Disclaimer: I don't own MaiHime.
A/N: I'm feeling nostalgic.. Guys, thanks for the support...Here's the update.. Ittadakimasu! Don't forget to give me some reviews..And Yes-- Please kill me.. LMAO
WARNING: Additional characters.. And.. ooohh.. what's new? -- surprise!!
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MAKI MAKI
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Chapter 6: Never Never Land
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Natsuki stared blankly at those red orbs. She was trying to look for something anything. But the other averted. Natsuki panicked.
"…Shizu..ru…?" she walked closer, but Haruka's hand stopped her. She turned around with a snap.
"Please, let go, Haruka!"
"No—please, not yet—" Haruka wilted, but her hand was steady. Yukino tried to hold Natsuki's other arm but failed. Natsuki looked again at Shizuru.
She needed to see something!
"Shizuru!"
Her voice made the other girl flinched. Natsuki was taken a back.
Shizuru suddenly clung to Harumi who stared at Natsuki, a smile gracing her lips. Natsuki clenched her teeth.
"Shizuru, please! I need to speak to you!" Her voice was coarse. She was still too far from the bed, being dragged back by Haruka.
She saw Shizuru shake. She has to speak with Shizuru! Not like this…
"Shizuru!"
"Harumi… Who…who is…Who is she..?" Natsuki froze. Haruka's hand went limp. Behind her, Yukino's knee almost gave in. Natsuki struggled as she tried to walk again, with no hindrance this time. She looked at Shizuru's bewildered face – it was of pure puzzlement, laced with distinct fear.
Natsuki's eyes searched Shizuru's—but nothing was there. She tried Harumi's, and her smirk spoke volumes. She tried desperately again.
"Shi-Shizuru… It's me…" she walked closer…Harumi's smile was now gone.
"Don't come nearer. Just go out. I told you to wait." Her voice was calm but Natsuki hinted a change on it. She pushed some more.
"Shizu—"
"No—Don't be foolish! Just go out!" Harumi's shout rang in her ears.
"No! Shizuru! It's me …" she was closer now, almost an arms length. Harumi tried to block Shizuru from directly viewing her. Natsuki continued. "Shizuru, please…It's me, Natsuki…"
She saw Shizuru look at her, carefully adjusting to her closer figure, clearly studying her face.
"Natsuki…?" Shizuru's voice was lithe. Harumi was immobile. Natsuki just nodded. She was about to smile but she saw Shizuru's face change.
Her eyes widened, tears streamed her face. Natsuki froze in place.
"No… "Shizuru began shaking again, her hands covered her face.
"…No… "
"Shizu.."
"---NOOOO!" Harumi quickly wrapped her arms around the wailing Shizuru. Natsuki was torn.
Haruka quickly pulled the dazed Natsuki out of the room as Yukino closed the door behind her.
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"I'll give you my love, Shizuru-hime… You don't need –this-…"
Her sullen eyes seeing nothing but darkness finally brought rain on view. Her cheeks felt wet and it hurts; the arms that wrapped her were more than warm for her liking.
But she needed it.
Slowly, her hands lifted, to answer those of the stranger's fervent urges. She took one last breathe and accepted.
As she fainted to nothingness, the smile she saw embedded deep within her. It was unlike the smile she dreamt of, it was different.
She wanted nothing of this smile, but…
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" Shizuru…?" Her eyes hurt. Somehow she forgot how to use her arms to help herself.
Her mouth felt dry, so dry. Where is she? What is… this?
"Shizuru…" The voice was not familiar. But… what is familiar?
All too sudden, she was not alone on where she lay, the bed creaking, the sheets rustling.
Her eyes, now open and blurred saw one image… one smile.
That smile.
Shizuru reached her hand to meet the other's, which was accommodating, soothing… loving. The warmth intoxicated her. It was…familiar.
Now properly seated, eyes leveled with her visitor, her smile showed; her heart numb – but satisfied. This was real.
That was a dream.
Foolish, foolish girl.
A hand cupped her cheeks, her face graced with a kiss.
She eagerly returned it… Too eager... It seemed like she missed it, can never get enough of it… Or – was is it because it was not enough…?
Again, how foolish.
Her smile became warmer as she took her visitor's hand. It was too warm for her liking. But it was hers. Shizuru should be happy – satisfied.
