Me: IM SO FUCKING SORRY!
Nao: ?
Me: I was gonna update last night after Aphrodite's Grace up my internet went down after my shower..
Nao: Damn, you're nakedness has that much power?
Nina: -smacks her- Mai said 'Don't let Nao be a pervert and corrupt Mikoto'
Mai: Exactly! Mikoto's too innocent, Nao!
Me: I thought I was supposed to talk in the starting omake...?
Nao: Well whatever! I'm leaving! -leaves-
Mai: Oh not yet you're not! -follows her-
Nina: Hey, what about me? -follows-
Me: -looks at Mikoto- Wanna go swimming?
Mikoto: YES!
Chapter 11 - Boost
"There you go… just like that!" Nao said proudly, watching Mikoto as the girl planted another rose bush in the back yard. They had been doing this all morning because Mai had asked Nao to take Mikoto away so that her and Kai could take a nap.
Mikoto came out from under the large bush with a grin on her face, like always. "Nao! I did good, didn't I?" she asked cheerfully, looking at Nao with bright shiny eyes. She was covered in sweat from the heat and had a smudge of dirt on her cheek. Oh, and a leaf in her hair.
Nao sighed and rolled her eyes at the sight. This kid was fucking cute! How the hell can Mai stand to be around her all day and not want to just.. pinch her cheeks? "Yea Kitten, you did alright. Let's go inside and rest up, kay?" she said nicely, unable to be snide to the girl in front of her.
The two of them stood up and went inside to the kitchen. Both of them got a glass of each lemonade and were laying under the fan when a Shizuru walked in. "Ey richy rich, why the long face?" Nao asked, grinning at the upside down Shizuru.
Shizuru sat at the table and sighed, looking at the floor. "It's been a week since Kai got here and I've kissed Natsuki twice. That's it. He's taking up all her time.." she said, sighing once again and laying her head down on the table.
Shooting up, Mikoto grinned at the woman, "I'd take care of Kai! But Natsuki doesn't let me go near him that much... Sorry!" she said.
Smiling at the young girl, Shizuru reached out and pet Mikoto's hair, which instantly made the girl sigh happily and close her eyes. "Are you two done with the rose bushes?" Shizuru asked, looking at Nao. She looked back at Mikoto for a moment, took the leaf from Mikoto's hair, and threw it on the floor.
The red head nodded and took a seat at the table, "Yes. But it's the middle of July! Don't you have some way to cool down? I mean really, you have billions of yen and yet you can't afford to have a little pool put in for everyone to enjoy?" she asked.
Shizuru lifted her head and smiled at the two girls, "We do have a pool." she said. Nao started gaping at her, so she got up and led the two girls outside. There, she found a remote control with a single red button on it. When she pushed that button, the wooden deck that took up the outside was pushed aside, revealing a large, sparkling pool.
Nao's face lit up at the sight. Mikoto, however, did nothing but throw off her shirt and pants and jump into the pool into her underwear. Shizuru avoided the on-coming splash and started laughing at the girl's antics. "Won't you join her, Nao?" she asked, still giggling.
"WHOOO HOOO!" Nao screamed, stripping off her clothes and jumping into the pool too. She came up near Mikoto and tackled the girl, taking them both under the chilled water.
Shizuru smiled at the sight of the two young teenagers having fun. They're pretty lucky to be able to have fun like that, without a care in the world...
"Kitten! Watch this!" Nao yelled. She took in a huge breath and sunk down into the water. Soon, only her feet and her legs were above water while she was doing a hand stand.
Gasping, Mikoto tried the same thing, but hit her head on the bottom of the pool and came back up coughing. Nao swam to the girls side not even trying to hide her grin or her laughs, "You have to put your hands out in front of you!" she said, patting Mikoto's back.
The younger girl nodded with a determined look on her face. Mikoto tried it again, and this time put her hands out in front of her face. When her hands touched to smooth bottom, she pushed her arms out. This only caused her to come out at an odd angle and flip in the water.
Nao screamed and laughed at two feet came flying at her. She pushed them down into the water and kept on laughing.
Mikoto came up out of the water with her cheeks inflated out. She looked directly at Nao and squirted water from her mouth at the red head. Nao stopped laughing and glared at her friend as the water dripped down from her hair, "Mikoto… do you know what I'm gonna have to do now?"
"...Make me a sandwich?"
"Drown you! Hya!"
"Na-mbmmp! Ca-can't brea-bpmpb! Get off!"
"Can I turn around now?"
"No!"
"Come on Mai! It's not like I've never seen your boobs before!"
"This is a mother/son moment and you're ruining it!"
"Ugh!" Natsuki growled out in protest. Yes, Kai was breast feeding. But Mai was being all protective about it and wouldn't even let Natsuki look in the general direction! She wanted to see, too! "He's pretty much my son too, so isn't this sort of like a family moment?"
