For disclaimers, please see part I.
For Askim.
Author's Notes:
Grawwwwr for writer's block. Bleh. . And I have a few distractions that far outweigh writing, but I've already mentioned that in my profile.
It was pointed out to me earlier that -han and -chin aren't really that outstandingly common in Kyoto-ben, and since I can't remember Shizuru herself using them in the series, she (and her father) will use -san and -chan from now on like everyone else. I'll go over the earlier chapters and make the changes in them when I get the chance.
Thank you for reading.
A Million Reasons; part IX
Closer Still
Another Monday, another meeting. Shizuru rolled the brief sentence around her head as she watched two of the company's higher-ranked Infrastructure managers plead their case in front of a large slideshow at the other end of the room while she did her level-best to keep her focus on them.
Yes, sure enough the technology industry was changing and evolving rapidly, and sure enough, they had to spend a good deal of funds on a regular basis to make sure the equipment they used stayed at a state-of-the-art level.
But really... She swallowed a sigh and spared a thought for her full inbox. Was it necessary to spend two hours or more explaining that to their upper-level management every other week?
Entirely too much red tape, she considered and picked up the device Natsuki had given her the day before. A brand new PDA, and the exact same model that she had given to her assistant only hours earlier, only this one had come with a deep, violet cover.
Shizuru tapped her way into the calender, and resolutely set aside the remaining hour of the next three days of the week for "PENDING: Private Telephone Meeting". That done, she switched to the messaging application and sent a quick missive to her father asking for his time during those hours. That red tape would need to be cut.
Then she set the device back down and turned back to the slideshow, and wished they would hurry up so she and the other VPs could approve the budget and go back to actually working.
The PDA resting on the table in front of her flashed dimly, and she kept half an ear on the presentation as she claimed the device with one hand and shifted it into her lap, just out of view of the rest of the rooms' occupants. An animated envelope was opening and closing on the small display, and she glanced up briefly before removing the stylus and giving the icon a tap.
She made a note of the sender, and smothered a smile as she watched a beautifully drawn black wolf pad into view and sit neatly in the center of the screen. Its furry head cocked at her, and she watched the remarkably clear, blue eyes blink once before the animal lay down and put both of its front paws over its muzzle with a decidedly surly air.
Then she had to quickly turn a chuckle into a soft cough as the wolf's tongue lolled out at the exact same moment that its tail held up a sign with the kanji for 'lectures' written on it - partially covered by a large, red X.
Honestly... Shizuru's lips twitched as she tapped the "Reply" button.
"I see that you've figured out how to make use of the messaging system," she quietly scribbled, and sent the missive on its way.
The answer wasn't long in coming.
"Yup. Much more fun to play around with this thing. How do you like Kuro?"
Since the name was also a Japanese word for 'black', it wasn't hard for the executive to figure out whom – or rather what – her assistant was referring to.
"A very well done piece of animation," she replied. "Where did you find him?"
This time, it took a few moments before the screen flashed again.
"Classmate of mine. He's good at that sort of thing – makes some extra money with it. He has his laptop with him and saw me fiddling with my own gadget. Asked me to test that file out, and I figured you could probably use some amusement during the meeting."
An elegant eyebrow quirked. "And how did you know that I was in a meeting?"
"You're always in a meeting on Monday morning. And usually way more bored than we are here."
She could almost see the droll look that was sure to have accompanied the words, and was glad that the remaining occupants of the conference room were too occupied with other things to notice her silent bemusement.
"Are any of you actually paying attention to the lecture?"
"Are you kidding? Oohashi-sensei'll keep regurgitating info about the stuff we read for another 20 minutes or so, and then switch to blowing smoke about the end of term exams."
There was a brief pause before the envelope appeared again.
"Don't get me wrong, he knows his stuff. He just follows a very specific pattern, and apparently nobody's bothered to point that fact out to him. Pop-quizzes are every 7th class – one added in February on a leap year. First half of every term, he spends the last half of class time debating, the quarter-term after that on drilling us with questions and then the final quarter on exam prep."
Shizuru resisted the impulse to shake her head. "Then shouldn't you perhaps be listening to what your sensei is currently saying?"
Now the black wolf appeared again, only this time it gave her a gravely offended look before walking off with it's snout in the air.
