Chapter 2 – I won't give up
A/N: Wow! Thank you so much for the reviews/faves/follows! I didn't expect that as I only wrote this for fun - didn't even proofread like usual and the flow of the story was just spontaneous. But anyway, awesome people, I hope you enjoy this.
Chapter 1
Sighing deeply, she spoke truthfully. "There's nothing to talk about. It's over. We're over. You left me right? Don't you remember?" Hurt and pain still reverberated within those words.
"Shizuru, please, please… can we please talk?"
-x—
Shizuru was having internal turmoil, her fragile heart fighting against her rational brain. While she had not yet totally moved on, she was more stable than when Natsuki had first left her. She thought she would die – yes that was exactly how she felt two years ago. Betrayed. Broken. Abandoned.
Baby steps she was recovering, little steps she was slowly starting to live her life again. And just when she thought she could soon get over her ex-lover, Natsuki would again destroy the little progress she had made by coming back. Two years of no communication and now she would show up unexpectedly. What the heck.
She's your past. Let's leave it like that.
No, everyone deserves a second chance!
Glaring back at those pained emerald eyes, it all came back to her in full swing – the pain, the betrayal, the heartache. Natsuki was wearing the same pained expression on her face when she decided to leave her. Pulling her arm aggressively, she turned about facing the dressing room door and turning the knob open. Halfway inside, she stopped and spoke menacingly without looking back.
"Please just this one… Do me a favor. Never show your face in front of me ever again."
Those words resounded so loudly in her ears that she hadn't even heard the angry slam of the door. She felt as if she was slapped hard in the face with those harsh words. Leaning her forehead on the door and her hand resting on the doorknob, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
"Shizuru, I know you can hear me. I won't give up until you talk to me. I won't give up on you."
With that, Natsuki left. Shizuru was leaning her back on the door, her heart thumping erratically. Natsuki, why? Why must you come back? Why must you confuse me?
-x-
Kriiiiiing Kriiiiing
"Hello?"
"Natsuki? How did it go?"
"Mai…" Natsuki sighed. "She really hated me… I can't blame her though. I'm such an ass."
"Hmm… That's good news."
"Oi? Didn't you hear me, Mai?" Natsuki was starting to get annoyed. "She HATES me!"
"Really Natsuki? Are you dumb or dumber? The fact that she hates you means she still loves you! Idiot!"
Natsuki was silent for a moment before she spoke uncertainly. "You think so?"
"Trust me! I'm the love expert. Hating you is much better than her being indifferent. Only shows your girl is still under your cunning magical spell."
"Shut up!" Natsuki finally felt relieved, her lips curling into a smile. "Thanks Mai."
"Anytime! Just shout if there's anything I could help you with. Though I think Shizuru would kill me first for that sneaky request. She now knows I'm your spy."
"Thanks for doing this Mai. This time, I won't let her go. I just hope I'm not too late."
"Better late than never right? You'll be fine, Natsuki."
"Later."
-x-
The following morning, Shizuru had had to apply more make-up than usual to cover the dark circles under her eyes. With the recent events transpiring in the speed of a bullet, Hypnos and Morpheus failed to join her company last night. She was literally a walking zombie – but a beautiful one indeed.
Doing things on auto-pilot, she dressed quickly, grabbed her handbag and went out of the house. Breakfast was in the least of her priorities. Right on cue, the familiar white Mercedes Marco Polo campervan stopped in front of her.
With her busy schedule as the CEO of Fujino Conglomerate and part-time model, host and singer, she could not afford the luxury of traveling back home every so often thus spending most of her time living in the campervan. Today would be a hectic one as she had company meetings in the morning running until afternoon and modeling at night. Way to go!
As she pulled open the door, she conveniently slumped on the comfortable leather seat, sighing deeply as fatigue and migraine seemed to cooperate as one and harass her at the same time. Slowly, the car moved, its engine humming softly in the background.
For twenty minutes or so, she was enjoying the ride, soothing and relaxing. Glancing at the window, she was mesmerized by the scenery before her. However, she suddenly felt odd as this was not the usual way they went to office.
"Ara, Kazuya, why are we using this junction? I must hurry as my meeting will start by 8 AM sharp."
However, Kazuya neither acknowledged nor responded. He just kept on driving, his hand on the steering wheel.
Shizuru, trying to calm her growing annoyance, gently tap her driver on the shoulder. "Kazuya?"
They locked eyes in the rear-view mirror – crimsons staring at azure blue. No wait, that's not blue!? E-emeralds! The brunette had to blink her eyes to get her bearings when all the same, amused emeralds were staring back at her from time to time. Her jaw dropped. Her façade shattered.
"YOU!" Shizuru blurted so shockingly, her crimson eyes almost closed to popping.
