Hello! I'm so so so so so sooooo SORRY about the incredibly long time since I've updated this story... College can be very asphyxiating from time to time. However, I'm back with a new chapter, so I hope you enjoy it! :) xo

III

Shizuru woke up early that day in order to get her "new" home clean, make house repair work, and start searching for a job in Alasville. She got the newspaper early in the morning, started the day by cooking a tasty omelette with cheese and champignons and hot coffee for breakfast. All of the old drapes were open, as well as the windows, so that the sunshine and fresh air entered to revitalize the old house. She played some groovy and energetic music on her freshly unpacked stereo. She was in a great mood. Today is a good day! I can smell it in my delicious omelette, yumm!

After finishing her delightful breakfast, she cleaned up the first plant of the house and finished unpacking the boxes that the moving service brought. It was going to be a long day.

It was almost noon when Natsuki woke up on her bedroom, feeling like she could still sleep for an entire, day but she had to be up by the time her grandpa came back, or he would give her a not-so-nice earful of what a lazybones she was. Though she didn't think it was far from truth: she actually was kinda lazy, but anyway wasn't pleased to hear his old man yelling at her. She rubbed her eyes and yawned widely, taking off the blue plaid sheets of her body and sitting up on her bed. A nice, hot shower first of all, or I won't ever really wake up, the black-haired girl thought. Natsuki stood up and stretched her arms, feeling every bone on her back cracking.

The walls were covered in band's posters, such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, between others. Carmine red tapestry on the walls, her favourite colour, the floor covered with a blue navy, soft carpet. Natsuki's room wasn't too big, but she liked it better that way. Her window had street-view, and standing in front of the window, an old wooden desk, covered with comics, books and drawings of her own. Natsuki was a very artistic person, and most of the time she felt that art and music were the only way she could express her feelings, as words weren't quite her strong point. Her most precious belonging stood in a corner: a Fender Telecaster semihollow vintage guitar, a natural wood colour, with an f violin like hole in the body. Maple. It had belonged to her father. On her night table, an old portrait of Natsuki and her the colour in the picture was a bit faded, the images were perfectly distinguishable. She was very little and was standing between them, holding each her mom and dad hands. Her parents looked down at her, smiling and she laughed at the camera.

She looked by the window and saw exactly what she had expected: her grandparent's truck wasn't there, what meant they weren't there either. Confident that no one was home at that hour, she turned on some rock music at a loud volume. Natsuki couldn't start to function without music at the 'mornings' (her definition of mornings were the moment she wakes up, independent of the time it was).

She took off the old white t-shirt and boxers she used to sleep and walked naked to the bathroom, scratching her head and yawning. Her body was slim and worked out. She looked taller than she really was, but she could be described as a petite. Despite how boyish her tastes and personality were there still was something very delicate in her way of walking and moving, in the way she waved her hair, in the manner she rubbed her cheek.

She opened the hot faucet and steamy water spouted. Hot water, I love you, the girl thought and stepped into the shower, feeling the heat and the rock music awakening her. She faced the faucet and let the water pour onto her face, dripping on her body, and closed her eyes. A Beatles song started playing, When I Saw Her Standing There, and then it hit her: Shizuru was going to have dinner with them that night. She cursed, how could she not remember that? She started feeling nervous as soon as she remembered this and her flow of thoughts accelerated in that same instant.

Wha' the freakin' hell am I gon'na wear? Sweet Jesus, why, WHY didn't I remember this before?! Oh God… 'Kay, first of all, Natsuki, you'll get Shizuru's suitcase from Mai's, 'kay? Just… just chill man… oh God I need Mai's advice! Yeah, yes, that's it, you'll go and talk to Mai… agh, but that gossipy girl, she'll try to stick her nose where no one calls her as soon as you mention something! Fuck… I guess that's the price I'll have to pay, I suck at this things so I NEED to ask her, and she has dated before and… aggh, I'll figure something later.

She stepped out of the shower, water dripping all over her body, and buried her face on the soft towel. She sighed and wrapped herself on the tower. Absent-minded, she left to her bedroom, dropped the towel and lay on her bed again, passing her fingers through her wet hair. She sighed, and got dressed in less than five minutes. She ran downstairs, grabbed some milk and toast with marmalade her grandma left for her and stormed out of the house, got on the Ducati and left.

Natsuki arrived to Mai's and opened the door. They still weren't open, and Mai sat there with Mikoto, looking at her with a puzzled look on her face.

"Natsuki, what's wrong? Are you okay?" she asked, worried.

