Finals are over! Wooohooo~

I'm beginning to think that every chapter gets harder and harder to write...

Good news is I think I know how I am going to end this. It just came to me like, a few minutes ago. Wahahaha.

I can't wait to try my other story ideas. Have a few that won't let me sleep right till I write them out. OwO

Anyway, as always, I do hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Was not 100% satisfied with it but I do hope it is alright for you peeps.

A long car ride filled with silence, Natsuki stuck through the tension she could feel resonating off her daughter from the time she picked her up from school. With her expression tense, Shizuka was afraid to say anything about the letters she had received from the teacher, wanting to delay the inevitable just a little longer in the safe confines of home.

There were both letters in Natsuki's hands by the time she got the courage to ask her daughter what was going on with her. But as she looked at the paper she lost her thoughts for a moment, staring at the stark white rectangles glaring back at her. Shizuka simply left them with her with not so much of a word, her head hung low. After a few silent seconds, she brought her head up with shining rubies right on her mother.

"I know my attitude yesterday was less than respectable and I admit that I have to apologize but what happened in class had nothing to do with it."

"What's wrong, pumpkin?"

"My mind had been wandering but I wasn't doing anything bad, really. It wasn't my intention to offend her."

How curious. Her fingers were itching to tear it open but she forced herself to slowly peel the flap to get to the paper folded inside, manners dictating her actions. Shizuka stood in quiet apprehension, too scared to watch her read the letter but too interested to leave the room. The first letter proved to be what Shizuka dreaded as her mother's eyebrows furrowed in serious consideration of what had been written. Suddenly the thought of snatching the letter away felt very tempting but it also sounded futile. The contents have already been read so physically taking the letter away accomplished nothing.

"You have nothing to worry about pumpkin. This letter says nothing about you misbehaving. It's just about some things about the school she needs to talk to me about."

Raising her eyebrows, the surprise was evident on her face. What things were there? - Knowing her mother was not lying to her (hiding something maybe), she decided not to push for answers and retired to her room; feeling strangely lethargic and in need of a short nap. When the door closed behind her, Natsuki went to reading the second letter, already knowing what it would say.

A Parent's Day, huh? Some family-school function she supposed. She could scarcely remember if she had one when she had been there as a wee lil girl.

She wouldn't mind going for it - despite the dread of meeting the other parents. It was a chance to see her little princess in action and have some fun together. But...there was the other fact that she had deal with which troubled her. Normally, she would be able to brush it off by giving an excuse but this time she couldn't. Not with the class teacher explicitly asking. She didn't really specify her reason for asking, just that there was something to be seen that is a matter of discussion. Kobayashi sensei did however hint to that whatever it was she was going to see was something good and that Shizuka is a wonderful child.

Not knowing what to think of the previous letter, Natsuki decided to swallow the lump in her throat and just get it over and done with. Reaching for the phone, she dialed the number that was already ingrained in her thoughts with trepidation. The phone rang twice before an answer was heard, the voice on the other end heavy with sleep.

"Yes?"

It was not as eloquent as she would have put her companion to be but the voice was definitely hers. Natsuki however was pleased to note that when just woken, even the most gracious of people would still be slow to get out of the haze of sleep. She paused for a second, trying to phrase what she was about to say; nitpicking at the edge of her shirt unconsciously.

"I have a favour to ask of you."

"Natsuki has my attention. Pray tell what it is that you wish to request from me."

That was a very fast recovery, she thought; surprised at the sudden jump from the one word question to a bunch of melodiously strung words. Straightening her back, she looked down at the letter in her hands. Repeating the words in her head, she voiced them just as fast.

"How would you like to accompany me to a Parent's Day thing at Shizuka's school?"

Saturday rolled in way too fast in Natsuki's opinion. In no time at all, here she was, standing in front of Shizuru's apartment with Shizuka in tow. The days leading up to this day had passed by in a blur and if asked, she probably would not have been able to recount the steps it took to get her here. Shizuka surprisingly had been quiet about the whole ordeal. She had thought hard on how to explain the situation to her daughter but it had turned out to be unnecessary. Deciding not to curse her luck, she left it as it is.

Shizuru answered the door in a beautiful purple summer dress and Natsuki was left to catch her breath at the sight. Awkward "Good mornings" aside, Shizuka came between them, looking into Shizuru's eyes. With her undivided attention, she calmly made peace with an apology and a rather formal bow before she set off towards the lifts, not looking back to see if they were following behind her. Exchanging glances, one questioning and the other without answers to which was sought -just a tilt of the head- they wordlessly trailed behind into the elevator.

As they walked towards the school compound, Shizuka leading the way yet again, Natsuki grabbed Shizuru's arm while her other reached into her pocket. Sliding the jewelry onto her finger, Natsuki stared into Shizuru's stunned eyes and slightly pinked cheeks. She decided she liked that look on her face and simply enjoyed it for a moment.

"Here's a ring. We don't want them to be suspicious. Actually, I'm surprised they didn't notice you weren't wearing any the other day. I bet they would have jump at the chance to say something about it."

Shizuru grinned, looking at her finger appreciatively.

"I think the kiss was enough to convince them there was no doubt to what our relationship was."

"...k-iss?"

"Ara, does Natsuki not remember? I would not fault her for it, since she did faint right after."

Blushing, Natsuki suddenly went quiet. She remembered. How could she not? She had been trying to forget it. That all-consuming fire that had burned from her chest all the way to the tips of her fingers and to her toes. The heady feeling that made her dizzy and powerless, completely under the spell Shizuru had spun. It was like drug to her senses, made her think about it time and again. Made her crave it at her weakest of times. Sometimes wistfully she would trace her lips without thinking and like thunder striking, pull her hand back in disgust. If Shizuru knew the extent of what that simple thing could do to her...

