Finally second chapter! Thank you so much for your reviews and supports. I reply all the review at the end of chapter. Your reviews make me smile, now I know why every author always want some review even it it just 'thanks', 'i like it', etc. They really make me happy *sobs* that you like my work *sobs*. Thank you very much everyone. *bow* I LOVE YOU GUYS. Also, I edited my first chapter, you can read it again for more readable story :D (EDITED. There some editing on Shizuru's confession.)
If you can read and enjoy this story, it is because Blackfang64, who beta read my story and help me from my horrible english language. Again 100% thanks to him. OMG He is really AWESOME!
DISCLAIMER : I do not own Mai HiME and Strawberry Panic! *sobs*
Chapter 2
What Happened?
All the students were gathering around in the dining hall. The Lulim Kaichou walked in with the new student which attracted interest from every student in the hall. Natsuki who was disturbed by the sudden attention decided to gives them her famous death glare which worked well as everyone gulped about the new student's reaction quickly turning their attention to their plates. The Kaichou who was both amazed and amused at the scene before her, she couldn't help but chuckle with her new friend's antics. Their destination to their seats was cut short by a girl with long, wavey blondish coloured hair and her friend who stood tall and proud beside her with her shortly cut sea blue hair.
"Etoile-sama, I would like to introduce the new student, Kuga Natsuki" Chikaru gestured Natsuki to walk forward.
"I'm Kuga Natsuki, it is a pleasure to meet you Etoile-sama." Natsuki bowed in courteously.
"Welcome to Astraea Hill, I'm Ootori Amane, sixth grade, and this is Konohana Hikari, fourth grade." She gestured the younger blond girl. "We hope you enjoy your life here."
"Nice to meet you too Kuga-san." Hikari bowed.
"Natsuki. No need honorifics either." She said flatly.
"Very well. Natsuki, please have your seat, we will start dinner in a few minutes." Amane smiled as she left with Hikari.
The long noir haired girl took hold of the younger girl by the wrist as she lead her to their respective seats. Some student squealed with that scene and started to whisper to each other. Dinner went smoothly with gossips flowing in the air about the new student's personality and appearance, some of them loved Natsuki's cold attitude while the others were scared.
After dinner, Chikaru led the new student back to their room in which Natsuki was quick to slump to her bed. She was organizing her things earlier while she was waiting for Chikaru. Feeling the tiredness and exhaustion catching up to her now, Natsuki could help but close her eyes to enjoy the softness of her bed.
Watching the younger girl heading off to her dreamworld, Chikaru walked to her closet to retrieve her nightgown. "Mmm... Natsuki?"
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow, can we meet after school? I want to take you to visit some of the clubs."
"How annoying… Must I join?"
"Unfortunately, yes Natsuki." She replied with a small giggle at the growl coming from Natsuki. Chikaru finished getting changed into dressing gown as she walked to the other girl's bed, alerting Natsuki's attention as she sat on the edge of her bed.
"Gaaahh! Okay." Natsuki growled, still trying to maintain her sleeping pose as she faced herself away from the older girl.
The golden eyes were shining brightly from the reflection of the light. She didn't know why she really attached to this new student. Her curiosity was getting the better of her as she had an unexplainable hunger to get to know the younger girl more.
"Thank you, good night Natsuki."
"I should be the one who's saying thank you. Thank you Kaichou, good night." Natsuki replied before quickly drifting away into her deep slumber.
The next morning, Chikaru shook the raven haired girl to awaken her but for Natsuki, being someone who is not described as a 'morning person' was having a hard time to deal with in the morning. After several minutes, her attempt paid off as the younger girl stirred from her slumber and slowly opened her eyes. "Natsuki, if you don't wake up now, you will be late for class."
"Okay…" She yawned as she tried to rub away the tiredness from her eyes. Being an obedient child, she got up, descended off from her bed and strided to bathroom in a rather zombie-ish manner.
After fifteen minutes, she walked out from bathroom dressed in her new uniform. An orange sailor uniform, with a orange red checkerboard skirt.
"Nice to see you in that uniform. It seems to fit perfectly with your beautiful curve." She winked in a teasing manner.
