Summary:

Kuga Natsuki thought this is what she really wanted. She had told Fujino Shizuru about her feelings but never about how Shizuru's love for her scared her beyond anything she could ever know. But Natsuki will soon find out that there are worst things in life than Shizuru's love... And that's loosing her love.

Disclaimer:

I do not own Mai Hime or the characters. They are owned by Sunrise and various Companies, Productions and Corporations. I am only a fan who is writing for leisure. So please get your lawyers out of my house before I sick my dogs at them.. I am simply an insomniac anime amateur writer who can't find any decent sleep.

This story is slightly AU and may contain some OOC. This is my first time writing a Mai Hime fic so please be kind.

This story is pre-read and edited by Hoppy-Chan. Thank you very much.

I've only seen the Anime Subbed Mai Hime so my knowledge of Mai Hime is limited so please be kind with the criticisms.

The Setting: This story takes place six months after the HiME Carnival but before the graduation. So AU and OOC is to be expected. You have been dutifully warned.

Italics means thoughts

Author's Pre-notes:

Many thanks to all that reviewed. You have no idea how much it was really greatly appreciated and how hard it was for me to stop myself from replying back. Why you ask? It's simple really because it would ruin the surprise for this chapter update. ('',)

Thanks again for the review and I hope you like this chapter.

xxxxxxx

Natsuki thought of every best possible way to get through to Shizuru. To be able to approach her without being tongue-tied or even worse, being interrupted by her. But her efforts were in vain. It was as if Shizuru knew what she was planning and was deliberately ditching her in advance or always irrevocably busy. But that couldn't be, could it? Back then, Shizuru always made time for her no matter how busy or hectic her schedule was.

"Could it really be that the time we spent apart really changed her?" Natsuki shuddered at the thought.

Shizuru never did call her back like she said she would, but then again she never called her either. It was a vicious cycle that never seemed to end. If she really wanted to do things right she would have to eliminate the problem first. She had to confront the obstacle.

Natsuki searched high and low for her quarry. She should have known that she would have difficulty tracking her down. Even though she detested her method, she had to put herself in her place.

"If I was her, where would I be right now?" Natsuki asked no one but herself. She tried to fight the urge of answering her own question with sarcastic and derogatory remarks. Something along the lines of "Look at me! Look at me! I'm a nymphomaniac that likes to tie up people for fun!" kept barging in her mind. She shook her head. She had to stay focused.

Finally an idea hit her. She tried to pin her personality down, deciding to break down her quarry's habits. She wasn't known to be social and rather liked being by herself. She's quite anti-social and detested staying at one place at one time.

As Natsuki began to break down her opponents psyche, she discovered that they weren't that different from her own.

"Is that why you like to be with her Shizuru?" She asked herself aloud as though Shizuru herself was standing in front of her. Shaking herself once again from these thoughts, she figured out where she could find her.

At the forest near the academy...

Natsuki found herself back to the place where they first had confronted each other. She felt bad about jumping in headfirst and attacking her without first asking questions or even proving her guilty. But that was a long time ago. Surely she had gotten over it.

She found her there perched on the tree branch, playing a tune with the use of a leaf. She looked peaceful and calm. It was almost a shame to interrupt her but there were matters that they need to address. Questions she needed to ask and have answered. She made her presence known.

"Nao." She called out tentatively.

The red head ceased what she was doing and looked down from her perch. "Kuga," she responded, acknowledging her presence. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Why aren't you in class?" there were many questions that assaulted Natsuki's mind but that was the first thing she had blurted out.

"The same reason why you aren't." Nao answered as she grinned as she watched the azure haired beauty start to get annoyed.

"No it's not!" Natsuki blurted out. She wasn't in class because she was searching for her. Nao was out of class for some unknown reason other than ditching it.

Nao merely laughed as she jumped out of her perch.

"So what exactly do you want Kuga? I doubt it was only to have a nice and quiet stroll down memory lane." Nao questioned as she stood in front of Natsuki.