Mai glared at her friend and sighed. She pulled Kai away from herself and pulled her sleeve up onto her shoulder again. "Okay fine, he's done anyway." she said, putting Kai in the pillows and covering him with a small blue blanket. "Little Kai..." she muttered under her breath, smiling down at her baby boy.
Grinning from ear to ear, Natsuki turned around from her place near the window and sat down on the bed. "Hey... isn't Kai a girl's name?" she asked, looking down at the boy in the blue blanket.
"Well... I always did want a girl..." Mai said, shrugging her shoulders. "Besides, this way you can teach him how to get all the girls he'll ever know and use his name to his advantage. You know, make him more approachable."
"You know... sometimes I think you're the devil reincarnated."
"Yea, I know." Mai answered, looking down at Kai with a small smile again.
Natsuki followed suit and grinned down at her son. "Beautiful, ya know?" she asked, smiling a bit and looking at Mai.
Raising her brows, Mai narrowed her eyes at her friend, "Isn't Shizuru enough? Now you need to hit on me, too?" she asked teasing her friend.
Natsuki glared back at her friend and raised her middle finger, "I wouldn't do that to 'Zuru."
"Then why aren't you with her right now?" Mai asked. She motioned to herself and Kai and looked back at Natsuki, "You've spent the last week up here with us. I'm sure she's lonely, why don't you go see her?"
"I'm busy." Natsuki said plainly. She turned her back to Mai again and laid down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling before closing her emerald eyes. Mai sighed at her friend's stubbornness and followed suit, laying to on the bed so that they both were on either kid of Kai.
Soon, both girl's were lost in their thoughts…
'I wonder.. if Kai will change everything. I mean, of course things can only get better now with him around. He really likes everyone, and he's healthy and everything seems to be perfect... but some things are changing. Mikoto's here now. Reito just stays in his room all day. Natsuki's spending all her time with Kai and Me. It's great; just like the old days.
'But she's forgetting about Shizuru.
'I can feel Shizuru's glare at my back every time Natsuki and I walk by with Kai. Or when Natsuki's playing to Kai. My friend's just too... possessive about what's hers. She knows that she has priorities – me and Kai – but Shizuru is one too!
'I hope things don't change.. too much. I mean, what if Natsuki's ignoring Shizuru so badly that they break up? I mean, Fujino will fire us. Then what about Nao and Mikoto? They're here because of us, too! We can't all go back out onto the streets again!' Mai thought to herself, letting her worries take over her mind.
Natsuki sighed in her spot on the bed. There was so much going through her mind.... let's take a took!:
'Fuck! I don't know if I should yet! I mean, it'll make me really happy, but would Shizuru be up for it? I don't know... and what about everyone else? Nao would.. mostly likely just tease me a bunch about it. Or try and set something up so it looks like I'm cheating on 'Zuru. The last time she did that I had to sleep outside..
'Mr. Fujino and Mai would be all for it, I know that. Mr. Fujino would probably do something stupid, and Mai would try and be all supportive about everything, like always, and then go overboard, as always.
'Mikoto... oh who cares! She seems nice enough and she's pretty much in love with Mai. Of course she'll be up for it... And what about the press? It's not like Shizuru can walk down the street without someone recognizing her! She knows everyone there is to know and I hate that I know so little about her...
'Should I... really ask 'Zuru to marry me?'
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Kai!" Natsuki and Mai shouted at the same time as the boy let out a yelp. He laid there is a red face, tears streaming down his face and his arms waving around in the air. Mai acted first and picked him up, cradling him in her arms and whispering soothing words to him. Natsuki sat next to Mai and grinned at the boy, putting a hand on his hair and a finger in his hand.
Kai tightened his hold on her finger and waved it around. He stopped crying and opened his big gold eyes to look at the strange thing in his hand. Then, he put it in his mouth and started to chew. "Oh it feels weird!" Natsuki yelled.
"Don't move!" Mai laughed, grabbing Natsuki's wrist and keeping her in place. "It's the only thing that's keeping his from crying!" she laughed again at the disgusted look on Natsuki's face.
Kai giggled happily, which made both women smile at each other. Mai squeezed Natsuki hand and nodded at her, "We'll be great parents."
"Yea..."
Walking by, Shizuru paused by Mai's room. Natsuki and Mai were holding Kai and smiling at each other... It made her stomach drop. Her and Natsuki would never be able to have that kind of happiness. Sighing, she turned right around and headed to her cousin's room. Knocking, she head a grumble followed by a "Come in!"
"Reito?" she asked, opening the door and looking into the room. It was a mess. There were papers everywhere; some of them torn. There were clothes, sheets and pillows all shrewd across the room. It was completely dark, and sitting on the edge of the bed was a smiling Reito in all his dirty glory. "When was the last time you got out of here?"
