I have to apologise for the extremely late update but unfortunately my laptop got the blue screen of dead and killed all my work for college and fan fictions so I've been a bit screwed for quite a while so I hope you can all forgive me. Luckily though I found my old written up version of this fan fiction so I can finally start loading the chapters up again. Whoot! ^_^
Anyway, that's enough from me so let's get on with the next chapter.
Chapter 3 – Betrayal
Mai's PV
"Okay then, what is this proposition you have for me Mai?" I hear her say down the phone to me as I can imagine the inquisitive look she is giving to the phone, I shiver ever so slightly at how her voice sounds and from my growing excitement.
"Well" I take a deep breath to calm myself before I start again slowly explaining what I wanted this person to do, unfortunately I decided to begin explaining about what had happened with Natsuki first before I explained in detail the part of the plan that concerned her.
Shizuru's PV
I sat here on the veranda watching the world slowly pass by me as I let my heart swoon, I wished to return home and my heart was pining as I thought of her, my Natsuki. I tried listening to the birds singing, I tried watching the motion of the sakura trees swaying in the wind but it didn't work, whatever I tried to do I always found myself sitting silently, not listening, not seeing, not feeling, only thinking of the one thing in this world I could not have.
It had only been a week since I had left Fuuka Island to come back and live in Kyoto with my parents, but already felt like an eternity. With nothing to do other than read books, watch the world fly by and act like the 'perfect young lady', I felt my mind begin to slip further and further away as the days became increasingly boring. I had already read practically every book the house had to offer before I had left for school that now I was left with a limited choice, which meant I was left with the options of acting like the 'perfect young lady' or watch the world fly and neither option applied to me at all, I was basically sat waiting for a miracle that would never happen.
Just then I heard my mobile vibrating on the floor next to me, I thank whoever is up there that decided to help me as I pick the phone up and answer without looking at the caller ID. "Hello" I wait patiently for a reply as I feel my heart rate speed up slightly.
"Hello, I have some extremely interesting news for you to hear, but first I have a proposition for you." I heard the person say through the phone to me, I have to say that voice surprised me somewhat as I don't believe this person has ever called me before. I could hear the undertone of mischief in her voice and I knew whatever it was she had to say to me was going to be interesting to say the least.
"Okay then, what is the proposition you have for me?" I let my mind race as I thought of ways to get round whatever she had planned, but what she said surprised and shocked me.
"First, I need you to come back to Fuuka and second I want to make a little bet with you over something I'm sure you will be interested in trying." I could hear the smile in her voice as she continued speaking "I need you agree to my little wager before I give you the information, what I can tell though is what the winner will receive." She paused for a moment and chuckled to herself before continuing "A trip for two to wherever they want, travel and food expenses fully paid, whoever they take is up to them and the trip will take place over the new year, if you win I pay for your trip, if I win you pay for mine."
"Okay…what's the bet?" for a moment I'm unsure about where she's going with this, until I hear the next part.
"The bet is to do with you getting someone to confess their feelings for you, I bet you can't, but the bet only goes up to Christmas so you don't have long to complete it, do you agree?"
I think for a moment before asking "Who am I trying to get to confess?"
"Natsuki"
My breath catches in my throat as I don't believe what I'm hearing, she continues as I try to gain some brain functions back "So, do you agree or not?"
"Yes" I say without thinking and curse myself for having such a stupid weakness.
"I'll be seeing you soon then Shizuru" before I even had a chance to reply I heard the beeping tone as she had already hung up on me.
The next few moments were strange as I began to pack in a daze; I booked a ticket on the next plane out to Fuuka and waited until the car was ready to take me to the airport. I couldn't believe it, I was going to see Natsuki again, at this thought I felt a small smile creep onto my lips as I felt happy again for the first time since I arrived here.
Natsuki's PV
Okay, I've just figured out what was bothering me so now what do I do, I mean I can't exactly go get her and I can't ring because I know that the first thing I'll do is hang up on her.
Oh god I'm so screwed.
Maybe I should go talk to Mai she usually helps me out a lot with things like this, but I really want to do this on my own this time otherwise I'll never get anywhere in anything if I keep relying on her, besides she has Mikoto to deal with and I definitely don't want to hear about that.
