Chapter One: Waiting for Spring and What Might Come

"Within every person embodies a number of truths. One, with enough reason, anyone can conceal or mishandle a situation in their favor. Two, hate is a nature's instinct and love is a forced affection. And three, regardless of how close a person claims to be, sheer words can determine the line between affection and malice…and even cross it." Deeply engrossed in her thoughts, Natsuki allowed herself to drift from her reverie with a gentle sigh. She was never one for sitting in one place for an extensive amount of time, and it seemed school was just that. She uncomfortably shifted in her plastic chair resting her heavy head on her palm while scaling the monotonous classroom that surrounded her. The teacher broodingly sorted through student's papers at his desk that sat adjacent to the crowd of poorly aligned desks. The room felt thick with silence besides the occasional murmur between friends.

"Only ten more minutes…" Natsuki thought with thinning patience. Looking down at her blank worksheet she reprimanded herself for signing up for such a dull class, psychology. She thought it would be an interesting subject to study but after months of a drearily plain teacher with no personality and uncaring students, she found no pleasure in attending this class (which she hardly did). Before she was able to return to her self-pitying she was snapped into attention by a screeching chair being shoved from under the teacher as he stood to address the class.

"As you all know, mid-terms are coming up. I want all of you to study hard and to pass!" Mr. Hotaka forcefully exclaimed as an awkward smile pried its way onto his usually timid complexion. It was obvious he was a plain man, with nothing redeeming to set him apart from the crowd.

"Tsk," Natsuki mentally sneered while sucking her teeth, "You'll be lucky if I even decide to show up for the damned thing." She finished the thought by shoving her books into her tan messenger bag that she disdainfully noticed matched her school uniform; an orange vest, beige skirt that was shorter than she felt comfortable with, and a white hoodie that she so rebelliously wore underneath the vest. Just then she felt relief wash over her annoyed state when the bell chimed in to declare the end of the school day.

The class scrambled up to run out the door making it a battle to squeeze out the small opening in the thick classroom walls. Natsuki impatiently shoved her way through the bodies leaving behind a blur of a dark shade of hair, that when in light seemingly shimmered into a brilliant cobalt hue. There was no doubt of her beauty, but she only found the attention of the timid boys and girls very annoying. She was known as a cold person to many and she wanted to keep it that way. She would never pity her enclosed personality; rather she prides herself in how difficult it is for others to approach her. As if intimidation was her number one goal. But even with her icy ways, some people were bold enough to endure her apprehensive attitude.

"Natsuki!" A familiar voice chided above the clatter in the hallways.

Whipping her head around to meet the owner of the voice, she allowed others to make their way past her as her friend caught up to her. "Hey Mai, hey Mikoto." She nodded to her friend and then to the smaller one when she saw her sneak out from behind her like a shadow acting as another limb, always attached to her.

"Hey would you like to come to a karaoke party? I got us all a reservation!" Mai bubbled in excitement with her eyes beaming at Natsuki almost in an attempt to persuade her.

With a hard gulp Natsuki mentally fought over the question and eventually forced her head to move in a slow nod. She could swear she almost felt her neck creak with resistance to the idea. "Sure, that sounds like fun but uh…" As she continued her voice seemed to drop in confidence, "who all will be there?" She had no problem being around most people but there were some days she didn't want to deal with a certain red-head and an intimidating tawny haired beauty.

Mai's lips thinned in understanding, trying to make out a sympathetic smile, "Well everyone will be, but please Natsuki, it will be fun! I promise!" Mai gently brought her hand to Natsuki's arm to reassure her.

"Yeah…" With eyebrows knitted, Natsuki's eyes drifted off into the now quieting hallways. Sunlight gleamed through the outlying windows, splaying out on the cold grey floors that are home to the occasional lost pencil and debris from some messy student's binder. Noticing Natsuki's troubled and distant stare, Mai gently squeezed her arm. The dark haired girls gaze lazily drifted back onto her friend's worried expression and moving mouth but not consciously comprehending the words. She also noted Mikoto yawning and tugging on Mai's skirt probably protesting for food.

"Natsuki? Hey are you alright?" Mai's motherly tone made itself apparent while she absent-mindedly put a hand on the younger girls head to show she heard Mikoto's whimper.

"Um, yeah I'm fine," Natsuki eventually shook herself from her trance and forced a smile. "Just call me with the time and I'll be there." she finished with a more convincing demeanor hoping to appease her friend. "There's no way I'd have some sappy therapy session in a place like this. As if I ever would, I don't need one." She inwardly stated cursing herself for her moment of weakness.

"Alright Natsuki, I'll talk to you later then." The orange haired girl reluctantly released her seize on her friend's arm and smiled.

"Yeah." Natsuki ended with a brief nod and twisted around on her heels to pace down the now empty halls with the exception of the random lingering students. Rubber dully smacked against the dusty linoleum floors as she walked with haste to the doors.

"Fresh, crisp air." She appraised the feeling of the outdoors as the sun bathed her in warmth and she could hear the faint sounds of an approaching spring. Birds stretched their wings from a long winter with a lingering call that resonated through the campus. Green stretched on for what seemed like forever until it was halted at the horizon of trees that surrounded most of the school. The trees, she noted, were just beginning to regain their deep green tints.

