DISCLAIMER: RATING: SUMMERY: see Part One
NOTE: When I update it might be wise to read the previous Part/s again due to changes (oversight correction, extra paragraphs, different story plots and other misc Extras). I have a bad habit of re-twisting the story as it strikes me. You don't have to but, hey you might miss something if you don't.
AN: Slips in and pretends she's been here all along. Ahem, on with the story. I am extremely displeased with this particular chapter but I figured I wouldn't hold it up any longer. The muse who originally worked on this project is on vacation and passed it off to another so it 'feels' different.
Part 7: Story Time with Brunch?
Shizuru had woken from a very pleasant dream sprawled out on a bed that smelt of Natsuki. For a moment, she buried her face in the opposite pillow inhaling deeply.
She smiled thinking of Natsuki's cute antics last night as well as how fast her heart had sped once Natsuki had lain next to her. She thought she would never fall asleep only to quickly be disproven.
Then she scowled slightly, 'If Natsuki was not in here she could be out there with those women.' However, Shizuru was warm and extremely comfortable and not wanting to move.
'Ok, no dallying in bed. At least while Natsuki isn't here,' she giggled to herself. Shizuru stretched languidly, and with determination, slid out of the bed.
The guests in the living room were stirring as Shizuru stepped outside the bedroom in search of Natsuki.
Demi sat up yawning, sniffing for something then grumbled, "Need coffee," then fell back onto the couch.
Erstin woke looking refreshed and irritably cute, at least from Shizuru's viewpoint.
"Good morning Fujino-san" Erstin said with a slight smile.
Shizuru's eyes narrowed, smiling slightly. "Good morning, Ho-han. I don't believe we were properly introduced last evening."
Demi attempted sat up again groggily, rubbing her eyes," I don't believe any of us were actually introduced last night."
"Why don't we get better acquainted over coffee and tea then?" Shizuru said mildly, gesturing for them to follow as she stepped into the small kitchen area.
"Eh, well if your brewing I'll see if there's any food around." Erstin smiled, digging in cabinets and dragging out a box of pancake mix from the otherwise bare cabinets. She hid her evil grin, "How does Natsuki-sempi live like this? Maybe she needs a real wife?"
Shizuru barely suppressed a snarl as she started the coffee brewing and the tea steeping. "If it wouldn't be too much to ask, could you catch me up to date on yesterday's events. I already know Erstin and my Natsuki are not engaged, but the rest of it is unknown to me."
'My Natsuki,' Demi mouthed to Erstin, who promptly smile back and shrugged. Erstin and Demi took turns re-telling the story of yesterday's events.
Shizuru listened to what was said but more importantly to how it was said. Erstin had a bit of a hero complex thing going. While Demi seemed to be interested in Natsuki in a more, eh, carnal way; if the various Natsuki body part listings and descriptions were any indication. Either way Shizuru felt her claim on Natsuki to be in dispute by both of the interlopers, since it seemed to her that both of them wanted her Natsuki. It was defiantly making her agitated.
Demi watched as Erstin seemed to deliberately bate Shizuru, if she wasn't such a keen observer she wouldn't have seen Shizuru's subtle reactions to the taunting. A sudden picture of a mouse dangling from the whiskers of a lion flashed in her head. 'Why do I get the feeling that Shizuru is the lion?'
Erstin had just added the water to the pancake mix when Shizuru asked to take over the job of cooking it.
"It's ok. I have this." Erstin said politely.
"Ara, I can have my Natsuki's guests doing those types of tasks" Shizuru smiled flakily at Erstin reaching to tug the bowl.
Erstin held on firmly, "Your as much a guest as we are, cooking Natsuki-sempi's breakfast is the least i could do. I'm just sorry I didn't get to serve her breakfast in bed. Oh well perhaps, next time" Erstin signed mournfully.
Shizuru's eyes narrowed."No perhaps," She said sharply, jerking the bowl from Erstin's hands.
Erstin watched in horror as the bowl flipped from Shizuru's hands due to the batter on the edges. It seemed to go in slow motion flip by flip as the batter splattered all over Shizuru's borrowed silk pajama top.
The kitchen erupted in chaos.
Natsuki blinked..but since that didn't seem to work she blinked again and shook her head.
At first Natsuki thought there had been some kind of break in. The table had been overturned and one of her chairs lay in ruins. There was a couple broken glasses and a bit of some kind of goop all over the kitchen floor and partially on different walls.
Natsuki yelled, "Shizuru!"
"Erstin! Where are you?!" Nina cried, picking up on Natsuki's panicked voice.
