I don't own these characters.

A/N: this is an AU ShizNat story based on a manga called Pieta. I recommend it to anyone who likes manga.

4: Home

Natsuki was bored without Shizuru around. She had already wasted the whole day riding her bike after therapy, but she had to return home at some point. She had eaten some leftovers that Shizuru put away the other day and she was attempting to watch television, but nothing seemed worth watching. Even her favorite show held less appeal now that she was alone and she found herself not caring how "it's" made for quite possibly the first time in her whole life.

"Might as well call Dad. Get it out of the way," Natsuki grumbled. It was a necessary evil, so she grabbed her cell phone and made the call. "What're the odds of him picking up, anyway?"

"Hello?" a grumbled, deep voice answered.

"Dad?" she squeaked in utter surprise. It had been a very long time since he answered a call from her. In fact, she was sure that he picked up his phone once a month when she was involved and she was sure that she spent that at the beginning of the month.

"Shit," he hissed and Natsuki knew that he had forgotten to check the caller ID, which was why he picked up the phone. "Do you know what time it is?" he grumbled. It was clear that he was frowning just from his displeased tone.

"No," she answered honestly. Since she had no plans to sleep over the weekend, she did not see the point in keeping track of the time. Once it was Monday and time for school, time would be important again.

"What the hell do you want?" he demanded.

Natsuki frowned, but found his attitude did not matter. "I need an increase in my allowance."

"What? Why?" It sounded like she had his attention now.

"Doesn't matter why. I just do," she answered. It was none of his damn business, especially when he could not even feign civility toward her anymore.

"Natsuki, I'm not just going to let you throw money away. You know we need to save and times are hard."

"Yeah, but it's my money," Natsuki said. Not to mention, she already did save. Of course, her father did not know that because he did not know anything about her. Not that he wants to know a damn thing about me.

"Well, your mother left it in my care to make sure you don't spend it all. So, I don't think I'll be upping your allowance, especially with that attitude."

"I need the money," she insisted. Of course, she could probably get by on what she had as long as Shizuru did not mind paying a little for stuff, but she did not want that. She had asked Shizuru to stay and Shizuru did her the favor of staying. Now, it was up to her to make sure that Shizuru was comfortable. She had to take care of Shizuru and she required a little more money in order to do so.

"So does my family, but you don't see me going up to my boss demanding more money and I have a job," he said.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Natsuki inquired, completely and utterly baffled. Her face twisted up and she wished that her father just stuck to the issues for once in his life.

"I'm not increasing your allowance so you can blow it on whatever new toy has your attention. You waste enough money as it is. If you need more money, go get a job."

"My school doesn't allow for after-school jobs, not that it has anything to do with what I'm asking. What are you even talking about?" It's my fucking money! Her mother specifically left her all of her worldly possessions, accounts, and the life insurance policy. It was all hers. It just so happened that an adult needed to be in charge if the trust account until she was eighteen. How the hell is he going to tell me not to blow my own money? Making it worse, he claimed that she wasted money. On what? She lived in a tiny apartment on the bare minimum of everything! Having two pillows on her bed was a luxury for her beyond owning her motorcycle!

"Is that that ungrateful girl? How dare she ask for money when we're barely able to make ends meet," Natsuki could hear the shrill sound of her father's wife's voice – the Anti-Christ, as Natsuki liked to think of her. "It's bad enough we have to live in this little hole and have all of the neighbors think we're poor while she's leeching the life out of us with her apartment, bike, and bills! Just taking food from her sisters' mouths and not to mention the new baby!"

There were times, like now, where Natsuki just wanted to beat her father and his partner in the head with the nearest blunt object. She was requesting something reasonable and well within her rights and they were talking out of their asses. She was not asking them to take money out of their own pockets for her. She had money to support herself and she wanted it.

"Dad, I want an increase in my allowance. Simple as that," Natsuki stated and then she hung up because she did not have time to deal with those people. Glaring at her phone, she questioned it as if it would answer. "Who the fuck are they to tell me about my own money? My mother left it for me and the only reason he can even touch it is because I'm not old enough yet. Who the hell are they to tell me I can't have more?"

Natsuki stood up and was millimeters from putting a hole in her living room wall before she stopped her fist. It would do her no good for Shizuru to come back on Monday and see a hole in the wall. It would be even worse if Shizuru saw her knuckles bloodied and bruised. So, instead of busting her hand and her wall, she grabbed her jacket and took off on her bike. She figured she might have to ride the bike until the wheels fell off or until it was magically Monday morning.

