Title: Riding the Roller Coaster (Part IV)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1169
Summary: Experience the Drop Zone.
A/N: Oops, almost forgot my personal blah blah before the fic. Drop Zone is REAL! One of the scariest rides I've ever been on. Guess I'm not a big fan of free falls. Well, neither is Shizuru, as you'll soon find out.
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In front of Shizuru and Natsuki stands a cylindrical column with eight seats surrounding the circumference. Shizuru raises her head and squeezes her eyes, trying to take a clear look at the screaming kids sitting on the seats that seem to blend in with the color of the sky. "Natsuki, I am NOT getting on that thing. I think the seats go up to about six stories high. Look! Your feet are just left swinging in the air. Oh my god, did those people just drop down with the seats?"
Honestly, Natsuki is quite amused to see a freaked out Shizuru. It is refreshing for Natsuki to see a side of Shizuru that is so different from the always calm and elegant ex-student council president. "Duh, that's why it's called Drop Zone. C'mon, it'll be fun. Don't tell me you're scared."
"Yes, I am scared, and I'm not afraid to admit it. Natsuki, can't we go on a ride that is less … intense?" Shizuru hooks her index finger on Natsuki's jeans pocket and tugs on it lightly as if her action can somehow sway the blue haired girl's decision.
Natsuki, stay strong. If you let her get off the hook just like that, you'll never be able to get your revenge. Realizing that it is no use provoking the chestnut haired woman, Natsuki comes up with a different approach.
"But … but … this is one of the most famous rides in the park, and I've been looking forward to go on it since I won the admission tickets …" Natsuki puts on her best imitation of a lost puppy as her head droops lower and lower.
A faint blush finds its way to Shizuru's face involuntarily. Natsuki stuttering and begging me to go on a ride with her …KAWAII! The secret fangirl in Shizuru suppresses her fear momentarily, long enough for Shizuru to agree to go on Drop Zone with the now beaming Natsuki, who pushes Shizuru towards the end of the line quickly to stop the older girl from changing her mind.
As Shizuru walks past the ride controller, she cannot help but raise a question that has been gnawing at her mind after a close inspection of the cylindrical column. "Excuse me, sir. For how many seconds do you stay at the top of the column before you drop down?"
The controller smiles politely and replies, "It can be 5 seconds. It can be 20 seconds. Who knows? That's the best part of the ride. Never knowing when you're going to fall."
Even though Shizuru's trademark smile is still plastered on her face, Shizuru feels like someone had just sent a million volts of electricity into her heart and permanently paralyzed her entire body. In the end, Natsuki has to drag Shizuru's rigid body towards a vacant seat to stop the nagging of the other people waiting in line behind them.
As the girls advance towards the sky while buckled down to their adjacent seats, Natsuki glances at Shizuru, whose face is completely drained of color at this point. Wow, I have never seen Shizuru like this. Maybe I have gone too far this time. Timidly, Natsuki grabs onto Shizuru's trembling right hand and uses her most gentle voice possible, "Hey you, want me to teach you a trick?"
As if the steep contrast in temperature on Shizuru's hand has broken Medusa's spell on her body, a slightly flushed Shizuru turns to Natsuki and smiles shyly. "I think that would really help. Thank you." Natsuki, do you realize the power you have over me?
"Close your eyes, and make your mind focus on one thing. Just one, ok? If you think about it hard enough, theoretically you shouldn't notice the fall." Yea, theoretically speaking ... Honestly, who's not going to notice a six story high drop? Hopefully the lie will make Shizuru feel better at least.
A mechanical click noise signals the girls' arrival at the top. Shizuru closes her eyes tightly and waits nervously for the impending drop. Natsuki, Natsuki, Natsuki, Na … "AHHHHHHHHHH! NATSUKI!"
Hearing her name being screamed out, Natsuki's grip on Shizuru's hand tightens. Hang in there, Shizuru. Natsuki holds in her scream, afraid of aggravating Shizuru's fear.
Finally, their seats slow down to a full stop on the ground. Natsuki unfastens her seat beat and gets out of her seat quickly, wanting to make sure that Shizuru is ok. She extends her right hand towards Shizuru, expecting the girl with crimson eyes to use it as a support when getting out of her seat. Uhm, how come she's still sitting there? Maybe I should pull her up …
Just as Natsuki moves towards Shizuru, the chestnut haired girl tries to push herself up from her seat with her hands, but loses her balance. Luckily, the close proximity of the girls makes it possible for Natsuki to catch Shizuru in her arms just in time. (Does this scene sound familiar?)
"Ara, is Natsuki returning the favor from the pool hall?" The Kyoto beauty tries to use her smile to mask her weakened body state.
"BAKA, how can you still smile like that when you can't even stand up straight?" Why can't she rely on me more? Well, if she's not going to ask, I'll just have to do it on my own. A heavily blushing Natsuki gently puts her left hand behind Shizuru's knees and lifts her up in one swift movement. After the public demonstration of Natsuki's strength comes a soft whisper. "Hold still." Wow, Shizuru is so light.
As Natsuki carries Shizuru in her arms while walking towards the closest bench, many nearby young couples are commenting on the gentle gesture. "They look so cute together!" "xxx, why don't you ever carry me around like a princess?" "xxx, stop staring at the hot girls and pay attention to me!" … Shizuru leans her head against Natsuki's shoulder and chuckles to herself softly. If only this moment can last forever …(sigh) Sooner or later Natsuki is going to leave me and be carried around like a princess too. If I had to see a man holding Natsuki the way she is holding me now, I would rather …
The slight trembles radiating from the figure in her arms is making Natsuki overwhelmed with guilt. Natsuki, you idiot! See what you have done! Natsuki puts down Shizuru gently on a wooden bench and notices the far off look on her face. What is this girl thinking about now? Wanting to bring the chestnut haired girl out of her daze, Natsuki claps her hands once in front of Shizuru's face.
"Hey, let's stay away from the rides for now and go play games!" Natsuki tries her best to look bubbly and cheerful, and manages to make Shizuru laugh out loud.
Thank you, my dear Natsuki. Always trying to make me feel better. "Natsuki, has anyone ever told you that smiling like that only makes you look kinda you know … insane?"
"SHIZURU!"
TBC.