A/N: Sorry haven't had time to reply reader's reviews but know that they're much appreciated and as an offering I present to you the next update!

Natsuki's Gluttony

It started off as a yearning; a need that gnawed and nipped in my chest; a desire that could be pleased by just a whimsical touch, an innocent breath of her scent or a fleeting glance at her smile, but now... Now that she's allowed me free access to my addiction it has grown to an insatiable hunger – one, in which no matter how much is fed to it, it is never satisfied and I find myself craving more.

Once again, I was at her apartment for dinner – this time I decided to help out with the preparations but with the little knowledge on food stuff that I have, I was charged with the odd jobs that did not risk the palatability of our dinner nor the state of our stomachs.

While the sizzle of the pan enveloped the room; I glanced at her features whilst I stood fidgeting beside her as we waited on the cooking by the stove.

She wore a pale yellow apron, hair in a ponytail and a satisfied smile that showed her contentment on the time we were spending together. With a pair of wooden chopstick in hand she picked the cooked sizzling scrap out of the oil and into the paper-towel covered plate - upon contact the oil seeped and spread into the material.

My eyes frequently and nervously flickered back and forth between the bubbling, bursting and flicking oil, and my love's precious hands.

It was not until the last piece was out of the pan and she safely moved the menacing oil-filled pot away from the element that I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Now, surely an experience cook such as Shizuru would know how to act around a boiling pan of hot oil and avoid an accident but still, I could not help but fear for safety of Shizuru's pale and refined hands.

I noticed her shining red eyes looked upon the dish in satisfaction, before moving to the fridge and returning with mayo in hand. Squirting a glob onto the plate she picked up a piece with the chopsticks and blew on it before dabbing it in the yellowish-white sauce and presenting it before me.

"Natsuki, say 'Ahhh'" Shizuru said with a mischievous grin.

I looked at her incredulously and further noticed the sly glint in her eyes.

"Ahhmm!" I snatched the morsel between my teeth, chomping it and swallowing it down in embarrassment but I did not feel defeated or frustrated because I knew what I was about to see.

I peered up and saw her delicate pale cheeks light up with that uncharacteristic shade of pink.

"Mm. It's good." I murmured – looking away as my own cheeks blushed.

I peeked back to see her returning to attend to the plate of food with a shy smile gracing her face.

There was a sensation in the pit of my stomach and I knew: I was hungry for more.

A/N: You know it's been so long since I've watched Mai Hime my characters, especially Natsuki, are soooooo OoC - but I'm going to say that's just how I depict Natsuki to be when she's in that puppy love stage.