"I am capable of doing more than one thing at a time," came the pointed words after the small animation. "Don't tell me you're tuning out the meeting?"
She swallowed a chuckle and mentally conceded the point. "True", she sent back. "But I am not getting graded on my attentiveness."
"Like hell you aren't. What do you think end-of-quarter bonuses are?"
"Fujino-sama?"
Shizuru raised her head, and quickly realized that the entire room was watching her curiously. Apparently that hadn't been the first time someone had attempted to get her attention.
Oh, dear.
"Forgive me." She smiled serenely and let the PDA fall into her lap before folding her hands on the table. "I was making some calculations. Would you repeat the question?"
"Of course, Fujino-sama." One of the young managers bowed. "We were simply asking if we could expect to receive the budget for the updates we mentioned."
"I don't see why not," Shizuru replied, and settled her gaze on the Finance VP. The two of them were the only ones who really had the power to veto anything in this regard, which made it all the more pointless to call a meeting for every single VP in the building. "Kanzo-san? Any objections?"
"Not that I can come up with right now," the thin man with the faint graying at his temples replied with an easy smile. "The cost isn't that high given the fact that we can get most of this stuff from vendors we already have contracts with."
"The joy of bulk orders and discounts," Shizuru agreed with a smile of her own. "Very well, then please make the necessary calls, Kanzo-san." She claimed her PDA and settled it in the pocket of her open blazer, then rose. "Ookini for your time, gentlemen. Enjoy the rest of your day."
A low chorus of farewells followed her out of the door, and she headed down the hall in relative peace. Once in an elevator heading for her own floor, she pulled the PDA back out and sent a quick, teasingly scolding message to her assistant.
She had only barely made it back out of the lift before the reply came back.
"Excuse me? How is it my fault that you have such a male brain?"
That made her quirk an eyebrow, and she stopped next to a wall and she asked exactly what that was supposed to mean.
"Simple," was the quick reply. "The old joke claims that men can only focus on one thing at a time – that's why cars only have one steering wheel. Women, meanwhile, can focus on four, and that's why a stove has four hot-plates."
Shizuru rolled her eyes. "How do you explain male driving instructors, then? Do those cars not have two steering wheels?"
There was a brief pause before the screen flashed again. "True. Gay?"
She swallowed a snort of amusement and shook her head. "Goofy."
"No, I'm pretty sure he's straight. Though you never know with those Disney characters..."
Shizuru chuckled and pocketed the device as she started back down the hall to her own office. Kina was on the phone when she slipped through the electronic door, and she returned the secretary's friendly wave of greeting as she passed by and entered her own dominion.
She had only just seated herself at her desk when the PDA buzzed in her pocket once again.
"Much as I'm enjoying the banter, talk-time is almost here and I gotta run. Wanna hang out with me and the brat later?"
"Certainly," she sent back with a smile. "I should be leaving at four. What time would you prefer to meet?"
"Ah, the elders are on a date tonight, so I'm grabbing Nee-chan's car around 2 to pick Kaguya up. I have her until ten or so, so just come over when you can. I'll leave the door unlocked."
Shizuru sent back a quick confirmation, and then turned her attention to clearing out her overflowing inbox.
-----
At exactly 2:07 PM that same day, Natsuki pulled into the company parking lot and stored her motorcycle in the shed. In her hand was a small, lime-green bag, which she slipped into a small pocket on the side of her riding suit before holding her card up to the reader, entering the main door and waving to a guard she recognized.
Early afternoon traffic meant that she was a little behind schedule, and as such had to hurry to Akiko's office before the older woman started a meeting at 2:15. It was just barely 2:12 by the time she found her way to her sister's department, and their meeting consisted of Natsuki skidding to a halt in the hall and the two of them giving each other a quick hug, followed by a rapid exchange of car keys before Akiko shooed her away and hurried to her meeting.
Bah. She ran a hand through her hair and shook her head as she waited for her heart rate to change from OMGhurry to Okay, plenty of time, and did her best to ignore the appreciative glances that her riding suit earned her from some of the other employees as she retraced her steps down the hall to the elevator bays.
Once she was in and had pressed the button for the floor she worked on, she settled herself against the cart's back wall, where no one could really give her the once-over without her noticing.
