I do believe I'm relatively on time with this update. No?

A flashy Ducati accelerated onto the ramp leading to the impressive entrance of Fujino Corporation. Not even bothering to slow down amongst the wondering business men and women, the biker swerved until it skidded to a halt right in front of a beautiful brunette who was attired in tight fitting slacks and a professional navy blue suit that complimented her figure very well. Without a word or any wasted motion, the biker drew an extra helmet that was attached to the side of the bike and offered it to the woman.

"Ara, Natsuki. You have definitely made your grand entrance…" Shizuru commented as she looked around at the gawking bystanders. Many of them had thrown themselves to the floor in order to dodge Natsuki's bike. Shizuru guessed that the only reason they weren't already flaming Natsuki for her inconsideration was because they were still trying to comprehend the scene: the heir to one of the world's largest corporation was awaiting a…a..biker!? on an old Ducati to beat!? Oh the rumors are going to start flying, if they haven't already. Smiling an apology at her fellow coworkers, Shizuru accepting the helmet and climbed onto the back of the bike.

Revving the engine for added effect, Natsuki smirked as she dived down the ramp and turned sharply onto the incoming road. Though she won't admit it to anyone, she indeed liked showing off her bike. True, it's a little old, but Natsuki likes to think it as "classic". Besides, Nao promised to have her upgraded parts tonight so Natsuki was confident her customized bike plus her skills would make anyone envious. Including the woman behind who had, the bluenette noticed uncomfortably, practically plastered herself onto Natsuki's back and held onto the biker in an almost intimate embrace. Maybe I'm driving too recklessly… and she's scared? No…I've seen her drive. This is a kiddy's ride in comparison. But…it won't hurt to be more careful, after all she's use to driving a car and not a bike…

Feeling the bike decelerating on the interstate, Shizuru smiled to herself. No, she wasn't scared of Natsuki's driving. She had full faith in the girl's abilities. After all, she did win the race that night under the most unfavorable circumstances, least of all her outdated bike. Following the race, the heir had some of her subordinates "question" the racers for improper conduct. Apparently they had all been bribed to manipulate the result of the race. Natsuki's improbable win had cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for some of the high-rollers who placed bets behind the scenes. Good thing, Shizuru had intervened before those bastards decided to take their revenge on innocent Natsuki. All it took was a few phone calls and threats to end business relations. Shizuru guessed being heir to one of the most influential corporation did have its perks.

No, she didn't doubt Natsuki's driving skills, but she did want more time to snuggle against the bluenette's lean, toned back. It felt nice. She only wished she didn't have the gigantic obstacle around her head impeding her from fully leaning on Natsuki, but Shizuru settled happily with lightly resting her chin on the bluenette's shoulder. Shizuru couldn't remember the last time she felt so…content and excited at the same time. Just being close to the bluenette, brought jolts of anticipation down her core until it almost made her squirm with uncontrolled energy. But Shizuru doesn't squirm. She was no longer a high girl experiencing her first crush. Though even in high school, the brunette was as collected as can be and never before had she encountered someone who was even marginally close to making her fidget like Natsuki is unknowingly doing now. Shizuru decided to direct her untamed energy into her smile and her arms which strengthened their embrace around Natsuki's tight abdomen, pulling her closer to the girl.

All too soon, the pair arrived to their destination. Natsuki practically had to peel the other girl's arms from around her torso before Shizuru took the hint and disembarked from the vehicle.

"Ara…" Shizuru stared up at the comical building with a spaceship-sized hamburger for a roof. "Not exactly the romantic type, are you Natsuki?"

Smirking, Natsuki responded with a haughty toss of her hair, "You ask for a surprise. Never said anything about roses and petals." Ha! This is what you get for constantly teasing me! Actually, Natsuki had been planning to go to a more high class restaurant a little further down the street, but the bike ride had the bluenette so uneasy and distracted that another minute with Shizuru pressed against her back would definitely have caused an accident.

Raising one brow in amusement, Shizuru caught a hint of flush in the other's pale countenance before the bluenette promptly turned around and stalked toward the oversized hamburger.

"You cuties ready to order?" A scruffy middle-aged waiter in a wrinkly, orange uniform asked. Looking up from her menu, Shizuru noticed him leering at Natsuki and displeasure instantly rolled into the heir's features for a split second before she put on her expressionless mask as he turned to look at her, his eyes still holding a suggestive glint.

