Sorry for the delay, it was just a crazy month. I was supposed to update this a few days ago, but a succession of events just decided to conveniently implode in my life: I was elected to the Executive Committee of the Student Council (no idea what I'm supposed to do, but it sounds impressive), 'twas my birthday (sexy 17, anyone?), then St. Patrick's Day came and went, bowling me over in the process (you ain't a true New Yorker unless you get absolutely crazy on St. Patty's Day.)

Thank you for your kind reviews! I hope you know that I read and appreciate every one of them. So to answer a few point of inquries: you can call me whatever you want (as long as it's nothing too insulting!), I'm glad you enjoy my brand of humor, and yes, I have to wear the plaid skirt and white polo at school, though sometimes—if I'm feeling scandalous—I wear a black polo. ;)

Alright, I can tell you're tired of my rambling. Here's the next chapter.

"So basically, all you've got to do is point and shoot," Nao explained to Natsuki while holding up a paintball gun. "Getting hit will hurt like a bitch, but you won't die or anything."

"Wow, that sounds so reassuring," Natsuki grumbled.

"You'll do fine," Mai assured.

The three were heading towards the previously agreed meeting place where Shizuru and her friends were waiting. Natsuki quirked an eyebrow when she recognized Fuuka Academy students.

"Ms. Kuga, I didn't know you enjoyed paintballing," Yukino said genially.

"I ran into Natsuki and invited her and her friends to join us." Shizuru said.

"Natsuki?" Haruka blurted out. "Bubuzuke, since when were you on first name terms with Ms. Kuga?"

"I know her parents," Natsuki lied smoothly. Well, actually, that was technically true.

"You can call her Natsuki outside of class," Shizuru interjected, smirking when Natsuki shot her a look.

"And why would I allow that?"

"Because I said so," Shizuru said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Natsuki half smiled at her and help up her hands. "Okay, you're the boss."

Nao coughed out, "Whipped!"

"Bless you," a clueless Haruka said.

A slender girl Natsuki recognized as Mikoto Minagi smiled cheerfully. "I'm happy as long as we don't get graded for this." She bounded forwards and shook Mai's and Nao's hands energetically. Akane Higurashi waved shyly. The two remaining boys, Masashi Takeda and Kazuya Kurauchi, tried to nod stoically, but faint identical blushes gave them away—being surrounded by gorgeous women was almost too much.

"Team deathmatch!" Haruka suddenly shouted out. Natsuki winced; the blonde was literally a walking bullhorn.

It turned out Shizuru and Haruka were always the captains, although the competitiveness seemed to be mostly on Haruka's part. Natsuki cursed that same competitiveness when Haruka chose her to be on the blonde's team for her "intimidation factor" (aka: what sane student would actually try to shoot at the same person who graded their tests?)

In the end, Haruka's team had Yukino, Masashi, Mikoto, and Natsuki, while Shizuru chose Nao, Mai, Akane, and Kazuya.

Haruka narrowed her eyes at Shizuru. "I hope you don't cry too badly when you lose."

Shizuru scoffed. "Remember, loser gets to be my slave for a day."

Haruka whirled around and gestured her team to follow. Natsuki smiled wryly and turned to Shizuru. "Good luck."

Shizuru's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Keep your luck, you'll need it more." She laughed and blew a kiss at her stunned girlfriend before running off in the opposite direction.

Natsuki scowled. Oh, it was so on.

-000-000-

Natsuki crouched and took in her surroundings; the damn arena was literally a maze. She jumped slightly when her headpiece crackled to life, sheepishly looking around to make sure no one saw her fright.

"Come in, Duran. This is Armitage, over."

Natsuki rolled her eyes. "What, Haruka?"

There was a slight pause. "Ms. Kuga, do not reveal our identities or we will be compromised! And please end your statements with an 'over,' over."

"This is ridiculous." Natsuki paused. "Over."

"Be advised, there is a hostile in your area, over."

"Who?"

"Over."

"What?"

"You forgot to say over. How am I supposed to know if you're finished speaking if you don't say over? Over."

"I suppose the silence would be too much of a giveaway," Natsuki grumbled. She cleared her throat. "Who is it? Over."

"Your friend Nao. She took out Mikoto; we're the only two left on our team."

Natsuki nodded to herself. Okay, she could do this—she managed to get Akane before, and that girl was fast. Besides, she had to win or Shizuru would rub it in her face.

She had barely taken a step when her headpiece crackled to life again. "It's a trap, abort mission! Nao is here; repeat, Nao is here, over."

Natsuki winced when she heard paintball shots on the other end. "Haruka?"

She heard muffled curses. "I got her, but I got hit, too. I think Shizuru's the only one left."

Natsuki felt a trickle of sweat run down her brow and took off her helmet to wipe it away. This competition suddenly got a lot more intense. "You forget to say over," she tried to joke, but there was no response.

