Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Sunrise owns Mai-Hime and its characters.

Letting You Go

By Zenshiki

Chapter 5

- A day after… -

Natsuki was busy drinking her vodka with Sonya beside her when she caught a glimpse of a chestnut haired woman in a bright red turtleneck blouse with black blazer combined with the same color of denim skirt entered the club and a spiky haired man beside her. She almost choked out her drink when she recognized who the person was.

"Hmm? Natsuki? Are you alright? What happened? Natsuki…" Sonya was worrying until now, Natsuki remained speechless and her eyes widened in shock and confusion.

"…"

- Flashback… -

A certain brunette woman wants to hang around in town but hoping to not run into a certain cobalt-haired woman she knew very well. Besides, there's an annoying jerk always sticking around with her.

"Shizuru, it's dangerous if you're alone wandering around here. Many people might recognize you and maybe some of them don't want your presence."

"I can handle myself, Takeda-kun." After settling their things on their respective rooms, Shizuru decided to relax and have fun before she starts working for the next two days.

"No you're not...I'll accompany you instead, just to be sure. You can't do anything about it because it's final. I don't know what I will say to your father when something happens to you."

"Alright, if you insist then let's go." Shizuru let the matter dropped knowing that Takeda will keep on bugging her if she resist.

So here they are at Kiyoran's club. Shizuru was intrigued because the name of the club is ironically a combined name of her child and 'her' child.

"Ara? I'm thinking about her again. This is not good…Maybe we should already go inside and relax for a while." Shizuru thought to herself as she and Takeda went inside the bar.

"What the hell is she doing in here? I must be crazy, blind I supposed. Yeah…I'm just dreaming…tseh…Shizuru would never be in a place like this in the first place. But then, who is that person beside that stupid Takeda?" Natsuki was arguing with herself, a lot of emotions flooding inside of her. All she can do was to stare speechless to the woman that had just arrived at her club.

During this scene, Chie was alarmed. She knew very well who the newcomers were and she immediately approached the duo before Natsuki do something 'inappropriate'.

"What a surprise! Fujino-san! Masashi-kun! It's been a long time! How you've been? Oh! Please make yourself comfortable." Chie greeted, side glancing at the woman beside Natsuki signaling her to do something about Natsuki who was stunned in her place.

Sonya didn't get what Chie meant to say but Nao who understood the silent request, make her way to the shell-shocked Natsuki still holding her glass of vodka that was halfway through her mouth.

"Sonya, can you please accompany Natsuki in her office." Nao commanded more than a request to the still confused Sonya and then the red-headed woman blocked Natsuki's view. Due to the sudden movement in front of her, she dropped the glass making a clattering sound in the loud music of the club. Nao acted on instinct and hurriedly dragged Natsuki out of the stool heading to Natsuki's office.

"Oh… uhmm… sorry..." The emerald-eyed woman muttered an apology before being literally dragged out of the bar stool by Nao. She didn't know what she's supposed to react or how to react.

Unfortunately, the sound of a broken glass was caught notice by the chestnut-haired woman and almost widened her eyes as she glanced sideward. What she saw was a blue haired woman in a white tank top and blue ripped faded jeans. She was surprised seeing the person she dear so much and she took note of the unfamiliar blonde supporting the shell-shocked Natsuki with the red head who she recognized as Nao.

"Now, now, Shizuru-san, over there is a good place. Right this way, please?" Chie interrupted, knowing that there is a big possibility of a commotion when she didn't do something. "Great! I wish Aoi was here or more importantly, Mai. Now, what will I do?" Chie was very uneasy and uncomfortable as she thinks of a better way to stop this before it became worst.

"Is there anything wrong, Harada-san? We can handle ourselves so you don't need to worry. Thank you for the accommodation though. You can leave us now. We're fine." Takeda noticed how tensed Chie was so he decided to speak.

"Erm… Oh… yeah… Uhmm… Alright then, Shizuru-san, Takeda-kun if you will excuse me. Please enjoy your stay in here."

