Flashback

Natsuki sat on the bed awkwardly as she watched Nao getting dressed in quite a hurry. Her icy emerald eyes gazed over Nao's form and couldn't help but take pleasure from seeing Nao again like this, in a way she hadn't seen in a very long time.

"You don't have to leave." With a bit of sadness to her voice Natsuki, without asking it was telling Nao to stay. Nao ignored Natsuki's plea and continued getting dressed. Natsuki removed herself from the bed and walked up behind Nao, Nao sensed Natsuki there and let out an unsettling sigh.

"Natsuki please, just don't."

"But I didn't do anything…"

"You know what we did wasn't right; right before you get married." Nao replied with the sound of disappointment and regret in her voice. With little effort Natsuki put her hand on Nao's shoulder and spun her around. For a few seconds they both stared at each other. Nao held her back up against the wall, staring at Natsuki waiting for her to say something because she knew whatever it was she wanted to say wouldn't have made a difference. Things couldn't have been any more difficult than they already were.

"Nao you and I both know we both didn't do anything wrong, or anything that we didn't want to do!" with a forceful voice Natsuki spoke. It took Nao a little by surprise.

Nao tightly shut her eyes, thinking about what she should say here. She knew that even if she said again how wrong this was Natsuki wouldn't listen. And the fact was that in a way Natsuki was right, Nao didn't do anything with Natsuki that she didn't want to do. She stared into Natsuki's puppy dog-like eyes and felt an ache through her heart.

"Natsuki… I have to go. I'm sorry. Good luck with everything." Nao proceed toward the door but something halted her from going any further. Tears had begun to form in Nao's eyes. Natsuki had embraced Nao from behind. Holding her from around her shoulders tightly up against her chest, she put her lips near Nao's ear.
"Please don't go… I need you." Those weren't the words Nao wanted to hear. She forced Natsuki back and walked to the door. She grabbed strongly onto the door knob.

"I love you Natsuki." With that said Nao felt less in pain then she had been for a while. Natsuki stood there stunned as her body went numb. Nao opened the door and with one last look at the women she loved, she left the room. Although satisfied at the moment she knew just saying those words, now would never be enough.

In the room Natsuki still stood in the same spot. Lost in her thoughts she couldn't think of anything to do or say, she wanted to run after Nao but her feet wouldn't let her, as if she was bolted to the floor. Her mouth opened to form a tiny crack and let words she knew she would never say to Nao, these words escaped from her lips.

"Nao…I …I love you too…" With her heart pounding heavily in her chest, Natsuki quickly regretted not saying it beforehand. Morning soon arrived Shizuru and her were married.

End of Flashback

"Nao what's the matter? Are you mad at me or something?" Natsuki looked on with worry as Nao was quickly getting dressed. She stood as far away as possible from herself and the bed. Nao said nothing so she asked again.

"Nao what's wrong?"

"Not a thing." Showing no emotion at all Nao answered back coldly. Natsuki was able to feel the chill in the air from it. (I know I didn't do anything wrong… besides Nao was the one who came onto me last night. Now what's wrong with her though? Did she even really want to do this? I wish I could ask her but I know she'll get even madder) Natsuki silently thought to herself. Knowingly how this would turn out she was determined to give it another go.

"Nao why are you— Nao quickly turned around making it unable to let Natsuki finish.

"Why did you say that last night?" Wide eyed, Natsuki rubbed the back of her head in confusion.

"I really don't know what you're talking about."

"Just forget it." Nao huffed as she finished putting the rest of her clothing on. Natsuki ran in front of Nao blocking the doorway so that she couldn't leave. She held her arms up placing her hands on the frame of the doorway.

"You're being childish."

"So what?"

"Natsuki please move." Natsuki shook her head and held her ground. Nao groan with frustration.

"Nao please tell me what I said last night… I swear I don't remember."

"You really don't?"

"No I don't" Sadly Natsuki replied. She knew whatever it was she said took a toll on Nao. She could see it was weighing on her greatly. Nao bit her lower lip, being hesitant in telling Natsuki. She exhaled in and out slowly before speaking.