"Ara, don't tell me Natsuki is the last one left?" a voice purred behind her. Natsuki whirled around; Shizuru was standing behind her with her paintball gun aimed at her chest.

Shizuru looked smug. "Put down your gun, Natsuki."

Natsuki hesitated. She wondered if she could get her gun up fast enough to shoot before Shizuru could shoot her. She decided to risk it—

Splat splat splat.

"Ow." Natsuki stared in disbelief at the bright orange, blue, and green splats of paint all over her body. Shizuru burst into laughter. "Ara, Natsuki should've kept her helmet on; she got paint on her face."

Natsuki wiped the paint off her face and reluctantly grinned. How ironic; for the second time in her life, she was covered in head to toe with paint, thanks to a Fujino. She didn't mind this time quite so much, though. "I got paint on my face? Don't you mean you did?"

Shizuru shrugged innocently. Natsuki narrowed her eyes and walked towards Shizuru. "Well, why don't you wipe it off for me?"

Shizuru giggled and tried to bat away Natsuki's paint-covered hands. "Go away, you're filthy—"

"And you love it." Natsuki grabbed her and planted a kiss on her lips, laughing at Shizuru's annoyed expression.

-000-000-

Haruka frowned at them when Shizuru and Natsuki finally walked out of the maze. "Who won?"

Yukino pushed up her glasses. "Well, they're both covered in paint, so I would assume it's a tie."

While Akane and Kazuya tried to pacify Haruka's ranting, Nao sidled up to Shizuru and Natsuki. "Hey Shizuru, you got some paint on your face that's weirdly the same color as Natsuki's."

Natsuki scowled at her while Shizuru self-consciously tried to rub it away. Nao continued mischievously, "You know what else is weird? The paint splotches on your back that are, funnily enough, shaped like hands—"

"Shut up, Nao!" Natsuki growled. Nao opened her mouth to fire back a retort, but blinked when Shizuru laid a hand on Natsuki's arm and whispered something in her ear. Natsuki's scowl immediately dropped from her face as she turned to acknowledge Shizuru.

Nao frowned. "Natsuki just refrained from yelling at me. Is the world ending?"

"No, she's just in love." Mai commented delightedly.

Nao blinked. "But that means commitment."

"Shizuru would probably appreciate that."

"But Natsuki never commits."

"Natsuki's been in relationships before."

"But they never lasted long! Natsuki never cared enough to actively participate in a relationship and she always got irritated by the other person in the end. She never did that with anyone else." Nao pointed.

Mai turned to look at the couple. Natsuki licked her thumb and playfully tried to rub away the paint on Shizuru's face, but Shizuru dodged her attempt and stuck her tongue out at Natsuki.

"Aw, that's cute," Mai cooed.

"That's gross," Nao deadpanned.

Neither of them noticed Yukino staring pensively at Shizuru and Natsuki.

Mai shook her head. "Natsuki should tell Shizuru about Shiori, though, if she's planning to be with Shizuru for a long time."

"Huh, I forgot about that. Is that plan still a go?"

"Unfortunately."

Nao frowned. "No no, Natsuki should keep her mouth shut. Shizuru's going to flip out."

"Yes, but it's better for both of them in the long run."

"We're not sure if there's even going to be a long run," Nao stressed. "Shizuru is a flirtaholic and Natsuki is a serial heartbreaker."

"Would you like to hear my theory?"

"By all means." Nao gave an exaggerated hand wave.

"Shizuru acts that way because everyone expects her to. She has looks, money, and friends—people probably think she has no reason to act unhappy. Natsuki hates commitment because she hates exposing herself. She used to be teased for what she didn't have—looks, money, and friends. She's afraid that if she lets someone in, they'll find her inadequate, so she leaves them before they leave her. The end." Mai gave a little bow.

Nao gaped at her. "Are you secretly a love guru?"

Mai rolled her eyes. "No. I considered being a psychologist before deciding to be a chef."

"I guess your theory is plausible. So when is Natsuki going to break things off with Shizuru? It's too bad, I rather like her. She's cool."

"I don't know, but Natsuki seems to really like her. I hope Shizuru sticks around; they make a good couple."

"Well, it can't be that serious; Shizuru hasn't even met Saeko yet!"

An unholy gleam entered Mai's eyes. "That can easily be fixed."

Nao laughed uneasily. "Who do you think you are, the fairy godmother of relationships?"

"Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo."

"I'll miss you when Natsuki kills you."

"Just wait, you're next."

"Nuh-uh, it's impossible to tie down the Naozilla. It's proven fact."

"…Seriously? You did not just call yourself that."

"Believe it, baby, 'cause Tokyo is my playground and everyone screams my name."

"Do you ever think before you speak?"

"No. I want everybody to hear all my brilliant thoughts."

