Me: Well shit, is it time to update already? Here I am, sitting watching UK Skins, looking at Emily, thinking about my Emily, look at the clock and BOOM, update time is in TEN MINUTES SHU. TIME TO PROOF READ THAT BITCH. And actually update before you forget and go to the Rocky Horror Picture Show...

Chapter 10

I laid on my love seat, a couple pillows stuffed under my head and my body stuffed into the burrito was that was igloo of warmth. I'd found the fluffiest blanket in all the house I could yesterday after Natsuki took me home and sped off on her Ducati (it really was a wondrous machine). I'd scoured all the rooms in this house-too-big-for-a-couple-people and found the biggest of the best, wrapped it around myself multiple times, turned on my TV to the news and then pathetically fell over onto my love seat.

And the next morning, here I am still, refusing to open the door to my maids as I watched the news over and over. It seemed nothing else was happening in Fuuka that was quite was interesting as my uncle being arrested. They'd shown a video of my uncle being arrested. The police had dragged him out, one man on each arm, as my uncle struggled and kicked his legs, trying to get out of their grasp, "Unhand me! I haven't done anything wrong! Let me go! Stop this!" he'd been yelling, his messy tie slapping his bright red face repeatedly. It didn't make him look very innocent.

I'd watched my father's press conference as well. He held it outside of Fujino CORP where they'd dragged my uncle kicking and screaming only half an hour earlier. He was surprisingly calm. He spoke about how my uncles arrest had come to him as a surprise. That he still loved his brother, and he didn't believe the allegations against him. He also stated that he hoped the news media would keep the matter serious and factual and try not to tarnish his business.

He droned on and talking, talking about the support of family and business, the importance of both, and how much he still loved his little brother no matter what. Then he left, turning back into the building behind him and did as he always does. He went back to work.

After I'd seen most of everything Friday, multiple debates of pompous people who had no idea what they were talking about but had an opinion about it anyway, old men yelling at the camera about business and politics and crime and traffic, and my favorite: polls from the public about their opinions. In the public's eyes, my uncle was a dead man. In my eyes though, he was still the loveable man I knew and will always remember. I'd cried plenty the last day for my uncle.

Reito had called me and offered his condolences, but said he couldn't visit because his father was keeping him at home. It made sense, considering my father had upped security to keep away the hoards of film and news crews. Men in black suits surrounded the house, the gates, the gardens, everywhere... Yukino and Haruka both sent me messages asking if I was okay. Mai called with Mikoto yelling in the back ground.

Natsuki messaged me probably as soon as I'd walked into my house yesterday, complimenting me on the haunted mansion of a house and telling me to give her a call if I needed anything. I liked thinking about calling her, it made me remember what she'd told me yesterday and it made me smile. I'd yet to call her, but I was considering asking her to bring me lunch. I felt like eating something greasy and fried, something obviously bad for my health but I didn't care because it's good to indulge every once in a while. Or maybe she can bring me some ice cream from that shop she'd taken me to. That place was delicious...

I shifted in my burrito, looking for my remote. Once I found it, I changed my TV to the cartoon channel. A girl with blue hair danced around the school. Lately I'd been very doubtful and very hopeful about two very different things. I couldn't help but be doubtful about Reito. The rumors I'd heard all week were growing louder and louder as they cycled through my mind. I'd only heard whispers in the hallways, but as I thought about the voices in my mind now, they were screaming at me.

I didn't want to think that Reito had cheated on me. Or cheats on me. Or has been and is or whatever. But I'd be stupid to say that I still believed in him wholeheartedly. I'd heard he was around so much last week to keep anyone from telling me the truth. I guess there were more than a dozen girls who had confessed to being with him. Even the story of how he and Natsuki had first met seemed like the bluenette's way to try and prove something to me.

Out of all the friends that I had who knew that everything was happening the way it was, and the girl I'd become friends with just a week ago had come to be the one that I actually trusted to be honest with me?

Natsuki was what I was hopeful about. The girl was astonishing. I'd spent an entire afternoon with her, shared ice cream with her, even cried on her shoulder after hearing devastating news. I know now that she's a dependable person, she's someone that's honest and doesn't beat around the bush, and she says what's on her mind. My interest in her was completely satisfied and done with, so why the hell can't I get the girl out of my head?

