Hello everyone.
Sorry for the late chapter. I've gotten pretty busy with my school work and my extra classes ever since school started again. And it doesn't help that I've got to go to study for this trip to Kansas city on the 13th. Yay. God, I wish it was already Spring Break.
So anyways- because I'm such a sucker for romance, I couldn't help myself writing this. The anticipated confession scene! I know it seems slightly early, but love is spontaneous. And keep in mind, the two had already begun to love each other when they were kids. They just didn't know it yet till they met again. And Natsuki being Natsuki, it took her forever to realize it. Shizuru's just well... Shizuru. I hope that didn't bother anyone.
To my guest reviewers: Thanks for all your support!
To the people who favorited and followed my stories: you're all so awesome!
Ok, now that has been dealt with, here you go. Chapter seven of When You Least Expect It.
Oh and just a WARNING- Natsuki and Shizuru are somewhat ooc and for that, I apologize. As I've mentioned before, I'm fond of 'love at first sight' or in this case, 'love since we were kids, but moved away only to come back and love you again.' Soo yea... If you don't like it, then don't read.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai HiME or Fuwa Fuwa. Both are owned by their respective owners. I will never own anything.
Natsuki adjusted her hold on her bag as she walked towards her best friend's front door. Two weeks have passed since the two have last seen each other and as promised, she was back. Not only for the reading of the will, but of course, for emotional support as well.
Shizuru... That name was always on her mind now. During the past fourteen days, Natsuki had spent the time getting to know the older brunette. Through texting and a few phone calls, Natsuki had told Shizuru to call her whenever the older woman needed someone to talk to, the dark haired woman gradually began to grow closer to her counterpart. And it was bliss. Not only did she get to know her friend again, but it helped her realize a few things. One- Shizuru had a obsession with cheesy romance songs, two- Shizuru hated, with passion, cold tea, and finally three- she, Natsuki Kruger, was beginning to feel something for the brunette.
Now, that wasn't an easy conclusion to come to, but the heart chooses who it wants to open to and Natsuki has no say in the matter. After all, what's not to like about Shizuru? The older woman was beautiful, kind, and reliable. Or at least Natsuki believed she was. She was with the twenty year old for about five days, but the emerald eyed woman could see her childhood friend within the brunette. Her teasing, blush inducing, and.. cute childhood friend. 'Cute? Seriously Kruger.. Well, she was pretty cute back then... but she's beautiful now..
All the times that her gaze lingered on Shizuru, all of the warm stomach feelings, and the beating of her heart whenever the other woman would touch her, it had finally clicked into place. She was attracted to Shizuru.
At first, Natsuki was cautious, and slightly terrified, when she realized what she had been experiencing, as she never had felt this way about anyone, but after having just another one of their phone calls, Natsuki grew to accept what's she's been. They were so comfortable with each other, so in sync. With her other friends, Natsuki had always felt the need to hide behind her rebellious persona, but with Shizuru, it was different. She didn't have the urge to hide herself like she does with everyone else. Natsuki liked Shizuru. The brunette was the one for her. Now, all that's left to do is to tell Shizuru... And that's where Natsuki was stuck.
What if Shizuru doesn't return her feelings? After all, its not like she can just go up to the crimson eyed beauty and say, "Hey, Shizuru. Guess what? I like you. No, not as friend, but you know, as something more." Yea, no. She couldn't do that! Also, what if Shizuru wasn't even gay? Oh kami... Another question popped into her mind- What if Shizuru decided to break of their friendship because of Natsuki's feelings?... Natsuki would just die.
She was usually so confident, so sure of herself. Nothing could ever frighten her, nothing at least, until she entertained herself with thoughts of losing Shizuru again. 'That's like ripping my heart out of my chest and throwing it into a blender..'
Natsuki shook her head to forget such thoughts and also to leave her mindscape. Seriously, she has got to stop doing that. What if Shizuru saw her right now, starring at the door like an idiot? The brunette would probably think she was weird.
Taking a deep breath, the dark haired woman finally found some courage to face the woman who had quickly stolen her heart. She knocked on the oak door three times before it was opened by a smiling woman.
"Natsuki!"
Natsuki smiled, her rather depressing thoughts being extinguished as she accepted the hug her friend gave her. "Hey Shizuru. I'm back," she whispered into honey colored tresses. Breathing in, the dark haired woman accepted the slight smell of apples with another smile. 'I'm turning into such a softie.'
"Welcome home," the other woman replied, throwing back a smile that made Natsuki's heart flutter. 'Yup... Softie indeed.'
After the initial greeting between the two childhood friends, both entered the house, leaving the cold weather outside. Even though the sun was still on the horizon, the chill of a cold night wrapped around them. That caused the ever gracious brunette to usher them both in.
"Mou, it's getting colder by the minute.." whispered Shizuru as she slipped her house sweater on. She had always been a warm person, having developed a dislike for the cold.
