Title: Riding the Roller Coaster (Part XVI)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1169
Summary: Evil cotton candy. (Evil in a good way.)
A/N: I know that this chapter is a bit short, but just bear with me. Just thought that it would be funny to stop at that particular point in the story. More hilarity ensues in the next chapter!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Shizuru and Natsuki arrive at the amphitheatre, all the front row seats are already filled with little kids and their guardians, which seems perfect for the blue haired girl, who leads the other girl to sit down at the back corner of the establishment. There are still ten minutes left before the show starts, so they decide to each grab their own bag of cotton candy and have a taste of the pink fluff.
For 200 yen worth, there really is not much cotton candy. In roughly ten minutes, the girls have already emptied each of their bags. Bringing her finger tips together, Natsuki stares at her fingers annoyingly. "I don't really mind the taste of cotton candy. But I just hate that sticky feeling on my hands afterwards. Shizuru, can I borrow some Kleenex?"
"Ara, my fingers are too sticky to reach into my purse. Hold on." Playful crimson eyes stare straight at the innocent green ones as Shizuru puts her finger tips to her luscious lips and lets them be wetted by her tongue in a seductive manner. Seeing how Natsuki can only stare at her lips with unblinking wide eyes, the chestnut haired girl smiles inwardly. This is for not telling me the truth back there.
The Kyoto woman then brings some Kleenex out of her purse elegantly and holds them out in front of the still frozen younger girl, who does not seem to notice the offered item. "Ho ho, if Natsuki doesn't need the Kleenex anymore, would she prefer to have me clean her fingers for her?" Unable to get a rise out of the blue haired girl, Shizuru's brows furrow slightly at first, but she soon recovers with a cunning grin. I'll take silence as a 'yes please'. Long wavy chestnut hair blocks off the expression on Shizuru's face as she lowers her head to give Natsuki's fingers a mischievous lick.
A quick gasp escapes the lips of the blue haired girl and her trance is instantly broken. "Shi … Shizuru?" The feeling of silky hair caressing her arms is turning Natsuki's mind into scrambled pieces of jigsaw puzzle. "Wha … What are you doing?" Can't …think … The younger girl sits up straight stiffly, confused about what to do next.
Oops, maybe I have gone too far this time. Shizuru raises her head and gives the blue haired girl an innocent smile. "You didn't respond, so I thought you wanted me to clean your fingers for you. I still have the Kleenex if you want them."
A red-faced Natsuki grabs the Kleenex from Shizuru quickly. "Thanks." That was normal, right? Friends take care of each other's needs. I'm sure very very good friends lick each other's fingers all the time.
A sudden shriek from the overhead speakers grabs the girls' attention immediately. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, boy and girls. Welcome to our daily magic show. Today our very special guest is Mr. Honda!" Smoke begins to come out from behind the curtains on the stage, and everyone in the amphitheatre claps in anticipation of the show.
Soon a shadow emerges from the smoke, and in front of everyone stands a man in a funny mask in a suit and a tall hat. "Welcome, everyone. First of all, my assistant is going to give each and everyone of you a sheet of paper with a number on there. Towards the middle of this show, one very lucky guest whose number I shall later call out, will have the privilege to join me in some of the best magic tricks. Now, without further ado, let us witness the grandeur of magic together." After that announcement, the magic show officially begins.
At one point when the magician's assistant walks towards Shizuru and Natsuki with sheets of paper in her pouch, Shizuru gives the assistant a discreet wink and raises her eyebrow to indicate the blue haired girl sitting next to her as the special one. The assistant smiles knowingly and grabs a sheet of paper out of her shirt pocket instead of the pouch to hand to the completely oblivious Natsuki, who never suspects that her fate is sealed as soon as she receives that piece of paper.
Throughout the first half of the show, Natsuki is truly impressed by the mind-blowing stunts being displayed on stage. Likewise when the magician announces that it is time to invite one of the spectators come on stage, the first time magic show attendee only scans the crowd curiously with no sign of apprehension. Blah, what is the chance of me being selected anyways?
"Number ninety-five! Will the person holding the sheet of paper with the number ninety-five printed on there please come forward?"
"Ara, isn't that your number, Natsuki?" Kyoto-ben carrying the horrific news enters the perky ears of one very shocked Natsuki. With a sweet innocent smile, the chestnut haired girl nudges gently at the tense figure sitting next to her.
Thunderous claps drown out the screaming in Natsuki's head. WHY ME? WHY ME? WHY ME? She pulls down her baseball cap nervously.
"Ho ho, is Natsuki too shy to go on stage?" And if I say this, she'll say …
"What? Who do you think you are talking to? I'll go!" By the time Natsuki realizes what just came out of her mouth, it is already too late. Why do I feel like I'm being set up?
"I can't wait to see your performance. Good luck." Predictable as always.
Damnit, now I can't back down. Whatever, what's the worst that can happen anyways? With newfound determination, the blue haired ex-hime marches to the stage holding her head up high.
The magician holds out his hand and pulls Natsuki up onto the stage. "Ah, a lovely lady. Just my luck." Just as the magician bends down to try to give the back of her hand a light peck, an icy chill runs down his body involuntarily. Okay, maybe not a good idea. He lets go of her hand and awkwardly changes his position into a gentlemanly bow instead. When he raises his head again, he is met with a pair of dispassionate red eyes from the back of the amphitheatre. Ah, the infamous vice president of Fujino Corporation. Better not get on her nerves.
"What is your name, miss?"
"Natsuki."
"Okay, Natsuki-chan. I need you to put your arms up over your head."
Twitching irritably at the usage of 'chan' after her name, Natsuki nevertheless follows the instruction. This is so embarrassing. Shoot me now.
From inside his suit, the magician pulls a humongous pair of silver tongs. "My lovely audiences, these are my magic tongs. They can travel through space and reach for things that are normally out of reach. Let me demonstrate."
The magician extends the tongs towards the neckline of the blue haired girl and wriggles the metallic object slightly in the air. In the blink of an eye, a flesh-colored 32 A bra appears clamped in between the tongs.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
TBC.