"Th-Thank you." She blushed. 'Blushing in the morning? What the hell...?'
Chikaru POV
'This girl really does blush so easily, her face is so cute. Does she know that? Kya~ I really want jump and hug her right now.' She mentally squealed, while her outer appearance showed her as calm and collected. "After school, I will be waiting for you by the school entrance. Now, we must head to class." She held the younger girl wrist and led her away with her. 'Hesitant type? Cold, unreachable, and a lonely little puppy? This girl seems need help. I will think something to keep her around me, so I can know more about her and help when needed.'
That afternoon, I spent my time with my daily duties such going to meetings with the other student council presidents and etoiles. Today's meeting is about mid term exam schedules. Usually I will say they are a boring routine, but when Natsuki came, I can barely remove her from my head. Her emerald eyes seems so distant, and in pain. What happened to her?
After the meeting was over, Chikaru immediately walked to her club room. One of the advantage to being a Kaichou is that you can access private information data freely. Astraea Hill is known well in the world, so attaining many hidden information can be easy. She sat in front of the school notebook and accessed to a government source. Chikaru studied the information about the emerald eyes girl in the school information center, but found nothing about new student's background. She typed 'Kuga Natsuki' and found one result which make her eyes went wide. 'Searrs?'
She pointed her cursor to clicked 'Kuga Natsuki Searrs'.
Name : Kuga Natsuki Searrs
Date of Birth : August, 15th 1996
Gender : Woman
Occupation : Student
Biography : Kuga Natsuki Searrs is daughter from Frederic Searrs and Kuga Saeko. The heir from the Searrs bussiness tycoon. She lived with her mother after her parent's divorced. After Saeko's death, she lived with her mother's relative and such shewas home schooled in her young days. She enrolled to Fuuka Middle and High School. Investigator found that she recently transferred to another school but further information has been classified.
'Very little information indeed... Is this Kuga Natsuki Searrs?' Her lips curved up after zoomed photo of girl with long raven hair and emerald eyes. 'She turned from beautiful girl to be a very handsome girl.'
Then the golden eyes saw link for 'Frederic Searrs' and clicked it.
Name : Frederic Searrs
Date of Birth : November, 10th 1972
Gender : Man
Occupation : The owner of Searrs Group
Status : Married
Biography : Frederic Searrs is known as the 'Almighty Searrs' which has successed many variant bussinesses. He is well known as the owner of a bussiness tycoon and famous around Western Countries, called Searrs Group. He married with Kuga Saeko in 1995 which led to have a beautiful daughter, Kuga Natsuki Searrs who lived with her mother after divorced. He re-married with Catherine Rockbell in 2001 in which she gave birth to his second daughter, Alyssa Searrs.
The noir haired girl clicked 'Kuga Saeko'. 'She exactly looks like her mother.'
Name : Kuga Saeko
Date of Birth : September, 8th 1976
Date of Death : March, 3rd 2004
Gender : Woman
Occupation : - Scientists at Searrs Group
Scientist at Fuuka Research Facilities
Status : Widow by divorce
Biography : Kuga Saeko was a prodigy scientist who worked at Searrs Groups before she married Frederic Searrs in 1995. Their marriage was blessed by a daughter, Kuga Natsuki Searrs. However, their marriage didn't last long which was proved by divorce in 2002. After divorced, Kuga Saeko moved to her hometown with their daughter. She worked at Fuuka Research Facilities as chemical lab scientist. Two years later, she lost her life in an accident.
'I'm sure it was hard for Natsuki to have faced many problems in her young days.'
She suddenly remembered that she must return some books to library. The golden eyes scanned around her desk to make sure she don't leave her anything behind. The walk to the library felt so soothingly with a warm breeze slowly blowing through her hair. Returning her books, Chikaru strode out from library as her feet led her astray from her usual course as caught sight of a familiar figure sitting in the distance as she was leaned back againts big tree. Her eyes wondered around the vast lake that sat before her, from the distance she could make out the altar building from far away. (AN : imagine, where Nagisa fell sleep on Shizuma, or where Amane and Hikari had a little conversation when Amane had Amnesia) She walked to familiar person who was calmly sleeping.
