Title: Roommates Diary I - New Routines (Part V)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1349

Summary: Shizuru's little kitchen accident. Natsuki washes dishes and herself.

A/N: I've heard someone said that they couldn't write Shiznat stories after reading a Shiznat story with a similar topic. It's true. Took me a while to clear my head and come up with some original scenarios and lines. Blah, really feel like I should have updated earlier, oh well. Hope everyone enjoy the new chapter!

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"Shizuru, are you okay?" With Shizuru's back facing the kitchen door, Natsuki is unable to access the gravity of the situation. Talk to me, please!

"Natsuki …" The girl in the pink apron slowly turns around, her right hand cradling her left. A lone tear rolls down one side of her cheeks against her will as Shizuru attempts to pass off a casual smile. "Do you have any paper towels?" Great job proving your competence in the kitchen, Shizuru. (Sigh) No more daydreaming about Natsuki in a bikini while handling sharp utensils!

"Jesus, your fingers are bleeding. Hold on, the paper towels are right over …" Natsuki is greeted by the sight of a naked paper towel holder on the counter. Shit, I meant to go to the supermarket to restock. "Let me take a look at the cut. What happened?" Wrapping her hands around Shizuru's gently, she brings their hands up to take a closer look at the steadily gushing wound.

"The chopping knife slipped out of my hand when I was washing it in the sink. Oh no, the blood is rolling down my fingers! My favorite apron …" A surprised gasp. Followed by a healthy pink blush. Utterly speechless …

Perhaps it was the thought of saving Shizuru's favorite apron from getting tainted that drove Natsuki to do it. Perhaps not. Whatever went through Natsuki's head at the time no longer matters. As if all senses of her body are concentrated on the tip of the tongue, the only thought remains is the bitter taste of Shizuru's blood. Natsuki smiles.

A silly idea passes through Natsuki's mind. If she can take in as much bitterness as she can into her body, will it lessen Shizuru's pain? Natsuki subconsciously sucks harder on Shizuru's bleeding index and middle fingers. Her fingers are so smooth … like well polished gem stones.

Shizuru closes her eyes, parting her lips slightly. Between the tingly feeling on her arms caused by the caress of blue tresses and the warm and moist feeling on her finger tips, the Kyoto beauty feels like she is floating in air. Natsuki, if you keep sucking on my fingers like that, you're going to turn me into an addict for this mixture of pain and pleasure. Please don't make me lose control … "Natsuki, that's enough. Thank you."

"Hmm …" Releasing the trembling members from her lips, Natsuki looks up with glazed eyes, feeling disorientated and short of breath. Meanwhile her hands are still sheltering Shizuru's wound, applying just the right amount of pressure to the back of Shizuru's hands.

That look in your eyes …Be still, my heart. "Would Natsuki mind getting me two band-aids? Natsuki?" A zoned out Natsuki is so cute, ho ho.

"Huh? Oh yea, band-aids? Right away!" Letting go of Shizuru's hands abruptly, Natsuki runs over to the bathroom to get a hold of her first-aid kit. Snap out of it! What's wrong with you? Were you going to stand around till Shizuru bleeds to death?

Within ten seconds, Natsuki is back at the kitchen with band-aids in hand. "Hold still." While wrapping the band-aids around the older girl's slender fingers, Natsuki keeps peeking at Shizuru, trying to detect any signs of discomfort, of which she finds none fortunately. "Do your fingers still hurt?"

It breaks my heart to see you looking so worried. "They won't be as soon as you blow on them and chant 'Boo boo, go away!'" Shizuru holds out her hand with a teasing smile. That's better. The flustered look suits you well, Natsuki.

"I'm not chanting." The frowning younger girl blows out a big puff of air on Shizuru's fingers and speed walks to the sink. "Let me finish washing the dishes for you. Now go out and watch some TV. I'll bring you some tea later." I admit that I can't cook, but washing dishes? HA, a piece of cake.

"Alright, I'll be waiting." Shizuru smiles and gazes longingly at the back of Natsuki who is busy rolling up the sleeves of her slightly over-sized light blue men's shirt. I'm supposed to be the one taking care of you. Natsuki …how much you've grown since I first met you at the flower garden. Now a part of me is scared that you won't need me to look out for you anymore. How silly of me …

Half an hour later, Natsuki walks out of the kitchen and finds Shizuru dozing off at the sofa. After setting down two cups of hot green tea on the table, she sits down next to the resting figure and taps on her knee lightly. "Shizuru, wake up. If you're tired, why don't you go take a shower before going to bed?"

The chestnut haired girl stirs a little in her nap and opens her eyes slowly. "Natsuki? Wow, I can't believe I fell asleep." Blinking rapidly a couple of times, she lets out a series of giggles to the blue haired girl's surprise. "Ara, did Natsuki jump into the sink to scrub the dishes clean?"

"Wha …" Natsuki looks down at her body to where the other girl is pointing. Hey, when did that big water stain get there? "Argh! That's just the way I wash my dishes, okay?" No wonder I thought the kitchen got colder all of a sudden.

"Perhaps you should wear my pink bunny apron next time." Natsuki will look so adorable in pink!

Damn, I knew I forgot something. Wait, pink bunny? No freak'in way. "Uhm, I'm going to take a shower now." She sprints towards the bathroom with a face matching the color of Shizuru's favorite apron. The way Shizuru was looking at me is like I'm already dressed up in that god awful outfit. (Shudders)

Soon the sound of running water can be heard coming out of the bathroom. Stripping out of her clothes, Natsuki steps into the shower and welcomes the comforting warmth of the hot water. (Sigh) Nothing beats a soothing shower after a hard day's work. This time I remembered to lock the door so that nobody will be barging in. Yup, I've learned my lesson. Natsuki can only shake her head as she thinks back to the time when Shizuru marched into the bathroom with only a small towel wrapped around her curvy figure. And she was about to take the towel off to reveal her body in front of me like she was just taking off a winter coat. Thank god I pushed her out the door before that towel dropped down. What a shame …AHHHHHHHH! I meant, relief. RELIEF!!!!

Natsuki presses on the shampoo pump madly, accumulating a big glop of shampoo in her palm. As if her slip of the tongue is somehow related to the grease in her hair, she massages her scalp roughly with the jasmine flavored milky white substance, trying to erase the existence of her naughty thought earlier.

An unexpected knock on the door makes Natsuki's heart skip a beat.

The melodious Kyoto ben bypasses the wooden barrier. "Natsuki, would you mind if I …"

"No!" Just because you knocked and asked nicely this time, the answer is still no. I can't deal with taking a shower with you right now, Shizuru. This is all too complicated …

"(Sniff) I just wanted to borrow some fresh towels from you since my towels had been in my suitcase all day. If Natsuki values her towels so much, then …"

"Ahhhh! I'm sorry. I thought you were asking to join me in the shower." God, this is so embarrassing. Now I seem like the one with the dirty mind! "You can grab any towels you see in my bedroom."

"Why would Natsuki think such a thing?" Ho ho, actually that was going to be my next question. "Don't use up all the hot water, okay? I'll be waiting in the living room."

Stepping out of the shower finally after a few minutes of peaceful silence, Natsuki extends her hand towards the wall out of habit. Next, a sharp intake of breath. WHERE IS MY TOWEL?

TBC.