Im so sorry for the delay! pls spare me... hope you enjoy reading this.
darkstormkrazer22, chum-sa, Azfixiation, lindred, Swarm012, SpiderLilies2007, yurianimeotaku, Shamanic demonator, Immoral Temptation, rainee-chan, fan-rei, naomi, kikyo4ever and to all those who reviewed thank you!!
disclaimer: Mai-Hime/Mai-Otome is not mine.. sunrise does owns them but when i do get a job and makes lots and lots of money, i'll buy them!!
Chapter 10
"Mommy"
"Yes honey?"
"you said that love is something powerful, something that has the power to change anything or anyone?"
"Yes, it is true"
"but how will you know when you love something or someone?"
"Well, in my opinion, if you love something or someone, you become a better person. You try to change, not only for yourself, but also for the person that you love. You only not think about what might be good for you, but also what might be best for someone important to your heart."
"Ah like my toy bike! I love it so much that I don't want it to get scratched or be broken that I make sure I take good care of it"
"Yes, something like that"
Natsuki woke up from the sun's rays that shine right through the curtains to her face. It was a fine morning, with the serene sound of birds chirping filling the quiet room. She tried shifting in her bed to find a new position to get away from the sun's rays but her hand was held in place by something soft and warm. Her gaze landed on the sleeping form beside her. Their hands were intertwined, so was their feet. She smiled gently, moving a little closer the older woman's body and inhaling her scent. The person in her arms moved slightly, signaling her that she was awake.
As she opened her eyes, she first saw the white wall in front of her. She tried to recall everything that happened the night before. When her thoughts was about to travel somewhere, she was startled a bit when she felt the person behind her take a deep breath. Natsuki. Adjusting herself from the hug, she changed her position and faced the younger woman behind her. Crimson met emerald as their eyes clashed. She had always dreamed of waking up in the morning seeing Natsuki's beautiful face. Her heart skipped a beat as the younger woman smiled, her eyes gazed upon her filled with tenderness.
"Good Morning" Natsuki greeted.
"Good Morning"
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did"
"Had a pleasant dream?"
"Hmm yeah but I don't remember it clearly though, how about you?"
"Uh huh, I did." Unconsciously rubbing Shizuru's back as she closed her eyes once again.
Shizuru sighed and nuzzled at Natsuki's neck. She was clearly living a dream right now and she never wanted it to end. Neither one of them wanted to move from where they were. If not for Natsuki's rumbling stomach, both wouldn't mind spending the whole day, laying on the bed in each other's arms. Natsuki looked at her clock beside her bed to know that it was nearing noon. That explains the rumbling stomach. Wonder what Shizuru wants to eat. She gazed at the older woman beside her, who seems to be resting peacefully in her arms.
"Ahh.. it's nice to have some eggs and hotdogs for breakfast" the brunette said startling the younger woman.
Shizuru opened her eyes once again to see Natsuki looking straight at her. She smiled, not just her fake smile but also a smile that conveys her feelings for the younger woman. Today, or this time perhaps, her mask was nowhere to be seen. All Natsuki was seeing right now, was the real Shizuru. No pretensions, maybe a little easy on the sexual desire (if not, she would have probably ravage Natsuki by now).
"Is that what you wanted to eat Shizuru?" Natsuki asked.
"Yeah, just that and I want to eat it with Natsuki"
"Ok. But would you mind if you wait a little while?"
"No. why?"
"I have to do something first, you can sleep for a few more minutes if you want. I promise to be back as soon as possible" she cupped Shizuru's face as she said this. Somehow, Natsuki couldn't keep her emotions under control as much as she tried too.
"Okay. But don't be long."
"I promise" she kissed Shizuru's temple and hurriedly exited the room before the older woman could react.
Watching Natsuki as she disappeared from the door, she touched the area where the younger woman's lips touched a while ago. My.. Natsuki has been acting bold since last night. Could it be that she… but I cant be.. there's no way she gonna return my feelings. Shouldn't think negative thoughts, what's important is im here, right now, having a wonderful time with her, that's what mattered the most. Pushing those thoughts aside, she went back to sleep.