-8-8-8-8-

Shizuru yawned as she woke up in her bed. Rubbing her eyes, she checked her clock to see that it was actually time to wake up. She had woken up three times that night, reaching for Natsuki and not finding her. It was strange to sleep in the bed and she was glad that the day was finally started, but she was not looking forward to sleeping in the bed again tonight.

"I want my Natsuki …" she muttered without even considering what she said as she hugged her pillow.

She showered and dressed, going downstairs to find that Anh had started on breakfast. Laula was reading the paper at the dining room table. They're so old-fashioned. It went to the point that Anh insisted on cooking almost every meal to serve her spouse and Laula went to work everyday in suit to support her loving housewife.

Before joining her aunts, Shizuru thought it would be a good idea to call her parents. It would get that out of the way and her aunts would have nothing to badger her about if she got it out of the way. Sitting down in the living room alone, Shizuru used her cell phone to call her parents.

"Hello, Okaasan," she greeted. She had to swallow down a slight tremble in her throat. She took a deep breath with the hope that it would ease the tension in her chest. It did nothing.

"Shizuru-chan, it's so good to hear from you," her mother said, a smile in her voice.

"How are things?" Shizuru inquired, trying her best to sound interested, but all she did was sound unnerved. I do want to know how they are and I also want my stomach to stop trembling at the sound of my mother's voice.

"Everything is fine. Anh-san told us that you've been well. Laula-san has also commented on how well you're doing."

Shizuru shifted a little, uncomfortable already. "Um … how are you and Otousan?" If I get the topic off of me, I might be able to draw this phone call out longer than usual. Keep it together, Shizuru; they are your loving parents. That thought only made her stomach quiver more.

"We are well. We were thinking of coming by one day. Only for a few minutes."

Shizuru swallowed to push down the nervousness. "I don't see how that would be a problem. Perhaps next weekend?"

"Well, we would have to ask your aunts to make sure it's acceptable, but I'm sure we could make it out there next weekend. It would be nice to see you again. It's almost been a month."

"I know it has. My apologies. I was just so interested in getting ready for school."

"Understandable. It's your last year. Do your best," her mother said.

"I will." She did not want to talk about school with her mother, but then again, her mother knew that.

"Have you been playing your piano?" The question was not really the best deviation, but compared to school it was a safer subject. Of course, that was like saying strolling through a minefield was safer compared to running through an automatic weapons firing range.

"Not lately. Again school. Perhaps … perhaps I could play when you come over, though," Shizuru proposed and it felt like her stomach dropped into her knees. I need to try with my parents. They were trying with her and she knew that logically there was no reason for her to be so apprehensive. Her parents loved her and they were good, fair people. Again, she knew that logically, but emotionally, she was still catching up.

"I would enjoy that, Shizuru. I'm sure your Otousan would, too. Would like to speak with him?" her mother asked, knowing it best not to push Shizuru.

"Yes, of course."

"One moment."

A few seconds later her father was on the phone, "Hello, Shizuru."

"Hello, Otousan. How are you?"

"Better now that you've called. We were worried," he admitted with a soft, warm chuckle. She knew that he was concerned that she had regressed and withdrawn back into herself, away from them. She actually felt more at ease now with them than she had in a long time. Yes, there was still the anxiety that she expected, but it was not crippling and it was not hurrying her off of the phone with them. She had even kept it together when talking to her mother about herself.

"Forgive me, Otousan …"

"It's fine, Shizuru," he cut in very quickly, obviously not wanting her to get down on herself as that was a sure sign that the call would end.

"Are you sure?" her voice sounded smaller than usual, almost afraid. As nervous as they make me, I don't want to scare them away or for them to give up on me. Her greatest fear was that one day, her parents would finally get fed up with her extremely peculiar issues and they would decide that she was no longer worth the effort. Of course, she knew that was more her issues talking than any reality.

"Very much so. We're happy to hear from you now and that's all and always. Now, your mother is telling me that you volunteered to play the piano for us when we come over next weekend."

"I did."

"I look forward to it then. Is there anything else you want to tell us about?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing of any importance yet," Shizuru replied. She was tempted to mention Natsuki, but she did not want her parents to know about that just yet. Telling them too much too soon would lead to them getting extremely excited, which would in turn make her very nervous and she would shut down. It would be counterproductive.