A quick glance at the digital clock below the floor indicator told her that Akiko would have just started her meeting while Shizuru would be in one of her own for another fifteen minutes, provided it didn't run late as so many of them tended to do.
She prevented the electronic door from removing her backside once again, and raised a hand in greeting to Kina.
"Good afternoon, Kuga-san," the secretary told her, her eyes flicking from the visitor to the stack of papers on her desk as she sorted through them. "I wasn't expecting to see you today."
"I wasn't expecting to be here," she replied wryly. "Buried in paperwork yet?"
"Ah, not quite yet," came the answer. "But I'm certain I will be soon enough if I put my mind to it."
Natsuki chuckled. "That's the spirit," she told the older woman as she crossed the floor and touched one of the doorhandles. "She isn't in, is she?"
"No." Kina sent the now blinking telephone a glance. "But she should be back shortly if you wish to wait."
"Oh no." Natsuki shook her head. "No time. I'm just gonna sneak in for a few."
"By all means." The secretary lifted the phone's receiver and kept the Mute button pressed down. "Just don't break anything."
"Like I would," she muttered and glared mildly at the blonde, wasted though it was as Kina was already busy talking on the phone. "Crazy woman."
She quietly closed the heavy door behind her and looked around, noting the tidiness of the large room that was so characteristic of her older friend. The only thing even mildly out of place was a small stack of papers resting on the table by the couches, along with a pot of what was now probably cold tea and an almost empty cup.
Even that slight mess made her raise an eyebrow, and purely on instinct, she ambled over to the table and picked up the cup and the pot. Who was Shizuru in a meeting with, again?
She scanned the header on the first page of papers, and then gave a little grunt before turning and plodding over to the counter on the other side of the room. Of course – the new client whose representatives had exasperated their way up the chain of command, and had already twice come close to making the usually unflappable CEO pull at her hair.
That explained the sudden sloppiness, she decided as she rinsed the china out and set about washing them. Shizuru had to be pretty damn flustered to leave even a hair out of place on her own head, let alone leave dishes out in her office for more than half an hour.
She's gonna be in a hell of a mood once she gets back, she decided. After a moment's thought, she opened one of the low cabinets and removed the small bottle of over-the-counter painkillers the executive tended to keep around. She's probably gonna go here before sitting down so...
A quick pass by her friend's desk left her with a small stack of yellow sticky-notes and a pen, and she laid three of them out on the counter.
Take these first, she wrote on the first note, and placed two of the small pills below her own writing. Then try this. The bag she'd brought with her was placed over the second note. If all else fails, she penned on the last one with a small smirk, tell the building to kiss your ass right now and come bum around with us. See you later.
She made her way back outside with another wave to Kina, and even on the short trek from the main doors to the silver sedan her sister drove, she felt her forehead bead with sweat in the early afternoon heat.
It was with a sigh of relief that she started the engine and the air-condition, pulled out of the parking lot, and turned her mind towards finding her niece in a crowd of equally rambunctious grade-schoolers.
-----
I am going to get her for that, Shizuru silently promised herself, though she was smiling as she sipped a cup of the tea she'd found sitting in her office when she returned from an incredibly aggravating meeting with a group of people who apparently couldn't find their own rear-ends with two hands and a flashlight. I am absolutely going to get her for that.
It wasn't that she minded the fact that Natsuki had been in her office without her knowing – not at all. In fact, she had found it very touching that the young woman had taken the time to set up her own miniature pharmacy in preparation for the mood she'd been in when she returned. Coupled with the pounding stress-headache that was now thankfully receding, that tiny, but so utterly characteristic display of affection had hit her out of the blue and made her have to blink back tears.
So she would have to find some appropriately devious way of returning the favor, she decided as the combined flavor of apples, cinnamon and vanilla stung her tongue pleasantly. It just wouldn't be sporting not to.
A soft note rang from her computer and made her look up, and she carefully cradled the cup in her hands as she crossed over to the desk and gave her mouse a wiggle. Sure enough, there was an e-mail waiting for her from her father, and she settled herself in her chair as she read through the brief message.
I'm afraid I can't take part in a telephone meeting today, Shi-chan, as I've already agreed to another meeting during that hour. I do have the time tomorrow and Wednesday, so hopefully we should be able to get the ball rolling then.