While Nao and Mai argued quietly, Natsuki looked at them suspiciously from afar. "They're up to something."

"Hmm?" Shizuru looked over. "Natsuki's being paranoid."

"No, I know them. Nao looks perpetually suspicious, but Mai's face looks like that when she's plotting something that will undoubtedly interfere in my life."

"What happens when they plot?"

"Nothing good. The last time, Mai and Nao planned a surprise party for my 21st birthday."

"That was sweet of them."

Natsuki laughed cynically. "That's not what the Tokyo Fire Department said. I used to have my own apartment, but it was practically uninhabitable after that disaster."

Nao, walking towards the two, overheard Natsuki's last sentence and scowled. "Are you still going on about that? Ruining your apartment was the biggest favor we've ever done for you—the walls were thin, the hallways always smelled like cigarettes and cabbage, and I'm pretty sure your neighbor owned a meth lab."

"A meth lab? It was a University of Tokyo dormitory building!"

"Regardless, we learned some valuable life lessons from that," Mai agreed sagely.

"Like the fact that Bacardi 151, a book of matches, and a drunk Nao do not a good combination make?" Natsuki deadpanned.

"Precisely."

"I didn't know Natsuki went to UTokyo," Shizuru commented.

Nao smacked the back of Natsuki's head. "What's wrong with you? It's our responsibility as UTokyo alumni to recruit naïve students who don't know any better, and your own girlfriend doesn't even know we went there?"

"It didn't come up in conversation!" Natsuki rubbed her head in annoyance.

"Shizuru! We're leaving now! If you think I'm waiting for you, think again!" Haruka loudly proclaimed. She was waiting impatiently by her car, an enormous yellow Hummer.

Natsuki did a double-take at the car. "Wow, it's so obnoxiously bright and in-your-face."

"The car or Haruka?" Shizuru said jokingly. "I'll see Natsuki later."

Shizuru jogged over to Haruka's car and held out her hand to the blonde. "Keys."

"Hell no."

"You lost, Haruka—you have to do whatever I say, and I want to drive your car."

Haruka's eyes filled with tears. She fell to her knees in despair and looked skywards. "WHYYY?"

Natsuki, Nao, and Mai watched Shizuru gleefully climb into the driver's seat while Yukino led a sobbing Haruka into the backseat. Nao quirked an eyebrow. "Cute bunch, aren't they?"

The sun slowly inched over a slumbering Natsuki, dead to the world. The sun finally reached her eyes, causing her to unconsciously squint against the brightness. Natsuki grumbled and raised a hand to block out the light, but it was too bright and annoying and relentless to block out—it kinda reminded her of Nao.

She rolled over onto her stomach to peer at the clock—11:00 AM. An acceptable time to wake up on a weekend, she supposed.

Natsuki groggily rolled out of bed and shuffled towards the bathroom. It was looking to be a nice day—the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, her mother was sitting in the kitchen, the weather was warm—

Wait a minute. Natsuki backtracked and stuck her head in the kitchen. Saeko was reading a newspaper and sipping from a cup of coffee, acting as if she belonged there.

Natsuki blinked slowly. "Mom?" Natsuki was obviously not too quick on the uptake in the morning.

Saeko looked up. "Morning." She went back to reading the paper.

Natsuki sat down cautiously. "How'd you get in? Please don't tell me you broke in again."

Saeko huffed. "For the last time, I was testing the security of the apartment! You needed a stronger lock for the front door!"

"Well yeah, since you broke the first lock." Natsuki yawned. "Anyways, I know you're not here just for coffee. Why can't you just use a telephone once in a while, instead of dropping by unannounced?"

Saeko folded the newspaper primly and set it down. "Mai knew I was coming, so she let me in. I can't use a telephone because that'll give you too much time to escape."

"I wouldn't try to escape if my mother weren't so weird."

"Pot, meet kettle."

"I'm not weird." Natsuki pouted.

"Your friends tell me you're acting abnormally." Saeko smirked. "Who's this Shizuru that has even Nao on her side? Nao always finds a way to mock your girlfriends."

"Trust me, Nao never shuts up about Shizuru's age." Natsuki rolled her eyes.

"But that's tame compared to the things she's come up with in the past." Saeko shook her head fondly. "I only asked to meet one of your girlfriends once, and I'm never making that mistake again." Saeko shuddered at the memory before continuing, "I'd like to meet this Shizuru, though; Mai said you're quite taken with her."

"Nosy, interfering redheads," Natsuki muttered.

Saeko hummed. "Love is too scarce in the world to be hidden away."

Natsuki choked on air. "Love? Who said anything about love? I'm not in love with Shizuru."

"Hmm? Oh, it was nothing—just your sentimental old mother waxing poetic. It has absolutely nothing to do with you." Saeko examined her nails.

