A/NI have notice, shakes head, I am not very good at writing long chapters x3! Without making it too long and spoiling the fun. Do not worry if I get a good amount of reviews, I will update soon xD
Reference:
Auf Wiedersehen: goodbye in German.
Thank you everyone who reviewed you all made up my day
Un-betaed people x3 between if anyone wishes to be my beta I will accept offers however I will need that person –at least for this week- that once I send he/she the chapters should at least give it to me at least between 2 or 3 days. O.O so yeah…I am getting lazy to reread is getting painful. So if someone can beta my chapters between 2 or 3 days for till next week pm if not become my beta for later o.o –I will explain the reason behind the rush- if someone is up to the job.
Forgive me for the mistakes…it really got painful rereading this after the fifth time.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Otome but I do own every little character I create on this fic besides the usual XD I do not own, the character mention on this chapter except for Yuuto and Adelle.
Chapter 4: Broken Masks and Unshed Tears
Natsuki with her guitar's case on her back, giggled happily all the way back till she was in front of her penthouse. She suddenly remembered that Shizuru was still with her, silently, she came in and when the raven-haired turned around a soft gasp escaped from her mouth.
The wooden chair had fell, pencils, paint brushes and watercolors were threw around the living room. The singer frowned and put everything back in order. She never noticed the covered stand next to the closet. Natsuki left her guitar's case on top of the small wooden table of the room and smiled at the scene. Shizuru was sleeping soundly, turned around from her, on the biggest couch of the living room. She had both of her arms on one side together and her legs curled. Then the raven-haired woman took off her jacket and covered it on the painter's chest, giggling at the scene now as Shizuru looked like an innocent child.
She then wondered what will had made the English woman stay so late after midnight to have choose the couch instead of the bed to sleep. Natsuki yawned, stretching her arms upwards. The raven-haired was about to leave when she finally noticed. There were traits of tears on the beautiful face of the painter. Kneeling a bit, the singer caressed Shizuru's cheek with a sad smile on her face.
"Foolish woman, why were you crying?" she scolded softly and sighed. Natsuki turned once more at the sleeping figure before going to the bedroom.
A soft smell of eggs, toast and tea awoke Shizuru all the sudden. A little startled at where she was but then she remembered. I fell asleep on couch…the painting…she suddenly jumped of the couch just to fall again. She winced painfully at her twisted ankle and whimpered a little.
Shizuru didn't know how long have she been crying but glancing at the clock, she knew that Natsuki will be back soon. She moved the stand next to the closet, took a blanket and covered it. While walking toward her fallen pencils and brushes, she didn't notice her watercolors and tripped. The painter tried to stop her falling by taking hold of the chair but both of them ended falling anyway. Shizuru cried out and winced at her now twisted ankle. She crawled to the couch, fresh tears of pain covered her face, being tired both emotionally and physically she soon fell asleep.
Shizuru tried to see her ankle yet the pain was too unbearable, she whimpered again.
"Viola!" Natsuki exclaimed surprised, she ran over the painter and made her lie down again. "Foolish woman, what are you trying to do? Hurt yourself again?"
"Is none of your business, Kruger-san." Shizuru glared then slowly turned around, giving her back to the singer. Then her mind wondered how funny did the singer looked wearing a light blue apron with boxers and a long shirt. She let a soft giggle, unnoticed by the other, at the image of bluish doggy slippers.
"At least be grateful, I will bring your breakfast in a few anyway."
The chestnut haired woman heard her roommate sigh in frustration and cuss in German. Yet she didn't care, her pride wouldn't letting her show her true emotions. After a while, Natsuki came back with a tray of food. Shizuru stared amazed at the simple breakfast: two eggs, one toast and green tea. For the first time in the morning, the painter finally noticed that she had someone else jacket. Seeing the look of Shizuru, Natsuki chuckled.
"And you call yourself a painter?" Natsuki teased and took her jacket back. "I thought you might get cold," she shrugged and put the tray on Shizuru's lap once the chestnut haired had sat up. "Now enjoy your breakfast ok? Hallard-san was here early, I will get some ice in a while. Unfortunately you might have to stay home all day."
Once Shizuru finished eating, Natsuki took the ice bag from the fridge and took off her apron. When she came back, she used a thin white rope and wrapped it with the bag around the painter's left ankle.
"Thank you, Kruger." The chestnuts haired woman finally said before turning away slowly and closing her eyes.
The raven-hair noticed a light blush on her companion's face and smiled fondly. She leaned to the painter's face and kissed her forehead tenderly, an action that surprised both of them.
"You are welcome." She grinned even more as the blush intensified. "Since I have nothing better to do for a while, want to have one of those…hmm what does people call it? Hmm…ah yes chit-chat?" Shizuru giggled softly and glanced at the singer with a smile. "You are giving me the smile and laugh I deserve finally eh?"
"Maybe…" she then turn around and sat up, facing Natsuki. "You intrigue me now. Mind telling about yourself now?"
