"So ghosts are real?"
"Apparently." Natsuki replied without much emotion. She didn't really want her friend to go 'I told you so.'
"Would you like to formally meet her?" Excitement and nerves passed through Mai's eyes. Reading into the marmalade haired woman's face Natsuki calmly consoled her. "Don't worry she won't hurt you."
"Then I guess."
"Shizuru come in here." Natsuki raised her voice unsure of where in the house the ghost was.
"Boo!" The Kyoto woman screamed appearing in front of the cook. Natsuki flinched as she saw her friend's eyes roll back into her head as her body hit the hard carpeted floor.
"Shizuru! Why the hell did you do that?!"
"Because I though it would be funny. Hey look at that, I was right." The phantom giggled joyfully watching the biker pick up the cook and place her on the couch.
Once Mai woke up (about ten minutes later) she ran out of the house like Satan himself was after her. She simply refused to even call Natsuki on her cell for a month.
"Shizuru, I'm home and Mai's with me too." The mechanic's voice may have sounded sweet but clearly there was a hidden threat in it. The ghost understood the message.
"Welcome home, good to see you again Mai." Shizuru floated into the room wearing a warm smile. "How was work?"
"Fine. Shizuru are you up for another day out?" The ghost looked at the biker with a bit of confusion. "I talked Mai into lending you her body for an hour or so." The phantom's gaze shifted towards Mai who smiled nervously.
"Really? Is that alright?" The older woman asked feeling the need to ask again. The cook nodded and closed her eyes. The chestnut haired female dived into the short haired woman's chest taking control of her body. When Mai reopened her eyes she spoke with a Kyoto accent. "So where are we going?"
"It's a secret."
"Can Duran come this time?"
"If you want." The pet jumped up and followed his human out the door.
"Are we taking your Ducati? Because we can't if Duran is coming." Shizuru pointed out as Natsuki walked towards her beloved bike. Right next to her bike was another item the same size covered in a tarp. Pulling the covering off to reveal another Ducati the same type and color but with a sidecar.
"Ha, I never noticed that was there before."
"You honestly didn't think I would let Duran sit behind me unprotected did you. What would happen if I had to rush him to the vet?" Duran jumped into the sidecar and lay down immediately. Natsuki mounted her bike and waited for her friend to do the same.
"I think I'll sit with Duran this time. Move over please." The canine allowed Shizuru to take all of the room while he rested on her lap in her safe embrace. The Ducati was started with a roar of life.
The fair haired woman recognized where they were but not where they were heading. It shocked her when they finally stopped it was at a small flower shop. "I want you to pick your favorite flower."
"I like those." Shizuru pointed to the small bundle violet flowers.
"Good choice, they're my favorite as well." The florist said taking the purple hydrangea out of the water pot.
"A dozen purple irises too please." Natsuki added taking out her wallet and paying.
"What are we going to do with these?" The specter asked sitting in the side car holding both bouquets.
"That's the real surprise. Don't worry it won't take to long to get there." The motorcycle started and they took off again. The poltergeist was unable to recognize any of the landmarks. She had no idea were they were heading till the stopped and read the name on the open gate. Natsuki drove right in and parked.
"What are we going at a cemetery? Are we going to visit someone you lost?" The spirit asked innocently.
"You can say that. Where is your grave?"
"Mine?"
"This is the only cemetery in this city so I'm sure you're buried here somewhere."
The ghoul turned on her heel and started walking up the path. "I can feel my body this way."
"You can feel your body?"
"It's a ghost thing." Shizuru replied nonchalantly walking ahead of her love.
Shizuru's grave was isolated from the rest. Her loved ones probably paid much more for this secluded spot. "I'll give you some time alone first." Natsuki said respectfully. The tawny haired woman nodded and walked to her grave placing her flowers at the tombstone.
A few minutes later Natsuki and Duran approached. The mechanic placed her flowers next to the phantom's. Her fingers caressed over the stone. The grave was beautiful. There were flowers all around stating that someone was coming to visit her on regular bases. The stone was polished garnet with no sign of dust or dullness. The cemetery caretaker made sure that the grass was trimmed and de-weeded. "Shizuru Fujino." She read out loud. "So that's your sir name."