I groaned and burrowed further into my burrito. I turned and rolled and bound myself tighter, closing the hole above my head. Everything is pink.

I don't think I'll be able to tell her that my interest in her isn't romantic.

Haruka's going to be furious with me.

I burrowed even further into my burrito. I am one with the chicken and rice.

"Gah!" I yelled, kicking my feet and flailing my arms until my burrito was just a blanket under me and I was sitting upright, my movements frantic and my hair probably a rat's nest. Perhaps a nice cup of tea would help me calm my nerves. Slowly, I patted my hair down and looked down at my clothing. I was still wearing my school clothes from yesterday, along with Natsuki's jacket. I've never worn leather before... but I guess I looked good in it. I smiled again.

Slowly, I changed into some sweat pants and a regular shirt, but I kept the jacket on. I liked it. It smells good. I made my way down the hall, down the stairs, through foyer and into the kitchen. The whole room was a sparkling white and smelled slightly of bleach, mostly like oranges and lemon. My father had the maid staff scrubbing down the house top to bottom. I supposed my father was trying to wipe the stain that was my uncle. Taint on his perfect record, no doubt.

I swept across the kitchen, putting water on the stove and getting the cup ready. I filled it with milk and sugar and honey and then poured the ready tea into it. I liked it this way just because I didn't need to stir it. I sipped my tea slowly, smiling as it warmed my belly and filled the hunger that I didn't know was there. Perhaps I will call Natsuki and ask her bring me food...

Slowly, I went back up to my room. My bed was done, my TV was off, and my burrito was gone. The maids and cleaned my room while I was downstairs. Why have they been so secretive lately? Their like ghosts, there but I can't see them and can't communicate with them. "I want my blanket back." I said loudly.

Sure enough, a maid came to my door a few moments later with the blanket folded in front of her. She offered it to me and bowed lowly, "I'm sorry Fujino-sama, your father ordered all the rooms to be cleaned."

I took my blanket back and smiled, "All rooms but mine." I said then, watching her leave and closing the door behind her. I sat back on my loveseat and turned on the TV, resting my blanket across my lap. Slowly, I reached down and picked up my phone, intent on calling Natsuki to bring me fried chicken.

2 missed calls

"Ara..." I muttered, opening my phone and seeing that they were both from Natsuki. Quickly I redialed her number. She picked up halfway through the first ring, "'Zuru?" she asked, her voice flowing from my phone, "Finally, I've been waiting for forever."

I laughed a bit, "My Natsuki-chan, what are you waiting so long for?" I asked her.

There was a moment of silence and then her muttering something under her breath. Finally she spoke again, "What's with all the security, eh?" she asked.

I raised my brows, "Natsuki... where are you?" I asked.

There was an awkward nervous laugh on the other end of the line, "In the back of your garden... it was the only place I could find where there weren't men in black everywhere."

I nodded, "My father doesn't keep the area under security because the garden is so large. No one can get in the house from the yard without being seen, and it's also on the tree line by the forest. More importantly, why are at my house?" I asked.

"I brought you a gift."

"Ara... I was hoping you'd bring me lunch, actually."

"I'll get on that. First of all, meet me by the fountain."

And then she hung up. I smiled a bit and threw my phone on the bed. I made my way out of the house, almost skipping steps to get down. As I stepped out of the house, I grinned at the garden. Flowers of every color lined the red brick path that split the garden in half with butterflies flying around them, making me shiver. Butterflies are pretty, I just hate winged bugs. Huge trees were spread around, though most were clinging to the back of the yard. At the end of the path was the fountain.

It was large and circular. Two granite koi leapt out of the center of it. One black, one white. The black one shot water into the air. The stone around the fountain was large enough to make a comfortable bench. But beyond the fountain was Natsuki, sitting on the floor with- "A puppy." I whispered.

The bluenette looked up at me. She pat the seat in front her on the grass and smiled, "Come here, I have someone I want you to meet, 'Zuru." she said. I wordlessly stepped forward and sat next to her. The girl picked up the puppy and held it in front of my face, "Shizuru Fujino, I'd like to introduce you to Duran. He promised me that he'd stay with you and protect you from anyone that might want to hurt you." she said, putting the puppy down on my lap.

