Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime/Otome…
A/N: not grammar/proofread…nyaa~
Hide it as she might, the brunette's ears twitched, detecting the blunette's slightly labored breathing. Shizuru reluctantly got up from the embrace. She gently tugged on the Second Column's jacket, pulling the blunette from keeping her body as still as possible.
"Let's have a look at those bruises, shall we?" She spoke softly, the slightest hint of a waver in her otherwise even tone.
The blunette opened her eyes and looked into Shizuru's, concern apparent in her gaze.
"Alright."
The brunette gently helped Natsuki to a sitting position, noting the small winces the blunette failed to hide. She chewed her lip lightly as she coaxed Natsuki's stiffening and very sore arms and legs out of her jacket and pants, very thankful that her shirt was easily removed.
Shizuru inhaled sharply as she saw the angry purple bruises marring Natsuki's porcelain skin. Natsuki, too, grimaced at the sight, though she was thankful that the booster had reduced some of the lesser bruises and cuts to a more healed appearance.
Natsuki simply let Shizuru examine her, complying submissively when Shizuru turned her to check her back or gently ran a hand over each leg.
When she had finished the check to her satisfaction, Shizuru looked back into Natsuki's eyes. There was a mix of concern, held-back anxiety and relief within her crimson eyes.
"How are you feeling?" The brunette asked a bit curiously. The blunette gave a light grunt.
"Sore…"
The brunette nodded calmly, eyes scanning the length of her body once again.
"We have that balm Yohko-san gave us. I'll massage it into your skin. That'll help it absorb into your skin and also relax you. I'll make something for us to eat while you rest."
"Rest…with me? We could figure out dinner when we wake up…" The blunette trailed off in a small voice. Shizuru smiled.
"Of course, my Natsuki."
The blunette simply blushed and hummed affirmatively in response, a small smile on her face.
"Mn."
The brunette got up from the bed, walking towards the closet.
"Alright, I'll change and then we'll go from there." The brunette reached behind her back and grabbed a hold of the zipper to her dress, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Oh, and Natsuki," she winked mischievously to the blunette, "Feel free to watch."
The blunette sputtered.
"B-Baka!" She huffed, blushing as she turned her gaze away for a moment, before looking back. The blunette sighed. Looking at the brunette's bare back made her heart race, yet at the same time filled her heart with an indescribable calm feeling. Shizuru's body draped over hers was an indispensable security blanket for Natsuki; no, the Third Column herself was her security blanket.
And…
A soft smile tugged at the corners of the Second Column's mouth as she watched, her eyelids drooping slightly as the past few days caught up with her.
She is one I cannot lose…
"Natsuki? Is anything the matter?" The brunette's soft voice broke Natsuki from her thoughts. She must've dozed off. A warm hand gently rubbed her shoulder, another holding her hand.
Natsuki reopened her eyes to gaze at the Third Column who had since finished changing.
"Ah, sorry…I must've dozed off."
Shizuru smiled.
"It's alright; if anything, I should be apologizing. Natsuki's been very busy and needs her rest."
The blunette shivered slightly; she had forgotten that she wasn't wearing a shirt, or pants, for that matter. Natsuki closed her eyes as a blanket-like warmth draped over her body. She softly sighed in content, snuggling deeper into the warmth and breathing in the calming scent.
"Kannin na." Shizuru whispered softly into the blunette's ear.
"Natsuki must be cold. I'll help you into your pajamas once I finish applying the balm, alright?"
Natsuki, immensely relaxed by the simple contact, murmured in half-reply.
"…'kay…"
Shizuru smiled.
"That's a good girl. Could you roll onto your stomach for me?" Shizuru cooed softly, her smooth voice echoing in the blunette's ears.
Natsuki only hummed in reply, somewhat strenuously rolling onto her stomach.
Shizuru reached over and grabbed the canister with the balm, unscrewing the cap. She took some of it into her hands, working it slightly to warm it up. It was still cool to the touch.
"Natsuki," She spoke softly to the half-asleep blunette on the bed, "It's going to feel a bit cold."
Though, at this point, Natsuki only registered that Shizuru was saying something. And whatever it was, it sounded soothing in that voice.
