A/N- Hey guys...*crickets* yeeeah life got a little..busy y'know? Hehe butI gave you guys a long one! Whoo
"YOU WHAT!?" Came a scream from the other line. *Gulp* Uh-oh.
"Heh…I..what?" The blunette shuffled off her Ducati, and unlocked the gate to the small 2-story house she had drove to. She brought her phone back to her ear in time to hear her friend take a few deep breaths.
"Natsuki don't play. I am NOT in the mood! What. Did. You. Do?"
Natsuki let out a ragged breath and went into puppy-mode. "Erm..Okay I may have asked Fujino Shizuru, You know the super-hot one from the club?, um out to lunch or something on impulse, and when she was about to say no, cause her dumb boyfriend, I said we could double and before I could even take it back s-she said..y-yes."
The blunette fidgeted with her helmet taking it off and dropping it on the grass in front of the house.
"WE? *Ahem* we, meaning?" Mai coaxed her voice down a few octaves, and politely awaited a response. Hoping it was not the same she had just heard.
She's pissed.
Natsuki cupped the phone with both hands on her right ear and mumbled softly…"Y-you and me."
A loud thud echoed through the device indicating obvious frustration.
"Oh come on Mai! It won't be THAT bad! It's not like we hadn't pretended to date other friends before to escape those idiots at the club…" She reminded. Agh the desperation..
"NOT EACHOTHER!" Oh.
"Well you know what I mean..hehe, FINE I'LL BEG! PLEEEAASSEE MAIII!" Natsuki pleaded hopelessly, as she searched through any signs of lenience in her orange haired friend's tone.
"No." she spoke flatly.
"Pleeeease pleeease with mayo on top!?"
"Never"
"Pleease please with extra mayo on top of cake with more mayo on a mountain of may-"
"That's not helping! You're the only one that likes that putrid goop that much!"
Drool. Admittedly it was a little overboard…but she got the point.
"MAI! PLEASE I REALLY REALLY LIKE H-…uh I-I h-have to win the uh..the bet!" The bet. I forgot…
"UUUUUGH! Fine." She gave in abruptly. "But Natsuki, knowing that she has a boyfriend and all" she paused. "Why are you still pushing this so far? Is this really only because of your ego…or is it because you maybe-"
"I don't know," Natsuki interrupted. She knew what her friend wanted to say. "I really don't."
There was a short silence. The blunette glided up to the wood porch and looked back around at the lawn and the adolescent rose patch glistening in front of the now setting sun. Those are new.
"I see. Well I'll be there, but you are going to owe me an unnamed favor at a later date. And when I ask you cannot protest!" she chided.
*Flinch*. Crap! I better not have to go to another one of her *choke* carpool meetings…
"Okay deal." I have a feeling I need to lay off the deals. And with that, Natsuki gave all of the details about the when's and where's followed by a few rambles of gratitude and then hung up. *Sigh* She turned around facing the hard white front door. The biker-blunette dug into her left pocket searching then emerging with jingling keys, unlocked the door, and stepped in closing it back behind her.
"Mom, its me." she announced nonchalantly dipping her keys back to her pocket and dropping her coat on the floor by her shoes. The walls inside were painted a dark brown color and was paired with maroon carpeting and drapes, creating a comfort feeling. "Mom?" There is a carpeted stairway leading up to the two bedrooms upstairs across from the front door. Natsuki passed through the living room and through a doorway leading into the kitchen. A dark haired woman with glasses was sitting at the round wood table reading a magazine intently, mistakenly not hearing the calls.
"Well, it's nice to know I'm so important to you..." she muttered sarcastically.
The woman's head darted up at the voice, revealing her emerald eyes just a shade darker than her daughters.
"Nattsi! I didn't know you were stopping by! What brings you here?" Saeko smiled as she stood and flung her daughter into a tight hug. Geez ma, my bones aren't made of steel you know!
"Y-yeah I just decided to come visit and have dinner.." The blunette tried to squirm out of her mother's suffocation. No use. "Er, do you mind?" she choked trying to catch some kind of air into her dying lungs.
"Hmm?"
Let go! Let go! Finally seeming to notice the unhealthy color of her face, Saeko reluctantly let her out of her bear hold and laughed apologetically. "Hah sorry Nattsi, I guess I was a bit overwhelmed."
That's an understatement. After grabbing a cup of mango juice Natsuki sat down at the table with her overly happy mom. "So, what's going on Nattsi? You've been so busy lately I haven't seen you since last month! Did anything interesting happen?" Saeko asked cheerfully as she removed her glasses and rested her chin on her hands.
Mou, why is she so happy? *Sigh* Nothing's really going on..well except.. "I got a job recently.." The biker answered as she took a sip of the delicious beverage.
