Okay, I've got a bit of explaining to do. The next paragraph is for all of you who are going, "WTF is with Natsuki being so OOC?!" because I'm not going to reply to all of you individually about the same thing.
Since my beta hes been away (BTW I think she'll be back soon xD), I've been the only person reading this. It makes sense to me, because I know why everything is happening, I just didn't include that information in this story. Because this is Shizuru's POV, we arn't going to see exactly why Natsuki is doing what she is doing. Because of the format I am doing this in, there are huge time gaps in between some of the chapters (this one, for instance, skips two years after the previous chapter) that means there is a lot I am leaving out. Basically this story is just setting it up so I can go back and do more stories in this Universe to explain why things happened better, and do more with the other characters in this realm. However, since this is causing some distress, I will add some more explaination into a later chapter, and I tweaked this one a bit. Please believe me Natsuki has a good (though not necessarily logical) reason for obeying her father here, that she refuses to tell Shizuru. That being said, I'm sorry for causing this confusion, it was not my intent, just a side effect ;D. I have a feeling this chapter (and following chapters too) will cause similar distress, feel free to tell me, however I am getting a little frustrated with some reviews, and if they keep up I will have to do A LOT of tweaking to satisfy them, so it will take longer for me to post.
Anyway, here we go!
Disclaimer: I don't even care...
Shizuru woke slowly, warm and comfortable, yet her eyes remained closed. She wanted to remain like that forever. She could feel Natsuki's warm skin, and she breathed in the delicious scent. She knew it would not last.
Two years had passed, since that fateful night that Natsuki had confessed her true feelings. Natsuki had said she was going to leave and never come back; and perhaps she should have, it might have made things easier, even if more heartbreaking. Some might say it was wrong for them to have a secret relationship while Natsuki got married. Like living a lie, but for Shizuru, if secrecy was the cost of true love, she would pay it; however doubts and guilt seemed to be creeping in lately.
Natsuki had never told Shizuru why she wouldn't just run away with her; Shizuru knew it must cause her pain to think of the subject, so she rarely tried to find out. Instead she stayed content with the fact that Natsuki loved her. That was her rock.
They rarely got a chance to see each other, and even rarer was the chance to spend time completely away from others, so Shizuru relished in the fact that they had had an entire weekend.
Natsuki's husband, Yoshiro, was very kind. Shizuru hated that he was so nice, it made hating him harder. She also understood that though Natsuki did not, and would never be able to truly love him, she had grown to care deeply for him, like a best friend. This particular weekend he was on a business trip in America, but his plane was supposed to arrive home soon. In fact it was he who had suggested that she visit a friend while he was away so she would not be bored or all alone.
Shizuru heard Natsuki groan slightly, and shift her weight so she was facing Shizuru.
"I know you're awake, Shizuru," Natsuki whispered softly.
Shizuru slowly cracked her eyes open. Natsuki's green eyes were so close Shizuru could see nothing but them. "How does Natsuki know that?" She asked playfully, leaning forward and kissing her.
After a few moments, when the kiss finally ended, Natsuki laughed, "Because you always wake up first, Shizuru."
"Why does Natsuki think that is?" Shizuru asked playfully.
Natsuki's face split into a huge grin, "Because you always make me do all the work."
"Ara, I am so sorry Natsuki, I simply thought you enjoyed it." Shizuru's smile widened as pink spots began to form on Natsuki's cheeks. "But if you would prefer," Shizuru's hands slid down Natsuki's side. And then Natsuki screamed with laughter.
Shizuru was tickling her.
Natsuki gasped for breath, "No…fair…you…aren't…ticklish…." This went on for several minutes before Natsuki managed to put a stop to it by surprising Shizuru with a kiss. Shizuru's movements paused just for a moment, and Natsuki took the opportunity to grab her wrists. After a moment of Natsuki trying to completely catch her breath, she finally slid on top of Shizuru, pinning Shizuru's slender hands above her head.
"Now you're in trouble." Natsuki was grinning, and Shizuru smiled.
"I love you Natsuki." Shizuru said quietly.
