Disclaimer: I do own Mai Hime or Mai Otome. All rights are strictly reserved to the respective personnel and companies.
Notes: This happens a few years after the HiME festival.
Storms were not all that uncommon, especially in this weather. Although the broadcast station had reported yet another thunderstorm, I wasn't totally aware of it till a few moments ago. Right now, it was just me against the rain… or so it would have been if not for the piece of glass separating the both of us. A window… a freaking window was in the way. Much as I felt like leaping out of the window and into the rain, I couldn't. Besides, it wasn't the fact that there was thirteen storeys' worth of height between me and the ground which bothered me.
It was her… her running flat out into the rain.
I pressed closer to that flimsy piece of glass accursed barrier at the sight of her miniscule back view thirteen floors down accursed barrier. I was tempted… so sorely tempted to just throw everything away and run after her in the rain accursed barrier but my logic was standing in the way. A stupid barrier that was as immovable as a ton of large boulders. I knew deep down that she needed time alone to sort out her thinking, but that didn't soothe my rattled nerves in any way. It was at times like this that I hated myself the most. I hated this pathetic excuse called logic… this… this abomination which always stood in my way regardless of whatever I was doing.
Yes, logic had explained to me that staying here would be better, and logic had never been known to be wrong.
"You shouldn't keep yourself locked away so much, Nao. You aren't half as bad as what you think you are."
"What about you then, Shizuru. Aren't you doing pretty much the same thing? And to think you're trying to lecture me… Gods, sometimes I really can't fathom what you're plotting behind my back when you say things like this."
"Paranoia at such a young age of 18?"
"Talk about yourself."
A secretive smile was what I received before arms snaked protectively around my waist in a single smooth motion.
"Don't worry so much."
"Hmph."
There had been many other happier memories of us being together of course, but that particular conversation… it just wouldn't stop clinging onto my mind. With oft, I took this memory out of its cabinet and studied it, looking for any clues to explain why this memory refused to fade like the others had. Perhaps it was really paranoia as she had stated so plainly, but still, it felt like I'd missed out something important… something which could make a great difference to the both of us. I've never been classified as a part of the 'dim', but I seriously doubted whether that still stands true at this moment.
In the past, I had laughed directly into her face when Natsuki told me that Shizuru makes everyone near her dim-witted; especially if one spent more time than necessary with her. It had seemed so absurd, so hilarious that anyone could steal wits or render them duller just by being near. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but notice the seemingly endless amount of love letters and love declarations addressed to her even after I had loudly proclaimed to everyone that she was taken.
Shizuru, did I ever tell you that I enjoyed warming myself with the heat from the fire that was fueled with these very letters?
But of course, you would have seen that grin on my face as I did so by now… right?
Then again, this entire blabber about the past is just a way to make myself forget the fact that she wasn't here right now. After all, being content and comfortable in the past did not secure the happiness for the future. As this very thought lingers in my mind at this current moment, I realized - with a pang of pain that strikes my chest like hammer pounding against wood - that Shizuru still wasn't completely honest with me. I couldn't tell anyone how I knew, but I just did. Maybe it was just an oblivious gesture made by her, or even an unconscious sentence I'd heard in her sleep which roused the inner awareness in me. Questions about her had always mounted to near infinite as I constantly pondered over the possible notions that were floating past her complicated mindset.
That was just pure silliness by the way. Logic tells me that I'm thinking too much. I am Nao. Actions were always preferred over the excessive use of brain cells. Pah, just great. Now I'm starting to sound like Kuga, and I blame it on the inordinate amount of time I spent eating bentos together with her.
Nope, there simply couldn't be anything that you're hiding behind my back.
But why did you refuse to tell me the reason for you to seek me instead of Natsuki?
Why then, did you run away when I proposed the idea of us taking the relationship to the next stage?
For the twelfth time today, logic rang its bell of practicality in my mind, reminding me stoically that my name was Nao.
What can I do? Curse it into oblivion?
A/N: Teh. Felt super pissed at something when I typed this out. Still feeling pissed off now. It must be due to the haze and the heat in Singapore. It'll probably be a 3 or 5 part fic. I'll update again when the time is right. Oh, if you feel that Nao was OoC or something, feel free to point it out to me.
- hums twinkle twinkle little star as I smash a Duran hammer into the wall -
Review or I'll smash the Duran hammer on you… Muahahaha…! –continues smashing the wall-