Chapter 10: chance

Natsuki drove back to her apartment and went straight to her bed. She took off her leathers and grabbed the towel that's hanging by the chair beside her bed and went to the shower. She turned the water on and soaked herself to the cold water. Her day was so weird. First she woke up to find out that she kissed Shizuru, second Nao suddenly told her to have a day off, and lastly a weird man wants her to call him 'pops'. She remembered what Ferid told her. She questions herself if she was really smiling when she told him about Shizuru or if she can really love someone like Shizuru.

"Do you think I have a chance pops…" she whispered, feeling the cold water to her face.

She continued her shower, pondering about Shizuru. After the cold shower, she wrapped herself with the towel and went out of the bathroom. She walked towards her bedroom but stopped as she saw a small calendar lying at the floor. She bent down and picked the calendar. She examined the calendar and a small smile formed to her face.

"Maybe it's time for me to try again… what more can I lose now?" she chuckled, throwing the calendar to the floor again and went her way to the bedroom.

0-0-0

Shizuru got home after the long chat with Mai and Mikoto. She ignored all the greetings that their maids and butlers gave her and just went straight to her room. She was tired; her mind was full of thoughts about Natsuki. She flopped down to her queen-size bed and looked at her ceiling. She raised her right hand and placed it atop of her forehead and let out a heavy sigh.

"Natsuki… I promise… I'll protect you…" Shizuru said before falling to a deep slumber.

0-0-0

That night at HiME bar, Natsuki was secretly looking for Shizuru. She served as many customers as she can so that she can get a glimpse of the entrance door or the second floor. She even volunteered to serve some orders that Chie or Aoi was supposed to serve just to wander around the whole bar.

Mai noticed the odd behavior of Natsuki. She kept an eye on Natsuki like a little hawk, observing her actions around the bar like she's waiting for someone. That observation made a clear thought to her. She just smiled and waited for Natsuki to chat with her.

Natsuki laid her head at the bar counter and looked at her busty friend, drying one of the mugs that had been washed. She watched Mai clean the mug for seconds until Mai suddenly spoke.

"Oh! hello Shizuru! So what brings you here?" Mai said cheerfully.

Natsuki raised her head and looked around, but there were no Shizuru. She heard laughter from Mai and she just looked at her friend with an annoyed glare.

"Sorry Natsuki, it's just you're too obvious in your weird actions." Mai said, trying not to laugh again.

"tch! What do you mean Mai? Im not acting weird Mai." Natsuki defended, crossing her arms and narrowed her eyes.

Mai giggled and took out a card from her pocket and placed it in the counter in front of Natsuki. Natsuki looked at the card and took it. She was trying to look at the writings but the dim light of the bar made it a little impossible to read. She glances up at Mai with a questioning look.

"Look, you don't have to hide it from me. I know you're looking for Shizuru and that card can help you okay. The only problem is that card doesn't contain any contact number. Since you have a day off for 2 days I suggest that you should take action." Mai explained while wiping the water drops on the counter.

"Action in what? Is there something I should know about Mai?" Natsuki asked, placing the card to her back pocket.

Mai just sighed and look at Natsuki with care and concern. She stopped wiping the counter and threw the rag at the side. "Just be careful okay? Since it's been a year now, I don't want you to go winding up in a different path again." Mai just placed her hand at Natsuki's shoulder before going to the other side of the counter to get the order of a customer leaving a curious Natsuki.

"And what's that suppose to mean!?" Natsuki yelled but was ignored by Mai.

The Night was very fast for Natsuki. After closing the bar and driving back o her apartment, she looked at the card that Mai gave her. She examined the white card and her both eyes widen as she read the card.

VIOLA GROUP OF COMPANIES

MAINBRANCH

SHIZURU VIOLA

"What the fuck!? Does Mai think I'm stupid enough to go to Shizuru's office just to ask her out!?" Natsuki blurted out, throwing the card to the table. She changed into her pj's and went to sleep.

0-0-0

8:00AM

Loud revving of the Ducati's engine echoed the streets, as the Blue haired woman drove her way to a large building at the center of the city. She evaded all of the vehicles in such an ease and got through all of the tight traffic that blocked her way.

'I guess my heart didn't listen to my stupid brain again…' she thought.

She made her way to the parking lot of the large building and parked her Ducati. She removed her helmet and fixed her hair. She took a deep breath and went inside the building lobby.

She was surprised by a large yellow colored lobby. Paintings, expensive jars and furniture were decorated all over the place. She approached the information counter and asked for Shizuru's office. The clerk gave Natsuki a flirty smiled and told Natsuki that Shizuru's office was on the second to the last floor of the building. Natsuki thanked the clerk and went her way to the elevator. She pushed thebutton that lead to Shizuru's office floor and she waited.

She looked around the elevator and saw that there were 4 of the inside. 3 women and a man who looks like staffs of the office were inside the elevator with her. She just smiled at all of them and looked back at the elevator door, not noticing that her smile made the 4 person with her blush.

After a few seconds of waiting she got off the elevator as soon as the door opened to the floor she was going. She walked out the elevator only to see a pale woman by the chair just beside the elevator.

'Is she feeling well? She thought as she approached the pale looking woman.

The woman has a pale brown hair that's covering half of her face, sweat was formed at the woman's pale cheeks, and trembling a little. She tapped the woman by the shoulders and it startled the woman.

"o-oh s-sorry… but are you alright ma'am?" Natsuki asked politely and worriedly.

The woman looked at her and smiled weakly. She brushed her hair away from her face revealing her brown eyes. "ara, who might you be little lady?" the woman said softly.

When Natsuki heard the woman's voice and felt the woman's stare at her, she felt weak in the knees. She stared at the woman for a few seconds and shook her head.

"I think you need something to drink ma'am. Please wait for me." Natsuki said, leaving the woman.

A few minutes later Natsuki came back with a bottle of water and a wet handkerchief. She gave the water to the woman and tilted the woman's head. She wiped the woman's forehead with the wet handkerchief that made the woman sigh in relief.

"There, I think you should be okay now ma'am. Just drink some water so that you won't be dehydrated again. I'm sorry if I may leave you now ma'am, I'm kinda looking for someone." Natsuki said sadly and left the woman.

"Ara, that young lady sure is nice." The woman said, smiling as she trailed her sight at Natsuki before disappearing at the right side corner of the corridor.

A man wearing a black suit approaches the woman and bowed before her. "I'm very sorry Ma'am, but the meeting's almost done and sir Viola's been worried about your sudden disappearance." Said the man firmly and politely.

"Ara, I wonder if Ferid misses me already." The woman said. She stood up and walked towards the left side corner of the corridor, accompanied by the black suited man.