Chapter 2: Hidden identity.

"Natsuki…" Shizuru timidly said. "Don't tell me…that you are...pregnant…?" Natsuki was speechless; there was no way that she could be pregnant, but her best friend didn't know she couldn't get pregnant. She could joke about it and say 'oh no, that's impossible, I don't have a uterus, but I do have a penis so surprise!' so it will be difficult to have a baby with her condition, and she didn't have a lover…well, she never had one so the idea of being pregnant was out of the question.

"No! I'm not pregnant, I'm not pregnant I swear I'm not! I'm totally not!" Shizuru let out a relieved sigh but then frowned. What was the real problem then?

"If Natsuki is not pregnant is she sick?" Fujino touched her friend's forehead; it was hot. Her best friend placed her forehead against hers, and Natsuki who felt trapped with her feelings wanted to kiss Shizuru so bad but nervously pulled away instead.

"No, I'm fine. Fine, fine…Yeah…Totally fine…" Natsuki nervously chuckled. "I just ate something bad this afternoon, probably that weird sandwich my secretary Nao gave me. The tuna had a funny smell. You think she did it on purpose? Is it because I don't accept that she took a day off last week? But she had two before that! She is so dead! It's probably for that reason my stomach is in this bad shape. Well it's okay now, I do feel better. We can go back to the kitchen, I'm sorry for puking in your toilet Shizuru, I probably ruined your appetite." Natsuki rambled on, but Shizuru didn't believe any of it and continued with her interrogation.

"If you're not sick Natsuki then what is this medication for?" The pastry chef showed a box of medicine, it was a cosmetic container, and inside were pills. Natsuki was in shock and she violently took her property from the hand of her best friend and into her own.

"You searched my things? How could you do that Shizuru?" Natsuki shouted.

"Of course not! I'm not like that Natsuki. I don't want to look like my parents. I'm disappointed that you think that badly of me!" Shizuru shouted back. "It fell out of your pocket when I picked up your jacket from the floor." The beauty with crimson eyes was very upset and she wanted to leave, but Natsuki caught her wrist and hugged her back.

"I'm sorry, I'm such a jerk! You didn't do anything wrong, I did, so forgive me, please?"

"It's fine, it's all my fault, I know. It's none of my business and I overreacted. We can go to the kitchen, I'll give you some water."

"It is your business! I want to be honest with you and I want to tell you everything. Yes, it's medication, but not the kind you think…They're hormone pills…" Shizuru turned back to her friend and she tilted the head to the side in confusion.

"Hormone pills? Why do you need them?"

"Can we sit down to talk? I think it's a better way to continue our conversation."

"Yes, you're right." They both sat on the couch and they remained silent.

"Shizuru."

"Yes?" The latter gave all her attention to the bluenette, who gulped loudly. She didn't know what to do and her best friend held her hands to show her support.

"Natsuki, calm down, you don't need to worry about anything. You know me. If you are sick, then tell me, please, I'm really worried about you. You know I will support you no matter the circumstances. You know I will so just trust me."

"No, it's not that, I promise I'm fine…"

"Okay, but explain."

"I suppose it's better if I show you what I desperately want to confess since it'll be easier." Natsuki searched the back pockets of her jeans for her wallet. She took an old and damaged photograph out and gently handed it to Shizuru who looked at it attentively. There was a young boy, probably seven years old with short black hair and green eyes, and he looked a lot like Natsuki's older brother Kaname, but Kaname was in-between Saeko and her husband. The boy showed his two missing teeth as he held a cup he had just won at a karate tournament.

"Ara! He is so cute! Who is he? A cousin or a friend perhaps?" The beauty with crimson eyes smiled. Next to her Natsuki's foot shook nervously. It was now or never. Nevertheless, she couldn't dare to see her friend's reaction even if it was a good or bad one.

"No it's not my cousin, it's me…" Natsuki said. "I don't have a lot of photographs from when I was a boy, but I like this one the most. To this day I am happy with who I am and I have no fear about this, I mean I don't feel different."

"Natsuki…I don't understand…You say this is from when you were…a boy…? I know you're still a tomboy, but Natsuki isn't a boy." Shizuru noticed her friend looked so vulnerable and afraid; she had even curled up into herself as if she had done something wrong. Shizuru flips the photograph and reads aloud; "Natsuki's first win at the boy's karate tournament. 05/1997."

"At that time in my life I was a real boy. I was playing with boys, I was wearing boy clothes, I behaved like one…I was one of them…" Natsuki started. "Even my body was like a boy. Don't you notice my deep voice? I don't have a curvy hips either, and I'm tall, you always say that."

"Yes Natsuki, but I was merely joking with you. I also said you can be a model because you have such a nice body and breasts aren't that important; I could give you mine if you want! Your beauty is not only physical things Natsuki."

"I know, that's why I like you so much. You never judge me Shizuru; I wasn't perfect in your eyes. I enjoy this life and I love who I am today. It's just me, that little boy in the picture and it's me facing you now as your Natsuki."

"I see…" Shizuru whispered as she understood what Natsuki was trying to say. "Come here Natsuki." Shizuru smiled, approaching her best friend and waited for Natsuki to reciprocate their hug to which she did with apprehensions.

"You're not surprise, disgusted or horrified? I mean…I'm not a male or female Shizuru..." Natsuki timidly whispered.

"Why would Natsuki think that? I rather regret I didn't know this information before! I'm sure if we had met when we were children would have followed you everywhere asking you to marry me!" Shizuru laughed. "To me Natsuki is not just a boy or a girl, she is my Natsuki. You are courageous, kind, considerate, someone who is desperate to help her friends and relatives; you are someone with a beautiful heart. The person from the past is currently in front of me. Don't you remember the time I said I will always love you? I haven't change my mind, not now and not ever. I'm very honoured that you told me your secret." Wiping her tears, Natsuki wanted to say more, but a strange sound came out of her stomach and she bent over in pain.

"Oh shit…" She ground out. "Nao you're so dead! I'll get revenge for this!" She shouted. "I'm so-Oh my god-sorry Shizuru! Argh! I have to go back-Holy shit- to the bathroom! Don't come after me Shizuru, I'm begging you not to!" And once again the blunette ran off to the toilet.

The chestnut-haired beauty was angry to say the least. She would gladly kill Natsuki's assistant for her instead. How dare she do such a thing to Natsuki like that! Those who do anything to her Natsuki will live to regret it. She remembered that Nao has a crush on her employee; Yukino. She could bake a cake or make a coffee and add some 'special ingredients' (laxative, spice, pepper...), and mention it was Yukino who made it and asked to see Nao after. An evil smile pulled at her lips, but she remembered her best friend needed her and went about searching for some natural medicine for digestion at her local pharmacy.