Love Stalks In
Lost
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai Hime. Might wanna make sure some tissues are nearby, this one seems like a tearjerker, or maybe that's just me.
Memories flooding back, Natsuki fell back into her chair, crimson eyed goddess settling into her lap to keep her finger connected to the porcelain skinned woman's forehead. Emerald eyes poured tears, streaking down her beautiful face as suppressed memories surfaced.
Flashback- Six years ago.
Natsuki's eighteenth birthday party was going off without a hitch, and everything seemed perfect, especially when she was with her girlfriend of two years, Shizuru Fujino. Mai had roped them into going to a karaoke bar, of course, and said girl was singing a favorite of the group.
Shizuru's melodic Kyoto-ben laugh soon filled the room, amused at the look on Natsuki's face as she relentlessly teased her. "Ara, now my Natsuki is legal!" She announced, sufficiently getting a full face blush out of the raven haired girl.
"Baka." Natsuki replied, but tightened her hold on the wine eyed girls waist. Shizuru coughed subtly, but Natsuki raised her eyebrows to her. "You okay?" asked the worried Natsuki, emerald meeting wary crimson.
Clearing her throat, which suddenly felt like it was on fire, Shizuru nodded, before wincing, alerting Natsuki further. "Hey, Shizuru what's wrong?" Natsuki spoke loud enough to alert the group, and even Nao looked worried.
Shizuru began to cough, and soon her delicate hands were freckled with blood. An ambulance was called, and Shizuru was rushed to the hospital, Natsuki riding with her, confused and worried.
Waiting outside the dreaded room, Natsuki paced angrily, worriedly, and Mai sat upon the bench, answering texts from worried friends who had to leave the hospital. The door opened, but a doctor blocked Natsuki from entering.
When angry clover eyes met light brown ones, Natsuki tilted her head to the side, not liking the look of this doctor's face. "We tested Miss Fujino-" Natsuki interrupted the black haired doctor. "Her last name is Kuga, from here on out, understand?" The female doctor blinked, and nodded, smiling somewhat kindly.
"She was tested, and it turns out we can't prevent the inevitable." Natsuki and Mai exchanged worried glances. "But…she was just fine a few days ago, what happened?" Natsuki demanded, restraining herself from clutching the doctor's collar.
"She seems to have contracted a deadly disease, one we can't identify and one we can only mildly treat for the pain. I'm sorry." Natsuki opened her mouth, but Mai spoke before Natsuki could utter a word.
"But, surely isn't there anything you can do? Money's not an issue!" Mai explained, but the pale doctor only sighed sadly, and shook her head. "Doctor, there's…nothing?" Natsuki asked, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
"I'm afraid not." Brown eyes met emerald, and the doctor placed a hand on Natsuki's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "She doesn't have much time left…" The doctor couldn't say anymore, as Natsuki and Mai rushed past her and into the room.
Doctor Von Gier sighed sadly, and made her way down the hall, cursing her cruel job.
"Shizuru…" Natsuki uttered, seeing her girlfriend in that bed, looking so fragile. Mai stood, as Natsuki kneeled by the bed an unconscious Shizuru occupied.
Days had passed, and Natsuki hadn't left Shizuru side, except to do the necessities, but even then she wouldn't eat. Mai was torn at seeing both her friends deteriorating, and decided to make a stand.
After the words were spoken, and Natsuki sobbed, a gentle voice came upon them, making them look at the bed in disbelief.
"My Nat-su-ki…" breathed Shizuru, who looked over to her lover with tired crimson eyes. Mai's own lavender eyes filled with tears, and she covered her mouth with her clenched fist. Shizuru lifted her left hand, and marveled at the ring on her finger.
"Shizuru…" Natsuki caressed the chestnut hair with one hand, the other grasping Shizuru's left hand, holding tightly, but comfortably. Clover met crimson and Shizuru summoned her energy for a weak smile, before beckoning Natsuki closer.
Leaning up as best she could, Shizuru whispered into Natsuki's ear. Emerald eyes clenched shut with silver tears rushing down her face.
"I love you Natsuki, and I would have been honored to marry you. I wish to be buried under my Natsuki's surname. Please, don't suffer for me." The tired Kyoto-ben voice was still perfect to her raven haired lover, who bit her lip to keep from crying out.
Natsuki kissed Shizuru's lips, crying even as she did so, for the grip on her hand had weakened, and was soon lost. Mai placed a hand on Natsuki's shoulder, only to have it furiously shaken off as Natsuki crawled into the bed, holding Shizuru.
The scene broke Mai's heart, and Natsuki's sanity.
Soon after the funeral, Mai and Natsuki had returned to the hospital, but this time it was for Natsuki's sake. The clover eyed girl had become dead to the world, and Mai was rightly worried.
The same doctor met them, and Natsuki wouldn't respond to her. Soon after she was sent out of the room, the pale doctor turned to Mai.
"Tokiha-san, I am gravely sorry for the loss. There is a medication that can help your friend, but it comes with a costly consequence." Doctor Von Gier informed, and lavender eyes looked hopeful. "The side effects come with massive pain, usually in the form of a headache, constant blackouts and even memory loss. The memory loss will erase the memory of Kuga Shizuru."
Mai gasped as the mere thought and slapped the doctor soundly. "It's alright!" The doctor quickly assured, when Mai looked apologetic. "You're not the first one to do that, and trust me, you won't be the last." Grave brown eyes locked with lavender ones.
"Her sanity has cracked, she's a shell of her former self, and therefore cannot make a decision for herself. I trust you, her close friend, can make a decision. It could be for the better. I'll give you some time to think." The obsidian haired doctor turned away, but Mai caught her arm.
"I…I think we should try it…Natsuki gets worse every day, she hardly talks to me anymore, and neglects herself. The scars on her wrists are deep, and I'm afraid she'll go over the edge soon."
The doctor gravely nodded, and took a bottle of small pills from her deep coat pocket. "She should take two every once in a while, especially if she starts to remember anything." Mai pocketed the bottle, feeling like she just made a deal with the devil.
Natsuki's eyes opened with such a force, the room empty sans herself. "Six years…six years of lies and manipulations. God damn you, Mai Tokiha."
The rain had cleared, and a sapphire sky without a cloud met the window.
It was a bright, perfect day when Natsuki swore her revenge.
Author's Notes~ (AKA-I need humor to keep myself from crying.)
Doctor Von Gier: "No hard feelings, right?"
Natsuki, shaking with rage, punches the doc right in the kisser.
Natsuki: "You killed my Shizuru!"
Shizuru, sipping tea: "Ara, yes she did."
Doctor Von Gier/Author: "Oh come on, you had to know it was coming!" (Get's punched again and run over by readers.)
Natsuki: "Don't mess with the power of the HiME, especially not my Shizuru!"
Shizuru: "Wonderfully worded, my Nat-su-ki."
D.V.G/Author: (Currently dead.)