Title: Riding the Roller Coaster (Part IX)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1100

Summary: It's a surprise.

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Damnit, this was so much funnier in my head. But now seeing her like this, I … Natsuki looks across the table at the chestnut haired beauty whose face is now bright pink, and her soft curls are matted to her forehead due to perspiration. Despite the tears that are flowing uncontrollably out of those crimson eyes, there was not a moment of hesitance in the Kyoto woman's movement. Natsuki can tell that Shizuru is really serious about winning the bet, even if it means sacrificing her tranquil countenance and her melodic voice. What is driving you to do this, Shizuru? Why push yourself so hard? Don't you know that it breaks my heart to see you like this?

At this point, the desire to win the challenge has completely fled Natsuki's mind. Her usual competitiveness is washed away by guilt and sympathy. The blue haired girl pushes the glass of ice water towards her friend. "C'mon, Shizuru. Just give up and take a sip of water already. You don't look so good." Natsuki reaches out to the older girl's hand, stopping her from taking another bite at the extra spicy pizza.

Shizuru slowly raises her head and has a difficult time focusing her sight on Natsuki, her vision being impaired by tears. "Natsu … (cough) … ki." The chestnut haired girl takes a deep breath before she continues. Breathe, Shizuru. You can do this. "There is no way I am going to touch that glass of water. (cough) I WILL win the bet." This is the golden opportunity to ask Natsuki to finish that kiss in the haunted house. I can't just let it slip through my fingers. Immediately after her declaration, she picks up another slice of pizza quickly to make up for the lost time.

"Shizuru, since when are you so competitive?" Natsuki gazes at the Kyoto beauty worriedly as she gets more nervous by the minute. I can't let this go on. Shizuru is going to lose her voice before she finishes that pizza.

The older girl forcefully swallows another bite of her pizza and releases a big sigh. "Natsuki, stop trying to (cough) talk me into losing the bet. (cough) I am not going to give up unless … someone wants to feed me the water." Even when she is dying of thirst and having trouble breathing, Shizuru still cannot help but tease the easily embarrassed Natsuki. Ara, I wonder how red my cute Natsuki's face is going to turn this time.

Without a second thought, Natsuki grabs the glass in front of her, takes a big gulp, but does not swallow the ice cold refreshment. With her elbows placed firmly on the table to keep her balance, she leans towards the chestnut haired beauty as her head tilts slightly to the right. Fine, you win …

Everything is happening in slow motion according to the crimson eyes. First, the close up of the blue haired princess that is gradually getting bigger. Then, the texture of soft and chilled lips pressed against her mouth. A couple drops of water trickle down her chin as she hungrily swallows the thirst-quenching nourishment that tastes just like heaven.

No, it's not the water that tastes like heaven. It's these luscious lips that are sluggishly moving against my own. THIS is the taste of paradise. Losing herself in the ethereal sensation of the kiss, Shizuru closes her eyes and uses her tongue to playfully trace the outline of her love's lips.

Natsuki's senses had failed her the moment her lips made contact with Shizuru's. At first, all she cared about was making her friend have some water against her will. But even after the process of the water transfer was over, Natsuki found it difficult to tear herself away from the wonderful feeling emanating from her lips. Hmmmm … so soft. That tea scent that is always surrounding Shizuru smells so good. And what is this feeling I'm having right now? I don't understand …

Neither of the girls can tell how long the kiss has lasted. Eventually someone breaks away first, and both girls take this chance to breathe in the much needed air. Crimson eyes and green eyes meet each other's gaze half way. Sometimes, words are only superfluous. Basking in the afterglow, the two gorgeous girls let a comfortable silence take over them.

Due to the secluded location of their booth, the only witnesses to the kiss are its own participants. Shizuru gives out a little chuckle as she imagines how Natsuki would have probably freaked out if random people started clapping and whistling around them.

"Hey, what's so funny? You won the bet. What do you want me to do?" Natsuki forces her eyes to focus on the half empty glass of water in front of her, trying hard to suppress the natural inclination to let her eyes trail towards those seductive lips on the Kyoto beauty. I can't believe what just happened. Did I really kiss Shizuru on my own? No! I'm not like what one of those perverts that were staring at her after the log ride. I just wanted to make her throat feel better. That's right. Any caring friend would have done that.

While the blue haired girl is trying to talk herself into believing her altruistic intention, the older girl ponders her options concerning winning the challenge. What drove me to push myself to eat all that spicy food was to get a kiss from my adorable Natsuki. But now that she had kissed me on her own, I don't really know what I want anymore … "Well, since Natsuki was so sweet to me, choosing to forfeit the bet to give me some water, how about we call it a tie?" A beautiful smile appears on Shizuru's still slightly flushed face.

Am I hearing this right? The scheming ex-student council president is letting me off the hook just like that? Surprised by the turn of events, Natsuki can only nod repeatedly to show her accord.

"Although, there IS one thing I think you should know." Shizuru smirks deviously.

"What is it?"

"I would have started chugging the water if you had just given up the game on your own. In other words, instead of giving me the water mouth to mouth, you could have just taken a sip of the ice water. But I have to tell you, I much prefer the mouth to mouth. (happy sigh) Natsuki's lips are so soft." Shizuru reverts back to her favorite thinking pose.

"ARGH!" Natsuki slams her head on the table in frustration.

TBC.