Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime/Otome…
Shizuru's crimson irises bored into Natsuki's slightly confused expression as the woman calmly returned the gaze.
"Hai?" Natsuki was perplexed. Clearly she can see Youko-sensei, so why does she seem so surprised to see me?
"Is there something on my face?" The blunette asked politely in an inquisitive tone, while turning her gaze to her mentor for some affirmation, to which, she saw, was only a wide grin.
"Quite the beauty, wouldn't you agree, Fujino-san?" Youko smoothly evaded Natsuki's questioning tone with a question for the brunette.
Shizuru blinked a few times, coaxed out of her stupor as she appraised the woman in front of her.
"…very…." She breathlessly whispered as her eyes snapped back to the young woman's cheeks, a slight tint dusting her cheeks, a bitten back cough as she averted her gaze and covered her pale pink lips with her arm.
Shizuru found the young medical student to her liking. She smiled plaintively, closing her eyes as she granted reprieve to the attractive medical student.
"Well then, I suppose now would be a good time to explain what is going on now, wouldn't it, Youko-sensei? After all," she stole another self-conscious-inducing glance at the blunette in front of her, "I've had my look…for now~" she ended playfully with a smile.
"I suppose you're right, Fujino-san. Well then, Kuu-kun," the doctor addressed the blunette as she stood up from the bed, "why don't you go ahead and take a seat next to Fujino-san? This might take a while to explain."
"Ah, hai. If you'll please excuse my intrusion." Natsuki stated as she tentatively took Youko's place next to Shizuru.
"Now then," Youko stated while pulling up a rolling chair in front of them, "what I'm about to tell you is strictly confidential, so I'll expect you two to keep this under strict confidence."
She sat down into the chair, making herself comfortable before she spoke again.
"You two know, at least individually, that each of you is…let's say, 'different.' Fujino-san probably isn't as privy to this fact, but there are a handful of doctors, students, and patients - though patients are of the rare variety- that are 'different' myself included. Kuu-kun here is one of those medical students, which is one of the reasons she's my only intern; but I digress."
Natsuki nodded in acknowledgement as Shizuru processed the information she was given. So there are other doctors like Youko-sensei…I wonder…
"Anyways, as I'm sure you know now, there are variations that exist within different individuals: I have the nullification - as I'm sure Fujino-san is aware of – string, Midori-sensei has the time string, and Minagi-sensei has the light string."
"Strings…?" Natsuki asked in confusion, as she tried to piece the concept together.
"Yes, 'strings.' I'm sure both you and Fujino-san have heard of string theory, right?" Getting affirmative nods, she continued.
"Well, these 'strings' – nullification, time, light - for one reason or another, somehow end up within very select individuals, such as yourselves; and this can somehow run through generations, as is the case with most of the doctors and students that possess a 'string.' However, whenever such strings suddenly manifest themselves in a 'random' individual, such as in the case of Fujino-san, such individuals are usually sent to specialists that are only at this hospital, where we, in the public's eye, 'treat' them."
Youko paused for a moment before continuing.
"Of course, we're not really 'treating' these individuals per se, but rather teaching them and helping them to, according to the patient's wishes, at the very least cope with having a string up to teaching them how to develop and exercise control over the strings they possess."
Shizuru felt a pang of shame as she thought about the string she possessed; she stared down at her lap, hands gripping the fabric of her gown a little tighter. If Youko-sensei knows which string I possess, then why is she exposing this poor young woman to me?
"Youko-sensei," a husky voice asked respectfully. "What string do I possess?"
Shizuru's heart stopped for a moment when she heard the inquiry. Please don't tell her mine, sensei! Please don't tell her!
She had a sinking feeling in her heart as she sat there waiting, listening.
"Ah, that's right. Well it's actually quite interesting. You—"
"Sagisawa-sensei," The brunette softly cut the doctor off mid-sentence. "Is it…really necessary to disclose such sensitive information?"
The doctor's eyes smiled in gentle understanding. "I understand. Well, I'll leave that for you two to discuss when you two are better acquainted. Sound fair?"
