Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-HiME or any of the characters. Enjoy!
Natsuki shut her front door behind her as she left her small apartment. For the last week she had been cooped up inside it doing nothing. It's not that she didn't want to do anything, she simply didn't have anything to do. She didn't mind. She enjoyed the solitude. At least, that's what she told herself. In truth, she was lonely, but she would never admit it. She was stubborn, very much so.
Two weeks ago she and her fellow classmates graduated from Fuuka Academy. She spent the first week with Shizuru, who had taken a gap year before going abroad to university to wait for Natsuki to graduate, but now that year was over. Despite not being able to return Shizuru's feelings, the former president stayed loyal to her friend's side, never once failing to be there for her, despite Natsuki being adamant nothing was wrong. But now something was. She didn't realise how important having Shizuru there was. She wasn't even sure it was shiruzu, she just enjoyed having someone. Someone to stick with her when she was being moody, to keep trying when she was being stubborn... and to love her even if she didn't, no couldn't love them back.
Sighing, she made her way down the steps and out of the apartment complex. She didn't feel like going to Mai's but felt she owed it to her to prove her existence. Huffing she straddled her bike which, despite not having ridden it for a week, felt like she hadn't even got off it. Weaving precariously in and out of traffic she eventually ended up at Mai's apartmet. She had moved in a week before graduation, offering Mikoto a place to stay too.
"Natsuki!" Mai shouted, capturing her in a deadly grip. Natsuki's hands were pinned to her side so even though she wanted to return the gesture, she couldn't. When Mai let go after what felt like years, she ushered her inside quickly and closed the door behind her. There she saw Mikoto sitting at a table slurping ramen and the kitten-like girl only stopped briefly to acknowledge Natsuki, then finished her ramen (which didn't take her long) before pouncing on the bluenette, tackling her to the floor. "Mikoto!" Mai all but screeched. The younger girl paid no attention and began to snuggle the girl and ramble "Welcome back!"s and "We all missed you"s. It was sweet really, or would've been if Mikoto wasn't crushing Natsuki's lungs.
After prying Mikoto off Natsuki, she guided her to the sofa and Natsuki knew what was coming next. "What happened Natsuki? You know you can talk to me, right? About anything. I swear." Natsuki sighed. "I know, I really do. It's just... Ugh. To be honest, I don't even know" she admitted, hanging her head. "Is it because of Shizuru?" Natsuki pondered this question. Oh how she wished it was! Then they could both be happy. But no. She was this shell, incapable of love. She hated herself for it.
After a while Mai gave up trying to get an answer out of Natsuki. She didn't even know the answers, how was she supposed to tell Mai? Mai offered to cook her something but she resorted to roaming the streets of Fuuka alone instead. She kicked a can, narrowly avoiding hitting members of the public, but she didn't even notice them. For the first time she realised how alone she felt... and it hurt. She eventually decided to waste the rest of the day in a local bar she used to frequent, hoping to forget the day.
A few hours later, a drunk Natsuki emerged from the bar, grinning like an idiot. Stumbling towards her bike she fumbled for her keys to her bike, but to no avail. How was she supposed to drive the bike if she couldn't even get her keys out of her pocket? She'd have to pick it up tomorrow. Hey it would give her something to do the next day she reasoned. Walking, or attempting to, down the sidewalk she passed an allyway where she could hear grunts, curses, and... a familiar voice? In her drunken stupor, she made her way into the dark path where she saw a man, his hands wrapped in rope and standing over him was... Nao?
First chapter complete! Please r and r to let me know what you think? Give me some ideas for future chapters and stories :)
That's it for now. Bye :)