Author's Note: Wow, that shows begging DOES do something. Anyway, enjoy it since this was brought by myself, rainee-chan, and CrazyNinjaPenguin's great effort of betaing! Happy Valentine day!
Kiyohime and Mistress of The Dark: I know! LOL I was laughing too, specially the Midori's scenes xD. And thanks for the compliments! I feel the work I have achieved so far is just getting better –if you compare it from the beginning- Also, yeah who will be such a dumb to do that kind of thing xD? That will just be completely utterly stupid and its death. Hope you enjoy the update! Happy Valentine day! Oh and thanks for reviewing too xD.
Aquamarine: Yeah, that's what I hate the most of the manga –besides several other things- Dx hate such lack of shiznat interactions! Anyway, its great thing to see that another person is enjoying this manga version. Well why don't you read and find out? –nervous laugh- Thanks for reviewing and it's a honor to be one of your favorites writers –it really boost my ego xD-
catco: Thanks for the compliment, hope you keep enjoying the fic and thanks for reviewing x3.
kits: LOL, sorry about the cliffhanger but it was necessary. I mean, it was needed –shrug-. And who doesn't want that? I mean, everyone wants to see them already over each other xD. Well, I can say this was a fast update compared to my other times. So, thanks for reviewing and enjoy the fic. P.S. I will try my best with Midori xD but I have other plans for her.
Mimi: Ugh! I know! I hate the idea of 'that-person' being 'that' and I will care less who he is with while he leaves the obvious not to be involved pairs xD and yeah –nods- many readers are hating the hanger…but I updated right? xD thanks for reviewing, please enjoy the fic.
Disclaimer: -sticks tongue to Sunrise- My manga version is better! Ha! Take this Sunrise! I own this Mai Hime Manga as long as I keep changing it! –evil laugh- ok…I don't own it entirely but –shrug- but still –sticks tongue to Sunrise- a few quotes are taken from the manga.
Chapter 10: An Early Valentine Gift
"I…" Natsuki gulped; her now dark eyes stared expectantly into the endless cherry ones. She raised her hand to caress Shizuru's faintly red cheek and opened her mouth to speak again as she leaned even closer to the inviting lips ahead of her. "I lo…"
Unfortunately a loud slam of the door and the ever cheerful voice of Midori interrupted the Ice princess. "Na-chan!"
Abruptly the supposed seventeen years old stopped further advance into the room. Her smile froze while her eyes blinked at the sight in front of her. One naked President of the Student Council straddling an equally naked Ice princess, both blushing so furiously as to prompt Midori to mumble "Tomatoes". Still unable to leave the room, Natsuki growled and did what she did best during this kind of situation.
"MIDORI, OUT!"
Midori, finally realizing what she had done, rapidly ran from the room. "SORRY!" she yelled in a childish tone and slammed the door shut.
"That woman…" Natsuki growled while still glaring at the closed door.
"She even killed the mood," Shizuru sighed, clearly disappointed. "And here I had hoped things would advance even further between us."
The raven haired Hime chuckled nervously, seeing how her companion's eyes darkened and a small wicked smile adorned that smooth face of hers. "Really, sometimes you can scare the hell out of me." Natsuki thought and slowly got out of the hot tub, "Well, must make my escape now before she decides to tease me... or worse," she chuckled, taking a towel nearby and glancing at the still oblivious brunette, "although with that look, I might not have minded whatever she had planned." a small frown started to form on her face at her last thought, "Oh god, I am becoming a pervert!" she smacked herself with her hand and that small sound was enough to stop Shizuru's creative imagination.
"Oh my, and where does Natsuki think she is going?" Shizuru demanded with an elegant eyebrow raised as she freely stared at her beloved's naked body.
"Midori, as annoying as she is, might have something important to discuss," Natsuki answered as she dried her hair with the towel, presenting her back to her friend. "Would you mind not staring at my butt?" she turned her head and could only groan, as the brunette's eyes were firmly on her lower half. "Haven't you had enough of these two last years... or at least a few weeks?"