"Oh it's alright." Masashi replied, still ignorant on what is really happening around him. Well, he has nothing to do either so he led Shizuru in one of the table of the club that Chie offered.

"Shizuru, c'mon…" the dark haired man said but found his companion spaced out. It took him several calls before Shizuru returned to her senses.

"Ara? O-okay…"

After Chie had excused herself, she immediately fished out her cell phone and dialed a number that will help them in this complicated situation.

"Hello? Chie? Why did you call? Have you flirted again and Aoi was mad at you? You know-"

"Listen, we have a serious problem here! Guess who arrived at the club?"

"Uhmm…is this somewhat serious? Well if-"

"MAI! Listen! Stop blabbing around! Fujino is here and so Natsuki! You get it now? Mai?... Hello? Mai? ...Looks like she gets it clear." Chie sighed and then walked at the back of the club knowing that Nao is in the boss' office but she didn't expect a riot happening there right now.

"Shi…Shizuru…wait, where are we going, Sonya? Nao? Why the hell are you dragging me? Keep off your hands out of me! Dammit!" Natsuki was struggling to free her left arm out of Nao's grip. She wanted to talk to Shizuru but she didn't know what to say. Confusion, rage, surprise, sadness and somehow deep inside of her heart, she was glad to see again the first woman she ever loved.

"Listen, pup! You're not going anywhere! You hear me? So shut the fuck up!" Nao retorted back, making Natsuki growled.

As soon they reached her office and finally freed from the tight grip of Nao, Natsuki immediately punched her right straight to the red head's face. Nao was taken aback but she quickly answered the blow Natsuki gave her. Sonya was panicking now and tried to stop the two women but failed. Soon, the neat office of the boss was now a mess. Chie arrived at the room together with Aoi after calling her to inform the situation. They both witnessed the mess the two women did. They found Natsuki on her table and Nao beneath her, struggling to break free from the grasp of Natsuki in her neck. Sonya was crying and trying to make the two stop but she can't do anything. The couple immediately approached the two and separated them between each other.

"Knock it off, Natsuki! You're killing her!" Chie held Natsuki firmly still struggling to reach Nao who was supported by both Aoi and Sonya. "Natsuki! Stop it! You might kill her! Natsuki! Get hold of yourself! NATSUKI!" Natsuki still struggling in Chie's grip but Chie won't let Natsuki reach her target now. They don't know what Natsuki can do after the initial shock a while ago.

"KUGA NATSUKI! Stop it! You STUPID WOMAN!" suddenly a new voice was heard and it belongs to a red head, busty woman who has a lavender orbs shining with anger.

Natsuki was caught off-guard and immediately stopped upon hearing Mai's voice. A person she respected the most, her beloved best friend. "Mai…" Natsuki only whispered her best friend's name unable to utter any explanation.

Mai slowly approached Natsuki and slapped her. Tears rolling in her eyes as she felt sympathy to the taller woman, she then quickly hugged her tight and whispered, "Mou, Natsuki…enough already…calm down…I'm already here…it's okay now…"

Upon hearing Mai's soothing voice, Natsuki burst out crying, burying her face between the busty woman's neck. "Mai! I, I… She…She's here…Mai!" Natsuki choked out between sobs as she clings into Mai's shoulder.

The other occupants of the room silently walked out, they knew Mai is the only person that can make Natsuki calm down. Nao who was recently was boiling in anger bowed her head down, fighting the urge to make her tears crawled down on her cheeks. She knew what Natsuki is facing right now but sometimes she can't understand on why her stupid friend can't move on despite of the pains and sufferings she endured since Shizuru left her.

After calming her down, Mai convinced the azure haired woman to be well-composed as if nothing happened. She told her not to display any semblance of weakness in front of Shizuru. She knew it already that there will be time that they will meet again and that time has arrived. She wants Natsuki to be in herself and stay composed as long as she can. Anyway, they can't just ignore the former seitokaichou and ex-HIME so they need to entertain them whether they like it or not. Besides, Shizuru has been part of their life as an HIME and as a respected Student Council president.

