It took some effort for Natsuki to keep focus despite the short distance of the ride. The tingling she feels from the arm locked around her waist is quite distracting, coupled with the very feminine fresh bouquet of flowers scent. Was that lavender or lila?. She shook her head as she and Shizuru walked into the front door.
The doorknob twisted open before Shizuru could reach it and out came her younger sister. A brighter shade of wavy blond hair, pair of baby blue eyes and a resembling beauty like that of her elder sister, only shorter by couple of inches in height.
"nee-chan? What are you doing here? You still have class in…" she trailed off looking at her wrist watch "..half an hour, don't you?"
Shizuru sighed as she remembers the reason for all this trouble. "…yes, Alyssa. Oh, by the way, this is Natsuki. Natsuki, this is my baby sister, Alyssa."
The two girls nodded at each other. "where are you going? Your school is over, isn't it?" Shizuru asked the young blond.
"Yeah! But I got a part time job at A.H.A, on their advertisement department. I got to take photos for some newly built medical facility down in Tokyo. Who knows they may want to keep me under scholarship too, just like you!" she grinned like a normal kid winking at her sister.
Shizuru's crimson gaze softened as she looked at her sister. She gave a soft smile and ruffled the shining blond hair. "you be careful now, and don't push yourself too hard, alright?"
Alyssa snorted "You're one to talk. You take care too, nee-chan. See yah!" she jogged off but stopped to give quick goodbye and wink at Natsuki.
"Can I get you something to drink, Natsuki?" Shizuru asked as they got into the living room.
"Nah.. I'm fine. Thanks though."
"alright, I'll be just a minute. My room's upstairs. Make yourself comfortable."
Natsuki nodded and gave a small smile. Shizuru went to her room to get some clothes while the young biker walked around the room looking at the picture frames out on display. It appears to her that Shizuru's family seems to be well off. The house is of a decent size and design, the furniture's a top notch quality. Maybe they're not so fond of spending too much? She wondered why both sisters like to be on scholarship. Not that it's a bad thing.
"I hope this is alright with you?"
Natsuki jumped a little hearing Shizuru's question. She hasn't noticed the chestnut haired woman coming. She took the white button-up shirt that looks similar to hers though quite loose on some areas. "Thanks! I'll give it back tomorrow." Natsuki promised giving a small grateful smile.
Shizuru nodded and guided Natsuki to the bathroom to change. "Just call me if you need anything." She offered to wash the bikers stained shirt, which Natsuki reluctantly agreed to. She could just throw away her shirt so as not to trouble the host, but it would make her appear arrogant.
"thanks!" she said as she got in the bathroom.
When she was done, she saw that Shizuru was waiting at the living room. "Thanks again for letting me borrow the shirt. Uhm… will you be heading back again to school now?"
Shizuru lightly bit the bottom of her lip, so not to be obvious at her surprise in seeing Natsuki in her shirt. It was slightly loose in the chest area, and the first couple of buttons were untucked, making her look so,… hot? "No.." she cleared her suddenly parched throat. "I still have to go run an errand." What's happening to me?!
"Oh, so that's why."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that explains why you were rushing. I thought there was a fire drill or something. C'mon, I'll give you a lift."
Touched and surprised by the cute and mysterious brunette, Shizuru still shook her head for the kind of offer. "Thank you, but I have troubled Natsuki-san too much."
The biker looked around the house. "Do you still have anything you need to do here before heading to your employer?''
"…no. Why?"
Natsuki smiled. "Good!" she grabbed Shizuru's hand and gently tugged her with her. "then let's go. Show me the way where you have to go. I'll drive you there."
Shizuru can only shake her head and smile at the other's persistence. 'very stubborn, but cute…'
After dropping by the honey haired beauty, Natsuki headed back to school to meet the Student Council President who offered to acquaint her to the campus. She tapped the door of the SC board room and heard a familiar voice asking her to come in. "Yo! Prez! Nice school you got here! Impressive! Or should I say kai-chou?"
Haruka Armitage looked up from the papers and bolted up from her seat hearing a familiar voice of her cousin. "Natsuki! I've been waiting for ages you squirt!" She walked to her cousin and greeted her with a fierce hug and a tap on the shoulder.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Got held up a bit." She said as she and Haruka took a seat. "So, what's this? Preparing to be an actual President soon in your conglomerate?" She snickered earning a punch in the shoulder.
"Baka! I don't need to prepare for that. 'been working on both horses for quite some time now. 'think you're the only one who can do magic tricks?" the tall blond president shot Natsuki a proud look. "I just want to make sure everything is fine in and out of the campus, see to it that it runs smoothly as a University…"she trailed off smiling as a certain memory flashed her mind.
Knowing that the sentimental value of the school weighs more than it's business's, Natsuki nodded and kneaded her cousin's shoulder. "I'm sure auntie will be so proud of you." Haruka's late mother was the main founder and owner of the Fuuka U. The Armitage's took care of it like it is their second home. Unfortunately, Haruka's mother, Kyoko Armitage's life was claimed by a tragic plane crash. So, at a young age, the young Armitage heir swore to take care what her mother has left behind.
"But seriously though, this will be your last year right? You must've someone you would prefer to take your seat if given the choice?"
