Disclaimer: The same as always, I don't own Mai-HiME so no-no with the lawsuits, kay?
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Chapter 4: Duple Meter
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It was morning. The heater wasn't on but it was still warm. Not because of the blanket, not because of the warm bed. It was because of the person that is laying beside me. With her strong arms wrapped around my waist, I can feel her breathing on the back of my neck. It tickled. I made a move to turn around to try and face her but it just made her hold me tighter and kissed the back of my neck. It wasn't the result I wanted but I was satisfied with it, I'd actually prefer this result better then just staring at her. I glanced at the alarm clock at the stand, 11:30 AM, as much as I would like to stay like this longer, I needed to get up.
Once again, I try to gently unlock the arms that had been holding me in place. She moved a bit and let out a light groan and opened her eyes. We smiled at each other, staring into the other's eyes. Her eyes are a beautiful shade of green, it sparkled as the sun's ray seeped through the blinds gently hitting them. They're so clear, filled with light and warm emotions. Loving, caring, this moment was perfect. I decided to break the silence.
"Good morning."
You just kept on smiling. After a moment, you responded. "Good morning"
More of the beautiful silence. We didn't need to talk. We didn't need to do anything. Where we are, in each others arms, this was enough. It was perfect. Several minutes passed and I made another move to the bathroom. Again you just held on to me. I turned back at you and you were still smiling, I couldn't resist. I started to lean in, as I get closer, you shut your eyes waiting for the moment of contact. As soon as our lips met, I feel your embrace tighten pulling me closer to you. I wrapped my own arms around your neck pulling you in deeper into the kiss.
I wasn't sure which of us broke the kiss but I find myself staring into your eyes again.
"May I please go to the bathroom now?"
You laughed as you start to let go of my waist. "Ok."
"Thank you."
Before moving over to the edge of the bed, I turned back to you giving you a light kiss on the forehead before facing the cold air.
-
This is the best morning I've ever had. It beats waking up from a hangover and being scolded by Mai. Upon hearing the showers turned on, I sat up remembering what transpired last night and I couldn't help but smile. Been smiling like an idiot since I woke up. Moving to the edge of the bed, I placed my barefoot onto the floor. The contact wasn't pleasant, it was cold. Each step I take, it seems that the floor gets colder. Reaching the thermostat, I turned on the heater to the max and made my way back to the bedroom. Looking around the room, I find our clothes sprawled across the floor. Shirts thrown at opposite sides of the room, the shorts I wore last night was managed to get thrown by the door. I smiled like an idiot again, damn it.
The bed sheets are the only thing covering my nude form. It didn't do a good job blocking the cold air as I start to pick up the articles of clothing scattered across the floor. I found your bra right next to the bed. It's tempting but I know I shouldn't. I couldn't...I can't bring myself to do it. I still hear the showers in the bathroom and I start to look around the room. Making a motion to pick it up I force such ideas out my head. I didn't notice when the shower stopped but you suddenly noticed opened the bathroom door. I fumbled with the article of clothing and dropped it on the floor. You eyed the clothes I found and had placed on the bed.
"Did Natsuki not find my bra yet?"
"Uh, no. Not yet."
I just lied and kicked her bra under the bed. This is so wrong.
"Well, now it's my turn to take a shower!"
I walked as fast as I could to the bathroom and locked the door behind me. I can't believe I just did that. Bad Natsuki, bad bad Natsuki.
-
It wasn't long before the newly couple got together for breakfast. More like lunch. Natsuki entered the kitchen and poured herself a cup or orange juice. Taking a seat at the counter, she followed every movement the other woman made. Cooking is evil. My respects to those who know of the arts.
"What does Natsuki eat in the morning?"
"Toast."
"Only toast?"
"No. It has mayonnaise on it."
Normally eating toast with mayo, Natsuki was surprised as she eyed the western style breakfast the other woman cooked. After eating, Shizuru gave Natsuki a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving for work. Cleaning up her share of the dishes, the raven haired beauty walked towards her digital piano. Natsuki noticed that the power was still on, after all, they never had a chance to turn it back off last night. Finally turning off the piano, she went back to the bedroom to change for work. Before leaving the room, she remembered something. Kneeling, she peeked under her bed and found nothing but a piece of paper. What the hell? Upon retrieving the paper, she unfolded it to find a message.
To Natsuki,
Nice try.
-Shizuru
-
Before they knew it, several weeks passed. Every night, one would come over to the other's apartment. Movies, dinner, a light chat. Every time Shizuru comes over to Natsuki's apartment, she would ask for the girl to teach her how to play the piano. Each session she would impress her partner how much she had improved and how quickly she got accustomed to reading sheet music. In the morning it would be Shizuru's turn to teach Natsuki how to cook. Needless to say, Natsuki didn't get used to cooking in the beginning. As time passed by, however, she had successfully proven to her girlfriend that she will never be able to cook and was let off the hook.
