Hey everyone, thanks to all you reviewers, glad you're liking the story. I've been powering away at this whilst I'm trying to get my maria sama one back in the direction I originally had intended for it. So without further ado.

Chapter 2: The Guide

Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,

And slips into the bosom of the fold thyself,

my dearest, thou, and slip

Into my bosom and be lost in me.


Natsuki's POV

Natsuki opened her eyes and winced in pain, the bright white light sending a shearing pain through her sleepy orbs.

The hell?

"Ah, awake at last!"

Natsuki shielded her eyes with the back of her hand and tried to peek out from under it. She looked around and immediately shot up into a sitting position. White. Everything was….white.

"I was beginning to think you no longer needed my assistance."

She looked over her shoulder in the direction where the voice was coming from. He wasn't hard to pick out. He stood tall over her sitting form, dressed from head to toe in black.

"Ugh, how much did I drink?" Natsuki rubbed her eyes and opened them, much to her dismay, to see the same man still standing in front of her.

"Surprisingly, you are sober. But asleep."

"So I'm just dreaming?" she sighed and climbed to her feet,

Shizuru was right, mayo before bedtime really doesn't do good things to you….

She lifted her hand to her head again. It felt slightly tender.

"My head hurts…." she grumbled.

"It took quite a knock" the mysterious man informed her.

"Huh?" she looked at the unmoving figure in front of her, it was hard to make out his face with the bright light surrounding her. "I thought it was just the light" she shut her eyes again for emphasis.

"You will get used to it."

"I need to wake up…." she rubbed her eyes again and shook her head.

"That is entirely up to you…"

"Well I figured that, what time is it?" she wondered aloud.

"Time has no meaning here."

She looked at the man incredulously. This was like one of those scenes from the movies. Had she watched something before bed, she did tend to over think things a little. Maybe I'm stuck in some scene from something I watched earlier…

"What you are experiencing is quite real I assure you."

Natsuki frowned. How did he….?

"I told you, you are asleep. Indefinitely of course, which is why this is very real."

"In….definitely?"

"Until you decide, yes. Indefinitely"

"Decide what? Just who the hell are you? I've never seen you before! How the hell are you in my dreams?"

"I'm here because you asked for me. I am your guide."

"HA! My guide?" Natsuki began pacing around, her eyes never leaving the man before her.

He calmly turned around and watched her walk circles around him.

"Yes, I'm here to help you."

"I don't need any help! I need to wake up and get to work!"

The man just smiled and turned, walking away from her.

"Hey!" she began to follow him, "Oi! Wait!"

The man turned around and smiled again. Dark eyes. Her eyes were beginning to adjust to her surroundings now, yet all she could see were those dark pools, and that amused smirk, his face was entirely….forgettable. Except for those eyes…

"Have you decided?"

"I don't know. I don't know what's going on! I don't understand anything!"

"Do you want my help?" he asked simply.

Natsuki fidgeted with the zip on her bike leathers. What should I do? What the hell is going on? I can't wake up…. Should I listen to him? Wait, if this is all a dream then….he's not real….argh! My head….

"The choice is yours. Your own decisiveness is what is keeping you here."

"My own decisiveness? I told you! I just want to wake up!"

"If it were that simple, you would be awake."

"I don't understand….." Natsuki rubbed her head, if I'm sleeping then why am I so tired? I just want to sleep!

"You will. If you follow me. I can show you."

"Show me what? There's nothing here!" she sweeped her arm around her and turned to look at him confused.

"Not here."


Natsuki dropped to the ground. The hard, wet, concrete beneath her. It was raining. She was on her hands and knees.

"Here" The man stood aside and revealed the trio standing behind him to Natsuki.

"Sakomizu….? …Mr. Smith? …..Me?" she watched herself hush Sakomizu, turning back to talk to Mr. Smith. What's going on? Is this….from that time?

Natsuki's guide kneeled beside her, his eyes not leaving the scene before him.

"What? What's going on? Why are we here?"

Her guide turned to look at her.

"Your mother….." he started.

"Mr Smith told me…." she left unfinished.

"Come." He guide climbed to his feet and reached his hand out to her.

Natsuki continued to watch herself. Her shocked face, her tears that fell and mingled with the rain. This was when she had found out about her mother. About what her mother had done to her as a child. She was sold like cattle to the highest bidder. The off-shore bank accounts had backed up what Smith had told her. Her mother had died saving her, would she still be alive if she hadn't sold her daughter in the first place? Would they have chased them off that cliff if she hadn't took their money?

