A/N Hello again, I would like to thank you all out there who read my first story. Thank you all. For taking time to give out your reviews, thank you. I have to say that you guys really take me to cloud nine. You inspire me.

Please keep the reviews coming…

I hope you guys still enjoy reading the last few episodes.

I hope you have a good time reading…

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN MAI HIME OR THE SONG/S USED IN THESE CHAPTER

Shizuru walked with Natsuki to the parking lot of Fuuka academy. Their hands occasionally brush and the sensation was starting to send butterflies in Natsuki's stomach. The girl she liked since the first day she really laid eyes on is now with her, beside her, and this fact is sending her off to cloud nine. What she doesn't know is that the chestnut haired beside her blushes the same way she does..

Natsuki was smiling when she breaks the silence "So, Shizuru, are we going to ride your limo or my bike? Which do you prefer?"

"I told Edward not to pick me up." The brunette replied. There was something in the air. Not that it is too cold, there was just something in that afternoon atmosphere that seemed to make everything else disappear. It seemed that the only people standing in that parking lot are Natsuki and Shizuru. They look at each other as if the earth can swallow Fuuka Academy and they will still be okay.

"In that case, you'll have to hold onto me tightly." Natsuki said smiling at the crimson eyed as the other girl smiles back. After a while, Natsuki picked up the ipod from her pocket and turned it on. She gave the other earphone to Shizuru as she uses the other. She then handed the extra helmet to the other girl before making room enough for Shizuru to seat comfortably. "All set?" Natsuki asked. As the brunette at her back nodded. "You seem nervous. Are you okay?"

Shizuru takes a deep breath. Her hands were shaking and her breathing was weird.

If I Told You How I Feel About You
Would You Say The Same
And If I Wrote It In A Letter
Would You Keep It Or Throw It Away
I Never Thought I'd Feel The Way I'm Feeling Lately
When Everything You Seem To Do Just Drives Me Crazy

"So, where would you like to go? We can stroll along the town. We can eat first if you're hungry. Whatever you like is okay." Natsuki asked.

"Natsuki," Shizuru interrupted. "take me for a ride." Shizuru said. Natsuki then starts to accelerate the bike.

"Yes, Maam." Natsuki replied copying Chie's expression. As she wondered if it was just the wind or the feel of Shizuru's touch on her waist.

If You Told Me How You Feel About Me Things I Did Not Know
You Said You Fill My Heart With All Your Love Until It Overflows
I Don't Know They Way You Feel But Boy I'm Hoping
I Always Used To Hide Away But Now I'm Open

Every Waking Day You Take My Breath Away
With Every Word You Say You Take My Breath Away
You Look At Me That Way Baby Come What May
I Hope You'll Always Know
How You Take My Breath Away How You Take My Breath Away

Take My Breath Away Take My Breath Away Take My Breath Away
Every Waking Day You Take My Breath Away
Every Word You Say You Take My Breath Away
You Look At Me That Way Baby Come What May
I Hope You'll Always Know
How You Take My Breath Away How You Take My Breath Away
How You Take My Breath Away... [1]

Natsuki tried to hide the shivers as she drove. She could feel the crimson eyed breathing on her nape while Shizuru is drowning on Natsuki's clean scent.

It seems that Shizuru has forgotten her fear for motorcycles every time she's riding one with Natsuki.

They reached the destination on top of a hill. The view was breathtaking. There were white rocks big enough to be to sit on. The sight of the sea on the left side below was enticing.

Natsuki helped Shizuru off the bike.

"So, this is my hide out. I come here whenever I need some peace and quiet. Whenever I need to hide, I come up here." Natsuki said. She was tensed. 'Does she think I'm crazy for bringing her up here for a first date?'

"Wow. Everything looks great up here."

Natsuki was a bit surprised by that reaction from Shizuru 'Everything seems easy with you.' "It is. So, Shizuru, why didn't you just ask me out directly instead of using sticky notes? Not that I didn' like it. That was a cute idea."

"I want you to experience something new."

"Okay." Natsuki smiled again.

"Shizuru, do you remember my pending question? The one I asked you when we drove around the town the first day you got to class?"

