Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime. Sunrise did.
Chapter 6: Gossip
This chapter was inspired by listening to the song of IRIS by goo goo dolls.
I was reading some fanfic of strawberry panic that inspired me to continue writing this story..
Guess what, I think I'm one of the greatest bum in this world. Nothing to do but heck, if I'm working right now, I cant continue writing this story..harharhar
Ok..this time..be serious.. I just feel that I need to move on in this story. Geh, can't help myself to linger in some scenes. And I will always like reading not writing..hahaha
---
Natsuki dashed excitedly in their room. She found Shizuru taking nap in her bed. She walked towards her and freeze at the sight. Then she sighed. Shizuru really looks beautiful even in sleeping. She shook her head and tries to wake her up.
"Shizuru, wake up"
"Hmm" replied by sleepy girl.
"C'mon. I'm going to show you something. So wake up." Natsuki said more firmly. When Shizuru slowly waking up, her excitement is also raising another hitch.
"What's the matter" yawn "Natsuki?"
"Nothing. Just fix yourself and I am going to show you something."
Shizuru step out in her comforting bed and went to their bathroom. She fixed herself as what Natsuki said. She went out and supposed to ask questions when Natsuki grab her wrist and stormed outside the room.
Shizuru just found herself looking in a motorcycle in front of her. It is a DUCATI GT1000. She was surprised what she is seeing right now.
"Look Shizuru. Isn't it beautiful?" Natsuki said with a happy face.
"Yes it is." Shizuru just agree even though she did not like bike, she can appreciate the beauty presented to her. "Is this yours?"
Natsuki nodded.
After a while of gaping, Natsuki gives Shizuru a helmet and then she used the other helmet. "I bought two helmets two day, because father said that this bike will be delivered today. So, let's test this bike."
"But-"
"Don't worry. I'll be careful. C'mon, hope in." Natsuki urged the other girl.
Shizuru was reluctant to ride but give in because Natsuki was giving her another puppy look of hers.
----
"I did not know you ride bike." Shizuru asked Natsuki when they backed in their room.
"I have some friends in the US and taught me how to ride. And I really enjoyed riding it because it's like freedom is always there." Natsuki said while smiling contently.
Natsuki always ride in her bike when she's still in the US. Riding ease her tension and her loneliness. She always thought that her bike is her best friend and her baby.
Shizuru just nodded. She might not feel what Natsuki is telling her right now, but what important is, how Natsuki looks happy right now.
--
Meeting with the Mage Department of Weis
"How's the condition of our troop in Fuuka?" asked Sir Luke Reynolds, the president of the Weis Organization.
"They are still intact. They manage to make contact with the elemental users. But I feared that their emotions will stop them in the near future. We can't control their emotions and their mind, sir." Said by Sergey.
"I know. Let them be. We nurtured them. We care for them. Let those be their reminder of their mission. They will not fail us, Sergey. Let them enjoy their life. Yes, they will experience happiness and sadness, but in the end, they will return to us. They are our first batch of mage. They are indestructible. Have faith in our project."
"Sir, I believed they already sent their Otome in Fuuka. I've received the report from the Sears, they accepted new students in Fuuka. I think they are them. Do you think we should watched them too?" Nagi said.
"No, let them be. My son, Jun will take care of those Otome."
--
Arika asked Erstin if she can tag along with her. She doesn't want to be alone at this moment because somehow she feels like someone is following her or watching her. She feels shiver run in her back. She knows someone is watching her. She really can't take it our in her system.
She follows Erstin to the student council room. Erstin said that there will be no meeting today so she can come with her and finished some papers. Arika volunteer to help her instead of doing nothing and she doesn't want to spend her time to their grumpy roommate, Nina.
The two girls settled themselves after greeting the president. Arika was always around in the student council room during breaks so the others officers don't mind it. And the officers used to some visitors always hanging in their room during breaks.
"Arika-san, you look down today. I wonder what happen." Shizuru asked the younger girl.
Arika automatically blushed after hearing the voice of Shizuru. She doesn't have time to admire the traits of the president because of her current situation. But hearing the melodic voice with an accent, she can't control herself to blush.
"Nothing at all, kaichou-sama. I'm going to help Ers-chan today." She said shyly.