"Still on the student council?"

"Yes, Otousan and still the president," she answered with a sigh.

"You should quit," he surprisingly suggested.

Ruby eyes blinked hard. "Excuse me?"

"Your mother was saying that the other day. You should quit. I know you feel like you would be disappointing the students, but if it's not something that you want to do …"

Shizuru mulled it over. "I'm not sure if I should quit. I am there already." My siblings would not quit; no Fujino ever quit anything once they started.

"Just think about it."

"I will. I need to go now, Otousan. Breakfast is ready."

"All right. See you next weekend."

"All right."

Shizuru ended the call and went to have breakfast with her aunts. As expected, she was asked about speaking to her parents and she was pleased to report that she had already called them. The day past without incident, but her night was restless. She tossed and turned, which was something new to her and she knew why. She was quite joyous when Monday morning showed up.

-8-8-8-8-

Natsuki arrived at school feeling blessed that it was finally Monday. She wished that there was angelic singing to bless the arrival of the day, but she would do with just seeing Shizuru. She knew that she would not see Shizuru until after school, but she might catch a glimpse of her holding court during lunch. She still watched Shizuru when her hopeless admirers and followers surrounded her in the quad and other common areas. The smiles were getting a bit gentler and more genuine with each passing day. Shizuru seemed to realize that she did not have to hang on the word of every single person that spoke to her, which Natsuki was proud of.

Natsuki was distracted from her thoughts on Shizuru by a familiar blond head. The small blond was holding the hand of teenage girl with light blue hair. She was pretty sure those two people were her little sister Alyssa and Alyssa's older sister Miyu. Natsuki's forehead wrinkled and she decided to inspect things further because there was no reason for those two to be at Fuuka Academy. After all, her father and his wife swore that money was tight.

"They can't afford to send me here, but they can afford to send both Alyssa and Miyu here?" Natsuki wondered.

Fuuka Academy was a private school with a high tuition. It was affiliated with a school that she used to go to back when her mother was alive. When her mother was alive, she had been able to afford the tuition at the other school and her mother had been an alumnus of her previous school. When her mother died and her family moved, she had to start from scratch. She had found the affiliated school and took the entrance exam, even after her father scolded her about not being able to afford it. That was all she ever heard, they could not afford the school, no matter how great it was and yet there were Alyssa and Miyu.

"I shouldn't be surprised," Natsuki muttered while shaking her head, but that did not stop her from following the pair to the grade school section of the academy.

When the two turned to a classroom, Natsuki saw that they were indeed Alyssa and Miyu. It seemed like that was enough for Natsuki. She did not need anything beyond the confirmation.

"Not like I'll see them, anyway," Natsuki grumbled as she put her hands into her skirt's pockets. After all, Alyssa was a child and Miyu was only a first year in high school.

The biker was determined not to allow her day to be ruined. She was going home with Shizuru, after all. She had to wait after school for the tawny-haired teenager because of a student council meeting, but it was worth it. When Shizuru exited the school building, Natsuki could not help smiling. Silently, she noted that she felt lighter the second that Shizuru was near.

"Good afternoon, Natsuki. I hope you haven't been waiting long," Shizuru said with a smile of her own.

"I don't mind. Let me get your stuff," Natsuki insisted, taking Shizuru's schoolbag as well as an overnight bag from the older girl. She packed those items away in the small storage space on her bike and gave Shizuru her helmet; Natsuki bought her one the second day they were together.

"Thank you," Shizuru said graciously and with a hint of surprised bashfulness that caused the biker to smile wider than before.

They were off and back in the sanctuary that was Natsuki's apartment. Shizuru actually breathed a sigh of relief when she crossed the threshold. She was home. It was the first time that she had ever felt that way about any place.

"Natsuki, what would you like for dinner tonight?" Shizuru asked curiously.

"Let's worry about that later. Let's just sit down and watch some TV," Natsuki proposed, motioning to the couch.

Shizuru did not argue with that and they settled on the sofa. They started out almost on opposite ends, but somehow ended up practically leaning into each other before the show was even over. By the time they were watching something else, Shizuru's legs were resting on Natsuki's lap. It easily became normal for them.

"So, how was your weekend, Shizuru?" Natsuki inquired.

"It was fine. I enjoyed my aunts' company. I was also able to grab a few things that I wanted to show you. They're in my bag," Shizuru recollected.