"Ara, so noisy in the morning, my Natsuki." Shizuru emerged immaculate from the bedroom. "I apologize for the mess and of course will help clean it up." She walked up and hugged the frazzled Natsuki to calm her down quicker.
"Oi, where is Erstin and Demi?" Natsuki asked after hugging her back.
"Who?" Shizuru teased, stalling for time.
"Hey, lady, where is Erstin?" Nina stepped forward scowling.
Shizuru's eyes widened as she smiled, "Ara, I knew Natsuki was imitating you last night, but I was unaware of what a remarkable job she was doing." She prowled closer to Nina. "Hm, two Natsukies would defiantly be a delight."
Nina warily watched as the very beautiful woman approached her. 'She moves like a predator. All grace and lethalness.' Nina gulped, backing away slightly as the woman got into her space.
"Fujino, you have your own woman; you need to back away from mine." Erstin said calmly from the bedroom doorway. Nina's eyebrow rose at the declaration and she blushed.
"Er..Erstin!" Nina exclaimed embarrassed, once her voice returned. Erstin just smiled shyly and walked over to take Nina's hand.
"Just play along if you don't want to become her little puppy" Erstin whispered to Nina.
"Puppy?" Nina asked.
Erstin nodded over to Natsuki who was nodding and smiling at Shizuru's explanation of the 'kitchen incident'. She looked just like a cute puppy who's master had returned.
"Thanks," Nina grumbled, unsure. "Erstin are you ok? Kuga said you'd explain everything once I got here."
Erstin smile faded a little, "Ok one moment." She turned to face the bedroom, "Ok Demi you can stop hiding now and come out. We called pax remember?"
Demi emerged from the bedroom in her uniform, glancing around paranoid like. "Freakin' crazy women."
"Natsuki-sempi, do you mind if Nina and I talk in your room? I'd like to get her up to speed on what has been happening." Erstin asked softly.
"It would be best." Natsuki nodded, watching the two walk toward her bedroom, "and Erstin-chan, It would be best if you told her everything." She said with serious eyes.
"Everything?" Erstin gulped.
"Everything" Natsuki said with supporting in her tone. 'Tell her everything, her support will help you though anything. I should know.' she glanced over at Shizuru.
"I will," she whispered, leading a slightly confused Nina into the bedroom.
Demi sighed, "Well I better head over to the station. My shift starts in half an hour."
Natsuki clapped a hand on Demi's shoulder, smiling "Thank you very much for what you did yesterday. I appreciate the help."
Demi got snared in Natsuki's deep green eyes. She leaned slightly forward, closer to Natsuki's sweet face.
"Yes, officer." Demi froze. "It was very kind of you to see to them, even going so far as to stay the night. But we mustn't let it interfere with your job. Have a good day at work." Shizuru said with steel in her voice and eyes as she held open the door in a not so subtle manner.
Demi lend back and coughed sheepishly, "Ah! Yeah, I'm leaving. Thanks again for your hospitality." Waving as she walked out the door.
"She's such a nice girl" Natsuki mused. "She almost beat me in one on one combat last night. I'll have to invite her over again sometime."
"Ara, Natsuki, we will be sure to do that," Shizuru smiled as she closed the door firmly.
Erstin was unsure where to start. She was nervous now that she was alone with Nina. 'Do I truly want to tell her everything?'
Nina watched Erstin fidget for a few minutes then she sat down on the edge of the bed, patting the spot beside her. "Erstin come over here please." She said softly, smiling at the young woman.
Erstin looked up and her breath halted as she saw Nina's calm smiling face. A face only a select few people had ever been graced with seeing. That expression alone, of caring and support, soothed Erstin's frazzling nerves. She sat gingerly next to Nina.
Nina reached out and took Erstin's soft hands in hers as she turned to her. "You know I'm not very good at this type of thing" she darted a glance over into Erstin's soft sea eyes, " but you should know I'm always here for you. No matter what it may, be you can trust in me. Tell me."
With that, she told Nina all of what had happened to her yesterday. From the forced attempts, to the engagement debacle; even her part in attempting to get Natsuki and Shizuru together all the way to this morning when that came to an end after she confessed during the 'kitchen incident'.
Nina emotions were in a whirlwind, hurling from one extreme to the next and back again. She was filled with a rage in wanting to kill Erstin's attacker; sick and scared for what did and could have happened had Natsuki not shown up both times; grateful to Natsuki for saving her friend; thankful for Demi's support; murderously angry at Erstin's attacker.
"I'll kill him. He's a fucking dead man." Nina hissed, choking with rage as she held a crying Erstin tight to her.