"Yeah I just… I came for Shizuru's suitcase. She'll… my granny invited her for dinner tonight." said Natsuki in the chilliest tone she could, despite her despair.

"Ahhh… I understand." said Mai in a naughty tone. "Beautiful, isn't she? Shizuru."

"Yes she is really beau-" she stopped and shook her head. "Mai, just give me the suitcase already, would you?" said Natsuki in an irritated tone.

"Hmmm, I think Romeo just found her Juliette, don't you think Mikoto?" Mai winked at Natsuki and Mikoto nodded and hummed in approval.

"What?! What the hell are you talking about?! You are imagining stuff, crazy woman. Give me the suitcase! NOW!" she shouted at Mai.

"Hmm, I don't think that's the only reason you came, after all it's still 'early' for you. Just tell me what you want to ask already, would you? Don't make this harder for both of us." Mai said and made her best not to laugh. Natsuki sighed and dropped herself into a chair. "It's just that…" she didn't even know where to start. "I… Mai, you know I've never dated anyone, you know it! I'm…" she evaded Mai's eyes. "I'm very nervous about it." she rubbed her eyes. "Specially 'cause my grandpa and granny will be there and I have to act chill but she… she's, I don't know, it's the only person I've ever felt like I can't handle with." she finished, still covering her red face from the ginger scrutiny. Mai felt really taken by surprise. Natsuki had never had any problem like this before and much less was the kind of person to show desesperation like this. So, it seems like this is her first love… hmm, Natsuki, well you came to the right place!

"Okay, Natsuki, first of all, you have to relax a bit, yes?" she said and patted the cowgirl's back. "Come on, breath deeply and uncover your face already." The tomboy shook her head. "Do it or I won't be able to help you! Woman! Put yourself together!" Natsuki grumbled but regained her composure. She breathed deeply. "'Kay… I can do that much." Natsuki said. Her face was completely red and she still couldn't shake off the heat. Mai stood right behind her and put her hands on Natsuki's shoulders, as if she was in the corner of a box ring and Mai was her coach, encouraging her to go on with the fight.

"Ok, look, why don't you go and do something that keeps you out of your mind until dinner time, yes? I don't know, draw or something… Just stop your mind from wandering and being nervous, because it's only gonna make it worse." Mai said wisely.

"Yeah… that's a good idea…" said Natsuki, relaxing.

"Natsuki, I don't even understand why you are nervous. Shizuru is definitely a hot foreigner, BUT, so are you to her eyes! For her, you are completely exotic. And it's quite obvious she likes you too, you already earned many extra points with her yesterday. Specially by taking her to eat, free of charge, to the best saloon in Alasville." Mai said, in a proud, business-like fashion.

"Yeah… Exotic? Wha' you mean?" Natsuki asked, startled.

"Yes, exotic! I mean, you have foreign blood on your veins! You have a… special accent." Mai said, not completely convinced but trying to make it look convincing.

"'N wha' is exactly exotic 'bout it?!" Natsuki snorted.

"Oh, come on, just let it flow it's gonna be all right! And…" Mai said and smiled evily. "You will probably have snuggled her by midnight." the ginger declared in a dark tone.

"ARE YA OUT OF YER MIND?!" Natsuki screamed to Mai, who started laughing madly and threw the small suitcase at Natsuki, who caught it in the air and left in a rush.

It was past noon when Shizuru finished cleaning and unpacking, so she decided it was a good moment to rest and have something to drink while she looked up for a job in the newspaper. She sighed and sat on the table with a jar of fresh squeezed lemonade, crossing her legs.

"Okay, let's get a job. Now, let's see… Ah, here." she said while looking through the newspaper pages and finding the not-so-large job section. There were barely two pages of small announcements, and she started encircling those who she could work at, but nothing very good appeared, just random one-day jobs. She reread the two pages about three times, but there wasn't a job of which she could really live from. She stood up and let herself fall on the couch, covering her face with her hands, and , this is going to be a bit more of a challenge than I thought… Oh, well, I still have money to live for a while… Hope to get something stable soon. But, talking about 'something soon'… I have to get ready for dinner with the Goodman's! And my pretty Natsuki, of course. Therefore, I have to look the best Shizuru Fujino can! Shizuru finished her mental monologue and hurried upstairs to get ready for dinner.