As for now, I suggest you take the hour off. You work too hard.
Why, she wondered, was everyone encouraging her to slack off all of a sudden? Shizuru took another sip of tea as she considered the idea of leaving early. She frowned thoughtfully and clicked into her calendar, giving the next day a quick overview.
Only one meeting, and that was from 10:30 to lunch. Shizuru chewed her lower lip as she considered. That should give her plenty of time to catch up on anything she didn't do today, shouldn't it?
It should, she decided and started shutting down the individual programs. With any luck, Natsuki wouldn't expect her to show up early after all, and she could catch the young woman doing something embarrassing.
Kina had left her desk, and the outer office was blessedly empty when she poked her head outside. Still, she left a note on the secretary's desk saying that she was out of the office for a meeting, and that any calls should only be in emergencies.
Whoever wasn't happy with her leaving, she decided as she elevator descended, could take it up with her tomorrow.
Much as she wanted to head directly over to Natsuki's apartment, the heat of the sun was quick to inform her that a wool suit wasn't the most comfortable garment to wear when she didn't have to. So instead, she took the slight detour past her own house, and spent a few minutes changing into a pair of light slacks and a pale blouse before returning to her car.
Traffic was thankfully fairly light still, and she managed to make it to the building her assistant lived in a good deal earlier than the young woman was expecting her. The humid heat that remained even after she entered the main doors didn't escape her, and a cursory glance at the notice board inside told her that the air-conditioning was out of order, but being worked on.
Lucky for Natsuki that she doesn't live directly below the roof, Shizuru considered as she made the brief trek up the stairs to the second floor. She dislikes heat enough as it is.
Sure enough, Natsuki's front door was unlocked as promised, and it didn't take long for her to pick up on the music coming from the living room. She stayed as quiet as possible as she slipped out of her shoes, then snuck over to the doorway and poked her head around the corner.
And swallowed a chuckle.
Apparantly both Natsuki and Kaguya were feeling the heat and had dressed accordingly. Kaguya in a skirt and sleeveless, white top, and Natsuki in a pair of mid-thigh shorts and a simple bra. Both had their hair tied up, and while the little girl was hopping along with the music, Natsuki was sitting cross-legged on the floor and watching her niece indulgently as she played along with the game on her own guitar.
Soon enough the song ended, and Natsuki high-fived the excited child with a grin. "Nice job, brat. One more?"
Shizuru decided that now would probably be an opportune time to announce herself.
"Encore!" She called, grinning broadly at the two of them.
"Shizu... ru?" Natsuki jerked and stared at her, then glanced down at her own half-clad form. "Uh..."
"Ara... Natsuki should have told me she'd be dressed like this. I would've brought my camera if I had known."
"Oh..."
Shizuru chuckled as she mentally filled in the missing expletive, then turned her attention from one set of dumbly blinking emerald eyes to another, far more aware one. "Hello, Kaguya-chan."
"Hi, Fujino-san!" The girl set her controller down and bounded over to the brunette, where she loosely grabbed hold of the executive's arm. "You wanna play with me and Natsuki-obasan?"
She cast a glance at the aunt in question - who was still bright red all the way down to her waist - and bit back a smile. "I'm afraid I'm nowhere near as good at that game as Kaguya-chan," she explained. "Nor can I match Natsuki on the guitar."
"That's okay," the girl cheerfully persisted. "We'll teach you!" She glanced over her shoulder, "Right, Obachan?"
"Ah..." Natsuki seemed to shake herself awake and managed to get to her feet without looking too awkward. "Kaguya, maybe Fujino-san isn't all that interested in being inside a hot house all day," she explained as she lifted the guitar strap free of her neck and turned off the amplifier. "How about we all go out for ice cream instead?"
-----
They ended up below a parasol outside a nearby ice cream parlor, though they had to wait until Natsuki had changed into some longer shorts and a white polo before they could leave. She refused to leave the house as she was, no matter how much both Kaguya and Shizuru tried to convince her.
"Can we go to the park later?" Kaguya piped up after a mouthful of vanilla-caramel, and gave her aunt an expectant look.
