Author: I'm happy to see lots of positive reviews from the last chapters; I guess the readers are excited to see what happens next. Nothing else to say but enjoy chapter 13! Thank you to hounoNOtenshi for beta-ing this.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai HiME or Lucky Channel
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Chapter 13
Sick? Shizuru!
"Shizuru, she's sick!" the blunette panicked, as she tried to take a step, only to be held back by Shizuma's hands.
"It's okay Natsuki, Shizuru's just caught a cold is all, nothing to get to worked up about, okay?" calming the blunette down, Shizuma looked into the blunette's eyes, noticing the amount of emotion reflected upon her eyes. "I've got to go and take care of something, would you go and check on Shizuru for me?" the warm smile on Natsuki's face was enough of an answer as she hasted up the stairs.
Don't worry Shizuru, Natsuki's coming!
Successfully beating the stairs, Natsuki made her way down the hallway. Her footsteps creaked against the floor as the blunette held back the urge to run straight to Shizuru's bedroom, fearing she might wake her up.
I'm almost there, wait for me Shizuru
-Previously with Mai-
"Can I ask you something, Natsuki?" soft amethyst eyes stared at the cobalt haired teen, watching as a pair of jaded eyes looked over at her in interest.
"What is it Mai?"
"How did your feelings for Shizuru begin?" hiding the faint traces of pain in her eyes, Mai did her best in keeping up a smile for the blunette.
"Hm... let's see, it was when..."
...
"I see, so she saved you when you were young?" tilting her head aside, Mai watched as the blunette let out a soft chuckle, cracking a faint smile.
"Yeah. I remember when I was young, I would close off everyone around me. When I first came into my new family, I remember the way I treated not only parents but also my sisters. I was mean and ignorant, in the end, it nearly cost my life," a cold chill ran through Natsuki's mind as the blunette curled her legs up to her chest.
"Wow."
"I had wondered in darkness for years until Shizuru shined a light through the veil. Waking up to my bad habits, I decided to become a better person, hoping to repay the kindness Shizuru showed me." a warm smile grew along Natsuki's lips as she lifted her eyes over towards the sunset, taking in the warm glow.
"Haha, you look so funny Natsuki," Mai stated amongst the moment, watching as Natsuki fell back wearing an irritated expression.
"Shut up." Natsuki growled at Mai with fierce eyes, before the pair burst into laughter.
Calming herself down, Mai turned her gaze towards the scenery as she shuffled across towards Natsuki. "You do take after your sister a lot."
"Oh really, how so?" Natsuki asked, tilting her head to the side with her jade eyes curiously staring at Mai.
"For one, you both like to save people in trouble." Giggling innocently to herself, Mai recalled the moment where she first met Natsuki.
"Haha, I guess you're right. Can I ask, Mai, when did you fall in love with me?" Natsuki watched a small blush ascend to Mai's cheeks, as the girl turned to her with soft amethyst eyes.
"It was when you saved me. I fell in love with you the moment we laid eyes upon each other." Restraining the blush on her cheeks, Mai instead found Natsuki to be blushing. "How about you Natsuki, when did you realize you were in love with Shizuru?"
"Well..."
-0-0-
Stopping outside her sister's room, Natsuki prepared to knock when the sudden voices coming from the other side peaked her curiosity.
That's Shizuru's voice, but the other sounds like...
Processing her actions before her thoughts, the blunette knocked against the door three times, waiting for an answer.
"Come in!" came the voice from the other side, issuing for the blunette to come in.
Opening the door, Natsuki found herself staring into two sets of eyes. One pair belong to Shizuru, while the other belong to the small blonde haired girl.
Alyssa...
Swallowing hard, Natsuki's eyes awkwardly averted the gaze from Alyssa, as they focused solely on Shizuru.
"Would you excuse me, oneechan?" Alyssa turned to Shizuru with cheerful eyes before bowing her head as she made her way towards the door.
Stepping aside, Natsuki's eyes caught a glimpse of sadness in Alyssa's eyes as the young girl passed by her. Watching as Alyssa closed the door behind her, Natsuki's eyes directed her attention to the honey brunette lying in bed.