The willowy teenager rose from the couch; Natsuki whined at the lost and pouted like a toddler whose favorite toy had been taken away. Shizuru smiled at the biker, but she did not return. She retrieved her overnight bag and carried it to the couch. Opening the satchel, she pulled out a couple of small photo albums.

"I wanted to bring a piece of myself into the apartment," Shizuru explained as she resettled against Natsuki, even putting her legs back into the biker's lap.

"Photos?" Natsuki peered at the photos with an almost childish intrigue.

"Just a few. They mostly feature me as a child. I must warn you, I am not as miserable as I look. I swear," Shizuru said with a smile.

"I'm sure you were adorable."

Shizuru giggled a little and opened the album. The first picture was her as a toddler. Natsuki smiled as she stared at the large red eyes of adorable baby Fujino in a little kimono. Sure, enough though, Shizuru was pouting and her brow was furrowed. She looked a cross between vexed and depressed.

"Why do you look like that?" Natsuki asked as she pointed down to the small scrunched up face. "Was it a bad day or something?"

"No, it wasn't a bad day as far as I know. I was told that was a party. I look this way in most of my pictures as I said. It's never because the picture was taken on a bad day," Shizuru replied, sounding a little unsure. She trusted that Natsuki would understand and she would not have to go into full detail.

Natsuki nodded and flipped the page. "You play the piano?" she asked when she saw the next picture of little Shizuru at a baby grand piano.

"Yes, I play the piano. My mother saw my fingers when I was born, she says, and knew that I was born to play. I took to it like a fish to water, I've been told."

"Do you still play?"

"Not often."

"You don't like it?" the biker asked.

"No, actually, I do enjoy it. Sometimes, I'm just … unsure …" Squinting, wine-colored eyes seemed to search for something that Shizuru could not find. Only when Natsuki took her hand did Shizuru focus again.

Natsuki blinked in surprise, but quickly recovered. "You shouldn't be unsure, Shizuru, especially things that you're good at. If you play the piano well and enjoy it, play the piano. Hell, if you suck at it and you enjoy it, you should do it," she proclaimed with a bright grin.

Her deep emerald eyes shined in a way that comforted her companion and eased her soul. In the back of her mind, Shizuru made note of the feeling and realized she had felt it often with Natsuki. There was just something about the ebony-haired girl that made everything in her world feel proper and correct.

Shizuru smiled. "I will try to remember that."

Natsuki turned her attention to the next picture. "Oh, is that your big brother?" She pointed to the tawny-haired adolescent holding Shizuru. "And how old are you in this picture?"

"I am five there and that is my oniisan. He enjoyed when I was small enough to twirl around."

"He looks happy holding you, but you're pouting again."

"It is just something I do. You'll see it in all of the pictures. Please, don't take it as a sign of my family or the day. I just pout or frown often as a child."

Natsuki nodded and continued to flip through the pictures. Shizuru pouted and frowned slightly in most of them. The rare times that she was not doing either, she had a blank expression. As she got older in the pictures, there were signs of her faux-smile showing up. Natsuki guessed that she had learned to feign interest somewhere around the age of seven or eight.

"Thank you for bringing this and sharing with me, Shizuru," the younger teen said in a small voice as she gently ran a finger along one of the last pictures. Shizuru looked like she was around ten and she had perfected the art of feigning happiness, wearing a smile that almost lit up her eyes, but did nothing to mask the depression lurking underneath her exterior.

"Does Natsuki have any photo albums?" Shizuru asked curiously as Natsuki made it through her first album and moved to get the second one.

"I think I have one. Let me look around for it," Natsuki answered.

"I'll get started on dinner then. What would you like tonight? Hamburger steak perhaps?" the student council president suggested.

Natsuki grinned. "I didn't know we had that."

"Yes, we have that. Is that what you'd like?"

"Yeah!" Natsuki then balked at her enthusiasm. She rushed away to try to find her photo album before she embarrassed herself further.

The biker had to think about where she kept things. First, she checked all of the junk on her coffee table; well, what used to be junk. The coffee table was a little more organized than it used to be. If Shizuru had her way, the table would be clean and clear before the week was out; of course, if Natsuki had her way, it would look like it did the first day Shizuru arrived before the week was out. There was nothing on the coffee table, so she moved on.

She then went to her bedroom closet and ran through it once, but she did not find it in there. Scratching her head, she tried to think of where else she kept things from her past. Emerald eyes scanned the room as her brain tried to remember.

