A/N: I would like to thank everyone that reviewed, made the story their favourite already as well as started to follow the story. I hope I meet your expectations. I'm new at all this. Please, don't mind the mistakes :P

I immensely loved to see all those positive reviews for this story and there is even one reviewer than mentioned one idea of mine ;) Please review some more! It gives me strength to write and also makes my day so much better (going through a rough patch right now)

Love

Sky Knight

Chapter 2: Heaven on Earth

Today, Shizuru Fujino was excited to go to school for the first time. You might be asking why the first time, I mean she is beautiful, well known, has a lot of fans, she is in the student council, you would expect school to be exciting everyday right? Well, wrong. She didn't want to be popular. The popularity had stuck to her as soon as she walked into that school for the first time and it kept on increasing everyday she stayed in the student council and the music club. It's like being a flame that attracts all kinds of moths. Yeah, moths. Those students around here were not her friends, just fans, content with being in her vicinity but never being her friend. It was because of them that she learnt how to put on a mask every time. Constant smile most of the time and poker face in other situations and people would never know what's going on in her head and heart. Yesterday though was different. It was the first time she had ever encountered Natsuki Kuga. The way the girl looked at her, it was different. No one had ever looked at her with fear, though it was understandable. The girl had just been assaulted so anyone close to her would scare her but it was something else that made her find Natsuki different. It was the sadness and helplessness buried into the emerald orbs that had looked at her own ruby ones with awe.

There was also the fact that Natsuki cried during her song. She had thought that the song would cheer the girl up, make her feel better but instead she cried. She wanted so badly to know why Natsuki cried and then ran away afterwards. Her curiosity was nagging her every minutes, making up different crazy possible explanations in her head but she knew it wouldn't be right to ask Natsuki for the reason so soon. She was sure though that she could get the girl to open up to her if she befriended her.

Hurrying to school, she couldn't contain her excitement. For the first time, there was a glow in her eyes but no one really noticed.

10 mins to Lunch Time

Shizuru sighed. She had been looking for Natsuki during the first break, even checking out the place where she found her bleeding yesterday but no such luck. Excusing herself out of her class with permission from the teacher (perks of being Student Council President, aka Kaichou), she walked to the Student Council Office. Another perk about being Kaichou was that she had access to the records and attendance of all the students. She didn't want to go through Natsuki's records, it didn't feel right. All she wanted to do was check if Natsuki came to school today.

'Maybe her ribs hurt too much and she decided to stay home. 'Thought Shizuru.

A few clicks on the laptop in front of her, typing out 'Natsuki Kuga', waiting for the computer to search for the class she was in, a few more clicks and voila! Damn, Natsuki was indeed absent. Realising she wouldn't see Natsuki today, she felt depressed. A few more clicks, she had the timetable of the young girl which she printed out. Folding it, she put it in her purse. She was going to exit the Student Council Office when the door opened and Reito appeared before her.

"Ara, what is Kanzaki-san doing here?" she asked.

"Classes are already over Shizuru, it is already lunch break. I came to look for you." Explained Reito.

"Can I ask why is Kanzaki-san looking for me?"

"To take you to have lunch with me, of course and please Shizuru, how many times do I have to tell you, call me Reito" he said, smiling his toothpaste smile.

"Ara, Kanzaki-san, I must apologise but I can't call you by your name and I would prefer if you do the same for me."

"Come on, Shizuru" approaching her till he backed her against the desk "it's time you stop playing hard to get. Be my girlfriend, we would make a great pair" he said, leaning to kiss her on the lips.

Pushing him away, Shizuru replied as politely as she could but inside she was annoyed "I'm sorry but I must decline." She said as she walked out of the office.

"One day, you'll be mine, Shizuru and you won't be able to do anything about it" he growled angrily in the empty room.

And for the rest of the day, Shizuru avoided Reito like the plague which pissed him off more than ever. No one avoided Reito Kanzaki, NO ONE!

Next Day

Today, Shizuru wasn't as excited as yesterday to go to school. What if Natsuki was absent today as well? Was she hurting a lot? Who was taking care of her? Shizuru couldn't help feeling worried after she had seen the sadness and pain in the green eyes of the blunette. She didn't want to get too excited to see Natsuki, only to have her hopes dashed as soon as she reached school. She even lagged behind when dressing up thus ending up reaching school right before classes started. Fortunately! It wouldn't look good if the Kaichou was late. Haruka Suzushiro, who was the Discipline Committee Captain, would never let her live it down. That girl would have hunted her down and screamed about discipline to her like a banshee and she was so not in a mood for that.

