It seems people enjoy the slow pace. I guess a slow pace keeps the fic realistic... So yeah... thanks for the patience.
I'll try to update as much as I can. (Which I shouldn't be doing since I have exams around the corner. I'll have to blame my poor grades on you guys. XD I'm joking...)
I am on a roll. I can't believe how fast I'm updating. Usually there is a time gap of half a century before I update my fics.
Thank you for the reviews. (I'm sorry I haven't been replying to them all, I've been rather busy.) Please keep them coming, they make me update faster. Seriously.
Warning: Naked Chie!!!! (Squeals then faints)
Go home, Natsuki
Whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling
--
Chie sat up, the bed sheets pooled around her waist, revealing her naked torso and taut stomach. She rubbed the back of her neck and sighed heavily.
From behind her Aoi sat up and draped her arms around Chie's shoulders, "What's wrong Chie?" She ask, her voice was soft and sweet.
Warm breath caressed Chie's ears as she rubbed her eyes. "It's Natsuki. I'm worried about her."
Aoi kissed the side of Chie's neck, "Don't be. She's a big girl. She can take care of herself."
"Even so, everyone needs someone to lean on when their going through a hard time in their lives." Replied Chie.
"I agree, but did it not occur to you that maybe she doesn't want to come to us for help. Maybe what she's going through is one of those things that she needs to sort out by herself. She knows she can come to us for help, but she's choosing not to."
"Yeah you're right. I did stress the fact that we're all going to be there for her when she needs us, right?"
"Yes, she'll come to us when she's ready. Now go back to sleep, it's only 6am." Said Aoi, gently pushing Chie down onto the mattress.
Chie smiled at Aoi and weaved their fingers together, "Thank you for that. My mind is finally at rest now."
Aoi brought her face closer to Chie's face until the tips of their noses were lightly brushing against each other, "You're wonderful a caring friend, Natsuki is lucky to have you in her close circle of friends..."
"And I'm even luckier to have you as my girlfriend. I love you Aoi, so much."
"I know." Aoi placed a light kiss upon Chie's lips, "And I love you too."
We have a special bond one cannot see,
It wraps us up in its cocoon,
And holds us fiercely in its womb.
--
Natsuki smiles at Shizuru and accepts her books. Their fingers briefly brush past each others.
That single touch is enough to fuel Natsuki's beating heart.
That single touch is enough for Natsuki to learn that Shizuru's hands are softer than the petals of a blossoming flower.
That single touch is enough for Natsuki to crave Shizuru even more.
Blushing furiously Natsuki quickly thanked Shizuru and bid her goodbye before she would do something she'd regret.
Walking away from Shizuru she quickly paced down the hallway and dashed into a random deserted classroom.
Slamming the door shut behind her, Natsuki sunk down onto the floor and exhaled slowly.
Closing her eyes, she leant her back against the door.
Be still my heart.
--
[HELP WANTED]
Natsuki tore the poster off the wall and carried it in with her to the garage. Men dressed in blue overalls were scattered around the garage, working on their own cars. A small office door at the other end of the garage caught Natsuki's attention. Slowly she walked up to the door, gathering up all her nerves she gave the door a sharp knock.
"Come in" called out a deep voice from within the office.
Natsuki opened the door. A large man sat behind the desk with a newspaper article in his hand. He looked intimidating, Natsuki already regretted her actions. She started to consider walking out of the room pretending she never entered it in the first place.
The large man placed his newspaper down and inspected Natsuki, head to toe. "How can I help you, dear?" He smiled kindly, Natsuki swore she saw his hazel eyes twinkle.
"I'd like to take up a job here. I found this poster outside." Replied Natsuki, trying to calm her nerves.
"Hm, so there were posters put out. I was starting to think maybe my workers never put them out..." The large man chuckled lightly. "Tell me, do you have any experience with cars?"
"No... but I'm a quick learner!" Replied Natsuki eagerly.
The large man smiled fondly, "I guess you could start off with the easier jobs then ease your way into learning how to fix motors."
"I'd like that very much, sir."
"What's your name, child?" Inquired the man, curiously.
"Natsuki Kuga, sir."
"You can call me Yamada. From today onwards I'll be your boss." Yamada held out his hand. Natsuki gladly took his hand and shook it firmly, "Thank you, sir."
Finally, something to distract me.
--
Natsuki pushed the tables back into their original positions, the previous class that were using this room certainly left it in a state.
She grunted in pain as she slides the chair under one of the desks, some how she had pulled a muscle in her shoulder.
Behind her a door open and closed, she turned around curiously.
"I hope you don't mind, I have some paper work that I need to fill out."
Natsuki stared at Shizuru, slack-jawed, she had been expecting one of her friends to come and bother her during her after-school duties.
Natsuki shook her head and continued to push the chairs under the desks, she appeared calm but if she held out her hands it would have been quite obvious that her hands were trembling uncontrollably.
The young blue haired teen moved around the classroom stealthily, trying not to distract the school council president while she was hard at work.
Unknown to her, a pair of amused crimson eyes watched her.
You're not a rebel...
There's something about you that I have yet to uncover.
--
Natsuki increased the volume of her music and continued to sweep away with her back to the front of the classroom.
Her fingers gripped the handle of the broom tightly, it was difficult trying to keep her mind off Shizuru. She tried to focus her attention on her task ahead, but being in that boardroom was a distraction alone. The faint smell of lavender caressed her nose, and just like that she went back to daydreaming of Shizuru. (1)
The second she realized what she was doing she stopped sweeping and chuckled lightly to herself. It was ridiculous how her mind was constantly plagued by Shizuru.
