Chapter Seven
--
"Hmm, where's that crazy blonde cheerleader," Nao wondered aloud. "Figured she'd be the most excited person around."
"Umm, Haruka?" Yukino started. "I... think she is."
At that moment, the blonde in question came into view holding something everyone knew she did not need the assistance of.
"Who the hell would give that roaring lion a mega phone?," Nao asked aloud, voicing the question everyone else in the vicinity held inside.
--
"Listen up all you people! In celebration of Yukino's amazing winning goal, I Haruka Suzushiro have decided to hold a party in her honour! Since I seem to be incredibly happy at this point in time, I'm inviting all of you! Even the people I don't like!"
"Fujino-san was right," Mai said with a sheepish look on her face. "Haruka really does have a way with words."
"Speaking of Fujino-san...," Nao began as invisible horns sprouted from her head. "She seems to be suspiciously absent at this point in time, along with a certain Kuga Natsuki. Wherever could they be?"
"Oh Natsuki?," Yukino asked, the use of first names not lost on Nao and Mai who smiled at the girl. "She was still getting changed. I also walked past Fujino-san on my way out of the changing rooms."
"Greetings people!"
"Captain Harada, where did you come from?"
"I sensed sneaky things being planned so I wandered over."
"Natsuki and Fujino are apparently alone in the changing rooms, what do you think they're up to?," Nao asked with a wink.
"Maybe we should wander over to see for ourselves?," Chie offered with a wink of her own.
"I don't know you guys... maybe we should just give them their privacy," Mai said.
"Are you kidding me?," Nao asked incredulously prompting Mai to give a small laugh.
"Of course I am!," Mai replied. "Come on lets go find them!"
Before the group could wander off however, Haruka showed up just to pull Yukino away from the sneakily planning trio.
"What was I thinking, leaving Yukino alone with you people."
"Haruka! That hurts me," Nao said as she placed both hands on her heart.
"Whatever. Anyway unlike you people, I actually want the bubuzuke to end up with Kuga. Hopefully the union will keep them both out my hair. SO none, of, you are to go ruining things by sneaking around them. Alright?!"
The Nao, Chie, Mai trio sighed and nodded.
"Yes Haruka," they replied.
"Good. Now to my house! There are party plans to set into motion! Ahahahahah!"
"Tch. Damn that Natsuki," Nao said as the group trudged off behind Haruka. "She gets to escape our sneakiness and Haruka's roaring."
--
The girl in question, had at that moment just finished her shower and was changing into fresh clothes.
'What did Chie mean when she said Shizuru wasn't looking at the ball that whole time?,' Natsuki wondered to herself. 'What else could she have been looking at? There isn't someone on the team she has her eye on right?'
Little did she know however that a certain honey haired girl was standing just outside the changing rooms wondering similar things.
'Did Captain Harada actually mean that she initiated the group jog for Natsuki's sake? Who exactly was it that Natsuki wished to spend time with? Could there be someone in the squad Natsuki is interested in?'
The two heaved loud sighs as both Natsuki and Shizuru attempted to keep frowns off their faces.
--
Shizuru decided at that point to go in to see if Natsuki was alright, she was after all taking an extraordinarily long time to exit the changing rooms. At least that was what she told herself.
In truth Shizuru knew full well that she did not at all like the idea of Natsuki being interested in anyone else except her and she truly intended on intercepting the girl should she be en route to go and meet up with the competition.
As soon as the word 'competition' ran through her head, Shizuru once again had to fight the frown off her face and she quickened her steps towards Natsuki.
However as Shizuru turned the corner, she found herself face to face with the girl on her mind.
"Shizuru," Natsuki said in a surprised fashion, mentally checking herself over. "What are you doing here?" 'Man I hope I don't look like a douche right now,' she added in her head.
"I came to..." 'make sure no one else is with you' ... congratulate Natsuki on her first win," Shizuru replied, the silent parts of her sentence making her inwardly wince. 'Oh Natsuki, what is it that you're doing to me? I'm acting like a love sick pup...'
"Oh, it wasn't my win. It was Yukino's," Natsuki declared brightening up at the happy memory.
Shizuru nodded and smiled at the girl.
"Natsuki seems to take good care of her friends."
The younger girl shrugged and offered Shizuru a sheepish smile in return.
