As always, my thanks go out to the reviewers out there. Glad you guys are taking the time to send over some comments :) They're appreciated.
Chapter Ten
--
Sighing, Natsuki wandered over to the cheerleading squad under plenty of glares from her spectators.
When she reached Shizuru, the girl who had been taking the squad through drills stopped completely so she could welcome the dark haired younger girl.
"Ara so Natsuki's come over to check on me and the twins?," she asked causing Haruka to roll her eyes before taking control of the drills.
"Shizuru!," Natsuki said with a blush.
"Is Natsuki making sure that the twins know one of their mother's names?"
"Mouu..."
While Natsuki was busy kicking at the ground, Shizuru took the chance to close the distance between them before taking Natsuki's hand and placing it on her stomach.
"O-oi Shizuru what're you doing?," a panicking Natsuki asked.
"Showing Natsuki that her family is safe," Shizuru replied with a smile as she watched Natsuki's face change colour.
Haruka, who was still watching from closeby was displeased with the situation.
"Bubuzuke what are you doing over there. Don't kill Kuga so early in the relationship please."
"Hmm?," Shizuru replied idly as she rubbed Natsuki's hand on her stomach subtly so only the younger girl knew what was going on.
Unable to take much more of the excessive amounts of blood rushing to her head, Natsuki's body took the only action available to her.
"Ugghh... ," she managed to get out before the world around her went dark.
"Natsuki!," Mai yells before running over, catching the attention of Chie and Nao.
"Fujino what the hell did I just tell you? I said don't, what the hell did you hear?!," Haruka said in an annoyed fashion.
"Ara..."
Moments later, Nao and her Captain had Natsuki held between them and smirks plastered on their faces.
"Sorry about that... we'll drag her off now," Nao said as Chie beside her nodded.
"You lovely ladies please continue with your practicing. If you need any help we'll be right over there... looking charmingly at you from across the field."
--
"Was the excessive winking really necessary?," the redhead asked with an eyeroll when the two of them had safely laid Natsuki down on the grass.
"Was the looking at a certain cheerleader really necessary?," Chie countered a smirk.
"Dunno what you're talking about Captain," Nao replied nonchalantly as she stood and dusted herself off.
At her feet, the still groggy Natsuki was waking.
"What happened?," she asked as she rubbed her head forcing laughs out of Chie and Nao.
"Fujino overload," Chie replied simply as Natsuki sighed embarrassedly at the revalation.
"Well I was only doing what Coach told me to. But he should know that she's Head cheerleader and she's got responsibilities..."
"You're the one with responsibilities Kuga," an onlooker mumbled as she walked past.
"Can't believe Kuga got so lucky... Fujino-sama," another said in the same tone.
"Couldn't she even afford an engagement ring?," someone asked.
"I'll kill Kuga if she doesn't take care of the twins!," her friend replied.
--
Natsuki heaved a loud sigh before letting her head fall back on the grass.
"People are judging me! People are basing their judgements on situations that are not real! It's like I woke up today and poof the world is ruled by Nao."
"You're right today was a good day," Nao replied with a nod prompting Natsuki to sigh once more.
"Seems last night was good for you too. Who did the hickeys come from?"
"Don't know."
"Don't know as in don't know or do know but don't want to tell me?," Natsuki asked as she pressed on.
Nao rolled her eyes.
"Has the second option ever existed? Anyway I was totally wasted last night, don't remember a thing."
"Well whatever as long as the other person didn't have rabies or something..."
"She doesn't."
--
At that point a huffing coach was about to wander over to them.
"Hello? New members of the team? Even Harada seems to be here for actual practice today the least you two could do is kick something. Kikukawa show them the drills you devised to teach those two the rules."
"Yes coach," Nao replied as she helped Natsuki off the ground before they wandered over to their Captain.
Nao raised her eyebrows at the girl who was dedicatedly going through Yukino's drills.
Chie shrugged in reply.
"Nothing better to do... Aoi's got a dentist appointment."
--
When soccer practice was over and the team was slowly dispersing to make their individual ways home, a tired Natsuki was unable to escape a feeling not unknown to her.
"Dammit Nao quit poking me you already have my attention. What the hell do you want?"
"About Shizuru...," Nao began.
Natsuki sighs.
"What about her?"
"Well what's with the pseudo closeness?"
"Huh?"
