Disclaimer: I don't own Mai Hime.
Also, Natsuki's character is slightly Oced, as you'll maybe notice. oO; Nothing major. Then again who would be their normal self when acting around an asylum escapee?
Huh. I have some notes to put up: For one, there will be no honorifics. I don't even know if Shizuru will be saying 'ara' at all. oO; It takes place in a busy city. Oh and Shizuru isn't really 'psychotic' more then 'has a one-tracked mind that's a little twisted'. oO;; And for POVs, it's all still in third person, but the thoughts displayed are for the person listed. Also, you might notice everyone once in a while that Shizuru said something in third person. That's on purpose.
This story will be fast-paced. You'll see the relationship develop fast and the plot be set into play really soon. Why? Because I have no fillers. This is basically going to be all story. XP So blah.
Huh. This chapter isn't really exciting at all; mostly talking and being freaked out. All the action starts next chapter. And it might be changed to an 'M' rating depending on how brutally I want to slash up Takeda.
chum-sa: XD;; Just some new guard? He might appear later though, the nameless guard. XD And here's Natsuki for ya. XP
Hoppy-chan (Naolin): XD;; I still don't think it's that good. I mean, still no action yet. But I'll have to admit that writing a psychotic Shizuru is hard. I give props to the people that do it well. As for the music part, it's a little deeper then that. XD
fan-rei: o-o; ... -shrugs- Maybe it's just my obsession with how cool I think straight jackets are. XD;
ALEXISSA2: 'PPMS'? What's that mean?
ManizaAnz: -shrugs- Maybe. Maybe not.
Natsuki POV
"I'm going to be fine, Mai," An exasperated Natsuki sighed as she continued to listen to her friend's rant. "Didn't you see the news? They said she's clean and that she's back to normal. She doesn't show any signs of being unstable anymore so she's going back to work so she can make a living like the rest of us."
"Yeah," Mai said as she sat in Natsuki's apartment, on her couch, "but that doesn't mean you should let your guard down. Just be careful," The busty woman warned her friend.
"Yes, yes," Natsuki said, holding up her hands, "I'll be careful." She then smirked, "Shall I lock the doors and close my curtains too, officer?"
"I'm being serious here!" Mai crossed her arms under her chest after she got up, "I'm just concerned about the safety of my friends."
"Says the one who left Mikoto alone in her apartment," Natsuki shot back, still smirking.
Purple eyes shot open, "Oh no!" She exclaimed as she just realized what that meant. She started to panic, "Ah! Ah, um! S-See you later, Natsuki!" She said as she darted for the door.
"Yeah," Natsuki had to hold back her laughter, "Maybe I'll stop by the diner sometime." She said.
"Sure." The other responded, not really listening as she opened the door and shut it behind herself.
Honestly… Kuga just smiled and shook her head. She walked over to her couch and looked outside to see another apartment complex across the street, "A Fujino huh?… Wonder what she's like." It was dark out.
Tomorrow would be the day Ms. Fujino came back to work.
Shizuru POV
(Next Day)
Fujino walked towards the building where her new, or rather 'she's-starting-up-again,' job is. It was a nice, clean looking building and the pathway outside looked well kept. It even had a checkered-board stone pathway leaning up to the twin glass doors. She walked through the door and walked towards the elevator.
She knew which floor and she knew which office. This was all clockwork imbedded into her memory from three years prier. There wasn't much else to remember in those three years.
She walked toward the elevator but was stopped. Stopped? She turned, a politely surprised expression on her face as she looked at the guard, "Ma'am, we're going to have to check your bag." The guard said.
She looked at him with a blank stare for a second, "Of course." She blinked. Don't like this guard. She had a polite smile on her face. Always polite, always what people wanted. A perfect Fujino.
He was about to start to search her bag when he noticed something about her. It wasn't obvious, no, not obvious. It was like his sixth sense was on high alert and was telling him to back off as he looked into those alluring rust-colored eyes. Like they were waiting for him to get close.
But it didn't show.
He must have been imagining it.
He backed off.
She thanked him and walked on. She walked towards the elevator and got on. She watched as the doors closed and it started to bring her to her floor. Didn't touch my bag. Men are easy.
Natsuki POV
"How about it? You, me, on a midnight cruse with fine dinning and maybe a little somethin' more? If you get my drift."
"For the last time, Takeda, I don't want a date. And if you don't back off in two second, I'll make it so you can't have any kids." Natsuki walked through the busy room filled with small office cubicles. God, this guy doesn't know when I give up. If I didn't want to go out with him last week, what makes him think today will be any different? Natsuki had a scowl on her face as she made her way towards the larger closed-off office at the end of the room.
"Alright, alright," He held his hands up in defense as he stopped following, but he still had a smile on his face.
Natsuki passed a guy and opened the door to the office, but turned her attention to Takeda when she heard yelling from halfway across the room, "I'll see you at lunch, Ms. Kuga!"
"In your dreams!" She growled back before sighing, shaking her head. She turned back toward the person she was originally trying to get to, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Fujino." She placed on the best smile she could after being ticked off by Masashi yet again.