Natsuki spooned some mint-chocolate into her own mouth, and swallowed. "Well, maybe." She quirked an eyebrow at Shizuru in question, and got a nod in reply. "But we need to find some lotion to put on you first. Your Mama's gonna have my hide if you're crab-red tonight."
The girl frowned. "What's that mean?"
Shizuru chuckled. "It means that if you get a sunburn, your Natsuki-obasan is going to get a spanking."
"And right now you need a bath." Natsuki used her bottle of water to wet a napkin, and set about removing the sticky mess that had attached itself to her niece's lips and chin. "You're a slob, kiddo."
Kaguya blushed.
Shizuru watched the two of them bemusedly as she finished her own treat, then pushed the small cup into the center of the table. "Well, if we need children's lotion, I believe there should be a pharmacy just down the road," she commented. "We should be able to find some there."
"Okay." Natsuki gave the little face in front of her a critical look. "But we'll need to find an ATM somewhere first. I don't think I have enough cash on me, and I didn't bring my credit card."
"I have plenty on me." Shizuru slipped her own water bottle into her shoulder-bag, and held a hand out for Natsuki's. "And before you ask, it's no trouble."
Kaguya was making short work of shoveling down her remaining ice cream, and Natsuki held her bottle out to the older woman with a questioning look. "You're sure?" she asked, and kept a grip on the bottle when Shizuru tried to grab it.
"Quite." The executive gave the bottle a yank, and stuck the tip of her tongue out when she secured it.
Natsuki pulled a face at her, then got to her feet and tugged lightly on Kaguya's hair. "You about ready, brat?"
"Yup!" Kaguya hopped down from her chair and stretched her arms up expectantly. "Piggyback-ride?"
"Oh so you wanna be carried, do you?" Natsuki set her hands on her hips and cocked her head. "And why should I lug you around?"
"'Cause Obachan loves me," was the blithe reply.
"So I do." She hoisted the girl onto the seat of one of the wooden chairs, then turned around and bent her knees slightly. "Alright, grab on."
"You do spoil her," Shizuru noted, and smiled as she watched the little girl push her aunt's high ponytail out of her way and peek curiously over her shoulder.
"I told you, it's my job." Natsuki smirked and hoisted her cargo up a little higher on her back as they started down the street along with the rest of the crowd. "Besides, it's an excellent workout."
The older woman had no trouble believing that, and so just chuckled in reply.
"Wait!"
"Grkth!" Natsuki bent a little to keep the girl where she was, then used one hand to loosen the tight hold Kaguya had gotten on her throat. "Careful, kiddo. Tap my shoulder next time, okay?"
"Sorry, Obachan."
"S'alright." The dark head turned, and the little girl obligingly kissed the available cheek. "Now why did you want to stop?"
"I believe that is why." Shizuru nodded towards the storefront next to them, with the blue and yellow Blockbuster logo proudly displayed right above their heads.
"Ah." Natsuki glanced up, then looked at her niece out of the corner of her eye. "Well, it's one or the other, junior. Movies or the park?"
"Movies!"
"Okay." She guided the child safely onto the ground. "But you have to ask Fujino-san if it's okay with her, since she's the only one who has money with her right now."
"Can we rent a movie, Fujino-san?" Kaguya jumped in front of the executive and folded her hands below her chin as she stared beseechingly up at her. "Pretty please?"
Shizuru smiled. "How can I refuse when Kaguya-chan asks me so nicely?"
-----
A hearty meal and one screening of Mulan later, Natsuki went through the motions of coaxing her tired and thus pouty niece through her usual bedtime rituals, after having told her guest to make herself at home on the couch in the meantime.
"I dun wannf bruf!" Kaguya whined through a mouthful of toothpaste. "M tiref!"
"That's exactly why you need to brush, kiddo. You have to do that before you can go to sleep." Natsuki scratched the little girl's back gently. "You're almost done, Kaguya-chan. Just 15 seconds more, okay?"
The child glowered darkly at her. "Yu promfsh to shingsh?"
"I promise to sing to you. But only if you brush for another 15 seconds."
"Okapf."
"Good girl." She ran a hand through the azure locks and kept an eye on the clock as Kaguya went back to work. Having the girl brush for two and a half minutes non-stop morning and evening was a rule set in place by Akiko and Morio, and while Natsuki loved being the 'fun aunt', she wasn't about to get the title at the cost of her niece's stability. So rules were rules.
