God, I am on a role. Three consecutive updates... That's never happened before... It's just.. wow.
Sorry about that. It's really weird for me to actually stick to a routine. Maybe this time, I won't fall off the wagon.
To my guest reviewers:
Guests: Thank you all for your compliments. I enjoy reading every single one of your reviews. I hope you all continue to enjoy this story just as I enjoy typing it. And to that one particular guest- Haha, I always knew Natsuki was smart, dense, but smart.
CXZ: Haha it has been a while. A week to be exact. You're welcome. I enjoy writing just as you enjoy reading. It's beneficial for both of us. Yea, no one likes to be alone in general. Human interaction is needed in order to survive. Being alone is never a good thing. By the way, I completely agree to what you are saying. Most definitely. Haha, I'll try not to rush on an update. I just hate letting people down and that includes you guys. Being a writer is something I enjoy and that will always be apart of me. If I lost my muse, then I wouldn't be able to write anymore. That's a very depressing thought. I did write an awesome chapter and here it is. I hope you like it. I promise, I did take my time with this :D Thanks for such a pleasant conversation!
Now that's all been answered, I hope everyone enjoyed the fluffy one-shot for our dear Shizuru's birthday. I hope she got to do what she did in the student council room today. If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, there's a one-shot that I posted on the 19th to celebrate the famous crimson eyed beauty. If you've never seen it before, please take the time to check it out. But I'm warning you now, reading the fluff can, and will, cause your tooth to ache. Or in any case, cause you to squeal like a fangirl. Don't deny, its happened to everyone here. Including me. And I proudly admit it.
Sorry, I get easily distracted sometimes, well anyways, I present chapter five of When You Least Expect It!
Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own Mai HiME.
There was a weight on her stomach. That was the first thing that captured Shizuru's attention when the sun's first light entered her room. She didn't notice it at first, as she was still trying to get her bearings, but the arm occupying her mid abdomen had made itself known by drawing the other woman closer. To say the least, Shizuru had never felt so confused and scared. She couldn't recall anything from the night before. Perhaps she had come home with someone? A one night stand maybe? Impossible. Shizuru would never do something like that. She wasn't the type of person to sleep around. Also, she was madly and deeply in love with one certain blunette. No one else.
Thinking about Natsuki, Shizuru's mind began to flash her some of her old memories of the emerald eyed woman. She remembered all the smiles, the blushes, and the teases that Shizuru had shared with Natsuki. She remembered how the younger girl could always make her younger self smile.
Shizuru inwardly chuckled before shaking her head to regain her focus. There was a stranger in her bed underneath her covers yet all she could think about was a girl from her past. Now was not the time nor the place. Shizuru took a deep breath to calm herself before raising her hand. Moving slowly, the crimson eyed beauty grabbed the sheets and drew them down to reveal a head of dark hair. Hair that looked very similar to one special blunette. Shizuru bit back a curse as she thought over her actions. Did she really sleep with a woman with the same dark hair as Natsuki?
The figure beside her groaned as the dark haired woman moved her head out of the sheets. The woman's pale face was easily recognizeable and Shizuru let out a sigh of relief. It was Natsuki. Wait... Natsuki! What was she doing in her bed? Shizuru felt her face grow hot. Did they? No, that's not... Well maybe...
"Ara... I remember now. The funeral. Natsuki came home with me. She was going to leave, but she stayed. We were on the couch. Then it got late. Natsuki offered to sleep in the couch, but I denied. I suggested she sleep in the guest room. She ended up sleeping next to me because the AC was broken and it became too hot..." Shizuru let out a blissful sigh as she relaxed into her side of the bed. Natsuki's sweet actions were causing some butterflies to flutter madly within the pit of her stomach and the twenty year old certainly didn't mind. Rather, she wished for more. This kind of happiness was absolutely addicting.
Shizuru was enjoying her high when it all came crashing down in the form of her best friend. Natsuki, who had relatively been still, was now thrashing about. Sweat was forming at the base of the emerald eyed beauty's head the younger woman's face was scrunchened in pain. Shizuru could feel her heart ripped to shreds watching her friend's beautiful face twist in agonyHer anxiety intensified when she heard her companion whimper.