"It's not like that really, I just think you should be there for the people who would be there for you," Natsuki replied as Shizuru took her turn to nod back.
"I wonder, would Natsuki be there for me too?"
Their eyes met for a moment and Natsuki took the look in Shizuru's eye as a sign that what had passed had truly been what the girl said it was. Just a passing wonder that Shizuru expected no reply to.
As the older girl turned away to lead them out of the changing rooms however, Shizuru's ear caught an unexpected whisper from the girl behind her.
"I would."
--
When the two had made their way out of the changing rooms, Natsuki stood rocking on her heels for a few moments, wilfully trying to search her brain for something smooth to say to Shizuru.
'Not Nao or Chie smooth though,' Natsuki added in her head. 'Normal people smooth.'
Shizuru looked on at the girl's concentrated expression and fought the urge to move closer to her.
'What could you be thinking about Natsuki?,' she wondered before clearing her throat to regain the girl's attention she presumed she had lost.
Natsuki's head shot up and she gave Shizuru her quizzical look, leaving the older girl wondering which of her expressions was cutest on Natsuki. Giving up when she found all the girl's expressions equally endearing, Shizuru settled for sending a smile to the girl.
"Does Natsuki plan on stopping by at the Suzushiro's toninght?," Shizuru asked.
"Am I going to Haruka's house?," Natsuki asked back. "But wouldn't Haruka be there?"
Shizuru gave a small laugh at Natsuki's reaction and found herself once again having to restrain herself from closing the distance between them and giving the adorable girl a hug.
"Haruka-san is ... quite pleased with the happenings in today's match so she's announced that a little celebration will be taking place at her house this evening."
Natsuki nodded as Shizuru's words echoed in her head.
"So she got overly excited and invited the world to party at her parent's house huh?," Natsuki clarified with a smirk playing on her lips. "I heard megaphone noises from outside while I was showering."
Shizuru nodded and swallowed hard hoping the other girl wouldn't notice what she was picturing right at that moment.
"So are you going?," Natsuki asked when she noticed that Shizuru was the unusually silent one.
"Is that Natsuki asking me for a date?," Shizuru asked with a wink as she brought a smile back on her face.
'Oh my God did she just ask me to ask her out?,' Natsuki thought. 'Ask her out brain, quick ask her out!'
"Ara it seems Natsuki does not want to..."
"Wait wait stupid brain hurry up and ask her out!"
"So she was just waiting for her brain to do so?"
'Oh my God I said that out loud... am I saying this out loud? No I don't think so.' "Man I'm a retard!" 'Ah geez inner voice failed again.'
Natsuki's conversation with herself was interrupted by the giggling Shizuru at her side.
"I for one do not believe in the slightest that Natsuki is a retard," the older girl said before boldly looping an arm in Natsuki's.
"Umm Shizuru?," the blue haired girl questioned aloud as her cheeks turned pink at the touch.
The girl in question just turned her head to the side and looked at Natsuki with a small smile playing on her face.
"Shi-zuru?," Natsuki asked again.
"I'm waiting for Natsuki to escort me to her vehicle so we can head over to the Suzushiro's," the girl replied whilst wearing a sincere smile.
However, upon seeing Natsuki's hesitation, Shizuru sighed a silent, disappointed sigh and was about to let go of the other girl's arm when Natsuki spoke.
"Umm are you sure you don't want me to change first? I'm not really dressed for a party... and umm I don't have a car..."
Happy she did not have to let go of Natsuki's arm, Shizuru unconsiosly tightened her hold on it.
"Even if we have to walk, I would be glad to accompany Natsuki to the Suzushiro estate."
Natsuki looked down at the ground as she tried to suppress the elated smile that was threatening to break onto her face.
"... I never said we had to walk..."
--
"Ah good you two arrived. Together. While standing in close proximity. Ok I'm not going to ask. And thank you by the way Kuga for riding in with your princess on a screaming beast and destroying the ambiance of my neighbourhood."
"Kuuugaaaaaa cool bike maaan! Wicked cooool!," a young man standing nearby said, not without giving Natsuki both thumbs up.
Haruka rolled her eyes.
"I retract my previous statement Kuga, the ambiance was ruined long before you came. I seem to have invited the entire school."
"We just met outside! It was a coincidence," Natsuki defended quickly as Shizuru smiled inwardly that the younger girl did not correct Haruka's reference to her as Natsuki's princess.