If she turned around, she could have seen the evil glint in Takeda's eyes.
Shizuru POV
Shizuru contently smiled at the man in front of her that wouldn't stop talking. Shizuru just smiled at waited for the man to stop welcoming her in a jittery fashion. Like all the others, she would wait. Like all her co-workers, she would smile and listen, taking in little quirks about people they themselves weren't probably even aware. (Like the man in front her at the moment seemed to mess with the tip of his tie when he was rambling.) She didn't actually listen because they never said anything important.
Shut up!
Oh. He was done.
Shizuru smiled, "Thank you for welcoming me back." Not.
The man blushed, "Y-Yeah." He gave a small smile, "I hope to work with you sometime." He said.
Shizuru just nodded and smiled. Scum.
He got up, "See you later, Miss Fujino." And he left, the door still open.
Shizuru relaxed slightly, clinching and unclenching her hands under the desk as she tried to calm down. Control. Control. She perked up once she heard words outside her door, she placed the placid smile on her face as she waited for yet another person to walk through the door to greet her.
Her eyes widened slightly at what she saw: blue hair fallen past her shoulders, bright emerald eyes, smooth skin covered by slightly baggy work attire.
"I'll see you at lunch, Ms. Kuga!" Someone called out and the figure frowned for a second as the words rang out, turning to the man who shouted.
No! Turn back! Please! Back! Shizuru's face melted into a slightly pleading look.
"In your dreams!" The figure growled back before sighing and turning back, shaking her head, "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Fujino." The figure forced a slight smile.
Turned back, yes, good. Turned back. Fujino turned her face back to its normal masked look without the woman seeing that it was ever changed, "It's a pleasure to meet you too Ms…?" Name. Shizuru tilted her head slightly, politely, waiting for the answer.
"Natsuki Kuga." The woman walked over and presented herself, holding out her hand.
Shizuru leaned over and shook her hand, a smile on her face. Natsuki Kuga. Kuga Natsuki. Nat-su-ki… Her smile broadened slightly as red looked straight into green, "Well then, it's a pleasure to meet you too, Natsuki Kuga. Have a seat?" Shizuru smiled up at the woman.
Kuga blushed and quickly sat down, "S-Sorry." So cute! Cute Natsuki. Kuga, Kuga. Just Kuga…? She thought solemnly.
"That's quite alright." Shizuru giggled slightly, a smile on her face. Cute Natsuki.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." A silence hung in the air for a few seconds before Natsuki spoke up again, "Are you enjoying it here so far?" Kuga asked, breaking the quiet.
"I've only been in my office an hour," Ms Fujino pointed out, "I've hardly a chance to sit down."
Eh?" Natsuki blinked for a moment, "That's right! Crap, I'm sorry."
"That's… that's quite alright…" Fujino's hands clenched under the table as the conversation went on. Natsuki…
"Well, it was nice meeting you," Natsuki started to stand up.
"Wait!" Shizuru quickly stood up and held out her hand, a distressed expression on her face.
When she saw Natsuki stop, she immediately placed on her mask. Think of something. Anything. Think. Think, damnit!
"Yes?" Kuga looked confused.
"Lunch." Shizuru blurted out.
Natsuki raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Lunch. Could you show me around town… at lunch?" Good. Continue. "It's been a while since I've.. been around town. I was wondering if you could show me the ropes?" Shizuru smiled politely.
"Huh? Oh, sure. I'll see you at lunch then?" Natsuki asked, only getting a nod in reply, "Okay, I've got nothing else better to do."
Shizuru smiled at sat down, "See you then."
They walked through town. Natsuki said she knew a nice little coffee shop and asked Shizuru if she knew of it. Shizuru just simply shook her head, watched Natsuki's face brighten up, and proudly announced that she went there often at lunchtime.
"I'd love to go there," Shizuru said, smiling as she watched Natsuki grin broadly. Easily satisfied. So adorable… Hm? Shizuru stopped and looked up, a music shop. "…" Music…
Natsuki stopped walking once she saw that Ms. Fujino had, "Ms. Fujino?" Natsuki walked back and followed her gaze, "Do you… want to go in?"
"Yes." Fujino answered almost as soon as Natsuki finished asking. She looked down, quickly walked into the music shop, and started to look around in haste. Classical… classical… music… She was walking around so fast that Natsuki was having a hard time keeping up.
"F-Fujino?" Natsuki asked, trying to keep up.
Interrupted. "What." Shizuru abruptly stopped and turned around, looking straight into emerald eyes. Her gaze was serious and looked dead of all emotion.
"F-Fujino?" Natsuki said as she looked up into the eyes. She could feel herself gulp.
Shizuru blinked, "Huh?" Her eyes' look coming back to life as she looked down into Natsuki confused ones. Natsuki's scared! "I'm sorry!" Shizuru said, leaning forward and grabbing Natsuki by the shoulders a little bit more harshly then someone would have normally done, "I'm sorry! Shizuru's sorry!" She said, trying to get the point across. Don't be scared. Please. Not scared.
"Oh… kay…" Natsuki said, not calming down in the least.
