Author's note: This chapter will be a bit different from the others, as it's written by a good friend of mine. I'll be sure to forward all comments on it to her.

Co-author's note: Hello! This is a friend of Leebot's (Call me Raijin Tora, for future reference). Some of these chapters were part of a series of roleplays he and I participated in together. I decided to write for one of the last photos in this fic's album. It's a personal favorite of mine, so I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Should be a great end to this series~

Anyway, enjoy!

X-X-X

Title: Album

Rating: K+

Chapter 10: A Day to be Lucky

X-X-X

One of the last pages displayed a more recent photo, taken from a camera Natsuki had set out to take periodic pictures, to ensure this moment would be preserved forever. In the picture sat both Shizuru and Natsuki on the couch in an embrace. Looking closely, a trail of tears could be seen to streak Shizuru's cheek, though her face was peaceful and content. A soft smile was displayed on her lips, and her eyes were closed. Natsuki's face reflected a similar expression. On Shizuru's finger, however, was a ring, symbolizing the importance of the moment and the meaning behind this particular scene.

"I love you..."

Natsuki had been increasingly affectionate lately, starting with a shoulder rub, then running her fingers through Shizuru's tawny hair, then placing kisses randomly on her face. She sealed it with a soft kiss. And Shizuru had no idea where it all came from, either. She just accepted it happily and decided not to think too much on it.

Truth was, Natsuki had never felt more content and happy than she did right now. Her life was moving forward, and after all those years of struggle, she finally knew the meaning of peace. Shizuru had helped her crawl out of the darkness, and in turn Natsuki had helped keep her from falling into it. A sense of pride filled her chest knowing she'd also helped Shizuru accept herself and realize that her love was healthy.

Leaning down, she placed a finger beneath Shizuru's chin and tilted her head back in order for Natsuki to kiss her again on the lips.

"Ara..." Shizuru said softly, a light tinge of pink filling her cheeks. Natsuki smiled at her, love clearly in her eyes. She brushed the back of her hand against her lover's cheek. There was no way she could resist giving her more affection, and so returned to kissing her face tenderly.

Overwhelmed with all this attention, Shizuru made an attempt to return the favor, but in the end, she allowed Natsuki to take the lead. She let out a sigh, letting her worries wash away with each kiss. Eventually those kisses drifted down to her neck, and there she felt a series of nibbles along her pulse point. "Ara... Natsuki hasn't turned into a vampire, has she?" Shizuru teased.

There was a slight pause, then a soft snort. "Would've drank your blood already if that were the case," she replied, sounding slightly amused. "Bet you'd taste good..."

The blush returned once again, forcing Shizuru to back down this time. Natsuki chuckled, then made her way back up the side of Shizuru's face, stopping at her ear. She nibbled on the earlobe for a moment, then crooned, "You're mine."

Shizuru shivered at this declaration. Where did all this intimacy come from? Her mind quickly went to thoughts best left unspoken, which deepened the red in her cheeks. She would not refuse Natsuki if it came to that. All she had to do was submit and Natsuki cou-

Wait. What was this?

There was suddenly a cool sensation around her ring finger. Something thin and smooth, and... Shizuru let out the breath she was holding, her eyes widening in surprise and her mind going completely blank. Could this be? But... didn't Natsuki want to wait? Was this... was this the right time?

She heard a soft voice close to her ear, "Now everyone will know just how important you are to me." It wasn't a proposition or a declaration. Just a simple statement, and that statement said it all for Shizuru.

While Shizuru had been too wrapped up in her daydreaming, Natsuki had used the opportunity—as well as the distraction—to slip her late mother's ring onto Shizuru's finger, knowing exactly what she meant when she did so.

It's too early, Shizuru's mind protested, but more for Natsuki's sake than her own. Natsuki hasn't even graduated high school yet! A million miles of thought rushed through her mind all at once, and then... she simply brushed it away and didn't care. They both knew what Shizuru's answer was going to be. All it took was the moment that Natsuki felt she was ready to take that next step in her life.

That time, it seemed, was now.

Shizuru clutched at Natsuki's shirt tightly and buried her face in her lover's shoulder. There was no stopping the tears that rolled down her cheeks or the shuddering of her body as she sobbed silently. Words were superfluous, and when it came to Natsuki, sometimes actions spoke more than words.

Natsuki rubbed Shizuru's back, her heart filled with joy, love, and pride. She loved this woman and felt the time was right to take the next step in their relationship. After all they'd been through together, they deserved this. She placed a soft kiss on the crown of Shizuru's head. "I love you, Shizuru..." This was perfect, Natsuki thought.

"S-S-Su..." Shizuru stumbled over her words, trying to get them out without letting the sobs overpower her once again. She opted to just keep it very simple in order to prevent stumbling over a complex speech. "I... I-I love you..." Never in her wildest dreams did she ever imagine this would become reality.

"O-oi... Stop that. Y... you're gonna make me cry..." Natsuki's grip on Shizuru tightened as she tried not to let the gentle sobs her fiancé made affect her too much. But damn, it was getting harder to do that. In spite of her efforts, a couple tears managed to slip by.

Shizuru chuckled, amused by Natsuki's attempt to lighten the mood. "N-now we're even..." she said, a bit more calmly.

Pulling back, Shizuru set her gaze on Natsuki's face. Emerald eyes shone brightly with unshed tears, but more importantly, they were filled with love. They couldn't have looked more beautiful in that moment. "Yes. Yes, I will marry you," she replied, the words bearing more weight than almost any other word she would ever utter in her lifetime.

At this point, Natsuki simply could not hide her tears any longer, causing her eyes to shine brightly. Gazing into Shizuru's crimson eyes, she could peer directly into her soul, and despite all of what she did in order to get to this stage in her life, Natsuki still believed that her soul was pure - untainted. The HiME Star did things to your mind and affected you on many levels. Every person that participated reacted differently. Shizuru had done so out of fear and paranoia. In her eyes, removing those obstacles that would do Natsuki harm would ensure her safety and keep her in this world.

She leaned over and placed a kiss on Shizuru's forehead. "Good. I'm glad," she said in a soft whisper.

Two hands cupped Natsuki's face and moved her away a bit, but the moment was brief before Natsuki felt a pair of lips claim her own. The kiss was sweet, loving, full of emotion, and absolutely wonderful at the same time. The two women acted on their own love, strengthened by their bond, not caring about the rest of the world.

To Natsuki, she had found the darkness of her past burned away and the emptiness in her heart filled with someone dearly important to her.

To Shizuru, she had finally seen light of her dreams as they became reality.

They were both deeply in love with each other, and now engaged to be married.

Truly the luckiest.

Life couldn't be any more perfect in that moment.