane! I'll be there in a little bit."
"Oh, don't rush on my account." She looked around outside.
After finding a skirt to put on, Mai walked to the door carrying her purse. Akane looked surprised. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Yeah." The orange haired teen gave a faint smile.
"Oh?" Akane looked down, and started fidgeting. "Well, I just wanted to ask if you could work for me."
"I can't tonight. I'm sorry." Mai looked down.
Akane shot her head up. "Oh no, it's not for tonight. It's next week." Her face started turning pink. "It's me and Kazuya's anniversary."
"Oh really? Hold on." Mai turned back inside. "Mikoto, I'm going to leave now. Watch the place alright?" Mikoto nodded and sat on the bed, crossing her legs. Mai smiled a little and closed the door.
"You never told me where you were going, Mai."
"Oh? I didn't?" She tapped her forehead. "I'm going out with Tate tonight."
Akane's face lit up. "You and Tate? That's wonderful! I knew it would be matter of time." she smiled softly. "I'm happy for you two."
Mai gave a nervous laugh and rubbed her head a little. "Thank you, Akane." She tightened her grip on her purse.
Akane noticed. "You don't need to be so nervous." She folded her hands behind her back.
"This is my first date ever."
Akane gasped. "No way. A girl as beautiful as you, this can't be your first date."
Mai's face started turning a shade of red. "I..I've..never really..had the chance before. Because I..to take care of my brother." She gave a light sigh.
The smaller girl started waving her hand franticly. "I'm so sorry..I shouldn't have asked or said anything."
Mai shook her orange hair. "No, don't worry about it." She smiled over at Akane, who smiled back. "So, what are doing today?"
"I..me..and..Kazuya and I are going on a date as well."
"Wha..what? You both got the day off? I'm not suppose to work am I?" Mai thought back to when she was suppose to work.
"No no, no one worked today for some reason." Akane scratched her head.
Mai nodded and looked back at the closed door, thinking about Mikoto.
They walked together until they made it to the school. Mai stopped in front of the school and looked at it. "I'll see you around, alright Akane?"
"Alright." She walked off as Mai rushed off towards the school.
Mai ran inside, and looked around for the Student council. "Ah..where is it?" She stopped when she saw Yukino walking down the hall, looking at some papers. "Yukino!"
Yukino looked up, and pushed her glasses up. "Oh, hello Mai." she looked around. "Where's Mikoto?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
Yukino gasped and covered her mouth. "Nothing happened to her did it? She isn't lost again, is she?"
Mai gave a little laugh. "No no, she's fine. I..well..I just left her by herself in our room. I was wondering if you could keep her company for a while..until I got back."
Yukino nodded. "Alright. I just got out of a student council meeting."
Mai started running back outside , waving to Yukino. "Thank you Yukino!" Yukino waved, knowing that Mai wasn't going to be able to see it.
Mai ran out and took a deep breath. She set out towards the place that they had planned to meet. Once she got there, she looked around for her blond hair date. He was no where to be found. "Geez, he's late. Where could he be?" She huffed as she crossed her arms. She continued standing for about five minutes. "I wish there was a clock around here." She said under her breath as she sat down on a bench and closed her eyes.
"Geez. I didn't think I was that late." Hearing her date's voice, her eyes flew open, to see him smiling over her.
"Tate! Oh..I wasn't asleep. I just closed my eyes a little." She stood up. She gave him a gentle smile as she moved around the bench to him. "So, what do you have planned?"
He made a gesture for her to walk with him. She started walking beside him. "Well, I know it's cliché, but I was thinking of dinner and a movie."
"That sounds great." She hugged his arm lightly.
Tate looked down her. 'She so cute! I didn't think she was this cute' His face started turning a light shade of red, seeing Mai's low cut outfit she had picked out. He glanced away, when Mai turned her head towards him.
"So where is it we're going to eat?"
"Somewhere nice. I saw it a while back."
"Oh?" Mai's voice changing slightly, to a more playful tone. "So you thought you had me a while back huh? Had this planned for long?" She giggled, and playfully nudged him with her hip.
He smiled. She pulled him a little closer. His arm brushed against her breast, making his face even more red. This time she saw. "Are you sick?" She reached up and felt his forehead. "Oh my, you feel hot. Are you sure you want to keep going?"
"Ye..yeah..I'll be fine."
They started walking towards the resturant.
Mikoto sat on the floor, holding a her new practice sword she had received earlier that day. She would swing it down with a great force, almost breaking the wooden sword. She stopped and looked out the small window. 'Mai, hurry back Mai' Just as though her prayers were answered, there was a knock at the door. She dropped her fake sword and ran to the door. Once the door flew open, she was almost as happy. "Yukino!"
"Hi Mik..." She got cut off, by Mikoto when she jumped at her, knocking her down, into a hug.