"You say her name like twenty times a conversation but have you actually you know... talked to her?"
"What are you talking about Nao I'm always with her. Everyone thinks we're engaged slash married slash having children. Trust me we've spent time."
"Ok then when's her birthday?"
Natsuki replies with a flustered blank look.
"Favourite subject?," Nao continued.
"Umm..."
"Come on Natsuki, you don't want to just be some fan girl right? Get in there and act like you really care about her."
"Umm I'm sorry who are you and what have you done with my idiot redheaded friend?"
"I replaced her with your wise idiot redheaded friend."
Natsuki rolls her eyes.
"Seriously though you should have a real conversation with the girl. You seem to really like her and she doesn't seem to be immune to the Natsuki charm so why not go for it?"
"I can't. Well we did talk when we were stuck in that closet all night but..."
"Wait that was true?"
"You didn't know?"
"I thought Mai made that one up to be honest..."
Natsuki sighs.
"No that's all true. Stuck in a closet with her all night."
Nao raises an eyebrow.
"Umm you didn't actually make her pregnant did you?"
"Oh shut up Nao nothing like that happened."
"Really? Are you sure Natsuki 'cos aunt Nao is totally ready for a change in her life."
"Ok well first of all Nao, shut the hell up. Second of all after I made a fool out of myself a few dozen times we kinda just drifted off. Then I woke up to Haruka's yelling."
"Hmm aunt Haruka really does need to tone down the anger."
"Closet, sleep, no babies. Get it yet champ?"
--
"Wow for the best rumour to circulate the school this year the truth of that one is kind of anti-climactic."
"Thanks Nao, you always know what to say to make me feel better."
"I'm good with words."
"So it seems."
"You are not."
"Please keep it coming with the compliments, I'm not yet inclined to find a high place to heave myself off just yet."
"Worry not Natsuki! I've devised a cunning plan!"
"Ok I'm inclined."
"Trust me Natsuki, I got this. So would you like to do it with the support of walkie talkies or should I hide up in a tree or what , your call."
"Do what?"
"Make your loving speech and ask her out on a date!"
"Yeah right! Did you not see me over there like an hour ago with the five minute conversation and consequent passing out?! No Nao. This has bad idea written all over it."
"Look at it this way, if you fail, it'll still be funny for me."
"Sometimes when you try to be supportive I still want to hit you..."
"You know what I think..."
"I told you not to do that around me!"
"Well fortunately for you Natsuki it seems you've reached the safety of your house. Feel free to flee from the truth!"
"Quit soccer and join drama Nao, honestly they'd accept you with open arms."
"Natsuki could you try and be less mean to me around my egg? I don't want it to grow up disrespecting me."
"Ugh whatever I'm going home... don't follow me!"
--
Upon reaching her house, Natsuki was once again happy to finally be rid of the craziness she'd been bombarded with at school for the entire day.
Unfortunately for the girl, she had a little sister.
"Alyssa... why are you looking at me like that. Why do you have a book on raising children," Natsuki asked as she walked in to find the young blonde waiting for her. "Alyssa?"
"Welcome home nee-chan," Alyssa said as she rose to meet her older sister. "You dumbass!"
"Oww!," Natsuki whined as she was dragged up the stairs. "Alyssa come on let go of my ear! Don't make me drop the egg... not the egg Alyssa the egg is important!"
Finally letting go of Natsuki's ear as they reached the girl's room, Alyssa once again rounded on her sister and pointed an accusing finger at her.
"What's this I hear about you impregnating the head cheerleader?! Couldn't you have waited until I don't know, you had a stable job or a career or never ever?! The least you could have done was married her first!"
"Actually Alyssa the rumours also come with that option..."
"Natsuki onee-chan!"
"Ahh I can't believe you believe those rumours Alyssa we both know that 'impregnating the Head Cheerleader' with both of us being girls is not possible."
"Well it would be just like you to disregard the rules of science for love neechan don't think I don't know you."
"You can't be serious. You really trying to imply I've fallen that hard for her?"
"You're mothering an egg with the girl."
"It's a class assignment."
"Exactly. We both know how seriously you usually take those neechan, don't try to fool yourself. I have no problems with you developing feelings for the head cheerleader don't get me wrong but please make sure it's not just a one night lay down in someone's closet turned into crazed rumours the next day. You deserve better than that and so does she."