"Yes. You asked about when I first saw you."

"Yeah. You said you won't tell me that day. So, I guess it's safe to tell me now, we're dating. When was the first time you really saw me, Shizuru?"

"I won't tell you today, Natsuki."

"Okay."

On a fine Saturday morning, Shizuru and Natsuki were eating at a local fast food chain. While Mai and her roommate Mikoto are walking on their way home from a supermarket.

"What will you be cooking for us later, Mai?"

"I don't know. What do you want me to cook?"

"Noodles!"

"Noodles it is." Mai smiled at Mikoto.

"Yay!" Mikoto then notices a familiar blunette sitting with another girl in one of the nearby fastfood chains ahead of her and Mai. "Mai, isn't that Natsuki sitting over there."

"Yes that's her." Mai said furrowing her brows in anger that Natsuki was sitting with Shizuru.

"She's on a date with Ms. Fujino! That's great!"

"Hey, Mikoto we're not sure. That doesn't even look like a date to me!"

"Why are you suddenly having mood swings, Mai? Isn't it great that they are going out together?"

"Why would it be great?"

"Because they look so cute, lovely actually. Look at them."

'Look lovely together my ass!' "Mikoto, I think I'm gonna be sick. Let's just go home!"

(Inside the fast food chain)

"Try the mayo. You know, I can't live without it, Shizuru." Out of happiness over eating too much mayo, Natsuki put some of it in her finger and tried to feed Shizuru.

"No. that is too generous of you but I'm fine!"

"come on, say Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

"No… I don't like ma…" before the brunette can finish her sentence, Natsuki's finger was already inside her mouth. 'I never liked mayo, Natsuki.'

The weird feeling of having her fingers inside Shizuru's mouth made Natsuki blush and stare steadily at those crimson eyes.

Shizuru held Natsuki's hand away from her face. She then wiped Natsuki's index finger using a table napkin without looking at the blunette. Natsuki thought this scene was just too endearing to watch.

"There. Your finger is clean."

"You didn't have to do that." Natsuki said gratefully.

"I wanted to."

'You wanted to?' Natsuki thought still staring at Shizuru.

Natsuki, Nao and Chie are drinking at a local bar. The place was good but not as big as Joe's. The trio really like that place to hangout. Who wouldn't if the bar owner is Joe Tokiha, uncle of their classmate Mai. Joe is a very nice gay, fun to talk to, very generous, he even gave Natsuki an electric guitar on her birthday 'cause he knew Natsuki loves music. Yet, the trio went somewhere else to hangout just because Natsuki doesn't want to go anywhere near Mai's shadow. [2]

"Dude, why did you wanna drink here instead of at Joe's?" Chie asked.

"I just think, we should try drinking somewhere else from now on." Natsuki answered. 'I know you like it there but I can't see Mai tonight. And I'm even more sorry that I can't tell you about her just yet.'

"You're being ungrateful towards the man who spent way too much money for you to get an electric guitar." Chie snapped.

"An acoustic… I gave her the acoustic guitar. And my breasts are way too pretty for anyone to think I'm a man." Nao interrupted as she goes back to her seat after going to the lady's room.

"No... I was talking about Joe's gift not yours." Chie clarified.

"Oh Okay... anyway, Chie, what happened to the ring?"

"Yeah thank you for bringing my tension back, Nao." Chie snapped at Nao before lighting another cigarette. Nao didn't seem to care about the violent reaction. Nao and Natsuki exchanged looks.

"Are you still planning to give it to Aoi?" Natsuki asked

"Of course. I'm just waiting for the right time."

"Are you scared that Aoi doesn't actually want to make a real commitment with you?" Nao asked

"NAO!" Natsuki yelled

"It's okay, dude. Actually, I am terrified. It's too early to make that kind of commitment. We're in high school. This is really STUPID." Chie answered. Natsuki patted Chie's back.

"I don't think age is the matter here. I think it really depends on how you two feel for each other." Natsuki said trying to comfort Chie.

"How's your mom doing, anyway, Nao?"

"She survived the removal of hematoma thanks to Dr. Wang."

"Oh I'm glad to hear that." Natsuki said.