"Yukino! I'm so happy, Yukino."
"It has been a while hasn't it?" She gently moved Mikoto off of her. "Mai asked me to come here, because she thought you were lonely." She brushed herself off.
"Mai is always thinking for me." She gave a sharp nod.
Yukino nodded in agreement. "You love her don't you?" She asked as she ushered Mikoto back inside.
"Yup! I love Mai." Mikoto smiled.
"She's lucky to have someone like you." Yukino smiled down at her and moved to the bed, with Mikoto beside her.
Mikoto gave another sharp nod. "I'll always protect Mai."
"Thanks good. You should always protect those you love."
Another sharp nod came from Mikoto. "I'll always protect Yukino too."
Yukino blushed a little. "Thank you Mikoto." She looked around. She never watched much tv, and she didn't think Mikoto did either, or that she had the attention span for watching it. She got off the bed. "Mikoto. Would you like to go for a walk."
Mikoto gave several quick nods, then ran over to the door, slipping on her shoes, followed by Yukino who did the same.
When Mai and Tate had made it the resturant, they stood around waiting for someone to seat them. Mai began looking around. It wasn't super fancy, but good enough giving the time Tate had to make up his mind on where to go. "It looks wonderful." Mai said as she looked over at Tate, who she had detached herself from. "Have you been here before?"
"No. It's a place I walk past every now and then." He rubbed his head, and wondered if the waiter was ever going to come.
"With Shioh right? I'm sure she's the one who pointed it out to you."
Tate looked as though to start to disagree with Mai, but gave up with a sigh. "Yeah."
"I thought so." Mai smiled as she saw the waiter walk to towards them.
"Follow me to your table." He lead them to their table, and handed them a menu. "Take your time." He walked away.
Mai began looking over the menu. "Everything here is so expensive." She looked up from the menu at Tate. "Are you sure you can afford this?"
He laughed it off. "Of course. I wouldn't ask you out here if I couldn't."
Mai smiled. "Alright." She looked back at her menu.
'Of course, this is going to almost wipe me out' His face dropping it's cheerful act, as it hid behind the menu.
The waiter came back. "I'm sorry for the wait, are you ready to order." He looked at their empty table. "Oh, I forgot to get you drinks as well. What would like to drink?"
Mai looked up from her menu. "I would like a water please."
Tate glanced over at the waiter. "The same for me."
The waiter nodded and wrote it down. "Are you ready to order?"
"The chicken." They said together. They looked at each other with a smile.
The waiter nodded, taking their menus and walked off
"I see, you picked the least expensive meal." Tate said teasingly.
"I did because I liked how it sounded, not because of the price." She gave him a smirk. "Beside, you chose it too."
"Yeah, because it was the cheapest thing on there."
Mai giggled. "So I guess it's a good thing I got the cheapest thing huh?"
He rubbed his head. "Haha..yeah." He picked up his glass and took a sip.
Mai looked around, feeling a little akward, for the fact that most of other people who ate here, was a little better dressed than her. "You know, any place would have done." She waved her hand in front, taking back her statement. "Okay, not any place. I wouldn't want to go some where super cheap, or go to my diner. Though." She put her hand on her chin. "I think it's closed today for some reason." she shrugged not being able to think of any reason why it would be closed.
Tate smiled watching Mai. ' I'm such a lucky guy. To think almost every guy would give anything to be here. If not, they have no clue what they're missing.'
Mai caught him watching her. "Is something wrong?" She reached up and touched her face. "Is something on my face."
Tate shook his, snapping out if day dreamy look. "Oh no, there's nothing on your face. I was just thinking."
"Oh." Mai smiled. Then looked down at the tablecloth. "What were you thinking about?"
"I'm surprised Mikoto didn't come with you." He laughed a little.
Mai gave an uneasy chuckle. "Yeah..I thought it would be a little harder. But I promised her I'd make her a great meal when I got back." Her mind began to wonder about what Mikoto and Yukino was doing. "Oh," she tapped her forehead. "I also had Yukino stay her, to keep her company so she wouldn't get into any trouble."
"You think of everything huh?"
"Yup, can't be to careful you know." She tilted her head to the side. "What about you and Shioh?"
Tate rose a blond eyebrow in response to the question. "What about us?"
"I mean. I know she loves you. But seeing as you're here. It must.." She trailed off with her words.
"Well, we have just been long time friends. I know how she feels, but." he shook his head. "Why are we talking about this even? We should be enjoying ourselves." He offered his date a kind smile. It grew even more when it was returned.
"Yeah. You're right." She raised her head, her eyes meeting his. Her kind smile, turned to a more embrassed smile. "Umm..you know..no one we know is around to disturb us..maybe we could.." she leaned forward.
