"You might be out of my sight but you're not out of my heart."

Beta: Akira Sasaki

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai HiME.

Chapter 1 – Out of sight

The raven-haired girl was sitting on the bed of her apartment. Silently thinking to herself.

Holidays sure are a pain when you have nothing to do.

Of course, there were things to be done, but Natsuki was too lazy to bother with that stuff right now. She needed to get out of this room.

I need space...

She could swear that the longer she sat on her bed doing nothing but staring at the picture on her nightstand, the more those walls were slowly trying to close her in. So, she rose up from her bed, her gaze still locked with the picture.

I would like to see you smile like that again...

A moment later, she did the only thing she could think of that would bring at least a little joy: She grabbed her keys and left for a ride.

Just the feeling of the fresh air and the adrenaline in her body was enough to shut her brains off. Having no destination or idea of what she wanted, Natsuki found herself riding aimlessly for an hour.

Freedom, the engine's noise and her beating heart as a perpetual drum inside. And it's that feeling that makes her drive into one direction without realizing it. She knew that the place was nearby. The engine roared and she sped off to the cliffs.

It was getting dark and a lot colder than she thought it would. After parking her bike near the road, she slowly lifted her helmet. Dark strands were waving in the cold air. She turned to face the ocean. Emerald eyes locked into ephemeral blue, shadows of remaining rays playing and tricking her eyes; the colors changing in an instant. After minutes of silently looking at the far horizon she let out a sigh. Her thoughts were drifting off again. Her mind was lost by now, just like the ocean's soul.

It has been two months since Shizuru left to study in Germany. Unfortunately, Natsuki was so shocked and upset about the fact that the beautiful Kaichou decided to study abroad, that she didn't even ask her for an address or phone number. The only thing she knew was that Shizuru's university was in a city named Cologne.

Cologne... Natsuki whispered the word carefully.

I'm such an idiot. I should have asked her for the address. But I'm sure that, even if she gave it to me, I would've been too proud or maybe too afraid to contact her.

Small drops of rain interrupted her thoughts for a moment, but she didn't care. Catching a cold or getting wet was the last thing she would think about right now since Shizuru was intoxicating her mind.

I wonder if you remember this place as a special place for us, just like I do. Since I first brought you here, I feel different. Not anymore a place secluded with bad memories, now it was a place that reminds me of you and only thinking about it makes me smile brighter.

But now that I know you are no longer here to share the view with me, it's more painful than ever and still... it brings a smile to my lips, even if it is a bitter one... it's a smile.

She closed her eyes and let her mind dive into one of the pleasant memories.

Slender arms were tightly wrapped around the waist of the raven-haired beauty. It was a warm day and the two girls were silently riding and enjoying each other's company. Natsuki was planning on taking Shizuru to the place where her mother had died. She wanted to share the memory of that place with her best friend, in hopes that the other girl's presence would soothe her aching heart and the never ending turmoil inside her soul. Of course, she could've just stayed away from those cursed cliffs, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to completely abandon the place of her mother's death.

Shizuru's body was warmly merging with the younger girl's.

"Natsuki, where are you taking me? It'll be getting dark soon." As Shizuru's voice was trying to reach Natsuki's ears she turned her head a bit to make it easier for Shizuru to understand the words.

"Just wait. You'll see." Her eyes were serious, a fact that Shizuru noticed in an instant. Therefore, she tried to ease Natsuki's mind a bit.

"Mou, Natsuki. Meanie!" The chestnut-haired girl didn't want to force the answer from the biker. She knew she had to be patient. She trusted Natsuki and that was enough for now. But a bit of teasing should do well against that serious expression.

So, the older girl decided that she could bring herself a bit closer. She bridged the distance and wrapped her arms tighter around Natsuki, hands now placed on the hips of the dark haired girl. Natsuki noticed the slight movement and tried to stop her brains from thinking about Shizuru and her short skirt and her gentle palms and... Ahhh... She felt as if Shizuru's hands were burning her hips.

"Oi, Shizuru. It's hard to concentrate when you..."

What is the right word without embarrassing myself? Think brain, think... when you move your body so close to mine that I can only think about your hips against my... Gahh, noooooooooo!