Erstin giggles besides her. Erstin already conquered her shyness towards the kaichou. At first, she really can't help to blush every time she was praised by the kaichou. But lately she's used to it. And she can't help to giggle because she knows how her friend situation.
"Mou, Ers-chan, you don't have to make fun with me." Arika pout. Erstin just laughed at her.
The kaichou silently watched the two girls mischievously while relaxing in her tea. Haruka was not around so do Yukino. Lately, the two of them is inseparable. Reito is also busy with the meeting in other organization. She stayed in the room to finish some paper's signing.
The only things can be heard in the room were the giggling of the two young girls and their whispering. The two look happy and oblivious with their surrounding.
A creaking door interrupted the work of the people in the room.
Arika was dumbstruck when she saw in a raven haired girl flash in her vision. She was always like this when Kuga Natsuki keeps on showing in the first year corridor. And somehow, these past few days, she seems always around. Natsuki's presence can make someone stare her or turned around and freeze from her glare. Somehow, Arika was overwhelmed with the mere presence of the instant celebrity Kuga because of her cool looks and aloof appearance.
Maybe because of her lone appearance that attracts Arika like one of her roommates, Nina.
Natsuki nodded towards Shizuru then glance towards to the rest of the room. Eeh?!! She looks at me? Arika muttered to herself and still disbelief.
"Ne, Shizuru can I borrow your laptop?" Natsuki asked.
Shizuru nodded then stand to her feet to give way the younger girl. Shizuru was ok with her to let Natsuki used her laptop even in their room. She allows Natsuki do what she likes to do with her things, granted with permission of course.
After a while Shizuru suggested to end their day. "Erstin-san, Arika-san, why don't we all go home and continue our work tomorrow?"
"Yeah, we'll escort you to your room." Natsuki added.
Arika blushed instantly with the suggestion. "Thank you Kuga-san." Erstin said because she noticed that her companion was momentarily speechless.
The two young girls followed by the older girls started walking towards the dormitory. They sometimes exchanged questions and answered but mostly, it's only Erika who does the talking. Arika seems lost her word or lost in her own world.
I can't believe I had the chance to talk this near with kaichou-sama and also with kuga-san. This is seems impossible, almost a dream. Haaay, I don't think I can sleep tonight. I hope I'll have a chance to talk with them, learn more about them. Gossip about them seems not true at all. I must look an opportunity and grab it all. Guard up. Arika thought to herself and lost now in her day dreaming.
----
Arika decided to buy some personal things to nearby mall after class. Unfortunately, Erstin have meeting and Nina had club meetings after class. So she was alone wandering.
While having her window shopping, she felt that someone was stalking again with her. Yesterday, when she went to library alone, she felt it again. It's like someone is watching her. And she really can't just ignore it because the feeling of being watched is scary and its always like everyday.
No one will do harm to me in this crowded place. Arika muttered to herself.
She was nearing to a coffee shop when she had gathered enough courage to look back. At that time, she almost fainted of she saw.
She saw Kuga Natsuki looking intently few feet away with her.
It can't be. Is she the one following her? Or this is a coincidence? But this past few days?
She stopped walking and waited what will happen now.
She saw Natsuki blushed tremendously like she was caught red handedly. And she seems trying to find an exit or alibi what's happening.
Arika decided to act first before Natsuki slipped. She stopped in front of the older girl who seems frozen in her feet. "Kuga-san, what are you doing here?"
Natsuki just stared at her in disbelief.
Arika waited patiently but somehow she knows that she can't get an answer to this one. "are you following me?"
No answered came but the blushed of the older girl seems hitch another red.
"Are you always following me, Kuga-san? Why would that be?" Arika pressed her luck. Maybe she will see some hints.
Still no answer.
"Ah, I get it. You are very shy answering me, ne Kuga-san?"
--
They were sitting in a coffee shop drinking coffee. Natsuki was very tensed. She can't believe that she was caught following this girl with out exiting smoothly.
She watched Arika drinking her coffee. Arika seems content across with her and a smile is forming in her mouth. She really doesn't know what this girl is thinking right now. For the past few days, she is having a hard time following her, studying her and knowing her with out so much of complications. But right now, she is sitting in complications.
And never has she known that another complication in her life is start coming with out knocking.
