I just want to be with you.
Chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai Hime. Sunrise does.
Thank you to all the kind readers that reviewed for me. It really made me feel all warm inside. Bear hugs for all of you. With your support, I'll continue this story.
Hearing Natsuki's voice, Shizuru breaks out of her trance. Shizuru looks up and gazes at Natsuki's eyes sadly.
"Kannin na Natsuki. It seems I was daydreaming. It's nothing, let's go"
Shizuru looks away from Natsuki but they walk side by side
Natsuki's POV
What in the world is wrong with her? Her hands are cold, she's sweating and she has 'that' sad look she's had on all night. And she expects me to believe that she's okay? Damn it! I hate this. Why can't she tell the truth for once? She's been avoiding me the whole night. This is annoying!!
Shizuru's POV
It hurts. The memory of what happened that night hurts. That looks on Natsuki's face when I tried to touch her. It hurts so much that I can't bear to go through it again. Remembering what has happened since that night, what I have done with these hands, I wonder if I can keep on being by Natsuki's side. In this hopeless love that I have no chance of winning, it's better if I keep my distance from her. It will be better for the both of us. I must never let my mask fall again. Then again, my mask is at it's weakest in front of her. I feel like I will break down whenever she looks at me.
After walking in silence a while, they reach Natsuki's dorm. There is an awkward silence between them. Both of them are looking at the ground. Finally Shizuru gives up and decides to take her leave.
"Well goodnight Natsuki. Hope you dream of me." teases Shizuru before turning to walk away.
"Shizuru!"
Natsuki suddenly calls out. A surprised Shizuru stops in her tracks and looks at a blushing Natsuki.
"Yes?"
"Are you free tomorrow?"
Keeping a calm face (although her heart is actually beating really fast) Shizuru answers.
"Ara, ara. What if I am? Is there something I can help you with? Homework?"
"Go out with me tomorrow."
If Shizuru was surprised she did not show it.
"What do you plan to do?"
"Shopping. It's been a while since I've seen you."
"Ara,ara. Does Natsuki miss me? If that's the case, I would gladly join you tomorrow."
"SHIZURU!!..well.I.I do miss you a bit."Natsuki blushes a darker shade of red.
Shizuru blushes a bit because she did not expect Natsuki to say that she missed Shizuru. Of course Natsuki did not see this because she was dealing with her own blushing face.
"I'll see you tomorrow then, Shizuru. At 10 am at the shopping district."
"Okay, Natsuki." Shizuru turned and left quickly leaving a blushing Natsuki behind.
Natsuki's POV
That silence was killing me!! I don't want to see a glum Shizuru so I just had to say something. Gah, of all of the reasons to ask her out…shopping? Why didn't I say go for a walk or a movie. What am I supposed to buy? Lingerie? Clothes? I've never gone out shopping with anyone for fun before. How am I supposed to act? What am I supposed to do? Now you've done it Natsuki. You've dug your own grave.
Shizuru's POV
That sure surprised me! That took all of my will power to stay calm. I felt like I was gonna break down. I didn't want to leave Natsuki yet, so I just stood there. I didn't think she would invite me out. Wait…is this a date? Oh My God! I believe it is. I'M GOING ON A DATE WITH NATSUKI! My heart is beating so fast. Calm down! Breathe breath! Hmm, I wonder what we are going to do tomorrow.
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The next day,
A certain blue haired girl is walking calmly towards the shopping district. Many bystanders are gaping at Natsuki. From the many bystanders's view the girl wearing the white sleeveless turtleneck and black jeans is a goddess.
"She would look even more heavenly if she lets her hair down", one thought.
"I wonder if she would date me if I asked her out", thought another.
The blue haired girl who had her hair tied behind came to a stop and her calm expression changed into one that could turn water into ice. Her spectators suddenly felt a chill down their spine and immediately averted their gaze elsewhere. What made this blue haired goddess angry was the sight in front of her. A certain brunette girl wearing a pink short sleeved blouse and black skirt was surrounded by a few boys who thought they might get lucky and mustered the courage to ask out the brunette girl out for a date.
