A/N: Ok, so I'm back everyone! Miss me? Eh, probably not. Well, today's pairing is NozoMaki, a very interesting one that I've shipped ever since their bonding when they were at Maki's summer house. Signbear suggested this pairing and AU and it was hard at first as I didn't know what to write. But then one night I suddenly got an idea of how to start and ended up finishing it in just one night. I'm proud of that XD

Also, thank you for your concern Enya Talisman in your review; I appreciate it very much. But I'm ok with all the pairing requests as I can just add it to the list and then I have something to do in my spare time XD

Order of oneshot/chapter pairings after this one:

NozoEli (Next)

UmiMaki

HonoMaki

KotoNico

UmiRin

NicoEli

NozoUmi

ArisaUmi

AnjuMaki

NozoHono

Enjoy! XD

…

Title: She's A Mystery

Pairing: NozoMaki

Rating: K+

…

"Good morning, Father." Maki Nishikino addressed her father politely as she sat down at the table across from him. The brown haired male brought his gaze away from the large newspaper in his hand and directed it towards the redheaded girl.

"Good morning, poppet." He replied cheerily to his only daughter, a small pout forming on her lips at the nickname.

"Father… Do you really have to call me that?" Maki said, crossing her arms stubbornly with a blush on her cheeks.

Mr Nishikino chuckled lightly at the small blush that was now on his daughter's face. "Would you prefer it if I called you Lady Nishikino instead?" He asked with amusement in his voice.

Maki froze, uncrossing her arms quickly as a larger blush overtook her face. "Father!" Mr Nishikino laughed as Maki frowned at her father's cheery behaviour towards her. How could someone be so cheery in the morning? Well, someone apart from her maid Honoka who always found a reason to be cheerful. Sometimes it got on the redhead's nerves that her maid could always smile whilst she barely found a reason to. Her mother always commented that she should smile more, especially around guests that they had often, but Maki didn't want to.

Now, no normal girls had a maid and had guests so often and that was because Maki wasn't just a normal girl. She was the daughter of the Nishikino's, the richest family in the country, and was the heir to the Nishikino Hospital that her parents owned. And even though it sounded amazing, Maki didn't think it was so great. Decisions were often made for her and she never got to do many things on her own; her parents stated that was Honoka's job.

Maki wished she was normal, and even just a little taste of what it was like would make her happy.

Mr Nishikino stopped laughing, clearing his throat as he remembered what he wanted to discuss with his daughter. He knew she wouldn't like the idea, as she hadn't liked the idea of a maid, but he knew it was for the best.

"Maki," He said, watching as she looked up at him with surprised violet eyes. He took a deep breath then continued. "Maki, you know that since we own the hospital that we have a lot of money, right?"

"Well it shows, Father." Maki replied, looking around the glamorous room. Mr Nishikino nodded, laying the newspaper flat down on the table and lacing his fingers together.

"You also know that since we have a lot of money, we could be in trouble at any time, am I correct?" The brown haired male asked again, his brown eyes meeting Maki's violet. The redhead nodded slowly, still unsure where this was going. "Well… I'm worried for your safety, poppet. People that want our money could use you as bait to get it out of me and your mother and neither of us want that to ever happen."

Maki folded her arms across her chest, not really liking the breakfast topic at all. "What are you trying to say, Father?" She asked, frowning a little. She had a feeling she wouldn't like what else was to come either.

Mr Nishikino perked up a little bit, flashing a small smile. "I've hired you a bodyguard." He took in his daughter's reaction, watching as her eyes widened in shock.

"A bodyguard?! Father, I'm not sure that's a good idea!" Maki disliked the idea; she knew she was going to dislike it. A bodyguard?! What?! It would be bizarre to have a bodyguard with her. People would laugh at her, and say she was too weak to stand up for herself. Not everyone knew who she was, even if she was the daughter of the richest family in the country.

Mr Nishikino frowned slightly. "And why not? Your mother and I think it's a very good idea. We won't be as worried for your safety if we know there's someone to look after you when we're not at home. And this bodyguard seems very trustworthy and pleasant and is a female too to make you feel more comfortable." The man smiled, not noticing the growing frown on Maki's face.