Natsuki fumbled a bit. Now that she has finally found her, she didn't know where to start asking her questions. Words don't really come to mind at the moment as her emotions began to play and distant memories began to resurface, jumbling any coherent thought.

"Shizuru." Natsuki softly replied but her other words seemed to have been caught in her throat. Somehow, with just saying her name, it sounded like both a question and answer. She damned herself once again for being socially inept.

Nao on the other hand raised an eyebrow. "What about her? Shouldn't you be talking to her then?" She asked as she crossed her arms against her chest in a defensive stance.

Natsuki shook her head. "No. It's not like that... What I mean is... Why are you with her?"

Nao's eyebrow rose higher at Natsuki's question. "What is it to you?"

"Damn it Nao! Just answer the freaking question! And stop answering a question with a question!" Natsuki snapped.

"But it's a very valid question is it not Kuga?" Nao replied back not loosing her cool. It is a very valid question. Why would it bother the other girl if she spent time with Fujino Shizuru?

She then began to circle Natsuki. "Could it be that you're jealous?" She grinned slyly, knowing exactly which buttons to push to rile up the other girl.

Natsuki tried to reign in her temper. She should have known she wouldn't be able to have a civil conversation with the wayward red head. She just provokes her too much.

Nao grinned widely, relishing the effect she was having on Natsuki. "You really want to know?" She teased. She was amused with Natsuki's impotent rage as she struggled to reign in her temper, watching her shake uncontrollably.

Natsuki didn't trust herself to speak for the fear of loosing her ire and simply nodded her head, shaking uncontrollably from trying to restrain herself.

Nao looked her straight in the eyes. Her aquamarine eyes meeting emerald ones. Not losing her smile she savoured every word.

"I'm not with Fujino." she watched her eyes sigh in relief before twisting the proverbial knife. "Shizuru's with me." That gave her the reaction she wanted.

She watched as her emerald eyes widen in surprise as a tumult of emotions flashed through them. Shizuru was right; the girl didn't know how to keep her emotions in check. She was like an open book, so easy to read.

Natsuki's hands unconsciously turned into fists. "What do you mean?"

"Don't act so innocent Kuga. You know exactly what I mean." She replied before turning away, tired of their conversation.

"I'm not the one trailing after her, she's trailing after me." Nao continued, not looking back at her. "That is what you came here for isn't it? To find out?" She raised the leaf back to her lips, her back still facing Natsuki.

Nao didn't want to admit it but that wasn't exactly the whole truth. There are times that Fujino Shizuru did seek her company, but she did too. It seemed she had grown fond of the Kyoto woman. Not like she was going to admit it to Natsuki any time soon.

"Stay away from her." Natsuki warned with enough venom in her voice to carry out her threat. Somehow the answer Nao gave her frightened and angered her. A huge amount of rage filled her as she narrowed her eyes into slits. She didn't trust Nao. She didn't trust her near Shizuru. Nao was up to something, Natsuki could feel it.

"Or you'll what Kuga?" Nao laughed acidly as she turned around to face Natsuki. "You'll attack me? Hurt me? Go ahead. I'd like to see you try." with every point she made, she stepped closer to the other girl's personal space, goading her to follow through with her threat.

Natsuki could swear her knuckles were now white and was dying to connect with the red head's face. She felt her hands itching to swipe that smirk off Nao's face, which was now too close for her liking.

For a moment, they stood there in silence. Eyes clashing against each other, daring each other to move. Natsuki closed her eyes trying to calm herself down which Nao interpreted as Natsuki backing off.

"I didn't think so." Nao once again smirked. "What ever would your precious Fujino say when I tell her that you just threatened me?"

Natsuki froze.

Natsuki hated to admit that Nao was right, she hated how she immediately pictured a very disappointed Kyoto woman looking down at her. It was bad enough that they were no longer close, but to actually make that invisible gap wider...the invisible wall stronger.

Suddenly a new image entered her mind. It was Shizuru getting further and further away and out of her reach.

Nao couldn't resist but taunt her even further. "How does it feel to have the shoe on the other foot?" she laughed before walking away from Natsuki, leaving her with her thoughts.

