Okay guys this is the latest chapter. I am really sorry that this is taking so long... Like really really sorry. There is no smut in this chapter what so ever lol sorry my mind hasn't been into smut writing lately. My arm is better lol but my mind is lagging behind. My muse has run away :( Anyway I'm trying hard but this may take some time sorry again.

I don't own any characters portraid in this fanfiction. Just the story line as always.

New Character's POV

How was I meant to know she could be so cute? I feel so guilty thinking such thoughts but then I can't stop them. Shizuru has moved on to college, but I feel bad about having these thoughts about another woman, when I never did nor could for her. It should have been about her right? She was the one that was always there for me; the one that brought me back from my bad time. Yet it isn't her, it's...

"Get dressed would you scruff bag; Mai want's us at the karaoke bar pronto." I say to her as I step into her room without an invitation.

"Who the hell are you calling scruff bag? And what the hell are you doing barging into my room like this!?" She all but, growls, at me. I give her a wavering smile as I sit down on her bed and lean forward with my forearms rested against my thighs. She looks like a cute kitten dressed in her baggy teddy bear pyjamas that are all over the place, but I have to remind myself that she is anything but a kitten... She's more like a panther, crouched and waiting to move those sleek feminine muscles and pounce on her prey.

"Just get dressed Nao. You know how Mai gets when Karaoke is involved."

"Fine just close your eyes. I don't want you seeing my unmentionables." She flips her short red hair at me as she turns to her draws and a depressing grin flickers across my features.

"Why not, you let random guys ogle them." I mutter under my breath as I lower my head. I'm just torturing myself with her and I know it, but I can't stop myself from being near her. Who could imagine the wolf with the panther? She'd tear me apart.

"I beg your pardon?" She asks me in a curt tone and I shrug.

"Nothing..." I breathe the word out. She knows what I said. The hurt in her tone tells me that much.

"For your information, little miss I'm too good for even the head of the student council; I never showed any flesh to those perverts. Don't act all high and mighty in front of me you fucking pea brained biker dyke because it's likely to get you a slap!" She does growl this time and my head shoots up to glair at her... only for my eyes to get distracted by the sight of her folding her night top. Her back is bare and I can see the gentle slope of her breast...

'She's so beautiful,' is the only thing that crosses my mind and my anger is forgotten immediately.

"I'm sorry." I say as I lower my head again. My words must have had an impact on her because she dropped something on the floor and has yet to pick it up.

"Where's your witty come back? Aren't I even good enough for them anymore?" Her voice is a whisper and my insides start to hurt. I get to my feet and walk to her door without even glancing at her.

"I'll wait outside for you. I'm sorry for the intrusion." I mumble before opening the door and walking through it. She's all I want... but how can I ever tell her that? How can I tell her that on my last bike ride with Shizuru I wanted it to be her on the back of my Ducati instead? I wanted it to be her holding onto me? Shizuru always felt a little ill after riding on my bike with me, but I bet Nao would love it. She's not as delicate as Shizuru. She won't loose the plot and go on a killing spree (even if the dead were to be brought back to life) all for the sake of being with me. She's beautiful, and caring, and misjudged all the time and, I'd love to be able to hold her to me. Still... what would people think if I started dating her? What would Shizuru think? Would she hate me? My best friend in the whole world... could I live with the thought of her hating me?

"Come on then. We can't have Mai getting all pissy arsed with us." Nao says as she steps out of her room and locks the door behind her. My eyes trail over the baggy jeans and white tank top that she is wearing and I can only muster a nod. She smiles weakly at me before pulling a black hoody over her head and stepping away from me.

"Erm... Nao...?" I ask and she turns to look at me as she stops her small journey. My eyes trace the delicately plucked raised eyebrow, and the elegantly slender bridge of her nose, down to her plump pink lips that were begging me to kiss them.

"I was wondering... If maybe, you wanted to hang out, or something, tomorrow?" I look down at the floor and notice that I'm shuffling my feet and I have a blush covering my face.

"Tomorrow...? I'm going to the movies with Aoi, Chi and Mikoto." She says blandly and I nod slowly.

"How about Sunday?" I ask just to get shut down again.

"Sorry, Mai is going to teach me how to cook Ramen without killing anyone that breathes in the steam." She says as she turns away from me again. She takes a step and then stops.

"Why do you want to spend time with me? It isn't like we have anything in common and we barely ever have anything nice to say to each other. What would be the point when all we will do is bicker at each other?" She asks and I freeze up inside.

