One Summer Day
By DrummondType2
Shizuru Fujino was a creature of comfort and habit. Indeed, habit was often the source of her comfort.
Summer, she noted, was a season of heat, humidity, and routines. It was well into the month of August, which meant that she had finally been able to begin her summer break from her college courses, and Natsuki was already enjoying her own summer vacation from Fuuka Academy, which had begun back at the end of July. They had a brief period, from August 5th to August 30th, to spend together before Natuski would have to resume classes, and Shizuru's own courses would resume on the 30th of September, just in time to welcome the start of Autumn.
She sat alone in their apartment at that moment, however. The fan was spinning lazily overhead, the air conditioner blowing steadily, and condensation was dripping steadily down the glass of iced barley tea that she'd made for herself. It wasn't her favorite, which was the green tea she sipped from her favorite ceramic cup, but it was a suitable choice for the unrelenting summer heat.
Natsuki was out on her motorcycle, enjoying a ride around the shore in the sea breeze. Shizuru had long ago decided she wasn't going to worry about Natsuki riding her motorcycle. But that was Natsuki's activity, just as the efforts Shizuru was currently making at writing haiku and senryu with her calligraphy brush was her own. After all, Shizuru had learned, even if she and Natsuki were a couple now and tried to do things together, it was just as important that they have activities and hobbies apart from one another. Natsuki's hobbies included riding her motorcycle along the coast and watching action films. Shizuru's included calligraphy and enka.
The ice shifted in the glass with a slight tinkle as it slowly melted, and Shizuru realized that her mind was wandering. Something was bothering her, and she didn't know what it was . And not knowing bothered her all the further.
She refocused her thoughts, trying to ensure she kept the proper pattern for a haiku, when the doorbell rang.
"Just a moment," She called. She rose from the cushion she'd been sitting at, and went to the front door, pulling it open to find a familiar face.
"Yuuki-han?" Shizuru couldn't hide her bewilderment, "May I help you?"
Nao looked at her with sharp green eyes, and her usual scheming smile, "Is Kuga here?"
"Ara, but Natsuki is enjoying her daily motorcycle ride. I can take a message, if you like?"
Nao and Shizuru had agreed to let the events of the Festival be buried in the past, with neither holding the other responsible for the sins committed at that time. However, they still had misgivings about one another, and the situation was not aided by the fact that when the dust had settled, Natsuki had been willing to consider both of them her friends. Shizuru couldn't deny that there was some merit to Natsuki's belief that she and Nao were similar in many respects. Both had lost their mothers at a tender age to violence. Both had been left to their own devices. Both had become bitter, cynical and distrustful. But where Nao had been left isolated, Shizuru had latched onto Natsuki and slowly pieced her back together.
Nao suddenly looked a bit uncertain, "Well…do you know when she'll be back?"
"No," Shizuru shook her head, "But I don't imagine it will be long. Would you like to wait for her?"
Shizuru was suddenly aware of the fact that Nao was carrying a bag made of colorful laminated paper with string handles and a tuft of tissue paper extending from the opening. She realized in that instant what it was that had been bothering her.
"I…made this for Kuga," Nao was actually fidgeting, and then hastily added, "It's 'cause she's my friend. I'm not trying to steal her from you or anything. I know that you're very…protective of her."
"It's Natsuki's birthday…" Shizuru spoke in a hushed voice.
"Uh, yeah!" Nao said, "I imagine you're taking her out to dinner or some…O!M!G! You forgot?"
Shizuru blushed, feeling very uncomfortable. Somehow in the peace and tranquility of her lovey-dovey domestic life, she'd forgotten a major and important date. She felt a pang of humiliation that was just as powerful as the self-loathing she'd felt when she'd considered herself wicked for her feelings for Natsuki, but now more focused, as they were on a tangible and undeniable guilt. And, she concluded, if this is what Natsuki felt like when she blushed, then Shizuru was going to have to apologize for each and every time she'd inflicted these sorts of feelings on the girl.
"We all thought Kuga'd be the one to forget the birthdays and anniversaries and Valentine's Day," Nao's eyes narrowed into her familiar gleam, "To think, it would be you who did it."