The small dog put its paws on my shoulders and sniffed my face. Slowly, he started licking my chin and my cheek, and soon was licking me all over my face. I felt my heart flower with love for the animal immediately, "Duran.." I muttered. The puppy quickly stopped and barked. I hugged the thing, holding it close to my chest as I laughed happily, "Natsuki, I don't even- this is... how did you... Mai?" I asked, grinning at her.

"Mai." she responded, smiling at me. I felt tears prickling in my eyes. Almost immediately, Duran started licking them away, barking at me happily and burying his face in my neck. Natsuki looked like she wanted to hug me as well, "I'm confused because you're crying but you're also smiling." she said behind a nervous smile.

I sighed and shook my head at her, sniffing and smiling and laughing all at once, "I can't... why?" I asked.

Natsuki kept smiling at me, "I know how difficult it can be to lose someone close to you, and you told me yesterday that your uncle was one of the people who you thought loved you unconditionally. Duran also promised that he'd love you no matter what." she said, reaching over and scratching Duran behind the ears.

The puppy raised his head and sat on my lap, then slowly rolled onto his back and let Natsuki scratch his chest. I smiled down at him and kept scratching him behind his ears. Soon enough, one of his legs started twitching. He had a collar already, brown and black leather. He also had a couple tags on his collar, one from a pet hospital and another with his name and my number on it, "The green one is to prove he has his shots." Natsuki said, noticing where I was looking at.

I looked up at her with a small smile as we continued to pet him, "Why name him Duran?" I asked.

Natsuki stopped petting him then. I replaced her missing hand with my own as she sat back against the tree behind her, "I... had a dog named Duran once. When I was six." she said, looking at the floor sadly, "I only had him for a few hours. Same dog, same breed and size and everything. But that night when we were going home, there was.. a storm. And an accident." she said, pulling the grass out of the ground by beside her legs.

"It's okay, Natsuki-chan. I understand." I said. My poor Natsuki-chan, to lose a puppy while she herself was at a young age.

When she looked up, I smiled at her. Almost instantly a grin cracked on her face and she looked back down at the grass, pulling at it even more aggressively, "That fucking smile." I heard her mutter. Duran rolled back onto his belly and got up, jumping over Natsuki's legs and licking her face. She raised her head to get away from it, laughing with a full red blush across her cheeks, "Okay, okay Duran." she said, scratching his ears again.

I felt my smile growing a bit, "Ara, my Natsuki-chan looks very cute when she blushes like that." I said. She looked up at me a bit shocked and her blush grew even more. Duran looked at me and barked twice in agreement. I heard her mutter a 'traitor' before she looked back down and started attacking my lawn again, though Duran simply kept barking, "My father won't like him." I said, imaging the look on my father's face when he'll see the dog.

Natsuki looked up at that, glaring at me slightly, "I thought you knew me well enough at this point to know that I couldn't give two shits about what your father thinks." she said, throwing a bit of grass at me.

The grass fell short and drifted onto Duran, who was sitting in between us and who promptly, sneezed. He then rolled onto his back and started rolling around in the fallen grass. His fur was so white I'm surprised he didn't start turning green.

"I should have known you'd say something like that. But my father isn't such a bad man." I said, trying to smile at her.

She gave me a hard look. Her glowing green eyes hardened a bit, "'Zuru, of talking to you and talking about you, I've learned that there are two of you. There's this Shizuru, who doesn't mind sitting in the grass with me and talking and playing with a puppy. You smile more. And not your fake smile; I mean that real smile that I've only seen maybe half a dozen times. It's as beautiful as you and makes my heart race like a sprinter. Then there's dutiful Shizuru. The one that's professional and polite and not sarcastic at all, which is sad because you're actually really funny when you're sarcastic.

"Dutiful Shizuru is a product of your father needing a perfect little graceful daughter, am I right?" she asked. I could only nod. "Exactly. I don't like that Shizuru because it's not the real you. Mai told me stories of you running around as kids, chasing butterflies and playing hide and seek and having fun. Yesterday I took you for ice cream and you were laughing and smiling like I have never seen before. Do you know how many times I thought my heart was gonna beat through my chest?" she asked, looking at me sternly.

"N-No..." I muttered, my face feeling red hot. I gulped nervously and watched as it dawned on Natsuki what she'd said. Her face lit up probably as bright as mine as she attacked my lawn as viciously as ever. Between us, Duran lifted his head and howled a bit.