Natsuki nodded in agreement. Like her companion, she hated the cold. It reminded her too much of her time with her father. The dark haired woman slightly flinched as that thought crossed her mind. The cold room... Natsuki closed her eyes as she began to feel a chill run down her back... She remembered crouching in a corner, whimpering for the warm sun to come greet her.. It never did. It was so dark..
Emerald eyes suddenly opened as a warm hand slid in her own. Emerald looked to meet concerned crimson. "Where is Natsuki's mind? Perhaps thinking of a certain someone?" Shizuru teased softly.
Shizuru, Shizuru, Shizuru.. Natsuki inwardly laughed. Here she was, about to have another meltdown, and yet, the crimson eyed beauty could only tease. She sure knew how to pick them.
"No.. just hungry," Natsuki lied as she lightly gripped the soft hand with her own, giving a small smile of appreciation. Shizuru's ability to hold her down to reality never seems to amaze her.
The biker watched as her best friend's expression changed, accepting Natsuki's excuse for the time being. "Then perhaps we should go to the kitchen. I prepared a meal just for Natsuki. After all, she did bring my car back. Ara, thank you for that."
Becuase the duo had been in a hurry to head towards Kyoto, the brunette's car had been left in Natsuki's apartment complex's parking lot. Natsuki drove it back today rather than having the brunette go back just to get it. "It's cool. No problem at all." Actually it had been, but Natsuki didn't want to think about it at the moment. It still gave her shivers.
Shizuru just laughed as she dragged the blunette into the kitchen. There, laid before the raven haired woman, was a feast fit for a king. "S-Shizuru! This is too much!" exclaimed the rather shocked Natsuki.
The older woman just laughed at her jaw-open expression. "Natsuki shouldn't keep her mouth open like that. What if a fly made its way in?"
An audible snap echoed through the kitchen. Shizuru just giggled before taking her spot. Natsuki continued to stand for a few moments before joining the brunette, taking the seat in front of her host.
As soon as she sat down, a plate pilled with all kinds of food, made it's way towards her. Natsuki accepted it graciously and set it down in front of her. Quickly muttering, "Itadakimasu," the blunette dug in, resembling a dog receiving its favorite meal. Or perhaps, a wolf catching a fat, juicy rabbit.
Shizuru just smiled, accustomed to the way the blunette ate from previous meals.
"Thhhissfs isshh delisshhiioushh," Natsuki mumbled as she continued to eat. She wasn't lying. The food before her was nothing she had ever tasted. The way the spices, the sweet tongue-tantalizing meat, seemed to mix so perfectly together... She was in heaven. For once in her life, the blunette had no urge to slather mayonaise on them!
"Natsuki should slow down. We wouldn't want you to choke now. Then I'd have to take responsibility in making sure that Natsuki doesn't die," Shizuru laid down her chopsticks and brought her fist underneath her chin. Giving a cheeky grin, the crimson eyed beauty laughed as Natsuki's face turned a dark shade of red.
Quickly swallowing, Natsuki gave out a stutter, "S-Shizuru!" Just the thought of those lips on her's was causing her to sweat. She still worried about the older woman's response.
Shizuru laughed and Natsuki continued to turn darker shades of red.
The rest of dinner consisted of nothing but laughs. No thoughts of death, fathers, and emotional problems invaded their minds. All the two thought of were the smiles and happiness the other proceeded to evoke from each other.
To say Natsuki was scared waking up Saturday morning was like saying the ocean was damp. She was terrified. Not roller coaster afraid, more like, serial killer scared. And all thanks to one Viola. It's not Shizuru, well at least, to some degree, but it was her Yoshi-oji. Or specifically, his deed. She had been able to push off telling the brunette for fourteen days, but the will reading was today. It couldn't be pushed off anymore.
Nervousness clawed at the blunette. Urges to just blurt out Yoshi-oji's wish came close to being chased out of her throat. But she couldn't. Not yet. She needed to confess first. And that's where she found herself, dressed in her jeans and her favorite leather jacket, holding onto the most romantic emblem of love.
Natsuki gripped the red rose in her hand as she starred at the front door. Oh kami, what was she doing? She had bought a rose, a red one to symbolize her growing affection, but it was so cheesy. So original. Nothing like her personality at all. But this wasn't about her. It was about the woman who cared for her when they were kids. The woman who seemed to always know what she was feeling. The woman who thawed the thick ice from her sheltered heart. This was Shizuru Viola, the woman who loved cheesy love songs. And what says cheesy other than a single red rose being presented at a confession?
"She's gonna laugh, then throw me out. She's never going to talk to me again," mumbled the raven haired woman nervously. Honestly, this wasn't anything like what she had imagined her confession would be. A much more confident Natsuki should be in her place with a bouquet of flowers, not a sweaty woman holding onto one rose. Kami, she was an idiot.
