Our Story

By Kitara Lira

Chapter Four: Spoiled

"Kuga-san, how about you take that seat in the back of this middle row, beside Tokiha-san." The old man motioned to a busty orange haired woman who seemed nice enough. Down the aisle strode Natsuki, pausing for a brief moment as something caught her attention. There, seated at the last seat of the last row was the only face to have not greeted her. Smooth honey locks hid away the facial features… Why did she stop? Head shaking back and forth, Natsuki grumbled something before taking the seat assigned to her.

Across from her, the orange haired woman smiled, leaned over and extended her hand, to which Natsuki accepted and shook, "Name's Tokiha. Tokiha Mai. Welcome to Saint Cathedrals Holy Cross Order."

"Thanks," Was the grunt response before she turned away from the girl and withdrew her writing utensils from her bag. But before she could even begin to follow the lecture, Natsuki found her emerald orbs trailing over to the figure in the corner once again. The young woman still had not removed her gaze from the window and during the course of the lecture Natsuki would occasionally cast a glance her direction only to see the same sight. Did this woman not care? Offered the greatest chance and all she could do was waste it by staring longingly at the world outside. Rich kids…

-

"Kuga!" The orange haired woman from class earlier that morning stood on the other side of the cafeteria waving and beckoning the new student to come sit with her and several other students. The second class had been an elective so Natsuki's homeroom class had all gone off in different directions. Since the school did not offer auto mechanics as an elective until third semester, the dark haired beauty had chosen Latin Historical Literature in hopes to keep herself amused.

Mai seemed like a tolerable person so Natsuki found herself walking towards the said individual, allowing the said individual to permeate her normally strong space bubble and have the other girl practically drag her the remaining distance to the table, "Everyone, this is Kuga Natsuki. She just transferred into our class this morning." Mai turned to Natsuki and smiled, "Natsuki, this is Harada Chie," She pointed to a woman with short navy hair and rectangular frames who was currently snapping a picture of Natsuki with the camera on her phone. This startled Natsuki, triggering her response to jump back a few feet and take a defensive stance, electing odd looks from the group.

"I'm sorry, Chie always does this." The young woman beside Chie responded apologetically before lightly hitting the camera holding individual across the back of the head, "Chie! What have I told you about doing that? Not everyone likes to have their picture taken so that it can be kept in profile for you and your gossip!"

The camera hand lowered, and the one named Chie sighed in defeat, "Alright, alright, I forgot Aoi, you know how it is. New beautiful face," Chie shot a wink at Natsuki before turning back to the chestnut haired girl beside her, "I just have to add it to my collection!"

"Harada Chie what did I tell you about keeping that collection? Did I…"

The noise drowned off as the nearest seat figure to Natsuki spoke. Slouched in her seat, it was a girl who mirrored a similar age to Natsuki, perhaps a year or so younger. She had short red hair that hung in a side swept manner, hiding her face from Natsuki's view, "Lovers quarrel, don't gawk, it's nothing special." Bored, the young woman examined her finger nails, brushing off invisible dust from their surface, "Plus who would fight over someone like you? You're just normal." The last bit was laced with heavy emphasis, finally turning to face Natsuki, emerald orbs meeting with vibrant lime green.

"Nao!" Bellowed Mai from Natsuki's side and she would have said more if it wasn't for the hand that was rested comfortably upon her shoulder, "Nat… suki?" Mai offered Natsuki a puzzled expression as to why she had been stopped. Shouldn't Natsuki be upset? Shouldn't she want to strangle Nao? She just seemed like the type with a quick temper…

"It is alright Mai-san," Responded the bluenette with a soft smile, before she turned her gaze down to the seated red head then to the room full of over six hundred students, "I'm sorry I do not fit your standards Nao-sama. Though I must say if I were to survey all the individuals in this room, aside from the standing of money, I can assure you no more than a quarter would be able to speak more than four languages. I can assure that no more than an eighth would know what to do if their car broke down other than to call Mommy and Daddy, and I can assure you that no more then half a dozen would be able to tell you what it truly means to have lost everything." Eyeing Nao up and down, Natsuki continued, "Yuuki Nao, daughter of Kyoto's most prestigious doctor. Tough exterior. Mother currently assigned to a special ward in the Miza Hara Hospital due to a long term coma. Spoiled…"

"Shut your mouth you maggot!" Screamed the red head, jumping to her feet and clasping Natsuki by both sides of her collar and shoving her back against the wall. This as well as the yelling had caused the cafeteria to fall silent, all eyes falling upon the pair. Tears welling up in the corners of her eye – tears only Natsuki could see – Nao spoke with heavy venom, "You don't know a thing about me. Don't think that just because you can read the newspaper that makes you entitled to judge a persons life." The voice hushed, and lime eyes wore a dangerous expression, "Don't think that just because you fucked up your life that you're entitled to judge my fucked up life. Ever do this again and I guarantee you won't be getting up the next morning Kuga-san… or ever." With one final shove, Nao spun fast on her heels, stalking out of the cafeteria leaving in her wake a silence.

Perhaps not everyone was as spoiled and perfect as Natsuki had first thought.

Author Note: This is the first real interaction between any of the HiME cast. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and hope to have the next up tomorrow.

To all the reviews, wow... I never, ever expected the amount of attention I've received in the beginning three chapters so I just wanted to say thank you, and see you next chapter!