A/N #1: Jesus Christ on a Pogostick people!! 20 reviews for one chapter?! I don't think I've had that many reviews on all of the stories I've written put together. It makes me proud to see that I've written something that you guys enjoy, it really does. It makes me work harder. Here's the thing; I wasn't going to put this chapter out today cause 1] it's still not finished and 2] I told myself I was going to be at least one chapter ahead before I posted the previous chapter. But, oh well. I'm motivated enough, and you guys rock. So here ya go; my treat.

A/N #2: A little humor, but I wanted to get a little more into Natsuki. In the anime Mai HiME universe, Natsuki is a antisocial little girl, but I wanted more or a reason the the cliché 'my mom died' and the like. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's horrible how it happened, but I wanted something different. Something tragic and gut wrenching at the same time. So...enjoy. I think. :D

A/N #3: Just felt like telling you guys an odd story; I have the T-Mobile G1. It's a neat little phone, it really is. Right off the bat it asks you for your Gmail account. Basically, it's a walking Email checker for that Gmail account. Coolies, right? When you get an Email, BAM!! It lets you know. Well, I'm weird with my phones. Ever since I watched Final Fantasy: Advent Children, all my phones have had the Fanfare Music as my ring tone. It makes people look at me funny. The people that are FF fans laugh, and fun is had all around. But my notification tone? Well, that's switched around. I was downloading random soundbytes one day when I found one that was a Chocobo squeaking. If you don't know what that sounds like, google it. It's funny. So here's the deal. Anytime, ANY FREAKIN' TIME I get a review/favorite notice/author alert, my phone lets me know, cause sends me a notice of it. But sometimes it's really, REALLY slow about it. So I'm at work talking to my boss about a serious matter when my phone decides it's gonna catch up on all the reviews and stuff it didn't send me in the last 12 hours or so. The conversation went something like this:

Me: So, all I'm saying is [SQUEAK!] ...

Boss: Uhhh...

Me: Sorry. Anyways, [SQUEAK!] ...

Boss: Is that...your phone?

Me: What? No. Absolutely not, it's [SQUEAK!] ...

Boss: Then what the hell is it? [SQUEAK!], [SQUEAK!], [SQUEAK!] ...

Me: Oh, for the love of... [SQUEAK!] ...

Really not the best time, but I love it none-the-less. Thanks for the reviews guys,

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai HiME, only the idea of this story. I also don't own any of the quotes I use from movies/shows/various other anime. If you can point them out, awesome. If not...well, awesome.

--

The months passed quickly for Natsuki. She had set up a routine, and with all the random craziness that happened around her, she felt it was holding up quite well. She got to know everyone in the group Reito had inadvertently (she assumed) pulled her into, and sat with them at lunch every day. She barley paid attention to Chie's antics, and while Aoi still pounded the gray haired player all day long, Chie was strangely unaffected.

Not that anyone asked. Not anymore. When Natsuki did, the only answer she got was a wink and the cryptic response of 'Lover juice.' Needless to say, everyone left it at that.

"Damn it." Haruka cursed as she sat down at their usual lunch table. "Stupid Social Studies..."

As she grumbled, Yukino left to get their lunches, as per their regular routine. Natsuki didn't bother to look up from the book she was reading, and everyone else was too engrossed NOT talking to the walking sonic boom that Shizuru could only sigh.

"Ara, what seems to be the problem Haruka-han?" Shizuru asked, bracing herself.

"Just a silly survey slash report thing I'm suppose to be doing for class." was the response. At the lack of Haruka's usual booming voice, everyone now started to pay attention.

"Ah yes. I bet he did the Random Drawing Report thing, right?" Chie chuckled. "Oh, those are always gold. What did you get?"

All they got was a mumble. Yukino came back and set down the food in front of Haruka and pushed her glasses up her nose to better adjust them. "Haruka-chan is suppose to do a survey on the sexual activity of her friends."

