Hello. Everyone having a good winter?
I know it's been a while since I posted but, as I've said before, I have no intention of letting this fanfiction go unfinished. I only have two and work on them whenever I can (which hasn't been a lot of time in all honesty). I'm sorry about the long wait, but college is hectic.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 11:
The next morning worried Shizuru deeply. When Sugiura-sensei came into their homeroom announcing Kuga-sensei would be late for school all of Shizuru's thoughts went to her girlfriend. She wished to ask Midori to further explain Natsuki's absence further but knew better. A direct interrogation would be suspicious but, luckily for the student council president, other student's curiosity sated her own thoughts.
"Why is Kuga-sensei late headmaster?"
"Is she sick?"
"Not that I know of" Midori commented , "She just called and said she'd need the morning off. She had a little sick leave saved up, so I let her off."
"But sick leave is for when you're actually sick!" Midori merely raised an eyebrow at the student, chuckling at the girl.
"Sure it is kid. Either way, she won't be here until after lunch. So you'll have my wonderful company until then."
Shizuru uncharacteristically gazed out the window, dazed from her concern. She knew she shouldn't have left Natsuki with that man. Natsuki-chan he had called her. Jealousy wasn't a familiar emotion but ever since meeting the biker Shizuru had become rather acquainted with the boiling sensation in her stomach, first with Tokiha-san at the bar and now with this Yamada. A former client, he called her.
The bell rang and Midori-sensei left, allowing their calculus teacher to take over the class. Natsuki plagued her thoughts from homeroom to lunch, where she reluctantly joined Mikoto and Nao.
"What, did you let your dog of her leash?" Shizuru sent Nao a silent glare, almost undistinguishable.
"Totally rude Nao" Mikoto jumped in, only to have Nao snap her chopsticks at her.
"What? It was an honest question. Kaichou-san only graces us with her presence when her pet's not here."
"Perhaps Nao should focus less on my love life and more on her own? There seems to be a young man coming our way." Nao instantly looked in the direction Shizuru gestured, grimacing at the young man's determined face.
"Crap. I left him in the bushes the other day. He started reading me poetry and I was gone before the second verse. Not interested in his moping so I'll see you two lesbians later!" Nao made a break for the door, followed closely by poetry boy.
"Sorry about Nao" Mikoto said, running a hand through her messy hair.
"Yes well, I learned a while ago the girl has no filter for inappropriate comments." Shizuru picked at her lunch, eyeing the extra bento in her bag. "What happened with Tokiha-san last night? She seems to have forgiven you." Mikoto smiled.
"I don't really know. Mai just said she was sorry wanted to put things behind her. She didn't even ask about the bar."
"Odd. If I had seen my under aged employee in a bar I would have taken keen interest and offense." Mikoto shrugged, not as concerned as Shizuru on the matter.
"As long as she isn't mad at me, you know? She even said she'd come to my track meets!" Shizuru smiled, happy that Mikoto sounded so relieved. Now if only she would impart those feeling onto her…
"What happened with Kuga-sensei?" Mikoto asked, interrupting Shizuru's dwelling thoughts.
"Ara" Shizuru sighed, continuing to pick at her food. "I don't know. I took her home and some man was waiting for her at her apartment. She seemed to know him rather well. Called her Natsuki-chan."
"What? That's weird. Who was he?"
"I don't know!" Shizuru exclaimed quietly, surprising Mikoto, "He said something about her being his former client and Natsuki asked me to leave. And now she isn't in school and Sugiura-sensei won't say why she isn't here."
"Don't worry, I'm sure there isn't anything to it" Mikoto reassured, "he's probably an old friend visiting or something. Kuga-sensei will explain, I'm sure."
"She said she would" Shizuru reasoned, easing her worries somewhat, "and Sugiura-sensei said she'd be back after lunch, so I suppose I'll speak with her after class."
"Yep!...Hey Shizuru-san…Are you going to eat that extra bento?"
For the rest of lunch Shizuru's time consisted of preventing Mikoto from taking Natsuki's bento, eventually parting with hers in exchange. Her classes were uneventful until history rolled around, nerves getting the better of her. Natsuki was already ten minutes late. Five student had already attempted to leave, but Haruka locked the door as a preventive measure and began lecturing them (yelling at them) why skipping was unproductive. The rest of the class began talking amongst themselves, some flipping thought magazines and others gossiping about the latest celebrity. Shizuru merely resumed her intent glare out the window, her worry becoming unbearable.