-
It was a cold Friday afternoon in February when Natsuki received a call.
"Hey Natsuki. Do you have some free time today? Let's hang out."
"Mai? Uh, sure. What do you want to do?"
"Let's go ice skating at the new rink at Fuuka Plaza. Oh, Mikoto is coming so you can invite Shizuru-san."
"OK!" shit
"Hahah, Natsuki? It's like spending every night with her isn't enough for you."
"Shut up."
It wasn't long before they all met together. After changing into the rented ice skates, the zamboni took over to resurface the ice. The participants of the double date sat near the lockers and began to idly chat amongst themselves.
"Mai, how are the renovations on the café going?"
"Pretty well. They'll be done next week so prepare to perform next Friday."
"Do we get a new acoustic piano?"
"No. You'll still use the Yamaha we have."
Shizuru decided to intervene.
"For how long has the piano been in your possession?"
"Actually, Natsuki's piano instructor gave it."
"Oh?"
Natsuki felt the stare of her girlfriend. To others such a stare would only be interpreted as a smile of curiosity. For Natsuki it was saying 'explain yourself'. Sighing, she told her side of the donated piano. Explaining that the instructor was talking more to Mai and was strictly piano teaching to Natsuki. She even explains that the instructor went so far as to ask Mai out, Mai shook her head in embarrassment confirming Natsuki's story.
"He gave the piano to Mai for her café."
"I refused it. He was stubborn and changed his reason saying that it was for Natsuki."
"What? He said that I was his best student so he gave it to me."
Shizuru mused over the relationship of the two friends. They were both sinking in their seats trying to forget the events of that particular time in their past. Mikoto, with her arms crossed, only shook her head.
"Hm. Ani-ue is too strange."
"Ara, Natsuki's instructor and Mai-san's admirer is your brother?"
Mikoto nodded her head in confidence. Mai and Natsuki, however, slowly nodded at the sad truth. The resurfacing of the ice finished and the other skaters were making their way to the rink. The group waited for the rush to clear before making their way to the rink and continued to talk amongst themselves.
"Shizuru-san, have you ice skated before?"
"I'm afraid not. I never had any interest in sports."
"Well, it's easy and fun. Natsuki should be able to help you out."
The group finally moved to the rink. Mai and Mikoto were the first to the ice, skating side by side holding each other's hand. Before stepping into the rink, Natsuki turned around to face the other girl.
"You really have no interest in sports?"
"None."
"Then how do you...ehh..."
Letting her eyes scan up and down Shizuru's body, Natsuki wasn't able to finish her own sentence. Luckily, chestnut haired woman took the liberty to finish it for her.
"...look so good?"
"Uh, yeah."
"I have my own exercises."
"Oh, like?"
Curiosity getting the better of her, Natsuki failed to detect the suggestive tone in Shizuru's answer.
"Which one do I like? I like doing the exercises with Natsuki."
"We don't do any exercises together."
"You don't remember the first time we did an exercise?"
"No."
"Remember my birthday?"
Natsuki nodded her head but failed to make any connection. Shizuru found it amusing that after all this time of being together, Natsuki was still slow picking up her suggestive hints. Placing a finger on her chin, she decided to clarify her message, this time she decided to be straight forward about it.
"Did you know that sex burns about, or around, 1000 plus calories?"
Realization finally struck Natsuki as her complexion starts to slowly turn red. Avoiding the smirk on the woman's face, Natsuki turned around to face the ice. Shizuru only chuckled at the action taken by her girlfriend. This is too much fun. She walked up behind the girl and gave a hug while resting her chin upon the shoulders. Whispering into Natsuki's ear, Shizuru continued her assault.
"Burning that much calories in one go. Such a fun exercise, don't you agree?"
Natsuki had to bite down on her lip to keep herself from say what the other girl wanted to hear. She knew Shizuru was right, she won't deny it. But she won't admit it either. Lucky for her, Mai and Mikoto finished with their lap and are now skating towards them. Mikoto took it upon herself to pull Shizuru into the rink and started to give advise. Mai leaned on the board looking at Natsuki.
"Hey, are you ok?"
"Does it look like I'm ok?"
"Hahah, I see."
Finally setting foot on the ice, the two friends skated together for awhile. After a few seconds they stopped to allow the others to catch up. Mai finally told Natsuki what she's been observing. She noticed that since Natsuki and Shizuru got together, Natsuki had been happier. A few glares and evil eyes every time Mai would mention kareoke but happier and was smiling everyday.
"I would never guess you to be in a serious relationship. In high school you would shoot any guy that would ask you out."
"People change."
"Is it because in college you had a quick short fling with-"
"Quiet you."
