"Deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance."

Disclaimer: Sunrise owns Mai HiME.

Chapter 11 - Reunion

"Hello Shizuru, so we meet again." A serious and deep voice said in a foreign language, knowing that the addressed girl was quite capable of understanding every word.

Shizuru however, was so shocked about the voice that she wasn't able to move a finger. Her body stiffened and for the first time it was absolutely impossible to maintain her composure. The panic was clearly written all over Shizuru's face. The group soon noticed the stranger standing next to their table. When Natsuki spotted the familiar face her jaw dropped.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She said almost growling and Sandra's gaze locked with hers.

"That's none of your business. I am talking to Shizuru. I don't need your consent." Sandra built herself up to appear even taller, while she answered in Japanese with a thick German accent.

Turning back to Shizuru, she started talking in the unknown language again. A huge tension was suddenly building up like a big bubble around the table. Unfortunately, neither Mai nor Nao were there to come to Natsuki's aid.

"Shizuru, I believe we have to talk some things over." Sandra said calmly.

Shizuru slowly came back to life, by starting breathing again.

"I don't think so." She replied to Sandra in perfect German.

"Alright, I've expected this kind of response. But I will say the things I have to, whether you want to hear them or not. It's up to you if I do it right here in front of your friends or if you're willing to talk to me at a less noisy place." She was looking at Natsuki again while saying the words. "I think I don't have to remind you, that I am very capable of speaking and understanding Japanese."

Natsuki looked at Shizuru, who was not able to hide the desperation in her eyes. Seeing her lover in such a condition again made the younger girl worry. She rose to her feet and built herself up in front of Shizuru to face Sandra.

"Listen, I don't know what you said to Shizuru, but I can see that it's nothing good. I have no idea why you are here, but I believe it's time for you to make your leave."

"Really, what are you? Some kind of knight or what?" Sandra replied cockily.

The raven-haired girl clenched her fists in anger. Shizuru put her hand on the younger girl's shoulder as if she wanted to hold her back.

"Natsuki..." Her voice was almost breaking. She sounded as if she was about to start crying in the next second. After catching her breath she went on. "It's okay. I will take care of this. Please, just stay here and enjoy your birthday present. You're friends are still up on stage playing for you." Shizuru now faced Sandra, her eyes filled up with hatred and distress, which had quite the effect on the German girl. Sandra wasn't looking so self-confident anymore, but still determined to talk this over.

"Fine. Let's go outside then and talk." The perfect German coming out of Shizuru's mouth was spoken with an ice-cold voice. Sandra, didn't reply to it and just turned around to go outside. The sight of those flaming eyes combined with the cold words creeped her out a bit. Nobody in the round dared to speak a word. The situation was completely odd, but looking at a very irritated Natsuki made clear that there are currently no questions allowed.

On the stage, the situation on the table caught the attention of Mai and Nao, who were exchanging a worried glance. Nao saw how Natsuki was left behind, while Shizuru walked away with a stranger.

What's going on down there? Who is that brown-haired girl and why does Fujino leave with her? Don't tell me she brought one of her German victims here. That's what you get for being a whore... Poor Natsuki, she must be very troubled, but that's what she chose. She wanted this tea-sipping psycho after all. As much as Nao tried not to bother about the situation, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the raven-haired beauty. She had seen this empty look on Natsuki's face before. She hated it to no end to see her in pain before they finished the song, Natsuki jumped up and went after the two girls that had left a few moments ago.

Outside of the bar, Shizuru and Sandra were standing under a lantern. The night air was still warm, which didn't seem to fit the mood at all.

"Okay, before you say anything or jump to conclusions and hate me for the rest of your life, let me tell you why I am here." Sandra started.

"Now, I am very curious what reason could possibly justify such an action." Shizuru said and instantly made clear that Sandra better had to come up with something good to get out of this alive somehow.

"First of all, I tried to talk to you on the phone like forever, but you wouldn't hear me out. I told you I have things to say. Okay, let me rephrase this. Basically, it's because that people like you have to learn that you can't treat others like shit. It's just not right. I thought a lot about you and the time we had. When I met you, I thought you were like all the others. I used to be a hunter myself. I never let anyone close, but with you it was different. It still is. I cannot explain, but it is as if you have bewitched me or something. You just ran away from everything we had, leaving me behind like your little whore and to top things off you treat me like one. I don't deserve to be hated by you so much. I deserve at least a bit respect and I cannot accept that you just blindly turn away from me, when we could be everything. I mean you and I, it's the perfect match. Why can't you see that? You're desperately clinging to this Natsuki-person just because you've never allowed your heart to look out for someone else. But here I am. Don't tell me I flew all these miles only for you to turn me down once again... I love you, Shizuru and trust me, that's something I don't say very often."

Shizuru wasn't able to look Sandra in the eyes. Her gaze was drifting off to the lights in the park.

"I am afraid to tell you that my answer is still, and will always be, no. I am sorry that you came all the way, but I didn't ask for it. Neither did I ask for your love..."

"No, you didn't ask!" Sandra interrupted her before she could go on. "You never do! You just take..." She said in a bitter voice that was almost breaking.

"I cannot give something, I don't have. My heart belongs to Natsuki. It always has. I would give my life for her and I am not trying to be mean. I am trying to be honest. I am not the person you're looking for. My place is right here by her side." Shizuru voice was cold and composed.

Sandra lowered her head as tears started softly rolling down her face. She didn't know if it was out of sorrow or anger, maybe a sick and painful mixture of both. When she lifted her head a bit, she could see the reason of her agony coming out of the bar. Her mind was captured in blind hatred right now. A bitter smile was crossing her face before she looked up completely to face Shizuru with her teary eyes.

"I understand... Then would you at least be so kind and allow me to ask one last thing of you..."

"Depends on the thing." Shizuru stated.

"Kiss me."

"No." The response was as fast and short as the asked favor.

"Only one last kiss and I'll be gone. Out of your life forever and you can live a happy life with your nice little girlfriend. It's my way to say goodbye and to put an end to this."

Shizuru took quite a while to deliberate her options. I don't want to cheat on Natsuki... But having Sandra going back and leaving us alone finally sounds too good. I cannot take the risk that she is going to tell Natsuki anything about what happened back in Germany before I had the chance to. I wish I would have already told her... and now I'm stuck in this even deeper than before. Maybe this is not cheating at all... I do this for us. So that Natsuki and I can finally be happy without lies. But if I kiss her now, there will be another lie... No, that doesn't count. It's necessary to get rid of this problem for good.

Natsuki, who was not able to hear the conversation, remained next to the door of the bar. It didn't look as if she had any intentions to come over and Shizuru couldn't see her silent observer while facing Sandra.

"Fine. One kiss and then you're gone." Shizuru said putting on her perfect mask again.

"If after that you still don't need me... yes." Sandra said grinning, well knowing that Natsuki would see the kiss. She slowly approached Shizuru. Natsuki, now, was on red alert. Her position slightly shifted and her body got tense with every inch that Sandra got closer to the crimson-eyed woman.

A/N: Shorter chapters - sooner updates. Okay, mainly this is so fast because it has already been written. The fateful Chapters 12 and 13 are coming closer. I hope all of you are prepared. Well, it's still not the end but kind of a catharsis. I hope you liked this one too. I personally haven fallen in love with the next two chapters. They will be up soon.