AN: Sorry for the people who waited, and much thanks to all the reviews! Each and every one of them were (and still are, of course) appreciated. The chapter took a while to pump out because of my writers block and the fact that my beta was a bit busy. Much thanks to DarkFeenix none the less, because without him I'm sure the chapter would have been mildly confusing for you all (and quite possible me also XD)

Moving along, I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Blinking, Natsuki looked down at the waitress and glanced quickly at Shizuru before jamming her hands in her pocket and pulling out a handful of change. Fixing the table upright, she clumsily left the money on top and grunted a rushed apology to the waitress and gruffly ran out of there as fast as her legs could take her.

She didn't even get to cross the corner as she heard a voice call out her name.

"Natsuki, Natsuki!"

Natsuki halted, and immediately regretted it. But it was much too late; Shizuru was now in front of her, breath quiet and ragged, and her hair slightly mussed from the wind.

"Shizuru-san!"

Both of them turned and saw a tall lean middle aged man with short cropped black hair, dressed in a navy blue suit that was hurriedly jogging up to them. Straightening himself, he brushed some invisible lint off his suit and looked up at the two of them.

Natsuki studied him, noting that this was the same man who had been so irritating with her in the morning. He didn't look like anything special, and she dully wondered how he had any association with Shizuru.

"Ah I apologize for running out on you Takeshi-san."

"Ah…it's fine."

I never liked the surname Takeshi anyways, go fig.

The three of them stood there quiet in the middle of the sidewalk, until Shizuru brushed her jacket languidly and gestured up the block.

"Maybe we should discuss this elsewhere?"

"My house is the closest."

Mildly surprised by her own words, Natsuki pointed her hand across the street.

The man seemed to contemplate this and with a lingering glance on Shizuru, nodded in agreement to Natsuki's statement and began to walk up the street.

Jackass.

"…You caused quite a lot of trouble back there."

Natsuki never realized how long Shizuru's legs were, she seemed to have trouble keeping up with her as the two of them walked up the block after him.

"Hn…"

Shit. Shit, Shit, Shit, Shi-

"I wonder if it was a coincidence."

Careful not to get caught, she slipped a quick look at Shizuru and immediately recognized the expression she wore. It was the same drifting expression, where Shizuru's smile seemed real and sincere, only because of all the effort hiding behind to enforce it. Of course it had taken Natsuki a long time to realize and recognize this expression; no matter how many times Shizuru had used it around her.

"Hey…Kuga-san, do you mind directing us to your house?"

Biting her tongue from saying something she would ultimately regret later on, Natsuki walked on ahead of both Shizuru and Takeshi, relieved to stay out of Shizuru's presence and her unwavering gaze.

Climbing up her front steps, she dug in her pocket and pulled out the keys, and held the door open for Shizuru and Takeshi.

As the three walked up the long staircase to Natsuki's room, Natsuki was careful to walk ahead of the two and quietly kept her distance. Her hands lingering on the fading green stairwell, Natsuki heard the bits of their conversations as she took the last two steps of the staircase, and took a turn down the hallway.

"Takeshi-san, maybe we should wait until Natsuki opens the door, for us to continue this conversation any longer."

Looking back, Natsuki noticed the narrowing of Takeshi's eyes as he nodded and avoided Shizuru's calm stare. If not at the least entertaining, Shizuru's control over people and their conversations was quite impressive. That is of course, if you weren't her target.

Unlocking her apartment door, she pushed it open and, out of habit, threw her keys on to the table and sat down on the sofa. Shizuru and Takeshi seemed to hesitate before closing the door behind them and it was not until then did Natsuki realize how badly she was playing her job as hostess.

Standing up from the sofa, she went in to the kitchen and returned with a chair. She set it across the sofa and next to the table and offered them seats on the sofa.

"Are you guys thirsty?"

"No thank you, I'm quite fine Natsuki"

Nodding at Shizuru, she hesitantly looked over at Takeshi.

"Do you have any water?"

"Yeah"

Returning back in to the kitchen, she was quick to open the refrigerator and pour a cup of water in one of the few glass cups that Mai had forced her to buy a few months back.

