Disclaimer: Not mine - if it was it probably still wouldn't be finished =/

A/N: It's alive! Alive! Sorry for the epic nearly two year wait, I truly hope this chapter proves worth it! Without further adieu...

Chapter Five

"Do you always drive like a maniac Kuga-san?" growled Haruka as she tugged off her helmet with shaking hands, her eyes glaring through a slightly unfocused haze as Natsuki pulled her 'baby' up onto its stand.

Even once the bike was steady Natsuki kept her back to Haruka, chewing her bottom lip and pretending she hadn't heard so she wouldn't have to answer – she didn't have an answer. She'd thought she'd been driving quite carefully, especially in comparison to her normal driving style – she'd even kept to the speed limits…mostly…

Her thoughts were halted suddenly by a soft hand with a rough grip yanking her around.

"Don't ignore me you idiot! You could've killed us!" raged Haruka, her grip tightening with every word, so tight that she stumbled into a wall when Natsuki yanked her arm away furiously.

"You're alive aren't you? Stop manhandling me!" Natsuki spat, rubbing over where Haruka's iron grasp had resided, as though the throbbing ache was as painful as the blow to her pride. She thought she was a good driver, and someone who couldn't even drive a car – let alone a bike – had no right to say otherwise! What would she know? Silly little chauffeur driven chit!

Natsuki was just about ready to blow and tell Haruka exactly what her opinion was worth, when she noticed how unsteady the blonde still was, "Oi! Are you alright Suzushiro-san?"

Haruka didn't answer straight away, leaning heavily on the wall she'd stumbled into, breathing slowly and deeply with her head resting against the cold bricks. She looked so vulnerable, and Natsuki felt an unfamiliar sensation surge through her – protectiveness. In three quick steps the blunette was at Haruka's side, a tentative hand on the blonde's back, "Suzushiro-san? What's wrong?" murmured softly into her ear. Natsuki could feel the blonde trembling, and guilt tore through her. Had the ride really shaken the disciplinarian up that much?

"Nothing. I'm fine."

Short words, and far from reassuring. Natsuki ignored them, knowing they were a lie. She should know, it was one she told repeatedly – and if Haruka were really fine, then she wouldn't have to say it. She'd have shrugged Natsuki's hand away and straightened herself up, probably with another not so subtle remark about the blunette's motor skills and sanity.

She'd be loud and feisty.

She was too quiet.

Forgetting everything else, that alone make Natsuki worried - and guilty – and she desperately needed to fix things; if only to get rid of those annoyingly unsettling feelings. But how?

Chewing her bottom lip again, nervously, she took one more step towards Haruka, gently pulling the blonde so that she was leaning into the biker instead of the wall. Almost instantly she felt Haruka stiffen, but it was too late to back down, and she pushed the blonde's head into her nook, trying clumsily to comfort her. It felt strange and somewhat uncomfortable, but it worked in the manga she read...now if she could just remember what next...she should speak?

"It's okay Suzushiro-san, you're okay now," she said, her head awkwardly askew to avoid a mouth full of hair, the words sounding wrong from her the minute she said them. She sounded too much like a manga character, sounding fake even though she really was concerned. She knew it, but she still didn't expect the consequence – Haruka ripping herself out of the blunette's arms, trying to beat on her weakly, struggling when Natsuki caught her arms easily and held them firm.

"I know I'm okay, let go of me! Scheming cad! You planned this didn't you? Let go of me! Indecent fake-"

"-I was trying to help! Not my fault you're pathetic-"

"-Pathetic? A victim of your madness-"

"-Hardly a victim! Privileged, I could've left you-"

"-I wish you had! Vile biker maniac-"

"-I must be to put up with you!"

Natsuki had let go, but they were still so close, chests heaving as they glared at each other with a fiery passion, blood racing. The blunette caught sight of Haruka's moist lips, soft despite of the rough words that slipped between them, and for a moment she leant in...

...straight into a slap that sent her reeling.

Her hand instantly went to her stinging cheek, eyes wide in disbelief, staring at Haruka's open palm still hanging in the air, "What the fuck?"

Haruka's hand clenched angrily at Natsuki's explicit, her posture rigid and tightly controlled so that clenching was all her fist did.

