Hey there everyone! (No, you're not hallucinating, I actually did update. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting, but I have alot going on.)
I'll apologize right now for a little mishap in the previous chapters. Someone pointed out that I had mixed up Mikoto's age and so I figured I'd do a little chart of all the caracters in the story so far:
Kuga Natsuki- age 22 (Got held back in school)
Tokiha Mai- age 21 (Same class as Natsuki)
Fujino Shizuru- age 17- Third year (The story right now is before December)
Minagi Mikoto-age 16 - second year
Yuuki Nao-age 17- second year
and the other characters don't matter (cough - Tate! -cough)
So, here's the update, hope you enjoy
Hello there sensei:
Chapter 6
The music pounded in her ears as the young teacher made her way towards the bar, where she saw a specific shade of orange hair waiting. Natsuki didn't understand why Mai suggested a dance club of all things, it wasn't like the busty woman liked to dance; she preferred karaoke. It took her some time to push through the crowd, but eventually the biker was able to take the seat next to her friend.
"Hey there." Mai looked up with an irritated expression, still sipping her drink that Natsuki could only assume was alcohol from the bright color. The biker was having a hard time grasping that her old friend actually drank alcohol, but she knew Mai wasn't snarked off her rocker by the way she was glaring at the young teacher.
"We haven't seen each other in years and you decide to show up late! Do you know how many assholes have hit on me in the amount of time it took you to get here?! It was hell!"
"Well, you've always attracted losers." Natsuki responded, but instantly bit her tongue. She'd have to apologize to Minagi Mikoto later.
"Just because all of the guys that liked you were weirdoes doesn't mean all men are jerks. A few of them were nice, I just had to break it to them that I have a boyfriend."
The teacher rolled her eyes as she rested her head in her hand, leaning her elbow on the counter. "No offence Mai, but they probably weren't even listening to you. I've seen what men look like when you think they're listening. Just because they nod doesn't mean they hear you; it's merely a reason to get a glance at your chest."
The restaurant owner sighed, not even bothering with a rebuttal. She knew Natsuki was right.
"Why did you suggest this dance club anyway? I could have sworn you would prefer a karaoke bar." The young teacher asked after ordering a drink from the bartender.
"Yuuichi brought me here one time. We didn't dance, but it was fun to watch the dancers. Plus, I know you don't like karaoke much, so I thought I'd give you a break." Natsuki frowned slightly at the mention of her friend's love interest.
"That's it, I can't take it anymore. Why are you still seeing that asshole? I know he's nice sometimes, but he's a complete idiot!" Natsuki exclaimed, "And don't tell me otherwise, because I watched your relationship all through high school," she added, seeing the insulted expression on Mai's face.
"Natsuki, Yuuichi isn't a bad guy!"
"I know he isn't a bad guy, but he sure wasn't making you happy the last time I saw you together." Natsuki watched her friend's face fall for a moment before continuing softly.
"Has anything really changed?"
Mai turned to stare at her drink. "You know, I always knew I'd end up with Yuuichi." She muttered with a slight smile, almost too quite for the young teacher to hear over the blaring music. "We were always that couple people said would make it through the tough times. We'd end up together no matter what, and it's come true. I own my own restaurant, he's enrolled in the firefighting program at the college and has already been offered a job at Fuka's fire department. He's even hinted that he'd like to get married soon. Yep, everything has turned out like expected I guess."
"But are you happy?" Mai's smile faltered, her gaze still fixated on her drink as she avoided Natsuki's eyes. "It's what I've always wanted."
Natsuki frowned at what her friend said. "Things change Mai. Change isn't a bad thing, and just because you used to want this doesn't mean you still feel that way."
Mai didn't respond, she merely took a sip of her drink and watched the dancers out on the floor.
"What about you? Any romances your very best friend should know about? Or are you still using violence to drive men off?"
"Shut up Mai." Natsuki responded as the bartender came back with her drink.