"Ahhh and here I wanted to know about you first." The singer laughed for a while then smiled. "I suppose, I could. What do you wish to know about me?"
"Are you Japanese?"
"Why, yes. My mother was Japanese and my father was German. I presume the same of you."
"Yes but it was my father who was Japanese."
"Ah…I see."
"Why did you become a singer?"
"Hmm well I never thought of it but then the chance came. I simply accepted, after all. I have no attachment to Japan and Germany was my father's birthplace so I thought why not start there? What about you?"
"Painting is my passion, an art I do for pleasure. Nothing can compare the beauty of a simple painting that can say more than millions of words. I took the first chance I had and went to England to start my career. Like you, I have nothing that attaches me to this place, not any longer anyway." She glanced away coldly for a while and then her eyes wide at the singer's own statement.
"You might be right yet words sang with passion, people can hear your devotion you put on them. You get to understand the feelings of the one singing them." She leaned nearer to Shizuru and with her hand made the painter turn her face. Both of them gazed at each other. "They told me one picture says more than millions of words but I replied to all of them, one song, one poem, one gesture and one simple word can say enough of it owns."
"Kruger…"
"So next time stop being that arrogant and let me help you ok?" she traced the painter's tear path. "You have a beautiful face, it is better if you stop showing that mask and let me see your real smile." Suddenly she stood up and put her jacket on, before leaving she smiled at herself and told to the stunned painter. "Tears do not suit such person like you, Shizuru."
So many emotions and thoughts ran around Shizuru's mind and heart. She covered herself with both of her arms and curled her legs slowly. The chestnuts haired woman couldn't help it, she cried again but this time she was between smiling bitterly and joyfully. Someone besides Setsuna and Yuuto had seen pass her mask, a singer. A person she had just come to know barely. Natsuki Kruger, who she thought was like any savage and wild singer that lie and lived a lie. Natsuki…she is a…nice person. She thought as her crying subsided. Shizuru could feel her heart pounding faster than usual and wondered what was the new feeling she just felt each time she was with Natsuki.
"You call me savage? Look who is talking you wild woman!" Nao yelled annoyed at Haruka.
"I wasn't the one fishing around those filthy men! You are famous try acting decent!" the blonde retorted.
"Flirting, Haruka-san." Yukino corrected.
"Silence!" the ex-sponsor shouted.
He gestured everyone to sit back on their sits. The brunette was thankful to have reserved the room of the restaurant of last time twice to have more privacy. He was starting to get a headache. Even if all of them had met just a week ago there were still problems around.
Yuuto felt everyone staring at him, he would had thought it might had ben his mind if it weren't for the seven pair of eyes watching him intently. Finally he sighed and spoke.
"So anyone wondering why are you here?" Yuuto tried a little laughing but the tension was still there. "Ok, ok please don't kill me. I am just doing a favor for an old friend."
Adelle, Yukino, Chie, Reito, Nao, Mikoto and Haruka simply stayed quiet for a long time glaring at the brunette. Until one of them choose to speak.
"Oh yeah? I have never thought you cared much Yuuto." Adelle stated coldly, glaring at her brother.
"Look, sis. I know you are mad –"
"Mad is an understatement!" interrupted Adelle rather loudly, she slammed both of her hands on the table. Her eyes showing unspoken levels of rage. "You are trying to set them up! Why? Because you think they are made for each other? Because of what you found about them!?"
"Please, Adelle-san. If what Yuuto-san has found is true then maybe they where destiny to together after all." Chie said trying to reason with the siblings.
"However, Hallard-san you do know the situation of Viola-san do you not?" Reito asked quietly, raising his eyebrow. "Maybe Kruger-san is free from parental ties or mostly but Viola-san has not and she has plans for her own life made by her mother."
"I am aware of it, Reito-san."
"There is still one single problem we haven't considered today." Yukino spoke for the first time in the night. "Is it not the fact that Kruger-san and Viola-san won't fall for each other but their connection to each other." She adjusted her glasses and looked at Yuuto. "Besides the point of what might happen later with Viola-san there is still the fact that Kruger-san might not react well when she finds out about it later."
Everyone stayed in silence. No one doubted that both singer and painter will fall in love with each other. However there were secrets from the past, promises and lives that have been left and were about to reacquainted.
"I wonder if I should consider this my second home today?" Natsuki laughed a little.
She was leaning on the Sakura tree, smiling lazily at the sky. Her arms resting on her bended legs as she glanced at the stone. This time it had one red rose on it.
"So did you like the song? I most admit is a nice one, might think of soloing it with a piano.
"I am really sorry. It has been 2 years already and still not a single sign of your special person." She sighed and gazed at the ground with a painful look. "You could at least give me a better description of her you know, and since I haven't seen those other two I have no idea how she looks like.