"Hey Natsuki," Shizuru greeted the blunette with a smile before coughing loudly, sending Natsuki into panic.
"Are you okay? I'll get-"
"I'm fine Natsuki. Really, don't worry too much about me," calming the blunette down, Shizuru issued the blunette to take a seat on the chair beside her.
Calm yourself Kuga, helping Shizuru get better is our top priority
"How are you feeling?" taking a seat beside the bed, Natsuki leaned over with worried eyes towards the smiling honey brunette.
"I'm alright. Just caught a cold is all," Shizuru smiled in assurance, trying to relieve Natsuki's worries. The room went silent. Neither girl was making a move to start up a conversation. Shizuru looked over at Natsuki, noticing the girl's being was elsewhere.
That's right; I said I would tell her.
"Rieto... said he was sorry for what he did," unknown to Natsuki that the words slipped from her tongue effortlessly, the blunette processed her last words before looking up at Shizuru seeing the girl staring off into the distance with an 'understanding' look.
"I see. Arigatou, Natsuki," Shizuru whispered under her breath, her eyes averting towards the window. Natsuki watched as Shizuru's eyes softened as she brought her hands up against her chest.
I guess Shizuru still holds feelings for him. Damn bastard...
"Um, Shizuru?" Natsuki called out, breaking Shizuru from her trance. The blunette fiddled her fingers around at another matter that was on her mind. "Is it true, about you going to study overseas?"
"Ara, who told you that?"
"I just, overheard it from some girls," Natsuki watched in hesitation as Shizuru pondered at Natsuki's question for some time.
"I don't know," Shizuru bluntly replied, sending the blunette falling back.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Natsuki asked with a slightly enraged look while Shizuru just calmly sat there.
"Ara, not too loud Natsuki, I am sick after all," Shizuru joked, letting out a pretend cough to help quieten the blunette down.
"Oh, sorry." the blunette quietly sat back down her seat, giving Shizuru an apologetic look.
"Fufufu." Shizuru laughed at the sight of Natsuki's face.
"What?"
"Oh, it's just that your worried face hasn't changed, even after all these years" a small image of a younger Natsuki flashed through Shizuru's eyes as she compared it to the Natsuki before her.
"Baka. You haven't changed either, you still love to tease me," Natsuki joked, ignoring the small blush on her cheeks.
"Hm, but it seems you have, Natsuki."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you recall when we first met?"
We first met...
-10 years ago-
Jade eyes fixed themselves at the window, watching as their surroundings flew past. Drawing her eyes away from the window, the small blunette eyed around the inside of the limo.
It's so big, and comfy.
"We'll be arriving soon, Natsuki," the blunette stared up at the mature man with light blonde hair and sky blue eyes who just smiled at her, patting the small girl on the head.
My new father... I miss my old one.
Feeling a glimpse of sadness rolling over her mind, Natsuki held her toy 'Duran' in her hands tightly before bringing it up against her chest.
Momma... please, watch over me…
The feeling of warmth on her cheeks brought the blunette's gaze upon the honey brunette woman sitting beside her, wiping away the tear on her cheek.
"Everything will be alright Natsuki, you'll see," Shizuma's voice was sweet and motherly, much to Natsuki's liking as it reminded of her old mum.
Natsuki sat in silence until the car came to a slow as her jade eyes came across the huge gate before them. Watching as the gate departed from their view, her eyes stared out in astonishment at the house before her.
Wow...
Natsuki's eyes widened in amazement as the limousine near their destination. The closer they get, the bigger the house became. The feeling of movement from the car stopped, catching the blunette's attention as she turned to Shizuma with innocent eyes.
"Are you ready Natsuki?" taking the young blunette's hand, Shizuma slowly led the blunette outside of the car and into the new world for Natsuki.
Cautiously keeping her eyes sharp, the blunette's lifted her gaze towards the two children at the door. From what the blunette could see, both of them were girls, but looked to be of different ages. The small blonde hid behind with scared sapphire eyes of the older honey brunette girl, who stood tall and proud.
Her eyes...
Catching the blunette's attention was the colour of the honey brunette's eyes.
Red, they're the same as this woman's but... they seem, prettier...