Natsuki couldn't help but smile and scratch him. After a while, she looked up and me and smiled, "So, you said something about lunch?" she asked, picking up the grass she'd lifted up and letting it fall on Duran. The pup immediately started rolling back and forth in it until he lay flat and sneezed multiple times.

I returned her smile and nodded, "I was hoping for something to put me into a sort of food coma. Perhaps from friend chicken, or a greasy burger."

Natsuki nodded and stood. She walked into the forest for a moment and came back out with a helmet under her arm, "My bike's back here, I kinda snuck it through the forest." she said, grinning at me, "Mind if I have my jacket back?"

I stood as well, but shook my head, "I like it." I said simply. She looked at me with a small smile before putting her helmet on and putting her hands up in defeat. Then, she backed away and went into the forest. After a few moments, I heard her Ducati roar to life. "Use the front gate this time!" I yelled into the forest, hoping that she heard me.

Looking down, I saw that Duran was sitting beside my feet, gazing back up at me with his bright blue eyes. I smiled and started walking towards the house with him right on my heels, "Welcome home, Duran." I said. He responded by barking happily.

When I went back inside the house, my father was talking to the house staff about keeping the house spotless. He turned and saw me, then saw Duran, and looked back up at me with a hard look in his eyes, "Shizuru, I told you, you cannot have a dog." he said simply, looking at me just long enough to sneer at my jacket.

I smiled at him though, "Don't worry, Duran has all his shots and is extremely well trained. He's here to protect me." I said, turning on the balls of my heel and starting to walk up the stairs. Duran waited a bit, barked and howled at my father, then ran to catch up with me. I stopped and saw him slip and slide on the marble floors. Myself and a couple maids giggled at how cute he was being. Watching him climb up the steps was even cuter, but my father quieted the staff with a hard look.

Up in my room, I decided to drill Duran to see how trained he actually was. I stood in the center of my room with him looking up at me, "Duran, sit." I commanded. His haunches fell to the floor immediately. "Down." He laid down. "Roll over." He rolled onto his back at a crooked angle and kicked his feet, but he couldn't quite roll the rest of the way over, "That's okay, you're cute." I said, crouching down and petting his now exposed stomach.

"So then, Duran." I said as I stopped petting him. He rolled over and sat down in front of me. "Are you okay with me being your mom?" I asked him. He howled and panted in response. "You thirsty?" I asked, watching him pant. It was still warm outside, but I'm sure Duran would be more at home when the weather is colder. Until that point I may need to keep him inside for the majority of the day. Except for his exercise, of course, but I won't force him outside if he's uncomfortable.

A few more barks later, I'd led Duran down to the kitchen and filled a small bowl full of water for him. He'd gone down the steps on his own, but slipped on the last step and stumbled a bit. But he picked himself up and sauntered off with his head held high as if nothing had happened. Smooth. As I waited for him to finish his water, the intercom beeped in the kitchen. I went to it and pressed the button, "Yes?" I spoke into it.

A gruff voice answered me, "Shizuru Fujino-sama, there's someone from a biker gang requesting to see you. Shall I call the police?" he asked me.

I rolled my eyes and pressed the button again, "Let her in, Yosho. Open the gates."

Yosho was head of security and was tough, but he also had a short temper. I hope he and my bluenette didn't clash too much. I stepped out of the kitchen and went to the front door, opening it just in time to see Natsuki climbing off her Ducati with a large bag over her arm. Duran darted by through the open door and started running around the girl, barking and jumping up onto her legs. Natsuki took off her helmet and rested it on her bike, grinning down at the pup, "Hey baby, miss me?" she asked in a high voice.

"That was fast." I called out to her.

She looked up at me and shrugged as she approached me, "There was a KFC close by." she said, lifting her arm and approaching me, "I'm home." she said, grinning widely at me.

I raised my brows and smiled back, "Welcome home." I answered, turning and leading her into the house. Something about her confidence in announcing that she was home... I liked it. I couldn't understand it, but I liked it, as if I wanted it to be true.

As soon as she was inside she turned around in circles and whistled, listening to the echo that it made around the empty hallways and open spaces. "One hell of a pad you got here." she said, looking around. Duran responded to her whistle by howling and trying to jump up onto her legs again. She grinned down at him, "I know Duran, and it's huge, huh?" He barked in response.