"Natsuki's beauty is too perfect to get tired of," Shizuru stated with a cat grin and wink to the now blushing Ice princess. "Aw, not nice spoiling my fun," The brunette pouted when her companion took her clean clothes from a basket and began dressing.
"You will get wrinkled if you stay in the tub," Natsuki said once she finished dressing. "Hurry up, I don't like my girl looking like a dried grape," she teased and smirked, leaving a speechless brunette behind. "Yes! I got to be the one on top this time!" she thought and laughed joyfully in her mind at the tiny victory she had obtained.
"Oh my…" was all Shizuru could mutter as she got out from the tub and thought, "Natsuki is getting bolder." Then a disappointing sigh left her lips, remembering how the Hime Unit Leader had interrupted them, "This is so not fair," she thought childishly, "I was about to get a kiss from Natsuki!"
"Ah, damn it." Midori complained, her eyes firmly on the carpet floor. "Natsuki is definitely going to kill me! And all the work I did to get her trust!"
-Flashback-
"You do know, right?" Natsuki asked with a grin on her face as she sat next to Midori after escaping the horrible incident in the cave.
"Know what?"
"That you are the ultimate fool."
Midori gave a toothy grin to the Ice princess accompanied by her victory sign. "Then I will do my best to maintain that position!"
"Really…" Natsuki shook her head but her grin was yet to disappear, "Sometimes I wonder if you act so childish just to fool all of us."
"But that isn't what you came to find out, is it?" Midori laughed freely as the younger woman huffed. "Curious of why I saved Nao, aren't you?"
"She is a selfish kid, she almost killed Mai…you don't know the things she has done…" Natsuki whispered angrily while looking away from the inquiring eyes of the older woman.
"Everyone gets to have a second chance, Natsuki." Midori ruffled her friend's hair, "Now I see why you despise her so much."
"Don't you dare say it!"
Unfazed by the warning growl of the younger woman, Midori only chuckled. "Alright, alright. But you know, Nao is really trying."
"I will only believe it because you say so." Natsuki stood up, signaling that their conversation was over. "She is like me, and though Shizuru was the one to help me become a better person…" she glanced at the wide eyed redhead, "I trust you enough, to at least help her. For your sake, she better be reformed."
Midori's eyes clearly shined with joy and couldn't help but give a squeal before engulfing Natsuki in a tight hug. "Aw! Thank you so much Na-chan!"
"Augh, Midori get off!"
-End of Flashback-
"I took a rock for Nao!" she now whined, "My back still hurts for doing that! And what do I get repaid with? Interrupting Na-chan in her obviously not-to-interrupt time with her Key, nonetheless!" Midori shook her head furiously and whimpered, "I am going to die…I am going die a slow, horrible death!"
"Geez with that way of thinking one would think someone was out for your head," Natsuki said from behind the now startled redhead. The Hime raised an eyebrow questioningly at the strange behavior of her friend. "What's the matter Midori?"
"I'm so sorry Na-chan! Please don't kill me!" the redhead pleaded as she turned completely around, her hands gripping the couch's top border as she gave her best puppy eyes to the younger Hime. "Have some mercy on me!"
An awkward smile started to form on Natsuki's face as one of her hands rubbed her temples. "Really…to think such bad things about me…" her left eye began twitching at the continuous babble coming from the supposedly seventeen year old girl; nevertheless, it immediately stopped when a soft click was heard.
Midori along with Natsuki shuddered at the sudden drop of temperature and merely gulped as Shizuru walked toward them gracefully as ever. However, the two Himes could feel a very angered aura around the brunette and dared not to speak…yet.
"Hello, Sugiura-san." Shizuru greeted politely and gave a dangerous smile to the very scared redhead. "What brings you to our sweet home on such day as today?"
"Ah…" was all Midori could say, too frightened to do anymore. Thankfully, Natsuki felt merciful enough to help her.
"Shizuru, I think you are scaring Midori." Natsuki softly whispered and entwined their hands, praying it would be enough to calm her enraged partner. "It's not her fault, she helped remember?"