"Natsuki…."

If he's showing me this, then is everything he told me true? Am I really asleep? Stuck sleeping?

"Are you ready?"

Natsuki took one last look at herself and nodded, taking his hand in hers.


Natsuki opened her eyes, was she in the past again? She looked up into the sky, the red HiME star shone brightly beside the moon. The past.

"This way…." her guide walked ahead into a small clearing amongst the trees and motioned for Natsuki to follow him.

When she reached the opening she felt a tight pain in her chest at the sight before her.

Shizuru….

She watched the older girl frown slightly, pain showing in those deep crimson eyes.

"The most important person to me?" the blonde asked.

Natsuki smiled, the softly spoken words rung in that lovely Kyoto-ben accent, making something inside of her feel warm.

"The decision is yours."

Natsuki suddenly felt a rush of anger flood to the surface when she spotted Nagi sitting on a branch in a nearby tree. He was speaking to Shizuru.

"If I refuse?" Shizuru smiled sweetly.

"Then you will be powerless as to the outcome anyway." Nagi grinned.

Shizuru's smile faded. She turned her back on him and looked up at the HiME star shining down on her.

Natsuki realized what was happening. The same thing had happened to her. The HiME power. Nagi had approached her once as well.

"The decision is mine?" Shizuru asked.

Nagi nodded even though Shizuru still had her back to him.

Natsuki watched in awe as Shizuru's hand went out from her side, summoning her naginata.

"A HiME's purpose is to fight the orphans and protect…." Nagi started.

"I will not fight." Shizuru stated bluntly.

Natsuki looked from Nagi to Shizuru.

"The only person I shall protect is Natsuki…."

"Come…." Natsuki's guide turned and walked away from them with Natsuki close on his heels. She glanced back one last time at Shizuru and into those dark crimson eyes.

"Why are you showing me these things?" Natsuki asked after a few minutes of following the man through the brush.

"Both of the past events that I have showed you have had a profound effect on your life. They both changed you."

"How could they I wasn't even there with Shizuru!"

"You may not have been there, but it still affected you. Shizuru chose to accept being a HiME in order to protect you. You chose to accept being a HiME in order to protect the memory of your mother, by seeking revenge. This is why you are indecisive."

"You keep saying that! What do you mean I'm indecisive!"

"Shizuru…." he stated simply.

"What! This is about her? I chose to die for Shizuru! She died with me! I held her in my arms!"

"Weren't you simply killing two birds with one stone?" he asked nonchalantly.

"HUH!" Natsuki's cheeks flushed red in anger.

"You made a decision that day. To forgive your mother. You also chose to accept Shizuru. You didn't choose to fight."

"We wouldn't have survived. I wanted to be with Shizuru."

"Ah! But wouldn't you have also been with….your mother?"

"NO! You're full of it! I gave my life that day to be with Shizuru! She is the most important person in my life!"

"The most important. But is she the only important? I think part of you knew that if you passed on, there was a chance you might get to see your mother again. Unfortunately, things don't quite work that way…."

"YOU'RE FULL OF IT! YOU'RE LYING!" Natsuki screamed at him.

"No, that's quite impossible. I cannot lie you see."

Natsuki tried to calm herself, concentrating first on slowing her breathing.

Cannot lie you say?

"Then tell me…what happened to me? Tell me why I'm here, and don't say it's because I'm indecisive. I want to know how I got here."

"That, I can show you."


"Shizuru!"

I stood on the path across the road from myself. Watching myself as I called out her name cheerfully, sitting on my bike. The door to the apartment opened and from behind it the blonde stepped out onto the street. Shizuru….

Shizuru smiled warmly, genuinely.

"Do we have time for tea?" she asked hopefully.

"Umm…." I watched myself struggle to pull back my leather sleeve to glance at my watch. "Sure, two secs…."

I climbed off my bike, kicking the stand down and turning off the engine.

"Hey…." she smiled sheepishly as I approached her.

"Hey…." I replied back, my damn cheeks heating up again. That was actually kind of embarrassing to watch from the outside.

"Tea…?" she teased, reaching for my arm and slowly pulling me into her apartment.

I watched myself nod dumbly, letting myself be pulled inside.

"Shall we?" my guide asked as I watched myself close Shizuru's apartment door across the street. I nodded.

