A.N ~ I really fought with myself over this chapter - not literally, though it's fun to imagine... and I have to give some warning, as there is a little bit o' violence in the beginning. And thank you once again for reading and reviewing! Buttering me up with your kind words! How very dare you! Cheeky buggers! x
She Will Rock You
4 weeks ago…
Adrenaline truly is a funny thing. It courses through your veins like burning Nitrous, setting your senses on high alert, while numbing your body all at once. There is no such thing as fear, or pain. And for a brief period of time, there is no object that can stop the sheer blaze of bear like strength that explodes from seemingly nowhere, out of you.
Natsuki could feel the fire, which had been ignited by a harsh spark of pain. She knew it was growing, spreading within her into a monstrous inferno, fuelled by her anger. Short bursts of hot air rushed in and out of her lungs with increasing rhythm, her smouldering rage now flickered in her eyes. It was far too late. Tomoe…I am going to slaughter you.
Her hands flexed and clenched into tight fists, testing the strength in them. She would not be hurting herself on this bitch's face. Remember Nat, just like the guys taught you. The cold logic creeping into her mind did little to douse the fury. And she heard the abrupt voice of her father in her head, "If they start it, make sure you finish it."
The school bully's six lackeys were in a half crescent formation, sniggering at the silent bluenette. They looked back and fourth between Tomoe and the tear stained face of the Kuga girl, not quite sure what to do. One moment the musician had been flying down after her case, then she was suddenly back at the top of the stairs, levelling up against their leader, looking eerily calm…or was it calculating?
Guilty by association, Natsuki thought. You laugh, you die.
Emerald flames burned into startled grey. She spoke, and it needn't have been anymore than a whisper, the sheer poison lacing her words was enough to parallelize.
Natsuki allowed the toxin to sink in further, before suddenly reaching out and grabbing a girl standing to the right of her. Her fingers curled around the girl's collar, she pulled hard, snatching her away from the crescent, and delivered a mighty head butt to the brown haired girl. The loud clash echoed off the walls of the stairway, hushing every other sound. Nobody moved.
Natsuki pushed her back and watched blood spurt from the girl's nose. She fell to the ground in a sobbing heap.
Wild green eyes snapped back to Tomoe, who in her shock had jumped back a step. A perfect distance. Natsuki snarled.
Snap and Hook! Tomoe was stunned by the first, and downed with the second.
Well, least I know my arm isn't dislocated. The rebel's snarl became a vicious grin as she stepped forward. Unfortunately, before she could continue with a stomp to the bitch's ribs, the minions were upon her. Natsuki gritted her teeth as she was pushed to the ground by the total force of five people pummelling into her back. Blood from her knees smudged against the floor.
At that moment she was simply relieved she hadn't fallen on top of Tomoe, and did her best to ignore the punches and kicks impacting along her back and sides. There was little to no skill in the blows, but the continuous onslaught was pissing her off.
The group of girls were screaming and cursing at her. Natsuki guessed they were attempting to 'teach her a lesson', however, they were going to be the ones to learn their new place within the hierarchy of Fuuka high. Sorry bitches, you're being demoted.
Natsuki forced herself up with a roar, just in time to see a blur of red break through the mob and smash two of the girl's head's together. The dark haired student watched as Yuuki Nao grabbed a blonde by the hair, forcing her down to the floor, where she kept her by placing her boot on the screaming girl's wavy locks. Well there's a dirty fighter if ever I saw one. The biker silently approved.
Natsuki's pumping adrenaline didn't allow her to stare for long, she spun around coming to face the very same brown haired girl she had head butted earlier, running at her with hands outstretched like claws. If you can't even fight me properly, stay the fuck down!
Natsuki adjusted her stance quickly, letting lose a low growl, and directed a perfectly timed axe kick to the bloodied girls face, sending her spinning to the floor and nearly down the set of stairs. If her nose wasn't broken before, it was now.
Dark locks of hair now obscured half of Natsuki's face; strained puffs of air escaped her nose and mouth. The sight of the near fall the girl had taken reminded the dark-haired fighter of her true target.
Whirling around Natsuki's first view was of Nao, holding one person in a deathly tight headlock, and another down on the floor under her boot. The other three remaining lackeys had apparently bolted.
