The One Closest To Her Heart

By DrummondType2

"So," Natsuki sat down to lunch with Mai and Mikoto, "There's a holiday coming up. Are you guys game for a trip to Kyoto? My treat."

Mai looked at her with mild surprise, "Natsuki, I know that being in a relationship is a new experience for you, but typically, you go on romantic outings with just the two of you."

Natsuki gave her a sour expression, "I know that much, Mai. This isn't a date. Shizuru told me to invite you. They're holding this event in Kyoto, and Shizuru is competing."

Mai sputtered on her drink, "I'm sorry. Fujino is competing in something?"

"I think you listened to too much of Suzushiro's criticisms of her," Natsuki sighed, "It's actually something very Shizuru-like, to be honest. She's attending a karuta tournament."

"That does sound like something Fujino would do," Mai agreed, "I could never really play the game very well. Too many poems to memorize. You?"

"I've never really tried my hand at it," Natsuki shrugged, "Other priorities in my misspent youth. But I do know about half of the poems by heart."

"That's surprising for you," Mikoto said through a mouthful of rice, "I know all of 'em."

"That's the bigger surprise," Natsuki smirked at her, "But let me guess, you learned them from your grandfather?"

"Sure did. I'm fast, too. Maybe I can compete."

"Sorry, kid, you missed the qualifiers. We're just going to support Shizuru."

"Well, since you're footing the bill, that's fine," Mai said, "But I have to clear it with work, first."

"Cool. Let me know so I can tell Shizuru."

Natsuki took off, heading for her apartment, which she now shared with the beautiful, albeit mischievous Shizuru Fujino.

Shizuru was sitting on the floor, a set of cards in front of her.

"Ah, Natsuki, would you like to help me practice? I need someone to read the poems."

"You want me to read them?" Natsuki said, "I'm not really practiced at it, Shizuru…"

"Pretty please?" Shizuru batted her eyes flirtatiously, her tone dripping with honey, and her smile soft and teasing.

"Fine, fine. Just don't expect me to be as good as those people who do this for a living, okay."

Natsuki shuffled a set of cards and then pulled one up, taking in a deep breath, then tried to imitate the readers she had heard at Shizuru's match at the qualifiers,

"In the autumn fields,

When the heedless wind blows by

O'er the pure-white dew,

How the myriad unstrung gems

Everywhere are scattered round!"

Before she had even finished the first three syllables, Shizuru had struck the card in question clear of the area. But she frowned.

"As I thought. This is not any good without an opponent to practice against."

Just then, Natsuki's phone chimed. She picked it up, "Kuga. Hmm? Yeah. Got it. Oh, and can you bring MIkoto over? Yeah."

~~*~~

"That's…pretty amazing," Mai watched as Mikoto and Shizuru faced each other, each taking cards as Natsuki read poems, getting more confident with each reading.

"Shizuru has a three card edge, but once I heard that Mikoto knew the poems, I knew it would be a challenge," Natsuki grinned, "I've faced her speed and reflexes head on."

"She has made me work for every card," Shizuru still smiled serenely, "Who knew you were holding a fierce monster like her in reserve, Natsuki. I may well be ready to face my cousin in a match, should we be paired together."

"Your cousin?" Natsuki blinked, "You mean I'm going to get to meet other members of the Fujino clan when I'm in Kyoto?"

"The Wakamiya branch, yes. Shinobou Wakamiya is the current Queen of Karuta. And a formidable player, at that. She achieved the rank of 4th Dan at the age of ten."

"Hey, I've literally seen you dodge bullets," Natsuki said, "Your reflexes are no joke."

Shizuru smiled, "There's some truth in that. However, reflexes alone will not win a Karuta match. It takes a keen ear, a good memory, and also the ability to forget what you don't need."

"I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it, myself," Mai said, "The rules are really complicated."

"Nothing worth doing is ever easy," Shizuru said with a smile.

"Don't let Suzushiro hear you say stuff like that," Natsuki grinned at her, "She'd say that all you ever did was the easy stuff."

