Thanks for the reviews! I'd say more, but I'm in a rush…I'm off to Scotland for two weeks, and I thought many of you would like an update now. I'm literally writing this on the way to the airport, haha! :) Sorry for any mistakes; I will probably edit when I return.
Natsuki slammed the door behind her and carelessly kicked off her shoes. She heard voices coming from the kitchen and called out, "Mai?"
The hushed whispering immediately stopped. Natsuki frowned in suspicion. "Hello?"
No answer. Natsuki reached for the wooden bat Mai kept in the corner. She always made fun of her roommate for being a paranoid freak, but if there were robbers in the apartment then she would never make fun of Mai again…after she beat the crap out of the robbers first, of course.
Natsuki shuffled closer to the kitchen, sticking close to the wall. Her hands were getting sweaty as she twisted them around the bat. Should she try to sneak up on the robbers from behind, or should she go all-out kamikaze smash and bash?
Fuck this shit! Natsuki squared her shoulders. Natsuki Kuga wasn't scared of you; you were scared of Natsuki Kuga!
Brandishing the bat, Natsuki jumped out from behind the wall. "Hold it right there!"
Nao and Mai stared at her. They were sitting at the table, while a huge banner with bold black letters reading "INTERVENTION" was strung up behind them.
Nao raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you liked playing baseball, Natsuki. What other kinds of balls do you like?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
Natsuki scowled and tossed the bat away. "Jeez, I thought you guys were robbers."
Mai looked smug. "And you thought it was stupid to have a bat lying around."
"Is that why it took you fucking forever to walk the five steps from the door to the kitchen? I thought you got lost," Nao deadpanned.
"Shut up. What are you guys doing?" Natsuki read the banner and looked at her friends in confusion. "An intervention?"
"No, it's a literacy test. She can read, Mai! Our work here is done," Nao said sarcastically.
Natsuki shot her an annoyed look. "Where'd the sign come from?"
"Oh, Nao's parents loaned it to us," Mai explained before frowning. "Wait, why do your parents have that, Nao?"
Nao snorted. "Please, having an intervention is a Yuuki tradition."
"Did you have one yet? Because I'd be glad to participate if you didn't," Natsuki said.
"Of course I did—I was the first. Being the youngest of seven children drives you insane," Nao said wryly. "But enough about me, today is your intervention."
Natsuki ignored her. "But I'm not addicted to anything."
Nao scoffed. "Denial—a classic symptom of addiction."
Mai cleared her throat. "We have something to say."
"Okay?" Natsuki said bemusedly.
"Now, I didn't think a confrontation would help, but Nao insisted on—"
"Hey Sugar Tits, don't go blaming this on me! You agreed to do it—"
"Sugar Tits? Just what are you insinuating, Nao—"
"Spit it out, already!" Natsuki growled.
Nao and Mai stopped bickering to look at their annoyed friend. "There's really no need to shout, Natsuki," Nao said mildly.
Mai held up her hand to forestall Natsuki's indignant retort. "We think you should tell Shizuru the truth about Shiori."
Natsuki blinked. "Why?"
"Because you love her, dipshit." Nao said in a bored tone.
"Oh." Natsuki shrugged. "I already knew that. Aren't interventions supposed to surprise you?"
The two redheads exchanged stunned looks. "Whoa! No flat-out denial, no temper tantrum, no spiel about how hunger is the only feeling you're capable of?" Nao asked incredulously.
Natsuki frowned. "I'm capable of feelings! For example, you're annoying the hell out of me right now."
"You know what she means, Natsuki," Mai chided. "You don't like to get emotionally attached. It's kind of surprising to see you act so differently around Shizuru."
Natsuki huffed. "I don't know what it is I feel for Shizuru, but she's important to me."
"You don't know if you're in love with her?" Mai frowned.
"Back to denial, I see," Nao added dryly.
"It's complicated, okay? I don't know how to tell if I am or not," Natsuki said defensively. "And even if I'm not, I'm going to tell her the truth and hope she forgives me."
