Wow...OK...firstly I am sorry that it took me so long...I've got a big English Project (may it burn in HELL!), so I haven't had, and won't have much time to write. Secondly...I really don't know exactly where I am going with this...I have a vague idea, but, meh...well, actually I do know how I want to end this (I think), it's just getting there in the right way that is a problem. So please give me your thoughts...it is for you, the reader, that I spend my time pouring over my keyboard, after all!

When Shizuru awoke, she was still curled in her chair, but now someone held her. She opened her eyes and looked up into the face of her beloved.

Natsuki, you really...you really did wake up.

A tear silently slid down each side of her face. Carefully she slipped out of the chair without disturbing Natsuki, and left the room.

Natsuki awoke some time later. Sunlight was pouring into the room. She looked around. It was not a hospital room as she had expected. It wasn't a room she'd ever seen before. The walls were a pale yellow.

Where the hell am I?

Just as she asked herself this, Shizuru entered the room with a tea tray. Her face had returned to its normal, calmly controlled appearance.

"I brought you some tea," She said unnecessarily, "Um…"

Natsuki was mildly surprised.

Um…? That's not like her at all…

"Are you okay Shizuru?" She asked tentatively, and then gasped at her the sound of her voice; it was scratchy and weak.

Shizuru gave a half-hearted chuckle. "No, I should be asking you that."

Oh…my arm…

Natsuki looked down at herself. She was wearing a hospital gown. She lifted the sleeve, but didn't find any deep wounds as she'd expected. Barely visible, one long scar began at her shoulder and traveled almost to her elbow. A few smaller scars were also barely visible. Her arm was also in one piece. She noticed that her body was stiff and her muscles were weak. She looked up to see Shizuru smiling sadly at her.

How long…?

She couldn't bear to ask the question for fear of the answer she might get. Instead she asked; "Where are we?"

"My flat…or, I suppose our flat seeing as how you've lived here as long as I have." Shizuru replied quietly as she poured the tea.

"Your flat?" Natsuki didn't consider it her flat at all, "But what about the mansion?"

"I'm no longer the Director, so the mansion is no longer mine. Mashiro is the Director once more; it seems they couldn't find anyone else competent enough, so they had to offer her double salary to get her back." Shizuru chuckled, but the laughter didn't reach her eyes. Her eyes were empty.

"Why aren't you the Director anymore?" Natsuki hesitantly asked.

"Well, when you stop showing up for work," Shizuru handed her a teacup, "They tend to fire you."

"F-fired? Why did you stop showing up for work?" Natsuki asked, getting nervous.

"Someone had to look after you, Natsuki-chan." She smiled; her eyes were still dead-looking.

I have to ask…deep breath…here we go…

"Shizuru," Natsuki began, "How long have I been asleep?"

Slowly, Shizuru looked up at her.

"It's April," She said quietly.

Oh, thank goodness! It's still April, I can't have been comatose for more than a few weeks!

But then she realized.

If I've only been out for a few weeks, why am I so weak? Why are all of my wounds completely healed? Oh God no…no, no, no…

Shizuru continued her sentence, "its April again, so it's been just over a year."

As she said it, Shizuru watched Natsuki's face freeze, open mouthed in shock. The teacup slipped out of her hands, smashing and spilling the tea all over the carpet. A gurgling noise escaped from between her parted lips just before she collapsed, sobbing.

Shizuru knelt down next to her and held her; while she cried a river of tears. It seemed like ages passed.

"It's going to be okay," Shizuru told her when the tears finally stopped flowing, "Mashiro told me that I can still tutor you so you don't have to repeat; if that's what you still want."

Natsuki looked up at her. Despite the fact that her eyes were puffy from crying, they were still very beautiful. Deep, emerald, beautiful eyes, it killed Shizuru to see them like this.

"It is." Natsuki told her. Shizuru smiled, and for the first time in over a year, it was a real smile.

A whole year. I've lost a whole fucking year of my life. What a nightmare! But…At least I know what to do now.

"Shizuru," Natsuki began, "I need to talk to you about what happened, on Graduation Day."

Natsuki say Shizuru stiffen slightly, but she slowly nodded.

Here goes.

"Were you trying to get me drunk?"

Shizuru's eyes looked distant, finally, she replied, "Yes I was…at first, but I realized it was the wrong way to go about it." She paused, "Originally, I wasn't going to drink, but I think I ended up drinking about twice as much as you."

Natsuki could vaguely remember Shizuru drinking a whole bottle of wine by herself, straight out of the bottle.

"So we were both so drunk neither one of us knew what was happening?!" Natsuki was relieved at this realization, until Shizuru spoke.

"No." She said simply.

No?

Shizuru had forced her into a corner…she had to ask.

"What do you mean?"

Shizuru looked up at her. "I was drunk it's true, but I can remember what happened even though my judgment was impaired."

Damn it! Just tell me what fucking happened already!

"Well…?"

"I …" Shizuru faltered, "I don't think…" Her red eyes looked alive once more, but they were filled with sorrow; looking into then brought tears to Natsuki's eyes as well.

"Please tell me, Shizuru" Natsuki gently coaxed, taking, the now slightly shaking, woman's hand in hers.

Shizuru closed her eyes for a moment; tears began flooding down her cheeks. When they opened, the tears continued flowing.

"I didn't…I didn't...do anything..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, "It was you."