After a moment of silence, laughter burst out from everyone, except Natsuki, who was still reading, and Shizuru, who was too refined to actually burst out and instead hid her laughter behind her hand. "Ara, why not? You could start from the beginning to the end; kissing to sex and everything in between."

"No, that won't do." Nao said, waving a celery stick in the air. "You gotta start at masturbating. THEN to kissing, and so fourth."

"Why?" Mai crunched up her nose. "I don't want people to know how often I masturbate."

"Why not?" Chie quipped in. "Everyone masturbates."

"FINE!!" Haruka gets up and takes out a piece of paper. After scribbling down the actual survey, she looked over the table. "This is all natural stuff, I assure you. I'm not gonna use this against you; not like I could anyways, since I'm sure half the school knows about most of your sex habits. So everyone is doing this; EVEN YOU NATSUKI!!"

The bluenette looked up, blinked, and went back to reading her book. Everyone nodded, recognizing Natsuki's affirmative response...well, at least they hoped it was her affirmative response.

"Alright." Haruka began. "We'll go day by day, just hold up a finger for how many times and so fourth. This is a week long assignment, so after seven days, I'll tally up all the categories so I can figure out what's done more and what's done least among you lecherous delinquents."

"Does this include you, Haruka?" Mai asked, her grin a sly one. "And what about Yukino?"

"WE'RE NOT INLUDED IN THIS!!" Haruka shouted, slamming a palm in the table, causing cracks to spider all across it. "Stop asking!!"

"Fine, fine..." Mai rubbed her ears. "Sheesh..."

"Okay...let's get started." Haruka cleared her throat. "Masturbation."

Everyone held up a hand, excluding Natsuki, with various fingers indicating how many times that day. Haruka's jaw dropped.

"Jesus...Mikoto, it's barely noon!! How can you...that many...wait, nevermind!!" Haruka holds up a hand, barring any explanation. "Just shut up. NATSUKI!! We're starting!!"

"Yes." was the dead panned reply.

"Okay...kissing..."

Down the list she went, the number of hands getting fewer and fewer. When it hit sex, only Chie raised her had, quite enthusiastically, only to have her head slammed through the table by a red faced and completely irate Aoi. Haruka looked over the survey and nodded.

"This could work...but...NATSUKI!!"

"Yes?"

"You didn't raise your hand at all." Haruka put her hands on her hips. "Why not?"

"Cause I didn't do any of those things today." Natsuki looked up, blinking. "Sorry."

"Well, whatever." Haruka made a mark on her survey before raising an inquiring eye at Natsuki. "Say, Natsuki...what about tomorrow?"

"What about it?"

"Will you be doing any of these things tomorrow?"

"Probably not." Natsuki gave a small sigh of frustration, an unusual display of emotion for the bluenette. "Look...I don't do any of those things. Ever. So put me part of your survey, but you might as well leave the space beside my name blank."

For a moment, no one spoke, which slightly irritated Natsuki, but she didn't say anything as she went back to the book she was reading. The silence was broken by, of course, Chie, who let out a low whistle.

"Did anyone else think 'Well, that explains EVERYTHING!' just now, or was that just me?" Seeing everyone's nod, Chie smiled. "Awesome."

"But...what do you do for a release?" Nao asked, horrified. The concept of no masturbation completely baffled her, and for some odd reason the thirst to know overwhelmed her. "I mean, we all know you don't do any after school stuff..."

"I don't do anything." Natsuki replied, not bothering to look up from her book. "I study, read, and do homework. Then I go to bed."

"That's...horrible..." Mikoto put her hands to her head and began to shake it, as if trying to tear the images from her mind. "Mai...Mai, make it stop!!"

"Shhhh..." the motherly redhead pulled Mikoto into a hug and stroked her hair. "It'll be okay Mikoto, I promise...Natsuki was just kidding, right? Don't scare the children Natsuki!!"

"What?" Natsuki looked around the table at all the disbelieving looks and confuses them more with a slight frown. "What are you guys all mad about? I'm not doing anything wrong."

"That's some M. Night Shymylan shit right there man." Reito whispered, uttering a silent prayer. "What a twist indeed."