"…" Shizuru nodded, letting go of Natsuki's shoulders and going back to what she was doing. She quickly walked through the iles before she stopped at the edge of the classical. "…"
Natsuki walked up to her co-worker, "Ms Fujino?" She said, a bit hesitant.
"Yes?" Shizuru answered her, not even turning; not even moving.
"Do you like… classical?"
Shizuru turned her head, her face beaming, "Yes, a lot."
Natsuki calmed down slightly, "So, we're here so you can buy something?"
Shizuru nodded her head and started to walk down the path, trying to find a certain one. She found it and picked it up, "… This one. This one was playing."
"Fujino?" Natsuki walked over, curious.
"Buying this one," Shizuru said before she sped off to the counter.
"…" Natsuki walked after, slightly confused about what just happened and why Fujino was acting so weird.
They were sitting down outside the coffee place Natsuki was talking about earlier. They were under a lawn umbrella at one of the tables, hiding from the summer's harsh rays.
"So," Natsuki started, once she put her cup of coffee down, "What's the music for, Ms Fujino?" She said, trying to start small talk.
"Call me Shizuru," The brunette woman smiled pleasently, placing her own cup down gently.
"Then call me Natsuki."
Shizuru then continued, smiling. Natsuki… "This is the music that was playing while my family was being butchered right in front of me." Shizuru calmly took a sip of her tea.
Natsuki eyes widened, then gained a sympathetic look, "I'm- I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up —"
"It's all right. I wanted this music. You know, without music, I probably wouldn't have made it through the asylum," Shizuru said calmly.
"Shizuru…" Natsuki still looked sympathetic, guilty. She then forced herself to smile, "But at least you're cured now, right? The asylum must have been horrible, huh?" She said, trying to cheer up the atmosphere.
Hm? Cured? "What do you mean?" Shizuru tilted her head, politely smiling.
"Cured. You're cured." Natsuki said again.
Shizuru blinked, "Who told you that?"
"… The news. It was on the news." Natsuki said, getting a tad uncomfortable.
"The news, right," Shizuru smiled. Then looked straight into Natsuki eyes, "I lied."
"What…?" Natsuki said, being dumb struck. After a bit, she started to laugh nervously. You could easily tell it was forced. "Oh, I get it! Nice one! You actually had me going there!"
"I'm not cured," Shizuru smiled calmly, wondering why Natsuki was laughing.
"…" Natsuki awkward laughter abruptly stopped, "Th-then why would you…"
"Why would I be out?" Shizuru pondered for a moment, "Because I tricked them obviously." She said, matter-of-factly. Her face became grim, "I tricked the man in charge into thinking I was cursed. It was easy really, tricking the scum. I don't understand why the Lord even bothers to give men life if they're just going to be stupid or commit crimes…"
Natsuki might have had second guesses on if Shizuru was actually cured or not before, but the expression on her face and the way she was talking shoved all doubt aside. Natsuki stared at Shizuru with a newfound fear, "Y-you tricked them?" She gulped.
"Of course," Shizuru beamed, "It wasn't hard at all!" She started to shift through the items in her purse, "In fact, the guards in the bottoms of the building couldn't be trusted to hold a pocket knife, let alone a gun. I came into the building with this and they didn't even check my bag!" Shizuru smiled as she took out a perfectly knew looking kitchen knife and brandished it lightly, causing Kuga to gasp as she watched the knife in horror.
"W-W-W-Why?" She stammered, her green eyes not leaving the knife.
Shizuru's face became serious, almost literally begging Natsuki for her attention, "Because I want to find out who killed my family…" Shizuru smiled, but not a normal one. This one was seeping with insanity, "And kill him and his team." Yes. Make him pay. Pay for killing ones I love.
Natsuki's whole body was trembling in fear as she looked at the woman across the table from her. An asylum escapee. The killer of thirteen and soon to be more. "Why are you telling me this?!" She almost yelled.
Shizuru tilted her head thoughtfully. Why?… Shizuru smiled childishly as she placed the knife right back into her bag and then reached across the table, clutching Natsuki's shaking hand in her own, "Because I trust Natsuki." She said in a jovial manner.
"Why… do you…" By now, Natsuki couldn't finish her sentences.
"Why do I trust Natsuki?" Shizuru asked, calmly. She then giggled as she brought Natsuki's hand of to her cheek, "Because I like Natsuki." Yes. Like Natsuki very much.
Natsuki gasped loudly, her hand was shaking uncontrollably, even as calm hands were holding it. Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to form words but nothing came out. "I-I… have…" She swallowed harshly, trying to regain her composure. (Which was hard with a murderer sitting three feet away from you, holding your hand to her cheek and looking at you in an endearing manner.) "I have to go!" Natsuki blurted out all at once as she recoiled her hand and got up in one forced motion. She started to briskly walk away, trying in vain to calm her speeding heart.
Shizuru blinked, surprised, watching Kuga's retreating form. She then smiled happily and placed her hand to her cheek, giggling. See you later, Natsuki.
Next time, we get to see Shizuru actually use the knife she carries around! But for what, you'll just have to wait.