"Hey miss, we noticed you've been her for quite a while now and we were wondering if you got stood up or something. Sooo, why not forget that jerk and go out with us? We promise to be nice." said the ringleader of the group with a smirk on his face.
As if I would go out with a bunch of kids who act like they are all high and mighty just because they are in a group. And who are you to call Natsuki a JERK? She may be a bit late…one hour fifteen minutes and thirty seconds late…to be exact but she isn't a jerk. She's the cutest, nicest girl one ever laid eyes on. These boys are really getting on my nerves. I better lose them quickly before Natsuki shows up or else…. thought Shizuru with her calm expression (even though she was really thinking of which way to beat them up quickly)
Taking Shizuru's silence as a yes (The nerve of this boy!!), the boy tried to reach for Shizuru's hand. He felt a strong grip on his wrist.
"What the.."
He turned to look around and his words was cut short when he saw a devil (or so he thought)
"Who do you think you are touching Shizuru with those dirty hands!?!" said a really, really angry Natsuki. If one would look closely, one really could see a dark shadow emerging from behind her.
…Natsuki would beat them up…thought an amused Shizuru.
Seeing the apparition of a Devil in front of him, the boy turned and ran for his life. His friends were bewildered but seeing Natsuki turning her gaze towards them decided to join their leader as fast as they could.
"How dare they even think of hitting on you, I really should chase after them"
"Ara, Natsuki is really possessive of me" said Shizuru with a smirk on her face.
Natsuki turned tomato red at this.
"SHIZURU!! It's because your all alone looking quite helpless that they dare to hit on you."
"And whose fault is that Natsuki? You were late."
"Late? What are you talking about? I came early, look at my watch, its 9 am"
"It's not 9 am Natsuki. It's 11.20 now." Shizuru shows her watch and takes out her cellphone. "Even my cellphone shows 11.20"
"No..no way!! I..I thought I was early…was gonna buy breakfast while waiting for you…" said Natsuki with a defeated look on her face. She takes out her cellphone just to check if what Shizuru says is true. "Your right…"
To add insult to Natsuki's defeat, her stomach chose that moment to cry out in protest loudly. Shizuru couldn't hold back any longer and started laughing. Natsuki just turned a bright tomato red and was speechless.
Natsuki is too cute. "Let's go have a bite Natsuki, wait, let's have lunch. You're buying of course."
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They walked amongst the many shops in the shopping district looking for one to have lunch.
"What do you want to eat Natsuki?"
"Well, since we're having lunch, fast food is out the picture."
"No way! I thought you loved fast food as much as you loved mayonnaise."
"Well that is true, wait! No, that isn't true! I love mayonnaise more than I love fast food."
"Okay…and why is fast food out of the question?"
"You don't like fast food. And I'll just get hungry again as soon as I finish eating it. Let's look for a more filling choice"
Natsuki was busy looking all over for a suitable restaurant that she didn't notice the blush on Shizuru's face.
Whenever I think that you couldn't surprise me, there you go and surprise me. I never thought that you would remember what I told you so long ago. You really are full of surprises Natsuki.
A young girl who has just bought some ice-cream starts running.
"Hey, be careful where you're going Tohru! You just might…"
The girl runs into Natsuki and the ice –cream falls and stains Natsuki's pants.
"…run into someone…"
The little girl starts to cry. Her parents run up to her.
"I'm so sorry Tohru ran into you," said the father.
"Oh dear, your nice black pants are dirty now," said the mother. "Here, let me wipe of that stain for you! Eh, it got worse, Katsuya!!!"
"Kyoko, what have done!!"
"It's okay, really! I don't mind, these pants aren't new or anything." Natsuki tried to explain. She knelt down and tried to calm the crying girl.
"Don't cry. It's okay now. Would you like another ice-cream?"
"Yes please."
Natsuki bought a new ice-cream for the girl and hurried away from the family before they could apologise anymore.
"What a funny family."
Natsuki really is kind. I was not expecting that response. I was thinking more of a 'yakuza style response'.
"Shizuru, let's eat here!'
"Here!?!"
To be continued…
A/N : I wonder if you noticed the cameo appearance