"My God." Nao looked at her with wide eyes.
"What?" Natsuki asked cautiously.
"You've grown a soul."
Mai smiled at Natsuki's indignant 'what-the-fuck' expression. "Hush, Nao! You'll make Natsuki feel self-conscious and reverse all the progress we've made in her emotional growth."
Nao played along. "God forbid! Don't worry, Natsuki, we'll help you figure out your feelings for Shizuru!"
Natsuki glowered at them. "I don't need any help, thanks."
"Doesn't matter if you don't need our help, we're giving it anyway," Mai easily replied.
"I don't see how you can, unless you plan to watch my every move around Shizuru," Natsuki said dryly.
Nao and Mai exchanged sly smiles. Natsuki buried her face into her hands. "I walked right into that one." She looked up with a glare. "Don't do it."
"Okay," Mai agreed.
"Seriously, don't."
"You got it!" Nao nodded.
Natsuki groaned.
-000-000-
Natsuki and Shizuru usually met in the empty student council meeting room for lunch, where no one would bother them. It had become sort of a game between them to see who brought the better lunch.
Natsuki playfully held out a forkful of pasta to Shizuru. "Taste and despair, because I so won today."
Shizuru opened her mouth to accept the bite and chewed thoughtfully. "Ara, Natsuki wins this round. Tell Mai that she is an excellent chef."
Their heads whipped around at hearing a muffled "thanks!" followed by a loud "shh!" Natsuki narrowed her eyes at seeing a flash of red through the small window of the door. She strode over to the door and yanked it open, but no one was there.
Natsuki frowned. Strange.
-000-000-
Natsuki fiddled with her bag as she headed towards the parking lot, walking by the track field along the way. Afternoon gym classes were apparently taking place outdoors today, since uniform-clad students were huffing and puffing along the track.
"GO, SHIZURU, GO!"
Natsuki immediately looked up at her girlfriend's name. Students were cheering as Shizuru was sprinting around the track, her long legs a blur. She slowed down to a stop and bent over with her hands on her knees, breathing hard from the exertion.
Natsuki couldn't bring herself to look away from the rise and fall of Shizuru's chest with every pant, the light sheen of sweat covering her face, the smooth expanse of skin exposed by extremely short shorts—
Natsuki yelped when she walked into a lamppost. "Ow, fuck!"
A boisterous cackle that sounded suspiciously like Nao's rang out from behind a nearby car. It was immediately stifled when Natsuki spun around, looking for the source.
Okay, what was going on?
-000-000-
It was a lovely day to be outside in the park, especially underneath the shade of a large maple tree that blocked out the sun. Occasional breezes stirred the air and relieved what would have otherwise been a hot and humid day.
Shizuru seemed to be utterly content with sitting against the tree, looking uncharacteristically casual with one leg bent to support a sketchbook and the other leg stretched out. Natsuki was reclining on her elbows near Shizuru's feet, but she seemed uncharacteristically twitchy, looking this way and that.
A nearby bush rustled. Natsuki whipped around to glare at it, relaxing when it turned out to be a squirrel.
Shizuru was still focused on her sketchbook, but her lips twitched. "Is Natsuki going to tell me why she's been so paranoid this past week?"
Natsuki blanched. "What? I don't know what you're talking about."
Shizuru finally looked up from her drawing and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so Natsuki doesn't know why she looked like she wanted to murder that poor squirrel?"
Natsuki gave what she hoped to be a charming smile. "The furry bastard was looking at me funny."
Shizuru gave her an amused look. "If Natsuki says so."
Natsuki sighed in relief when Shizuru directed her attention back to her sketchbook. It was a good thing she was so talented at coming up with excuses on the fly. Somehow, she didn't think that the truth would go over so well: 'Oh it's nothing, Shizuru, I just thought Nao and Mai were hiding in that bush. They've been stalking me all week to see if I'm in love with you, no big deal.'
Natsuki folded her arms behind her head and scowled into the sky. Wasn't her life complicated enough already without nosy stalkers?