"You still have no preference where we go today?" I watched myself and Shizuru from across the room. I was sitting quite comfortably on the vast couch that took up most of the back wall. Shizuru was standing whisking the powder into a thick paste in the tea bowl.

"I'm just happy to be spending some time with you. Natsuki can choose where we go."

"Well when you invited me for tea I thought you meant….ya know, kettle, cup, teabag. There's not much point in visiting a tea house if you're preparing some from scratch now…."

Shizuru giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"I don't think I've ever had teabags in my kitchen." she grinned at Natsuki's stunned expression.

"But! But I always make you tea with them! Are you telling me you don't like them!"

"Ara, I never said that. I enjoy Natsuki's tea. It's the effort that's put into making it that makes it taste all the sweeter." she set my cup down in front of me.

"I boil the kettle and pour water in the cup…..what are you talking about?"

"It's hot." Shizuru warned.

I watched myself scald my tongue and curse rather loudly. When I actually stop to think about it, what does Shizuru see in me?

"Aaaaa…." I held my hand over my mouth.

"I'm sorry I should have said sooner. Want me to kiss it better?" Shizuru leaned towards me and I watched in both amusement and confusion at myself flinching and pushing myself further into the sofa away from her. My mouth gaping in disbelief.

Now I understand why she teases me, I am quite amusing to watch.

"B..BAKA!" I stared at her dumbfounded.

"Ara, I thought when Natsuki's mouth opened she was inviting me. My mistake…."

Shizuru winked and got to her feet. "I'll be right back…."

I watched her walk right in front of me, I watched those sad eyes and stiff form retreat into the bathroom. Sometimes, I really was an idiot. I noticed nothing.

"Ready to go?" I called from the open doorway.

"Yes," Shizuru reached into her closet and pulled one of her coats from the hanger. "Ready" she smiled warmly and walked out the door with me.

Broken, upset and ashamed to happy, excited and eager in zero point five seconds. She still amazes me.

I watched myself place my helmet on Shizuru's head, fasten it under her chin and knock it playfully on top. I was an idiot, but for some reason she laughed and proceeded to climb on the bike after me. She wrapped her arms around me and gave me the thumbs up when I'd turn to ask if she was ready over the roaring of the Ducati's engine. Off we went.

The gentle wind sweeps through the air,

A cool breeze blows through my hair,

It makes me want to fly way up high,

And it carries me up to the cloudy sky.

"So…?" I turned to look at the man watching the bike grow smaller in the distance. "What's the deal here?"

"This is where it ends." he clarified.

"Huh! What do you mean, ends?"

"You wished to know why you are here."

"Yeah but….what do you mean ends? Where is Shizuru!" I felt myself begin to panic. I didn't like this one bit. When I thought of Shizuru and me on that bike, my guides unrevealing poker face, what he had said to me earlier…..oh god what happens to Shizuru? The bile began to rise to the back of my throat.

What happened? Why isn't she here with me? Where is she?

"By your side"

"I don't….huh?" I don't get it.

I'm floating my way past cloud nine,

Suddenly my life seems perfectly fine,

I feel the wind strong in my face,

I begin to love this wonderful place.

I saw my Ducati coming over the hill in front of us. I turned to look at the man standing next to me. His eyes were distant, focusing on me and Shizuru driving towards us. I heard the beeping come from behind me and turned to watch several people walk through the crossing. The beeping stopped. A car approaching slowed, then picked up speed when the lights stopped flashing. I felt myself begin to panic all over again. That horrible heavy feeling in your chest as you watch everything around you begin to blur, to slow down as if time itself were stopping. I was helpless. All I could do was watch the events unfold before me. Watch as….

No….

"Yumiko, hurry up or you'll be late for school."

"Mummy look a puppy!"

Please. No.

"Yumiko leave it alone we need to go, quick!"

The woman stopped and waved for the young girl to catch up to her.

The little girl ran.

She ran to her mother.

Past her mother.

And onto the crossing.

I watched in horror, the same expression on her mothers face, as the little girl ran onto the road.

I didn't need to look behind me. I heard the deafening screech of my tires on the tarmac. I heard myself and Shizuru cry out in alarm.

I didn't need to watch.

Now I remembered.

The sickening crunch of plastic and metal scrape and slide over the ground could be heard.

I shut my eyes tightly.

Please, let this be a dream. A sick, twisted dream. Tell me this didn't really happen.

"Natsuki!" I turned at the sound of her voice and watched her undo the clasp of her helmet. Shizuru.

