Title: Roommates Diary I - New Routines (Part II)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1391

Summary: Annoying guy tries to hit on Shizuru. Shiznat arrive at the furniture store.

A/N: When I first started writing this chapter, I was not expecting the hit on part to be so long. I have a habit of dragging out scenes. Oops... Half the stuff I planned for Ch. 2 is now going to show up in Ch. 3, haha. I like it when my chapters have a healthy balance of Shiznat moments and random third person interactions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Early the next morning, Natsuki and Shizuru exchange a brief phone call as soon as they wake up and decide to hit the furniture store first. The reason being Shizuru's current pieces of furniture are not hers since they came with the apartment. On the other hand, moving things over to Natsuki's apartment will not be as labor intensive, thus eliminating the need of renting a truck. The girls estimate that they can probably finish the moving by the end of the day.

It is now ten in the morning, and Shizuru is standing in front of her apartment. Today the Kyoto-born girl is dressed in a long light brown skirt and a white plain sleeveless V-neck, which shows off just the right amount of her beautiful cleavage. That was so silly of me. Standing in front of my wardrobe and wondering if Natsuki is going to notice what I'm wearing. She's not a pervert like you! (Sigh)

Gazing longingly at the quiet intersection, Shizuru begins visualizing the sight of a dark blue motorcycle making a skillful left turn into the main street accompanied by roaring engine sounds. I don't think I can ever get tired of seeing her ride that motorcycle. My Natsuki is so cool … If it wasn't for my amazing self control, I would have swooned like one of her fangirls every time I see her.

"Good morning, Fujino-san. Excellent weather today, don't you think?" A low raspy voice appears to Shizuru's right, interrupting her pleasurable daydreaming.

Shizuru's eyebrow twitches in annoyance for a split second before she turns to greet the mousy looking man she barely knows. "Ara, you are my landlord's son, Eto-san, right? Good morning to you, too." Courteous mask designed for random strangers. Checked.

"If you're waiting for a taxi, I can give you a ride. I just bought a brand new sports car last week. I think I can hear the leather seats and turbo engine screaming for you." God, that smile. I'm so going to score. Yea, I don't have the best looks, so what? Women dig nice cars. That's a universal rule. Eto shakes his car keys in front of Shizuru as if that will make her more likely to take the bait.

"That's a nice offer, but no thank you. I'm waiting for a friend to pick me up. Your sports car sounds like a wonderful investment. However, to be honest, I'm more of a motorcycle girl myself." Take the hint. NOT interested.

Sadly the egomaniac cannot read between the lines. "So where are you heading off to? Doing anything that a nice gentleman can tag along with?" She's probably too shy to ask me to give her friend a ride too. Do not fear, for I am a bonafide gentleman.

This will be a good time to break the news. "Actually I'm moving out of here to live with my friend, so we are going to the furniture store this morning. Would you mind letting your father know that I will be returning the keys at the end of the month?" I'm sure that deep down, there is a decent person in there. But that voice? I can feel the goosebumps on my arms.

Change of plans. This gorgeous woman is moving away. I gotta cut to the chase. "Hey, do you want to go out some time? By the way, did I mention that I just graduated from law school and am now working a very well paid job at the best law firm in Fuka?"

"Eto-san, first of all, I'm very flattered. With your qualifications, I'm sure there will be women lining up to date you. Unfortunately my heart belongs to another, and that's why I cannot go out with you. Oh, by the way, did I mention that I'm the rightful successor for the president seat of Fujino Corporation?" Somehow I don't think money is going to be an issue in my life. You think you can use your wealth to get me to go out with you? Mister, you have no idea who you are dealing with.

Eto feels like the loud engine humming noise from the intersection merely serves to amplify the heart breaking noise only audible to him. Suddenly he realizes that the noise is emanating from a motorcycle coming straight at him. What the fuck! Am I going to die here? He crosses his arms in front of his face hurriedly, unable to face the gruesome death being projected into his mind.

In steep contrast, the chestnut haired girl barely flinches as she fixates her gaze at the fast approaching vehicle with a curious smirk. Should I call her behavior childish? Who am I kidding? Shizuru, you love it when she makes a flashy entrance.

Natsuki slams on the brake at the very last minute and her bike screeches to a halt a few feet from Shizuru and Eto, leaving a black trail on the cement ground. Flipping up her eyeshield, she first smiles at Shizuru, then glares coldly at the stranger who looks like he is going to pee in his pants. "Who's this?" Right to the point.

The older girl walks graciously towards the back of the motorcycle and takes out her helmet from the compartment. "Natsuki and her form-fitting biker suit. How nostalgic." Shizuru doesn't need to look at the other girl to know that she is blushing underneath her helmet. "This is Eto-san, my landlord's son. Eto-san, this is the friend who I'm moving in with."

The man cursed with an unfortunate voice can only stare wide-eyed at the two girls surrounded by completely different auras. Words catch in his throat as he witnesses his dream date hopping onto the motorcycle as if it is the most natural thing in the world.

As soon as Shizuru settles into a comfortable position, she twists her head around to bid farewell. "As you can see, Eto-san, there's only room for two. Have a wonderful ..."

The end of Shizuru's sentence is drowned out by a deafening engine sound. Natsuki skillfully maneuvers her metallic best friend and dashes away, leaving a coughing Eto who is struggling to keep the flying dust out of his mouth.

"Shizuru, are you ever alone? Don't you find it annoying when strangers talk to you?" That guy is not even attractive! Him and Shizuru standing side by side is like an eye sore. He doesn't deserve her.

"Ara, is Natsuki the one who is annoyed? I personally don't mind the attention." Scratch that. I can tolerate timid flirtatious girls, but not men, period. But it's too much fun to tease my Natsuki, ho ho.

"Who's annoyed?!?! I just don't understand why people have to flock to you." If only Shizuru can wear a sign that reads 'GET LOST' whenever she's waiting for me.

The arms wrapping around Natsuki's waist tremble slightly, and Shizuru whispers into the other girl's back. "Natsuki thinks that I'm not attractive enough for people to hit on?" Goodness, I can't hold my laugh in any longer. My stomach muscle is going into a spasm!

To Natsuki, the sensation around her torso area only seems to convince her that she has made Shizuru cry. "Are you kidding? You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen!" SHIT! She wasn't supposed to know that. (Sigh) Too late. Well, I hope this is enough to lift her mood.

"Oh …" This is one of those rare occasions that Shizuru finds herself blushing heavily at Natsuki's words. "Thanks." Does she really mean it? If this is a lie, I wish to never find out the truth. Words cannot explain the warm tingly feeling inside of her. Shizuru simply smiles.

For the rest of the ride, Shizuru grabs onto Natsuki firmly, trying to savor every last second of their close contact. Finally they arrive at the local furniture department store – Fukea. At the entrance, the girls look at the map which details the exact location of each type of furniture.

"So what's the first thing you want to get for your new room?"

"The first and only actually. I think I can share everything else with you."

"Look! This flyer says that full size beds are on sale. This is great!"

"It doesn't really concern me. I'm going to buy a queen size bed today."

"QUEEN SIZE?"

TBC.