Shizuma walked hand in hand with the discomforted blunette as she led her towards the two girls.
The blunette took a step back, feeling somewhat intimidated by the presence of the two girls. "Natsuki, these will be you're new sisters." Natsuki stared up nervously at Shizuma before following the woman's hand. "This is Alyssa, she'll be you're younger sister."
The small blonde cautiously took a step away from the honey brunette as she approached Natsuki. To the blunette's surprise, Alyssa had taken the older girl with her. "Um..." the small blonde nervously spoke as she stood before Natsuki, her hand tightly squeezed against her new sister's. "I-I'm Alyssa, n-nice to meet you..." Alyssa greeted in a rather quiet voice, to the point that the blunette almost had trouble hearing.
"And this is Shizuru, she'll be you're older sister." Shizuma brought Natsuki's attention towards the honey brunette, standing beside the Alyssa with a warm smile.
Natsuki almost gasped at the sight of Shizuru, from the distance she looked to be like any other girl, but when she found herself staring in envy of the beauty of the honey brunette, Natsuki couldn't help but fall in awe of the girl before her.
She's so... beautiful...
"I'm Shizuru, it's nice to meet you." Offering her hand out, Shizuru waited for the blunette to respond, only to find Natsuki lost in her own little world. "Hehe, Natsuki's drooling."
Natsuki immediately snapped out of her trance, wiping away the bit of saliva in haste. Natsuki's face turned into a light tinge of red when she realized that her newly older sister's antics, before taking hold of Shizuru's offered handshake. To Natsuki's surprise, she was pulled into a hug, immediately finding herself wrapped in Shizuru's arms. "O-Oi! Let go!" She protested to no avail as Shizuru blatantly ignored her.
"Fufu, Natsuki's blushing." Shizuru teased, pointing out the small blush on Natsuki's cheeks. Shizuru looked back at Alyssa, before issuing the young blonde to join in. Alyssa enthusiastically wrapped her small arms around Natsuki's waist, smiling warmly.
"Gaahhh, they won't let go!" Natsuki cried out in help, trying to remove herself from her sisters.
"Fufu. Looks like they're family already," Hiro stated out as he came up from behind of Shizuma. The couple stood there in awe at the sight of their new daughter getting 'along' with her new sisters.
-End of Flashback-
"Fufu, Natsuki's still a child at heart, isn't she?" Shizuru teased, laughing away at the blush rising to Natsuki's cheeks.
"I'm not a kid anymore! Come on Shizuru, I'm a little too old to be teased like this, you know?" Natsuki pouted, quietly looking away trying to avoid the playful eyes of her sister.
Not that I don't mind the teasing, actually…
"Fufu, Natsuki will always be little sister, won't she?" Shizuru reached her hand over to stoke Natsuki's face, but instead, her hand met by the furious hand of the blunette.
Little sister...?
"Is that how you think of me?" Natsuki muttered to herself, as she stared down at her hands in pain.
"Natsuki?" lifting her gaze, Shizuru flustered at the strange atmosphere glooming within Natsuki's eyes.
"Is that how you see me, as your sister?" raising her eyes at Shizuru, Natsuki kept a firm stare; her eyes glimpsed a sign of anger.
"Natsuki, is there something wrong?" Shizuru's eyes trembled, watching as Natsuki advanced towards her slowly.
No more hiding...
"Oneechan, why are you so cruel?" Natsuki whispered as she slowly moved from her seat towards Shizuru.
"Natsuki...?"
"You noticed everyone that love me, but you didn't notice who I love." Natsuki run her hands up the bed sheets. Her fingers slowly found themselves encased around Shizuru's cheeks. "Why wouldn't you notice me, Shizuru? Why couldn't you see my feelings?"
"Nat—" at a loss for words, Shizuru couldn't bring herself to look awayas she became lost in Natsuki's gaze.
No more pain over it...
Slowly bringing her body down upon Shizuru, Natsuki hovered her head above Shizuru's eyes, watching the fear trembling through Shizuru's eyes. A small tear fell from Natsuki down to Shizuru's cheek as the blunette leaned her head closer. "Forgive me..." Natsuki whispered, her eyes slowly closing as time itself came to a slow.
It's time Shizuru...