"No!" Erstin pulled back grabbing Nina's arms."I don't want you anywhere near that man!" She yelled, scared for Nina's safety.
Nina's hand reached up and cupped Erstin's tear stained cheeks, her eyes focused only on Erstin and what she could have unknowingly lost. Nina was truly hypnotized as she noticed Erstin's subtle beauty for the first time. 'Such pure sea-green eyes, such soft skin, always so honest and open to me'
She leaned in and pressed her lips to the softness of Erstin's chaste lips. Warmth flooded her chest as surely as it did her lips at the contact.
Erstin, shocked immobile at the beginning of the kiss, closed her eyes. She tenderly slip her hands up Nina's back to hold her love closer to her, as she gently moved her lips against Nina's. 'Nothing on this earth could feel better than this' Erstin thought, heart fluttering trippingly like a humming bird.
Nina jerked back, "Oh, god! Erstin I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking" She uttered horrified.
"What?" Erstin asked, hurt at the sudden withdrawal.
"After what you just went through! And I was mauling you! Oh god!" Nina stuttered, disgusted at herself for her folly.
Erstin puzzled out what Nina had just said, and gently cupped her face forcing the distraught girl to make eye contact, "There is no comparison between what you just did now and what he did. None. He tried to take. To you I willingly gave."
Nina still looked torn.
Erstin smiled deeply, her eyes shining, "I love you , you idiot."
Nina smiled tentatively, "Really?" she asked softly.
"Truly," Erstin said and stole Nina's second kiss..
"Ara, Natsuki should check on them. They have been in there a while." Shizuru said, whipping up the last of the pancake batter from the stove.
Natsuki chopped the fruits with the careful precision of someone who has seen waay to many cooking shows. She mumbled distractedly, "They have a lot of things to talk about, Shizuru. I'm sure everything's going fine,"
She gently mixed the fruits together in a bowl, then snagged a slice of strawberry. "Oi try this! It's one of the few things I can make really well." Natsuki said excitedly, as she raised her hand up to her mouth.
Shizuru caught Natsuki's wrist before she could eat the red fruit/whipped cream/caramel mixture. "Ikazu, Natsuki offered it to me first. There for I should get the first taste." she grinned evilly.
Shizuru tugged Natsuki's hand over to her, promptly devouring the fruit and Natsuki's fingers into her mouth. Slowly withdrawing the trembling captives only to whirl her tongue over the pads of Natsuki's finger tips, to get the last of the caramel of course.
"Ara, it taste divine Natsuki. Very well made." Shizuru teased huskily. "But you should go check on the two, in your bedroom, having sex for all you know."
"Sex?" Natsuki blinked trying to focus, still dazed; causing Shizuru to grin.
"Is my Natsuki offering?" Shizuru asked, licking her lips.
"Hu? What?" Natsuki's face flamed red once she figured out what was going on. "Gah, what do you mean they could be having sex in my bedroom!?"
Stomping over to her room Natsuki raised her hand to pound on ten door just as it opened.
A beaming Erstin and a blushing Nina stepped out.
"Natsuki-sempi, thank you so much for all that you have done." Erstin said hugging her. Natsuki patted her awkwardly on the back.
"Any one would have done the same. Eh, your welcome." Natsuki said.
"Sorry for being a jerk, Kuga-san," Nina mumbled, sheepishly.
"You were just protecting Erstin. I get it, so there is nothing to be sorry for. Anyhow before you head out, grab some brunch with us." Natsuki said gesturing to the fruit and toast on the table.
Nina blanched, "That's no mayonnaise on the fruit is it?"
Natsuki laughed, "I wish, but no its whipped topping."
Nina didn't even bother hiding her sigh of relief.
As Natsuki was saying goodbye to Nina and Erstin, Shizuru was on the phone with her parents.
Natsuki walked back into the living room with Shizuru waiting until she hung up.
"What's that frown for, Shizuru?" Natsuki asked hiding a smile.
"It looks like I will be having lunch with my parents today, Natsuki. Did you want to come?" Shizuru looked hopefully.
"Sorry Shizuru I kind of already made plans," Natsuki said, "but I will see you later I promise," she hastily added at the downfallen expression.
"Alright I will hold my Natsuki to her promise," Shizuru smiled, hugging her tightly, "I have to go get ready, I will see you soon."
Natsuki smiled and waved and as soon as Shizuru was out the door the cell phone was in her hand dialing.
"Oi, Mai, I need a favor."
AN: yeah definitely bit different then my other ones so far. However, it will be revised as soon as the muse gets back. Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed ^^)