"I can't really believe you gave me this talk Alyssa."
"I can't believe you seem to have needed it," Alyssa said as she made to leave the room only to be stopped by Natsuki tossing a pillow at her head.
"Hey... thanks kid."
Alyssa rolled her eyes.
"No problem. By the way I heard what Nao was threatening to name your twins to be. I'll attack her the next time I see her. No one makes fools of my nieces..."
As Alyssa left the room, Natsuki was more than disturbed to discover Nao had left a sticky note message in one of her books.
Hey pup, getting to know Shizuru plan starts tomorrow. Pick me up before school! Spider out.
--
The following morning, Natsuki found herself standing outside Nao's house repeatedly asking herself why.
"Nao you idiot wake up we're gonna be late!," she yelled out.
"Shut up!," Nao yelled back in a sleepy voice.
"Nao! We're gonna be late!"
"Huh? What? Late for what?"
"School you moron school! We're students remember? Now wake your ass up and get out here!"
"Out where?"
"I'm outside your house you over-sleeping idiot we're gonna be late!"
--
Several moments later after Natsuki had given up with the yelling and Nao had finally sauntered out of her house, the former of the two delivered a smack to the head of the latter before both took off on a mad dash to school.
--
Upon their arrival to class they were greeted by a wave from Mai and a glare from Midori.
"See Natsuki, made it just in time, what did I tell ya?," Nao said as she walked into class.
"Oi. Kuga, Yuuki," Midori began as she turned to them. "You see me up here teaching? You see them over there listening and writing stuff down? Yeah. That's called being in class on time. Typical of you two to be teaching your eggs incorrect life skills already."
"I'm really sorry, Natsuki and I overslept so..."
"No I didn't! I woke up angrily and picked you up like you asked me to!"
"Whatever. Just don't be late for detention this afternoon."
"I hate you Nao."
"Aww don't be that way pup," Nao said as she draped an arm over her friend's shoulders. "Believe me, you'll thank me later."
--
After school...
Walking into the designated detention room for that afternoon, Natsuki's glares towards Nao were suddenly interrupted by the view of a smiling girl.
"Shizuru?!," Natsuki got out as she saw who exactly it was.
"Ara... I didn't think Natsuki was the delinquent type," Shizuru replied as she sat at the desk situated at the front of the room as she nursed a cup of tea.
"Well bubuzuke it was always like you to miss the obvious," an annoyed sounding blonde replied with an eyeroll.
"Haruka?! What are you guys doing here?," Natsuki asked as she tossed her bag on one of the desk.
Nao, showing no signs of surprise merely walked over to Yukino sitting at one of the desks and gave the girl a friendly smile.
"Umm in case you haven't noticed," Haruka began. "Which judging from your blank look and general 'duh' that I want to throw in your direction, we run this detention."
"Why would you do that?," Natsuki questioned further her eyes widening as she inches closer to whisper to the blonde.
"Haruka... did you kill the regular people?"
"Natsuki she is the regular people," Nao replied with a snicker.
"Say what?," Natsuki replied eloquently prompting Haruka to roll her eyes.
"Hello? Student council anyone? Yeah that would be us. I'd wonder how you didn't know that but your attendance is... rare."
"Nao did you know about this?"
Nao nods.
"The school made Haruka student council president!
Haruka sighs.
"No they didn't."
"Natsuki, the Student Council President would be me. How interesting that Natsuki had to receive detention just to learn that fact. They must have sent you to me so I could punish you."
"Shizuru!"
"Why do I get the feeling you did this?," Natsuki asked Nao.
"Because I did," Nao replied before seeing Natsuki's eyes narrow. "I mean I am innocent and have no idea."
"Anyway bubuzuke since it's just these delinquents here today what do you say we split the workload? I'll take the redheaded one because I'm planning on taking Yukino to where Mai is studying ... they can help me tame her."
"I'm actually standing right here..."
"You take Kuga since you two are supposed to be egg-sitting together anyway. Go do something educationally productive and find something to write about in your life skills notebook."
"Wait a minute Haruka," Natsuki said nervously.
"Student council members make the rules, delinquents shut up and thank me later. That is all. Come redhead we have some room leaving to do."
"On it! Later Natsuki!"
--
"So Shizuru..."
"Ara Natsuki brought our egg. I apologise for not spending too much time with it but Natsuki doesn't seem to like visiting me very much."