"Can't I keep myself safe? I can stick up for myself! And if anything happens, I've always got Honoka with me!" The redhead protested. Mr Nishikino shook his head.

"Maki, Honoka isn't a bodyguard; she's a maid. She cooks, cleans and takes care of the house while we're gone. She isn't supposed to leave the house with you, though I'm letting last week slide." Maki paled; no one was supposed to know about last week when she and Honoka left the house together and went to the new bakery down the street. Mr Nishikino shook his head in disbelief, though true to his word he did let it slide, and continued. "I understand that she's your friend, and she's a lovely girl but she can't really protect you like a real bodyguard can."

Maki huffed and turned away, a deep frown on her features. "You don't think I can protect myself…! I don't need a bodyguard, and I don't want one!"

"Of course I think you can protect yourself, poppet! You're one of the bravest people I know! I just don't want to see you get hurt…" Maki took a glance at her father, taking in his sad expression and she felt guilty all of a sudden. She sighed mentally; maybe she could give it a try…

"Father," Mr Nishikino looked up at Maki and the redhead sighed for real this time. I'm going to regret this… "M-Maybe I'll try having a bodyguard…" Mr Nishikino perked up and smiled brightly.

"That's the spirit, poppet!"

"D-Don't call me that! And just because I said I'll give it a try, it still doesn't mean that I need one!" Mr Nishikino just chuckled.

"You'll meet her tomorrow. Her name is Nozomi Tojo."

…

"Honoka, you are not going to believe this…" Maki groaned as she leaned against the banister the maid was currently cleaning. The ginger girl turned her head to look at the redhead, a small gasp leaving her lips.

"I'm not fired, am I?!" Honoka bit her lip and Maki felt bad for her. The ginger girl was always fearing for her job, afraid that the littlest thing that she did wrong would result in her losing her job and she couldn't afford that. She came to the Nishikino's a few years ago looking for work to go towards helping her family who could barely pay their rent and afford things such as food and the Nishikino's gladly took her in after hearing her story and she had been working there ever since. They had no intention of firing her, but the ginger still worried.

"Honoka! You're not going to be fired!" Maki sighed. Honoka was a lovely person; cheerful and smiley and she was a good listener when it came to Maki. The two were really good friends, even if Honoka was the maid and they had gotten past the shy and formal stage ages ago.

"So… What is it?" The ginger continued to polish the banister. Maki sighed again, moving a little so Honoka could reach behind her and polish the rest of the banister.

"Father's hired me a female bodyguard." Maki replied half-heartedly, still not liking the news. Honoka's head shot up and she dropped her rag and spray bottle, her sapphire eyes wide.

"Are you kidding me?!" The ginger said, watching Maki's shoulders slump. The redhead hadn't imagined how Honoka would react, but what came next was unexpected. "That's so cool, Maki-chan!" Maki turned to her friend with a scrunched up expression.

"What's so cool about it, Honoka?" The redhead muttered, crossing her arms. Honoka rolled her eyes, used to Maki's words and behaviour by now. Then her eyes brightened.

"You're so lucky, Maki-chan!"

"Eh?! How am I lucky?" Maki paused. "Apart from the obvious." Honoka smiled.

"To get a bodyguard!" Maki's nose wrinkled up.

"What's so good about a stupid bodyguard?" Honoka bent down to pick up her rag and spray bottle and when she came back up again, her smile was wider.

"Because isn't it a new friend?"

Honoka's words shocked Maki. She hadn't thought of it that way at all, and now that she thought about it, maybe Honoka was right. Maki bit her lip as she looked at the smiling ginger.

She knew that she was selfish for saying things like that all the time in front of Honoka when she knew of what Honoka had lost and how little she had left when she lived in a large mansion with so many expensive things that were impossible for Honoka to get. It made her feel guilty, but she didn't really know how to apologize. Maki was never the type to apologize or show her true feelings in front of others, though she did open up more to Honoka as she trusted the ginger, maybe even more than her parents never mind that Honoka was the maid and used to be a stranger to them all.