"You know Natsuki, 'hitting' on someone is just an expression." Mai laughed as the young teacher glared at her before taking a drink of her beer. "Alright then, tell me about your job. How is the other side of classroom life?"
Natsuki sighed as she slouched slightly on the barstool. "It isn't bad. In some aspects I actually enjoy teaching."
"Really? That's a shocker."
"I know. My students aren't that bad either…well, most of them. There's this one girl in the third year class that feels the need to yell at everyone and mispronounces words left and right, then there's this second year student that irritates the shit out of me by snapping sarcastic comments around and falling asleep in class. Though, she does have a great expression on her face when I shake the desk to get her to wake up."
"Natsuki, that's awful!"
"It works." Natsuki shrugged as she continued her rant about 'the other side of school life'. "Then there's that physical education teacher that keeps hitting on me. Takeda…something or other."
"Takeda Musashi?"
"Yeah, that's it. How did you know?"
"I can't believe you sometimes! He went to school with us! He and Yuuichi were captains of the kendo club!"
"What!?" Natsuki exclaimed, almost spitting out her drink.
"He had a crush on you even after he graduated. He was in the class before us, he constantly bugged Yuuichi and me about you."
Well, that explained why Tate didn't like her that much, breaking his friend's heart in all. Just in a day's work for Kuga Natsuki.
The young teacher glared at her friend before taking a sip. "Yeah whatever, He's still irritating."
"He's Mikoto's coach, isn't he?" Natsuki, slightly surprised by her friend's comment, merely nodded.
"Yeah, he's the one that convinced me to hire Mikoto. He wasn't wrong either; she's a diligent worker and good with customers. There's something about the way she talks that just makes anyone open up to her."
"Yeah, I guess…" The young teacher might have not seen her old friend in a while, but Natsuki knew the orange haired woman's attention towards the second year student was odd. Since when did she give such compliments, especially at the slightest mention of someone.
"Ah! Sorry, I interrupted you. You were complaining about Takeda-san?"
"Yeah, he came into my classroom asking me to give Minagi-san a retake on a test. I told him no, but he just kept persisting and I…well, threw a stapler at him."
"You what?!"
"He wouldn't leave and he called me by my first name! I would have killed him if Fujino hadn't been there."
Mai looked up from her drink. "Wait, Fujino Shizuru?"
"Do you know everybody?!" Natsuki exclaimed, pushing her half empty beer aside.
"Fujino-san eats at my restaurant often. I'm surprised you know her, that's all."
"How can I not know her? She practically eats lunch with me every day." Natsuki sighed at her friend's questioning look. How was she supposed to explain Fujino Shizuru?
Unknown to the young history teacher, the topic of conversation was standing just outside the dance club, staring at it with wide eyes. "This is where Tokiha-san took Kuga-sensei?"
"This is it." Mikoto confirmed, remembering the address that Mai had told Natsuki.
"Well, this should be interesting." A grinning Nao said as she pulled three small cards from her jeans pocket.
"What are those?" Shizuru asked, eyeing the red head suspiciously. "This, my ever doubtful kaichou, is your ticket into that club and into Kuga's heart." Nao responded, handing two of the cards to Shizuru and Mikoto.
The third year student gazed down at her own picture on the card, her name and information all correct except… "Yuuki-san, why does this card say I'm twenty-one?"
"Hey, mine does too." Mikoto added, looking at her card in surprise. "Nao, where the heck did you get us fake IDs?"
The red head merely smiled and chuckled, waving her own card in the air. "That's my little secret. Anyway, do you two want into that club or not?"
The two love-stricken teenagers looked at each other with hesitation, but said nothing.
"Good. Now, all we need to do is get in there and split Kuga and Tokiha up. Then, both of you will take your respective obsessions and, since they're probably drunk of their rockers by now, have some fun."
"And what exactly will you be doing while we chase after our 'obsessions'?" Shizuru inquired, crossing her arms over her chest. She should have worn a warmer jacket.
"Obsession is a strong word." Mikoto mumbled under her breath.