Chie was assigned to inform Shizuru and Takeda to join them in one of the club's private booth. She told them that everyone wanted to meet them for a small reunion. At first, Shizuru was ready to decline and ask for permission to leave but the stupid Takeda much to her dismay accepted it without hesitation. So they were being accompanied to the booth where they will be going to celebrate their small reunion.

At the booth, they first saw Nao sitting beside the blonde that Shizuru noticed before. Across to them was Aoi. Mikoto, who was already on her third bottle of beer, was busy looking for her dear Mai. They were asked to sit on wherever seats they like. The private booth was slightly wide and it has many lounge sofas surrounding the round table where a lot of buckets of beers, snacks and juice were placed. It was dimly dark and the loud music was somehow lessened inside the booth. All in all, it was made for private session's purposes like celebrations or small meetings.

Chie found herself beside Aoi who gave her a light peck on the lips. Takeda sit beside Chie and was followed by the pissed off Shizuru but no one would notice as her mask was perfectly in place. Sonya was sitting across the ruby-eyed woman who gaze her with curiosity on why is she with them. Soon, other occupants arrived at the booth. Mai together with the seemed stiff Natsuki stepped inside, tension beginning to rise between the other occupants. Mikoto who hurriedly approached Mai kissed her on the cheeks. The sneaky young woman had grown a lot and somehow a foot taller than Mai. They sat together beside Nao who was in her fifth bottle. Natsuki found herself glancing to the two newcomers at her bar. She then called by Sonya and sat beside her. As fate would have it, they were seated across Shizuru and Takeda.

"Hi, baby." Natsuki greeted her girlfriend and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips.

"Hello." Sonya replied after they part away and whispered to Natsuki's ear, "Are you alright now?" after she and Natsuki kissed, she swear that she felt an eerie glare coming from a certain crimson-eyed woman.

"Hmm…better…"

"Liar."

"I'm not."

"Yes you do."

"Nope." After the azure-haired answered back she surprised Sonya another kiss but this time, it was slightly longer until they heard someone clearing a throat.

"Well, Natsuki you can continue that later. As for now, why don't we introduce the woman beside you?" Mai reminded Natsuki and received a knowing nod. She then called the attention of Shizuru whom she knew was already putting hole on the poor blonde by her well hidden glares behind her mask. "Uhmm…Shizuru-san, this is Sonya Yefimovich*. Sonya, this is Shizuru Fujino."

"Nice to meet you, Shizuru-san."

"SHIZURU-SAN? What's with this formality? Oh Natsuki, you'd really hated me, had you?" Shizuru thought and replied the young blonde "As well as you, Sonya-han. I would have guess, you're not from this country, right?"

"Yeah, I'm from Russia and I migrated here in Tokyo. I take it that you have a high knowledge on different things as expected from a former student council president. I'm honored to finally meet you Shizuru-san."

"It's my pleasure." Shizuru replied, almost everyone was fooled by her well hidden mask when she displayed her fake smile but only one person can distinguished a fake smile and a true smile of Shizuru.

"Well, Sonya that guy beside Shizuru-san is Masashi Takeda. He's our former kendo captain." Mai cut in as she introduces the spiky-haired man whom she took notice staring eye to eye to Natsuki. They were silently playing a glare game.

"It's nice to meet you, Sonya-san. I'm Masashi Takeda, fiancé of Shizuru." Masashi broke contact from their small contest as he greeted the young blonde across her. Almost all of them dropped their jaw on the ground, one red head woman was trying her best not to laugh to the newly announced information and soon agreed by her recently spar partner, Natsuki. One of the other occupants was already pissed for informing her status on the jerk beside her.

"It's my pleasure to meet you. I'm Sonya Yefimovich, Natsuki's girlfriend." Sonya informed before taking a handshake from Takeda.

"Oh I see."