"You're telling me...no wonder you are the way you are Natsuki." Nao nodded solemnly.

"No kidding." Chie gave a dazzling smile...as if she could give any other kind.

"Enough." Natsuki stood up and looked at everyone at the table. "Seriously, what is this? Bash Natsuki Time because she doesn't want to sticking her fingers in her vagina? I mean, I study hard and do what I'm suppose to do and I get made fun of for NOT masturbating? My expectations were low enough as it is, but now they're so low they could only be discovered with the help of state-of-the-art tools, a government grant, and the world's top geologists." Natsuki slammed her book shut and gathered up her things and walked away.

Mai shakes her head. "Wow, talk about a pessimist."

"Indeed." Chie shrugs. "But you know me...I guess I just always see the vagina as half full."

A punch to her head sends her body sliding through several tables and through the door Natsuki had went through only moments before.

"It's GLASS you stupid player!! Not VAGINA!!"

--

Natsuki didn't usually fume, and even when she did she kept her mask perfectly in place. But these people certainly knew how to push her buttons, and their most recent subject was particularly irritating since it brought up some old memories she'd rather not face. Taking a moment to stop and hold her stomach, she swallowed hard, forcing the feeling away again and instinctively stepped to the side to allow Chie to come to a halt beside her. On her feet in an instant, Chie grabbed Natsuki's write and, without a word, pulled her into the nearby...Boy's Restroom? Chie didn't seem to notice, and since it was vacant she pulled Natsuki in front of her so she was blocking the only way out.

"What's your problem?"

Natsuki blinked. "I don't have a problem."

"Yes, as a matter of fact, you do." Chie huffed, crossing her arms. "For months we've tried to weasel our way past your iceberg exterior but you just don't let us in. What gives?"

Natsuki shrugged. Chie sighed, knowing Natsuki wasn't going to speak any more on the matter.

"Look, your little outburst may not affect them, but it does me." Chis looked to the side. "I haven't been able to draw anything lately, and I know why...it's cause you're suppose to be my next subject."

Natsuki raises an elegant eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but if I don't pain you naked, I won't get the image out of my head." Chie looked to Natsuki, give a slight nod. "Okay?"

"Okay."

"Well, you don't have to reject me...okay?" Chie did a double take, jaw dropping. "Wait...what? You WANT me to paint you naked?!"

"Well, no." Natsuki sighed, shifting from one foot to the other. "But I know you're not lying."

"Why?"

"Cause Aoi's right behind you and she didn't bash your head into the urinal."

"Eh?" Chie turned to find the brunette looking intently on the conversation that was going on. "Babe!! What's the happs?"

"She agree?" Aoi gave Natsuki a nod. "To pose for you?"

"Yeah." Chie nodded. "It's just like you said."

"She said?" Natsuki muttered. "But..."

"Oh please." Aoi gave a fluttering laugh. "You think she could ever figure it out on her own?" She continued to laugh while Chie gave her an indignant look.

"Hey, cut it out." Chie said, pushing her glasses to the bridge of her nose before turning to Natsuki. "Aoi's my muse, always has been. It's one of the reasons I love her so much; she helps me out in times like this when I don't know who or what I wanna draw. It's like she feels me out and pulls the image out of my head." Chie gave a shrug. "I don't pretend to understand it, but as long as I can get it onto canvas, I'm happy. Right babe."

Aoi just smiles at her lover.

"I see...a symbiotic relationship." Natsuki nods. "I understand."

"Well, YOU just make it sound creepy." Chie grumbled. "But whatever. Come on, off to our room."

"W-wait, what? N-now?" Natsuki stuttered uncharacteristically, pulling back on Chie's hold.

"No time like the present." Chie offered, then winked. "Come on, I won't bite...honest. Aoi will be there to keep me in check."

Natsuki looked to Aoi for conformation, and she only gave a nod and a giggle before grabbing her other hand and and pulling along.

"Come on Natsuki...it won't be bad."

Natsuki blinked.