"Maki-chan, are you ok?" Honoka approached the redhead and tapped her shoulder gently. "Maki-chan~" Maki snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. Honoka only smiled kindly.

"Trapped in your thoughts again, Maki-chan?" The ginger polished the last of the banister with a laugh. "Wish I had your problem." Maki couldn't help but smile at the maid's kind attempts to cheer her up and she placed a hand on the ginger's shoulder, making her turn round.

"Eh? Maki-chan…"

"Honoka… Thanks for everything you've done for me." Honoka grinned, before throwing her stuff down and hugging the redhead.

"No problem, Maki-chan!"

Hugs were nothing new between Honoka and Maki. Maki had been confused and embarrassed the first time Honoka hugged her, but she liked it and accepted every hug from then on. It was odd and considered wrong for a maid to hug their employers and their relatives but things were different for the Nishikino's. They wanted to help Honoka and considered her part of the family.

The two girls broke apart and moved further down the hall as Honoka continued her job. "So why has your father hired you a bodyguard? Apart from the obvious." Honoka asked, quoting Maki. Maki groaned.

"It seems I'm in need of protecting." The redhead crossed her arms. "My parents think that people will kidnap me to get to our money."

"Aw, your parents are so sweet!" Honoka smiled. "And besides Maki-chan, doesn't the bodyguard mean that your parents care about you and worry for your safety?" Maki nodded.

"I guess so…" Honoka nodded firmly.

"Then give it a try! I take it she'll arrive tomorrow?" Maki nodded.

"Around noon."

"Ooh! What's her name?!"

"I think Father said her name was… Nozomi Tojo…"

…

The next day, just before noon, the Nishikino family including Honoka were gathered in the living room waiting for Nozomi Tojo's arrival. Maki leaned back into the sofa, biting her lip. Even though she tried not to show it, she was actually kind of nervous. What would this Nozomi Tojo be like? Nice? Strict? Over protective all the time? The name didn't provide much of a description and her parents wouldn't give her any details.

Honoka sat next to her on the sofa, unsure of whether she should actually be in the living room at the moment or not. She looked next to her to see her friend biting her lip anxiously and she grinned. So Maki was nervous.

Everyone sat in silence, though the Nishikino parents occasionally whispered to each other about something, probably the bodyguard. Then the doorbell rang, echoing through the entire house.

Mr Nishikino shot up off the sofa and left the room to answer the door, Mrs Nishikino following. Honoka turned to Maki who know had her arms crossed.

"Calm down, Maki-chan. I bet she's cool and likeable, much like yourself." Maki sighed at Honoka's compliment that was so like her at this sort of moment and she sank further into the sofa cushions. Then her ears pricked up at the sound of voices. Two of them familiar, but one of them unfamiliar and higher pitched.

A few moments later, the Nishikino parents entered the room with someone following behind them. Maki sat up to get a closer look and she gasped a little as she came into sight, hearing Honoka gasp as well beside her.

"Maki, meet Nozomi Tojo."

The new arrival stepped forward and smiled warmly. "Hello, Miss Nishikino. I'm Nozomi Tojo, you're new bodyguard. It's nice to meet you." Maki looked her up and down, taking in the sight before her. Hair that resembled the colour of irises was tied into two long pigtails secured with cream ribbons that went well with her cream dress, turquoise eyes that glittered brightly and creamy skin that looked smooth to the touch. This girl was…beautiful.

"Hehehe…" Maki was broke from her thoughts when she heard giggling. At first she thought it was Honoka, but then she realized it was coming from Nozomi.

"What's so funny?" The redhead asked, though the second she did, she realized she had just made a rude first impression. Her parents were glaring at her for her rudeness but it didn't seem to affect Nozomi at all. In fact, the pigtailed girl just giggled again.

"You were staring at me. I was told you didn't seem to take well to the whole bodyguard business. But by the looks of it, you have taken an interest in it after all! You even have a little blush on your face…"

"N-No I didn't!" Maki protested, though now she could feel the heat on her face and it was increasing by the second. Nozomi chuckled.

"You're funny. I think I'll like being your bodyguard."