"UM……" Natsuki pondered while still examining the menu and oblivious to the two predators around her. "How about..this..this angus burger..with swiss cheese..wait wait..this cowboy burger looks good too….OH and this luau burger! Oh man, I want the luau burger. And bring me some mayo along with it." Natsuki concluded with an almost childish satisfaction as she looked to Shizuru for her order.

Conflicted between admiring Natsuki's expectant, innocent expression and turning toward the repulsive waiter and coldly shoo him away with her order, Shizuru finally gave into the later and ordered a Caesar Salad. After he left with a final glance back at her date, Shizuru almost growled at him before Natsuki stopped her with a: "Shizuru?"

"Yes?" Shizuru immediately recovered with an innocent smile. Oh how she loved the way Natsuki said her name—almost like a lover's caress. Smiling even wider at the thought, Shizuru leaned forward and prompted Natsuki again when the girl seem hesitant over what to say. "What is it, Na-tsu-ki?"

Stop looking at me like that. Those large, mischievous crimson globes seemed to pierce right through her soul and read every thought she had ever had line by line, but Natsuki was not about to back down. Gathering her resolve, the bluenette looked just as intently into the pair of rubies with her own emeralds. "I…challenge you. To a race."

Totally unfazed by the straight forward declaration, Shizuru only smiled knowingly and said, "Truly, Natsuki. Are you always so to-the-point on dates? Why don't we enjoy ourselves a bit, hmm?"

Shiny, green eyes expanded as the bluenette felt a slight heat warm her face and she reflexively turned away from those penetrating crimson eyes, "This isn't a date!" she said forcefully and quickly.

"Oh, then what would you call this?" Shizuru humored.

Turning back to the brunette, Natsuki eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Exactly what you called it earlier: having lunch."

Sitting back and raising both brows in mock surprise, Shizuru answered, "Why of course. What is a date without some sort of meal included? After all, this is what they call…." The brunette paused and leaned forward again for a more dramatic effect, "...a lunch date."

Dumbfounded into silence, Natsuki drew back and almost gasped…W-T-F, what have I gotten myself into… "Nuh uh, this is DEFINITELY NOT a lunch date." Natsuki said stubbornly, crossing her arms and drawing her brows to further show her disapproval. Mai would bring down hell if she finds out!...wait. Guaah, get it together, Kuga. It's O-VER!

Slightly frowning at the obviously distraught bluenette, Shizuru wondered if Natsuki was that against going out with her. Shizuru felt a little pang of pain in her chest at the probable possibility that Natsuki resented and maybe even be revolted by the idea of going on a date with Shizuru. Never before had the brunette had to deal with so blatant a rejection. Though granted, she never had to be so forward either; people came to her with flowers and love letters, and she was the one to politely turn them down. But this girl in front of her…this striking, exquisite, stunning GIRL in front of her, is painfully obviously turning the tables on her.

Noticing the frown and the almost…hurt? expression in the heir's eyes', Natsuki immediately panicked and waved her hands around as she quickly amended, "Nonono, I didn't mean it like that! It's-it's nice having a lunch with you! Really!!" Looking around for help, the biker noticed a small pot of flowers near the entrance. Desperate, Natsuki launched herself toward the pot and grabbed a small purple flower and thrust it into the hands of a surprised Shizuru.

Ara? Shizuru's eyes widened at the gesture and simply starred at the beautiful flower in her hands.

Sitting back down on her hands, Natuski shamefully glared at the table and muttered, "Don-don't look s-so sad." After a bit of unexpected silence, Natsuki hesitantly peered up at her "date."

Completely thrown off guard at Natuski's adorable act, Shizuru's mask slipped and words left her. Simply looking between a delightfully flushed Natsuki and the flower that was in her hands, Shizuru chest warmed and her heart raced. After a little more staring, her mind decided to work again and a tease was on the tip of her tongue when Natsuki suddenly glanced up from the table—effectively halting her. The bluenette's genuinely concerned emerald eyes brought a hitch to Shizuru's breathing and instantly changed the heir's words.

