Yos, hmmm, i can't help but feel this is kinda late... , but idk lol. Hmmm anyways, I read over my recent chapters and found how angsty and sad they were! I was about to go into the bathroom and cut myself because of them:D lol, JK, but hell I felt a hell of a lot emo...SO...I decided to skip out on the angsty-ness in this chapter...It's not exactly happy...but it's...how would I call it...hrmmmm...mellow...yep that's the word for it...mellow. If you think it's sad or something...ummm...sorry...but it's not supposed to be LOL, mellow mellow mellow...I was feelin mellow when I wrote this...lol. hrmmm, this might still be a bit confusing... , I know I keep saying it'll clear up...lol...I'm trying! Really! lol well here be some author's notes that people actually care about!
Uchiha-chan - hrmmm...did you do well on your test??? lol, hmmmm, sorry for the sadness...BUT I WARNED YOU!!! I wrote it up on the author's notes that people never read...including me , so i can't really blame you lol. hmmm, sorry again...and ya lol, thanks for reading and reviewing :D!!!
Glowie - Hmmmm, not quite on the dot this time...though I like the way you think! Kyoko should DEFINITELY be part of the Natsuki super fangirlness harem circle...but what if all the meister otome join in...I volunteer to build Natsuki a way bigger bed! lalalalalalalalala oh look! Men in shiny white suits! HI! How are you guys? Are you here to help The 'Help Natsuki sleep with all the girls in MO and MH foundation'?...no? Oh...:P, lol, thanks for reading and reviewing as always!
Kikyo4ever - Hrmmmmm, SUCH A LONG REVIEW!!!! lol, but this one is what really made me want to write this next chapter. Hmmm, I kinda cleared up the past a little in this chapter...hmmm not too much though lol. It's a short chapter...but I believe necessary...hrmmm and yes Shizuru was acting strange...but shall all be cleared up hopefully in the next chapter lol. Kyoko is a creep yes...but she's only an overprotective mother...lol and ummm I don't think i can say anything more without spoiling...lol, BUt I LIKE YOUR LONG REVIEWS!!! lol, hard to believe, but the more a review makes me think...the better the next chapter shall end up! As always, thanks for reading and reviewing I look forward to your future reviews and suggestions.
Shiznat - Thanks for stickin' with me through all this time lol. I know how hard it was for you in the beginning...lol, hmmmm, it might be worthwhile...it might not...it's your call lol. But I'm still writin' hard on my ShizxNat fic and I ain't stoppin' anytime soon! So, FIGHTO!!
xYuki - Hmmm, I read your first chapter...and IT WAS AWESOME!!! I am a huge fan of your Nat/Nao fics lol, so I'll like anything you put out...though I still want that throne! I'll get it...because I posted a new story as well...you keep me on my toes...I commend you...lol, anyways,hmmm, love your writing, and thanks for reading and reviewing mine!
Big thanks to everyone who's been reading and reviewing as always. I'm glad you enjoy my writing and hope you keep reading my work! lol, thanks to anyone who has made it this far too! I know my writing is hard to put up with! I'll get better with some more practice! Thanks again and remember, FEED ME WITH REVIEWS! Or...or...I'll cry! and then you won't get the next chapter! GASP lol, I mean it! I'm evil...i know :D
Chapter 10
"Hey Natsuki…do you remember?"
What the fuck…who the hell are you???
"That quiet day…you were thinking of Shizuru under the trees…remember?"
What? I thought about her a lot…I don't really remember specific moments…
"That day was special…remember? You woke up…and experienced life that day…"
Wh-what are you talking about? More so, you still haven't told me who you are…
"I'm someone very close to you Natsuki…someone who will never abandon you…"
Someone…Mom?
"No…but I knew your mother well…and I know you even better…I love you Natsuki…"
…The fuck?
"I truly do…but you won't let me in…you won't let me help you…please…Natsuki…let me love you…let me help you…"
Wha…how can I love someone I don't even know…?
"I'm not asking for your love in return…just your acceptance of my love for you."
I can't control someone else's feelings towards me…
"That's not what I'm asking Natsuki…"
Then WHAT IS IT??! How can you ask me to accept your love when you won't even tell me who you are damn it!?