"Yes I am. At your service, my queen!" Natsuki answered, her eyebrow arched teasingly while maintaining the smooth drive of the car. She almost wanted to laugh hysterically seeing the priceless expression of her ex-lover.
"What are you doing?" The brunette demanded with authority and cold savageness.
"I think... this is called... driving?" Natsuki was absolutely enjoying herself annoying her passenger at the back. She was mentally giving herself high-five for a job well done, catching the brunette off-guard. Oh my goodness, I really missed you so much Shizuru! Everything about you.
"Tch, I know you are driving." Shizuru answered, her composure gone with the wind. "But why are you the one driving?" She could not believe how careless and unmindful she had become. Ara, I must be really so exhausted! I so hate myself! Sneaky woman!
"I demand you to stop the car right now!"
"Can't. Sorry, we're now in the middle of highway. Doing so would cause unnecessary accident. That's basic rule in driving along the highway right?" As it was, Natsuki was pushing her luck, irritating her ex-lover even more. Shizuru could only roll her eyes in response.
"I'm going to call the police. This is kidnapping!" Shizuru threatened as she started rummaging through her handbag.
"Wait, wait…" Natsuki called. "Correction. You freely and willingly entered the car. I did not even force you. I don't think that could count as kidnapping." Natsuki glanced at the rear-view mirror again, winking mischievously at her as she watched Shizuru narrowing her angry crimson eyes.
"Oh, are you looking for this?" Natsuki opened the top compartment retrieving the iPhone and holding it teasingly in one hand.
"That's my phone! Wow, after kidnapping now resorting to stealing?" Shizuru tried to grab her phone back but the driver sneakily swerved her hand away from her passenger.
"Whoa, hold on there, my sweetheart. That's two accusations already!" Natsuki responded cheekily. "FYI, you left this at the studio yesterday. Mai gave it to me to hand it back to you."
"Well.. give it back to me now!" She tried to steal the phone away but Natsuki again deflected her attacks.
"What? So you can make a call? I don't think so." She cocked her head mockingly.
"I said give my phone to me!" Shizuru again demanded heatedly.
"Fine…" Sighing in defeat, Natsuki handed over the phone, with the brunette grabbing it a bit too ruthlessly. Instantly, the brunette was about to make a call when she realized one thing. What… dead battery!? Seriously!?
Natsuki stared at her from the mirror, her lips curling wickedly as she tried her best to hold her laughter. Shizuru breathed deeply, totally ticked off by her ex-lover's pranks.
"Lend me your charger…"
"No please?" Natsuki called from the driver's seat.
Shizuru grunted audibly forcing the word in her lips. "Please?"
"Sure." Natsuki again opened the compartment, searching for the phone cable. "Here…" She was handing her the cable charger. "Oh but this is Samsung." Natsuki replied casually.
"Very funny." Shizuru answered sarcastically, her hands curling into fists. As if I could use that!
"What? I dunno… you might still want to try and see it for yourself. You'll never know right? Might fit..."
"On second thought, give me that cable so I could strangle an annoying stranger like right now."
Quickly, Natsuki hid the cable, out of reach by the brunette. "I change my mind. No more lending, I guess."
After a short while, Shizuru opened the car window, having a brilliant idea on how to finally escape. Natsuki hearing the scraping at the back glanced at the mirror and spoke in alarm.
"Hey, hey, darling, what do you think you're doing!?"
Shizuru was flailing her arms relentlessly trying to get attentions from the nearby cars. "What else? Trying to ask for help! In my opinion, I'm still being kidnapped here."
"Really? You're doing this? Get everyone's attention?" Natsuki paused to catch her breath. "I guess that's not too bad, having a scandal with you right? Famous Fujino heiress together with Awesome Natsuki Kuga. Go on. I won't complain. Get their attention."
Shizuru suddenly realized the repercussions if she would be involved in a scandal and she grudgingly closed the car window. Natsuki sighed in great relief. Whew! That was close!
"Wow, you really planned all this huh?" Shizuru accused furiously. "Do you even have any idea how important my meeting is this morning? And for what? All for your selfish pranks!"
"Don't worry. I've got everything covered. A little twist here and there. What's the use of being a Kuga if I can't get what I want."
"Ugh, you are so annoying." Shizuru was beyond mad. Yesterday, she made up her mind she would do her best to avoid her ex and ironically, here she was spending a luxurious time with her. "I will totally ignore you, until you realize it's best to leave me alone."
"Wait baby, are you serious? You're just gonna ignore me? After all my efforts?" Natsuki was exasperated, her emerald eyes glancing at the mirror every so often. True to her word, Shizuru was looking at the scenery outside, totally ignoring her.
