Do not own Mai-HiME characters. Blah blah blah…

I think this one is even longer than the previous one… I didn't even know I could go on any further than that but hey. Anyway, I'm actually pretty happy with how this turned out. (More A/N's at the bottom of the page, but you have to read at least the flashback to understand it).

Oh, btw, for those interested, i finally put in my "homepage" in my profile.

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Chapter 9: Kiss You

It hurt to blink. It hurt to keep her dry eyes open. She tried to close them, and it helped, but they wouldn't stay closed for long as her restless conscience pried them open again. Her forest green eyes stared straight onto the white plane of her bedroom ceiling. She spent the night observing it as the night covered it with shadows, then as the sun painted it with its warm pastels.

She wanted to sleep, but, of course, she couldn't. Thoughts and questions didn't necessarily race through her head that night. In fact, she would have felt better if that was indeed the cause for her sleepless night. But, alas, she found no reasons besides having something she didn't understand tug at her mind – a question that refused to be coherent.

Her sheets and blanket were rumpled and laying in all directions across her bed: evidence of her troublesome night. Eventually she just gave up, rolled onto her back, arms spread straight out to each side of the mattress, and eyes glued open.

With a long sigh, she finally saw it time to crane her neck and glance at the clock beside her bed: 8:20am. She groaned within her throat as she, with effort, pulled herself from beneath the covers. Normally, she would refuse to rise this early in the morning (unless if for someone she really cared for), but she wasn't sure if she could spend another minute lying in the same position without feeling antsy.

Lumbering loosely to the door, she reached one hand to the door's brass handle. Her hand an inch away, the door creaked and swung. Jade eyes widened as the large plank of painted wood closed in: Bump!

"Argh!!" Letting out a string of curses, Natsuki covered her still-colored nose with both hands as it throbbed with renewed pain. Clamped eyelids opened and glared at Shizuru's startled face.

"Oh! Natsuki! I'm so sorry!" Shizuru exclaimed as she closed the door and hastily stepped forth to take Natsuki's face in her hands.

Natsuki retreated one step, her face still contorting from the pain. "No! I-I mean, don't worry about it. It'll feel better in a minute." Her words came out muffled through her hands as her eyes uncomfortably turned to a corner of the room.

"Maybe. But I won't feel better unless I see for myself." Shizuru's soft, small hands enveloped the younger girl's wrists. Natsuki just started at her, not removing her hands. Shizuru closed the distance between them a few more inches as she concernedly whispered, "Please, Natsuki...?"

The tone of the Kyoto-ben accent nearly made Natsuki's knees lose their strength to hold her upright. Wordlessly, she let Shizuru's hands pull her own away.

Shizuru intently examined the younger girl's small nose, making Natsuki's face grow pinker by the second. "W-well?" Natsuki asked impatiently, embarrassed. "It's ok, right?"

"It's just a little redder, but yes. With more ice, it should be back to normal soon." Shizuru then calmly lifted her crimson eyes to get a full look at her. Natsuki stared at her bewilderedly when the other girl gasped. "Natsuki, what happened? Your eyes are almost as red as your nose! You look like you cried all night!" The slender hands came back up and cupped Natsuki's face.

"What? No, no. Nothing like that, I just couldn't sleep last night, that's all." The cobalt-haired girl explained, raising her hands to remove Shizuru's.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Shizuru murmured as she gently kissed one eyelid. Natsuki's arms halted in mid-air, her body motionless and lips slightly parted at the sweet contact. "Perhaps I had kept you up too late last night." The older girl's soft voice was like immersing one's body in the air of a warm summer day: even though Natsuki remained still, her muscles became weak. She tried to respond No, but it came out as a barely audible whisper. "And I hope this," – Shizuru kissed the tip of her nose – "will make it feel better." Shizuru smiled her irresistible smile before her eyes, on their own accord, traveled lower.

Natsuki's heart sped up as she watched those wine-red eyes grow smoky. She shuddered and held her breath when a warm thumb lightly caressed her lips from one corner to the other, then back again. "Shi…" Natsuki hardly moved her lips as she whispered, entranced by the other girl's darkened eyes.

"Mmnn…" Shizuru droned briefly at the feeling of a soft breath warming the pad of her thumb. The sensation she felt against her thumb at the mere touch against her lips was as addicting as stroking the softest of furs. She wanted to take advantage of its potential like she had the previous night, but she held herself back and decided on something else: "Oh my dear…" She swooned breathily. "It's amazing how just your lips alone can push just the right buttons!" She fanned herself with her hand.

The impassioned expression on the older girl's face alone was enough to make Natsuki's face burn. "Shizuru!" She scolded. 'Don't ever do that again!' She almost yelled, but she had said those words to her so many times in the past that she knew they would fall on deaf ears again. Instead, she just pouted, "If you're going to do something, don't just stand there all stupid-like! Just do it!"

Shizuru smirked, "What did you think I was going to do?" She asked innocently.

"N-No! Just… Nothing!" The navy-haired girl growled in frustration, finally turning away from the relentless women next to her.

Said girl giggled. "Oh please? I'm really curious! Did it involve the pressing of lips? Experimental touches? The gradual removal of clothing?"

By now, Natsuki had pressed her palms into her ears. "No! Stop! Stop!!" She yelled before turning to Shizuru's highly amused face, gazing at her incredulously. "Have you gained absolutely no maturity these last few years??"

The older girl laughed. "I guess you're right, please forgive me. I don't know what's come over me lately. As I said, I guess it's been so long since I had seen you that perhaps my more teasing side is making up for lost time." After hearing Natsuki's response of "yeah well…" and taking a moment to gaze at the navy-haired girl's pout-like expression, she continued, "Will Natsuki be taking a shower before she comes to breakfast?"

"Yeah." Natsuki answered non-enthusiastically, unconsciously reaching to rub the sleep out of her eye with her fist, like a cat washing its face. She turned and eyed her. "Why did you come here?"

Shizuru smiled sheepishly - a very rare sight: Natsuki wasn't sure if the older girl presented it to her purposely or if trained. "Forgive me. I was just passing by and I was curious as to whether Natsuki was still asleep."

Natsuki's brow quirked, "Were you going to watch me sleep? Again?"

"No, just peek in for a few seconds, then leave." Shizuru shifted to tighten her robe. "Would you have minded if I were going to watch you?" She asked curiously.

Natsuki paused, looking away from the slightly taller girl. "No." She answered softly, pausing again. "It wouldn't have been the first time waking up and seeing you watching over me." She added.

"Why Natsuki, you make me sound like I'm your guardian angel." A smile grazed Shizuru's lips; not quite the serious kind, yet not quite the teasing kind either.

Natsuki was silent, then she did something Shizuru didn't at all expect: she chuckled. The ocher-haired girl thought that she would probably deny it or at least remain silent and just look away as though pretending like she didn't hear it. Surprised, she just watched Natsuki turn and take a seat on the bed. "I guess, in hindsight, that's what you've always been to me." She stated, not looking up to meet Shizuru's gaze, just staring at her bare feet.

