Okay so the previous chapter wasn't well liked. So maybe I sulked a couple of days because of it but no matter. I'll just have to work harder on the upcoming ones instead . But thanks to those who have reviewed and at least there seems to be people reading this story too! Thanks to you all! Apologize for any grammar and spelling errors present in this story. I really tried to find every one of them...but some may have slipped.
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Disclaimer: Nothing to own just something to share!
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The next couple of days passed peacefully and uneventful, they both agreed to let the other do as they
pleased. Which took us to this serene morning by the kitchen table where Natsuki was happily munching
away on a sandwich filled with mayonnaise, which was covered by another piece of bread to spare
Shizuru from spotting it, and our president was contentedly drinking one of her routine teas,
whichever you wanted to call it.It also included a lot of teasing and blushing but it was expected
since Natsuki thought that her girlfriend needed a daily dose of teasing. She also contemplated the
fact that she always wore a blank expression around everyone else so a a little color to her face
would not be so bad after all.
Another thing to be happy about was the fact that the media stopped
their attempts of getting a statement from any of them and they were now able to walk out of the house
without being assaulted by noisy reporters. You could say that life was finally starting to settle
down their pace, it was no longer full of drama. Or so they thought the case was. The most interesting
part of life is that whenever you least expect it, it comes back and bites you in the ass. If not then
maybe you pull off something to trigger the chain of events. But perhaps it was destined to happen it
was only a matter of time and place.
--
The important meeting who earlier progressed into nothing on our presidents very own birthday was
scheduled for today which meant another tiresome session with old geezers. Being the thoughtful
girlfriend Shizuru suggested that Natsuki had some free time. The worst thing that could happen was
that somebody died out of boredom but other than that it would certainly be a dull meeting after all.
Our protector who loved action was more than happy to do so however she felt sorry for Shizuru who had
no other choice than to stay...and endure. This caused another problem. What was Natsuki supposed to
do? Whenever she did not have time with her chestnut-haired goddess she was quite an uninteresting
human being. Then again when she had free time her thoughts often drifted off to things that should
not be brought up, things that would be best to leave it be. Somehow she had wandered off to a park.
She sat down on a bench. Leaning herself a bit forward while resting her arms on her laps and kept her
gaze on the ground.
(I still don't know why Tomoe is after her. I don't even know if I can forgive and forget without
knowing the reason behind it. Can I really live with the fact of never knowing? No...I can't. I need
to know the truth. But who will tell me?)
She looked up and straight ahead. She had a serious expression with a determined look.
(Only one place to go I guess, where better than the center of information-gathering in the whole
Japan?)
--
SafetyKeepers headquarters also renowned as SK was a professional mix of different kind of services.
They offered bodyguards, spies, private investigators and much more if you could pay the price. They
were the best of the best anyone could find and would provide information no other could offer. The
leader of the company was no other than Harada Chie. She herself was considered a legend for her
effective information obtaining skills many people wanted to be on her good side, for their own sake.
Nobody could be sure of what she knew and how much damage she could cause with her international
connections. Of course it was not as grandiose as T-Corporation but it still looked as exclusive.
Still the building was a bit darker with tinted glass which prevented people from getting any insight
of the building. This was for protectiveness and caution, you did not make it to the top by being
lucky, you succeeded because you were smart and planned ahead to assure yours and other people's
integrity. When you managed to get inside it was a whole other world. It was almost like entering some
kind of restaurant. You had to wait for your turn at the entrance and an escort would appear to ask of
your business. After the clearance you would be taken to separate rooms who handled different tasks.
While being assigned, one or more, people who would take on the task you would meet and talk the small
details over. Certainly refreshments and snacks would be provided, for a special price you could talk
business by the pool, over dinner or perhaps you prefer getting a massage while talking? You had
plenty of choices to make your stay the best and the mission accomplished as smoothly possible.
Of course Natsuki could skip all these steps and wander everywhere, almost. Seeing her arrival many
eyes were fixed at her however none dared to greet her since she seemed a bit, upset. Maybe that was
to put it lightly but we will go see it as that for now. Charging heading directly for the chef's
office she slammed open the door and was met with a surprised Harada Chie, and maybe a bit frightened
too.
-"My, what a surprise, Natsuki-chan! What brings you here?"