"Oh my god! It's Kuga-sensei!"
Shizuru's eyes instantly went to the door only to find it shut, still locked with no Natsuki yelling to open the door.
"It's Kuga-sensei, take a look!"
The commotion was from a boy, holding up a magazine for his friends to see.
"Oh my god, it is!" Shizuru's patience began to wane as students began gasping and gossiping about the boy and his magazine, her own curiosity peaked.
"What does it say?"
"Just listen!" The boy exclaimed, "Five years ago the world of motorcycle racing was uprooted when young Japanese native Kuga Natsuki entered her first official race, taking first against other well known and respectable racers. Kuga quickly raced up the charts and seemed like a powerhouse of unstoppable horsepower, representing First District."
"I've heard about them! Aren't they the largest producers of factory machinery in Japan? Why would a company like that be interested in investing in a motorcycle racer?"
"A lot of companies sponsor racers so they can advertise. The more popular the racer the more popular the company. Anyway, let me finish! The best part's yet to come." With that the boy continued reading, "Discovered at the age of 17 by Yasuko Yamada, Kuga Natsuki was known for her illegal racing far before her professional career took off. Her lack of concern for personal safety and determination to win carried on from the streets of Fuuka to the race track. After winning her first national title Kuga was to continue onto the Superbike World Championships but an accident left Kuga unable to race professionally for an estimated year after receiving a severe knee injury. But Kuga mysteriously fell of the grid for four years, leaving her fans wondering if the young talent would ever return to take Japan by storm again. Now that the Superbike World Championships is just around the corner many companies are interested in bringing the young woman, now estimated to be 22, out of retirement and represent their corporations on the track. Interested parties include her former representative, First District, and American corporation called Searrs, and our very own Fujino Industries!" All eyes in the class suddenly shifted to Shizuru, her eyes fixated on the picture of a seventeen year old Natsuki garbed in racing leathers with the man from last night behind her.
"Kaichou-san, did you know about this?" The boy asked, bringing Shizuru out of her revere.
"No" she responded, her mouth suddenly dry, "no I did not."
"Enough of this!" Haruka swooped down upon the group, snatching the magazine.
"Oh come one Suzushiro!"
"No buts! Look at this thing, there are half naked girls on every other page in advertisements! I'm confinscating-"
"Is Kuga-sensei in any of them?" A boy from the back yelled, causing a frenzy for the magazine. Haruka fought the ravenous crowd, yelling at them to keep their 'horoscopes' in check. Suddenly a loud bang issued from the other side of the door.
"Very funny guys! You do know I can call the janitor to let me in, right?" Natsuki yelled from the hallway, causing Shizuru's heart to skip a beat. A girl from the front of the classroom went and opened the door, stepping aside as Natsuki impatiently dumped her stuff on her desk. Among the items was a motorcycle helmet. "Why the hell did you guys lock the door? I know I'm late but-" Natsuki suddenly noticed everyone gapping at her. She was equally confused as to why everyone was surrounding Haruka. "Um…this isn't awkward. Geez Suzushiro, I didn't know you were so popular."
"It's not that!" Haruka yelled but before she could continue Shizuru stood, parting the sea of student and held out her hand for the magazine. The blonde handed it to her without questions, causing the other students to groan in complaint.
"Please continue Kuga-sensei" Shizuru announce as she took her seat. The rest of the class followed, suddenly in fear of the kaichou's chilly voice.
"Uh…right." Natsuki began her lesson, offering no explanation as her absents this morning. Despite her previous worries extinguished with the appearance of her biker new uncertainties dawned. Her grip tightening around the magazine as she watched Natsuki teach, the woman she apparently knew nothing about.
"Okay, so turn your books to page-"
"Kuga-sensei, I have a question?" the boy that had the magazine said, raising his hand anxiously.
