A/N: Okay this might seem sudden because well... it is. After reading over my arc outline I didn't like it and wanted something new to happen. So surprise!
Chapter 14: "Mail-Order Child"
"Are you lost?" a woman asked a small boy walking around the city with a hand drawn map and a backpack over his shoulder. His fluffy white hair cascaded over his shoulders and his crystal blue eyes stared back at the woman.
Although he really looked out of it, he confidently shook his head no at the woman while smiling.
"I'm okay! Thank you!" the eight year old grinned and skipped off, leaving the woman to go back to her own business.
The boy continued walking for another block before he furrowed his brows at the map and turned it around so that it (hopefully) was right side up. He gave the paper a sharp nod and looked ahead, ready to continue his trek. Having traveled so far he wasn't about to give up now, quite determined for his age.
--0--
Meanwhile at Fuuka Academy, Natsuki was walking down the hall with Yukino heading towards the student council room. They tended to be quiet around one another but not necessarily awkward; they just didn't know what to say. Today was like any other, as soon as they finished their classes it was time to work on council activities.
Needless to say it was was putting a slight strain on her relationship with Shizuru, but only enough to make them all the more happy to meet at the end of the day. The latter was usually home first, opting to walk back for the additional exercise in exchange for being driven every morning by Natsuki. The girl shook her head. Thinking about Shizuru just made her miss her more and wasn't making it any easier to deal with her position.
"Do you think we got any responses from the announcement? It was kinda last minute..." the blunette mentioned, trying to change the subject.
"Hopefully, it was a good idea to ask them though Kuga-san."
Natsuki turned her head with an awkward smile but kept on walking.
"Hey, call me Natsuki okay? It makes me feel weird to be called so formally."
"...Sorry, Natsuki," she replied hesitantly.
They both came to abrupt halt when they turned the corner to the correct hallway. The student council mailbox was flooded and then some with letters and suggestions for the upcoming event. The two girls' eyes twitched at the large pile that was even starting to block the door.
"Yukino... would you mind making another announcement to say that we've got enough...?"
"Already on it..." the brunette said as she held her phone up to her ear.
Natsuki jogged up and opened the sliding door, allowing part of the mountain to slide in on it's own before sweeping up the rest with her hands. She and Yukino let out a relaxed sigh when they entered, but were soon struck with panic again when they saw that all of the outer windows were open, causing a violent wind to fly though the room.
"Ahh! Damn it!" Natsuki cursed as she fought her way through the papers and closed the windows.
Afterward both she and the brunette were treading towards their desks and sat down amongst the incredible workload in front of them. Sighing again, Natsuki picked up the first suggestion she saw, unfolding the paper and reading it briefly. Being still slightly disoriented made her calm for a few seconds before actually comprehending the words written on the sheet.
"What the hell!?" she screamed, startling Yukino from reading her own selection and then throwing it away.
"What did it say?"
"Whoever it was wanted us to have a live size candy house..." the blunette pouted, frustrated to wonder how many more of these papers contained similarly ridiculous ideas.
"Don't we know someone who would ask for that?" Yukino said with a chuckle which made Natsuki groan and fall back into her chair.
"Mikoto..."
Blindly taking another, the kaichou lazily unfolded it and after a second got the same reaction.
"Damn that baka-sensei!"
"Hmm?" Yukino caught the flying ball of paper and then read it aloud, "'Teachers should be allowed to drink even though it is an event for minors Na-chan'?"
"Yeah, with like a hundred exclamation marks, gah!"
And thus Natsuki started her very long afternoon of reading through the suggestions. Thankfully after the first two there actually were some decent ones, such as making it longer and having more fireworks. Then there were some plans about how to make the event more romantic contrasting with others that wanted a less romantic atmosphere. Once the pile was about half gone, Natsuki rested her head on the desk and closed her eyes. While they had gotten so many responses, it still ended up leaving her at a dead end. Some people wanted one thing, others wanted the opposite, there just wasn't any way for her to please everyone; and while that didn't hold any personal tie to the girl, it still frustrated her.
She sighed while sitting up straight again and stretching.
"Oh well, if anyone asks why something went a certain way we'll just tell them it was a nearly unanimous decision!" she flashed a bright grin and went back to work.
"You're a lot alike..." Yukino muttered to herself, unaware that Natsuki overheard.
"Eh? What do you mean?"
The brunette held her breath for a moment, as if she had been caught doing something wrong, but after a calm look from the other girl, she spoke.
"Nothing, it's just... Fujino-san used to say stuff like that too."
Natsuki blinked, at a loss for words.