"You're about to sneak into and over twenty-one club just to break up a supposed date with your helpful teacher who you're now jealous of. I think that fits obsession." Nao said, smirking at the athlete as she averted her eyes. "As for me, I'll be having a bit of fun on my own. Now come on! They're probably already in there!"
Meanwhile, back inside the dance club, Mai stared at the young teacher, mouth agape and mind blank.
"Fujino-san?! Are we talking about the same person? Polite girl, this tall, brown hair?"
"Yes Mai! We've determined we know the same person!" Natsuki groaned, rubbing her forehead. "But that just doesn't sound like her at all."
"I'm telling you she's a monster! She teases me all the time, she tricks me into doing things I don't want to and, above it all, she looks at me funny! During class, in the halls, during lunch—"
"You have lunch with her?"
"Well, yeah, she comes in for help even though she's getting an A in my class." Mai might have not known Fujino Shizuru very much, but she did know Natsuki and found this relationship odd. And not from the teenager's end either.
"Natsuki, why haven't you confronted her about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not blind, nor are you stupid. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Fujino-san has a crush on you, and I'm asking why you haven't put a stop to it yet."
The young teacher felt her cheeks redden as she averted her eyes. "S-stop saying such things, you're jumping to conclusions."
"Jumping to conclusions!?" Mai exclaimed as she set her empty glass on the counter. "Alright, let me ask you this: What happens during these lunches of yours?"
Without bothering to look up from her drink Natsuki ran her finger along the rim of her glass before responding.
"Nothing really, I begin to grade papers, she comes in, offers me tea, we talk and the last few times she's actually brought bentos with her—"
"Natsuki that sounds better than the last three dates Yuuichi has taken me on!"
"Not my fault your boyfriend's a loser that thinks fast food is a romantic meal."
"We're not talking about my love life right now, we're talking about yours!"
"What love life?! She's my student for crying out loud!"
"That's what I'd usually say but…" Mai fell silent for a moment, rubbing her cheek slightly before facing the young teacher again.
"How do you feel towards Fujino-san?"
"W-what!?"
"Natsuki, think about it. Everything you've just told me, everything you said Fujino-san does; you'd never stand for it! Not usually that is. She's not doing this to you, you're letting her tease you, letting her control you with tricks, you're even letting her make you lunch now! You would have never let anyone help you or control you…Natsuki, do you like her?"
"What? No! I don't have feelings for Fujino!"
"Natsuki—"
"No Mai! I can't believe you would even insinuate that! Fujino is not only my student, but she's underage! It'd be immoral - I can't believe you'd think--"
"Natsuki, shut up!" Mai grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, her eyes landing on the red-eyed gaze of Fujino Shizuru. The young teacher could only watch Shizuru in shock as the teenager stared wide-eyed, her eyebrows furrowing as she backed away from the two friends.
"E-excuse me." Was all Natsuki heard before the third year darted away, through the mass of people.
"Shizuru!" Why was Shizuru there?! How had she even gotten in, this was supposed to be a twenty-one and over club! Suddenly these questions didn't seem important; all that was important was one thing: those weren't crocodile tears.
"Shizuru wait! Shizuru!" Natsuki yelled out, barely being able to keep up with the teenager due to the dense crowd.
"Outta my way!" she cursed as she navigated to where she last saw Shizuru, gritting her teeth when she didn't find the third year. "Damn it."
"Kuga-sensei!" Natsuki spun around to see a mess of black hair running for her. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
The young teacher growled at Mikoto, the athlete looking away in response. "I-it's just--"
"Never mind Minagi, I don't have time to listen to your excuses! You'll give tell me later, but for now go wait with Mai."
The biker couldn't believe this, first Shizuru and now Mikoto. Had her students gone mad!?
"Kuga-sensei…" Mikoto said quietly, her body tense and her face fraught with guilt.
"I said later Minagi!" Natsuki, mad to leave, but the athlete grabbed her arm, causing Natsuki to spin around, fully intending on yelling.
"I'm sorry Kuga-sensei!" Mikoto exclaimed, her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes full of hurt.