"You weren't with me last night…"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Natsuki… you just weren't here with me." Natsuki's face twisted, she was getting annoyed at the fact Nao was talking in riddles. She grabbed onto her shoulders and shook her a bit.

"Come on Nao! Just tell me."

"You just weren't here."

"I was freaking here! I was with you last night! Why are you—

"You said her name again last night." Natsuki's face dropped and let her hands slide off Nao's shoulders. Without pause she quickly asked.

"Whose name did I say?"

"Natsuki don't do this… you know whose name you said. You said it twice. I didn't say anything before but last night was just too much this time. I think the only reason you sleep with me is so that you can visualize and feel as if you're making love to her again… and not me."

"SHUT UP! That's not true! How could I even do that when I don't even remember saying her name?" Natsuki's body was tensing up and her anger was starting to get the better of her. She made a fist with her hand and slammed her fist on the frame of the door. Slamming it hard enough she left a tiny crack near the frame.

"Is that what you really think! I didn't even know I said her name… how can you accuse me of all that when I didn't even realize?" Nao stared at Natsuki with fierce piercing eyes.

"I can see in your eyes sometimes that you don't look at me… but look through me as if you're trying to see someone else. You probably don't have any recollection about it because you shut yourself away, you lock your mind into a place and time when you were still with her. It's why you keep doing this with me… I'm just your stand in."
As Nao said that she pushed Natsuki aside. She walked quickly to the door but Natsuki called out to her stopping her from leaving at that moment. Nao turned to face Natsuki.

"You think I'm using you…" Nao silently nodded.

"How can you think that?"

"It's the truth Natsuki! You always used me in some shape, way, or form… since we were teenagers. You always had some excuse as to why you wanted me to come over, and when I did the first thing we'd do was go straight to your room. And then you know what you did next."

"It wasn't like that! I wasn't just sleeping with you like that so carelessly, there was more to it than that!" Nao taken aback by Natsuki's rant, but not because she was shouting but by the way she said those words with such intense emotion.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I know sometimes it seemed like I was using you all those times but it wasn't… and it isn't. If I called you by Shizuru's name, I didn't know about it and I'm sorry. I know that's the worst possible thing being called by someone else's name while you're in bed with someone else. But I swear Nao you were the one I was with last night… I didn't go anywhere I was truly with you." She was pleading with Nao but at the same time she was searching for forgiveness from the fiery red head. Nao stared into Natsuki's eyes as a feeling of sorrow washed over her.

"I know you want to believe that… but we both know that isn't the case here. Maybe… maybe we shouldn't do this anymore. The same thing is going to keep happening. You're always going to see her, never me… you could never look at me the same way you always looked at her. I'm a replacement, someone you can use to satisfy your own desires." Natsuki began to breathe heavily with anger and frustration. She didn't want to believe all that Nao was saying but in the back of her mind she knew she was being truthful, but Natsuki refused to believe it herself.

"Nao… run away with me."

"Are you insane? Why would you say that?"

"I don't know… I don't want you feel that way… that I'm only using you and not seeing you."

"What do you except me to do? Jump on the back of your motorcycle and ride off into the sunset with you?" Nao said half jokingly, but she was being very serious as well. Natsuki crossed her arms.

"Well… yeah kind of." She said with a bit of disappointment within her voice. (Well I wasn't expecting her to say yes exactly… but a maybe would've been fine)

"And then what Natsuki? Then what?"

"I don't know okay? It just seemed like a good idea."

"I running away with you would not make a difference. No matter where I go with you how far we go… there will never be enough room in your heart for me… I could never be enough for you. And last night proved it." With that Nao opened up the door and ran out.

"Nao! WAIT!" Natsuki ran after her chasing her down the stairwell. Calling out to her asking her to come back but Nao just kept on running. When Nao reached the downstairs door she couldn't get any further than outside Natsuki's building, Natsuki had caught up to Nao and held on tightly to her forearm. Nao looked directly into Natsuki's clear green eyes.