Limes and Emeralds met, and both rebels unveiled a sneer. The two prisoners were shrieking and blubbering in pain. This only prompted a roll of the eyes; it really was such a ridiculous sight. The red head teen was doing little more than holding them in place…firmly, by all means, but the relentless wriggling of her captives only caused themselves further injury. Nao didn't need to do anything.
...Observing the scene, Natsuki began to feel increasingly sluggish, like all the scorching magma, which had been pulsing in her veins, was cooling, and congealing into a heavy mass of thick slow-moving lava. Her breathing was laboured and becoming rather painful. She felt the unpleasant ache of her knuckles and the sticky wetness on her knees. She suddenly felt filthy from all the contact she'd had with these girls.
Yet just then, before she started to feel the trembling after effects of her rush, a flash of teal caught the Rocker's sight.
There was Tomoe, sprinting up the rest of the stairs, two at a time, to the second floor. Fleeing!
With just that sight, Natsuki received another brilliant shot of Nitro, burning its way around her thumping heart, and accelerating her into action.
"Oh no, you Fuckin' DON'T!" She growled, racing up the stairs, leaving behind a spluttering and then yelling red head.
Any person in their right mind would have stopped. Surely, they would have. If…if she'd have just lain there! Submitted! …I would have calmed down…but she just HAD to run! …Didn't she.
Tense fingers held familiar chords, switching from 'A minor' to 'E', and back again. Her right hand kept up a fast paced strumming rhythm, creating a Spanish like quality to the piece of music. It's intensity matching her mood.
…Ugh…who am I trying to convince? …I was only taught to fight for defence. Not to deliberately hurt people. I'd already won! But I just had to chase! …I went so overboard - And I didn't even care!
Bloody hell, I really am turning into Dad!
Natsuki slipped. She hissed, observing the new blister on her index finger. "…Bugger."
"Ara, is Natsuki back with me now?" The bluenette looked up upon hearing the oddly soothing voice of her friend.
In fact, it wasn't just the sultry Kyoto-ben; Natsuki found what she said just as comforting as how she said it. That coupled with the vision of Shizuru approaching her in a fluffy bathrobe, tea in hand, with an equally warm expression made the badass rock chick feel all better again.
I shouldn't be dwelling on that shit…not while I'm with her.
The bluenette smiled as Shizuru placed two steaming teacups on the low coffee table to the left of her. Upon it were some of the President's schoolbooks, along with Natsuki's own mess of things, such as an extra-unopened packet of strings, a pair of pliers, a screwdriver and a big multi-pack of 'Maoams'.
With only a quick glance at the items, a silent understanding passed between the two friends. These things were going to be kept here from now on. After all, if the guitar were to stay with Shizuru, the bluenette would certainly need her tools. And as for the sweets, they appeared to be a kind of offering of thanks, or attempted bribery even!
Ara, so cute! Shizuru found the notion both appealing and amusing. And she viewed Natsuki's sharing of things as another form of showing her trust and affection. So of course, Shizuru cherished the action, along with the average objects decorating her table.
The love struck cherry-eyed teen sat down comfortably on her own massive beanbag, curling her bare legs underneath her and covering them with the bottom edges of her white bathrobe. Dear me, I really must try not to over analyze everything she does.
Natsuki kept the shinny guitar balanced on her lap while reaching for her cup. "Why? Did I leave my body without realizing?" She sipped.
"Mm, you always seem to travel far away when you play so…passionately." The innocent looking Kyoto girl awaited her prize, but it seemed Natsuki wasn't in such a generous mood.
The biker pulled the steaming cup away from her lips and answered quickly, "I would say it's more of an intensity." Blush Denied!
Shizuru chuckled at her retort, snuggling her back deeper into her beanbag. "Ara, indeed…I'm sure with the right enticement you are intensely passionate."
Natsuki glared down into the pool of tea, absolutely loathing the warmth creeping up her face with every passing moment. With a deep huff, she raised her head to view a very pleased looking Kyoto girl.
"Sh-Shizuru! …H-How the hell do you always manage to- AH! –You know what? I bet you'll forever be at it, even 50 damn years from now!" Natsuki exclaimed. Shizuru beamed with immense pleasure.
