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Disclaimer: I don't own MaiHime..
A/N: Updates? Haha.. yes.. This is a gift to you guys for sending out reviews for chapter 9, and for Naolin's incredible gift! Thank you! Ah yes.. this is definietely shorter than the last one.. and is -- was-- extremely hard to revise.. -phew!-
Hopefully this chapter is enough to keep me moving, still.. and you guys, from actually killing me... haha!
Thank you, again, I'm truly grateful..
Please enjoy this - suggested background music is the chapter title, which is from Noir - and don't forget my reviews guys!
Ittadakimasu!
Warning: Multiple POVs... please don't get confused... I, myself, got confused! kidding... hahah!
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Maki Maki
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Chapter 10: Corsican Corridor
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The peace and calmness of the afternoon got to her. It was sunny yet not that hot and sitting idly by the porch was just bad. She never wanted to waste such opportunity to stroll around the rest house. And yet, here she is, sitting alone.
Well – not quite.
"Harumi-san…?" Haruka's voice was an indication of it. She looked up and saw the blonde eyeing her.
Ah yes, they were discussing something.
"I'm sorry Haruka-san… Dozing off is one of my hobbies…" Her being cheeky almost gets her away out of anything. "Where were we?"
The blonde shook her head. "Natsuki and Shizuru…"
"What about them…?" Harumi noticed the frown on the other girl's face. "I'm so sorry… Ah—yes! How will I go about them knowing each other?"
Silence means yes—or so Harumi decided to believe in.
She stretched and yawned, much to Haruka's surprise, seeing how loose she's acting up. It was the first time, she's guessing, that the Suzushiro has seen her in one of her lazy moods.
"I'll give credit to Kuga for being—hmm, how will I put it…?" she raises her finger and taps it – rather annoyingly for Haruka – on her chin. "AH! Fashionable late…!" Her beaming really is getting to Haruka's nerve.
The blonde wanted to feel light headed for some reason and she wanted to scream at Yukino for still not being there. The white-haired girl went back to admiring the vastness of the sky.
"Haruka-san…" Switch roles.
"Yes…?"
"You think… I'm going too soft on the girl?"
Silence, yet again. And Harumi knew how torn Haruka is.
Simple people – simple minds.
"Wh-What ever do you mean?" Haruka decided to act. What more can she do? She's trapped and unfortunately, Harumi knows it!
It's that time of the year to rekindle the fire, the hate… the unending bitterness and blame for people and places and – events. And Haruka doesn't have much of a choice.
Be quiet and wilt. Say something and die.
Basically trapped, nonetheless... Where is Yukino?
Harumi smiled broadly, her eyes closed, the bloodied orbs taking in a rest so well-deserved. "Oh, you know what I mean…" The girl's feeble excuses of remaining neutral could be promising, but Harumi needs active players.
The show should begin soon…
"Do you think I'll get her…?" Harumi's change in question never helped. Much to Haruka's chagrin, she wished she had answered the first one.
"…get who?" Playing was unlike her. But the snow-haired girl is a player-- A very good one at that.
"Natsuki."
"What?!" Now that was unexpected. Haruka of course knew what Harumi meant by 'get her'… And she was seriously taking that it was Shizuru which was actually the subject here.
"You're not paying attention---?" Harumi's jokes and mindless throwing of words had been enough. Haruka asked again—clearer, she decided.
"You're aiming at Natsuki?" even the words were choked.
"Yes." By that, meaning the 'yes' is a 'yes' and though Haruka knew Harumi loves to play, the answer was seriously made. She tried breaking it down to bits and pieces she would definitely not enjoy putting back together.
Did the extent of the Tamagaki's playfulness reach Shizuru?
"We're you playing with Shizuru all this time?" Stopping is an option—but no.
Harumi opened one eye, her hair shadowing it. "No."
"Then… why…?"
Again, the simplicity of Haruka mesmerized her. Really…
"Oh… I see… by saying 'get her', you meant eliminate her, is that it?!" The realization – even not supported by any – hit hard as Haruka panicked at the easiness of how she, herself, said it. Harumi seemed likely to be a person who can do so.
The laughter even added to the fear she had for this person.
"No, no, no…Haruka-san…! You are so morose aren't you…?" Harumi denying things is unlikely, so the blonde took it that it was true. "Please—oh please, do not assume things… It's good that there's only you and me here…!"
Haruka felt nothing. Ashamed? Why? --Of berating this person to doing such 'horrific' deed… ?
