Notes: this is based on the Mai Otome drama CD, with bits added by me.
What happens at Garderobe, Stays at Garderobe
Shizuru and Natsuki
It was strange, how their whole relationship had begun on a misunderstanding. Thinking Natsuki was just one of her usual fangirls Shizuru accepted her as a room attendant. There Shizuru made a advance on her, and was surprisingly rejected. And slapped!
"Ouch...," Shizuru put her hand to her cheek, studding the defiant black haired girl in confusion.
"What are you doing, big sister?" Natsuki demanded with a glare that would make a headmistress proud.
"Oh my," Shizuru lowered her hand from her reddened cheek, "Did you not want this? It seemed to me that asking to be my room attendant meant you also wanted this." Wryly she added, "My fangirls would all be glad to be in your position...."
"It's different," Natsuki replied, "that...."
"What is different?" Shizuru asked as she added, "They all want me and what else is there?" She continued, "Their beautiful and kind big sister. The way I see it, I'm just answering their wish."
"Shizuru... big sister...," Natsuki murmured, looking up at her with a surprisingly sorrowful look in her eyes.
Shizuru brushed a tear away, "Why are you crying?" Teasingly she added, "It was me who was slapped, wasn't it?"
"But," the young woman started, "such...."
"You...," Shizuru studied her, feeling oddly touched by the girl's gentle sorrow. With a soft sound Natsuki burst away from her, fleeing out the door even as Mai passed by. She hurried to the door but the girl was gone, even as Mai looked at her indignantly.
"Wait, Natsuki," Mai yelped. She turned to glare at Shizuru, instantly realizing the older girl was why her friend was upset. "You're the worst, Shizuru-san," she growled.
Shizuru puffed out a sigh as she asked, "Why is that?"
"Excuse me," Mai bit out and hurried off, calling out, "Natsuki, wait for me. Natsuki!"
Watching them go Shizuru was struck by the fierce loyalty, even caring that was evident in Mai's voice. 'Does she feel something for Natsuki?' Shizuru found herself wondering, feeling a twinge in her guts over it.
It was of all people Haruka who helped them come together, realizing that Shizuru had deeper feelings than lust for the young lady. Similarly Natsuki was sad and down ever since the event. So Haruka declared Natsuki her room attendant, and when Shizuru objected challenged her to a duel over Natsuki.
Not to mention Mai working in the background to 'nudge' Natsuki into making a choice too. So just like a heroine in a old play Natsuki rushed off to see Shizuru, confessing she wanted to know the 'real' Shizuru, not the mental image Natsuki made or the false face she used to keep students and rivals at bay.
The duel went ahead, of course, as there was no way to talk someone as bullheaded as Haruka out of it. Of course Haruka was wiser than most thought, having gone to her friend Yukino Chrysant for advice as I found out later.
The match was a record for 'shortest defeat ever'....
Later on Natsuki met me at my room, the meeting this time rather different than our earlier one. I felt a bit more secure knowing that Natsuki was there willingly and with her eyes open, so to speak, but I still felt nervous.
"That was incredible," Natsuki noted as they walked in together.
"I haven't needed to get serious with someone before," Shizuru looked at her with a smile as she added, "I've never had anything so important to fight for."
Natsuki blushed charmingly, looking away from Shizuru as they stood in the small room together. Shizuru was once again struck by how sweet this girl could be, despite her usual tough girl act.
"Natsuki," Shizuru said quietly, "I'm sorry for what I did earlier." She smiled down at her, "I'd like to... get to know you, if you'll let me?"
Natsuki smiled up at her, taking Shizuru's hand in hers. "I'd like that," she said warmly.
The next few weeks were, in a way, the most pleasant and torturous of Shizuru's life. Natsuki, she quickly discovered, was a intelligent, insightful woman who was fun to be around. She enjoyed the girl's conversation and the time they spent together.
On the other hand, Shizuru became more than acutely aware of how much she wanted the girl. For the first time she really understood how girls went mad over her, for she was developing the same for of feelings for Natsuki. She wanted her with the sort of hunger of a starving wolf, and she was almost afraid she was going to pounce on the other woman.
Worse, as Natsuki got used to being her room attendant, she became more and more 'helpful' to Shizuru. The first startling moment was when Natsuki helped her get changed for a meeting with the headmistress. She had been ever efficient getting her stripped and changed, but just her touch was enough to make Shizuru's palm's sweat. Not to mention imagining Natsuki's gaze wandering over her body....
The very worse was Natsuki insisting on coming into the baths with her. Now, admittedly the group baths were large and spacious, and there was no reason to spy on her, but again Natsuki insisted on 'helping' her. Shizuru was slightly comforted in knowing her figure was better, but her mouth went dry as Natsuki stripped, not to mention feeling her hand on her skin as she washed her back.
"Natsuki," Shizuru sighed as lathered hands scrubbed her back again. She arched her back, biting back the urge to purr under her hands.
"Yes, big sister?" Natsuki asked brightly as she rubbed Shizuru's shoulders sensuously, her fingers kneading the muscles.
"Hmm," Shizuru sighed happily. "Are you trying to seduce me?" she asked wryly as Natsuki lathered up her hair.
"Uhm," Natsuki blushed most charmingly, the pink faced girl helping rinse Shizuru's hair. "Well, a little," she conceded after a moment.
Shizuru turned on the bench a bit, looking at Natsuki curiously. "I thought you wanted to take things slowly?" she asked, looking at the girl while she raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I did," Natsuki positively squirmed with embarrassment, "but...."
"I've been taking it a little too slow?" Shizuru asked, lathering up her own hands.
"A little," Natsuki admitted sheepishly.
Natsuki made a surprised 'eep' noise as Shizuru reached out to her, running a soapy hand along her arm. "Then," Shizuru purred, "let's make up for lost time, hm?"
Natsuki breathed out, "Big sister...."
"I think," Shizuru pushed Natsuki back on the cool tile, "you can call me Shizuru, now..."
They kissed, long and lingeringly, and Shizuru delighted as Natsuki arched up beneath her. Her hand slid down her wet, glistening body as they kissed, then Shizuru....
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The two girls flipped the page, only to realize the booklet ended there.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding!" Mashiro yelped, the purple haired Queen of Windbloom looking at the slim book indignantly.
"Look, it's damaged," Arika noted, the redhead fingering the torn back pages. "Do you think someone pulled the last bit out?"
"Probably," Mashiro growled. She thought about it, "If she was still around, I'd suggest searching Tomoe's room."
Arika blinked, "You think that she...?"
"It really wouldn't surprise me," Mashiro sighed, putting the book down on the pile Arika had sorted. "You know, you've made a lot of progress already," she murmured.
Arika noticed the odd tone of voice and looked at Mashiro thoughtfully, "I guess so."
Mashiro smiled at Arika shyly, "Do you think you could stop early today?" A blush colored her cheeks, "I though we could go to my rooms and... talk about what we read."
"Oh?" Arika blinked, then a blush colored her cheeks, "Oh!" She got up from her chair, "Let's go, Mashiro."
"Let's," Mashiro agreed as they snuck out of the library and hurried to reach the palace at Windbloom. They had read a lot of very interesting things in the various otome's journals, and she for one was looking forward to trying a few of them out.
End
Notes: Yes, I chickened out on showing the love scene between Shizuru and Natsuki. Sorry. I didn't want to get too explicit, so it seemed a good place to change scenes. Hope everyone's enjoyed this mini-series, and I MAY add a chapter or two more eventually.