She had just finished showering and was now brushing her hair in front of the mirror, wrapped on her white towel, when she noticed Natsuki's shirt on her night table, next to her bed. Oh, I was so tired when I went to sleep I didn't even took it off… She grabbed it and felt the cotton fabric, and remembered the warm sensation she had when she was wearing it. Shizuru smiled to herself and buried her face on the shirt, smelling Natsuki's scent and recalling the sensations she had when riding on Natsuki's motorcycle. Holding tight to her, embracing her slender waist, tenderly pushing her chin on the cowgirl's shoulder, holding back from kissing her pink lips. She took off her towel and decided to use it for the last time while she decided what to wear, and walked over to analyze her wardrobe, and decide what would fit the best for this occasion. Casual but nice…

She finally finished putting on the outfit she choose to be fitting for a family dinner and left the house happily, expecting and hoping to give the Goodman's a nice impression. After walking for a few minutes, she finally arrived the white flat. She walked up the porch stairs and was about to ring the bell when she heard a guitar playing, coming from the barn. The sound was smooth and clean; the music was soft and slow. Shizuru could tell the responsible of that music was a gifted player, and decided to take a look.

She entered the barn and found Natsuki, sitting on a small bench and facing opposite, in the middle of the barn, which was covered with straw. Next to her, an amplifier plugged to her guitar. Shizuru walked in quietly, and decided to listen for a bit more before letting Natsuki know that she was there. Natsuki's hands moved tenderly on the guitar's neck, almost caressing it. Her sound was tranquilizing and beautiful. A smooth blues, with country hints, very soulfull. The musician finished playing and just sat there quietly, holding the guitar.

"Ara, Natsuki is such a talented girl." Shizuru said with her soft accent. Natsuki flinched and turned around at her spectator.

"Shizuru! How long have you been in here?! I-I mean… Hi. And thanks." Natsuki said coyly. She stood up and walked towards the hazelnut-haired girl, guitar in hand, looking at Shizuru. Shizuru was wearing black jeans and a white woven wool sweater, and carried a small brown handbag.

"Long enough to admire your playing. It's a beautiful guitar." she smiled at Natsuki, who smiled back at her and looked at her fine instrument.

"Yeah… It was my dad's. Her name is Nadeshiko."

"Oh, so she is a girl? Nice to meet you, Nadeshiko." Shizuru referred to the guitar. "I'm Shizuru, and I must admit I'm a bit jealous of you, spending so much time alone with Nat-su-ki." Shizuru said in her singsong accent, flirting with the cowgirl. Natsuki blushed and gave Shizuru a small smile, rubbing her arm.

"I must return this to you, Natsuki. Thanks a lot, it kept me really warm last night." The city girl gave Natsuki her plaid shirt.

"Sure, no prob'." Natsuki said. "Do you want to go inside? My granny and grandpa' 're in there already."

"Of course, Natsuki."

The two girls walked out of the barn and entered Natsuki's house. It was a very cozy home and the walls were covered in family pictures. To the left, there was the living room, and to the right the dining room and the kitchen. They were standing in a small entrance vestibule, and at the end of the corridor, a wooden staircase that leaded to the second floor of the house.

"Granny, Shizuru is here already." Natsuki announced to her grandma. Lauren Goodman's head appeared from the kitchen door, smiling sweetly as always.

"Shizuru, dear, it's so good to have you here! I'm almost done with the cooking, could you wait a bit with Natsuki-chan? I'll let you know when it's done, ok?" Natsuki's grandma said.

"Of course Mrs. Goodman, but don't you need any help?" Shizuru offered.

"No, no, don't worry, it will be ready in a trice!" Mrs. Goodman said.

"Let's go to mah' room." Natsuki told Shizuru. Ara, we are not wasting time, are we Natsuki? Shizuru thought, and followed Natsuki on the way upstairs. Shizuru looked around at the pictures on the walls, and saw a smiling young couple standing in the front of a church. Lauren and Robert Goodman, newly weds. On the next picture, a young man with a serious and handsome face, wearing a suit. He looked greatly like Natsuki, but with light-brown short hair.

"Yah, that's my dad. Daniel Goodman. My dad's family is American, as you probably realized by now. My mother was Japanese." She pointed at another picture, were Daniel Goodman hugged Natsuki's mother, a woman with long, straight black hair and soft Japanese features. "Saeko Kuga. And that's me." Shizuru looked at a baby Natsuki portrait and smiled.

"Pink cheeks since little… Such a cute baby girl." she teased Natsuki, whose cheeks turned pink indeed. "You look a lot like your father, but have your mom's constitution. And hair." Shizuru pointed out.

"Yeah…" Natsuki said quietly, looking at her parent's pictures. They kept on walking and entered Natsuki's room.

