Chapter 9: old acquaintance

Both girls went quiet the road along next to each other. Shizuru made a last glance back at the flowerbed with the shrine. Natsuki hadn't missed the older girls glance; walking a bit faster to get some space between them. With her hands in the pant pockets she kicked a stone at the ground and let him fly some meters away.

"How was your mother?"

Slowly turning her head back to Natsuki who began to kick every stone, which she found away.

"She was a kind person who always smiled whatever happened…"

Shizuru looked at the ground as she walked and continued to speak.

"..Actually now that I think about it she never shout at me or was angry it doesn't matter what

I did. A lot had changed since that day; maybe if she would be still here I would not be the same as I am right now."

Natsuki slowed her walk to let Shizuru catch up to her.

"Is that all?"

Not the patient one, Natsuki asked more directly turning her head to Shizuru to see what was hidden in these crimson eyes which seemed so unreadable.

"Can you still remember her?"

Or at least she tried it, but couldn't hold it long enough so she just looked up at the sky.

Shizuru saw Natsuki look up at the sky and wondered why the young girl asked out of the blue such things. It didn't matter to Shizuru why actually, she was grateful for Natsuki to ask so she could at least talk to someone. Something that she hadn't done for a long time.

"Sometimes yes, I can see her smiling face and even remember her warm embrace…"

Natsuki stopped and stepped in front of Shizuru.

"What is with the strange song you have sung there at the shrine?"
"It's more a prophecy as a song, my mother had toughed it to me, she often sung it then she tucked me to bed. It reminds me so much of her."

Natsuki shook her head.

"It's pointless to remember someone who isn't here anymore."

She turned her back towards Shizuru who looked a bit shocked at those words.

Shizuru hold Natsuki's arm so the younger girl couldn't walk away.

"Why are you saying something like that? Don't tell me…"

"Let go. It's better to forget them. If you let something remember them you will always only get hurt by the memories you carry."

Natsuki didn't turn around to look at Shizuru; her eyes were blank as she looked straight in front of her.

"I'm sorry Natsuki-chan."

Shizuru felt guilt to bother Natsuki with her talking and even to let Natsuki remember her own past. As she looked a bit down again Natsuki had peered over her shoulder.

"Man stop looking down so much."

Natsuki scratched her head and sighed.

"Listen up I don't care what happened in the past the only thing what matters for me is the

Presents got it. Besides I was the one who wanted to know more about it."

"That's not true."

Slowly Shizuru got to the side of the road and bent down to touch a crimson flower.

"I feel more relieved now."

Again Natsuki couldn't understand what Shizuru talked about.

"Why?"

"It's been so long since I have talked to someone like this."

"You don't talk with your father?"

Shizuru let go of the flower and shook her head.

"We do talk but never about something like this."

Her face had an emotionless expression as she stood up.

"It felt good to speak finally to someone. Thank you Natsuki-chan that you have listened to me."

Sceptic looked Natsuki at the other girl who had found her usually smile again.

"But, Natsuki-chan."

"What now?"

Shizuru began to pluck at the jacket.

"It's really tight..."

The jacket Shizuru had borrowed from Natsuki was a number to small for her and it wasn't the sleeves which Shizuru meant. Natsuki saw that Shizuru hadn't zipped the jacket full up.

"…how can you wear a men's jacket."

Innocent Shizuru watched Natsuki who had raised a brow as if she didn't understand what the she meant.

"You aren't full grown up yet, maybe that's why you still don't wear a bra."

"Sh...Shut up, of course I wear..."

Suddenly Natsuki released that she had fallen for Shizuru´s game again and shut her mouth.

argh I'm going to kill her

A game in which Shizuru would always win. A game to make Natsuki losing her cold mask and let the young girl shows her blushing face. Right now she enjoyed her red face and defensive posture Natsuki made. With her arms crossed before her chest began Natsuki to growl. Shizuru walked towards her and stopped only a foot away from the younger girl, she studied Natsuki for a moment and then smiled even brighter.

"How about we go a bit shopping after this?"

"With you out in public? Never!"

"Don't say that, I know that you will come soon and beg to go out Natsuki-chan."

Knowingly Shizuru blinked.

"Pah. Keep dreaming."