With a genuine smile she walked toward her beloved Ducati she parked within the thinly spread woods. Quickly scanning the area to ensure it was empty of prying eyes; she quickly stripped and made her way into a body suit that hugged her petite figure. Donning the suit almost like a second skin she hummed happily as she enjoyed the sound of the zipper making its way up her torso as she tugged on it.

"My, well it seems as though Natsuki is very comfortable within the woods." Natsuki froze, her skin felt as if it turned to ice while her insides burned with fire that seemed to coarse through every vein at the sound of that voice. Heart thumping against her frail chest she turned to meet the distant gaze of an older girl, standing on the near outskirts of the forest, who only smiled with an amused glint in her eyes.

"Those eyes." They captivated her, she felt weak at the sight but she worked hard to disguise it. Or at least tried to.

"Shizuru! H-how long were you standing there!" The younger girl sputtered, trying hard to sound intimidating to distract the fact that her face was burning and her tone was obviously weak.

A soft giggle escaped Shizuru's lips, tempted to tease the red-faced girl before her. "Why, does Natsuki not like my company? I saw you and all I wanted to do was make sure you wouldn't hate being around me during the party tonight…but if Natsuki doesn't want to see me…" She trailed off with a fake hurt expression adorning her face hoping that Natsuki would take her bait.

"N-no! I would uh…love to be there." She quickly retorted hoping to calm the brunette.

"Great!" Shizuru gleamed while clapping her hands together revealing no sense of sadness. "And unless you want to catch a cold, you might want to cover that body of yours." She added, unable to resist the urge to see the younger girl gape at the amount of cleavage she had been unknowingly exposing.

With a grunt and mumbles Natsuki snatched her zipper and abruptly tugged it up with her face turned unable to return the gaze of those searing crimson eyes.

Content with herself the brunette said her goodbyes and twirled around on her heels and seemingly skipped off.

After sensing her surroundings were now vacant she unconsciously let out a sigh. Her leather clad shoulders drooped as her eyes slowly scanned down her bike, eventually resting on the ground. Ants wrestled through the thick patches of grass that spotted the forest floor, all in unspoken order.

"I can't let my mind wander too much. Why can't I just act normal around her…why does she make my body burn with her presence? That woman, she will be the death of me I swear." The rebellious student stared at the mindless marching of ants for an eternity as she wallowed in her sea of swimming questions until she decided not every question needs an answer. Before she could let her conscience fight against her resolve she swung her leg making a light metallic thunk as the kick in her Ducati snapped back and hopped on her bike. Starting it up, the machine had let out a sputter and low hum then jumped into movement. Tires dug up soil begging for traction on the ground to accelerate and Natsuki sped away from the woods to the road that took her away from this hell-hole school.

Lights and cars became a blur as Natsuki wedged through the cluttered streets on her bike. Hair whipped behind her in tendrils of magnificent blue, leaving a gust of wind chasing behind. Like many days as of lately, Natsuki has felt engrossed in her endless thoughts. Some days it was questions on what she will do with her life, where her focus was, and other days it would be thousands of small questions of things that don't hold any significance. She assumed that this is just some weird mood that she's been stuck in for the past few…well months it seems. It all rooted back to winter time. After Shizuru invited Natsuki to her parent's estate in Kyoto during the holiday to celebrate the former's birthday, the rebellious teenager had been wallowing in what would seem like endless self-loathing.

Flashback:

"I am really glad you decided to come to my parent's home, I couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather celebrate my birthday with Na-tsu-ki." A familiar accent played with the syllables of Natsuki's name in a teasing manor.

"Yeah whatever." The blunette girl almost barked out to the smiling older girl trying to ignore the glint of bliss that glazed over brilliant, deep wine colored orbs. The younger girl let out a huff and whipped her head away from Shizuru's glare trying to mask the growing redness in her cheeks. "Sorry I didn't get you anything, I didn't think you would mind since a girl like you seems to have everything she needs." After the last word died on her lips she realized that it might have seemed harsher than she meant it to be. She turned her eyes, unintentionally locking onto crimson ones that seemed to hold a faint sign of…pain? Longing? Alarmed she hurt her best friend's feelings she retorted, "…I'm sorry I didn't mean for that to sound cruel or anything." Natsuki placed her hand on Shizuru's. Silence cut through Natsuki like a searing knife as she starred into the eyes of the girl she cared about. "Her eyes…" Natsuki began to be swept up by a gust of emotion that bubbled in her chest. "I never realized just how beautiful they are." At that moment something broke in Natuki's heart, ice melted and something warmer than she ever felt oozed out of every crevice of her hardened core; she was beginning to soften.

"What makes you think you were harsh? I am from a wealthy family after all; I wouldn't blame you for assuming so." Kyoto-ben laced the air and snapped the biker from her revere.

The younger girl internally realized what she was doing and tore her arm from the contact. She brooded in horror of the feelings that ruptured in her heart when she was lost in thought. "What the HELL was that! I'm sick! How could I let myself even feel like that? Wait...does this mean…I like Shizuru…?" Natsuki heard her heartbeat in her ears and a pink tinge rose to her face.

Trying to maintain a calmed outer appearance Natsuki shook her head, "Okay, well…um…we can just go shopping or whatever so you can show me around Kyoto…and if you like anything you see I'll get it for you ok?" Uncertainty of her feelings fought to make its appearance in her voice as it began to quiver.

End of Flashback.

Ever since that realization, thoughts have become nothing but a battle of heart against brains.

well that's chapter one! This is my first attempt at a story so please be gentle, R&R!