"K-kuga-san, can I ask you a question?" Arika stammered.
Natsuki nodded. "Call me Natsuki."
"Natsuki-san, I – I, uhm, do you -. " Arika blushed without finishing her questions. She seems can't find a right words to ask her.
"Yes?" Natsuki said coolly. She really doesn't have the time to mingle right now.
"Are you interested in me?" Arika said bluntly. But after saying it, she blushed again.
Natsuki was shocked to what she heard from the younger girl. She did not know how to react with it. She never expected it. She tried to correct her. She opened her mouth to explain but no words came out.
Arika did not know how to decipher what Natsuki's reaction with her questions. But one thing that Aika gets is, Natsuki is surely like her.
She seems shy about it. Maybe that's why she is following me secretly. I know now for sure, she is the one following me. Ahh..so that's why she is always near in our room after class and that's why she is always near in their dorm after dinner. I did not know that she is hovering a feeling like that for me. What will I do? Arika though to herself.
"Don't worry Natsuki-san. It's ok with me. Yup," Arika nodded then beamed when an idea struck her. "You're now my girlfriend starting right now. I'll spare you of courting me. I know you are too shy to admit it."
Natsuki jaw drop to the floor.
--
Natsuki waited Arika to finish her duties outside their room. She was consciously scanning students who were watching her. Yes, all of them are curious what she is doing there especially all first year already knows that she and Arika is now a couple.
Damn. I should just tell her everything than leaving me in this situation. Geh. What should I do? Natsuki said to herself.
"Yo, Kuga. I've heard you got a girlfriend now. " Nao said.
Nao saw Natsuki in the hallway and approached her just to rattle the girl.
"Leave it. Don't want to talk about it." Natsuki said still brooding with her mood.
"I'm just concerned with you. I did not really know that you will go that far, you know."
Natsuki keep her mouth shout. She really doesn't know what she should say to Arika especially what happen. She just did not act fast to stop the blubbering of the younger girl.
"Well, what can I say, Arika seems happy today. She is wearing that stupid smile of hers since morning. Bet, you're really good to make her smile like that," Nao smirked. Any minute now, Natsuki will explode in her outburst.
Just as expected.
"WHAT ARE YOU IMPLYING?"
Nao just laughed at her. "What really happened Kuga?" She said after redeeming herself from laughing.
"N-nothing happened. She just caught me following her and she assumed t-that, I – I like her."
Nao laughed again. "Geesh, why let your guard down? Now, what will you do with these mess? Big boss never told us to mess with our assignment, maybe a side dish will do."
Natsuki glared hard to the other girl. "I am not messing with her. She just assumed it badly."
"Ok. Ok. If that's what you say. But hey, just don't let them emotionally dysfunction ok? And it will be really bad if it will come with one of us. You know what I mean. Just be sensitive about it. Ok, got to go. I am being nice with you for more than five minutes now. " And then Nao fled.
After a while of brooding with her situation, the bubbly young girl accompanied her in the hallway. She sighed after seeing the girl. She really doesn't know what to say to her especially the whole campus might hear the rumor about them. She also doesn't want to embarrass the girl in the public by saying the truth. And it seems cruel for her. But in the end, she was getting agitated of the looks she is getting from the students.
"Natsuki-san, is so kind for waiting up for me," Arika started.
Natsuki just nodded. Still thinking of how she will bring up the topic. Until today, she really can't understand how the student gets to know everything so fast. News really travels so fast in this campus. Maybe she should believe what Mai told her about Harada. Maybe it's true about her talent. Sigh.
She looked at Arika and she seems look happy. But she always looks like this when she started following her these past few days. She thinks nothing happened.
"Uhm, Arika-san, have you heard any rumor today?"
"Yup. A lot."
"About us?"
"About us? My classmate just approached me earlier and congratulated me. Hai, they seemed envy." Arika said giggling.
"Envy?" Natsuki was puzzled? Envy, why?
"They envied me because I caught the number one most aloof in our campus. And of course, one of the most beautiful too."
Natsuki blushed of what she had heard. She might approve of aloofness but not beautiful.
"Er, can I ask a question?"
"Sure, go ahead Natsuki-san. And do not worry about it. We should be getting to know each other at this time. So no problem with it."
