CAIE: I somewhat find it hard to piece everything bit by bit. (Lack of inspiration, maybe?:) )
Haha. Here's another confusing chapter. ( Glad I have misled souls in the previous chapters! Mwuhahahaha!)
Though I'm having a wild guess that some of you already know where this story is going. Heehee…
Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime.
The boat rocked when she stood up. Her hair was being blown by the wind. Tears streaked from her eyes, the darkness concealing its glitter.
She took out her phone and started recording what's going to happen.
"Before I go, I want to apologize for abandoning you. You're the only one I can always run to but I don't have that right anymore. I'll be joining her in a few moments. Tell the old man that I am grateful for his resources. I think that's the only thing that made me think of the importance of his presence. Goodbye… and thank you for being one of the people I can trust…"
A loud splash was the last sound recorded in the video. She was able to send the video before she let it fall from her hands. The anchor tied to her ankles pulled her down towards the dark depths of the sea.
Reito was preparing a cup of tea while watching the news. Duran leaped on the free side of the couch positioning itself beside its master. He patted the wolf's head suddenly recalling how Natsuki and Shizuru loved to pamper the fuzzy animal.
He found the creature when it was still a puppy during a deer hunt with his friends years ago. Her sister found it very interesting and took good care of it with him.
He felt a pang of sadness remembering those times. He wished it would come back again if only his sister was back.
The dark haired man received a video minutes later from a familiar number. He smashed his cup on the floor and screamed.
"Fujino-san, get a hold of yourself!"
Reito called for help. The old man was clutching his chest.
He regretted being there but he had to. It took him a great deal to share the news to the CEO of Fujino Industries.
Akihiro's men barged in carrying the old man away. He remained silent, unable to go after the ruthless man that caused suffering to lots of people.
"Natsuki…"
She wished she could let the voice linger inside her head but her trance broke when the alarm clock started beeping. She turned it off and forced herself to wake up. She flared when she saw two figures sprawled on the floor.
'Just as I have thought. I shouldn't have let this two share beds,' she thought begrudgingly.
She saw the curly red-haired lady snuggle closer to the green-haired one, face pressed against soft bosoms.
She closed in and pinched Shiho's thigh. The girl just moaned, fluttering her eyes open.
"Good morning, Natsuki," came the gentle greeting instead of irritation.
A tint of red appeared on her cheeks. The lady's voice always startles her. "You sleep on my bed next time. You always end in an awkward position together with Tomoe," she said brusquely.
"Are you sure?"
She felt a little chill from the question.
"Fufufufufu… Hora, hora...Natsuki. Are you getting jealous of Moe-chan?"
"B-Baka! That's not it!"
"Then why are you blushing?"
"I-I'm not!" 'Darn it!'
She slowly backed down towards the corner, letting herself be trapped by Shiho.
"Shi-chan?"
The red haired lady whipped her head towards the voice then looked back at Natsuki. She squeezed Natsuki's nose and moved away.
"Let's go back to bed, Moe-chan," Shiho said sweetly.
Natsuki could feel her veins wanting to burst.
"But Shi-chan… You're going with Nat-chan today right?"
She was happy that Tomoe remembered unlike Shiho.
"Oh! It's that day," Shiho said innocently.
"You can stay if you like," Natsuki snapped. She turned her back from the two, hiding her grim face.
"Eh. A promise is a promise. After all, we're going to look for Natsuki's special friend. I want to see how great this 32nd Shizuru will be," Shiho teased.
Natsuki scowled, remembering how disastrous the 31 Shizurus she looked for. They do not fit any description of what she thinks Shizuru is. 'Thanks a lot Google,' she thought with sarcasm.
Though, there's one not included in her list that fit the description well. Unfortunately, the lady was already dead. Her name was Shizuru Fujino.
But that didn't stop her from looking for more. She has to keep on looking or else it will make her crazy.
She turned on the engine of the bike she uses to deliver takeout orders. She had been working for a couple months now in Mai's restaurant. Then during her weekends, she searches for Shizuru; thanks the internet and some of Mai's connections.
Then three months earlier, she rescued a red haired lady after she went to meet Shizuru number 22.
"What are you doing? Are you nuts?"
The lady's eyes grew wide. "Y-you…."
She pulled up the lady who jumped the bridge. It was a good thing she was able to grab the red head's hand before it was too late.
The lady cried. "W-Why….?"
"Why you say… Killing yourself will amount to nothing! Are you dumb?"
The lady didn't mind her harsh words and hugged her tightly, soaking Natsuki's jacket with her tears.
"H-Hey…."
Natsuki froze and felt something so familiar. 'S-So… warm….'
"Thank you," the red head whispered softly.
Midori stopped on her tracks when she saw Yoko do the same. She saw who they were looking for.
"What's up?" she asked though she figured out what it is.
"Let's go and eat ramen somewhere," her assistant replied.
The marine biologist smiled. 'Well… Let the biker girl handle the rest then.' "Sure."
She pushed the lady gently when the red head stopped crying. She stared into puffy orange eyes. "Are you okay now?"
The lady nodded.
"Don't try doing something crazy like that ever again," she said sternly then went towards her bike.
"i…"
She stared at her helmet then turned towards the lady.
"I… remember painful things every time I see the waves of the sea," the lady revealed.
Natsuki was silent for a while then surprisingly found herself opening up to some stranger. "I guess our situation is a bit similar…I'm afraid… of travelling the sea… I don't remember why but it really makes me apprehensive…But I managed to do it with friends who are there to support me and a will that drives me."
The lady gave her a sad weak smile. "Friends huh…? I no longer have such…"
Natsuki looked at her indignantly. She put her helmet on the lady's head and dragged the red head towards the bike.
She felt warm hands wrap around her waist and caught the scent of fragrant flowers. "Ready?"
"All set," her passenger replied.
The engine roared as they sped away on the motor bike.
Natsuki took off the ring on her finger. She eyed it with disgust. Eternity? The symbol lost its meaning. It is nothing but a reminder of betrayal. She punched the mirror right in front of her. The ring was deemed meaningless for it had breached a good friendship. All attachments were cut off. Blood trickled from her wounded knuckles but she couldn't feel the pain.
She lost her balance from the sudden explosion somewhere in the ship. The ring rolled away from her sight.
A woman who was passing by stumbled from the sudden explosion. She cursed but saw something shiny on the floorboard. She picked it up and marveled at the fine ring. She tried it on. Her new found joy was short-lived when another explosion took her life.
To be continued….
CAIE: (Sigh) Ooh dear… I feel guilty making Shizuru and Natsuki suffer. And i also have to make Shizuru die... (Ack!) I feel like I'm making the story lame…(Snivel) oh heck…
Reviews?