Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime/Otome

Note: Not beta-ed.

-I own this chapter

"Where are those two anyway?"

"I called Shizuru-san's home, no one is answering so I tried her mobile phone."

Yukino answered as she pushed back her tiny eyeglasses.

"What did she tell you, Yukino?"

"Shizuru-san is going to visit Natsuki."

Eyes went wide at the statement.

"WHAT?!"

Nao jumped out of her seat causing everyone to avert their gazes from Yukino, who was just there sitting calmly, as if she had expected to draw that kind of reaction.

"Will Shizuru-san be okay?"

Chie managed to sit still, but her leaning forward to the table showed her sign of concern.

"That totally surprised me. I was thinking that Shizuru-san would take some time before mending things with Natsuki."

Mai retorted as she shut her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

"But don't worry guys…"

She continued, this time beaming a reassuring smile.

"Natsuki may be kinda scary when she and Shizuru have an argument, but the situation now is different."

Mai finished as she leaned her back to her chair.

"But don't you think it's more complicated. Err, they broke up didn't they? Don't you think Natsuki would be more… you know… hard to handle?"

"I don't think so Chie…"

This answer caused every one to lift their eyebrows.

Not wanting to wait any longer for the expected question, Mai spoke her mind and continued.

"Natsuki may scare us, I mean scare anyone, almost making them pee on their pants, but didn't you guys notice?"

Lifted brows went furrowed.

Mai sighed on how clueless her friends were. It would not be unbelievable that Mai noticed things around that one would not commonly regard. Well, she did graduate with flying colors. But aside from her, she silently adored one of her friends that she found sharper than her.

Shizuru. One of the reasons that Mai was not worried for Shizuru's unaccompanied visit to Natsuki was because she knew that the older girl would not initiate such an action that would harm herself, and also for the greater fact that Natsuki could not hurt Shizuru.

"Natsuki scares us but not Shizuru."

Mai let out a small laugh at the thought.

"And it's the same on every aspect. Remember the guys who tried to hit on Shizuru when we're all together back on college?"

All heads nodded, except Haruka who just furrowed her brows further; giving it as a sign that she had forgotten of the said incident.

Nao laughed after realizing Haruka's ignorance of the topic; she got a bash in the head in return.

"Natsuki beat every one of them didn't she? And honestly, I was quite perplexed by that event! I kinda backed away a little from Natsuki that time! You guys tell me, weren't you scared?"

They all shared a giggle at the past. Reminiscing college sure was nice.

"I was scared like shit that time! I made a mental note to myself that I could make fun of Kuga but Shizuru…Na-ah!"

Midori shook head and made and made a cross sign with her arms while telling her side. It made all of them laughed loud.

"Yeah, that time I thought Natsuki was Wonder Woman!"

All of them laughed harder when Nao did Wonder Woman's striking pose; chin is up while her hands are on her waist- the wind blowing her hair.

"Just imagine Natsuki like that! Shit!"

Everyone now was laughing uncontrollably. Midori started banging their table like a drunkard and Haruka was just like her normal self- clutching her stomach and laughing with her mouth wide open.

Midori could hardly speak because of her laughter.

"Oh! So you thought she was Wonder Woman?! But I thought of her as Superman! She was just missing a red brief over her pants!"

Their laughter continued at the thought of Natsuki wearing Superman's costume.

After laughing their lungs out, things that were at hand seemed to have finally crossed their mind.

"The point is… He-hey! quit it now!"

"Alright! Alright! Phew, that was hilarious! Continue Mai."

Midori swiped off some of her tears, while the others tried to catch some air.

Giggles and chuckles have subsided, now, painted on their faces was seriousness.

"The point is Shizuru is immune to Natsuki's…Umm… How do we say it? Violent side… Err, soo… there's nothing to worry about. And if it's Natsuki, God knows she won't hurt her girlfriend."

"Ex"

Chie reminded.

"Ah, ye-yeah, ex"

The busty red head sweatdropped for forgetting

"I hope all goes well between them."

Mikoto said, portraying a bittersweet smile. A few of them agreed to her, the others just kept their head down- and that 'others' were Yukino, Chie, Haruka, and Nao.

Nao spoke up.

"But still…"

All downcast gazes immediately focused on the red head, who looked, rather shy on what she was about to say.

"Shizuru does need her 'own' life…"

Neither of them disagreed to that.

"Nat…suki…"

She whispered as the younger girl kept lowering her head- so low that it would connect their foreheads by any second now. She was not nervous- for this person was the only one she ever loved and would ever love. Never did she think of spending her life with another. It was only her.

She was mezmerized by the pale lips of the person above her. She wanted to claim and taste it. She was about to lounge, though it was tough because she was lying flat on the floor, when the object she desired suddenly moved and then she felt something wet dripped on her forehead.

She moved her gaze upward to see soft jade eyes with tears flooding out. Pain and loneliness could be clearly seen. For this tough young lady, this kind of weakness was portrayed only for her, Shizuru's eyes only. The same with Natsuki, it hurts Shizuru to see her lover like this. On normal times, she would panic if she sees those kinds of emotions playing on her other half- but now, it was different; it was not normal.

Shizuru's train of thoughts came to a halt after feeling something wet dripped from above down to her cheeks- after that, she heard an almost unaudible whisper from the girl above her. A whisper for her ears only.

"Come back"