The two of them followed me upstairs and into my room. Natsuki sat on the floor in front of my love seat and started unpacking the food. Friend chicken, mashed potatoes and corn and a biscuit all smothered in gravy was handed to me on a plate attached to a grin, "As unhealthy as possible." the bluenette said as she passed me a fork as well.

I grinned in response and sat down next to her as she piled things onto her own plates. I tossed a chicken leg to Duran, who caught it in his mouth. "Don't eat the bones." Natsuki muttered to the pup, finding my remote and turning on the TV. I don't know what channel she found, but it was a cartoon that wasn't done in the usual anime style and it was hilarious. We sat and watched a few episodes together, laughing and eating as we went on.

I don't know what compelled me to ask her, but I think it was seeing her so at ease; it made me want to bother her. "So, my Nat-su-ki-chan," I said, smiling at her slyly, "How fast did you say your heart beats when you see my smile?" I asked.

The girl flushed instantly and looked down at her plate, continuing to eat rather than answering me. Eventually though, she spoke up, "I didn't say anything like that. I said... I said how many times my heart almost beat out of my chest."

Nodding thoughtfully, I giggled at her need to clarify, "As you say, then. Do you usually hand out compliments so easily?" I asked, my mind slipping back to all the girls who proclaimed themselves as her fans.

She smiled back a bit, "Only if I'm serious when I say it." she said, putting her empty plate on top of mine and depositing them against the wall.

"Ara... does that mean you're serious about me?" I asked, feeling my own face heat up.

Natsuki mirrored the action and blushed as well, muttering something under her breath. When I asked what it was, she just gave me a sideways glance and muttered, "I got you puppy."

I laughed and scooted up right next to her, leaning my shoulder against hers. We both looked over to where Duran was. He was lying on his back, dead asleep with the bones of a chicken leg sitting a couple feet away from him. He's incredibly smart to understand her command about the bones... "You did get me puppy. To love me unconditionally in the place of my uncle. But who will take Reito's place in that equation once I break up with him?"

She looked shocked at that. "You..."

"I've heard the rumors well enough. Tell me honestly, Natsuki... is he cheating on me?" I asked her.

Her mouth opened and closed for a while. Eventually she closed it and simply nodded, looking at me sadly, "I... I'm sorry, 'Zuru. Everyone knew but wouldn't tell you. At first I didn't get why not; I thought you deserved to know. But it's breaking my heart to see you so sad." she said, looking like she wanted to reach out and hug me.

I offered a feeble smile before turning my gaze to our shoes. We were silent for a long time before I slunk down a bit and put my head on her shoulder. She responded by adjusting a bit and wrapping that arm around my shoulders, pulling me into her. We looked at the TV then, watching the figures on the screen move without taking in what was actually happening. I let my mind wander and looked back to the girl I was currently leaning against. I could mostly only see her neck, but when I looked up, I saw a bit of her eyes as well.

It'd been a while since I'd seen them look so bright. Not since that day in detention, when we were alone and she was trying to mess with me, have I seen her eyes like this. But it's like not when we were outside with Duran, or even in detention; her eyes were bright, but they were also dark. It was like she was focusing all the power left in her soul onto one single thing. I nearly shivered at the thought of what was going through her mind as she space out while looking towards the TV. She was angry at Reito, right? It's what we'd been talking about. But she seemed more angry then I felt, and I was the one being cheated on. Natsuki's capacity for empathy is quite astounding.

Looking down, I reached over and placed my hand on top of hers on her lap. I felt her look down at me and simply hid my head farther into her neck in an attempt to hide. She responded by picking my hand up and lacing our fingers, then resting them back on her lap again. I knew I was smiling, smiling like an idiot, at my feeble attempt to comfort her while she also comforts me. My feelings for her are romantic, but how strong are they? She's dependable, but how dependable will she be when Reito isn't there for me, and I begin to seek her out? I hope she responds positively.

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt her shift and kiss my forehead, "When are you going to break up with him?" she asked suddenly, her eyes looking down at me. When I looked up at her again I felt too comfortable, too at home here in her arms. I'm not free of Reito yet, I should not be behaving like this. I shifted a bit and sat back up, taking my head off her shoulder, "Tomorrow maybe." She nodded once, turning to me and offering me a smile, but I cringed back at the sight, "Natsuki-chan, don't pity me, please."

