A/N: This is the last chapter in this story, and I hope you all like it. Thank you to those who followed, reviewed, and enjoyed this fiction...just as I enjoyed the time I spent getting it written up, and posted. I hope this fulfilling for you all, even if it is more fluffy and a bit haphazard rather than anything.

I don't own Mai HiME/Mai Otome.

White Fence
Chapter 10
(Natsuki POV)

I'm not the type of person to really think about things, because thinking drags me into places that I'd rather not be. There are times, however, that I like to casually mull over a topic, normally while working, since work keeps me from obsessing. That's why I talked to Nao so much...it was also why I was a bit hesitant really, to acknowledge my want for another child. Being at home gets dull, and baby can't compare to the company of an adult, one who's able to speak...or in Nao's case, at least bash me upside of the head.

I wanted to have something though, that would reflect my own image...a child that was not a charity at first, but rather, merely my desire and whim to have one.

People say it takes a strong person to love a child that is not their own...but I find that if you can't love a child, that you must be a very sad human. Children are all in need of the same things that adults need. Food, water, a warm place to sleep at night. Kindness...basic things that anyone can provide. That alone will give a child the means to grow up just fine. You could sit there, and question every little detail, or disciplinary action in the book, but, I'd much rather just tell people to burn those stupid self help guides. The more help you have, the more jaded people seem to get. I understand that now.

I guess I just wanted to be a little selfish.

I don't have to give my reasons, or my answers for my life to anyone. They're my own to have. Screw anyone who even dares to say otherwise. My life isn't perfect, in fact, it's even more crazy now than ever before. There's not a method to the madness anymore, because I haven't quite gotten that far. A day at a time is about the best you can do in this household. Aki and Kane are strong personalities, and Shizuru isn't any pushover. With Nao sending random spats of fire into the mix, you can be assured that keeping any pretense of order, or at least civility, is mostly out of the question.

I don't know why, but that doesn't surprise me.

Eventually things will simmer down...though, I think things will pick back up again as well, sooner or later...newborns don't talk back, they don't fight with you, they don't learn ways to drive you crazy. In a few years, this time right now will have been a fleeting memory, and god only knows how Rin will be as she grows older. Perhaps she'll be the calm, obedient child...but, I have a bad feeling, since she has my genes and all, that she'll be a hellion worse than Aki. I wouldn't mind it, if that happened.

Actually, I'd probably prefer it...it would keep things interesting. At least then, I know I wouldn't have to worry... I've come up with a simple theory that Aki and Kane have both taught me. Though, if you want to dig down deeper you find the answer you were looking for anyway. Nao, Mai and and I were all the same in those ways too...our family is living proof, very obscure though it is.

It comes down to simply this: Kids with bite, turn out alright.

…

"And so, after a lot of working around obstacles, she finally agreed to move in." Natsuki smiled softly as she sat in her rocking chair, easing it back and forth in a gentle motion. "She sold her house to Mai and Tate, who needed the space. Nao and I had to pull a lot of strings to renovate the space, we couldn't do it all on our own, but finally it got done." The fussing of the newborn in her arms was something of a mystery to the man she hadn't seen in several years. "Eventually, I guess you could say, everything just sort of clicked into place."

"Yeah it looks like it." The man agreed, having seen for the first time, in a long time, his friend actually smile. "Nao told me things were different, but I guess, I never thought this would turn out so well for you."

"Trust me, I didn't either." Natsuki laughed, knowing that he was still honestly dumbfounded. "There were a few times I really thought things just weren't going to work out. Though, Nao was really hesitating about a lot of things too." Either way, it didn't matter. Everything had eventually come full circle, even for Nao's personal life, which had been staggering up until recently. "I'm just sorry that I couldn't tell you about all the stuff that happened. I wanted to contact you sooner."