Sitting herself down after offering the drink to Takeshi (who had given a curt thanks); she shifted awkwardly on her chair and uncomfortably bit her tongue as both Takeshi and Shizuru stared at her in contemplative thinking.

"Ah so, you are the one who was with Shizuru this morning correct?"

Surprised with the question Natsuki forced herself not to say something foolish or childish and distinctly attempted to sound straight to the point.

"Yeah I picked up her phone thinking it was mine."

Taking another sip of the cold water, Takeshi's coal black eyes switched over to Shizuru and Natsuki a few times before setting the cup down on to the table.

"And if I may ask, what were you doing over Shizuru-sans

Natsuki looked over at Shizuru to see if this prying was to be taken lightly, but inwardly blanched as she was greeted with her usual smile and look of nonchalance. Natsuki must have looked hesitant because after a few seconds of silence, Shizuru took it upon herself to answer the question.

"Natsuki and I were out yesterday night with a couple of friends, we came back home late and I thought it was dangerous for Natsuki to drive home by herself so I let her stay for the night."

Raising her eyes at the lack of information pertaining the alcohol that they consumed, Natsuki decided to keep her mouth shut, she wasn't a genius of any sort but she figured Takeshi wouldn't take the news very well, seeing as how he acted, deemed himself as Shizuru's parental figure.

Takeshi didn't doubt Shizuru's answer one bit and Natsuki didn't blame him, her face was as calm as ever and it would be quite odd if someone was to accuse her of lying or accidentally forgetting a piece of information.

"I see, anyways, Kuga-san, will you please allow Shizuru-san and I to wrap up our conversation? I have a meeting to attend to in a bit and I'd like to get this over with."

She stared at him for a bit longer before standing, but found herself stopping her actions as Shizuru spoke, her voice still remaining as the placid tone it was earlier.

"Isn't that a bit rude, Takeshi-san? We are Natsuki's guests after all, and I do believe what will be said here in this apartment will stay here."

Takeshi blinked before straightening his tie and inaudibly breathing a sigh of defeat.

"You do have a point, Shizuru-san. Accept my apologies, Kuga-san."

Natsuki sat back down again and stared at the two of them, feeling out of place.

"Anyways, as I was saying before, the choices are vast and you are quite an exceptional student."

…Student?

Digging his hands through his pocket he plucked out a bundle of crisp white letters, all tied together with a single rubber band. Every letter was elegantly marked in black, red, or blue, with a different symbol neatly stamped on to the clean white surface.

As Takeshi removed the rubber band and laid down the multiple letters, Natsuki stared at Shizuru to find she did not even give them a second glance. Her calm eyes were staring at Takeshi and Natsuki found herself wondering what thoughts could possibly be running through her mind.

"I see, have you contacted Mother or Father about this yet?"

"Of course, I admit they are a bit lax about this, seeing as to how they trust your sense of judgment."

Running a hand through his short cropped hair, Takeshi chuckled, and Natsuki was mildly surprised at how warm it sounded.

Looking down at the letters for the first time, she plucked one out, a clean long envelope with a black stamp on the top right corner. Her eyes skimmed past the letters written on the envelope before quietly sliding the letter back with the others.

"Shizuru-san, I wish this wasn't such a hard decision."

"Don't get me wrong Takeshi-san, it isn't."

Immediately his eyes lost the friendliness it was shining with before, and Natsuki found it amazing how this was the same man who had laughed with such warmth just moments ago.

They both seemed to have forgotten Natsuki's presence, and Natsuki didn't find herself bothered with this at all.

"Why do you persist to go to Fuuka University? I understand its decent, but you have all of these…"

Pointing down at the letters Takeshi continued, his words getting louder as he spurred on,

"…all of these prestigious colleges and universities willing to pay your whole tuition just to attend!"

His fisted hand slammed against the table and the legs of the table shook under the force.

Daintily crossing her legs, Shizuru gave Takeshi a charming smile before replying.

"I have my reasons."

