Hmmmm…another chapter here! For the last six hours i have been continuously working on this chapter, because someone i know msgd me today... she had this day free. So, i hope my update is on time. You know who you are...will wait for your review!
Thoughts in italics and it bears no resemblance to any living soul. If it does then…. Screw it!
Disclaimer: This is where I insult my efforts and appreciation for ShizNat by declaring that I still, I mean cummon STILL, do not own Mai Hime or anything related to it.
No Beta-reader, mistakes are mine! Apologies...
Mystical Bliss
Chapter 7: Behind Closed Doors!
A sudden punch to the abdomen caused her to choke on her own breath. She grunted and buried her face further down in the pillow.
"Good, you are finally up", Nao said and pulled away the pillow from under Natsuki.
"Nao", Natsuki wanted to growl but it came out more like a purr. Obviously the red head didn't miss it and only to further rile up the sleepyhead she cooed, "ooohhh Natsuki"!
Fortunately, or very unfortunately for her, these kind of wake up calls were not unusual. She pushed herself up and ran her hands through the unruly cobalt locks while clearing her throat. "There are other methods of waking someone up..spidey"!
"Why Nats", Nao mocked a gasp, "It is too early to be so bitter dear", she enacted some sophisticated British lady including the accent. When she knew there would be no reaction, she got up, "you have fifteen minutes. Freshen up fast and come out".
Natsuki did not want to prolong the torture so she got up and entered the washroom. Twenty minutes had passed by when she came to the hall, where a nice and warm cup of coffee was waiting on the kitchen island. She situated at the couch and turned up the television for some morning music!
Nao came in sauntering and pulled the plug out of the socket!
"Nao that's enough", she got warned.
"You have been summoned to the witch's chamber in five minutes", Nao informed.
Natsuki's anger instantly dissipated on hearing that. Her visits to the headmistress's cabin were not new but never before she had been called on the weekend. She looked at the wall clock, which was exactly five minutes away from striking ten. She didn't give it further thought. As it was a weekend, she knew that Graceburt will not question her choice of clothes. She got dressed in a pair of comfortable denim blue shorts, metallic grey tank, over it she slipped a ruffled cotton checkered shirt that she liked to keep unbuttoned and flowing. She finished tying off her favorite high-top sneakers and got up to rush out the front door. Nao saw the rushing girl checking her right back pocket for mobile which got thrown at her when she turned to get it back, "I don't want any special visit from your parents, so try not to piss off the witch", Nao suggested.
With Mai's matter still hot and Shizuru's presence at the campus, Natsuki too wanted to keep her mom and dad as far from the campus as possible. She did not pay any heed to the fact that her pace should probably be a little faster if she didn't want a lecture on punctuality from Miss Maria. "Well good luck to me", she wished herself and knocked at the door for permission.
"Come in".
Natsuki had no idea what this was all about but it didn't faze her confidence when she entered the much dreaded cabin, "Morning", she kept her tone steady and confident yet not disrespectful.
Miss Maria Graceburt only nodded her head in acknowledgement without looking up from her current paper work. The setting was familiar enough, for her too. And with the tone of that greeting she knew that Natsuki was not really worried about the matter at hand here. It seemed pretty simple from outside but the director was at an impasse.
It was pretty late last evening when Shizuru Fujino had asked to discuss something about a particular student. She would have postponed it to the coming Monday but the lecturer's body language betrayed grave fury. So, she listened to all of it, patiently. She also assured her that there will be consequences and that the act of such indiscipline couldn't possibly be overlooked. As a result, stood Natsuki Kuga, in her cabin right now.
How strange are the settlements people sometime encounter! Such was this particular case. As the director of Fuuka University she had to go to extreme lengths, quite often. One such length was to be able to get 'The Shizuru Fujino' come and work for her. To keep the arrangement viable and risk-free she had to take some action against Natsuki. On the other hand, punishing a student who belonged to one of the most influential families of Fuuka was to upset the precious lot of riches for no reason at all. She obviously did not want the funds flowing in to stop because of something this petty. So, she chose to resolve this matter attentively and carefully to keep both the sides satisfied.
"You are late Miss Kuga", Miss Maria finally put her work aside and looked at the student in front of her. Ever the confident one, Natsuki! She waited for an apology but it never came.
The young Kuga knew the importance of her family name in these sort of situations. She had encountered the director enough times to know the seriousness of a matter. Today, she was one hundred percent sure it was just out of formality. She waited for the older woman to continue and get done with it.
Miss Maria shared the same thought. "I know it's the weekend but there are a few things I wanted to discuss with you. Have a seat", she gestured the girl to take a seat where ever she saw fit.
"No thanks. I am fine", Natsuki declined unfazed by the intimidating gaze directed at her.
"An unfortunate incident regarding your friend was brought to my attention. My deepest concern goes out to her but I also need a confirmation that her issues with the austere people outside will not be carried on inside the university campus", she stopped.
The reputation of this little university was the only thing of importance for Graceburt. She wanted to feel angry but it was of no use. "No it will not. I assure you of that".