"No, don't be." The man laughed then. "I always knew you wouldn't end up with me...it's alright though." With a beer in his hand, and a bright smile on his face, he had found that Natsuki was doing just fine, well enough without him. "I think it's kinda cool, how things turned out and all." He couldn't deny, Natsuki had done well for herself. "I only wish Nao would have told me sooner." Even as he said that, he marveled at the little one Natsuki was trying to soothe. "She likes to keep things quiet I guess...Nao's always hiding something, at least it seems like it."

"You know how she is. I thought it was a little odd when she'd come to work smelling of some random scent." Natsuki said then softly, when a shake of her head. "Nao's just paranoid or something. The fact she's even interested at all, well, that's gotta count for something, right?" Natsuki still thought it was a bit odd, but he was a good man, and he would look after Nao, that was for sure. "Besides, someones gotta get rid of all of that pent up frustration."

"She does have a lot of that." Takeda noted dryly.

It wasn't a moment later that a clatter sounded from the other room. "Fuck you too, assholes!" Nao shouted from the top of her lungs. "I can hear ya, idiots..."

"Hush, before you wake up the baby." Shizuru's voice was much quieter in the kitchen as she proceed to scold Nao. "You know I don't like it when you use such words."

"See?" Natsuki smirked then. "Nao's always been that way, Takeda. You can't really expect her to be any different." Though the words were meant in jest, there was a soft truth there as well. As she looked down at her youngest child in her arms, barely a few weeks old, it was all Natsuki could do, not to laugh at Nao's constant swearing. "She'll come around...she always does." Short wisps of midnight hair peaked out from under the cap that kept the baby's head warm. "Nao's always had a soft spot for a family...she'll want one of her own, if you give her the time to really think about it."

"Speaking of that, what made you decide to actually get pregnant?" Takeda asked, still unsure of that detail. In fact, when Nao had all but dragged him into the house, he hadn't been expecting to see the abode so filled with love and family. It was a drastic change from the person he knew so long ago. A leather jacket exchanged for a burp cloth...A bottle of beer all but extinct for a bottle of soda. This woman had changed drastically, it was still the same ole Natsuki under the surface. "This is all a bit...much."

"It's a crap shoot...I know." she chuckled then, it was really heartwarming to see him. "A lot of things came to mind, actually. I don't have time to tell you about that tonight though, I wish I did. I'll bet we'll be seeing you around a lot more now that you're dating my best fiend. I can explain that one another time."

"Speaking of that, shut up, and give me that kid." Nao was still with her usual vulgarities as she demanded the infant.

"Alright, baby addict..." Natsuki was snide, but not out of truly being mean. At Takeda's raised eyebrow she merely blabbered the one thing that embarrassed Nao the most. In fact, she would never admit it outwardly. "She loves kids, even if she doesn't act like it."

"One more remark, and I swear I'll punch you in the damned face." She would too, it wouldn't be the first time she'd clobbered Natsuki, and it wouldn't be the last. One peak at her watch told her they didn't have time for fighting tonight, no matter how much apart of their routine it was. "If you don't get ready for your outing soon, Kane will be pissed." Nao, like an old pro at the task, held the baby with ease...as if she hadn't been petrified of them in her younger years. She watched as Natsuki slipped on her shoes, and got both her coat, and Shizuru's.

"There's some breast milk in the-" Natsuki had to duck when a soft toy went flying in her direction. "Really?" Natsuki grumbled as she blacked the next toy with her hands. Nao kept flinging them. "You're a jackass."

"If you don't hurry, you'll miss his tournament, and then I'll have to explain why his mothers had their heads up their asses." Nao grumbled, waving off the stern look Shizuru flashed her way. "We got this covered, so go."

"Are you sure it's really alright to leave her with Nao?" Shizuru asked looking back at the door as Natsuki ushered them both outside. One of the toys managed to follow them, Nao's aim was quite good. "Mai's right next door, we could have asked her. Actually, sometimes I wonder if we should start doing that. It seems like a better idea." She took the time to pick it up, carrying it with her to the car. "Nao's okay, but sometimes, she worries me."