Once the girl finished her chore and spat the foam into the sink, Natsuki placed a kiss on top of her head and handed her a glass of water. "Rinse time, junior."
"Obachan, I know that." Kaguya gave her a look. "I'm not four."
"Right." Natsuki chuckled softly and leaned against the counter on one hip while her niece finished. "Ready for bed now?"
"Yup." Kaguya nodded sleepily.
"Did you say good night to Fujino-san?"
Another nod, and Kaguya grabbed her hand and determinedly pulled her out of the bathroom and down the hall.
Once they entered the bedroom, Natsuki deftly lifted the girl onto her own bed, where she'd be sleeping until her parents came to pick her up later in the evening.
"Alright, squiggler." She knelt by the side of the bed and helped her niece make her way under the covers, then placed Blackbeard - a stuffed panda with a completely black chin – in the crook of the little girl's arm. "Squiggle on under those covers and you'll get a song, okay?"
"'Kay." Kaguya curled up on her side and hugged the stuffed toy, closing her eyes with a yawn as Natsuki began to sing softly.
It's only a night
only a night
Where only the stars and the moon are in sight
Take all your cares
lock them away
Leave them to rest for another new day
All the world's worries are left up to chance
now is when dreams and fantasies dance
Tell all the goblins and beasts in your head
to leave you alone, think of good things instead
Natsuki let her voice trail off, and waited a few seconds while she watched her niece breathe slowly. She then ducked her head to place a light kiss on the girl's forehead, silently got to her feet and tip-toed out of the room. The door was left open by just a crack, and she peeked in to make sure Kaguya was still sleeping.
"Somehow, that's not the singing voice I remember you having a few years ago."
The soft comment made her jump a little, and she turned her head to see Shizuru leaning against the wall a few feet away.
"Ah." Natsuki grinned a touch sheepishly and trotted quietly down the hall. "Well, how many karaoke parties do you think I'd have been able to argue my way out of if Mai knew?"
"Good point." The executive fell into step beside her and chuckled softly. "But now I know Natsuki's secret."
"Mmhmm." The dark head nodded once. "And you're not telling anyone."
"Really?" Shizuru turned her head and raised an eyebrow.
Natsuki stopped, and met the inquiring look with a stern one of her own. "Really."
"You think so?" The corners of Shizuru's mouth quirked, and then gave the top of Natsuki's chest a light push with a single finger.
Oh, so we're playing now, are we? Natsuki smirked and caught the older woman's wrist in her hand. "I do."
"Oho?"
"Aha."
"I seem to remember Natsuki being frightfully ticklish," Shizuru commented almost offhandedly as she freed her wrist from the younger woman's grip. "I wonder if that's still the case."
A pause while Natsuki considered that.
"You wouldn't dare."
"I wouldn't?"
"Grrk!" Natsuki jerked as two sets of fingers abruptly found their way to her sides, and she danced a few steps back. "Hey!"
"Is for horses, I believe." Shizuru was calmly advancing, and swiftly reached out to give the same spot another tweak.
"Gah!" Natsuki jerked again and deftly maneuvered her way behind the low table in the living room, and the two of them circled it in silence for a few moments, carefully watching the other's every move.
Then Natsuki went on the attack, and the two of them wrestled for control while snickering as silently as they could, even when someone slipped and they ended up fighting for dominance on the floor.
Natsuki ended up on the bottom somehow, and fended off her friend's hands as best she possible could while her body shook with soundless laughter and Shizuru grinned down at her.
But although she was having a ball even with the effort it took to not laugh aloud, her brain was pushing one little factoid closer and closer to the front of her brain. And that was the fact that the tussle – otherwise known as having Shizuru's body pressed closely against her own – was making her libido wake up.
And it was cheering loudly.
Shit! Natsuki struggled to keep the sudden panic from showing on her face, and kept the tussle going while her mind raced frantically. She had to get out of this position, but without making Shizuru suspicious.
"Hey, I know it's been years and all, but my body suddenly seems to want you." Oh, that would go over like a lead balloon.
An idea fluttered across her mind and she went with it, purposely tossing her head a little too much before cringing and grabbing onto the side of her neck with a grunt.