My helmet. I gave it to her.

Thank god.

She jumped to her feet despite the tears in her clothing, the blood stains on her jeans. She ran towards me.

She looks so scared. It's okay Shizuru….

I'm right here.

She stopped a few feet in front of me and collapsed. I heard her cry out. I watched the tears stream down her cheeks. I watched her scream my name as she picked my lifeless body from the ground. Cradling me. Her forehead against mine. She chanted my name over and over. She asked me to open my eyes. She asked me to look at her. She asked me not to leave, and I watched her crumble, shuddering over me when I couldn't comply.

"Make it stop….."

"Natsuki?" the man turned to look at me.

Shizuru rocked me back and forth, her white polo neck slowly seeping red as she held me. So much blood….

"Please, just MAKE IT STOP!"

I watched the horror scene in front of me fade away as the tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

Now I understood what happened. I remembered Shizuru calling out my name. How could I forget?


"Now you know how you are here…." the man spoke.

I looked up at the shadowy figure in front of me, back in that god awful bright white light.

"Actually, now I know why my head hurts…" My sorry attempt at humour. He didn't laugh. "Where is Shizuru….?"

"I already answered that question."

"You said she was by my side….."

"She is."

"But…..I'm….dead. Aren't I?"

"You keep repeating the same questions." he stated rather bored.

"That's because I don't know what the hell is going on!" I shouted, beginning to lose my patience with the man.

"Think about what I have told you." again, he replied in a calm voice.

I have been thinking. I haven't stopped thinking since I woke up here! You told me I was here because of my indecisiveness. You told me I was asleep, indefinitely. I'm not dreaming. Everything you have shown me has happened to me. It's all real. So the accident….. Shizuru….. Is she okay? What happened to her after? She's not by my side, but if I'm not dead and she isn't dead then how could she be? So I'm still alive. Just….asleep? Wait. If I'm asleep. Shizuru is by my side…. Indefinitely….

"I'm in a coma." I blurted out in disbelief.

Sudden realization hitting me.

"Precisely"

All my troubles are floating far away,But in the sky, I wish they would stay,I will not cry when I'm flying up here,I won't even shed one single tear.


Shizuru's POV

"I think this is a little unnecessary." Shizuru commented as the doctor wheeled the chair into her room.

"Technically you are on bed rest until you heal. We wouldn't want to set ourselves back to square one now would we?"

Absolutely. In fact, if I have to drag myself around in that I think I might pay the stairs a visit.

"Gently…." the doctor reached out his hand to help Shizuru down onto the wheelchair. She ignored him and stood up defiantly before sitting herself down.

"Are we ready to go?" He asked leaning down to look into her face.

She turned her head.

"I can get there myself. Thank you."

The doctor nodded and stepped away from her, albeit hesitantly. Her ribs were still badly broken on her right side, her right leg also fractured in seven different places. It was clear she was in a lot of pain, no matter how much of a brave front she put up. She just didn't want anyone to notice. The doctor was more impressed that she had lashed out hysterically to the point where they had had to sedate her to calm her. How she had managed to even pick herself up off of the ground….

"Room Four One eight" the doctor stated and turned to leave.

"Four one eight?" she looked at him accusingly.

The doctor bowed his head, not turning around and left the room without another word.

They moved her. They moved her from ICU.

Shizuru shook her head and began to make her way towards the elevator. She knew what it meant but she decided not to dwell on it and just get there as soon as she could so she could spend more time with her.

If they moved her…..

She pushed number four on the elevator and watched the doors close in front of her.

They don't expect her to wake up….

"Ah! Fujino-san!" The nurse stood up from behind her station as Shizuru exited the elevator.

Not again….

"Good morning" Shizuru smiled her best.

The nurse watched her wheel herself up to the front of her desk.

Don't look at me with such sympathy….

"I'm here to see Natsuki" Shizuru stated the obvious.

"Of course, let me help you…." she went to move out behind Shizuru.

"No need, I'm perfectly capable." she began to make her way down the hall towards her destination when the nurse made her halt.

"There's still no change…."

"I figured that out all by myself actually" Shizuru snapped. Immediately regretting the outburst.

The nurse flinched.

"I see, well, if you need anything….." the nurse continued.

"I'll be sure not to call out to you too loudly. God forbid I wake someone up." Shizuru retorted sarcastically before moving on.