"I'm not letting you walk away this time." Natsuki stated in a clam soothing voice.

"Nao… you have to know you mean so much to me."

"That's not enough… Natsuki." Nao said shaking her head.

"Then what will be enough for you?"

"When you can let go… and when you can look at me, see me, and be with me. When you can admit that to yourself then you can come find me. But until then… I can't do this anymore and I can't see you as my patient anymore. I'm sorry." Natsuki loosened her hold on Nao. Nao started walking away until Natsuki called out to her again.

"Nao please don't do this! Don't leave like this!"

"I'm sorry… Natsuki."

"Nao! I… I…" But Natsuki couldn't say anything not what she wanted to in the least. Nao understood that Natsuki wasn't allowing herself to say what she meant that she was just blocking her feelings. With a heavy heart Nao walked away and disappeared out of eye sight.

"Dammit! DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMMIT!" Natsuki shouted in anger. She quickly stopped when she noticed a crowd of passersby gathering around her.

"What are you all looking! GO ON! THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE HERE!" Natsuki then retreated back into her building.

Meanwhile Reito and Yuichi were at a porridge eatery enjoying their lunch.

"So… what happened to your nose?" Reito admired as he pointed to his own nose to inspire that question. Seething with irritation Yuichi groaned.

"Don't even start."

"It's a common question. One usually asks a question about something that captures their attention."

"Then if you really want to know, ask Natsuki Kuga." Reito suddenly burst into laughter. He was so loud that he was disturbing the other customers. Yuichi banged his fist on the table, shaking it nearly knocking over his coffee cup.

"It isn't funny!" He said angrily but in a low tone of voice. Reito wiped the tears from his eyes, still laughing slightly.

"I'm sorry. Why did she hit you?" He asked while smirking.

"I said something about… Shizuru." Suddenly a serious look placed itself upon Reito's face. He sat back in his chair folding his arms and legs.

"Stupid move Tate. I remember when you told me all about that situation, and why she came back here. But for you to bring that up was so low even for someone like you."

"I know… I know. I felt so horrible. I deserved to have my nose broken… in fact I'm surprised she didn't kill me last night. After that Nao took me to the hospital but she didn't stay. I knew she was probably with Natsuki and I don't blame her I really screwed up… she didn't even answer her phone when I called. I didn't even go home I went and slept at my office."

"I'm sorry. I am but I don't feel sorry for you. The person I'm feeling sorry for is her. She had to put up with your selfishness and self pity, you were immature something I would never except for you. Yuichi I've known you for a very long time and you are my best friend, I'm not picking sides here but at this moment you've lost my respect." Yuichi nodded his head in shame. He didn't even face Reito as he hung his head downward.

"I don't blame you." He spoke softly.

"I let my jealousy get the better of me… my anger toward her. And using Shizuru's name in vain was so below me. She didn't deserve that and neither did Natsuki." Reito raised an eyebrow. He was taken by a word Yuichi used and had one question on his mind that he knew he must ask. And so he did.

"What is it that you have to be jealous of?" Yuichi finally looked up toward Reito. His face grew pale, he felt as if there was a pit stuck in his throat because he did not want to let Reito know of why and where his jealousy comes from. He sat quite for a while until Reito kicked him in his shin.

"OWW!" Yuichi quickly rubbed his leg and gave Reito a nasty look.

"You better tell me if you don't want another one."

"Fine! You should know why I'm jealous… I feel like nothing's changed. Nao is still choosing her over me."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't want to believe that there's something going on between them, but I can't help but feel that their hiding something." Reito began to rub his chin as he was engaged in what his long time friend had to say.

"When I walk into a room, there she is with Nao again. And they always look so surprised to see me but they also have this look on their faces as if they've just robbed a bank. I knew for a long time that Nao had feelings for Natsuki… they grew up together they spent every day with each other. I thought after all these year after being married to me somewhere along the line she'd let go of those feelings she once had. But now that Natsuki's been back, I could feel Nao slowly slipping away…"
Reito sat back again in his seat, he rubbed the bridge between his eyes with his index finger and thumb.

