Hey everyone. My second story. Hope you guys will like it as much as the other fic.

Happy reading then.

Note: This story is yet to be proofread. Advance with caution! (Because I have awful grammar and I have this tendency to write like an Elementary school kid - No fucking kidding!)

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime...

The Trouble With Love Is…

Chapter 1

She was nervous. She kept fiddling with her fingers during the car ride all the way to the mansion. Sometimes, she would occasionally take a look outside the window, silently wishing that they would take the wrong turn or better, lost.

But that is not going to happen, is it?

She mentally sighed. She entwined her fingers together, resting it atop her lap.

Her anxiety wasn't left unnoticed by the other passenger inside that limousine. Slowly she felt warm palm, wrapping around her hands, squeezing it gently. Her head quickly turned to look at her left.

Young, dark-haired man curved up a dazzling smile. She was quickly entranced by it.

"Are you okay?" his voice was soft and caring. A gently tug on her hands instantly brought her thought back and she nodded.

"Yes." She replied. "I'm okay."

He smiled again as he nodded. "It won't be long. We'll be there in a few minutes." His palm moved against the smooth skin underneath it, reassuring the fidgeting hands.

She could feel her heart's rate slowly easing. She relaxed. She moved her right palm, placing it atop the young man's hand and she patted it tenderly.

"Thank you, Reito." She smiled, earning a soft chuckle from the gentleman.

Reito leaned closer to the woman and he placed a lingering kiss on the brunette's forehead.

"You're welcome, Shizuru."

The black, sleek limousine parked right outside the mansion.

"We're here, Kanzaki-sama." Said the driver as he held the door open for the passengers.

Reito gave a small nod as he stepped out the limousine. He took a deep breath, looked around the mansion's garden. "It's been a while…" he murmured.

The middle-aged driver just smiled. "Yes it is. Please step inside the manor, Kanzaki-sama. Your parents are expecting both of you in the hall."

"Okay!" Reito nodded. He held the door and beamed a bright smile to the brunette haired woman inside the limousine. "Come on, Shizuru. I'll take you inside!"

Shizuru just remained on her seat as she peeked around the area. "Ara, this place is huge, Reito…"

"And I bet it still cannot be compared with the Fujino's…" Reito interjected, earning a soft chuckle from his companion. He reached out his hand, "Welcome to my home, Shizuru…"

Shizuru giggled again, slowly reached out to wrap her fingers around Reito's as she stepped out the limousine. "Thank you my prince charming…"

Reito grinned, entwining their fingers together. They strolled side by side towards the building, holding hands as they enjoy evening breeze from the garden. They walked up the stairs that led towards the entrance and stopped right at the front porch.

"You're nervous, right?" a wide smirk adorned his masculine feature.

Shizuru arched an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Ara? What makes you said that?"

"Because you're trembling…" Reito gave a gentle squeeze on the brunette's hand as he chuckled.

Shaking her head in defeat, Shizuru just sighed. "Of course I am. I'm going to meet your parents tonight, am I not? Besides, with such short notice you gave me yesterday morning, I haven't prepared myself well for this meeting…"

Reito grinned, nervously scratching his jaw when he saw those pair of crimson orbs staring into his in mild anger. "I'm sorry. It's just my sister will be back tonight and it is hard to keep her to stay at home. We're going to have a little family reunion and I thought that tonight would be the best time for me to introduce you properly."

"Don't you think that I will intrude your family quality time? Your sister just got back. You should leave her to have some rest…" Shizuru smiled to the handsome face before her. Reito just shook his head.

"Nah… Don't worry. She's not the type of person who loves to stay at home. I'm sure she's been dying to meet her friends after five years studying abroad. I don't think she's going to have a rest anyway…" he chuckled. Shizuru also laughed at the statement.

"Talking about your sister, is she here already?"

Reito just shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, maybe she is–" his right hand was reaching out for the door knob when it suddenly being yanked from inside. The couple was surprised, they jumped a little.

A raven haired girl stood right at the door, left hand on the knob while the other holding a pair of leather jacket. A mild shock adorned her flawless face. She was munching a chocolate Pocky stick as her pair of luminous emerald eyes stared back and forth at the two figures in front of her.

"Oh? Hi, big brother!" she nonchalantly greeted the dark haired man as she took a step to the side, giving space for the couple to walk into the manor.

"Natsuki? You're here already? Who fetched you from the airport?" asked Reito.

The latter slowly put on her jacket, still munching on the chocolate stick. "Nobody. I took the cab." she bended down to her knees to tie up her boots. She let out a sigh after she was done and she slowly got up to her feet again, brushing off her jacket and flicking her silky blue hair.