Downstairs, Natsuki was busy ransacking the fridge for eggs and hotdogs. Mai, who happens to walk in on her, chuckled at the sight.
"Wow! Mighty Kuga is making breakfast. Or shall I say brunch?"
"Give me a break Mai, and so what if I am, is it prohibited now?" she shot back as she gathered all the stuff she needed on the table.
"Yes coz I know your cooking skill is still zero and the last time you attempted at doing that, we nearly lived on the streets"
"Whatever, I just wanted to cook breakfast for Shizuru okay. So don't worry, im not burning the house down"
Mai just watched her best friend do her thing from the counter. Natsuki on the other hand, was trying to break the eggs on the pan, but smashing it to smithereens instead. "DAMN!" she cursed at herself. She took the pan to the sink and cleaned it, after drying it; she then put it again on the stove and tried to break three more eggs. However, before she could do it, Mai caught her hand and took the eggs from her.
"What the!"
"You know, you don't smash the eggs on the pan Natsuki, you just need to tap it on the side like this" tapping the eggs on the rim of the pan until it cracked then from the crack she splits the eggs open, letting all its contents slide inside the pan. "There you go.. just like that.. brute strength wont get you nowhere with this eggs Natsuki"
"Okay okay, I get it"
"I think you wont have a problem with the hotdogs, no cracking needed there"
"Thank you"
"but I'll stay here by the counter, just to make sure things wont go burning" Mai said sitting herself on the counter
"are you insulting me?"
"nope, I just wanted to stay alive and make sure we still have a home until your done with your cooking"
"suit yourself!"
A few moments later, a dazed yet inexplicably happy Nina got down from the stairs and joined the two at the kitchen. She walked towards Mai on the counter and buried her face on her back.
"What's with you?" the orange head asked
Nina then got one chair and sat beside the older woman. Resting her head on the counter, smiling like an idiot.
"nothing" she answered back.
"its more like everything to me" Natsuki chimed in as she was now rolling the hotdogs in the pan.
"Maybe"
"Natsuki just concentrate on your cooking and let me handle the questions, you can just listen" Mai interrupted.
" Fine!"
"Now, you young lady, what's up with you?" turning her attention to the person sitting beside her.
"Im happy, I'm sooooo happy!" she cheerfully answered while twirling her hair.
"Yeah I can see that" pausing for a while, thinking of possible reasons why Nina was acting like that. "don't tell me you confessed?!!" she yelled.
"Hehehe.. sort of"
"What?!!! Is there such a thing?!!" she screamed then faced Natsuki. "Natsuki keep the hotdogs rolling"
"Well…" Nina sat up straight on her chair, her expression changed from idiotically (is there such a word?) happy to somewhat shy. "I kind of.. whispered it to her, then she answered me back"
"Maybe she was just sleep talking"
"I don't think so, she tells me she loves me too, then asks me to stop sighing and then commands me to get back to sleep"
"Ahh.. lucky you then! Congratulations! I can see who's gonna be the seme and the uke in the relationship already!" she said sarcastically, still not believing Nina.
"What?! Its not like that, I mean…." She wasn't finished explaining when Arika got down from the stairs and joined the three of them in the kitchen.
"Mean what?" she asked as she sat herself next to a now blushing Nina.
"N..nnothing" stuttered her girlfriend.
"Oh, anyways, about last night Nina"
Nina stiffened. She forgot about the "talking" part last night and now was nervous as hell. "Y..yeah?"
"I really meant what I said. So are you serious? Or was it something else?" Arika showed no nervousness or fear as she asked those questions.
"Of course I'm serious! I've never been serious my entire life!" Nina answered back confidently.
Arika just grinned. Then, she suddenly leaned forward, kissing a really shocked Nina on the lips.
"now that's how we seal the relationship!" Arika declared.
The two other occupants, okay maybe one of the two (coz Natsuki was now busy putting all the food on the tray to notice) of the room was too surprised to react at the situation. Mai's jaw dropped. She was having a hard time believing that things around her are happening so fast. There's Natsuki and Shizuru, and now, Arika and Nina are officially a couple.