When she realized that all she got in return was silence, Natsuki looked up curiously to see what the other girl's crimson orbs might obtain. What she saw, however, she couldn't quite describe; it greatly resembled the expression Shizuru had given her when she had told her it was okay, that she shouldn't cry; that she had forgiven her for her sins in Natsuki's name and for her love, all those years ago.

"Oh… Natsuki…" Shizuru whispered, still gazing at her as though she were the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on. She turned away, the expression never wavering. "Here I am, being the most unruly girl I could be, and yet here you are, being the sweetest, most gentle girl I could ever hope to know." Her comment was guilt-ridden but gratified at the same time.

Natsuki only pinked as she too looked down. 'That would be some role-change.' She thought with a bemused smirk, remembering how unruly she had been and still was. She was going to speak her thoughts, but the silence had dragged on too long now. (At least that was her excuse.) "I should get in that washroom; I'm getting tired of feeling tired." She almost mumbled from fatigue.

Shizuru grinned lightly, finding the younger girl's use of language just now rather adorable. "Very well, whenever Natsuki is ready, she can come find me downstairs and she and I can have breakfast together."

"I don't want to hold you up; you can start without me, you know." The navy-haired girl stated.

Shizuru smiled. "Yes, but I'd rather not have you eating alone, for that will make me feel like a terrible hostess." When she saw that Natsuki was about to protest again, she continued, "Perhaps I can have the breakfast sent to my room and you can join me there later?" She suggested kindly.

Knowing that Shizuru was a hard person to refuse and an even harder person to be refuse from, Natsuki nodded in defeat. "Fine. You sure you can wait that long?"

"My paperwork always makes the time go by much faster." The ocher-haired girl replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "But don't take too long now; otherwise I may think you'll have drowned yourself and have to jump into the tub with you and give you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation." She winked suggestively.

Natsuki could feel the heat start to radiate from her face. "J-just get back to work-er-whatever it is that you do will you!?" She commanded, trying in vain to hide her face behind her curtain of cobalt hair.

Shizuru giggled. "Very well," She was about to make her way back to the door when she stopped and turned, an intent look beneath her tawny bangs. Slightly taken aback by the sudden change of mood about the older woman's visage, Natsuki just looked back up at her with bewilderment - as though to ask, "What's the matter with you?"

Wordlessly, the older woman gracefully strode forth. As she parted and kneeled between Natsuki's legs, the seated girl felt herself being trapped yet unwilling to move. Her heart began to race anxiously as she dumbly watched the austere expression of the other girl's face lean closer and finally press her lips fully and passionately against her own. She shivered in response to the soft moan from Shizuru's throat and the breath that tickled her cheek.

It really amazed her that no matter how much the woman might infuriate her with her teasing remarks, what she felt in the kiss was what she felt in Shizuru, making it so hard to deny her of anything…

8888

Shizuru gently closed the door behind her, smiling to herself and the wonderful sensation still lingering upon her lips. The kiss they shared hadn't lasted long - perhaps a couple seconds - but it was enough for Shizuru, knowing that the girl behind that door had returned her kiss as confidently as she could muster.

The tawny-haired girl had to hold herself back when she saw the thoughtful and accepting look in those jade eyes; she wanted to give herself the chance of reliving what she and the younger girl had done in the flowery field the night before. Knowing that doing so would only make her feel greedy and place Natsuki in perhaps yet another awkward situation, she pulled herself away, leaving her with a mere caress across the cheek.

Though Natsuki's eyes provided her with much joy, it also sent a painful wave of discontentment through chest: she had told Natsuki that she would take care of her own personal matters concerning Reito and the marriage; but she wasn't totally certain if she could do such a thing. As Natsuki must have realized, her uncle was a very intimidating person and cared much for the family name and its honor.

'I hate feeling like I'm simply leading her on, but it's certainly not as if I'm lying about how I feel for her.' Shizuru tried to explain to herself. Her troubled blood-red eyes closed tightly shut as she remembered Reito's words during their evening out the previous day...

8888Flashback8888

"Please, call me Shizuru." The tawny-haired girl asked kindly over the candlelight.

The boy across the table nodded and smiled. "If you call me Reito," he requested.

She nodded in return, her perfect smile as charming as ever. "So, Reito, do you really remember me being such a catch that you're willing to agree to such a bond with me?" The elegantly-dressed woman asked as she seemly centered the linen napkin on her lap before laying her clasped-hands upon it.

"I do remember you being every bit of what every man would want in a woman, yes; though I did not expect you to grow even more beautiful than before like you have." Reito answered as though it was merely a comment, complete with a warm, soft smile.

Shizuru smiled despite herself. "Just as charming as always, I should have known." After rewarded an appreciative smile, she continued, "I'm surprised you've not already caught yourself a seamless woman of your own by now: all the girls would swoon over you at the Academy."

"As they would you," Reito countered, followed by a laugh which Shizuru echoed.

"Yes, perhaps that's true." The young woman knew that it was. "But that was just because they looked up to me as their upperclassman, nothing more." Even if that was the case in that matter, Shizuru knew that whatever their true feelings were, the Student Council President would only look at them as her lowerclassmen looking for guidance. Her heart was already stolen by someone else.

"And a fine role model you were." The taller boy smiled.

Shizuru only smiled back. She wasn't sure if he was totally correct with that comment; images of blood and screams for mercy flashed in her mind; but she immediately chose not to think of the details. "Reito, may I ask you something?" She asked after taking a sip of her red wine.

"Certainly,"

Hesitating, she idly fingered the edge of the linen tablecloth. The thought of the question alone made her feel somewhat foolish, but she forced herself to ask, "Do you truly see a prosperous future with me? Or were you… - and forgive me if this sounds absurd -… influenced?"

Reito observed her with curious surprise. "Influenced? As in duped?"

"No, no. Nothing like that," The crimson-eyed woman assured with a shake of her head. This was what she feared about the question: she knew many men may take it the wrong way when she said "Influenced," but she knew well that her former Vice President was all but stupid and naïve. (Of course, there were a few times when the coal-haired boy would casually stride into the boardroom, unwittingly interrupting an important conversation between her and the jade-eyed delinquent and never realize it. But, it had been five years since, so surely the personal experience gained during that time would benefit him.) "It's just that I have no doubt my mother and uncle have become somewhat desperate by now; I've turned down so many bachelors…" She explained, drifting off thoughtfully.

"Ah," He nodded, "So they know you play hard-to-get, hm? Well, I'm not surprised – you've always been that way during school. But to answer you're question," He seemed to hesitate, as though unsure of his answer. "Yes and no." When Shizuru regarded him bemusedly, he continued: "You're uncle did contact me and told me of your current plans concerning your search for an eligible bachelor. He did also request that I come and consider possibly being your match since he knew of our history together." He explicated light-heartedly as though they were simple facts.

Shizuru nodded but still sighed sullenly, leaning back in her comfortable, finely carved chair. "Of course…" She didn't mean for the thought to come aloud, nor did she notice; she was far too lost in her own struggling thoughts.