"So my Natsuki wishes to grow old with me?" Dearest, you are far too easy.
The blue-haired teen blinked at the question, but didn't deliver on Shizuru's well-earned red-faced spluttering mess. Instead she completely zoned out. Causing the golden-haired girl to look at her in concern.
Unbeknownst to Shizuru, the blue-haired biker was envisioning two silver-haired old women racing mobility scooters down a crowded high street. One waving her cane around wildly while the other took to running down pedestrians, with a small radio blasting away in the front basket of her granny-ped. Mine will be blue. Shizuru's can be red. She decided.
"But then…Shizuru, you're older…" She may already be in a nursing home by then. Natsuki's mind debated.
Still slightly worried, Shizuru answered. "Yes, I am. Natsu-?"
"You'll have to save me a room." The younger girl suddenly stated, looking back at her with shinning emerald eyes.
"Ara, a room?" Shizuru leant forward onto her hands, eyebrows slightly furrowed in puzzlement. "What do you mean?"
"A room in the old people's home, o' course." Natsuki explained, then thought for a second, "…Or a cell in the insane asylum. Whichever you end up in first." She winked and returned to sipping her tea.
Shizuru sat there for a long moment, head slightly tilted to the side, staring blankly at the girl in front of her. Her lips then pursed into a thin line as she took in her friend's final comment. Her eyes narrowed and glimmered with an odd desire, and the biker found it hard to decipher. Nevertheless, the rebel felt it best to place down her tea and steadily remove the guitar from her lap.
Shizuru's hand slowly crept behind her back, "Is that so?" With that distinctive purr Natsuki finally decoded the glow of those red eyes; it was a desire to punish.
Bollocks!
The madwoman attacked! Barely giving her victim enough time to draw up her own knees in defence! Natsuki was knocked down onto her back by the swinging force of Shizuru's purple beanbag. A short yelp escaped her lips when her head bumped on the carpeted floor and a sudden weight immobilized her entire body.
Recovering from the initial shock, emerald eyes peeped open, and she realized she was now firmly sandwiched between two beanbags, with Shizuru on top.
"My best friend thinks I belong in a straight jacket, hmm?" Shizuru interrogated, lying down fully, slowly crushing the girl beneath her.
Natsuki tried her dammed hardest not to laugh, "You're the one trying to smother me with a bean- AH! HAHA! Stop! Noooo!!" The Kyoto girl's fingers seized the cheeky rocker's ribs, cutting off her sentence rather abruptly.
"Well then," Shizuru hid her smile as she listened to the delightful giggling fit. "In the interest of avoiding such a fate, perhaps it would be wise to placate me?" She paused in her method of torture, allowing Natsuki to get a good few gasps of air. "…Apologise." She ordered.
Natsuki was rather dubious about that particular course of action. Haha, I think not.
"You, my dear friend, have done nothing to warrant such a thing!" The cheeky girl continued in Shizuru's formal tone, though much more exaggerated. "So far, you have done nothing to disprove my theory of your unquestionable insanity!"
The older girl laughed in shock, but immediately returned to punishing the bluenette by way of rib tickling. "Ara, it is your choice my Natsuki. Apologise, or be psycho-smothered."
"You need shock therapy!"
"Take it back!" Shizuru's left hand went for the nook of Natsuki's neck, which was so sensitive she didn't even need to wriggle her fingers.
No, not there! "F-F-Forgive me!" Natsuki pleaded. "I know not what I speak!"
Shizuru lifted her body and chucked away the beanbag barrier, not removing her hand from Natsuki's nook. She now hovered over the younger girl, who squirmed beneath her with her hands wrapped securely around Shizuru's left arm.
"Ara, I didn't quite catch that. Could you repeat it?"
A small whimper escaped the badass rocker, her bottom lip poking out in the most adorably meek manor. As though just looking sorry would be enough to get her out of saying it. Luckily for the girl above, her captive's eyes were still squeezed shut, leaving the 'poor lil' puppy-dog' look incomplete. Shizuru's resolve remained strong, her fingers wriggled in the nook.