"It's in her best interest and I appreciate it. Now, there have been complaints about your in-disciplinary actions. Miss Fujino has personally asked me to involve your parents into this. This time I have managed to convince her not to go to such extremes in turn of guarantying that your actions will not go unpunished. I might not be able to stop your parents' involvement the next time Miss Kuga. Keep it in mind if you swear by disobeying your teachers in future. I have no say in this anymore; it is up to Miss Fujino to decide the course of your punishment. She should be in her office. That is all. You can leave now", Miss Maria ordered and went back to the work kept at her table.
Natsuki left without saying another word. She was grateful, in a sense, that Mai's well known association with her had been the only reason for no trouble from the benchwarmers of the university. But she also couldn't understand how a bunch of people could give the reputation of the institution much more importance than protection of one of its students! Maria's behavior was nothing new for the girl. But, right now the person occupying her mind was not so easy to read. She had had past good, bad, and bizarre interactions with this new lecturer but nothing to make any assumption on how this interaction was going to go!
Missing out on a few lectures was not a big deal but being penalized for something so trivial was. She thought Shizuru must be amongst those who couldn't tolerate anything less than perfection in everything. Well, it sure is visible from her personality…..she deduced not so kindly! She had all week been confused about how to react towards this oh-so-perfect person and currently this inability to understand herself only flared her irritation. At times she seemed nice and safe enough to put everything behind and start afresh as a student and a teacher. But at the very same time it felt like, by allowing Shizuru into her life in anyway, she would be signing the contract for own misfortune! Few more steps and she barged into Shizuru's office without knocking, looking pretty pissed off. Which she was – at herself and at the person in front of her – for no valid justifiable reason!
Shizuru had a fitful night. Often times she wondered if she had let her anger go overboard! Of course I have! She only wanted an opportunity to apologize to the younger girl, which surely could have gone simply if this particular student of her's would be a little less stubborn, for once! Though in reality, she did feel disrespected as a person and as a teacher too. Also there was this slight possibility that it had been aggravated by the dislike and disbelief of being so blatantly ignored. But, it was all done now! She hoped for some normalcy this time and finally apologize for her abrupt behavior last time. Now that she had talked to Yukino, she didn't feel so humiliated at expressing her vulnerability but she thought it was a little insensitive of her to put Natsuki in such a position when she already had too much to deal with in her own personal life. At this minute she could only hope!
The director had hinted to have her presence on the campus on Saturday, thus she was. As it was technically her day off, she went with a russet shaded comfortable pants and a perfectly snuggled white V-neck sweater. She had her hair made into a messy bun, with a few stray locks hanging graciously loose all over. With nothing to do, she continued reading the book she had on business ethics. Not two minutes later the noisy opening of her door startled her. She jerked her head upward only to see another raw display of emotion. There stood Natsuki – fists tightly clutched at sides, jaws and temples flexing, staring heatedly at her, but this time her posture, unbelievably enough, exuded certain control too!
For first few seconds Shizuru did not register what was going on! After a while she took in the younger girl's state. She knew she was being challenged to say something, do something, but she did not or rather could not! That mesmerizing dark jaded gaze faltered eventually and Natsuki moved forward. Shizuru's hold on the book tightened reflexively.
"The director told me to come see you regarding my punishment", she gruffly made her point and waited for the other woman to react.
"Oh", Shizuru uttered. The purpose for her presence today, as hinted by the director, dawned on her. She thought maybe it was for the better. She could just talk to Natsuki and resolve the matter before it got out of hand. She ever so slowly stood up and came to stand by her table. She took her own sweet time and leaned at the table, crossed her ankles, and supported her weight on both the palm heels at sides. She took a long calming breath, not that she needed it, but just to prepare herself for the unexpected reactions of her student. "You haven't attended any of my classes in the last month. Why is that", she inquired in a neutral tone.
In general sense, Natsuki was not a patient person, and right now seeing Shizuru react so slackly was getting on her nerves. Her expression changed to a boring one when she heard the question. She wasn't there to be showered with all those stupid unreasonable questions; she was there to end whatever this thing was. "Look, just tell me what I gotta do to get this over with", she shoved her hands in the front pockets and turned a little left breaking any sort of eye contact possible.
Shizuru nodded her head knowingly. She left her position and took a few steps forward. She knew getting angry was not an option here. She had to forget about her being a teacher and the girl in front of her being the student; she needed to only be a person. "Can you at least look at me when you talk", she requested, carefully taking another step forward.
Natsuki could see movement in her peripheral vision but she didn't move. Her breath hitched and her eyelids calmingly draped over her eyes when she heard that tentative voice, asking her to do the only thing scarier than Shizuru's growing proximity. She wished everything involving this certain woman was not so uncanny. She remembered the glimpse of intense uncertainty the last time she had glanced in those dangerous scarlet pools of unkempt emotions. That scene successfully brought her irritation and anger back. Before Shizuru could touch her forearm, she dashed towards the windows and stood there with her back to everything in the room. "Sh…", she stopped herself from saying her name, "just tell me why am I here".
