CAIE: phew… Finally finished another chapter. Whoa. It sure took me time.
More clues! More clues! Hee :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Mai HIME.
Natsuki pressed her hand on her aching head. She recovered from the strong impact the explosion caused. She panicked. "The violin!"
She searched for it and found it displaced on a corner. She hugged it tightly. "Ureshii…"
She shrieked when a man wearing a ski mask pulled her by her hair. "What do we have here?"
She tried to free herself but passed out from the strong blow on her stomach.
Shizuru couldn't help but laugh at Natsuki's action. She caught the timid girl planting a kiss on the violin. The girl froze.
"Ara. I didn't know Natsuki is a fetishist."
Natsuki flushed. "Th-That's-I'm not!"
"Oh? It's usually the silent ones who have such things."
"I-It's not what you think!"
"Then what should I think, Na-tsu-ki?"
The girl tried to find the words to say but ended up speechless. She smirked. "Hey, everyone! Natsuki's got a secret," she said out loud.
It just amazes her how she managed to become the closest friend to Natsuki who is dubbed as the "Class Outcast".
The shy and silent girl was always treated like she wasn't there at all. Nobody wants to befriend a person of low standing. It was a school for rotten bitches from the elite class after all. Girls who enter as scholars are always segregated from those capable of paying. It was pathetic but the daughter of the richest man in that city couldn't care less about people's status.
Natsuki's capability of bringing back joy to her life formed a strong bond between them. Though Natsuki was hard up expressing herself in words, Shizuru have lots of tricks under her sleeve to make Natsuki express most of what she feels.
The girl dropped the violin and rushed towards her. "SHIZURU!"
She dodged Natsuki's grab and ran sticking out her tongue when she got in a safe distance. But she didn't expect the other girl to advance towards her found herself pinned on the wall. Natsuki was breathing hard, eyes predatory. It frightens her sometimes how a withdrawn person can turn into a dangerous predator.
She flashed her famed smile then whispered to Natsuki's ear. "Don't worry, Natsuki. It's just you and me in this room."
The next thing she saw from Natsuki's eyes was something that terrified her greatly.
Shiho was able to catch up with Natsuki.
"I-I need to get out of this place…"
She didn't dare question her friend anymore.
She held on tight as they sped fast, the engine making a zing.
They stopped by the beach. Natsuki got off, threw her helmet on the sand, screamed her heart out, and trashed the ground.
Shiho fell on her knees, silently crying.
Natsuki noticed her and remembered where they were. With a concerned look, she approached Shiho and braced the lady tightly. "I-I'm sorry… I didn't realize…"
Shiho cried all the more. 'That's not it…' "Forgive me…It's my entire fault…I'm so selfish…!"
"Don't say that. You haven't done anything! I feel so hurt right now and I want you to be strong for me, please…"
She began crying again. Shiho braced her back. They stayed like that for hours until sleep shrouded over them.
Miyu felt more sorrowful than ever. 'Why does it have to happen to your daughter too, Alyssa ojou-sama…'
She remembers how two of her friends suffered from the love they kept from each other. She was a servant of the Searrs family but Alyssa treats her like a sister. She studied together with her mistress until high school and decided to dedicate her time serving her ojou-sama when she graduated.
It was during high school did they meet the sly Juliet Nao Zang. The red head made her mistress fume every time they meet. But behind the war lines, something sparked between them. Nao secretly sent anonymous love letters to Alyssa while the other secretly took pictures of the red head. It didn't last though for Alyssa was arranged to be married to a wealthy businessman. It shattered Nao and Alyssa's world.
Nao went away thinking it was for the best. Alyssa felt so abandoned and lost even though Miyu was there. Everything happened so fast that it made her mistress numb of the pain. She became the puppet of the Searrs family. The Alyssa they knew died that very day.
'It would be horrible once all her memories return. She might do something crazy like what Shizuru did…'
The troubled woman did what she think is for the best. She called the man in charge of Fujino Industries.
"Hello. This is Miyu Greer. May I speak with Mr. Fujino? Please tell him it's urgent."
Mai was so worried with her two employees who are her friends as well. They had been distant ever since they came home after their trip a few days ago. 'Okay. I'll talk with them once Natsuki returns from her delivery.'
She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a commotion from the dining area.
Another hit from the serving tray landed on the head of the man when he tried to stand. "You jerk! How dare you show your face to me after what you did to my friend!"
