A/N: -It's a bird! It's a plane! No…it's…- Yeah, it's me. No, your eyes are not deceiving you, nor this is a prank. My apologies for making you all wait but at least here it is the new chapter for the Second Arc of Natsuki Doggy.

The various references I used in the last chapter were from: Ayashi no ceres, Final fantasy games, Mary Poppins, Ouran High school host club, and maybe I forgot one or two but anyway.

Since it's the first chapter is a bit short and it's more like an intermission. The next one might be a bit larger. I hope you like it. Many thanks to Leebot-sensei for beta-ing this chapter.

With nothing else to say, on to the fic! Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: Sunrise owns Mai Hime. – Curse all Seeds! –

ARC II – Chapter 1

It had been two days since the Fuuka Festival took place and Natsuki turned back to her human form. She expected to have some calm and peaceful time after what happened, but sadly, life isn't that easy, as this would be only the beginning.

It all happened that morning while having breakfast.

x-x-x-x – FLASHBACK – x-x-x-x

They were seated at the table enjoying a simple and nutritious breakfast. Shizuru took a sip of her tea and then smiled at Natsuki who was eating just one slice of bread with a little of mayo on it, after all she promised a nutritious breakfast. She smiled back at Shizuru after taking a bite out of her bread. Exchanging some quick loving glances, Shizuru placed her cup on the table and her gaze fell on something that was lying on the floor. Upon seeing the object, her eyes were filled with a tint of sadness. Natsuki noticed the mood change in those beautiful ruby eyes. She too turned her attention to the object. It was her plate... well, Natsutaro's plate.

Shizuru really missed the black akita; she had grown very attached to the fluffy pup in a short time, and now that she was gone, a part of her heart was drowned in bitterness. Sure, she now had Natsuki back but she couldn't help feeling a little down, since she wanted and hoped to be a happy family, the three of them.

- "Shizuru?"

- "Yes Natsuki?"

- "I bet she is okay."

Shizuru had told Natsuki about the black akita that very night of the festival.

w-w-w-w- Flashback of the FLASHBACK –w-w-w-w-w-w

Once they were done hugging each other, they moved a bit apart in order to look into each other's eyes intensely.

- "Natsuki…"

- "Shizuru… I… think it's time to go home." – said Natsuki, taking her love's hand.

Natsuki had turned around to start walking when Shizuru pulled her hand.

- "Shizuru? What's wrong?"

- "Natsuki, we can't leave yet."

- "Why?"

- "We have to find her…"

- "Her?" – asked Natsuki with a puzzled expression.

- "We have to find Natsutaro…"

Natsuki's eyes opened widely in surprise. She couldn't quite believe what Shizuru was saying; she was very concerned about her canine form, wasn't she? She felt ashamed because of it. This was her fault after all. Shizuru stared at Natsuki's puzzled expression for a moment, that's when she remembered that Natsuki didn't know about the doggy, so she quickly explained it to the raven haired girl.

- "Natsutaro is a black akita, Natsuki. I found her one night at our apartment's door; she was very injured so I took her in. She's been with me all these days you've been out. That's why we can't leave until we find her. Please, Natsuki."

The pleading tone Shizuru used was overwhelming; Natsuki understood how much Shizuru cared about the doggy. Although, even if they looked around for it, Natsuki knew that they wouldn't be able to find it. But how could she explain that to Shizuru? She didn't have the heart; however, she'd have to tell the truth sooner or later.

- "I'm not ready to do it now." – thought Natsuki – "But what to do?"

- "Natsuki?"

Looking at her love, Natsuki felt helpless, and, not wanting to sadden and worry Shizuru even more, she said.

- "Okay, let's go look for her."

- "Thank you Natsuki." – replied Shizuru with a smile.

Still holding Shizuru's hand, Natsuki began to walk in the direction of the school, more precisely to the Gym. When they arrived, they found a member of the Host Club outside; it was Haruhi. She was leaning on a wall looking at the fireworks up in the sky when she took sight of the two girls approaching.

- "Shizuru-senpai…"

- "Good night, Haruhi-san."

- "Good night."

- "It seems that it is quite noisy inside, is that why you're here?"

- "Yes, I needed some fresh air, and also, I wanted to see the fireworks." – replied Haruhi with a smile.

They chatted for a little while, as Shizuru introduced Natsuki to Haruhi, and chatted a little more. After that, Shizuru asked.

- "Haruhi-san, by mere coincidence, have you seen Natsutaro around here?"

- "Natsutaro? No I haven't seen her. Is something wrong?"

- "Nothing to worry about. If you happen to see her, please inform me."

- "Of course, Shizuru-senpai."

- "Thank you. See you then, Haruhi-san."

- "Sure."

After the small talk with Haruhi, they continued searching nearby, but, just as Natsuki knew, with no avail. Besides, you couldn't find something that had been already found, although in a different way. They had searched for about two hours when Natsuki suggested going back home and continue the next day, which of course also ended without finding the doggy.

w-w-w-w- End of Flashback of the FLASHBACK –w-w-w-w-w-w

The couple finished eating and got ready to head for school. Natsuki was putting on her sneakers while Shizuru was placing her books in her bag; that's when she Natsuki noticed a singular paper among the books.

- "Shizuru?"

- "Yes Natsuki?"

- "What is that?" – said Natsuki pointing to the paper.

- "What could Natsuki possibly be talking about?"

Natsuki approached and took the object.

- "I'm talking about this."

