A/N: (revised as of March 25, 2012)

Thoughts are in italics.

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

Letting You Go

By Zenshiki

Chapter 8

Mai had been very worried about Natsuki's behavior. She asked Chie for Shizuru's number. She didn't know how even Chie able to know it but she didn't ask it anyway. She left Mikoto in the room before proceeding to the living room. She dialed the number that was written in a small piece of paper. She needed to call her, no matter what happens and what the situation is. She heard the phone rings at the other line and waited patiently. A few more seconds she heard the familiar voice of their former kaichou.

"What a pleasant surprise, so may I know why are you calling me?"

"Fujino-san, it's been a long time,ne?"

"Tokiha-san, I appreaciate you took an effort to look for my number and ask for my whereabouts but I'm tired now so please…"

"It's about Natsuki."

"…"

"Please Fujino-san, I know I'm not in the right place to interfere with your personal life but Natsuki is also involved with this and as her friend I care for her."

"What is it that you want?"

"Please talk to her."

"Ara, are you telling me to talk to her? Of what reason why will I call her?"

"Because you're the sole reason of Natsuki's misery and ruined life."

Mai didn't want to be rude especially to the person she was once respected and idolized. She'd been with Natsuki's side when Shizuru left her without any prior notice. She just wanted to see her best friend smile and return to her old self.

"I'm sorry for what I have said. Goodnight Kaichou…"

"Tell me her number and address."

"Oh okay, please wait for a second."

Natsuki didn't know if she was just too drunk to even hear Shizuru's voice, whoever is calling her right now.

"Okay, now I'm dreaming. Who are you and why you sounds like Shizuru? Are you messing with me? 'Cause I'm going to kill if you do!"

Natsuki threatened as she was not in her right mind. She just wanted to drink and drink and forget all the things happening to her. She can't take it anymore. It's too much for her to bear, she just wanted to escape to this reality and forget.

"Ara…Natsuki. It's me, Shizuru."

Natsuki didn't able to respond because she'd been tripped by an empty bottle of beer scattered on her floor while she was walking, making her stumbled to the ground.

"Natsuki!"

Shizuru heard a loud thump and a sound of a woman groaning in pain at the other line. She guessed that Natsuki was the one who was groaning. She must've hurt herself, she thought. She hurriedly grabbed her coat and purse and dashed to the elevator. She went outside of the luxury hotel they were staying and called for a taxi.

Natsuki was still groaning in pain as she reached up her phone that was accidentally thrown when she tripped herself. She checked her phone if she was just dreaming whether there's a real person who sounds like Shizuru or it was just her wild imagination. Her real problem though was, she got a sprain and can't walk properly. The raven haired girl decided then to slump into the floor and just continue drinking. Not until then she whispered.

"Shi...Shizuru...come back...please come back…"

Natsuki cried silently, she was just physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted. She curled up into a ball and weeps as her soul cries in agony. She was back of being miserable and helpless.

Thunderclaps can only be heard into the dark sky announcing that rain would come. The brunette reached her destination. She noticed that the lights were all turned off inside Natsuki's apartment. The frequent lightning guides her path into the apartment until she reached the porch. She was mentally debating if the raven haired girl was even there since she knew that Natsuki might change her place. She noticed a black Ducati parked in the garage so she made a conclusion that the owner was inside the apartment. She went into the door to knock but noticed that it was not even locked so she went inside unannounced. Upon entering, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes reached her nostrils. She can't help it and winced at the smell of it but she resumed on finding the raven haired girl. In her stride, she accidentally kicked an empty bottle.

"Ara, looks like Natsuki is drinking a lot."

She frowned at her own realization but kept on walking carefully. Even it was dark outside, she at least can see where she was heading. When she reached the living room, she saw more bottles of beer and vodka scattered on the carpeted floor and lots of cigarette butts in an ashtray.

One strike of lightning gives Shizuru the vision of a lone figure in the floor curled into a ball beside the couch. She carefully approached the girl who was shivering and silently weeping. Her pair of ruby eyes shone into the darkness as tears dangerously falls into her cheeks. The scene was too much for her to bear. There she was, standing in the middle of the living room, watching her love of her life currently in her vulnerable state. She can't take it any longer as tears now falling freely down her cheeks.

The lone figure sensed that she's not the only one in her apartment and raised her head. She was in a state of being drunk and she was getting a hard time to identify the figure standing in front of her. She did able to recognize that the person was a woman since she wore a skirt. She tried to clear her vision in her drunken state and the darkness of the room. Another lightning gave the dark room a quick light. She noticed that the woman's hair was brown and one thing that got her attention was the owner's bright red eyes.

Natsuki's POV

I had never felt this miserable. Last thing I remember is I've been crying for hours. I gasped when I sense another presence in front of me, but I couldn't make a reaction and the person hugged me. I heard her soft voice calling my name. My arms had already decided as it wrapped itself into the woman's trembling body. I didn't think as I gently tilted her head to face me and kiss her. I heard her soft gasp from my sudden action but she didn't pull away. Few more kisses until she kisses me back. Her lip is bit salty yet sweet due to the fact that she's been crying not too long ago. I felt her seat on my lap as she wrapped her arms around my neck. We just kiss one another, emotion twirling in every kiss we shared. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her near me as I savored this moment of my life.

"Please don't let this to be a mere dream."

I thought to myself, I just don't want to end this impossible dream, if Shizuru won't accept me then let this silly dream a remembrance.