"Arika? What's this all about?"
The girl froze when she spoke. "M-Mai-chan! I-I….."
The man let out a relieved sigh. "Are you the manager of this place?"
Mai closed in. "Yes?"
"You better train your employees well. They lack manners," he said with a grimace.
Her brow rose. The man stood up. Arika stood in front of her, spreading her arms out to shield her employer. "Don't ever try coming close to Mai-chan!"
The man smirked. "O. Being overprotective as always, I see? That's why I was the only boyfriend Nina had because I was the only one who defeated you."
"Shut up you womanizer!"
"Hey. I think it is best if we go settle this in my office," Mai said calmly.
Arika stood firm, narrowing her eyes at the man then tugged at Mai's hand.
The man snickered and followed the two. He slowed his pace when he saw another waitress pass by. 'That chic… I think I saw her before.'
He shrugged his shoulders after assessing the lady.'Nah. That can't be.'
'That's the last,' she thought and prepared to take off.
Her bike sped away towards that direction: her mother's house.
She rang the bell when she arrived. The gates automatically opened for her.
"I knew you would return."
She went past the woman and looked at the portrait on the wall. It was her mother when she was still a teenager.
"Would you like to visit her grave?"
She glanced at the woman.
They stood before a marble slab at the private cemetery of the Searrs family. She just stared at it, trying to figure what she should feel.
"Was she ever happy that she had me?"
The woman smiled. "She was. Her smiles came back when she realized she was pregnant with you. You took away her loneliness."
She kneeled and brushed away the leaves that fell on the marbled grave.
They went back to the mansion.
"Are you going to spend the night here, Natsuki?"
The lady shook her head. "I just came to get that diary."
Miyu bowed and led the way. Natsuki stopped when she noticed a closed room. Miyu looked back at her and stopped walking. "That's your mother's room."
Without a word, she opened the door. The large stuffy room didn't matter much to her but the single picture frame on the bedside table made her eyes widen.
"Old hag?"
In between a blonde girl and a silver haired girl was a younger Nao.
Miyu gave her a puzzled look. "What's the matter, Natsuki?"
"You're friends with old Nao?"
Tate yawned, showing that he's bored with all of Arika's squabbles. She eyed the woman calming the younger girl. 'Would you look at that. Nice boobies…'
He grinned and winked at the woman when she glanced at him. That made Arika fume even more. The girl pounced at him and started clawing at him.
"Argh! Stop it you feral beast!"
He pinned the girl under him. Mikoto who just came in lunged at the man. "What are you doing to Arika?"
"Stop!Mikoto no-Ahhh! STOP THIS NONSENSE THIS INSTANCE!"
The three froze. Mikoto got off from Tate's back and Arika pushed the man away from her.
Tate stood up and dusted his clothes. "This place is full of wild animals! I am never gonna step here!"
Mai's face twitched.
"Why you-!"
Mai put her hand up, stopping the girl. She bowed her head and apologized to the man. Arika went silent. "Mai-chan…"
The man grabbed the opportunity to irritate the girl and hit on the orange-haired lady. "I will forgive you if you go on a date with me."
Arika reacted. "What did you say?"
Mikoto snarled at the man.
Mai firmly closed her eyes. 'Ass hole!'
Tate pressed a hand on his aching jaw. He cursed. 'That woman sure can punch.'
He was outside the restaurant walking towards his car. His jaw dropped at the lady riding a bike who parked close by.
He whistled. " stuff."
He recognized the lady. "Holy shit…"
Tate waved at the man who emerged from the black Mercedes. He opened the soda can that was cooling his jaw a while back. He took a sip. "Didn't expect you to be here that fast."
The man's serious face didn't change.
"Where is she?"
"Chill, man. She's right inside. But I'm warning you. There's a dragon lady in there."
Reito went inside the restaurant in a blink of an eye. There, he came face to face with a red-haired waitress.
Shock was written all over her face. His heart skipped. He stared at her for a long time. He grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. "You-"
"Get your filthy hands off her!"
His mind spun from the hard blow. Natsuki had hit him with her helmet. He passed out reaching towards Shiho.
Natsuki grabbed Shiho's hand and ran towards the back door.
"Natsuki…"
Tate saw Natsuki and the red-haired lady running towards the bike. Without any second thoughts, he followed them.
To be continued…
CAIE: Almost there…! Or so I thought. Hahaaha.I couldn't end it yet.