"Ka-san.. no.. wait.. otou-san...please.. no more.." Natsuki kept mumbling. Shizuru was in distress when those words were repeated over and over again. Natsuki hated to talk about her father in any way. So for the younger woman to be talking about him...This needed to stop. Quickly sliding off from her side of the bed, Shizuru quickly moved towards Natsuki's.
Grabbing the younger woman's shoulders, Shizuru began to shake her companion. "Natsuki. Natsuki, wake up!" She repeated her actions twice before there was a reaction. The reaction was nothing like Shizuru expected. Jumping from the bed, Natsuki moved away from the crimson eyed beauty, a look of pure fear on her face.
"Where am I? What did you do to me!" Natsuki questioned with a sharp tone in her voice. Shizuru's face fell as Natsuki's words stabbed her more than anything she has ever heard.
Shizuru took a deep breath to calm her beating heart and rationalized that she needed to proceed carefully. First off, she could see that Natsuki was hostile. The younger womanwas glaring at her with hatred, pain, and confusion. Not a very healthy combination. Perhaps Natsuki had hit her head? That could cause some temporary amnesia. She needed to approach the other woman with caution if she didn't want to get hurt. "Natsuki.. you're okay. Calm down.." whispered Shizuru a tinge of fear crawling into her voice. Walking towards Natsuki, the twenty year old kept her hands up in the air where the dark haired woman could see it. The emerald eyed woman backed away.
"NO, STAY BACK! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Natsuki yelled as she threw the closest object within arms reach. It happened to be a lamp. The blue object was dodged by Shizuru and shattered as it made impact with the ground.
Shizuru gulped and tried to reason with her friend again. "Natsuki, it's me, Shizuru. Remember? Your friend?"
The look on Natsuki's face switched from enraged to slight confusion . "Shizuru...?"
The older woman nodded. Natsuki's eyes widened before dropping the object that her hand had been about to throw. What transpired next completely obliterated Shizuru's heart. The younger woman dropped to her knees and began to cry.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I'm so so sorry." Natsuki hicupped as tears continued to pour down her face. A look of utter shame and despair covered the emerald eyed woman's face.
Shizuru rushed forward and instantly pulled her friend into a hug. Rubbing the crying woman's back, the crimson eyed beauty began to whisper words of comfort. "Shh. It's alright. I'm here."
Those words gave the other woman some much needed comfort and before Shizuru knew it, the emerald eyed woman had fallen asleep in her arms. Shizuru sighed as she cradled her friend's head in her arms. She knew it would be futile to even attempt to get the other woman into bed, therefore, Shizuru just made herself comfortable against the wall that Natsuki had moved to. Before she even realized it, she too had fallen asleep.
Shizuru woke up an hour later in a daze. She could vaguely recall what had recently transpired. All she could remember was a lot of shouting and a lamp breaking. Crimson eyes scanned the room to confirm her hypothesis only for said crimson eyes to frown. The room was clean. The bed was made and the broken lamb was nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps you were just imagining things... Shizuru thought to herself as she stood up abruptly. Walking towards her closet, the twenty year old being to dress for the day. Only for her bedroom door to be opened by Natsuki carrying a breakfast tray.
"Hey, Shizuru I have to tell you someth-" Natsuki's words caught in her throat as she stared at the naked back of her best friend. Shizuru, hearing her door opening, stopped putting her shirt on and looked over her shoulder. A bright cherry red Natsuki was gaping at her. The two continued to stare at each other before the sound of crashing plates and broken glass greeted the floor.
"S-S-Shizuru! Oh my kami! Put some clothes on!" yelled Natsuki shielding her eyes with her now empty hands.
Shizuru just giggled, taking the advantage of her state of dress to tease the other woman. "Does Natsuki like what she sees?"
"N-No!"
"Ara, so Natsuki doesn't find me attractive?" Fake tears slid down from Shizuru's eyes.