"That's exactly why…you don't even know me anymore…you used to be so kind. What happened Natsuki? Why have you let yourself be trapped in your own uneasiness? Why have you pushed away those you love? Why have you lied to yourself so many times…to me…"
Be-because…I don't want to hurt anyone anymore…I'm sick of it…I'm always hurting someone…I hurt Shizuru…now I've hurt Nao…
"You hurt them because you're indecisive Natsuki…"
You don't have to be so damn cold damn it…
"Why? Have you not been cold to those who cared for you? Have you not turned your back on everyone who needed you the most? Have you not abandoned the one who gave her whole heart to you…even you threw her aside like an old newspaper? Don't talk to me about cold Natsuki…you know not the meaning of the word…"
SHUT UP! I do know the meaning of that word! I know what it feels like to be alone! I've been alone for years! I know how it feels to be thrown aside like last week's old garbage! I know how it feels to be looked down on! But I've built myself stronger! I've achieved what no one else could! I achieved the state in which no one could harm me!
"Then you've grown weak…look at you…indecisive…confused…dead...you've wasted your life Natsuki…wasted…"
No…no I haven't…
"And what evidence do you have to support that?"
Because…because…No one can look at me and say that my life's been worth living! Because my life HAS been worth living if only for one reason…her…because of her…I can now stand on my own two feet…she is the reason I live…she is the reason I am here…she is MY reason…
"Then stand Natsuki...stand on your own two feet…as you claim you are able to…stand and remember…"
I remember…that day…it's so fucking clear…I don't know why I hadn't noticed it before…
"Good…go back to that moment…relive it…"
The trees…I can feel the grass…and my bike…I'm leaning against it… … … I'm thinking of her…she hadn't contacted me in almost a month then…I couldn't reach her… … I was worried…Our relationship wasn't its best…she was slipping away from me each and every day…I hated it…I wanted to be with her…to feel her next to me… … but then I was interrupted…oh yeah…Nao…ever since Shizuru left to Kyoto for college and family affairs…I'd been spending more and more time with her… … … we weren't exactly friends…but we were close in a way…I enjoyed her presence…though at the same time…I felt like I couldn't stand her…there was something about her that made my heart ache each time she spoke…we spoke little…there was the occasional insult here and there…and of course daily fights…but every time we spent time together…she grew on me…heh…we skipped a lot of classes together…headed down to the docks on my bike a few times…deciding that skipping with someone else…even someone you didn't like…was better than alone…we didn't even do anything…we just stared out at the ocean…hours would pass…still nothing was said…that day…she tripped…she fell…and so did I…in love…
"Do you remember me now Natsuki? Do you remember how you so cruelly abandoned me…do you Natsuki?"
I…I do…I know who you are…I…I love you too…
"Thank you Natsuki…now let me out…let me be free…allow her to melt the ice that has grown and encased me once more…go to her…"
I will…never again will I let this happen to you…I will protect you…So wait…wait for me…you will be free…and you will grasp the reason to live once more…I promise…
"Go…"
"Shit! We're losin' her! Someone get over here now! Come on! Get to work! Fuck! Damn it!"
For fuck's sake…stop screamin'…let me get some damn sleep…
"Oi…" the room quieted down, "what the hell do you people think you're doin'? Can't you see I'm just tryin' to catch a little shut eye here?"
"Natsuki!" Natsuki felt a pair of arms encircle her head while her breathing was cut off by something rather soft and…big.
"Oi...wh—fff-hmff-what" Natsuki pushed whatever was cutting off her air supply gently off of her, "Oi, I need to breathe you know…" she began coughing.
In front of her, stood Mai, and a couple of doctors, "Natsuki, we're so glad you're okay!"
One of the doctors shook his head and sighed, "My, Kuga-san…you had us all scared to death yet again…" he and the others smiled at her, "But of course…you've recovered miraculously yet again…sending us in awe. Anyways…be sure to be more careful next time. Even a cat's only got nine lives."
Mai then put a finger to her jaw, "Speaking of cats…where did Mikoto run off to?"
At that moment, the small feral girl jumped in through the nearby window and straight on top of Natsuki. She hugged Natsuki and caressed her chest as she often did Mai's.
"O-Oi! What are you doing you overgrown cat?!"
"Natsuki! You're okay! We were so worried when we saw you passed out by the tables! Some weird guys were about to do something to you…but I scared them off! Right Mai?!"
Mai smiled at the girl's enthusiasm and nodded, "Yep, Natsuki…you passed out in the cafeteria. I don't know why…but a fever started to build too. We tried to wake you up…but you didn't respond, so we called the doctor over here."
