Blue Moon

By DrummondType2

It was late autumn, and I found myself standing on the stage of one of the restaurants that was part of my family's holdings, holding a microphone.

It was the restaurant's grand opening, and my father had asked me to attend in his stead, as my university was within walking distance of this new establishment. Indeed, that was the very reason for the location, to try and draw in the university students.

Somehow, during the discussions for the opening ceremonies the manager, a woman not much older than me with wild red hair, cajoled me into performing to "christen the stage on its maiden night" after I'd somehow let it slip that I had a fondness for enka.

Which is how I found myself performing Naomi Shindou's Katakoi Enka in front of a live audience on opening night. I left the stage to the cheers and ovations of the crowd, bowing to the house band as they prepared to take their rightful place. I was mildly pleased with myself, and was about to quietly exit the establishment, my obligations to my father completed, when I saw her.

It would have been easy to miss her. She had blue-black hair, and was sitting in the corner of a booth hidden in shadows. I almost didn't see her, except for the emerald glint of the house lights reflecting in her eyes, and the glow of her ivory skin in the low light, as though she were carved of some exotic marble for the sole purpose of capturing the light of the moon in flesh.

But the thing which had truly drawn my attention to her was the expression of her delicate features. She seemed to be brooding in a place where everyone else was celebrating. I was intrigued.

She appeared to be my age, at most within a year or so of me. She did not fail to notice me as I approached, and she seemed perplexed at my arrival at her stall, or perhaps mystified by the color of my eyes, which was not unlike the maple leaves that had turned crimson as the chill of autumn encroached.

I could smell her meal before I saw it. She had ordered Western fare, a hamburger with french fries. And she had doused by in a not inconsiderable amount of mayonnaise. Well, she was beautiful, unfortunate tastes in food aside. And her brooding expression haunted me.

"I will have the restaurant comp the cost of your meal if I may join you," I chose my pitch perfectly, where my words would reach her, and only her, but still come across plainly. I had my most pleasant smile in place.

She blinked, then shrugged non-committedly, "Suit yourself."

I sat opposite her in the booth, "Ara, I was worried. You seemed unhappy, and at our grand opening no less. I hope it was not my singing which has put you off."

She looked away, and there was a slight rosy tinge to her cheeks, "Um, no. You…you sang really well. I…just have some things on my mind."

"A beautiful woman shouldn't have to brood alone in the dark," I spoke to her softly.

"You should order," she said after the blush had cleared from her cheeks.

"Oh?"

"If I'm just sitting here eating and you're not, it's strange. You'll call attention to us."

I found myself stunned momentarily by her astute assessment.

"You…know about me?" I licked my lips nervously. I tried so hard to keep myself discreet and under wraps.

She looked at me a second, then blushed, then looked away, "You…made it obvious."

I signaled a waiter and ordered a plate. It wasn't long before I, too, was eating beside her, though my appetite was now somewhat compromised.

"I'm…If I'm bothering you…" I began, fidgeting nervously. I was trained at the art of hiding my true face, or putting up a serene smile and making myself unreadable, but this girl had just slipped past every defense and seen right through me.

"I would have asked you to leave, if you were," she said after a moment, "Or I would have left."

"Does that mean that you…share my interests?" I asked her.

She chewed thoughtfully on the end of one of the thick cut fries, not looking at me, but not avoiding me, "I think you could say that I…don't know where my interests are right now. But you've piqued my curiosity."

I regained a bit of my composure, "I…I've never really done anything like this before."

She smiled at me, "Me either."

Just then, the manager, Midori Suguira came up to the table, "Oh, Fujino-san, making friends?"

"Actually," I tried to cover, fearing Suguira would draw unwanted attention, "This is…"

"Natsuki Kuga," She introduced herself to Midori, and I realized with some shame that I hadn't known her name until that moment, "I'm a classmate of Shizuru's. We have Business Accounting together."

And I realized, hearing the sincerity of her words, that it was true. How had I missed her before in that class? But wait, did that mean that she had come here because of me.