A certain chestnut haired woman was feeling a little dizzy at the statement. She knew it already that this blonde was Natsuki's girlfriend due to the fact of a little public display of affection a while ago but she didn't want to believe it until it is properly announced. She felt that her heart was aching as if like it is being stabbed repeatedly. "I left her, she's happy and am I happy now?" Shizuru thought but she was been disturbed by an uneasy feeling of an intense gaze in front of her. She glanced forward and met forest green eyes before her. She didn't realize that she was being drowned by the depth of its green pools. A silent question was thrown to her and she didn't know how she will react on this.

Hours had passed and the occupants were now comfortable with one another less one person that felt the strong gaze to her from that person since she arrived up until now. "Uhmm… excuse me for a while. I need to go to the bathroom." Shizuru can't take it any longer and decided to excuse herself.

After some minutes, Natsuki followed her without anyone noticing it except Mai. She silently went to the private restroom two doors beside the booth and has only one cubicle. She found Shizuru washing her face, her back facing her. She then quietly locked the door and grabbed Shizuru forcefully.

Shizuru was taken aback at the sudden action. She thought that there's someone will going to kill her until she felt trembling lips into hers. She knew very well who her intruder is and at first she responded to the kiss. After a few seconds, her eyes opened wide as realization hit her. She slapped Natsuki very hard that made her stumbled into few feet away.

"Wh-What are you doing?" Shizuru protested but her companion didn't seem to mind the aching pain in her cheek and instead of leaving her alone she continued her advance.

Shizuru didn't know what to do. Her feet were trembling as she moved backward until she meets the cold tiles behind her. She was trapped and Natsuki didn't seem to stop either. She continued her advance and pinned Shizuru's arm above her head. Shizuru squirmed slightly but she can't escape to the strong grip of Natsuki.

"Na…Natsuki…uhmm" Shizuru was silenced as she found her lips against the emerald-eyed woman. She can't push her away because her hands were still trapped by Natsuki's strong hold. Her knees cannot stand alone and trembling but thanks to Natsuki as she lifted Shizuru in the cold tiles of the sink. Her legs apart as Natsuki's frame between them. Her blazer was now on the floor, she didn't know how it ended down there because her mind spinning and didn't know what decisions to be made. She can feel her stomach twisting and her temperature continue to rise. She then realized that her strained arms were now free and found it both on the shorter woman's shoulder. She then came back to her senses and forcefully pushed Natsuki away from her then hurriedly picked her blazers and ran off from the bathroom. Before she reached the door, Natsuki grabbed her wrists and trapped her between the door and Natsuki's body. She tries to escape but with no available.

"Why?"

"Ara?" Shizuru was taken aback at the question. She should be the one asking that to the woman in front of her. She was the one supposed to ask on why Natsuki is doing this to her but the moment she saw how dark the once bright emerald orbs of Natsuki she looked away. She didn't want to see the person she loved until now, she was afraid. Afraid of the truth she hid and the pain she endured for the past years. She can't face the person she loved so much yet the person she hurt badly. Afraid of the truth that Natsuki didn't love her back, she can't endure it so that's why she left her.

"Why did you leave me? Do you really hate me badly for rejecting you? Do you know how much pain I endured? Do you know what you did to me?" Natsuki's voice continues to rise with each question. She can't hold herself, after she saw the cause of her misery. The person she realized she loved so much yet left her out of the blue.

"I…" Shizuru was loss of words. She didn't know what and how will she answer the questions thrown to her. She didn't how to start and what to say first.

"TELL ME! Dammit!"

"What is it to you?"

"WHAT?"

"Why? You don't even care about me. You always keep avoiding me. So, why are you like this if you don't care about me? I don't want to push myself to you so I left. You don't love me like I do. So tell me, what is your reason for you to be mad?" Shizuru was now in herself again able to think wisely. She didn't want to show how weak she is when it comes to Natsuki.

As for Natsuki, she was surprised at the sudden irony. It is true that she keeps on avoiding Shizuru but not that she was irritated to the older woman. She was just reflecting and thinking. Thinking of a way how to confess to Shizuru how much important she is to her. She can't let Shizuru get away, it is now or never.

"Because…I love you…"

End of Chapter 5

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A/N:

* : Yo! You know her? haha! Guess who she is…she's from another anime! ^^, I'll let you know on my next update.