In all honesty, it was not about disrespect or ignorance for Shizuru. It was the anxiousness of not getting the proper opportunity to talk, to explain herself, that made her act shoddily. If Natsuki was so keen on finishing this, then she would respect her wishes. So, instead of wasting time with useless efforts of reprimanding the angry young girl's behavior, she resolutely jumped to the main act. "Natsuki, I wan…", her voice faded. On hearing her name, Natsuki tilted her head and looked over her shoulder. Before she could wonder about the reason for Shizuru's nervousness, the woman cleared her throat and began, again, "I only wanted to apologize for last time…..for putting you…
Natsuki's emeralds amplified in understanding and she roughly swiveled around interrupting the hesitant woman, "No…absolutely not", she declared. Forgetting about her resolution of not making eye contact, she paced and kept her eyes in level with the crimsons. "We are not doing this", she commanded and waited for a sign of consent from Shizuru.
The shock of being commanded wore off soon but she couldn't shake off the anxiety that lingered inside her. "But I need to apo….", again she was stopped.
"I said no", Natsuki raised her voice and walked to get out of the room. In three swift long steps Shizuru was ahead of her, blocking her way. "Shizuru", she silently asked to let go off her arm.
"Natsuki", she searched those greens for some tolerance, "let me please explain".
"Let go", she warned gently. Shizuru, on the contrary, firmed her hold. Natsuki painfully clenched her jaw and huffed before jerking her hand away from the unexpectedly tight grip. The only reason for her ferocity was not being able to know why exactly she was that furious, again! She had to do something physical before she hurt herself or worse Shizuru. For now she settled with pacing.
Shizuru watched the younger girl's effort to contain herself, "Natsuki, please just…", she was interrupted, the third time.
"I said no", Natsuki didn't stop pacing, "you don't get to do everything you want okay", and she halted to look at Shizuru. "I dunno why you took this fucking job but it's not my business. Everything that happened after that, now that somehow became my business", she took a second to breathe. "I found you passed out in that freaking store room, I took you to the infirmary! I didn't freaking know that you", she with both hands was pointing at the elusive looking woman, "that you were Shizuru fucking Fujino"!
Shizuru winced at all the cursing but held back. She had been attentively listening to the outburst. She opened her mouth to cut it short but it seemed like Natsuki was determined to continue.
"Imagine the shocking surprise the moment I discovered that my new lecturer is none other than the woman I was supposed to date", she laughed sarcastically at the joke and kept her pace, "it's not a very good feeling, let me tell you". She took two long fast strides and stopped again. "And then for the first time we talked, normally, but no…. you didn't want that right? Instead you just had to go ahead and blurt out some emotional crap that you are somehow beginning to realize", last sentence came out in a very unconfident tone. Her shoulders sagged and she cursed herself for spewing the entire useless outburst just a second ago! So, finally I have lost my fucking mind! Natsuki still kept pacing and cursing herself for this moment, this day, this month and what not!
Shizuru had listened to everything but couldn't place the meaning of it all. What was Natsuki actually complaining about? Was it disapproval for taking this job? That would be understandable. Was it the displeasure of not knowing her before all this? Or was it anger over being asked some, 'emotional crap', as elegantly put by her? But even so, why would anyone be this out of control over any of it or maybe she should be asking herself if it was possible? Evidently it was, she had just watched the explosion herself, not mere ten seconds ago! Much like Natsuki, her thoughts and sentiments were haywire. Why is it always the same with you Natsuki? She had learned not to fight with herself too much, so without contemplating on it further she asked, "what are you even trying to say Natsuki"?
The person of interest slowed and stood at a spot for few seconds. She turned to look at Shizuru and felt sorry for both of them at that moment. She recognized that guise, it was the same she had. They both were tired, they had given up, expecting for some miracle that could finally contain and swallow this constant explosion that had been going on ever since the beginning. "What I am trying to say is that you shouldn't have come here", Natsuki put herself at ease. "You never should have come here", she noticed the insignificant shift of features on the person standing opposite her. She broke the exchange and searched some place where she could crawl and scream at the top of her lungs. Her eyes focused on the deformed door of the store room she had found Shizuru in, passed out and hurt, "you shouldn't have", she whispered, went to that room and closed the door behind her.
The instant Natsuki was out of her sight, Shizuru held on to the nearest object for support. After five short breaths she could grasp a full one. Those last words still echoed in her mind! So, Natsuki didn't want her here. Shouldn't be a surprise! If anything, her behavior made perfect sense now. What didn't make sense though was the rapidly overshadowing heaviness in her chest. Her right hand instinctively went to the upper left side of her chest in hopes to soothe the burning, as she would have done for some superficial wound. She went to her chair, undid her hair-bun and slumped, closed her eyes while trying to wrap her head around how differently this confrontation was supposed to go, in her opinion.
Natsuki had no intention of going out and repeating the previous events nor did she want to stay with the haunting thoughts. Without purpose she checked all her pockets and luckily found her hands-free in one of them. She pushed the buds in her ears and blasted the songs on her phone at full volume. Shizuru, on the other hand, suddenly out of exhaustion vanished into an involuntary nap at her chair itself. For an hour both of them resided peacefully in their own worlds. To preserve the basic purpose of her ears, she took out the buds and kept them and the phone in her pockets safely. She approached the door and stood by to pick up some movement from outside, but could not. She assumed that may be Shizuru was not in the office. She tried to twist the knob lightly, as to not make any sound, at first but it didn't open. She kept trying but it was stuck. Fucking perfect! Just perfect. Out of irritation, she kicked it and cursed a little loudly, "damn it". The abrupt ruckus and a familiar cursing jolted Shizuru out of her nap. It didn't take her much longer to make out what had happened. She left her seat and approached the stuck door. She knocked lightly to let the person inside know of her presence.