"It's just…" Her face softened slightly as she let the teacher's arm go. "She said it was a date…"
Natsuki tried with all her might to restrain her voice, taking a deep breath before looking back down at the second year. "Go back to Mai. We'll talk later. For now I have to find Shizuru."
"What happened to Shizuru-san?" Mikoto asked, but her question was soon answered when a cry issued from behind them, Natsuki catching the sight of swishing brunette hair.
"Go back to Mai!" She yelled at Mikoto before running towards the commotion.
"Come on baby." Natsuki heard a man say in drunken slurs as she pushed dancers out of her way. "We just want to play."
"I said release me!" Her heart froze and her mind went cold at the exclamation. Shizuru!
"Come on, why ya crying. We can put a stop to that." Another voice said as Natsuki finally found them, the two men on either side of the third year, one holding her wrist and the other holding a bottle of beer. The next thing the young teacher knew, she jerked one of the men away and punched him straight in the jaw, the man falling to the ground with a sickening crunch.
"You bitch!" The other man said, dropping his beer before coming at her. Natsuki dodged his round house punch by stepping back before grabbing his striking arm and tossing him over her shoulder and into the ground.
"Get lost you sorry sons of bitches!" The young teacher exclaimed as the men scurried off and into the crowd, clearly not drunk enough to fight the angered woman.
With that taken care of Natsuki turned around to face the third year, but a pain enveloped her chest at the sight. She really was crying.
"Fujino-san…" Natsuki said quietly, unsure of what to say.
"Please Kuga-sensei, spare me from your compassionate sympathy." Shizuru said quietly, averting her gaze to the floor. "I'm very sorry for interrupting your date. If you'll please excuse me."
The third year made to leave, but Natsuki grabbed her arm. "This isn't a date! I don't care what Minagi said, but it isn't!"
"Then I apologize for interrupting your evening, now if you'll let me go—"
"No Fujino, we need to talk."
"There's nothing to discuss" Shizuru exclaimed, finally facing Natsuki with a tear stained face, her voice bittersweet and rough. "Kuga-sensei has made herself perfectly clear…"
The young teacher's eyebrows furrowed at the recollection.
"Please, just answer me this," Shizuru said, relaxing in Natsuki's grip, "didn't you feel something? Anything? Or…did our time together really mean nothing."
She wanted to say no; wanted to say it meant nothing and move on but…looking into Shizuru's face, seeing the hope in her eyes, Natsuki couldn't bring herself to deny it. She couldn't bring herself to lie.
"That's…that's not the point Shizuru." The teacher whispered, half hoping the teenager wouldn't be able to hear her over the roaring music. But her other half was granted instead, Shizuru's eyes widening at her words.
"I can't- we can't. I'm your teacher--" Natsuki said, trying to backtrack.
"What does that matter?" Shizuru responded, almost looking relieved.
"It all matters! It's immoral!"
"How could this be immoral?" Natsuki's heart suddenly jumped against her ribcage as Shizuru closed the distance between their bodies, resting her hands on Natsuki's shoulders before gliding them down the young teacher's arms. Natsuki felt her breath hitch as that damn warmth in her chest enveloped her entire body.
"I-it's illegal, you're my student!"
"Dance with me." Shizuru said, looking over at the crowd on the dance floor.
"W-what?"
"Dance with me. Please, just one dance. If you feel nothing, then it will all end." Natsuki felt her face grow hot. Judging from the warmth throbbing in her heart, she doubted that was likely.
"Please…" Unwillingly Natsuki looked down at the young woman before her, her eyes shining from her vanished tears.
