Title: Roommates Diary I - New Routines (Part VII)
Author: ficeler37
Note: Don't own Mai-Hime. I'll let Sunrise take the credit.
Rating: PG
Word count: 1277

Summary: Who gets the sofa? Who gets the bed? Shiznat's bedtime activities.

A/N: Wow, what a super slow update. Being sick really knocked the writing spirit out of me. Plus there was the pressure of coming up with something that won't pale too much when compared to the last chapter. BLAH! Another thing, thank you to all the people who pointed out my typos. Really appreciate the help. Alright, I'll shup up now. Enjoy!

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(Knock knock) "Natsuki, would you like some hot tea?"

The bathroom door swings open abruptly and a towel clad Natsuki emerges. She sidesteps her way past Shizuru and quickly charges towards her bedroom. Before Shizuru can catch up, the door to the bedroom is slammed shut.

Ara, did I go too far? ... Considering what I got to witness, it's worth it. Shizuru shrugs her shoulders. She can't stay mad forever.

(Knock knock) "Natsuki?"

"Go away." That woman is always taking me for a fool. She totally did it on purpose. Who would wear a tube top right before they go take a shower?

What can I say to lure her out? Hm ... "If I go take a shower now, will Natsuki deliver a towel to the bathroom to dry me off afterwards?"

"No!" Damn, I took her towel. Wait, MY towel. I shouldn't feel bad about this. The fuming girl reaches into her closet and grabs a light purple towel. Opening the bedroom door for a few inches, she holds the item in question out through the small gap. "Here."

Taking a hold of the offered article, the older girl is just about to open her mouth to say something when the bedroom door closes again. Okay, I get the message. (Sigh) Guess I'll try later. With a defeated pout and the purple towel in hand, Shizuru enters the still warm and misty abode of the magic mirror.

By the time Shizuru gets out of the shower in her white bathrobe, Natsuki is already out of the bedroom. However the leap of joy in Shizuru's heart is quickly sedated when she realizes that the other girl is asleep on the sofa in her sky blue cotton pajamas with a blanket over her body. Smart move. Natsuki is more cunning than I expected. Claiming the sofa in my absence in order to avoid a head-to-head verbal quarrel with me over who is sleeping where tonight.

Shizuru lets out a disappointed sigh and walks into Natsuki's bedroom. At least I get to fall asleep while breathing in Natsuki's essence that lingers in her bedsheets. Hey, is that a body pillow? She is so adorable! Settling down in bed, the chestnut haired girl places the pillow the length of a person next to her so that she is sandwiched by the big cushion and the wall. I wonder if this is what Natsuki does with the pillow to keep herself from rolling off the bed, ho ho. Good night, Natsuki. Too bad you won't be the first thing I see when I open my eyes tomorrow. (Sigh) Be patient, Shizuru. Your time will come. With that last hopeful thought, Shizuru closes her eyes.

Hours past midnight, the Kyoto woman is suddenly awoken by a series of noises in the living room. First there were the feet shuffling and the creaking door, then the sound of running water, which is followed immediately by an earsplitting toilet flush. This is one of those few occasions when I'm thankful for being a light sleeper. Okay, I need to stop thinking about this or else I'm going to turn into a pervert. Shizuru, breathe. Think unsexy thoughts. Frogs, frogs, frogs …

To her surprise, Shizuru hears the sound of the bedroom door opening. Staring fruitlessly into the absolute darkness, she can only deduce that someone is moving around the room judging from the rhythmic footsteps. The dark curtains are blocking all the moonlight. Now I can't even tell what Natsuki is doing. Did she forget something in the room? Wait, I think she is getting closer. Lying on her back, the older girl can feel that the body pillow had been tossed to the floor. A few seconds later, Shizuru's mind shuts down as the realization of Natsuki getting into the bed hits her.

In her half-awake state, Natsuki apparently forgot all about her new roommate and trailed back to her bed with wavering steps after going to the bathroom. Flopping herself down on the edge of the bed as usual, her first impulse is to grab onto the body pillow that is usually situated between her body and the wall. The smoothness and warmth of tonight's 'body pillow' fail to alarm the blue haired beauty as she is spellbound by her dreamscape. Acting purely on her instinct at this point, Natsuki drapes an arm across Shizuru's shoulder and swings a leg over the older girl's lower body. Within seconds, she has settled her face at the hollow of Shizuru's neck. A moan of satisfaction escapes her sealed lips before the steady breathing leads her deeper into unconsciousness.

Shizuru was holding her breath and keeping her body still throughout Natsuki's innocent yet titillating maneuvering. Wow, THIS is unexpected. Is it my birthday today? Feeling the humanoid koala bear tightening her hold gradually, the physically stiff girl begins to worry about her ability to breathe properly. Shizuru, you know what they say. No pain, no gain …A sudden vibration on her neck seizes her attention. Ara, is Natsuki talking in her sleep? Kawaii! Shizuru lowers her head a little in order to decipher the mysterious language of Natsuki's dream world.

"… I love you …"

WHAT??? A cupid's arrow pierces Shizuru's heart. Am I dreaming? Natsuki, do you really feel that way about me?

"… good. You taste so good …I want more …"

Shizuru blushes madly. Is there a big bad wolf underneath the innocent façade? What is Natsuki doing to me in her dream?

Third time is the charm.

"… I can't live without you. I love you, mayonnaise …"

Shizuru's heart instantly sinks to the bottom of the icy cold ocean. Must fight the urge to tickle her to death for putting me through this emotional rollercoaster. Don't want to wake her up just yet. Crimson eyes fixate on the fast asleep figure who has a childlike smile plastered on her face. How can I have the heart to disturb my sleeping beauty? Hmm …I wonder if I can give her a hickie without waking her up. Hehe, I'd love to see the look on her face when she spots it tomorrow morning. The sensation on her neck once again alerts the scheming girl. What is she saying now?

"… Stop it. It tickles. You're such a meanie, Shizuru …"

Judging from the blush and the grin on the sleepy head's face, she definitely likes whatever the other me is doing to her. (Sigh) Fine, you're forgiven. Sweet dreams, my princess. Shizuru lifts up her head and kisses Natsuki on the earlobe. Now I need to catch up on some sleep to prepare myself for the exciting morning to come, ho ho.

The next morning …

At exactly 7 am, the radio alarm clock dutifully sets off a deafening melody of Linkin Park's 'Runaway', successfully covering up the happy chirpings from outside the window.

Out of habit, with her emerald eyes remain tightly shut, Natsuki tries to locate the offending apparatus that can be usually found underneath her body pillow. However, it soon dawns on her that the pillow has become too heavy for her to lift up with one hand over night. What the …Wait a minute, is it just me or is the pillow bouncier than usual? Refusing to open her eyes to face the sunlight, Natsuki begins thumping lightly on the soft surface with her right hand to test her theory. Weird, I can feel the alarm clock tickling inside the pillow.

"Ow … I gotta say, waking up to Natsuki pounding on my chest is certainly a one of a kind experience, ho ho."

"AHHHHHHHH!"

TBC.