"It's stuck", Natsuki replied dejectedly to the light knocks. She slid down the door and sat by supporting her left side with it and kept staring, as if trying to see what was going on with Shizuru behind the closed door. "I will try again in some time".
Shizuru picked up the spent tone. "That's fine", she expected to provide some companionship there and placed herself by the door. Unknown to her, she was mirroring Natsuki! Her gaze too kept hard, at the same level that of the other girl locked in the store room. "It's okay", she repeated and they just stayed like that; unaware of the possible intimacy they could have shared at that moment, if it was not for the barricade in the middle.
"Shizuru", Natsuki uttered expectantly to see if the other woman was still there.
"Hmmmm", Shizuru hummed in response.
"Why did you take this job", she didn't know what gave her the courage to ask this but believed it was the barrier that separated her from Shizuru. She could never have asked her this if it was another in-person confrontation.
Before Shizuru could answer, a short amused laughter escaped her. "I wish I could tell you that", the truthfulness of her own statement stunned her but she continued, "but I can't". Thirty second of afterthought later she added, "at least not right now. Not with the way things are".
"Okay", Natsuki didn't object at the refusal.
"Natsuki"?
"Yeah", came a stretched response.
Five minutes of silence later it was Shizuru's audacity that had taken over her conscience, "what did you mean earlier", she asked before the innumerable neurons in her brain could stop her.
This time it was Natsuki's turn to get amused. "You weren't supposed to be here. You weren't supposed to be anywhere near me, much less - out of the blue - become my lecturer, and most of all you are so not supposed to be the only person I can think about", this time she laughed at the absurdity of it all, "you were just supposed to be an inexplicably beautiful and unfathomably outlandish person that I encountered by chance", she heard a slight humming from the person at the other side, "nothing more, nothing less".
The memory of their first meeting prompted Shizuru to react with a tease but she buried the temptation. She chose not to say anything. Natsuki didn't wait for any response and got up to try to open the door again, but to her delight this time it opened the first time without any effort. Shizuru was deep in her mind when unexpectedly her support disappeared hastily, making her fall on her back with full force.
"Whoa…hey", Natsuki had just pulled the door open when something, or rather someone, came falling at her feet. She mechanically took two steps back. When the movement stopped, there Shizuru lay on her back dumbfounded staring at her. They blinked in sync. The corners of Natsuki's lips had already started broadening, "you okay", and she enquired while controlling her full blown oncoming burst of laughter.
The voice broke Shizuru's stupor and she winced with the after effects of her fall. "Umm…ouch! A little warning would be appreciated the next time", she lifted her right hand and slightly caressed the right side of her head – which was more affected due to her sitting position!
Natsuki just burst out laughing! Shizuru was taken aback with the mere force the younger girl's body was shaking! Of course the situation was funny, she was smiling too. She didn't make any effort to get up; instead she kept watching the bent over girl laughing without control. That sweet sound was the best composition she had ever heard, that sight was nothing like anything she had witnessed before. The beauty was so astonishing that she lay there continued watching and waited till the girl started coming down of her high. Natsuki was holding her stomach and dropped down on her knees facing Shizuru, "I..uh", she tried to breath, "I am so sorry"! She wiped her eyes out and still the remnants of laugh kept escaping her. Fuck…I haven't laughed like this since forever now! Her slightly glassy gaze casually ran over the figure lying beside her. She took her time to notice the chestnut hair brilliantly spread out like a bright halo, the stunning spark in those addicting cherry orbs, the slight shrunken smile of those tempting pink pair of lips, and the radiance her flawless skin emitted. It was all oddly comforting and dangerously inviting. She noticed the fading mark at the right corner of Shizuru's forehead. Her left hand without permission lifted itself and placed it on Shizuru's head. Her thumb traced the mark over and over. Shizuru was confused but the feeling of being looked at with such care was too good to pass away. She closed her eyes for a second to savor it all. She found a pair of brilliant emeralds searching for her when she opened them. "I am sorry for yelling at you earlier", Natsuki said and broke away the contact but kept her hands at the same position.
"I am sorry too", Shizuru responded, "for everything".
Natsuki's motions became a little brave. She lovingly removed every stray hair from Shizuru's forehead and kept her palm half on the hair and half on the forehead. Her thumb was now caressing the space between those perfect eyebrows. Her eyes were blankly focusing on her hand's movements, "why are the things the way they are", she whispered.
Shizuru didn't know how to answer to something that she too had no idea about. She had a sad smile and helplessness frankly poured out of her – at one time too proud and hard – crimsons. She brought her left hand on top of Natsuki's to bring her back from wherever she was in her mind. Their fingers lightly intertwined and Natsuki stopped her motions. She too smiled sadly at Shizuru and started pulling her hand free. Without another word she slowly stood up walked out of the office. If there was any chance of forgetting the last two hours that had taken place with Shizuru, she needed to be too tired to function. With that thought in the mind, she sprinted to the open field and started out on first of many coming laps.
Shizuru stayed lying on the floor and kept thinking about the eccentricity she shared with Natsuki every single time. There was a scary comfort level that ignited the conscious, ever-doubting scruples resulting in the hot and cold reactions from both of them. No wonder trying to talk normally was an extremely exhausting investment and a risky one at that!