The blunette shivered slightly as the balm touched her skin. But it was a soothing cool, one that took the bite off of her bruises and that lessened the pain as Shizuru gently massaged it into her muscles.
Natsuki let out a soft sigh of approval as Shizuru also worked some of the knots from her body, from her neck all the way to her toes.
Somewhere, the blunette had half a mind to tell Shizuru that she didn't need to do that for her, but the massage was way too relaxing for Natsuki to be able to tell her. And that was exactly how Shizuru wanted it.
Natsuki's eyes slowly fluttered open. It was dark. She slowly blinked a few times, testing the mobility of her limbs.
They were still sore, but they didn't hurt as much compared to earlier that afternoon.
Wait.
She thought to herself, mind a bit dazed. It is evening, right? What time is it?
She opened her eyes again.
I know I'm in my room, in my bed…but what am I— Oohh…..!
Natsuki stiffened, her body freezing as her bare legs bumped into two very soft and equally bare legs. The legs shifted, tangling themselves between hers, an arm snaked around to pull the blunette closer.
Natsuki blinked as she found herself suddenly very well settled in…Shizuru's bosom. Natsuki instantly blushed, body heating up as the Third Column made herself comfortable as if Natsuki were a pillow, which she wasn't, but if she were a pillow, she must be a very delicate pillow.
The Second Column smiled at the older woman's consideration for her, even in her sleep. Natsuki gave in and snuggled into Shizuru's chest. She closed her eyes and listened to the steady heartbeat, the calm it gave her pulling her back into a relaxed daze.
"…ki" A gentle voice softly prodded. The blunette's expression twitched for a moment but did not otherwise respond.
"…Natsuki." The voice called again a little louder, a hand reaching over to thread pale fingers through her dark blue hair.
The gakuencho's ears twitched slightly at the soft vibrations of a low chuckle yet did not show any indication of reacting to the stimulus.
"Natsukiiii…." Shizuru tried again, other hand reaching up to rub soft circles on the Second Column's bare back, the motions sending pleasant shivers up and down the woman's spine. The blunette groaned slightly and started to open her eyes, the muscles in her arms, hands, and fingers twitching slightly.
Shizuru let out an amused chuckle.
"Natsuki seems to enjoy creating puddles on my chest."
Natsuki grunted as she attempted to prop herself on her very sore arms. She heaved herself from Shizuru's bosom and clumsily flopped to one side, snuggling in for warmth as she roused herself.
"…Hmm….? Puddles…?" She murmured sleepily, sighing contently as Shizuru ran her fingers through her hair.
"Yes, puddles. It looks like Natsuki is intent on creating a puddle on the bed sheets as well." She lightly teased, massaging the blunette's scalp.
Puddles….puddles…puddles... Wait, 'puddles'? Oh crap.
Natsuki's eyes shot open as she realized what the brunette meant. Her arm shot to her mouth to wipe the forthcoming 'puddle' she was about to drip onto the sheets, grimacing as her arm loudly protested at the hasty motion.
"Ow." She cried softly, tears from sheer pain filling the corners of her eyes.
Shizuru rolled onto her side, bringing her arms to cradle Natsuki's injured arm as she leaned her head down to kiss the top of the blunette's head.
"Kannin na, Natsuki. My tease went a little too far."
Natsuki closed her eyes, appeased by the motion.
"Pain, pain, go away~" Shizuru murmured, gently kneading the stiff muscles.
As she stopped massaging her arm, Natsuki gingerly interlaced their fingers.
"Sorry for drooling on you, Shizuru." The blunette quietly spoke, cheeks dusted with the all-too-familiar pink. The brunette gave the blunette's hand a light squeeze.
"It is quite alright."
A low rumble broke the moment of silence. Shizuru chuckled, giving the blunette's hand another squeeze, tracing her thumb over the blunette's knuckles.
"Let's have dinner, okay?"
The blunette chuckled as well, fingers giving a light squeeze in return.
"Yeah."
"Hai, aahn~" Shizuru cooed playfully as she held out a spoonful of steaming soup towards the blunette's mouth.
Natsuki squeezed her eyes shut as she gingerly accepted the spoon of soup into her mouth, both a bit embarrassed and preparing herself for the food's hot temperature.