"Shizuru… Ohayo…" her wall broke, her reality pushed her to the edge. There was no escape.
Accept it, foolish girl.
"Ohayo… Harumi…"
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Haruka brought her back to the room where they first stayed. Yukino followed them, clearly hiding the tears that she quickly dismissed. Haruka's face was grim. Natsuki was still in a trance.
No one dared to speak.
After a good while, Harumi barged in. Her face was still calm, but the smile was gone. Natsuki can only look at her, her eyes still in daze.
"You've seen her. " The voice was sharp. "I told you to wait, but—never mind…" Harumi paced the room. She looked at Yukino, the girl's worried look annoyed her.
"She's okay now…" She muttered. Haruka let out a sigh. Natsuki stared at nothingness.
"Your name, the sound of your voice… it disrupts her." Harumi was saying. Natsuki controlled something inside her, something she can't name. All she can think of was Shizuru. And what happened a while back.
"Ah—and yes… Your face, as well…" It was said so flatly. Natsuki covered her face with one of her sweaty palm.
"That is why I asked you to wait. We could've introduced you differently…"
"What happened?" the question was asked.
"What?"
"I asked… What happened…? Why is Shizuru…?" Natsuki's voice trailed.
Harumi walked towards her and halted just a breath away from the biker.
"She almost followed you…Kuga Natsuki..."
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"Mai!"
Mikoto quickly rushed to Mai's room. When Mikoto came back from Yukino's place, the store was already busy and Mai complained of headache. The younger girl quickly ushered her to rest upstairs, which Mai reluctantly followed.
A good hour passed when Mikoto heard a scream from their room.
She quickly rushed to see a flailing Mai, eye still shut. Her trashing littered the sheets of the bed. Mikoto quickly shook Mai out of her sleep.
"Mai! Wake up! Mai!"
Mikoto embraced Mai tightly and hushed the sobbing girl. Mai is drenched in sweat when she came to. She clutched at Mikoto and silently cried. The younger girl can only shush the distraught girl.
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"What do you think?"
"That's absurd, Natsuki!" Mai slammed her fist on the table. Natsuki was talking rubbish today.
The biker just nodded. She sighed deep and ruffled her hair.
"I'm going." Standing up, she grabbed her helmet and waved at Mai.
"O-Oi! Don't do anything stupid…"
"Of course…"
She never saw Natsuki again after that.
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"It was an accident… Shizuru-san…" the man was saying. Shizuru just sat unmoving. Haruka was surprisingly at her side, Yukino making phone calls. They were at a cliff, a cliff so familiar to both Shizuru and Natsuki.
The rain was harsh and Haruka can't make out if Shizuru's face is flushed by it or by tears. She considered the latter. Haruka turned to the officer.
"It may be so! But still, find her!" The man gulped but nodded anyways. He excused himself. Shizuru was still unexplainably calm.
"Haruka, I've called them, they'll be here." Yukino's voice was quiet.
"Good." The sound of a car halting caught their attention.
"Kikukawa! Suzushiro!" Reito quickly got out of his car. He ran towards where Haruka was seated while carefully keeping an eye on Shizuru. He also noticed a completely torn bike. A ducati.
Haruka looked at him intently then moved her gaze to a still Fujino. Reito walked towards Yukino who was trembling, in cold and worry.
His face was now also drained in rain. Yukino shook her head. He glanced at the bike then at Shizuru.
"Wh-Where is…?"
"That's the only thing we fished out…" Yukino said lowly. The lack of reaction from Shizuru was unnerving. And scary.
They were in a prelude collaboration meeting when Shizuru's phone rang. The Kyoto girl excused herself. The last thing they saw was Shizuru rushing out. They just followed her here.
Yukino was the mediator between the policemen and medics as Shizuru didn't speak a word.
Reito looked at Shizuru who was sitting like a statue, Haruka never leaving her side.
The sound of the siren and the movement of people trying to salvage something – anything- from beneath the cliff drowned the loud clap of thunder. The rain felt heavier than usual.
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Natsuki never showed up. Her body was never found but it was a closed case in the beginning. Mai took care of the preparations and the funeral of the former HiMe. Shizuru was of no use.
Rumors rose, but were quickly dismissed.