The reply only seemed to anger Takeshi further as he shakily withdraw his hand from the table and grit his teeth before giving a loud sigh, and began to rub his temples in frustration.

Now fully understanding the situation Natsuki found herself opening her mouth and before she could stop it, bluntly speaking her mind.

"If Shizuru doesn't want to go to any of the colleges, who are you to force her?"

Both Takeshi and Shizuru looked at Natsuki in surprise, both seemingly having forgotten her presence until only a few seconds ago.

If the room didn't hold enough tension before, it definitely did now. Takeshi seemed more surprised then angry, but it did not take long before he opened his mouth to snap back a response.

"…Thank you Natsuki."

Takeshi clamped his mouth shut as he violently turned to face Shizuru, only to be greeted with a sincere smile aimed at Natsuki.

"Ah…no problem…"

Takeshi furiously rubbed his temples even harder and reached out for the letters on the table. Strapping them together with a rubber band, and depositing them back in to his pocket, he stood up and straightened his suit.

"I believe we could call this conference over, Shizuru-san. I'll call you again next time to arrange our next moment, until then…I do sincerely wish that you think through this more thoroughly. The reasons you have cannot possibly be great enough to deny an offer like this."

Natsuki wisely shut her mouth before she might say something again, and watched Shizuru stand up after him.

"Thank you for letting us finish this talk at your house, Natsuki."

Nodding, Natsuki stood up and waited for Takeshi and Shizuru to walk out the door.

"Thank you, Kuga-san, have a good evening."

"Bye, Natsuki, I'll see you…next time"

They both shared a look, it didn't last long, a quick lingering gaze on each others eyes before immediately breaking sight of each other.

…When is next time?

"Hn, yeah…bye."

Closing the door behind them, Natsuki leaned against the wooden door and breathed a sigh of…

…Relief? Defeat? Anxiety?

At the moment, she couldn't care less about what she was sighing about. Slouching down against the door, she stared hard at the table where the letters were previously sprawled on.

…What were Shizuru's reasons anyways?

Bowing his farewell to Shizuru, Takeshi entered the cab and promptly told the driver the address to the hotel he was staying at.

Leaning back on the back seat, he stared out the window and tapped gently against the armrest. The sun was setting, and the streets were still busy but slowly the large crowds of people separated and walked down the many streets and sidewalks disappearing from his view.

Putting his left hand on his pocket, he tucked his right hand under his chin and closed his eyes, fatigue and lack of energy pulling his eyelids shut.

He had been a busy man today, attending his meeting with Shizuru in the afternoon and returning to her apartment in a vain attempt to sway her decision after his other meeting with one of his many clients.

Smiling wistfully he vaguely recalled his previous conversation with Shizuru a few minutes ago, a conversation with a topic that the both have them had time and time again argued about.

Satoshi Takeshi is an intelligent man, and this had been easily established when he was plucked out of the multiple choices to be Fujino's family lawyer. And over time, his bond with the family had tightened almost enough for him to be treated like a family member.

Almost.

The Fujino family treated him close that was for sure. But no matter how many times they would talk with smiles and warmth, there always was, and always would be a wall that erects itself firmly between the two parties. There is a line that business men and their clients should never cross, and the Fujino family and Takeshi were very aware of that.

But this fact did not affect the times that Mrs. And Mr. Fujino accepted Takeshi in to some of their family ordeals, especially the ones that had to do with paperwork.

Of which at the moment, was Shizuru and her choices with her future colleges.

Takeshi is also a very observant person, and it didn't take him long to realize that Shizuru was not an ordinary girl. She never has been from the long time he knew her, and he doubts she ever will be. No doubt that Fujino Shizuru is an intriguing character. The first things he noticed in her were those startling deep red eyes; even at a young age those eyes had always looked too old for her age.

Much, much too old.

At times he felt she had known more then he, and that was to say the least, astonishing considering their large age gap at the time. She seemed to have inherited the trait from her father, who had the same shocking red eyes with a head of short, neatly cut, chestnut hair.