"Oh that's great! Doing what?" she asked.
The biker sighed nonchalantly " I work as a chauffeur for the executive of Fujino Productions Agency."
Her mom's eyes widened slightly as she exclaimed her obvious surprise. "You work for FPA? Wow Nattsi that's a big deal! One of my coworker's daughters works for them also! " Then she cackled evilly. "But her daughter's only an assistant..hehehe" Saeko grinned.
"Hmm mom, you're pretty competitive"
"Well it's about time I get to rub something in that cocky teal-haired snob's face! She lost all chances of mercy..on Monday she shall feel the wrath of Saeko Kuga!" The older woman laughed manically. Natsuki grinned, and soon started laughing with her.
Like mother like daughter.
After the fairly long event of laughter, high fives, devious planning, and some more otherwise very "normal" family bonding, they finally settled back down and began chatting again.
"Sooo *wink* anything happening in your love life? Any new interesting girls you're getting at these days?" Saeko questioned as she took a drink of her soda. W-What?!
"..Please don't ever say that again in your life.." Natsuki pleaded while her eyebrow twitched haphazardly.
"Oh come on kid I'm your mom! It's not awkward with me! Just pretend I'm one of your friends and tell me all about your hookups with the babes!" she grinned.
"AHHHH! Mom! Stop it stop it stop it!" The blunette covered both her ears and blushed madly. "Ok fine I'll tell you a little, but only if you promise to stop being overly-creepy!"
"Haha I promise, I promise, go on" The older woman urged, now standing and starting to take out the skillet and some vegetables.
"Well…" crap I can't believe I'm even doing this. "There's this girl, actually not girl…woman. She's great, and sexy and funny and just..just you know! But-" The blunette stopped and looked down. *Sigh*
Her mom stopped cutting up the carrots and turned around to face her. "But?"
Natsuki lifted her head and leaned it on her hand. "But she's…involved." For lack of a better term.
Saeko placed her knife down on the cutting board before bending down and reaching for her daughter's hand. She looked lovingly into Natsuki's eyes and…slapped her. Right across the arm. "Ouch what the heck? What was that even for!?" Natsuki screamed as she yanked away to rub her slightly aching arm.
"That's for you to toughen up! You're a Kuga, if there's someone we want we get 'em!" Saeko said letting a proud grin spread across her face. Says the single mom.
"It's just not that possible, there is just too many complications…not to mention-"
"Nattsi," The older woman coaxed in a more motherly tone as she turned back around from the stove. "If you don't try, how will you know that it's impossible?"
The biker shrugged and took a final slurp of her drink before replying. I guess I could step up a bit more… it couldn't hurt right? And who knows.. "I guess.."
Saeko pumped her fist into the air enthusiastically. "That's my Nattsi! Go do it! Hmm you know what? Invite her over for dinner tomorrow. I want to meet this 'woman' as you say." The older woman laughed at the look of panic coming from her daughter. "Oh calm down calm down" she continued "I won't embarrass you, I promise."
Nononono. "No way." Natsuki deadpanned, dumping her empty cup into the sink and crossing her arms forcefully.
"Oh come on! I never get to meet your girlfriends! Pleeeease?" Natsuki shook her head.
"Pretty please with mayo on top?
Déjà vu. She thought thinking back to her conversation with Mai earlier and chuckling to herself. "Nope. Sorry but never." The biker leaned against the counter in mock victory. The older Kuga just shrugged and turned back to the stove, lighting it and pouring in some cooking oil.
"Fine." Was what she said…but the mischievous glint in her eyes screamed otherwise. Natsuki flinched as her mom continued. "But, if you won't introduce me to her, I'll just have to introduce myself." No she's bluffing, definitely! There's no way she'll ever be able to find her.
" –I'll just call Nao.."
Oh crap oh crap! That spider would rat me out for a Klondike bar! (Hehe Yeah I said it) "Aghhh okay mom, fine! Just *sigh* just let ME ask her. And STAY AWAY FROM NAO!" Saeko grinned and nodded her head in agreement.
"Hah good! Now, help me cut these carrots!" She ordered with a happy salute. *Sigh*
"Hai, hai.." Beaten...yet again.
Was it awkward? Yes. Definitely. Dropping your boss off at her boyfriend's house, then leaving to drive over to pick up your fake girlfriend, then back to pick them all up and go to lunch was just..so awkward. The ride was filled with small chat and a polite joke or two to ease the obvious tension, not to mention Natsuki's barely tamed malice towards Mr. Yuuichi Tate. The weird thing was Shizuru never seemed to mind her blue-haired employee's evil side glares at her boyfriend, in fact, it seemed like she might have enjoyed them. Tate was about an inch taller than Shizuru, with blonde hair and dark brown sideburns. He wore a dark pink polo and khaki cargos to match his hair.
