Disclaimer: I don't own Mai Hime.
I think there is no connection this chapter to my story….
I just feel like writing this one….
Yo dude: thanks for reading this story..and thank you for the review and comments…
Chapter 5: Closer
Shizuru is enjoying her tea one morning in a weekend, while Natsuki is drinking her coffee.
Shizuru is enjoying not only her tea but also the comfortable silence between her and Natsuki. She was getting used to it now and she knows any minute from now, Natsuki will break it. And she is waiting for it now. It's like their routine.
And as if Natsuki heard her thoughts.
"Ei, Shizuru, Are tv not allowed here in the dormitory?" Natsuki started the conversation.
"Why do you ask?" Shizuru replied. Somehow, she knows where their conversation will lead them.
"Nothing. But can we have tv here?"
"It depends, I think" So, her first guess is right. Natsuki is bored to death. She can't argue with that because she can see clearly that sometimes in the night, Natsuki is restless and always grouchy.
"But you are the president of the Student Council. I think you can pull some strings."
"Are you taking advantage of my position?" She asked. Maybe I can prolong longer our talking.
"No. What I mean is, can you ask permission for it?"
"I don't know about that." Ho ho ho. She's starting to be cranky.
"But, you can ask right?"
"I thin so."
"Then ask the director." Natsuki demanded.
"If I did that, then everyone will ask permission."
"But-"
"It's a distraction to our studies."
"But-" Natsuki said.
Shizuru looked at Natsuki and her heart squeezed at the sight. Natsuki look like a lost puppy in the wilderness. She doesn't know why but every time Natsuki look like that, she wants to move everything just to see this girl happy. She sighed. She really don't understand but since Natsuki became her roommates, somehow her emotions seems taken a ride in a rollercoaster.
In the end, she gives in.
She dialed the director's number and talked to her. She knows that the director will agree not because of her but because of Krugger's daughter.
---
"So what did she say?" Natsuki asked excitedly.
"It's alright" Shizuru sighed. If possible, she doesn't want any devices that will produce distraction or some noises.
"Really? Then I'll make a phone call. I'll ship my things here. Is that ok with you?"
"I think so. This is also your room."
"Ok."
----
Shizuru open their room and was aghast what she saw. Boxes were scattered everywhere in the room. Trash was also visible. If she lives alone, maybe she will think that her room was invaded by aliens.
She dropped her things in her study table and start picking the trashes and thrown it in their garbage. She sighed. The compensation she saw is that Natsuki arranged the plasma TV, PS3 and dvd player in corner of the room. It's doesn't look like a clutter to her so its ok for her.
She was about to pick the boxes, when she heard the door open.
"Hi Shizuru. I bought pizza. I thought, you will be tired today to make our dinner". Natsuki said and placed the box of pizza in the table. "By the way, I already placed my things; I hope it's not a bother."
Shizuru sighed for a nth time. "Natsuki, why don't you pick these used boxes?"
"Uhm, ok." She cleaned the room then looked at Shizuru. Natsuki thought that she seems unusual today. Maybe tired. "Are you ok Shizuru?"
"Why did you bring your PS3 here?" Shizuru asked ignoring Natsuki.
"Uhm, to use it?"
Shizuru looked at her incredulously. "You will be distracted in your studies with these things."
"No I will not. I'm used with that kind of arrangement."
"But you only asked permission for that TV." Shizuru yell. She can't control her emotions now. She was exhausted from the meeting and she was bothered by the fan girls, and approached by some organization to approve some proposals. And she saw their room disheveled. She really can't calm right now.
"Mou Shizuru. Don't yell. It's not like you."
"I AM NOT YELLING"
"Geesh. Fine, you are not yelling if you said so. Why don't we eat first?"
Whaat?! I just did yell. I never yell at anyone. If father found out, he will have a heart attack for sure. But somehow I felt relaxed and it feels like a natural thing to do. Shizuru said to herself and still feel shocked.
"Here, hope you eat this kind of stuff. And there still salad in the ref. Wait, I'll get it." Natsuki dashed to the kitchen and get the salad. She also prepared their dinner.