Noticing the rare sight that was the distressed look in the woman's eyes, Reito leaned forward over the table, speaking and gazing at her concernedly. "However, I didn't come because of that – that's why I said "no" as well. Shizuru, you are an honorable, beautiful and successful woman and I would love to be given the chance to make you happy." He stated honestly, making Shizuru look back up to him, taken aback by his words. "I mean, I remember the rumors of us dating in school and how everyone else thought we made a charming couple; what if it's true? I know I had my interests in Tokiha-san, but, I've been thinking, what of the possibility with us? What if it's better than either of us thought it would be? I wouldn't mind at least giving it a try."

Shizuru still felt herself inwardly stunned, but tried to seem as nonchalant and considerate as she could. 'Where in the world did this come from? I never even remember him taking all that much interest in me when we were together. I can definitely tell he's serious; the look in his eyes right now… so warm and hopeful… it's so strange… As much as I hate to prolong something such as this, I can't very well say no to him, not right now; I need more time to think of how to go about this… how to end it without putting too much on the line… Natsuki…'

"Shizuru? Is something wrong?"

The woman in question seemed to jump at the interruption but, with expert skill, immediately regained her poised composure. "No, of course not, Reito." She promised in her confident tone. "I'm touched that you've thought so much of me for this. However, it's simply that you know I was never the type to rush into things, so, if you don't mind…" She requested as uprightly as she could.

Reito nodded unwearyingly. "Of course, I wouldn't blame you needing the slack after being courted by so many bachelors." He smiled his charming smile again, which Shizuru responded in kind. The woman across the table noticed a sense of curiosity growing in Reito's façade and bid him ask whatever was on his mind: "I'm sorry if I'm prying into forbidden territory, but, how long has Natsuki been with you before I came? Is she your check-off system for your other bachelors?" He asked jokingly.

Shizuru laughed despite herself again. "She hasn't been here that long; I only invited her a few days ago, but I guess you could say that about her." It was ironic really – if there were ever a time Natsuki would be part of a check-off system, it would have to be when the older girl had compared other boys or girls to her. The difference between Natsuki Kuga and the boys and girls to her would be that - apart from Natsuki – the boxes with the question "Does this boy/girl make your heart race with longing?" next to it would be left unchecked. "I guess I've just grown so exhausted after so many suitors claiming to be my perfect match and yet fall short of certain things I truly desire. I've never needed her by my side so badly." She confessed, the tip of her finger tracing the rim of her near-empty wine-glass.

Reito smiled as though pleased for her to have someone so close. "A friend in need is a friend indeed." He chuckled, taking a sip from his own glass.

Shizuru let herself smirk, lifting her glass so that to finish the rest. "You have no idea." She murmured.

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It was almost too much to bear - knowing that he was so serious and wasn't being told what to do like most of the others. She felt bad for him; he seemed to be trying so hard to make something work between them but she knew it was futile.

At the end of that evening together with him, they had kissed: it was at the door of his bedroom, she had wished him goodnight, he wished her the same, then, she recognized "the look" in his eye. "It may be bad luck to break the "first date" tradition." He had exclaimed. She let him lean down towards her; she leaned up to meet him at the last minute - she didn't want him to feel as though he wasn't desirable. He was desirable (in her view; in the view of an everyday girl) but he wasn't desirable for her.

The kiss itself was, of course, chaste but meaningful - the typical "first date" kiss. Shizuru very willingly let him take lead. When they pulled away they both smiled, wished each other another goodnight, and parted. If Shizuru hadn't discovered her feelings and emotions concerning love all those years ago, she knew she would have then - even if Reito seemed more experienced and relaxed than Natsuki, what she felt in his lips lacked so much more.

Something had swelled in her chest then as she strode away. When she touched her lips, the swelling grew. "Natsuki…" The name quietly burst from her throat. It was then that she knew nothing could hold herself back; that she needed the embrace of that other girl. Though she wasn't at all sure if she would receive it, she was so happy when she got that and was allowed to give more.

Now, back in her own bedroom, waiting for Natsuki to return from the washroom as she said she would, she tried to do the paperwork she said she'd do. Several minutes had already passed and the food was recently delivered on a beautifully etched metal tray placed on one side of the bed. She failed somewhat miserably to concentrate as the memory of the younger girl's lips made her feel insatiable, but she tried to control her feelings and thoughts…

Thoughts of her wrapping her arms around the slick skin… of pressing her against her while feeling the contours of her body… of wantonly kissing and suckling on her neck and shoulder… of pressing her against the moistened wall, holding her in place as she travels down… of turning her light protests into cries for more and more…

Shizuru gasped as she surfaced from her heated imaginations. Blushing, she looked down at her silky nightgown/robe ensemble and silently gasped again when she noticed that her fingers were dangerously close to the apex of her legs. She quickly pulled her hand away and mutely scolded herself. What if Natsuki had walked in? Besides, she had already done such things perhaps one too many times when she was in her adolescence with Natsuki.

Still finding herself to be a bit uncomfortable, she stood up and walked around her white, queen-sized bed to her nightstand where her glass of cold water stood. She took a sip and exhaled at the cold sensation riding down her throat - that helped a great deal. She then gently leaned her cheek onto the condensed side of the glass, feeling it chill the side of her face. She stared blindly but thoughtfully at where the carpet met the wall.

She couldn't let herself succumb to such desires so easily; she had done it before, she could surely do it again. A grin let itself form upon her face: it amazed her that it had been five whole years since she and Natsuki had spent time together like this, and yet, nothing of what she felt had changed. She had assumed that if they had spent such a long time apart, perhaps the affection and passion that she felt for the younger girl would fade. But, she knew the second that she saw Natsuki's face when she first came that that would not be an option.

The tawny-haired girl had hoped that Natsuki would indeed help her in keeping her good sense through the collection of men (to be the human check-off system, as Reito had suggested). But, apparently, the outcome of that notion was not in her favor. Shizuru then grinned, touching her lips with the tips of her fingers – or maybe it was.

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"Shizuru?" Natsuki called after hesitantly knocking on Shizuru's bedroom door.

"Come in." She heard the older girl call back. After flicking her damp hair over her shoulder, she casually strode in. Her eyes immediately found the woman seated gracefully on the edge of the bed.

Shizuru greeted her with a warm smile before gesturing to the tray of food sitting next to her. The older girl had said something but apparently it fell on deaf ears as Natsuki immediately dug in – she had been starving ever since she finished washing her hair. Shizuru only giggled before going back to sorting the papers on her desk. "Natsuki?"

"Mn-hm?" The cobalt-haired girl answered through a mouthful of food.

Shizuru paused for a moment, giving herself some time before speaking. "Reito and I will most likely be spending another day together. We haven't made any plans, but I just want to make sure that you'll be okay."

Natsuki looked up at her; the rate of her chewing slowed down to nothing as she studied the older woman's caring expression. With a few crestfallen blinks, her gaze cast down. "Um, okay." Her response sounded as though it was a question, and Shizuru caught it and she knew what Natsuki was thinking.

Guilt fell over her, but she knew she couldn't help it, not in this point in time. With a remorsefully muted sigh, she reached for her car keys splayed on the surface of her desk. "Since I don't know how long we're going to be, I want to give you the keys to my car." She tossed the keys within a foot of Natsuki's reach on the bed. "I know that even you can't stay outside and work on a motorcycle for that long, at least not when it's your own. So, of course, I want to grant you a little more access than that." The tall beauty enlightened.