"I spy with my little eye a beauty and a beast," an annoyingly familiar voice called out. "Three guesses who the beast is, and the first two don't count."
Natsuki's head snapped up to see Mai and Nao ambling towards them. Natsuki scowled. They had the audacity to stalk her in plain sight? This was just ridiculous.
"Don't you two have school? Work? Any place else to be except here?" Natsuki growled.
Nao plopped down on the grass with a grin. "I just wanted to say hello to Shizuru. Hello, Shizuru!" She waved, looking pleased when Shizuru giggled.
Mai shrugged. "We were in the neighborhood." She gestured to the sketchbook in Shizuru's hands. "I didn't know you liked to draw, Shizuru."
"Sketching is a secret pleasure of mine," Shizuru said pleasantly. "Natsuki decided to tag along today while I complete an assignment for art class."
Natsuki narrowed her eyes at her friends. "Oh, so you just happened to be 'in the neighborhood?' Funny, lately it seems like you two are always around."
Shizuru placed her hand over Natsuki's and raised her eyebrow in question when Natsuki turned to look at her. Natsuki's scowl melted away at her reproving look.
Mai and Nao exchanged smirks at the display.
Mai looked at Natsuki innocently. "You look a little tense, Natsuki. Maybe you need something to cool off?"
"No. I'll be fine if you go away."
Nao sighed loudly. "Well, I'm sure Shizuru is curious to know why you've been acting so paranoid lately—"
"Hey Shizuru!" Natsuki shouted to interrupt Nao.
Shizuru looked startled at her outburst. "Yes?"
"Could you, uh—" She looked around frantically for an excuse and spotted an ice cream stand in the distance. "Could you get me some ice cream?"
Shizuru looked skeptical. "You want me to get you…ice cream?" Mai smiled in amusement and Nao stifled a laugh.
"Uh, please?" Natsuki winced. She sounded like the biggest idiot in the world.
Shizuru chuckled and stood up. "I suppose Natsuki wants her favorite flavor?"
"Did I ever tell you how amazing you are?"
"Yes, but I think I can stand to hear it some more." Shizuru bent down to whisper in Natsuki's ear, "And don't think you've gotten away with your strange behavior. I fully expect an explanation."
As soon as Shizuru left, Nao burst into cackles. "Oh my God, you are pathetically lame. What were you thinking, coming up with an excuse like that?"
Natsuki punched Nao in the arm. "What were you thinking, telling Shizuru about our—no, your—little stalker escapades? Maybe I wouldn't be acting so paranoid if some people weren't following me around! I mean, you can at least be a little discreet about it!"
Mai nudged Nao. "I told you she would get annoyed."
"Annoyed? No, I'm pissed!" Natsuki snapped. "I said I could handle it myself!"
Mai and Nao finally looked chagrined. "Sorry, Natsuki, we just thought we would help," Mai explained. "We weren't really going to tell Shizuru; Nao just wanted to bother you."
"C'mon, Natsuki, don't be mad," Nao wheedled. "You have to admit that you can't properly judge your own actions. It helps to have some outside perspective!"
Natsuki relaxed slightly. Her friends, no matter how annoying and intrusive they were, at least had good intentions.
She turned to look for Shizuru and stiffened when a man walked up to Shizuru. She couldn't hear what the guy was saying, but he was obviously flirting with her girlfriend. Natsuki smirked when the guy left looking disappointed, but frowned when someone else walked up to Shizuru.
"Why are all those people suddenly hitting on Shizuru?" Natsuki growled.
Nao looked sheepish. "Ah, that's kind of my fault. I might have told everyone in the general vicinity that Shizuru was single. In my defense, I did this before you threw your little shit fit about our help." Mai face-palmed.
"WHAT?" Natsuki shot to her feet.
Nao frowned. "Relax. I know you said Shizuru likes to flirt a lot, but I don't think she'd actually accept any offers when you're still around—"
Natsuki impatiently waved a hand. "It's not her I'm worried about; it's the people with grabby hands who don't understand that Shizuru is not available!"