" You're supposed to be proving you're a decent person Kuga-san, right now you're acting like filth!" she lectured, holding up a quick impatient hand to halt Natsuki's retort, "It's true! You fail to bring your wallet to a dinner you should be buying, then proceed to act insane and terrify me-" were spat, difficult to admit "-and then you have the nerve to invade personal space and insult me! That's 'putting up' with me? Call me a taxi Kuga-san, I'm clearly wasting my time with you!"

The words were spoken so bitterly, so coldly, that Natsuki couldn't do anything except open and close her mouth in stunned silence. She wasn't that bad was she? Even if she was, Haruka was just as awful! And she was the one who'd forced them into this stupid position in the first place!

So why did it hurt to hear that she wanted to finish it?

"Haruka-"

"-Don't be so familiar!"

Natsuki swallowed as Haruka cut her off, feeling uncertain all of a sudden, not sure what she should do. She could call a taxi like the blonde had ordered...but she didn't want to. She wasn't sure why, perhaps she just wanted to prove the woman wrong, but she didn't want to let Haruka go.

"Suzushiro-san..."

What could she say? Kami, she'd wanted to make things better, for some reason wanted to prove she was decent, but how could she? She'd made such a mess of things. This was why she didn't get close to people – she wasn't even close to Haruka and she felt bad for being harsh, even though Haruka had been so as well. She shouldn't care, it was easier if she didn't care, so why the hell did she? It was frustrating and she felt like an idiot, and she hated feeling like that, hated Haruka for making her feel like that. She wanted to snap at the blonde, to make her feel bad as well, but then how was that proving she was decent?

Why did she care about proving she was decent?

Choking down a growl, she tried not to snarl and say something sarcastic...because while right now she didn't know much, she knew she really didn't want to call that taxi, and that meant she somehow had to convince Haruka it was worth her time to stay. Even if she didn't know why, she knew she had to, or else it'd eat away at her. She had to deal with this, get it all fixed and straightened out. Perhaps if she proved herself she could go back to not giving a damn what the blonde or anyone else thought of her.

"Suzushiro-san...I...you shouldn't go before you've eaten."

Was that really the best she could come up with? She wouldn't apologize, not when Haruka had been snappy at her, but really? She all but gnashed her teeth together in frustration at the entire situation, she was in so far out of her depth it was beyond pitiful...she was not pitiful damn it!

"You...I shook you up, and on an empty stomach, you shouldn't go anywhere like that-"

"-Get to the point Kuga-san."

Gah! Gods she wished Haruka would shut up! Couldn't the woman see this was already awkward as hell? Difficult? She made Natsuki just want to shout at her!

Taking a deep calming breath, the blunette counted to ten in her mind, and then again.

"You can't go home like that, and obviously me driving you anywhere is a crap idea. You should come upstairs at least until you're settled," she ground out evenly, barely finishing before Haruka was starting again.

"And how will that help Kuga-san? You want to keep 'putting up' with me? And leaving me hungry? Thoughtless, selfish-

"I'll cook! I'll cook for you damn it!" Natsuki snapped before she could stop herself, "You can recover from your terror and I'll cook so you're not hungry, and then you can accept I'm decent and stop getting under my skin!"

Silence.

A long drawn out silence.

And they were glaring at each other again.

And it was starting to rain, could it get any worse? Or perhaps better?

"Please Suzushiro-san," Natsuki began again, feeling calmer as the first cold drops hit her skin, "even if you don't want to stay, it's starting to rain, you can't wait for a taxi out here."

Any other situation, and Natsuki would have left her in the rain, would have gone into the dry and said hell to her, but as it was, she waited. Looking at the blonde, not patiently exactly, but with more leniency then she normally allowed for anyone. A forced consideration as her hair was slowly getting weighed down by the heavy drops.

"...Fine..."

"Thank you"

With that the 'ice princess' turned on her heel and strode towards the dimly lit apartment block entrance, taking the loud muttering behind her as a sign that Haruka was following.

With a bit of fumbling and some steep stairs, they were in Natsuki's apartment – or rather Natsuki was in her apartment, and Haruka was gawking from the doorway.

"This is where you live?" gasped Haruka, frozen in place as she got a good look, riling Natsuki up with her – as Natsuki saw it – unwarranted surprise.