Natsuki took the keychain in her hands, eyeing it for a moment. "Where can I go?" She asked, not looking up. The absence of a proper license didn't daunt her nor did it seem to Shizuru. Even though she didn't have one, it didn't mean she lack the simple knowledge of how to drive. She inwardly laughed at the memory of the summer where Shizuru taught her how to drive in an open parking lot while Natsuki in turn, taught her how to ride. (Shizuru still had only a little ways to go since motorcycles where much more dangerous than cars).

"You can go back to my house and play with Dhuran if you want. You can take him on a walk or do whatever you wish." Shizuru smiled, already picturing how much the younger girl would enjoy it and take her mind off of Reito and herself.

At least that brought a flicker of a smile on the other girl's lips before she tucked it into her jean pocket. "Okay. I'm still a little stiff from all that I did with the bike yesterday, so getting out might do me some good, I guess." She reasoned, then paused as she brought another strawberry to her mouth. "Um…" She started, still refusing to look up, "I thought that you were going to try to… you know… with the whole 'Reito' thing and all…" Jade eyes finally glanced up.

Shizuru sighed dolefully; she was just waiting for that to come. "I know." She stepped over to Natsuki and kneeled so that she was sitting on the floor next to the other girl's legs, her own curled underneath her. "And that hasn't changed. I'm not purposely dawdling, I just…" The crimson orbs downcast before she laid her head against one of Natsuki's thighs. "I just wish this was as easy for me as leaving the Student Council Presidency had seemed."

She remembered the night when Haruka and Yukino had confronted her, when she was so willing to hand her duties over to the Head of Security, so that she could remain by Natsuki's side. There were so many times when she was more than ready to give up everything; to not have to sit through each Council meeting and instead spend her time making sure her dearest person wasn't hurt. She only stayed for Natsuki's convenience.

Shizuru knew that she could live losing literally all that her family had given her as long as she was with the woman she was holding onto at that very moment – she just preferred not going down that route, if possible. "When I get the chance, I'll speak to my mother first. I know she'll listen to me."

"O-…okay…" Natsuki mumbled. It took her a few seconds, but after managing to bring up her nerve, she spoke again, "L-look, I know I can be very… um… impatient, and… I-I don't want you to stress yourself out about this… just for me…" Shizuru was about to speak, but the navy-haired girl interrupted as more words came to her mind: "I guess I'm just… I guess I just worry a lot more when it comes to you…" She confessed, her voice drifting off.

Shizuru smiled at Natsuki's words. "Thank you for being so understanding." She murmured, sighing contently as she shifted the weight of her head on Natsuki's knee. "If it weren't for the possibility of a federal search to be called, I would take you away so that it would be just us and I could shower you with kisses." The next moment made her beam as Natsuki immediately began to squirm underneath her.

"Ah-erm-ahem-well, uh-thanks for letting me borrow your car, Shizuru. Would you mind writing me some directions to your house?" Natsuki stammered awkwardly as she tried to disperse the redness gathering at her cheeks before the ocher-haired girl could look at her.

"Of course," Shizuru answered with a giggle. Rising gracefully from the floor, she sauntered back over to her desk for her paper and pen. As she waited, Natsuki absentmindedly stared at Shizuru's characteristically smooth yet almost urgently-paced penmanship. From where she sat, she couldn't see the woman's handwriting, only the flicking tip of the fountain pen as the point scratched down the paper. She definitely seemed to have the blood of a businesswoman in her.

Naturally, Shizuru's handwriting was like Japanese calligraphy; immaculate and fluid despite its rapid pace – the total inverse of Natsuki's own handwriting ability. When the cobalt-haired girl finally received the instructions, she folded and stuffed both the paper and the car keys into her pocket. She mumbled her thanks, popped a few more bites of food into her mouth, and went for the door.

However, before she stepped through, something still hung in Natsuki's mind. She hesitantly turned and wordlessly gazed at the woman who looked back at her curiously. "Um, Shizuru," she started apprehensively, "I… still stand by what I said earlier, but I want to just say that this is your life, you know. You can make it what you want, so when it comes to telling people what you want, why don't you just say it?" The further Natsuki carried in her words, the more stern her eyes became upon the older girl.

Shizuru just gazed at her for a moment almost comprehensively, as though realizing the truth behind the younger girl's words. Then, she seemed to smile softly as though proud of something. "Ah yes, one of my favorite things about Natsuki's character: so indomitable." She sighed almost dreamily, leaning her cheek into her palm.

"Ugh, never mind!" Natsuki sighed exasperatedly. "I'll be back later, call me if you need anything." She finished in her monotonous tone, closing the door behind her.

As Shizuru heard the retreating footsteps fade to nothingness, the smile left. "Why don't you just say it?" The refined woman sighed almost morosely. 'That is the question, isn't it?' She thought to herself. She wished she knew an answer.

She indolently went to dress herself in her suitable day-clothing. After letting her silk robe fall from her shoulders and ripple into a semi-circle at her feet, she reached back with effort to the small zipper of her gown. Shizuru wished Natsuki was still around to help her lower the zipper. When the tawny-haired girl finally did, she noticed that the zipper track ended almost below the small of her back. Out of curiosity, she craned her neck and looked at herself in her tall mirror. A smirk formed on her lips; perhaps that would have been too much for Natsuki's little modest-self to handle.

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"That woman just… boggles me in ways I can't even describe!" Natsuki exclaimed to no one in particular as she followed the streets Shizuru mapped for her in her Mercedes. Natsuki was always very good at finding her way to places, so she arrived at Shizuru's house with hardly any trouble (the only problem she received was dealing with her patience while trying to get around the Sunday drivers the whole way there).

Shifting the gear into park on Shizuru's driveway, she stepped out and locked the car behind her as she made her way to the door. She stood there for a few minutes before she realized what she was missing: the key to the door. Natsuki grumbled as she searched around the porch for all the possible places Shizuru would keep her spare key until the door suddenly opened for her.

Natsuki's brow quirked suspiciously as she watched the door open and a woman she'd never seen before stumble out with Dhuran and a purple leash in her hand. The navy-haired girl was silent until the woman closing the door noticed her with a start.

"Oh! You scared me! May I help you?" She asked, holding the excited Dhuran down to keep him from jumping on her. She looked to be in her mid-thirties; long brown hair tied up in a ponytail and dressed in casual wear.

Natsuki just looked at her distrustfully. "Yeah, you can start by telling me who the hell you are and why you're in Shizuru's house."

The woman, though momentarily surprised by Natsuki's bleak attitude, matched Natsuki's eyes with equal doubt. "Look, I don't know who you are either so I'm not about to give my name to someone I don't even recognize in all my years of helping Shizuru take care of her dog." She countered.

Natsuki then stopped; helping Shizuru with her dog? "Ms. Morisato?"

The woman then eyed her uncertainly. "Y… yes…?"

The cobalt-haired girl inwardly sighed with relief. "Oh… sorry…" She tried to say though it came out awkwardly. "I'm Kuga Natsuki. Shizuru and I went to Fuuka Academy together." She explained.

Ms. Morisato examined her for a moment before nodding, suspicious dissipating from her eyes. "Yes, now that I look at you, you do look familiar."