Natsuki think hard for the right word to ask the younger girl. For her, it seems inappropriate for her but she should ask anyway.
"Uhm, do you, are you-uhm..prefer..most likely girls?" she blushed even before she finished the question.
Arika's laughed rung loudly in the corridor. "I don't know. I just like the sound of it. You and me."
Natsuki feel defeated. She did not even get a conclusive answer from the girl. Instant flashes came back in her mind remembering the conversation she had during lunch time.
--
Flashback.
She was eating alone when she heard footsteps walking towards her direction. She looked up when she know that it stopped in front of her.
"Natsuki-san, can we join in your table?" Chie said.
She just shrugged her shoulder indication that she don't mind at all.
Chie and Aoi took their place and ready to plunge their questions to her.
"Natsuki-san, do you mind of clarifying something to us?" Chie started.
"What do you mean?"
"We heard of some rumors this morning in the first year hall."
Natsuki seems almost grim when she heard the word first year.
"Well, is that true?"
"What do you men true?"
"About you and Yumemiya-san."
Natsuki stared at them in shocked. She can't believe that these two will find out about it.
"Well? Will you clarify it or deny it?" Chie urged her.
"Uhm.. its not like what you think. Just ask Arika. " She said then continue murdering her food. This is not really her day.
"Well, Aoi, Natsuki-san not really affirms it nor deny it. Maybe we should ask her. Thank you Natsuki-san. We'll leave you alone now." After that the duo stands up and went out.
Natsuki still thinking of what she will do with her problem. Maybe Arika will clarify them everything.
But letting Arika handled the situation turned out bad because it worsen their current situation.
End of flashback
--
Natsuki was tired because of her ordeal for this day. For the whole day, she felt shivers running down in her spine because of the stared she is getting at. She did not know at first what the cause of it is. She even did a mentally check if she said any comment about their kaichou because it's the only valid reasons for her to be in the hot spot. But when she caught a slight conversation about her with having a relationship with a first year girl, that leaved her momentarily at lost of words.
She knows that she need to tell Arika what's the real reason behind of following her like a stalker but she can't jeopardize her emotions.
Somehow, she did not know how she can escape this turn around situation and she's not comfortable at all with her situation. She is wandering how Arika accepted all of this.
She accompanied Arika to her room and stayed a little while meeting her other roommate. Nina. She likes more Nina than Arika because Nina seems respect the word of personal space not unlike Arika who will pounce in every given chance to her personal space.
Natsuki sat listlessly in their couch while waiting for Shizuru. The older girl had dinner meeting with the other organizations so that's leave her alone in their room.
She was still thinking how to talk Arika when she heard the door clicked and waited the other person come in. Somehow, deep inside her dreading their first time meeting today after the rumor spread in the campus. She felt oblige to explain even though her brain telling her that there is nothing to explain.
Shizuru walked inside the room and dropped her things in the table. She watched the other girl jumped nervously in her feet. She furrowed automatically. She sensed that the younger girl seemed distressed or something. She sighed. Her option is to wait her to speak or urge her to speak. She should choose the latter.
"Natsuki, how's your day?" She asked first then went to the kitchen counter to make some tea.
"Uhm, class went ok." Replied by Natsuki.
"Ok, how about you?"
"Uhm, tired."
"And why is that?"
Silence.
Shizuru looked up at what her doing. She saw Natsuki in the mode of thinking.
"Natsuki"
Natsuki was startled of the voice. She somehow space out with her thinking and everything. Many thoughts were zooming in her mind and she really doesn't want to think. She wants action.
"Is there something wrong?" Shizuru asked again.
Natsuki just sighed.
"Why don't you join me here to have some tea? It will calmed your nerves and helped you to relax. No coffee for now." Shizuru suggested.
Natsuki just nodded. She followed Shizuru and sat in the chair. After Shizuru finished preparing the tea, she gave Natsuki a cup of tea and sat opposite with her.
"So tell me, what's bothering you?" She sighed. It seems that Natsuki is having a hard time expressing her thoughts. Maybe I should help her to start the conversation. "So, tell me about this rumor today. Is that really true?"
Natsuki just looked at her with a disbelief in her face.
"Natsuki, I also listened to some gossip in the school. I can't help myself to listen today because it involved my roommate. They say that you and Arika-san are officially a couple now since yesterday."