The brunette's smile grew wider as she watched, sighing dreamily inside at the blunette's cuteness.
"Does it suit Natsuki's taste?" The brunette asked as she retracted the now-empty spoon. The blunette gave an ulta-rare and super Shizuru-lethal feminine smile, cheeks accented with a light blush.
"It's really good."
Dokkyuun~! [sfx for heartbeat]
The spoon fell onto the blanket, and the brunette's form followed suit, arms gripping the blankets as her entire body trembled.
I…..I-I….I just c-can't~!
"Shizuru?!" The blunette asked in a panic, oddly worried that she might have said something wrong. She reached for one of Shizuru's hands wanting to still the tremors. She rubbed them gently, massaging it in her hands.
"Are you alright? Did I say something?"
My Natsuki always seems to catch me off-guard.
Shizuru breathed out slowly, lifting her head and leaning on her arm sideways.
"Nooothing~" She smiled coquettishly, a blush on her cheeks.
The blunette averted her gaze a bit timidly. She fiddled with the hand in her own.
"Ah, I see…"
The brunette's hand slipped from her hands as Shizuru repositioned herself and retrieved the spoon in the process.
"Would Natsuki like to have dinner at the table with me?"
The voice broke the blunette out of her reverie.
"Huh? Oh, yeah…I think I can handle that much." She chuckled lightly, grunting lightly as she took the hand stretched out to her.
"Ahh, the water feels nice…" The Second Column murmured softly as the Third Column wet her hair preparing to shampoo it. The Third Column smiled warmly at the remark.
"I'm sure the hot water will help Natsuki relax as well. I hope Natsuki knows I plan on spoiling her tonight and for the rest of the week."
The brunette started working shampoo through the blunette's hair, massaging her scalp as a bonus. Natsuki moaned softly, head drooping forward slightly in resigned acceptance.
"Shizuruuu…"
Natsuki would have liked to protest, she really would, but the brunette's fingers gently applying pressure to her scalp were too much of a distraction….and an awfully unfair tactic, the blunette decided. And so her motion to contend had turned into a drawn-out, somewhat annoyed-sounding groan of the brunette's name.
Shizuru smiled in amusement, rinsing the bubbles from the blunette's hair with a playful tousle.
"You'll enjoy this, trust me." [A/N: fangeek to DOA5U!]
Natsuki sighed contently as the brunette started scrubbing her back.
"…I don't deserve you, do I?"
The brunette paused at the comment before hugging the blunette from behind; pressing her breasts flush against Natsuki's back. The older woman murmured lowly into the blunette's ear.
"…Natsuki knows better than to say that, now doesn't she?"
Shizuru moved her breasts against Natsuki's back, making the blunette shiver.
"If Natsuki doesn't start behaving, I might have to punish her, you know…"
Natsuki just about fainted when the brunette blew a warning puff of air to her ear, her body collapsing against the older woman's front.
Dazed and blushing, Natsuki strenuously looked upwards to the brunette who was grinning down at her. She huffed softly, averting her gaze as the brunette's fingers played across her skin.
"…B-Baka…"
The brunette smiled and planted a soft kiss on the blunette's head.
"As long as Natsuki understands."
Natsuki sighed contently, seated in between Shizuru's legs, her back leaning against the Third Column's front.
"This feels great…~"
She murmured softly, nuzzling her head in the crook of the brunette's neck. She closed her eyes, sighing softly as the brunette cupped some warm water in her hands and sprinkled it the exposed part of her torso.
The brunette idly played with the blunette's fingers, a low chuckle rippling through the water.
"Is Natsuki referring to the temperature, or to me?"
The blunette was too tired to humor the tease.
"Both." She answered honestly, weakly snuggling further into Shizuru and submerging more of herself under the water's surface. Shizuru wrapped her arms around Natsuki in an embrace, planting a soft kiss to the woman's cheek.
"That will suffice, for now."
Natsuki hummed in reply, and the pair sat in silence for a few moments. The brunette took some time to scan the blunette's skin.
She bit her lips. The bruises that marred her Natsuki's skin made her blood boil with rage, made her seething with anger for not being there to prevent them, made her feel helpless as one of the Columns.