"Familiar?"

"The frames," The older woman explained. "The pictures of you and her and others in your class around her living room,"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about those." Natsuki felt slightly embarrassed by all the pictures of her that Shizuru had kept but she tried to not let it show. She looked down at the restless dog below her. "Um, mind if I take him? Shizuru's busy all day and she knows I love dogs, so…"

"Oh, no of course not," She handed her the leash, the key following shortly after when the older woman locked the front door for her. "Have a good time; he can be rather hard to keep up with. If you need anything, I'm right next door." With that, she bid her goodbye and Natsuki was left with the excited Dhuran.

Natsuki couldn't help but snigger at the hyperactive rate of Dhuran's swishing tail. He looked up at her, silently begging to be stroked and to start on their little walk. The cobalt-haired girl gladly obeyed on both accounts, earning a thoroughly-licked hand and an immediate tug on the leash. She laughed as she worked herself to Dhuran's eager pace as they strolled down the edge of the road. She let the still-youthful mutt lead and she simply followed, the loop of the leash encircling her wrist.

Hands stuffed in her pockets, she let her eyes wander over the surroundings as she passed each gated house. Leafy vines that crawled up the short, brick walls brushed against her shoulder. Clipped and aged leaves that disbanded from its siblings gathered beneath her feet, kicking and crumpling them with each step.

Dhuran, of course, did what all canines did on strolls: he sniffed and clawed curiously at empty patches of grass; he barked at and tempted to chase after passing cars; nearly bounded for scavenging and scurrying rodents, the leash almost barely keeping him at bay. Natsuki amusedly wondered how the hell Shizuru managed to keep up with this dog. She herself certainly could, but Shizuru was very different from her.

Eventually, the blonde-haired dog led her to a sidewalk that came to the arched gate of a public park. Natsuki was surprised at the amount of people who visited the somewhat botanical park; she wouldn't have expected so much for a weekday. People were jogging along the gravel pathways; some were seated on patches of grass and wooden benches, writing or sketching intently; others were having picnics either alone or with others.

Natsuki looked down at Dhuran, who gazed out almost longingly. "So, I take it this is where you wanna be?" Dhuran then bended low and scraped his claws against the grassy earth, growling deep within his throat. He was acting as though he were a race horse ready to charge as soon as the gate to the track opened. Natsuki laughed at his fervent behavior before kneeling down to his collar. "I don't think you'll be needing this, just don't run too far, okay?" After a promising "Woof!" she unhooked the leash from his collar and off he took.

Natsuki kept a good eye on him for the first few minutes, making sure that he was being a good boy. Still keeping contact with him, she squatted herself to rest against one of the several tall trees that provided an abundance of shade from the early-noon sun. She smirked as Dhuran willingly plunged into his own word, reliving all that he had done while they had walked along the road (minus the cars; adding the rodents). Despite his energized activities, he miraculously avoided and perhaps even respected the privacy of the other parties in the park.

While letting the canine be his merry self, Natsuki's thoughts seemed to drift in the relatively calm atmosphere…

888Flashback888

"AAAIIIIEEEEYAAAAAAHHHH!!!!" Splash!

Mai, Reito, and Tate flew their arms up to protect themselves from the drops and waves of water Midori caused to erupt from the lake. Chie and Aoi only watched and laughed from their safer distance in the water.

"My turn!!" Mikoto exclaimed excitedly as she ran up along the shore to the large tree that hung a long rope from one of its stronger branches. Grasping the rope tightly in her hands, she ran back to the man-made dais, pulled the rope till it was taut, and swung. She grinned and laughed as she flew past everyone and, when she reached the pike, let go, spinning in the air. Her shriek was muffled when the water finally engulfed her. Everyone around her laughed.

They were at a park within the heart of the city. It was summer, and everyone was enjoying it to its fullest that day. Music from Chie's boombox echoed through their vicinity of the park. Other families took advantage of the park as well; it was lucky for them that the park just managed to fit everyone without the sense of confinement. The lake was more like a pond, really. Though, at the same time, it was large enough where one would have to swim relatively generous distance to reach the other side.

Natsuki and Shizuru were seated across from each other at a bench just off shore. As Mr. Sakumizu had warned his former pupil, Natsuki wasn't exactly let off the hook; books, pens, pencils, and paper were strewn across the stone table, accompanied with a single calculator. Natsuki, with her forehead propped up with one hand, tapped the butt of her pencil against the paper as she examined the equations almost cluelessly.

Shizuru patiently waited and watched, only speaking when Natsuki seemed to want her to. Trying to be supportive of Natsuki's efforts, she refrained from portraying any hint of amusement she felt toward the way Natsuki frowned - and it was a rather difficult task.

"Do you need any help with that equation?" The graduated upper-classman asked pleasantly. She laughed her light laugh when all she got in response was an aggravated growl. "Should I take that as a yes?" With yet another growl in return, the binder full of papers was pushed her way.

"I'm really glad I'm not in your shoes." Nao commented, walking up behind the cobalt-haired girl.

Natsuki scoffed as she turned to cross her legs without kicking Shizuru. "Yeah, I bet you are. I don't know why you want to retake a year."

Nao only shrugged, turning her gaze away to the others splashing around in the pond. "I don't care. Besides, there'll be less work there than in college, so I can take better care of mama."

Natsuki remained silent. She remembered that even though Nao was given her mother back, she still had to recover a bit more. Her mother was only just recently released from the hospital and was recovering at home.

There had been only a single time when Natsuki admitted to the redhead that she envied her for having a mother that was still alive and loved her. However, she knew that she would never look back to her past again; if she did, it might break her the way it had before. But, she also knew that she didn't need to look back anyway, now that she had Shizuru and Mai and everyone else.

"I hope your mother is doing well." Shizuru's statement came out more as a question.

Nao paused, briefly glancing Shizuru's way. The older girl noticed that she had stiffened slightly. "She is." The redhead answered softly.

Though Natsuki didn't see Nao's physical reaction, she could tell by the tone of her voice that Nao was still a bit unsure of Shizuru. She could see that Shizuru felt the same way about Nao's response; though Shizuru was still very skilled at painting her masks for others, Natsuki learned that you don't look onto the girl's beautiful face – you look into her eyes deep enough that you feel like the burgundy eyes are going to engulf your whole being.

"Hey Nao! You can swim, can't you? Come on in!" Mai called from the water, mercifully breaking the somewhat awkward silence.

Nao waved a dismissive hand. "Na, no thanks, I don't want to miss any of my mama's calls." She explained.

"We'll hold onto your phone for you." Shizuru suggested benevolently. "If she calls, we promise to let you know, right?" She turned to Natsuki, who responded with a wordless nod.

Nao looked at the two as if she was examining their words. She then sighed before nodding. "Fine." After resting the pink phone on the corner of the table, she stripped off her shirt and short skirt, revealing a deep red bikini that left little to the imagination. For further procrastination, Natsuki watched Nao until she disappeared underneath the mild currents.

Natsuki knew that Nao came just for the reason that she knew she'd be bored all day anyway. The cherry-haired girl always felt a little more monotonous during the summer than during the school year – the simple act of skipping a whole day of classes filled her with a greater sense of exhilaration than it did when she had a day off.