Hours passed and Shizuru was feeling more depressed than ever. She hadn't been able to go look for Natsuki during the first break as some teachers needed her, giving her work and asking for favours. Sometimes being Kaichou sucked big time. She hadn't even been able to go check if the girl was even present and right now she was waiting for the bell to ring to announce lunch break so she could do so.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG!

She dashed out of the class before any student or teacher could ask her for any favour. Let me tell you, no one had ever seen Shizuru go that fast EVER! Of course she wasn't running, that wouldn't be graceful. She is a Fujino, that pretty much explains everything. So she was going as fast as the definition 'graceful' allowed. Huh? You didn't know?! Yes, they do have speeding limits. Check out the book "Fujino Grace", chapter 17 "Speed Etiquette".

Soon she arrived in her office. Booting the laptop on her desk and putting in her login and password, she waited for the sign-in to the school systems.

'Come on! Faster! Wasn't this supposed to be latest technology?!'

As soon as the page was opened, she clicked on Class IV and scrolled to the 'K' part…

'Kuga…Kuga…come on'

Finding Kuga Natsuki, she saw "present" in the column for today. A smile came to her lips, so wide, it could have split her cheeks. Natsuki is here! Internally, she could see herself doing a dance. She rushed out of the office to go look for Natsuki.

No luck at all. Lunch break was nearly over and she still hadn't found Natsuki, not even underneath the cherry tree she had found her under, the other day. She had been stopped so many times by her fans, who first surrounded her, blocking her path and then started to follow her. She didn't even get time to eat. Depressed, Shizuru walked back to her next classes. She wasn't going to give up though; she was not one to accept defeat so easily.

Hours later, she already had a new plan. There was only 30 minutes till the end of school. Excusing herself out of class again, Shizuru checked out the paper where she had written Natsuki's timetable.

Hmm, Physics class. Room 137. Gotcha Natsuki! Grinned Shizuru while walking to the science wing.

Stopping right in front of Room 137, she knocked and was soon allowed entrance by the teacher inside.

"Miss Fujino, what is the purpose of your visit?" asked the Physics teacher.

"I apologise for the interruption of your class, Sensei but Natsuki Kuga is needed in the Student Council Room" replied Shizuru.

Natsuki was…well dozing on her table. Her ribs had hurt her all night, just like yesterday and she wasn't going to take the risk of taking more painkillers than prescribed thus she had trouble sleeping. Hearing her name, she jerked up and was shocked to see Shizuru there, even more shocked that she was being called to the Student Council Office by the Kaichou herself!

'What did I do? I was just sleeping, it's not that bad!' Panicked Natsuki 'is it about yesterday? Did she realise who I am? …. Reito! He must have told her to bring me to the Student Council Office to bully me again!'

She was so panicking inside that she didn't realise that the teacher had given permission to Shizuru to take her and that she was being led through the corridors by the said girl. She only snapped out of her panic trance when she heard a door close behind her and realised she was in the Student Council Office already. Looking around, she also realised that Reito was nowhere to be found.

Maybe he will come afterwards…Maybe Fujino-san wants to have a go at me first… the thought sent a blast of sadness through her heart and it flashed in her eyes it seems as Shizuru looked at her weirdly.

Ara, may I ask why is Natsuki so silent?" asked Shizuru.

"Ano…why did you bring me here?"

"I wanted to know how Natsuki is doing. Natsuki didn't come to school yesterday and I was worried"

"Huh? I'm… fine… How did you know I didn't come to school yesterday?" asked Natsuki suspiciously.

"I had been looking for Natsuki yesterday and I searched for Natsuki today as well" confessed Shizuru surprising Natsuki so much, her eyes went wide.

"Looking for..m..me? But why?"

"Ara, I didn't get to say goodbye to Natsuki after the music performance. Did she hate my performance so much that she ran away?" covering her face with her hands, Shizuru sobbed.

Hearing the sobbing sent Natsuki into another wave of panic "No! No! I loved it, it was… beautiful" said Natsuki, the last word whispered so low, Shizuru almost didn't hear it.