"Arigatou…gozaimasu…" Shizuru timidly trailed off as a slightly perplexed Natsuki stole a glance at her curiously.
Youko leaned back in her chair. "Oh, I will tell you this though: you needn't worry about Kuga-kun changing your bandages, ne?"
"Ah, hai…" Shizuru sighed, clearly relieved.
"Oh and Kuga-kun," the blunette respectfully directed her gaze towards her mentor, "as a courtesy to Fujino-san, please remove your glasses on your visits to her room."
"I understand." Though inwardly, a huge question mark popped up in Natsuki's mind. She didn't question it much though, as it was in the name of courtesy...people had their quirks…right? She decided not to pursue the matter further.
Inwardly, Shizuru grinned. What a courtesy indeed~
Youko smiled. "Good. Now that that's settled and taken care of, Kuu-kun, please replace Fujino-san's bandages."
"Alright." Natsuki reached into the pocket of her scrubs and brought the roll of cotton bandage out, leaning over Shizuru slightly to gently wrap it around her eyes.
"Shitsureshimasu." [Please excuse my rudeness] She gently stated as Shizuru's crimson eyes slowly closed as the soft cotton covered her eyelids.
Shizuru sighed deeply as more and more layers were added, smiling as she still saw the medical student completely engaged in her task, gently wrapping it as comfortably as Youko-sensei had done for her many times.
She allowed herself to breathe in the bluenette's scent as she leaned even closer to affix the bandage clips in place, the fabric of the woman's scrubs just barely tickling her nose.
"I'm finished wrapping the bandage, sensei." Natsuki stated as she withdrew from the brunette and let the doctor examine her work.
"Hmm, very nicely done. Couldn't have done it better myself, Kuu-kun~"
"Arigatougozaimasu, Youko-sensei."
Shizuru flashed the medical student a smile. "It is very comfortable indeed. Ookini, Kuu-kun~"
"It was my pleasure." Natsuki smiled a warm, charming smile that made Shizuru's heart skip.
"Well, now that we're finished our business here, we should probably get going. We've been keeping you for too long, Fujino-san." Youko stated cheerfully as she pulled the blinds back up and rolled the chair back from where it came.
"It was really no trouble at all. I always welcome Youko-sensei's company. And of course, Kuu-kun's as well~." Shizuru smiled playfully as she pulled her legs up onto the bed.
"Starting tomorrow, Kuu-kun will be coming to change your bandages and helping you with anything you need. I'll still be around, so you can page me if you need me."
"I look forward to working with you again tomorrow, Fujino-san." Natsuki stated as she bowed slightly.
"Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu, Kuu-kun~"
"See you later, Fujino-san." Youko-sensei waved as she slid open the door and exited into the hallway.
"Then, I will see you tomorrow." Natsuki respectfully stated before following closely after.
Shizuru waved with a smile on her face as the two left and closed the door. She hugged her knees to her chest and let herself roll and fall like a daruma onto her side. She relaxed her body, hand softly touching the new bandages around her eyes.
"Kuu-kun….huh…." As the hint of a smile graced her lips.
A/N: Konbanwa, YH-desu~ *bows* this is…somewhat of a faster release? I dunno…haha. I've recently started working as a TA and it's quite a challenging workload (hence my appreciation for TAs has gone up!) on top of that I'm trying to get myself to study for another dreaded standardized test and so yeah…oh so the thing on string theory…is NOT accurate in any way, shape, or form; just popped into my head and so it got put into the story. As a few of you may notice, I didn't mention what 'strings' Natsuki and Shizuru possess, nor do they know each other's first names…yeah that'll be coming in later chapters as they get to know each other.
I got a comment/review on 'Kuu-kun' so…that is just a nickname that Midori calls Natsuki (I made it up, but doesn't it kind of seem like Midori would give Natsuki that kind of a nickname and that Youko would also play along with it? Also addressing patients by their first name right off the bat seems like not medical etiquette for this fic to me…for some reason. Same applies to Natsuki as a med student…but who knows…just one of my quirks I guess…)
Well as always, thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy! Oh yeah, please read and/or review?
Sore ja,
~YH