AN: These reviews are helping me a lot so thank you to all my readers and reviewers for this opportunity that you guys have given me with your reviews. Please keep me going with your reviews.

Disclaimer: I do not own Mai Hime or any characters

Warning: mild and heavy themes of profanity.

"Mama, why are we leaving? I thought we were happy with mama Ahn" asked the little girl who was in the seat next to the older woman.

"Well sweetie, you see we won't be seeing mama Ahn for a while," replied the tawny-haired woman as a weary smile grew along her cheeks.

"Oh, okay. Well as long as I'm with you then I don't care! It can be a new adventure," said the little cobalt-haired girl bouncing in her seat in excitement.

"Ara, yes it can be. You're going to love this new place. It's in a big house and you get to go to same school mama and her friend went to when we were younger" her Kyoto-ben accent held a glint of sadness as the woman tried to hide it away in her eyes.

"Really mama… hehe, I can't wait!" the girl smiled in excitement nodding her head repeatedly in session.

"Hai, really…" the woman patted the young girl on the head as her crimson eyes had her attention elsewhere or rather on someone.

Natsuki…

Meanwhile at Tokyo airlines

"Now arriving in Tokyo, please exit the plane in an orderly fashion."

Damn it, about time I got here. I am once again in Tokyo, stuck here amongst these sweaty passengers. After that day that Shizuru announced that she was going through with the pregnancy, I figured that Shizuru didn't need a dumbass like me around so left. I moved to America to finish the rest of my education, while there I heard rumors that Shizuru gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Now that I think about it she could be three or four and years old now, probably talking now to her and Ahn. But, back to the goal at hand; I'm back in Tokyo to help my family's business and help my eccentric cousin Nao with a few things. I can still remember the phone call now and how she got me into this crap.

Three weeks ago in America.

"Hey, how is America going? Kicking ass in that business program or what Natsuki?"

"Well, hello to you Nao," greeted Natsuki in a dead pan voice, trying to recover from the loud outburst coming from the other end of the phone.

"Wow, sounds like someone pissed in your cereal this morning. Are you mad that your father's asking you to come back to Tokyo after your ceremony?"

"What ever could you mean? I'm not mad …I'm furious! There's a reason why I transferred to America and there's a reason why I'm staying here!" stated Natsuki in a defeated voice.

"It's about Shizuru huh? You still can't shake her off of you huh cousin? I know I have called you a selfish brat when it comes to her, but what you're doing is the most unselfish thing that you could ever do for a person," the sudden change to a soft, serious tone from Nao didn't go unnoticed by Natsuki.

Never had Natsuki heard her cousin speak to her like this. The cobalt-haired woman had never seen a side like this to her cousin; this questioned her cousin's mental stability.

"What the fuck happened to Nao, who's this new girl calling herself Nao?" Natsuki joked with a smile earning a laugh from her cousin.

"Nothing's happened to Nao butt head, it's just that believe it or not I was in the same situation as you" said the red-haired woman in a fond voice.

"So what happened, did you ever tell her how you felt?"

"Yes I did, but it wasn't until she had a family of her own. The point is I waited too long and I don't want to see you making the same mistake Natsuki. The whole point of loving someone is to know what you two are, not what you could have been."

"Well I can't know who I am as it's because she has me Nao. Shizuru's always had me, I feel so empty since I left her" Natsuki replied with tears welling in her eyes.

"The problem is simple; just get back into Shizuru's life. Even if you're her friend and she still is with Ahn, just get back into her life."

"I suppose... but it hurts so much…"

"I know, but you have to face this Natsuki" Nao knew how stubborn Natsuki could be at times, but she also knew her one weakness; Shizuru.

"I know your right Nao, but I'm going to take my time with this."

A moment of silence passed before Natsuki spoke once again.

"Hey Nao, I have something to ask."

"Yeah?"

"Why exactly are you calling me? You never call me."

Present day

That's the situation, so now after my graduation no less than 24 hours ago I'm back in Japan where the love of my life is stationed at, as well as my most hated enemy. I hate my life…

Natsuki walked out of the airport with bags in hand to see a limo driver with her name placed on a sign. Once outside, Natsuki quickly slid into the back seat of the limo and dialed her phone to a familiar number.

"Hello Natsuki, welcome back to Japan" said a masculine voice.

"Hey dad, I was actually planning on staying in America after graduation. So, why did you call me here?"

"Well, I called you here because I want you to make a couple of business deals with Lu corp. They have been buying up a lot of steel recently and I want to get in on that deal, so we are making a…"

"Product exchange, am I correct? We give them some of our trading points and locations, and then they give us there locations. But, I don't trust this company as they are fairly young for a company," Natsuki stated, rubbing her chin in deep thought.

"I see that American college has taught you well. So what do you suggest, vice president?" Natsuki was in shock at the position that was awarded to her fumbling for the words to say. Natsuki took a deep breath before once again speaking.

"Thank you father, this is an honorable opportunity and I won't let you down. I suggest that we take a look at the places and information that they will give us and research them. If they prove to be on going resources then we shall trade with them. But, only with a one year contract, then hopefully if the trade doesn't go sour and the resources run out we won't lose too much money within that year."

"Yes, that sounds good. Is that a technique that you learned in school?"

"No, it's something that I actually just came up with" smiled Natsuki before laughing and scratching the back of her head in a nervous habit.

"That is a good plan my daughter. I will make preparations for a meeting soon."

Meanwhile…

"Hurry mommy, if we don't hurry the store will be closed!" said the little cobalt-haired girl, tugging repeatedly on her mother's sleeve.

"Alright, alright I'm coming," said the tawny-haired woman being pulled by her finger by her excited daughter. Not looking where she was going, the crimson-eyed woman bumped into a person dressed in a black business suit that was just stepping out of a limo. Almost losing her balance, Shizuru regained her composure as she looked up to see the jaded eyes of her childhood friend. Shizuru found her breath caught in her lungs, ushering her lungs to take a wisp of air as the crimson eyed woman could only utter one word.

"N-Natsuki"

"S-Shizuru? Is that you?"

Feeling joy and excitement in her core, Natsuki wrapped her arms around the older woman and lifted her up for a light spin. Gently setting her down, Natsuki looked into the eyes of her unrequited love before rubbing her hands in the older woman's long tawny-hair. Wanting to kiss her, Natsuki moved in closer only to be stopped by a small voice.

"Who are you pretty woman, and why are you making a kissy face towards my mommy?"

Trying to find the source of the voice, Natsuki looked down to see a small cobalt haired girl staring up at her with an almost threatening gaze. A cold shock ran up her spine as she looked at the younger girl who resembled her in every way except the dark crimson irises that looked similar to her unrequited love.

"S-Shizuru, s-she l-looks…"

"I know Natsuki, she looks just like you," Shizuru confirmed, her eyes were filled with tears of mixed emotions that found no end.

AN: Think this is a great spot to end this, I am happy from the reviews that I am getting and I'm pleased to get great comments from all of you. Please R&R, this can only help this story progress more and I will throw some twist and plots in this story to keep everyone busy and from predicting my plots.

Preview: "How did this happen!"

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