Delinquent

Authors Note: Wow, fourth chapter done already. Lets hope it continues, huh? For two weeks I'm free of teachers riding my ass for overdue assignments. Holidays, I love you!

On another note, I'm wondering what I should do with Nao. Hmm, Option a) Make Natsuki start noticing both Nao and Shizuru in a romantic sense. b) Make Natsuki start noticing only Shizuru in a romantic sense. c) Make Natsuki oblivious to both Nao and Shizuru (for the time being) d) Make Natsuki only oblivious of Nao.

Please, do give your honest opinion. Oh, and in my earlier I forgot to add in a disclaimer, so I would like to belatedly say: I do not own Mai-HiME, Mai-Otome.

Sayonara.


Song - Lying - Amy Meredith - And - Lonely Girl - Sandi Thom

-(-O-)-

Chapter Four: Give Me One Good Reason

The cool, autumn air was crisp and warm as the zephyr sifted through Natsuki's long, silken locks of hair; of which were dancing fluidly as she stood, basking in the gentle sun-rays. Eyes closed and body relaxed, Natsuki enjoyed the blankness of her mind. It felt so good not to worry about something. She felt weightless and light, like the weight of the world had just been lifted off her shoulders.

That all went away, as quick as the wind ruffling her hair when the biker realized exactly why she was outside. Shoulders slumping and a crease forming between her slender brows; the willowy girl scowled at the ground, a mumbled curse passing between pouted lips. "This is bullshit."

"What was that?" a soft accented voice floated into her ear. Now, broken from her thoughts; Natsuki could feel the hot breathing against her neck. A shiver ran down her spine, before she hurriedly spun around to face the one who had elicited the reaction, another startlingly bright siege of red heading straight towards her cheeks.

Shizuru merely smirked at her; that ever mischievous glint, twinkling proudly deep within swirling, captivating crimson depths-

Wait. What the hell? What weird thoughts to be having. A frown, I blame Shizuru.

"I-it was nothing." quickly came her defense. Shizuru's smirk was firm in place as she raised an elegant eyebrow. Natsuki got that cornered feeling again, and tried to keep the desperation from displaying on her face. She still couldn't decide whether it was a good feeling or a bad one. Shizuru's presence was just downright confusing; it hurt her head. Natsuki hated over analyzing things.

"Well, it seems I'm distracting you from your task," Shizuru's eyes flickered from Natsuki's and down to the ground, where litter was laying carelessly on the grass. Crimson fixated once again on emerald, though this time both eyebrows were arched in expectation; mirth apparent. "... continue as you were."

A low, throaty growl rumbled in Natsuki's chest, as she stabbed down at the piece of trash with the pointy-rubbish-stick-thing, skewering the piece of garbage on the end. The dark-haired teen then stuffed it in with the other scraps in the black plastic bag she was holding while simultaneously grumbling under her breath about 'stupid community service'. Shizuru found the entire scene hilarious; imagining a red-faced and scowling Natsuki in a stripped prisoners uniform.

Stabbing a juicebox, the emerald-eyed girl shot Shizuru a deadly glare. The Kaichou barely managed to contain her giggles; a dainty hand raised to hide her large amused smile. An unnoticeable blush tinted her cheeks.

Did she just growl-? Can this girl get anymore adorable? Or hot, I should say.

The flaxen-haired teenager tilted her head slightly as her eyes roved over the oblivious Natsuki; dark, crimson eyes lingering on the more curvaceous sections of her physic. The younger girl bent to poke another piece of litter and the crimson-obs became hooded and Shizuru could barely hold back a low groan. What kind of detention was this? She was the punisher, and here she is, getting tortured.

-(-O-)-

Caught the bus home - Nao.

Natsuki locked the touch screen of her phone and then stuffed it in her school briefcase, placing the latter in the same compartment on her bike as her school uniform. Back aching from constantly bending over to pick up and stab trash during detention; the emerald-eyed teen mounted her Ducati, turned the key in the ignition and began to make her way through the dense forest.

Just as she had burst through the trees, the motorcyclist found herself almost flying over the handle bars; as she had to break abruptly, to miss the teacher that was in her path. The said teacher, his springing afro-styled hair swaying, stared at the machine, chubby, unshaven features frozen into an expression of silent shock. Natsuki recognized him as Sakomizu-sensei, her homeroom teacher.

Even though she knew very well it wasn't his fault, the dark-haired teen readied herself to shout at him for his idiocy; but before she could, her sharp eyes locked onto a seemingly inconspicuous tattoo on his inner forearm. Fury gathered as she recognized the insignia. It was the seal her father gave all of his subordinates.