"Nao has it covered." Natsuki wasn't a fan of the new minivan, purchased several months back, but she needed something more functional than the truck. "She used to watch Aki and Kane, after all." In fact, there wasn't anyone Natsuki would rather have, though, Mai was a close second. "There isn't anyone better than Nao, trust me."

"You know I do." That was never the problem. "It just isn't ideal to have her less than wonderful vulgarity all over the house. Nao is quite colorful, you have to agree."

No, perhaps it wasn't ideal, but it was normal. Still, Natsuki just leaned over, giving Shizuru a reassuring kiss before she started up the car. "Nao knows what she's doing, Even if she doesn't act like it."

…
(Natsuki POV)

Life took a turn for the obscure, after Shizuru and I had a rather difficult night of confessions. I guess that things just came full circle...they were bound to do it, sooner or later. I just thought it would be later...much, much later.

I'd like to say that we overcame a lot of our differences, and that our household became a happy one easily. I'd like to say that Aki quit school almost immediately, and then, after that, she found an internship with Nao and I. I would even like to say Kane got into one of his top choice high schools. Hell, if I was one of those brainless twats who thought life would always be greener on my side of things, I would go so far as to say that life seemed to perfect from the get go...

That's just not how life works...and that's not what happened.

Shizuru did move in, and Aki did quit school. Though, that's were the perfect dream ends, and reality hits home. Turns out, it's a lot easier to be a couple when you live in a different space. You can walk away, go home, and live your own life. When you share a life, things get a bit different. You have to be careful, and considerate. Every single word becomes harder to deal with. Occasionally, we forget, even now, what it means to be just a little softer about our reactions. We fight, like every couple does...we have make up sex a lot, because of that...but we understand, war is apart of family.

There is a lot of that in this house now...more than I want to admit sometimes.

I was pretty easy going, I didn't keep strong tabs, I didn't need to do it. Now however, Shizuru does. Aki doesn't like that one bit. To Shizuru's credit, she's getting close enough now to Aki, that she can finally break through to her...sometimes better than Nao can. Sometimes...but not always. Though, Aki did take out her eyebrow piercing, and got rid of all of coloring in her hair...she's actually begun to dress like a young lady, and not some cheep punk off the street. Boys have started to notice her, and because of that, I've noticed I have a temper about the ones she brings home.

If only she could meet the right kind of guy...and let's face it, I'm not asking for much. I don't want her to run into some perfect catch or anything...basic morals, that would be all I want. It's easier said than done...she's into those bad boy types right now. The type of person that she thinks she can relate with...or save, I'm not quite sure which. Either way, Aki doesn't go to school anymore. She is interning, but it's with our boss, Midori. The same woman who taught me the ropes, is also teaching Aki. That's both a good thing, and my nightmare.

Midori likes to drink you see...and she likes copious amounts of it...and often...the more the better.

It's not like I care if Aki drinks...but with Midori? Yeah, not so good of an idea. She's going to get Aki into trouble if this keeps up, lord knows she got Nao and I both into our fair share of it. I dunno, I can't begrudge Midori for it. In fact, I'm kinda happy she's taking Aki under her wing. Though, no one can't blame me for worrying about her either. Shizuru isn't at all pleased with it, and I have to get between a lot of shouting matches, ones Midori encourages.

Kane never did get into his top choice high school, he had made a list, but he just never got in. Those tests were harder than he expected them to be, and the ones he did pass, he found out quite quickly those schools were no place for him. In the end, I think he liked the idea of going away, more than he did the truth of actually being away from home. He attends a small high school, about twenty minuets away. He likes it, but it wasn't any of his choices on the list he'd made. They have a kendo club, and, he managed to get noticed.

He's made friends there, and he's okay with it, so that's what counts.