'She really is like an angel.' Chikaru's lip curved up, and decided to sit beside the sleeping beauty.
Natsuki POV
-One and half year ago-
'Oh my gosshhh what I will say? Hey Shizuru. I want to say that I love you. Mmm... That didn't sound right. Shizuru, I always love you from first we met, will you to be my girlfriend? Arrggghh too direct! Poem? Shizuru you're the sun who has been shining in my darkest life. Without you, I will not learn about how to love, you are my everything. Want you to be my girlfriend? No! It's too mushy! Hey Shizuru, do you remember our pinky promise? Do you still want to be my bride? What the hell?! Bride! How can you jump to that phase without being lovers first? Oh my gosh Natsuki, think! Think!' I walked back and forth to think about my confession sentence. 'It's too damn hard! She will here soon... Ohmygoshohmygoshoh—'
The beams of sunlight glowing through the window gave me a warm feeling, my eyes and ears were open to the serene surrounding, the happy chirps of birds whistling in the trees, even the calm breeze still can't relieve my nervousness. Today, I'm planning to confess my love to Shizuru. My friends encouraged me when I consulted my love problem to them. I feel now is the right time, I can't hold my feelings in any longer. I remember when she said that she wanted to be my bride in the future. Just recalling that moment, make my heart bit faster.
"Good afternoon Natsuki." The brown haired girl greeted from behind me.
I startledbut tried to calm myself before I faced her. I turned and said, "Good afternoon Shizuru."
"What do you want to talk about Natsuki?" She smiled.
'Her smile always make me warm.' I snapped, "Mmm... I.. w-wan-...to... s-ss-saa-y..."
"Ara, what happened Natsuki? Why are you stammering? Are you sick?" She said in concerned tone.
"N-No!" Blood rushed to my face from the sudden outburst.
She chuckled a little, "Ne, Natsuki... Do you ever fall in love with someone?" She said suddenly, her expression became serious.
'Oh my gosh... Does Shizuru know about my confession?' I nodded.
"Ara, what will Natsuki does if she falls in love with someone?"
'Killer question.' I inhaled deep breath, and exhaled it tried to calm myself before answered. "I will confess to that person. If that person accepts it, then I will do everything to keep her happy, even it costs my own happiness."
"Ara, such a mature answer Natsuki has. Then what will you do if that person loves someone else?"
"I will let her go. Because I know she will be happy with her choice. However, whatever her choice is, I will be her friend and support her even from the shadows." I gave her a sad smile.
"Ne Natsuki... Do you know Reito?"
"Y-Yeah, he is quite popular in Fuuka. What's about him?"
"He confessed to me." She said as she tried to hide her blush with her bangs.
'There's go... I lost before the battle even started..." I mumbled inwardly. "S-So w-hat is your ch-oice?" I stammered.
"I think I will accept him. I mean he is nice, smart, handsome person, like a prince. What do you think Natsuki?"
"If that is your choice, you should go for it. Whatever happesn, I will always be your support." I smiled, a genuine smile. 'Shizuru, for you anything will be done, even at the cost my life. I love you Shizuru.'
"Thank you. Love you my Natsuki. You are really my best friend." She jumped to hug me.
'My Natsuki? Sure, I always be your Natsuki, but even you won't ever be my Shizuru, and of course our love is different.' I held my tears which gathered in my eyes. "You are welcome Shizuru."
-End of flashback-
"Shi-Shizuru..." I tried to open my eyes slowly. 'Where am I? Oh yeah I ditched class at second period and walked around.' My eyes wondered around at my surrounding, the soothing breeze blowing around me. 'I hope you're happy Shizuru.'
"Good afternoon Natsuki, how was your sleep?"
I was taken aback with the sudden soft voice from beside me, readying to set my death glare to max at the perpetrator. "Ka-Kaichou!"
She chuckled. "Calm down, I come here not to charge you for your misdemeanor."
I can feel heat on my face right now.
"Who is Shizuru?"
The sudden question snapped me from my embarassment. "How do you know about Shizuru?"