The poor girl's body tensed up all the more, shoulders attempting to crush and halt the hand at her neck. Natsuki's laughter hissed through gritted teeth.
"Let's try one more time shall we?" Shizuru suggested, with an arched brow.
"Let's…not." Natsuki managed to half choke out. Brilliant mirth filled emerald eyes finally opened spilling loose a few tears of laughter that trickled down the sides of her cheekbones.
It was amazing, truly. Flushed rosy cheeks, vivid viridians and a chaotic splash of dramatic jet-blue spilling over onto the floor. Gazing down at the beauty beneath her, Shizuru felt herself immediately mellow. She shook her head and sighed, "You really are a glutton for punishment, you know." Playful cherry eyes softened and her hand relaxed, but stayed in its place curled delicately against the side of Natsuki's neck.
Natsuki also took the time to calm down, releasing her hold on Shizuru and sprawling her arms out to the sides, in another amusing gesture of surrender.
"Yes, well…be grateful," Natsuki panted, "I don't just…give in…to anyone."
The crimson-eyed girl smiled, "Mmm." She gently wiped away the trail of moisture on Natsuki's cheeks using her free hand. Deep green eyes closed again at the soft contact. "I am so honoured."
The golden-haired girl's first instinct was insisting on her to kiss the parted and panting lips of her best friend, but she had enough self-control to settle for the second urge.
She lowered her body down, partially atop of Natsuki, and half on the now shared beanbag. Shizuru rested her head under the bluenette's chin, close to the hand that still lay on her neck. She could feel and hear the hammering heart of her best friend still trying to regain her energy and catch her breath. A lazy arm flopped across Shizuru's back and a hand coiled itself in damp dirty-blonde tresses.
Cuddle session successfully initiated.
...After a little while, Natsuki's heart rate returned to normal, her breathing was deep and relaxed as both girls dozed in the growing darkness of the dorm room.
This feels nice. Natsuki thought to herself. After such a boring day, chilling with my best mate is a definite highlight. She inhaled a deep lungful of air and sighed contently. Causing Shizuru to snuggle closer with the exhale.
What was it Mai was saying today? Something about Shizuru and I… Natsuki's mind wandered. No, wait…it was something I said. Then she…she implied…something…Eh. Sodding stupid woman. Like Shizuru would ever…Uh! Beatings are definitely in order!
During the past couple of weeks, Natsuki had grown accustomed to the strange running gag that had been started by her group of friends, who shouted out in the crowded cafeteria that; one Natsuki Kuga, had been swept off her feet by the gorgeous Student Counsel President!
It had only been an innocent tease to the fact that their friendship had bloomed so very suddenly, and so demanding of attention that Mai had made a joke of it in front of the dammed gossip queens. And having heard the proclamation from the far side of the lunchroom, and sensing the tease, Shizuru had played along by blowing a kiss to the mortified girl!
The rumour circulated the school in mere moments, and after the hundredth denial, Natsuki didn't bother answering people anymore. After all, this was high school, you could answer truthfully, and the general populace still wouldn't believe it. Plus, it didn't exactly help that Shizuru herself had never tried to correct anyone at all. She seemed to be rather amused by it, so the joke was fine and dandy with Natsuki.
Feeling her arm around Shizuru beginning to go quite dead, the young guitarist peeked open an eye. She was surprised to see the unlit room had gained a grey-blue hue, so it was probably around seven o' clock or so.
"I like how you play, Natsuki."
Both emeralds snapped open with the sudden statement that seemed to come from nowhere. "But…I'm shite." Natsuki chuckled.
"Not true. It sounded lovely earlier."
Did it? "Well, that would be thanks to your guitar. Not me." What exactly was I playing earlier?
Before Shizuru could make a protest, Natsuki continued, "Seriously Shizuru, trust me. After going a whole month not playing a thing, I'm gonna suck!" The rocker angled her left hand around Shizuru so she could view it, "Look, my fingers are so soft I can barely hold a string without getting a nice blister." Oh, how I miss you calloused tips!
Shizuru rolled back some so she could look at Natsuki's hand that lingered just above her face.
"My poor Natsuki. Would you like me to burst it for you?" She asked taking hold of the dangling fingers.
"No."
"It shall only be a little prick."