"Oh... a few days or so." he replied, getting up. He stood and walked over to his cousin, pulling her into a hug, "You look like you're about to cry. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shizuru hugged him back and clutched his shirt, sniffing so that her tears didn't fall. "Let's sit." She muttered. They both went to the bed and sat down on it next to each other. Shizuru leaned onto his shoulder and sighed, "Ever feel like you're being ignored by the person you love most?"
"Yes. Most of my childhood, actually." Reito answered, chuckling. He put his arm around her and grinned, "You know Natsuki's in love with you. She's just a little busy. She has something to occupy her time now."
"I should be the thing taking up her time. Not Mai and Kai. I wanna be her fucking wife and ye-"
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Reito interrupted, jumping off the bed and putting his hands up in front of him. Shizuru looked up at him in confusion, but Reito continued on, "First of all, you don't curse! Ever! You're Shizuru Fujino, Fuuka's Angel child. Second of all, wife? Wife... wife? You want to marry that chick?" he yelled.
Knowing the room was sound proof, Shizuru just nodded and didn't worry. Let him scream it to the heavens; who cared? It was true. "Yes. I do. What does it matter to you?" she asked, sending him a small glare. Daring him to protest her feelings.
"Oh I have nothing against it. She's a good woman, that Kuga." Reito said, nodding and pacing around the room. "But of course now I have to kill her for violating my little cousin!" he yelled, making a run for the door.
"Oh no you don't!" Shizuru yelled. The venom in her voice was enough to make Reito stop. "If you tell her I swear to god you won't be able to have sex for 4 years."
Gulping, Reito cupped himself in protection and nodded. "Ok so... you're obviously very lonely." he said, making his way back over to the bed. He stood a few feet away from the bed and smiled at his cousin. They both stared at each other for a while, trying to think of a way to help each other.
His face lighting up, Reito grinned at Shizuru, "I got it! Call Haruka."
"Haruka? I haven't seen her in years..." Shizuru muttered, wondering if that would be a good idea. Sure, Haruka was her most important friend, they had known each other their whole lives, and they were very similar in every way. But... they had a history. "Yea.. Whatever. I'll call her and invite her over for a night." Shizuru said. She stood and hugged her cousin. "Thanks Reito. You're much less of a douche now."
Glaring at her, Reito pushed Shizuru out the door, "I know! I know! Now go make that call and get happier, okay?" he said, putting a phone in her hand and shut the door behind her.
Shizuru smiled at the phone in front of her and walked down to the living room. Take a seat on the couch, she took a deep breath and dialed her old friend. On the third ring... "Hello? Who is this?"
"Haruka! It's Shizuru." the Fujino woman said into the phone, a grin breaking out across her face at the sound of her friends voice.
"Shizuru! It's been so long, I haven't seen you in such along time. Still using the Ara I can hear. How've you been?"
"Ara, I've been amazing, you wouldn't believe. So much has happened to me and Reito lately. I called because I'd love to have you over sometime. You know, catch up." she said, crossing her fingers.
"Of course! I'd love to home over and see you. I hope you don't mind me asking, but... are you dating anyone?"
Shizuru opened to mouth to tell her friend all about Natsuki, but paused. Why wasn't she saying anything? God, tell Haruka that you have a girlfriend already! The past is nothing now! That was years ago!
"Fujino, you there? Did this dumb phone pop a call again?"
"Drop a call." Shizuru corrected automatically. She can correct her friend's bad grammar yet she can't talk about her girlfriend.
"Thanks, 'Zuru. So, dating anyone?"
Say yes. Say yes. Say yes. Say yes. Say yes. "No, not at the moment."
Fuck...
"Oh, that's a surprise. So when would you want me to go over?"
"As soon as possible." So that I can fix that mistake I just made.
"Sure. I'll be over tomorrow around 8 in the morning, okay? You don't mind if I stay the night do you?"
Yes. "Of course not. We're all happy to have you."
"Thank you everyone for meeting down here." Reito said in a loud voice. Kai snuggled closer into Natsuki's shoulder at the sound, making her and Mai glare at Reito. He shrugged and grinned at everyone again. "As you all know I've been locked up in my room for a while now and I've dec-"
"You're not gay, are you?" Nao asked from her place on the recliner. Mikoto, who was sitting on the arm rest, giggled and hid her face. Everyone chuckled at this, making Reito glare at them.
Mr. Fujino went up and put a hand on his nephew's shoulder, "If you have changed you're sexual reference, I'll accept you. I mean, Shizuru found happiness, didn't she?"
"Ara, so mean..." Shizuru pouted. Everyone chuckled again, but Natsuki didn't. She got up and handed Kai off to Mai. Making her way over to Shizuru, she stood by her woman and grinned. Shizuru felt her face relax into a smile as she leaned forward and kissed Natsuki. "Yes... very happy indeed." she muttered against her lover's lips.
