(Thanks to everyone for the comments; going into the final stretches. Not 100 satisfied with the way this chapter ends but...hopefully I'll have a finished fic soon. My goal is before Otome ends, Cheers - Ashara)

Chapter 7

"There seems to be no need for an explanation." Shizuru folded the papers neatly and held them out to Natsuki, her face expressionless. The barriers Shizuru kept around her were as perfect as always. Natsuki fought the urge to slap her.

"You have got to be kidding me," Natsuki growled, snatching the papers back. She unfolded them again and held them in front of Shizuru's face. The Kyoto woman did not so much as blink. "Marriage! A kid! When did you plan on telling me any of this?"

Shizuru didn't say anything. At least she wasn't smiling, Natsuki decided grimly. They spent long moments in silence, staring at each other not moving. The papers in Natsuki's hand began to crumple from her white-knuckled grip on it.

She had spent the past three days in a dazed sort of shock, reading and rereading the papers. She had almost contemplated not bringing it up in fear of the answer she would receive. Except now there were no answers, just Shizuru's cool gaze and blank face.

"Why aren't you saying anything!" Natsuki growled, feeling a madness growing inside of her. They stood in silence for a few minutes, the air around them thick with tension.

"There is nothing to say," Shizuru finally answered, her voice tight. "It is all true. I married Takasuka Jun five and a half years ago and bore him a child."

"Why…didn't you…" Natsuki could barely form the words.

"Why didn't I tell you? You never asked." Shizuru sounded almost amused. She smiled then, an ugly smile that made Natsuki furious. "Then I suppose you needn't ask when you can simply acquire the information yourself."

Natsuki's hand flew through the air, stopping a millimeter away from Shizuru's cheek. She ground her teeth, trying to control her anger. Natsuki couldn't even say why she was so angry. The fact that Shizuru's words rang true or the fact that the Kyoto woman was being so damned infuriating. It was like Shizuru was trying to piss her off.

"Are you going to hit me?" Cool red eyes met Natsuki's angry green ones.

"No," she said hoarsely. Natsuki clenched the hand that still hovered next to Shizuru's face, trying to control her temper. Slowly, she pulled back the hand.

"Then what are you going to do?"

Natsuki moved on instinct, not aware of what she was doing until she was doing it. She reached over and hooked her hand around the back of Shizuru's neck and jerked the other woman forward. With a small satisfaction, Natsuki noticed shock flicker through Shizuru's expression. Then Natsuki was kissing Shizuru with an almost angry, violent passion. Her other arm wrapped itself around Shizuru's waist, pulling her closer still. There was a moment's resistance, and then Shizuru was kissing her back with an almost equal fury.

They somehow made their way up to Natsuki's apartment, their clothes making a trail from the door to the bed. They fell into a heap on the bed and Natsuki arched upwards against Shizuru, her nails digging into the other woman's back. Her lips found Shizuru's neck, and she kissed the skin there violently, marking it with her teeth. Shizuru moaned, the sound only inciting Natsuki who bit down harder. Dimly, in the back of Natsuki's mind, she realized that reality had disappeared once more.

Afterwards, as they lay holding each other, Natsuki listened to the sound of Shizuru's breathing. Her hand rested gently on the other woman's chest, feeling it rise and fall. Natsuki closed her eyes. Part of her was tempted to go to sleep, to forget everything that had happened and just go back to the way things were. Yet, Natsuki could not bring herself to that level of self-delusion.

"What are we going to do now?" Natsuki asked finally, unable to keep silent. She felt Shizuru stiffen and pull back slightly.

"We are doing nothing."

------

Shizuru left Natsuki's apartment, in a state of disorientation. Natsuki had argued with her violently of course, using a wide variety of expletives, some of which Shizuru had never heard before. Shizuru had ignored her for the most part, instead berating herself thoroughly for losing her control. The truth was that no matter what Natsuki argued, it was not her battle to fight. Nor was it her problem.

"You know what your problem is, Shizuru? You don't trust anyone but yourself to handle anything! You can't live like that," were Natsuki's last words before she had stormed out of her own apartment angrily. Shizuru had watched Natsuki's retreating back, unsure of how things had ended up that way.

She was supposed to be ending things, yet there had been no time to explain to Natsuki why she simply could not be with her. Instead they had fought about…Shizuru wasn't even sure of what. Hana? The marriage? Why Shizuru never trusted Natsuki with anything? None of it made any sense to her. Those were not the points that were of importance.

By the time Shizuru returned home, it was nearly midnight. Akito was still up, regarding her with mild surprise as she entered.

"You are home early for a Thursday, Shizuru-san," Akito said, his voice bitter.

"I did not realize that I had a set schedule," Shizuru said coldly. "How was Hana tonight?"

"She's sleeping, I put her to bed a few hours ago." Akito hesitated a moment, then began to talk again. "Shizuru-san, I am warning you. A woman of the Takasuka household should not be cavorting around the city at all hours of the night. You are a mother at that. It is improper."

"It is a good thing that I am a Fujino then, not a Takasuka," Shizuru said with a faint smile. Akito's face reddened.

"Do you wish to bring shame upon your child? I will not allow it. That is my brother's daughter!"

"It is also my daughter. I do not believe you have any rights over her."

"How dare you speak to me like this!"

"No Akito-san," Shizuru said softly. She knew that this was madness, yet she could not stop herself. "How dare you speak to me this way? I am the eldest daughter of the head of the Fujino family. The Takasuka Corporation relies heavily on investments from my family, does it not?"

"Your father put you within my car after Jun died!" Akito shouted, slamming his fist into the table. "And if you honestly believe that I am going to leave the only daughter of my brother with a woman like you, you are mad!"

They stood in silence then, both of them staring at each other, neither giving an inch. Finally Akito took a few deep breaths and stood up.

"I apologize for losing my temper," he said stiffly, before storming out. Shizuru watched him leave and sighed. She then walked slowly up the stairs to Hana's room. Silently, she sat next to her daughter's bed, her hand gently brushing hair out of the little girl's face.

She had spoken confidently back then, yet if things came down to it, Shizuru was not so sure about the backing of her own family…especially if they were to learn about Natsuki. With the Fujino Corporation behind her, she would be confident in winning should Akito fight with her for custody of the child, yet…

Natsuki could help her. The thought flickered into Shizuru's head before she realized it. She banished the thought immediately. It was not Natsuki's problem, not her burden to bear.

Shizuru closed her eyes. In her mind she could see Natsuki's hand outstretched before her, hear Natsuki's voice saying "trust me," feel Natsuki's embrace. It was tempting. Very tempting.