"I forgot Natsuki's birthday…" Shizuru turned, walking away from the door, and slumped into a nearby reclining chair. For once, she was grateful for the piece of Western styled furniture that Natsuki had put in the apartment.
Nao walked in, setting her decorative bag on the low table, then walked over to Shizuru.
"Listen…it happens, alright. People…they get caught up in their lives and they get comfortable, and they forget stuff. It doesn't make you a bad person, or even a bad lover. Okay, Fujino. I forgot my Mama's birthday, once. It was the year before I got my HiME powers, and I was just…there was a lot going on with school, and rumors that they were considering letting those bastards who put Mama in the hospital out of their cells, and…I was so fixated on all the problems, I forgot to bring Mama flowers on her birthday. And you've still got some time, yeah?"
Shizuru looked up at Nao, and there was an unfamiliar earnestness to what the younger girl was saying. She nodded, "Thank you, Yuuki-han. I appreciate that. It can't have been easy for you to comfort me, of all people."
Nao sighed, "I gotta be honest, you're not on my list of favorite people. But I don't think of you as an enemy these days. You're more like…an annoying older sister I'd like to ditch."
Shizuru chuckled at that, "I suppose that would make you my notorious little sister whom I cannot wait for my parents to send off to boarding school."
They both laughed a little, and then Nao sighed, smiling, "But, Kuga loves you, so you gotta have some redeeming qualities, right?"
"That, I think, is how I feel about you, as well. What did you get for her, may I ask?"
Nao pulled a small stretched canvas from the bag. It was a painting, Shizuru saw, though she wasn't sure what the medium was. Oil or acrylics, most likely. The painting was of a large wolf, framed by the moon, starting out at the viewer with noble, amber eyes.
"I…had to prostrate myself before that self-righteous twerp of a ninja to learn how to do this sort of stuff," Nao sighed, "But I thought Kuga might like it, so…"
Shizuru looked at her with a knowing smile, "Okuzaki-han was very cross with you for your unwarranted attack on Takumi Tokiha. How did you convince her?"
Nao sighed, "I'd like to say that I threatened to tell on her to Mai, who then came down on her for not exercising the truce between us all. But the truth is…without my powers, I'm not really someone who wants to push her luck with an honest to god ninja. So, I told her that I wanted to do it for Kuga. She was convinced of my sincerity after that."
"Nao, not that I'm complaining, but why did you want to make a gift for Natsuki? I know you two have set aside your enmity, but that is a far cry from celebrating one another's birthdays."
Nao smiled, "I'm a nice person."
Shizuru smiled at her, "Do tell."
Nao sighed, "Look, she…she saved my life. You know that. She didn't have to. She could have let you skin me alive. But she stepped between us. And she saved me. We talked, you know, after the dust settled. She told me that she was happy that I got my Mama back. And she actually meant it. She can't lie worth a damn, that one."
Shizuru nodded with a knowing smile, "It is both one of her most endearing and equally frustrating qualities. Often her face will convey exactly what she's thinking before she's even said it."
"So…after that, I thought, 'Hell, if Kuga can let go of the past and do the whole friends thing, I'd be pretty pathetic if I can't'. So, I thought I'd do something nice for her birthday."
Shizuru smiled, "Yuuki-han, are you free tonight?"
"It's summer break. What did you need?"
"Your company. I have some phone calls to make. Oh, and don't forget to put your gift back in the bag. Otherwise, Natsuki will see it before you give it to her."
"Good point," Nao stuffed the painting back into its gift bag.
~~*~~
Natsuki was in a good mood. She found that, since she no longer had to stay up late, visiting smoke filled bars with leering men staring at her in her riding leathers, and no longer having to focus on a multiplicity of clandestine activities, she'd been in far better spirits than she'd ever been before.
She was standing on the sea cliff that had been such a pivotal role in her life. It was here that she had lost her mother and Duran. It was here that Nao had nearly taken an eye for an eye. It was here that Shizuru had shown up to rescue her. It was an important place in her life.
The guardrail which had been destroyed when Shizuru had sent half the cliff sliding into the Pacific Ocean, had been replaced. Natsuki stared out at the open waters, her hair flailing mildly in the afternoon breeze. She inhaled, taking in a whiff of the salty sea air, then exhaled gently, smiling.
"It's a good day, Mom," she spoke to the memory of her late mother.