Seeing Shizuru smiling brightly with no trace of tears on her face, Natsuki felt herself relax… 'wait a minute, did I just get tricked?!'

"Ara, I am so happy that Natsuki loved my performance so much! But why didn't Natsuki stay to congratulate me?" asked Shizuru sadly.

"I didn't want to bother you. I loved your music, I loved your voice, I loved everything, and you are brilliant on that piano. I'm sorry if I offended you by disappearing. I didn't mean to…" replied Natsuki sincerely, blushing furiously. She was not used to complimenting people like that.

Moved beyond words, Shizuru smiled tenderly at the girl. No one had congratulated her for her music yesterday. All they said was that she was amazing, so beautiful and that they had amassed so much fund from the amount of people that came for her concert but that wasn't what she was projecting up there on the stage. She was delivering her music and only Natsuki had complimented her music, her voice.

"Natsuki will have to make it up to me then!" said Shizuru, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Wait..w..what?!" exclaimed Natsuki.

"I will forgive Natsuki if she agrees to spend every lunch break with me." It was a great deal and Shizuru knew it. Haha, she was brilliant!

"You…you want to spend lunch break…with…me?" whispered Natsuki, the concept itself baffling her. Why would someone want to spend lunch break with her, a cripple. Is that a joke? Was Shizuru making fun of her. Was Reito going to pop out from behind a table, laughing his ass off?

"Is this a joke?" she asked, anger filling up her head "Are you making fun of me?"

The tone in Natsuki's voice took Shizuru by surprise 'why is she angry? Maybe she doesn't like me' the thought made Shizuru sad.

"Is this so that you can make fun of the way I can't eat normally or do my stuff normally because my whole left arm is paralysed?!" shouted Natsuki, tears trailing down her cheeks. Having Shizuru make fun of her was so painful. She was the first person that ever helped her, Natsuki had thought that she was different but it seems she was wrong.

The shock that her words brought Shizuru was clearly shown in her face. That itself deflated all her anger and Natsuki realised that Shizuru hadn't known… 'She didn't know…oh my god, she didn't know'

"Nat…Natsuki?" choked Shizuru. Having heard what Natsuki said and seeing the tears streaming down pale cheeks had shocked her and sent a flash of searing pain to her heart. The pain reflected in the emerald orbs broke her heart. She hadn't known…

Natsuki, having realised that Shizuru hadn't known anything about her paralysed arm, felt the walls closing down on her. She was hyperventilating…. She felt suffocated and needed to get out. Turning and grasping the doorknob with her trembling hand, she flung the door open and ran as fast as she could…leaving a trail of sparking tears behind…

Shizuru, having realised that Natsuki had just fled from her recovered from her shock and took after the blunette, this time running for real, forgetting about grace and anything else. She had to find Natsuki. She looked everywhere for the girl, every second that she couldn't find her made her heart constrict and feel heavier. She was near tears herself, she had to find Natsuki. Having already gone through the empty school as classes were over, she ran outside in the cold. The chill in the air made her realise that she left her coat in her office but that wasn't important right now. Snow was falling from the sky, covering the ground and trees with a thicker coat of white. She ran through the slow descent of the snowflakes to the garden. Arriving at the cherry tree where she had found Natsuki the evening of the music performance, she heard sobbing and knew that the girl was behind the tree. Rounding the tree, the scene in front of her broke her restraint and she felt tears making their descent on her cheeks.

Natsuki was huddled behind the tree, her knees close to her chest, her left hand being held over her heart by her right hand as if trying to stop the pain from flowing out of the beating organ. A thin layer of snow was on her blue hair. T ears were flowing endlessly from her closed eyes, rolling down her pale cheeks and whimpers coming out of her lips. She looked so broken. An answering whimper came out of Shizuru's throat unknowingly. Hearing the sound, Natsuki looked up and found herself engulfed in the warmth of Shizuru's arms. The blonde hadn't been able to bear seeing Natsuki like that, she held the blunette as gently yet as tightly as possible.

Not knowing the reason of Shizuru's tears, Natsuki didn't know how to ask. This girl was crying and was holding her…why?

"Shi…Shizuru…?" she choked…her voice betraying her…

Shizuru stayed silent for a few seconds. "You said my name…" whispered Shizuru tenderly in crying girl's ear. Natsuki, having not realised that, rushed to apologise only to be hushed by the next words of the blonde.

