Thanks CrazyNinja Penguin for checking over chapter 3 and 3.5.

This is significantly shorter than it was to begin with, but I'm happier with the result.

Desired Constellation

Chapter 3.5—On the table

Midori:

Mai thinks we arrived back at the end of a fight that ended well.

Based on my own experience, I think they were having sex.

Maybe it was both.

I had not seen either of them since the HiME Star was destroyed. Of course it was because I had to fly to Egypt right afterward to be with my sweetheart, the Professor so I could ride him like a camel across the desert.

Mai told me last night as she was formulating her plan that the friendship wasn't the same after Natsuki learned that Shizuru was in love with her. I told her that I was certain that it wasn't a one way thing, again, based on my own experiences, and that Kuga was probably the saboteur of her own love story. She always seemed the sort to me to push away happiness, she just enjoys angst too much. Mai agreed that this was a possibility.

Thinking back on any time I ever saw those two together, they always had a sexual tension between them, and it was extra thick upon our return from our morning drive.

It was clear to me that Natsuki had not looked into the mirror before she came down the stairs. I had to pretend to cough as I suppressed a laugh as she grumpily stomped down the stairs with bed head and lips that shade of red one has when their mouth has been ravished.

I shared this observation with Mai, since this whole getting them back together was her idea, and she didn't see it. She said,

"You really shouldn't talk about that unless you are one-hundred percent certain it's true. People could get hurt with a rumor like that."

Grrrrr!

Somebody in the group has to have seen something over the course of the whole day. I can't be the only person here who can feel the vibe in this house!

The poolside, the poolside!

We spent the afternoon in our bathing suits lounging by the pool or swimming. How did anybody miss the sexy black bikini that Fujino was wearing and the 'come fuck me' walk she sauntered outside with? I would have made a move myself, if I wasn't certain this walk wasn't for a certain blue haired chick who I swore I saw having to wipe her mouth to hide her drooling.

When Fujino had found herself a beach chair, I volunteered to apply sunscreen to her back. Happily, she acquiesced since Kuga was too cowardly to ask. I wanted to show her what she was missing.

I told her I was untying the ribbon of her bikini so that I could apply the lotion evenly. The golden fluid was not warm enough, so I rubbed my hands together before placing my hands on her back. Her body was soft yet firm; utter perfection! I worked slowly, starting from the lowest point at the waist of her bikini bottom and made my way up her back.

She sighed contentedly, "Mmh, that's nice."

As I came to her shoulders, I noticed a few kinks. I asked her if it was alright to work them out.

"Thank you, please do." She said and pulled her hair over to one side then sat on her forearms. From where Natsuki was sitting, I'll bet she was getting an AMAZING shot of cleavage. The girl was wearing sunglasses, but her upraised eyebrows expressed interest at what was happening on our side of the pool.

Shizuru groaned loudly as I hit some rough knots.

"Ohhhh, ow. Goooood!"

Damn, that sounded really sexy.

"Ugh! Get a room you two!" Haruka yelled from across the pool as she sipped the Pina Colada Yukino had made for her.

"What does that mean?" Mikoto queried from the pool as she raised her head from the water in time to hear that comment. Mai's mouth dropped as clearly she was the person who was being addressed. I don't think she was ready to have the birds and the bees chat with the little girl yet, so I yelled the answer at them.

"Suzushiro is suggesting that Fujino and I should take a romantic nap together privately." Shizuru laughed out loudly at my comment, I could feel the vibration of her lungs under my hands. Akane and Nao also laughed with her.

"Oh," Mikoto gleamed. "Like the naps I have with Mai."

Tokiha turned as red as a ginger's skin would allow as everybody else who was not yet laughing, joined in. Even Natsuki who likely needed a break from the teasing I was delivering to her.

Good memory, but that's not the point.

It was strange, they claimed individually to have had a good chat and patched things up, yet they didn't really speak to each other the rest of the day. Not that they seemed upset, Shizuru was actually in much better shape than she was last night.

She drank a lot and was not too talkative. Most of her time was spent conversing with Nao when she wasn't doing hosting duties like finding us snacks and raiding her parents' liquor cabinet. A lady of her dignity and grace would not let herself be seen being taken upstairs stumbling at only ten thirty in the evening. Whatever was bothering her last night, clearly was resolved by the afternoon as she was a delightful host. She drank very little alcohol and talked with everybody…Everybody except Natsuki… publically.

There were a few times when I would lose sight of both of them because I'm not a freak. I was at the Fujino estate to have a good time too, not just to snoop.

I did snoop a little bit actually. It was just before dinner when I excused myself to use the washroom upstairs as the one on the main floor was occupied. I didn't actually have to go, but I wanted to look in the bedrooms upstairs to find where Natsuki was going to sleep tonight. This could have been the big clue I needed as to the real status of their relationship.

I didn't even bother trying to go into Mai and Mikoto's room or Shiho and Nao's room, I went straight for Fujino's bedroom.

Wow! Total princess! There's a large glass door looking out upon the east overlooking woodlands, but would certainly receive ample sunshine. There's a balcony on the other side of the door with a small bench. The dusk had made the bedroom too dark to discern colours, but the bed to the left was a queen size with four posts and drapes tied at them. On the right was a dresser with mirror and a screen for changing behind. It had a lovely pattern on it, likely a local artist's work. There are large paintings on the walls which look like scenes in nature. Her room is full of candles. If something hasn't happened yet, it certainly will tonight in this love nest.

BINGO! Kuga's overnight bag was on the other side of the bed.

I swear, by the end of this weekend, I will have absolute proof of this couple-hood! I'll take a picture of them sleeping in the morning before they wake.