"Oh, the trunk," Natsuki recalled, ducking underneath her bed. She yanked out a trunk and began searching through it. "Gotcha!" She yanked out the one photo album that she had.

"Natsuki, dinner," Shizuru called out.

"Coming," Natsuki replied and she hurried back to sofa. Shizuru was already placing their meals down on the coffee table. "Hey, I found a photo album," she announced, holding up the tome.

"Oh, I'll look at it after dinner," Shizuru said.

Natsuki nodded and then turned her attention to her meal. "This looks so good!"

The ebony-haired teen dug into her meal with zeal. Shizuru was more controlled, but pleased to see that her cooking was appreciated. Once Shizuru was done, she reached for the photo album and began looking through it.

"Oh, is this Natsuki's okaasan?" Shizuru asked, pointing to a woman in one of the first photos.

Natsuki peered over. "Yup, that's my mom."

"You look just like her."

"Yeah, I know. People told me my whole life that I look like my mom and I can see it."

Shizuru smiled. "Natsuki-chan was cute," she cooed as she saw baby pictures of Natsuki. A very tiny Natsuki was cuddled close to a woman she bore more than a strong resemblance to in the pictures. "Your mother looks so happy holding you."

"My mom liked telling me I was the best thing in her life. She always made me feel precious."

"Lucky you, Natsuki, lucky you. Were you her only child?"

"I was. She and my father … well, I don't really know the nature of their relationship. I do know that my mom loved being around me. She took me everywhere. She took me …" Natsuki choked up and took a deep breath. "She took me …"

Shizuru leaned over and embraced the pale woman. "It's all right, Natsuki. It's all right," she whispered in a gentle tone.

"I was in the car …" Her voice broke as she reported that bit of news.

"The car?"

"With my mom. I don't remember a lot of what happened, but I know I was in the car and it was so cold, so dark. Everything was so quiet. I knew she was dead, but I kept saying she was just knocked out and she would wake up soon and it wouldn't be so dark and cold anymore and everything would be fine and we'd just go home," Natsuki said, shivering as she spoke. Her teeth chattered together and she wrapped her arms around Shizuru, clinging to the older girl.

"It's all right, Natsuki. It's all right," Shizuru promised, holding her friend tightly. She tenderly caressed Natsuki's bare arm and the small of her back.

Natsuki took a deep breath and laughed. "You're right. It is all right. It hadn't been all right for a long time and I never got to go home until now. It's warm now and definitely not dark," she said. It was always warm in Shizuru's arms and it damn sure felt like home.

Shizuru smiled at the admission and Natsuki was the one that flipped the album to the next picture. They made it through the whole album before they came across a picture of Natsuki's father; he was standing with little Natsuki, who did not look remotely close to happy.

"You look nothing like your father," Shizuru noted. He had mousy brown hair and a severe, long face. Hard brown eyes stared off into the distance, as if he did not know his own child was standing next to him.

"Thank God for small favors. I don't even remember him much from back then. It might be because of the memory gaps I have from the accident, but I don't think so. My mom didn't have a lot of pictures of him from what I could tell, but then again, I didn't get to clean out the house on my own. My dad might've thrown a lot of stuff out. Not that it matters, he has his new family now," Natsuki stated, dismissing the idea of her father with a wave.

"New family?" Shizuru's face changed ever so slightly with barely visible worry lines creasing the space between her eyebrows.

"Yes, his wife, her eldest daughter by another man, then my little sister Alyssa, and a baby on the way. By the way, Alyssa is my little sister because she's his daughter, too, but my mother didn't give birth to her. His wife did. Not that it matters, anyway. My dad treats me like I'm some burden to him."

"Never say that, Natsuki! You are not a burden!" Shizuru declared with more passion than she had ever shown in her life and she clutched Natsuki tighter in their embrace. "You're not a burden," she repeated in a hushed tone. "Not a burden." She kissed the top of the biker's head.

Natsuki only smiled. Again, she felt warm, safe, and like she was where she was supposed to be. It had been so long since she had felt anything near those emotions. Shizuru was an extremely wonderful person to bring her out of the dark and the cold. She had never felt all the things that Shizuru caused her to feel and some of the sensations she could not even name. She could not say the words yet, but she hoped that her hug got the message across.

-8-8-8-8-

Next time: Shizuru and Natsuki learn more about each other and Natsuki's father make things a bit difficult for Natsuki.