Title: Riding the Roller Coaster (Part V)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1092

Summary: Water gun race.

A/N: I feel like this is a shorter chapter than usual. Oh well, I'll write more for tomorrow. Personally I love the water gun race. I don't always win though. Anyways, life goes on. I'm being random. La la la. Enjoy!

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"Look, Natsuki. There are people having a water gun race at the game corner! That should be a piece of cake for you, right?" After Shizuru and Natsuki have wandered around aimlessly for a few minutes, Shizuru realizes that she has just found the perfect game for Natsuki. This should be a nice break from going on rides. (Shizuru, you have only gone on ONE ride! - ficeler37)

"Probably." Natsuki takes a quick glance at the direction that Shizuru is pointing towards, but proceeds to remain on the course that leads them away from the game. There's no way I'm going to use my expertise in shooting to compete with a bunch of kindergarteners who can't aim for the life of them.

"Interesting … the prize for that game is a bright purple snake stuffed toy." (cough) Natsuki, considering how slow you are sometimes, I can't help but wonder how you used to squeeze information out of people at that shady bar. How many more blatant hints do I have to drop? Unable to get a satisfactory answer out of Natsuki, ('Uh huh' doesn't count!) Shizuru resorts to her natural acting ability.

"For as long as I can remember, (sniff sniff) no one has ever won me a stuffed toy from the amusement park. I wonder if I am destined to never have that experience …" A couple sniffles and a loud sigh later, the two girls begin to walk towards the water gun race counter.

"For two please." Shizuru hands the park worker some money and settles herself in front of a purple water gun. Time to put those late night practices to a test. Indeed, during the months that Shizuru was ignoring Natsuki, she had bought herself a PS2 and the game 'Time Crisis 3' in order to feel closer to the green eyed video games addict. Natsuki is unaware of this fact, of course.

"I didn't know that you wanted to play. Isn't it a waste of money when we know that it is going to be me who wins in the end?" Natsuki scratches her head and grabs a blue water gun.

"Ara, is Natsuki afraid of a little competition?" To Shizuru, teasing Natsuki is as natural as breathing in the air. Shizuru jokingly aims her water gun at Natsuki's chest. "Bam!"

"You're the one who should be afraid!" Natsuki turns away from Shizuru and starts aiming her gun at the little circular opening on the target. "No more talking at this point. Enemies should not talk to each other." Me? Afraid? I'll show you …

Just then, an elderly couple arrives at the other end of the counter with a blue haired little girl in tow and joins the game. The little girl grabs onto the old woman's leg and chants, "Purple snake, purple snake, purple snake." Shizuru looks at the child and starts imagining a small version of Natsuki doing the same chant. KAWAII!

On the other hand, after Shizuru's provocation, the only thing that enters Natsuki's view is the small circle on the target in front of her. Focus, Natsuki. If you lose to Shizuru on shooting, you are going to become the butt of hime-sentai's jokes.

At the sound of the bell, water starts coming out of the four guns in the game. As expected, Natsuki is easily leading the game as shown by her high water level. Natsuki stares intently at her target. Losing your concentration is for losers.

Over at the purple water gun, Shizuru's water level trails closely behind Natsuki's. There's no shame in getting second place. However, incapable of erasing the smile of the little girl from her mind, Shizuru does a daring move.

"HEY! Why are you shooting at my target? You're screwing up my aim!"

Apparently, Shizuru just tried to deflect Natsuki's water stream with her own, long enough for the elderly couple to catch up to them. At the end, the old woman beats Natsuki by a hair, and hands the stuffed toy to the little girl.

Only aware that she has lost the game, Natsuki growls at her chestnut haired friend. "Shizuru, what did you do that for? I was so sure that I was going to win."

"Sorry, Natsuki. I thought I was helping your water level go up faster." Shizuru lowers her head like a hurt puppy, does an about face, and starts walking away from the game counter while dragging her feet. Sorry, Natsuki. I really wanted that little girl to get the stuffed toy. I imagine that's what you would look like when you were little. Is it weird to feel like I've just compensated for your childhood in some way?

Natsuki's annoyance turns into guilt in 0.01 second. "Hey, it's ok. I bet whoever beat me was really good anyways." The younger girl catches up to Shizuru and starts waving her hands wildly while trying to explain herself. "I'm not upset because I lost, ok? I just really wanted to win that stuffed toy. Yea, that's it!"

Ho ho, I better not tell Natsuki that an 80 year old woman beat her at her own game. It's kinda cute that Natsuki is so competitive. "Ok, since we just did something that you wanted to do, now it's my turn to choose what we do next." Shizuru begins to look around at the different indication signs.

"What do you mean something that I wanted to do? I remember being pretty reluctant towards playing the game." Natsuki furrows her brows and pouts in confusion.

"Ara, but didn't Natsuki just tell me that she really wanted to win that stuffed toy?" Shizuru raises her eyebrow slightly at the now blushing Natsuki.

"Yes, I did." Natsuki turns her head away from Shizuru in defiance. Oh well, what's the worst that can happen?

"How about the log ride?" Shizuru points towards the pirate-themed section of the park.

"Are you serious?" Natsuki cannot believe her good luck. I thought Shizuru can't stand free fall rides. I mean, she was scared for real at Drop Zone. "If you're not scared, yea, let's do it." Natsuki's bright smile betrays her excitement for the ride.

Ho ho, this is going to be interesting … "Then let's get in line. But before that, I do have a last request."

"What is it?" Don't tell me you're going to back out now that I'm all fired up.

"Let me sit in front." The Kyoto woman's smirk can barely hide her excitement for executing her plan. I call it 'Mission Hold Me Close'.

TBC.