Slowly the third year led the biker towards the dance floor, wrapping her arms around the teacher's neck and bringing their bodies closer than before. Natsuki could feel the brunette's breath on her neck as the teen's body began to sway to the music, thanking whoever was listening that it was a slow song. The sparks erupting through her body and mind were enough without imagining Shizuru moving to a faster tempo. Natsuki shook that thought from her head as she placed her hands on the third year's hips, unsure of what to do with them. Neither of them spoke, neither of them wanted to. Natsuki's mind kept telling her this was wrong, she shouldn't be giving into the third year's wishes, but she also knew they weren't just Shizuru's wishes. The young teacher brought her right hand up and eclipsed one of Shizuru's smaller hands in her own, holding them both close to her, right over her heart, as they danced. Natsuki couldn't look away from those crimson eyes, Shizuru's gaze holding more emotions than the world could contain. She almost wanted to be lost in it, forever searching and discovering the revelations of the young woman's stare, learning more with every second. While her right hand held Shizuru's the other shifted from the third year's hip to the small of her back as Shizuru nestled her head into the biker's neck.
"Natsuki." Shizuru whispered into the older woman's skin as her grip tightened around the teacher's shirt, afraid to let go. Natsuki suddenly felt her arguing mind silence, her only thoughts repeating Shizuru's voice in her head. It was the first time the third year had ever referred to her by first name, the first time it had ever been whispered in such a voice. But what really surprised the entranced biker was that she liked it. Hearing her name from the brunette's lips made her heart thrash against her chest; made her shoulders relax; made her blood boil. Natsuki leaned back slightly, only enough to once again search Shizuru's eyes. The emotions she was feeling were so strong. They weren't purely innocent but they weren't primal either. It wasn't lust, it wasn't pure physical attraction, it wasn't even a crush anymore. That's when Natsuki asked herself when Fujino Shizuru had snuck her way into her heart.
"Natsuki." Shizuru whispered once again as the teacher's grip on her waist tightened. They had stopped dancing all together, frozen in each other's eyes as Natsuki leaned her head down to where her lips were barely touching the brunette's.
"Shizuru." She breathed out the name as she closed the distance between them, covering the third year's quaking lips with her own. She was shaking. Natsuki lifted her left hand from the small of Shizuru's back to her shoulder blades, rubbing her back slightly to calm her. Slowly the brunette began to relax in the kiss, moving her lips against Natsuki's to the slow tempo of the music. Natsuki couldn't believe the feelings growing in her chest from the mere movement of Shizuru's lips against hers. Though her kissing was inexperienced the shear softness of Shizuru's kiss was enough to send the young teacher's mind into a strange euphoria, one she never wanted to leave.
"Excuse me, miss." Natsuki felt Shizuru jump at the deep voice of the large man behind her, the young teacher glaring in the man's direction.
"You have to come with me." He said, grabbing hold of Shizuru's arm.
"What?" Shizuru responded urgently, trying to tug her arm from the large man's hand.
"Back off asshole!" The young teacher exclaimed, her mind instantly taking a protective retaliation as she pushed the large man away from the third year.
"I suggest you stay out of this!" He growled.
"Let her go!" Natsuki heard someone yell from the bar, turning to find Mai hitting the arm of another large man who had a hold of Mikoto.
"Mai! Mikoto!" Natsuki yelled, but was soon distracted by protecting Shizuru.
"You have three seconds to leave!" The man yelled at her. "One! Two—"
"Three!" Natsuki yelled before striking the large man in the face, knocking him to the floor. Before she could celebrate however another man grabbed her by the shirt and flung her away, her head hitting the floor with a loud thud.
"Natsuki!" Shizuru yelled, running over to the older woman, but she was intercepted.
"Release me!" She screamed as the man took old of her waist, restraining her arms.
"Natsuki!" The teacher stood up and tackled the other man away from Shizuru, sending him into the table behind him. The dancers fled from the floor as the fight against the two large men pursued. The first man rose from the floor and tried to attack the blue haired woman but was met by an angry Shizuru with a chair, which broke into pieces as it came in contact with the man's head. Natsuki heard a shilling screech and looked up to see a man howling as Mikoto and Mai made their way over to Shizuru and Natsuki.
"She bit me!" The man yelled as the other two men stood up.
"Come on!" Natsuki yelled, grabbing Shizuru's hand and running for the door.
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Hope you enjoyed this chapter and have a nice day!
-Kruger