But as nice as her physical appearance she inherited from her father was, sometimes he wished that she didn't accept the same stubbornness. Aided with that unwavering smile her mother was gifted with, there was multiple times where Takeshi found himself almost breaking his resolves under the stare of Shizuru.

Then again, he managed to stay strong, willing himself to keep trying. He wasn't selected from Mr. Fujino himself just for his good looks and value.

Yet, as intelligent, observing, and strong willed as Takeshi was (and still currently is), he still can't figure out for the life of him, why Shizuru persists to be so difficult about this. Fuuka University isn't a bad choice he can admit but when she has such a vast wide choice from many wonderful schools, some of which are even located outside of the country, the fact that Shizuru still chooses to stay and attend Fuuka University was absurd.

Of course, Takeshi had asked her before for these reasons she must think to be of such importance to decline such offers, but he had always been responded to with that small smile and the crinkling of her eyes. And he'd remain lost, frustrated, and near god damn desperate.

Cracking his eyes open, he squinted his eyes to adjust to the sudden light before recognizing the street they were turning on. Briefly running a hand through his hair and subtly scratching his chin, he waited for the cab to halt in front of the huge fairly expensive looking hotel before digging out his wallet and glancing at the meter which displayed the amount of money due, and gave it to the driver, mumbling a quick thanks behind his back as he left the cab and began to walk up the main entrance.

Smiling at the velvet carpet below his feet, he strode to the elevator and pressed his floor number and waited as the glamorous clean elevator began its ascent.

It may be a hard job itself to be the lawyer of the Fujino family, but damn, it sure paid well.

Letting out a small quiet yawn, Shizuru sat down in front of her television watching the news and took a nice sip out of her tea.

Blinking, her eyes looked down at her feet and recognized the pile of letters. Takeshi had insisted that she held on to them, possibly hoping that the temptation would suddenly seize her and force her to open those letters and actually read the contents inside and perhaps be convinced to attend the school.

Shizuru knew this would not happen anytime soon.

Bending down from her seat on her sofa, she picked up the pack of letters and in a fleeting moment of carelessness, chucked them on her table.

She had had quite enough of those letters anyways.

Shizuru respected Takeshi greatly, he had been around for a long time and had played a role in her childhood, besides, they were close enough to feel at ease with each other during their conversations, and Shizuru relished this fact.

But lately, it had seemed like Takeshi was trying so very hard to annoy her to some extent with his insistent persistence in trying to persuade her to attend a school besides Fuuka University.

She could recall a handful of times when he had asked (half shouted at times too), why she refused so easily, and the first time he had asked, she did not know.

She did not know why she felt such an attachment to a University she had never even set foot in.

But her immediate response was to calmly inform him that she had her own reasons, and shocked at the simple reply, Takeshi did not, could not, find it in himself to reply.

The statement was partially true.

She did have her own reasons to want to attend Fuuka University more so then any of the other schools that had offered her to join.

She just didn't know them at the time.

Sighing, she blew lightly in to the cup in front of her, blowing away a cloud of steam, before hesitantly taking another sip of the warm green tea to slow down her erratic thoughts.

But, she knows her reasons now.

And she the day will never have to come where Takeshi forces them out of her, because she knows just how foolish they are.

They were foolish reasons, yet strong enough in her mind to keep her unwavering.

No wonder Takeshi would want to know them so badly.

Rubbing her lower lip thoughtfully on to the rim of her cup, she blinks as she realizes that even when such events had happened only a week or more ago, her reasons stand still, even with her mind at loss and sanity out of place, she knows, she feels, that her reasons will never change.

Just like how her feelings will never change.

And she wishes dearly that this wasn't so.

Because it complicates things.

For the both of them.

Clamping her mouth shut, Shizuru set down the cup on the table and briefly scanned the television screen before picking up the remote control and turning it off. Standing, she walked over to her room and sat on the bed, with a book that was assigned to her from her teacher in school, and began to read. The small English letters did not sink in to her mind, but she pretended it did, just like she pretends-

-That she doesn't care.

AN: So that's it folks. See you next time! (Hopefully next time wont be weeks and weeks and quite possibly months XD;.)