I still haven't met his boyfriend, though, I know that boy is also in the same club. In fact, that's why Kane agreed to go to the school in the first place. He claims that he's keeping his relationship closeted, mostly because his boyfriend prefers it that way. I can't say that I mind, so I stay out of it, respectfully. That includes when they're both in Kane's room doing god knows what. I know they're being safe, so that's what counts. Kane's never failed to ask me when he needs more protection, so I know he's okay.

So...that's where my life is...not exactly perfect...and always a total mess. The thing is, without all the ruckus, life would just suck. Though trust me, it's insanely tiresome on the best of days, and on the worst, I wonder why I'm not fit to be tide and gagged. The fighting, the baby screaming every few hours...or god forbid, not sleeping at all at night...Nao's addictions, Mai's gossiping, and Shizuru's constant need of a sex life, and you can guess just how much time I have to normally collect my thoughts before something else goes haywire.

Zip, zero, zilch...that's right...none!

…

The pounding on the door was common, but Natsuki didn't dare open it as she put her face down into the pillow. "It's unlocked!" She called. It was a new, but fundamental installment on all the doors, locks a precious thing nowadays.

"Yeah, sorry. I'll get out in a second." Aki had come in with only a plain white bra and panties on, rummaging though Natsuki's clothes. "I totally ripped my shirt today." Aki told her, though her crimson eyes were focused on all of the hanging sets of shirts and work jeans. "I was going to kill Midori, but she said not to sweat it. She's taking me shopping tomorrow, so I'll be home from work late." A glance over her shoulder told her that her mom was listening, but not registering what she was really saying. "Anyway, I have this gathering tonight, so I need to bum something decent."

"Who's going?" Natsuki muttered, trying to stay awake. Quirking an eye open she grumbled. "And for the love of god, stay away from the white, black and red, Aki. They make you look easy..." Natsuki was always particular about her choices of underwear, and had recently began to comment on Aki's choices as well.

"It's a group from work. It was Midori's idea to go clubbing. Nao's going with Takeda, and I'm hooking up with a blind date that Nao says would be good for me." In Aki's hand, she's already nabbed a tight, short skirt that she knew Natsuki only ever wore if there was nothing else available, of if she wasn't allowed to wear jeans. She actually hated most of her skirts, but this particular one was denim, so she didn't mind it. "These look fine, don't they." Aki questioned, looking down at her underwear.

"You don't want to know." That was Natsuki's answer, in and of itself. "Is this date a boy or a girl?"

"I don't know, Nao didn't tell me." Aki shrugged, this really was the first she'd heard of it, when Midori had all but ordered them to go. "It's a casual thing though."

"Well that doesn't do me a damned bit of good." Natsuki shook her head before reaching into the drawer at her bedside, grabbing a few dental dams and a condom. "The jackass could at least tell me, so I know what I'm dealing with." She yawned before dragging herself over to the closet, picking out the black shirt she knew Aki was looking for. "Here, take these in case you need them. About your question earlier, white just isn't good for a date."

Natsuki had a bad habit on going on obsessive sprees about collections, and underwear was one of her favorite topics. "It shows a lot if you let it, and those cotton ones just feel weird." Even in a sleepy stupor, she loved to impart her wisdom. "The silky ones are soft, and so it's permissible if they cover more of you. Plus, the other ones just look better, if you're going to put on a show, don't do it halfheartedly...you have assets, use them. Don't worry about the lace either...go with that plain purple set...you know, the simple ones." That was the entire reason Natsuki had purchased the garments in the first place.

"You think I'm going to lose my virginity, don't you?" Aki muttered, her face turning pink.

"I hope to god not!" Natsuki fired right back. "But you need to start learning the ropes of this dating thing...one day, sooner or later, you will end up doing it with someone, and I'll be damned if you aren't prepared for that." Natsuki sighed, she had a lot less to worry about with Kane, she knew he could handle himself. Aki was a different matter entirely. "Keep your makeup light, and wear your good pair of running shoes, and then grab my old jacket from the back of the closet. If you're going to be out of Nao's vicinity, call me or text, just so I know."