"I just figured it might be fun... I don't know what got into me. Come on scruff bag lets get going." I say as I walk straight past her. I catch the scowl in her eyes and wince inside as I head for the stairwell.

Sei's POV

"So run it by me again... We are on our way to pick up the pup and the kitten for what reason exactly?" I ask as I try to get it right in my mind.

"So that they can help us with this. What is so hard about this to get your fickle mind around?" Sei asks me with a half frown.

"Erm... Let's see... Those two cannot work as a team... They never have nor ever will be able to work as a team, and they're more likely to kill each other, or one of us, in the midst of one of their arguments, instead of the bad guys!" I put my argument forward with a bit too much force and get a raised eyebrow from everyone, except Jo, who has her head in the T.V. because there is a horror movie marathon on.

"They can't be that bad... Can they?" Shimako asks as she looks from me to Sei.

"You don't know Natsuki and Nao. They fight like cat and dog and that is on a good day... They've never been able to get on but they are good workers when on separate assignments." Sei says and I nod.

"So then why are you putting them together for this?" I ask as I rub my forehead.

"Because I am the leader and what I say goes. This is no longer up for discussion so drop it Sei before I put you in with them." Sei says and I back away from the mini argument. She stands up and goes to the front of the mobile home and starts up the engine. I sit back and try to relax but I have a nasty knot tight around my stomach. Those two can't work as a team. I don't care how good they are at fighting they cannot work as a team and they are going to cause casualties on our side. If they in any way cause, a single hair on Shimako's pretty little head to be hurt, I will kill them both. A smile crosses my features as Shimako lifts my arm and places it over her shoulders as she leans against me. How is it that she can calm me down like this?

"Aaaaaw you two are just the sweetest things." Meg all but, squeals, at us.

"And how is your love life?" I ask her and she simply gives me an un-amused glance before turning to look at Jo.

"What do you think?" She asks as she sat down at my free side.

"She doesn't even notice me Sei. I don't know why I'm still holding onto the thought of her ever feeling the same way. All she does is, watch, those stupid movies or, listens to her MP3 player." She says and I give her a delicate smile showing that I understand a little bit of what she is going through.

"Just give her a bit of time, yeah? Sometimes you can't see what is right under your nose." I say as I run my fingers through Shimako's long mousy hair.

"How long does she need Sei? It's been years." She whispers even though there is no need for her lowered tone. Jo is watching her movie and nothing can tear her attention away from it.

"Instead of waiting for her to make a move why don't you make the first move?" Shimako asks and Meg's eyes widen.

"I didn't even think of that to be honest." Her mood seemed to brighten immensely. Meg was a strange one. Stick her behind a huge gun and she can calculate the trajectory of the bullet, and know exactly where it is going to strike, however, you stick her in an everyday situation and she can't even work out the simplest solution.

"I'm going to bed, we have a long day tomorrow," I say as I get to my feet. Shimako grumbles at me for moving before she gets to her feet. She rubbed her eyes in what can only be described as a ridiculously cute gesture and follows me into one of the small cabins to crawls into bed.

"Will Sei pull over soon so that we don't fall out of bed every time she breaks?" Shimako murmurs as she wriggles out of her beautiful dress. Just as she was saying the words the mobile home slows gently to a stop and the engine dies.

"Guess that answers that question." She smiles at me. I shed my dress and crawl into bed behind her. I pull her back against me and place a sweet kiss to the back of her neck.

"I love you Sei..." She whispers as she pushes back against me. My heart is momentarily stuck in shocked mode as it is everytime she says the words. Not only does she tell me that she loves me but she also tells me that she's in love with me when she is in one of her calm serene moods. That means more than anything because the two phrases; even if they are similar, are two totally different entities.

"I love you too, beautiful." I whisper back to her as I nuzzle my face into her neck.

Nao's POV

Why is she being so different with me? She used to banter with me... She used to make me laugh... What's changed? Is it because I mean so little to her? It feels like that. When I went to put my arms around her on the bike she straightened up as if my mere touch repulsed her. She keeps giving me weird glances. What is so wrong with me? Maybe it isn't me. Maybe she is holding out for when Shizuru comes back. Or maybe she really isn't gay like she keeps telling everyone. I have no idea. It's so confusing. She asked me to spend time with her but then acts as if I'm not even worth her words. I let go of her waist and lean back on the bike, letting the air run over me as I contemplate my thoughts. I want her and I know that for a fact. Maybe I should just make a move on her and see where it gets me. If she freaks out at least I'll know where I stand.