-"You know damn well why I'm here, Harada. And don't call me Natsuki-chan! You set me up didn't
you? This top priority mission that needed "my immediate attention" was nothing but bullshit."
-"I don't understand."
-"You mean to tell me that you Harada Chie known as one of the best information collector didn't
know about my past with Shizuru?"
-"Sometimes some information tends to slip. I can't know everything."
-"Are you willing to put your rep on the line?"
-"Now that wasn't very nice of you, Natsuki-chan. Fair enough. Yes, I knew about it...at least to
some extent. But I thought it was a very good idea. You see the T-corporation is a very valuable ally
and they were willing to pay a most generous price furthermore it gave you a chance to "clear" some
things up with your lover so I thought why not? Everyone gained something out of it, so I didn't see
the problem really."
-"Except perhaps asking if I wanted your damn matchmaking."
-"Hm, yes that seemed to have been the only flaw. No need to focus on such details, right?"
-"You're damn unbelievable."
With a grump Natsuki flopped down in a chair in front of Chie's desk. Chie was watching her employee
with curious eyes and if you looked careful enough you could see the famous glint, one that meant
trouble for whoever gazed upon.
-"So what brings you here today really? I didn't specifically order a personal report so there
wasn't really a need for you to stop by."
-"I need answers..."
Natsuki averted her gaze outside the window, insecurity was evident.
-"What makes you think that I have them?"
Natsuki sighed and then looked Chie straight into the eyes.
-"Because if you don't...then no one knows."
Chie laughed at this statement.
-"I'm flattered at your faith in my skills but still you have to narrow it down to what it is you
want to know. If I'm going to tell you everything I know then I don't think your girlfriend will
appreciate it very much since you won't be able to accompany her to bed."
Chie then winked at her shocked subordinate. Natsuki just blushed at the mention of Shizuru and the
implied actions, it was a natural reaction.
-"How did...never mind. I should have expected you to know that, the least of it. It's just that
everything's great between us, yes, but...I still can't just let it go. Why she did it all those
years ago. It feels like I need to know just to move on, I can't seem to stop wonder...don't look at
me like that! I've tried to ask her. To make her tell, but she just won't do it. She can't...or so
she says."
-"All right, I'll help you. But in order to understand the whole picture I need your cooperation
also."
At this Natsuki simply raised an eyebrow.
-"Hey, I can't know everything!"
The eyebrow rose even higher, if possible.
-"I know I know. But Fujino is doing an excellent job in keeping anything from leaking out. The
things I know are from authorities and questioning this Marquerite Tomoe but no statements from Fujino
whatsoever. It's absolutely impossible gathering any kind of information from her closest also since
she is clever enough not telling them. Which means that in order to make everything clear I need
inside information, so to speak, and what better than getting it from you?"
"So...I'm just another source for you?"
-"Well, you want answers and I certainly want answers. What better than you provide me with what I
don't know and I tell you what I do know about? It's a fair trade."
-"Yeah, I guess."
Suddenly our information collector got very enthusiastic and clapped her hands together in excitement.
This made our otherwise confident Natsuki very uneasy and worried about what she had gotten herself
into.
"Okay, so let's start from the beginning. How did you guys get to know each other and what made you
separate?"
-"Well...um...we met in college. She...uh...was the school president and I was...a nobody."
Chie was listening with big ears and nodding as an encouragement for our nervous protector to continue
her story.
-"We met first...uh...when I barged inside her office..."
(I seem to have done that again. I guess some things don't change.)
-"...I was going to complain about lack of parking spots on campus. Couldn't leave my precious
Ducati anywhere, y'know? So I kinda made a dramatic entrance and basically made a fool out of myself.
I left the student council room with a red color I thought would stick forever in my face, luckily
it didn't."
-"You're not so good with first impressions are you, Natsuki-chan?"
-"No...but somehow I did make a good impression. Good enough for her to notice me and actually take
interest in me, though I wasn't very sociable...and definitely not nice either."
-"You pushed her away?"
-"She was a somebody and I was a nobody. What were the chances that she actually liked me?"
-"I see."
-"But somehow and someday she managed to convince me. One date and if I still didn't change my mind
then she would leave me alone. I played right into her hands because she actually managed to taunt me
into agreeing."
This made our collector laugh and Natsuki joined her.