"Nao was right...the two of you have done this before." Aki shook her head, a little embarrassed about that.

"All the time, when we were younger." Natsuki nodded. "Now hurry your ass up and get ready...being fashionably late only works when you can pull a good enough lie out of thin air."

Natsuki nearly collapsed into bed when Aki nodded, and promptly scurried away, mostly to avoid another underwear tirade. Natsuki had completely forgotten about the outing, she had been invited too, but even with maternity leave, it was still tiring her out enough as it was, without having to worry about the train wreck she knew would be any after hours party. She knew Nao would be there, and that's all she cared about. Nao would have her eye on Aki like a hawk, so, if that was the case, Natsuki could happily face plant into the bed for the rest of the night.

Sleep a blissful thing, if it could actually be attained.

It had only been a few minuets when Shizuru finally walked through the door of their bedroom, a soft click indicating she demanded privacy. "Rin's finally asleep."

"About time." The clock indicated it was late enough already, and in a few hours, she would make her displeasure known about food. "I'm surprised she's in the crib."

"That would be a novelty." Shizuru sighed, as she pulled down the covers to slide into bed. "She's actually with Kane, poor little thing fell asleep right in his lap."

"What's he doing up?" Natsuki was only just slightly surprised at that. Kane was usually the first to bed. "He has practice at six in the morning." He was also the first to rise, normally.

"I can't keep up with all of the games he plays." Shizuru shook her head. Try though she might, she couldn't ever follow them once anyone had a controller in hand. "I still don't know how anyone manages to hold a baby, and play on one of those contraptions at the same time."

"It's actually easier than it sounds." Natsuki had become a master at that, nap time was always, without a doubt, her gaming time. "She's little enough not to care...what I'm afraid of, is when she finds out you can press those buttons. Once she notices that things happen on the screen, we're all doomed." She knew once that happened, anyone's time of peaceful gaming would be long forgotten. "I give it only a few months at most...then next thing you know, she'll be kicking at things, and grabbing at them too. Gaming like that is going to suck, Kane won't be so willing then."

"No, I don't suppose he would." Shizuru laughed softly as she leaned into the warmth of Natsuki's embrace. "Though, by that time, we'll have to arrange a sitter, either that, or you admit defeat and retire."

"I like working." Natsuki was too tired to really be bothered with it at the moment, but in truth, she honestly loved the reprieve. "I'm not quitting that, besides I've already got it covered. She'll be coming to work with me at the office, there really isn't any trouble there she can get into."

"Oh, I'm sure there's plenty." Shizuru sighed, wishing that Natsuki would simply stay at home, but she knew that would likely not be the case. "If you want, I could quit mine...I have more flexibility than you do."

"Rin is coming to work with me." Natsuki stated again, softly but firmly. "Aki and Kane had to go with me every day when I first started working, and that was a total bitch...but, the office was good to them, and they'll be good to Rin too. Besides, with Nao and Aki there, isn't it really only fitting? I mean think about it, she'll be surrounded by family." She yawned then, and nuzzled closer. "Besides, the only real thing she could destroy would be Nao's desk...and that could prove comical."

…

Morning always went in one of two directions. Peaceful and quiet, or obnoxious and lewd.

There really were only the two extremes, and Shizuru hated the latter of the two outcomes. She wasn't quite sure what it was about Nao, and her tendency to turn even the most innocent of people into a spluttering sailor, but it was a gift Nao took pride in, on any given day. Having a new baby in the house was something that had also made mornings just a little more dreadful, mostly because if the baby was asleep, it was nearly impossible to keep it that way, and if Rin just so happened to be awake, she was normally fussy.

Shizuru had been up for a good long time now, having gotten up to make sure Kane was properly fed, and ready for his kendo practice. She'd even driven him to school since the sun had not come up, and that had taken up quite a good chunk of her morning. When she'd come home, Natsuki was dealing with Rin, having just fed the baby, and had been trying her hardest to lull Rin to sleep...a failing endeavor by a long shot. That was when things started to go down hill. Shizuru had just shooed Natsuki back up stairs, and had recently settled Rin down enough when the front door creaked open.