Screeeck! The blunette halted the car into a perfectly orchestrated parallel park.
"Geez honey! Wasn't that a little fast?!" Mai sputtered from the seat across from her in the front, as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Oh I KNOW she's not talking about MY driving. Natsuki was about to shoot a death glare at the busty redhead, when she caught an amused crimson gazing at her. Dangit dang this woman! Ok lets act…
Natsuki quickly exited the vehicle and opened the door to her "girlfriend's" side and gave a charming smile. "Sorry 'hon, I just couldn't wait…" she winked at her and grabbed her hand, bringing her out of the car to join Shizuru and Tate. "Forgive me..?" Puppy eyes.
Silence. C'mon Mai! Say something this is weird!
Mai just stood there, outside of the car, staring at the blunette in disbelief. Eyes slightly widened and hand still lifelessly latched onto Natsuki's. "Err, anyways..um..uh.." Natsuki stumbled. You can jump in anytime here you know! She shifted her eyes away to glance over at the other couple to see what they were doing. Staring right back. Tate tried to cover up the fact that he was watching by looking up and scratching his head, but his reddened cheeks mostly gave him away.
Ahh kami, HELP ME!
Seeming to sense the discomfort in Natsuki's behavior, Shizuru allowed her melodious Kyoto-ben to take away the tension of the atmosphere and save the blunette. "Shall we go inside?" she suggested sweetly.
YESSS! Natsuki screamed inside her head, mentally high fiving a mini Shizuru. Hmm I didn't know I could do that…cool! Hi mini Shizuru! The image faded. Noooo! Well, it was nice while it lasted…
"Hai, let's go ladies!" A pitchy voice stumbled in, effectively breaking Natsuki from her final mental goodbyes.
Tate and Shizuru led the way holding hands while a grumbling Natsuki and blushy Mai followed. The blunette nudged her friend hard on the shoulder.
"Ow what!?" Mai whispered sharply in response.
"What the heck was that! Why didn't you say anything back baka?" Natsuki whispered while shooting glare daggers.
"Oh shut up! What did you expect me to say? You can't go all puppy eyes and prince charming on your BEST FRIEND and expect a romantic reply! I reacted how any normal person would!" She chimed back angrily. Oh my kami tone it down woman! Do you want to bust me out?!
"Ok Ok! Shhhh! Fine I'll try not to surprise you like that without giving a warning first..ok? We good?" The redhead gave a curt nod and was about to scold her friend more, until she realized they had reached the door that Shizuru's boyfriend was holding waiting for them to step inside. Mai entered with an apologetic nod dragging Natsuki behind her.
The restaurant looked more like a diner, ihop style, with cream colored booths, light brown chairs, and white marble floors. The waitress led them to a booth off to the side of the diner. The goddess sat on the inside across from Natsuki, while Tate sat on the outside across from Mai. The waitress took the drink orders and left to give a few minutes to take the lunch orders. Okayy what to eat what to eat…The blunette glanced up to briefly admire the crimson eyed woman studying the menu. She watched her tracing a long slender finger down the inside while the other hand held the menu slightly tilted at an angle. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she flicked a couple loose strands of hair behind her, accidentally showing off her formerly hidden ruby stud at the top of her ear. Oh? She has a piercing? Sexy… Natsuki watched as the brunette quickly brushed hair over her ear and looked around the table.
Mai and Tate seemed to be too focused on their menu's to notice anything going on around them, and the brunette seemed to look relieved…before catching amused emeralds that is..
Caught 'cha cutie. Shizuru stared into emeralds without moving, without blinking, just studying the blunette as intensely as she had with the menu. Natsuki's heart started to beat faster and faster and her left leg began to bounce under the table nervously. The eye contact carried on, even as the silence was broken by idle introductions. The brunette's look was no longer panicked…no it was more like a…smirk?
"Huh?" Natsuki muttered out loud as she tried to figure out the change in expression, as the drinks arrived.
"Mou Natsuki, weren't you listening? I said you wanted to introduce us right?" Mai chided giving a scolding look. The blunette turned to face her.
Eh? "Uhhh… y-yeah? Uh *ah hem* Yes. Mai, this is Shizuru Fujino and her uh boyfriend Yuu.." Yuu what? Crap I forgot the douche's name!
"Yuuichi Tate" he finished with a smile. Oh right.
"Wait! You're Tate? As in the famous Olympic swimmer Yuuchi Tate? That Tate?" The busty woman asked frantically, as her smile grew in anticipation. Swimmer? Who?