"Ah... I see..." it made sense in her mind, that after spending so much time around the girl she would pick up some of her traits, but wasn't sure if a comparison coming from Yukino was a compliment or not. That said, she remained quiet, trying to divert from the topic, but was caught off guard.
"Why..." Yukino tried to speak up, "Why did you choose me to be vice president?"
Natsuki put down her suggestion paper and looked to her side.
"Because I think you're the best person for it. You have experience working here and you're reliable, that's all. In truth I think you should have gotten the position of president instead of me... At least you're who I would have voted for."
"Oh... Thank you then, sorry for asking, it just startled me."
Natsuki raised an eyebrow.
"Eh? Why?"
"I thought you... hated me..."
The blunette was surprised by this confession of sorts. She had always thought that she was the one who was hated. After the Carnival, they had remained frigidly distant while Natsuki grew closer to Mai, even though she was friends with Yukino as well.
"Well... that's an awkward misunderstanding then..." Natsuki said rubbing the back of her neck, "Funny, I used to be so revenge-bent, but now I'm on the side of people who wish to forget or at least get away from the past. So just to... start over new, since we'll be working together, I want to let you know that neither I, nor Shizuru, dislike you."
Yukino looked down at the floor shyly.
"I too... wish for the tension to be eased... We were all under the influence of that terrible curse, and it takes too much effort to blame others when each of us is equally responsible for the damages."
"Right... We were never that close before but that was my fault for being distant, I'd really like it if we could..." Natsuki trailed off, starting to get nervous in her own request.
"Be friends?"
"...Yeah," she scratched her cheek in embarrassment, but they both ended up smiling at each other.
--0--
Still on the streets, the small white-haired boy proudly strolled through the city. Compared to his home, it wasn't that large, but still so many people made it easy to get lost. Again he took a deep breath and stared at his map then looked around. Just as he expected, he was passing by a small restaurant. He smiled knowing this meant his destination was just ahead of him. At least he hoped it was his destination. The child had very little clues to go on before setting out on his journey but still took his chances.
--0--
After working a little longer, Natsuki looked at her watch. It was nearly five-thirty, Shizuru would be home soon since her classes went rather late that day. If she wanted to be home on time for dinner the girl calculated that leaving now would be best.
Man... I sound like we've been married for years...
She sighed to herself and stood up to start packing her bag.
"We'll work on the rest for tomorrow, not much is left anyway," she said to Yukino who followed her lead at getting ready to go home.
Both girls stacked the remaining suggestions in a neat spot on the main desk while putting the approved ones in the drawer. Once that was done the two left the room and headed for the front doors out of the school. It wasn't long before they reached it and Natsuki waved a quick goodbye and turned.
"Wait, Kuga-san! I mean, Natsuki..." Yukino stood stiffly when the blunette looked back at her, "I'm sorry, about before... Though I feel it's fair to warn you that Haruka-chan does not share my opinion on the matter. It would be best to avoid her if possible to keep from fighting."
Natsuki nodded.
"Thanks... I'll keep that in mind, but there isn't much I can do. If she hurts either Shizuru or me I'm going to react."
"I know," Yukino looked away, "I just hope that what happend with Nao-chan doesn't happen again."
"So do I, but after thinking about it... As much as I hate to admit it, I understand her. We both know it took a lot of effort to move on, and really, it's only been a year... We're still recovering in our own ways," she spoke softly.
The brunette smiled.
"You've changed, I remember being terrified of you..."
"Heheh, it's all thanks to Shizuru and Mai! If it weren't for them I'd probably be just as angry as Nao..." Natsuki grinned.
The two then parted ways and the blunette walked to the flower garden where her bike was parked. Natsuki looked around as she sat leaning against the side of it. She crossed her arms in thought, feeling something strange. It was unexpected and awkward, almost warped in her own opinion.
That time was very special...
Natsuki clenched her fist and told herself she was being an idiot.
Why? Why the hell would I ever think that?! Does that mean I want to do it over again or something stupid? Argh! Why?!
She sighed and got onto her motorcycle, a good drive would clear her head.
Seriously... That was messed up... Yet why can't I shake this feeling? Maybe... Do I admire them in a way? That they still fight for what they love even though it's over? It's gone though! We're free and definitely do not want to go through that again... Geez I'm weird today... Too much reading... I just wanna get back and see Shizuru...
It finally hit her.
Shizuru... without the carnival you might have kept silent forever... and I dunno what I'd do without you...
--0--
The time when Natsuki left school was, as planned, the same time Shizuru was returning to their apartment. She hummed to herself as she climbed the stairs, getting out her keys on the way. Suddenly she stopped, blinking at the person sitting against her door.
"Odd... Did Natsuki get me a mail-order child?" she mused while approaching the boy.