Out of nowhere came a sound like an explosion and brought the attention from the girls elsewhere. A few meters away was a small garage from with two male voices came who argued with each other. Shizuru and Natsuki forgot their matter and walked towards the garage. As they drew nearer Natsuki heard a familiar voice and began to grin brightly from ear to ear.

"Dammit that stupid thing."

Something metallic crashed at the wall and felt to the ground.

"Natsuki?"

Shizuru was behind Natsuki as the girl slowly walked along the wall. Natsuki gestured to Shizuru to do the same.

"Shhh."

With a finger on her lips she let the older girl know to keep quiet for the moment. Carefully they walked to the end of the wall.

"Oi, don't kick the bucket. We will need them later."

The second voice was from a younger man and Natsuki knew from whom too.

"Man why the hell doesn't want it starts."

"Maybe it's really broken you should throw it away."

"Are you crazy? I would give it earlier to the first person who can start it as to throw it away."

The older voice seemed to be hurt by the words of the younger to throw it away. Natsuki rubbed her hands and smirked evilly.

it would have been better for you to not have said this.

Both girls turned around the corner and saw two mans which crouched in front of a motorbike. Shizuru recognize the two men as the officers which were by her as Natsuki had broken in the mansion.

"Nick give me the screwdriver."

Carlo held his hand up and waited for Nick to give him the screwdriver

As Carlo felt something in his hand he drew it back and was about to work at the motorbike again as he released what he hold in his hand. Angry he shouted to the site to Nick who had his headphones on and the music volume on max. He threw a wet cloth at Nicks face so the younger man recognises him.

"Wah! Why did you throw that wet thing at me man?"

"And I ask you why you give me glue then I ask to get a screwdriver?"

Carlo held the clue still in his hand.

"I didn't gave you anything Carlo I not even heard that you wanted something."

Said Nick and pointed at his headphones which still played the music.

"A wonder that you even can still hear anything."

Carlo stood up and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"And who the hell gave me the glue then if you say you didn't."

"How should I know I'm still crouching here right?"

Natsuki couldn't hold back anymore so she just began to snicker leaning her back at the entrance of the garage.

The bolt mans jaw fell open as he saw Natsuki who stood cool at the entrance and watched Nick and him.

"You!"

"Yes?"

Natsuki stopped to snicker and made her cheeky smile.

"Don't tell me you don't like the glue I gave you Carl-chan. I thought it would help to glue your mouth because everyone could hear you at the streets."

Carlo was about to walk towards Natsuki as he saw Shizuru who stood near Natsuki.

Knowingly Natsuki nodded and walked towards Carlo.

As she got past him she whispered something only he could hear.

"Yes behave we have someone here Carl-chan."

Natsuki crouched next to Nick and looked at the motorbike in front of them.

She whistled as she studied the machine, of course Natsuki had her own but that one was far behind as good as this one.

"A Yamaha YZF-R6 wow carl-chan I'm surprised you seem to have at least a little bit taste. "

She began to scan through the motor and nodded.

"You even tuned the motor like I can see. But I don't thing that it will work that way."

Everyone looked surprised at Natsuki who took a screwdriver and began to screw at the motor. Carlo was the first one who snapped out of his surprise and got next to Natsuki.

"What to hell are you think you doing?"

"Taking my price!"

Carlo bent down and his voice was everything else as nice.

"And what should that be?"

Brightly smiling Natsuki wagged with the screwdriver in front of him.

"This bike."

Carlo took Natsuki on the collar.

"Do you want trouble, street kid?"

Now it was Natsuki turn to grip his collar and look challenging at him.

"Just try it."

Both forgot completely Nick and Shizuru who were standing near the entrance and talked to each other.

"Are these two always like this?"

Asked Shizuru the younger man. Nick nodded.

"As far as I know yes. These two know each other for more than 5years and always end up

like that."

Shizuru smiled and watched Carlo and Natsuki which began now to growl at each other.

"Well I'm not so long by the police so I don't know. It's just that I heard from the others at the department. But I'm happy that she got a new chance to begin."

Nick watched the two people now too.

"Shouldn't we stop these two now Miss Viola before something will happen?"

Shizuru shook her head.

"No, just wait I think it will stop soon."

As if Natsuki had heard her she spun her head to the side and looked at Shizuru who had still her usually smile on.

"Stop smiling."