The blunette paused. "I think I've head of that name somewhere." The raven haired mumbled under her breath. Eventually the words of her boyfriend's brother entered her mind. "Someone broke into her house and killed her."
"Shizuru?!" She shouted out making the possessed cook jump and look at her with confusion. The younger woman grabbed her shoulders roughly. "Who killed you?!" The spirit tensed up unable to reply. "Shizuru!"
"Let me go!" The apparition broke out of the biker's tight grasp. "I don't remember!"
"What do you mean you don't remember?! How could you not?"
"Because I don't want to remember! Would you?!" Tears started to run down Mai's cheeks as the Kyoto woman showed her emotions. The green eyed woman pulled the specter into a tight hug. A soothing hand stroke the tan haired woman's back as her body shook with sobs.
"Are you alright, Shizuru?"
"I'll be fine; I just need to get out of Mai's body now."
"What?"
"I know that Mai was willing when she lent me her body but since she's awake I can't stay in here long. Mai's body will unconsciously kick me out."
"So you can only take control if a person is asleep or out cold."
"No, if I have created a bond with that person I would be able to stay in them longer. Mai just met me so she has no trust or true friendship with me. That's why I asked for Duran to come." The pet trotted up to the ghoul knowing full well what his job was. Embracing the dog she closed her eyes and concentrated.
When the transfer was complete Duran jumped out of the embrace and sat in front of the tombstone. Mai's eyes popped opened. "Where am I?" She asked unsure of her surroundings.
"Mai?" Natsuki asked uncertainly.
"Yeah, where is Shizuru?"
"I guess she's sharing Duran's body." The dog didn't look at either of them. Figuring that the phantom wanted some more time alone Natsuki led Mai away from the grave. Very shortly later Natsuki felt a tug on her pants leg. "Are you ready to go?" The Kyoto woman sat and lifted her front paws. "I'm not going to carry you." The biker said in a deadpan voice. Unable to speak in the dog's body Shizuru let out a little whine. Natsuki's expressionless face cracked and she craved in. "Alright, alright don't be a baby."
Mai giggled as her friend picked up the pet and carried her to the Ducati. "Mai, want a ride home?"
"No." Mai said with a strong hint of sarcasm that said. 'Don't leave me in a creepy cemetery, stupid. I did you a favor after all.'
Shizuru curled up in the sidecar, at the moment she didn't care that someone else's arms were around the mechanic. They stopped in front of Mai's place where the blunette said a nice goodbye. The cook promised to call another time before Natsuki drove away. While stopped at a red light Natsuki reached down to stroke Shizuru's fur.
The ghost enjoyed her feather light caresses. Once they were home it was almost a shame to return Duran's body back to him. "Thank you for today. Words couldn't possibly explain how sweet of you it was to visit my grave."
"Think nothing of it, Shizuru."
"I know but-" The phantom was cut off by the sound of Natsuki's cell. With a quick look at the caller ID the smaller woman answered.
"Hey. Oh, yeah sure. Alright see you soon." Flipping the cell closed it was shoved back into her pocket without another care. "Now, what were you saying?"
"Nothing important." Shizuru said deliberately expressing no emotion to hide her envy. The biker could immediately tell that Shizuru was pissed and wanted an explanation that would ultimately make her worse.
"Takeda and his brother are on their way here. It's a surprise buffet dinner, either way I never turn down all you can eat free food."
"Brother?" The ghoul asked with one raise eyebrow. The spirit sounded like an over protective mother scolding her daughter on the dangers of men. She already hated Takeda now she had a brother to worry about?
"His name is Reito I think."
"Reito...?" The tan haired woman didn't like the way the name passed through her lips. She shivered it tasted like poison.
"Don't worry; I won't stay out too late." The ebony haired woman saw Duran's ears erect. Takeda's vehicle must have turned onto the street. "Later, you two." Throwing on her coat she quickly left seeing the apparition shake with anger of being ditched once more.
With her fists tightened she watched the raven haired girl run to the expensive looking car. The moment she was strapped in the dark vehicle took off. The specter had yet to stop shaking.
"Natsuki, you are in danger."
A/N: I didn't think I would post this chapter so soon. =) So review! Hey, can someone do me a favor? Can someone please email the monkeys in charge and asked them to put up "Saving Face" in the movies category. I'm not sure if I'm not getting through or if their ignoring me but I want to post my fic already.