Title: The Challenge (Part II)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1463

Summary: Natsuki confronts Mai about her slip of the tongue.

A/N: Hi everyone, I'm back with a new update. Shizuru makes an appearance in a flashback this time!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The lunch bell rings, and all the students of Fuka High School start rushing to the cafeteria. In particular, those who share a classroom with Kuga Natsuki can be seen dashing out of their classroom with horror on their faces. Even the teachers, sensing the eerie atmosphere around Natsuki, have wisely decided to give her a break and not call on the ice princess this morning. After everyone has left the classroom, Natsuki smoothly rises up from her seat and makes her way towards the school garden, where she usually gets her Mai-style bento, and eats lunch with her motherly friend, and Mai's vicious (when it comes to food) pet, Mikoto.

Finally, Natsuki spots Mai and Mikoto sitting side by side under a cherry blossom tree, looking like a pair of newly-weds, with Mai feeding Mikoto with her chopsticks. Tokiha Mai, oh... I am soooo gonna make you pay. It's all your fault if I have to go out on a date with that damn Takeda. "Mai!"

Mai turns her head to the direction where the sound of her name came from. "Hey, Natsu….ki?" The last syllable struggles to come out of Mai's mouth as she senses an imaginary thunderous black cloud appearing behind the blue-haired beauty, who is now merely two feet away from her. Oh shit…what did Takeda do now?

"Did you give him my number?" Natsuki whispers dangerously with narrowing eyes and hands clenching tightly into fists. Mai uses every ounce of her strength to not look Natsuki in the eyes, while mumbling, "Well, I didn't think it would be a big deal. You don't seem like the type who has problems turning guys away…"

Sensing the discomfort coming from Mai, Mikoto stands defensively in between Mai and Natsuki with her arms wide open. Staring straight into Natsuki's eyes, Mikoto slightly lowers her head, and prepares herself to attack as soon as she hears Mai's command. Protect Mai at all cost. (Nod) Must protect food source. (Nod) Natsuki is enemy.

Natsuki understands that even without hime power, Mikoto proves herself to be an able fighter. Plus she was never going to get into a physical fight with Mai to begin with. Great, I can't even blame this on the person that originated the whole challenge fiasco. Well, what Mai said was not entirely incorrect. It was me who agreed to the challenge, not her. With a loud sigh, Natsuki backs up a little, and softens up her facial expression. "Ok, point taken. But as my friend, you better help me deal with this Takeda problem."

The change in Natsuki's manner is followed by a loud sigh of relief from Mai. "Mikoto, it's ok now. Let's continue to eat lunch." Mai pulls on Mikoto's shirt to tell her to sit beside her under the tree. Mai pulls another bento box out of her backpack and hands it to Natsuki. "C'mon, I bet you're hungry. Now, tell me everything that happened since the last time I saw you yesterday. If you want my help, spare me no details."

Mai's caring and friendly display brings warmth to Natsuki's heart. "Don't worry. I won't bite the hand that feeds me." That comment earns a quick chuckle from Mai, while Mikoto tilts her head to one side, contemplating the possibility of Natsuki being a cannibal. Natsuki proceeds to describe everything that happened from the moment she lost in PS2 to the time when she realized that she does not know how to play pool, emphasizing on Takeda's deceitful phrase "a stick with balls". Was it so wrong to think that he meant baseball?

Mai grimaces at the word 'pool'. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't play pool either. If you ask me to teach you how to sing karaoke, that's a different matter. But don't give up, Natsuki! I'm sure you can get out of the date one way or another." Even though encouraging words are coming from Mai's lips, Mai honestly does not know how Natsuki can turn into a pool shark in a matter of few hours. "Who knows? Maybe you can rely on your beginner's luck. I heard that luck plays a big role in the game."

"Wait, so the only thing I can do right now is pray for my luck? Mai, don't you know anyone who knows how to play pool?" Blood has drained from Natsuki's pale face as she questions Mai with the hope of hearing someone's name in response.

"Sorry, Natsuki…I really can't think of anyone. Hey, maybe Kaichou will know someone. Have you thought about calling her?" Mai says excitedly, proud of herself for coming up with a possible solution.

"Shizuru? No, that's out of the question." Natsuki replies with a barely noticeable sadness in her eyes. Just then, the bell rings. "I don't feel like going back to class. I'll call you after the challenge to keep you updated, ok? Thanks for caring about me, Mai. And you, Mikoto, thanks for …. uhm ... being you. Bye." With a swift turn, Natsuki's lonely body gradually gets smaller from Mai and Mikoto's views while cherry blossom petals dance in the air covering up Natsuki's trail.

"Natsuki…" Mai says her friend's name softly while gazing at her departure. Why are you giving yourself such a hard time? Don't you see how sorrowful your eyes become whenever her name is mentioned? She is not going to disappear from your heart any time soon. Hmmm…what can I do? Mai feels a slight tuck on her sleeve and looks down at her worried pet, Mikoto.

"Mai is sad. Mikoto is here to make Mai happy. I love Mai!" Mikoto exclaims while jumping onto Mai and situating her head in between Mai's breasts.

Mai flashes Mikoto her usual bright smile. If only Natsuki can speak what's in her heart, and let her stupid pride take a hike for a change. Mai thinks back to a private conversation between herself and the now departed Kaichou after the graduation ceremony at the flower garden.

----Flashback begins----

"Kaichou, are you sure I'm the one you want to talk to? I can go find Natsuki for you if you want. It'll just take a minute." Tokiha Mai's voice traveled in the deserted flower garden, while Mai looked towards the slender back of Fujino Shizuru.

As if those words never reached Shizuru's ears, Shizuru remained standing still, facing the flowers. She reached out her hand to a flower that seemed somewhat out of place because of its lone position where the petals were facing the ground instead of the sun. "This is the place where Natsuki and I first met." Shizuru's voice echoed softly under the setting sun.

"Kaichou…" For the first time, Mai was taking a good look at the famous Fuka High School president standing in front of her. Somehow the golden glow on the Kaichou's body caused by the sunlight was giving Shizuru an ethereal presence, putting doubts in Mai's head whether she was talking to a real person.

Shizuru continued to stare at the lone flower. Slowly, she closed her eyes. "Natsuki…on the outside, Natsuki seems to be stronger than anyone. But her heart…her heart is more fragile than this flower in my hand." Shizuru opened her eyes and used her index finger to trace the outline of the flower delicately. "I am no longer qualified to stay by her side after all that happened during the hime festival. Tokiha-san, that is the reason I want to talk to you."

Shizuru turned around elegantly, displaying her usual Kyoto grace, and faced Mai with a determined look on her face. "You, on the other hand, are most fit to look after Natsuki. From what I have gathered from Natsuki's stories, I can tell that she values your friendship greatly. So now, I beg you, Tokiha-san, not as Fuka High School president, not as an ex-hime, but as Fujino Shizuru. Please take care of her for me."

Lost was the usual mirth in Shizuru's eyes. The intensity of Shizuru's stare demanded an immediate response from Mai. As if making a solemn oath, Mai stared back at Shizuru with no uncertainty in her heart. "I promise you, Kaichou."

Satisfied with the answer she received, Shizuru had reverted back to her typical self with a calm smile on her face. "I believe that you are a woman of your words, Tokiha-san." With that, Fujino Shizuru slowly walked towards the school gate, never taking a second look back at the school where the great love story of her life started … and ended.

----Flashback ends----

Mai gives out an audible sigh as she leads Mikoto by the hand back to the school building. Kaichou, I have failed you. Under these circumstances, what would you do?

TBC.