Ten relentless laps later, a sweat drenched Natsuki made her way to Mai's dorm room. On the sound of her front door being opened, Mai came to the hall. She wanted to ask what the reason for this girl's current state was but right now she had planned for a more important matter. She approached the tired girl, helped her get in the bedroom and threw her on the bed. She went to the kitchen and brought back a bottle of water with her. She placed it on the bedside table and bent over the resting girl, "sort out your differences or no dinner tonight", she instructed. On her way out she carefully closed - the upper, the main, and the bottom – all the latches from outside. Natsuki didn't comprehend at first. She heard movement from the washroom, indicating somebody else's presence. Mai's sentence replayed in her mind and she understood the logic, "Noooo I am too tired for this Mai", she wailed and put all her left over energy in hollering the auburn haired girl's name in the end.
"Can you for once speak normally", came out Aoi from the washroom looking irritated. She tried pulling the door twice but it didn't open up. She furrowed her brows and pulled again, harder. "What the heck", she hissed, "Mai", she called out while pounding the door heavily.
"Start talking you two or I will keep you both in there as long as I have to", Mai shouted back from the kitchen.
"Damn it", Aoi cussed and pounded the door the last time before sliding against it. She had no intention of staying locked in with Natsuki nor was she ready to apologize. So, silence was the wise choice for both of them. Forty five minutes passed like that and she was feeling thirsty. Natsuki had a half filled bottle she was playing catch-catch with. Unwillingly enough she had to ask for it, "can you pass me that"? Natsuki didn't acknowledge it and continued her little game. "I am thirsty", Aoi stated passively.
Natsuki sat up and held up the bottle in her right hand. With a raised eyebrow and a slight tilt of head she confirmed if Aoi was asking for the bottle and got an eager positive nod in turn. "First say you are sorry", she put forward her condition.
"What for"?
"For what you did of course"!
"I didn't do anything wrong", Aoi defended, "and I will have you know it was all Mai's wish! I shouldn't have to be sorry for keeping a promise I made to my friend", she reasoned.
"How can you fucking say that", Natsuki was standing now hovering over Aoi, "you did see what happened to her because of your bullshit promise"!
"I didn't want that", Aoi said meekly. It was a two way road back then. If she had told her friends then Mai would have a hard time trusting her in future and when she did keep her promise, the consequences were worse than she had feared for. It didn't matter if Natsuki blamed her or not, hell she solely blamed herself for everything! She got up and without another word threw herself on the bed. Natsuki kept watching - puzzled! She finally blinked when she heard hushed sobs and saw the other girl's body quietly shaking, "I really didn't want her to get hurt", Aoi muffled out into the pillow, her voice crushed with guilt.
Natsuki had no idea how to comfort Aoi. She never meant for her to feel so badly. Of course, it was a bad call on her part but her intentions were never to make her friends suffer. This kind of stuff is never under anybody's control. She didn't say anything and took the space beside Aoi. She let the sad girl vent out some of her guilt. Few minutes later when the sobs dried down, a rather stupid and childish thought popped in her head. She couldn't help but voice it, "do you think grown-ups are capable of making those snot-bubbles that babies make when they cry", Natsuki's genuine curiosity was dubious enough to make Aoi stare at her incredulously. Feeling the gaze she turned to her left and raised her eyebrows in question. She didn't speak anything but soon she could see Aoi's lips twitch. They both knew they were imagining the same thing…..some adult crying with snot-bubbles popping out of the nostrils, it didn't take another second for them to make an 'ewwwww' face and crack out laughing. It went on for next twenty minutes – they would stop, turn to each other, and crackle again and again! They caught up on the previous weeks' stuff, discussed the coming weekend or special plans before falling into a comfortable silence.
"You think it's a good idea", Natsuki expressed her concern over Aoi's surprise gift for her girlfriend on her soon approaching birthday.
"You don't", Aoi blankly deduced. She didn't think it was that big of an issue. Granted, the gift was a little pricy but what was the concern? They had been together for more than three years now, surely she could serenade her lover with a shiny and expensive four wheeler that she had always seen Chie drooling over!
Natsuki didn't say anything. Moments later, with a clear thread of thoughts, she began carefully, "money is a bitch. Be sensible about how much you want your relationship to revolve around it", knowing she was treading dangerous territory.
"Wow", Aoi snickered thinking it was joke. On no further voice of opinion from the cobalt haired girl she let her mind run a mile a minute. At some level she conceded that Natsuki knew Chie better, still! She kept prodding her brain for some recent arguments between them regarding money matters but there was none. Actually, they had never really talked much about this particular topic. In fact, now that she was thinking hard, she realized Chie always either dodged or changed the topics pertaining to money! "Huh", she mumbled knowingly. But why? "She say something to you"?
Natsuki shook her head sideways to indicate 'no'. "You know when two people are too much in love, they sometimes stop noticing the small-small things about each other", she struggled to make her point without offending the slightly worried girl, "with me she doesn't have to say anything, I just know. But, with you, she will definitely feel too apprehensive to bring up something like this. Also, it doesn't help that you are literally lost in her most of the time", she overstressed the last part with a slight hint of tease. "She is too proud to even acknowledge her insecurities regarding you and this relationship". She herself came from family money, she fully understood the repercussions. She had experienced it first hand! Also, it didn't make matters easy that the sick society had always been too adamant on differentiating or classifying people based on their lavish living and middle-class living. This practice, though old-school, still held its evil roots deep within too many people.