"No, I decided to break in somewhere random – of course this is where I live!" she snarked, "What were you expecting? A slum?"

Not that she would admit it, but yes, that had been exactly the executive director had expected. At first glance, Natsuki's abode did not live up to that expectation. For one thing it was clean...sure there were probably dishes left in a sink somewhere, but as Haruka carefully stepped further inside she saw that it was actually...nice.

Glancing around she saw evidence of order, the living room that made up the entrance divvied up into two sections. The first was typical, a cheap but decent enough T.V against a wall with a worn comfy looking sofa facing it, and a coffee table in between, along with various other bits and pieces that Haruka didn't look too closely at. It was the second half of the room at caught the blonde's attention.

Against the same wall as the T.V but further along was a desk. A cluttered and obviously well used desk. Above it was a pin-board with photos and notes stuck helter-skelter all over it – though Haruka didn't get to see what exactly; Natsuki had immediately gone to it and flipped it, so Haruka could only see bare cork. Next to the desk was a stack of books, presumably school related, and from the lack of obvious dust seemingly often read. It was shocking. She started wandering towards them, shoe-clad feet sinking into a plushy carpet, but was stopped by a stern faced Natsuki.

"Go sit down Suzushiro-san, see what's on if you want," it was said politely, but firmly in a tone that allowed no arguments, which only served to heighten Haruka's curiosity. Trying to glance around the curvy blunette, her vision was obscured as said blunette side-stepped, "Sit. Down."

"I'm not a dog Kuga-san!" barked Haruka, moving towards the sofa anyway, realising she might as well seeing as she seemed to be stuck there for the moment. Sitting down and staring at the blank T.V, she waited to Natsuki to join her and turn the darn thing on.

And waited.

And waited.

And then scowled and turned to look over the back of the couch to see where the...hell...Kuga...

Wow.

Haruka hadn't noticed, but off to the side, the living room opened onto a kitchen alcove. She noticed now. How could she not, when Natsuki was busying herself about it?

Natsuki had pulled her hair up into a loose ponytail and was bent over hunting about in a cupboard...a low cupboard...showcasing a most delectable rear...

Ahhh!

Haruka tore her eyes away, rubbing them with the palms of her hands – what was she thinking? She was supposed to be annoyed with the blunette – angry even – not admiring her...assets...gah! Being around the delinquent was turning Haruka into a pervert! It was unacceptable!

Fixing her gaze firmly on the blank television screen, she resisted the urge to turn back. She was better than that! She would not allow the corrupting influence of her company to penetrate her – she was the Executive Director of the Suzushiro Executive Team! She was the moral backbone of...everything! She must be strong! She must not look! Not even want to look!

...

But by Kami, Kuga was toned! Maybe a little peak would be okay...

No!

She, Haruka, would stay firm – like Kuga's ass...

Damn it!

Hanging her head, she took a deep breath and started mentally reciting Kuga's educational rap sheet: truancy, trespass, unacceptable vehicular use on campus (and off apparently), tardiness, disrespecting an authority figure (more than one, more than once)...so many different offences, the blunette had a file an inch thick and growing. She had no discipline. Even during this evening, during her first 'proper' punishment, the blunette had shown little regard for the fact that that's what it was – and Haruka was letting her!

Haruka shook herself mentally. She'd let Kuga take hold of the situation and dictate the terms – it had to stop!

She had to regain control – by any means necessary – and make sure Natsuki learned her place.

Standing up, quickly before she could reconsider, she headed over towards where Natsuki was cooking – thanking whatever gods would listen that the blunette had stood up – and paused just behind her. She'd give the girl one more chance.

"What're you cooking?" she asked, demanded even, trying to startle Natsuki and scowling when the biker didn't even flinch.

"I thought I said you should sit down?"

"And I said I'm not a dog! What are you cooking Kuga-san?"

"Ramen. Now go sit."

Haruka's temper bristled at being dismissed, reaffirming her conviction that the delinquent didn't know her place.

"How about I don-"

The start of her tirade was cut off by a sudden loud smash and roar that made both women spin around towards the sound. Haruka felt herself being shoved behind Natsuki forcefully, having caught the barest glimpse of the lounge wall having been blown in, debris littering the carpet and the sofa shredded.