"You don't know that." He mumbled. He knew as he said that, he remembered about last night's events with Natsuki. The two had spoken briefly about the same thing… mostly about Natsuki's feelings for Nao.

"Listen Tate… you're only making highly outrageous assumptions of things you don't know are true. This as of now is a theory of yours. Until you find real evidence in what you're saying, then right now there is no real proof."

"Heh. Always speaking like a lawyer." Reito slapped his hand to his forehead.

"Are you even listening to me? Look as long as she doesn't say the words then you have nothing to worry about." Yuichi nodded as he pushed out his seat. He got up and stood at the side of the table.

"What if there is something to worry about? Nao is modest. She wouldn't say anything to me even if there were something wrong." Reito heard the desperation and concern in his friend's voice. Reito began to worry; he felt that sooner or later everything will blow up in Yuichi's face. (Things will only get worse before they get better. I hope Natsuki knows what she's doing) Just when Reito thought he could put this whole conversation behind him, a familiar but unwelcoming voice perked his ears. Reito gritted his teeth.

"HEY! REITO! It's me Takeda!" He shouted throughout the entire eatery. Reito's face actually turned red for the moment from embarrassment. Takeda quickly sat down at the table he seem to have invited himself without Reito's say so.

"What is it Takeda? And did you have to shout my name so loudly?" Reito muttered through his lips.

"Sorry." Takeda let out a small chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. He gulped before he continued. He leaned over the table getting closer to Reito's face, his eyes shifted from side to side. Takeda cupped his hand up to the side of his lips.

"I thought I should tell you about this before I went to Yuichi. You see I think there's something going on between Natsuki and Nao." He hushed, and all Reito did was cover his face with his hand. He slowly slid his hand down over his face before stopping at his chin. Reito rubbed under his chin with his index finger closing his eyes. (Not you to)

"Listen Takeda… what makes you think something is going on between the two of them?"

"Well I…" Takeda slowly sat back down in his seat.

"I have some conclusions." Reito raised an eyebrow and looked at him with one eye open.

"What "conclusions" may these be?" He asked with a stern irritable voice.

"Well… Natsuki hasn't answered any of my calls. And I saw her even hang up the phone while I was trying to call her. All I wanted to know if she wants to go out again with me." Reito covered his mouth to hide his wide smile.

"The hopes of another date with Natsuki are slim. And by the way, you sound like a stalker which isn't a very attractive quality when trying to impress women." Reito stated with his hand still slightly covering his mouth.

"Just give her time. There is no reason for you to jump to that sort of conclusion just because she hasn't answered or is ignoring your calls. Besides you (like Tate) have no proof in what you are stating. In fact it's really just here say. When you can come up with some—

"I saw Nao leaving Natsuki building this morning!" Reito's eyes grew wide as his hand slipped from his mouth.

"What?" He asked in a shocked voice.

"Yeah, I wanted to go over to see Natsuki; I figured I'd have a better chance if I went to see her in person… even if she slammed the door in my face. She probably would have even if I begged. I mean—

"Takeda focus please!" Reito snarled at Takeda with whom he was losing his temper with.

"Oh, sorry. I saw her walking out of the building and Natsuki was chasing after her. From what I could tell they were having a pretty heated argument… almost like a lover's quarrel. If you ask me I would defiantly say that's what it totally looked like. Maybe that's why she's been rejecting me, but maybe I should tell Tate. He should at least know what's going on."
As Takeda moved to get up Reito flashed his hand in front of him. He held up his hand to signal a stop sign.

"NO! No. You don't even know what's really going on. You shouldn't put problems where there aren't. Do you want to hurt Yuichi that way without even knowing the whole story? He's your best friend… don't do this to him." Takeda stood there and thought for a moment, and then his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree light.

"You're right! I need to do some detective work. Thanks Reito!" Takeda ran out with lightning speed before Reito could stop him again. Reito slammed his fist down on the table in anger. (I unleashed a monster, didn't I?) Reito got out his cell phone and began dialing Natsuki's number.