"You mentioned her name in your sleep. Let me guess... She is your someone special?"
"Yes, she is my precious one."
"Mind to share a bit about her?"
'Should I? I feel I can believe her... I don't know why I have that feeling but there's no harm done, right?' I started. "Well... She is my childhood friend. I met her several months after my mother's death. At first I thought there was an angel who came to me, she was very beautiful and warm." I chuckled a little when I remembered how we met. "Shizuru is the Kaichou from Fuuka Academy, more or less like you Kaichou. Beautiful, graceful, smart, nice, gentle, wise, and many more."
"Then why did you need to transfer from Fuuka?"
"I need to dissapear from her life. I don't want to be a hindrance from her relationship."
"Was she the reason why your grades drop significantly?"
"Yes it was. I tried my best to be a honour student so I could fulfil our little promise."
"Promise?"
"Yes. Partially because we made a pinky promise to marry in the future. She said she wanted to be my bride. That was the reason I tried my best, I wanted to be equal with her. I had thought with good grades that they will help me to get a nice job offer with a good payment to support our married life..." I gave her a sad smile as my face darkened. "Though now it doesn't matter anymore... She has a boyfriend now and they will be happy together. Just thinking of that made my heart satisfied enough. There was no reason to keep my grades high anymore."
"The other part?"
"Mmm... Being around her, make my heart ached. I couldn't concentrate with my studying and instead spent my time ditching classes, playing games and went night clubbing with my friends." I tried to hold back my tears which threatened to fall.
She pulled me back into a tight embrace. "Natsuki, you can cry as much as you want, I'm here... Never hold back your tears in front of me..."
Her voice was so soft and soothing in my ear. Unbeknown, my tears stream down endlessly. I place my arms on her back to retord her embrace. "A-Arigatou..."
Omake :
Me : *Smile* *Eyes glue to laptop screen*
Natsuki : What do you smiling about? *sit on white couch with bike magazine on her hand*
Me : *Smile*
Nao is walking to the couch which Natsuki is with a glass orange juice on her left hand : *waving her right hand dismissively* Don't think about that crazy girl. She just too happy with reviews which she got.
Natsuki : How can everyone gave her review? Hell! I even didn't understand her story. Her english is sucks.
Nao : Well, what do you hope from that stupid girl, who slept through her english class or spent her time talking about Tekken thing with her friends.
Natsuki : *Looks up from her magazine* What the hell? Then she still dare to use english language for her story?
Nao : Yeah *Sigh* She said that she want to convey her crazy ideas, and choose to do it with international language.
Natsuki : *Roll her eyes* Typical her.
Nao sighed again.
Me : *Doesn't care about anything and still smiling in front of screen*
(A.N. : Until next chapter, Please review so I know what you have in mind ;))
annoyingLONER : I'm sorry, but no kidding, I make Natsuki cut her hair short, just like avatar this story. It is like a 'sign' that she left her past behind and move into fresh start for her new life. Hope you don't dissapointed and continue to read my fic :D
M.D : I did some research while writing, however it does really far from enough, I'm sorry, I hope you don't leave this fic and continue to read it. I found really awesome beta reader, I edited the first chapter and you can read it again ;)
wolfie : Thank you wolfie-san, honestly when I wrote that scene I also... you know *ewww* hahahaha.
Platina GF : I will and I prove it ;)
Leeyou : I'm happy you find it interesting :D
D.E : I try to update it soon again, I'm happy that you like it :D
Nyaaaaaaah : You can see it on avatar in this story, Me too, however I can't find a girl that more beautiful than Natsuki for Shizuru, so I choose Reito. Hahahaha you will get it on later chapter ;)
Bettyful : Great! Let's the battle begin! Hahahaha :D
chum-sa : I'm happy that you like it :D
ApersonWithLostSoul : I hope Shizuru-san didn't hear that *whisper* me too ;)
amy-kun : Great! Please always keep your attention to me ;) *wink*
Etain Hawk : I found it, and very happy to get him to be my beta reader. Thank you for your suggestion, and also your thums up :D
Again thank you for your reviews *bow*