She was still in shocked what just happened. She never sees or heard Shizuru yelled like that. Sometimes, she tries to provoke the girl just to crack her perfect mask but to no avail. And tonight, she did not know what cause the older girl to act like that. She knows that it is now about her things. Maybe Shizuru needs somehow to release her stress.
Yup, maybe its stress.
---
They eat quietly. Natsuki is having a debate to herself what to do. In the first place, she don't now what to do in this kind of situation. As long as she can, she always shut herself from other people. So she doesn't have any idea how to handle this kind of situation.
But heck. It's me. I am Natsuki. I'll just do what I always do. "Ne, Shizuru. I don't know what happen to you. So stop being abnormal. Ok? And it doesn't suit you." Nice, way to go Natsuki. I am cool.
Shizuru just looked at her with gleam in her eyes. "But what does suit me, Natsuki?"
So much of being cool. "Forget it."
"Natsuki. Sorry for the outburst earlier." Shizuru said, looking down at her food.
"uhm, it's ok. Uhm..sorry too." She mumbled.
----
"Natsuki, you're in a good mood today. I mean, this past few days." Mai said to Natsuki while having lunch.
"I think so, Natsuki-san. Nobody is complaining about you. That is so unlikely." Chie commented.
Natsuki just ignore them. She places her bento in the table. No one can ruin her mood today. Especially not now because she is having her lunch and Shizuru especially prepare it for her.
She did not know what good things she'd done to deserve this treatment. She all knows that ramen is the best lunch she can grab when she tasted some weeks ago and then it change. Shizuru found out of course her eating habit for her lunch.
Today is very special because Shizuru put an extra pack of mayonnaise for her. When Shizuru found out her addiction in mayonnaise she threatens her to throw all her bottles of mayonnaise if she will not listen to her. So in the end, Shizuru make her life miserable every evening for not having a large amount of mayo. She's only having a spoonful of mayo every night. And even her lunch were changed because she supervised her food. Well, she is not complaining. But today, an extra pack of mayo is really wonderful.
"I wonder when did Natsuki-san learned to prepare her bento." Aoi said.
"Come to think of it, Natsuki is always bringing her bento for almost a week now." Mai said and then turned to Natsuki after thinking
"None of your business"
"Now, now, Natsuki, don't hide the truth from us. We've been having our lunch together for weeks now. And we all know you only eat ramen with mayo on the side." Chie said.
"Still, none of your business. I'm trying to eat here." No one can ruin my mood today.
Her companion just laughed at her comment. They continue to eat their food but suddenly stopped when they feel an extra presence in their table.
A spiky girl was standing near Natsuki who is intently eyeing her food. Natsuki can see a drool was forming in this girl's mouth.
"What?" she growled to the girl.
"Natsuki, don't talked like." Mai said, and then turned to other girl. "Do you need anything?"
The girl only nodded but did not remove her stare to Natsuki's food. Instinctively, Natsuki give her death glare to the girl to back off but did not move.
"Mikoto-chan right? Do you need anything?" Aoi said while remembering the name of the girl.
But another presence interrupted their conversation.
"Ara, Mikoto-chan. You leave me without telling me."
"She's with you Kaichou-san?" Chie inquired.
"Yes, Harada-san. I see, Natsuki is eating my prepared bento." Shizuru commented.
"WHAT?!" shouted by Aoi and Harada and some students nearby.
"Really, you don't need to shout. I just want to eat peacefully." Natsuki said and continue eating with gusto. No one can ruin my mood.
"Uhm, kaichou-san, why don't you join us?" Mai suggested.
"Yes, thank you Tokiha-san, By the way, this is Minagi Mikoto. Mikoto-chan, this is Tokiha Mai-san. Here, this is your food."
They resumed their lunch after the two settled themselves.
"Kaicho-san, can I comment something?" Chie asked.
"Yes, of course." Shizuru replied.
"I think, many students will cry again today." Chie said while pointing Natsuki's bento.
Shizuru just smiled. "Natsuki just don't know what the right foods to eat. I'm just helping her."
No one can ruin my mood.