When Shizuru didn't reply, Natsuki began to read the contents. It was a reward ad. It had all the specifications of how Natsutaro looked alike, and how there would be a reward to the person who found her.

- "I…" – began to explain Shizuru – "I didn't have the chance to take a picture of her. That's why I had to describe her."

- "Shizuru… this… it's too soon…"

- "It's been already two days, Natsuki. I…" – Shizuru was at the edge of tears. It was such a rare display from the always graceful Kaichou.

- "Shizuru… please, give me a couple of days okay? Then we can place this ad all over Fuuka." – said Natsuki taking Shizuru's hands giving them a sweet kiss.

Shizuru's blush was very profuse; she couldn't stop it after Natsuki displayed such a gentler and loving gesture. Her love and faith in Natsuki was stronger than steel so she replied.

- "Alright Natsuki. Let's do as you say. "

- "Thanks."

They finished arranging their school bags and left to school.

x-x-x-x – END OF FLASHBACK – x-x-x-x

Natsuki was seated on the grass staring into nowhere; her mind was extremely busy thinking about how to solve this problem. She didn't want to lie to Shizuru, but also she couldn't just say out of the blue: 'Hey guess what? It was me all the time. I was turned into a dog by some strange witch so, surprise!'

- "Of course I can't say it that way! She deserves to know. Also I promised it. What am I going to do?"

In that moment Mai came running along with Mikoto, both of them holding a lunch box in their hands.

- "Natsuki! Here you are!"

- "Hey Mai."

- "I was looking for you. You left the classroom very quickly."

- "Yeah, so?"

- "Well, I thought that you were heading to the student council, so I went there in the hope to find you, but you weren't there. I was very surprised."

- "Shizuru said that she'd have an important meeting today and I didn't want to interrupt."

- "Is that so?" – asked Mai suspiciously.

- "What's with that tone? You don't believe me?"

- "Haha, sorry it's just that that is a bit rare." – said Mai with a sincere smile.

- "Well… I guess…"

- "Mai, can we eat now that we had found Natsuki?" – asked a hungry Mikoto.

- "Oh yes! Sorry, Mikoto."

The two girls sat on the grass in front of their raven-haired friend. Mai unpacked the lunch boxes and handed them to Natsuki and Mikoto. For some minutes they sat there eating in silence; however it didn't last long, as it was broken by the green-eyed girl.

- "What is it, Mai?" – asked Natsuki out of nowhere.

- "Eh? What are you talking about? – Mai was caught off guard, not at the question but at Natsuki's sharpness. She thought that the mayo in her lunch would distract her so she could make her move and attack the other girl with questions. Apparently it didn't work this time.

- "You didn't look for me only to have lunch together."

- "You noticed?" – asked Mai sheepishly.

Natsuki nodded. Mai sighed and said.

- "Very well then, since you found out, may I know where you went these days?" – Natsuki stopped eating and glared at Mai – "What made you leave so suddenly? Kaichou-san was very worried. Thank heavens that she found Natsutaro to keep her company." – she stopped to think for a minute – "Which reminds me, I haven't seen the doggy. Is she at your home?"

Natsuki resumed her eating and finished her food, all the time keeping silent while Mai bugged her with question after question. Mikoto just kept eating all the time giving a glance to them once in a while. Natsuki gave back Mai the lunch box and said before she stood up.

- "Thanks for your concern Mai; sorry if I'm rude by saying this but, this is something that it's only for Shizuru and me to know by now and solve it okay? I have to get going now, so see you later."

Mai was left speechless; she could only see Natsuki walk away.

- "Natsuki changed for good, yup!" – said Mikoto with a nod.

- "What makes you say that Mikoto?"

- "Her answer." – was the simple reply Mikoto gave to then continue eating.

Mai thought about it for a moment.

- "Mikoto is right. Her reply was polite and very mature compared to what the 'old' Natsuki would have said." – Mai smiled to herself – "Well, it doesn't matter if I don't know now. I'm happy that wherever she went, it helped her to figure some things out."

With that last thought she continued eating and chatting with Mikoto for the rest of the lunch break.

Natsuki walked into the woods after leaving her friends, still thinking about what to do.

- "Damnit… I guess I need some help after all. But it wouldn't be fair for Shizuru if I had told Mai about it first. I want Shizuru to be the first one to know, but I can't ask anyone for help, or tell anyone yet…"

She sat on the grass letting out a hopeless sigh and leaning her back on the trunk of a tree. She closed her eyes and continued thinking. An idea hit her when the image of a certain 'person' came to her mind.

- "That's right, she can help me. In the end, she was the one who started it." – standing up, Natsuki said – "Pipirupirupirupipirupi."

Now, to any outsider in this situation that had no clue about these two girls, especially of one of them, would think that this wasn't the best choice to make. However Natsuki knew better, so when the 'strange' girl appeared in front of her she wasn't as surprised as she was the first time they met. Natsuki knew that this might be her only hope before the pressure drove her nuts.

The sorceress was now standing in front of her, without hesitation and dropping the formalities Natsuki said.

- "I need your help."

The silver haired girl's face showed surprise at first to then turn into a friendly smile. Certainly this had been a bit unexpected but it sure would be interesting and fun.

TBC…

Suoicodilaip-xecitsiligarfilac-repus! (Super-califragilisticex-pialidocious backwards...)

I hope you liked it. I don't know which one of my fics I'll update next or when so keep in tune.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!

See you around!

Shezaei neko.