Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime/Otome

Note: Not beta-ed.

-I own this chapter (events that occurred here are not from the movie except for the hanging picture frame)


They stared at each other, with teary eyes, for a long time. Both of them were thinking twice to break the silence.

Natsuki was wearing boxer shorts for ladies and a white tank top. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes seemed so tired. Her face was pale and so were her lips. She was staring at Shizuru- her mouth agape.

On the other side, Shizuru was wearing a black V-neck long sleeve with a thin red scarf around her neck, and a brown skirt that falls just above her knee and a pair of black boots, a little short to cover her entire legs, plus a small pouch. Her outfit was just enough for the cold weather in the afternoon.

The two were not on their best conditions, but a talk would not hurt, hopefully.

Shizuru snapped out of her dream land just in time to notice Natsuki's state. It hurt her. She felt guilty but didn't show it. To fight back her tears, she decided to speak up.

"Hey"

Natsuki was taken off guard by Shizuru's sudden greeting. She felt silly about it, so a small, tired smile escaped her lips.

"Oh, hey"

Seeing Natsuki smile made Shizuru's day. Natsuki does not smile often for everyone to see, so seeing her force to smile like that gave warmth to Shizuru's chest.

'I wouldn't get used to it.'

She thought and so, she returned Natsuki's smile with her own rare one.

"Come in"

They both went in and went straight to the living room. Natsuki's living room was simple but extravagant. Her walls were painted with beige while the posts or borders and the ceiling were painted chocolate brown. It would give a warm effect to anyone who would step inside- and even warmer because of the fire place that matches the dark color of the edges of the room. And above it were picture frames that included Natsuki herself, and none other than Shizuru.

Shizuru seated herself at the navy blue sofa bed that faces the fire place while Natsuki disappeared at the kitchen. Shizuru removed her boots then faced the palm of her hands near the heat to warm her fingers. She glanced and rose up to check if Natsuki changed their pictures, which was not, and stared at a particular frame that has been hanging on that wall for a long time and was a little larger than the other frames that has been sitting above the fire chamber.

Inside of the frame was a drawing of a house- simple two storey house with a garden and a parking space. And below it was a label that says 'Shizuru and Natsuki's'.

It was their dream home which they both drew on their graduating year at college. They planned to build it, hopefully, this year. Natsuki would be the engineer and Shizuru would be the architect. And after the house was built, they planned to face the altar the give their vows to each other. But things were too complicated lately, so the dream house was put aside for now and that includes the wedding.

Shizuru had been staring so long that she didn't notice two things. One, her tears and two, Natsuki, who was about to cry, had been watching her.

A real heartbreaking scene

"Shizuru"

It was just a mere whisper but Shizuru turned around anyway. Natsuki's eyes became softer the moment she saw tears at Shizuru's reddened cheeks.

Shizuru's eyes widen when she heard Natsuki's voice. She went to face Natsuki, who was holding a tray with Chinas on it and was standing behind the sofa. She figured that it must be tea.

"You… You sur…prised me"

Shizuru giggled whist wiping her tears with her bare hands.

Natsuki looked up and inhaled deeply to call back her taunting tears before she walked towards the older girl.

"Cold? Here I brought some tea."

Natsuki stated then set the tray at the coffee table beside the sofa bed.

"Ara, thank you."

Shizuru said as she sat down beside Natsuki who just did.

The two of them sipped tea and sat in silence for a while. They're used to this anyway; enjoying each others company. No words were needed, only the presence of the other was all that matters.

"Oh! I forgot, I have cookies here for you."

Shizuru started digging at her pouch until she found a small bag.

"Cookies? That small?"

Natsuki snorted. Shizuru unfolded her handkerchief and poured the little cookies on it.

"I have a plate for that, you know."

The tan haired girl just chuckled, that made the other giggle as well.

"What's that? Cookies for babies?"

The younger girl teased while taking one.

"Yup, I stole it from the baby at the park."

Shizuru joked, already munching one.

"Bully!"

Natsuki started poking Shizuru at her side that made her back off a little.

"Ara, how dare you! I committed sin just for you! Meanie!"

Shizuru glared at Natsuki and softly slaps the poking hands to fend it off.

Their little tea party ended with a tickle fight at the sofa bed. Both of them were laughing so hard that they forgot about Shizuru's intention for visiting. Shizuru was now lying at the carpet after she rolled out of the sofa. Natsuki was sitting just above her, aggressively attacking her sides.

"Na… hahaha…suki… hahaha… top… s…to…hahaha…op!"

"No! You are being punished! Baby bully!!"

Shizuru was laughing so hard. She couldn't fight Natsuki off of her. She tried to push Natsuki but the younger girl grabbed both of her hands with one hand and pinned it above her head. Natsuki's other hand never stopped tickling.

"Ahahaha…I….hahah was….kid…ahahaha...ding…!"

"Aha! You tricked me! Prepare to be punished once again!"

Shizuru's eyes were starting to show tears due to too much laughing, and it just triggered Natsuki more.

"Ahahaha…Al…hahaha…right…For…gi…ve…mm…meh…hahahaha!"

"I didn't hear you!"

"Ahahaha…Ff…orr…haha…ggive…me...hahaha!"

"What? 'Give me'? You want more? I'll give you more!"

Shizuru's eyes opened a little at what she heard, but closed it instantly because Natsuki tickled her again.

"Ahahaha…un….no…hahah…no!"

They remained like that for awhile. After some time, Natsuki stopped and straightened her back but did not move above Shizuru. Shizuru was exhausted, she had not laugh like that for a while and it wore her out. She extended both her arms side ward and breathed rapidly.

"Meah…meahh…niee…meanie…"

Natsuki started laughing from above. Shizuru just pouted from below.

"So, you're sorry?"

Natsuki asked while wiping the tears that formed due to laughing.

Shizuru just glared at her.

"Oh? You're not?"

Seeing the playful glint in Natsuki's eyes, Shizuru frowned and closed her eyes as if she was saying she surrenders.

"Alright…Alright…I'm sorry."

She finally admitted, but deep inside, she was planning for a counter attack. Natsuki damaged her too much and that was unforgivable. Pushing her was out of the question, Natsuki knew how to deflect that attack. So she decided that when everything calmed down, she would take her revenge, and maybe even more.

Noticing some hair that fell at her face and the younger girl being awfully quiet, Shizuru opened her eyes, only to see Natsuki's face right above hers.