Scarlet Lips
By DrummondType2
Shizuru was preparing for a busy day as she dried herself after her morning bath. She had a very important meeting with some of her Father's business partners, intended to demonstrate that she would soon be handling the reins of the Fujino family businesses. That meant presenting herself with dignity, savoir-fare, and grace. It also meant dolling herself up with make-up for this occasion, something she rarely did.
She was sorting through her seldom used assortment of cosmetics when she came across a tube of lipstick. It was a vivid scarlet shade. It was one of four different shades she'd purchased, and it was the only one she'd ever used, and even then, only once. Only once.
She looked at that lipstick in her hands with a growing sense of revulsion and shame. She wanted to throw it in the trash bin, but she stopped herself, hesitating. If she threw it away here, Natsuki might see it. If Natsuki saw it, it might remind her of that night…
She was still holding it, looking, torn on what to do, when she heard a voice, a sweet, husky, loving voice, call to her.
"Hey, I know make-up isn't something you do much, but if you don't hurry and decide, you're going to be late, and…Shizuru, is something wrong?"
At the sound of Natsuki's voice, Shizuru had bolted in guilt and panic, clutching the lipstick tube to her bosom. Natsuki had not failed to notice.
"Shizuru?"
Slowly, painfully, guiltily, Shizuru opened her hand and stretched it out to Natsuki, showing her what she was holding.
Natsuki's eyes were wide for a second, and only a second, but for Shizuru, it was like a stake in the heart. Her lover's involuntary response to seeing that shade of lipstick again has like someone branding her with a scarlet letter.
~~But it's my guilt to bear, not hers!~~ Shizuru thought hotly to herself.
Natsuki said nothing at first, merely reached out and gently lifted the tube from Shizuru's hands. She'd wanted to keep Natsuki from seeing it. Wanted to do anything but remind her of the most shameful period in their relationship, when Shizuru had transgressed the lines of friendship and love and taken without asking, stolen from one who could not give or deny consent. She hadn't wanted to remind Natsuki of that time. And yet, here they were.
"Natsuki, I…"
Natsuki then did something that surprised her. She pulled the cap off of the tube, and then made a puckering face, gesturing for Shizuru to do the same. Shizuru was confused, but complied.
She closed her eyes, and she did indeed feel the soft touch of the lipstick to her body…only it was on her forehead?!
She opened her eyes to see that Natsuki had written on her forehead with the lipstick!
Looking in the mirror she saw:
バカ
She looked up to see Natsuki grinning at her, then applying the lipstick to her own lips.
"Natsuki, ikezu!" Shizuru wiped tears from her eyes.
"Shizuru, it's lipstick. It's not a dread omen. It's not a portent of doom. And it's not a thing of evil. Because you're not a thing of evil, okay. But more importantly? It's not really your color."
Natsuki handed Shizuru a moist wipe, and Shizuru quickly scrubbed the lipstick from her forehead.
"If you're going to do lipstick," Natsuki reached for a tube, "Go with that one. It matches your eyes."
Once again, she undid the cap, and she sat in front of Shizuru at her vanity, "Here, pucker."
Shizuru closed her eyes again, and this time she did feel something soft against her lips. To her surprise and mild amusement, it was Natsuki's lips.
"Ara, but didn't Natsuki say I was going to be late?"
"For luck," Natsuki said, a mild blush on her cheeks. She then gently touched the new tube of lipstick to Shizuru's lips and gently traced their contour, "There, much better."
"So…"Shizuru rose to finish dressing, "What do you intend to do with that other tube?"
"This?" Natsuki shrugged, "I mean, it's not like it's anything of any importance, right?"
"I'm not so sure of that," Shizuru admitted.
Natsuki sighed, embracing her, "You really are an idiot, some days. But you're my idiot, and I knew that going in, so I've got no right to complain about it. Shizuru, I really did put it all behind me when I forgave you, you know? So don't worry about stuff like this. I do mean it when I said it's not your color, though. The difference between your eyes and this is just…wrong. So gift it to someone who can use it, or chuck it."
Shizuru smiled, "It does look good on you. Perhaps you should wear it tonight when we celebrate my success at this meeting?"
Natsuki gave a small chuckle, "I'm afraid I can't do that."
Shizuru looked at her with mild concern, "Why not?"
"Because, like I said, it's not your color. And if I wear it tonight, you'll be wearing it, too. In several places."
"Ara, ara, I can think of no better use for it," Shizuru smiled, giving Natuski a tender kiss.
"Better get dressed," Natsuki said, "If you miss your meeting, we're not going to have anything to celebrate."
Shizuru relented, but all through the day, she was comforted by the image of a pair of scarlet colored lips, softly calling her name in the dark.