"That just goes to show how little she understands. Maintaining my grades, fighting Orphans in the shadows while keeping my identity as a HiME a secret, AND manipulating Suzushiro into doing all those duties as a part of the Executive Committee…That was all very hard work. I barely had time to sit and enjoy a good cup of tea."

Natuski rolled her eyes at that, "You left out pining for me in secret."

Shizuru chuckled, "I haven't forgotten. Just as I haven't forgotten that it's Natsuki's turn for dishes, tonight."

"So, you're saying you want takeout tonight?" Mai asked innocently. Shizuru and Mikoto laughed, while Natsuki glowered at her friend.

"Hey, I pull my weight around here. Not all of us can be homebodies like you, Mai."

"Yeah. I hear some of us can't even crack an egg," Mai grinned.

"At least I can follow the rules of Karuta," Natsuki smirked.

~~*~~

"She's a member of your family?" Natsuki nodded with incredulity at Shinobu Wakamiya. She was certainly beautiful, and like Shizuru there was a smile on her face. But where Shizuru had warm tones, her tawny hair and her crimson eyes, the Wakamiya girl had unkempt blue hair and blue eyes. And where Shizuru favored full length skirts and blouses, this girl was wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt.

"Snowmaru?"

"It's an ice cream mascot," Shizuru sighed, "I'm surprised her mother and, more importantly, her grandmother, allow her to wear that. My Great Aunt is a stern woman. I was told that Shinobu only took up Karuta because the woman said she had to learn a skill to live with her after her parents divorced."

"She's nothing like you, Shizuru."

"We differ in many ways," Shizuru agreed, "However, in some ways…"

"Well, I've got Mai and Mikoto with me. We'll be cheering you on. Quietly, of course."

"Yes," Shizuru smiled sweetly, "But do remind Mikoto that in this game, the cheering is silent."

Natsuki had a sneaking suspicion that the reminder was more for her and Mai than it was for Mikoto, who was far more familiar with the game, but she held her peace. Shizuru would simply have to pay for her teasing later that night.

"Oh, Shizuru," a rather unpleasant voice addressed them.

Shizuru turned, "Why, Oba-san, how good it is to see you."

Natsuki saw her addressing a silver-haired woman in a stern looking outfit, a neckerchief at her collar. Most people wouldn't have been able to see it, but to Natsuki, Shizuru was dripping with dislike for this woman.

"I suppose you've come to test your mettle against Shinobu?"

"I merely wish to see how I compare," Shizuru smiled serenly, "I highly doubt I can best her. She has a greater dedication to the game than I have."

The elderly woman frowned, "That is undoubtedly true. And yet you will be the one to take hold of the Fujino Group when you graduate university.

"Who, may I ask, are your friends?"

"These are classmates of mine from my Fuuka Academy days," Shizuru's smile shifted ever so slightly, "This is Mikoto Minagi. She is experienced in various styles of swordplay, and is well on her way to being the next captain of our school's kendo team. Mai Tokiha is a hardworking young woman, and also highly impressive in the kitchen. And this is Natsuki Kuga, whose father runs Kuga Shipping. She is also my lover."

Natsuki had long ago given Shizuru permission to tell people about their relationship. After all, keeping it bottled up inside had been eating away at her to the point of literal madness. Even so, she was a bit surprised that Shizuru would say something like that so openly to her own family, especially someone as blatantly taciturn and sharp as this woman. The announcement did not alarm Natsuki, but it did catch her off guard enough that she blushed slightly, but still had presence of mind enough to nod affirmation.

The woman blanched, "I did not hear those words."

"You may check with my parents, if you so wish. I've already informed them," Shizuru smiled cheerfully, "Or you may inquire of Natsuki herself, as she is present."

"I did not hear you say that to me," The woman's face was growing more stern.

"They do say that hearing is the first sense to go," Natsuki decided to chime in.

She found herself on the receiving end of a withering glare. She merely smiled and returned it with the same intensity.

"This is…most unseemly of you, Shizuru. To have a dalliance with this…this…"

"Oh, please say the wrong thing," Natsuki smirked, "Shizuru was very cross with the last person to throw and insult my way."

"This is a family matter," the woman hissed at Natsuki, "It is none of your affair."