-"We went for a date to the amusement park and I was stuck. I couldn't get her out of my head and I
panicked. A lot of things happened later but she managed to keep us together. We moved in together
later on, though her parents didn't like it that much."
-"Was it at that time she got disowned?"
-"Yeah, they found out about us later and decided that an heir to the Fujino company couldn't
disgrace their reputation. They made her choose..."
-"And she chose you."
-"Yeah, she did. But that's when the problems started. We both were students and needed money to pay
the rent, food, electricity and a lot of other stuff. Her parents cut all of her resources and I was
poor from the beginning with my mom dead and my dad abandoned me. He didn't want anything to do with
me but he still had some kind of good in him, he kept sending some money every now and then. But that
wasn't enough for both of us, we struggled to keep it together."
-"How did the mafia get involved?"
Natsuki flinched when the dreaded question was asked. She felt being pierced by her superior's
curious watch. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Ready to let this burden finally come to
and end, with someone knowing it.
-"I got them involved...or I got involved with them. I needed fast money so I borrowed.
-"Why didn't you go to an ordinary bank?"
-"Because I wouldn't be able to pay the interest and no bank would be willing to loan anything when
the Fujino's threatened to crush anyone who dared. I was desperate. I didn't tell Shizuru this."
-"How could you not tell her something of this significance?"
-"For the reason that I didn't want her to regret choosing me! I wanted to prove that I could take
care of her! That I deserved to be with her when she sacrificed so much to be with someone like me!"
Natsuki clenched her fists in frustration, remembering exactly how she felt and why. She gritted her
teeth when she remembered what a fool she was.
(Maybe it wasn't Shizuru's fault...maybe I gave her the reason to act like that.)
-" Then what?"
-"I got info about the ruler of the underground and surprisingly it was a girl or woman."
-"Let me guess. Marquerite Tomoe?"
-"Yeah...I guess you can figure out the rest from here."
-"Actually...the difficult part begins here. We all know that you two broke up. But no one knows the
reason since none of you three involved will comment on the whole ideal."
--
Flashback
It was an afternoon as any other but it was a very joyful evening for our ecstatic biker-girl. Since
her involvement with the mob everything went downhill. She got her temporary loan but since she had to
borrow money all the time her debt kept raising. She could not even pay back the sum she borrowed yet
alone pay the interest. Instead she had to do some "dirty" deliveries. They were simple but illegal
nonetheless. That included a lot of lies she had to tell her lover and late nights out which caused
Shizuru to worry. They often argued about this and every time Natsuki had to lie even more to cover up
her lies. The constant need of dishonesty made it even hard for her to remember what she has said and
not. However it would all be over from today. She managed to pay back all of her debts and get herself
a decent job. This would be a fresh start for them. She got hired by the SK when she happened to cross
by and save the head chiefs secretary Senou Aoi. Gratitude was shown by offering her a top-job with
great salary and help with paying her debts at the moment. She accepted the help with her debts
however the job would be discussed with Shizuru first before making any decisions. After so many lies
Natsuki felt guilty and this fresh start made her decide that she wanted to share everything with her
lover. Since this profession also brought with immediate danger sometimes it was necessarily to inform
Shizuru about it. She was well aware of the fact that her lover would not accept her apology easily
and prepared herself mentally for a tough night but she hoped that at least her surprise would ease
Shizuru a little bit. A pair of simple golden rings was safely tucked inside her pocket, which Natsuki
would check about every 30 seconds. Her hands were sweaty and her heart was beating as crazy.
--
When she finally reached their shabby apartment she was having second thoughts. Millions of different
scenarios were bouncing around in her head but nothing prepared her for the sight that awaited her.
Today she was home earlier than expected due the sudden change of circumstances. Putting on her best
smile she entered their residence and slowly tip-toed her way towards the bedroom. Since Shizuru
always had the habit of napping at this time of the day. Just as she was about to open the door
strange noises were emitting from inside. Natsuki frowned and wondered if her girlfriend was sick or
something. She opened the door.
-"Shizuru, I'm-"
She stood frozen at the spot. Shizuru was not sick and certainly not sleeping either. She was busy
cheating... in their bed...with no other than Tomoe.
End of flashback
--
-"She cheated on you?"
Natsuki just numbly nodded.
-"With Tomoe?"
Natsuki turned her head to the left and looked outside the window. Anywhere was fine if she did not
look in Chie's direction. The pain was still there and the hurt was still as fresh as that day.