"Anyway to a better and funnier topic. It seems that Violan-san, the painter, was watching me singing yesterday. I wonder if she heard me sang that song? Hmph well…it is love Ko-chan?" the singer wondered, feeling silly to be talking to the stone but content at the same time. "I mean, she is hot, nice body and all but damn stubborn and arrogant." Suddenly she blushed. "I bet you will be making fun of me, I should thank Adelle for those boring etiquette classes. They did help…hmm I am avoiding the question am I not?
"I suppose I wouldn't mind falling for her, well I will think of it later. Auf Wiedersehen, Ko-chan."
Standing up, Natsuki turned around to walk away just to see two figures coming.
One was a tall orange haired young woman, she had a left blue eye and her right eye was green. She was yelling at another smaller glassy boy with brown eyes and hair who held a bouquet of flowers. The three of them gasped as they saw who each other of them were.
Sealed, forgotten memories, a past that wasn't needed to remember. Natsuki backed away slowly, her hands trembling between anger and fear as she stared coldly and ashamed at the same time toward both new comers. The orange-haired was glaring at Natsuki while the little boy gasped and shouted.
"Natsuki-san!"
The singer flinched involuntarily. She glanced at the stone again then back to her friends from her past. She had try so hard, even promised herself to never cry, to never look back. Natsuki stared at the floor ashamed, her teeth clenched and knuckles white as snow. She wanted to run, to hide. So hard had it come for her to forget the painful memories of this place and now slowly they were coming back.
How ironic, this was the last place we met and now we see each other after your death. The singer thought bitterly.
The raven-haired woman simply fell back, knees bended with her arms stretched backwards supporting her. Abruptly Natsuki laughed bitterly and almost maniacally. For the first time in two years she let herself go, let her emotions flow truly as she felt them coming. Tears soon covered her face, laughers were becoming quiets sobs. The orange-haired, recovering herself from the madness that her friend had just done, walked over her. Kneeling in front of Natsuki, teenager slapped the singer.
For a long entire minute, nothing was said. Everything was in silence, tears have stopped and Natsuki smiled again as she looked up at other woman.
"I am back, Asuna." She whispered.
Not being able to contain herself any longer, Asuna jumped on Natsuki to envelope her with a hug. The boy came over soon and smiled too at both women.
"Welcome home, Natsuki-san." He said quietly, watching Asuna cry and complained at the singer. Wondering where she had gone or why had did she ran away for so long.
Natsuki thought about the word home. So much hurting had passed in this horrible place, so many things between joy and pain. Yet she couldn't help but grin more than usual at the irony. At how fate was playing with her. Home, it took me so long to escape of this place just to come back and meet someone like you Ko-chan. She thought, yeah, maybe this is my home after all.
Shizuru: Ara, ara Rainee-chan, Bad one where are you?
Darkness Shizuru: Please, Viola-san let my assassin instincts find them.
-other side of the town-
Rainee-chan: OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO SENSEI!?
Bad one: -smacks Rainee-chan's head with a branch- that is for causing so much trouble! Not only do we have one Shizuru but TWO trying to kill us!
Rainee-chan: WELL is Natsuki's fault! She took my script and gave it to Shizuru! –shivers- who knows how far she read it? And she is still mad and sexually frustrated!
Bad one: I taught you hangers! Not drama! Or making Shizuru crying so much! I haven't even read that script! Shizuru won't be the only one behind your head if something bad happens at the end of this story!
Shizuru: Ara, ara so I was right.
Darkness Shizuru: it seems that indeed all this frustration is because of Bad one.
-Rainee-chan and Bad one stares at both Shizurus holding naginatas.-
Rainee-chan: does it mean, I am free?
Bad one: BAD! BAD STUDENT! YOU CAN NOT LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!
-lindred appears of nowhere-
Lindred: actually she can, Shizuru, she and I have made a deal about a scene to kill the angst and drama Rainee-chan has been writing. –takes Rainee-chan's arm and takes her to safety-
Rainee-chan: O.O yay me? –no idea what just happened but it is happy about being saved by lindred (note to herself, hug and appreciate lindred and her perverted and smart mind more often xD)-
Shizurus: now, now what should we do with you, Bad one?
Bad one: OH MY GOD NATSUKI! NATSUKI! SOMEONE HELP ME! WHERE THE HELL IS MY BODYGUARD!?
-watching Bad one running from both Shizurus.-
Rainee-chan: popcorn?
Natsuki and Lindred: sure!
Darknees Natsuki: ugh…shouldn't we help Bad one?
Others: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!? YOU WANT TO DIE!?
??: IDIOTS –goes to Rainee-chan and takes her by the arm- YOU TAKE RYUU AND LETS SAVE MY CHARGE!
Rainee-chan: waaaaiiiitt? What the hell? That is your job! HEY! HEY! HEY!
TBC…it was getting long xD
You wondering about their past? Guessed who are my 4 main taken characters? xD anyway:
Reviews reviews reviews help me get inspired, help me want to update sooner so review please? xD like it, hate it, speechless? I will like to know what you think guys x3