Disclaimer: I do not own anything... not even this story... sad huh? This is a translation attempt of my favorite Chinese ShizNat fanfic. Details of the original work and author are included at the end of this chapter.

Summary: Story takes place after the carnival. Natsuki finally took the next step. Things couldn't have been better ... however, will it last? ShizNat.

Equilibrium

Chapter 1 - Missing

Authored by Firerei

Translated by glowie

"Thumph!" Natsuki threw her purse on the couch in anger before dumping her full weight into the couch in an attempt to release some pent up anger.

"Why?!!!" she shouted in frustration.

"Only a few days she says, I promised to hurry back she says... IT HAS BEEN A WEEK!!! Arggghhh"

Natsuki has been trying to reach Shizuru but to no avail. The brown haired girl did not pick up her calls nor returned any of Natsuki's messages.

The only news the raven haired girl had was a message saying she'll be back later ... and having to "hear" this message off of Mai's handphone DID NOT help matters a single bit. In fact, she almost threw Mai's handphone out of the window just to prove that point.

"What are you doing Shizuru?" Natsuki couldn't help but whimpered.

"Mai? I might not make it back next week. Can you inform Natsuki for me? Thanks."

16 words... that's all there is to it. No attempt to provide details or explanations. Nothing except the soft chirping of birds and the faint rustling sound of flowing waters could be heard. Countless attempts by the raven haired girl to gather clues from the message failed miserably.

The Shizuru in the message was not talking to her... Shizuru... not wanting to talk to her?

'Beep' Piped the Mai's handphone replay button. The gentle yet familiar Kyoto-ben resounded.

"Mai? I might not make it back next week. Can you inform Natsuki for me? Thanks."

'Beep'

"Mai? I might not make it back next week. Can you inform Natsuki for me? Thanks."

'Beep'

"Can you inform Natsuki for me? Thanks."

"Can you inform Natsuki for me? Thanks."

"Can you..."

"Why? Why won't you talk to me directly?" a low hoarse voice questioned.

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A week passed by ... Shizuru has yet to come back.

And another... Shizuru did not come back.

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Decided she couldn't and wouldn't take it anymore, after acquiring Shizuru's home address, Natsuki went to Kyoto. What greeted her was an impressive Western-styled mansion. It suddenly dawned on the younger girl how little she knew of her brown haired companion.

To Natsuki, being adept in both tea ceremony and flower arrangement, Shizuru has always been the epitome of a traditional Japanese beauty to her, even more so when she had her kimono on. Never has it occurred to her that her companion's beautiful and soft brown colored hair reflects her natural heritage and not the results of some artificial coloring.

Greeting her at the gates is a beautiful matured and elegant Caucasian lady. Sporting slightly curled brown hair, deep blue eyes and sharp facial features. Even though time has graced her face with its presence, Natsuki need not search hard to see a striking resemblance to the one she misses so. Without a doubt, she knows who is standing before her.

The woman spoke perfect Japanese. Neither traces of Kyoto-ben nor any foreign tongue could be found.

The woman told Natsuki that Shizuru inherited her eyes from her father. Blood red eyes were a strong family trait on her father's side. What a perfect union, the gentle yet mesmerizing angelic features and the devilish gleam which is capable of drawing one unknowingly into the depths of hell.

Deep down, Natsuki felt relieved. Even though deep blue eyes are beautiful, fiery red is the only color for her Shizuru's eyes.

The woman received Natsuki warmly but she seemed indifferent when she told the raven haired girl that Shizuru has not been home for quite some time.

Natsuki distinctly felt as if someone is watching her but eventually brushed the feeling aside. She politely took her leave and thank Shizuru's mother for her hospitality.

With that, the raven haired girl is now officially without any leads as to Shizuru's whereabouts.

Natsuki went thru an emotional roller coaster as her mood swings drastically from anger to disappointment, and from disappointment to worry. Try as she might, Natsuki could not find any words to describe her feelings.

Until... that very night... the phone rang.

There was no caller-id.

"Hello?"

"..."

"Who is this?"

"..."

"Ooi! Say something!"

"..."

"A joke...?" just when the raven haired girl wanted to slam down the phone, she heard a soft sigh. Barely a whisper but an immediate recognition flashed through Natsuki's mind and she knew... that voice! The one voice that is able to both leave her restless and yet at the same time calmed her.

"Shizuru! I know it is you! Shizuru..." unable to contain her emotions, the younger girl poured out her yearnings over the phone.

"Where are you? Why didn't you call me?" An infuriated Natsuki howled. Like a lost dog, struggling to express its hurt and discontentment of being left behind.

Yet... there is no answer.

"Why are you doing this? Don't you know how worried I am?"

"Just what is it that you are doing?"

"..."

Despite all of Natsuki's begging and pleas, the person at the other end remained silent. Unwilling to response but yet refuse to hang up.

Not giving up, the worried, frustrated, desperate and hurt Natsuki continue to pour out herself over the phone but she could not get any response from the other side.

'Why? Why won't she talk to me?'

'What? What have I done wrong?'

Questions, these questions kept bombarding her. Questions which she has no answer to... questions which the other person refuses to answer.

Angry defiant howls of the raven haired girl gradually dissipated, slowing and painfully... they turned into pleading sobs.

Still... there is no answer.

"Why... Shizuru, is it me? Was it something I did? Why won't you speak to me?" Natsuki pleaded helplessly.

"I need you..."

"How can I live without you?"

'I need you...' Natsuki mumbled against the phone weakly, lost in a daze, she repeated the phrase again and again.

"..."

She felt the person on the other side took a sharp intake of breath and the line went dead.

'Beep … beep… beep… beep'

The irritating sound pierced through the quiet of the night.

Notes: Just to clarify, this is a finished work. I just needed time to translate it. I have yet to figure out how to post hyperlink still so... here's another disjointed link to the author's blog. Sorry for the mess...

http://axonxrei.blog97 dot fc2 dot com

Thanks for the encouragement. I learnt a lot through this exercise... my VOCAB is really really bad. hehehe... Kept having trouble looking for better words to describe. hehehe...