"Natsuki blushes."
"Does Natsuki not like spending time with me? Or perhaps she thinks she spends too much time with me?"
--
"Do you think Kuga is gonna spend the whole time just staring like that?," Haruka asked as they witnessed the exchange before the three of them left for where Mai was. "You could have at least showed up after you'd taught Kuga some lines or something. Or maybe the ability to speak."
Nao shrugged.
"It's not my fault she just loses it when she's around Shizuru. If I could pass on some of my charm I would. Everyone knows I'm oozing with the stuff."
"How did this turn out about you?"
"I'm in the conversation."
Haruka rolls her eyes.
--
Meanwhile...
Natsuki was trying her hardest to make decent conversation...
"So Shizuru maybe we could go somewhere... together... with umm for the egg exercise I mean."
Shizuru nodded encouragingly at the girl.
"What did Natsuki have in mind?"
"Well umm... it's supposed to be a child so maybe we could go to the park behind the school?"
Without saying anything for fear of making Natsuki even more nervous than she was, the older girl merely took her hand as they set off for the park together.
Upon their arrival, Natsuki sits the egg at a bench nearby before leading Shizuru to the swing sets.
"Ara Natsuki wants to teach our egg how to swing?," Shizuru asked teasingly.
Whatever else she had in mind was interrupted by Natsuki staring intently at her.
As if catching herself, the younger girl drops her eyes only to have her chin caught by Shizuru.
"I don't even know you," Natsuki whispered. "But I want to."
Before Shizuru could formulate her reply and before Natsuki could be ready to receive it, droplets of splattering rain interrupted them.
Jumping off her swing to retrieve their egg, Natsuki then took Shizuru's hand and proceeded to lead them to a group of vending machines she'd seen earlier conveniently covered by a roof.
Feeling especially guilty that she'd given Shizuru the park suggestion and that the older girl was now damp and looking cold, Natsuki quickly took off her jacket and placed it comfortably on Shizuru's shoulders.
"Natsuki will get cold," the honey haired girl replied as she suppressed a blush.
"I'm fine Natsuki replied," with what Shizuru would have called a 'brave smile' shyly planted on her face.
Before she could insist that Natsuki at least stand close to her for warmth, she was disappointed to find the younger girl had turned away from her.
Seconds later however, Shizuru found herself being taken aback once more by the thoughtfulness of the girl before her.
Holding out a can of warm tea from one of the machines next to them, Natsuki waited patiently to receive it before checking on the egg she had gently placed in one of her pockets.
When the rain finally stopped Natsuki stepped out of the shelter and shook the stray droplets off her damp hair as a pup would.
Shizuru smiled at the girl and bit her lip to hold back a tease as she didn't feel quite like ruining their gentle moment together.
Leading Natsuki back through the school and out the front gate, Shizuru pauses for a moment making Natsuki do the same.
"Would it be alright if I took care of the egg tonight?," Shizuru asked sincerely.
Natsuki nodded as she handed the object over with a small frown on her forehead. 'Shizuru must be kind of mad at me,' the girl thought. 'I took her out into the rain... no wonder she doesn't trust me to look after the egg.'
Shizuru too found that particular silent moment filled with her own thoughts. 'Ara I try to control teasing her which I find very enjoyable and I even volunteer to help with our school excercise when all I've ever done before is delegate work to others... Natsuki must be having a special effect on me indeed.'
"Shizuru?," Natsuki began as she looked up at the girl. "I'm sorry about today..."
Shizuru shook her head and smiled hoping it would convey the lack of need for apology.
"Close your eyes Natsuki," Shizuru said softly.
"Why?," Natsuki questioned with surprise written all over her features.
"Ara does my wife not trust me?" 'Obviously I cannot control all of my teasing after all...'
"Shizuru!,' Natsuki says as a final protest before she closes her eyes.
Taking a second to rethink, Shizuru bites on her bottom lip before leaning over and kissing Natsuki on the cheek.
Natsuki, unfamiliar with the warm feeling is surprised as she doesn't know what's going on. Before she could open her eyes however, Shizuru quickly replaces her lips with the egg.
"Ara our egg just wanted to thank Natsuki for the outing," Shizuru said as the green of Natsuki's eyes again came into view.
Natsuki blinks as she nodded.
"I-I'll see you tomorrow Shizuru," she said to the smiling girl before running off.
