Chapter Seven

"Okay, next!" Natsuki was getting annoyed at the little creativity her class held. She's heard at least four 'roses are red' poems from the ten students that had just presented. She couldn't really deduct points for their lack of creativity, as much as she would love to, but this wasn't a creative writing class. She held hope for the rest of her students. Please, at least one that would sweep me away! Please? She yelled in her head.

She looked down her roll sheet and saw that Fujino was next. She couldn't let her go next, since she was almost at the beginning of the sheet. She had a feeling that if Shizuru went next that the rest of the class would feel discouraged. I should have given a stricter prompt. Natsuki mentally slapped herself.

Natsuki called out the next student after Shizuru. The chestnut haired girl looked around confused, among some other students. She was sure that she was supposed to be next. She was prepped and ready to do so. But her name continued to be uncalled. She stared at the teacher in utter confusion, but her confused state stopped when the last student presented. But what was left was speculation.

"Ok, Ms. Fujino, you're up." Her crimson eyes stared at the teacher with light thoughts as to her reasoning for making her go last. She was sure of the possible answer, that her teacher expected to hear something grand from her and to go last to not embarrass her classmates.

She had to agree, if that was her teacher's reasoning. Her classmates' poems didn't delve into a whole other world. There was no depth. No substance. But Shizuru was no poet. But what she for sure was, was someone who enjoyed a little teasing.

She bowed to her teacher as she stood in front of her desk and the class.

"Where's your poem?" Her teacher whispered to her. She simply gave her a trustful smile. She had recited this poem over and over in her head. Whenever she makes a speech or has to present something, she makes sure she doesn't have a piece of paper in her hand. To her, it seemed rather unprofessional.

She closed her eyes and started to speak:

"Your love for me is a blanket of snow-
Unstirred and stagnate, it dwells.
But my own is an abundant flow-
Raging at its harbor, it swells.

Your love is still in the wintery cold;
Unearthed and stowed away in the dark.
My love will never hither, even when we're old.
It's so fierce, that one day it will send you a spark.
And I hope that day it will begin,
Your very first day of spring."

She opened her eyes to meet clapping hands and excited fan girls screaming her name and their unrequited love. She gave them a polite smile and turned toward her teacher who had an expressionless face. Nothing could have been read from her facial features. There was no hint in sight, even her eyes. They just seemed focused. What is she thinking?

Her teacher was simply analyzing her poem. It wasn't too in-depth as she thought it would have. She actually thought Shizuru would talk about some metaphysical idea or something really abstract like religion or what lay beyond the universe. But she talked of love. Love, in a sense, is abstract. It's a thought, feeling, an air. It can be anything and everything, like hope. But it can be simple as well.

"Fujino, can you talk to me after class?"

The student nodded and walked back to her seat. Natsuki gave out her generalized thoughts and spoke about the lack of creativity the class held, but said how she wouldn't necessarily penalize them. It was half her fault anyway. She should have had guidelines.

When the class bell rang, the student council president walked to her teacher's desk with everything in hand. "You know Ms. Kuga, if you keep asking to see me after class, some of the other students might think you're showing me favoritism… or maybe something else." She flirtatiously noted.

Natsuki gave her a flat expression. "Fujino, I would expect you to not talk to your teacher like that." She was really getting tired of hearing about that. She understood that the teacher she was replacing got fired for that. I'm not dumb! I got the first warning!

Shizuru changed her entire attitude. She was really confused. She thought her light teasing was okay with her teacher. "I'm sorry, Ms. Kuga. What is it you asked to speak to me about?" She regained her professional façade. Ara… too bad. My fun has been cut rather short. Maybe I'll try again later? Yes. That seems like a good idea.

Her teacher started, "It's about your poem."

"Ara, was it not up to your expectations?" Expectations… ara, of course. It's all about that.

"Uhhh, not necessarily. Your poem's structure and choice of words were up to par, if anything. But I was just wondering, why did you choose that topic?"

"One-sided love is highly common, don't you agree?" Her teacher perked up her eyebrows. "More people can relate to it, especially this class, no? If that's all, have a good day, Ms. Kuga. I'll see you at the dance." She answered quickly and bowed and left her alone.

"Was it something I said?" Natsuki asked out loud to the empty room.


