A/N: I know this isnt the story people want me to be writing but this scene has been stuck in my head for weeks and i needed to get it written out. Sadly dialouge is my main weakness and this chapter is nothing but so theres that warning. Next warning is, this was written late at night over the course of a few hours when i couldnt sleep so i was very tired when writing this AND i havent reread it, so sorry about that. Besides that my next note is i am going to be dropping my story ALONE since no one seems to be interested in that one at all. It has the least amount of hits and reviews so im switchin that to complete. Besides that sorry for the long note, and enjoy

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"I'm sorry, we're not open ye-"

Plates and glasses shattered as the fell to the floor. The tray they had been resting on spun on its edges before slowly settling down. Mai's eyes were wide with shock, her hands covering her open mouth, completely speechless.

The person standing in front of her merely smiled, raised their right hand in a sign of greeting and said, "Yo."

"Where have you been!?" Mai nearly yelled at the person seated across from her. After their initial greetings, they cleaned up the mess Mai had made and then seated themselves each with their own drink

Natsuki merely smiled. "Here and there."

"It's been over two years! What have you been doing!?" Mai was leaning forward eyes intent on the biker girl in front of her.

Natsuki smiled again, looking down at her steaming cup of tea. "Has it really been that long?"

Mai's mouth was hanging open again. "Of course it has!"

The blue hair girl chuckled. "You haven't changed much have you Mai?"

"Me!?" Sitting back in her seat Mai stared in disbelief at the girl in front of her.

Flipping her hair over her shoulder Natsuki turned her head to the left. "And it seems like you finally got your diner." The smile she wore now was slightly sad and her eyes had a far off look in them.

"Y-Yeah…" Mai didn't really know how to react to this situation. Her friend from back in high school, who one day just vanished without a word to anyone suddenly reappears and begins talking to her like a day hasn't gone by since she left. She really felt like laughing.

At first glance it appeared that Natsuki hadn't changed at all since those days but looking closer the changes Mai saw the changes. The blue haired girl had always been very prideful and stubborn and was never afraid to show it, her head always held high with a defiant look in her eye, daring anyone to challenge her, but now she held herself differently. Oh, the pride and confidence was still there, but it was more relaxed. The defiant, daring look was gone and she appeared more laid back. It was as if she no longer had anything to prove to anyone anymore. Or to herself… Mai thought absently.

In physical changes, Natsuki had filled out. Her frame was no longer that of a girl but a full grown woman. She had maintained her toned physique but now instead of giving her a slightly awkward appearance it now fit her body perfectly.

"Is that a freakin karaoke set up over there?" Natsuki asked laughing. She began to rock back in her seat holding her stomach. "Oh Mai you really haven't changed."

"But you have." Mai said with a mischievous smirk.

Natsuki stopped laughing and looked at her, a serious expression on her face. "What do you mean?"

Mai leaned forward resting her elbows on the table. "You've grown."

Natsuki scoffed before looked out the window. "Right…"

"Oh you have. Especially in…. certain areas." Mai said pointing at Natsuki's chest.

"Shu- Shut up!" Natsuki said as Mai began cracking up with laughter. Crossing her arms over her chest she harrumphed and began looking out the window, fighting the blush that was creeping up on her face.

It's good to see that you haven't changed either Natsuki. Mai thought as her laughing slowed. "You're just too easy Natsuki. But don't worry, its true."

Natsuki merely gave a noncommittal grunt without looking back at her. Now if Shizuru had said that Natsuki would be spluttering and blushing still. She thought pouting slightly. She smiled again. It must be the source more than the actual tease.

Wait, has she seen Shizuru yet? Opening her mouth to ask she was cut off when Natsuki spoke.

"So, how long have you had this place?" Taking a sip from her tea she looked up at Mai.

Said girl closed her mouth surprised by the question. "Um, about two weeks. It took a while to get the place bought and then renovating it was a pain. But now it's all finished." She said proudly.

"I'm glad you finally got it." Natsuki said before frowning slightly. "But did you have to name it "Hime Paradise?"

Mai stared at her a few moments before she burst out laughing again. "It was Midori's idea. I didn't have a clue as to what to name it and she was the only one who was able to come up with anything decent."

Natsuki smiled staring down into her drink. "How is that drunk doing?"

Sighing Mai looked down at her own drink. "Well… A few months ago she was in a rough spot. You know that professor she was always talking about?"

Natsuki nodded.

"Well, they kind of had a falling out. I don't really know the details but it seemed like it was a permanent thing. She began drinking a lot more, and a lot more frequently too. She was doing really bad. After she nearly killed her self driving Sagisawa-sensei stepped in. I don't really know what happened but she's doing a lot better now and she and Sagisawa-sensei are spending a lot more time together."