RING, RING, RING

"Come on Natsuki pick up."

RING, RING, RING

"Damn! Guess I'll have no choice but to take control of this situation. I better keep an eye on Natsuki and Nao, but especially Takeda." Reito put his phone away and left some money on the table before leaving the restaurant.

Natsuki was at her apartment looking at her phone. She had it in her hand, she was screening her calls. Knowing that it was Reito trying to call her she didn't want to bother answering.

(If he's calling then it can't be a good reason) She thought to herself as she threw her phone on the couch.

KNOCK, KNOCK

"Right on time." Natsuki spoke under her breath. She walked over to the door and quickly opened it.

"Come in."

"Thanks. Hey I didn't know you drink." The young woman said as she noticed a few bottles on the kitchen counter.

"Why? You want one?" The woman turned around and grabbed Natsuki by the collar of her shirt. She pulled Natsuki close to her face. She put her lips up to Natsuki's ear.

"I rather have you." She whispered through her smile. She pulled away from Natsuki's ear and then forcefully caught Natsuki's lips into an immense kiss. She slowly stuck her tongue inside swirling it around Natsuki's. When she pulled away a thin line of saliva was caught between their lips. The woman licked her lips and then did the same to Natsuki's.

"I'm glad you called. I was beginning to wonder when you would." Natsuki slid her hand to the back of the woman's head, grabbing some of her hair. She then smashed her lips against hers pulling the woman closer to her body. She let go of her hair she held and grabbed onto the woman's thighs. The woman wrapped her arms around Natsuki's neck as Natsuki lifted her up onto herself.
The woman wrapped her legs around Natsuki as they continued their aggressive lip-locking dual.

At that moment when Natsuki was "entertaining" her guest, Nao was sitting in her office contemplating what had happened between herself and Natsuki. She was somewhat being regretful of what took place.

"Run away with me Nao."

"I don't want you to feel that way."

"Please just stay."

"Run away with me…"

(Sighs) "Did you really mean what you said Natsuki? Did you really want me to run away with you, or were you just saying that to get my hopes up?" Nao was thinking about the words Natsuki said but wondered if any of them were true or were perhaps nothing but empty lies. She couldn't be certain since she knows how Natsuki really is. She tries to say what she means and then takes it back.

Nao sat hutched over her desk. She began to play with her wedding band, turning it around her ring finger over and over again as the words Natsuki spoke swung in her head.

"What am I thinking? I can't take her seriously. I know deep down she really didn't mean it… although I wish she had. I really wish she would be more honest to herself and let go. But then again look at me, I can barely let go myself." Nao thought out loud. She was trying to figure out what to do.

She still played around with her ring till she suddenly but slowly began pulling it off. Nao hadn't realized what she did till she felt herself twirling the ring around between her thumb and index finger.

"What the…? Why did it slip off like that? That's strange… that never happened before. I wonder why now." Nao slipped back on her ring, but as she did she felt this surge go through her body. Somehow the ring felt foreign to her once she put it back on.

"...I should go home. Maybe Yuichi is there. Besides I can't think about her right now. I know if I went there now… it would only lead to one thing. It always seems to lead to the bedroom. Is sleeping with me that important to her… or maybe…." Nao trailed off. She shook her head trying to get herself from thinking of Natsuki.

She got up from her chair and grabbed her jacket and purse. She walked out the door, locking it behind her. When the elevator came she got on and pushed the button for the garage. As she stood in the slow moving elevator she took out her cell phone. Nao went down the list of names in the phone and stopped once she came to Natsuki's name. For a few seconds she held her thumb against the talk button.
Nao pushed the button; it rang a few times before it clicked over.
Nao's excitement soon turned to anguish as she heard the voice over the phone. It wasn't just Natsuki's voice she was hearing. Apparently Natsuki and her guest were fooling around on the couch, accidently hitting the talk button on Natsuki's phone at the moment.

Nao was devastated. She quickly hung up the phone but the voices of pleasure she heard still rung in her ear. (How could she… how could she…?)