"And you Natsuki."
--
At the Kuga's house...
"Jesus pup you're soaked," Nao said to Natsuki as soon as the girl entered her bedroom.
"And not in the way we expected you to be," Mai added in a rather tongue in cheek fashion.
"What are you people doing in my house?," the annoyed Natsuki asked.
"Umm we're the troops for home base duh. Haven't you ever played soldiering before?," Nao replied as a flash of blonde travels past Natsuki's face.
"I've returned," someone declares before sitting down on the floor.
Nao nods at the girl.
"See at least Haruka knows how to play."
"Haruka's here too?," Natsuki asks unnecessarily.
"No need to thank me, I found these two snooping around the house," the blonde said as she sent pointed looks towards Chie and Aoi.
"I like to be informed," the Captain defended.
"You like to snoop," Haruka said in a huff while Natsuki sighed.
"Great the gang's all here I'm gonna be stuck having weird thoughts for the rest of the day."
"Oh be quiet Kuga, we have to have things to write in our egg raising notebooks don't we?"
"Let's just call this a play date," Mai suggested. "Hold on Natsuki where's your egg?"
Haruka's eyes widened at the question.
"Oh my God you ate it! You ate it even though it was against the rules!"
Haruka moves her egg far away from Natsuki.
"Yukino keep watch on our egg, we don't know when she'll be hungry for more!"
"I didn't eat the egg Haruka," Natsuki insisted as she massaged her temples. "Shizuru has it."
"Is she going to eat it?," the suspicious blonde asked.
"I really don't think so Haruka."
--
"So Natsuki what did we learn today?," Nao asked as she crawled over.
"Eggs are not food! They are our children," the blonde replied with a self-assured nod as everyone except Natsuki who was busy towel drying her hair, looks over at her.
"Stop being friends with Nao," Natsuki replied.
"No that's not it...," Haruka said.
"Stop being friends with Nao and Mai," Natsuki replied again.
"Hey what did I do?," Mai asked.
"You did not help."
"Oh come on Natsuki it wasn't that bad."
"What do you mean it wasn't that bad? I'm ok when the conversation turns ridiculous but when it's actual actual conversation I clam up and freeze like a douche! She probably thinks I'm like retarded or something with the lack of tongue and mouth control."
--
"You know Kuga I can totally help with that," Chie offered as she winked at the girl.
"Chie! What are you offering to help teach them?," Aoi asked as she smacked her girlfriend.
"I'm kidding Aoi kidding," the Captain said with arms raised in defeat before she scoots over to Natsuki. "I'll teach you later," she finished with a wink.
Aoi rolls her eyes.
"You're so insufferable Chie."
--
"Anyway since we're all here we should play a game or something," Nao suggested while Natsuki subsequently turned pink as she remembered the closet incident.
"Kuga you really gotta learn face control," Haruka told her.
"Oh I know a game! Ok if you could be an animal, what kind of animal would you be?"
"Why do our conversations always turn out like this?," Natsuki wondered aloud.
"I said 'play a game' not 'start an idiotic conversation'."
"If I were an animal I'd be Midori-sensei," Nao said with a nod of finality.
"And she derails it further."
"Is that because you like Midori-sensei?," Mai asked before she was interrupted by Haruka.
"I'd be a lion," the blonde declared.
Nao shook her head.
"Haruka you can't pick something that you already are."
"I can pick whichever animal I like! In fact I'll pick your animals too. The idiot redhead is a fox, Yukino is an owl, Chie is a hound, Aoi is a Chihuahua and Mai is a bear," she finished.
"What about me?," Natsuki wondered.
"Oh I'm sorry are the egg eaters playing too?"
"Shizuru has our egg Haruka I didn't eat it!"
--
Fujino Estate...
After hanging Natsuki's jacket on her desk chair and depositing the egg safely on a purple cushion, Shizuru allowed herself to lay gently on her bed.
The honey haired girl lets some gentle thoughts run through her head before she settled into an afternoon nap.
'Natsuki is too adorable,' she thought as she brought her hand up and let her thumb run over her lips, the '... and too sweet.'
--
AN~ A few people seem to have mentioned Mai/Nao :O *pretends to be shocked* ;p Hmm anyway aside from the humour, I hope some people also enjoyed the fluff of this chapter. 3 Hope to hear from more of you guys soon!!