Seeing the shocked reactions around her, Arika grabbed a still recovering-from-the-shock-of the-kiss Nina from the chair and dragged her towards Nina's room. "We need to talk privately" she whispered.
Nina just nodded in response. The two made their way upstairs leaving the two older women in the kitchen.
"And that leaves you Natsuki, the only one single here" Mai said, recovering from the sudden turn of events.
"Huh?"
"Nothing, just finish up with the breakfast, I need to cook for 6 people you know"
"6? Arika, Nina, Mikoto, you and me, that's 5"
"Nao"
"Whatever"
As Natsuki was about to step on the stairs she suddenly stopped. "Mai"
"yeah?"
"Make it 7, just incase Shizuru's taste buds doesn't go well with my cooking"
Natsuki laid the tray on the bedside table quietly. Then she sat next to Shizuru on the bed, staring at the sleeping beauty. As much as she wanted to just look at her, she wanted to give the older woman her breakfast. After all, she requested it.
Shizuru felt the sudden movement of the bed but too lousy to even open her eyes. An enticing smell filled her nose, gently urging her to wake. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel someone staring at her, she knew who it was or at least had an idea. Her lips curled up into a smile, as she felt a hand softly touched her face. She took the said hand and pressed it more against her skin. Just as she was about to slip into dreamland, the owner of the hands spoke.
"Shizuru, wakey wakey"
The brunette opened her eyes to see the most beautiful person she had ever seen her entire life.
"Hi"
"Here you go, eggs and hotdogs" getting the tray on the bedside table then placed it on her lap. Shizuru got up and sat with her back on a pile of pillows.
"wow, you made those for me?" taking the spoon on the tray. But was playfully slapped away by Natsuki.
"yeah, I did" taking the fork, stabbing the hotdog with it then offered it to Shizuru. "Now say Ahhhh"
Shizuru who was containing herself from pouncing on the younger woman, opened her mouth and happily took and chewed the food. "Hmmm.. this is delicious"
"Ahehehe.. thank you.. here have some more"
"How about Natsuki?"
"No I'm fine, I made those specially for you"
Shizuru couldn't help but blush at what Natsuki said. She wasn't just imagining Natsuki being extra sweet because she IS really extra sweet.
"Ara. Natsuki is so sweet"
Natsuki just blushed in response.
After a few minutes, the "feeding session" is finished so Natsuki stood up from the bed then took the entire used utensil to the kitchen. Shizuru also got up from the bed then walked towards the bathroom. As much as she wanted to stay longer, she has (yet again) school matters to attend.
Natsuki was back in the kitchen once again, with Mai who was busy cooking everyone's lunch. She dumped the utensil on the sink and washed it.
"Ohh she ate it all?" Mai asked while sautéing something.
"Yeah she did. I guess it tasted okay"
"It should be after using almost 2 dozens of eggs and 2 packs of hotdogs.. and how many were you able to bring up to her? 2 eggs and 3 hotdogs?"
"SHUT UP MAI!! What if she heard you!"
"Hahaha okay okay sorry, you know, you should start brushing up with your cooking skills, after all.. the quickest way to a woman's heart is through her stomach"
Natsuki and Mai's attention was caught when Shizuru descended the stairs. She was now fresh from bathing but still wearing the clothes she wore the day before. She went to the kitchen where the two younger women were to say her thanks and goodbye.
"Mai-san, Natsuki, thank you very much for yesterday and today. As much as I wanted to stay a bit more but I have a meeting to attend."
"You can always come back Shizuru-san" Mai replied.
Natsuki however was fidgeting by the sink. Her face saddened as she heard that Shizuru was leaving.
"Don't worry Natsuki, ill be back as soon as my meeting ends"
Natsuki's face brightens up. She looked up at the older woman and beamed at her.
"I'll be waiting for you Shizuru, anything that you might want to do when you comeback?"
"Hmm.. I don't know.. I just want to spend time with you.. I guess that would be enough"
"How about I give you a massage. I know meetings can be pretty tiresome so maybe it would help to loosen up those muscles."