Natsuki placed Nadeshiko on her usual corner next to her bed and Shizuru sat on the bed. The cowgirl put some music on and sat close to Shizuru, feeling her heart beating strongly against her chest. She turned and looked at the red-eyed girl. Her eyes are like blazing fire… I feel like I'm glued to them. Natsuki thought, still looking inside Shizuru's eyes, feeling intoxicated. I… must… look… away…

"Do you like music?" it was the only question that came to Natsuki's mind to interrupt the constant staring. This girl just won't let it flow that easily… Hmm. Shizuru thought and sighed.

"Yes, I do, I actually had a classical music education since I was in middle school. I play the piano and cello, but mostly cello. I love Chopin and Rachmaninoff." Shizuru answered, looking around Natsuki's bedroom.

"Oh, that's cool. I never took lessons, I mean, my grandpa taught me som' stuff but ya know… not real lessons or anything. Mostly I play by ear…" Natsuki said, trying to look somewhere else but at Shizuru's eyes.

"Ara, but Natsuki has magic hands." said Shizuru, and softly took Natsuki's hand. Natsuki instantly felt the heat on her face, but tried to keep it cool.

"Well, they're a bit gritty… After the work at the carpentry and all…" Natsuki said, and Shizuru turned the palm over to have a better look at Natsuki's hand, examining it with her fingers, as if it was a delicate piece of art.

"You have pretty hands. And it doesn't matter if they are a bit gritty, after all… Some people like it rough." Shizuru said in a suggestive voice and placed Natsuki's hand on her knee, getting closer. Natsuki gulped. She couldn't move at all, and all she could see was Shizuru's face getting closer and closer. She felt Shizuru's fire look melting her face. This woman's gonna kill me, I swear.

They heard steps coming upstairs. Natsuki retrieved her hand from Shizuru's knee and backed off just in time to see her grandmother opening the door.

"Girls, the dinner is ready now! We'll be waiting for you in the dinning room." Mrs. Goodman said and closed the door again. Sweet Jesus, that was so close. Natsuki thought. She felt like her heart was walking through her throat. She looked at Shizuru, who hadn't even moved her position. She's got nerve, I must say, Natsuki thought.

Natsuki opened the door and let Shizuru walk through first and the rider went behind her.

The four of them finally sat on the table. A long rustic brick bar with tall chairs separated the dining room and the kitchen. Both of the kitchen and dining room had a country style and decorations, the windows covered with red flowered curtains, wooden furniture and floor. Lauren's food, composed by different kinds of grilled meat, cheese, mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables, smelled delicious. Natsuki started drooling and could feel her stomach growling. Shizuru was very impressed and felt touched by the warm welcome Natsuki's family was offering her. Robert glanced at her every other time, like trying to figure her out, however the girl answered him with a sweet smile. The old man's serious face wouldn't give in.

"Shizuru, tell us, why did you come to Alasville?" Lauren asked Shizuru, with curiosity.

"Oh, well, I'm… I just wanted to try something different and Alasville is the exact opposite of Kizawa so..." Shizuru said simply.

"I see, so big city was driving you mad and wanted a place to relax?" Mrs. Goodman said.

"Yes, but it's not exactly that..." she cleared her throat. "My family owns a very important technology enterprise, Fujino Corp., and they expected me to join them right away after I got my bachelor degree in architecture… but it was not what I wanted to do." she explained.

"Fujino Corp? I know 'em. We bought 'em some of the machines in the workshop. Why didn't ya' want'd to work with y'er family?" Robert Goodman spoke directly to Shizuru for the first time. Natsuki gulped, but Shizuru smiled at Mr. Goodman.

"I want to understand and feel what it's like to build your life from zero, I don't want to be what my family wants me to be, I want to be what I believe I am. I don't see myself as the president of some huge enterprise or something alike… I prefer simple things, a happy normal life." Shizuru concluded. Robert Goodman stared at her for a moment longer than usual. A crooked smile appeared in his face and he nodded once at Shizuru in approval.

"I agree." he simply said and drank a large gulp from his glass of dark beer, and thumped it back in the table, as a judge would thump a hammer in court.

"And this far, have you had any luck in your existential search? Have you found a job?" Lauren asked Shizuru. Natsuki just kept on chewing her meat and looking back from her grandparents to Shizuru as if she watched a tennis match.

"Not yet, unfortunately. I've been searching the newspaper but only found small jobs, nothing stable."

"Well then, you say you are an architect, right, and architects design houses and buildings, but can also design many other stuff, isn't it?" Lauren said with a bright look on her face.

"Yes, indeed." Shizuru nodded, a bit startled.