"Is this a bad time to ask if we're forgiven?" Nao called out as Natsuki stormed away. Natsuki flipped her off in response.
Shizuru looked relieved when Natsuki pushed her way through the small circle of starry-eyed suitors surrounding her. "Natsuki!" She paused when the mob didn't seem discouraged at all. "Natsuki, my darling girlfriend!"
Most of the potential suitors had the decency to look embarrassed and walk away. Shizuru turned to Natsuki with a sigh. "Ara, they came out of nowhere." She smiled and handed Natsuki an ice cream cone. "Here's the ice cream Natsuki so desperately begged me for."
Natsuki took it without smiling, still glaring at the few hopeful who were muttering mutinously at Natsuki's sudden appearance. "Thanks."
"Why so serious? Natsuki knows she's the only girl for me…until the next one comes along, that is," Shizuru teased, pressing a kiss to Natsuki's cheek. She held out her own ice cream cone—Natsuki guessed it was green tea-flavored, Shizuru's favorite. "Want a taste?"
"Sure." Natsuki dropped her ice cream cone and pulled a shocked Shizuru in for a passionate kiss. Shizuru responded enthusiastically, dropping her own ice cream in favor of wrapping her arms around Natsuki.
The kiss seemed to last for an eternity…or at least for a considerable amount of time, since the disgruntled suitors had scattered by the time they separated for air. Natsuki leaned her forehead against Shizuru's. "Oh, did you mean a taste of the ice cream?"
Shizuru managed a chuckle. "It doesn't matter; I dropped it when Natsuki pulled that stunt. I thought Natsuki didn't like public displays of affection…not that I minded."
"I don't, but I hate when people stare at you like a piece of meat."
"I don't think the kiss helped. Now people are staring at both of us."
"At least they'll know you're taken," Natsuki grumbled.
Shizuru smiled slyly. "Jealous?"
"Hell yes."
Shizuru's lips turned up. "There's no need to be."
Natsuki sighed. "I know. It's an involuntary reaction. Can't say I blame them for staring, though," she said sincerely.
Shizuru blushed and stuck out her tongue. "Smooth talker."
"Don't stick out your tongue unless you plan to use it," Natsuki playfully warned.
Shizuru smiled wickedly before sticking her tongue out again.
-000-000-
"Took you long enough," Nao drawled when Natsuki and Shizuru returned. "What, did you have to make the ice cream yourselves?"
Mai snickered. "No, it probably melted from the intensity of that kiss. The temperature went up 200 degrees even from here."
Natsuki flushed. "You saw that?"
"I think the entire park was watching. See, you made that guy bike right into a tree." Nao pointed at a man groaning on the ground next to a mangled bike.
"Ow." Natsuki and Shizuru both winced.
"Anyways, your sketchbook fell open, Shizuru. I couldn't resist a peek; I hope you don't mind," Nao said apologetically. "They're really good!"
"Don't you understand the concept of privacy?" Natsuki scowled at Nao.
"It's fine. Thank you, Nao."
"I mean, that portrait of Natsuki was almost spot-on! You just forgot the devil horns," Nao said.
Natsuki turned to Shizuru, who studiously avoided her gaze. "You drew me?"
"Just a doodle."
"Just a doodle? That's like saying the Mona Lisa is just some random chick," Nao said in disbelief.
"Wasn't she?" Shizuru's eyes twinkled.
Nao paused. "Not the point."
Mai held out the sketchbook to Shizuru. "You're quite the artist, Shizuru."
"Ara, not at all—"
"Okay, now I want to see this. Shizuru's only humble if she's really good at it; otherwise, she's as arrogant as they come." Smiling at Shizuru's scowl, Natsuki swiped the sketchbook and flipped through the pages.
Shizuru looked on nervously as Natsuki stopped on the last page and looked at it in awe. It was a beautifully-rendered sketch of her reclining on her elbows and looking off somewhere beyond the paper. Shizuru had captured every detail perfectly, from the blade of grass being twirled between Natsuki's fingers to the contemplative expression on her face. So this must be what Shizuru had been so diligently sketching before. A lump formed in her throat.
