Posted: 26/07/2007
Dozo Please continue/Go on (Basically telling to continue in a polite way.)

一

Stain
Thanks to Astarael00 for beta-ing.

Chapter 13

一

"...And that is all. The story is laid out on the table, Yuuki-san."

Nao's only acknowledgement was a raise of eyebrow; and for a while she did not say anything as she attempted to digest the information.

She had already sat back down by the bed, chin resting on palm, index finger tapping on her cheek thoughtfully.

Green eyes glanced at Shizuru, who merely waited as she watched the redhead.

Shizuru's little story had explained a few things. Even if Nao did not expect such a big conspiracy behind all of it.

"...It appears that Yuuki-san was not entirely unaware of it," Shizuru noted, speaking at last.

Nao smirked. "Don't misunderstand. I just did not want to incur any violence in Mama's presence." I had seen them loitering around me.

"I see." But you thought them to be the men whom you had once cheated upon, yes?

The redhead snorted. Hmph.

Shizuru smiled. "Pay them no mind, Yuuki-san. They cannot do anything." I made sure of that.

The redhead narrowed her gaze at the brunette.

"They are an eyesore," Nao nodded towards the window covered with curtains. Of course, she had noticed those watching outside the apartment, too.

The smile on Shizuru widened a fraction.

"Indeed." Do not be hasty, Yuuki-san.

"Indeed," Nao repeated, drawling the word out. They have no right to spy on me and Mama.

Shizuru sighed. Is there any hope that you will not involve yourself in this?

The other smirked. Not a chance.

Nao's phone rang.

She took out her hand phone from her pocket, looked at the caller ID, and raised a delicate eyebrow.

"Where did you put your phone, Fujino?"

Shizuru blinked. "Ara? I believe I may have left it in the hospital."

Hmm.

Nao picked up the call.

"Good evening, Yuuki-san."

It was a distinctive, suave male voice.

"Who is this?"

"Kanzaki Reito."

Hmmmm.

"Hello, Kanzaki," the redhead drawled out, and glanced at Shizuru, who only tilted her head to a side.

"Shizuru-san is with you, I believe?"

"Yes."

"How is she?"

"Not too bad...oh, and congratulations on your betrothal, by the way."

一

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK -

The door swung open.

"Stop that, it's annoying."

"Nao!"

Said girl arched an eyebrow. "Hello, Kuga. Interesting seeing you," her gaze flickered to the clock hanging on the wall, "...at this hour."

"Where's Shizuru?" demanded Natsuki.

"Why such impatience, Kuga?" The redhead drawled out, before her tone mimicked a wounded, innocent girl, "No hello for me?"

Natsuki let out a growl of frustration. "I do not have time for this!"

Nao narrowed her gaze at the other, crossing her hands.

"In case you don't know yet," she informed the taller girl mockingly, "Shizuru is injured."

Shizuru? They are on first names term?

Something stirred in Natsuki's stomach, and it was not a nice feeling.

"I know that."

Another raised eyebrow. "Oh? So what makes you think she's not sleeping now?"

Natsuki gritted her teeth.

The other smirked. Then she stepped aside, gesturing. "But if you are so inclined to wake her up, be my guest."

The black-haired girl stormed in.

一

"Ara. Hello there."

Point in fact, Shizuru wasn't even sleeping.

Damn you, Nao.

"What brings you to visit at this ungodly hour...Kuga-san?"

Natsuki froze.

A calm, Zen-like smile was fixed on Shizuru's face; maple eyes clear and unreadable.

"I hate you."

The green-eyed girl bit her lip.

Nao poked her head in, eyes flickering between the two of them, before a Cheshire grin formed on her face.

"I'm leaving now," the redhead told the girl on the bed, before carefully enunciating the next word, watching Natsuki from the corner of her eyes. "Shi-zu-ru."

Natsuki had balled her hands into fists.

Shizuru studied Nao and her cat-like grin briefly, before replying. "Of course. Thank you, Nao-san, for your assistance." A little evil, Yuuki-san. And completely unneccesarry.

"Yeah, yeah." It's my hobby, Fujino.

Silence hovered in the air until Natsuki heard the distinctive click of a door closing.

But still neither would speak.

For a very, very long moment.

Shizuru was the one to break the silence.

"So what brings you here, Kuga-san?" Her words, which dripped with politeness, irked Natsuki. The usual warmth and teasing note was not there.

Her fists tightened, and her bandaged hand felt slightly damp.

"You," she bit out.

"Me? And why is that, Kuga-san?" Shizuru had raised an eyebrow - in mock surprise - and there was a little grin on Shizuru's face.

Natsuki did not reply.

A few seconds passed, before Shizuru gently asked again. "Kuga-san?"

"Don't call me that."

"I'm sorry?"

She snapped. "Don't call me that!"

Those red eyes remained calm and collected. "...and why is that, Kuga-san?"

That did it.

"Fuck you!" Natsuki shouted, voice shaking and suddenly furious. "Fuck you! You..." she stopped suddenly, words cut short before they even started. She couldn't even think of what to rant to the brunette resting on the bed. "You are...you just..."

"Fuck me," Shizuru repeated for the younger girl, the same little grin on her face.

The red-eyed girl lifted the blanket off her, pushing it to a side. Shizuru gestured to herself.

"Please, be my guest." The teasing tone returned to her voice.