The blonde haired man chuckled softly at the redhead. "Hai! I'm honored that you know who I am."
"OF COURSE I DO! My brother Takumi and I watched your bio on sportscenter last month as well! I would love your autograph too by the way, if it's not too much trouble?"
"Haha sure no problem!" he answered.
"Yeah, and this is Tokiha Mai. My fangirl girlfriend." Natsuki added as she rolled her eyes and slurped her juice nonchalantly, causing the brunette to chuckle softly behind her teacup.
"Ara hello Mai-han, it's nice to meet you." Shizuru said in her sultry Kyoto-ben, as she playfully flipped her hair over her shoulder. Her crimson eyes danced dreamily proving her obvious social dominance, and charming personality. Mai looked utterly breathless for a few long moments as she soaked in the full effect of (DAT VOICE!) Up until now she hadn't had the pleasure of really hearing the alluring accent.
"N-nice to meet you too S-shizuru-san!" She stuttered. After the waitress took our orders she moved over to take the other couple's orders and Mai nudged the blunette to get her attention. Natsuki leaned over to hear her friend whisper. "Holy shi- she's effing hot!" She whispered sharply. Natsuki couldn't help but to laugh at her friend's sudden 'dawning.' Mai was usually not one to use such 'crass' language, and so the fact that she did meant she was caught by surprise and was dead serious.
Natsuki subtly leaned closer to Mai and pointed her chin up with her fingers so they could be eye to eye. "Oh believe me. I know." She muttered in that natural low husky voice of hers.
"Ara ara, is Natsuki getting a little frisky?" Shizuru chimed in, successfully breaking the fake intimate moment between the two girls.
F-F-Frisky!? With MAI? AHH NO N-Huh? She was watching? "N-no! It wasn't…"
"In a public place as well tsk tsk."
"Agh no woman! I-I" Natsuki was now sporting a dark quarter blush. Mai was calmly chatting with Tate, leaving the two to their little encounter.
"Natsuki really seems to love public displays of affection…" The brunette added a wink and bore her eyes into emeralds, causing Natsuki to jump back and her heart to flutter at the gesture.
W-what is she talking about? She suddenly remembered that just about every…encounter with the crimson eyed goddess had been out in the open. The club, the company, in the parking lot….n-now?
Natsuki snapped out of her revere as she felt something warm and soft caressing her hand. The blunette shook her head in surprise.
"Na-tsu-ki? Are you okay there?" Shizuru asked with a small smirk on her face.
"Hahahahaha Natsuki you look like you were going to burst!" Mai cracked up at the blunette's full body blush at the simple contact. Apparently the food had arrived and everyone was now looking directly at her with smiles on their faces.
"Sorry Kuga-san, Shizuru can be a little…teasing. I hope she didn't shock you too much." Tate chuckled and gave a grin directed at Mai. What is this some private joke? Natsuki regained her composer and tried the best smooth Natsuki move she could come up with.
Natsuki flipped her hair over her shoulder and squeezed Shizuru's soft hand gently before slowly raising it up to her lips. Her heart beat pounded through her head but she ignored it the best she could, leaving her eyes glued to crimson. The smirk never left the brunette's face as her hand drew closer and closer to the blunette's mouth. Suddenly everything around the two hazed away leaving only Natsuki and her goddess. T-This is it..she's finally gonna let me kiss her…When the hand was mere centimeters away from her mouth the blunette unconsciously closed her eyes. The feeling was spectacular! Unfortunately it was too little to satisfy the heat building within her body. She let out a disappointed groan as she opened her eyes to find a finger pressed against her lips, denying access. Natsuki glared softly at Shizuru as the brunette chuckled. Reluctantly she released the hand and gave one last look before digging into her chicken and mayo sandwich.
The rest of the luch went fairly okay actually. A few teases and professions of fake love aside, they made a good double date! Unfortunately for the blunette, she never quite shook the tingly hot feeling she got from ALMOST kissing Shizuru…but hey well you know. Soon... hopefully.
After dropping Tate off at ew's house (Reito), and dropping Mai at the mall (go figure) Natsuki was about to head out of work on her bike when a familiar voice stopped her. "Can you do me a favor? Can you stick around until I finish the work left at my office and give me a ride?" Shizuru asked as Natsuki put her helmet back down on her bike.
"Uh.. ?" Natsuki whimpered as the brunette gave her a hopeful look. AW shes so..wait what did she say? After work she wants me to…
"Take me home Na-tsu-ki?"
A/n Alriiight next chapter is going to be...be ready guys that's all I'll say. Mwahaha! I gave a little jealousy in this chap (idk if you caught that) but ummm..yesh! See you next time peeps! :)