Our Story

Kitara Lira

Chapter Seven: When We Met

There was no where to run this time that she hadn't already run to. This wasn't the first time she had slipped. It wasn't the first time she had let her past get the better of her. Wind breezing through her hair, a cold chill biting at her through the thin material. Natsuki didn't know where she was going; her limbs seemed to be moving on a will all their own. Down one street, up another, weaving in and out of traffic, failing to stop for the notion of red, Natsuki was at a loss. It had been at least seven months since her last outburst. Seven months she had managed to lock her inner fears away. Seven months. The longest stretch of time since the incident.

All around the world was cloaked in a sombre crimson. After what felt like years, the bike came to a stop and Natsuki got off. Having abandoned her helmet at home, the bluenette ran her fingers through tangled locks, working them free of their dishevelled state. It took a few moments, but in the end they were free; free to fall their full length down her back.

For the first time since she had seated herself upon her motorcycle, Natsuki took to observing her immediate environment. A light breeze filtered through the open space and no more than half a dozen steps ahead, was the school gates. Forward she moved, resting her frail fingers upon the sterling metallic bars. It was just past seven in the evening and with the sun setting, the campus appearing like a castle.

Gates closed, with Natsuki wanting to be upon the other side of the twelve foot stone barrier, the bluenette took a step back, judging the possibilities. There was no nearby overhang that might allow one to gain entrance. She could not stand upon her beloved motorcycle for fear of damaging it. So that left only one choice. A few more steps were taken away from the wall and a second glance was given to the cold stone.

A soft thud sounded through the abandoned space. From the crouched form she had fallen in, Natsuki rose, dusting the lower portions of her dark denim jeans. It wasn't the first time she had broken the law and it certainly was not the first time she had scaled something of such a height. What Natsuki was most thankful for was that the school had not invested in melting broken shards of glass to the top of the stone. Once when she had scaled a side wall, Natsuki had been welcomed at the top by hundreds of cuts to her slender hands. It was the last time she worked without leather gloves.

Arms stretching above her head, the young woman paused for a moment straining her ears in the direction of the school. Had she just heard a sound? Almost like the sound of someone… crying? Why would there be anyone on the grounds after the school had closed? Perhaps it wasn't closed. Regardless, Natsuki followed the sound, curiosity getting the better of her.

The front doors of the school were locked, sending Natsuki on a hunt for some sort of window or back opening that might grant her entrance. It took several moments, but in the end a door, around the back left side (which had taken a good half an hour of walking to find) was found to be propped open. Creeping in, the gentle sound seemed to diminish. So, straining her ears again, the young woman continued her search.

Why was she following such a wild search? Already she had covered half of the school's property and the last rays of the sun were slipping away. Why had she come to this place? Why had she been so upset? Why had she…

Natsuki opened the door to the building's roof, her body freezing on the spot. There before her on the opposite side of the roof stood a figure. Back turned to Natsuki it was hard to make out any distinct features aside from the long slender locks and the violin that was positioned under the figures chin. Fingers moved gracefully across the strings, as the other hand worked the taunt bow in a fashion close to perfection. Though in all its glory, the notes held a sorrow, a sense of loss. With the last few rays of light streaking across the sky, the woman seemed angelic; surreal.

The last rays held little warmth and a chill began to settle in. Natsuki shivered, teeth chattering lightly. If she was cold, then the violinist must have been frozen. She wore the school uniform, the jacket similar to her own with the skirt being the only true difference. It ran mid thigh on the woman, and was embezzled with a striking silver signia, a family crest perhaps? Dust from the top of the roof stirred in the wind, fluttering up to Natsuki's nose. The woman cringed, it tickled and she just wanted to…

A not so gentle sneeze echoed through the open air, the sorrowful melody falling silent. Eyes squeezed shut; Natsuki didn't want to open them. She didn't want to look at the face of the angel she had just interrupted. But they opened. They opened just in time to see the honey coloured tresses catch the remaining light, framing the woman's face in an even more surreal way. However, that wasn't the most striking feature. As their eyes met the bluenette let out a soft gasp; emerald met crimson.

Author note: That has to be my most favourite line, in all of Mai-HiME fanfiction: "Emerald met crimson"

Now I am sure that when I told everyone "Hey guys! Shizuru and Natsuki, next chapter!" this probably is not what you envisioned. In fact I'm probably willing to bet my last Reese cup that the thoughts ran more along the line of "Hey, they're actually going to talk!" or "Damn Kit! It's about time she put some Shizuru/Natsuki interaction in this story!" or even better "Finally, some real action. This better be full blown Shiznat-ness" I personally like the last one... but that's besides the point! The point is, I don't really have a point, I just didn't really make Shiznat magic this chapter. But it will come... someday... soon... hopefully... please don't kill me?

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this update, I'll see you all two days from now!

Oh yeah, and please review... or write fanfiction. I get deathly bored of studying and look for cures to my boredom. Those are cures. That or talking to my secret undercover lover for hours on end, but that's hard to come by, so review!! Or write!