Natsuki let go of Carlos collar and freed herself from his grip. Shizuru walked to her and began to fix the collar of Natsuki sweater which Natsuki didn't liked at all but reminded quiet.

"I'm sorry about this officer Glaser."

Shizuru bowed to Carlo that made the older man a bit uncomfortable. Carlo shook his head.

"No you don't must; I should be the one who must apologize. I let myself pick a quarrel with her. Even if I'm older and should know this."

Natsuki was plucking at her collar and mumbled to herself. She took the screwdriver from Carlo and crouched again in front of the motorbike.

"Oi Carl-chan can you hold this?"

Carlo eyed Natsuki as she was looking to him.

"Why are you screwing around on my bike?"

"Because if I can start it! I take it with me home, Carl-chan."

His jaw fell open again as Natsuki took the covering from the bike to get a better look at the machine.

"And why should I give you my bike?"

A vein appeared at his head. Slowly Natsuki turned around, smiling and gave him the cover to hold it.

"Didn't I say that everyone could hear you on the street?"

She imitated Carlos expression and wagged with the screwdriver again.

"I would give it earlier to the first person who can start it as to throw it away."

Natsuki stopped wagging with the screwdriver and eyed Carlo.

"Can't remember."

"But Carlo you really have said it just like this. Miss Kuga you're a great imitator."

Nick got a deadly look from Carlo.

"Thanks for reminding me Nick."

"Seems like you really get old carl-chan maybe you should stop to be an officer."

Natsuki had a habit to make the older man angry at her since she known each other.

"The day I go in pension is the day you will never do a crime again, Kuga."

"I haven't done anything haven't you read my files yet?"

"You a street kid you don't change all of the sudden."

"That may be true officer Glaser but I can promise you that Miss Kuga isn't as bad as you describe her here."

Shizuru was usually the quiet one in front of others as far as Natsuki learned but somehow today the girl seemed rather in a talking mood.

"You don't know her Miss Viola."

"Do I not?"

Shizuru´s brows were up.

"Well uhm I don't mean it like this Miss Viola I mean you only know her since 5 days its different you haven't seen her bad side yet. This kid here is a good actor."

Shizuru began to chuckle and Carlo didn't understood anything anymore.

"I have seen more than just her bad side officer Glaser."

Carlo looked down to Natsuki who just shrugged with her shoulders and began to continue her work. She stopped as she found a blue tube, an evil though got in her mind as she made a glance at Carlo. With the pocket knife she poked a bit in the tube and then put her finger on it.

"Oi Carl-chan."

"Yes?"

"Come down here and hold this."

She pointed at the tube with she still had in her hand carefully to not let the finger flip away from the little hole she had made. Carlo crouched down and took the tube it was pure luck that he had his finger on the right place in time. Natsuki smiled inner to herself.

I will show you who the one which needs trouble is"

Natsuki got up and got next to Nick and Shizuru.

From outside came a little car with high speed driven and stopped in front of the garage. Mr Viola and Mr Tamai got out of the car and walked smiling to the four people inside the garage.

"Seems like you have found Miss Kuga already."

Said Kamaji smiling.

"No actually she was the one who found me."

"That's surprise me, I thought Miss Kuga would the first time get lost. You have my respect Miss Kuga."

Coolly Natsuki opened a dose cola and smirked.

"What are you doing down there junior."

"I told you not to call me junior in public!"

Natsuki began to tremble and laughed inner like crazy. Nick had also a hard time not to laugh as his he tried to not laugh too.

"Why junior? It's your name so get up."

Carlo was really embraced about his second name which Kamaji used.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you carl-chan."

Carlo and Kamaji looked question fully at Natsuki who took a sip from her cola.

"And why shouldn't I."

As soon as Carlo let the tube go a stream of black liquid streamed in his face.

"See I told you not to let go."

"You did this."

Carlo had his hand back on the tube to stop the stream.

"Carlo Junior Glaser how many times must I tell you not to blame your mistakes on others. Miss Kuga had told you not to let go."

Kamaji looked angry at Carlo.

"Uhm Mr Tamai what is Carl-chan to you?"

Asked Natsuki.

"He is my son-in-law."

"Huh I didn't knew you were married carl-chan?"

Natsuki and Carlo looked at each other, she with a smile of someone who had won a million and he with an angry expression which seemed too funny cause of the black liquid which tripped from his face still.