-----
Later that day.
Shizuru were preparing to leave when someone knocked on the student council room. She saw Natsuki entered. Natsuki never bothered to wait for the response and she was curios why bothered to knocked at all.
"Shizuru, are you ready to leave?"
"Yes, is there anything I can do for you?" She asked.
"None. C'mon. Let's go home. I'll help carry your things." Natsuki offered.
"Ara. You are very kind today. And why is that?" She teased. Somehow, these past few days, teasing the younger seems natural for her or natural for them because Natsuki did not complain so much at all.
Natsuki blushed instantly because of Shizuru's praise. She is hearing a lot of praises from Shizuru lately but still manages to blush every words of it.
Shizuru just laughed at her.
"Natsuki, helped me to carry my laptop please?" Shizuru said after laughing.
Natsuki nodded and carry Shizuru's laptop. Then hurriedly went to the door to open it wide.
"Are you not getting tired doing this everyday? Especially when Haruka is around?" Natsuki asked her while walking towards to their dormitory.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, I just can't think that I can do what you are doing."
"Everyone gets tired too. How about you? These past few days, you are always sneaking around after dinner. And after class you are nowhere to be found. Are you not getting tired?" Shizuru asked. She was really curios what Natsuki is doing these past few days. Somehow she can't ask directly Natsuki even though there is progress in their relationship.
She glanced side long to see Natsuki's reaction. And she almost laughed when Natsuki blushed and seems trying hard not to blush.
"Y-yeah. I'm getting tired too." Natsuki mumbled.
So, she will not tell me what she is doing these past few days. Shizuru thought to herself.
---
I hate you Kuga for stealing our kaichou-sama to us. No, to me. I've been doing everything just to let her attention be all mine. I just can't lose to a trash like you Kuga.
Tomoe marched down towards the Fujino-Kuga room. She heard earlier another gossip and witness of some students that their beloved kaichou was making Natsuki's bento for a week now. She really did not know what's happening to their kaichou. But because of years she's watching her very closely; she can see that she changed very much when Kuga entered in her life.
Shizuru, what everyone knows is very independent person. She never allows anyone to help her or ask anyone to stand besides her in the midst of crisis. Shizuru might always have the time for them but never give them extra attention or give them anything. Just words. No one received anything from the kaichou. Only Kuga changed it. And she really can't deny the jealousy eating in her heart. She must act to this kind of situation or she will lose her love.
The timing is right. Haruka saw her and asked if she can give all the papers to Shizuru right now. She accepted it happily. She will do anything for her love to see her, not as a fan girl but as Tomoe.
She knocked carefully when she reached the desired room. She waited patiently and presents the best smile she can muster for her beloved kaicho. But to her dismay, a grumpy Kuga open the door for her.
"What do you want?" Natsuki asked.
She dropped her smile and put her scorn face. "I'm here for kaichou-sama."
"Your kaichou-sama is doing something very important right now. So just say what you need to say".
"But I was-" She was interrupted by a Kyoto-ben accent.
"Natsuki, who is it?"
Natsuki just opened the door wide and leave her. It just means that she can come inside. And she entered the room. She never or any one been there. She watched Kuga sit in the floor and continue playing in her PS3. Then she looked at Shizuru who is at the kitchen definitely preparing for dinner. Is this something very important? The hate she's feeling for Kuga was rising more and more at this moment.
"Good evening Kaichou-sama. I was sent here by Suzushiro-san to give you these papers. She said that it is needed for tomorrow's meeting."
"Oh, it's you Tomoe-san. Why, thank you for this. I hope it is not a bother." Shizuru said when she turned to her.
"No, it's ok kaichou-san. " She said. She almost throws all the papers to Natsuki when she heard her groan.
"Why don't you put it on that table and make yourself comfortable?" Shizuru said while pointing the table near to Natsuki.
She obliged and sat in the farthest side of the sofa which is far from Natsuki. After a while, Shizuru seems finished preparing the table and joined her in the sofa.
"It's been a while Tomoe-san and very nice of you to bring all these papers here."
"It's a pleasure to help the kaichou," she said looking directly at Shizuru.