But the warmth did not.

Natsuki just stared, stunned.

"What's wrong, Kuga-san?" Shizuru asked again, tone quietly, morbidly, curious. She begin to unbutton her shirt. "Didn't you want to fu - "

"Stop that!"

Furious green clashed with calm red.

"Why - why are you..." Natsuki's throat felt dry, so dry. "Why are you doing..."

Shizuru's smile widened a fraction. "Isn't this what Kuga-san wished for?"

"N-no!"

The brunette rested her hands on her lap, even though the top three buttons remained undone. "Or does Kuga-san wish to remove the clothing herself?"

Natsuki could not even find the words to reply this time.

She just stared; astonished, horrified, hurt.

"Won't Kuga-san come closer?" Shizuru encouraged. "If Kuga-san stands so far away, she cannot do anything to me."

Hypnotic blood red eyes pierced into ice green eyes.

For some reason Natsuki could not discern, perhaps it was those gentle - harsh - words, perhaps it was those eyes that pulled her in, she stepped closer; until she was next to the bed.

The physical distance between them was short, so short; and Natsuki suddenly found it harder to breathe.

Shizuru was waiting. "Dozo."

"I..." She glanced downwards, towards the smooth flesh and cleavage revealed by the half-unbuttoned shirt, towards slender curves hidden by clothes, towards those long legs, before her gaze snapped back to those ruddy crimson eyes. "I..."

"Yes?" The brunette pried gently. "Kuga-san?"

"Don't call me that," Natsuki whispered; begged.

Shizuru paused at that. Her eyes glimmered for only a fraction of a second, and then they were calm and unreadable again.

"...and why not?" Kuga-san. She didn't say it, she didn't even breathe it out, but the word hovered in the air.

"You are being cruel," Natsuki said quietly.

Shizuru smiled that little smile again. "Am I now? But Kuga-san clearly stated her intentions before, did she not?"

Natsuki breathed in sharply.

"From the words 'I hate you'," continued the brunette calmly. "Forgive me if I am wrong, Kuga-san, but I had gotten the impression you do not wish to have anything to do with me." A pause. "I am merely complying with Kuga-san's wishes."

"I didn't mean it," Natsuki forced the words out from her throat which had locked up. "I didn't mean it." Her voice choked suddenly.

Shizuru laughed a little, and though there was no mocking in that laughter, Natsuki thought she sensed it.

"Some words are not something that you can take back easily, Kuga-san." Her soft, Kyoto-accented voice was light and airy.

Natsuki got it then. She's being cruel because I was cruel to her.

"The day does not go backwards, Kuga-san," Shizuru switched back the topic with ease as if she was discussing the weather. She gestured to herself. "You wished to fuck me?"

Natsuki just stared.

"Don't...don't do this," she managed to whisper, voice shaking. "Don't do this to me." Us.

"What does Kuga-san want me to do then?"

"Call me Natsuki, dammit."

There was a pause.

"But will it change anything?" Shizuru then queried, calmly, gently. "Natsuki?"

Natsuki wanted so badly to say yes. But she didn't know what changes it would bring.

She just didn't.

She stared at the girl on the bed, stared into those unreadable maple red eyes, stared at that Zen-like smile.

"I am waiting for an answer, Natsuki."

The black haired girl clenched and unclenched her shaking fists.

Shizuru saw that. "Would Natsuki like to hit me?"

Natsuki snapped her head up. "No!"

"What does she want then?"

"I - I..." she faltered.

Red eyes pierced into her. "Please tell me, Natsuki. Tell me."

Natsuki stared. Stared long and hard. Ruddy crimson eyes looked back at her unwaveringly.

She wasn't entirely sure what happened then. She wasn't sure what made her move from her position and get on the bed.

Shizuru pressed back into the wall a little, even as her facial expression remained the same. That had been the only hint of surprise shown.

Natsuki was on her knees before her, over her legs, and she only stared at Shizuru.

There was a long, intense moment of silence before the brunette spoke.

"Natsuki?" Genuine concern. Something Natsuki was familiar with. At last.

She reached out, and touched Shizuru's cheek.

Warm.

The long brown locks of hair tickled the back of her palm.

Then Natsuki grasped those few strands of hair, brought them close to her face, and closed her eyes.

Lavender.

Shizuru did not react. Couldn't think of how to react.

A little self-deprecating smile graced Natsuki's features.

She leaned forward, and captured Shizuru's lips with hers.

一

Because people have something precious to them, and because it is so precious, they get lost or make mistakes.

Because I'm precious to her.

Because she's precious to me.

Because of "love"...

Then, if that's the case, I don't want to know "love".

A/N:

Surpriseeeeee.

And, no, the explanations about stuff are not delayed. They will come in after the next chapter. I will admit I'm having a bit of problems with the explanations, though.

I hope this is a fun chapter for all of you. I'm pretty sure it would be fun for me to see your reactions. And as precautionary measure... -dons armor from head to toe and barricades self in the all-attack-proof-defense room-

If the last five words in the above chapter looks familiar, that's because it is. An e-cookie if you know or can guess where it was from. And before I forget, my thanks to ikka-san for informing me about that little nitpick. And any more nitpicks are welcome, of course. XD

These said and all, I don't really have much else to say. Or actually, whatever I'm tempted to say will probably make all of you want to kill me. Therefore I won't.

So until then. :P
Eagle.