"No!" The girl exclaimed trying to wrestle her hand free. With Shizuru's head now resting on the upper half of her arm, Natsuki felt an unpleasant chill creep across her chest. "And…Ew!"
"Ew?" Shizuru repeated, with a frown.
"You've gone and soaked through my hoodie, you ruddy woman."
"Ara!" Shizuru sprang up immediately. Being lost in the moment, she'd quite forgotten all about her wet hair…and her lack of clothing for that matter… "K-Kanin na, Natsuki…"
…Holy Hand Grenades! Is Shizuru actually blushing?
Before the bemused bluenette could reply her phone suddenly began vibrating in the pocket of her slightly dampened hoodie.
Rattlesnake!! - Was always her first irrational thought whenever her phone did this. However, she calmed herself quickly while sliding the contraption open to answer the call. How the fuck would a rattlesnake get in my pocket anyway? …Idiot.
"Olla?"
"Natty, can you do me a favour." The voice of the older woman was deep and slightly mumbled, probably due to a cigarette being held between her lips.
"Depends." Natsuki sighed, casually leaning back on her elbows. Her green orbs followed Shizuru's movements as she stood up, adjusting her robe.
"Aw, don't say that! I need you to pick up a jar of curry sauce…guess what I'm cooking?"
"Cornish pasties!" Natsuki replied with sarcastic gusto. However the comment went by completely ignored by her dear stepmother.
"Are you still with Shiz? Bring her. I think I made too much…"
"Hmm, I don't know…" Natsuki pondered, locking eyes with questioning red rubies. "She seems awfully busy. And I hope you're not dropping ash in the dinner!" A throaty laugh was her only response.
The Kyoto girl quickly leapt for the phone, she was certainly not about to let the dark-haired teen get away with dangling an invite to dinner in front of her for long.
Snatching the Samsung, Shizuru answered for herself, "Ara, Kruger-Sensei I would love to come to dinner, if it is not too much trouble?"
"Glad to hear it, Shiz-dear! I'm cutting up the meat now, so that gives you about ten minutes before I start cooking the chicken to charcoal." The woman said in all seriousness.
Shizuru grinned, "Then we shall leave without delay."
The sound of metal skewing against a cutting board could be heard, "Alright, see you soon me-dears."
Ms Kruger heard the very distinct voice of her kid holler, "Without delay my arse! Put your bloody clothes on! –" Just before the line went dead.
(Do you love me (now that I can dance) by The Contours)
The art of cooking wasn't one of Jennie Kruger's strongest skills. As creatively talented as she was, she still couldn't quite get the timing right. So dinner at the Kuga residence was always entertaining, especially during the mad dash to get everything served properly…and on the right plates.
This was why she had decided on a simple dish tonight, which would cause the minimum of fuss. That had been her theory, anyway.
The cut up pieces of chicken, peppers and mushrooms were currently sizzling away in their pan on the stove…they really needed to be stirred or something, but unfortunately Jennie was occupied with the obsessive measuring of rice, which had yet to be boiled.
Jennie concentrated, Must get the portions right… The sound of the front door banging open startled her into dropping practically all of the contents of the rice bag into the pan of water. Or near enough… She thought.
"Someone better grab that spoon!" The teacher shouted out.
Leaving Natsuki to fiddle with her converse laces, Shizuru was the first to skip on through the living room and enter the kitchen to offer her help.
"Sensei, what would you like me to do?" She asked rolling up the sleeves of her red velvet sweater.
"Stir, girl. Stir!"
The Kyoto girl immediately took up the task, shifting the sizzling food around the pan with a wooden spoon, saving it from burning just in time. She lowered the heat and giggled to herself. These two certainly don't make life boring.
Having freed her feet from her black sneakers, Natsuki finally entered the kitchen with a little more enthusiasm than was truly necessary. Sliding on her socks from the doorway she flicked on the stereo as she passed and skidded to a stop just behind Shizuru, lightly bumping her.
60's Motown blared through the speakers. A classic by 'The Contours'.
What a tune! Natsuki held out the newly bought jar of sauce for her stepmother's inspection, who shimmied on over in time to the music.