Natsuki stared at the other woman in horror. "Um no, I mean yes! Wait- no! Ahhh I find Shizuru very attractive!" The last part of her comment caught Natsuki herself, but the dark haired woman chose to ignore it for later. 'There it is again..' Thoughts on the brunette seem to be popping up more than the nineteen year old cared to admit.
Shizuru just laughed and finished putting her shirt on. Walking towards the frozen woman, the crimson eyed beauty made sure to graze her fingers with Natsuki's just before she exited the room, a mischievous smile gracing her lips.
Natsuki shivered as electricity passed from those fingers and into her body. 'What the hell was that? Damn it Shizuru! Quit teasing me!'
Crying inwardly, Natsuki grabbed the tray and everything else from the ground and followed her best friend.
Breakfast at the table seemed empty as the presence of Shizuru's guardian loomed over the two. Yoshi-oji was, and always will be, at the head of the table. That wasn't the case anymore as the old man was no longer with them and the sadness showed.
Natsuki sighed as she picked at her breakfast. The silence was suffocating and it was driving her mad. Usually Hideyoshi was the one who added the zeal to morning conversations. She just followed after him. Shizuru wasn't fairing any better.
"So um, about this morning..." Natsuki began grabbing Shizuru's attention. "I'm terrible sorry. I... Well, it's just.."
Shizuru stared at Natsuki before smiling softly. "It is fine, Natsuki. It's my fault for not locking the door before changing."
Natsuki just stared at her in confusion. "What?"
"Isn't Natsuki apoligizing for opening the door as I was changing? Or did she actually do it on purpose?" Crimson twinkled as she gazed across the table.
Emerald eyes widened. "Oh.. yea... Wait, oh yea! Sorry for that too!" Natsuki blushed again. She seemed to be doing that as of late... And oddly enough, she wasn't at all bothered. Which seems odd enough.. 'What is happening to me?'
Shizuru laughed that angelic laugh that always turned Natsuki to mush. "So what did Natsuki apologize first for?"
Natsuki's smile turned into a small frown as she looked down at her breakfast. "About my.. um episode.."
Shizuru blinked for a moment before realizing what the blunette was talking about. So it was real... "Ara.. Natsuki. It's quite alright.."
"No, no it isn't. I really scared you, Shiz. Me. Your best friend. How could I have let that happen?" Natsuki avoided the crimson eyes that stared at her. She knew she was a monster. After all, who the hell scares their best friend? Shizuru was too good for her.
Natsuki was busy swimming in her own pity to notice the other woman standing behind her. It wasn't until lanky arms wrapping around her did Natsuki turn to look up. She was greeted by a kind smile.
"I've got you. Will you explain to me what happened?" asked her best friend tightening her hold.
Natsuki nodded, slightly dazed from the woman holding her. "I'll tell you everything."
The two finished their breakfast in silence before cleaning up. Shizuru washed their plates and Natsuki dried them. The duo left the kitchen for the living room couch.
Settling in, Natsuki sighed. "It started back in my last year of senior high school. You see, my guardian wasn't very big on me riding a motorcycle. So when he actually got me one for my birthday, well, I was pretty happy. I took my new bike for a spin, but then there was this cliff near the last street that I was in.. and... I didn't see the car until the last moment.." Natsuki took a deep breath and smiled when the brunette grabbed her hand. "I was in the hospital for three weeks. They told me I had a major concussion. My body was in this big cast." The emerald eyed woman chuckled bitterly. "I remember looking like a mummy."
"Natsuki.." Shizuru began, but the other woman raised her hand.
"Hold on, I have to get it all out. My body was relatively okay, but my mind wasn't. When I woke up, I had no clue what was going on or who the man besides me sitting on the chair was... I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty scared. I didn't know where, or who I was. The man besides me told me that he was my guardian and that my name was Natsuki and that I was at the hospital for a motorcycle accident. After that.. It was a blur. It took me another two weeks out of the hospital to get most my memories back. Thank kami it wasn't permanent. Or..." I probably wouldn't have remembered you..