Natsuki just nodded. Shizuru continued. "So, you are not denying it?"
After a minute of silence, "I am not denying it. W-well, not talking directly was taken yes by the other party. But,.."
"And what's the problem?"
"I did not plan it. I just want to watch her, look her. To be near with her." Natsuki said desperately.
She really likes this girl huh? She seems desperate to be with her. "Then?" Shizuru said quietly. Somehow, hearing this words from Natsuki give slight twinge in her heart.
"Ahh..I just feel that it is wrong."
"Wrong about?"
"About what happened? About being me a- and with A-Arika," Natsuki stammered.
Shizuru is slowly digesting what Natsuki is trying to tell her. Somehow she needs to clarify something first. "Uhm, Natsuki, are you into girls?"
"WHAT?!" came by the reply.
"I mean, do you like girls? As in you better prefer girls than boys?" Shizuru asked slowly.
Silence.
Natsuki seems stunned with the questions. "I- I did not expected that questions."
Shizuru raised an eyebrow, "Why not? If you were have a girlfriend Natsuki, it means only one thing,"
Natsuki looked at her blankly. Somehow Shizuru takes it that the younger girl really not been thinking about her preferences.
"What do you mean?"
Shizuru sighed. "It means that you loved girls more than boys."
"I did not know about that thing."
"Well, why don't you explain to me about your girlfriend? I did not know you are in that kind of relationship, Natsuki." Shizuru commented.
"Well, I did not know too. Gah. You mean I am a lesbian?" Natsuki asked almost in distress.
"Its only you can answer that. But what you think?"
"I don't know."
"How about Yumemiya-san?"
"Arika? W-well, she uh. I –I uh," Natsuki take a deep breath. "I'm following her then she saw me. Right there and then told me that I am now her girlfriend and I did not have time to correct her."
Shizuru was stunned with Natsuki's confession. She really can't understand sometimes this girl. But somehow, she did not understand why she feel relief when she heard Natsuki's slight explanation.
"What do you intended to do?"
"I don't know. I don't want to crash her feelings for me. I don't want her to cause embarrassment and emotionally distressed because of me."
"You are too kind, Natsuki. Maybe you should talk to her and also get to know more about her. Why don't you ask her out to let her know her real feelings for you? She is a nice girl." Shizuru suggested but her own idea is giving a light tug in her heart. She just ignored it.
After a while, the two girls were engrossed sipping in their tea. A silence was looming between the. The two were silently digesting the exchange conversation between them.
"Ne, Shizuru. Can I ask you a personal question?" Natsuki broken the silence between them.
Shizuru just nodded.
"Uhm, do you have a boyfriend?' Natsuki blushed when she finished asking the question. Personal question indeed.
"Why a sudden interest Natsuki?" Shizuru asked back.
Natsuki just shrugged her shoulder.
"I don't have one."
"What? Why not?" Natsuki asked again.
"Because I don't have one. No one interest me for now." Shizuru answered.
"But, what do you prefer?" Natsuki asked again. She seems curious with Shizuru's personal life.
"Why do you ask?" Shizuru asked back again.
"Uhm, because, ah, ah, you don't have a boyfriend?" and she make another blushed.
"You are funny you know."
"But Shizuru, you did not answer me. Which do you prefer, girls or boys?" Natsuki said hotly.
Shizuru stared at her intently. She looked closely to the green eyes flashing at her. She wants to send signal to the younger girl but knowing her, Natsuki might not get it.
She stand at her place and walked towards Natsuki. She stopped at Natsuki's side then she raised Natsuki's chin using her right forefinger to level their eyesight. Shizuru was unaware that she bowed slightly to lessen their distance. She looked hard at the green eyes orb looking for an answer; the red eyes were shooting questions. When their stares meet, sparks were shooting at every direction. Travel down in their bodies. They were hypnotized at one moment but quickly snapped by awareness of their closeness. Their breaths are mingling with each other.
Shizuru whisper to Natsuki not breaking their stares. "What do you think, Natsuki?"