Maki huffed and leaned back into the sofa with a pout on her face. She didn't like this bodyguard at all! It didn't matter that she was the most beautiful person that Maki had ever seen in her life... Ok, she had to stop thinking things like that.

"Maki-chan~ You're staring at her again~" Honoka giggled, shooting Maki a small wink before she got up off the sofa and smiled at Nozomi.

"Hi! I'm Honoka Kousaka, the maid for the Nishikino family. Nice to meet you, Tojo-san!" Nozomi smiled back and took Honoka's hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Kousaka-san! But please, call me Nozomi." Honoka nodded.

"Then call me Honoka."

"Deal."

Maki watched the scene in front of her play out with a frown. Honoka had already taken a liking to Nozomi and it looked like the pigtailed girl liked Honoka as well. Maki wasn't sure about Nozomi at all. She was still hard to guess about; all that Maki knew was that she was perky and was surely trouble. The redhead just hoped that nothing bad would happen to Honoka. The ginger didn't know much about people and liked to make friends with everyone, whoever they were which could get her into trouble.

Nozomi didn't seem like the bodyguard type at all, so surely her parents had made a mistake in hiring her? The purple haired girl didn't seem like she could protect herself, let alone Maki. But strangely, she seemed to fit in well and she gave off a sense of warmth and happiness, much like Honoka did.

"How about you show Tojo-san around, Maki?" Mr Nishikino pulled the redhead back to reality and she shrugged in response. Nozomi smiled brightly, her turquoise eyes glittering with excitement.

"Oh, that would be great! And please, call me Nozomi."

"All right, Nozomi it is." Mr Nishikino nodded firmly before taking his wife's hand and they both started to head towards the door. "We'll be off to the hospital now. Nozomi, I'm counting on you."

"You can count on me, Mr Nishikino!" The girl gave a mock salute and the brown haired male laughed as he exited the house with his wife, waving as he went. Once they were gone, Nozomi turned to the two remaining people in the room. Honoka stood, not sure what to do and Maki didn't move at all from her position on the sofa.

"All right, so how about that tour?" Nozomi could sense tension for some reason and tried to break it apart a little bit. Honoka seemed to like the idea and tapped Maki's shoulder.

"Maki-chan, are you coming?" The ginger asked. Maki looked up at the maid and took in the pleading eyes and sighed.

"I guess so." Honoka smiled and grabbed the redhead's hand, pulling her up off the sofa.

"Then let's go!"

"Hey, wait a minute!"

"Come on, Maki-chan!"

"Honoka!"

Nozomi laughed at the display, gaining their attention. "You two are very close, aren't you?" Honoka nodded determinedly whilst Maki couldn't stop herself from smiling at that. Nozomi nodded, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a single card with a blue back. "Ah, a friend in need. Things will surely turn around for you both soon apparently, and you'll both like what's to come. At least, that's what the cards say." Nozomi grinned, slipping the card into her pocket again. Honoka and Maki watched her, both with shocked expressions.

"So... Let's get started on this tour then!" Honoka nodded, completely forgetting about what just happened, and she led the way up the stairs, deciding to do upstairs first. Nozomi followed the ginger, winking at Maki who was still staring at her as she left the room. As soon as she was gone, Maki snapped out of her trance and looked at the open door.

What was that…? Cards? Is she some sort of fortune teller? I thought she was a bodyguard…? Still confused, Maki exited the room and stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up to see Nozomi still following Honoka who was rambling and pointing things out. The pigtailed girl laughed occasionally and Maki felt strange emotions inside of her that she'd never felt before. What the hell…?

The redhead breathed deeply, waiting for Nozomi and Honoka to disappear out of sight, before starting up the stairs after her friend and new bodyguard. She's a mystery… A mystery that I intend to find out.

…

Ok, sorry for the crappy ending but I didn't really know how to finish it off. I knew that I wanted it to end sometime after Maki met Nozomi so that I could maybe do a continuation if someone requests the pairing again…? Also, sorry for the lack of NozoMaki as it actually seems like more of a HonoMaki friendship. But I hope I did ok and people actually like it!

Review below if you would like a continuation of this, or to voice your thoughts or to request another pairing! Thanks!