She was about to return to her motorcycle when she felt a vibration in her pocket. She reached in and pulled out her phone, pulling it out.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Onee-san," she heard a familiar, and all too precocious voice over the line.
Natsuki sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, but still smiling, "Well, that's going to take some getting used to. You can just call me 'Natsuki', Alyssa."
"Now, now," Alyssa's grin was audible, "If your girlfriend is allowed to tease you so relentlessly, surely your adorable, charming, and brilliant little sister is allowed to do so, as well."
"You left out 'modest'," Natsuki retorted, "So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"What, am I not allowed to call me older sister and wish her a happy birthday?"
Natsuki blinked a moment, then sighed, "Oh, yeah. It's the fifteenth, isn't it?"
She heard a snicker on the other end of the line, "You forgot your own birthday?"
"Yeah, yeah. I appreciate the well-wishing, Alyssa. It's just…well, my birthday wasn't something that I made a big deal of after Mom died. I…sorta didn't have anyone to celebrate with, you know?"
There was a pregnant pause after Natsuki said that, and Alyssa finally responded, "I'm sorry, Natsuki. I didn't think about that. Still, I do hope it's a happy one for you. I'd tell you in person, but I have to sign some paperwork to finish up the whole mess the Searrs Foundation made of my status after last year. Seems someone gave them this impression that I'd died, and so they were trying to cut me out of my rightful inheritance. But a few hours discussing things with my lawyers, and Miyu, straightened them out."
Natsuki smirked, "Alyssa, did you have your robot bodyguard rough up a bunch of spineless CEOs?"
"Of course not. That would be gauche. I merely had her wave her sword around in front of them. Far more effective without leaving bruises as evidence."
"Kids these days are amazing, huh?" Natsuki chuckled, "I'll see you when you get back to Japan."
"Well, I'm sure you and your lady-love have some sort of amorous activities in the works, so I'll leave you to it. Happy birthday, Sis."
"Thanks. And see you soon."
Alyssa hung up, and Natsuki looked out at the ocean again, "Huh, my birthday, is it? I wonder what Shizuru has planned."
She frowned a moment. She hoped Shizuru hadn't gone overboard on her account. Her birthday wasn't all that important to her. Sure, it put her at 18 years old, now, and meant that she had a few more legal rights than before, but as far as celebratory activities, she wasn't much accustomed to them.
"Still, I'll suck it up and go along with it," Natsuki shrugged, "It'd be rude not to."
It wasn't that Natsuki disliked the idea of a celebration. It had, however, been ten years since she'd done a birthday party, she wasn't sure how to go about it.
"Oh well. I didn't know how to be in a relationship until a few months ago," she tucked her hair into her leathers as she donned her helmet, "We learn by doing."
She started her bike and set out towards her apartment. It was still early enough in the day that she wondered if she might catch Shizuru in the act of hanging decorations.
~~*~~
"Welcome home, Pup," Nao was sitting in Natsuki's recliner.
"Uh…Hi? Where's Shizuru?"
"She went out to pick up some stuff. She told me to take you to Linden Baum when you got back. So, hustle, hustle, hustle, Kuga. Your girlfriend is a bit strange, but she's still head over heels for you, so you don't want to keep her waiting."
"Nice to see the two of you getting along," Natsuki said, "But if we're going to Linden Baum, I need to change clothes. I'm actually kinda glad you came, though."
Nao blinked, "You are?"
"Sure. Why does that surprise you? We pretty much get along, these days, right?"
Nao laughed a little, "I just thought that you'd prefer to spend your birthday alone with your lover."
Natsuki shrugged, "Believe it or not, I forgot it was my birthday until Alyssa called. Go figure."
Nao considered telling Natsuki that she wasn't the only one, but she decided she'd cut Shizuru a break. Besides, if Kuga didn't know that Fujino had forgotten, then it was all the easier to rib her about forgetting, herself.
"I knew you were socially awkward, Pup, but to forget your own birthday?"
"Shut up. It's not like I'm the only one of us to do embarrassing things. Or do I need to remind you about that time you tripped on stage at one of Mai's karaoke parties?"
"Well, speaking of embarrassing things, I've been meaning to tell you this for awhile, now, Kuga, but mayonnaise is a condiment, not a beverage. You're not supposed to guzzle down an entire bottle with your meal, y'know."