"Yeah. Me too. What's the latest update about you and your Mcdreamy?" Chie asked

"We're just texting that's all."

"Just texting? Well, I'm glad you're becoming more and more of a conservative lady everyday. When will you enter nunnery?" Chie joked.

"I always knew that there's a conservative dame hiding in that skirt!" Natsuki butted in. Chie and Natsuki laughed.

"Hey, shut up! Love is not just about keeping score." Nao said as the two continued to laugh their asses off.

"Natsuki, how are you and Miss Fujino doing lately?" Chie asked.

"We're good. She's great." Natsuki answered. "And I mean, I can't imagine a better girl."

"You're better off with her than with Mai." Chie said before drinking her mug of beer.

Natsuki raised an eyebrow at Nao. "YOU TOLD HER ABOUT MAI?"

"Are you crazy ? Of course I didn't!" Nao yelled back.

"So it's true? I was just kidding." [3]

"Yes it's true. There was something between Mai and me even before she dated Yuuchi. But I'm dating Shizuru now and she's unattached, Mai is clearly just as head over hills for Yuuchi. So let's leave 'em be."

"And you guys kept this a secret from me, why?" Chie asked.

"It was complicated. Sorry, Chie."

"It's fine. Me knowing that you're side screwing my girlfriend's bestfriend complicates things. I get it." Chie answered, still obviously disappointed.

"It doesn't mean we don't trust you." Nao butted in.

"Yeah." Natsuki agreed.

"I know. Anyway, you're still hung up on Mai? What does that make Shizuru, a rebound? A revenge?" Chie asked sarcastically.

"NO!" Natsuki yelled stealing some audience attention.

"Hey, Chie, just drop it." Nao whispered trying not make Natsuki uncomfortable.

"All I'm saying is that you have to figure out who you really want, Natsuki."

Natsuki sighed. "Yeah. I know."

Shizuru was taking some of her books from the locker on another school day. She was almost done when Mai, Mikoto and Aoi entered the locker room. Shizuru just smiled politely at Aoi and Mikoto and proceeded to arranging her things inside her bag and in the locker.

"SO, AOI, DID YOU HAVE FUN TODAY?" Mai asked sarcastically aiming to steal Shizuru's attention.

"What?" Aoi asked in confusion. She then noticed that Mai's fiery eyes were looking at Shizuru.

Shizuru closes her locker ready to leave and avoid the fury of Mai. "Ladies, see you in class." Suddenly, Mai blocked her way.

"Shizuru, we have to talk." Mai said. Aoi tried to stop Mai's offensive behavior.

"Mai, what on earth are you doing?" Aoi said pulling Mai.

"Mai, is there a problem?" Mikoto asked.

"Back off, you two!" Mai yelled. Aoi and Mikoto automatically moved backwards.

"What do we need to talk about, Tokiha?" Shizuru calmly.

"Why the hell are you going out with Natsuki?" Mikoto and Aoi were both surprised with Mai's question.

"I don't see anything wrong with what Natsuki and I are doing. Do you, Tokiha?"

"Leave her alone."

"Would you mind telling me why I should do that?" Shizuru folded her arms on her chest and furrowed her brow.

"You've been acting like you're some kind of a goddess ever since you got here! You already won way too much. But you know what? Natsuki is not another thing you will win!"

"So for you this is about winning?"

"No."

"Then what is this for you? Because you don't seem to notice her true worth. What is Natsuki for you, Tokiha?"

"What? Don't you dare pretend that you know her more than I do! You just met her! And I've always been the woman of her life!" Aoi and Mikoto were equally surprised to hear those words from Mai.

"NATSUKI KUGA makes my world stop. Natsuki is strong and gentle and independent and she MAKES MY HEART BEAT FASTER with every touch! You obviously don't see her as much as I do, so I am not backing out on this."

Shizuru took off leaving everyone else speechless.

A/N: [1] music playing on the ipod- take my breath away- Emma Bunton

[2] Mai is working at her uncle Joe Tokiha's bar so although the trio really liked hanging out at Joe's bar they went somewhere else.

[3] Chie did not know about Mai and Natsuki until this night.