-"I don't buy it."
At this our protector turned her head around.
-"What?! What do you mean you don't buy it?"
-"I mean that it doesn't make any sense. Why would she cheat on you with someone and then suddenly
want to obliterate the very same person from the face of the earth? It just doesn't make any sense.
Didn't that strike you as odd?"
-"I saw them...with my own eyes but yeah, it did. But not until recently when I found out about it.
That's why I need to know what happened afterwards!"
-"Well, it was quiet a while. Rumors were that Fujino-san was quite depressed. Then just like that
one day a new company was founded. T-Corporation quickly raised as the top-companies in short amount
of time. First everyone thought the "T" stood for tea since Fujino-san was kinda famous for her
habit but later on she announced that the "T" stood for transportations. Why she specialized in that
area was still unknown at the time."
-"Why did she choose that?"
-"Since Fujino-san is a very sharp person her choice was carefully calculated. Soon enough she
controlled every type of transportation whether it was items or people. Later on someone regularly
tipped the police off whenever the mafia had illegal goods to import. The mafia later became more
desperate in their moves and one day their leader Marquerite-san got caught and sent to prison.
Without a leader the mafia soon lost their power and weren't as united as before."
-"You mean she single-handed destroyed the entire underground world? And alone made such a success
with her company?"
-"No, she had much help. She had the help of the stubborn Suzushiro Haruka, resourceful Kikukawa
Yukino and the male version of Shizuru; Kanzaki Reito."
-"But Shizuru doesn't seem to have any male employees...right?"
The possessive and jealous side came out when the name was uttered.
-"No, but somehow Kanzaki-kun managed to remain. At first rumors were centered around them and many
hoped for a wedding between with the thoughts of how gorgeous kids would be born-"
Chie choked on her next words since she felt the glare coming from our growling wolf. She thought that
it would be perhaps best to reassure Natsuki.
-"But the rumors were later dismissed since Fujino-san clearly wasn't interested in him. Some say
that it's because Kanzaki-kun may be one of the few males on earth who isn't interested in
Fujino-san other than strictly business that makes him stay."
-"Did they ever find out who the mysterious tipper was?"
-"No, this individual was very clever indeed and left no traceable evidence behind."
-"I still don't get it. What does it have to do with me, Shizuru and Tomoe?"
-"C'mon now, Natsuki-chan. Surely you're not that dense? Just think about it! There is a reason why
the drama is centered around you three, specifically. Everything connects in the end. Think!"
There were several seconds of silence. Natsuki was frantic trying to puzzle everything together but it
just would not fit. She could not see the mentioned connection and nothing made any sense to her at
all.
(Okay, Natsuki. You're missing something. Something important, but what? ARGHH! I don't get it! I
just don't get it.)
A defeated expression crossed her face and she slumped down against the seat. She was clearly upset
for her incapability to understand.
-"There's no need for you to beat yourself over, Natsuki-chan. Some say it's harder to objectively
see the whole picture when you're part of it all. If you're emotionally involved you tend to let
them tint your judgment."
-"Have you read too many psychological books again?"
-"No need to be that harsh, it's sometimes good to educate yourself for the good of understanding
the human nature a bit better."
-"I just want to understand Shizuru better..."
The last was said with a sad whisper.
-"She loved you back then you know? She may even still love you today. What she did was for you. I
can't say for sure but I can guess what happened. Even with Shizuru's superior mind she can easily
fall victim for the chains of love."
-"And in English that means?"
-"You had a debt. Say that someone was to collect the debt and knew that you would not be home.
Let's even assume this person had before set their eyes on your lovely girlfriend. They wanted her
and would go to any means to get her. What do they do?"
-"Blackmail her?"
-"Correct."
-"But I didn't have a debt anymore since that day!"
-"Yes, but Shizuru didn't know that...yet. So when someone offers a chance to forget the whole debt
in exchange of something else. What do you think she would do?"
-"...accept. She...would accept it. Oh my god...she..."
--
Sorry guys I gotta end it there before it gets too long and spoils my plan. Now you know the truth behind their sudden break-up. Next chapter: Natsuki confronts Shizuru followed by an unexpected turn of events! So stay tuned! And remember readers have to read and authors need to feed. What do we feed on? Reviews of course!