Aoi, much like herself had an incessant amount of money attached to her name, being the only daughter of a rich, world-renowned, and multiple award winning novelist - Anya Senoh! Chie on the other hand had to grow up watching her single mother work hard, day and night, to raise her and her two younger brothers. The only reason she had gone to college, rejecting the job offer as a temporary photographer in local magazine, was because she had scored a full scholarship on tuition fees. On her girlfriend's insistence she had agreed to apply for Masters with her friends. With much reluctance she had also agreed to let Aoi's mother take care of her study and living expenses during these two years. It had been going on pretty smoothly, if she had to say so herself, but right now on Natsuki's insinuation she felt that may be she really hadn't paid much attention on how Chie might have been feeling about this arrangement. She would absolutely hate herself if she, in anyway, had been a reason behind hurting her sweet lover's pride and dignity!
"Don't strain your little brain too much", Natsuki elbowed Aoi when she saw her thinking hard. "The only thing you can do is let her know that you are there whenever she wants to talk", she assured. The other girl only hummed in agreement; nevertheless, in no way it was so easy to rid your mind of dreadful thoughts after tackling such a big revelation!
By now they had forgotten that they were locked inside the room for a purpose. Neither got up or hollered Mai to open the door from outside. Aoi was busy thinking back to anything at all that she might have accidentally done to aggravate Chie's insecurities.
It was close to six in the evening when Nao, for the first time that day, decided to show her face to her friends. Natsuki had not come back yet. She wanted the details of her friends encounter with the witch. Instead of being restless and antsy, she tried her luck by going to Mai's room. It was dead silent. She went in to further examine the occupant's presence when she saw Mai happily preparing something in the kitchen while humming to herself some romantic sap song. Making an irritated face at the choice of the song she went in, "is Nats back yet".
Mai got a little startled but thankfully didn't drop the bowl! "I locked her in with Aoi", she simply said and went back to her work. Nao knew of Mai's strange routine to let people communicate and sort out their shit, she herself had been the victim most of the time! She hummed and was going to go back to her own room when she heard a loud laughter coming from the locked room. She excitedly became the audience of something she knew would come in handy later on for entertainment purposes. She moved when it quieted down, with a potential plot for a drama she hopped to Chie's room. She opened the door to the couple's apartment and called out, "yo four-eyes"!
"In here", Chie replied back from the balcony where she was comfortably sitting on the floor. The parts and equipments of both her cameras – her most precious material possessions – were laid out. She was giving them the weekly care they deserved. "What's up", she acknowledged Nao while she fixed back the Nikon F-3 with blinding ease without looking! It was an antique in true sense - the best there could ever be from the 80's. She then lifted the new looking Nikon D600 – Natsuki's gift from last birthday - and set this back. She still was arranging money to buy a few amazing lenses for this camera. She lovingly packed them both in their respective bags and put it aside. She turned to look at the red head while stretching her legs and situating herself by the railing.
Nao, for her plan to succeed, needed Chie's full focus. So she waited for her to be done. "I have a question for you".
"Shoot".
"What do you think could happen when two girls are behind a closed door for hours", Nao smirked noticing the other girls expression.
She kept smiling for a few seconds and thought of playing along. "are they hot", she asked one of many coming questions.
It was exactly how the red head predicted. Some other time she would have let this extend but right now she needed to reel everything in and just skip to the end. "they are hot, sexy, gorgeous…they are everything that you can think of", Chie's features became more dreamy, "they are into women, they are even on the same bed and…"
The other short haired girl blinked at the sudden end of information, "and"?
"And they are both filthy fucking rich", red head vixen gave the final blow!
Chie's wonderland shattered as soon as she heard it. She creased her brows in confusion. She caught Nao's gaze, her face a little serious now, "what does that have to do with anything"?
Gotcha! Nao mentally patted herself on the back. "Well lets see", she started counting her fingers with what she said, "rich, spoiled, sexy, gay or bi, one bed", she feigned innocence, "I just think that shit happens fast when there are more things in common. Don't you"?
Chie by now had gotten the drift that this was so not random. And Nao rarely did random – there had to be a pretty fucking twisted reason behind everything this red headed bitch did or said! She got up on her feet and narrowed her eyes, "what is this about"?
"Nothing, am just saying", Nao tried to divert, purposely. Chie didn't say another word and kept staring at her. "Okay! Aoi and Nats have been behind closed door for way too long", Chie's eyes broadened at the undertone and she was just about to take the first step to get to Mai's where she had left Aoi, "and I may have heard them bonding over money matters", she stressed the last two words and finished. Mere two seconds later Chie stormed into Mai's place. Her stance faltered with every step she took towards the bolted door. She dreaded something she knew was not ever possible. But why? She inhaled deeply and parted the door slightly. Aoi was lying on her back with a thoughtful look on her face and Natsuki was peeping through the bottle at the ceiling. She exhaled noisily alerting the others of her presence. "Hey", she greeted weakly and cursed her mind that went too far.
