OK. sorry for the delay. Unfortunatly I have a big english project that I have to work on, so it will probably be quite a while before I can post again...sorry.

"…and this deal is so good; I just can't shut up about it!" The girl on the screen was blabbering.

"I'll shut you up…" Natsuki murmured as she switched the channel.

Shizuru entered the room at that moment. "Sorry Natsuki-chan, it seems my errands can wait until later."

"Oh, ok." Natsuki turned the television off. "Um…"

An awkward silence filled the room.

"Shizuru, I…I really…I am sorry…about…what happened…and…how…I…how I treated you…I'm sorry." Natsuki choked out.

Shizuru's face was unreadable.

After a moment, she spoke, "Thank you, Natsuki-chan." She whispered the words quietly.

"Um…"

"Can I get you anything?"

"Um…" Just then Natsuki realized something.

I have to pee! Oh shit! I have to pee!

"Um, well…" Natsuki glanced at the bedpan, "I, um…"

Shizuru smiled. "Natsuki-chan needs some private time?" She turned to leave.

"NO!" Natsuki shouted, and when Shizuru turned back, she continued, "Um, I'd rather not, um…" Her face was bright red as she spoke, "Um…I, well…"

"Does Natsuki-chan need some help getting to the bathroom?"

"Um…yeah," Natsuki felt her face burning as Shizuru smiled.

"Not a problem Natsuki-chan." Shizuru scooped her up so fast; Natsuki almost didn't realize it until they were out the door.

Wow, she's ridiculously strong…

After leaving Natsuki in the bathroom, Shizuru waited in the hallway. Her beeper went off again.

Now what?

Shizuru checked the number. With a small sigh she leaned toward the door and said, "I'll be back in a few moments, Natsuki."

"Alright, whatever!" Natsuki's voice came back through the door.

Shizuru slipped down the hall, and entered her meditation room.

This had better be good.

After reading the e-mail, she sighed. She wrote her reply.

As she locked the door, Shizuru heard a thump and hurried to check on Natsuki.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Uh…I'm FINE!" Natsuki's voice was rather high and panicky.

"Natsuki…?" Shizuru asked; then hesitantly pushed open the door.

The sight that met her eyes was so hilarious, her composure dropped for a moment and she giggled.

Natsuki was lying on the floor; tangled in toilet paper. Her face was a shade of red Shizuru had never seen before.

How can this be happening to me! Oh God damn it!

"Will you quit gawking and help me up?!?!" She shot at Shizuru who was standing in the doorway, staring incredulously at her.

"Ah…yes." As Shizuru leaned down to lift her up, something happened; Natsuki didn't catch what, but the Shizuru was quickly turning away from her.

"What?" Natsuki asked angrily.

"I just need a moment." Shizuru's answer was short, and her voice was strange.

"Shiz-"

"Please stop talking…" Shizuru's voice was now a whimper.

What's going on? Is she crying? What have I done now?

After a few moments, Shizuru spoke.

"I'm okay now." Shizuru's voice was normal again, and she wiped her face with some of the toilet paper.

"What was that about?"

"It was nothing, Natsuki." Shizuru finally turned too look at her.

It doesn't look like she's been crying…

Natsuki happened to glance at Shizuru's hand; then she did a double take, seeing the toilet paper that Shizuru had used to wipe her face. She stared up at Shizuru.

Oh my God…does this mean? She…

Natsuki attempted to get up, but was thwarted by the toilet paper and her weak muscles. Shizuru quickly scooped her up and ran her into the bedroom. She dropped the shocked Natsuki on the bed; then said quickly, "I've got some errands to run, won't be too long." And she was gone.

I…I gave her a nosebleed…

Shizuru ran into her meditation room and almost slammed the door.

She knows…she knows…she knows…

The words played through Shizuru's head over and over. Finally, she managed to change her clothes and grab her black naginata. She slipped out the window.

Natsuki was lying exactly as Shizuru had dropped her.

No way…how can I face her now?

"What's wrong Kuga-chan?" A sly voice near the doorway caused Natsuki to sit bolt upright. Nagi was leaning against the wall, a book under his arm; a sly grin on his face.

"N-Nagi!" Natsuki was both shocked and angry, "What the Hell do you want?!"

"Oh, it isn't really about what I want, is it? It's about what you want."

"What the Hell are you talking about?!"

"You have to make a choice."

"What…the…Hell…are…you…talking…about?!" Natsuki repeated herself slowly, enunciating clearly.

Nagi chuckled. "Well, that was an interesting incident."

Natsuki's face turned red as she realized he'd seen what had just happened. "Y-you little! You little…perv!"

"Perv? It doesn't seem I am the perverted one."

Natsuki sputtered incomprehensible words at him.

"Now hold on," He said silencing her, "As I was saying, you have to make a choice."

"And what might that be?!" Natsuki snarled at him.

"You are torturing her. She cannot be only your friend. You must decide how important she is to you."

"What?" Natsuki whispered.

"You must choose to have the kind of relationship she wants, or have none at all. Otherwise, she'll get mentally unbalanced again."

But…

"I don't feel that way about her…" Tears came to Natsuki's eyes.

"You don't?" Nagi seemed surprised, "Are you sure? Think carefully about it."

I…I…Shizuru …She's helped me so much…letting me use her computer…saving me from Nao…She really has cared for me over the years…then…why didn't she got to college?...why did she become the director?…she took care of me for a whole year…I treated her…badly…She's always loved me…but…how do I feel?...I…I…I think…

Natsuki's eyes widened as she came to the realization.

I…I do love her…

The thought had been buried deep within her subconscious. She'd realized it during her year of unconsciousness, but her conscious self had been unable to handle it.

"I, love her." Natsuki whispered finally.

"About time you realized it too, you've been ripping her apart. I'll check in on you again soon." Nagi left.

I love her…

The thought took a huge weight off Natsuki's chest; a weight she hadn't even realized was there until it ceased to crush her.

I love Shizuru…

Blood dripped off her naginata, and Shizuru double checked to make sure it was her mark. After making a positive identification, she fled the alleyway.