Both cousins decided to start the tour while Haruka tried to think of someone who could be her choice. She scratched the back of her ear, a habit whenever she's thinking. "Hmm… there's actually someone, but I doubt she's got any plan to run for Council in her time here. Pity though, she's definitely got what it takes. Brain, skills, talent and even the charm, just needs a little work on her looks." She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
"What's the problem then? Why do you think she won't run?" Natsuki asked casually as they turned a corner to a huge gym and football field. Some students were curious to see the unfamiliar brunette and couldn't help staring at the school's Student Council President and her young company. But all scampered away when a hard cold glare was Natsuki's answer to their not so discrete staring which to her is terribly rude.
Her blond elder cousin laughed noticing the glare. "Haha! Still not used to people, I see?" Haruka patted her cousin's back as she led her to the Medical building where Natsuki will be taking some of her subjects "Well to answer your question, she's got her hands full this time. Some kind of family's financial setback got her tied up and has to work for the family they owe as a guarantee. Oh! You'll probably meet her on your dinner date tonight!" she wiggled her brow teasingly at her younger cousin.
Natsuki rolled her eyes and groaned in irritation. She hated being reminded of having to pay courtesy at an invitation she obviously is not looking forward to. "I really don't understand why mom agreed to it anyway when she's not even attending to it herself! Doesn't she understand how much I despise it?!"
The president couldn't help laughing; she knows how much her cousin resents invitations only to woo her to be a potential mate or business partner just because they happened to discover even a fraction of her status in the family business, despite being the youngest and presumed to be not the main heir, if there should be any. "Haha! Oh she knows alright, it's just to taunt you, Natsuki. I'm sure you can work your way out of it, should you not like it."
"Kill me now…"
The president only laughed as they carried on with the campus tour.
Shizuru almost missed her step when she got inside the dining room wheeling the tray of food to serve dinner to the Akiyama family and their guest. She never thought the 'wife-to-be' Hakuto was referring to was none other than the biker she literally bumped into earlier at school, who generously offered her a pleasant smile upon seeing her, right after recovering from a cute confused look.
'well… what do you make of that?' Shizuru thought.
"Good to see you, again." Natsuki greeted, dropping her tone at the last word, giving a small smile.
"Oh! You two know each other?" Hakuto cut in before Shizuru could greet back. "…since when?" He purposely directed the question to Natsuki, sounding amicable while looking as such as well as he could.
Shizuru discreetly rolled her eyes to the side, which was missed by everyone except the raven haired biker. She smiled back at Natsuki as she served the food.
"we've met this noon at school. She was kind enough to help me with some mess I accidentally got into." Natsuki answered him causing the chestnut haired woman to choke out a cough who gracefully uttered a quick apology, bemusing the biker. "So, how long have you been working here, Shizuru?" Natsuki asked turning back to the chestnut haired woman, trying to avoid Hakuto's and his parents' miserable attempt to impress her. She was careful not to appear rude in diverting every subject, well aware that they could probably put the blame to the wrong person.
The dinner went on with Natsuki throwing the questions mostly to Shizuru while dodging base flattery from any of the hosts. She even got the chestnut haired woman to join them for dinner, despite the woman's reluctance, fearing to upset the any of the Akiyama's.
The only time Hakuto got the chance to talk big about him and his family was after the meal. But still it was a failure. Natsuki managed to avoid giving any commitment while politely and subtlety declined future invitations. 'Sometimes I have it me of being polite… why does it only come out when I'm bored?' She made a gesture of checking the time, finding an excuse to finally escape the daunting talk. "Oh, I think it's this late already. I really should be going. Thank you for dinner, I had a wonderful evening." Natsuki said as she stood bowing a little at the host.
"We're glad. Thank you for coming though, Natsuki-san" Henry Akiyama said, bowing back.
"Thank you for having me."
"Let me drive you to your place, Natsuki-san. I'll just have your bike sent to school tomorrow." Hakuto offered like a true gentleman. He and his parents thought it was a good move.
Shizuru, who was at the room adjacent to the living room awaiting any order, overheard the offer and started to feel sorry for Natsuki. Hakuto has been laying it on pretty thick just to impress the poor biker. 'She must've a pretty good background to make him sweat out his smile' she thought.
"nah, thank you, but I think I'll just drive my bike. I just got here and I'd like to go around the city with my favourite ride." She smiled a little to lessen the blow of her rejection. Gods! my cheek hurts! How many times have I faked a damn smile tonight? I'm gonna make sure mom pays for this! "…and uh… Shizuru?!" she called out, baffling the host family.
"Yes, Natsuki-sama?" the kyoto-ben answered who's coming out from the other room.
"would you like to come along with me? I can drop you to your place." The biker offered, surprising Shizuru while pissing Hakuto even more.
Shizuru wanted to decline the offer, thought internally she would love to take it, but afraid she sound impolite to the guest. She turned to her employer as if asking for permission, and looked back again at the hopeful pair of emerald eyes.
Still trying to win Natsuki's good side, the Akiyama couple quickly let Shizuru go "Yes, you shoud go, Shizuru-san. We would be at ease if you could also accompany Natsuki-san in going home."
Shizuru nodded, taking it as an order, and bowed at Henry. She and Natsuki left soon after, unaware or simply ignoring the disappointed and angry look of Hakuto, which was mostly directed towards the chestnut haired woman. He's placing the blame on her for messing up with his plan in winning over his parent's choice of prospective wife or business partner.
His eyes were burning with hatred as he watched Natsuki help Shizuru with the helmet until they drove off and disappeared from his sight.
The two girls were unware of the demon they have unintentionally provoked within him.