Natsuki decided to observe her surroundings as Mai was preparing their meal. The day of the dance finally arrived. She was surprised that the student council was able to set up everything so fast, but she did recall Midori saying how they had "mysterious powers." Natsuki wasn't going to agree with that statement. She believed that anything can be done if there was focus. She reasoned the student council were hard working students. If anything, more students should be like them. Then again, she thought of how she never met the rest of the people on the council. But she pushed the thought aside due to its triviality as she continued to look around Mai's house.

Natsuki had arrived earlier than Mai had expected, which was the time they agreed on. Mai figured that Natsuki was the fashionably-late type of person. She presumed this assumption came from her attitude and her attire. But she put that judgment aside.

Mai's place was decorated as if a professional decorator came and done the place up. Mai admitted to selecting everything herself. The vibe from the place was warm and inviting. There were earth tones with a dash of dark orange and burgundy around. The kitchen was modern looking with wooden accents. A clash of stainless steel and wood. All of her appliances, including entertainment systems, were up-to-date, which made Natsuki wonder how Mai could afford the upscale customized look.

"I own a restaurant." Mai simply said as if it wasn't a big deal.

Natsuki propped a brow. She was wondering if her staring was that obvious. "Really? Which one?"

"Sunrise." She stirred the noodles. Mai decided to cook an Italian feast because Yohko-san said Natsuki missed Italian and American food. Mai understood the American food, but not the Italian. Then Yohko-san said that Natsuki lived in New York and hung out with many Italians.

Natsuki stopped in her tracks. "No way!"

"Yes way, why?" Mai didn't bother to look up; she knew what was coming.

"That's the best restaurant around here! Everyone knows that, Mai." Natsuki continued to investigate the two bedroom house. It held so much of a home, but it felt empty at the same time. Mai needs a dog.

As she looked into the other bedroom, she knew it couldn't possibly be Mai's. There was so much clutter. Natsuki inferred that it must have been a room in renovation for a guest.

"How do you know that? You just recently moved, yes?" Mai poked a hole in the blunette's reasoning. She smiled at her cleverness thinking she got Natsuki cornered.

"Yah, but I went there the other day for food with Yohko-san," she paused, "it was really good. I heard the owner is the chef as well. I'm really surprised of your abilities Mai."

Mai tried hiding her blush immersing herself in the cooking. "Thanks Natsuki." The silenced eased on till Mai served the food. Natsuki was wide-eyed at the delights in front of her: classic spaghetti with meat ball sauce, penne ala vodka, and four chicken paninis with mayonnaise on the side. Mai could not understand how anyone would love mayonnaise, but Yohko-san explicitly said to include mayonnaise on the side, no matter what. She was in utter disbelief that Natsuki could love this fattening condiment.

"Mai, this looks delicious!" Natsuki was holding herself back, trying not to be such a dog. She maintained her mannerisms waiting for the cue to dig in.

Mai looked at her with a smile. She's so cute. "Well eat up."

After finishing the delicious dinner, it was time for Natsuki to leave. The two stood under the doorframe. "Thanks, Mai, for the dinner." Natsuki said in a sincere tone as she stood outside the house.

Mai smiled. "Anytime, Natsuki. You're always welcomed here." They smiled to each other. "I'll see you at the dance." Natsuki waved off.

Natsuki's face instantly turned into worry. She had completely forgotten what to wear for the dance and it was going to start in an hour. Crap. There is no way I'm going to find a costume in time… Then she looked down at her seat compartment. Am I really going to have to resort to this? She took a second to rethink of all the possibilities. Fuck.

Back inside Mai's house, Mai was on the phone, "Where are you?"

A younger voice responded, "Why do you care?"

Mai sighed. "I'm just wondering. I'll be leaving for the dance in a few minutes. Are you coming?"

"I'll get there by myself."

"Are you sure-?" The line cut off. That girl. Mai mentally tsked to herself.


The dance was held in a private country club's ballroom that oversaw a lake view. It was thirty minutes till the students were allowed inside. Most of the teachers were already there helping with the last minute things and getting assigned their locations and tasks. Haruka and Yukino had been there for a few hours setting up the place with a group of students. They were dressed in princess outfits, much to Haruka's dismay of wanting to wear a knight suit.

"Yukino, why do I have to wear," she tugged at the dress, "this?"

Yukino turned to look over the older girl and smiled. "Because it makes you look pretty."

"But I wanted a sword and cape! That way I could spread my presence as ruler of this school!" Haruka could have had fired eyes at that moment. The mousey girl looked at the older girl helplessly. She sighed and kept to herself as she continued with the last of the errands.