"That's great!" Midori grinned, "Bring all your classmates here, Fujino-san. Once they've had a bit of Tokiha's cooking, they'll all be back for more."

"Suguira-han, put our meals on my expense account, please."

"You got it," she beamed.

And with that, Suguira was gone.

"We have a class together?" I asked Natsuki.

"I sit in the back of the lecture hall. You wouldn't have seen me."

"Am I the reason you came here, tonight?" I asked her.

She laughed, "I had no idea you'd be here, tonight. I heard about a place close to school where I could grab a burger, and thought I'd check it out. I was a bit surprised to find you on the stage announcing the grand opening. And then you did your little song number."

"That," I smiled my enigmatic smile, "Was the suggestion of Suguira-han, the woman you just met. I'm not completely vain, I assure you."

"Well, I'm flattered you took an interest."

I'd heard this speech a few times before, from girls whom I'd thought would be interested, only to learn that they weren't willing to cross social barriers and explore their curiosity.

"But…?" I prompted.

"No 'buts'," Natsuki surprised me, taking my hand, "I told you, I'm curious. And I'm flattered. So…shall we?"

She motioned toward the exit.

I stood, nervous and trembling slightly. Never, in my wildest dreams…

"You don't need to be so nervous," Natsuki said, "No one is paying attention. As far as they're concerned, we're two classmates who had a meal together. You're so worried about people finding out who you really are that you draw attention to yourself trying to hide it. Evasion draws attention."

I stood, eyes wide with realization, as the truth of her words hit me. Had I been so blatant to everyone I knew? Was my secret as secure as I'd thought.

And then she was heading to the door, and I followed.

She walked over to a motorcycle in the parking lot, and she produced a helmet for me from her saddlebags.

"Your place or mine?" She asked.

"My dorm mate would not approve of me bringing a date home," I sighed. It was something of an understatement. Haruka Suzushiro had made remarks about the "moral deficiencies" of at least one other lesbian couple we'd observed on campus. I wasn't prepared to out myself to her.

"My place then," Natsuki nodded, "I gotta warn you, I have two half-sisters and a sorta cousin there."

I frowned, "Are you certain it's…"

"It's a big house. It'll be fine."

We drove down the road, the streetlights lining our path. We came to a tall western styled mansion on a towering cliff overlooking the sea. It was a Victorian styled home, with a turret over the front door.

"My room's in the turret," Natsuki said, "Lots of privacy."

She fished out a key and opened the door. We were greeted by a silver-haired young woman with scarlet eyes.

"Miss Kuga," She nodded.

"Hey, Miyu. Alyssa asleep?"

"Yes. She finished her classwork, and had a nice meal. She and Miss Yuuki then played video games for a bit. Who is your companion?"

"This is Shizuru Fujino. She's a classmate of mine at the University."

Miss Greer's eyes shifted to me at the mention of my name, "Ah. Yes. Uncle John does considerable business with your Father. I'd heard the heiress apparent to the Fujino Conglomerate was at the university. It's a pleasure to meet you at last."

"Uncle John?"

"John Searrs," Natsuki said, "Alyssa's father. Thanks for everything, Miyu. We're heading up to my room. Let me know if you need me for anything."

"You seem to have a complicated family life," I said to her.

Natsuki opened the door to her room, which I noted took another key. She sat down on her bed.

"Yeah," she sighed. "Mom and Dad split up when I was seven, right after Mom found out that Dad had been cheating on her. And I had an illegitimate sister from his mistress."

"Alyssa?" I asked.

She shook her head, "No. Alyssa's from Mom's second husband, John Searrs. I was living with Mom, and Mr. Searrs has always been polite, cordial, and even supportive of me. But in the end, I'm not his blood, and Alyssa is. Alyssa is my sister, and she loves me as a sister. And I love her, too. But she's the chosen one for the Searrs family, not me. And my other sister, Nao Yuuki, she's friendly to me, but she didn't have the breaks that I've had. When I decided to go to University here, Alyssa set up this house so that the three of us could live together. And Miyu Greer is Alyssa's cousin. Her mother is Mr. Searr's sister. I don't have any blood in common with her, either, but she's fond of Alyssa, so she tolerates me. And she seems to have a solid friendship with Nao."