"Nao...!" I sit up properly and look at Natsuki's back wondering what the hell is going on.

"Hold the fuck on we're being followed." I grab her waist as fear runs through me. Followed... by whom? Why are we being followed? What do they want? I turn my head and look behind us. A black Sedan is the only vehicle behind us. Looking closer I see the man with the top half of his body out of the sun roof.

"Shit Natsuki, they have guns!" I shout at her wondering if she'll be able to hear me through Shizuru's helmet. Guilt floods through me as I forget about the car and remember the fact that it's Shizuru who should get dibs on Natsuki. She's the one that means the most to her. The woman I'm holding onto leans forward and shifts the bike up into a higher gear. The engine gives a roar that reminds me of Duran and a smile flickers across my features. She had protected me from Shizuru with Duran. She'd tried to save me and my mother with all she had even though I had tried to kill her. I didn't try very fucking hard if you ask me. I hear the gun blast and see the flash of light as the bullet smashes into the road it our right. Natsuki veers to the left and nocks the bike up another gear. How fast is she going? The car can't possibly keep up with us at this pace. I look back again and groan as I see that it is keeping up. It's struggling but it's definitely keeping up.

"We need to get out of the town. We're endangering innocent bystanders here!" I shout.

"I know this already!" Is the answer I get back from her. We fly past the karaoke bar and I get a brief glimpse of our friends looking at us with wide eyes as the man fires at us again. I notice Aoi mostly with her phone out videoing the occurrence. She's a strange one. What am I doing thinking about my friends when there's a guy shooting at us?!?! Natsuki leans to the left and I follow suit as we turn a bend. I yank my knee in so that it doesn't scrape along the road and watch as sparks fly from Natsuki's knee pads. The woman is fucking fearless with this thing. I just hold on for dear life as we leave the town behind. The bike roars as we turn onto one of the cliff top roads. We might be keeping bystanders safe but we are putting ourselves in more danger here. My heart is beating erratically in my chest as I look back again. The car is actually gaining on us. How the hell is that possible? I keep watching as the guy takes his time in aiming. I'm so dead!

"Natsuki...! Swerve or something woman he's aiming at my head!" I shout.

"I need to get us to the lodge!"

"What's the point in that if I have a bullet in my head!?!?!?!?" I'm totally amazed at her single minded denseness. How can she be so stupid? She can't get into the lodge unless I'm with her. It's a two part password on the damned door! I freeze up at the sound of the gun... Just as Natsuki swerves, brakes and skids onto the dirt track. The car brakes but doesn't make it onto the track. I keep watching as it reverses and then comes after us again. This is so not my night. I should have just stayed in my room. It wouldn't have been as eventful that's for sure. Then again... knowing my luck I wouldn't have gotten off that easily. They're obviously after us so it wouldn't matter if I was in my room or somewhere else. I'm just glad that I have Natsuki with me. I'd be so screwed without her. We pull off of the track and into the undergrowth and I heart myself screech. Branches and twigs are snagging at my arms and legs and thank fuck it's illegal to get on a bike without a helmet. We've slowed down a lot but that doesn't really matter seeing as the branches are still messing up my perfect skin.

"What are you doing!!!" I shout at her.

"They can't follow us in here."

"They don't fucking need to you're going to kill us for them! This is a sports bike not a damned crosser!" I shout at her.

"Nao for once in your life shut up! I'm trying my damned hardest here but thinking on my feet isn't my strong point okay?!" She growls at me and I remain quiet. This is fucking ridiculous. We're both going to plummet to our deaths off of the cliff.

"Natsuki; the damned cliff edge!" I shout as it just pops into my head. She breaks and pulls the bike to the side just in time. She jumps off of the bike and does something I totally wasn't expecting. She lifts me up off of the bike and runs with me. I know I'm not the lightest person in the world. Yet she runs with me in her arms as if it's nothing. She must be trying to work off all of those calories she's built up with her mayonnaise.

"What are you doing?"

"Can't... Talk... Running..." Her panted muffled words come through her helmet. I just stay silent and let her get on with giving herself a heart attack. Thankfully it doesn't get to that because the lodge comes into sight. Natsuki actually did a brainy thing and left the main road on the wrong dirt track... The guys are no where to be seen. She puts me on my feet and I realise why she carried me. My legs are so scraped to shit that I can barely stand properly. I wince and slide to the floor in pain as she removes her helmet.

"Are you okay?" She asks. I look up to see real concern in her eyes and my barriers go up without my consent.