Yukino and Haruka were sitting at the edge of a dock nearby, wadding their feet in the water. Natsuki had no idea what they were talking about; her first thought was something that concerned being the "big boss" of the school. Though, Natsuki had no idea why the woman would keep going on about that when she wasn't even a student of Fuuka Academy. Perhaps the blonde was either just giving Yukino pointers as the new Head of Security at Fuuka; or she was talking about herself and the college she was planning to attend.

"Natsuki, don't forget about your make-up work." Shizuru reminded almost teasingly; to Natsuki, the reminder sounded almost cruel, but she knew that the older girl was just doing it for her own good. Besides, Shizuru knew that Natsuki would need a little push here and there to help her attention-span (or lack thereof).

After Natsuki completed the first six questions in a time of almost twenty minutes, Shizuru agreed to her plea of having a short break. Natsuki watched as Tate swung high over the lake then "cannonballed" into it. "That looks like fun." Shizuru commented.

"Psh! It's hard to imagine you doing that." Natsuki replied almost off-handedly with a skeptically-raised brow.

Shizuru smirked and nodded. "I guess I don't look like the type, hm?"

Turning back to the others taking turns launching themselves into the air with the rope, Natsuki lightly shook her head and stated bluntly, "No, not really," She heard the older girl giggle but say nothing; she did, however, feel something caress the side of her face, but it was something translucent – a ghost of a feeling, but warm just the same. Natsuki knew it well by now.

She knew her guess was correct when she shifted and turned her gaze away to the lush grass below her, because then, the feeling had retreated. She glanced up and saw that the crimson eyes were back to the sheet that contained the endless amounts of questions – away from her face. Natsuki knew when Shizuru understood once her staring at the younger girl would make her uncomfortable. She was glad for that, as she didn't need to say anything for Shizuru to understand; that was usually the case in such situations.

After a few more minutes of screams, music, chattering and loud splashes echoing through the trees, Shizuru finally suggested they get back to work. The opposite girl frowned and silently growled but obliged; she really wanted to get it over with. Her eye twitched when she heard Chie yell something to Yukino and in the few seconds that followed, the volume of the music increased. Though Natsuki preferred something close to rock, she made do with the pop/dance music booming from the boombox's speakers.

Shizuru slowly helped her every step of the way for most of the equations. After all, she was used to giving this kind of treatment for the underclassmen who desperately requested her help whenever she was available. For Natsuki, of course, she gave much more attention and care while giving the younger girl a chance to complete as much as she could on her own without giving a straight answer.

The taller girl pointed a finely manicured finger at yet another question that seemed to be giving the cyclist some trouble. "Here is where you divide "C" by the "e" to the "r" – which is "rate"- multiplied by "t" – which is time, as it's shown in the equation." She stated calmly and slowly so Natsuki could follow. A smile played on her face as she watched the curious yet annoyed jade eyes chase her finger across the page.

"So…" Natsuki dragged while scratching the back of her head, trying to comprehend what it was she was supposed to do. "That'll give me the initial amount given to decay?"

"Mn-hm." Shizuru confirmed almost cheerfully, bring her hand back so that she could lean her chin on it and continue watching the opposite girl in her struggles. While she watched her work, she unconsciously allowed herself to listen to the music as she waited for the recovering student's next question. Yet another Japanese popular-culture song ended and, after a brief commentary from the radio host, a new foreign song began. Curious, she listened to the lyrics and recognized the language. The longer she listened, the more engrossed she became by the words.

"Okay, finally done with that one." Natsuki exclaimed with a relieved sigh. She reluctantly moved onto the next one only to blankly stare at it for a few seconds, feeling the giant question mark hover over her head yet again. "Um… what is it asking me to solve for in this one?" She asked, her brow quirking when she got no response. Green eyes snapped up to Shizuru, who seemed to be in her own little daze; it was rather unlike her. "Shizuru?" Natsuki glanced in the direction the opposite girl seemed to be staring: on the dock, near the boombox. She looked back at her again, "Shizuru, are you okay?"

This time, Shizuru seemed to finally snap out of whatever reverie she was in. "Hm? Oh, oh yes, I'm fine, thank you." The older woman shifted herself so that she was fully facing Natsuki and her mass of clean and heavily-used scrap papers.

Natsuki gave the much more intelligent and sophisticated girl an odd look, complete with another quirked brow. "Like the song?"

The ocher-haired girl surreptitiously shifted herself more comfortably. Natsuki also noticed that said girl seemed to take her time in answering. "Well, I certainly understand it." Crimson orbs didn't mean hers until the last minute of her reply.

Natsuki had no idea what the other girl meant by that but chose not to ask her to elaborate. She took a few seconds to listen to the song, but her brows only furrowed bewilderedly. "Well, I sure can't understand whatever the hell it is they're saying."

Shizuru laughed at the rather bane-like way she delivered her comment. "It's in the English language, which would most likely be why. I remember English-Language was the class you skipped most frequently. My parents always insisted I learn it." Her reply was casual, keeping her eyes averted from Natsuki's.

Natsuki noticed this; was she trying to change the subject? "What's the song about?" She kept an impassive expression as she asked out of mild interest, turning her attention back to the books and papers in a blasé-like fashion.

Shizuru only glanced up to the green orbs turned away from her; was she purposely being cruel in asking these questions? She shook her head, "I don't quite know; the majority of the vocabulary seems to be still too sophisticated for my level of knowledge so far." A lie. Her heart pulled painfully at the awareness, but she painted yet another coat over her mask to keep it from presenting itself. It was all for the sake of Natsuki – to not make her feel uncomfortable or awkward by reminding her just how much she…

The ocher-haired girl could feel her pulse rise anxiously, something she very rarely felt if it was by the cause of someone other than the girl across from her: said girl had regarded her with an acute stare.

"To hear you say that something is "too sophisticated" for you is a very weird concept." The navy-haired girl stated blatantly.

Shizuru only blinked at her before – with her fingertips pressed lightly to her mouth – she burst into giggles. She allowed herself the pleasure of suggestively teasing the younger girl's leg with her bare toe. "Does Natsuki think I'm always sophisticated?"

"Ah-Apparently not!" Natsuki jumped and pinked severely at the sensation. She tried to kick the other girl's playful foot away only to slam her kneecap into the table. With a yelp, she grabbed her knee and decided to only wince at the pain until it subsided.

Shizuru looked at the wincing girl worriedly. "I'm sorry, Natsuki. Let me see,"

"N-no it's al-…huh?" Natsuki had looked opposite her only to find that the other girl was no longer there. She jumped again when she felt warm, small hands push away her own, followed by the pressing of warm lips against her throbbing bump. "Sh-Shizuru! That isn't really necessary, you know!?"

Shizuru stopped and looked up at her. "But I feel bad. I want to make it feel better." Going back to caringly kissing the reddened kneecap, Shizuru held her thigh in place with both hands wrapped securely around it.

"B-But…!"

"My god, you two! We're in a public place, have some decency would you!?" Haruka cut her off as she and a pinking Yukino passed by them to get more sunscreen from their bag nearby.