Shizuru stood over him with a somewhat worried expression, watching the child's white hair move up and down with his head as he snored. The girl was very confused. It wasn't every day a lone child would be sleeping on your doorstep. She crouched down and moved his shoulder to wake him.
"Hello, are you lost?"
His small blue eyes fluttered open to meet crimson ones. The boy looked away, this wasn't the person he was searching for. He held his knees tight to his chest and tried his hardest not to start crying.
"I'm looking for my Onee-chan..."
Shizuru looked at him sadly and extended her hand.
"You poor thing, come inside."
The boy shakily took the hand offered and entered the apartment with the girl. While he sat idly on the couch Shizuru's natural reaction forced her to bring a drink for the child. She sat in front of him and offered some tea which he took happily.
Strange... I've never known someone his age to enjoy tea...
"Ara! Where are my manners? I'm Shizuru, what's your name."
"Getsumei," he said with a toothy smile.
Shizuru smiled.
"Well Getsumei-chan, do your parents know you're looking for your Onee-chan?"
He shook his head.
"Otou-san never liked talking about Onee-chan... I think he doesn't like her... but I want to know Onee-chan! I don't think she's a bad person!"
"Still, your Otou-san must be worried about you. Don't you think you should call him?"
Getsumei crossed his arms and pouted.
So cute! Shizuru's inner self screamed, No no! I have to focus on the problem at hand. I have someone else's child in my home... who doesn't want to leave.
While she liked playing with kids, Shizuru lacked the skill to actually care for them and had no idea what to do at this point. The best solution would be trying to convince him that going home would be the best option.
"You know, maybe your Otou-san will take this as a sign of how badly you want to find your Onee-chan and then take to see her."
Again it was no use. Getsumei was very adamant about completing his task on his own.
"If I find Onee-chan I can tell Otou-san that she isn't bad! Then I can see her!" he reached into his pocket and pulled out an old crumpled picture, "Otou-san said to Okaa-san that she lived in Fuuka, have you seen her?"
Shizuru raised an eyebrow and took the item. She stared at it for a moment, feeling as if her heart stopped from shock. The girl in the picture was Natsuki! When she was about two years old, but this was definitely Natsuki. This situation just got even more complicated. How would she react to this? Shizuru knew about the complications between Natsuki and her father, that he had left her mother for some other woman... and Getsumei was certainly their child.
"I know I don't look like her... But she really is my Onee-chan!" he cried.
Shizuru was still too worried to say anything. Despite all of her love for Natsuki she couldn't help but feel in the middle of something she shouldn't be. She hoped Natsuki would accept her help, that is if she could think of any to give. But now she had to decide whether or not to let them meet. While she certainly wasn't one to hurt the dreams of a child, Natsuki was always most important to her, and with that in mind she wanted to get Getsumei home as soon as possible. She looked at the clock and sighed, there was no way she could make it, especially with his determination. Natsuki would be home any second now.
"...Your Onee-chan... She is definitely very kind..."
The boy's eyes lit up.
"You know her!?"
Shizuru nodded.
"She will be here soon, but let me talk to her first."
"Why?" he asked cocking his head to the side.
"We wouldn't want her to faint from surprise now would we?"
Getsumei shook his head back and forth furiously; all the energy from his excitement was coming out.
"Oi! Shizuru! I'm home!" Natsuki called as she came in through the front door, hanging up her helmet and kicking off her shoes.
Shizuru appeared near instantly in front of her with an overly bright smile.
"Natsuki can I speak to you for a moment?" she asked through her teeth.
"Err... sure? Are you okay?"
The chestnut-haired girl nodded and pulled Natsuki into their room so quickly that she couldn't see the tuft of white hair over the back of the sofa. The blunette heaved and looked up at Shizuru whose expression had gone from one enormously faked smile to the brink of tears.
"Seriously, what's wrong?" Natsuki wrapped her arms around her waist, "I'm here just tell me."
"Natsuki... Someone wants to see you... but I don't know if you'll want to see him..."
The girl was still confused.
"What do you mean? Why wouldn't I want to see him?"
"Because it would open up something you've wanted to keep closed for a long time now... But there's not really much of a choice."
"... What is it?"
Shizuru pulled back to dry her tears and take a deep breath.
"Natsuki, the person who wants to see you... is your brother..."
The girl's emerald eyes glazed over, like time stopped and she froze with it. Natsuki stared ahead, half at Shizuru, half not, just ahead.
"... My father's... son?" she finally asked, though still couldn't move.
Shizuru nodded.
"He left his home on his own to find you. Your father wouldn't speak about you so he wanted to know you for himself..."