The President of the Student Council kept silence for a while and the two other occupants sighed, relieved once the temperature of the room seemed back to normal.
"Now, really, what did you want with us Midori?" the Ice princess asked when everyone was comfortably sitting on couch.
"I want to know everything you two have found out about Homura Nagi."
Steadily a dark blue Ducati DRIII stopped at the parking lot of an average Hospital building. Both occupants took off their helmets, revealing Natsuki as the driver and her companion to be Mai. Hastily the younger woman hurried into the gates of the Hospital while her raven haired companion only sighed, observing how her friend had forgotten her small package.
"Takumi, I brought your change of clothes!" Mai cheerfully burst in and hugged her younger brother affectionately.
"Ah…you are killing me here sister," Takumi mumbled as his face was crushed by the gifted size of his sister's breasts.
"Oh, sorry!" the redhead apologized and rubbed the back of her neck as she gave a sheepishly grin. "I might have been too over excited."
"That's an understatement," Natsuki said from the door with her arms crossed while leaning on the wall near the door. "Tell me, where's this supposed change of clothes, Tokiha?"
Mai blinked and turned to her sides but found no bag near her. "Oh god! I forgot them on the parking lot!" she exclaimed and was about to run back if said bag hadn't been thrown into her arms. "Natsuki…"
"You got one weird sister there, Takumi," Natsuki commented, "Hope you get better too, Tokiha is getting on my nerves already."
"Thank you very much, Natsuki-san," the boy said with a warm smile which prompted a shrug from the Ice Hime.
"Just get better, both you have to repay me for a lot of things." Natsuki then went to the boxes at the far corner of Takumi's hospital room. "Ah, it seems nothing was damage."
"Thank you for the PC," Mai said and helped her companion with the computer.
"Again, it was Shizuru's doing, not mine," she grumbled and poked the redhead's forehead, "What do you think you are doing?"
Mai blinked and answered, "helping you assemble the PC?"
Natsuki sighed and shook her head as she forcefully poked the other Hime's forehead, "You have work, idiot. I will handle this."
"But –!"
"You need to work to get money to pay for this." She pointed around the room and glared at the shocked redhead. "Leave already, I can do this myself Tokiha."
"It's alright, sister. Let Natsuki-san handle it," Takumi said and reluctantly; Mai left after hugging her brother one more time.
Natsuki and Takumi watched the redhead walk away silently before the Hime went back to assembling the computer.
"Sorry…for being a burden…"
The young woman shook her head and said, "you are not, don't even think of that Takumi."
"But I heard it from my sister, that you and Fujino-san…" the boy soon trailed off when the older of them glared dangerously at him, yet after a few seconds he finished the sentence. "I know you were planning to finish your Valentine plans with Fujino-san today and now instead of doing that you are stuck with a sick boy."
"What I do is my problem, Takumi," Natsuki groaned, stood up and rubbed her temples, "I accepted this because Shizuru wanted me out of the house. So don't think I am doing this because I want to. I am only doing this because I was forced into it."
"You are such a bad liar, Natsuki-san." Takumi thought with a smile on his face, knowing full well the truth by how his sister spoke about the raven haired Hime's way of doing things.
Natsuki's left eye twitched for a second time at the bright and content look of the boy; somehow she knew that the brunette would just find a newer way to show his gratitude. Thankfully, or maybe not, a pleasant as well as familiar voice caught their attention.
"Ah how sweet for Natsuki to be so thoughtful."
"Shizuru…" Natsuki mumbled while gazing at the brunette standing at the door in front of her.
"Good afternoon, Tokiha-san." Shizuru greeted with a smile but did nothing to get further inside the room. "I hope you don't mind me taking Natsuki away?"
"Of course not…" Takumi said and grinned when another figure became more visible. "especially since Akira-kun has come to visit me!"