Natsuki put herself between Shizuru and the woman, "I happen to love her very much. She's the most important person in the world to me. So if you decide to get in her face, I'm going to get in yours. Shoo. You're being noisy and this is supposed to be a quiet environment."

The woman was clearly outraged, but it was expressed in the silent disapproving stare of her family.

"This is not the end of this conversation. I will take my leave. I have duties to attend at my office."

Shizuru gave an audible exhale, "Thank you, Natsuki. She was already aware of our relationship. I know that for a fact. She was testing to see how strong my resolve was, which is why I spoke of it first, before she could challenge me with it. I hope that didn't unduly trouble you."

Natsuki shrugged, "It's not like I base my worldview on how other people view me, Shizuru. Just you."

Shizuru laughed behind her hand, "My, such a bold and honest woman you are. I shall have to reward you later."

"Reward me now by going out and kicking…"

"Shizuru!" Shinobu Wakamiya came over to them, "I'm so sorry about Grandmother. She's really terribly old-fashioned."

"I was not troubled by her," Shizuru smiled.

"And than you for coming to support Shizuru," Shinobu nodded to Natsuki.

She bowed and left.

"You were saying, Natsuki?" Shizuru smirked without smirking.

Natsuki sighed, "Okay, so you don't have to kick her butt and make her cry. But I expect you to at least win."

~~*~~

Shizuru ended up facing Shinobu for her fourth match.

During the fifteen minute memorization period, they spoke.

"I'm surprised that you brought along anyone for support at all, Shizuru," Shinobu smiled the same serene smile as her cousin, "I have never known you to need anyone."

"I found someone who meant something to me," Shizuru replied cheerfully, "May we all be so fortunate."

Shinobu nodded, "I am sorry again, about our Grandmother."

"You do not need to apologize to me for the actions of others. She came to test me, not to support you. Her absence is proof of that, I fear."

Shinobu's eyes narrowed, as she held up a card, "Your favorite, I believe."

O' life, if thou art to end, then end.

For if thou art to linger,

the secret passions in mine heart shall fade,

and that I cannot have.

"Poem number eighty-nine," Shizuru nodded, "I held special meaning for me at one point. However…"

She cast a glance at Natsuki and smiled, then returned her attention to her cousin, "I no longer need those words. I've found something more meaningful to me."

Shinobu sighed, "Someone who severs their connection to even one card…cannot hope to beat me."

"We shall see," Shizuru smiled.

~~*~~

"At least it wasn't a total shutout," Mai said in what she hoped was a reassuring way, as they all walked out of the tournament hall.

"Yeah, you got four of her cards," Mikoto said, "I wouldn't have been able to beat her. I couldn't even see her hands move. And the way she took precisely the card she wanted, without moving any of the others…"

Shizuru made a show of sighing, "I did fear that she would win, but she's better than I remember. And I only play casually, I fear. She has the title of Queen for a reason, and I'm merely a Princess, after all."

"Maybe," Natsuki shrugged, "But you know what the best thing is about being a Princess and not a Queen?"

"Do tell," Shizuru was all smiles.

"Princesses get to find true love," Natsuki leaned over and gave her a kiss on her cheek, "Now, come on. Let's go get some food."

~~*~~

"I'm happy that you defeated that whelp from the Fujino line," Shinobu heard her grandmother say, "It would be a shame if someone as indecent as her were to win against you."

Shinobu had heard her grandmother make similar speeches about her mother's divorce, and while she didn't quite understand it, she realized that she didn't agree.

"Shizuru didn't lose to me because of my skill," Shinobu thought to herself, "Though I am faster and more accurate than her. She lost because her love is somewhere else. I'm…happy for her. Though I will miss her as an opponent. But I have my sight set on a King worthy of me. I hope to see you again, soon, Arata."

Author's note: The materials in Mai-HiME list the quote above as Shizuru's favorite, and cite it as card no. 89 in the Hyakunin Isshu. So I felt it only reasonable that she would have at least some familiarity with Karuta. And having recently discovered Chihayafuru, and learning that Shinobu had a Kyoto-ben as well, I felt the two of them would be perfect to share a connection for this story. The story is set during the events of episodes 14-15 of the first season of Chihayafuru.