Meh, I don't think I was very awake for this part.

Enjoy anyhow.

-ManiazAzn

Disclaimer: Sunrise owns Mai HiME and it's characters of course.

Natsuki glared out the Student Council window at the two women intertwined under the sakura tree, clenching her fists angrily. She heatedly slammed her fists onto the window sill, but once a jolt of pain ran through her arms, she then realized her hands were balled. What's wrong with me? Shouldn't I be happy for her? I mean, she doesn't have to go out with Reito or whoever I set her up with. She can have anyone she wants. Natsuki shook her head. She started pacing around the room, wringing her hands desperately. Why the fuck is she with Chie?! I mean that girl's practically the queen of one nighters! She can't commit to Shizuru!

Natsuki abruptly stopped in her tracks. Neither can I.

"I don't have to do anything. It's just always there. You're always there."

She remembered the shock on Shizuru's face when she had said that. Natsuki had thought Shizuru was just simply surprised at her own commitment. Shizuru had run into her room and promptly disappeared from her sight for the next day.

And then Natsuki found her, with…Chie

Natsuki stared out the window, looking but not seeing anything. Thoughts whirled throughout her head, threatening to overflow and break her. The fuck? This is screwed up, I'm not upset, I'm just worried about her. She just randomly disappears and then shows up with Chie? Does she know how worried I've been?!

The biker gritted her teeth and set off towards the garden, slamming the Student Council's door after her.

Muffled cries echoed softly around the small restroom, breaking the still silence normally occupying the area.

She couldn't believe it.

Aoi sobbed loudly into her hands, trying to forget the image burned into her mind. A clash of tawny hair and streaks of gray so close to each other; it was almost unbearable.

That should have been me. She screamed in her mind.

But it wasn't. A chill worked its way over her body and once again the image ran through her head.

So close. They were so close.

Aoi slowly stood up, wiping tears away from her eyes. Her now red eyes razed with an abnormal flame as multiple thoughts came to her mind. She firmly steadied herself and stood straight.

She knew what to do.

The date.

Shizuru hastily pulled back from Chie and wrapped her arms around herself. Chie looked on in confusion.

"Kannin na, Chie." Shizuru mumbled, her head hung low. "I should have restrained myself."

Chie gave the Kaichou a long look before her face broke into a nervous grin. "N-No, actually that was my fault. It was done purely on instinct, ya know?"

Shizuru glanced up briefly and gave a tiny smile. "Your instinct is quite unlike any other I've seen."

"I'm special in that way, don't ya think?" Chie rubbed the back of her head with a hand, laughing slightly. The movement of her arm made her tear-stained shirt brush against her skin, making her shiver.

Shizuru noticed and frowned. "Your shirt is wet from my little moment."

Chie shrugged. "It's fine, I was gunna wash it anyways. You just came along first."

"Nonetheless, we should get out of the garden. It's getting quite chilly." Shizuru stood up and a cold wind blew the excess leaves around her as if for emphasis.

Chie laughed and stood up as well, stretching her limbs. "Alright then, do you want to come over to my apartment? I doubt you'd want to see Kuga-san right now."

"Yes, I think I would prefer to come to your apartment." Shizuru said quietly. "Would Aoi-san mind?"

The dark-haired woman stopped her activity and replied stiffly. "Aoi has a date tonight." She almost spat the word out.

Noticing the tightening of the other's fists, Shizuru quickly changed the subject. "Shall we hurry? You might get a cold from standing out here too long with just a thin shirt."

A deep breath is let out and the clatter of a bento is heard as Chie gathered Shizuru's luncheon. Shizuru smiled faintly at the other, watching her as the materials were being picked up. The tomboy was considerably taller than Natsuki and had a larger build. Her shoulders were almost as wide as man's except she had the delicate curve of a woman's. Instead of stomping around like the biker, Chie had this way of padding around, but one would always know it was her.

"Yo, Shizuru?" Chie waved a hand in front of the tawny-haired woman. "Ya ready to go?"

Shizuru shook herself from her thoughts. "Ara, of course I am."

Chie was about to start towards the apartments but a warm arm around her waist stopped her. She stopped, to find the Kaichou's head placed on her shoulder.

"Eh?" Chie glanced at the woman next to her. The person in question murmured something unintelligible and burrowed deeper. After a few moments, Chie shrugged and carefully draped an arm across the Kyoto-ben's shoulders, continuing the walk towards the buildings.

Almost upon arriving at the apartments, a light drizzle of rain started. Within a few more steps, the light drizzle had turned into a fierce pouring, which prompted the two women to hurry into the dry building. Not stopping at the door, they hurried upstairs to the floor of Chie's apartment.

Stepping onto the 3rd floor, the two paused, sensing two others. Mai was standing in doorway of her own apartment, talking to…

Aoi.

Chie immediately stiffened and coughed loudly to catch the other two's attention. Aoi and Mai looked at her, one with sadness evident in her eyes, one with anger towards the woman now apparently in Chie's arms.

Aoi turned dismissively to face Mai. "Thank you."

She then leaned in and kissed Mai, directly on the lips.

Chie's brown orbs flashed in surprise, but the astonishment quickly turned to fury. She angrily broke open the door to her apartment and pulled Shizuru inside with her. Shizuru was almost thrown off balance by the show of force. Slamming the door, Chie turned to rest her back on the wall, tears running quietly down her face. She pulled her legs up to her chest and cried softly, making almost no sound.

Shizuru watched all this with dull crimson eyes, fully understanding what had just happened. She slowly knelt on the ground in front of the tomboy and rested her hands on the other's head.

"Chie?" Shizuru spoke gently. The person gradually glanced up at the mention of her name and was met by compassionate eyes.

"I love her so much." Chie whispered, her voice cracking. She irately stared at the floor, now wet from her dripping clothes. Suddenly, the tomboy slammed her head against the wall. Repeatedly, Chie rammed her skull against the cold, unforgiving wall, gritting out with each thump:

"I'm."

"Such." A grunt of pain.

"An."

"IDIOT!" Chie yelled as her head throbbed, and was about to give the wall another hit until a pair of hands caught her face. She looked up in surprise and was about to protest, but in a flash of red, found her own lips covered by another's.

The flash of lightening illuminated the small apartment, revealing two silhouettes; as close as one may get to another, but each as distant as the stars stolen away from their rightful moons.