Shizuru who had been remained silent just watched the tall, slender girl before her. This is the first time I meet Reito's sister… She scrutinized the young blunette intently from head to toe. She's beautiful…

Reito frowned as he eyed the raven haired girl's attire. "You're going out? I thought we're going to have a family dinner tonight…"

Swallowing the chewed sticks, Natsuki arched her brows. "What dinner?"

"Father didn't mention anything about me bringing my girlfriend here to introduce her to our family?" Reito sounded like he was annoyed.

Natsuki, who seemed like she was just noticed the presence of the aforementioned brunette, tilted her head to look at the woman next to her brother.

"Oh? Your girlfriend?" A finger pointed at the brunette as she turned to look at the taller man again. A smirk appeared on her lips, "So that means she's your 25th?"

Ara? 25th? Shizuru reflexively arched her thin brows, surprised at the statement as she tilted her head to look at the man beside her. She could detect the apprehension on Reito's face and the grip on her hand slowly tightened.

"Thank you for reminding me that. It will be a pleasure if you don't bring that up again, Natsuki…" he spoke between gritted teeth. Clearly Reito was displeased with his sister's nonchalant behavior.

"Yeah! And it will be a pleasure for me too if you could stop using my Ducati without my consent. Not to mention that you never take a good care of it. Now my bike is all fucked up, 5 years without proper maintenance…" Natsuki shot a sharp glare which could burn a hole to the pair of nervous golden eyes before her. Her voice was deep and threatening.

Shizuru blinked a couple of times, trying to register the small squabble in front of her. Ara? So the black Ducati Reito always took me for a ride with wasn't his?

When she didn't receive any response from the other man, Natsuki just scoffed at Reito's irritated face. She walked past the couple, purposely bumping hard on Reito's shoulder, making the young man to stumble slightly on his feet. She pulled out another chocolate stick and put it into her mouth, skipped down the stairs while humming a soft song happily.

"Natsuki! Stay for the dinner!" called Reito, somewhat angry.

The latter just waved, "No, thank you. I'll have my dinner outside. And tell mom that I'm not coming back home tonight." She continued to walk.

But then, after a few steps, Natsuki stopped and turned around again. She tilted her head up to look at the stunned brunette at the front porch. Shizuru arched an eyebrow, intrigued.

"And nice to meet you, Miss Reito's 25th Girlfriend…" A playful smile curved up on the raven-haired girl's lips. She continued to stroll towards the gate, slowly disappearing within the darkness of the garden.

Shizuru was left speechless. She just watched the departing figure until she disappeared from her sight. Miss Reito's 25th Girlfriend? A sudden urge to laugh suddenly hit her.

She giggled.

"What are you laughing about?" Reito frowned, slightly confused when he saw the brunette chuckled.

Shizuru just waved her hand as she tried to endure her laughter. "No, it's nothing. Your sister is one funny girl, isn't she?"

Reito's brows creased again, "Funny? You're the first in this world to say that! Geez…" he walked into the mansion, stomping his way to the main hall where his parents awaited.

Shizuru blinked in surprise. She took a look at the main gate again where a certain navy haired girl walked out a moment ago. A soft smile slowly curved up on her lips.

"Shizuru! Are you coming or not?" Reito called from the hall, his voice was a tad louder and somewhat angry, it made her jumped slightly on her feet.

It seems like her sister really knows how to push one's button, ne? I've never saw him this angry before... She puffed out a sigh, slowly closed the door behind her and she started to walk along the corridor which led to the main hall.

25th girlfriend... I should have been angry about it, but... She smiled again silently as she walked. The way Natsuki-san said just made me want to laugh... And the look on Reito's face when she disclosed it... He looked like he was being caught red handed for stealing cookies in the kitchen...

A giggle slipped from her lips and she quickly covered her mouth, eyes widened. NO! Stop laughing now, Shizuru... You're not going to laugh like a crazy woman in front of your future in-laws, are you?

Composing herself, Shizuru took a deep breath right in front the beautifully carved entrance door for the main hall. Okay. This is it.

She opened it and stepped inside the hall, heart beating loudly inside her chest. There stood a young man and when he saw her, a bright smile appeared on his face. He quickly walked towards the brunette, entwining their hands together.

"Took you long enough..." he whispered. Shizuru just managed a small smile as he brought her to a middle-age couple who she assumed was Reito's parents.

"Mother, father... This is Fujino Shizuru..." Reito spoke with unwavering confidence in his voice. He turned to look at the brunette, tightened their entwined fingers as he smiled contentedly.

Shizuru smiled back. Tender smile which brought the man's heart into ease.

"And she's my girlfriend..."

Okay people. Tell me your opinion about this one, kay?

*P.S: Is there anyone who interested to be my Beta for this fic? It's not like I don't have one, it's just I've already burdened her with my other story and it makes me feel so bad to dump another crappy story for her to proofread.

So, it will be a great pleasure to have another help for this fic. So, just PM me, okay? PM ME! PM ME! PM ME!

Kthxbai... ^_^