"...Oneechan..." Natsuki whispered against Shizuru's lips before capturing the honey brunette in warm, soft kiss. Hiding her fears away, Natsuki kept her lips locked with Shizuru's own, closing out the sound of soft whimpers coming from Shizuru amongst the kiss.
For you to see the real me...
TBC...
Omake:
Shizuru:...
Natsuki:...
Shizuru & Natsuki: We finally kissed! (Celebrates)
Shizuru: Fufu, Natsuki has finally gave in to my love .
Natsuki: What are you talking about, in the story, I'm in love with you!
Shizuru: Natsuki said she's in love with me! (Tackles Natsuki to the ground)
Natsuki: S-Shizuru, not now, don't take off my shirt! (Restrains Shizuru's hands)
Camera man: Quick, start the show!
(Fanfare)
Shizuru: HiME Channel! (Sign falls) Hiya HiME's! Welcome to another exciting episode of HiME Channel. I'm the girl you imagine your kissing whenever you're kissing your girlfriend, I'm Fujino Shizuru!
Natsuki: And I'm Kuga Natsuki, Shizuru-sama's loyal assistant. Pleasure is mine
Shizuru: Can you believe we're up to our 13th episode? The Fans must love me so much!
Natsuki: Well, this is the chapter that all the fans have been waiting for, maybe they stay tuned for that?
Shizuru:... you know, if you step one foot out of line, you will be punished later tonight (Slowly brings a leek up on screen)
Natsuki: Ahahah, anyway- (Pushes the leek back down) Time for our character profile, and today's character is... (Reads the script) No F***ing way!
Shizuru: (Leans over to read the script) Oh, it looks instead our guest is the character himself. Would you please welcome, Kanzaki Reito!
Reito: (Walks on stage, despite one getting one hand of applause from Shizuru) Good afternoon Shizuru (Kisses Shizuru's hand)
Shizuru: Ara, ara
Natsuki: (Hisses)
Shizuru: Down Natsuki, down. (Strokes Natsuki like a pet) Welcome Reito, would you be so kind as to share with us your character today?"
Reito: Of course, as most of you know I'm Reito Kanzaki, Shizuru's boyfriend in this fic. I know most of the fans hate me, but it was not my intention, it was the author. No hard feelings Natsuki?
Natsuki: None at all (Sharpens her hunting knife)
Reito: I'm currently Nineteen years old in this fic. I work at Fujino corps in my spare time and am the current vice present of the Student Council. I'm seen by most as a gentleman and am widely known to have many fangirls within the school.
Shizuru: I see, tell me Reito. What do you reckon will happen between is in the upcoming chapters?
Reito: Can't say, as anything could happen. Besides, wouldn't want to ruin it for the viewers
Shizuru: To true, thank you for having you with us Reito
Reito: No problem, no if you would excuse me, I think Natsuki is at her limits (Runs away before being chased down by an enraged Natsuki)
(Ending theme)
Shizuru: Oh dear, it seems we're out of time. Thank you for tuning and remember, A Mayo a day, keeps you in bed with Natsuki all day. Byee!
(Sign pops up)
Shizuru: (Sighes) Looks like Natsuki will be gone for awhile (Pulls out the leek) Might as well make some soup (Leaves the set)
Alyssa (From Oneechan): (Walks onto the set carrying a chibi Natsuki doll) Oneechan! (Looks around for Shizuru) Oneechan, don't you want to play tea party with me? (Continues searching) Aw, I wish you were real (Turns to the doll)
Natsuki doll: ... (Turns into a real Natsuki) Huh, what the-
Alyssa: Yay, now we can play! (Drags off the chibi Natsuki in tow)
Natsuki doll: Play what?
Alyssa: What else, make out with Natsuki!
Natsuki doll: Wait, wha-
End of Omake:
Author: Phew, I finally got this chapter off my back. Yes, finally, Natsuki kissed Shizuru while the girl wasn't sleeping, took me 13 whole chapters for that, sorry for making the fans wait that long.
Just a reminder of the facebook we have dedicated to the fanfiction of Mai HiME so be sure to check it out, the link is on my profile. Be sure to stay tuned and don't forget to read and review!