The sad smile returned to Natsuki's face. "I'm glad to hear she's doing well." Silence settled over the two for a while before Natsuki drained her cup of her tea. "Can I please have some more?" She asked, shaking the cup.

"Of course." Taking her cup Mai stood and went to fill it. "Oh," she said remembering. "I meant to ask when you first asked for it; when did you start drinking tea?"

"About the time I left…" Natsuki said quietly without looking at her. Her eyes had that far off look in them again and her voice seemed to imply more behind what she had said.

Setting another hot cup of tea in front of her, Mai sat back down. It must have something to do with –"

"So what about you?"

"Wh-What?" Mai asked, watching Natsuki take another long drink from her cup.

"What about you? How are you doing? You still with Tate?"

Mai flinched slightly. Catching this Natsuki immediately put her hands up in the air. "Sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's fine." Mai said cutting her friend off. "We broke up a while ago. He's with Shiho now."

"What an ass…" Natsuki said, a scowl on her face.

Mai looked up. "No don't say that. I really wish people would stop saying that about him. The truth is-" She looked down at her cup again and began turning it from side to side. "He is giving up his happiness for her. The longer he was with me the worse her mental state became. He is a good guy really."

Natsuki just stared at her, a sympathetic look on her face. "I'm sorry Mai."

Raising her head again Mai forced a smile on her face. "It's ok. I'm better now."

"Uh huh…" Natsuki said disbelievingly. "What about um, what was his name?" Natsuki was looking up at the ceiling now squinting trying to remember the name.

"Kanzaki-san?" Mai asked.

"Yeah, Reito. Didn't you two have a thing?"

Smiling sadly Mai said, "Kind of… But he ended up going away to college while I was still with Tate and uh, well he has a girlfriend now."

Natsuki sighed, obviously frustrated with herself for bringing up all her friends painful memories. "Sorry again…"

"Don't be. You didn't know."

"Yeah but…" Natsuki looked out the window trying to avoid the others eyes. "I wasn't here for you or anything, and well…" She let out a loud "ha" before sitting back in her seat and returning her gaze to Mai. "I suck at the whole friendship thing.

Mai shook her head. "No you don't. The fact that you're asking means a lot."

"Right…" Natsuki grumbled.

Silence settled over them again. Every so often one of them would take a drink from their cup. It has been a long time. Even I don't know what to say.

Once again Natsuki surprised her by being the one to break the silence. "Oh, What about Mikoto, how's she doing?"

At this Mai blushed and began to turn her cup faster. This was a question she had both been dreading and expecting. "She's doing well. Her grades in school have gotten a lot better and she's joining sports. Right now she's on the kendo and baseball teams." Mai's smile and blush deepened as she continued. "She's the best hitter on the baseball team and best fighter in the kendo club as well. The captains of both teams tried to get her to quit the other but she loves them both a lot and they finally stopped. And since she needs good grades to play she's been studying a lot and is doing better. She's third in her class at the moment."

"Wow! That's great! To tell you the truth I was a little worried about what would happen to her when Reito left and all the Hime mess was over with. I always knew she was smart, a little hyperactive and weird but smart. Wow! I can't believe it." Natsuki sat back a huge grin on her face. "That's really good to hear."

Mai watched as her old friend began to laugh and shake her head. You really have changed.

"So what about boys? From what you're tellin' me she must be fighting them off with a stick. Or a bat?" Natsuki began to laugh at her little joke.

"Well…" Mai's faced turned crimson and she was looking anywhere but at the girl across the table from her.

"Mai!" Natsuki said in shock.

"Well uh… You see…" She was pushing her index fingers together and looking off to the right. "When I was going through all my problems with Tate, Kanzaki-san left and uh well… We uh, helped each other get through it and we are kinda…" She began to rub the back of her head. "Together now." She then sheepishly looked up at her a friend with a timid smile.

Natsuki was sitting there, her mouth agape and shock evident on her face. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence she shook her head and said, "Wow!" A huge smile on her face she looked at Mai. "Well, I can't say I ever expected it but- wow! How long?"

"A few months…" Mai answered, still unsure of Natsuki's feelings on the subject.

"That's great! I'm happy for you!" Laughing Natsuki settled back into her seat. "I'm sure it's more than just her love for sports that's making her do better in school now."

Mai blushed heavily. You have changed a lot. You used to be the one embarrassed all the time.