"By the way," Haruka paused, "where's that bubuzuke? She's supposed to help too!"

Yukino fixed her glasses. "Fujino-san called a few hours earlier saying that she wouldn't be able to make it in time to help."

"Why?"

"She said she had more pressing matters that required her attention." Both the girls looked at each other puzzled as to what she always had to do that was more important than the dance.

At that same moment, Shizuru was debating on which costume to wear. She was holding up a kimono and commented, "This is very suitable for my position, but… it's not nearly as attracting as…" she held up a black long dress that held a low cleavage neck and fake fangs, "this." Then she looked at her hidden drawer that held many other costume outfits from previous events. "Ara, there's simply too many choices!"

The dance was about to start and lime eyes scanned around the crowd of adolescents outside. Where is she? She thought ignoring the sparkling calm waters behind the distracting view.

The giant doors opened for the students to slowly file in. Music bombarded the walls. Decorations of the typical Halloween colors clung onto the bare walls. Strobe and other club lights surrounded the marble ballroom. Nao took one last view and followed the group of students. "Are you looking for someone, Nao-san?" She looked at who spoke. A girl with short brown hair in an angel costume filled her view.

"Shouldn't you be with your boyfriend, Akane-san?" Nao responded with a smirk. Her classmate was always found fraternizing with a college student on the outskirts of campus. She could say this girl was a friend. That title alone held more meaning than it would to any other person.

"No," she said sadly, "He has his own party to go to."

"By the way, Akane, I think that costume really doesn't suit you." Nao said with a winky tongue face. Akane blushed heavily. Nao knew almost every secret around the school, almost as much as Harada Chie. She had to keep herself busy and have the upper hand. She just had to.

"Excuse me!" Nao's ears perked up. She searched for the owner of the voice, but not too drastically for Akane to take notice. She didn't want anyone to know her secrets. Secrets are peoples' weaknesses. And Kuga Natsuki is one of them. She caught a mere glimpse of her blunette hair. She was yearning to follow her. She had something she wanted to know, no, not to know, to learn from the older girl. Something about Kuga resided in the back of Nao's mind. Something that she could not break free of. She wanted to learn how to get her off her mind.

Akane grabbed Nao's wrist. "Come on, Nao-san, let's go get a drink." The angel guided the little red devil away from the teacher.

Natsuki wasn't sure what she was supposed to be doing. She was an hour late from what time she was told to show up. She was looking for any of her co-workers, or even Fujino, to guide her in her responsibilities. But she couldn't recognize anyone. Not even people at the buffet tables looked familiar! She was sure there would have been a guard at the punchbowls, at least.

She sighed to herself feeling completely helpless as she stood in her leather motorcycle one piece outfit in the middle of the dance floor.

A metal hand held onto her shoulder and dispersed all her worries. She turned around and met eye-to-eye with a white knight. She was surprised at the color of the full suit. It was a light hue of silver that it really appeared white, at least when the different colored lights didn't shine on it. They were almost the same height as each other, but the knight was slightly taller than her. The knight didn't seem to have a fake sword with him. But he did wear a dark red cape. Natsuki presumed that it must have meant royalty, but she was overanalyzing the costume for what it was worth. This is what I get for being an English teacher; always looking for symbolism. She mentally sighed to herself.

She was clueless as to who it was. But she thought it must have been someone she was familiar with. Earlier, the students she passed whistled at her. It seemed like most of the students didn't recognize who she was. She didn't know whether to be thankful or dreadful of that. But for every whistle she got, she would give them her infamous glare. So this must mean this person knew who she was!

They stood awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by gyrating students for a few seconds till Natsuki took it upon herself to say something to ease the tension. She tried yelling through the loud music, "Do you know what I'm supposed to do?" The knight nodded. She gave him an irritated face while waiting for the answer. "So…? Aren't you going to tell me what to do?"

The knight took a step closer to her and lifted the helm slightly revealing the owner's mouth. Soft pink lips stared back at Natsuki's questioning emeralds. They were slightly parted. An arm snaked around Natsuki's slick lower back and tugged at her close. "What are you—" she was interrupted by the knight's other hand grabbing her chin and enclosing her lips with the knight's.

Emerald eyes went in total shock. Silence. Everything stopped. The only thing that was moving were Natsuki's thoughts. They were running faster than anything Natsuki has ever driven. But they were as empty as the air they breathed. There were so many questions running through her mind, but at the same time, she knew the questions meant nothing because no answers could or would ever meet them—an unrequited love.