Chapter 1: Fear.
Natsuki was breathing hard; she felt like she was going to die at any second. It was Saturday night, the time of the week that she always spent with her best friend. Normally they would eat, talk, watch TV and of course Natsuki would do anything within her power to leave instead of staying over in case Shizuru found out her secret upon waking up the next morning. It was already embarrassing enough having to deal with it on a daily basis.
Saturday evening is usually simple and unpretentious, but they both like to spend the time together like that. Tonight is also the night that she will tell her everything. This is the night where she will either be devastated or the happiest person in the world. Tonight is the night. Then, she noticed the time; 7.00pm. Natsuki had been fighting with her nervousness for the last hour!
As she knocked on her best friend's door she waited a few seconds and then her gorgeous best friend greeted her after opening her door. She was wearing a simple white blouse and black jeans and her long wavy chestnut hair was tied in a ponytail. Perfection does exist in this world and her name is Shizuru.
Shizuru smiled and hugged her friend with a warm embrace. Even if they naturally had that kind of affection, Natsuki couldn't contain her reddening cheeks. She pulled out some red roses from behind her back and gave them to Shizuru who smelled the flowers.
"Natsuki bought me flowers? You didn't need to do that, but they are beautiful. Arigatou." Shizuru said, smiling at Natsuki.
'Not as much as you.' Natsuki wanted to add, but instead she spoke in a shy tone to Shizuru. "I did it because I really appreciate our friendship, it's important for me to have you at my side. You are precious to me. I just wanted to show you how precious you still are to me after all these years. That's all. It's really nothing much."
"Aw Natsuki! Thank you for these. Natsuki is so adorable. I love you so much." The Kyoto-Ben woman tenderly kissed Natsuki's burning cheek and she invited her in to settle in the living room. She went into the kitchen to put her flowers in a vase and she brought a beer and a glass of wine to start the night.
"Natsuki, are you okay?" The latter didn't seem to be fine. She was extremely pale and she was sweating a lot and lost in her thoughts, seemingly to be in her world. That only made the chestnut-haired woman worry more as she sat next to her. She touched her shoulder, making the raven-haired woman jump.
"Shizuru?!" Natsuki jumped, staring at her. "Ahh...errm…yeah...I'm fine! I'm just angry and hungry after work today."
"Your customers were boring this time? They seem to have drained all your energy as you like to say."
"No-no; they were just really fussy and stingy. It's really hard to work with those kinds of people. They want simplicity and at the same time something complex. When developing an apartment or a house it's not only down walls, but developing the inside, the space, furniture and windows…Urgh why didn't I choose to became a pastry chef like you instead of an architect?!"
"Because Natsuki likes her job, as do I." Shizuru smiled. "Does Natsuki think my job is only to make cakes? No; I have to serve the clients, plan dates and create designs and some customers are very rude, others angry when I don't give them my number."
"What?! Who?! Why didn't you tell me? I'll kill those bastards!" The architect with emerald eyes barked angrily. Who had dared to annoy her friend like that?
"I also have to find new recipes and create something new. Would you taste it for me?" Fujino tried to change the subject; she knows her friend loves food, especially to eat so it was be easy.
"Of course! You don't even have to ask! You know I love your food. I always have an orgasm when I eat it because it's that good!" With that answer ruby eyes shone with delight.
"I know that Natsuki is my fan, I like to give you orgasms, you are special to me after all and it's because of you I became a pastry chef. Without your encouragement I would have given up to become a doctor like my parents wanted."
"Are you kidding me? It's because you have the talent to do it and it's something you've always wanted to do. I didn't do anything except eat all your cookies when we were in high school."
"That's not true; do you remember the time when we went to the infirmary because I fell? You ate all my cookies and said: 'I'm not really good with sweets, but there was always just-"
"-Just one girl whose sweets didn't have too much sugar in them and I always make sure to eat those because I love them. They were different. I always overlooked eating that paradise that was wrapped up with a purple dotted ribbon." Kuga finished with a smile. She looked at her friend who blushed slightly. She hadn't forgotten…
"You later said that I have a great talent when baking and that I need to share it with others because you were happy to taste my cakes. You said that you're sure I will be famous one day; I would open my own store and perhaps more and it all happened because of you and your words. I cried when my parents didn't believe I could do this job and they even went as far as to stop paying for my studies, but you were there. You let me live in your apartment and helped me to achieve my dreams. I will always be grateful to you."
"Yeah, well, you promised to cook for me for the rest of my life. I hope you will keep your promise." The blunette reminded her by rubbing her stomach with a grin. The chestnut-haired beauty laughed as she remembered the pinky promise from years ago.
"But isn't it a little depressing to cook every day and for me tonight? I mean, I could make something for the both of us. It could be a nice change." Shizuru pondered it for a moment.
"Natsuki means a frozen pizza? I'd prefer to cook, no offense Natsuki." Kuga pouted, but she added that she 'didn't care' even though she clearly does, but she followed her friend to the kitchen. Their meal was ready.
Natsuki concentrated on her food, trying to find the right words to say to Shizuru. What does she need to say first? What was easier for her? To confess her love or to tell her she's intersexed? But if she begins with her love would she be rejected?
During Natsuki's inner turmoil, Shizuru noticed that her friend was quiet and she was playing with her food. Something was wrong, so she waited for Natsuki to take the initiative to talk first. Once, the blunette gained her courage, she pushed her food away and looked at Shizuru.
"Shizuru, I have something to tell you…well, in fact, there's two things and it's important to me that you know…Damn…This is more complicated than I imagined it would be…" Shizuru reached for Natsuki's hand and interlocked their fingers.
"Take your time Natsuki, I won't push you to tell me. We have all night. I'm here for you, no matter what, I will always be here for Natsuki."
"I just hope you will accept what it is that I have to say and more importantly for me we will still be friends. Your friendship is the greatest gift I've ever had in my entire life; I can't live without you. You are my light in darkness, the sun that brightens my day. You are my everything; my world. So don't hate me, please…" The declaration was enough to bring tears to Shizuru's eyes.
"I will never hate you Natsuki, never, you are my precious soul mate so don't be afraid."
"I…The truth is…Since I was born-Oh no, I don't feel good…"
"Are you sick?" Natsuki didn't answer, she simply rose from her chair and rushed to the toilet.
Worried, the young woman with ruby eyes followed her friend as she heard her vomiting loudly.
"Natsuki?" Shizuru asked. "Natsuki are you alright?"
"I'm not so sure…" Natsuki replied. "Why now?" She whispered to herself and again began to vomit. A few minutes later the architect came out of the toilet clutching her stomach.
"Natsuki…" Shizuru timidly said. "Don't tell me…that you are...pregnant…?" She asked, wide eyed.
