LEGEND:

" - CONVERSATIONS

' - ITALIC - THOUGHTS

CHAPTER FOUR.

Alarm.

An arm reached the bed side table and hit the alarm.

Snooze.

After ten minutes.

Alarm.

Same arm reached for the clock.

Snooze.

After ten minutes.

Alarm.

The arm again reached out. Nothing. Arm was blindly looking for the digital clock that is loudly beeping. Nothing.

Owner of the said arm was groaning.

" That damn clock had better not ran away. "

A chuckle was heard and the person on the bed raised her head and emerald eyes peeked out.

She glared. " You. "

He smiled. " Yes? "

" It's still so early and I already feel like murdering someone. " She said heavily. Voice still filled with sleep.

He raised his eyebrow. " Should I be worried? " He mused. He then placed the digital clock back to the bed side table and pressed off on the alarm.

Shuffling was heard and he went to look at the occupant of the bed who was removing the bed covers and was now standing. His eyes stared and try as he might, he could not avert his eyes away from the woman clad in a dark blue silk nighties that reached just above her knees but still short enough to see long flawless legs. Her right arm reached out and went to her hair as she ran her hand through them. A quick stretch and she looked to her right, looking at her guest who seemed to have found her wide balcony more interesting than her.

She wore her robe that she had discarded last night and went straight to her guest.

She stood in front of him, towering him since he was sitting. He looked up and she placed her left arm on her hip.

" Good morning, Natsuki. " He greeted with a smile.

" Good morning, Julian. " She greeted back and reached out, pulling him up and towards her for a hug.

Her arms went around his waist and his went to her back. Pressing her closer to him. He gave her a tight squeeze before his hands went down on her arms and took her hands.

He was tall, dark blonde tousled hair, pointed nose, thin lips, clear blue eyes. He was handsome, perfect. An outsider will see them as a perfect and beautiful couple.

" Still not a morning person, eh? " He then asked after a few moment of comfortable silence.

" Never gonna happen. " She replied and opened her bedroom door and started going downstairs.

Coffee filled her nose the moment she reached the bottom of the stairs. She looked towards her kitchen and saw Mai cooking.

When she went to her living room, she immediately saw her friends. She grumbled to herself on how they were hogging her place so early in the morning.

Nao was on her couch with her feet propped up on her coffee table, remote on hand and sports on. Rylai was on one of her love seat, her legs curled on her side and laptop on the arm of her couch. Chie and Aoi were busy fixing the table for breakfast.

" Yo, mutt! " Nao called out.

She went straight to her kitchen and Mai handed her her coffee and gave Mai a quick thaks and went to sit on the couch next to Nao.

" Last time I checked, you all have your own houses, so why are you all hogging my place? " she said to them as she looked at them one by one.

Chie looked at her and gave a nonchalant shrug. " We like your place better, Natsuki. " Aoi just nodded. " I, on the other hand, just want to make sure that you are working " Rylai then turned to her.

" You? " She asked Nao with a raised eyebrow.

" Nah, I just want to annoy you in the morning. " She smirked.

" And I just want to make sure that you are eating healthy food and not always take outs. " Mai called out from the kitchen. " Breakfast is ready, c'mon. "

They all went to the table and Julian was already drinking his chocolate drink while conversing with Aoi and Chie.

Breakfast was loud, full of bickering, teasing, eye rolling and death threats.

After breakfast they all got ready to go to work. Knowing that they all went to her place, she assumed that they all brought their work clothes with them. She was right. They went down to the parking lot to get their car.

" Did you bring your car? " The bluenette asked Julian. " You can ride with me. "

" Awesome. I left my car at my place. Nao gave me a ride here. " He answered.

They went inside Natsuki's car and she placed her iPod on the dock and hit shuffle.

" How come they knew you were coming and I didn't? " She asked while concentrating on the road.

" Well, I wanted to surprise you. Also, it was a last minute decision. Alyssa was supposed to have come with me, however, your father requested that I leave immediately and Alyssa would just follow. " He explained while looking out the window.

" Oh, when is she arriving? " She asked with a smile, knowing that she will get to be with Alyssa.

" Sometime this week, probably. " He answered her with a smile. He was happy that she was going to see her favorite person.

They entered the KC building and was immediately greeted by her staff. They used the private elevator and went to their desired floor and started the day.