Then sighed.

--

"This is a bad idea." Natsuki said, coming out of Chie's bathroom with a simple blue bathrobe on. "I'm not sure I want to do this anymore."

"Oh, POSH." Chie waved the complaint away as she sat behind a large white canvas with various paints on a tray beside her. "What could possibly be wrong? It's not like I haven't seen the female body. I see Aoi's all the time."

"Chie..." Aoi's warning came a surprise to Natsuki, but with all the paintings around them, Natsuki was sure she just didn't want to damage Chie's work.

"Sorry, sorry..." Chie laughed. "Okay then. Tell me Natsuki...what are you so uncomfortable about?"

Natsuki was silent for a moment before looking at the ground, toeing a random drop of red paint shyly. "My scars. And...tattoos."

"Well, that's nothing...tattoos you say?" Chie perked up. "Scars? Oh, I gotta see this." Chie grabbed Aoi's wrist and pulled her toward Natsuki. As they got close, Natsuki's eyes widened a bit as she took a step back. Seeing this, Chie stopped. "Hey...we're not gonna rape you or anything..."

Natsuki visibly paled at this, but swallowed hard and seemed to collect herself. "Okay...what do you want me to do?"

"Turn to a side you feel more comfortable with and take off the robe." This instruction came, oddly, from Aoi, who gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Chie's lecherous hands won't come near you."

Pondering this, Natsuki gave a nod. She had no real reason not to trust Aoi on this matter; she usually body slammed Chie for even ogling other girls. So she turned around, back facing them and slowly pulled off the robe.

Chie and Aoi both gave an audible gasp at the sight of two beautiful angel wing tattoos on Natsuki's back. From the base of her neck, back of the shoulders and majestically down her back they sprawled, every detail lovingly etched into her skin. Each feather seemed painstakingly drawn, and it spoke volumes about the time and effort into the final product. She turned slowly, letting them see the front where another tattoo was on her stomach; the kanji for broken. Another scar, as light as the one on her face, went from her right hip all the way to under her left breast. Another was across her chest. And while they were more then eye catching, both Aoi and Chie's gaze was drawn up to Natsuki's neck, where there was a darker scar across her throat.

'She always covers it up with her shirt...' they both thought at the same time. Barely breathing, Aoi reached out and touched the scar on Natsuki's neck, wanting to feel it, wondering how it got there.

The reaction was instantaneous. Natsuki's eyes flew open and she dropped like a brick on the floor. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, her body shaking violently.

"What the fuck?!" Aoi screamed, jumping back with Chie, who gathered her wits about her faster then her girlfriend and leaped forward, grabbing Natsuki straddling her and pinning her down. She grabbed Natsuki's face, trying to steady her.

"Natsuki!!" she yelled. "Come on...it's okay, you're safe...please...you're safe!!"

"Don't..."

Her body stopped shaking. After a few moments, Chie loosened her grasp and Aoi crept forward, both watching the girl with caution. When Aoi leaned in to touch her forehead, Natsuki visibly flinched, turning her head away.

"Please..."

"Please?" Chie swallowed hard. "Natsuki...please what?"

"Please." Natsuki turned to them, her look hollow, her green orbs completely shattered as she gazed at Chie. "Please don't hurt me...I'll obey...just no more pain...please..."

"Oh..." Aoi felt hot tears running down her cheeks. "Oh dear god, Chie..."

"I know." Chie's tone was hard. "Call the doc. We need her; now."

Aoi didn't need telling twice.

--

"Well, it's nothing too bad." Yohko said as she leaned her head back on her chair. At the mention of the words 'Natsuki' and 'seizure' in the same sentence, Yohko Sagisawa had bolted straight to Chie and Aoi's room. Between the three of them, they managed to get Natsuki decently dressed and back to Yohko's Medical Room in no time.

"Not that bad?" Chie growled. "Doc, you saw Natsuki's body, you saw that...that cut on her neck. How the fuck...how..."

