Author: I'll try to pace this story a little faster as it is indeed lagging behind, so I hope that fixes some problems. Anyway, thank you to those who reviewed and I'm happy to have finally reached the 200 review mark for one of my stories ^^. I'm sorry to the readers for taking so long in updating this chapter, it's not easy to be this far into a ShizNat sister x sister story. Nothing more to say except enjoy chapter 11! And thank you to hounoNOtenshi for beta-ing this story for me!
Disclaimer: I do not own Mai HiME or Lucky Channel; I merely imported them into my story.
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Chapter 11
It's quiet, too quiet...
Soft jade orbs shifted around the table of silence. The small blonde haired girl that was the first to come into sight, averting the blunette's gaze towards her dinner. The once cheerfully blue crystal eyes were now plagued of sadness, sending a feeling of guilt over Natsuki's mind.
Alyssa hasn't been cheerful nearly all week. I guess it's my fault for that, but...
Her gaze was directed over at the honey brunette who looked to be in the same state as Alyssa.
Shizuru's been quiet as well, she hasn't talked or smiled ever since...
The blunette's eyes stared down at the food before her, her chopsticks playing around the noodles before weakly bringing them up to her mouth, slurping down the noodles. Feeling uneasy in her stomach, the blunette excused herself from the table before walking away. Her eyes flicked to the side as she walked away, catching a small glimpse of the pair of crimson eyes staring at her before fixating themselves down at her bowl.
That's the only time Shizuru's even looked at me, even then she averts away as though she was ashamed of something.
Placing her bowl in the sink, the blunette retreated away towards her room where she confided herself to her bed. Staring up at the ceiling, she fixed her gaze into the unknown whilst her mind began to drift thoughts inside her head.
Could it be that Shizuru saw what I did...?
Her fingers traced gently around her lips, encircling around where Shizuru's lips made contact.
I can still feel it, the warmness of the kiss. Every time I close my eyes, I see myself leaning down capturing her lips in a kiss. The memory just won't go away, but why would I want it to go away?
Grabbing hold of her pillow, Natsuki snaked her arms around it in a cuddle, burying her head within the pillow's softness.
I want to forget it, as it was not right! She's my sister. I took advantage of her while she was asleep for g sake!
Tears streamed down Natsuki's cheeks as she buried her head within her pillow, blocking out the scream that followed after.
How could I do that... how could I...?
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I need to clear my mind; I need someone to talk too. But who?
A wave of guilt flooded over the blunette's mind—over the people she had hurt.
Mai's not a good person to talk to about this as she'll get upset, Alyssa and Shizuru aren't talking to me which leaves me with two people. If one person in particular were to find out of what happened with me and Alyssa she'll hate me too, which leaves me with...
Her eyes looked over at the school building, directing high above where the student council room was.
Yukino...
Sighing in defeat, the blunette walked bitterly through the empty halls, her shoes tapping a sound across the silence-filled halls. Finally, she approached the student council room. Eyeing the door, the blunette stopped all her actions.
I just hope she's in...
Knocking lightly on the door, the blunette took a deep breath whilst her hands were shaking nervously. "C-come in!"
She's in.
Opening the door, the blunette was greeted by a pair of olive green eyes nervously staring over at her before a smile trickled long the girl's lips. "Oh, Natsuki! Sorry but Shizuru isn't in right now."
"It's okay. Where is she, Yukino?" the blunette asked as she approached the mousy like girl.
"She's gone with Haruka to inspect the schools clubs." a glint of sadness flickered in Yukino's eye as the blunette quickly picked up on what Yukino was thinking.
Clubs, I never knew this school had clubs. Then again, they're probably clubs that are of no interest to me.
"I see."
"Natsuki, did something happen to Shizuru-san?" Yukino asked slowly. Jade drenched eyes widened slightly, shifting away from Yukino staring away in sadness.
"Y-yeah," Natsuki couldn't bring herself to tell Yukino what had happened. The feeling of betraying Shizuru's trust would leave a disgusting taste in her mouth.
"She hasn't been herself as of late. She's doing the paper work as though she were just a robot."
Shizuru's been doing paperwork, something is wrong...
"She gets extremely timid when Reito is present and according to her popularity polls, her popularity has been plummeting down." A worried look was written all over Yukino.
"Excuse me Yukino, I was wondering if-" the door slid open as Shizuru and Haruka entered, expecting the brunette to be alone, only to pause at the presence of Natsuki.
A tense moment of silence fell upon the atmosphere, as awkward stares were shared. "Uh, excuse me Natsuki." Yukino bowed her head before quickly making her way out of the room grabbing Haruka along the way.
Shizuru...
The room fell into an eerie silence, Natsuki's eyes shifted away nervously while Shizuru tried to focus her attention elsewhere. Walking to her desk, Shizuru placed the papers aside before cornering her eyes over at Natsuki. "How was school today?"