But, she never imagined how relieved she was that killing Natsuki – for real – never reached Harumi's twisted script-writing.
"So, what do you mean…?"
"There you go—simplicity of questions!" Harumi pointed blankly. Haruka waited. "You see, I want to get her… Not have her… Just 'get' her… that Natsuki girl… Get it?"
The pun.
The laughter.
Everything…
It was useless.
Haruka turned her back and walked straight inside, it seems she won't get answers… But she'll warn Natsuki. She walked hastily leaving the amused Harumi all by herself on the porch.
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"Ah—yes, alone at last..." Harumi raised her hand, widening it, reaching for something, up towards the heavens. Her eyes flinched because of the light striking down at her. It's gotten incredibly hot.
"My rose… "She mumbled, quite dreary, yet intensified only by the strength and defiance of those red burning eyes she possesses. Someone actually matched her and for that she's willing to do anything to rip off someone else's heart – if needed.
Closing her eyes was an after thought as she realized leaving it open is just the same as having them shut. She can't see anything anymore. The intensity of her desire is unbecoming.
She was never trained to have them
What are desires, any way?
Ah, yes.
Shizuru thought them to her.
Ranges and ranges of ill- gotten emotions, all packed up – summarized – in the book that is Shizuru. All Harumi had to do was 'read'.
Her laughter – it was a recorded music she plays over and over again. Her hands formed a fist now, still aiming up. Thinking about Shizuru makes her think of Natsuki... And her smile turned a little lopsided.
"I was never enough…"
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Natsuki felt nothing.
The question was simple yet all she can do was go and be numb.
Shizuru was just asking. Why should she be this affected? And besides - she must've expected this!
The question was followed by stillness as both girls chose not to move in fear of ruining anything. Their hands are still clasped together, unmoving. Shizuru's breathing became ragged but Natsuki didn't mind as her own heartbeat drowned her ears.
The question, it shook her.
'Was she in love with me?'
It was hard to answer that.
Obviously Shizuru was in love with her. But even Natsuki wouldn't admit to that. And she got scared.
Then she ran away…
Which led her to the present situation: facing the dreaded truth, yet again…
'Was Shizuru really in love with me?'
'Is she still in love with me?
It hurt.
Why won't her heart stop screaming already…?
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When I saw you came in, I knew something was a little too proverbial.
The way your eyes sparkled then dulled, the way your breath halted when you saw me, the way your sweat trickled as I greeted you… It was scary that I seem to actually remember you from nowhere.
For some time now, I have only relied so much on Harumi-san's help… She's all I got.
And everything, from the dress I wear now, to the things I eat, I entrusted to her.
Because, at one point, I knew I died.
But I can't remember… Funny… but—yes… It's sad.
I woke up… and knew not of why I still did… I almost believed I ceased to exist.
But there she was… and she was all I have.
She told me—a lot of things. A lot of which didn't make sense to me. I was blind.
Harumi-san… She was always there for me… And I needed that.
One by one, the pieces of me were solidified by her hand. Her eyes overlooked my mishaps and recreated my life before me. It was…so to speak… a rebirth.
Fujino Shizuru.
That was a start.
My name… It escaped your lips in a way that I know I liked… A little too much, perhaps.
Harumi-san refers me to a princess… And everyone else… all of the 'people' I was introduced to, the people Harumi-san brought in this house, regarded me so delicately.
I should know them, Harumi-san told me.
I knew them.
Do I know you, too?
Then… How close were we?
Were we always this… shy?
But then again, as you quietly lingered in my presence, I never saw the 'desire' from you to actually let me know who you are…
More so… Who you were…
I don't know why, but Harumi-san never told me about you. Nobody told me about you…
Were you that insignificant?
I was 'reacquainted' to my 'friends' long, oh-so-long ago. But you weren't there… And you were never mentioned. Though I thought I remembered clearly that I was reminded of people who were not there that day.
Did my memory fail me again this time?
If so… I'm sorry…
But…
Your lips… they are too familiar.
Back then, Harumi-san is the only one I was accustomed to. She was the only one I can rely on. No one held me so close other than her.
She was what is familiar.
But you?
Who are you?
Why did you--- do that…?
Why did I answer it?
Kuga Natsuki. Where have you been?
Somehow… somehow I knew…
I knew I missed you…
But –
Why does it hurt?