Before Sakomizu could even regain his bearings and calm his heartbeat; Natsuki had cut the engine of her bike and jumped off, stalking towards him. He opened his mouth to ask what on earth she was doing, but before the words left his mouth he was bing slammed against a nearby building.

His eyes widened when they met the burning, intense and furious emerald of Natsuki's. They were eyes he recognized, though in his memory they belonged to a much younger girl. He had been wondering just recently how long it would take before the runaway princess realized he was under the employment of her estranged father. Purposefully, he had been rolling his sleeves up to his elbows, just so maybe she would take notice.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, pushing him again and ignoring his use of her name.

Sakomizu grunted in slight pain as his back it the hard, brick wall. "Wait!" he pleaded, holding his hands up in surrender, "I mean no harm. Natsuki-hime."

The younger, dark-haired girl glared at him; snarl contorting her smooth, unblemished features. "Don't you dare fucking call me that." a gutteral, raging growl escaped her throat. "What are you doing here, scum? Have you been sent here by my father?"

"I'm supposed to be monitoring you-"

"He's got you fucking watching me?" she roared, getting more and more furious by the second. Like a flash, she had Sakomizu's large form once again pinned against the wall; hands grasping the collar of his shirt. "You better not have been, or I'll make you wish you'd never set foot on Kyushu Island."

The teacher was beginning to feel the cool ice forming on his collarbone; spreading up to his neck. Just as it was about to lock his jaw in place he managed to gasp something out. "I haven't I swear! I'm loyal to you, Ojou-sama." The girl obviously wasn't called the Ice Princess in the Heaven realm for nothing, it seemed.

The ice stopped it ascension, but didn't disappear. Natsuki stared at him, a suspicion and distrust prominently displayed on her face. She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes as she did so; completely intimidating the larger man. "How do I know your not lying to me, hm? You bare the mark of my fathers trusted. I should just kill you, merely for following that filthy cockroach in the first place."

"I swear, on my own life, that I do not follow your father. I have been disillusioned to his true nature, Natsuki-hime -"

"Don't call me that." she hissed, cutting him off. A chill ran down Sakomizu's spine, and he couldn't conceal his shiver. Natsuki didn't hide the smirk of satisfaction at his reaction. "Prove yourself. I need collateral to even begin believing a word that escapes your mouth."

"I have information on the King."

Natsuki kept the interest in his statement from showing on her face. She raised a haughty eyebrow, nodding for him to continue.

"He's been pushing to create new laws, raising taxes, laying off employees for no reason. The last Bill he was trying to pass was something to do with his retirement from the throne. It was a new rule for dictatorship instead of a imperial government. He's trying to keep his seat as King, permanently."

"And this is useful to me, how? I wish to have nothing to do with him, my family, or the higher plane. You are wasting your breath," she shook her head, "Also even if I wanted to, there would be nothing I could do." Natsuki stepped back, releasing him with a bitter scowl.

"Do you not care for your people? Heaven is meant to be a Utopia of peace; families and children aren't supposed to be starving and living in poverty! Have you no conscience? Any compassion in that stone, cold heart? And you do have the power! You are his predecessor, you can overrule him! Think about someone other then yourself for once in your life, Kuga Natsuki." his voice lowered, eyes darkening as a spoke his next words. "If you walk away now you would be no better then your father."

A lump formed in Natsuki's throat, and she stared at the ground. He was right. She was acting no better then her vile father. How could she abandon her people like this? They depended on her. Alyssa was to blinded by her love to Ryuu to see what was right under her nose. But what was there she could do? If she turned up and challenged him, he would no doubt have her thrown into prison with a snap of his fingers. And if she didn't do anything, she would be letting innocent people suffer. Contrary to popular belief, she did have a conscience.

"What can I do?" she looked up at Sakomizu, who had an sympathetic expression on his face; eyes conveying how much he wished for things to be different as well. The older of the two adjusted his glasses before he answered.

"You have to fight, Natsuki-chan," the corner of her lips twitched up at the endearment, "People will follow you, but first you must prepare. I am not the only of your fathers footmen at this Academy. I suggest you gather as much as you can on the staff here."

With those last (useless, in Natsuki's opinion) words, Sakomizu left in the direction of the the school. The dark-haired motorcyclist staring in bewilderment at his large retreating form, a furrow appearing between her brows. What was she supposed to do now? Way to be fucking cryptic!