Natsuki handed the book back to Shizuru. "They're right, you're amazing." She cleared her throat before half-smiling. "You made me look much better on paper than in real life."
"Not possible," Shizuru said affectionately.
Mai and Nao exchanged looks that were half-awws and half-discomfort at intruding on a private, intimate moment. Luckily for the two redheads, a distraction came in the form of a small blonde girl.
Shizuru staggered backwards as a blonde blur plowed into her midsection. Natsuki raised her eyebrows. "Well, who do we have here?"
"Shizuru! Natsuki! Mai! Nao!" Alyssa squealed.
"Fancy seeing you here, Angel Face," Natsuki said playfully, tugging on one of the girl's pigtails.
Alyssa giggled and turned to Shizuru. "I'm glad you're here, Shizuru! Reito and Shiori brought me here, but they were being boring so I left them. Will you guys play with me?"
Nao frantically shook her head. "If Bitchy Fujino's here—"
Mai smacked her. "Language!"
"Sorry. If Rhymes-with-Witchy Fujino—no offense, Shizuru—"
"None taken."
"—if she's here, then that's my cue to leave. And she's probably bringing Reito, so Mai might not want to stick around, either."
Mai scowled. "Not at all. We'll see you guys around."
Natsuki sighed as the two redheads left. She turned to Shizuru with pleading eyes. "Can't we take Alyssa and run?"
"Alyssa! Where are you?" Shiori's voice rang out.
Shizuru groaned. "Too late."
"There you are, Alyssa!" Shiori ran up to them before doing a double-take at seeing her sister. "Hello, 'Zuru." She turned to Natsuki, her tone turning more flirtatious. "Natsuki."
"Hello, Shiori," Shizuru answered neutrally. Natsuki didn't even bother answering.
Reito came up behind Shiori. "It would've been nice to have some warning before you took Alyssa away," he said, mild irritation lacing his voice.
Natsuki snorted. "You can thank your fantastic babysitting skills for that one, since she's the one who came to us."
"You were being boring, Reito," Alyssa chided. "I asked you to play and you said you just wanted to sit."
Reito was visibly annoyed with the child. "My apologies, Alyssa; it's just that my outfit isn't suitable for running around in."
Shizuru nudged Alyssa in the direction of the playground. "Look, Alyssa, there's some kids that look your age. Why don't you try to make friends with them?"
"Okay, Shizuru!" Alyssa happily skipped off.
Shiori and Reito's jaws dropped. "That's all we had to do to make her leave us alone?" Shiori asked incredulously.
Natsuki frowned. "If you didn't want to spend time with her, why did you even come here in the first place?"
"My father needs the deal with Searrs Industries to go through. The CEO, Alexander Searrs, dotes on his daughter. See the connection?" Reito asked condescendingly.
Natsuki glared at him. Shizuru placed her hand on Natsuki's arm to calm her down before turning to Reito with a scowl. "I don't think your plan will work out if you insist on being boring, Reito."
"Good thing she likes you, 'Zuru," Shiori cut in. "It would be good for the Fujinos too if the Kanzaki Corporation manages to sign the deal."
"Always thinking of what's best for you—I mean, our family," Shizuru said dryly.
"Of course, 'Zuru. Don't I always?"
"Bullshit," Natsuki coughed into her fist. Shizuru chuckled.
Shiori shot her a look. "I'm sorry, did you want to say something?"
"Not at all."
Shiori turned to Reito. "Reito, can you get me a drink? I'm really thirsty."
Reito obliged, looking none too pleased about it. Shizuru turned to Natsuki. "I'm going to get a drink, too; does Natsuki want anything?"
"Take me with you," Natsuki hissed. Shizuru grinned.
Shiori pouted when Natsuki made to followed Shizuru. "Ara, is Natsuki going to leave me all alone?"
Natsuki looked pleadingly at Shizuru. Shizuru gave her an apologetic shrug that clearly said "Sorry, you're on your own," before turning away.