"Really?" Natsuki raised an eyebrow, "I haven't even began my lecture-"
"Is it true you used to be a professional motorcyclist with First District?" Natsuki froze, her shocked expression speaking volumes. Suddenly the class erupted in questions involving the subject, overwhelming the young teacher with questions about Yamada, First District and her supposed return to the track. Through all of it Natsuki's eyes instantly found Shizuru's scarlet gaze. For a moment Natsuki saw a flash anger, but it was quelled and the third year averted her gaze to the window. The teacher winced at this, averting her attention back to her class.
"Enough!" Natsuki yelled, her voice echoing in the small classroom. "We're here to study Japanese history, not mine. I'm not answering any questions on this, so turn your books to page 325!" The class was silent a moment before the sound of shuffling books filled the room. The lesson proceeded until the bell rang. The students left in a hurry, not wanting to further upset the history teacher. The only student left behind was Shizuru, whose gaze had not left the window since the beginning of class.
"Shizuru?" The brunette didn't look at her. Shizuru withdrew the crinkled magazine from under her desk, opening it to the article and presented it to Natsuki without a word.
"You're leaving?" she whispered, finally returning Natsuki's gaze.
"What? No damn it!" Natsuki rushed towards her, grabbing the magazine and sitting in the desk next to Shizuru's. "I didn't even know about this stupid article! That dumbass Yamada didn't tell me anything about this!"
"You mean your agent? The one who mysteriously came to see you last night?"
"Shizuru, I swear I didn't know anything about this! Yamada came over to tell me this shit last night. He said something about some company that wanted to hire me-"
"Yes, it's in the article. First District, the Searrs foundation and…Fujino Industries."
"What? Fuji…" Natsuki's eyes darted down to the open magazine, scanning for the corporation's names. "Shi…what?"
"I don't know Natsuki" Shizuru leaned her arms on her knees, knitting her hands into her hair. "Apparently my father is one of the people wanting to sponsor you in this world super-something race."
"Superbike World Champion…ship" Shizuru glared at the biker. "Sorry" Natsuki muttered. "It's just…this is so messed up."
"Natsuki, is that where you were this morning? Speaking with that man?"
"No! I haven't seen Yamada since last night. I was…I was actually talking to Mai." Natsuki looked over her shoulder, checking if the coast was clear before taking Shizuru's hands. "I have something planned for today. Do you have anything to do here?" The brunette raised an eyebrow at the biker's turn of affection, slightly flustered at the sudden change.
"I have a student council meeting. It will most likely last until four-"
"Skip it." Natsuki smirked, dragging a shocked Shizuru to her feet and collecting her motorcycle helmet from her desk.
"What?"
"Skip it! Let's just get out of here!"
"Natsuki, I have responsibilities-"
"What's so important on today's agenda Kaichou-san? Disciplining a few ditchers, discussing the school's toilet paper policies?" The third year released an unwilling giggle as Natsuki pulled Shizuru in to a hug, "Or is it just going to be Suzushiro screaming until her voice gives out?"
"I seriously doubt Haruka could ever lose her voice" Shizuru laughed into Natsuki's neck, happy to feel her silky hair against her cheeks.
"Please skip? We could get out of here and somewhere private. No stupid people to bother us, no Haruka hunting you down, just you and me."
"Ara ara! And what does Natsuki plan to do with me once we are somewhere private?" Shizuru grinned as she tightened her grip around Natsuki's waist, pushing the biker into the teacher's desk.
"I-I- Stop making everything sound sexual!"
"Natsuki hasn't been very nice today. I haven't seen her all day and she didn't even show up at lunch for her bento. I had to give Mikoto mine in order to save Natsuki's."
"You haven't eaten?"
"No."
"Perfect!" Natsuki kissed Shizuru on the head, grabbing her helmet and rushing to the door. "Meet me at the back of the school in ten minutes!" Shizuru, being far to shocked to argue, merely nodded before the bluenette gave her a grin to die for and left, leaving the third year's heart pounding.
"Ara."
Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's fairly short and I had planned to make it longer, but I chose to keep Natsuki's surprise for the next chapter. And just so everyone knows, I ride motorcycles but I have no idea how motorcycle races work. From here on in I'm winging this sort of thing- everything that has to do with Natsuki's motorcycle racing career.
I'll try and get the next chapter done soon seeing as this is somewhat of a cliff hanger, but life tends to interfere.
Have a nice day,
-Kruger