"Good, good. Pour it in now!" Jennie sang. Both Brits clapped to the beat before spinning away from each other. Shizuru smiled at their antics as Ms Kruger carried on shimming and placed the rice on the stove to be heated, right next to Shizuru's own pan.
The honey-haired teenager had been completely shocked when she'd discovered the relationship between the rebel and her teacher. But she could see the brilliance of their bond; they suited each other so well! When Shizuru saw them together she marvelled at how at ease they were, completely unafraid to make fools of themselves. They were like free spirits. ...or perhaps, just big kids.
Ara, I think your ways are rubbing off on me, Natsuki. I'd certainly never assaulted someone with a beanbag before you came along…She giggled.
Meanwhile Natsuki had been unable to resist the pull of the beat, and had been dancing a little distance away behind her friend, shaking the curry jar like a tambourine.
~ I can mash-potato! ~
~ And I can do the twist! ~
– Which of course, both she and her step-mum did in absolute sync, causing Shizuru to laugh.
She stopped to unscrew the lid. Then, threading her arm under Shizuru's own, she poured the condiment over the meat.
~ Now tell me baby? ~
Jen silently sniggered. Natsuki you flirt!
Shizuru paused her motions, allowing the bluenette's smooth hand to continue the task without being knocked. A rippling shiver ran up her back as Natsuki rested her chin upon Shizuru's shoulder, singing in her ear, "Mmm, do you like it like this?"
YES!! Crimson's watched as the sauce was poured into the pan before her. The liquid bubbled quickly, and Shizuru returned to randomly moving the contents around. Ara, of all the times to get me hot and bothered! The Kyoto girl whined in her head, I don't want to stir curry anymore…
~ Tell me! ~
Natsuki retreated away to dispose of the empty jar, and Shizuru missed her immediately.
~ Tell me! ~
Jennie's jet black eyes scanned the curry Shizuru was mindlessly stirring. "Ah, well done Shizuru! You've saved dinner once again!" Jennie K applauded.
~ Tell meee?! ~
"Ara, I did nothing of the sort." The cherry-eyed girl smiled. The older woman simply took hold of the spoon and twirled Shizuru away from the stove, and towards the dancing bluenette.
~ Do ya loooove me? ~
Natsuki caught her and repeated, "Do you love me?"
Shizuru had to catch her breath. "Ara, …now that you can dance?" She teased.
The rock chick laughed, "You say it so proper." and continued to lead her friend into a swaying hip grind. "Watch me now, Oh!" The movements themselves weren't overly raunchy, but nevertheless, Shizuru had discovered another highly attractive attribute to her mysterious girl. Natsuki could dance.
But so can I. Eager to impress, the Kyoto girl quickly matched her rhythm to Natsuki's, and even began to lead the light-hearted dance by placing a hand around the rebel's waist. Still keeping a respectable three centimeters distance between their bodies.
Natsuki was stunned to say the least. And honestly, strangely intrigued. If not for her Stepmother being in the same room, she would have surely been tempted to really start dancing with Shizuru. Good God, my urges are getting freaky.
Multicoloured dreadlocks swung about as Jennie turned to the pair. Laughing. "Haha! You two are good!" Both girls parted, sniggering and blushing madly. The song faded. "Alright gals, to the dining table. Hurry! Food is freaking hot!"
Even long after dinner had been finished, the three women still sat at the table, sipping a sweet Rose` and talking comfortably. Well, as comfortable as one can be with the sporadic giggle fits that came about during conversation. Probably from the wine.
Shizuru loved the merry atmosphere that seemed ever present in Natsuki's home. She had been a guest here at least six times now, and relished the warm feeling of a real family dinner. It reminded her a little of her Mother, Father and baby brother whom she had not seen for months…but even so, her family dinners did not compare to the happiness she felt here.
They had been sitting at the table for nearly an hour now, and the bluenette would have happily stayed there, head resting on her cross arms, if her mother hadn't asked her to crack open a window and fetch her lighter from the kitchen. Natsuki hobbled off with a groan. There is such a thing as being too full…
"So how are the preparations going?" The older woman asked, piling the plates on top of each other and sliding them to the far end of the table.
Shizuru only turned back once Natsuki's figure had disappeared into the kitchen.