Before Aoi could jump into her girlfriend's embrace, Nao came rushing in, "aaawwww man, you both are still clothed", she expressed her disappointment. Chie's jaw tightened but she didn't say anything. Natsuki only huffed and nudged Aoi with shoulder to get out of the bed. "Well then it's safe to say that Aoi's mom will be definitely disappointed! Her daughter couldn't even score a Kuga.."
She hadn't even finished the sentence properly when a hard punch slammed across her face. She straightened herself, not too surprised. She wiped the blood from her torn lips, "damn it! Weren't you supposed to hit Natsuki", she indicted Chie who seemed unbelievably calm for someone so angry.
Chie brushed her shaking hands through her hair a few times. "I am sorry", she said to no one in particular, "I need some air. I will see you guys at dinner", she backed away without wasting another second.
Aoi disgustingly shook her head at Nao. She knew what Chie's last sentence meant. "If I see her smoking again I swear I will kill her myself", she was about to follow but the tight hold on her wrist didn't let her go. She looked at the owner of those hands questioningly and only received a low 'don't' from her. She understood and nodded. Her wrist was free now. She turned and hugged Natsuki warmly, an embrace that was returned earnestly. Aoi whispered a 'thanks' and something else in her ear and went to the kitchen to help Mai with anything.
When Aoi was out of earshot, Natsuki dismissively glared at Nao, "you know there are other ways of showing your concern over something", she knew why Nao had done all that.
Nao sneered, "yeah well, I don't do emo talks".
"Where are…", Natsuki got cut off when Nao threw the answer to the predictable question over her shoulder, "don't worry I will be back before dinner starts"! Honestly, the drama never fucking ends! There was another thing that she had to take care of tonight itself after dinner. She only wished that would not bring out extra amount of drama and sap in her life!
Shizuru knew she would never have gotten up from that floor if it wasn't for Youko's reminder call about the dinner at Mai's place. She showered and dressed in her impressive casuals for this dinner. It was the first informal gathering of her teaching tenure and she didn't want to go empty handed. Thanks to her colleague's call, she had had the time to prepare enough 'Green Tea Ice Cream'! A knock on her door indicated that Youko had arrived. She opened the door but before greeting she compared their attire to confirm if her choice of clothing was appropriate enough. "Hello, I will just be a minute", she said and went to get the ice cream out of the freezer. The distance to the dorm was hardly a minute. Youko looked at what Shizuru was holding, "you made that", she asked with disbelief. Shizuru only nodded. "Wow, keep it up and you will have your weekend dinners with that delinquent lot", the nurse jested. When they reached Mai's door, Shizuru noticed that the other woman was not empty handed. She had a bottle of chardonnay in her right hand. Even though most of the masters' course students were above the mandatory age for alcohol consumption, it was strange for her to see a teacher bring wine to a student's get together dinner!
"Hey", Mai greeted Youko as always, "umm hello Miss Fujino", she hesitantly smiled at Shizuru.
"Shizuru", she reminded the girl and smiled back while giving her the ice cream to be kept in the freezer. She noticed that Chie and Natsuki were not yet there. They all had gathered around on the living room couch and during the half an hour of undisturbed chit-chat, Shizuru, surprisingly never felt left out. She also noticed that Youko had become more relaxed with them after two glasses of wine.
Aoi had gone back to her room to take out a bottle of red wine from her expensive stash. Her mom always insisted on keeping some good beverage with her. She also often said that liquid courage, when needed, helped writers be a lot more candid and uninhibited. As she entered, she saw Chie standing in the balcony, looking over the campus uninterestedly! She neared, her suspicions became true. She could see two cigarette butts on the floor. It wasn't the right time though. She hugged Chie from back and pressed herself impossibly closer into her. She nuzzled her nose in her neck and breathed deeply. The scent was enough to make her hazy. Her soft charcoal hair brushed along Aoi's forehead. She wanted to do something to bring her back. She nibbled on Chie's left earlobe and pulled. She felt her girlfriend's hand on her hips trying to pull her in, as if wanting to meld them in one. "I love you", she hushed into her heated ear. Chie turned and pulled her into a passionate kiss. "I love you so much. Please don't ever forget that", Aoi repeated. A few light pecks later, they picked up two bottle of Pinot Noir from her stash and walked to Mai's room, hand in hand! Natsuki too came rushing behind them. She avoided any contact with Shizuru, not willingly though, and the involvement of other people in the room made it pretty easy. Shizuru too had picked up on her behavior and decided it was fair not to let their dynamic relationship ruin this dinner for everybody else.
After eating, they were all 'oohing' and 'aahing' at the new end of fall collection over the television displayed in some fashion week. Natsuki pulled Nao aside by the kitchen, "We are leaving. Parking lot, fifteen minutes! I know where that bastard Tate is".
"Oookaayy but who told you"?
"Aoi", Natsuki smiled. That time with 'thanks' she had told her the place where he was getting together with some punks for a poker game. She didn't want to wait another hour or day to get to him. She was sane enough not to challenge him, though she wanted to once warn him off personally. And that's what she intended to do today. Nao motioned between them and put two fingers out with a questioning brow raised. "I only want to talk to him…if he doesn't back off then I will get the help from anywhere I can".