Either way I have to get going its karaoke night tonight and I have to meet Mai and Mikoto at theirs, with that last thought I hope onto my motorbike, rev the engine and I off, flying towards Mai's like there's nothing else for me to do.
Karaoke has kind of become a part of the routine for all us Hime now seeing as we don't really see much of each other anymore, I know though that because of the holidays karaoke nights are going to become a lot more popular with Mai and everybody so I feel obliged to go really. Although I have to admit even though there are some embarrassing times for all of us, I have really started to just enjoy spending time with everyone.
Of course tonight it won't be exactly the same because Shizuru isn't even here, but in a way I'm thankful for that as it gives me a chance to figure out what to do, plus I don't think I could face Shizuru this fast after figuring out what I just did, tomorrow I could probably live with but now I'd die of embarrassment.
As I approached the campus I noticed that a few of the others were already walking up to Mai's, Nao actually waved at me slightly as she noticed me driving up, I never would've thought that Nao and I would ever get along but after the whole festival was over we got to talking and found that we had a lot in common. I'm surprised to say how immature she can be when she isn't hiding behind that tuff exterior, she's also become quite close with Mikoto as well considering that they were both in the same year I wasn't too surprised.
I was more surprised to find out how close Tate and Reiko were they were though they acted like brother when they were around us, but I guess that had to share a lot considering they are the only two guys that know about what happened during the festival. Of course Takumi was an exception with everything really mainly because he was Mai's little brother but also because at the moment he was in hospital recovering from his surgery, Akira refuses to leave his side and it helps Mai survive knowing that she's with him. I have to admit I find the girl's efforts endearingly cute, plus the way they are together just makes me think that they were meant to be.
I parked my bike over by the bike rake that stood underneath Mai's apartment and jogged up the stairs to catch up with the others as they walked along the hall to last door. Mikoto managed to open the door for us all before we even knocked, which seemed to be becoming a little bit of a habit for her, it's been weeks since any of us had to actually knock or open the door ourselves.
At least it proved one thing though, if she can hear us coming it means that we're not interrupting anything and that she's not even distracted by anything either.
As we all walked we noticed Mai was just finishing cooking in the kitchen, the food that Mai cook's is one of the reasons why I come by quite often and by the way the rest appreciate the food I'd say that they share that reason with me. When Mai turns towards us we all she the sly smile she has on her and for some reason I get the feeling that she's done something that I'm not going to like, but of course I know she's not going to tell me what she did so I'm stuck with playing the guessing game until she does something to give it all away.
"What's that smile for Mai?" I hear Chie say as she huddles closer to Aoi.
"No reason in particular" Mai replies as she hands Mikoto a bowl of food and rest some more on the table, Mikoto hugs her before she can walk away and kisses her neck as Mai returns the favour with a slightly bigger grin.
I sit there as I feel myself go into shock at the loving display of affection shared between the two. Usually Mai either moans at Mikoto for being affectionate in front of us, but now she isn't even embarrassed by it and only seems to return it with the same amount of affection.
As Mai returns to the kitchen to retrieve the rest of the food we hear a knock at the door, before Reito and Tate come through it.
"Sorry, if we are late Mai, Tate got held up." Reito smiles as she bows towards all of us.
Tate however seems to be hiding a blush as he stands behind Reito mumbling about some stupid thing or another, but at least we know that the most likely reason for his mumbling would be Shiho so I guess he deserves to have some sympathy. As he is still staying with her, we all know he has feelings for Mai, but he chose Shiho over her, for what reason none of us know but I have to give the man credit for sticking with someone who usually annoys you more than anything. I guess in a way that's love because it can't all be love and affection, and you can't just run away every time they irritate or annoy you because in the end it's all the fun times you have to remember and look upon.
I guess that's kind of what I did to Shizuru, I ran away from the one person I know I love and I don't even know how I can make it right, but one way or another I am going to make it right. For one I know I have quite a bit of time to mull things over before I have to do anything as Shizuru is away, it helps because it means that nothing is interfering with me at the moment so I can focus on what I need to do.
Wow! That took longer to write than expected. I apologise again for the extremely late update, but at least there is a new chapter now. Yay! Anyway I hope to update again soon so long as nothing else goes wrong. So R&R please all comments are welcome. =]