The said doctors bowed and left the room. Mai smiled at them before they left and then turned her attention back to Natsuki who was trying to remember what happened, "Wait…I passed out?"
"Yeah…Mikoto and I came out of the restroom and found you passed out at the corner of the room."
Natsuki looked down at the sheets. She had a gloomy feeling to her, and her frown didn't help much either, "Mai…have you seen Nao?" Natsuki turned to her…a hopeful gleam in her eye.
"Actually…she kinda disappeared. I haven't seen her since I went into the bathroom…we were supposed to eat together this morning…"
"Wait…this morning? What time is it?"
"Well…you passed out for quite a while…Natsuki it's like 2 o'clock…"
"Shit!" Natsuki quickly got up from the hospital bed. She felt a stinging pain, but she ignored it and kept going.
"Hey! Careful there Natsuki! What do you think you're doin' getting' up like this?!"
"Sorry Mai…if you see Nao…just…tell her I'm sorry 'kay?"
"Wait…what?!... … Natsuki!"
It was too late. Natsuki had already dashed out the door, her heart racing faster than her legs were moving. Shizuru…Natsuki skillfully climbed the stairs up to the third floor, each of her turns a fluid movement blended in with the rest of her limbs. When she finally reached the third floor, her mood changed, she was smiling now. Her run became faster and faster…her adrenaline was pumping so hard…and then…crash. Natsuki had bumped into one of the nurses reading into a folder as she turned the corner to Shizuru's room.
"Ow…" Natsuki rubbed the back of her head and flinched for a bit, until she noticed she had knocked the other person down and scattered her papers all over the place, "I'm sorry! Please forgive me, I was in a rush, but I shouldn't have been running like that!" Natsuki quickly reached around her for the papers that littered the floor around her.
"No…no…it's quite all right…I really shouldn't have been reading while walking like that…" the other person started to pick up papers as well. The two didn't really notice each other until they both stood up and looked at each other. Natsuki's jaw dropped when she saw who it was.
"Yu-Yuuki-san…"
"Kuga-san…" the voice was cold and hollow, not at all like Kyoko's voice. Natsuki handed the papers to her. Kyoko's right hand reached for them, but it shook, and then redirected itself to meet with Natsuki's face. Natsuki was surprised by the sudden attack, yet, not surprised that it had happened. Natsuki's head was still turned to the right as Kyoko collected her papers from her hand. Kyoko, realizing what she had just done was surprised herself…she began to get teary…, "Ku-Natsuki…" her voice was cracking up, and Natsuki turned to face the troubled woman and managed a smile. Kyoko backed up and shook her head and bowed in apology, then ran off towards the stairs.
Natsuki watched as the poor woman left her presence. She clenched her fists and teeth and then turned back the direction she was originally heading. When she got to the front of Shizuru's door, she found that there were already people in there. She decided not to ruin the moment and just wait outside the door. Natsuki leaned against the nearby wall and looked up to the ceiling. She smiled to herself. She took a look around the hall way.
She found nothing of real interest to her. Some nurses were shuffling around here and there, some were busily typing away at their computers, while some were busy writing in patients' files. Natsuki looked at the nearby reception desk and even saw a few on breaks. The place was pretty full. Nearby she could see a couple, rich of course, talking to a doctor about a daughter who had just fallen ill with a cold. Natsuki scoffed, these people…Her attention was then redirected to the door nearby as she watched the couple from before, the doctor…and…Shizuru?!
Natsuki moved from her current position and turned to face the people exiting the room, bewildered at the sight before her, "Shizuru? What are you doing already up?"
The doctor, parents, and Shizuru all turned to face Natsuki. The doctor then smiled at Natsuki, "She's a strong girl…two gunshot wounds that were barely cleaned up yesterday…and she can already walk and everything! It's amazing really."
Shizuru walked up to Natsuki. Her parents and the doctor all nodded to each other and decided to leave the two alone for the time being, "Hello Natsuki."
"Shizuru… … ah! About this morning…I'm sorry."
Shizuru giggled and then replied, "Ah, don't worry. I heard about you passing out from Mai-san. I do hope you're all right though…"
"Wait…Mai came to see you? Did…did she tell you anything else?"
"Hmmmm…maybe this is something we should discuss over dinner?"