"My.. that would be wonderful Natsuki, I cant wait to end the meeting already!"
"Hehe.. or you can just dis the meeting…" The last bit was more of a whisper and Shizuru didn't catch it.
"Come again Natsuki.. I didn't catch what you just said"
"O..ohh I just said that uhmmm.. you should be going now, or you'll be late!"
The older woman looked at her wrist watch to see that she was indeed running late.
"Oh my.. you are right. See you later then.. Mai, Natsuki.." dashing off towards the door, she just stop for a moment to wave goodbye at Natsuki then closed the door behind her.
"She was THE MOST beautiful woman I have ever seen." Natsuki sighed.
"Nah, Mikoto is the most beautiful woman for me" Mai replied.
"Nope!!. you're both just too in love that it has already impaired your eyesight!" Nao interjected out of nowhere.
Natsuki's sneered. "Where did you come from? And aren't you supposed to be guarding Shizuru, not eavesdropping on someone else's conversation"
"Oh I am, I just came to pick up my lunch" to make her point, she went to the counter to get her lunchbox with her name on it.
"Whatever!! Hurry up and get to Shizuru already!!"
"Okay okay, will you relax! Oh Mai, thank you for the lunch!" She said while walking towards the front door.
"No prob!" Mai answered back.
About 10 minutes later Nao left the apartment, Arika and Nina came down from upstairs. Both seem to be happy holding hands even inside the apartment. They headed towards the couch and flopped their selves on it. Mai and Natsuki decided to join the two in the living room.
"Oh hi onee-chan.." Arika greeted Natsuki.
Natsuki just sat herself on the floor mat in front of the two and stared.
"Nina, you are now my GOD! How did you manage to snag Arika just like that? And you Arika, how can you be so easy!" she said while crossing her hands.
Nina just blushed while Arika did the talking.
"I wasn't easy! It just happen that I also love Nina and I think we've been on the "friends" stage for quite long, enough to know each other well which is the "getting to know" stage too."
"Argh! You're so damn lucky Nina! Why do you always get the good bits of life?"
"Maybe its my reward for always laying my ass on the line for you" Nina replied back from the couch, snuggling into Arika's arms.
"Maybe, but it's more like your job, its not exactly a "good Samaritan" thing."
"I really have no idea Natsuki-nee, maybe your right, maybe im just indeed lucky but I think this is destiny"
Natsuki just gave Nina a skeptical look.
"But she will be back right? After her meeting?" asked Mai who was now comfortably sitting on a beanbag.
"Yah, I cant wait for her to come back!" squeaked the love sick Natsuki
"Uhhh spare me!"
It was nearing 7 pm and Natsuki was by the window, glancing outside every now and then, waiting for Shizuru's arrival. Her wait wasn't that long for the brunette arrived at exactly 7pm. Natsuki was fast at opening the door, revealing Shizuru on her about-to-knock pose.
"Hi! Welcome home! Errr.. im mean welcome back!" The younger girl greeted.
Shizuru was taken aback by Natsuki's action. My my, she sure is happy about something.
"Good Evening Natsuki"
"How's the meeting?" taking Shizuru's bag from her and her coat.
"It was fine. It went well, no broken bones or blood bath."
Natsuki chuckled. "Wow you manage to subdue Haruka huh?"
"I guess, I had my ways and also Kikukawa-san was there."
"Yeah, I don't know how Yukino manages to make Haruka calm down."
The two sat themselves on the couch, with each on either side of it. Both looking for something to talk about without being too mushy or being too sweet. The nervousness between the two rose, but only to be broken by sudden appearance of Mikoto, bolting out of the kitchen with a piece of bread on her mouth. The feral girl stopped in front of Natsuki.
"Natsuki your face is red.. are you feeling well?"
"Of course I am! Its just a little hot that all"
"But the air conditioner-" Mikoto didn't get to finish her sentence when Mai suddenly gabbed her out of nowhere.
"Sorry about my little sweetie here, we will be leaving now." With that, Mai rushed back to the kitchen, leaving the two startled.