"Ara Natsuki. Why thank you. Do you know what kind of flower this is?" Shizuru asked innocently.

Looking suspiciously at the flower in the other girl's hand and her way too innocent eyes, Natsuki settled for answering, "A purple one."

Smiling, Shizuru answered her own question, "Hmm, yes, it is purple, but more accurately speaking, the flower's name is violet. Do you know what the violet symbolizes, Natsuki?" At the bluenette's shake of the head, Shizuru continued, "Faithfulness. The flower has come to symbolize faithfulness… Is there a subliminal message Natsuki is hinting at?" The brunette had not meant to ask the last question; it just slipped her tongue. For she knew the reason Natsuki is so stubbornly aloof is because she has someone she's already faithful too. But Shizuru couldn't help asking anyways…after all she only speculated…she didn't know. Maybe she could be wrong?

Crooking a brow and crossing her arms in contemplation, Natsuki sat back and thought, whaaa, there's meanings to flowers!? Damn, who knew flower giving was so effing complicated…why is she giving me that foreboding look? Well…at least she doesn't look pained anymore…what does she want me to say? "Uh…no..? I'm not hinting at anything…"

At that moment, the sketchy waiter returned with their food and by Shizuru's opinion he stayed exactly 32.5 seconds longer than necessary, but at least he eventually left the two alone before Shizuru decided she needed to take some "action."

Glad for the interruption, Natsuki immediately grabbed the mayo bottle and layered her burger with it. Shizuru simple stared at the ridiculously unhealthy mountain of mayo that threatened to topple over the burger. Ara….It took a certain degree of self control for the heir to not cringe at the site of her beautiful angel biting into that devil-spawned burger. Taking a mental note to assertively choose a much healthier restaurant the next time they go out, Shizuru consciously restrained herself from pulling the burger right out of Natsuki's mouth.

When Natsuki had finished her burger…and her fries, Shizuru put down her fork of her half-eaten salad and sat back. Natsuki stared at the left over and raised a brow in question. Shizuru smiled and responded, "Ara…I guess my eyes have done enough feasting for my stomach as well."

Now what does THAT mean?? Raising both brows in bewilderment, Natsuki then shook her head and waved her hand dismissively. Whatever. I have more important thing to think about. "So…about our race. You accept?"

"Why I seem to remember already accepting the challenge…why would I change my mind now? I've actually been waiting for a time and place, Natsuki." Realizing her break was taking way too long and her father would definitely disapprove, Shizuru cut to the chase as well.

"Well…I wanted to spice things up. How about we have a bet?" Shizuru only lifted an eyebrow in question and Natsuki continued, "If I win…Fujino Corp keeps their hands of HIME Garage. If you win…what do you want?"

"Ara, ara…" genuinely surprised as the request, Shizuru asked, "Natsuki doesn't want to work for Fujino Corp?"

Uh…why in the hell would I? "I like HIME Garage." Natsuki said simply.

Staring at the emerald eyes, Shizuru instantly understood the message Natsuki was saying in those few words. HIME Garage was more than just a place to work for her. HIME was important to her and Fujino was not. Even though the brunette understood why, it still irked her that Fujino meant so little to Natsuki. Well, I would just have to make it mean something, now wouldn't I, Natsuki? I'm not gonna let you win so easily then…

Smiling impishly, the brunette finally answered, "I see. Well, the HIME Project is really important to our corporation, Natsuki. Please understand my reservations about risking it all on a race." Seeing Natsuki tense up made Shizuru feel slightly guilty so she quickly followed with, "However, I would hate to say no to my cute Natsuki. So what I want in return is…."

Leaning forward in anticipation, Natsuki didn't even notice Shizuru's choice of words to identify her.

"…a chance to have my own Natsuki genie for a full day."

"……" WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?? "Elaborate please??"

"Simple. If I were to win, Natsuki, you will grant all my wishes for a full day. Of course the standard genie rules apply, like no wishes for more wishes or in my case—days. I also will not ask for something against the law or against Natsuki's moral or my ethics." Shizuru smiled widely when she finished.

Extremely uneasy with the setup, Natsuki reluctantly agreed only because she was pretty confident that she'd win in the end. However, unbeknownst to her, the heir had no plans to lose either and had already mentally started a list of wishes she wanted from Natsuki.