Natsuki scoffed, "Look, just because you don't appreciate good food…"
"I can hear your arteries hardening from here, Pup."
Natsuki finished changing into her summer casualwear from her riding leathers, "I get plenty of exercise, thanks. And my spy network still tells me that you cut classes to sleep in the infirmary."
"I got used to being a night owl," Nao shrugged, "And it's not like you can really lecture me on attendance, Miss-Former-Queen-of-Ditching."
"'Former' being the key word of that sentence. I've repented, seen the light, and made a switch," Natsuki beamed, "Come on, Linden Baum is a good fifteen minute walk. Since you're so worried about my arteries."
"We're not taking your bike?"
"I just changed out of my leathers," Natsuki said, "Besides, the exercise will do us some good. Gets the blood flowing, the heart pumping."
"Or we can take a cab," Nao protested, "I'll even pay!"
~~*~~
Fifteen minutes later, and Nao was panting as they walked into the front doors of Linden Baum. She savored the blast of cool air from the restaurant's air conditioning.
"Water…w-water…!" Nao croaked.
"You are really out of shape," Natsuki looked at her with concern.
"Am…not…"Nao panted.
"Oh, Yuuki-han, thank you for bringing Natsuki. Why don't you take a seat. Now that the guest of honor is here, we can begin," Shizuru greeted her.
Natsuki turned to see that Mai, Tate, Reito, Mikoto, Akane, and Midori were all there.
"Happy birthday, Natsuki!" They all said in unison.
"Takumi and Akira send their best," Mai said, "But they're visiting Akira's family in Hokkaido, so they couldn't be here."
"Thanks, guys. Be patient with me. I haven't done this sort of thing in ages."
"I got special permission to bring this here," Shizuru handed Natsuki a box, "Happy birthday, Natsuki. I hope you like it."
The box had a few holes in it, and there was a strange heft to it. Natsuki opened the lid, and got a long pink tongue to the face. She laughed girlishly, and pulled a wriggling mass of black and tawny fur out of the box.
"Puppy!" Natsuki squealed in a tone no one at that table, even Shizuru, would have believed her capable of.
"He's cute," Mikoto said, cocking her head quizzically, "What breed is he?"
"She," Natsuki said, examining the canine, "Is a German Shepherd. And her name is Benetar."
They ate, sang, and had cake, before Natsuki received the rest of her gifts. From Mai she got a CD. From Mikoto, a gift card to an exclusive cake shop ("Be sure to share the leftovers, 'kay, Natsuki?"), from Akane a blu-ray set of Bloom Into You, from Tate a small socket and wrench set ("For your bike"), from Reito a collection of haiku about love, and from Midori a framed picture of all the group. Finally she opened Nao's gift, and saw the painting. She recognized it as hand done right away.
"Nao, you made this?"
"Yeah. I know it's kinda rough, but…"
Natsuki smiled, "Hey, I'm kinda rough, Nao. It's wonderful. Thank you."
Everyone parted in a generally warm mood, and Shizuru called a cab so that they could transport all of Natsuki's gifts back to the apartment.
"I hope you had a good birthday, Natsuki," Shizuru said.
"Well," Natsuki smiled, "I had a good time, and I get to go home with you at the end, so, all in all, it's a great day. Thanks, Shizuru. I knew you'd know what to do."
Shizuru sighed, "I have a confession to make, Natsuki. I…I had forgotten that today was your birthday until Yuuki-han came to drop off your gift."
Natsuki shrugged, "Yeah? I forgot, too, Shizuru. Alyssa had to remind me. So, no harm, no foul. And even though you didn't remember right away, you gave me a great day with all my friends. That's a testimony to how much you care."
"Well, I do have to confess, I'm hoping to do a little unwrapping myself, when we get home."
Natsuki chuckled, "Hey, I'm the birthday girl. I get to do the unwrapping."
"Ikezu," Shizuru mock pouted.
"Fine, fine, we'll make an exception," Natsuki grinned, "But you have to pamper me. I'm fairly sure that's a rule or something."
Shizuru smiled, "Ara, ara, but would I do anything less?"
Natsuki grinned, "I think I'm learning to like my birthday."