"I don't," she muttered, "just a little ticked that I won't get the chance to kick Reito's ass for hurting you." she said, tightening her hold on our connected hands.

I frowned at her, "I wouldn't let you in the first place, you might get hurt."

She laughed at that, grinning at me a bit, "I like how you care for my safety more than his at this point." she said, making me smile back at her. Then she groaned and let her head fall back before whipping it forward again and glaring at me playfully, "Cut it out with the smile, woman, you're gonna make me die of a heart attack."

As I watched her grin, I felt myself licking my lips. I knew this feeling. That slight jump in the pit of my stomach that made me want to lean forward. How enticing her lips looked, and how badly I wanted to have contact with her. I wanted to kiss her. Instead, I just kept smiling, "I think all the fried chicken is going to be the cause of that."

The girl leaned back and patted her stomach gratefully, "Maybe in forty years, but it tasted damn good today." she said, looking at me happily, "Really though, if Reito gives you any trouble about it, call me and I'll be here in ten minutes." She looked determined.

"Isn't it Duran's job to protect me?" I asked innocently, lifting our connected hands and glancing at them. I know you want to protect me Natsuki, I know I mean something to you.

A bark from the other side of the room as my answer as the pup bounded towards us, his tongue hanging out happily as he jumped onto my lap. I caught him and dropped Natsuki's hand in the act. He looked at Natsuki and barked, making the bluenette gape at him, "Hey hey, I'm on your side!" she pleaded, putting her hands up in defense. Though she flexed the one I'd been holding. I miss touching you already, too. Duran stopped barking but he stayed on my lap. I looked at Natsuki angrily as his wagging tail hit my cheek near my eye again and again. The bluenette held back a laugh as she reached forward and gently removed the dog from me, "Let's just move you..." she muttered.

As she held Duran in front of her, I leaned forward towards him and puckered my lips. He responded by eagerly licking me, causing the two of us to laugh, "I love you, baby." I muttered leaning back a bit.

Both Natsuki and Duran were looking at me happily with the same bright, glowing eyes, making my heart beat pick up a bit. She's so cute... The girl put the pup down and stood up, stretching her arms behind her and yawning, "I'm gonna head home, 'Zuru, before I fall asleep on your floor." she said, helping me to my feet.

I led her to the door of my room and opened it for her, smiling as she said her farewells to Duran, "Think you can remember the way out?" I asked as she approached.

"Yea, I'll be fine." she said, grinning at me, "Hell, maybe next time I'll even get my jacket back."

"Don't count on it." I answered. The urge to kiss her before she left arose again but I squashed it down as she waved and departed.

I closed the door to my room and went to my bed, laying down. The food had made me sleepy, and Natsuki had stolen the last of my energy. As I got comfortable, Duran poked his head up by the edge of my bed, but since my bed was so high I only saw the white tips of his ears.

Climbing to the edge of my bed, I looked over to see my fluffy blanket in his mouth and his tail wagging happily behind him. I giggled and picked him up, putting him on the bed. As I placed the blanket over me and laid on my side, he placed himself on top of the blanket and curled up in the space before my stomach. I scratched between his ears and yawned, "I love you, Duran."

OMAKE

Me: Get dat bitch a puppy, bitches love puppies

Nao: I said seduction, not complete and total falling in love!

Natsuki: She needs some one to love her...

Nao: And instead of offering yourself you get her a dog?!

Me: What're you thinking?! You can't compete against Duran!

Duran: Woof!

Me: Exactly! ... -pets him- Oh my god husky puppy :3

Nao: And why is fanfiction underlining my name as incorrect?

Natsuki: Hey, yea... Shu!

Me: It fucks with totally normal words all the time, too... Even fanfiction is wrong, apparently. ANY WHORE, how're you guys liking it? Shizuru is now completely in touch with her feels for Natsuki while Natsuki is completely focused on friendship.

Shizuru: That sounds annoyingly familiar...

Natsuki: Those throwbacks to the show Shu...

Me: :D Hehehe, it wants to change 'Shizuru' to 'seizure'. Ahhh man. ANY WHORE, let me know what you guys think, any corrections or anything I need to make, or whatever the fuck you feel like.

Nao: Yes, leave a review and stroke Shu's ego...