"Oh yeah, fan-fucking-tastic. You dense fool; dragging us through the fucking woods so I get scraped to shit. How the fuck am I meant to hold my gun when my arms are shaking like they're having fits?" I shout at her. She steps back away from me looking shocked for a split second, right before the anger sets in.

"Don't have a go at me for saving your damned life. Next time I'll just let them put a bullet through your helmet hey?" She growls at me. My anger fizzles out right there and then. My walls won't go down but I don't have the energy to argue with her. She called it MY helmet. When she had passed it to me earlier she had called it Shizuru's helmet. The anger slips from her eyes and we spend a brief moment just watching each other. I can't figure her out. One minute she won't argue with me and the next she is shouting at me like old times.

"I'm sorry Nao. I didn't mean that." She says as she leans down to help me to my feet. Since when did she apologise to me? She types in her password and looks away as I type in mine. The door opens up and she helps me inside and places me on the camp bed. I let out a sigh of relief as I sink into the mattress. I really miss this place sometimes. We've spent a few weekends here over the past few years whilst healing after our little missions with Sei and her little group; barely saying a word to each other the whole time. I look at Natsuki as she takes a first aid kit out of the cabinet and comes to kneel at my side as I drag the helmet off of my head. I take in a deep breath of fresh air and groan at the stinging aches in my arms and legs. I look down over my tattered and filthy clothing and want to cry. Damn me for wearing my new clothes!

"Can you sit up?" She asks me in a soft voice. I give her a disbelieving look and grumble some nonsense about her being an imbecile. She nods at me with a weak smile as she gets to her feet to retrieve a bowl of warm water. I need to get myself together before the men get to us. There's no way I can use my guns if I can't pick myself up. I groan as I push myself up on my arms and twist myself around. I watched her watching me as I lean back against the wall and dangle my legs off of the edge of the bed.

"We need to stop getting ourselves into these messes." I grumble at her.

"How were we supposed to know? It isn't like Sei has been in touch to tell us there are people on our tails." She says as she sets the bowl of water down next to the first aid kit.

"You're gonna have to wriggle out of your jeans." She says with an uneasy look on her face.

"You have to be joking. I can't wiggle... How come you aren't in a state?" I look at her as if I'm accusing her of something and she just smiles at me.

"My leathers are thick. The branches didn't cut through them. I'm going to have some nice bruises though." She grimaces as she leans over me and unbuttons my jeans. I squeak at her and she pulls away shocked.

"I need to get your pants off otherwise I can't treat your scrapes." She says and I frown at her as I nod. She quickly pulls the zipper down and I push myself up so that she can pull them down for me.

"Ahh you mother!!!!!!!!!" I shout a load of obscenities as the denim rubs against the scrapes and all Natsuki does is wince at my language. I lower myself back down and try to look strong as I curse every gun toting man on the earth. I can't believe this. Why is it that we never get any prior warning to these things?

"I'm gonna clean them now try not to kick me in the face this time." She says to me as she dips the cloth in the warm water. I chuckle at the memory of her trying to clean a cut that ran from my thigh to just below my knee and I jerked at the contact. She ended up on her back holding her nose and swearing at me. We're actually really alike if I stop to think about it; but I don't because it just gives me a headache. I watch her intrigued as she gently wipes the abrasions. She isn't usually this careful. It's then that I notice she's blushing at me.

"Nat-su-ki..." I say in a sing song voice so that she looks up at my face.

"You're such a pervert." I grin as she turns into a tomato.

"I-I-I... No I'm not!" She drops her head and stares at the floor as she continues to clean my wounds.

"They aren't that bad just some nicks and scrapes. I reckon it's the beating they gave you that's making you ache most. I'm so glad I wore my leathers. I'm going to be bruised so I can only imagine what you feel like."

"You want to know what I feel like?" I ask with an eyebrow raised. Her eyes snap up to mine and I see her gulp. She is most definitely acting strange with me.

"I didn't mean it like that." She says with a high pitch to her usually calm voice.

"I know you didn't but I did." I say with a grin. Her face turns bright pink once again. I love how easy it is to make her blush.

"Nao...?" She asks. She looks so confused. Like a little puppy with its head cocked to the side.

"It doesn't matter Natsuki, just go back to your dream world it's fine." I pat her head and she turns redder. We both look up in shock as bullets rain through the front door before Natsuki had a chance to pull the shield down.

Okay guys this is where you go to the little button and press review to tell me that my writing is taking too long and that it sucks... Or you can say I'm doing a good job but I won't believe you... Luv Luv Cressey