Still saying "wow" every few seconds Natsuki began to stare out the window again a huge smile on her face. Mai began to consider her friend again. It was as if during the past two years away, all the walls Natsuki put up around her were gone. She was no longer completely closed off. Somehow she had opened up.

Then something happened that made Mai change her mind completely. Natsuki frowned and everything changed. She was suddenly pushed far away while walls were immediately built and fortified. Something in the girl's posture had changed that immediately put up a defensive front. The biggest change by far though was in her eyes. The green orbs that just a few seconds ago were so full of mirth and happiness were now filled with a deep pain. Mai almost felt like clutching her own chest at the pain she saw in the blue haired girl's eyes. It spoke of things that she would never know about her friend and much more. There was anger as well in those eyes but it was barely noticeable next to the pain. There was something else there too but Mai couldn't really pinpoint what it was.

The next thing she knew Mai was pulled out of her reverie by Natsuki's voice. "So how's Shizuru."

That's why… "Yo- You haven't seen her yet?"

Natsuki shook her head, looking as if she really didn't wish to speak.

"Sh-she's fine." Mai didn't really know how to approach this subject. She knew that Natsuki would want to know everything but she didn't want to cause her to worry. Sighing she thought, well she's going to find out eventually anyways. "She was really bad after you left. It took a while for us, to get her to come back out, but ever since then she's been like she was back in high school. I'm sure you know she's in college now and she's doing well. It just seemed natural when she became the president of the student council there as well and she has completely thrown her self into her work."

The whole time she spoke, Natsuki had not so much as blinked. When she finished she swore she heard the girl let out a long breath but she wasn't sure. Suddenly a thought struck her. Shortly after Natsuki's disappearance she had received a letter from someone in very bad handwriting asking her to take care of Shizuru. She had always assumed it was from one of the Kaichou's fans because it was well known that they were friends and that Shizuru was having a hard time.

"Natsuki did you-"

"Is she living at the dorms on campus?"

Mai blinked at the interruption and mentally nodded to herself. It was her.

"Yeah, you want me to call her? she offered.

"No it's fine." Natsuki shook her head. "No need to bother her, she's probably busy anyways."

Mai was about to speak when Natsuki turned back to her. The walls were gone once again and her eyes once again held that tinge of happiness. "Well Mai, I got some things I need to do today and you better open your diner. Wouldn't want to go out of business after putting so much money into the place now would we?" she teased.

Clapping her hands on her knees, she took one long drink from her cup and stood, grabbing her helmet off the table. "It was good talking with you."

"It was good seeing you again" Mai said exasperated as she began to laugh.

"Well, I'm back in town to stay, so you should see more of me." Natsuki said looking down at her.

"Well then, I'll be seein you." Turning her back to Mai she headed for the door, waving one arm.

Mai stood and followed her. "You better. And listen no "if's" "an's" or "but's" about it we are having a karaoke night. After all, we have our own place to do it now." By no she was at the door calling out to the girl as she mounted her bike.

"Oh, about that…" Natsuki said looking down at her helmet in her hands. "Could we uh… keep it under wraps that I'm back in town?"

"What!? No way!" Mai cried.

"Just for now please?" Natsuki pleaded. "There's a few things I need to find out first." She was avoiding eye contact again.

Natsuki sighed before coming up with a compromise. "Listen, you can tell your cat-girl if she is any better at keeping secrets now. I'll even have dinner with you or something but for one, I don't wanna make a big deal about it right now and two, I have some things I need to do before hand.

The sad look was back on her face. Mai sighed and threw up her hands in frustration. "Fine! You better have dinner with us at my place."

Natsuki looked up and smiled. "I would like that. Where do you live now?"

"Next door to where you did, and oh don't give me that look, you've been gone a while." Mai added on seeing Natsuki's surprised expression.

Chuckling Natsuki put on her helmet. "Fine, what time you want me?"

"I'll close early today, so how bout six?" Mai said looking at her watch.

"Sounds good." Natsuki said as she hit the ignition button on her bike. "See yeah then!" She yelled over the roar of the bike before she slowly pulled out of the parking lot.

Mai smiled as she watched her old friend speed away on her bike. It's good to see her again. Turning back into her diner she flipped the sign on the door from closed to open. I just wonder how the Kaichou is going to take it. She thought sadly. She began to go about her work and drifted off into thought. Suddenly Mai stopped in her tracks. Wait… If she sent the first letter… Then the check…

A/N: You will get to see Shizuru next chapter. Btw this is going to be a pretty basic shiznat story, although they will not be together immediatly. As always please tell me what you think, sorry for those who liked this story so far for taking so long to update it but its last on my list to update, although it got updated before another one.

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