Shizuru read in Natsuki's eyes the hesitation and unknown emotions lurking in the depth of green eyes. She slowly dragged her finger to trace Natsuki's nose. Slowly until it went down to the younger girl lips. Pausing for a while then continue the journey downward, tracing the jaw line down to the younger girl's neck. She paused, lingering the feel of the ragged breathing of the trap girl. "Now, what do you think, Natsuki?" She said huskily.
"Ah, ah, you like g-girls?" Natsuki said huskily too.
Shizuru removed her resting hand to Natsuki's tender neck and straighten her shoulder.
"Natsuki, I want to be honest with you. I like teasing girls." Shizuru said calmly.
"Y-you mean flirting with them? Like you are doing with some of your fan girls?" Natsuki said trying to erase the dizziness she felt.
"Flirting, you may call it. But as what I say, I never take advantage of them. Physically."
"Why?" Natsuki was curious.
"I am more on commitment. I just don't pick some girls just to have some fun."
Natsuki nodded in the information.
"Does it make you uncomfortable, Natsuki?" Shizuru asked cautiously. Shizuru don't want Natsuki to know at the first place for the younger girl to be comfortable with her. When people learned about her interest with girls, they feared that she might take advantage with them or might do other things to her.
"No. I am exposed in that kind of relationship anyway. It's ok with me. Why you tell me now?"
Shizuru sighed. "When I told someone about my interest, my friends take advantage of me. They know my weakness and exploit it. In the end, they will leave me hurting. If I touched you know, will you cringe with my touched? Revolt with it?"
Natsuki stared her for a moment then answered. "I think no. It's ok if you touch me. Actually, I don't allow anyone touching me. But I trust you. You are my friend, right?"
Shizuru nodded. She touched Natsuki's shoulder and then looked at Natsuki's if she's afraid or something.
"Thank you, Natsuki. Rest assured that I will not do anything to you. And I hope you will not do anything to me, too because I value our relationship."
"What? Why should I take advantage of you?" Natsuki said blushing.
"I don't know. You are the one who has a girlfriend. Maybe you will miss her sometimes." Shizuru teased the younger girl.
"BAKA." Natsuki shouted. "And I already told you what happened."
"Ne, Natsuki, you did not tell me anything. What do you prefer?" Shizuru said changing the topic.
"What I know is, I don't see myself submitting to men." Natsuki said.
"Well, this is bad. I hope you should stopped hanging with me. I might affect your identity, you know."
"Mou, Shizuru. Nothing changed right? Before we talked this thing, I know who I am. Ok?"
Shizuru nodded. And they retired that day knowing new things in their self.
--
After a good sleep and nice talked with Shizuru, Natsuki is ready to face everything. Even her personal problem.
She dialed Arika's number and waited to someone answer the phone.
"Good morning" someone said in the other line.
"Who is this? This is not Arika?" Natsuki said impatiently.
"Arika is still sleeping, may I know who is this?"
Natsuki recognized who is in the other line, "Nina-san, can you try to wake up Arika?"
After a while, she heard shouting and groaning in the other line before she able to talk to Arika.
"Arika? Are you there?" Natsuki said.
"Natsuki-san, you missed me already?" Arika said excitedly.
"Uhm, I'm just checking if I can talk to you right now." Natsuki said nervously. "Uhm, can we go out this sat?"
Before she can hear Arika's answer, she heard shouting and squealing at the same time. Maybe it means yes. "Arika, are still there?"
"Yes, Natsuki-san. What time you will pick me up?"
--
"Natsuki, just be sensitive about her feelings. She is an elemental user. You are her protector. I hope there will be no complications to your decision. Are you sure about it?" Mai asked Natsuki.
"Yes, I know I should not distress the girl or make her angry or fear us. But I want to correct this situation. If you are in my situation, what will you do?" Natsuki said.
"I think, I'll should tell her honestly what you feel before it's too late."
"Yeah, that's make me feel better. Hearing a comment like that."
End of chapter 6.
--
This is so different from what I've planned. I want their preferences will shown in the end. But I can't help myself to add some spice in their relationship. Maybe to explore what they have for now. I don't know if it will work out. And let the reader's imagination conclude what is Natsuki.
Ok, I know, there are lots of mistakes in this chapter..but I want to upload this one..hay..next chapter is hard to construct especially when it's involve some action scene. I think It will take a while for me to upload the next chapter..see ya soon…
And drop some comments…thanks..