"Shit!" Natsuki cursed, her hands clawing at the air by her hips, "Haruka, stay here!"

The blonde was about to protest, but was unable to get the words out as Natsuki's palm slammed into her stomach, sending her crashing into the cupboards unable to say a word. Fury built within her, her hands already on the ground to help her stand, when she saw something that took all the strength out of her.

Standing, slouching, in the gap torn in the brickwork was a huge black creature with glowing red eyes. Haruka had no words to describe it, beyond that it was a monster. A lethal looking monster – and it was focused entirely on the boldly standing biker, whose body was the only thing keeping it from seeing Haruka and her wide eyed gaze. The blonde's breathing got heavier, her view flickering between the...the creature, and Natsuki. What was the biker doing? The thing could tear her apart!

"Natsu-"

"Don't move Haruka-san. No matter what."

The air near Natsuki's hands rippled and was displaced as two tiny handguns formed, the rebel's fingers closing around them in an instant, and the second she had a grip she was in motion. Deafening cracks resounded throughout the apartment as the biker flitted forwards, keeping Haruka hidden for as long as she could while she distracted the monster with gunfire and rapid movements. Her heart was in her throat as the thing seemed to shrug off her icy bullets, roaring in nothing more than annoyance as it lashed out, forcing the brunette to jump and flip out of the way, onto her hands and the her feet again as she dodged shadowy tentacles and claws, firing as she went, praying that Haruka would stay still and quiet, praying the monster wouldn't notice.

She had to make sure the Orphan wouldn't notice.

Realising her guns were useless she let them dissolve, and then quickly sprinted to her desk, flipping it towards the creature with little hope.

The desk splintered on impact, and the Orphan snarled and shrank back briefly, recovering quickly but not before Natsuki saw. Not before her hope blazed.

Grabbing a small stack of books the blunette darted nimbly about, dodging and weaving and launching the heavy texts into every opening. The Orphan slide back, its heavy head lolling to the side.

Seeing barely a second in time that the Orphan was about to glimpse wavy hair, Natsuki threw herself recklessly forwards into it, bringing her knee up and the heels of her hands down, colliding her limbs with the monster's head in a crushing pincer motion. It felt it, its hard flesh yielding slightly as it screeched its pain, flinging its head back and tossing Natsuki carelessly into a wall.

Haruka was frozen, horrified, willing herself to move forwards but unable. Natsuki's word's clear in her mind, the spot on her stomach where Natsuki had shoved her feeling icy.

The biker let out a wheezing cry and Haruka burned inside, unable to look away, her breath catching...but not like Natsuki's.

Her breathing was shallow, laboured, and the Orphan was slowly approaching her, moving in for the kill, as caught by her cry as Haruka was.

Their focus was entirely on her.

Natsuki smiled.

Smiled and clawed at the wall, desperate for purchase as she pulled herself up, wincing and gritting her teeth behind her grimly upturned lips. Refusing to let another cry escape her. Refusing herself that weakness as she forced herself to stand strong. Her muscles were screaming at her, cursing her as they protested the movement. She ignored them. Trying to ignore the pain as she unwaveringly stared at her opposition.

It was almost rude really...indecent perhaps...the absurdity of the thought making her chuckle darkly.

"Indecent...to be...decent," she choked out, the humour lost to the air, hanging.

The Orphan was nearly upon her, moving more quickly now, regaining itself with every slither.

Forcing herself to breathe in deeply, she felt herself grow cold and numb, her eyes hardening.

If she couldn't defeat this thing...no...she had to.

Had to win.

Had to protect.

Had to.

Trembling with effort she re-summoned and then span her guns as she brought her arms up rapidly, the ground beneath her glowing as her arms crossed, coming undone as her whole body turned, the floor ablaze in a circle of luminous blue as she snapped her arms down again, opening her mouth to complete the summoning.

The Orphan lunged.

~Omake~

Haruka: Kuga-san...is protecting me?

Shizuru: Na-tsu-ki is risking her life for Suzushiro-san?

JLE1993: She is, isn't that decent and brave and-

Natsuki: What's gonna happen to my mayo?

JLE1993: *facepalm*