She felt the anger well up inside her, threatening to overflow. She had lost her composure again. Childish outbursts and nasty come backs were not her. She hated hospitals. She hated her situation. She hated the fact that….

Shizuru opened the door gently.

Natsuki….

She hated the fact, that the person she loved more than life itself was lying with barely any life left in her. Tubes connected to machines. That god awful annoying beeping of the monitor that haunted her in her sleep. Yet she dreaded the day it would cease…..

"Good morning Natsuki" she smiled and swung the door shut behind her, making her way towards the bedside of her beloved. "I had the strangest of dreams last night…."

You were by my side as I slept. You whispered softly in my ear and planted the softest kiss on my cheek. You told me you'd never leave me. That you'd come back for me….

Shizuru realized the absurdity of it all. Her loves chest struggled to rise, and fell quickly after it's strenuous climb. The sound of her breath drowned out by the awful noise of the machine connected to her mouth, the machine that was breathing for her.

Would she want to live like this….?

If I never loved,

I never would have cried

I am a rock

I am an island

And a rock feels no pain

And an island never cries.


Natsuki's POV

"I want to see Shizuru" Natsuki pleaded.

"I don't doubt that."

"Send me back then! I want to wake up!" Natsuki flung her arms about her, obviously frustrated.

"I can't wake you up Natsuki. That is out of my power. I already told you…."

"Yeah! Yeah! I have to wake myself up! I know I heard you! But it's not working now is it?"

"Do you want to see your mother?" the guide deadpanned, making Natsuki blink in surprise.

"….."

"I can show you."

"I….I don't know…." Natsuki broke eye contact when she felt the tears well up in her eyes.

"You will have to decide. Sooner rather than later."

Natsuki met his eyes again, frowning at his choice of words.

"Sooner rather than later? What's that supposed to mean?"

"I have no control over outside influences Natsuki, only what you wish to be shown here. I can help you, if you help me."

"Do you always speak in riddles?"

"What starts with an E, ends in an E and only contains one letter?"

"An envelope. Now answer my question." Natsuki folded her arms in front of her.

The man smiled, if not because he was slightly taken aback by her sharpness.

"I am here to help you Natsuki, I merely give you the clues, information of a sort if you will. I can't make any decisions for you. That is up to you."

"So you're giving me information but not giving me information right?"

"Right."

"Fine. Show me."

"What is it you wish to see?"

"My mother. Show me…"

"As you wish…."


Shizuru's POV

"Can you hear me?" Shizuru whispered. Her head resting beside Natsuki's on the girl's pillow.

"I'm right here. I'm not leaving until you wake up Natsuki…" she brushed a stray lock of Sapphire coloured hair from the girl's cheek, caressing that soft skin lightly with her fingers.

She sighed, finding amusement in the fact that she only ever seemed to open up to the girl when she was unconscious. Amusement and sorrow. She winced slightly as foggy memories of what had happened when Natsuki was asleep before her last time, hit her suddenly as if in warning. She pulled her hand away and clenched it into a fist. Never again. Trying to think of slightly happier times, her face broke into a warm smile as she remembered a particular time that stood out in her memory from all the rest.

"Geez keep your hands to yourself!" Natsuki recoiled from my outstretched hand.

"Ara, Natsuki had something on her leg."

"Yes, a skirt." she blushed furiously, watching cautiously as my hand settled beside her knee.

"Natsuki doesn't enjoy my touch?" I teased.

"Natsuki thinks Shizuru enjoys touching a little too much."

I arched my eyebrow playfully. I always get the sweetest blushes when I do.

"Don't even think about it." Natsuki stated with finality.

I sighed loudly and leaned back on both of my outstretched arms, squinting slightly as I looked up at the bright sun shining down on us through the leaves. I love this place. Sitting in Fuuka Garden under this tree was one of my favourite times of the day. By fifth period, I always found myself eagerly anticipating the bell signalling the end of the lesson. Something that was completely out of character for me if I'm honest. Not that I'd ever never admit that to anyone.

"Wanna go for a ride?" Natsuki asked out of the blue.

"We have class again in twenty minutes." I stated. Flatly. "Don't tell me you were planning on skipping again?"

"No, of course not! We can be back in twenty minutes…." Natsuki shrugged as if it didn't matter.

"Okay." This could be fun. I jumped up and reached my hand down for her to take.

"Twenty minutes. Not one second later, okay?"

"Yeah sure." You're so adorable when you're flustered.