Tate picked up the signal and leaned forward to her, but as he started reaching her inviting lips, the waiter came and sat their plates down, making them pull back, looking away from each other. "Here's your orders."
"Th..thank you." Mai stuttered out as the waiter walked away. They turned to their plates and started eating.
Yukino stared at the ground as she walked beside the energetic girl, who moved around her, unable to stay walking for very long. Yukino looked over at her and smile, seeing how the girl was happy. "Isn't it nice out Mikoto?"
Mikoto gave a few sharp nods. "It is!" She turned her head to face her friend.
Yukino took a deep breath and looked up the clouded sky. "I think it might rain though."
Mikoto hadn't heard what she had said, since her attention was a stray cat that she hadn't seen yet. With a flick of a tail, the cat took off. Mikoto started running after it. Yukino didn't have a chance to even grab at Mikoto. "Mikoto!" She took off after the wild girl. ' How can Mai keep up with her' She had remembered something she had seen a few times. They were holding hands. Was that reason why? To make sure Mikoto couldn't get away. Surely Mia had more control over Mikoto than that. Though.' She watched as the other girl got further ahead of her. She gave a sigh of defeat. 'She'll come back' Yukino started walking back to the dorms, when she saw Shioh walking hatefully away. Yukino felt the urge to follow, but didn't.
Mai and Tate finished with their meal and decided not have dessert. So Tate payed the bill and walked to his waiting date. They walked out and down the street. Mia looked up at cloudy sky. "How much longer until the movie?"
"Umm..that was shorter than expected so about an hour or so." He answer with a shrug.
Mai reached beside her and took his hand. "How about we skip the movie?"
Tate looked a little disappointed. "You want to go home already?"
She shook her head. "No, I just know this place I want to go."
His heart leap with joy. Though he decided to play it cool. "Oh? Where is this place."
Mai looked over at him with a grin. "It's a secret."
He smiled and followed her.
They decided to walk instead of taking the bus. After a long walk, they made it park. The park where Mai had her first break down in front of Tate, the park where Mai heart was hurt seeing Tate kissing the manipulator. She walked over and sat on a swing. She patted the another beside her, encourging him to set next to her.
"This is your secret place?" He asked moving to the swing.
"I just like coming here, when I have a problem or just need some time alone." She started swinging.
"So you decided to bring me here." He smiled and sat down.
"Yeah. I know it's probably childish of me, coming here. But I don't care, I like it here. I..I feel safe.." Her mind wondered to the one time she was hurt here, but tried shaking it off. "Tate?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell me. Do you really just think of Shioh as friend. You have no romantic feeling for her at all?"
"Wha..what?" He was shocked of such a question. "I thought we already talked about that? Of course I don't. She a lot younger than me."
"Only a couple of years." She glanced away.
"What's gotten into you?" Tate stood up. "did you bring me here to ask about her?"
"No." She stopped, her feet sitting lifelessly on the ground, her head hanging down. "I..I just wanted to make sure." She stood up. "Before I feel in love with someone, who couldn't love me back." She moved to him and wrapped her arms around him, putting her head against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her. "I wouldn't love anyone else."
Mai smiled softly. "That's good." Her cheerful self coming back. "I'd kick your butt if you cheated on me." She pumped her arm in the air.
Tate smiled, seeing her come back around.. "As if, you know you couldn't win." she grinned pushed him playfully.
Shioh muttered to herself as she walked, with her head hanging down. "I can't believe. He left with her. He went out with..with..her..What's so great about her!" She put her hand on her own breast. "If only I were a bigger. Then I would get his attention." She shook her head. That wasn't going to happen, at least not for a while. That's why she was coming here.
She stepped up to big doors. Taking a deep breath, she pulled one open. She walked into the room, where pews filled the room and alter up front. Near the alter two "nuns" stood in front of a girl who was kneeling in front of them.
"If you have a problem and you think you did something wrong, then go confess them." the red haired nun gestured to a confession booth. "If not, then don't waste our time."
The kneeling girl nodded and stood up walking to the confessional booth, followed by the robotic nun. Shioh let out her breath. "Nao!"
Nao's head shifted to Shioh, her arms crossed "It's Sister Nao to you. And what do you want?"
Shioh lowered head, then looked up to meet Nao's gaze. " I want your help."
Nao scoffed. "For what?"
"To, to win over Tate. Teach me everything you know about seducing men." Her eyes no longer able to meet her gaze.
A/N: Haha..what did you think. I tried my hand at a cliffhanger ending. Just because I "paired" Mai and Tate, doesn't mean it's over. No no, not by a long shot. I still have plenty up my sleeve. I hope everyone enjoyed it this ridiculously long chapter. It might take a while to get a new chapter up, college and all. Be patient with me please. Anyways R&R please