"Look I said I wasn't going to ask, stop guiltily sputtering in my doorway!," the blonde replied. "Right Kuga, Fujino here's a list of things I need taken out of the store room."
Haruka then frowned as she seemingly lost the attention of both girls standing before her.
'Kuga-Fujino,' both Natsuki and Shizuru thought simultaneously.
"Excuse me? What's with the ridiculously sudden yet unexplained blushing taking place before me?," Haruka asked. "Stop that at once and look at my list instead!"
Breaking out of their reverie, Shizuru and Natsuki reach for Haruka's list and hold it in between them.
"Well don't just stand there!," the blonde huffed. "Go get the stuff!"
"Why do I have to do it don't you have staff?," Natsuki whined uncharacteristically causing Haruka to scoff at her.
"Please, showing up here and acting like a guest just do as I say!"
"Fine!"
--
"Haruka seems to have taken a liking to you," Shizuru observed aloud as she and Natsuki walked off in search of the store room.
"Uh huh. And she shows this through errands and yelling," Natsuki asked in a tounge-in-cheek fashion.
Shizuru shrugs before replying in the same tone.
"That's how she bonds," she said with a wink. "Haruka would never order around people she doesn't care about."
"What a weirdo... anyway I wish she'd given us a map or something, I feel like I'm getting us totally lost. Hey here.. have we been through this door before?," Natsuki asked before opening the door in question and stepping through it.
"No I don't believe we have," Shizuru replied as she followed the other girl into the darkened space.
The two fumbled for a light switch on either side of the door before hearing it click closed behind them.
"Ok this is not the store room is it?," Natsuki asked, wincing at the sound of the click.
"No I don't believe it is," Shizuru replied as she planted a similar expression on her features.
When Natsuki finally found the light switch, her jaw almost dropped to the ground.
"Shizuru... this is the closet isn't it?"
"Yes I believe so."
'Oh my God we're stuck in Haruka's closet!! What the hell are we gonna do?! Shit I'm totally freaking out right now!,' Natsuki thought in her head before thinking to add something aloud to Shizuru.
"Don't worry Shizuru, I'm sure someone's gonna come to find us," Natsuki said before running back into the safety of her psyche. 'Who the hell am I kidding?! Aaaargh freaking outtttt!
"I mean my idiot friends better be at least looking for us by the end of the night!"
--
Meanwhile...
"So have you guys seen Natsuki?," Mai inquired of Chie and Nao who were already in the party mood.
"Nope," Nao replied simply.
"Probably happily monopolizing the time of a certain pretty faced cheerleader," Chie said with a smile.
"Oh well, as long as she's having fun," Mai replied with a smile of her own.
"Anyway seen the booze?," Nao asked.
"Yup," Chie replied with a grin.
"Let's get to it then!"
--
In the closet...
Natsuki was still sweat dropping all over the place while Shizuru was trying to think of ways that didn't involve taking the girl into her arms to comfort her.
Little did she know that the only reason Natsuki was panicking at all was because she felt she should at least be dependable enough to be able to comfort Shizuru.
"My friends... are Nao and Mai so they're probably partying right now and the chances they've forgotten my name are high but don't worry! I'm sure some normal people out there will realise we're missing and come to find us," Natsuki said as she sank to the ground.
Shizuru nods slowly as she too decides to sit on the ground cross legged, mimicking Natsuki's position.
"There aren't actually any normal people that go to our school are there?," the younger girl asked prompting Shizuru to laugh a little while shaking her head.
"Well we can always rely on Haruka right?," Natsuki hoped aloud.
--
"Useless bubuzuke and Kuga... had to send actual servants to bring out the supplies. I bet they're canoodling right now!"
--
Natsuki sighed feeling guilty that she managed to lead Shizuru into such a ridiculous situation. Giving her head a light shake she decided to at least try and alleviate some of the boredom she was sure Shizuru was feeling at that moment.
"Hey Shizuru? Well umm shall we maybe play a game while we're in here?," the younger girl offered.
"A game? If Natsuki wishes, what game did Natsuki have in mind?," Shizuru asked, happy that the girl wasn't too nervous to talk to her.
In truth she did not even mind the predicament they were in and if she was to be truly honest with herself, Shizuru would find that she was mostly pleased with the fact that Natsuki was not with any other person except her that point in time.