"Then… our family business is a carpentry workshop… in which we build from chairs to new porches, wardrobes, and many other wooden features and furniture… I was thinking…" Lauren looked from Natsuki to her husband, grabbing his hand. "We could really do some help at the workshop. My husband isn't as young as he was once…" Robert Goodman growled at this, but Lauren ignored him. "And, at least in Alasville, I can't see a best job for an architect to do! So, Shizuru, as the manager of Goodman Carpentry Workshop, I am offering you a job in our business, and I hope you accept it." Lauren concluded and looked with expectation at Shizuru. Natsuki was jaw dropped and glanced back to see his grandfather reaction. He was calmly lightning his pipe and expecting for Shizuru's answer. He would never mistrust his wife judgement. Wha' da heck?!

"Mrs. Goodman, I don't know what to say! I am more than grateful for your generous offer, and would be thrilled to accept a job in your workshop." Shizuru answered excitedly, with the widest smile on her face.

"Well then, the question is settled! You can start tomorrow, right away!" said Lauren Goodman. Robert Goodman raised his glass and everyone joined theirs to him, making the coupes cling. Shizuru looked at Natsuki while drinking, and winked at her. The green-eyed girl choked with her own beverage and started coughing. Lauren Goodman looked at her granddaughter. "Is everything ok, Natsuki-chan?" she asked.

"Yea', I'm fine. Just drank too fast." Natsuki lied to her grandmother and evaded Shizuru's gaze. The crimson-eyed girl repressed a giggle and kept on drinking.

"Mrs. Goodman, it was a lovely evening and the dinner was delicious. I can't thank you and your family enough for your hospitality." Shizuru thanked and helped Lauren to pick up the dishes and carry them to the kitchen. Robert Goodman and Natsuki were in the living room watching a baseball match.

"Oh, no, it's been a pleasure to have a charming girl like you in our house, and it was our Lord's word to share what we have with our fellows." the sweet lady said and squeezed both Shizuru's hands. Shizuru was overwhelmed, and surprisingly, blushed at Lauren Goodman's words and warmness.

"Also... I'm so happy you are friends with Natsuki, she is usually very coy and quiet, but it seems like you both got along well!" said Mrs. Goodman with a wide smile.

"Oh yes, she is timid but she is very kind and I'm also very glad to have met her and her family in here." said Shizuru, meaning every word.

"Well, we are done, Natsuki will help me later to clean this… Christ!" Natsuki's grandma looked up to the kitchen's clock. "It's getting late already, and I don't want you catching a cold!" Lauren headed to the living room. "Natsuki! Be a dear and give Shizuru a ride on your grandpa's truck, it's getting cold sweetheart!"

"In the truck? Really, are y'a gonna lend me the truck?" Natsuki looked up very surprised. Robert woke up from dozing and glanced at her wife. "Oh, yeah sure, I'll drive her home." Natsuki answered, still amazed at the fact that her grandmother liked Shizuru so much that she was willing to go over his husband's will and lend Natsuki his beloved truck. The old man could do nothing but growl beneath his breath at his wife's decision.

After Shizuru finished saying goodbye to Natsuki's grandparents, Natsuki grabbed her hat and keys, and they both headed outside the flat, where Robert Goodman's Dodge Fowler '52 red and recently polished truck was parked, shinning clean, almost as shiny as the star above their heads.

"For the brightness of the polish on this truck, is it right if I assume your grandfather is very fond of it?" Shizuru asked the cowgirl.

"Yeah, he loves this truck more than he loves his left toe!" Natsuki joked and they both laughed. Natsuki went ahead Shizuru and opened the co-driver door for her.

"Mm, Natsuki, such a gentle girl. Thanks." said Shizuru, and climbed inside the truck. "Anytime." Natsuki answered shyly and closed the door for her.

The green eyed girl climbed as well and got the gear on the truck going, with a loud roar of the motor. She caressed the leather steering wheel and the bar as her eyes went over the vintage board with a crooked smile.

"Ara, Natsuki is enjoying herself." said Shizuru in a singsong voice.

"Girl, you bet I am! Hey, d' you wanna go for a ride?" said Natsuki feeling more confident as she was now behind the steering wheel of a great american truck. "There's a hill a little further, near the highway, where you can see the stars shining real good... Maybe you'd like that, I mean, ya don't get a lof of stars in the city right?" Natsuki asked the metropolitan girl.

"Natsuki, that sounds very, very pretty. But won't your grandparents be wondering where you and the truck are?"

"Don't worry 'bout that. Let's go then!" Natsuki said notoriously excited as she got the truck on the street, ready to dive into a small adventure with her new companion, just the wind, the road, and two girls with almost opposed lives, now sharing a vintage truck.