" I will just review some of the reports that we have. Make sure we don't have any problem or that we did not miss out any issues. " Julian said as he went to sit on the couch with paper works on hand and booting up his laptop.

Natsuki went to her table and opened her pc. She looked at Julian and nodded. She opened her email and went through them. Deleted some that are not important and have been read.

" I will make sure that you have an office to use. It's not comfortable working on the couch. And I don't want father saying that I'm bullying his favorite " The blunette

said while rolling her eyes.

He laughed at that. " If I was his favorite, he would have had us married years ago. " He mused.

" You wish. " She fired back and more laughing came from the blonde man.

The day went on as it normally goes. They all went on lunch together and Natsuki made sure that all her staff are comfortable and are taken care of. From the facilities, the offices and even in the cafeteria. She made sure that the food that they have are proper and that the environment was comfortable.

Natsuki went back to her office earlier than the rest after they had lunch. She said she had some things to finish, although they know that Rylai had checked and made sure everything was already done. They just let her go back, thinking that she may need some space for herself.

She rode the lift, waiting until she reached her floor. She sat and looked at her email again. There was still that email that she has not opened ever since she got in earlier that day. Her cursor hovered at the highlighted name, unsure if she wants to double click it to open the mail.

It read; From: Fujino, Shizuru. Received: 8:00 AM.

On her monitor, it read, 12:51 PM.

She let out a sigh and looked away.

She looked back and clicked on the mail.

She read the mail. It was a simple and personal message.

From: Fujino, Shizuru.

Thank you for the invitation. I will make sure that we are available on the said date.

Take care.

Fujino, Shizuru.

CEO, FCorp.

The rest of the days went by and the date for the gathering will be on a week. On a Friday night, they decided to go out and have some drinks.

Their table were full of liquors, buckets, shots. Food were everywhere. The club was full on a friday night and was loud.

Her attention could not be taken away on their table as they all laughed, joked and horsed around.

Until a familiar face came to their table. They looked at him and greetings came after.

He then looked at Natsuki who was downing her shot. It burned her throat, just like the way she likes it. She looked up and stared back at him.

Awkward silence followed, until..

" It is true then, that you are back. " He said loudly, making sure he was heard through the loud music.

" Can't keep me away for long. " She answered.

He shook his head with amusement. " No one wanted you gone, Natsuki-san. "

" Now that, is the understatement of the year. " She fired back. " Or did you had an accident and hit your head and you can't remember a word you said, Kanzaki? "

He straightened his back and clenched his jaw. He knew something like this will happen the moment he went over to their table. He just did not expect it to happen in a crowded club. The occupants of the said table was silent.

" We both know that I was just looking out for her, nothing else. I would never step in between you two. I would never do that to you, and definitely, not to her. " He defended.

" Sure Kanzaki. Keep saying that to yourself. Once you're done making yourself believe that, come and see me and tell me who exactly believed a word you said. "

She challenged. They were both staring and Natsuki hated that he was in front of her. She hated that they went to this damn bar and ended up seeing one of the people she did not want to see. She hated that he got under her skin, six years ago.

He opened his mouth to say something else, but she cut him off.

" Don't. Just don't say another word or don't even stand in front of me or even breathe the same air that I'm breathing right now. " She was seething.

He then gave her a smug look. " You do know, no matter how rich you are now, there is no way that you can own the air that you and I are breathing. "

She answered with a grin of her own and stood up. " Now, there he is. The Kanzaki that I am talking about. Finally showed your real color. What? Got no more good things to come out of your mouth? "

" Kuga-san... " He said lowly.

" Walk away, Kanzaki. " She spit out.

A hand grabbed Reito's left arm and pulled him to the side. " Reito-kun? "

Shizuru, together with Haruka showed up.

Natsuki had to internally roll her eyes. Not believing that they just suddenly showed up and saved his ass. What was the name of this bar or club or whatever again?

" Your friend here is lost, Fujino. " Nao said, while pointing at Reito and drinking her beer. " Better take him away. " She placed her beer on the table. " Now. "

Shizuru looked at Nao who then averted her eyes towards Natsuki and back to her crimson eyes. The brunette looked at Reito who was having a staring contest with Natsuki, who was flushed and was scowling. She knew from the mess on their table that they have been in the club for a while and had far too much to drink.