Natsuki couldn't do anything as she watched Nao walk away from her. She wanted so badly to retort. But with what? What could she say? She wasn't exactly sure if Shizuru would choose her side of the story or would even support her. There was just too much time that came between them coupled by their unresolved issues. She wasn't even sure if Shizuru would stand up for her anymore. It was Nao's words against hers. But Nao's parting words haunted her.

What did Nao mean?

She came to her to find answers only to get more questions in return. Why was Nao being deliberately obtuse? Did Nao really enjoy torturing her that much?

Meanwhile...

A certain red head was also plagued with questions.

"So you finally decided to step up, Kuga?" Nao said to no one but herself. She had to admit she had been expecting their little confrontation for sometime now, but it had taken a while.

Nao couldn't help be amused by her rival's indecision. "It took you this long to realize how you feel?" She wanted nothing more than to laugh aloud, but settled for chuckling to herself instead while shaking her head. "Kuga you really are an idiot."

She was too engrossed with her thoughts as she walked back towards the school grounds. She was enjoying her day so far and enjoyed the little verbal skirmish she exchanged with Kuga Natsuki. It really was amusing messing with the older girl; it was just way too easy. She was thinking about the words she exchanged with Natsuki and why she had said what she did.

She wasn't normally vindictive. In fact, she owed Natsuki for saving her from Shizuru's wrath when Shizuru had defeated her child Julia. But then again it was her fault why she snapped in the first place, both for her part and Shizuru's. She was interrupted from her reverie when she caught a glimpse of Fujino Shizuru surrounded by her fan club, all eager to walk her towards the student council room.

Nao smiled a sincere smile. Back then, she wouldn't even put up a fight with Kuga Natsuki. She would be more than willing to offer the Kyoto woman to her emotionally troubled rival, even going as far as serving Shizuru in a silver platter for Natsuki's personal enjoyment but that was then. It was completely different now.

It was as if Shizuru sensed her watching her and turned around and gave her a little smile as she walked passed. It wasn't the smile she usually gave to her admirers. It was an honest and sincere smile no matter how small or short it might have been. Nao was sure those smiles where reserved for only a small amount of people. She knew how to tell the difference.

Nao knew Shizuru has many different smiles. She had experienced almost all of them. The fake ones she used to get before and during the HiME fiasco. The ones that really frightened the living day lights out of her since she never really knew what was lurking behind that well placed smile of hers. And then there were the ones that she just received.

Nao gave her a little grin of her own.

Shizuru simply gave her small and subtle bow as she continued on her way followed closely by her admirers. Nao watched her walk away. Shizuru's smile had always had some kind of effect on her. They were completely different now. They weren't scary or intimidating at all. It was a smile that brightens up your day, a smile that says she'll be there when you need her. A smile that wouldn't let you down. It was reassuring and comforting at the same time.

"It's totally different now." Nao whispered to herself and she'll be damned if she let Kuga Natsuki know why.

TBC?

Author's Notes:

Hope you like the latest update. Congratulations to the people that guessed right!

Thanks to all that reviewed, because of your reviews I was actually able to write the next two chapters without much difficulty but that doesn't mean it was nicely or well written. Lol. It only means I have to read through it to make sure it makes sense. Anyone who is still interested in becoming a beta-reader please contact me.

This story was actually suppose to be a one shot story idea but diverges to other stories, for example: the prologue was meant to be in Natsuki's point of view. The second story I was going to put up was about Yuuki Nao's point of view and then lastly Fujino Shizuru. But I thought perhaps combining it into one whole story would be more ideal. It would mean that I need to alter the plot a bit to make everything have sense and have a decent conclusion.

I know this update was short but the next one is really lengthy so it will make up for this one.

So did you readers enjoy reading this so far? Should I stop or continue?

Please review and if you have to criticise please make it constructive. I don't mind having corrections in the review as long as you tell me if you liked it or not. ('',)

So please review. Your reviews to me are like what Mayonaise are for Natsuki.

Ja Ne