"It was alright, I guess. How about you?" the blunette averted her happiness aside from hearing Shizuru's voice as she found a look of sadness upon Shizuru.
"It was okay."
"Natsuki?" Shizuru's eyes softened, as she couldn't hide away the sadness. Natsuki paused for a moment as she watched Shizuru taking a seat beside her.
I've got a bad feeling about this...
"That night when I came home after," Shizuru paused trying to say the right words, "did you—" Natsuki swallowed whatever last bit of saliva in her mouth as what would come out next would leave the blunette cold. "Did you kiss me?"
Oh Bob...
"W-what? What do you mean?" Natsuki nervously asked, her hands were trembling slightly.
"I just thought I—" Shizuru paused, momentarily allowing Natsuki to quickly charge in.
"I do recall you drinking Shizuru, you probably just imagined it." Natsuki laughed nervously, trying to make it sound like a joke. Shizuru's facial expressions shifted around.
"Hm, perhaps you're right. It must have been my imagination. I'm sorry for accusing you of something like that Natsuki." Natsuki could see Shizuru's spirit returning by the look of Shizuru's smile. "Can you forgive me?"
"It's okay Shizuru, you don't have to apologise." Natsuki chuckled lightly, feeling the heat from her cheeks fading away.
"Natsuki must think I'm weird, to imagine of Natsuki kissing me." the blush came rushing back on Natsuki's cheeks; however Shizuru was in her own little world that she did not notice it. "Gomen nasai"
"S-Shizuru, stop apologising, okay. If anything I-" before Natsuki's heart could continue, her mind snapped into action slipping her hand into her pocket before dialing a few keys, followed by her ring tone playing. "Got to take this, sorry." Natsuki bowed her head as she pulled out her phone. Hastily making her way out, Natsuki ran around the corner closing her phone as a deep sigh escaped from her lips.
Man that was awkward. Thank you for the fake call, it saved my hide.
The blunette walked lonely through the halls, hearing the only sound coming from her footsteps as she hung her eyes low.
Shizuru had no right to apologize, if anything I'm the one who has to apologize. I doubt she really swallowed that lie, but it's a lie that's keeping my life from going completely fuc-
"K-Kuga." the blunette paused for a moment, lifting her head over her shoulder at the jet-black haired boy standing before her.
Speaking of the Takeda...
"W-would you like to go on a dat-" before Takeda could finish stuttering, a solid blow to the gut from Natsuki's foot sent him collapsing to the ground.
"For the millionth time, NO!" making her statement clear, Natsuki walked away with a smile on her face at her success.
Now back to beating myself up over-
"Kuga!"
Fuck, will people just leave me!
Spinning around with her foot drawn back, readying for another kick, the blunette found herself frozen in fear at the person before her.
You!
"Reito." she said dryly. "What do you want?" withdrawing from her battle stance, the blunette shot a death glare towards the obsidian haired boy who just smiled it off.
"Forgive me for bothering you, but," Reito paused, dropping his smile replacing it with a serious look, "I was wondering, how Shizuru was doing?"
How's she doing? After what you did you little bastard, she's-
"Not too good, after what you did you bastard!" Natsuki shouted at top of her lungs, drenching the atmosphere around her in anger as she restrained her fists to her sides.
"I see... she told you about that, huh?" a wave of guilt flooded across Rieto's face, his eyes shifted uncomfortably as he used no effort in concealing his true emotions. "I guess she's mad at me huh? Then again, I'm mad at myself too."
What is he going on about?
"I envy you Natsuki." Natsuki's eyes glint a shot of shock and confusion to Rieto's words, but continued to mask it with anger. "I've seen the way Shizuru looks at you, the way her eyes see you, they don't shine the same emotions at me."
...What?
"The relationship you two share, it's something to be desired by all. I doubt now she'll ever look at me again, but Natsuki I'm really sorry for what I did to Shizuru. Please tell her I'm sorry and if she can forgive me."
As much as I hate this bastard... right now, Shizuru needs to get better and that's what matters.
"I will." slipped off Natsuki's tongue, causing an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
"Arigato, Kuga." bowing his head, Reito made his exit leaving Natsuki alone to curse herself for her good deed.
I'm not seriously going to tell Shizuru that... am I?
Sighing in exhaustion from this day, Natsuki continued her walk through the halls making her way towards the doors when she heard voices coming from the bathroom.
"Hey, did you hear the rumor about Shizuru?" backing against the wall, Natsuki leaned in towards the bathroom door as she listened.
"You mean the one with her and Reito?"
"No, the other one"
Other one?
"You mean the one how when she finishes school, she's going to study overseas?"
"Yeah, can you believe it? Aw, I wonder how Reito is going to feel about this?" deciding she had listened enough, Natsuki hurried away leaving herself to drown in what she had heard.