A click from a key being inserted into the lock alerted Natsuki back into attention mode. It was time. Sweat began to run down her back. She was going to mess this up, she just knew it. But, that didn't mean she wasn't going to try her best at making this her best, and only confession. The dark haired woman took a deep breath and took a remote from her pocket. Clicking it softly, a soft tune of Shizuru's favorite song began to spread throughout the house.
"Natsuki? Sorry for being so late. The line at the supermarket wa- " that was as far Shizuru got before setting her sights on a blushing and twitchy Natsuki.
"N-Natsuki? Is everything all right?" Shizuru asked. Natsuki nodded before briskly walking towards the brunette, the rose hidden behind her back. Shizuru raised her eyebrow in question.
"Shizuru.. I.. umm.. you see.." Natsuki gripped the rose tighter and gulped. 'Oh kami, I'm gonna crash and burn..'
Shizuru tilted her head in confusion. "Yes?"
"I.. errr.. uhhhmmhh.."
"Natsuki?"
Natsuki looked up from the ground to meet crimson. "Yea?"
"You're rambling, darling."
The dark haired woman flushed. She was trying to confess and Shizuru's teasing her? Natsuki lowered her head, hiding her eyes. The action didn't go unnoticed by the observant brunette. Setting the groceries down, Shizuru grasped the younger woman's hand to pull the nineteen year old woman into a hug only for a small gasp to rise from her throat as a pair of soft lips met her own. To hell with it all.. Natsuki thought, her eyes closed. She was never one for words anyways.
Crimson eyes widened in shock as Natsuki kissed her. Natsuki.. Shizuru, after a few moments, closed her eyes as well.
The kiss, for sure, was not something that the two could ever forget. Not only was it sweet, like the honey Shizuru loved to put into her tea, but it was also soft. It wasn't at all dominating, nor possessive. It was simple; the kiss didn't need to prove anything else but the love the two held for each other.
What felt like hours, the two separated, a soft blush grazing their cheeks. Natsuki smiled at the dazed look that normally wouldn't present itself onto the graceful brunette. Taking the single rose from behind her back, the dark haired woman presented the token of her affections.
"I... um like you, Shizuru.."
Nothing else could be said as Natsuki was tackled to the ground, a very happy woman laying on top of her. "Natsuki..."
The soft notes of Shizuru's favorite song continued to enhance the mood that the two woman were currently stuck in. Not that Natsuki was complaining. The song's peaceful rhythm seemed to fit their situation. Shizuru kissing the younger woman like there was no tomorrow.
"Shiz.." Natsuki tried to say as Shizuru's lips came crashing down to her's once more. "We need to.." Another gentle kiss made it's way towards her nose. "Talk."
"Mmm.. later, suki.." mumbled the brunette laying another kiss on Natsuki's blushing cheeks.
"Umm.." A kiss on the throat. "It's important.."
Shizuru paused her ministration and starred at the blunette beneath her. "Ara," she began teasingly, "More important than showing Natsuki my love?"
"Uhhhmm..." Natsuki didn't know how to reply to that. Shizuru just laughed before letting the emerald eyed biker slide out. The blunette blushed and tugged the other woman towards the couch.
Making themselves comfortable, Shizuru started off by saying, "So what was so important that we needed to stop, hm? And it was just getting good."
Natsuki's right eye began to twitch, realizing how perverted the other woman could be. And this is just the beginning. What's going to happen to me later? "I umm, have something to tell you."
"Yes, my Natsuki? Is my sweet puppy going to confess to me again?"
The dark haired woman's eye began to twitch harder. "I-I just confessed only ten minutes ago!"
"That may be true, Ku-chan, but one can never get tired of your cute blushing face."
The biker turned a new shade of red and quickly looked away to hide it. Please don't see it, please don't see it...
"Ara! Natsuki kawaii!"
Crap.
After being glomped by the older woman, Natsuki finally got themselves situated again. "Now, as I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted," glares at smirking Shizuru, "I have a message from.. Yoshi-oji.."
The warm atmosphere suddenly turned dense. The smile from Shizuru disappeared and Natsuki's emerald orbs dimmed. It's been about three weeks now since the old man had died. And even though the two had been getting better, the topic was still sour.
Shizuru slipped a frown onto her face. "What... What did he say?"
There wasn't an easy way to do this, so Natsuki decided to be blunt. "Shizuru, you're father... he uhhmm, wanted us to get married.."
I always imagined Shizuru loving cheesy music. I mean, have you seen the doujinshis of Shiznat floating around?
Anywho, I hope I was able to do this properly. I was never good at writing romancy scenes of this caliber. One-shots, yea, but a confession chapter? I admit, it was slightly difficult. I tried to convey their relationship as best as I could. I hope I didn't disappoint.
Sorry for all my grammar mistakes and spelling errors! Also, if anyone has any questions, I'll gladly answer them.
REVIEW! Cause I need something to keep me going through this hellish week coming up..
Oh and by the way, expect some twists later on in the story. I was never one to follow a simple story line.