"Say it again… I like the way my name sounds coming from Natsuki's lips. My Natsuki…I don't care if Natsuki's left arm is paralysed. I didn't know... I still want to be a friend to my Natsuki…" finished Shizuru in her whisper.

"Your…Your Natsuki?" asked Natsuki, tears in her eyes yet the orbs had a little bit of hope in them.

"Ara yes! My Natsuki. Natsuki is my friend, neh? So she is my Natsuki" explained Shizuru as cheerfully as she could with her own tears falling, while wiping the tears off Natsuki's face. Shizuru reached for Natsuki's left hand and entwined her fingers together with the limp hand "I'm always here for my Natsuki."

She had explained that as if it was so simple. Maybe it was but to Natsuki, it was anything but simple. She never had someone call her "Natsuki" for a long time, let alone hear "my Natsuki". She felt an intense wave of happiness flow into her chest, her heart ready to burst from the immense joy. It was as if Shizuru had just revealed the secret of the universe to her, it was as if Shizuru had poured life into her being, she had never felt so ALIVE! And the gesture of Shizuru holding her limp hand, oh god, she couldn't describe what she was feeling. She had never let anyone touch that arm, let alone hold that hand. Her own right hand shot out to wrap itself around the blonde and she held as if Shizuru was her raft in this storm. She felt like if she let go, she would drown. She now belonged to someone's life. Someone wanted to be her friend and that someone was the angel right in front of her, holding her so securely and wiping her tears so tenderly… Her own heaven on earth…Shizuru…

After wiping their tears and smoothing out their clothes, the two girls went back inside the school to get their bags and items.

"Where does Natsuki live?" asked Shizuru.

Natsuki was still in shock, everything happened so fast and now she had a friend. This friend was still holding her limp hand. She could feel the warmth of the blonde's hand. Her arm still had some of its feeling capability yet she couldn't move it no matter how much she had tried before and no one wanted to associate themselves with her because of that arm, because she was a cripple and yet, here was Shizuru holding the said hand as if it was the most natural thing to do.

"Natsuki? Are you ok?" asked Shizuru, not understanding the blunette's silence.

"Ah.. yes, I'm ok. I live on 10 Street, Shizuru" replied Natsuki. Saying Shizuru's name felt so right yet she felt shy saying it.

"Oh, I live just 2 streets before that one! Would Natsuki like to walk home with me?"

"S…sure.."

The two girls walked hand in hand, Shizuru never letting go of Natsuki's limp hand. They were walking in silence yet that didn't bother them. Shizuru felt happy and at peace, she had her first real friend. Checking on Natsuki, she saw that the girl was being shy about holding hands, she had a red tint on her cheeks. 'Cute' yet the blunette had a faint smile on her lips, trying to hide it but failing.

Reaching Shizuru's street, they let go of each other hands, "Ara, I wish Natsuki stayed closer. Does Natsuki want me to accompany her home?"

"No!" not being ready for that, Natsuki panicked. She didn't want Shizuru to see where she lived so she looked for an excuse "there is no need, you are already at your street and I will reach home soon. You would have to walk back here alone again if you dropped me."

"Ara, Natsuki is worried about me walking on the streets alone? Natsuki is so kind and gentlemanly. Then I'll see you tomorrow at school for lunch, right?"

"Y...Yes" stuttered Natsuki shyly, not used to compliments.

"Goodbye Natsuki, see you tomorrow!" wished Shizuru as she came closer and planted a small kiss on the blunette's cheek, making her face turn into all shades of red. Giggling, Shizuru waved and turned into her street to go home leaving a stunned Natsuki, all red, mouth agape, her right hand touching her cheek, not really believing that Shizuru had just kissed her, her…the cripple.

No one had ever kissed her since her mother died…and yet, her heaven on earth just did….

NOTE: A reviewer mentioned this so I better clear any misunderstanding. I changed a few words based on that. Natsuki's whole left arm is paralysed. Sorry if that got you confused. I'm changing a few "hand" to "arm"

I hope you liked this chapter. No, they are not a couple...yet :P Heaven can be a friend as well, specially for someone who didn't have anyone for so long.

Please review, it would make me happy :) thank you everyone.