"Ara, you don't sound very confident in your own abilities Natsuki…." I started playfully.

"I'm confident! I…I'll get you back before final bell! Promise!"

I held out my pinky finger which Natsuki joined with eagerly.

You took my hand in yours…

"So tell me. How fast can Natsuki drive?"

Natsuki was giggling each time she revved the engine, she knew how I hated that. I love to play but somehow this one came back and slapped me on the face. I hate going fast. In anything. When we took off down the road I clutched on to her tighter. I watched over her shoulder in horror when she clocked zero to eighty in….how many seconds was that! I couldn't take much more of this. She was getting faster, the corners were getting tighter and she looks as if she's about to…..oh no…..

That was the first time I heard you laugh so….honestly. So openly. My heart soared when I heard it. Everything up until this point had been worth it Natsuki. To see you smile, to hear you laugh. And all it took was for me to open up a little bit more to you too. Even if it was out of character for me. Even if it was a one time thing. I'm glad you shared it with me.

You lifted your bike off the ground…

We soared through the air…

You laughed so honestly…

..I screamed so very loudly…

"Natsuki!" I squeezed tighter around Natsuki's waist.

S.t.o.p t.h.e b.i.k.e!

Natsuki immediately slowed down, pulling off onto a familiar spot above a cliff top shortly afterwards.

"See?" Natsuki climbed off her bike and held out her hand for me to help me down, "No time at all"

"Ara, so pretty! Where are we?" I pulled the helmet off my head and walked closer to the edge of the cliff top, stopping at the safety railing along the edge.

Natsuki shrugged.

"Just somewhere I like to come when I want to be alone, ya know. To…think."

She walked over and joined me at the railing.

"Mum, this is Shizuru."

I looked down at the bunch of flowers by Natsuki's feet. You….brought me here? To where your mother….

"She's a little creepy, always answers a question with a question and seems to find enjoyment in grabbing….."

"NATSUKI!" this….is embarrassing, if I say so myself.

You smiled at me. You looked out over the calm sea. You inhaled sharply.

"But she's the most important person to me."

You surprised me.

True to my character I had absolutely no idea what to say to you. What could I say? I promised myself I'd wait for you. I'd wait until you were ready. What you had said. The way you had said it. I had absolutely no idea what was going on in that head of yours Natsuki. To this day…. I still don't. You're the only person that can make me feel like I'm soaring through the sky one minute and crashing back down to earth, to harsh reality the next. I couldn't read you. But I'd wait for you. No matter how long it took.

"Liar."

"Huh!"

Yes. I am spoiling the mood. Why? Once again Natsuki, you have rendered me speechless. The only person that has ever, ever been able to break me so easily like that.

"Liar…you told me twenty minutes."

Like I cared. Right now, with you. That's all that matters.

"I'm sorry."

I shook my head, took you hand in mine and sat down with you right there on the edge of that cliff. You took your jacket off and placed it beneath us. We sat that way, words barely exchanged as we watched the sun set.

That day, was the first day I had ever skipped school.

That day, was the day I was reminded of all the little things that made me fall in love with you.

Not that I forgot.

I could never forget Natsuki.

What I wouldn't give to hear you whisper my name,
To see your smile, feel your touch over and over again
Watch you stutter and blush, whilst you try to pull away
Pretending not to notice what my eyes are trying to say
But the words never leave my mouth, oh, believe me,
I've been trying!
Because even though I tease and I flirt, on the inside,
I'm crying.
Everyday with you is painful, my insides are tearing apart,
How exactly do you tell someone so important,
that you love them with all your heart?
Come back to me my love, after all that we have been through!
Open your eyes and listen to me,
when I tell you how much I love you.


A/N

I think that is possibly the longest chapter I have ever written! And it's still short! I forgot to mention in the previous chapter that all of the poetry in this fic is taken either out of my favourites, or from random sources that I have liked on the web. The only one I have written is Shizuru's poem above at the end. (Apologies I haven't written poetry since school which was a goood while ago. Nah I'm not that old. Just out of practice!)

Well I got sucked right in haha! Well I guess you guys weren't expecting this angle :/

This idea was actually stemmed from another (slightly darker) idea that I haven't had the guts to write yet. Why? Because if you thought this was upsetting I had some deep, dark places to go with the other one. Some people don't like that sort of stuff.

Anyways hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you think. It makes writing all that much easier to know you're enjoying it out there! Or hating. I'm fine with that too….