"When you're moving so fast without a warning." She smiled to herself.

Good brain. I should give you a reward for that later.

"Well Natsuki, I thought you would prefer it that way, but it seems that Natsuki is not so passionate after all. I can move slower for you... if you want me to... " Shizuru's mischievous voice could be heard so clearly that Natsuki actually wondered if time stopped around them. There was no wind or engine anymore.

"Shizuru!" She nearly lost control over the bike, and the red color rising up her face wasn't making things any better.

After she managed to keep the bike in control, they finally arrived at the cliffs. Natsuki parked it near the guardrail and took her helmet off. The red color on the younger girl's cheeks was gone now, a lonesome look taking its place.

Shizuru was truly worried and her heart almost broke at the sight of her friend. But she also knew that it was better to wait. Natsuki brought her here and therefore would talk to her... sooner or later. It was hard to resist the urge to take the younger girl in her arms, as she knew Natsuki wouldn't allow her to do such a thing. Not after what she did. So, she just looked at the other girl, while placing a strand of hair behind her ear, with a heavy heart and a sick pain surging through her veins. The sun slowly began to sink into the horizon.

"It's beautiful how the sun seems to melt into the ocean..." Natsuki's voice was only a whisper.

"Yes, it is." Shizuru tried hard to control her feelings in a moment like this. It was always hard when Natsuki acted so weak.

"This is the place where my mother died." The raven-haired girl couldn't say anything anymore as tears forced their way to her eyes.

She hated being so weak, but she couldn't do anything against it. Without a second thought, Shizuru reached out to her, but the fear held her back.

Natsuki noticed the movement and it made her sad. Sad that Shizuru tortured herself so much.

"Would you... Would you hold me... just for now... " Natsuki's shaking voice was broken.

She wanted to be the one who could give Shizuru strength. She wanted to trust her. But now, here she was, on this infernal place. She didn't know why, but she wanted to feel Shizuru's embrace and her soothing hand's motion.

Before she could think any further, two arms encircled her waist and the chestnut-haired girl's chin was placed on her shoulder. Shivers were running wild through her body. Shizuru's breath was so close to her neck and ears. It traced an invisible path, in the delirious way her heart was moving, with the same chaotic movements as Natsuki's.

"Thank you ... Shizuru." The raven-haired girl whispered while closing her eyes.

Still standing alone on the cliff in the rain, Natsuki's mind was slowly wandering back to reality. Though, it was somehow still absorbed in Shizuru's imaginary scent. Soon, the darkness would cover everything.

Ne, Shizuru... even if I can't see the sun, I know it is there. But the clouds won't allow me to catch any of its warmth. I wonder... can you feel it right now?

RRRiinnngg.

Natsuki nearly jumped as her phone began to ring. She opened it without looking at the caller ID.

"Shizuru?" She said, adding a smile to her face.

"Well, no. Actually it's me, Mai." The smile faded in a blink of an eye. A small choke came out.

"Ahem... is there something wrong?" Natsuki said slowly, taking her time, while trying to steady the rhythm of her aching heart.

"I wanted to ask if you want to come to the club tonight." Mai answered, her voice now seriously concerned.

"Don't tell me its karaoke again." A long sigh could be heard over the line.

"It is. But trust me, this time it will be different. You don't have to wear that pink dress and... ", but she was suddenly cut off by Natsuki's rough tone.

"I'm not interested."

"Natsuki, please... "

"I said no. Sorry." A short pause, then she continued, "I have to go." She hung up and flipped the phone in her bag.

RRRRiiinng! Ahhh, not again...

She angrily opened the phone and shouted:

"Mai! I said: I... won't... come... tonight. Leave me alone. For god's sake!"

"Ara..." and after a long pause, the distinctive Kyoto-ben could be heard again: "It's good to hear that you and Mai-san still get along so well." The last words were a chuckling of small sounds. Shizuru's laughter...

The raven girl couldn't hear anymore, as her mind started to drift away and her heart began to swirl wildly. She could only mumble one word:

"Shizuru... "

A/N: Why the ... does Shizuru study in Germany you ask? Well, the answer is quite simple: I want her all for myself :-)