Natsuki couldn't help but smile, it was Shizuru all right, "Heh, yeah. I'd like that. I have a lot I need to tell you Shizuru…"
"As do I…" Shizuru then turned to her parents who were waiting patiently by the chairs, "But for now I must retire to my parents' villa."
"All right…then how about I pick you up at around 7 then?"
"That sounds nice. Well then Natsuki, I'll see you tonight then?" Shizuru took out a piece of paper from her purse and wrote her address and number.
"Tonight…" Shizuru then smiled and walked over to her parents, who greeted her with a hug. Natsuki watched as the family talked and laughed with each other, as they rounded the corner. Natsuki sighed. She couldn't help but smile though. She decided to take a walk around the hospital. She kept rounding corners until she met up with a dead end with an open window. She approached the window, wanting to look out into the scenery, but heard something awfully familiar…
Suteki da ne, futari te o tori aru keta nara…
Ikitai yo, kimi no machi ie ude no naka…
Sono mune, karata azuke…
Yori ni magire…
Yume miru…
Natsuki followed the voice and words, which eventually turned into humming, all the way to the window. Without even seeing who it was, Natsuki spoke, "That was beautiful…"
The voice that answered her was barely audible, but still understandable, "Thanks…"
"What song was that?"
"…it's a song that my mama used to sing to me all the time…it's my favorite…"
"I see…you sing it so well…it reminds me of this girl I know…"
"Really…"
"Yeah…she's beautiful…I was in love with her…heh…still am actually."
"…what was she like…"
Natsuki chuckled, "She was a brat really…always whining about this or that…never gave me a break…I swear…she drove me crazy sometimes…"
"But still…you loved her…"
"Well yeah…everybody's got their little flaws and stuff, it's what makes us human…besides it's that part of her that makes me fall in love with her every single time I see her."
"So are you willing to go after her if need be…?"
"What a silly question…of course not…"
"…"
"I'm more than willing to…if only she'd wait for me…"
"What if she doesn't want to wait…"
"Then I guess I'll have to catch up…"
"You're really something…"
"Aren't I? But I guess it's not enough to win the affection of the one I truly love is it?" Natsuki chuckled again.
"No…it should be more than enough…"
"Should it now? I hope she's as optimistic as you are…"
"I know someone like that too…"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah…she's a show-off…she's always getting mad about things…heh…and she's a sore loser…"
"Heh…"
"But I love her…each time she smiles at me…I'm happy…something I hadn't been until I met her…"
Natsuki heard choked sobs, "It hurts doesn't it…love…" her voice even softer than before.
She heard a remorseful chuckle, "Heh, hurts like hell if you ask me…"
"But you know what I think…"
"…"
"It's worth it…whether it works out or not…it's definitely worth it."
"Because in the end…it's better to have loved…"
"Than to never have loved at all…"
The two then burst into laughter, "Yeah, but I'll bet some people don't really believe in that crap."
"Definitely…but hey…you gotta look at the glass as half,'
"Full…not empty…"
"Yeah…Hey, tell you what…if you show yourself…I'll treat ya to some lunch, to thank you for this little conversation…not to be creepy or anything."
Natsuki heard a giggle, "Hmmm, no thanks. I already ate."
"All right…it was nice talkin' to ya…it's been a long time since I could talk to anyone like this…so let's keep names confidential…agreed?"
"Yeah…"
"Cool…I got a date tonight…so I'll catch you later…"
Another giggle was heard, "Oooooh, acting so fast after just having this conversation…how brave."
Natsuki chuckled herself, "For your information, I planned this date before talking to you, thank you very much."
"All right all right, well I wish you luck then."
"As do I."
With that, Natsuki walked away from the window, smiling to herself, hands in her pockets. I guess some people aren't that bad these days…
Nao looked up at the sky from where she sat high up on a branch in a huge tree. She sighed and then smiled to herself, some people are actually tolerable…thanks stranger…
Yo! That's the end of this chapter! It's short...I know...lol. But, I liked it...i don't know why...I just do...lol anyways ummmmm, anything unclear to you...please just state in review and I shall kindly yes kindly, lol, reply in my fatty author's notes! Lol, I love responding to reviews, so please! Review! It'll make me happy! Lol, Any mistakes you catch...please let me know...lol. I like whiners they make me a better person! Lol, so yea I hope you enjoye this chapter and read my future ones! Lol, R&R plz! I have spared you from my scary announcers voice today lol. but watch out for it next time! Lol, Ja mata!