"You did say it was complicated," I exhaled.

I sat beside her on the bed, and she smiled shyly, "Um…so…what was it about me that caught your attention?"

I took her hand in mine, "As I said at the restaurant, you seemed to be brooding. In that place, it made you stand out. So, I wanted to get to know you. Besides, given my…interests…one can hardly fault me for being drawn to the most beautiful young woman in the room, yes?"

She chuckled and blushed, "Idiot."

I smiled broadly, "Am I? I'm in your bedroom at this late hour, am I not?"

"Let me ask you something? What is it you want from me?" Natsuki asked, and when I looked at her blankly she pressed on, "I mean, is this a one night stand to you, or are you looking for something lasting?"

I shook my head, "I want this to last. Even if you simply tell me that you're not up for it after all, and you say you just want to be my friend, I want it to last, this feeling right here. I feel…at peace…around you. Unmasked. Free to just be myself. No social obligations. No masks to wear for someone else's benefit. And you?"

She gave a nervous chuckle, "I told you before…I don't know what I want right now. This is my first time ever doing anything like this."

"Natsuki, me too," I said, squeezing her hand, reassuringly, "And if you're not ready yet, we…"

I found my suggestion cut off by the presence of Natsuki's lips on my own. It wasn't a forceful kiss, nor was it a simple peck on the lips. She did not try to pry her tongue into my mouth, but there was pressure, presence. There was a tingle of electricity that coursed through my own body, and, I sense a shiver down her back that told me it was in her as well.

There weren't many sounds after the lights went out. The rustle of sheets, the hum of the overhead fan, a soft cry or moan from time to time, the tender notes of kisses on lips and flesh. And warmth. There was a great deal of warmth.

I don't remember falling asleep. But I do remember being woken by the sound of soft crying. My heart fell. She regretted what we'd done then?

Except that she spoke softly in the darkness, and that's not what her words conveyed.

"No! No, not now! Why now? Please, don't let her see…."

There was a pained, strangled cry, and I sat up to see Natsuki standing at the window, her lithe form silhouetted against the curtains and the moonlight. Only she seemed to be doubling over in pain. I actually heard a sickening snapping sound. I'd heard it before, during a karate class when an overly aggressive student had broken the arm of his sparring partner. It was the sound of breaking bones.

The silvery light reflecting along her hair seemed to spread across her arms, her back, her legs. I could have sworn I saw a length of hair that ran past her legs, but I didn't recall her hair being that long. I watched in horror as her body seemed to contort against its will, until Natsuki was reshaped. No longer a young woman standing before the window, there was a face with very canid features regarding me warily, a body covered mostly in blue-black hair, save for a line that ran from her neck down to her navel, exposing cleavage but nothing more, and elongated limbs and legs that now seemed to be more animalistic, digitigrade, rather than the plantigrade structure of a human leg.

There was something of beauty to this lithe, lean form, even as the unfamiliar appearance terrified me. But then I saw the eyes. Sad, somber, emerald sparks in the darkness.

"Natsuki?" I spoke the name, and she recoiled as if struck.

I reached out and put my hand gently on her fur covered cheek, "Natsuki, it's alright! Please, don't be afraid."

The irony of me saying that to her was not lost on me, as I was trembling at the mere sight of this transformation.

She gave a soft whimpering noise. I held her for awhile, trying to comfort her. I reached for her hand to hold it in mine. Instead of fingernails, I encountered sharpened claws, but I pressed on, taking her hand and holding it.

"I'm here, Natuski. Please, don't be afraid. I'm here."

I held her like that until the dawn, when she returned to herself with the same sickening twisting and popping of bones. Tufts of fur shed from her body, until her ivory flesh was bare once more, and she lay naked and sobbing in my arms.

"Oh, Shizuru! I never wanted you to know about it…"

All I could do was hold her until her tears were spent.

To be continued…