Our kiss seemed last for an eternity; I can't hold it any longer. I tried to stand but I failed since my sprain stings but can be still tolerate. She seems figure it out what I want as she lifted herself up making my trapped legs able to stand up. I didn't let go of her as I made her legs wrapped my waist. I carried her with a little of stumbles here and there as I move to my bedroom's door. I laid her gently on my bed and continued assaulting her sweet lips.

"Shizuru, all I want is yo…"

I hadn't finish what I was about to say as she silenced me with a kiss giving me the message to just shut up. The pitter patter if the raindrops in my ceiling are the things can be heard as we share each others' warmth. I whispered something in her delicate ears before drifting off to my sweet slumber.

"Please don't leave me."

Normal POV

The sun's ray peeped through the curtains in Natsuki's room. She slowly opened her eyes and observed her surroundings. The violent banging she's feeling inside of her signaled that her body was full of toxic and needed to throw up. She stumbled into the bathroom and vomited the excess toxic from her stomach. She washed her face and stared at the mirror.

"So it was just all a dream, I should wake up and realize that I won't ever be with her no matter I try."

She went out of the bathroom, her head was still aching. She pulled her shirt off and changed into a black wife beater. She then removed her faded jeans and replaced it with a boxer. She felt more comfortable than before after she's done. She opened her door and her eyes went wide open as her skilled sense of smell sniffed the wonderful aroma of a brewed coffee. She silently went into her kitchenette and just thought that it was just Mai who might sneaked inside of her apartment since she knew that she made Mai worried. As she was near into the counter, she notice that there's no more empty bottles scattered on the floor and her things were in their proper places. Again, she wondered that it was just Mai but there's something wrong. Mai would usually shout and scolds her when this kind of situation happened. Her own question was answered as she saw a certain chestnut-haired woman with all her grace and glory, frying eggs. She just merely stood there, her migraine long forgotten. Shizuru sensed that someone was staring at her and noticed the raven haired standing with her eyes staring pass right through her. She blushed lightly as she realized Natsuki's clothing. She turned off the stove and smiled. She walked towards the still dazed younger woman and taps her nose playfully.

"Na-tsu-ki…it's time for breakfast, we should eat first and then we'll talk properly."

Shizuru then turned around and was about to resume in preparing breakfast when a hand grabbed her wrist. The crimson-eyed was forced to spin around and face the other girl. She was being pulled into a hug as Natsuki's knee wobbled from shock.

"Please…please…please tell me you're real…Shizuru…"

The brunette placed her arms around Natsuki as she soothed the dark-haired girl.

"Yes, Natsuki…I'm real. I'm right here…let us eat first. Your food is getting cold."

The girl merely nodded as she went silently into one of the chair. She watched the older girl pour black coffee into a mug and brought it to her. As they started their breakfast which composed of toast, eggs, bacon and strawberry jam, no one dared to break the comfortable silence. They've been contented with each other's company. Natsuki helped Shizuru with washing the dishes and afterwards, they went into the living room. Shizuru had yet seated when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She had an expected who's calling as reached for her phone. She looked at Natsuki's emerald orbs and sighed before pressing the answer button.

"What is it?"

"Ara..I'm in my friend's house."

"Hai…I will be back as soon as I can."

"No, I'm okay. There's nothing to be worried about. Everything's fine."

"Kannin na, please enjoy yourself without me for a while."

"Ookini."

Natsuki watched the older girl throughout her conversation on the phone. She was curious on who was Shizuru's talking with. The moment the older girl had hang up the phone, she asked her immediately.

"Who is it?"

"It's Takeda-san, he's asking where I've been into."

"Why would he care anyway? Since when did you and Takeda become close?"

"…"

Natsuki glanced at Shizuru as she noticed the girl didn't respond. She find it weird on why Takeda would anyway care for Shizuru.

"Shizuru, what's wrong?"

"Oh…nothing is wrong, but we need to talk about certain matter."

-Few minutes had passed-

Shizuru was in state of total confusion. She wanted Natsuki to be part of her life again but her parents were dictators of her life. Natsuki waited patiently as she quietly watched the older girl.

"Natsuki…I don't know."

Natsuki just stared incredulously at the disturbed woman. It doesn't make sense to her at all. First, she found Shizuru in front of her approached and kissed her like a long lost lover but now it was all different, they were not lovers at all. She noticed that Shizuru was having an inner debate in herself. She was afraid that Shizuru might be playing on her feelings and now regretting with what she'd done.

"Are you fucking messing up with me?"

Natsuki stood and snapped at last as she asked with cold and temper arising from her voice. She hated the fact that Shizuru might just had pitied on her and wanted to comfort her at least, never did she really planned to come back with her. Her green orbs sparkling, making it show the feeling of anguish and betrayal as she stared coldly to the red pools that went wide with shock.

"Tell me woman, do you just pitied on me? 'Cause if you do, you may leave now and be gone forever. I don't need your sympathy!"

Shizuru looked at the raging girl in her total bewilderment. She was thinking of a solution on how to explain to Natsuki her situation so that they can together figure out a way on how to face their major problem but Natsuki was making it worst.

"Damn it Natsuki! I love you! How could you think I just pitied you! You stupid! Is that how you know me?"

Shizuru stood and hit Natsuki's shoulder repeatedly as she started crying again. She thought that Natsuki was being unfair to her. She's trying her very best to work things out after she had decided to stay with Natsuki's side but the blue haired girl wasn't helping. As to Natsuki's part, she became speechless. It was her first time that she heard Shizuru cursed and telling her that the older girl loves her. She didn't know on how to stop Shizuru from crying so she just hugged her as she soother her back.

"I'm sorry...Shh…its okay. I'm sorry…"

End of Chapter 8

Please leave a review thanks.

A/N: Next time they will try to settle things out.