Title: Riding the Roller Coaster (Part II)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1158

Summary: Shiznat meet up at the entrance of the amusement park.

A/N: OMG, I really should be editing this econ paper for work tonight, but instead I stayed up writing fanfics. AHHHH! Time to get back to my "real" work.

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Damnit, Shizuru. What's taking you so long? It is 9:45 am on Saturday. Normally over the weeknd, Natsuki would only get out of bed when she could not stand the growling of her stomach any longer, which is around noon. But for today, she had woken up as soon as the sunlight hit her bedroom. Having laid out her Saturday outfit on the sofa the night before, it did not take Natsuki long to get ready. In fact, Natsuki had taken her motorcycle for a quick spin along the coastline before heading over to the amusement park. Still, she arrived at the entrance of the park half an hour before the meeting time which is 10 am. I knew I should have gone over to Shizuru's place to pick her up. Natsuki thinks back to her conversation with Shizuru over the phone on Friday.

----Flashback begins----

(Ring ring ring …)

"Hi, Natsuki. How are you?" Honestly, how long has it been? 3 months? The first time in 3 months when I actually answer her call.

"Uhm…how did you know that it is me?" Yay, she picked up the phone! So that day at the pool hall is not a dream!

"I assigned a cute ringtone to your name. Plus your name shows up on my phone display. So … are you calling about tomorrow?" Natsuki, do you have second thoughts about going to the amusement park with me? Is this goodbye?

"Yea, about tomorrow, do you want me to come pick you up in the morning? Let's say around 10?" When was the last time you ride behind me on the motorcycle?

Wait, tonight I need to stay over at the family main house. "Natsuki, how about I meet you at the entrance of the amusement park at 10 instead? There is something I need to do in the morning."

"Oh…" So she doesn't want to ride with me anymore…

Sensing the disappointment over the phone, Shizuru quickly adds, "If you don't mind, can I get a ride from you on the way back? I miss riding on your motorcycle, Natsuki."

"SURE! (cough) I mean, yea, no problem." Realizing that she might have sounded too eager over the phone, Natsuki adds a nonchalant statement in the end.

Hehe, Natsuki is so adorable. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow at 10?"

"Yea, I'll be there."

"Bye, Natsuki. I look forward to our date." I better hang up now.

"SHIZURU!" Natsuki yells over the phone even when she knows that the phone line has gone dead already.

----Flashback ends----

After glancing at her watch for the nth time, Natsuki examines her outfit skeptically. So I did end up wearing what Mai suggested after all. Today, Natsuki has tied up her long flowing hair into a pony tail and put on a black baseball cap. Her low-rise long blue jeans hug her hips tightly while her sleeveless black shirt with vertical stripes and a high collar makes her look taller than usual. Mai was so sure that Shizuru is going to love this outfit. I wonder what is wrong with the stuff I usually wear.

While Natsuki was daydreaming about her conversation with Shizuru, men and women alike had been sneaking glances at the blue haired beauty who was leaning on her shinny motorcycle with her arms crossed. The tipped down baseball cap only adds to her sense of mystery and attracts more unwanted attention. Finally two teenaged boys who have been observing Natsuki the moment she arrived decide to hit on the stylish blue haired girl in hopes of scoring a date in the amusement park with her.

"Hey, are you here alone? Want to come hang out with us? We promise it'll be fun." Guy A gives Natsuki his classic smile that has helped him score many dates in the past.

"Get lost." Natsuki gives both guys a glare that can freeze hell over in a split second. Damnit, Shizuru. If you were here now, guys wouldn't have come over and talked to me.

"C'mon. Don't give us the cold shoulder." Just as Guy B tries to reach out and grab Natsuki's arm, a black limo gives out a loud honk and speeds up towards the three of them. Staring at the approaching vehicle in shock, the guys bring up the hands to their faces and close their eyes. The limo comes to a screeching halt a couple feet in front of the guys, and the driver gets out of the car to open up the back seat door.

A graceful chestnut haired woman steps out of the car slowly and walks towards the motorcycle. "Ara, what a nice bike." Shizuru lets her hand trace the metallic body of Natsuki's favorite ride, ignoring the horrified looks of the teenaged boys. "My driver took notice of it first, and we just had to come over and take a look." Shizuru then turns around and stares the boys straight in the eyes. "Are you here to admire the motorcycle also?"

Even though the woman in front of them is smiling, the boys feel as if their bodies are being sliced into pieces by a naginata. "Ahhhh!" The boys screamed in terror and ran away from Shizuru and Natsuki as fast as possible.

(sigh) Finally…For the first time since Shizuru arrived, Natsuki takes a good look at her best friend. Wow, she's beautiful… Girls can compliment on each other's looks, right?

Shizuru is wearing a light purple sleeveless one-piece summer dress that goes up to her knees while her somewhat curly hair rests comfortably on her shoulder. She turns to her driver, quickly gives him order to go back to the main house, and watches the black limo drive away as she lets out a sigh. I really didn't want to make a scene and act like a rich snob in front of my Natsuki. Shizuru, why did you lose your cool so easily when you saw guys talking to her? Natsuki is more than capable of handling the situation herself.

"Ne, Shizuru." Natsuki's voice brings Shizuru out of her dialogue with herself. "You look beautiful today." Natsuki scratches her face with her index finger nervously and steals a quick glance at the chestnut haired beauty.

Shizuru puts her hand on the small of Natsuki's back and leans into her hair so that the comment can only be heard by the flushed girl. "And Natsuki is as handsome as ever."

"Ahhh, where are you putting your hand?" Natsuki brings her own hand behind the back to take hold of the offending hand. But instead of letting it go, she starts walking towards the entrance of the amusement park and pulls Shizuru along with her. "C'mon. The lines for the rides are going to get long if we don't hurry."

Shizuru gazes at their entwined hands and smiles blissfully. Today is going to be the best day of my life. I just know it.

TBC.