A/N- Well hello again! :) Just another idea I got spur of the moment. Heads up, this story might be less humorous and more feely (deep).
But I hope you like! DROP A REVIEW OR 100 PLEASE :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Hime...or a theme park hehe.
"Natsuki! C'mon let's take a picture together!" The boy waved at the blunette from the small photo booth by the restrooms. Natsuki was standing by the burger stand waiting for her order and idly chatting with her long time best friend Shizuru Fujino. The three of them had decided to spend the day at the Fuuka Waterland theme park, and the blunette was secretly excited to see her best friend so…*ah-hem* out of her element so to speak.
"Mou, Takeda not now. Anyways, that's when I told Mai to sing it herself and I threw the-"
The spikey haired boy came out and tugged on Natsuki's arm persistently. "Oh pleeease? Just one? I promised my parents I'd get a picture of you and I together!" He pleaded.
The blunette huffed in aggravation. "Fine. But this is the last time you get to use this excuse! And don't pull on my arm-!" That was all she could say before being nearly flung into the booth, shooting an apologetic smile to Shizuru before the black curtain was slid shut.
Shizuru sat down on a nearby bench under the shade. Practically having to yank her façade smile from her flawless face. It had been there for so long, she had grown slowly accustomed to the routine. Just smile and stay quiet, smile and nod, smile smile smile. But I am used to it. I decided to accept Natsuki's decision to remain friends and I am sticking to it. I am just glad she chose to forgive me and keep me in her life after breaking the trust between us…this is merely the price I have to pay.
Takeda and Natsuki had started dating about five months after the Hime Carnival. He had apparently not known a thing about any of it until he accidently coaxed it out of Reito. At first it was all so unbelievable, but one and one started to add up here and there until he worked up the nerve to ask if it was true. And guess who he asked.. Maybe that was my first mistake, telling that boy the truth about everything. Though I saw no harm in the situation at the time, it proved to be the cause of the greatest loss I ever had experienced. Natsuki had been torn between the two for a long time even before the battles of fate.
But in the end she had decided that she needed a few days to think. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. All the while the brunette kept around waiting patiently, allowing her love the time to settle into her feelings. Unfortunately, she had waited too long and soon the news of Natsuki and Takeda traveled to the university. She was devastated. Didn't show to school for weeks on end. Not even her parents could get ahold of her, or her whereabouts, but when she came back she was the same old smiling patient, teasing Shizuru, so nobody gave it a second thought when she showed up to Mai's many karaoke parties. The blunette had looked so happy, relieved and hysterical with the tears flowing down her cheeks as she flung from the couch (clad in a maid costume) and bear hugged her friend.
Shizuru let out a soft chuckle at the memory of that night she returned. Natsuki had clung to her the entire night, and to the crimson eyed brunette's surprise, had even invited her to stay at her and Mai's (and Mikoto's) dorm for the night. If only I did…maybe I would be in there with her now. Maybe he would be the one out on a bench. Alone. Full of regret. Natsuki…
Just as the pitiful expression approached her face she snapped back to reality. This was not the place, or time to feel. Right now she needed to keep it together in case she was caught off guard. She looked up and her eyes were instantly drawn to the cobalt haired girl in a dark blue bikini standing worriedly in front of her puzzled. Like now.
"Sh-Shizuru? Are you okay? You look a little…depressed." Natsuki said as she bent over and touched her hand to the brunette's forehead. Her cleavage easily spotted peeking or more like glaring through the angle she was positioned in. Shizuru tried…she really did. But hey..that's just who she is… *Smirk*
"Ara I am fine but if Natsuki wants to give me a little nursing, then I certainly will not try to stop her." She watched Natsuki's face pop into blood reddened blush, as she slid her hand off of her forehead and took a playfully cautious step back.
"B-Baka.." she whispered and averted her eyes up towards the sky dive waterslide to banish the coloring from her cheeks. In the past had Shizuru said what she just did, the Natsuki she used to know would have jumped back and squeaked above her normal husky voice a few octaves. The girl had matured exceedingly since those old times…very nicely. Although, she slightly missed her little puppy's young restless body, widely-parted blue locks and her adorable way of indifference and independence, Shizuru had to admit she ADORED the new Natsuki. The tall confident dominant manner she addressed people, her curvy athletic body and toned two pack, her now blue(ish) black(ish) hair pulled into a silver pin showing elegance and beauty that just practically screamed adult mentality.
The brunette's revere of adoration was cut short as Takeda came back from gazing and blushing at the picture the couple had taken inside the booth. "Babe lets go ride that next!" He pointed excitedly at the Flood house roller coaster. They all walked over to the long line ahead, and chatted till they reached the front of the line. As they were up next, Shizuru felt the unease in the air as Natsuki saw the 'two to a car only' sign underneath the Motion sickness warning. *sigh* here we go again..
"Shizuru…I had no idea..I-" Natsuki looked down and looked utterly ashamed of herself.
I know. " Shh, it's okay Natsuki, I was feeling a little ill anyways so I think I'll sit this one out and grab something to drink." She lied with her façade, and tried her best not to notice the smirk on Takeda's face as the ride pulled up.
"But Shizuru I- No we'll just ride something else. Something that we can ALL ride!" The blunette said as she shot a death glare at her boyfriend.
"NEXT UP!" The operator yelled aloud after unhooking the rope and opening the gate.
"C'mon babe, She'll be okay right Kaichou- I mean- Fujino-san? It'll only take a minute or two." Takeda grabbed on Natsuki's hand and stomped through the crowd blocking her escape and avoiding an answer from either woman.
Shizuru sighed and stepped out of line and off to a volcano blast vender looking for something to melt away the hate brewing in her stomach, thinking of her Natsuki in the arms of that…un-evolved gorilla. Eventually deciding on scalding Jasmine tea, she took her cup and luckily found another shady spot, this time under a fake palm tree.
After a few sips she came to the conclusion that they had opted to ride a second time. She stood, threw away her half full Styrofoam cup, and decided to leave. I'll make up an excuse for leaving when she asks…or rather IF she asks. The brunette made her way to her locker in the changing area and put her clothes back on over her red bikini. Grabbing her purse and keys, she headed out of the waterpark glancing once more behind her in time to see Natsuki standing right there panting heavily as if she'd been running.
"Hey! There you are, I've been looking for you all…" the younger girl stopped talking and took in the fully dressed, dried off brunette. "You're leaving?"
To get out of the way of your date.. "Yes." Shizuru answered.
"Why.." Natsuki asked with an expressionless face.
"I had received a call from my friend, asking me to do them an urgent favor."
"Oh your friend huh, I thought I was your best friend." The blunette joked trying to lighten the obvious tension in the moment, but Shizuru was not fooled. So she knows I'm lying…
The ex Hime walked gracefully up to her damp companion, and leaned in close so that the background ride noises would not be a distraction.
"After all of this time, Natsuki above all others should know…you have never been just a friend." She softly pecked the blunette's cheek, and walked away leaving Natsuki to watch her retreating form.
The blunette drifted her gaze down to the concrete as Shizuru could no longer be seen through the swarms of midday thrill seekers.
"I know.." she whispered.
Okay! Please do not flame! Flames burn...and nobody likes burnt teriyaki! ...Unless it's still edible..