Natsuki fell over onto her bed, still stiff and looking at the ceiling. Her face was tense, as if she was trying to keep from either breaking something or crying. Shizuru sat down beside her and took her hand.
"I'll support whatever you decide to do..."
"...Whatever I decide...? How am I supposed to decide? This is so... What do I do?" she sat up and grabbed Shizuru's arms desperately, "Please tell me! That person is... the result of my father abandoning me and Okaa-san! How can I not think of that?!"
Shizuru held onto the shivering girl. She wanted to take all of Natsuki's hurt from her; all of her confusion and sadness, she wanted to take it all. To do that required her to do her best to ease the girl's grasp on the current state of things. Again she felt like she was treading into some unknown waters, that she may be scolded for it. But if it was for Natsuki's sake, she would endure scolding, Shizuru knew she had to say what she felt, because it was what Natsuki had asked.
"While he may be the result of it... He isn't the cause of it... If it were up to me I think you should give him a fair chance. But again, I do not wish to pressure you in any way."
"You met with him?"
"Not intentionally... he was sleeping on our doorstep and I thought he was lost."
"Huh?"
"He's only a child Natsuki..."
The younger girl seemed to calm and eventually moved away from Shizuru to sit facing the wall, resting her forarms on her knees. She stared forward, still trying to think of what to do.
Either way... I have to face this... I've been telling everyone how the past shouldn't control us but... I completely forgot about that there is still one last loose end for me.
Natsuki stood up and walked to the door of their room.
"What will you do?"
"...I'll... figure it out when I see him..."
When the door creaked open, Getsumei fidgeted with excitement on the sofa. It grew and grew when he heard the footsteps coming closer. They stopped a short way away and a deafening silence reigned over the room. Shizuru watched Natsuki confidently folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the wall; staring at the white fluff.
"...Oi, chibi..." the blunette called blankly, or rather, in a tone that implied she forced herself to be empty.
Upon hearing the new voice, Getsumei jumped up from the couch and sprinted around the edge to look at the girl that stood over him. Despite the fact that she was almost looming, the boy's eyes welled up with tears and his lips quivered.
"Onee-chan!" he cried rushing towards Natsuki and hugging tightly around her waist.
The blunette was frozen and winded from the force of it, bent over slightly from being pushed back a bit. Only a moment ago she was filled with resentment, but now... this fragile being was clinging to her. She could feel his desperation in the small fingers pressing into her skin. Natsuki was still staring ahead, unaware of her changing and growing. Shizuru was right... he was only a child; innocent from his parents' doings.
The girl's eyes began to swell too so she closed them to try appearing strong. Even if somewhere she knew Shizuru could see through her, Natsuki needed to do anything to make herself believe in her strength now. She bent her head down too look at the top of Getsumei's, her tears slowly falling into the white while lifting her arms to reach around his shoulders.
Shizuru smiled at Natsuki's acceptance of her new-found sibling and approached. She too reached forth and pulled the younger girl into an embrace, assuring her that she cared. Natsuki herself was too overwhelmed at the moment, but in a better way that she was just earlier. Somehow she felt complete. Not only because of the literal event of finding her brother, but the abstract thought of family; it would complete her.
I'm... really glad that we met...
--0--
Omake:
Natsuki: Well that ended... oddly...
Notori: -waves dismissively- Don't worry, I just ended it like that for dramatic effect. Explanations on how he came there, when, where he was etc all come next chapter... Along with what you two are gonna do with him.
Natsuki: You have a "strange colour" fetish don't you?
Notori: What!?
Natsuki: ...Blue hair, red eyes, white hair... shall I go on?
Notori: -blush-
Shizuru: -still hugging Getsumei- Natsuki can we keep him!?
Natsuki: EH?! He's my brother!
Getsumei: Shizu-nee... I can't breathe...
Natsuki: -remembers all of her hug experiences- Join the club...
Notori: Can I join that club too? -grins-
Natsuki: -punches Notori across the room- Just write the damn chapter!
Notori: (Forgot she wasn't invincible in this universe) -rubs head- Hai hai... but ITWU first... I'm behind...
Shizuru: I still think we should adopt him...
Natsuki: Do you know how awkward it'd look for a twenty-year old to have an eight year old son!?
Shizuru: -ponders- ...It could happen...
Notori: -Feels very awkward- ... -Feels like inserting her fear of children into Shizuru's character-
Shizuru: I heard that.
Notori: O-O! What?!
Natsuki: For someone who's afraid of children you have to admit you had a fun time adding him into the story...
Notori: Well yeah! It's chibi Getsu! -Fear goes away for certain characters-
--0--
A/N: When/if my friend draws it, I'll put up a picture of Getsumei. For now I'll just have to do my best to describe him lol.