She was staring at Natsuki, who had her hair up and most of her hair was on her left shoulder, showing off her pale neck and strong shoulders. The dip on her dress showed enough cleavage to tease, the black dress was perfect on her and she was sure she had matching black heels to go with it.

" Our table is over there, Reito. " Haruka called out and broke the staring contest. For some unknown reason, she knew she had to say something to break the silence.

" We should go, Yukino-san already ordered for us. It's rude to keep her waiting. " The brunette then spoke, pulling on his arm. " Reito. " She called again, louder this time.

" Yeah, you should listen to her, Kanzaki. You should go. " The bluenette cocked her head to the side, challenging him and had not looked at the brunette yet.

Reito took a step closer and Nao, Chie and Julian automatically stood up. Rylai placed her bottle on the table, Mai and Aoi shifted on their seat.

Shizuru stepped closer to Reito and squeezed his arm, wanting to get his attention. Whatever was happening she knew it was not good.

Natsuki was now crossing her arms defiantly, Nao was standing straight and was making her way around the table, closer to where they stood. Mai has her hand at Natsuki's back while Chie was standing beside Natsuki, one hand fixing her glasses.

" I was just merely chatting with them, Shizuru, I'm sure there is nothing wrong with that. " Reito said to the brunette as he turned his head towards her.

" Sure, you were. Very interesting conversation you were having with Natsuki. As you can see, we have been drinking for a while and has been in here for a couple of hours already, but that does not mean we can't understand exactly what you are trying to say, Kanzaki. " Nao answered him instead and was now standing near Reito and Shizuru, her arms on her side and with a serious face on. The fact that she just used the bluenettes name and not the nickname she always say, shows that she means business.

" Hey, hold it. What exactly is your problem, Yuuki? " Haruka then asked going near the red head. Rylai then stood up and was going now to Nao's side, she knew she would not hesitate starting anything.

" Take your boyfriend away, Fujino. No one wants him here. And believe me when I say no one. " The red head ignored the growling Haruka and kept her eyes on the brunette.

Shizuru gave a nod of understanding and let out a tired sigh. She needs to know what exactly is happening and what is the issue between them.

" Reito-kun, let's go. Now. " She stepped in front of the raven haired man, blocking his view of the blunette.

Reito looked at the brunette in front of him and tried to look pass her, but she would not move. " Okay. " He then took a step back and turned around and started walking away, followed by Haruka.

Shizuru watched as he walked away, walking very stiffly, his shoulders was not moving and were steady.

She turned around and faced the beautiful bluenette and can't help but stare. Her attention however, was on the man walking away.

" Natsuki.. " She called out. Emerald went to meet crimson. " I apologize. I don't know what happened, but he was definitely being rude. I hope he did not cause too much tension. "

The bluenette was staring at her. Taking her in. She would not back down if the bluenette would stare at her, she will welcome it and will give the same favor. Even if she was getting a blank stare.

Natsuki blinked. Twice. She looked on her left, then back at the brunette. " No, don't apologize. " She answered then. " Like you said, you don't know what happened. "

The brunette's eyebrow scrunched. Natsuki was talking cryptic towards her. She doesn't know what happened just now? Or does it go way back, further than what occurred just now?

" You shouldn't keep them waiting. " They were staring.

" I know. " The brunette answered but was not making any indication that she was leaving.

" You should go. " She said softly.

" Okay. " But she didn't want to leave.

The bluenette gave her a nod, she gave a small smile. She said her goodbye to everyone and walked away.

Natsuki was staring at her. Soft eyes were following her as she move her way towards their table.

As soon as Shizuru was seated, her crimson eyes searched and found emerald eyes on her. She held her eyes, does not want to break their silent communication.

Now, Shizuru knows that the person looking at her is the Natsuki that she knows, the person she has longed for and also, the same person who left her. And then there was that pain again. Her heart hurts.

They both looked away.

After an hour, Natsuki's party left. An hour after, they left.

AN: I know it's been ages! Sorry for the long wait. I just started to write again and edited some parts. All mistakes are mine. ALSO, I AM SO STILLLLL NOT USED TO EDITING THE STORY HERE IN FF. GRRRRR.. I'M SO SORRY if you get confused on some scenarios.. deymm..

Please R&R. Thank you!