"Hey", Nao bunched Natsuki's t-shirt to prevent her from leaving, "I am taking my Audi", she informed made her way out of the apartment.
Shizuru had gone to get herself her third glass of wine that night. She was immensely enjoying herself, though she wasn't personally taking part in most of the activities and games. She was putting the cork back when she heard a very familiar hushed voice coming from nearby. She was about to move forward when she heard the name she had learnt from Youko in the past days. The name of the person responsible for Mai's unfortunate incident. She knew it was no less than eavesdropping but she couldn't have made her company known. After coming out of there, she kept an eye on Natsuki's movements. The other girl, Nao, was already out of sight and nobody seemed aware of it. Natsuki had started fidgeting and looking for possible escape, she noted. She excused herself again and went back to the kitchen to look for an opportunity to talk to this restless person. She paced a few times, thinking on how to approach this subject with Natsuki. She peeked through the kitchen once and the person in question was stealthily slipping from the front door. She looked around herself hurriedly to see something of use. There on the fridge she saw a tiny notepad kept with a pen tucked into it. An idea crossed her mind and she scribbled something down in it and tore out the page. Without acknowledging anyone else, she too stepped out and went downstairs to the parking lot. She didn't know what or which vehicle belonged to Natsuki, so she stood by the far end of it and waited. Two minutes and the younger girl came in view, approaching her Ducati. Shizuru attempted to not make any sound while approaching the girl. Natsuki took out the helmet and was about to put it on when she heard a cautious voice utter her name. She turned around and smiled, "how is your head"?
Shizuru could have smiled back genuinely if the situation was different. "I remember who I am. So, I don't think I sustained any major injuries", she tried to make a joke while taking a few more steps to decrease the distance between them.
Natsuki knew her mind was somewhere else. She stood still when Shizuru came mere inches away from her. "Natsuki, I can't answer your question yet. All I know is that for some unknown reason I care deeply", she kept looking in those intimidating greens with conviction, "I care about you, a lot".
Natsuki felt something being thrusted into her jacket's front pocket. She brought her hand to take it but was stopped by Shizuru's hand. She saw something familiar to fear in those crimsons before it shut down. She felt the presence nearing more and then next minute a warm voice washed over her left ear, "please don't use it". The warmth backed up and the hand over her's squeezed once before letting go. "Be safe", Shizuru appealed before turning and leaving the happily confused girl behind. Her hand was still mid-way to her pocket. She pulled out the piece of paper. Unfolded it. " My number - 824 759 6352 Shizuru Fujino". She understood the 'Be Safe' and 'Please don't use it' part! She didn't give 'why' and 'how' much thought. She felt happy, simply happy. She shoved the paper carefully in her front right jeans pocket and put her helmet on. The distinctive horn of Nao's car made her scowl. She started her bike, closed her eyes and visualized Shizuru standing by the open window in the infirmary two weeks ago. She smiled slightly. I will try my best. She made a silent promise and roared through the parking lot. She leveled Nao at record speed. She wanted to end this all as fast as possible and come back to the campus, come back to her friends, come back to ….Shizuru?
Like it or hate it?
Hey, did anyone get why i titled this chapter -"Behind Closed Doors"?
A clarification here- I think people were expecting some big scene from that dinner I mentioned in the last two chapters. But I am truly sorry, it was mere reminder for myself. It was only supposed to be a logical explanation for Shizuru's involvement in Natsuki's actions. That is all!
How was the ShizNat scene? Did i do justice or not?
I have hidden a slight, minute hint about the reason behind Natsuki's past in this chapter, I will dedicate the next chappie to those who can catch it! Try…. And have fun!
How was the Chie and Aoi' plot? Do comment of that. I would have posted this chappie earlier but I was kinda stuck with this part….so a few words of encouragement…..do I get?
Oh and do you hate Nao or just can't help loving her?
Lastly some acknowledgements to my readers:
Hey xHungryMindx:- Glad you think so! Hope you keep reading and reviewing. Thank You.
WonderfulNight:-You gave one of the most amazing reviews I got for my story, so thanks a ton. I believe the reviews and attention will pick up if people think of this as time-worthy, till then I am happy with what I have got.
Platina GF:-Hey thanks for reviewing my stories. My second ShizNat fic will have to wait for now, so you will have to make do with this serious one. Glad to know you enjoy and hope you keep enjoying it. Thanks.
LazyToLogIn:-Thank you but this time –if internet is not a bitch- I look forward to a longer review from you. Okay? Thanks.
Also, guests who are reviewing, following, or favorite-ing(not a word i know, but you get my point) my fic… thank you for your time. I would love to personally but apparently you guys don't wanna give me a proper chance to thank you all. PMs and suggestions are most welcome.
Thank You Again!
Anamika. K
Ciao... Until later!
Note:- I realize this is late but i had to add this after getting a review that figuratively blew my mind! Everyone who is confused or not happy about the ShizNat behavior please read PostoronnimV's review on this chapter...(surprisingly and gladly for me) she understands this story exactly the way i want my readers to. So, please don't mind me reverting you to this amazing review!
A special thanks to PostoronnimV for the encouraging words. It really meant the world to me...And i am so dedicating my next chappie to you - even though you couldn't find that clue about Natsuki's past!