While Natsuki turned cherry-red, Shizuru only rested her hand against her cheek dreamily. "Forgive me, for my 'inner Kyohime' is running wild from being nestled between Natsuki's smooth legs."

Natsuki swore she could feel the heat from her face trickle out of her ears. "SHI-SHIZ-!!" In her frantic attempt to slip out of Shizuru's grasp, she lost her balance and fell onto her back behind her bench seat, her legs parted and resting high on its surface.

Palms braced themselves on the stone seat as Shizuru hovered over her. "My, my. What a way for Natsuki to present herself to me. I shall have to take advantage of this propitious moment…" With swirling crimson eyes, Shizuru giggled as she went to crawl under the bench to really nestle herself between the younger girl's legs.

Before she could, however, Natsuki took off like a bat out of hell, her toes kicking up clumps of dirt and grass while shrieking a string of protests and curses. Shizuru only laughed harder at her reaction. This was fine; this kind of playful teasing was perfect. Revealing the words to the song would have been too much for both as they reminded the Kyoto-native a great deal of whom she used to be – how she felt; what held her back from something she craved and dreamed about oh so much – what she still dreamed and craved for. Only out of respect for the girl she loved, she continued to hold a bit of herself back.

Of course a good portion of that "bit" would pop out once in a while: Shizuru had to dry the tears of laughter from her eyes with her violet handkerchief.

"It's not funny!!!" Natsuki screamed from her far distance.

"I'm sorry!" Shizuru yelled back between bursts of giggles. "I didn't mean to make you so upset!" Another fit of giggles burst from her when she heard the younger girl growl while turning away in a pout.

"Lecherous! Lecherous is what you are!!" Natsuki fumed.

Shizuru laughs began to slowly die down. "Aw! Natsuki's so mean to me, calling me a lecher! I could never be such a thing!" She grinned despite herself. "I simply can never allow myself to let such an opportune situation slip by, not when Natsuki displays herself so enchantingly." At the other girl's cruel silence, Shizuru gazed at her stiffened back earnestly. "Hard though the feat may be, would Natsuki really appreciate it if I changed? Because I know I certainly wouldn't like it if Natsuki were to change."

'Prob'ly, but there's a difference between yours and my case!' Natsuki had thought in her usual obdurate way; but however, the integrity that intermingled with the Kyoto-ben made Natsuki's tensing shoulders slowly drop, her anger gradually subsiding. 'If she changes, something which is irreplaceable will be lost. You'll know it; you'll feel it; you won't deny it.' A voice that sounded very much unfamiliar yet equally comfortable to her echoed in her head. Perhaps it was true. She very much doubted she'd admit it, however – that was just her way.

When she turned at the sound of an unexpected splash, her eyes watched in mild curiosity until the person flew in broke the rippling surface. Apparently her mind was locked in its reverie longer than she thought: her eye widened and nearly sputtered when she recognized the lovely face framed with wet-slicked, brownish-turned hair. Her striking grin was filled with pride as she stared back into the stunned green orbs from afar, wading in the still-churning waters.

'She didn't…' The same green orbs darted to the tree that held the rope: it was still swinging, slowly, limply settling itself. 'She did…?' It was proven true as the yells and cheers for Shizuru from the other girls finally fell on ears that were no longer deaf with her own thoughts.

"Woo-hoo!! Fujino-san! Do it again!" Midori cheered, slamming her fist awkwardly into the air from the water. Most everyone else she glanced had displayed their own versions of surprise and enthusiasm. "Brilliant, Fujino-san!" Reito smiled and applauded in his usual debonair way. Nao only showed an expression of mild - mild - intrigue. "Natsuki-chan, I can't believe you missed it! She did, like, three back-flips in a row!" Natsuki heard Aoi exclaim, trying to forego inwardly ranting of her dislike towards the suffix the cheery brunette used.

Instead, she glanced at Haruka's and Yukino's direction: Yukino looked surprised, giving the same look Shizuru would give her when she'd suddenly find her sitting at her laptop, originally thinking the room vacant; Haruka looked just plain shocked – her jaw had fallen so far down that she swore she could pack two, maybe three whole sandwiches in her mouth. As a matter of fact, there had been many times Natsuki had seen the hot-headed blonde with her mouth this open, but it was the first time that nothing ear-deafening came out of it.

Natsuki looked back to Shizuru, who was leisurely emerging from the waters onto shore. She hadn't seen the taller girl's bathing suit until now (in fact, she didn't even know she was wearing one) – it left little to the imagination. The way Shizuru's dripping, svelte body sauntered towards her… her cheeks grew warm.

Shizuru smiled her disarming smile, only two feet away from the adorably unintelligible gaze. She leaned forward, only slightly, her head tilted innocently to one side. "You should know, my dear Natsuki, that looks can be deceiving." Crimson hues eddied in her eyes upon the slightly shorter girl; her whisper almost scant from its softness.

'Oh, I know all too well, Shizuru.' Natsuki silently breathed, the gravity of the other girl's eyes weighing upon her own. She watched as the smile, as the seconds passed, slowly faded at her stillness. The eyes now swirled with a growing ache.

No. She didn't want her to think that she lacked any amount of trust in her. Never. She never wanted to see Shizuru hurt that way again. There was no longer a need to. Not at all.

"Yes, but apparently what you just did didn't change a thing about your teasing nature." Natsuki stated frankly after frantically rattling her brain for anything to take Shizuru's mind off the topic. Her anxious pulse slowed to a more comfortable pace as Shizuru's demeanor suddenly changed to surprise then to a light smugness. Now, Natsuki felt even more anxious.

"Oh, well, that's simply because I cannot resist it." Shizuru replied almost modestly. However, her eyes spoke volumes: "I cannot resist you." Natsuki read it and suppressed the immediate shiver. Without notice, Shizuru came forward and wrapped the smaller girl in her arms. "I'm going to stay in your arms one way or another." It brushed against her ear, a whispered giggle. Despite its smooth air, it somehow shot through the cuddled body in a way that surprised her but didn't discomfort her.

Before Natsuki could even give any sort of look at the girl holding her, she remembered something else: Shizuru was still drenched in water.

Natsuki grimaced and shivered at the cold water seeping rapidly through her clothes. "Shizuru, c'mon, get off. You're making me wet!"

"Oh? I'm making Natsuki excited?" Shizuru gasped then giggled. "I never thought Natsuki would admit to me having such a pleasurable effect on her!"

"Wh-Wha-HUH!?" The hands that were on the dripping skin of Shizuru's waist immediately flew off far away from the body holding her, avoiding any contact with it. Her face was now burning (and "burning" was the perfect word to describe it). "N-N-NO!! TH-THAT WASN'T WH-WHAT I-!!" Natsuki tried to desperately move herself from Shizuru's embrace. However, her grasp was so tight that all she accomplished was tripping over her frenetically-moving feet and fall backwards. With a rather painful-sounding Thud into the greenest patches of grass, she brought the delightfully amused girl down with her.

Shizuru giggled more while she brought herself up a fraction to hover over Natsuki's disquieted façade. "Really Natsuki!" She playfully chided. "Committing these shameful acts and revealing such roguish information could be dangerous! Why, if I were any other boy, I'd be taking advantage you in a second!"