It hurts… Somewhere…
It hurts badly… Kuga Natsuki…
It seems that amongst those that I have met, you're the only one my body, my heart, my soul, seemed to remember the best…
And yet you also seemed to be the only one I have forgotten the most…
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"Please…" Shizuru's voice was supple against her face. "…tell me anything… Am I? Am I in love with you?" Natsuki didn't notice how or when it happened, but their bodies are pinned together now.
Chained together…
Her hand move on accord as it gently moved up and down the older girl's back. She can't give up now.
But what will she do?
What will she say?
To actually admit to Shizuru that – YES, the girl was indeed in love with her, and that surprisingly, she could still be, even after so long, would be too selfish on her part. But it will do well for her, right?
Isn't that too egotistic?
She could rewrite her mistake by just saying "yes" now.
Say "yes", and this castle can go down in ashes—along with it, that spawn of what not!
Yes… This is it.
Shizuru is in love with her. Still. Natsuki knew that!
And all she has to do is tell Shizuru one, simple word.
But--- isn't that cheating, Natsuki?
The clutching of hands on her chest brought her back, the urgency of the matter pressed her in the form of Shizuru's body as it inclined towards her.
What should I say to you, Shizuru?
"Shizuru…" Natsuki closed her eyes and laid her head near the other's ears. "I'm sorry… But I cannot answer that…" Shizuru moved her face away to look at the blue-haired. And it broke Natsuki to see that her cheeks are already soaked.
Natsuki's pained expression contradicted her fingers as they softly wiped Shizuru's tear-soaked face. And almost on instinct, Shizuru leaned in to the touch.
Say yes, you idiot! Just say it!
"I…" her hand stopped and the crimson-eyed girl looked at her now, waiting. As always…
And so she decided. "I… don't mind…"
"…Natsuki-chan…?"
Ambiguity. She must not go with that. Natsuki sighed and almost too sudden, she pulled the girl in a hug. Shizuru was too startled to comment.
"Shizuru…" an intake of the girl's scent... "I don't have to answer that…And honestly, I don't mind if you can't remember… "The scent of Shizuru never appealed to her this much. "… Not that I don't care…"
"But—"
"Hush…please… " Her softness; it's everything Natsuki wanted to have in her harsh life. "…Remembering… it's for things that have been forgotten… And I—I don't think you take love for something that you would forget so easily… neh?" Her smile could betray her anytime, and Natsuki will stop minding from now on.
"…Natsuki…"
You deserve to know...
"So please.. don't ask me that... I won't - I cannot - give an answer to you...I will never be sure of the truthfulness of that knowledge..." Her hand touched the chestnut-haired goddess before her. "But--it won't make any difference... whether you love me, loved me, or not..."
...no lies...
Shizuru gasped as Natsuki got up and kneeled in front of her.
"...What I'm sure of is that I love you, Shizuru…" Her smile never wavered. She held out a hand, and her heart sank as Shizuru placed hers on top of it.
I will make you mine... again..
She will be a prince... A king, even. And she'll take Shizuru. Little by little.
And this time... I'll never let go...
Her heart was heavy, but as Shizuru smiled at her, understanding evident in those crimson eyes, Natsuki knew it'll be okay.
...never again...
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A/N: No cliffie this time.. Haha.. I got uhm.. less inspired to give you guys reasons to kill me... yes-- I'm still heart broken.. gahh... I'd never find happiness... haha! LMAO..
Anyways, how was it? Please send in reviews... Okay? If you're new, please don't hesitate in sending one for this chapter or the others.. let me know if I disgust you... haha.. kidding..
Stabbing? ahhh... I gues not, huh? No.. No stabbing this time.. hehe..I gave you a --juicy-- chappie.. hehe..
I'm sorry if the story is boring, but please bear with me... this is an experiment.. and well-- I really want to see this through the end... fufufu... So please... If you have to flame me, do it.. Mail me.. and I'll make sure I mail you back... Questions? same routine guys..
Naolin, thanks so much for the doujins... really... so much.. I owe you..
There! Oh yes... check my homepage, uhmm... Double by BoA... gaaahh! Just.. uh.. check it.. heheh..
-sigh- There you go guys.. I'd be taking two days off... need to heal, y' know.. hope you enjoyed this chapter... I'll do better next time.. I squeezed my brains out, and I'm tempted to do the same with another vital body part.. you know, the one below the prain, and above your tummy? Haha.. make a guess..? Nah!
Grr.. I'll stop here now.. no ranting for tonight.. SOo... see yah! and Please read and review my other works.. Oh--- and don't forget this one too, ok? Thanks!
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"I'm off, to never never land!!!"