"She's one hyper little girl isn't she?" Shizuru said. Finally found something to talk about.
"Hyper is an understatement, you should've seen Mai running after her all day"
Both just laughed. Thanks to Mikoto, the unbearable silence was broken.
At around 8pm, Mai was almost done with cooking dinner. While waiting for something inside the oven to cook, she went to the counter and picked up the phone. She called up some of hers and Natsuki's friend over and have supper with them. After that, the timer on the oven went off, alerting the orange head that the food she was cooking was done. She then readies the table and then went to her room to freshen up.
Within minutes, everyone that Mai called arrived. Haruka and Yukino were the ones to be the first to arrive. Shizuru was quite surprised to see Haruka in the apartment but welcomed her presence nonetheless. 5 minutes after the kikukawa-suzushiro pair arrival, Chie and Aoi were next to turn up. Sadly, Takumi and Akira couldn't make it because both are out of town for Takumi's treatment.
The small feast was quite enjoyable. Although there wasn't really any special occasion, they all just enjoy the break from everyday stress and relax for a while. They were all hanging in the living room when Arika marched inside the room with an empty bottle on hand.
"Who's in for a game of truth or dare!" she asked, while raising the bottle in the air in excitement.
"Hmm.. a little game wouldn't hurt right?" surprisingly, this came from Haruka.
"Yeah, I would like to join you" Yukino chimed in. Everyone seems to be agreeing on joining the said game so they all sat down on the mat forming a circle.
Being the one who thought of the idea of playing the game, Arika was given the honor of being the first to spin the bottle. She spun the bottle and it stopped pointing at Chie.
"Truth or dare?" asked Arika
"DARE!"
"hmm fearless… I DARE YOU TO DO A LAP DANCE TO AOI!"
"That's easy.."
Just when Chie was about to do it, Mai interjected.
"No lap dancing or any acts beyond 15 year-old comprehension okay?!"
"but Mai-neechan" Arika whined
"No buts!"
"Okay okay, just sing instead Chie-san"
"WHAT!! Im not singing!"
"Ho ho ho.. not so brave huh.. Aoi-san your girlfriend is chickening out!"
Aoi just shrugged and gave a glare at Chie's direction but it was enough to change Chie's mind.
"fine, I'm singing" Chie said defeated.
After her very out of sync but very entertaining singing, it was Chie's turn to spin the bottle. This time, it stopped pointing at Mai.
"truth!" mai instantly said
"excited are we… now tell us, what's the deal with you and Mikoto, you guys official now or are you still playing around?"
Mai blushed furiously at the question but Mikoto doesn't seem to care at all.
"W..we are official.." Mai meekly said
"Congratulations! Finally!"
"Y..yeah thanks"
Mai then took the bottle and spun it stopping pointing at Haruka's direction. Mai gave a mischievous smile.
"Haruka-san, Truth or dare?"
"I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE SO TRUTH!"
"Well then, I will not hold back, is there someone you like right now and who?"
Haruka almost instantly recoiled at the question. She did expect the question but did not expect it to come from Mai.
"Y.yeah I like someone right now"
"and who is it?" by this time, everyone's attention is on Haruka, eagerly awaiting her answer.
"can it be a secret coz she doesn't know it yet?"
"She? And this is truth or dare Haruka-san, there is no pass or secret answers here"
Haruka fidgeted for a while, Yukino beside her looked as if she was about to faint from nervousness and fear. "I think I'd rather have a deadly training than hearing Haruka falling for someone else" Yukino thought.
Finally Haruka spoke, bringing Yukino back from her thoughts.
"I.. I can believe I let you talk me into saying this!"
"come on Haruka-san, its not so bad, unless the person you are referring to is here with us right now"
Hitting spot on, Haruka's cheeks flared. Mai gasped.
"oh my God! Who is it?!"
"Y..yu.."
"Yu?"
"YUKINO!! OK THERE I SAID IT!" Haruka then looked sideways right straight at Yukino's eyes, searching for an answer. Oh no! please please..