"LIKE YOU'D BE MUCH DIFFERENT!!" Natsuki bellowed with fury, jestingly wondering what was holding this audacious girl back from doing what "every other boy" would do.

"Yeah okay, you two need to be hosed down."

Both girls looked up to find a somewhat irked Nao standing over them with a hose in her hand. The redhead signaled to Haruka, who very willingly turned the valve to the hose.

Natsuki squinted as Nao unsympathetically aimed the spout…

888888888(EndFlashback)8888888888

The azure-haired girl jumped and sputtered as a cold spray rained on her. When the spray stopped shortly after it started, she blinked her bewildered eyes a few times and looked up. What she saw made her nearly laugh; "Aw no, look at you!"

The panting Dhuran was absolutely drenched and his fur was stained with mud and grass. Natsuki surveyed the rest of the park and was relieved that the canine hadn't done much damage besides perhaps rolling in the grass after taking a frenzied swim. She did notice a few small, slapdash holes dug here and there, but she was sure (or at least hopeful) that she wouldn't be penalized for that.

Natsuki laughed despite herself as she looked back at Dhuran's curious gaze. The way he looked at her and the way his ears flopped as he turned his head, it looked as though he was asking, "What are you looking around for? I didn't do anything!"

Though smiling, Natsuki ran her hand tiredly across her face. "Okay, I think you've had more than enough fun for one day." 'I'm definitely going to bring a Frisbee next time.' She thought to herself laughingly. "C'mon mutt, let's go home and get you cleaned up." Natsuki pushed herself from the ground and slapped her knee, indicating for Dhuran to follow. The canine immediately went to trotting next to her, jumping to touch her hand with his head and nudging his upper body against her leg. Natsuki laughed again while gently scolding him for getting her pants wet and dirty. Though, of course, she didn't really care; she friggin'loved this dog.

88888

Maroon eyes snapped up to her own, surveying her as though uncertain of how to comprehend the question she had been asked. The younger woman was hesitant by that particular look but didn't let it show. All she needed were answers. She didn't care if they were wrong or right, she just wanted them; she wanted clarity.

With an air of indifference, the other cleared her throat and turned her attention back to her industry's progress reports and letters from affiliated companies. "We had discussed this issue before, had we not?"

It was true, Shizuru had asked this very same question once or perhaps several times during her course from one bachelor to the next. Each time, her mother had answered with the same words: You are in your prime dear, you should snatch a good, wholesome man before it's too late; Because we want you to have children to carry on the family name and industry; A man can help manage the company with you when you've fallen behind or become unable to continue supervision.

"Yes, we had. I understand all that you explained, but it still seems so superficial." Shizuru remarked, watching the tip of her mother's gold pen scribble side notations on one of the progress reports laid on her large desk.

In a fluid motion, her mother removed her small glasses and gazed at her almost thoughtfully. "I understand how arduous this task must be for you. However, having a husband to help guide and support you in your life is indeed very necessary." She leaned towards her daughter, fixing her with a grave stare. "Admirable though it may seem, holding independence is not an option."

Shizuru met her stare as her mother drew back into her chair. "Although I would have indeed enjoyed such an alternative, that wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I asked the reason why having a husband is necessary at all." She occupied her pause by crossing one leg over the other and straightening her modest, pleated skirt. "I was simply venturing for the true freedom of choice when it came to who I spend the rest of my life with." The way her daughter looked back at her – even if at first glance it held a sense of total unconcern - made it seem as though it was more than just an assertion but a request.

Though her claret eyes softened with consideration for her daughter's feelings, they never lost their severity concerning the importance of the topic. "You're father would have wanted you to be wed to a man of worthy statute. I truly understand your desire to search for that special someone yourself. However, allowing you to decide from the common people of a lower class than our own will only lead to men wanting you for your beauty and money and nothing more."

It was ironic that almost every male the younger Fujino had been forced to socialize with seemed to care only about those qualities despite their own abundance of money. This acknowledgement alone nearly made her face fall, but held fast so she wouldn't concern her mother.

"Has this anything to do with your Kuga friend?" There was a lengthy pause from the other – or maybe hesitation. Her mother continued, "I could see from the first day I laid eyes on her that she lived on independence… you shouldn't look up to her in such a way… it's unhealthy…" Her comments came between intervals of pauses as she further surmised the reasons for her daughter's behavior.

The air grew thick with something unexplainable … indescribable. Her daughter's entire demeanor seemed to change to something of deathly starkness. The older almost gasped when Shizuru's nearly cavernous eyes gazed up to meet hers. "Unhealthy?" She repeated sardonically, raising a brow as though curious. The lighter-haired woman staring back into her mother's disturbed gaze knew that the word wasn't used in the specific context she felt it was used. However, just the word alone being used in any fashion to describe her relationship to Natsuki was enough to make her fingers curl. The mocking expression left as quickly as it came. Her dark gaze dropped but her thoughts churned. "Very well,"

Seamlessly, Shizuru rose from her seat and bowed in a way that seemed as though it was somehow feigned. "Thank you for your time, mother."

Her mother watched her exit the room. Shizuru's retreating stride was one she had never witnessed her own daughter personalize: it was confident – as it should be – but it was hardly elegant like she had always been taught since childhood. If it could be described as a dialect, it was the slang within a language.

When the door finally closed, Setsuka leaned back into her chair, trying to decipher what had just happened. As though on cue, the door slowly opened again. Girochi leisurely strode in, hands in his pockets, expression barren. "What did I tell you? Our little girl's been poisoned in the mind… and it's that Kuga-girl's fault."

Setsuka was silent, gazing at him fretfully, trying so hard to think and make sense of the situation. "I… don't think that her friend is to blame for all this… at least not wholly… but, what can we do to alter Shizuru's feelings concerning this girl?" She didn't understand her brother-in-law's reasons for smirking in such a pleased manner.

"Leave it to me…"

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The song used in the flashback can be whatever you want it to be. The particular I thought of while I was writing the scene was Iio's "Kiss You", I just heard it one time and I thought it was perfect for Shizuru, at least for the majority of the lyrics:

"I'd wake up and make love to you if I had you,

I wanna touch you so much, but I'm not allowed to,

What I hate is to wait, but in this case I'm patient,

I'm discreet, I'm not weak, I just need a moment.

If I leaned over and tried to kiss you,

Would I be wrong after so long to kiss you?

Would you pretend that we're only friends if I kiss you?

At least I can dream of you in the scene when I kiss you.

On one hand, we are friends, but still my mind it wanders,

Through sad streets and alleys, I just keep growing fonder,

To stop me's not easy, can't keep the lion from hunting (( - absolutely LOVE this for Shizuru XD))

I'm focused, I want this, there's no control of some things."

BUT, I'm not usually the type to mix songs in chapters and anyway I figured it'd be best to let the reader use whatever song he/she felt fit Shizuru's feelings. But "Kiss you" was mine in case any were wondering…. Anyway (I know, the millionth "anyway"), I had a lot of fun writing this chapter so I hope you enjoy reading it :) As for the title, I figured might as well call it the name of the song I thought of. For those who review, I'm curious as to what song you think of that would best suit Shizuru in her situation.

Next, Shizuru decides to take Natsuki somewhere that night.