"Slow, I'm afraid. Most of the advertising has been taken care of, thanks to your help. But my Vice President is having some difficulty in securing rooms for opposing teams to change in."
"Right…the teachers don't want to give up what little space they have."
"It appears so."
Jennie hummed. "I'm only a sub, but maybe I can have a word with them."
Shizuru smiled and was about to thank her teacher had it not been for Natsuki's husky voice calling out in exasperation.
"Jen, I can't find it!"
"…Check in the fridge," Her stepmother called back.
"The fridge? Why the hell would it be in- …ah, got it!"
Jennifer shrugged at Shizuru who chuckled in return. "Oh, and while you're up…" The dreadlocked woman added.
Natsuki responded with a long sigh, "Yeeeeees?"
"Three bowls of Bailey's ice-cream, please!"
Natsuki groaned loudly, but could already hear her Mum and best friend returning back to their previous conversation. Bloody waiter now am I?
She grinned mischievously whilst making as much noise as possible. Slamming the freezer door and banging the cutlery draw. Want Bailey's do you? Oh, I'll give you Bailey's! Just you wait!
"Quite the ruckus in there." Ms Kruger murmured while tying her hair back.
Shizuru raised a finely arched eyebrow in the direction of the kitchen. "Ara, perhaps Nastuki could use a hand." She made to get up, but was stopped halfway by the older woman, whose eyes were twinkling.
"Have faith dear child. For Natsuki shall return victorious!" The woman proclaimed.
The burgundy-eyed girl relaxed back into her seat, "Oh, but I am worried for her safety! She may impale herself with the blunt end of a spoon I fear!"
Jennie grinned, "Oh fret not the cutlery, what of the crockery!" She said in alarm.
"Ara, she may mistake a casserole dish for a common bowl!"
"The travesty!"
Natsuki could be silent no longer. She spun around the corner, pointing a large ice cream covered serving spoon at the pair. "Just for that silliness…" Natsuki threatened, trying hard not to smile, "I'm serving your ice cream in egg cups."
Jennie openly laughed, while Shizuru tried to hide it behind a hand.
Natsuki held a smug grin on her face. "I think we may have created a monster, Jen. To think Shizuru Fujino would joke about impalement and ice cream." She threw Jennie's lighter onto the table from the doorway. Still beaming at her best friend.
The golden-haired girl loved it when Natsuki looked at her like that. "It's the wine." Shizuru explained merrily, lifting up her glass for a sip.
"Sure it is." The biker scoffed over her shoulder, walking back into the kitchen.
Once again Shizuru watched her go, I want to follow her, before turning back to the motherly figure, who lit up a cigarette with a smile still on her face.
Jen inhaled a deep lungful, when a thought suddenly occurred to her. She shouted out to her daughter, "How was it at Shizuru's?"
The bluenette had finally finished scooping out the portions into their bowls, and was now putting away what was left of the Bailey's. She called back:
"Eh? Great, but I really need to improve on my fingering-" Natsuki clamped a hand over her mouth just as the words had left her. All she could hear from the other room were a series of startled chokes. Fuck. That is sooo not what I meant! Her cheeks burned. "I-I mean when playing! – Guitar! P-Playing Guitar!!" Natsuki cringed when there was no reply.
With a great amount of effort the red-faced musician steadily sidled over to the doorway, and peered into the room.
She immediately wished she hadn't.
There sat two of her most important people, as flushed as she was, captured in silent hysterics - nearly doubled over in their chairs! The beige tablecloth was now covered in ash and wine. Apparently neither woman had been able to keep from spilling or spraying the Rose` everywhere during their fit.
Jen was repeatedly banging her fist on the edge of the table, like the action could relieve her and help her breath again, while Shizuru had all but collapsed against the older woman's shoulder, gritting her teeth as she tried to keep herself from laughing out loud. Tears streamed down her face.
Natsuki sucked in her bottom lip while watching the pair. She still burned with embarrassment, but couldn't bring herself to be peeved with them. Even knowing the impending and merciless teasing that was sure to come.
Turning back into the kitchen Natsuki mumbled, "…you pair o' perverts."
A booming chorus of laughter erupted from the living room.