Someone cleared their throat in the room, making the girls pull away from each other. Natsuki moved behind Shizuru and wrapped her arms around her waist. "I'm sorry I've been ignoring you, 'Zuru. I swear, it's going to stop tonight. Okay?" she whispered into Shizuru's ear.
"Ara, when you say tonight... do you mean..." Shizuru muttered, turning a bit and looking at Natsuki from the corner of her eye.
"Yesss..." the bluenette whispered again, her mouth attacking her lover's neck.
"AHEM!" Nao cleared her throat again. The lovers, once again, stopped and glared at the room. Nao rolled her eyes and sunk lower into her chair. "Reito, hurry it up. My eyes are losing their virginity."
Everyone nodded in agreement. "Before I get interrupted again or something very sexual and hot happens in front of us again, I have to say that I've decided that I give up." Reito said, lowering his head and crossing his arms behind his back.
"Wait, what?" Mai asked, looking around the room. "Does anyone else understand what he's talking about?" she asked. Everyone shook their head, having no idea what was going on.
"Shizuru wins." Reito said. He took a seat on the stares and nodded at his uncle and his cousin. "I give up on the competition. I relinquish my rights to the Fujino CORPS. name." he said louder this time, "Shizuru is no the only heir to the Fujino name, and the rightful new president of the company."
Shizuru stepped up, gaping at her cousin, "Reito, you can't be serious." she said. Reito has worked damn near his whole life to be able to one day take over the company, and now he was just giving up. Okay yes, he's changed a lot in the past few days, but its Reito! He's selfless like this!
"Oh, but I am." He said. Without letting anyone else get in another word, he turned and made his way upstairs.
Mr. Fujino shook his head, closing his eyes tight in confusion, "I'll go talk to him..." he said, running up the stairs and calling out Reito's name.
Shizuru broke out from Natsuki's hold and sighed. She stepped forward and turned, looking from both Mai and Natsuki, "Ara, if my cousin hasn't completely lost it and really did just give up billions of yen… then, I'm the new president of Fujino."
"Congrats, 'Zuru." Natsuki grinned. Her girlfriend… holy shit. Yes! Sweet! Natsuki was using all her natural mental and physical abilities to not be bouncing off the walls with happiness. Pretty much everything that she might have wanted in her life was coming true. What was that thing that Mai used to always tell her?
...that everything had a price? Screw it! She was dating the richest woman in Fuuka, she had a family, they had jobs, money, friends. What else would she need?
"Thank you, Natsuki." Shizuru said. She looked between her and Mai again and sighed. "But, this must mean something. For me, it means that you, Natsuki, and Mai, are fired."
"Oh shit!" Nao yelled, gaping at the announcement. Her and Mikoto ducked down behind the couch at the three glares sent their way and scooted closer to each other. "Kitten, they are going to keeeeel us!"
Natsuki and Mai just got fired.
Mai held Kai closer to her and ducked her head down. She just couldn't look up at this point… everyone would see her tears. Natsuki bit her lip and glared at Shizuru, who had a blank face. She clenched her fists and glared even harder, "Really? After everything, we're just fired?" she yelled, her voice resounding off the walls.
Nao and Mikoto both stood and ran up the stairs, going to their rooms and hiding.
At the loudness, Kai looked up at his mommy and giggled. Mai and Natsuki looked down at him in confusion. Why the hell was he so happy?
Shizuru smiled at the boy and then at Natsuki. 'I'd better explain things before someone get's hurt.' She thought. "Natsuki please, don't worry. Yes, I just fired you and Mai but with great reason. So that you tw-"
"Sorry 'Zuru, but what reason could you possibly have for firing up? You kicking us out, too?"
"Natsuki, calm down! Yes, you're fired. But only because I don't want you working here anymore! I still want you here! I want Mai to move in as a family friend and for you to move in with me in my room as my girlfriend!" Shizuru said in a loud and clear voice.
At this sound, Kai giggled even louder and started clapping. Mai looked from him to Shizuru and grinned, new tears of happiness running down her face. Natsuki stood there, speechless. Shizuru... wanted them to live together – not as workers – but as real lovers.
Turning to her love, Natsuki smiled. "Oh god, 'Zuru... I love you." she whispered.
OMAKE
Me: -grinning-
Natsuki: Oh so the moral of the story is that Nothing has a price and life is easy?
Me: No... because the next chapter involves a gun!
Nao: WTF!
Me: BWUAHAHAHAHA You hate me for telling you that, don't you!
Natsuki: Who has the gun? Does someone get shot?
Me: You'll never know... until i update BWUAHAHAHAH
Also, vote in mah poll and wish me luck on my finals!