Author's note: Do you realize that Mai-HiME was released all the way back in 2004? It's been more than eight years since it ended now. Many other anime have come along since then, but no couple has captured my heart like Shizuru and Natsuki. (Feel free to let me know if any others have caught yours, though!) Even now, I still RP them on a near-daily basis with my friend. I wish it were easier to share all the love... perhaps I'll talk with her about posting some of our logs somewhere.
For a long time, I've been wanting to get onto original works, but I also don't want to abandon Shizuru and Natsuki. But I do have something original in the works, which I hope to show off pretty soon. It still needs a bit of work first, and one thing I'm looking for is someone to help out with the graphics, a "cover" if you will. I'll be coy about exactly what for now, to not spoil the surprise, but if anyone's interested in helping out, I'd be incredibly grateful (enough for a request fic *hinthint*). Just drop me a PM!
I should also apologize for the wait on this. I've been working on finishing up my PhD this year, and then once that was done I had to get ready to move across the ocean for my new job in Edinburgh, Scotland. Wish me luck here!
In other news, I've got a different Shiznat fic in the works for Christmas this year. What it is, exactly, I'll leave as a surprise though. I may start posting chapters in the run-up to Christmas if they're done. Keep tuned.
X-X-X
Title: Album
Rating: K+
Chapter 11: Turnabout is Fair Play
X-X-X
Shizuru was blinking nearly continuously, trying to keep the tears from welling up in her eyes. Both the memories and the thoughtfulness of Natsuki's gift were getting to her. "...Suki..." she said, closing her eyes and declaring the fight a lost cause. Tears began to slide down her cheeks. Shizuru brought up a hand to wipe them away, but it was caught by Natsuki.
"It's alright," Natsuki said softly. "You don't have to hide from me, Shizuru." she said, reaching out to her love. She wrapped her arms around Shizuru's back, pulling her love in close and letting Shizuru bury her face in Natsuki's shoulder. Natsuki slowly stroked Shizuru's back, her heart bursting with love for this woman, rekindled by all the fond memories. There might have been a bit of pride mixed in as well, that her gift had worked out so well.
Shizuru forced herself to breathe slowly. This woman... this thoughtful, caring, beautiful woman... to think that she was marrying someone such as Natsuki was almost more than she could take. Even after the months she'd had to get her head around the idea, it still seemed unbelievable. But it was true. The ring on her finger reminded her of that whenever she needed to prove it to herself. She and Natsuki were truly getting married.
With a deep breath, Shizuru pulled back from the hug, but just enough so that she could move in and capture Natsuki's lips in a kiss. She wrapped her own arms around Natsuki's back, not letting her love escape from the kiss. Shizuru stroked her lips against Natsuki's, nipping a bit at her love's upper and lower lips before she stroked her tongue across them playfully.
Natsuki let out a chuckle at this treatment from Shizuru, but it soon turned into a hum as she let herself simply enjoy the affection from her love. "Mm~" she stroked Shizuru's back with her hands, trying to return just a bit of the love.
Without any warning, Shizuru pulled back from the kiss. "Time for Natsuki's special gift," she said before Natsuki even had a chance to open her eyes.
"Ah...? Wha?" Natsuki said, blinking her eyes open as she tried to reorient herself. As she realized what Shizuru had just done, she pouted at her love, her cheeks filling with red. "Oi..." The pout went away, however, when Shizuru placed a small box in her hands. Natsuki blinked at it, wondering what Shizuru might have gotten her, and making a note that it had better be worth the tease or else she'd have to see about getting revenge later. Well, maybe.
Natsuki slowly peeled off the wrapping paper. The present was roughly the size of the album she'd given to Shizuru, if a bit thinner, but that certainly wasn't what this was. There turned out to be an unmarked brown felt case inside, which gave Natsuki no clues as to the contents. Searching it, she found a clasp along the edge and opened it up. She first caught sight of only empty space as she opened up the box, but her breath soon caught in her throat as a glint of light caught her eye, reflecting off a deep blue gem mounted on a platinum engagement ring.
"Kuga Natsuki," Shizuru said, taking Natsuki's free hand in hers. She leaned down to plant a kiss on the back of it, then looked back up into her love's eyes and said, "Will you marry me?"
Natsuki gulped down a lump that had formed in her throat. Perhaps she should have been expecting this, but it had caught her completely off-guard. She nodded vigorously as she tried to form some words in reply. "I- of course..." she was finally able to get out. Warmth flooded Natsuki's cheeks as Shizuru took out the ring and brought it toward Natsuki's hand. Shizuru carefully spread out Natsuki's fingers and moved the ring into place, taking her sweet time with it.
Shizuru slowly slipped the ring onto Natsuki's finger, and then leaned in and planted a quick kiss on Natsuki's beautifully-blushing cheek. "Merry Christmas, my wife-to-be."
Natsuki didn't think it was possible, but her cheek got an even deeper red at this comment. She gazed into Shizuru's eyes, trying to think straight. When her thoughts were in some semblance of order, she took Shizuru's hand in hers and brought it up to her lips. Natsuki planted a quick kiss on Shizuru's own engagement ring. "Merry Christmas, my love."