"Well, I think it's getting late. You should be at your room now."
Yes, I know kaichou-sama. You're dismissing me now. And I can't believe that you are this close to Kuga. I never know and that makes me want to hurt her more.
--------
A long blue hair girl is always can be seen in the corridor of first year class for days. But the first year students did not mind at all because they can admire the beauty closer.
After class, Kuga Natsuki is become permanently a figure in the corridor for a week now. Then she can also seen wandering in the first year dormitory at nights. Sometimes it's before dinner. But no one knows what the real reason is. And what only a matter is, their one of the top 10 goddess in the academy is nearby to them.
--------
"Natsuki, you were out again today." Shizuru said when she looks up from her paper works.
"Just checking something." Natsuki replied.
"Ow? You've been doing it now for a week. Is that important?" Shizuru continued to pry.
Natsuki just nodded.
"Why don't you start doing some homework?" said the older girl. She knows when to change topic when talking to Natsuki.
Natsuki get her things and joined Shizuru in their table. She quietly does her things and sometimes looks at Shizuru and watched her reading some papers.
"How's your father?" Natsuki directly asked Shizuru.
Shizuru stop momentarily and think something before answering. "I think, the last time I've talked to him last week end, he was ok. Why do you ask?"
Natsuki shrugged her shoulder. She feel like somehow she is alone and lonely tonight. "I never heard you talking about your father or even your mother."
Shizuru put down the papers she'd been reading and stared at the green eyes. "Is there a problem, Natsuki?"
Natsuki shake her head to deny something. "Nothing. I just feel tired."
Shizuru sighed. Maybe talking private and personal things might put them at ease when they are in a fragile situation at times like this. "Why don't you continue asking me? Then maybe I'll ask you too?"
"I was just wandering how your family like is? You seem so perfect and a very refine lady. So I was wandering how you were brought like that." Natsuki said but still looking gloomy.
"My father is the current CEO of our company. And my mother is always besides with him wherever he will go. So basically, they are with each other right now. And my sister is now in France." Shizuru said while thinking her family. A content smile appears to the older girl.
"I did not know you have a sister." Natsuki commented and trying to memorize the smile appeared to Shizuru, It is different from her other smile. This is one is very refreshing for her.
"She is Shizuma. Somehow, I missed her but right now, I can endure our separation because you are here. " Shizuru said. She looked at Natsuki. Her eyes meet lonely green eyes. Somehow, she feels like crying for this girl.
"Natsuki, you are not alone. I am here. Do not forget that ok?"
The younger girl just nodded.
"Then, why don't you tell me your father, too? You might not tell me, but I know who your father is." Shizuru said with an encouraging voice.
"I just lived with him when I was little but mom took me and moved in the US. So I did not know him that much. What I just know is that he is my father." A hurt voice was definitely there. It seems like it is shouting for more. A hidden message was written in that tone.
And Shizuru grasp that tone and understand. She felt the Natsuki need to be with someone, to feel that she is existed in the world and somehow needs her existence. And she can also feel that she lived years of being alone. Enduring pain alone. She almost cries in that instance. Shizuru always surrounded by warmth come from her family. And somehow she understands why Natsuki seems cold and bitter.
She approached the girl and hugged her. And Natsuki hugged her back. Shizuru felt that it is like a natural thing to do. And she feels warmth all over because of the contact and feels contented with it.
Natsuki was first tensed with the initial contact but relax after. And then she feels like that she is existed. She feels like she is needed. She feels like alive. She feels like she is warming. And she feels like she is melting. She snuggled deeply to the other girl. She was comforted. She likes the feeling she is receiving right now.
"Ne, Shizuru promised me that you will not leave me."
"Yes, I promised that"
End of chapter 5
---------
Ok ok.. I know at the end of this chapter, it's pointless. Far from the original story. But I want really to see their character development but I hope I give justice to this chapter. I want them to explore their friendship first. (So..please…let the author's win this time..)
And I hope I am doing it fine.. sigh..
I must refrain myself writing some random thought. I might not able to finish this one. And still having problems translating some words in English..but still managing…