Natsuki smiled warmly, "I love you too," It just so happened that Natsuki glanced up at the clock. "Oh shit." Natsuki pushed herself up, and cursing, dashed into the bathroom.
Shizuru's eyes fell on the wretched device.
9:27 AM
Yoshiro's plane was to arrive at the airport at 9:55 AM. This meant that Natsuki had to shower, pack, and rush home in time to beat him there. It was true he had expected her to visit a friend, but it was also true that he had expected her home early in the morning.
The sound of the shower running in the next room reached Shizuru's ears. She slumped. It was so unfair that she had to share Natsuki with someone else. As she lay there she began contemplating the horrid thought, the thought that it was even less fair to him. She had known going in that Natsuki could not truly be with her, he had not. At that moment, Natsuki dashed out of the bathroom, hastily pulling on a pair of jeans, a toothbrush jammed in her mouth.
"Whewe's by bwa!?" Her words were difficult to understand as toothpaste was dribbling out of her mouth. She made a face as she swallowed most of the minty-fresh paste, "Where's my bra?!"
Shizuru glanced around the room. She spotted the lacy black bra hanging off the lamp in the corner. She pointed to it and watched, laughing silently as Natsuki who had her pants half up, tripped trying to retrieve the bra. Shizuru glided over in an instant and helped Natsuki to her feet. "Thanks," Natsuki then hiked her jeans up, retrieved her bra and then sped out of the room once more.
Shizuru sighed, and began dressing for the day. The thoughts that plagued her whenever Natsuki was not around, returned. It was wrong. It was wrong of her to take Natsuki away from a man who really did love her. It was wrong of them to continue a relationship behind his back. It was just wrong. Shizuru had spent months contemplating this thought. How could she fix this? How could she make it right? The only solution she could come up with was to end her relationship with Natsuki, because there was no way Natsuki could leave her husband, without giving up every single thing that was important to her, except Shizuru. Yet this thought sickened her. If she did give up the only thing sacred to her, it would hurt Natsuki as well, and Shizuru was certain that if she did manage to get over Natsuki, and she happened to see her ever, she would have to start completely over on recovery. As she stared into her eyes in the mirror, Shizuru could only see the evil in herself, the jealousy, the pain, the hate, and the horrible things of her past.
Yet just a few weeks before, fate had lent a helping hand in the matter, and it was time to tell Natsuki. Shizuru shuddered at the thought.
Natsuki entered the room at a slower pace this time. "Shizuru, I have to leave."
Shizuru tore her eyes away from her reflection, "Natsuki…"
"What's wrong Shizuru?" Natsuki could hear pain in Shizuru's voice, "I'll come back soon; don't worry." Natsuki had crossed the room and was standing right in front of her, looking at her with those big green eyes.
"Natsuki," Shizuru tried to steel herself for what she knew she must do, "I've been promoted."
Natsuki smiled, "That's great Shizuru," then she paused, confused, "Wait how does a teacher get promoted? Are you an administrator or something now?"
Shizuru shook her head. "A few weeks ago, a man visited the school; he sat in on my class. He talked to Reito and the board, and I've been hired to work at his school," Shizuru sighed, "I had no choice but to accept."
"But that's great Shizuru!...How far away is his school?...Kyoto?"
"America."
Natsuki faltered as her mind tried to grasp the concept of being halfway around the world from Shizuru, "Oh…How long?"
"I don't know," Shizuru grimaced slightly, "I have to leave in three weeks and I think it will be at least a year."
"Oh...I wish I could come," Natsuki said softly. "Maybe visit..." She leaned forward and kissed Shizuru for a long moment. But then the moment passed. "Anyway, I got to go; Yoshi's going to wonder where I am." And with that, Natsuki dashed out the door, but not before Shizuru saw the tears.
"Natsuki!"
Natsuki stopped and turned unwillingly to face her, "Yeah?" her voice was rough, acting tough as always.
"I don't want to go...but I'll be back as soo as I can. Maybe its a good thing for us to be apart for a while."
Natsuki looked as if she was about to deny it, then faltered. "Maybe your right. I'll be thinking of you." Natsuki smiled weakly.
"Always."