"Well my daughter and junior had married a year ago. Junior was Unfortunaly in the hospital at their wedding day and we must hold the ceremony in the hospital."

Carlo had let go of the tube again, fast he tried to put his hand back.

"I told you that it wasn't my fault."

He looked angry at Natsuki who had an innocent expression.

"If the little girl there hadn't made so much trouble and had just come quiet with me to the department nothing would have happened and I wouldn't have had to get in the hospital."

Natsuki put the cola on the desk behind her and took an insulating tape. She crouched next to Carlo and gestured to him to take his hand away. With her hand she hold the tube and watched Carlo who tried to clean his face with a cloth. As his face was clean again he noticed Natsuki's evil smile.

"What is?"

Natsuki smile got even brighter but this could only be seen by Carlo who crouched next to her. With her lips she formed the word.

B-A-K-A

Carlo was about to take her collar again as Natsuki skilfully shifted to the side and let the tube go.

"WAAAHH."

Natsuki got back and closed the hole with the insulating tape.

"Tz Carl-chan didn't I said go a step back."

"You little."

Nick hold just in time Carlo back, who at the moment nothing more wanted as to kill Natsuki.

"I'm really sorry Miss Kuga I don't know what is wrong with him today."

Natsuki waved with her hand.

"Its ok Mr Tamai, Carl-chan maybe is only tired from work."

She screwed the cover back on the bike and began to try to start the motorbike.

At the first try it didn't started Natsuki tried it a second time but nothing happened again.

Carlo began to laugh.

"See you can't start it too."

Nick had released Carlo but stood still by his side to stop him if he would try to attack Natsuki again.

"Hm strange."

Natsuki scratched her head and toughed why the machine didn't started. Kamaji and Satoshi looked at Shizuru who had taken Natsuki's cola and walked to the crouching girl.

"And did you find it why it doesn't work?"

Natsuki took the cola and shook her head. With her hand on the younger girls shoulder she bent down a bit.

"It's most of the time something we would expect at least what causes the most damage

Natsuki-chan."

With this Shizuru went back to the other four men who had begun to chat.

Natsuki stood up and walked around the bike. She didn't understood it but something in Shizuru´s words seemed to make sense.

"Huh?"

Natsuki noticed a cable from the starter which hung a little bit loosen out of place. Something that wouldn't have everyone noticed because of the way the cable was, but thanks to Natsuki's sharp eyes she had noticed the metallic glitter which seemed out of place between the cables.

Few minutes later Natsuki had repaired the cable and looked up to the Carlo who talked with his father in law.

"Carl-chan?"

Natsuki hopped on the bike and smiled brightly again.

"What?"

Carlo and the Nick looked question fully at Natsuki. Only Satoshi, Kamaji and Shizuru had somehow a knowing look on their faces.

"Don't forgot your promise?"

"You can't even start it. So stop reminding me."

"So if I can start it I can have this bike?"

Challenging she looked at him this time it was Carlo who smirked.

"If you can start it!"

"That's all I needed to hear."

With a turn of the key Natsuki let the motor howl and gave a little bit gas. She turned the motor off and got down from the bike. Slowly walking forward she petted Carlo on the shoulder who still had his jaw wide open.

"Don't worry Carl-chan. I will take good care of her."

Proud of her accomplishment she walked to Kamaji, Shizuru and Satoshi... Kamaji shook her hand and smiled.

"That was great Junior and Nick work since 2 weeks on this machine but could not start it."

"It was nothing."

Coolly she crossed her arms. Mr Viola studied Natsuki for the moment and then began to speak.

"Well I'm happy to see you in such a good mood Miss Kuga but could I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Do you have a driver license for a motorbike yet?"

Her cool mask which she had put on began to crumble and Natsuki though for a moment what she should say. But before she could answer mr Viola spoke again.

"Well since you turn soon 16, I think you in the legal age to make the driver license for it. I also heard that you have a lot of experience already to drive a motorbike right?"

Natsuki scratched her head and looked a bit embarrassed down.

"Uhm yes I have."

Natsuki made a glance at Shizuru who stood silent next to her father and watched the young girl the whole time. As Natsuki gaze crossed with Shizuru´s, smiled the older girl. Natsuki turned her head away and snorted.

Chapter 9 old acquaintances and a motorbike end