An annoyed Nao stumbling through, half asleep and spitting venom by merely a glance wasn't an uncommon sight. In fact, it was quite the normality. "Mine." Nao had all but plucked Rin out of Shizuru's arms, an action that happened by default, before passing out in the recliner, Rin falling asleep soon after she realized fussing wasn't going to save her.

Shizuru still hadn't quite figured out why that seemed to occur every morning, but had also been given an obscure explanation. According to Natsuki, old habits died hard...and old hard wiring never went away. Nao had apparently done this very same thing in the past too, right before the start of school. At least, that's what she was told by both Natsuki and Mai...Nao seemed never to have a recollection of it.

That was how the better part of two hours were spent though. Shizuru lucky enough to curl up with a good book and some warm tea in hand, while the rest of the household slept. She had also taken the time to do some quiet cleaning of the paperwork in the kitchen, and paying the newest set of bills. She'd even begun to disinfect the newly purchased baby gear from the store that they had bought only yesterday. Peace could not last forever in this household, and Shizuru was rudely interrupted as she began opening the packages.

"Jesus..." Even while half asleep, she still had the presences of mind casually swear. "What in the hell are you doing?" Nao couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the boiling water, and the binkies that were about to be put inside.

Shizuru took a calming breath, knowing today was going to be filled with Nao's lovely use of language. "Boiling them." Shizuru thought that would be obvious. "I have to sterilize them somehow."

"Screw the baby books." Nao muttered to herself, as she picked one up, and bushed it off with her shirt before popping it into Rin's mouth. "See? That works just fine...don't make life hard...kids eat dirt all the time anyway."

"That should be considered unhealthy." Shizuru didn't dare make a further comment as Nao rummaged around in the fridge with her only free hand. She only watched on, in dull fascination, as Rin lulled herself into mindlessness. The infant was clearly trying to fall back to sleep, but that wasn't working with Nao fumbling around. "If you're hungry, there's some deli meat in the cheese drawer. Sorry, but I haven't had the time to shop recently."

Nao just shook her head as she finally found a can of tomato juice shoved way in the back. "Nah, I'm not much of an eater this early in the morning." She had only come by to pick up Aki, a long day was ahead of them and the weather was looking grim. "If it rains, I'm gonna be pissed right off." Nao told Shizuru. "Damn storm clouds. There's a good chance of another downpour."

"It rained yesterday too." Aki had finally come down from her room, but she looked just as tired as Nao felt, and was twice as crabby. "And was it just me, or did all of our clients have thorns up their asses yesterday?"

"Ha! Probably, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest!" Nao cackled at that, startling Rin for a moment before the baby stetted back down. "The boss won't be happy though, if I tell her we can't get up on the roof due to weather conditions. She almost had kittens when I told her we had to put the job on hold." Nao shivered at the thought. "If I get hit with once more piece of hail, just one more stupid little piece, I swear to god I'm going to-"

The sound of Shizuru's exasperated sigh cut Nao off. "Is it so much to ask, that we have a little common decency this early in the morning?" Shizuru took a long sip of tea, wishing dearly not to hear the morning vulgarities. "I mean really, can't we talk with pleasantries in mind?"

"Do we look pleasant to you?" Nao was always so vicious. "I don't know about Kiddo over there, but I'm almost off the red. There isn't anything pleasant about a bitch nearing heat."

"Nice to see that my family is full of piss and vinegar." Natsuki muttered as she finally came down the stairs. "Morning babe." She said, kissing Shizuru briefly on the lips before she began to fished around for something, anything to wake her up.

"Morning, dear." Shizuru finally gave up. She didn't know why it even bothered her, the same things always happened whenever Nao was around. Instead she fixated on her partner, and her lack of clothing as she strutted around in a pair of boxers, and a tank top. Shizuru was sure it would have even been less than that, if others hadn't been in the house. "You really should sleep in a little bit."