"Akira-kun", wearing Fuuka's boy uniform, marched into the room, carefully avoiding Natsuki's curious stare. He quietly sat on the chair next to Takumi and took several notebooks from his bag. The raven haired Hime, at last, recognized the familiarity of the boy, or maybe girl, once she thought about it; yet Shizuru's firm grasp over her hand and hasty retreat didn't allow her to prove her discovery.
"Goodbye Tokiha-san, Akira-kun!" Shizuru bid her farewells as she dragged Natsuki away, leaving a blushing Akira and confused Takumi behind.
"Geez, what is the rush for?" Natsuki asked, dropping her keys and following her companion into her room. "I mean, the way we got out people might think…" a blush started to spread on her face as she expected a taunt or giggle from the other woman yet it never came, "Shizuru?"
The brunette was currently mumbling incoherent words as she lay on her stomach on the bed. Natsuki, still confused, raised an eyebrow at the strange behavior. Seeing as an explanation did not seem to be coming anytime soon, the raven haired sat next to her friend. Tenderly, she began caressing the chestnut locks and chuckled once the other woman gave a pleasant purr.
"One will think that, after today, the two of us might be acting kind of awkward. Really, we are kind of strange, don't you agree?" Natsuki giggled at the soft groan coming from Shizuru. She smiled warmly once she felt the brunette's head resting on her lap. "You look so cute right now…"
Shizuru only snuggled closer with her eyes closed and repositioned herself so Natsuki could lean on the headboard of the bed while she went for a horizontal position. Once again, a soft purr escaped her lips as she felt the soft abdomen of her Hime. This of course prompted another set of giggles from Natsuki who was still confused about such behavior.
"I wonder what's up with you," the Ice princess asked to herself, noting a peculiar heat coming from her friend's forehead, "don't tell me you got yourself sick now…"
Yet again, no response was given except the occasional purr as the caressing didn't stop. Natsuki sighed, praying for the light heat to be gone by the next day.
"Natsuki…" a weak but commanding voice called for her, and the Hime was surprised to stare at half open clouded blood red eyes, "Natsuki…"
"Idiot, why didn't you tell me about this?" she poked the brunette's forehead, "we were at the Hospital and could have done something."
"It is okay…" Shizuru whispered back with a small smile.
"Idiot…" Natsuki whispered, watching Shizuru's eyes slowly closing. A sigh escaped the Hime's lips and she shook her head softly, "don't you dare get sick on me, Zuru." Natsuki, putting one loose black lock behind her ear, leaned closer to the now unconscious brunette and whispered. "Take this, as an early valentine gift."
It was a small, tender and warm kiss. That's what Natsuki thought as her lips touched Shizuru's. It was simple, lovely and enough for the time being. Nonetheless, the Hime never saw wide cherry eyes staring back at her during the time their lips were locked together. It took all of Shizuru's strength to not dare kiss back, fearing such a magical moment would disappear if she did so. By the time Natsuki let those inviting lips go, Shizuru was again sleeping peacefully.
"Beautiful…" Natsuki thought, caressing her companion's cheek, ignorant that she had been caught, for a second time, by her friend.
Omake:
Rainee-chan: there's no omake because of my lack of humor...
Explanation: Natsuki and Shizuru have a complex as well as long relationship between them –which i will explain later. They are in the state of "more than friends, less than lovers". Natsuki has realized her feelings but she still has her own fears like any normal teenager, that's why she tries to avoid further confrontation ex. going to the hospital, fleeing the hot tub. Yet she has no problem showing her feelings to Shizuru, especially when the other is 'unaware' of them ex. Kissing her. I will go in further explanation in the next chapter, since THAT one is the 'pre-climatic' one to their relationship –and i hate to repeat myself too xD. Besides that, Natsuki is more open in this version of the manga so don't think she is too out of character since she isn't if we compare her to the manga version (this is for those who have read the manga and still believe that Natsuki way of acting is OOC for those who haven't read it, just accept the first explanation xD).
Reviews will be gladly taken by I –i will even take your critics if you want- and it will just make me eager to write the next chapter and i do mean it xD.