Natsuki shifted uneasily. "Shizuru's…different. Not in a bad way, but in a new way."

"Hmm." Saeko nodded disinterestedly. She internally smirked when Natsuki took the bait.

"I mean, the circumstances are so complicated! She'll eventually leave if things don't change, but she'll leave sooner if they do." Natsuki buried her hands in her hair. "Why can't love be simple?"

Saeko's lips quirked sympathetically. "Because simple is boring. The best things in life? You'll have to work for them—and they'll be worth it in the end." Saeko stood and planted a kiss on Natsuki's head. "Take things one step at a time—bring Shizuru over for dinner. I'm sure you'll figure out the right thing to do soon enough; after all, you are my daughter."

Natsuki grudgingly smiled. "I guess my good traits had to come from somewhere."

"Damn right they did—those traits are patented by Saeko Kuga. But you making me wait three hours for you to wake up…that laziness comes from your father."

"Damn him!"

Both Kugas burst out laughing. Their small, dysfunctional family of two—plus Nao and Mai—suited them perfectly.

Shizuru was perched on a desk, idly watching Natsuki put away the microscopes after school. There was a companionable silence, broken only by Shizuru's light humming. Natsuki looked over her shoulder with a smile. "I hope you're having a good time just sitting there while I'm laboring."

"I hardly think organizing microscopes constitutes as laboring, but yes, I'm enjoying myself immensely."

Natsuki laughed and started to take off her lab coat, rolling her eyes when Shizuru began to catcall.

"Ms. Kuga, you turn me on like a Bunsen burner—"

"Quiet."

"Is that a test tube in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

"Shizuru!"

"You make my cardiovascular system stop?"

"…At least you learned something in class."

"Nerd."

"Flirt."

"You love it."

"Only if it's with me." Natsuki ushered Shizuru out of the classroom and locked the door. "So what did you want to tell me?"

Shizuru bit her lip. "…Yukino found out."

Green eyes widened. "About us?"

"Is there another secret that she could've discovered?"

Natsuki groaned. "We're fucked."

"It took me a while to calm her down, but she promised not to tell anyone."

"Of course she's going to tell someone! What we're doing is strictly taboo!" Natsuki was freaking out.

Shizuru narrowed her eyes at Natsuki. "You don't know Yukino well enough to say that. I do, and she's the most trustworthy person I know."

"Maybe she is, but do you really think she isn't going to tell Haruka? She probably blabs to her girlfriend all the time!" Natsuki argued.

"Sometimes I wish you had the same problem," Shizuru grumbled.

Natsuki recoiled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I don't know anything about you, Natsuki! You never talk about your childhood, your family, your experiences—everything I know about you, I had to learn by myself or from your friends!"

"I like my privacy, okay?"

"I don't mind giving you privacy, but I do mind you shutting me out!"

Natsuki blinked. She had never seen the other girl so agitated before. "Shizuru, I'm not intentionally shutting you out; it's just the way I am!"

"Right, because you were born with your mouth taped shut," Shizuru said sarcastically.

Natsuki's admittedly-short temper flared. "You would learn to keep your mouth shut, too, if you were the poor, bastard child whom everybody made fun of!"

Shizuru automatically opened her mouth to retort, but stopped. "Is that why you never talk about your childhood?"

"Now is really not the time to talk about that, Shizuru." Natsuki felt guilty when she saw the hurt hidden behind the sheen of anger in crimson eyes.

"Fine, then." Shizuru turned and began to walk away.

Damnit. Natsuki grabbed Shizuru's wrist and shot her a pleading look when the girl turned around with a scowl. "I know that you're mad at me right now, but please don't ever leave without saying goodbye."

Seeing Shizuru soften, Natsuki pressed on. "I'm sorry. If you trust Yukino then so will I, I'll work on the whole shutting-out thing, and my mother really wants to meet you."

Shizuru huffed. "Only Natsuki could summarize an entire argument in one sentence."

Natsuki smiled at hearing Shizuru revert back to third-person; it meant she was forgiven. "To be fair, that was a pretty short argument."

"I'm still mad at you."

"And I'll keep apologizing until you're not." All in all, their first ever argument went pretty well—the barest hint of raised voices, no tears, and no throwing of heavy objects at her head. This whole 'take one thing at a time' thing was turning out better than she expected.

Read and review, if you would...and please donate to disaster relief in Japan!

This chapter was a pain to write. Had enough of the cavity-inducing sweetness yet? Cause the next chapter may not be as sweet...

Love? Love! I have a hard time believing it. My brother tells me I get this flirty little smirk when I see a cute guy/pretty girl, but that's the extent of my attempts at "love"...

Also, you may be interested to know that I have begun working on the next chapter of Kruger, Natsuki Kruger.

Sometimes I think my ANs substitute for a blog. I get pretty freakin' chatty if no one stops me.