"I've been up since four, I just can't sleep." Natsuki shrugged. "That and my boobs hurt, but that's not anything new." She merely frowned a bit at the baby in Nao's arms. "I really wish she would take the bottle instead of my tit." Aki and Kane were easy, having no other real option when they had been babies. Not Rin though, who was unaware of the fact her mother wasn't at all happy with her stubbornness. "The sooner she decides she likes the bottle, the better."

"Fat chance." Nao told Natsuki, her blunt tongue still right at the forefront of everything she said. "She fights it every damned time...just get used to it Natsuki, you're screwed."

"Don't remind me." Natsuki grumbled as Nao passed her daughter over to her. "And that's another thing...this no sex while I'm healing thing is just a pure torture."

"Mom! I'm still in here...See? Right here, haven't gone anywhere!" Aki was mortified, but shook it off quickly enough. "Can we go, please?" Aki was all but begging Nao. "Like before they start trying to suck face? I'm already warped."

"Duly noted, wouldn't want to see a presentation of the birds and the bees, now would we." Nao smirked, putting her arm around Aki's shoulder. "We'll be late if we don't haul ass anyway."

Natsuki didn't even wave them off as she looked down into the bright eyes of her daughter. "Next time one of them gives you a bath, pee on her...she'll love that."

Shizuru could only shake her head, morning like this were never dull, but at least she could enjoy the quiet again, at least until Rin demanded otherwise.

…
(Shizuru POV)

When I was little, I always liked to have this idea in my head, of what my future would be. I had a very large, but insipid family. I was the youngest of many sisters, and a single brother. My mother was often quiet, and knew better than to speak out of line. She was gentle, and always kind. My father was the stern one, he ruled the household with an ironclad fist. He would always make demands, and the servants, or my mother, would come rushing to his every whim. My sisters and I, all learned that was how women were supposed to act, and we were married off as he decided we should be, to men of his choosing.

It was a rather unhappy way to live, and being the youngest meant I was also the child that was left behind when everyone else had their future already within their grasp.

I was still quite young when I was left alone. So, I'll admit, I would play games, and pretend to be elsewhere. I wanted a dream, you see...a hopeless little dream of mine, that of course, I knew would never come true. How could it? After all, I knew I wouldn't get the things I wanted. However, like my sisters before me, I accepted that my childhood was fleeting, and that I was going to be a bride before I had even understood truly what it meant to be a woman.

I hadn't any needs to be fulfilled as a teen, at least, not the needs I was to fulfill for my betrothed. That wasn't exactly my wish, but I could not argue against the gentleman, nor could I possibly fight the will of my father, who wanted to ensure that I would be the wife I was expected to be.

I lived up to my expectations, albeit a bit earlier than expected.

The man I was to marry, had been married once before, but his wife was unable to conceive. After he found that out, he left her in search of a younger woman. One who would be fertile, and give him the one thing he wanted most. A son, a male to be the heir of all of his fortunes. While it was true that I came from a large family of mostly women, most of my sisters had already birthed children of their own, and many of them had at least one male, if not more. The only sibling I had, that had yet to produce a male heir, was my eldest sister. She had two daughters, and a third baby on the way.

Needless to assume, my father thought that I would be the one to honor his good friend's wishes...that i would give birth to a son easily.

Well, I guess, if you think about it, I did give that man an heir, even if it was out of wedlock. I did live up to his dreams, even if I didn't seem to do it on command. It's not my fault that he thought I was unable to continue to fulfill his needs as he saw fitting. Truth be told, I wanted nothing to do with him, or my father, after the ordeal anyway.

Coming from such a past, and stepping into a future such as the one I have now, one could call it perfection. Honest to goodness perfection. It's not anything like I dreamed, and it most assuredly isn't like my preconceived notions about the commoners around me. I make a large some of money, even on my own, and I had assumptions early on, about just what the world would be like.