She couldn't even finish her words as she balled up her fists. Yohko raised an eyebrow at Chie; the usual cheery attitude was gone, of course, but she didn't expect it to be like this. From what she'd heard on the grapevine, Natsuki was playing the 'Lone Wolf' card, even among the people that called her friend. Chie seemed to take this as a personal insult, and her girlfriend along with her.

"It's not something people usually like talking about." Yohko said softly. "It's been, what...two months? Give her time."

"But we're her friends!!" Chie exclaimed, her voice growing louder. "I mean...Aoi barley touched her. AOI!! Not me, but her!! And she...how were we suppose to know...I mean, we didn't mean..."

"Of course not." Yohko gave a chuckle that seemed to annoy the two students. "But things like this happen. Natsuki's got a lot of willpower, but those of us that have conferenced her on the matter have told her she can't handle it alone. She insists she can." Yohko shrugged. "It's all we can do."

"It's not fair." Aoi muttered. "We want to help."

"Oh, she's going to get help." Yohko smiled. "One of the deals we made at the beginning of the school year was that if she had a relapse like this, she would go to mandatory counseling."

"Which I still think is quite silly." Came a voice from behind her.

They all turned to see Natsuki, looking as stoic and statue like as ever. Her clothes were back on (Chie silently thanked Aoi for remembering), and, Chie noticed, her neck was covered by an underlying turtleneck sweater. 'I just never noticed...' Chie shook her head.

"You sure you should be up?" Chie asked. "I mean..."

"Yes." Natsuki held up a hand. "I'm fine. Don't mention this. To anyone."

"Not even your tattoos?"

Natsuki sighed. "As long as you don't mention the pierced nipples, you can mention the tattoos."

Chie and Aoi stared. "Wait...pierced nipples?"

Natsuki blinked before pulling out her own shirt and looking down. "Oh bother...they're not in, are they?" Looking up to see Chie and Aoi's blush, she shrugged. "Never mind. Still, don't mention them."

"Your agreement." Yohko said, holding up an envelope. "States that you are to attend mandatory counseling sessions, as well as a roommate. I'm thinking you can have both."

"What do you mean?" Natsuki raised an eyebrow.

"I'm thinking it will do you some good to interact with someone on your time off." Yohko said, tapping her chin. "And I know just the person."

"Who?" Natsuki narrowed her eyes. "Certainly not Reito..."

"Oh no." Yohko laughed. "The only other person more qualified then our actual school psychologist is someone who is aspiring to help people as a therapist."

Chie's eyes brightened. "Of course!!"

Aoi smiled. "Yes!!"

"Shizuru Fujino!!" the thee said at the same time, laughing.

Natsuki furrowed her eyebrows, ignoring the slight cringe in her stomach.

"Shizuru Fujino is suppose to help me?" Natsuki crossed her arms. "And I'm suppose to live with her?"

Yohko nodded. "Until I deem you...cured."

"I'll never be cured." Natsuki looked away. "I'll always be this way."

"Never say never." Yohko said, rolling her eyes at her own cliché. "I'll contact her now. You go pack up, Natsuki; you got a long talk with Fujino-san when you get to her apartment.

"And where is that?" Natsuki asked, a feeling of dread growing inside if her.

"Oh, don't worry about that." Chie held up some keys she had retrieved from her pocket. "Me and Aoi will drive you there."

Great.

Just great.

--

Guess That Random Movie Omake #3:

[Natsuki and Nao are fencing on rocky terrain.]

Nao: You are wonderful.

Natsuki: Thank you; I've worked hard to become so.

Nao: I admit it, you are better than I am.

Natsuki: Then why are you smiling?

Nao: Because I know something you don't know.

Natsuki: And what is that?

Nao: I...am not left-handed.

[She moves her sword to her right hand and gains the advantage.]

Natsuki: You are amazing.

Nao: I ought to be, after 20 years.

Natsuki: Oh, there's something I ought to tell you.

Nao: Tell me.

Natsuki: I'm not left-handed either.

[Natsuki moves her sword to her right hand and regains the advantage.]