"Umm, what game do people usually play in situations like this?," Natsuki wondered aloud. "Seven minutes in..."
Natsuki stopped her sentence just as she was about to finish the name of the game.
"... heaven?," Shizuru finished for her as they both blushed.
'Ok that ladies and gentlemen is why I do not think aloud,' Natsuki thought, this time successfully in her head.
A little silence then followed...
"Natsuki?," Shizuru said in order to break it.
"Yes hi," the younger girl replied sheepishly. "I'm sorry I went silent really quickly but I suddenly didn't trust myself to continue with the talking."
Shizuru gives a small laugh and playfully elbows Natsuki's arm which was in close proximity as the girl continued to explain unnecessarily.
"It's like I always blame Nao for saying stuff that makes me turn red but come on when she's not around I just continue with the being embarrassing all on my own?"
Shizuru continued with her soft laugher which prompted Natsuki to be the one to send her a playful elbow which just caused the girl to giggle more.
"Oi Shizuruuuu, quit laughing at me," Natsuki said cutely.
"I'm sorry but Natsuki is," Shizuru began before finishing the sentence in her head '... too adorable...'
"Natsuki is a loser?," the younger girl prompted.
"Natsuki is a very fun person to be around."
"Hmm Shizuru is a liar."
"Shizuru is not a liar when she is with Natsuki," the older girl replied softly.
--
Since Natsuki let this statement be answered with nothing but silence, Shizuru found herself rather worried when the girl stood up from her sitting position.
"Natsuki?"
"Hmm? Oh it doesn't look like there's a rescue party coming for us so... I'm just gonna make us comfy ok?"
"Ok," Shizuru answered unsure of what Natsuki actually meant.
When she found out, Shizuru found herself smiling once again at the other girl's antics.
"Luckily for us Haruka's parents are big with the big closets," Natsuki said with a wink as she started pulling large thick coats off their hangers and laying them on the floor. "I mean Haruka's probably gonna kill me for this but hey, she was probably gonna kill me anyway right?"
"Natsuki is such a rebel," Shizuru replied in a teasing tone.
"Oi... I'm just trying to make sure you're comfortable Miss Fujino no need for the teasing."
"Oh I disagree Miss Kuga," Shizuru replied. "There is always need for teasing."
"Yeah yeah, ok Shizuru you can lay down and get comfy now. I put that big fluffy coat there so we can use it for a pillow."
"Only if Natsuki takes responsibility."
"I will I will," the younger girl replied easily. "I already said my head's the one Haruka's gonna cut off when she sees what I did with these coats."
"I didn't mean that Natsuki," Shizuru said as she waited for Natsuki to lay down beside her, smiling broadly when the girl did so. "Natsuki asked me to lay with her in the dark so... I meant responsibility for the baby..."
"Shizuru!," Natsuki sputtered as she tried to get up but failed due to the cramped space and the tiny fact that Shizuru was hanging onto her arm.
The tomato faced girl then engaged in some aimless flailing of her legs and other arm as Shizuru took the opportunity to tease her further...
"Mou Natsuki plays so rough for our first time! She's supposed to be playing nicely!"
"Shizuruuuu!!!," Natsuki managed to get out before adding some other thoughts in her head...
'I didn't realise Shizuru had this side to her at all, I mean I always thought she was gorgeous and perfect but I don't quite know what to make of this girl clinging to my arm right now...'
"What will our baby have to say about this when she grows old enough for us to tell her the story?"
"What?! Stop being silly Shizuru I don't think we'll ever tell our child this story!" 'Oh my God I just admitted to the possible existence of a future child!'
"Ara, so Natsuki is thinking of having children with me. I'm so happy!"
"Gaaaahhh..." 'Oh God she realised that I just admitted to the possible existence of a future child!'
"Natsuki is so fun to tease I couldn't help it."
--
AN~ Quick updates as thanks for reviews, they are really appreciated xD
AN Re:
XxAzn HomiexX - Glad you enjoyed the 'game' chapter, I was a bit worried as to how it was gonna turn out xD;; I hope you enjoyed the Shiznat in this one!
kikyo4ever -I love them together too of course so I'm working on it ;D
lola - thank you for the review, I hope the following chapters don't disappoint!
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