Natsuki coughed into her hand, averting her eyes from those of Shizuru's.

"Anyway, shall we?"

Offering her arm to hold, she blushed when Shizuru smiled warmly and curled her arm around hers.

They stood at the back of the classroom with the rest of the parents, showing very little interest into the chatter that was going around them. After the "good morning"s and "hi"s all around, they barely said a thing at all, only nodding here and there to show that they had been listening. Most of what was said were small little things like the newly opened shop down at someplace that was serving some tasty little morsel and that event that happened a few days ago that the mayor was at about something or rather. Natsuki for one, was glad that they were not talking about them or asking intrusive questions. In fact, she appreciated it and so was in a good mood. Shizuru, however was happy for something much else that was also currently taking most of attention at the moment. The warm hand in hers was very distracting and had made a strange feeling settle in her tummy.

She knew being here was bad. Really, really bad. But it was so good. So very, very good. It was all so confusing but also one of the most happiest things to happen to her. At least that was what it had felt like to her even though she didn't quite understand why and it had not even really started yet nor was it something she would have seen herself doing in a million years. Before the call - and the realm of unconsciousness that had taken her before that - she had told herself she needed to put some space; to figure the whole thing out and what she should do from there. But as soon as she heard her voice, everything didn't matter at all. So then she told herself she could allow this one thing. For this one day, Shizuru would let herself be embraced by these warm feelings that seem to come when she was near Natsuki; indulge in what could be if she wasn't...if Natsuki hadn't...if she had been...

Shaking her head lightly, she forced the blues away by sheer force of will, aware that Natsuki was not paying attention to what she was silently contemplating.

This day was supposed to be special and she would make it so. It shouldn't be wasted on dwelling on her melancholy thoughts.

She only has this one day. This one day alone.

Tomorrow, walls would have to be constructed and a world without Natsuki would have to be made.

"You okay?"

"I never knew that relay could be so heart stopping."

"You should have jumped over or run around that poor turtle rather than scream at it. You scared it too, I imagined."

"It was hard to think when all my focus was on running and balancing that egg with a spoon while trying to get a gap going. Harpy no.1 was too close for comfort."

Natsuki blew a frustrated breath.

"You'd think I would remember my own words of not looking back. What was a turtle doing here anyway?"

"I think one of the kids brought him in for the show-and-tell later. You must have foiled his great escape."

"Yeah, well, he should have known to look both ways before crossing. Shoulda seen me coming."

Was Shizuru imagining that pout on her lips? Giggling behind her hand, she offered her other to the still sitting Natsuki.

"Do you think you are hurt anywhere?"

"No, not really. But my pride is bruised, I reckon."

Natsuki is tackled from behind with an 'oomph' before she could wallow in her self-pity.

"MAMA! Are you alright?"

Running a hand through her daughter's soft curls, she sighed.

"I'm fine, honey. Sorry I wasted our chance. You did very good just now."

"It's okay. It's not important. Was fun though. Mama screamed like a baby!"

Shaking her head, she sighed again and placed a hand on her heart.

"Now my daughter's teasing me. I feel like I just took an even harder blow."

"Ara, I never took Natsuki for a overly dramatic person."

Frowning heavily, she faced Shizuru while holding her daughter on her back, understanding what Shizuka wanted as the little girl wrapped her arms around her neck from behind.

"Well, seems like there's a lot you don't know about me..."

Suddenly, Shizuru was met with a very big grin and Natsuki's face just mere inches from her own.

"I can be plenty of things."

Retiring to the seats provided for parents, Natsuki watched as Shizuka ran back to her gaggle of classmates as she wrapped an arm around the back of Shizuru's chair. Enjoying how close Natsuki was being, Shizuru silently sneaked a hand to hold onto hers having missed the contact since when they were in the classroom. As Natsuki's hand gripped firmly onto hers, Shizuru found herself feeling incredibly happy. More than she could ever remember.

"Do you need my help, Kuga-san?"

"Oh, no, no. Just took a tiny tumble. No painful ouchies to be remedied Kobayashi-sensei."

Feeling bold, Shizuru took a chance and stole a quick kiss to Natsuki's cheek. Smiling devilishly, she interjected.

"Not the ones that can be fixed by medicine anyway. I'll take care of that."

"My, I think you already did."

Looking towards the reddening face, Kobayashi chuckled.

"I best be on my way then. These kids are too rambunctious for their own good for me to stay idle."

She started to walk away but stopped for moment as if suddenly remembering something.

"Oh, yeah. I'll be waiting for the two of you in the classroom after school so you know where to find me later."

"Roger that, ma'am. Is it good news?"

"I'd like to think it is."

Watching as the other woman left, she turned to the still widely smiling woman beside her and pinched her cheek.

"You sure know how to surprise a person."

'Well, I'm not the only one,' Shizuru thought to herself as she leaned her head on the woman's shoulder.

"Don't we look like a very convincing couple?"

"I bet."

After that Natsuki was very quiet, her attention back onto the field where she heard her daughter shouting excitedly. Watching her wave her hand animatedly, Natsuki couldn't help the curve of her lips for the sudden rush of euphoria it bloomed inside of her. She brought her hand up to her eye to wipe the stray tear, Shizuru squeezing her hand as she did.

"It feels like a long time ago, since I've seen her like this. Since I've felt like this."

Where was this contentment coming from?

Was it because she was finally allowing herself to relax fully? Was it because she no longer worried and let herself enjoy whatever this was? Was it that real beautiful smile she missed so much on her daughter's face? Was it because Shizuru was right beside her, holding her hand?

Maybe it was all these things. She didn't really understand it but that didn't matter. What mattered was that she felt it and embraced it and never looked back.