The group decided that the loss affected them, but not more than it affected the former kaichou. They all agreed to help.
Mai actively volunteered to be on close guard of Shizuru. Haruka cannot stay forever by her side.
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"NO! Natsuki!"
The wailing pained her. She was guilty of something.
"NO!!"
"Shizuru—please!" Haruka's voice was strong.
"Shizuru-san…!"
"NO! LET ME…GO!! I NEED TO…FIND…HER!!"
She kept her hands on her ears. But that didn't make any difference. She can still hear her.
"Natsuki!!"
"Hurry—Reito!!"
"Yes!!"
"NATSUKI!! PLEASE!! LET ME—GO!!"
The pain… it was unbearable. She could've done something.
"NATSU…ki... ple..ase…"
"Hush now… Shizuru…"
"Please… take..me..with..yo..u…"
It died down. But still she couldn't stand up.
"Mai…?" Mikoto's voice felt wonderful. It stabbed her.
"Mi—koto…" she hugged the younger girl. It was cruel. She knows, but she cannot admit.
Reito and Haruka came out of the room. They were followed by two nurses and a doctor. The three bowed and left, the routine was usual. Reito's shirt sported a tear. The struggles were getting too violent.
Mai stood up, with the help of Mikoto.
"How is she?" she clutched her phone.
"She's asleep. I'm sorry we were a little late." Reito gently patted her shoulder. Mai smiled weakly.
"I will come back after 2 hours. That would be enough, I guess." Haruka rubbed her forehead. Mai noticed the blood stains on her sleeves. Haruka followed her eyes.
"We've dressed her wounds. You don't have to worry."
"Such a willful child, I can't believe she could still make use the edge of her bed." Reito said.
"She… I think we need to… chain her… If this continues…" Haruka's face dimmed as she said that. Mai can only nod.
Mai clutched her phone again. She has to be stronger than this.
She could've done something earlier.
After a week, Mai almost gave in. She can't stand the screams, the shouts; the call for Natsuki. Shizuru's voice haunted her even in her sleep. But she wants to stay with the girl. She manages from time to time, delighting the use of her phone whenever Shizuru is waking up.
She was guilty of something.
It was a good thing Mikoto stood by her.
She was guilty, after all.
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Natsuki's eye's blurred. All she could do was cry silently.
She remembered.
After 'crashing' her bike, she ran. Her wounds were deep but she ran. She needed to go far away.
She was too naïve of things. Shizuru doesn't deserve naivety.
She ran away and moved to nowhere.
Remembering her stupid 'solution' made her tremble in shame. It could've worked!
Why did she come back?
"Her last attempt was -- fatal. She was-- so to speak-- killing herself more every day..." Harumi's voice was soft yet cruel—and pained. "I was requested by her father to look for a way out of her daughter's demise."
"Wh-What did you do…?" Natsuki muttered poorly.
"I killed you… permanently." Her voice was followed by a knock on the door. Natsuki just stared at the two figures who came in.
"I think you know these generous people, neh, Natsuki?" Harumi stood up and greeted the visitors.
"Ofcourse…" Natsuki answered. She thought it was wishful thinking. But she DID saw her. She looked defiantly at the two.
"It's been so long, Natsuki-san." The smaller one greeted, her body not that of a child any more but more of a teenager, beside her stood a taller girl, her body unchanging, her character unmarred.
"Yes…" Natsuki breathed. "It's been so long… Alyssa… Miyu…"
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A/N: Arghh.. Too many workloads.. I have to quit doodling... Have you listened to Romance from Noir? It's just - marvelous -... I uploaded it in my homepage.. So sorry to those who were dissappointed or what not.. This IS and experiment.. be kind.. hehe..
Please don't forget to review.. The story is finished but I could use some tips, or lovely comments.. or suggestions.. OR threat! haha.. STOP ME!! I'm gonna write a NaoShiz.. soooo STOP ME!!!
Hey, questions? mail me.. I always make sure that I respond to you guys.. so don't hesitate to flame-- err... mail me.. heheh..
And to those who are new readers-- BANZAI! Welcome to the Carnival! Hope you enjoy some of my fics. And please review this one.. I crave for it-- like mayo.. lol
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Thanks for putting up with me.. MWAH!! Updates are GO!