"What's so funny?" Inquired a voice from behind her.
Natsuki dropped the broom in sudden alarm and whipped around.
She was greeted with the sight of Mai giggling behind her hand. Natsuki scratched the back of her head sheepishly, "Ah, nothing really."
It's ok when you see me with my guard down.
Because... you've already figured me out.
--
The rain was having mood swings. One minute it was raining lightly then the next minute it was raining cats and dogs. And at that current moment, when Natsuki stepped outside into the chilling cold whether - it was raining cats and dogs.
Shizuru standing under a bike shed caught her gaze, she was probably waiting for the rain to stop.
Natsuki didn't know what she was doing when she started to approach Shizuru. Before she could think to turn back, it was far too late. She was already standing directly in front of the school council president.
She held out her umbrella to Shizuru, giving her a piercing look.
Shizuru looked surprised, not knowing what to do when Natsuki was offering her an umbrella whilst at the same time giving her a cold stare.
"Shizuru!" Called out a deep voice. Approaching the two girls was Reito under an umbrella of his own.
A disappointed look crossed Natsuki's face when her eyes found Reito. Turning her head back to Shizuru she spoke in a low tone, "Take it."
Shizuru took the umbrella from Natsuki, "But you're-"
Natsuki offered her a shy smile, "I better run now." And just like that, Natsuki spun around and sprinted away as the rain pelted down on her lithe body.
"Who was that?" Asked Reito.
"Natsuki Kuga." Replied Shizuru, appearing to be still in shock.
"Be sure to thank her- wait Natsuki? As in the girl that's always getting up to no good?"
Shizuru nodded.
Mysterious Natsuki...
What are you hiding from the rest of us?
--
"I've figured it out!" Yelled Chie, jumping up from her chair.
"Shhh. We're in the library. What is it?" Replied Aoi.
"Yeah what is it?" Inquired Mai, putting down her text book.
"Natsuki got rejected. Like as in, she spilled her heart out to someone and that person turned her down. That explains her morbid depression!"
"No way. Natsuki isn't the type to spill her heart out to someone." Said Mai picking up her textbook again.
"Yes, that's true." Agreed Aoi.
"But think of it like this, she gets rejected by someone then suddenly gets really angry and lets her anger out by smashing the school windows. Then after she passes through that angry stage, depression begins to consume her and she goes through this lengthily period where she's all like 'No one loves me, I might as well die.' How about that? Does that not sound like Natsuki?"
Both Mai and Aoi broke out into a fit of giggles, "That-is-probably-the-most-ridiculous-thing... I've ever heard" Wheezed Mai, through her laughing fit.
Chie narrowed her eyes at her girlfriend and best friend, "Laugh all you want, but I'm going to get to the bottom of this."
"Chie..." Aoi began in her warning tone. "What did I say to you the other morning? Let's just leave Natsuki be, ok?"
"Fine. But if she commits suicide or something like that, then the blood will be on your hands."
"Don't say such ridiculous things Chie!" Aoi scolded.
For Christ's sake, get a grip Natsuki.
Before I loose my mind.
--
Natsuki narrowed her eyes at the sight of Shizuru getting in a car with Reito, from the windows of the boardroom.
What does he have, that I don't? (2)
Anger swelled up inside her like a balloon, she had the biggest urge to send her fist through the glass. She clenched her fists against the window pane, trying to ignore the image of Shizuru getting into a car with Reito.
Slowly the anger evaporated off her, and then... she felt sadness engulfed her.
You'll never be mine.
--
Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
The ticking clock was starting to irritate Natsuki, she had the biggest urge to grab the offending object and throw it out of her window.
The sun had only just set, and yet she was in her bedroom with the curtains drawn. In the safety of her bedroom, she allowed those dreaded tears slowly stain her face. She hated this feeling, she hated it more than anything. It made her feel weak and vulnerable. At this stage of her life, it felt like anything and anyone could easily shatter those walls she had spent her whole life building up.
The very image of Shizuru was enough to make her heart feel like it had been plunged in icy cold water, making her eyes water dangerously.
But then again, the very same image of Shizuru could easily bring her mind and soul to another level of heavenly bliss.
The mixed feelings were exhausting.
A girl like herself, would crumble and eventually cave in. And lead to God-knows-what...
She buried her face further into her pillow and groaned in frustration. How could a single person turn her into such an emotional wreck?
Shizuru... Shizuru Fujino...
Natsuki rolled onto her back. Staring up at the ceiling she whispered to herself, "I wonder what she's doing right now..."
I think of you...
in every special way
I always think of you...
in my dreams.
I always think of you...
wishing you're thinking of me.
I always think of you...
hoping you're alright.
I always think of you.
I really do.
Because...
I
Love
You.
(1) The boardroom smells a lot like Shizuru, because she spends a lot of time in there. (Natsuki is not imagining the smell of lavender if that's what you're thinking.)
(2) I'm sure you've all gathered that Natsuki's having another jealous moment.
--
Does anyone else have those moments where you're just lying in bed thinking "I wonder what he/she is doing..."
Ah, it seems I have caused some confusion.
In the previous chapter Shizuru takes notice of Natsuki for the very first time.
This doesn't mean she's in love Natsuki.
She hardly knows anything about her.
Next chapter will be taking a turn, for better or for worse?
Well, I'll leave you guys to ponder on that thought.
Until next time, farewell.
And have a happy new year.