Natsuki scowled. Betrayed by her own girlfriend! She turned around with a frown. "Okay, I stayed. Happy?"
"Very," Shiori said mischievously. She sat down on the grass, motioning for Natsuki to do the same. Natsuki reluctantly sat three feet away.
Shiori regarded her with amusement. "You know, for some strange reason, I get the feeling that you don't like me very much."
"Really? That's weird," Natsuki muttered.
"Isn't it?"
"Natsuki! Look where I am!" Alyssa shouted from the playground. Both of them turned to look at Alyssa waving from the top of the tallest slide. Natsuki waved back, causing Alyssa to beam.
Shiori regarded Alyssa with a contemplative look. "You know, I don't think I like children very much—they're adorable, but they get too messy and whiny."
"Oh, too bad. Shizuru and I are thinking of having ten kids," Natsuki said hurriedly.
Natsuki turned at hearing a familiar melodious chuckle. Shizuru sat down and leaned into Natsuki. "Twenty kids, actually." Natsuki laughed.
Alyssa came over holding a disgruntled Reito's hand, but she quickly dropped his hand in favor of sitting in Natsuki's lap.
"She seems quite taken with you, Natsuki," Reito observed. "Then again, she wouldn't be the first, I suppose."
Natsuki looked uneasily at Reito's smirk. He looked like he knew something about Natsuki that he shouldn't have.
Reito looked at his phone when it beeped. "Father wants me to come to his office, Shiori. Can you handle Alyssa?"
"By myself?" Shiori didn't look too happy. "I told you that I literally had to trade my soul to get this day off—"
"That explains everything," Shizuru muttered to Natsuki, making her laugh.
"—and now you're telling me you have to go to work? A little selfish, don't you think?"
Reito sighed. "I'll take a day off later this week to help you plan the wedding. Satisfied?"
"You're still leaving me alone to watch a rambunctious child," Shiori muttered.
Shizuru barely refrained from rolling her eyes. "I'll take Alyssa, Shiori. Why don't you go back to work and get your soul back? God knows you need it."
Natsuki laughed and gave Shizuru a high-five. "Nice one."
"I try."
"Fine, I will," Shiori sneered. "Have a nice time with these two children, Natsuki." She stood up and followed Reito.
"A real charmer, that one," Natsuki commented.
Shizuru laughed and looked down at Alyssa. "Oh, she's sleeping. Should we take her home?"
Natsuki shook her head. "Nah, she'll probably wake up if we move around. We can just let her stay put; it's not like I need my legs or anything," she said slightly sarcastically.
Natsuki noticed Shizuru looking at her with a strange smile. "What?"
"Nothing." Shizuru leaned forward to whisper in Natsuki's ear. "You're cute, you know that?"
"Tell me something I don't know—" Natsuki paused, thunderstruck. She suddenly remembered the last time Shizuru had leaned down to whisper something in her ear.
"Would you still love me if I were ugly and senile?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Shiori said you like to move on to fresh meat every few weeks or so. I'm not fresh anymore!"
Shizuru leaned down and murmured in Natsuki's ear, "Yes, I'd still love you—even if you are drunk out of your mind."
Natsuki looked at Shizuru in astonishment. The honey-brunette had her sketchbook open, focused on sketching a small flower.
Shizuru loved her. Shizuru loved Natsuki Kuga. Holy fucking shit, Shizuru loved her!
Shizuru looked over strangely when Natsuki burst into giddy laughter. "What—"
Natsuki awkwardly twisted to cut Shizuru off with a kiss, Alyssa still in her lap.
When they broke apart, Shizuru looked at her in astonishment. "Two kisses in public in one day? Natsuki's on a roll." She cleared her throat. "What was that one for?"
Natsuki smiled. "No reason. I'm just happy."
Unbeknownst to them, two people were watching from behind a tree. Yukino fruitlessly tried to tug away a gaping Haruka.
"Uh, look, Haruka, there's an ice cream stand—"
"WHAT THE FUCK?"
Review please!