Yukino on the other hand was shocked at the revelation; she stared back at Haruka, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Y..you don't have to-" Haruka tried to say but was cut when Yukino pounced on her, kissing her on the lips.
Yukino finally released her when they needed air. "I like you too Haruka-chan!"
"R..really?!!"
"Yes!" Yukino answered and hugged Haruka once again.
"uhmm guys, Haruka time for you to spin" Aoi reminded the two.
"oh sorry sorry" with that Haruka spun the bottle. The next victim was Nina.
"dare"
"okay then, kiss the person that you like.. on the lips!"
"so much for 15 year old comprehension" Mai whispered.
Nina just smiled. After all, it was a fairly easy task. She faced Arika, cupped her cheeks and leaned in to kiss her.
"tsk! That was easy, I didn't know you two were an item" Haruka said.
"Hehe" was all the reply Nina could say. Even with her and Arika being official, they are still practically new and were still shy about it. Nina wasted no time, took the bottle, and spun it.
Natsuki's eyes widened as she realized where the bottle was pointed. "great" she mumbled.
"Truth or dare Natsuki-nee"
"truth?"
"Sure?"
"OF COURSE IM SURE!"
Nina flinched at her cousin's outburst.
"Geez Natsuki-nee, this is just a game, will you relax."
"I know so get on with it!"
"Okay, please don't hate me for this, remember, this is just a GAME"
"Yeah yeah whatever"
Even though she might look calm on the outside, her heart was beating like crazy in the inside. Nina seems to be smirking and Natsuki didn't like it one bit.
"Natsuki-nee, if you were to fall in love with anyone in this room, who and why?" Nina seemed to be pleased with her question. This is turning out to be a confession game rather than truth or dare.
Natsuki didn't think twice before answering, it could be either because of nervousness or maybe she just didn't get the gravity of the question.
"Shizuru" she answered quickly. Everyone just nodded, thinking that it was a reasonable choice. But Shizuru on the other hand was feeling giddy by Natsuki's answer.
"Why?" came the quick follow up by Nina. "Why would you fall in love with her?"
"You really want Natsuki to answer that Nina. You should know by now, its like human nature" Chie commented. Aoi elbowing her.
"Maybe its different with Natuski-nee, and besides I just wanna know why Shizuru?"
Everyones attention was now on Natsuki. Shizuru was holding on the hem of her shirt to ease the intensity of her feelings. This is the moment of truth for her, what had made Natsuki consider her as someone she might love. Her crimson eyes were on fire; proof that her hope has once again had been lit and was burning with passion. The blue haired girl however had already thought of an answer to the question.
"Why?... Because I already did fall for her!"
Omake:
Natsuki: please spare me!
Swarm012: You expect us to spare you after what you did?!!
Natsuki: uhh yes?
Swarm012: -eyes twitching- NO!!! YOU ARE TO BE SUBJECTED IN SHIZURU'S CARE STARTING TODAY!!!
Natsuki: WHAT?!!!!! GRILL ME INSTEAD!!
Shizuru: Natsuki meany, you don't like being with me?
Natsuki: maybe if we are at least 1 meter apart then yes..
Shizuru: well that could be arranged –evil smirk-
Shizuru left the stage, with a struggling Natsuki in tow.
Nao enters
Nao: I see pain and lots of erotic stuff going to happen with Natsuki.
Swarm012: yeah. But don't worry, she'll live.
Nao: I think she would be busy for a couple of days maybe weeks, then Ayou wouldn't have to attend her session. –smiles-
Swarm012: errrr maybe.. Ayou could always consider other options you know, there's Haruka, Mai, Chie.. –suddenly stops-
-Nao glaring at Swarm012 emitting a very dangerous aura-
Swarm012: N..Nao-sama, did I say something wrong –shivers-
Nao: Ayou is not going in any of those sessions!
Ayou enters
Ayou: Hi guys! –smiles-
Nao immediately reverts back into her normal self, suddenly happy.
Nao: Hi Ayou! – smiling like an idiot-
Swarm012: -sweat, facing Nao- BIPOLAR!
low on braincells, must recharge!...