Mai smiled knowing it was safer to keep her mouth shut. Natsuki, obviously annoyed at the smile gave her infamous glare.
"Don't worry, I won't tell her."
"A wise choice."
The two finally caught up to the friends and Mai went off with Mikoto. Shizuru held on to the boards for balance even though she learned some basics from Mikoto. Taking Shizuru's hands, Natsuki began to skate backwards while facing the girl giving her more advise. From time to time, Shizuru would slightly lose her balance and tighten her grip on Natsuki's hands causing the other girl to stop and provide support.
It wasn't long before Shizuru got used to the activity, she was a fast learner after all. Like Mai and Mikoto, Natsuki and Shizuru were also skating side by side holding hands. Skating was the only thing Natsuki looked forward to every winter. The feeling of being carefree was a something she was addicted to. During warm days, her motorcycle would provide her with the feeling as she would push the throttle to speed own the roads. In winter, it was ice skating. Now to be sharing her fondness of the ice with someone special only made it better. The chestnut haired woman didn't know about Natsuki's addiction to being carefree. The only thing Shizuru cared about was spending more time with the person right next to her.
A couple of hours later, the group left the rink to find a place for dinner. They randomly picked a restaurant on the corner of the block. Once seated, Mai realized she just walked into the restaurant she worked part-time during high school and college. Not remembering a familiar face, the service staff changed since she worked there. During dinner, they all shared stories of their past. Shizuru learned that Mai and Natsuki had been friends since high school, being partnered with each other in home economics class. The two shared their experiences trying to teach the raven haired girl how to cook, they laughed as both their results ended in failure.
Mikoto told the story of how she met Mai. It was through her brother, while he was giving Natsuki a lesson. Mai had used Natsuki to get to know more about Mikoto, who used her brother to get to know more about Mai. Changing topics, Mai asked what was Shizuru's first impression of Natsuki.
"A delinquent with no manners at all."
Mai nearly spat out her drink with Shizuru's quick response. Once she safely swallowed her beverage, she proceeded to laugh. The 'delinquent' only looked away from Shizuru and crossed her arms as she heard the story before. The chestnut haired woman continued with her story.
"Didn't even say sorry when she ran into me-"
"I did say sorry. I even bought you a drink to say sorry."
"After the fact."
"Still said sorry."
Mai stared and laughed at the couple with amusement. Mikoto was at her side patting Mai's back to prevent her from choking from laughter.
"The more I knew about Natsuki, the more my opinion of her changed."
Mikoto nodded in agreement "Natsuki is a nice person."
"Yes. Natsuki is a nice person. Kind, loving, warm..."
Placing a hand on the lap of the girl, Shizuru easily got her attention. Natsuki loosed up and held on to Shizuru's hand. Her scowl gone, replaced by the brightest smile she'd ever shown. Mai found the expression on her best friend a rare sight and very cute. She couldn't help it any longer as she broke the moment.
"Awwwwww!"
Mikoto also couldn't help it and also said something.
"Shizuru-san, you forget that Natsuki is also reckless."
The group laughed at Mikoto's statement. Everyone except for Natsuki, who gave an evil eye to the girl. The couples continued to chat about the past. The time went by so fast, by the time they left the restaurant they called it a day. Mai and Mikoto went their way to the train station while the other couple rode Natsuki's bike to her apartment.
Entering the dark room, Natsuki navigated her way to the thermostat to turn on the heater. Regrouping with Shizuru, she found the girl was already seated in front of the keyboard playing the basic scales. Taking a brief moment to admire the girl whom she can call hers, she couldn't actually believe she was in such a relationship. Natsuki walked up to the keyboard and sat right next to the girl on the bench. Shizuru stopped playing and let her head rest upon the shoulder of her beloved.
"Tired?"
"A little."
Natsuki started to play the piano to provide the other girl with a relaxing melody. Playing something on-the-spot was something she'd usually do whenever she forgets to bring sheet music.
"I wrote a song for Natsuki."
"You did? Can you sing it?"
"It's not finished."
She raised her head to look into the deep green eyes that greeted her every morning.
"I want you to write some lyrics too."
"What?"
"Half of the lyrics are written by me and the other half written by you."
"I suppose I'll end up composing the melody too?
"Ara, I was going to volunteer for that but if you insist."
Natsuki stopped playing and turned to the woman next to her only to see her trademark smile. Tricked again.
"Fine. Then you have to sing it."
"Of course."
Author's Notes:Ok, so um...no songs to credit, lol. Obviously there will be song to credit in the next chapter. I never knew it's been nearly a month since I last updated this story, go figure. That sex stat with the calories, god bless my high school PE teacher for sharing such a fact, lol. Yes, you read right. I said FACT.
SO! Let me know what you think. Greatly appreciate it if you do. I'll continue if you all like it. Reviews keep authors going you know.