Shizuru's going to study overseas? I've never heard of this, maybe it's just a rumour. Yeah, that's it a rumor...
Her eyes were averted elsewhere, that she didn't see the maroon haired girl appearing before her. Colliding with the person in front, Natsuki fell aback only to find her hand being grabbed as it pulled her away from her fate. "Are you alright Natsuki?"
"Ow, yeah I'm fine Mai... Mai?" Natsuki almost jumped from her skin at seeing her maroon haired companion.
"What was that for?" Mai leaned over at Natsuki glaring at her with serious eyes.
"I-it's nothing, I've just been having a rough day is all."
"I see. Is there anything I can help you with?" Mai noticed a shift in Natsuki's expressions, taking the hint that something was wrong.
"No. I'm alright, thanks though"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." turning away, Natsuki continued on with Mai scurrying behind.
"Did something happen with you and Shizuru?" Mai asked as she approached Natsuki from the side, watching the small shift in the blunette's face. "You kissed her didn't you?" Mai asked after a long pause.
Shit!
Natsuki stopped on the spot, feeling sharp pieces of ice running through her blood. Natsuki's jade eyes slowly lifted themselves over at Mai who was in a state of shock. "Am I that easy to read?"
"How did she react?"
"She doesn't know." Mai tilted her head to Natsuki's reply.
"Was she," Mai paused before continuing, "Better than me?" Mai encircled her arms around her chest trying to look sad.
How can Mai say that, Shizuru wasn't even awake when I kissed her... oh wait...
"She was asleep when I kissed her." Natsuki's face was tainted with dark red, continuing her course of walking.
"Natsuki, wait up!" Mai shouted for the blunette.
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What a day, Shizuru was close to finding out my secret, Reito trying to get me to apologize on his behalf and now Mai knows about what I did to Shizuru. It can't get any worse...
Kicking her shoes off, Natsuki's legs gingerly dragged themselves towards her bed before the vibration coming from her pocket caught her attention. Flipping her phone out, what caught her attention was whom it was from.
Fuck, it better not get worse. Hm, a text message from Yukino, I wonder what it could be?
Reading the message, Natsuki found her cheeks burning up as she fell back against her bed.
A DATE?
TBC...
Omake:
Shizuru: HiME Channel! (Sign falls) Hiya HiME's! Welcome to HiME Channel, your onestop place for the best show in the world! I'm the courageous navigator, Fujino Shizuru!
Natsuki: And I'm Shizuru's trusty right hand woman, Kuga Natsuki
Shizuru: Can you believe it, we're back!
Natsuki Tell me about it, I had a lot of free time since HiME Channel was put on hold. So Shizuru, what did you get up to?
Shizuru:... Uh, you know me, lots of stuff, ahaha..ha..ha...
Natsuki: Um, well let's get started. So Shizuru, what's on today's topic for HiME Channel
Shizuru: Oh, who cares!
Natsuki: I beg your pardon?
Shizuru: I mean, all I did during the break was work, sleep and whenever Natsuki wasn't busy, take her to heaven and back!
Natsuki: Ah, Shizuru you shouldn't be talking about things like that on TV.
Shizuru: Did I get a vacation, no! Since when is the company going to give me a vacation, huh?
Natsuki: Well Shizuru... huh? (Stage man whispers to her) Oh, okay. Good news Shizuru, you'll be getting that Vacation you've wanted!
Shizuru: Those good for nothing money makers can- wait, what did you say?
Natsuki: The producers had a change of heart after seeing you in... ahem, your anime counterpart. Anyway, they've decided that the next episode of HiME will take part overseas
Shizuru: Really, yay! So where are we going then?
Natsuki: We're going to the land of down under, Australia!
Shizuru:... Australia? What's that?
Natsuki: It's a country
Shizuru: Oh, Australia, I heard you can ride in the kangaroos there
Natsuki: Um, I don't think you can do that Shizu-
(Ending theme)
Shizuru: Oh dear, we're out of time already? Okay, the next episode of HiME Channel will be in Australia so all HiME fans better stay tuned!
Natsuki: So until then,
Shizuru: Byeee!
(Sign pops up)
Natsuki: I heard it's quite hot in Australia, so be sure to bring lots of sunscreen Shizuru
Shizuru: Oh, I will... (Stares at Natsuki with perverted eyes)
Natsuki: Ah Shizuru, what are you...?
Shizuru: I better start putting some on Natsuki right now...
Natsuki: No, Shizuru why are you taking your clothes off. Shizuru, Shiz-
End of Omake:
Author: I apologize once again to the readers for this late update, this chapter has been really bugging me and I'm surprised I've been able to update it. Well like HiME Channel said, next episode will be in Australia, so if there any authors who want to appear on the next episode, feel free to PM me or leave it in a review. Thanks for reading and be sure to leave a review!