"Natsuki?" Shizuru immediately stopped moving. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah... yeah, I'm alright." She rubbed at her neck and grimaced slightly, waiting for the older woman to move away before gingerly sitting up herself. "Think I just pulled something I wasn't supposed to."
She glanced up, and felt her heart sink when she met the guilt-ridden red eyes. Oh, for heaven's sake Kuga... how low can you go?
"Hey..." She reached a hand out and placed it on Shizuru's knee. "Don't gimme that look. This isn't your fault, alright?" It's mine. "You didn't do this. It's entirely my own fault for getting a little too crazy." Not like you can help the fact that my hormones suddenly decided to start doing the mambo.
Shizuru nodded, but the look in her eyes was still doubtful. "If Natsuki says so."
"I do." She carefully got to her feet, then held out the arm on her 'good' side to help the older woman up. "We had fun and got carried away. It happens."
"Right." Shizuru was still eying her dubiously.
Damn that perceptiveness. Natsuki slowly craned her neck to one side, then the other to keep up her act, then gave her boss a light push towards the couch. "I'll go get us something to rehydrate with. Channel surf all you want."
She resisted the urge to run out of the room, and instead walked calmly into the kitchen, opened the freezer door and decisively stuck her entire head inside it.
Oh... my... god. Natsuki stared blankly at the mist rising from a box of ice cream bars while her libido squawked indignantly. What the hell just happened?! One second it had been all fun and games wrestling around with a good friend and them – WHAM! Insta-rousal. To make matters worse, she couldn't remember a single instance where her body had responded like that, let alone so suddenly.
Rats. She reached a hand out blindly and turned the faucet on, just so her guest wouldn't wonder too much. Rats, rats, rats and fruitbats.
Alright, pull yourself together. Natsuki straightened and grabbed a tray of ice cubes before closing the freezer, then yanked the fridge door open.
"Oi, Shizuru?" She was surprised at how even her voice was. "Do you want soda or tea? Water?"
"Soda is fine."
She collected two cans of the requested beverage from the fridge before closing it again, then set the cans down and splashed a handful of water on her face before turning off the faucet.
Right now, she really needed to just act normal. This was something she desperately wanted to think over in private before she mentioned it to anyone, and for that very reason, she just had to push it out of her head until the apartment was down to one occupant again.
But damn, that was hard, she considered as she fished out some glasses. Especially since up until now, she had been convinced that she was largely asexual. Not once had she felt anything aside from the faintest of interest, so to suddenly have her entire body come alive was one hell of a shock to the system.
And the chief question running laps around her mind was whether or not she had reacted to the contact itself, or the person she'd been in contact with. And had it been Shizuru she'd reacted to, how in the world was she going to bring up
Should she even bring it up?
I'm screwed. Natsuki regarded the two glasses of soda despondently. I am absolutely, royally screwed six ways 'til Sunday. Fuck.
-----
The remainder of their time alone together could best be described as horribly stilted, and Natsuki sighed as she closed the door behind her sister, husband and niece several hours later. Much as she'd tried to hide it, Shizuru had clearly known that something was up, and had ended up excusing herself just short of an hour after the whole mess started.
She'd given the older woman a particularly tight hug goodbye in an effort to reassure her, but wasn't sure how much it had helped. And although she had thought and thought and thought until her head had ached after Shizuru left, she still had no idea what to do.
Goddammit. Natsuki scowled at her hapless front door before stalking back to the living room and recovering her phone. Two seconds later, she was dialing a familiar number.
"Hey," she said once the call was answered. "It's me. Yeah... Oh, relax, you told Nao to get me to call, and your drink will hold two more minutes." A sigh. "Right, right, so I owe you another one. Whatever." A pause. "Mm, yeah. Listen, I need to talk to you. How's tomorrow?"
She listened to the voice on the other end of the line as she turned off the TV and the lights in her living room. "Sure, seven is good for me. Where?" Soft footsteps padded down the hall. "Yeah, I know the place." The bedroom door closed. "Okay... see you then."
Natsuki hung up the phone and settled on the bed as she set her alarm for the next day. Then she slipped under the covers, turned off the light and resolutely closed her eyes.
Sleep was a long time in coming.