For good ten minutes, Natsuki kept on talking to her but Shizuru only responded with nothing but silence.
"Sigh…." Natsuki kept her eyes on the road, driving in a moderate speed when suddenly she thought of an idea – again, a wonderful idea to annoy her passenger. She again peeked at her in the mirror and grinned to herself. Ignore me huh? Let's see about that.
She started humming softly, her hand beating the steering wheel in a rhythmic pattern.
When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?
Inhale. Exhale. Shizuru commanded her mind and body, trying her best to ignore the infuriating driver singing her heart out. But it was not working well. It was driving her insane slowly, like a ticking time bomb ready to explode anytime. Especially this song.
During their first anniversary, Shizuru surprised Natsuki by singing this song at the restaurant. Yes, that was so romantic during that time. During that time. But now, hearing this song made her remember all those wonderful times they spent together and it was definitely breaking her into pieces. Don't remember. Don't listen to her. Ignore her. Ignore her. Ignore her.
Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
"Will you shut up?" Shizuru was on the losing end, hearing any more lyrics from this song would really drive her nuts.
"Whoa, I thought you're gonna ignore me?" Natsuki asked goofily. "I'm just singing. I kinda feel sleepy. If you want, you can sing for me." Again their eyes locked from the rear-view mirror – annoyed crimson versus amused emeralds.
"Dream on."
"Harsh."
Just then, their banter was ended by the loud grumbling of stomach. Shizuru silently cursed her luck, biting her lips in embarrassment.
"Hm… just like before… you never eat breakfast." Natsuki commented.
"None of your business." She spat viciously.
"Of course it is, I'm kinda distracted hearing a stomach grumbling." She tapped the steering wheel. "Can't focus on driving." She smirked, her husky voice carrying cockiness.
Shizuru crossed her arms on her chest defiantly, glaring at the back of the driver, almost boring hole in the skull.
"Reach at the back. I prepare a breakfast for you." She whispered.
"No thanks, I'd rather go hungry."
"Don't worry, there's no mayo in it. There's also your favorite green tea."
Another loud grumbling and another round of nonstop teasing from the driver made Shizuru comply as she turned her chair around and started digging on the breakfast. Sure enough, Natsuki knew her favorites – croissants and green tea.
Back then, Natsuki would not let her leave their house without eating breakfast. She always made sure the brunette would have a decent one before letting her off as she knew that Shizuru mostly forgot to eat because of her tight schedule.
Remembering those moments brought a lone tear to Shizuru's crimson eye. She treasured every little thing that Natsuki did for her. She could still hear Natsuki's laugh tickling her neck as she would snuggle her before leaving to work. She could still smell that intoxicating green apple scent of her shampoo. She could still feel the lingering kiss as their lips touched and their arms locked around each other. They were so happy. They were so in love with each other. Then why? What made you leave me, Natsuki? How could you?
Wiping the lone tear and shaking her thoughts aside, she finished her food and cleaned afterwards. Dwelling on these unanswered questions would only deepen the scar that Natsuki had left her. Facing the front again, she masked her face with that unreadable guarded expression.
"Like it?" Natsuki asked shortly.
"Hm…"
"Anyway, the ride's gonna be long. Take a nap."
"I'm okay. I'm not sleepy."
After twenty minutes of silent driving, Shizuru was dozing off soundly. Natsuki grinned to herself as she watched the exhausted sleeping beauty resting. Just like before, whenever they went on long trips, Natsuki was always the designated driver and Shizuru was the designated sleepyhead passenger. No matter how much she would insist she wanted to stay awake to keep her company, she still ended up sleeping. Not that Natsuki minded, she even enjoyed watching and hearing her making the cutest sounds in her sleep.
Natsuki's eyes were trained on the road but her mind was with the brunette. She felt grateful that she still had the opportunity to do all these things. She thought that when she left her, that was it. She thought that it was the last time she would ever see her again. And as she bid her goodbye, she thought she would never be happy again.
But here she was, glad for another chance to be with Shizuru. She just hoped that she would really succeed in getting her back. And in order for her to do that, she had to be completely honest with her. She had to tell her everything, including the painful truth she hid two years ago. She did not have a choice back then. Leaving was her only option at that time. Leaving would be less painful for Shizuru than her knowing the truth.
Though if things didn't work out, the very least she was hoping was for Shizuru to forgive her. If after all the effort she made and Shizuru still did not want her back, at least she knew she tried. There would be no more regrets.
Shizuru, if by then you won't accept me back, I will still always and forever love you.
-x-
Hope you enjoy my sneaky romantic Natsuki. I know I mentioned this would be 2 or 3 chapters at most, but I must apologize. I just want this fic's chapters to be fun, short and easygoing. Sorry!