Breaking the Boundaries
Disclaimer: Mai HiME belongs to sunrise. The one who wrote the manga shall die for his blasphemy of Shiznatness.
Chapter 2: Shizuru's Tall Enough to Make a Significant Difference at the Comfort of Holding an Umbrella for Both of Them
"It's raining…" Natsuki stated dully, eyeing the torrent only a few feet away from her with disdain. A few splashes landed on her uniform. "…I don't have an umbrella." The forecast only said something about ten percent chance of rain, worthless weather reporters. She knew she would never trust one again.
Shizuru motioned at her own umbrella, "I do."
Unfortunately.
Natsuki knew where this was going. She folded her hands on her chest and looked at the other way. "No thanks, I'd rather walk under the rain." Than walk in it side by side with you and your goddamn teasing.
Sighing dejectedly, Shizuru opened her umbrella and stepped halfway into the rain. "Ara, that will be troublesome isn't it? Since there's a test tomorrow, and your attendance record…" She trailed off, letting her words sink into Natsuki before continuing on, "Well, Natsuki can always wait until it dissipates, or call a taxi…"
Natsuki scowled. She enjoys playing with me. They both knew it'll take a long time for a thick torrent like this to stop, and they both knew that she almost never had enough money in her wallet for anything other than basic food supplies and additional emergency mayo shopping.
"Fine!" She grunted unwillingly, "But I'm holding it."
"Iya dosu."
"What? Why?"
"Because it'll be easier for both of us, I'm taller than Natsuki." Shizuru shifted the umbrella so it was well beyond Natsuki's reach if she didn't want to wet herself.
"Oh for god's sake, Shizuru, you're only less than an inch taller than me!" In exasperation, Natsuki wildly grasped for the umbrella, but failed. Shizuru inched it even further, a playful expression played on her face, bordering on mischievousness, perhaps.
"But Natsuki was only up to my chin when you were in junior high, remember?"
Natsuki groaned, she did not need to be reminded that she was a shortie back then, "Well, it was years ago, and obviously, you haven't grown any taller since. Now give that to me, or else…"
An arched elegant eyebrow, "or else?"
"Or else… I'll… uhh- tackle you?" She finished lamely.
Somehow, Shizuru's eyebrow rose even higher. "Has Natsuki run out of ideas?" And she didn't really mind being 'tackled' by Natsuki. The thought of a full-blown embrace with her dear Nacchan (not official) almost sent a blush creeping on her cheeks.
Not yet, as the only-less-than-an-inch taller woman uttered her sentence, Natsuki came up with a smart come back, "Or else I'll kiss Takeda in front of you!" HA! How's that? True, her heart almost stopped and a sudden surge of nausea attacked her when she imagined herself doing it (which she would rather ram herself on some wall and lay on some hospital bed in coma), and she was sure that mere image alone would probably scar her for life. Ignoring her growing nausea, she sensed triumph when there was only silence from the other side. She looked up, expecting shocked looking Shizuru, but what she saw probably left her guilty for the rest of the week, and for sure left her speechless, not even daring to proclaim her triumphant 'HA!'.
True, as she hoped, Shizuru was shocked.
She was beyond shocked.
All colors had completely drained out from her face, leaving her gaping there, staring at Natsuki with utmost terror. She almost seemed like she was about to cry.
Natsuki could only lower her gaze, mumbling reluctantly the words she would never have if not for the extremely rare sight before her, "Fine… you hold it." Next time she would think first before opening her mouth. The guilt was already sinking it.
Shizuru nodded at this, and wordlessly stepped out into the rain, Natsuki close beside her.
"Someday I'll be taller than you, then you won't have any excuse to hold that umbrella."
"…I'll be waiting for it."
---