Natsuki's eyes froze with confusion. There it was again. Another remark about the brunette. The past couple times, she just passed it off, but this one about being unable to remember her childhood friend set a shock of pain straight into her chest.. Natsuki sighed and felt frustrated about her strange, new emotions. Focusing on the task at hand, she began again. "I acted the way I acted this morning because of the accident. And also because of.. what happened to me when I was a child..." Natsuki's vibrant emeralds suddenly lost its luster.
Shizuru raised her hand to stiffle a gasp. She and the other woman were very close when they were kids. They told each other everything and spent almost every waking moment with each other. And not once did the emerald eyed girl talk about her time with her father.
The younger woman closed her eyes. "My family was just like any other family. We had family dinners, trips to the park, and occasionally ate out. We had so much fun together.." Natsuki smiled remembering her mother's laughter and her father's chuckles. "But that all changed when my mom died in a car accident..." Natsuki opened her dull eyes to warm crimson. "My father was never the same... He grew cold and distant. We barely spoke after the funeral... The house wasn't warm anymore.. It felt like a prison."
Natsuki felt the other woman gravitate closer to her. Warmth seemed to ooze out off Shizuru and Natsuki welcomed it. "He was a kind man, Shizuru. He was my idol. I thought that everything would be okay.. That all stopped when he got home one night drunker than a sailor could ever be. That was when the beating began..."
Shizuru let a few tears fall from her eyes and sobbed. Grabbing her best friend, the crimson eyed beauty refused to let go. "Natsuki... Oh, Natsuki." whimpered the older woman.
The emerald eyed woman shook her head and continued as if she were in a trance. "I remember it all. The belt. He would hit me until my skin was red... The slapping.. Kicking. Punching... Everthing. It's all in my mind." Natsuki gulped as she stared ahead in a daze. "He would lock me in a pitch black room to punish me sometimes.. It would last for hours and sometimes days..."
Shizuru hugged her friend tighter. "Wouldn't your teachers suspect something?"
Natsuki shook her head again. "No.. he always had some excuse. My teachers never suspected anything."
"What about the bruises and cuts. They would certainly notice that.."
"He always had me wear long sleeves and he always made sure to ice my face to make sure it would never swell so bad. The black eyes that I got from the punches... he'd just tell the teachers that I was in another fight at the park.."
Shizuru let go off her friend and grabbed Natsuki's hand. Intertwining it with her own, the older woman leaned against the empty woman. "Natsuki... I can't express how sorry I am.. I-"
Natsuki tugged on Shizuru's hand as emerald eyes grew focused. "It was a bad time, Shizuru. It's not something that I like to remember, but it happens. During certain dates, I would get nightmares. I'd get to re-live all of it... That's why I acted hostile this morning... Yesterday was his birthday.. So when I woke up to a different ceiling, I forgot that I was with you and that he was back and he had me... I'm so so sorry, Shizuru. I never ever meant to scare you.." Natsuki bowed her head. She could never forgive herself for what she did.
Shizuru continued to stay quiet. It was not everyday that her best friend would confess that she was physically and mentally abused by her father. It was also unusually for said best friend to also admit to having brain damage. She needed a moment to adjust and to soak in all the information that Natsuki had just given her. Taking a calming breath, Shizuru responded the only way that she could. Shizuru wrapped her arms around the younger woman and cried.
I believe that this is a good ending as any. I apologize if it seemed very emotional with all the crying and sad stuff. I swear, I did not mean to make Natsuki look like a sissy. It's just that with everything she's been through, I thought she deserved a good cry, especially if it's with Shizuru. Also, I once again apologize for giving our favorite blue haired biker such a hard time. I need her to have this kind of background in order for me to give her the happy ending that this story will have.
I know that this chapter was very confusing so I'm sorry for that as well. I still have a hard time slowing down with my words now that Christmas break started.
Now, for the medical people out there. I am sorry if I butchered up any medical terms.
Ahem, yea... so I hope everyone enjoyed this. It took me a while, but I've got a good feeling as to where this is heading. I just hope it won't crash and burn...
Please review, everyone! I want to know what you all think! If you have any questions, you guys know who to ask. No, it's not your parents, but anyways, thanks for reading!