She stared at the bruises as if to forcibly burn them into her memory. As if sensing her thoughts, the blunette spoke.
"Shizuru…what are you thinking about?"
The brunette blinked, afterimages of the bruises fading as she answered in turn.
"…Nothing at all, my dearest Natsuki…"
The brunette felt a loose chuckle from the blunette as she repositioned herself strenuously.
"…You…are a terrible liar, you know that?"
Shizuru blinked as a wet finger unexpectedly poked her cheek. She looked down to see Natsuki looking up at her, a tired but soft smile on her lips.
She looked to the hand that was extended near her cheek; a few bruises danced up her wrist to her hand, the skin of her knuckles sensitive from the healing process.
She nuzzled into the hand, tears leaking from her eyes.
"Kannin na, Natsuki. You must be hurting more than I."
The blunette smiled, turning around to hug the brunette.
"Shhh…it's alright. I'm right here. There's nothing to be afraid of."
The blunette repeated the words over and over; soothingly drawing circles on the brunette's collarbone as the brunette openly cried her frustrations, anger, and pain.
"More balm?" The blunette asked hopefully as she lay on their bed in a bath robe, her hair blown dry and combed courtesy of the Third Column.
Shizuru chuckled as she walked over to the blunette, similarly dressed in a matching bath robe, her hair also blown dry and combed. She was holding the canister of balm in her hand.
"Natsuki seems so eager~"
She helped the blunette out of her robe, teasing lightly as she popped the lid open and took some of the balm into her hands.
"To think that I would be jealous of some medicinal salve touching every part of my Natsuki's body…the world has certainly gone to ruin…"
Shizuru murmured under her breath as an afterthought, yet the blunette's sharp ears picked up the comment…and innuendo.
"Ara."
Shizuru paused and withdrew her hands as the body underneath her heated up, a blush staining the blunette's cheeks.
"Did I say that aloud?"
Natsuki coughed lightly from where she lay on her stomach, clearing her throat.
"…Yes; although 'murmured' is more like it, yes, you did…"
The Third Column shook it off, lightly laughing as she resumed her work
"Kannin na; my thoughts have gotten the better of me."
"…Technically you're still 'touching my body' since you're putting the salve on my body…" The blunette mentioned as an afterthought of her own.
The brunette's hands stiffened for a split second before once again resuming their task. She applied some pressure with the tips of her fingers, making the blunette moan softly.
"Natsuki is making it very hard for me to hold myself back, you know."
She chided softly, eliciting more moans from the woman lying on the bed beside her.
"…B-Baka…"
The brunette simply chuckled softly before working to finish her task in earnest.
The pair was now in bed, the brunette spoiling the blunette silly in a protective and comfy embrace. It was altogether all too relaxing and calming, and the tired blunette was quickly being robbed of thoughts and soon-to-be her consciousness.
"I'll hurry and get better for the both of us...Shizuru…"
Sensing the cute gakuencho in her arms was on the verge of sleep, the brunette tightened her arms around the blunette, planting a chaste kiss to the soft pale-pink lips.
"Oyasumi, uchi no itoshii Na-tsu-ki…" [Goodnight, my precious Natsuki]
And the brunette's melodic voice gently eased the blunette into a deep, restful sleep.
A/N: Whooo…..that was long….Konbanwa, YH desuu! *bows* It's been a long time…yes…for that, my sincerest apologies! I started a new job, so I've been juggling the stress and not wanting to use my computer when I get home (as I stare at laptop at times) so writing has been hard. There's also been a ton of stuff on the weekends, much to my dismay…-_- but anyways, I'm glad I managed to finish this! So funny thing about this chapter; there's actually another GMM chapter I wrote before that I wanted to finish and publish but then I realized I needed to finish this first otherwise the chapter order would be messed up and be all confusing so I told myself I needed to finish this first…so here it is! I'm debating adding lemon chapters to this, but for now I'm putting this chapter up.
Thank you again for everyone who dropped a review! I really do read each and every one of them and they always inspire me to write more and share my crazy fluff-filled ideas onto paper! Hope you enjoyed your stay! Please read and/or review?
Matta ne~
YH