That things were shattered though, when I met Natsuki.

The harshness, the hatred, the bitter truths, the little white lies that weren't so small...and least I forget, the low moral standards...they all seemed so horrifically cruel. More spiteful than anything I'd ever seen, more insipid than even my own family, who I viewed as the lowest life forms on the planet. I hated thinking that there was no hope for the foundations upon which I'd studied hard, wishing to understand why the world worked in such a way.

The very idea of anthropology interested me for that reason alone...I wanted to know why humans were such loathsome creatures by nature.

Yet, as I began to learn about the subtle cues of my past, the things I should have realized, but had not the courage to discover, I realize it was all very blatantly clear. That the harsh winds of the world doesn't exactly have an equality, and there isn't always mercy, but...that within the most unexpected of people, true honor can take hold of them. Hopes and dreams are not lost for good, and there is still a lingering presence to do good in this world. It is however, something that must be a striking force within a person.

A person can never truly do great things without a solid reason, an inspiration for which to do it. It is the truth of the world...every great man, or woman to ever have lived, did it because they truly believed in their cause. Noting the very term of 'greatness' as what it is. A vast means of something. Greatest evils, or greatest goods, are brought on by those who have such a determination so see that their own will be done...

I'd like to think, to a lesser degree, that's all anyone truly wants within their life. A dream, or at least, a hopeful outcome to take place. Surely, it takes more than sure force of willpower alone to achieve anything...yet isn't willpower the start? Isn't grasping hold of the ideal, and then striving to make it happen all apart of the mechanics? I'd like to believe that it is.

Furthermore, I wish to believe that within even in my earliest years, I was reaching for something not truly out of a fairy tail. That instead, I was reaching out for my hope, my thought of happiness. Trying perhaps, to discover the impossibilities of life, and the ways to make it happen...a way to achieve my goal.

So, that being said, being with Natsuki is nothing short of a godsend.

An impossibility of my youth, that turned into my future, because Natsuki had her own whims, her own wills to do as she saw fit. I had my own too...but the fact that we crossed paths, well, it is a blessing. It can't be studied, and statistics would yield depressing results. It wouldn't be considered possible, because, we're programed to have a one track mind.

But, impossibilities do happen.

I know now, there is no clear way...Natsuki is as haphazard as any single person can get, and her friends are much the same. I don't mind. I think, in fact, that I quite like it this way. There are times, I often have to bite the inside of my cheek, and calmly remind myself that this is merely the way things are. There are even more times when I sigh longingly, looking for an answer no one can seem to give me. Still, everything makes sense, in it's own obscure way, when I sit back and realize, Natsuki's world was not built by thinking...

Aki and Kane were not raised by the laws of everything, the lines were not clearly drawn, and never written in a cleanly designed note.

No...not at all.

Rather, it was scribbled in ink, and colored with blood, sweat, and tears...the outcome, I feel, is something yet to be determined...and yet, I do believe that is exactly as Natsuki wishes it to be. That everyone in her life approves of such a thing, and follows it as if it's a gift, and an effective law. So, now I find, at the end of my research...the end of my trail so to speak, that I've finally found my answer...although, I fear it would upset any true scholar.

How could I offer a blank page, and claim I've just found the meaning of everything...I can't place anything down on the white piece of paper. Not anything at all...

A remnant, a word, a blemish at all, would ruin the true meaning of a person such as Natsuki, and the world that I've now become apart of. I'm not on the outside looking in, I'm at the center of hoer world, as dizzying as it is...just as she has become the center of mine. I would not wish, or even dream for an instant, that it would be any other way. The grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence, but, perhaps, it isn't meant to be...

No, surly it isn't...but that's just fine.

Yes, quite an uneventful, and an open ending...but I'd like to think that's how life is, when you really think about it. Anyway, guys, I hope you enjoyed this story, for what it was worth, and the ride it took you on...