-(-O-)-

Shizuru sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time. The Kaichou's eyelids were getting heavier and heavier by the second as her mothers voice continued to ramble on about the most inconsequential things. The youngest Fujino could honestly careless if one of the slaves forgot to put butter on her toast that morning.

Shizuru's eyes gazed blankly at the far wall. Why on earth didn't I ask to speak to father? Oh yes, I didn't wish to talk business today or about how incompetent the Suzishiro's were when it came to investing.

"-and you wouldn't believe what she said to me, Shizuru!" Fujino Kiyoki exclaimed through the speaker of the phone, her voice taking that gossiping edge; one Shizuru recognized and tried to avoid at all costs.

Usually, if she let her mother go to long in this subject, Kiyoki would end up bring up suitors and her future. Two things Shizuru definitely didn't want to go into today. Namely because she was of the female persuasion, and really didn't want to discuss the imminent loss of her freedom when her parents decided it was time for her to marry and then take over Fujino Corporation.

"Excuse me, mother." she interrupted politely, cutting off the older woman's rant. "I am presently being requested for dinner by Hitomi-san, may I speak to you at another time, perhaps?" etiquette impeccable, she terminated the unwanted conversation with complete and utter grace. Kiyoki was none the wiser.

"Of course, darling. I'll call you some other time." click.

Shizuru stared at the small device in her hand for a few moments, a sad, melancholy smile on her lips. It had been years since her mother had acted like a maternal figure. Now, she was something like a distance acquaintance that calls every couple of months to catch up and gossip viciously about her closer, more important friends.

The Kaichou was now long used to her mothers flippant disregard for her; so the pain didn't hurt so agonizingly anymore. The saying is 'distance makes the heart grow fonder' and yet, Shizuru can't even remember what her parents looked like. It had been three years since she had last spoken to them in person, and even then; it had been for two weeks, where they sparsely saw each other then at meal times.

Sometimes she was glad for it, others she just wanted her mother and father to at least care for her more then a neglected pet that they forgot to feed every once and awhile. Sighing again, she stood up; posture perfect, and serene facade in place. Looking down at her clothes, or school uniform; she should say.

A vision of Natsuki's blushing face flashed through her mind and the smile she was displaying became significantly more genuine. Feeling like she was weightless, Shizuru glided from her room and descended the stairs; before proceeding through her large, traditional home and out into the estates flourishing sakura gardens.

Strolling at a lazy, languid pace; The flaxen-haired heiress looked around the vast area with smiling, contented crimson eyes. As she walked, she picked flowers and gazed at the falling, autumn leaves. For some reason, Shizuru couldn't understand, she still felt something missing. Like a lonely, little girl without any friends.

That was a true, though. In some aspects she was a lonely little girl, craving for true friendship and love. Yes, she had many fans and admirers and enough willing suitors to last her for a lifetime; but no one that knew her. The real, Fujino Shizuru. None would know that she loathed kneeling in the seiza position, and hated being placed on a pedestal, as though she was some holy deity.

Sometimes she pondered her arrogance. Was that the reason she had no friends? Was she too conceited to see the real, legitimately caring individuals that only wished to be close to her? But that wasn't the real her. It was an act. False. Another completely fabricated identity far from her real self all together. Of course, she held on to some of her true personality traits, as her love for tea was real.

She frowned to herself. Her love for tea? That was the only honest thing she portrayed about herself in front of others? Shizuru thought for a moment. She did tease cute girls occasionally, that was something of her character as well, but other then that she couldn't think of anything.

The Kaichou almost felt disgusted with herself. Why would she want friendship, when all she would give them was something untrue and ultimately fake. It would only end in disappointment. It was pointless to even bother with it. Another image of Natsuki disgruntled face entered her mind, and Shizuru quickly found herself changing direction with her decision.

The flaxen-haired teenager didn't know why, but for some unexplainable reason, there was something pulling her, like a magnet towards that scowling, blushing girl. The delinquent that was hopelessly expressive while maintaining an air of mystery and intrigue. A complete enigma. A puzzle even.

Shizuru enjoyed puzzles, and inwardly, she swore to herself that she would continue to pursue a friendship with Natsuki until she solved it; her. Though, something was telling her she never would. That she would never understand that beautiful, emerald-eyed girl completely. For some reason, however, that was comforting.


End Note: Heh, I still haven't made a decision with what to do with Mai and Mikoto and a heap of the other characters. I don't want them to be forgotten either, because I tend to have a habit of focusing solely on the main pairing and alienating all the other characters until their only mentioned maybe a handful of times. :(

Anyway, suggestions + reviews are welcome with open arms.

(seriously, just do it. -nods sagely-)